Them (her Book 3)

by Portia Moore

  She nods, and that’s enough. I take her hand in mine and we start to walk, and with each step away from the theater I can feel her relaxing inch by inch, the tension in her body starting to drain away.

  Once we’re down by the water, I look down at her, squeezing her hand in mine. “Are you okay?”

  “I am,” she says, and I think she means it. Maybe the walk did her some good. It makes me feel more hopeful, that maybe I can help her. I turn towards her, gently pulling her to me, and I put my hands on her waist, looking down into her beautiful green eyes. I want to let her know how I feel, that I mean what I say to her. That this isn’t just a fling to me. That I’m not going to be spooked.

  “I know you’ve been through a lot, Megan, and I wish I could go back and fix life for you. You deserved so much better than the hand you were dealt, and if I could go back and change it I would. But what I can do is try to be the man I think you deserve, if you let me. My dad taught me to be patient for things you want and I want you, and if you’re not ready for the title then I understand, but I want you to know that it’s only you. I’m not dating any other girls. It’d be unfair because you take up my thoughts, you have my time, and you will for as long as you want.”

  I give her time to think, time to respond. I mean it when I say that I don’t want to pressure her. I stroke my thumbs over the backs of her hands gently, watching the thoughts flit over her face as she takes in what I’ve just said. I see desire in her eyes, along with everything else there, and I think she wants me as much as I want her.

  “Are you sure?” she asks, the words spilling awkwardly from her lips.

  “If that’s what you want,” I tell her, still smiling reassuringly. “I only want what you want.”

  “Why me?” She really doesn’t know. It confuses me to no end, how she can’t see herself the way I do. I reach out and touch her cheek, holding her face in my palm as I look down at her.

  “Why you? Why not you? I don’t know what you see when you look in the mirror, but babe, you’re amazing. Not only are you gorgeous but you’re sweet and so kind, and I’ve never met anyone like you.”

  I see tears welling up in her eyes, and I hope they’re happy ones. I’m reassured a moment later when she rises up on her tiptoes to kiss me, her lips gently brushing against mine. And then her arms slide around my neck, her body arching towards me, and she deepens the kiss. Her tongue slides over my lower lip; she tastes sweet and salty, like soda and popcorn, and I want her from every inch of my body. I think of everything I can to avoid getting an erection—to keep this moment sweet and romantic, and the last thing I want to do is grind my dick up against her like a horny teenage boy. But her body is soft and warm against mine, her skin smooth as I run my fingers down her back and under the edge of her shirt, and I wrap my arms around her, too, bringing her close against me as she kisses me like I’m the last man on Earth.

  “Kam?”

  Well, on the list of voices you don’t want to hear while you’re making out with your maybe-girlfriend, your sister’s is pretty high up there. All worries about a boner gone, I turn towards her as Megan and I break apart, my face still lighting up as I see her. I love my sister and I want her to like Megan, so I can’t help but be happy to see her. Even if it wasn’t the best timing. Blue is with her. I link my fingers through Megan’s and lead her towards them. Never has the contrast between them been so obvious as when I’m about to introduce someone new—my tiny, petite sister in her pink blouse and white jeans, with the designer Louis Vuitton bag that’s half as big as her dangling from her arm. And next to her, the six-foot-two-inch tattooed, edgy looking Blue, with his mohawk and his silver lip ring, that charming smile and handsome, strong jaw. I can see why Katie loves him, but damn, if there aren’t two more unlikely people in the world.

  “What’s up, Kam?” Blue says, grinning at me, and I nod at him. Katie immediately pins Megan with her bright, warm smile.

  “Hi, I’m Katie,” she says enthusiastically.

  “Megan, this is my baby sister and her boyfriend Josh,” I say, introducing them.

  “You can call me Blue,” he says, peering at Megan in a way that makes me wonder if they know each other—or at least if he knows her.

  “Nice to meet you both,” Megan says a little shyly, and Katie nudges me.

  “I’ve heard so much about you,” she gushes. I roll my eyes, pulling Megan against me as I give Katie a pointed look.

  “Where are you guys headed?”

  “We’re going to go grab food and then see a band perform at that one bar Blue really likes,” Katie says, talking quickly and enthusiastically. “You guys should come!”

  “You don’t know if they have plans, babe,” Blue interrupts gently, laughing.

  “We were just coming from a movie.” I look down at Megan. I don’t want her to be uncomfortable, or to throw too much on her at once.

  “Come on, it’ll be fun,” Katie pleads, looking between me and Megan.

  “The band’s pretty good.” Blue directs his gaze to Megan and she shrugs lightly, clearly trying to play along and be a good sport.

  “I like good music,” she says casually. It makes me like her all the more, that she can be spontaneous. After the afternoon we’ve just had, I wouldn’t have blamed her for wanting to go home.

  “It’s settled then,” Katie says, and before I know it we’re all sharing an Uber to the restaurant Blue and Katie picked out.

  It takes Katie no time at all to fill Megan in on all the small trivia of our childhood that I haven’t gotten around to, including how we’re Irish twins. After a solid twenty minutes of her talking nonstop, I look at Megan’s slightly dizzy expression and laugh. “When Katie’s at a table, there’ll never be any uncomfortable silence,” I tell her.

  “So Kam just told us that you scored a full scholarship,” Katie continues on, completely ignoring my joke. “It just so happens that Blue has, too. I guess we know how to pick them.”

  Megan laughs a little awkwardly, and I reach for her hand, kissing the back of it softly. I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable or put on the spot, and I sort of hope that Katie dials it down a little. Fortunately, Blue picks that moment to jump into the conversation.

  “What’s your major?” he asks Megan, looking genuinely interested.

  “Business, safe and easy. What about you?”

  “I dig it. Computer Science for me.” He gives Megan an easy smile, and leans into Katie, who lights up like a tree at Christmastime. It’s the same expression I see on Megan’s face when I touch her, and it makes me feel all over again that I’ve made the right choice. That she’s who I want.

  “So Megan, my parents are going to be so jealous,” Katie pipes up again. “They’re itching to know who the girl is that has their son wrapped around her finger.”

  “Can you be any more embarrassing?” I laugh, but I glare at Katie at the same time. I can feel Megan tense next to me—I haven’t talked about her meeting my parents for this reason. I don’t want to rush her.

  “The Davis’s are really cool,” Blue says as he takes a bite of the appetizer, as if he’s trying to put Megan at ease. I appreciate him a little more than I ever have, just for that.

  “Of course they are. They created us, right?” Katie gives Blue a quick kiss, and I feel Megan lean against me a little bit. I wonder if one day she’ll be as comfortably affectionate, and I hope that’s the case. I want that, the sweet looks and quick kisses in public. I want her to feel comfortable and secure.

  The waiter comes finally and we place our orders; burgers for Blue and I, a chicken salad for Katie, and wings for Megan. “I think I want a drink,” I say, glancing at the menu, and Blue claps his hands enthusiastically, brightening up immediately.

  “We drinking?”

  “Not too much,” Katie cautions, looking at us both.

  “Of course not, sweetheart.” Blue smiles conciliatorily at her.

  “Can I get a rum and Coke?” I ask, and Blue orders the s
ame. “Fine,” Katie says, sighing. “I’ll have a Long Island. What about you, Megan?”

  Megan hesitates, and I realize we’ve come up against another barrier. “Um…something sweet,” she tells the waitress.

  “I’ve got just the thing,” the waitress says cheerily, and checks our IDs before heading back to the bar. She comes back with them within a few minutes, and as she hands them out Katie clears her throat and holds hers up.

  “We’re making a toast,” she announces. “To family”—she smiles at me, and then looks lovingly at Blue—“and love,” she says, looking between me and Megan. I can’t stop myself from starting to smile. We’re not there yet, but I can feel the possibility of it.

  “And sex!” Blue adds, as I try not to look at Megan. I don’t want to think about that right now, about how badly I want her. A month isn’t that long, really, but when I’ve thought about her every night, about the way she kisses…

  She takes a sip of the cherry-red drink the waitress brought. I can’t help but look at her lips, sticky and pinkish-red from the alcohol. If I kissed her now, she’d taste sweet. “You like it?” I ask. I see her flush as she looks up at me, meeting my eyes.

  “Want to taste it?” she asks, and I can’t help myself. I nod, and before she can raise the glass to my lips, I bend down and kiss her, drawing her lower lip into my mouth and running my tongue along hers. She does taste sweet, like candy, and it leaves me slightly breathless.

  “It’s good,” I tell her, grinning mischievously. I can see Katie and Blue grinning at us out of the corner of my eye, and I pull Megan closer to me as she tucks her hair behind her ear. She’s warm and soft. As she leans into me I can’t help but think how much I’d like to just skip the band and take her home.

  The rest of the dinner goes as smoothly as I could have hoped. I pick up the tab, and I see Megan’s eyes flit to the check, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead she takes my hand as we leave, following Katie and Blue out to the waiting car, and we go to the bar where we can already hear the music coming from inside, the band in full swing. It’s a perfect, clear night, and I feel a swell of happiness that the day has recovered so well. Still, I want to make sure Megan is alright.

  “You’re up for this?” I ask her, leaning down as we slip out of the car. “If not, we can go do something more low key.” Her answer is to lean over and gently kiss me, and I can’t help but smile as her lips touch mine.

  “You guys are going to love the band, they’re totally awesome!” Blue exclaims as we head inside.

  “Oh Kam,” Katie says quickly as we walk inside, “Tyler wanted to go over the papers with us really quick for Uncle George. You want to see if we can get it out of the way so we don’t have to come back Monday?”

  The last thing I want is to leave Megan here while I go handle family business. It’s clear that she’s out of her element, but if we can take care of it quickly, maybe it won’t be so bad. I shrug, sighing, and glance over at Megan apologetically. “Would you mind?”

  She looks confused, but shakes her head quickly. “Uh, no, it’s fine.”

  “I won’t let it be more than fifteen minutes,” Katie promises, looking at her and then Blue.

  “It’s cool, babe, we’ll grab seats,” he tells her quickly, and she kisses him in a way that makes me feel like I should look away—and I do. Megan looks even more embarrassed.

  “Come on, Katie,” I say begrudgingly, tugging at her elbow. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Dealing with paperwork has always been one of my least favorite things. I know Megan is in good hands with Blue, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking nervously about whether or not she’s alright in the crowded bar, if he’ll know what to do if she has a panic attack again. She’s on my mind every second of the time that Katie and I are flipping through the paperwork. I hardly hear the questions that Katie asks, just sign where I’m supposed to.

  I slide up behind Megan when Katie and I rejoin them, my arms around her waist as I whisper in her ear, “That didn’t take too long, did it?”

  “No, Blue kept me company.” She smiles at me, and I feel a small spark of jealousy, but I just raise one eyebrow and grin down at her. I didn’t expect for her to appear so comfortable around him, like she’s known him as long as me but I remember that they come from a similar background and I’m glad she has someone close to me that she can feel at ease with since her and Katy are from opposite sides of the pond too.

  “He better have.” I squeeze her waist and kiss the side of her neck gently, and I feel her shiver. I want to keep touching her but I take it slow. The buildup will be worth it in the end, anyway, I tell myself.

  A waitress comes around to get our drink order. I tell her I want a beer. Megan asks for something fruity again, and when the girl comes back, she has a tequila sunrise in hand. “Babe, are you sure you want to do that?” I ask, amused and a little worried. I’m not sure Megan’s actually ever drank before tonight, and definitely not tequila.

  She takes a sip, and I see that she’s startled at how strong it is, but she just smiles gamely. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

  “I’ll help you drink it, okay?” I tell her playfully, not wanting to embarrass her. I know she wants to hang, but I also don’t want her to be sick tomorrow. Hangovers are no joke, especially if you don’t know what’s coming.

  The music picks up, and it’s a sweet surprise when Megan starts to dance, her body swaying to the rhythm. I feel her lean back against me as I wrap my arms around her, and I can’t help but slide my hands over her waist, feeling the curves of her as she turns in my arms. There’s desire in her eyes, and I know it’s reflected in mine. I can’t remember ever having wanted a woman as much as I want her in this moment. I lift her up, her body pressed against mine as I kiss her, the bite of tequila and citrus sweet on her lips. I can feel her breathing quicken, feel the steady beat of her heart in her chest, and I have to close my eyes and slow myself down.

  She then slides her arms around my neck and whispers in my ear, “Are you ready to go?”

  I have never in my life been more ready to go, in every possible way that that statement could be taken. I look down at her, trying to make sure she’s certain, that she’s okay. She smiles up at me, those green eyes bright. “If you are,” I say slowly, afraid to guess at what she means. I don’t want to push too far.

  “Yeah. I just want some time with you if that’s okay.”

  I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face at that. “You don’t ever have to ask for that.”

  I don’t bother telling Katie and Blue that we’re leaving, I’ll text Katie later. Hopefully she’ll opt to go back to his place. I’d really like to have the apartment to myself with Megan for a while. Katie’s perceptive, so I have high hopes she’ll pick up on what’s going on.

  I try to slow my racing thoughts as I drive us back to the apartment. I remind myself that I don’t know for sure what Megan wants—maybe it’s just to hang out, maybe it’s to explore, but not go all the way. I’m intensely aware of her next to me in the car, though, and how soon we’ll be alone, in my apartment, just the two of us. It’s the first time for that.

  I leave the keys in the car as I pull up in front of the building, and laugh at Megan’s confused expression. “Valet’s going to move it,” I tell her, smiling as I take her hand and lead her into the lobby of the apartment. She’s looking around with wide, surprised eyes, and her amazement only increases when we walk into the apartment that Katie and I share. I see it through different eyes—how big it is, the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sleek expensive furniture that fills it, the clean, professional look of it all. This probably isn’t what Megan thinks of when she hears “apartment,” and I hope it doesn’t make her nervous. I was going to bring her here sooner or later, hopefully, but I don’t want her to notice the divide between how we live again. I don’t want her to look at me like I’m different. I want her to look at me the way she was in the bar, when she danced with me.

&n
bsp; “This is home,” I say casually, trying to play it off like it’s nothing.

  “It’s beautiful,” she says breathlessly, looking around.

  “You’re beautiful,” I reply, leaning against the door as I look at her. She is beautiful, the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, and she’s here, in my apartment, wanting to be with me. I want her to realize that she’s worth everything to me, and I try to put that into my expression as I look at her.

  Somehow, I manage to give her a tour of the apartment. Our hands stay linked the entire time, and as she looks around in wonder, I give her a sheepish smile. “My mom decorated the place.”

  “It’s amazing.”

  “You’re amazing.” I should come up with a better line, but I feel tongue-tied as she walks towards me. I can see in her face that she wants me, she’s wearing every emotion and feeling she has on it as clearly as glass, but I want to make sure she’s ready for this. The weeks of buildup, of desire and need, rise up inside of me as she puts her hands on my chest and slides them up. My heart slams against my ribs.

  I slide my hands down to her waist, settling them in the curve of it, and her eyes lock with mine. I suddenly wish all of our clothes gone, hers and mine, and I can see her pulse beating in her throat as she looks up at me.

  “I have something to tell you,” she whispers, her gaze dropping to my chest.

  “You can tell me anything.” My voice is deep, husky with desire. Whatever it is, I want to know. I don’t care. She could tell me anything, and I’d still want her as much as I do in this moment.

  “I’ve never…I’m a virgin.”

  She says it quickly, and for a second it doesn’t register. I frown a little, surprised, and she keeps talking, the words spilling from her lips.

  “It’s something I’ve had to fight unbelievably hard to keep.”

  As she speaks, for a second I see the light shift in her eyes, a flicker of grey in the green. It’s gone as quickly as I notice it, and she breathes in deeply, still talking.