Chapter Twenty #3
I reached both hands back as I twisted my fingers into his hair. His left hand traveled away from my waist as it ventured its way to the waistband of my lace panties. His fingers teased me, sticking one finger underneath as he gently caressed my burning skin.
I needed more.
I took his hands forcefully off my body, and I felt his body tense at the motion. I spun around to face him, seeing the shock in his eyes.
“Reese, listen, I’m so—”
Before he could finish his apology, probably thinking I had stopped him because I didn’t want this, I stepped up onto my tippy toes and closed the distance between us. My mouth met his, much rougher this time than last. This time, the kiss was hungry, all-consuming, and long overdue.
He didn’t hold back either.
His mouth was warm as our lips caressed, exploring what the other felt like. I opened my mouth slightly, and his tongue happily took the invitation to tangle with mine.
His left hand cupped my butt as the other found its way back under my shirt. I pressed my body even closer as he made his way back to my breast.
“God, Reese. You taste so fucking good,” he said, twisting my nipple as the hand on my ass made its way under my panties, skimming my bare butt.
I was aching low, impatiently waiting to be touched where it truly mattered. Where a man hadn’t touched me in a long time.
I longed to get his shirt off and leave a trail of kisses up his torso when I heard a loud cough from behind us, and reality came crashing back down, hard.
I had been making out and being groped by Kelly in his childhood home—and we had just been caught.
I sobered up quickly and violently pushed Kelly off me. I went to smooth my hair and my shirt as I looked up to see Tutu standing in the hall with us.
What the hell had I been thinking?
“Well, well. You two should really get a room,” Tutu spoke, and neither of us had anything clever to say.
Her brown eyes sparkled as she looked between us, and then she laughed, a gentle sound. “Oh, to be young again. At least you have your clothes on. I was once caught swapping spit with a boy, and I was completely topless,” she laughed loudly.
Any sexual feelings vanished the moment I heard Tutu cough. Now, hearing this story about her being topless made me think I would never have sex again. Kelly’s face showed the same painful thought.
“You betta’ pick up all that glass before you step on it,” Tutu chimed in calmly as she walked right past us.
I was breathing heavily, like I had just gone for a ten-mile run, and looked down at the glass from the frame that was now surrounding us.
“Oh shoot!” I bent down and started to pick up the glass, little by little.
Kelly bent down next to me and started to pick some up as well. “It’s okay. It’s not the first time a photo has been knocked off one of these walls. Mom has extra frames in the garage just for this kind of thing. Let me get a broom for these smaller pieces.”
We worked in awkward silence as we picked up the last of the glass and then made our way back to the kitchen.
“I’ll grab a frame and be right back,” he said as he exited towards the kitchen, and I went to the bathroom to collect myself. My hair was wild, but my eyes were wide and clear. I felt happy, despite getting caught—alive. More alive than I had felt in years.
I took a deep breath and splashed some water on my face before heading back into the hallway.
“Here we go,” Kelly reappeared. “This will be as good as new.” He took the picture and carefully slid it into the new frame.
I looked down at my watch, realizing it was later than I’d thought. “I should head home. I have to work tomorrow.”
“I completely forgot.” Kelly looked disappointed.
We made our way to the back and said our goodbyes. After thirty minutes of hugs, we were finally at Kelly’s truck.
Kelly secured Ted in the bed of the truck before getting into the driver’s seat. He looked nervous as he started the truck and began backing out. His hand was resting on the gearshift, and I reached out and covered it with mine.
He looked up, a pained look in his eyes.
“Listen, Reese. I’m sorry about what happened back at the house. I know I probably came on too strong.” Kelly’s cheeks were scarlet as he spoke.
I wasn’t used to guys who looked like Kelly being so shy or considerate of my feelings. He seemed nervous as he talked, and it made me want him even more. He didn’t act like a guy who brought girls home often to meet his family, let alone make out with them in his childhood home.
“I’m not sorry, Kelly,” I said, looking right into his stormy eyes.
“You’re not?” I could see the rush of relief that ran through his body, making him relax in his seat.
“I’m sorry we got caught, especially by Tutu, but I’m not sorry it happened. I haven’t stopped thinking about the last time we kissed.” My feelings escaped from me before I could think too much about it.
“I think about that kiss all the time,” he said as his words hit me straight in the heart.
“You’re my best friend, Kelly. I don’t think...” I hesitated, unsure if I could get the words out. But I knew this man. I knew I could be honest with him. “I know I’ve never felt this way about someone before. Nothing compared to how I feel about you.”
His chest was moving rapidly with his breath as he looked at me with a new light in his eyes. “I don’t want to be your fake boyfriend,” he said, his voice sincere, and I was caught off guard by his confession.
Kelly turned on his blinker, and the next thing I knew, we parked hastily on the side of the road.
“I want this to be real,” he said. “You and me. I’ve wanted to call you mine for a long time.”
“Do you mean that?” My voice broke a little.
“I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you, Reese. The way I need you. I want it all with you,” he said, his hands slightly shaking.
“I don’t know, Kelly,” I said, as my mind was racing. “I don’t know if I’m ready for a real relationship. I didn’t have a family like yours. Where I come from, love doesn’t last.”
“Then we’ll move slowly,” his face was gentle.
“What about our friendship? I don’t ever want to lose you,” I admitted.
Kelly had become the most important person in my life. I had spent years keeping my distance, so I never had to depend on anyone. Yet Kelly had woven himself into my very being, and there was no turning back now.
“You’ll always be my best friend. That won’t change. But I can’t pretend I don’t want you anymore,” he said as he leaned across the console and carefully grabbed my chin, pulling me in closely.
He kissed me deeply and yet so softly. Every kiss with this man was delicious, and I drank him in. I slid over until I was sitting in his lap, the steering wheel pressing into my back. It hurt a little, but I didn’t care.
“Fuck, you’re amazing,” he said breathlessly.
He ran his fingers through my hair as he pulled me closer and playfully bit my lower lip. My tongue moved in small circles in his mouth. My nipples pressed against his chest, and I edged back and forth against his crotch, seeking the relief I needed.
I pulled away from his mouth and kissed him slowly on his temple. My hands pressed into his chest as I whispered into his ear, “I would fuck you right now in this truck if I had a condom on me. Any chance you have one?”
Kelly groaned as his cock throbbed beneath me. “Did you just curse?” He smiled playfully before frowning. “I don’t have a condom on me. But back at home—”
Kelly had risked seeing Derek and picked me up directly from Beth’s. We weren’t planning on going back to his house, and I certainly hadn’t planned on staying the night.
“I can’t,” the words felt like acid as they left my mouth. “I have work in the morning, and I don’t have my scrubs. I have to go back to Beth’s.”
“I get it,” Kelly said. “I have some early morning appointments tomorrow. I should get some rest, too.” His hands were still rubbing up and down my thighs as Ted started pawing at the back window. “Oh my gosh, I forgot Ted was even here. I’m sure he wouldn’t have appreciated our detour.”
I laughed a little as I slid back into my seat. “I’m going to see if I can shift around my shifts for the wedding. See if anyone is willing to swap.”
“Having you all to myself, with no responsibilities in life, sounds like a dream.” Kelly started the truck back up.
We laughed and joked all the way back to Beth’s. When we got there, he got out of the truck and walked me up to the door.
I felt like this was the moment I was supposed to say that I was ready to be official. To call Kelly my boyfriend. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t ready to give someone the ability to destroy me.
Instead, I said, “Text me when you get home.”
“I promise, I will,” he leaned down and kissed me ever so softly on the lips before bringing his forehead up to meet mine. “I’ll see you soon.”
He walked back to his truck, and it took all my willpower not to run after him.