Chapter 7
Kennedy
We'd decided to watch Inception, but I couldn't stay focused enough to understand anything that was happening on screen. On one end, a now-dry Jasper was sprawled out across the couch, wearing sweatpants and a tank top that showed off his muscles.
On the other end, beside me, Elijah sat, leaning against the armrest of the couch, feet propped up on the coffee table while he stared at the TV.
I seemed to be the only one who couldn't think straight. How could I when I'd just experienced the best kiss of my life and the man I'd shared it with was sitting right beside me? A lot of strange things were happening to my body. Things I'd never felt before, only read about.
My body felt warm. There was a gentle throb between my legs that I badly wanted to touch. I just couldn't. Not now, not here.
Not with both of them in the room, and not when I didn't know what any of this meant yet.
"You guys following this?" Jasper asked, eyes still on the screen.
"Barely," Elijah said.
I didn't answer. Couldn't. My brain was too busy replaying what had just happened between us.
"Kennedy?"
I jumped slightly. "What?"
"The movie," Jasper said, grinning. "You following it?"
"Oh. Um... yeah. Sort of."
"Sort of?" He raised an eyebrow. "That's convincing."
"I'm just... it's complicated."
"The movie or something else?" Jasper's grin widened.
My cheeks heated. "The movie."
"Right." He didn't sound like he believed me.
Elijah shifted beside me, and I became hyperaware of how close we were sitting. His arm rested along the back of the couch, not quite touching me but close enough that I could feel the warmth from him.
Elijah had kissed me. I still couldn't believe it.
Never in a million years would I have believed that a man as attractive and well-rounded as him would be attracted to a girl like me.
A few days ago, my sister was calling me "nerd herd," and now I was sitting around two men who possibly wanted to me in their bed.
Well, Jasper I wasn't so sure about, but Elijah's actions had to mean something.
Didn't it? Or was this just what men like him did? Kiss women and move on?
No. The way he'd looked at me. Held my neck. Said "next time."
Next time.
My heart raced at the thought of my fantasies being fulfilled on this very vacation.
It hadn't crossed my mind. I'd only been focused on using the time to clear my head and relax.
But now it was becoming clear. These were two men who didn't judge me, had the same fantasies as me, and by the looks of it, were probably attracted to me.
What if I gave this a shot?
What if I played my cards just right enough for them to want to make my fantasies a reality?
The thought terrified me. But it also thrilled me in ways I'd never experienced. This was my chance to be the person I'd only written about in my diary.
"I'm losing the plot here," Jasper said, pausing the movie. "Dream within a dream within a dream. It's too much."
"We could watch something else," Elijah offered.
"Nah." Jasper yawned and ruffled his hair. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm gonna take a long nap. This rain's gonna last for a while too." He grabbed his blanket from the couch and stood.
"Already?" I asked. "It's not that late."
"Long run, remember?" He stretched. "Plus, I know when I'm a third wheel."
"You're not—"
"Yeah, good night, Jasper," I said quickly, cutting off whatever Elijah was about to say.
Jasper's grin was knowing. "Good night, beautiful."
Beautiful. He'd called me beautiful. Twice now.
He walked toward his room, then stopped. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." He winked.
"That doesn't narrow it down much," Elijah said dryly.
Jasper laughed before disappearing into his room.
And then it was just us. The rain drummed against the windows. The movie was paused on a frozen frame. The silence stretched.
I turned to Elijah. "I should be heading in too. I don't want to keep you up."
The words came out steadier than I felt. Inside, I was screaming at myself to stay, to talk to him, to kiss him again.
"You wouldn't be, but it has been a long day."
"Yeah." I hesitated. "Today was... nice."
"Nice?"
"I mean, good. Really good." I paused. "The hike and... everything."
"Everything?"
He was making me say it. Making me be specific.
"What happened earlier," I said quietly. "I liked it."
"I'm glad." He stood, closing the distance between us slightly. "I liked it too."
"You did?"
His eyes held mine. "Very much. Get some rest, Kennedy."
"You too."
I nodded and headed toward my room. "Good night, Elijah."
"Kennedy?"
I turned back. "Yeah?"
"Sweet dreams."
He said it like he knew exactly what I'd be dreaming about, and it made my stomach flip.
I walked to my room and could feel his gaze on my back. I didn't mind, though. I was happy he was looking. That meant he was interested.
That meant this wasn't just in my head.
I flopped down on the bed with a sigh, staring at the ceiling and listening to the rain falling on the roof. Elijah was just outside my room, and so was Jasper. I couldn't seem to get them out of my head, Elijah especially, who'd left me breathless.
That single moment had ignited something within me I never knew existed. I wanted more of that feeling, and more than anything, I wanted to be touched.
By him. By them. By someone who wanted me for me, not because of a dare or a bet.
With a shaky breath, I slipped my hand below my shorts. I parted my legs to give myself more room, gliding deeper until I felt the small nub of my clit. I swallowed hard, biting down on my lip as pleasure curled inside me.
I thought back to how it had made me feel, how it still made me feel. The taste of him still lingered. I'd love nothing more than to have him inside me too, knowing he'd probably be just as skilled at everything else.
Would he be gentle? Or would he lose control?
I slid down my slit, imagining they were his hands instead. My heart raced when I felt my wetness pooling at my entrance. I allowed it to wet the tip before circling my clit again.
This was what desire felt like. Real desire. Not the hollow, disappointing experience I'd had before. This was need.
My other hand moved to my breast as the pleasure became more intense. I moaned when I slid inside, and my walls clenched in welcome.
I stroked back and forth, imagining Elijah's hands on me. His mouth. How he'd touched the base of my neck, all of it fueling the sensation building inside me. Trying to chase it, I moved faster, mewling as a warm, fuzzy feeling started to consume my body.
When it hit me, my back arched off the bed. I squeezed my eyes shut, allowing my walls to clench and unclench as pleasure streamed through me.
Elijah's name was on my lips. I didn't say it aloud, couldn't risk it, but it was there. A prayer. A promise.
I was breathing heavily when I withdrew, my body drained yet so light and satisfied. I turned on my side, snuggling into the pillows. There was no other feeling like it, but I knew having the real thing would be even better.
And tomorrow, or the next day, or whenever I found the courage, I was going to find out exactly how much better it could be.
Because Elijah had told me all I had to do was ask.