Page 9 of Surviving Slater

"Okay," I said, not wanting to push her too much. "Move over."

She gave me a questioning look but followed my instruction. I took my shoes off and lay down beside her in the bed.

"I miss you. And if you don't want to come out of your room I'm going to stay with you for a little while."

Her hand reached for mine and squeezed. My fingers wrapped around hers and I held her hand in mine.

It was hard to be around her and not think about the things in my childhood that had happened to me and the effect it had on my life. I swallowed hard, trying to fight the usual feelings that accompanied the memories.

"Every time I close my eyes I can see his face," she whispered hoarsely. I squeezed her hand tighter.

"It will get better," I told her. My childhood still affected me to this day but I had to give her hope that things would get better. She had survived the horror of her childhood, maybe she was stronger than I was.

"Have you spoken to Sin?" I asked, trying to change the subject to something a little lighter.

"No," she said with a heavy sigh. "He keeps calling and sending me messages."

She shifted onto her back and stared up to the ceiling like I was.

"He really cares about you."

"I know." She paused for a moment. I still didn't know why they weren't together. He cared for her and she cared for him. "How's things with you and Slater?"

"We are nothing." I hoped she was going to drop the subject.

"I thought he would regret his decision."

He hadn't. I could still feel that sinking feeling in my stomach when he had rejected me. I knew why; it was me. I had issues he couldn't or didn't want to deal with.

I didn't want to think back to the moment when my childhood memories had resurfaced to ruin anything I had hoped would unfold between us. Usually I could block it out but this time something he had said had set it off and there had been nothing I could have done to stop it.

He kissed me and I felt my stomach flip when his tongue slid against mine. My nails dug into his broad shoulders as he continued to kiss me like I was water and he was dying of thirst.

When his mouth broke from mine, I was left gasping. He looked at me with his smoldering eyes and I pulled him down to me for another kiss before his lips began their exploration of my semi-naked body.

The sight of his inked skin next to mine was such a turn-on. His tongue trailed a path down my neck. I shivered with anticipation as my hands raked through his hair.

The warmth of his breath and the touch of his tongue against my sensitive skin made me lift to his touch as he moved to my bra.

He hesitated when his hands reached for the clasp, his eyes asking me for permission to remove the clothing. I sat up and undid the clasp as he slipped the straps off my shoulders. So slowly and so erotic. He dropped a kiss to my shoulder as the clothing dropped away.

I had been naked before with guys, but this was different. The way his eyes trailed over me set me alight.

"Touch me," I said.

His hand held my breast as his mouth found mine again. He lay me back down. A moment later I felt the warmth of his mouth on my breast. The ache between my legs grew. I needed him.

"Please," I said softly, needing him to touch me.

But he didn't hurry. His mouth moved down my abdomen. My hands fisted the sheets as his lips reached the top of my panties.

"Are you sure?" he breathed. I lifted my head slightly and our eyes met.

"Yes."

If he didn't, I felt like I was going to combust. He eased my panties off and I lifted my hips to help him remove them.

"What do you need?" he asked softly, his fingers on the inside of my thighs.