Page 15 of Somewhere Only We Know (Healing in Cincy #4)

JAX

COLLEGE, SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR

“ C ome on, Jax baby. You’re not gonna win this,” Nate taunts as we play best out of five games of pool.

I chalk up my pool stick and round the table, finding the best spot to sink another striped ball.

When I find the best spot to go, I get into position and line my stick up.

My eyes flicker up to Nate and his eyes darken as my tank top gapes in the front revealing the skimpy lace bralette I’m wearing.

Smiling to myself I rear the stick back a couple of times and hit the cue ball, watching as it hits the striped ball with a small tap and sinking it into the side pocket.

“Woo hoo!” I stand up and cheer with a dance as I round to the other side of the table. “What was that you were saying, Natey baby?”

Since baseball ended, we’ve been spending our time doing what most college students do when they don’t have jobs: hanging around my parents house, playing pool, and letting the sun crisp us up.

Nate is headed home for a couple of weeks and I’m dreading the silence around here.

Kamryn’s living with Liam so she’s barely around and I don’t have many friends from college that I can call up.

Those that I do hang out with are girlfriends of Nate’s teammates, but those are proximity friendships and nothing substantial.

Having no friends never bothered me until the possibility that Nate won’t be here forever started to haunt me.

He sighs heavily and tilts his head down at me. “Don’t be a sore winner, Bee.”

“I haven’t won yet,” I gloat and find the spot where the eight ball is at.

Determining my next move, I call it. “Eight ball, corner pocket.” When the eight ball sinks in the pocket, I don’t gloat, I don’t cheer.

I simply set my stick on the table and bit my lip on the inside as I watch Nate.

His furrowed brow and narrowed gaze is on the pocket where the ball disappeared to.

And when he realizes he can’t will it back out so that I miss and he gets a chance, he sets his stick on the table with a sigh.

“This is what I get for challenging you.”

“I’m so glad you’re admitting defeat,” I say with a smile.

“It’s not my fault you have a whole arcade in your basement,” Nate whines.

I smile and shrug. My parents had the basement finished a few years ago and throughout that time added all their favorite arcade games along with the pool table.

It’s one of the things that I’m hoping will keep me occupied until Nate comes back up here for school.

On the other half of the room is a small theater that’s slowly getting broken in with the movies we’ve been watching this past week.

Nate walks over to the small couch and pats the spot next to him. Gladly, I walk over to him and drape my legs over his when I drop on the cushion next to him.

“Are you ready to see your family?” I ask and gently squeeze around his neck, massaging the area until he relaxes .

“Yeah. Plus, my sister is begging for me to take her to the water park.”

I smile just imagining them there and her dragging him all over the place. “Is it weird having a sibling so much younger than you?”

“It was at first. But now Kayla is like my small, broke bestie that tags along when I have errands to run,” Nate says with a warm smile. “When we graduate next year, you’re coming with me for a visit.”

I nod fast. “Yes. And then you’ll have two girls teaming up on you.”

He drops his head back on the coach with a groan and a laugh mixed. “I take it back. You can’t visit.”

“No way!” I start and move my fingers to tickle his sides.

He squirms and holds my hands in place. “Mercy.”

“I’ll accept it,” I relent. “So we’re for sure planning for the future?” I ask, rounding back to that.

“Yes. And I hope that doesn’t freak you out.”

I bite my bottom lip and shake my head. “What about the draft?”

“That doesn’t happen until mid-July. But I texted my high school coach and asked if he would work with me for a couple of days while I’m down there.”

“I am happy you made this decision,” I tell him because I don’t think anyone has told him that.

“Me too.”

Our eyes lock and so much passes between us.

Nate’s eyes lock on my lips and I have to remind myself to breathe.

This summer, as short as it’s been with him, between baseball and him heading back home, has been spent getting to know each other.

As friends we never talked about the big things.

But now that we’re dating, we’ve let each other know our secrets and fears.

Nate's fear is not living up to his parents expectations. Mine is fear of intimacy and failure. Which is probably why I’m still a virgin at twenty-one.

I mean, I have no problem ogling Nate when he’s shirtless.

But acting on it more than what we’ve done by kissing, terrifies me.

“Come on,” he says and breaks our stare. “Let’s watch a movie.”

I let out a breath and take his hand as he pulls me off the couch and towards the theatre.

My parents went the opposite way in this room.

While it’s still dark, they opted out of the standard theatre seats and have three rows of couches with deep seats in their place.

We’ve fallen asleep in here more times than usual because the cushions form to your body and pull you into a relaxed state.

Nate indulges me and picks out Divergent and turns the volume up to where the bass from the action scenes vibrate our chests.

He manhandles me and sets me between his legs and wraps his arms around my waist and I rest my head back on his shoulder.

The rise and fall of his chest relaxes parts of me I didn’t know were tense. But now another part of me lights up.

For three months, Nate has said no. We’ve kissed and teased each other until I’m ready to burst. And times that he leaves me breathless, I try to relive the buildup by taking care of business myself.

But after minutes, nothing. I’m tired of him taking us slow.

I’ve been ready for the next step in our relationship for weeks.

And if it’s anything after our heated make out sessions, he’s ready for more too.

I scoot around to get more comfortable and Nate stiffens. I wait for something from him. For him to tell me to stop. Or for him to ask if I’m okay. He seems to go back to the movie, so I scoot around again and this time I don’t miss the hitch in his breath or the feel of him against my back.

“What are you doing, Jaclyn?” he breathes heavily into my ear.

“I’m getting comfortable,” I reply coyly.

He snorts and pulls me closer to him. His arms drop from my waist and his hands land on my bare thighs. “Okay, same.”

I gnash my teeth together and drop my head on his shoulder.

“Remember what we talked about?” he asks over the sound from the movie.

I wrack my brain to remember as his thumbs rub small circles on my inner thighs and manage a small nod. “Touch me.”

“I am touching you,” he responds in a smartass tone. “Be more specific.”

I take one of his hands and place it over my shorts. “I want you to touch me here.”

His hand reflexively curls and I swallow hard as the friction is enough to make my eyes roll shut. “Is this all you want?” Nate’s voice takes on a huskier tone.

“No.” I want to be bold, but I don’t know how to voice what I want.

His other hand comes up and angles my head back to where we’re looking at each other in the darkness of the room that’s lit up by the occasional flashes of what’s happening on the screen. “For this to work, I need you to be vocal and tell me what you want. Okay?”

I nod and take a breath. Holding his stare, I say, “I want you to make me come with your fingers.”

Nate stills as if shocked that I said the words at all. His nostrils flare and his fingers rub over the crease of my shorts. “Like this?”

“No,” I whimper. “Pull down my shorts.”

Nate swears and fumbles as he slips the button free and slides the short zipper down.

My breath is coming in pants at someone seeing and feeling me for the first time.

Granted, we are in the theatre that’s mostly dark.

But maybe it’s the nervous anticipation of someone other than me touching myself that has me terrified and ready to shoot off like a rocket.

With my shorts off and legs spread, Nate hesitates. I take control and grab his hand, placing it where I want it most.

“Fuck, Bee,” he groans as his fingers glide effortlessly through my center. “You’re already soaked. Is this all for me?” His hand and fingers haven’t moved. They’re just resting on my center.

“Yes,” I mewl. “Use your fingers and make me come, Nate. Please.”

With his other hand he tips my head back again and drops his lips to mine as he runs his fingers through my slit again.

My mouth parts on a gasp at the feeling and Nate takes advantage as he pushes a finger through my opening.

I clench around the intrusion and he swallows down my moan.

He adds another finger and my hips lift, searching for more but Nate pushes them back down with his free hand and rubs my clit with his thumb.

The sensation of his fingers thrusting and his thumb rubbing my clit, has me breaking our kiss and throwing my head back on a silent gasp.

“Let me hear you, Bee. Tell me what feels good,” Nate coaches as he teases and plays with me. It’s almost laughable that he expects me to form full thoughts when he’s doing this .

“That,” I gasp. “And another finger.” I’m writhing in his lap as that buildup I’ve never been able to reach is racing towards the finish line.

“Fuck,” Nate whispers as he adds another finger.

I feel impossibly full as I try to ride Nate’s fingers. He drops his legs and my knees fall open, spreading me even further for him.

“That’s it. What else, Bee?” he grits out.

I feel his hard erection against my back and I try to move against it, but his fingers in my pussy keep me from doing anything else.

“My breasts,” I whimper. “Touch them, please.”

Nate’s hand slides under my loose tank top and pulls down the flimsy bralette cup. His hand kneads at my breast and he kisses his way down my neck. I’m covered in Nate and it’s the most glorious feeling.

“Baby, you feel so good. Taking my fingers like you’ve done it hundreds of times,” Nate praises and I never thought I would like talking during this, but my body begs to differ. “God damn. Your pussy is squeezing the hell out of my fingers.”

I throw my head back and try to close my legs as I feel myself racing towards the end. But Nate lays his legs over my spread ones and continues his thrusting.

“Nate,” I cry out. Not sure why I’m crying out his name.

“You’re close. Tell me what you need, Bee.”

“Pinch my nipple,” I tell him.

“Look at me, J. I want your eyes on me when you come for the first time,” he orders and moves his fingers until he’s rolling the stiff bud between his fingers.

My head falls back and our eyes meet. Molten lava to black obsidian. All it takes is a pinch of my clit and nipple and then I’m falling. Mouth agape as my first orgasm slams into me. Nate works me through it, stroking my inner walls until my legs fall lax.

His fingers leave my body and I watch in my lust-filled gaze as he brings them to his mouth, holding eye contact as he cleans them off. Popping his fingers free one by one.

Feeling brave, I lift up and fuse my mouth to his. The musky scent and taste of me on his tongue has me twisting in his hold, wanting to get closer. Wanting more.

Nate slows down the kiss and pulls back. And what I see–or what I think I see, leaves me speechless. He grabs one of the blankets that’s hanging off the back of the couch and lays it over my exposed body.

My forehead scrunches, because this–I feel ready.

“You’re still not ready for me, Bee. Baby steps,” he tells me and challenges my thoughts.

I lay back in his arms with a huff and do my best to concentrate on the rest of the movie. His fingers travel up and down my arms in a soothing gesture. But Nate doesn’t touch me the way I want for the rest of the night. And when morning comes, his bags and car are packed ready to go back home.

Standing with him next to the driver’s side door, I refuse to let go. My arms are wrapped around his neck and his are wrapped around my waist. The early June sun is still rising and I wish I could hold onto him forever in this moment.

“Bee,” he starts and I grip on tighter with his laugh rumbling his chest. “I’ll be back in two weeks.”

“I know,” I pout.

He gently unwinds my arms from around his neck and I drop down from my tiptoes. “You’re going to be the best return to college homecoming,” he tells me.

“I know,” I repeat.

Nate’s smile at my response is blinding enough. He tips my chin up and kisses me slowly, pulling away when I try to take it further. I drop my hands from his body and watch as he gets in his car and rolls the window down.

“Bye, Bee,” he says after the car is started.

“Bye, Bub.”

He drives away with a swoosh and I count down the days until he returns.