27. Rose
Rose
Kirin brought her over to his place on Thursday night.
She expected a bachelor pad with trash bins that overflowed with beer bottles, and pizza boxes on the kitchen table.
That’s not what she found, though. The exterior of the Jackson house screamed seventies architecture, while the interior had undergone modernization, leaving her wondering about Leon’s parents’ professions.
It was all warm wood tones: dark, worn leather; black stainless steel; and black-gray stone countertops.
Very masculine and cleaner and better smelling than she expected, given three busy male athletes lived in the house.
He gave her a quick tour, during which she was sure she wiped drool from the corner of her mouth a few times.
It felt like she’d walked into a magazine for interior design rather than a house her boyfriend was living in.
The basement showed a little more wear and tear.
It was closed off from the upstairs, and it made her wonder if they locked that when they threw parties.
None of the roommates lived on the top floor.
All three of them bunked in the basement, which, with its kitchenette and two bathrooms, made her think of her own apartment.
It was just as nice, darker and moodier, with a wall of windows overlooking the lake through the trees.
Fancy.
Kirin just shrugged and tugged her after him. Clearly, he was used to it. He’d suggested a night at his place since Leon and Harrison were both out for the evening. Neither of them expected Kirin to be home since he had spent nearly every night at her place lately.
“I know the house is nice, but personally, this has always been my favorite part.” Kirin pulled her after him. He hauled the rear sliding glass door open, and she took a surprised inhale at the view.
“Damn.” She let out a low whistle as she stepped out onto the deck. Trees surrounded the large deck, creating a pleasant vantage point overlooking the lake and forest. Kirin chuckled, and the familiar sound made her shoulders drop for the first time all day.
“I spent a lot of time out here as a teenager, roasting s’mores and playing Ping-Pong.
I’m sure there are still a few hundred discarded balls down there.
” With the fire going, Kirin returned to her side.
He pushed his fingers through her curled hands, and she let out a breath she’d been holding in.
Kirin pressed until she relented, their fingers curling around one another, and she squeezed his hand in silent thanks.
Kirin grinned down at her. “It’s gonna be okay; just focus on tonight.
I ordered food; it should be here soon.”
He guided her onto the corner seat of the outdoor sectional before he disappeared inside to grab a couple of blankets.
Between the fire and the stars high above them, she would have relaxed anyway.
Add in the cozy blankets, and it made her want to snuggle with Kirin and ignore the rest of the world.
It also made her crave more. All the stress had her whole body on lockdown for weeks, but to have him to herself without the risk of her roommates walking in or overhearing them…
That want for him went from a flame she’d done her best to ignore to an inferno.
A glance over at Kirin, who was frowning at his phone, made her realize they could both do with some relaxation.
And easing the sexual tension seemed like an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.
“So you wanna tell me what the plan is for the evening?” she asked, trying like hell to keep her hands from wringing and her voice casual.
It had been an embarrassing amount of time since she’d tried to come on to a guy.
“Well…” He glanced up, and her intentions had to be written across her face because he quickly put his phone in his pocket.
“The plan was to have some dinner, which is obviously running very late, maybe roast some marshmallows, and give you a massage. But if you have other ideas, we can do that too. This is all about you tonight.”
That had a blush burning its way up her throat to her cheeks. She crooked a finger at him, lifting her blanket enough for him to climb in with her. “A massage, huh?”
Kirin raised a brow, hurried to her side, and sat beside her. “Did you have anything in particular you needed massaged?”
Once he was situated, Rose climbed over his lap, straddling him so she could slide her fingers into his hair. With gentle pressure, she pulled his head back and met his gaze. Those nerves came roaring back to the front of her mind, and she paused, gnawing on her lower lip as she hesitated.
“Are you panicking?” he asked when she didn’t move, and she closed her eyes.
She tried to control her heart rate and the accompanying nerves as he ran a hand down her back to soothe her.
He kept his hands moving up and down until he stopped to curl his hands around her hips.
Kirin gently tugged her into a hug, and her body relaxed into him.
His voice was rough against her neck when he said, “I’m here.
There’s no reason to panic. It’s just the two of us. ”
“I’m calm as can be.” She grimaced at the lie.
She twirled her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck as she took deep, slow breaths of that laundry detergent.
Then, she let her body mold itself to his as she admitted the reality.
“It’s been a while since I’ve done this. I might be a tad nervous.”
The deep hum he released reverberated against her breasts. She took another deep breath until Kirin pulled back, forcing space between them. He wrapped a hand around her neck and used his thumb to nudge her jaw up. “If you want to wait, we can. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t think I can wait.” She swallowed, brushing her thumb over his cheekbone. “We’ve been sleeping together for weeks, and I went to bed every night imagining touching you and then chickening out.”
Kirin’s shoulders dropped under her forearms, like the tension was leaving his body.
Probably at the news that whatever he was feeling definitely wasn’t one-sided.
Maybe that was the confirmation he needed because Kirin dragged his nose up her neck.
He kissed under her jaw as she tilted her head back, enjoying the feel of his breath on her skin.
She liked it even more when he groaned, taking a deep inhale of her as his fingers tightened.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had more vivid dreams than when we’re in bed together,” he breathed out, and she nodded in agreement. “If you want me to stop, you tell me, okay?”
She wouldn’t ask him to stop, but she nodded anyway. When he pulled back and broke their contact to raise an eyebrow at her, she laughed. “Yes, I’ll tell you if I want to stop.”
Yet another confirmation he needed because after that, he was on her.
His mouth pressed against hers, his tongue seeking entrance, which she happily gave.
When their tongues stroked one another, she sucked on his, earning a groan from him.
Kirin’s hands pulled at her sweater, fingers slipping beneath while tugging her closer.
She reached back to wrap them in the blanket again and tugged it up over her shoulders, his hands moving down to stroke her thighs.
When his hips rocked against hers, the need for him coiled tighter, and she groaned into his mouth as she met him rock for rock.
She enjoyed the feel of his length rubbing against her center, where the seam of her jeans hit just right.
It made her whole body coil tight, her reaction creating a movement that was no longer in her conscious control.
Her body centered all of its attention on the sensation, pursuing the high it promised. An animalistic response.
“That’s right, Flower,” he breathed into the hollow of her throat as his hands roamed with deep pressure, his voice a growl into her skin. “Use me.”
Kirin sucked. His fingers pulled the shoulder of her sweater down as she ground herself against him.
She continued to chase the building high as she breathed him in.
Rose worked her hands down his chest to slide under his shirt.
At the feel of his hot skin against hers, the quiver of his tight abs, her fingers curled around his sides, wanting more.
While she shoved his shirt out of her way, Kirin rubbed his hands over her breasts, the calluses rough against her nipples through her thin bra.
She didn’t have time to clamp her mouth shut to stop the moan and whimper that slipped out when he pinched her nipple.
“I know, Flower, I know.” Kirin’s response came with the brief absence of his warmth. He yanked the blanket down for a second so he could tug her sweater off her shoulders and help her out of her bra. “I’m here. Stay with me, baby.”
When she removed her bra, it got whipped to the corner of the couch.
She jolted at the thwack of the impact on the cushion.
A second later, Kirin had pulled the blanket back over her shoulders as he kissed her collarbone.
The deep V-neck of her sweater allowed it to circle her waist and give him access to her chest. There was a slight drop when he separated his legs, his body wiggling down in his seat while he adjusted her to tug her hips over him again.
She groaned at the renewed contact. The pressure hit right where she needed it.
Kirin leaned back, his hands tightening around her hips to move her as he pleased and help her chase her pleasure.
She watched him through heavy eyes as he took her in. The lazy smirk tilted his mouth as her eyelashes fluttered when the pleasure felt too good. His eyes were dark and hooded. They flared when she tilted her hips just enough to drag along the length in their new position.
“That’s better, huh?” he whispered, his voice rough and gravelly when her back arched. She huffed around the moan, her jerky nod the only answer she could give him while her mind emptied of everything except him and how he was making her feel.
Kirin’s hand brushed over his skin until he closed it around her left breast again.
He plucked at the nipple before he closed his mouth around it.
His breathing was just as labored against her skin.
His hands dropped to her jeans so he could undo her pants, sliding his hands around her waist and then dipping them into the back where he could grab the malleable flesh of her ass.
He pressed her down as she rocked, helping her find more of the friction they both needed.
When his teeth sank into the sensitive flesh of her right nipple, she felt the wave crest within her.
His muffled moan mingled with her own when they both fell over the edge into the euphoria of their climax.
As they rode out the wave, their mouths found one another.
Taking turns swallowing the groans, he licked the inside of her mouth while she struggled to pull her body back together.
Kirin deliberately worked her through her orgasm.
He prolonged it until she was suspended in a heightened state, which caused his arms to shake while his fingers dug tighter into her ass.
When her legs stopped shaking, he dragged his mouth down her neck to kiss her collarbone again, his voice rough while he breathed quiet praises into her skin.
“We should have done that weeks ago. Holy shit,” she murmured against the sweat-soaked skin of his neck. She licked it up, savoring the salty mix with his usual scent as it embedded itself into her heart and soul.
“You weren’t ready weeks ago.” He rubbed his hand along her back, that soothing motion returning as he kissed along her sternum and gently bit the curve of her breast. “Not that I’m complaining, but what brought this about today?”
“Stress relief?” she asked, and when Kirin leaned back, she grimaced. “Partially stress relief?”
“Flower, I can understand stress relief, but throwing an axe at a wall would have done that.” Kirin’s fingers nudged under her chin, tilting her head until she met his gaze. “Again, not complaining, but why today? Are you okay?”
Rose gnawed on her lower lip, sucking it into her mouth as she looked at him. He was so open and patient. When she didn’t respond, he tilted his head, like a curious and patient puppy waiting to be told he’s a good boy. She shook her head at him and sighed.
“I didn’t want him to be the last person who touched me. It felt like he would win if that was the case.” She covered her face and groaned. “It sounds so stupid, and I’m worried it makes what we just did feel cheap.”
“Rose…” Kirin’s hands pulled hers away from her face. “Did you want this, or did you want this because of him?”
“I want you,” she whispered, and the intense expression melted a bit, his lips tilting into a smirk that had her eyes narrowing at him. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Too late.” He tugged her down to him again and buried his face in her neck. “Having your attention is like a high. Knowing you want me as badly as I want you, I might get drug tested if I keep smiling like this.”
She ran her fingers through his hair, nuzzling against the side of his head. Her voice sounded small when she asked, “You’re not mad?”
“No, I’m not mad.” He kissed her neck, leaving a trail of kisses along the sensitive skin. “I’d prefer that next time, Goodwin be a nonissue. I want your full, undivided attention.”
“You always have my full, undivided attention,” she whispered into his hair. “I can’t seem to think of anything but you when you touch me, if I can think at all.”
“Mmm, remind me how I’m supposed to prevent this from getting to my head?” he asked, squeezing her sides again as she shook her head.
“You’re ridiculous.” She kissed his temple, squeezing her eyes shut as her stomach growled.
“Only for you.” He lifted her off his lap and helped her settle into the corner of the couch. He checked his phone and grinned. “Food’s here. I can bring some marshmallows and toasting forks?”
“Yes, please,” she whispered, and he grinned, offering her a salute. He kissed her temple, taking a deep breath of her hair. Then he stood and draped the blanket over her. A second later, he disappeared into the house.
She scrambled across the couch to grab her bra and tugged it back on with quick movements as she righted her sweater.
Then she burrowed under the blanket again to keep warm from the chilly breeze.
Rose let out a long breath. She dropped her head back into the corner of the cushions and pressed her fingers into her lips as she smiled to herself.
Her lips were still swollen and overheated from kissing Kirin. She loved it.