Chapter 16
Sweet, Angel Baby Collins
Harley
Iwoke up this morning with the most delicious ache between my legs.
Collins wasn’t kidding when he said he wasn’t done with me last night.
After sleeping for a bit, he woke me up for round two with his head between my legs again, then he took me softer and gentler than the first time.
In round three, we were like rabid animals, claws and teeth, fast, rough, and urgent.
I don’t feel unsure about my decision to give myself to Collins last night.
I feel like it was the best choice I could’ve made for myself.
Now I’m walking into Wake, Bake, Repeat for the yearly New Years Eve debrief with my best friends. We always ring in the New Year together, but what happens once we part ways is always a mystery until the next morning, when we’re desperate for coffee and the will to live.
Walking in, I find Sin and Darcy already sitting at our usual table in the back corner. Giant coffees sitting in front of them.
“You look like shit,” I tell Sin where she sits with deep bags beneath her eyes and head resting in her hands.
“And you look freshly fucked.” Darcy volleys back, no tact or even attempt to whisper that in this crowded coffee shop.
Darcy’s words cause Sin’s head to pop up, then she groans, “Fuck, I just gave myself whiplash. You are freshly fucked aren’t you?”
I feel my face and neck heat as I remember the events of last night.
“Hello, my sweet friends!” Kodi’s voice comes from behind me, delaying my interrogation… For now, at least.
“Let’s go order our coffees, Ko.” I drag her to the counter with me.
“Hey girls! Usuals?” Gigi, one of the regular baristas, asks as we approach.
“Yep!” I reply while Kodi orders the seasonal iced strawberry mocha. We pay, thank Gigi, and head to our table where she’ll bring us our drinks.
“Okay, so who’s spilling first?” Darcy prods.
“You.” Sin raises a bright red, pointed nail in my direction.
“I…” I sputter, but Gigi rescues me by dropping off our drinks.
“You’re going to tell us the truth about what’s going on between you and Collins,” Kodi demands.
“We let it slide for the holidays, but those are over, so… spill,” Darcy adds, shrugging.
Here goes nothing, “I didn’t want you guys worried about me being alone on Christmas.
Collins is a great guy, and I know you guys would approve.
We fabricated a plan to get us through the holidays, and then we were going to go our separate ways.
But… then he started acting like a real boyfriend, and he’s so good, and I’m falling for him, and then last night… ”
“Last night?” Sin waves her hand in a continuous motion.
“Last night he kissed me at midnight,” I add, not sure how to tell them the next part.
These are my best friends. Why is it so hard for me to admit that we had sex and I don’t want our relationship to be fake?
Maybe because I haven’t even admitted it to him yet, and this confession could change the trajectory of us?
Maybe because I’m a coward? Maybe because I don’t want to be hurt again?
“Yes, we’re aware. He dragged you off into a dark corner.” Kodi laughs.
“Then you guys left and did whatever you did.”
“Obviously banged in the New Year,” Darcy states like it’s common knowledge.
“Not me.” Sin rolls her eyes, I narrow my gaze on her because after the incident with Dom in the mountains, I’m not so sure I believe that.
“Mav and I relived our bachelorette trip.” Kodi smirks.
“Ew. We were there, the whole island heard you guys on that day bed.” I gag.
“Anyways, what happened after we left? Collins didn’t take his eyes off of you last night.” Sinclair brings the topic back to me.
“So he kissed me again, ate me out on his kitchen counter, made me cum again without extra stimulation, and then fucked me not once, not twice, but three times.” I spit out quietly. Three mouths hang agape around our table.
“Collins did?” Kodi asks.
“Like Collins McKee?” Sin adds.
“Our sweet, angel baby Collins…” Darcy exaggerates, then whispers, “is a freak?”
“I haven’t even told you the best part.” I giggle because my friends are rarely this shocked by my sexscapades.
“His cock is pierced,” I add on conspiratorily.
“No.” Kodi gasps.
“Fucking.” Darcy adds.
“Way.” Sin finishes.
I say smugly, “It was so good you guys.”
“I will never look at him the same way again.” Darcy says, her cheeks bright red from the information I just shared.
“And I can never eat off his counter again,” Sinclair says brazenly and I give her my middle finger.
“Since all that’s out of the way. Be truthful with us, then. Do you want more with him?” Kodi adds, eyeing me suspiciously.
“I think I do.”
“Have you told him?” Ko asks.
“Obviously not! I can’t do that.”
“What? Why not?” Darcy asks.
“Because that makes it real.”
“Versus what? Fake. Babes, it was never fake. Anybody could see that from a mile away, even if you guys were telling each other it was.” Sin encourages.
“We only knew there was something else going on because we know you. That after Benji, you weren’t going to let someone in easily. Real or not.” Darcy tacks on.
“Plus, he’s had eyes on you… like forever?” Kodi adds.
“Just talk to him. I don’t think it’s going to end the way you think it might.” Darcy tells me, placing her hand over mine. “He’s not Benji.”
“I know, and that’s what’s so scary. I know he won’t hurt me and I know he’ll take care of me. I know this could last.” I sniffle, emotions clog at the back of my throat.
“I think you should tell him that. It’s okay to be scared.” Kodi validates the fear.
“Okay, I will,” I say.
I leave Wake, Bake, Repeat with a renewed sense of confidence in letting Collins have every part of me. For real.
As I’m lying in bed that night, my phone begins to vibrate beside me.
Seeing that it’s Collins, I take a few calming breaths, hoping that I can maintain my composure and not spit out everything.
I don’t want to spill this information over the phone, and I won’t be able to see him until they get back from their away game.
Pressing answer, “It’s past my bedtime, ya know?”
“Yes, but I wanted to check in again after last night. Plus I’ll be busy the next few days and wanted to hear your voice.” Collins’ soothing voice comes through the speaker.
“I’m okay. I promise, I wasn’t lying when I told you that you did everything right.” I reassure him. The way that he’s made sure to check in every step of the way is just another reason that I’m ready to take the next step with him.
“Okay.” He sighs into the phone, “I just needed to be sure. The highs after sex can blur the emotions, and I needed to know you’re okay.”
“I appreciate you checking in on me.”
“Precious is excited to spend time with you this week.”
“Oh, I bet. She’s going to get so many treats.”
“So you’re the reason she’s gaining weight,” he teases.
“Maybe…”
“I’ll miss you both. You’ll be at my place when I get home?” He asks, slight hesitation in his voice.
“Is that what you want?”
“It is.”
“Then yes, I will,” I confirm.
“One more thing I wanted your opinion on.” He sounds unsure of himself in this moment.
“Hit me with it.”
“I was thinking about reaching out to my parents, inviting them to a game, or we could have dinner with them, maybe? They texted me over the holidays and I realized that maybe I should try. Not should, but that I want to.” While I’m surprised that he’s bringing this up, I’m not.
I could see the internal battle he’s been facing about not having his parents present in his life.
“If that’s what you want, I support that entirely. I’ll be there for you in whatever capacity you need.”
“Thank you. I should probably get to sleep, early flight. Goodnight, Peppermint.”
“Goodnight, Freckles.”