“I more than like.” He grabs my arm and pulls me into him. “You look absolutely delicious. I’ve been sporting a hard-on ever since you walked into the bar.”
“Oh.” My eyes widen at his admission. I really like this side of Noah.
“Yeah, oh. Now, let’s get that air and find a hidden corner so I can take advantage of you.”
My nipples tighten as heat shoots straight to my core. Evidently, my body likes Noah’s dirty talk, too. Who knew? He doesn’t wait for a response. He plants a kiss on my forehead and grabs my hand. The next thing I know, he’s whisking me down the corridor to the outside exit.
The night air has cooled some as we step out onto the concrete patio. People congregate around a few tables to the right. Noah scans the area and finds a dark corner behind the gazebo.
“Perfect,” he murmurs.
Once we’re alone, he pins me against the bricks and presses his body against mine. “How drunk are you?”
The question throws me for a moment, but then I realize he’s gauging me. I want to scream at his carefulness with me, but at the same time, I love that he’s concerned. “I’m only tipsy.”
“Good.” The word comes out in a growl before his lips land on mine. I still, caught off guard for a startling second, before my brain catches up. I more than welcome his assault as a rush of emotions pours in. The eagerness I feel from my body craving his. The slight nervousness settling in from taking this—whatever this is between us—to the next level. The uncertainty festering in the back of my mind that once he sees me—all of me—he’ll run for the hills. And then the heightened anxiety pumping through my veins that, any minute, Braxton could come through the door and catch us.
Doubt wars with certainty as his tongue dances with mine.
He breaks the kiss just long enough to move his lips to the base of my neck. “Fuck, Shannon. I need to slow down, but I want you too much.” His long, deft fingers skim the curve of my shoulder and across my arm until landing on my rib cage. His thumb traces along the underside of my breast. I shiver. “You don’t have any clue what you do to me.”
I let out a moan as my hands run all along his torso. I’ve never been so incredibly turned on before. There’s no awkwardness, just pure desire, and I’m soaking up every single minute, fearing it will end.
“Noah, I want you,” I manage to say between breaths, not believing the words spewing from my mouth. Am I really saying I want him to fuck me against a brick wall? That my first time would be at some outside bar with patrons twenty feet away? I’ve lost my ever-freaking mind.
“I want you, too, baby. More than anything, but our first time won’t be in a darkened alleyway behind some bar. No matter how decorated they made the place.”
I whimper. Our first time. Anxiety surges through me again. He doesn’t know I’m a virgin. I really don’t know how to tell him. After the fire last year and Braxton played big brother protector, I blurted out in front of Noah and the rest of the roommates that I wasn’t. To my defense, I wouldn’t have been lying if it weren’t for the fact my ex-boyfriend was so repulsed by my body he couldn’t go through with it. Shit. I can’t think about that. Not now. Not when I have Noah clearly wanting me. I wrap one leg around his body as much as my skirt allows and grind against him. Silently pleading for him to do something to make me forget the humiliation my ex caused.
“Mmm, it won’t be long. I’ll work something out.” His lips join mine as his thumb grazes my nipple before he cups my breast. I buck off the wall and press into his chest. He lowers his hand across the front of my abdomen, down along my hips, and around to my ass. Hot tingles trail along every inch of skin where he touches. When he runs his fingers across the bottom of my undies, he closes his eyes and breathes deeply before letting out a groan. “Damn, you’re so wet.” His fingers trace along the lace edge of my underwear. “Is this okay?”
“Yes, God, yes.” My heart hammers in my chest. He looks toward the entryway before shoving the underwear to the side and thrusting a finger deep inside me. I wince as my breath escapes.
“Shit, you’re tight.” His dick jumps in his shorts. He slows his breathing. “Are you okay?”
I nod, unable to formulate words. I’m afraid anything I say would be incoherent. It’s not like I haven’t been fingered before, but it’s been a long time. He starts moving in and out ever so slowly. His lips join my neck as he trails kisses along the underside of my jaw. His free hand grabs mine and weaves our fingers together, placing it above my head. My stomach muscles tighten as warmth spreads throughout my insides.
“I can’t wait to fuck you,” he whispers in my ear. “You’re so ready for me. Tell me how you like it.”
“I-I…”
“Don’t be shy on me now. If this wasn’t our first time, I’d turn you around and rip these damn panties off. Then I’d shove my cock into this tight pussy and take you from behind.”
Holy crap, I didn’t know quiet and reserved Noah could talk so dirty. This is a whole other side of him I’ve never seen before. Should I be this turned on from his words? Because I am.
“Tell me, Shannon, how do you like it?” he asks between each soft kiss, his harsh words not matching his gentle actions.
Naughty and nice.
Hard and soft.
Brass and gentle.
“I…”
“Do you like being on top, riding every inch? Or are you more for taking it slow?” He pumps his fingers harder, my abdominal muscles tightening. I’m beyond words as my vision darkens. “Tell me, Shannon.”
“I-I don’t know,” I admit as my orgasm slams through me. My body bucks and trembles against his. As I come down from my high, the roughness of the bricks registers against my skin. I open my eyes to find Noah staring at me.
“Shannon, you’ve done…” He blinks a few times, seemingly to collect his thoughts. “I mean, have you ever—”
“No.”
Three things happen simultaneously. He withdraws his hand from underneath my skirt as the other lets go of my wrists, his mouth falls slack, and he takes a step back. “But you said…”
How to make Noah speechless—admit being a virgin. God, I want to crawl under the gazebo and hide. Maybe, resurface when everyone leaves.
“I know what I said. I lied to get Braxton to shut up. But, no, I haven’t had sex yet.”
“Why didn’t you say something? I would’ve never talked that way to you.”
I shrug. “How am I supposed to bring it up? Besides, I liked your dirty mouth.”
The corner of his mouth rises. “I still should’ve been more of a gentleman. At least in the beginning.”
A chill runs down my spine as a dreadful thought enters my mind. “This won’t change anything, will it?”
He runs his hand through his hair. “Believe me, I want nothing more than to have sex with you. But are you sure you want to give it up to me? If you waited this long, then maybe you should wait for…I don’t know, that special one.”
You are my special one.
“I’m fine, Noah. I haven’t been saving myself for anyone special.” That’s not how I became a sophomore in college and still a virgin. Tears start to well in my eyes at his rejection. Which is stupid. He hasn’t actually rejected me, but it sure feels that way.
“Okay, I’m sorry.” He averts his gaze and looks toward the door. “We better get back inside before Braxton sends out a search party.”
Unease filters through me. “You’re not going to ghost me now, are you?”
“What? No! But I will make this right.”
I nod and adjust my skirt. I just had the best orgasm of my life and feel like shit. Story of my fucking life.
“Hey.” He tilts my chin to look at him. “I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just, you deserve nothing less than the best.”
Then, why do I think you mean the best isn’t you?
I force a smile. He kisses me on the forehead, and part of me dies a little. I cross one hurdle only to be faced wi
th another.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Noah
I scrub my hand over my face and stare over at the beautiful girl sitting next to me. The same one whose thoughts keeps me up at night. Shannon’s eyebrows draw together as she concentrates on the equation. Those piercing blue eyes alight with a passion for understanding, and then her pencil flies across the paper. I never would have thought watching someone work on algebraic equations could be so sexy. But Shannon is far from ordinary. Her blonde hair sits on top of her head in a messy bun with a few tendrils framing her angular face. Her crewneck and open-shoulder blouse expose the right amount of skin to drag my lips along the contours of her neck and strong jawline. Her lilac scent filling our special alcove in the library doesn’t help keep my mind straight either. I shift in my seat to adjust the hardness growing in my pants and try like hell to steer my thoughts back to our current situation—me tutoring her. But I can teach her so much more, my hormonal-driven mind thinks.
When she told me she was still a virgin, I’ll admit a small part of me rejoiced. Last year, when she blurted in front of Braxton she had sex, I wanted to hunt the bastard down and kill him. I was fuming and had no right to be. Regardless, learning she’s untouched shouldn’t make me this happy. I have no right feeling that way, and the voice of reason tells me I’m a hypocritical asshole. How can I be glad when I’ve been with one too many girls? Yeah, I’m a fucking hypocrite, all right.
But her being a virgin isn’t the part that has me up at nights. No, that would be wondering if I should do the honorable thing and end this before we get more involved. There are so many variables stacked against us, and if I take that from her, then, wouldn’t that make me selfish? A selfish hypocrite. Don’t I sound lovely? Fuck, the right thing to do is to cut my ties now, but I can’t make myself leave. I’m in too deep. Despite her brother murdering me when he finds out and my unknown future, I can’t deny what I feel for her. I want this to work.
“What are you contemplating over there?” Shannon’s question pulls me back to the present.
“Uh, nothing. I was just thinking about some futuristic things I need to attend to.” I shake my head and focus on the problem she finished. I double-check her work and let out a low whistle. “I think you’re getting the hang of this.”
She flashes a wide smile as confidence settles in her gaze. How do you know when you’re totally fucked? That’s easy. When you find yourself adjusting your pants from nothing more than a smile. She’s not even trying, and she’s sexier than hell.
“Thanks. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“All you needed was someone to explain things in terms you understand. You’re very bright. You know that, right?”
The brightness in her eyes dims. “Braxton got all the brains.”
“No, he didn’t. His talents are different, that’s all.” When she looks as if she doesn’t believe me, I change my approach. “Is that the top you sketched out the other day?”
She glances down at her shirt and nods, a slow smile developing. “Yep.”
“Do you think he could’ve sewn that top, let alone design it?”
“Uh, no. He couldn’t even sew two material edges together.”
I laugh. “Do you remember the pillow he made for your mom back in junior high? God, that thing was hideous.”
“It was. I can’t believe Mom displayed that atrocious thing.” Her shoulders shake in laughter as she looks off in the distance, recalling the memory. “That’s the year Mom bought my first sewing machine. Braxton will deny it, but he was so jealous when I made things for Mom. He wanted to do something for her.”
“See, he never mastered that skill, but you did.”
Her gaze meets mine. Heat whips through me and snaps me back to my earlier fantasy of devouring her neck. I refrain, maintaining self-control. Sort of. I do place my hand over her thigh. She inadvertently leans closer to me.
“Thanks. I need to hear that once in a while.” She shakes her head in embarrassment, followed by a huff. “I love my brother, but sometimes, I feel lost in his shadow.”
“Impossible.” The word falls from my lips in a whisper. How could she ever think that? “It’s impossible for you to ever be second-rated. You’re like the sun, shining all on your own.”
“I don’t know about all that, but I appreciate you making me feel better.” Her gaze drops to her hands, which she finds interesting all of a sudden. I dip my head to force her to look at me.
“We’re talented in our own special way. Don’t sell yourself short.” When she nods, I try breaking the tension. “Did you see where the Dodgers won last night?”
That earns me the smile I was going after. “Yeah, I happened to be around Cara at the time.”
“You know what that means?”
“What?”
“Our roommates will be gone this weekend.”
The gleam returns to her eyes as she stares up at me. “And what do you have in mind?”
“Shannon Smith, will you go out with me Friday night?”
“I don’t know. It depends on what you have in mind.”
“Is that so?” I slip my hand across her knee and tickle.
She squirms in her seat, laughing. “Oh God, stop.”
“What? I’m not doing anything.” I release the pressure, but my hand remains on her knee. When her laughter dies off, I ask, “So, what do you think?”
“I’d like that, but aren’t you worried about being seen in public?”
“I know the best thing right now is to keep this from your brother, but I’m not tucking you away like some dirty secret.”
Satisfaction settles in her face. “Maybe, I want to be your dirty little secret. Or dirty something.”
My breath hitches. She did not just say that, did she? I force a swallow. “I don’t think that qualifies for taking it slow.”
“I’m not the one who wants to take things slow.”
“You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
“Hell no.” She stares at me for a moment, then continues. “Okay, what did you have in mind?”
Thoughts of taking her against the wall or bending her over this desk flash through my mind. Dirty thoughts that have no place in my brain. Not about her.
“It’ll be a surprise.” My hand slips higher underneath her skirt, delving close to dangerous territory. I need to stop, but I can’t seem to quit touching her. The door creaks open, but I don’t pay attention to whoever is entering. On any given day, the library crawls with underclassmen seeking refuge from their obnoxious roommates.
“Can’t I have a hint? How should I dress?” Her pink-coated lips pout, and it takes all my willpower to not devour them on the spot.
“Just put on one of those many dresses I know are hanging up in your closet, and bring your appetite.”
She smiles, and I lean in closer. We’re mere inches away, our lips almost touching. Maybe, one more quick taste won’t hurt anything.
“There you two are.”
I snatch my hand off her leg and straighten as Braxton’s voice booms through the quietness.
“Hey.” My voice pitches higher, and I have to clear my throat to find my man voice. “What’s up?”
Braxton’s eyes narrow as he studies me for a moment and then shifts his gaze to Shannon. After another long pause, his words come out slow and even. “How’re the studies?”
I will my heart to slow down and dare a peek at Shannon. She sits ramrod straight. Her flushed face screams guilty as hell. Shit.
“It’s going great. I’m finally grasping the concepts. What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
“No, but I wanted to check on you. Dad called and asked how everything was going. I got curious.”
And talk about a buzzkill. If Braxton’s presence isn’t enough to douse the heat between us, mentioning Mr. Smith sure smothers the coals. What a mess I’ve gotten myself into. After thinking impure thoughts about his daughter, I’m not sure how to face the
man who stepped into the father-figure role for me.
“You could’ve called.” Irritation drips from Shannon’s voice. Although she has a point, why did he traipse clear across campus to check on her? Either he’s getting suspicious or I’m being paranoid. I don’t like either scenario.
“Yeah, but you didn’t answer my text.”
She grabs her phone out of her backpack and checks her screen. “Yep, there you are. Sorry, but when I’m studying, I don’t pull my phone out. Kind of counterproductive, don’t you think?”
Braxton’s jaw ticks as he studies her a moment longer. “Fine. I guess I’ll let you get back at it then.” He turns toward me. “See you back home.”
“We’re almost done here,” I say as if nothing bothers me. He nods and exits. I blow out a breath when the door shuts.
“That was close. Are you sure you still want to take me out in public?”
“I stand by my word. I’m not going to keep you tucked away.” There is always going to be an underlying threat of getting caught, but I’m willing to take the chance. She’s worth it. Besides, I’m Braxton’s best friend. Why would he disapprove of me?
Chapter Twenty-Three
Shannon
“I can’t believe you brought me here.” Nothing can erase the smile plastered on my face. This scene—standing in line at a food vendor with Noah, the big Ferris wheel in the backdrop, neon lights lining the carnival rides, and music blaring in the background—is precisely what my twelve-year-old self imagined.
“Garret mentioned the carnival in his hometown, and I wanted to take you.” Noah shrugs as if it’s no big deal, but his actions contradict the way those hazel eyes peer down at me. They’re filled with sincerity and intensity that spread warmth throughout me. We move up in line, and my brain jumps to the time I wanted to go with him and Braxton but couldn’t. I shouldn’t go down that path. He may have won me my stuffed animal, Uni, but he never knew how much that meant to me.
Behind the Count: Cessna U Wildcats Book Two Page 14