Chapter 12 #3
A smile teased my lips. “I’ve never had it so good. You’re amazing, Tex.” I brushed my fingers up his back, and goosebumps rose across his skin. I loved that my touch did this to him.
“You’re amazing too.” He kissed my cheek and lifted his head, his gaze crawling to mine. “I’m glad you talked me into this tonight.” He skimmed his knuckles along my cheek. “I was afraid you’d had too much to drink—”
“Ssh.” I pressed a quick kiss on his mouth. “It’s not like I planned it. But then you met my best friend, and he obviously likes you.” I grinned. “And I let my guard down.” I lowered my legs from his hips.
“You did. I appreciate that.” He shifted and his waning dick slipped from me. “Shit. Let me take care of this. I’ll be right back.” He hopped off my bed and disappeared into the hallway. When he returned, he held a wet washcloth. “Let me clean you up and then we’ll talk.”
“Sure.” I’d never in my life had a man clean me after sex. Where the hell had he come from? As my heart fluttered, I spread my legs, my knees lifted.
He gently wiped me off and then tossed the washcloth onto the floor. “There. Now where were we?” He lay on top of me again, between my legs, our spent cocks pressed together.
As he brushed hair from my forehead, he said, “Tell me more about letting your guard down.”
With a smirk, I said, “Well, between you, Evan and the tequila, I didn’t care about showing affection at the bar.” It had felt right.
“No one from school would have seen us.” He softly kissed my cheek and then rubbed his nose against mine. “We were safe there.”
“Yeah, I suppose I need to stop being so diligent. Even if someone from school had been there, they probably wouldn’t know I’m tutoring you.” My entire body relaxed into the mattress as if my anxiety had completely left my body. He calmed me like no other.
“So, when the semester is over, you’re willing to be my boyfriend?” His gaze locked on mine. “Because that’s what I want.”
I breathed in deeply. Holy hell, for once, I didn’t get nervous about it. “Yes, I am.”
“And I can tell my roommates about us?” The corners of his lips curled.
“Well, yes.” Where was he going with this? I dropped my teeth into my lower lip.
“And maybe you’ll come to Austin with me for Christmas? I want you to meet my family. Especially my parents.” He parted his lips. “I mean, you could visit for a few days and then go home to your dad, maybe?”
Fuck. My father. “Uh, yeah, maybe.” Tension returned to my chest with a vengeance. He couldn’t know about this. But how would he unless I told him? “Let’s see how things go.”
“Okay.” He laid his head against my chest and, smiling against my skin, he said, “I can hear your heartbeat.”
It was beating for him now. Oh my God, I’d fallen so hard in such a short amount of time.
Is this how it felt when it was your person?
The one you were meant to find in this messed-up world?
I hugged him and kissed his hair while staring at my ceiling.
Had my father ever felt his way about my mother?
My eyes stung. Had she ever known a feeling like this?
I gritted my teeth. How had I gotten so lucky if she hadn’t?
“Hey, Colton.” He raised his head and kissed me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I croaked and swallowed through the clenching in my throat. “You should go home now. It’s getting late.”
“But…what if I stayed the night? We had such a—”
“What would you tell your roommates?” Fuck, good feeling gone. Why did my fears always win? I studied him.
His brows furrowed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” With a heavy sigh, he lifted off me and sat on the edge of my bed. “But when the semester is over, we’re having a sleepover.” As he peeked at me, the hint of a smile teased his lips.
“Yes, once the semester is over.” He wasn’t taking it too hard. I thought through my week. “I need to work on my thesis tomorrow, anyway.”
“Sure.” He ambled around the room, picking up his clothing and dressing. After he dressed fully, he said, “Walk me out?”
“Of course.” I left the bed and slipped on my briefs. Grabbing his hand, I strolled with him through the main room and to my front door.
He stopped and faced me, cupping my cheeks. “Colton, I want you to know something before I leave.”
“Yeah?” My heart raced as my gaze locked on his. This felt like a confession. Was I ready?
“I’m falling for you, Colton Reed. Tonight sealed it for me.” He claimed me in a kiss so full of emotion, it stole my breath. As we parted, he said, “You don’t have to say it back. I know you might not be ready. But I am.”
With emotions exploding inside me, I blurted, “I’m falling for you too.” I blinked a few times. Oh my God, I’d said it out loud. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me, Tex, but it’s working. My walls are no match for your charms.” It was the truth.
“I’m so happy to hear it.” He planted another deep kiss on my mouth, wrapping me in a bear hug, and then opened the door. “I’ll see you when, Tuesday?”
“Yes.” It seemed so far away. “I’ll make sure we have extra time.” As he left, I closed my door and then leaned my back against it and scrubbed my face. “Holy fuck.” I was in it and there was no way out. But then, I didn’t want a way out.
The next day, I worked on my thesis at my dinette when rapping cracked through the room. I jumped and glared at my door. Who the hell was it? Did I have a package I’d forgotten about?
I strolled to my door and opened it.
Sara stood on the landing, her lips pressed into a thin line. “You lied to me.”
“What?” My pulse spiked as I gaped.
“Let me in.” She pushed past me and stomped into the center of the main room, planting her hands on her hips. “If you were gay, you could have just said so. I don’t have a problem with it.”
My eyes widened. “What do you mean?” How could she know? “I’m not gay.”
“Then why were you with Tex on Saturday night, clearly together? I saw you kiss each other.” She tramped toward me, pointing at me. Poking at my chest, she said, “I’m not blind. I saw it.”
My brows hit my hairline. “Y-you were there? At the Coach House on Saturday night?”
“Yes, I was there. My friend wanted a change of scenery, so we chose that place and…” With a taunting smirk, she said, “There you were, you and Tex and some other guy. Are you a threesome?”
“What? No.” As my hands trembled and my nerves unraveled, I strode to the couch and fell onto the end.
“Evan was there. He’s my friend who plays hockey.
We went to his game and, and…” She saw us.
She knows. Will she report me? My gaze flicked to her, crossing her arms on her chest. “It’s not what it looks like.
We, uh, we started dating after you and I stopped seeing each other. ”
“Oh, really.” She harrumphed and then crossed the room to sit beside me. “If you’re dating a guy and you’re not gay…then what are you?”
“I’m, uh, bisexual.” I hadn’t admitted this to many people and never thought I’d admit it to her. Wringing my hands in my lap, I said, “Please don’t tell anyone.”
She grabbed my hand and held it. “Jesus, Colton. What sort of person do you think I am? I left you both alone last night. If I were a jealous bitch, I would have confronted you there.”
I snuck a peek at her. Could she possibly be on my side? What were the odds? “Okay.”
With her gaze softening, she said, “I just wish you would have confided in me. I wanted us to be friends.” Her lips quirked. “I knew I saw something between you two.” As her breath caught, she said, “You’re still tutoring him, aren’t you?” She freed my hand.
I could lie. No, I had to stop lying. “Yes, I am.” I hung my head, my gut twisting into knots. “Please don’t turn me in.”
Shaking her head, she said, “I wouldn’t do that either. I think it’s a stupid rule, anyway. It’s not like you’re his professor and grading him.” She scoffed. “I just wished you’d have liked me enough to break some rules.”
“Yeah?” I stole a glance at her. Had I hurt her more than I’d thought? “I’m sorry, Sara. There was something strong between Tex and me I couldn’t ignore.” I shifted closer to her. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know.” She huffed a laugh. “You’re a pretty secretive guy, you know that?” Her gaze swept to mine. “It’s hard to get to know you. I tried, but…” She inhaled deeply. “We had some fun during our tutoring sessions, didn’t we?”
“We did. I enjoyed your company.” I sucked my upper lip between my teeth. “Do you need more tutoring sessions?” I could accommodate her, but I wasn’t sure I’d have time to hang out with her.
“Nah, I’m doing okay in my accounting class now.” With a sigh, she slapped her thighs and rose. “I need to go home.” She glanced toward my dining area. “It looks like you were studying.”
“Yes, I was.” I stood and followed her to the door. “Why didn’t you just call me?” It wasn’t like I lived close to her.
Grabbing the doorknob, she said, “I didn’t think you’d answer your phone.” She faced me. “And I figured you wouldn’t lie to my face this time. I needed some closure.”
“Closure…” An ache floated across my chest. I hadn’t thought one date required closure, but what did I know? “Again, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad you found Tex. You two are cute together.” Placing her hand on my shoulder, she kissed my cheek. “Bye, Colton. I’ll see you around.” She opened the door and walked out.
I stared at her back as she stepped down the stairs, her hair bouncing around her shoulders. “Holy fuck.” I’d dodged a bullet. But maybe I was being overly cautious. Maybe my worldview was a little skewed. It’s hard to get to know me?