Chapter 50 – Kat
FIFTY
KAT
Leaving the warmth and comfort of Thanksgiving dinner, Tanner and I step out onto the porch and are immediately hit by a gust of frigid November air. I hurry to the car, but stop at the door and instinctively bury my face into Tanner’s thick wool coat, grateful for its warmth. He pulls me closer, wrapping me up in his arms and shielding me from the harsh cold.
“Why didn’t you bring a coat again?” he chuckles against the shell of my ear, the warm breath a welcome comfort.
“You really want to rehash this right now?” I laugh. Earlier, I adamantly insisted that it wasn’t that cold outside and my only outerwear option would clash with my outfit. He had rolled his eyes and shook his head, but thankfully didn’t push the issue any further. I knew he thought it was silly, but he let me make my own mistakes.
But my choice was indeed a colossal mistake.
“You ready for me to get you back home?” Tanner whispers .
My stomach twists at the realization that today is coming to an end and I won’t see Tanner until Sunday evening when we head back to school. Not bringing my car home was a questionable choice, but when he offered to carpool, I couldn’t resist spending a few extra hours alone with him.
Does that make me entirely pathetic? Probably. However, recently I’ve stopped caring if I look needy or pathetic when it comes to Tanner, as foreign as it feels.
I nod up at him before he reaches to open the passenger-side door. “Milady,” he says with a cheeky grin.
I can’t help but smile and play along. As he takes my hand to help me into the car, I respond teasingly, “Milord.”
We both laugh as we settle into our seats and buckle up for the fifteen-minute drive to my mom’s house.
As we’re pulling away from the house, my eyes lock on the brand-new garage door attached to their house. I laugh at the memory of Tanner telling the story of Theo’s mistake, a bit thankful that it didn’t come up over dinner and turn into a point of contention.
“The new garage door looks great.”
“Should’ve told my dad that—would have been a riot,” Tanner laughs.
I hunch in my seat with my hands wedged between my thighs, desperately trying to warm up my frosty fingers as my body adjusts to the warmth of the car.
Tanner glances over, sees me shivering, and, without a word, takes both my hands in his warm right palm. His piercing green eyes meet mine and he gives me a small smile before returning his attention to the road in front of us.
“Did you have a good time?” he asks.
“Yeah, it was great seeing everyone. ”
“I’m glad. They were all insanely excited to see you again.”
Heat blooms in my cheeks, but I fight the natural instinct to scoff at his words. “Good.”
Our car ride doesn’t last very long and soon we’re pulling onto the street of my childhood home and the small, weathered house comes into view, its faded blue paint peeling off in some spots. It is a far cry from Tanner’s luxurious family home with its perfectly manicured lawn and grand entrance. Our driveway is cracked and uneven, barely fitting one car, while Tanner’s could fit three comfortably.
Tanner pulls into the driveway and turns off the ignition. He reaches over to unbuckle his seatbelt, then hesitates. We have already discussed our plan for the weekend: he will walk me inside and then spend the rest of the holiday weekend with his family, including an early-morning Black Friday shopping trip with his mom.
But as our eyes lock, I can’t stop myself from blurting out, “Why don’t you stay the night?” My heart hammers in my chest at the thought of him leaving.
I wait for Tanner’s response, feeling as though time is moving at a snail’s pace. A knot forms in my stomach as I worry he will think I am the most selfish person alive. I know that family responsibilities should always come before relationships, so why did I even suggest otherwise? The weight of guilt settles heavily on my shoulders, and I feel like I am drowning in regret.
“Okay,” he says.
“I…I’m sorry I asked,” I stammer. “I know you have plans with your mom early—that was a dumb question. I wasn’t thinking. ”
“Kat…I said yes. I want to stay the night.”
“Yeah, but your mo?—”
“My mom will understand. Besides, Theo was planning on going with her too. We can meet them for breakfast once the chaos winds down.”
He’s reassuring me, but I can’t shake the feeling in the pit of my stomach that says this could be a turning point for us.
“Sweetheart?” Tanner prompts.
“Hm?”
“I love you. My mom loves you. I want nothing more than to stay with you tonight. I can see those cogs turning in that pretty little head of yours and I need you to know none of it is true. This isn’t a big deal and I genuinely hate that you’ve been conditioned to think that it is. It isn’t selfish to ask your partner for what you need. I never want you to stop expressing that, okay?”
My voice cracks when I reply, “Okay.”
“Okay.” Tanner smiles and squeezes my hand. “Now, let’s get inside. I might want to spend the night, but I don’t want to spend it in my car.”
As soon as we step inside, I make a beeline for the thermostat on the far wall. My fingers twist the knob to the right, pushing the temperature higher and higher until it clicks at just the right spot. This old house is tricky when it comes to heat, and I know from experience that a little boost to start will make all the difference.
I kick off my sneakers and slip into my cozy, bright orange slippers.
In the kitchen, Tanner rummages through the freezer, standing with his back to me, searching for something sweet. “Do you have any ice cream? ”
“You just ate like half a cheesecake.”
“Correct.”
“Shouldn’t you be all dessert-ed out?”
His eyebrows furrow in confusion as he stares at me, his mouth slightly agape. “I had cheesecake …ice cream is different.”
“If you say so,” I say with a laugh.
Tanner reaches into the freezer and pulls out a frosty container of mint chocolate chip ice cream. “Besides, I quite enjoy the thought of all the things we can do with ice cream.”
My cheeks heat up, betraying me as my mind races back to the last time we indulged in a pint of ice cream together. The memory of his tongue against my skin, swirling my hardened nipple between his lips as he lapped at the last remnants of rocky road causes me to squirm under his gaze, feeling a familiar wetness pool between my thighs.
Tanner approaches me and sets a bowl of freshly scooped ice cream and two spoons on the counter, then presses his body against mine, sandwiching me between him and the chilly tiles of the countertop. His breath tickles my ear as he whispers, “What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing.” My body betrays me, arching into him. “I just—ice cream sounds nice.”
“Does it?” Tanner’s voice is gravelly and intoxicating, so much so that I feel myself growing lightheaded at his proximity.
“Yes,” I gasp. Our breath mingles, his lips only a whisper from mine, but he doesn’t close the gap.
My mouth waters as Tanner dips the smaller of the two spoons into the bowl of ice cream. He lifts it to my lips. “Open,” he demands, his eyes sparkling with mischief .
I can’t help but comply, eagerly taking a bite of the cold, sweet treat.
Once the cold metal lands against my tongue, the combination of creamy spearmint and rich chocolate explodes on my taste buds, sending shivers down my spine. I barely have a second to relish the sweet flavors of the ice cream before Tanner’s warm lips meet mine in a delicate kiss, his tongue playfully dancing between my lips before retreating, causing an intoxicating blend of sweetness and anticipation to wash over me. When he pulls away, I whimper, desperate to taste him again.
He steps back with a grin and sets the bowl on the counter. “What time is your mom supposed to be home?”
“Not for at least another five hours.” My stomach leaps as I smile at him, anticipation flooding my mind. Every nerve in my body tingles with electric energy, waiting for his next move.
“Good.” Tanner shoves a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth before stepping toward me. “Take off your shirt.” His voice is commanding and urgent.
I quickly comply and shed my white turtleneck sweater, the rush of cold air drawing prickles along my exposed skin. I’m set ablaze under his piercing stare. The thin fabric of my cotton bra does little to hide the hard peaks of my nipples, straining against the soft material.
His lips press together in a tight line, and I can see the muscles in his jaw clenching as he bites down on his bottom lip. His breaths are quick and shallow, his eyes dark with desire. My attention is drawn to his mouth, the one that has brought me so much pleasure over the past few months. I can almost feel his tongue against my skin, the way it expertly teases and pleases me. Memories of him eagerly lapping at my core flood my mind as I watch him struggle to contain himself, and I rock back and forth on my feet in an attempt to quell the needy sensation building within me.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks me.
“You.”
Tanner nonchalantly leans against the counter, his fingers gripping the edge, his eyes glittering mischievously. “Pants.”
As I heed his demand and slowly slide my fingers under the waistband of my black leggings, feeling the softness of the fabric against my skin, he casually takes a bite of the ice cream. It isn’t until the black ball of fabric is at my feet that his gaze abandons its comfortable raking up and down my legs to meet my eyes.
“Come here.” He beckons me with his hand, the low, raspy tone of his voice sending a tingle down my spine.
I cross the cool tiles of the kitchen floor, goosebumps erupting on my skin. As soon as his hands graze my bare hips, a surge of heat spreads through my body like wildfire, igniting every nerve.
As he leans in, the chill of his recent ice cream indulgence lingers on his lips, but as soon as our mouths meet, warmth floods through me like an inferno. I taste the faint sweetness of mint and feel the intensity of his desire with every stroke of his tongue against mine. His hand cradles the back of my neck, fingers tangling in the strands of hair at my nape and pulling gently.
Tanner’s grip on my hair tightens, pulling me closer to him as his lips trail down my neck. The sharp sting of his teeth on my skin elicits a gasp from me, and he tugs slightly harder, causing my head to fall back in pleasure .
Just as I’m about to give in completely to his touch, I stop him with a gentle push on his chest. “Wait,” I say breathlessly, needing a moment to catch my breath, gather my thoughts, and muster up a sliver of courage to take charge.
He suddenly recoils, his eyes widening in concern. “Did I hurt you?” he asks frantically, his hands trembling. “I’m sorry, I just got carried away,” he stammers, his voice filled with guilt and regret.
“You didn’t hurt me,” I reassure him.
“Oh.” He lets out a sigh of relief. “Then why did you stop?”
“I—” I know what I want, I know what I want to do, but when my mouth opens to speak, nothing comes out.
“Kat, talk to me. What’s wrong?” His brows pinch together.
My mouth feels dry as I lean in, my heart pounding. “I want to go down on you,” I say, my voice barely a whisper.
His eyes widen and he lets out a sharp breath, his body tense with anticipation.
“If that’s okay, I mean.” My cheeks burn as he erupts into laughter, his face turning slightly red as he struggles to control himself.
“I mean, of course I’d love that! If I ever say otherwise, just assume I’ve been bitten by a zombie or something because…yes. Definitely yes,” he says, still chuckling.
Relief washes over me and I sigh, a bit embarrassed by my assumptions. “I don’t know, you’ve never seemed to want me to—it’s always been about me and, I don’t know, I started to think you might just not want me to do that.”
Tanner lifts his hands to cup my cheeks. He says, “I love you, Kat,” then presses his lips to my forehead. “First of all, I love making you feel good, so jot that down.” A smile spreads across his lips as he continues, “I’ve never pushed that topic because I’m honestly fine if you don’t want to, but more than anything my goal has been to make you feel valued.”
“I do feel valued.”
“I know, because I am an absolute catch. But Kat?”
“Yeah?”
Tanner’s warm breath tickles my ear. “I’ve fantasized about your lips wrapped around my cock countless times,” he whispers.
I can sense the pulsing wetness between my thighs. The anticipation builds, my spine turning to silk as every inch of my body yearns to make his fantasy a reality.
Without a second thought, I boldly reach down and gently cup him through his now-snug jeans. His breath catches, his every muscle tensing, his arousal evident. The fabric strains against the growing bulge as I trace my fingers over it, eliciting a low groan from him.
My hands tremble with excitement as I grab onto his muscular waist, my fingers digging into the rough denim waistband of his jeans. The metal button gives way easily under my touch, and I eagerly unzip his fly before dropping to my knees on the chilly kitchen floor. I pull down his jeans to reveal his bare legs, then look up at him. He towers above me, his eyes filled with desire.
As I slowly peel off his snug-fitting boxer briefs, my body tangles with a mix of arousal and fear. The memory of the initial sting of his impressive size returns, and the thought of him sliding effortlessly down the back of my throat has me swaying on my knees. Every inch of his exposed skin radiates heat, drawing me closer to taste and explore. The anticipation builds as I gaze up at him, eager to take all of him in and please him in every way possible.
The expression on his face mirrors my intense excitement. With determined resolve, I gather every shred of courage within me and envelop the head of his cock with my lips. The taste of salt lingers on my tongue as I lap at the bead of pre-cum before welcoming him deeper into my mouth. Each movement is met with a gasp or a moan from him, encouraging me to continue. I am overcome with desire and pleasure, completely lost in the sensations coursing through my body.
I’ve given head before, but never has it felt so intimate. The taste of his skin, the rhythm of his body, and the way he moans drive me to give him nothing but pure ecstasy. With each touch and kiss, I am consumed by an intense craving to please him in any way possible. This moment is more than just physical pleasure, and if this is any indication of what he meant before by being content with my pleasure alone, I get it now.
With a determined grip, I take him deep into my mouth, pressing my lips tightly around him. His moans start deep in his chest and escape through clenched teeth, a sound I’ve never heard before. It sends a jolt of pleasure through me, and I continue to take him in even further, desperate to hear that sound again.
“Fuck, Kat. If you keep doing that I’m going to?—”
Despite his warning, I see it as a challenge and push myself, taking him deep into the back of my throat. The taste of him fills my senses and I involuntarily swallow, causing him to let out a deep, guttural moan. This time, I know it’s a sign that he’s close to climaxing, and with that knowledge, I become even more determined to make him unravel in my hands. With an intense focus, I continue to push my limits, determined to bring him to the brink and watch as he gives himself over to pure ecstasy.
“Kat, I’m gonna—” He releases with a guttural moan and his pleasure spills into my eager mouth.
The taste ignites a primal desire inside of me. I have never swallowed before, but with Tanner it feels like the most natural thing in the world. As he pulls out, I meet his gaze and swallow every last drop of his release, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over me at having pleased him completely.
With a gentle touch, he wipes away a drop of his cum from my bottom lip.
I can’t help but beam up at him, completely captivated by the look of pure adoration that fills his face. “Was it everything you dreamed of?”
A chuckle falls past his lips before he says, “You have no fucking idea.”