Chapter 57 – Kat
FIFTY-SEVEN
KAT
Tanner’s jaw tightens and his shoulders tense as he inserts the key card into our hotel room door. I can feel irritation radiating off of him, stemming from his conversation with Brendan about the incident. I had meant to discuss it with Tanner in private, but unfortunately Brendan spilled the beans as soon as we saw Tanner in the ballroom. Knowing how easily Tanner gets heated when it comes to Elijah, I quickly guided him out of the ballroom before he could start a fight with another fraternity brother.
I drop my clutch onto the TV stand in our room, but I wait for Tanner to shut the door before saying anything. Once the door clicks behind him, I let out a sigh.
“I had it handled.”
“You shouldn’t have to handle it—he shouldn’t be cornering you like that.” Tanner paces back and forth, undoing the top button of his pressed white dress shirt, revealing the spattering of hair and freckles hidden beneath. He’s a bundle of nervous energy right now and I don’t have the slightest idea of how to address it.
I stand in front of Tanner, stopping his pacing, and place my hands on his trembling jaw, forcing him to look into my eyes. “I’m okay,” I say firmly, trying to reassure him. When he doesn’t seem convinced, I lean in closer and whisper against his lips, “I promise. I’m okay.”
His tense body begins to relax, but I can still sense the apprehension in his voice when he speaks. “I could kill him.”
“I know, but I’d prefer not to spend the rest of my life with the man I love in prison. Kills the vibe, ya know?” My lips quirk upward, mirrored by a smile finally creeping over his face.
“The rest of your life, huh?” Tanner responds.
I shrink under his intense gaze, my mind instantly racing with regret and self-doubt, wondering if I have ruined everything with my honesty.
Tanner’s eyes soften as he notices my inner turmoil, but his smile doesn’t fade. “I want that, you know. You, forever.”
“Not like, soon. But eventually.” I laugh awkwardly. I love him with every fiber of my being, but the nagging fear remains—what if one day he sees through my facade and realizes I’m not the perfect girl he thinks I am?
Tanner laughs. “Kat, I can see your cogs turning. I’m not going to propose any time soon. We’re young, but just know…I will, one day.”
My heart flutters at his words—at never having heard someone speak about me with such conviction before, never having had someone be so sure about me.
“I love you,” I whisper against his lips.
“I love you too,” he murmurs. Then, his voice drops to a low, husky growl as he adds, “Now, take your dress off.” He smirks and takes a step back, waiting for me to make the next move.
I’ve never been the type to enjoy being told what to do, but there is something about Tanner doing it—this man who has spent so much time and effort ensuring I have complete autonomy—that makes me melt under his gaze.
Following his precise directions, I slide my arms out of the delicate straps. The soft blue material clings to my body as I slowly pull it down, savoring the feeling of the fabric against my skin. It pools around my feet, revealing my black strapless bra and matching lacy thong.
“Come to me.” His low voice sends shivers down my spine as his gaze travels from the curve of my hips to my exposed collarbone.
I bite my lip and take a few hesitant steps toward him, clad only in lacy undergarments and stiletto heels. The tension between us is palpable as we both feel the heat rising in the room.
I stand in front of him, but he keeps his hands by his sides, leaving me unsure of what to do with my own. In an attempt to break the tension, I tentatively reach out and grab onto his belt buckle, pulling him closer to me. The cold metal presses against my palm as his breath quickens.
“What now?” I whisper, trying and failing to wield control.
“On the bed.”
Following his instruction, I slide onto the bed, his eyes locked on me as I crawl over the plush comforter. Every sway of my hips catches his attention, and I can feel his gaze burning into me. My heels clank against the bedframe as I take my time climbing onto the soft mattress, savoring the anticipation building in my core.
Finally, he approaches, and our eyes meet, causing my heart to race with excitement.
I lay on the bed, propping myself up on my elbows to admire his form. His crisp white shirt is neatly tucked into his tailored pants, but the top two buttons are undone. My eyes follow the line of his body down to the undeniable bulge in his gray slacks. He stands at the foot of the bed, trying to conceal a slight tremble in his hands, biting down on his bottom lip so hard I can see it turn pink. A shiver runs through me, my cheeks flushing with heat under his intense scrutiny.
As he rubs the heel of his hand over his straining erection, I can’t help but watch, my gaze lingering on every movement. My mouth waters at the sight of him, my heart swelling with love as he gives me an adoring look.
No one has ever looked at me quite the way Tanner does, and I feel immensely grateful for that in this moment. It’s as if this connection—the love we share—is for us and no one else in this world.
“Scoot down,” Tanner demands.
I obey and scoot down the soft linen comforter until my legs dangle over the edge of the bed.
However, he seems unsatisfied, and with a sharp yelp of surprise from me, he pulls me even further until my butt is perched on the very edge of the mattress. “Much better,” he mumbles.
His lips brush against my ankle, sending shivers up my spine. He moves slowly, trailing kisses up toward my knee as I try to steady my breathing. As he releases my leg, I exhale sharply in annoyance, but his deep laughter rumbles against my skin. He looks at me with a mischievous glint in his eye before taking my other leg and repeating the routine, kissing from my ankle to my knee. This time, he continues his advance past my knee, up my thigh, and I clench in anticipation as the corner of his lips graze the soft lace of my panties before he retreats once more.
I glare at him as he pulls away, my hands balled into fists. All I receive in return is a mischievous grin. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me and is thoroughly enjoying it. My heart races and my body quivers, longing for him to really touch me. Every fiber of my being yearns for the pleasure I know he is capable of providing. But right now, he’s just playing a game, and I can’t fully enjoy it because all I want is for him to move a little higher.
Tanner continues his pattern of teasing me, except this time he inches down to kneel at the edge of the bed and pauses at the seam of my lingerie once more. His fingers dance along the edge of the fabric, teasing and tempting me. His warm breath tickles my skin as he leans closer, his nose grazing the damp fabric before pressing a gentle kiss against the lace. With each passing second, I find my anticipation overwhelming me.
With a gentle tug, Tanner pulls the lace of my panties tight against my sensitive skin. His head dips down and his warm tongue glides slowly over the delicate lace that separates him from my throbbing core. The soft friction sends shivers down my spine and I can’t help but gasp as he pushes the fabric between my pussy lips. My body tingles with pleasure as he skillfully uses his tongue to trace circles around my clit.
“Tanner, please,” I beg him as the ache between my legs grows unbearable, trembling as I look up at him with pleading eyes.
He hungrily grabs hold of the panel of lace and slides it aside, revealing my wet and aching core. Without hesitation, he dives in with his tongue, lapping at my damp flesh before nipping at my bundle of nerves. My back arches and I moan his name, overwhelming sensations coursing through my body.
Every lap of his tongue against my sensitive skin sends sparks flying. My body tenses as he expertly works me toward climax, and I grip the bedsheets for support.
He surprises me with a sudden thrust of two fingers inside me just as he sucks on my clit with an intensity that drives me wild. Colors explode behind my closed eyelids as I reach the peak of pleasure, completely lost in this moment with him. Despite my efforts to remain quiet, I scream as my orgasm rocks me.
Tanner’s lips trail down my inner thigh, pleasure rippling through my body at each touch. My chest rises and falls rapidly as I try to catch my breath.
The moment he stands and begins to move away from the bed, my eyes snap up to meet his.
“Where are you going?”
He pauses halfway through unbuttoning the cuff of his dress shirt, poised to peel it off his skin. “I thought we could take a shower together.” He gives me a soft smile before taking off his shirt to reveal a plain white undershirt. “But I can give you some time if you need it.”
I glance at the clock and see that it’s almost midnight. “No, I want to. Let’s do it.”
He steps toward the bathroom and every muscle and curve of his body is illuminated by the bathroom light streaming from behind him. He leans against the doorframe, casually crossing his arms over his chest.
My heart skips a beat at the sight of him. As I take in all of his naked glory, I can’t help but smile back at him, feeling overwhelmed with desire and love for him. Tanner nods toward the bathroom before disappearing inside, an unspoken invitation.
Without hesitation, I rush into the bathroom, feeling a little ridiculous standing there in nothing but my lingerie and three-inch heels. My feet are throbbing from hours of dancing, and the buzz from earlier has faded away. All I want is to kick off these torturous shoes.
Tanner turns to me and wordlessly lifts me onto the counter, his strong hands working to unbuckle the strap around my ankle.
Letting out a contented sigh, I say, “Thanks.”
He remains silent, but his actions speak louder than words. He leans over and carefully places my high heels on the floor, one by one. His warm lips trail down my neck as he expertly unclasps my strapless bra. My body responds to his touch, aching for more, yet this moment feels far more intimate than just sex.
Sweat beads on my palms as I bite my lip, fighting the urge to blurt out the burning question that has consumed me for weeks. But it escapes before I can stop it: “What’s going to happen?”
His brows pinch together. “What do you mean?”
My voice shakes as I try to speak. “After grad.”
My mind flashes back to two years ago, when Tanner was just a friend, nothing more. Now, as we approach graduation, he’s become my best friend and the love of my life. It’s overwhelming how much our relationship has changed. I can feel tears welling up in my eyes as I think about what will happen after we both have our degrees in hand. Will we stay together or drift apart? The uncertainty is terrifying, and I can’t stop the thoughts from racing through my mind.
“I meant what I said earlier, Kat. I fully intend to spend the rest of my life with you. The good and the bad, all of it.”
“But I know what graduation means. Do you have a job lined up? What if it takes you somewhere other than Ohio? What if you end up on the other side of the country? I’m not made for long distance and I would seriously freak ou?—”
“Kat,” he says, his voice calm and reassuring.
“Hm?”
“I start at Smith and Paterson at the end of July.”
His words carry meaning, real meaning, but my brain takes a minute to catch up. “But the Smith and Paterson Group is in Columbus.” He chuckles and it registers. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh .” He laughs as he presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “Wherever you go, I go. You already told me that you plan to stay with your mom, at least for now. So I started looking at jobs near Columbus.”
I bite my inner cheek. “Is that what you want, though? What if in a couple of years you resent me for holding you down in Ohio?”
“I always wanted to stay near my parents. I’m not going to say I was dead set on Columbus, but I always planned to stay in Ohio. This is what I want—you are what I want, okay?”
“Okay.” My voice cracks, tears pricking at my eyes.
Tanner leans in and gently presses his lips to the stray tear that escapes down my cheek, sending a warm shiver through my body. He gently cradles my face, our eyes lock, and his words flood my senses. “I love you more than anything, and I would do anything to keep you in my life.”
I giggle. “Would you eat a bug for me?”
Tanner grins and nods. “I would eat a bug for you.”
I raise an eyebrow playfully. “What about swimming with eels?”
He rolls his eyes but nods again. “I would swim with eels for you.”
Before I can think of another silly question, Tanner lifts me off the counter and carries me toward the shower. “That’s enough interrogation,” he says, stepping under the warm water with me still in his arms.