Page 35

Charlie

I spend the rest of the weekend with Shane and Ryder. We don’t do much since I’m still weak. I try to eat what Shane makes for me, but I can only eat half before I’m tired.

He’s keeping a watchful eye on me. Anytime I go to the bathroom or leave his room, he’s right behind me. I know I scared him and that this is his way of keeping me safe. It took him a little bit to believe me when I said I was ok. Other than my ribs smarting if I stretch the wrong way, the rest of my body feels fine. A little sluggish, but fine. It usually takes a few days after being stuck in my head for so long to feel back to being somewhat normal.

My head is quiet for once, which helps. But it’s only a matter of time before the voices come back. They never leave me alone for too long.

“You’re looking better,” Lily says as I take my seat next to her in our art class on Wednesday.

I give her a tight-lipped smile because I know she’s full of shit. I’m still sporting purple bags under my eyes, but at least my black eye is just an ugly yellow color now, adding some color to my otherwise pale skin.

“Did you want to grab lunch with me and Noah after this?”

“Sure,” I say softly as I pull out my supplies and wait for the professor to start her lesson.

Halfway through class, my phone vibrates with a text message.

Blue: Hey Beautiful. How’s your day going?

Me: Kinda boring since all my classes are getting ready for finals.

Blue: Same. But that just means we’re one more day closer to winter break! snowflake emoji

I swallow hard. I have no idea what I’m doing for those two weeks. I’m not going back to that hell hole even though Benji and our parents will be celebrating Christmas in Barbados like they do every year. I usually spend time with Gloria and the rest of the housekeepers, but I don’t think I can go back so soon after what happened the last time I was there.

Blue: What are your plans for lunch?

Me: Cafeteria with Lily and Noah

Blue: I have a surprise for you!

Me: What is it?

Blue: If I tell you then it wouldn’t be much of a surprise, now would it?

Me: You know I don’t like surprises.

Me: Shane?

Me: I don’t think I like you very much right now.

Blue: I don’t believe that for one second. I’ll see you later beautiful blue heart emoji

I blow out a slow breath as I put my phone back in my pocket. I don’t know what he sees in me or why he’s still here after all I’ve put him through. I’m the biggest basket case in this school.

“Earth to Jax,” Lily waves her hand in front of my face.

“Huh?” We’re sitting in the back of the cafeteria. I’m facing the back wall with my hood up attempting to keep the stares off my face with Noah next to me and Lily across from us.

Lily huffs a short laugh. “I asked what your plans are after your last final next week. It’s Tuesday, right? My plane doesn’t leave until Thursday morning so I was thinking we could get some food then maybe you pack a bag and come with me while we celebrate Christmas in Dubai this year.” Her bright cerulean eyes plead for me to go with her.

It would be easy to say yes if her older brother and dad didn’t scare me. They’re twice as big as Shane and never smile. Her dad likes to talk politics and always has to have the last word, not that I’d ever openly disagree with him. And her brother is a huge NFL player who enjoys using his size to intimidate me.

“I’ll think about it.”

She’s about to say something else when someone calls her name. Her bright smile erases any trace of our conversation as she stands up and hugs a few girls who walk up to our table. I duck my head, hiding my face as they talk excitedly about their Christmas getaways.

Noah leans over and whispers in my ear. “You’re only making things worse by not going with her.”

I glance at him out of the corner of my eye.

“While you were depressed and shit, she’s done nothing but worry about your sorry ass. I told her to let you be so you could figure your shit out but of course, she didn’t listen.” He clenches his jaw, his hazel eyes turning dark. “You might not care about your life, but she does and I’m tired of hearing her talk about you . Be a fucking normal friend or let her go. She doesn’t deserve to be dragged down by your pathetic ass.”

He abruptly stands and walks over to Lily, and I watch as he whispers something in her ear making her laugh before they all walk away, leaving me sitting here alone.

He's right. I don’t deserve someone like Lily. She cares too much and has too big of a heart. I hate it when she chooses to stay with me instead of going out and having fun with her real friends. She’s too much of an extrovert to stay inside, away from the world. She’s the life and soul of the party and I’m just dragging her down.

I refuse to dull Lily’s light any more than I already have. I need to start pushing her away.

As that heavy thought settles in my heart, warm hands cover my eyes. My heart jumps into my throat but before I have a chance to panic, Shane’s deep voice reaches my ears.

“Why is someone as beautiful as you sitting all the way back here?”

He moves his hands down so he’s hugging me from behind. When I turn my head, I’m met with his lips. It’s a quick peck followed by his megawatt smile. As he takes the seat next to me, I quickly scan the students sitting at the nearby tables. A few are looking at us with shocked expressions. I turn back around and try to hide the heat that’s spreading across my cheeks.

Shane scoots his chair over so there’s no space between us. His hand comes up on my heated cheek and slowly turns my head so I’m looking into his light eyes.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I love you and I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks.” He leans in for another quick kiss.

I see a few of the guys I recognize from the hockey team scoff behind Shane’s back before they walk away. I try pulling away, but Shane puts his hand on the nape of my neck, keeping me a few inches from his face.

“Look at me baby,” he whispers.

I lock my eyes with his and instantly relax.

“I don’t care who sees us together. The people who matter the most to me already know that I’m bi and they still love and accept me.Fuck what the rest of the world thinks. I want to be with you out in the open so everyone can see. You’re the one I want more than anything, including hockey. So let the foolish think what they want. We have each other and that’s all we’ll ever need.”

He wipes away a lone tear that slipped down my cheek before pulling me in for a deeper kiss. It has my toes curling in my boots as I grip the front of his hoodie to keep him close. When he pulls away, he drops a kiss to my forehead then takes my hand and laces his fingers through mine.

I wait for my brain to come back online then it clicks that he’s supposed to be at practice.

“Aren’t you supposed to be lifting weights or something?”

He laughs. “What? I can’t skip weights to have lunch with my boyfriend?”

“Umm, no? Isn’t that against the rules?”

He lets out another short laugh. “It’s not against the rules, just really, really frowned upon. But practice was canceled so I figured you wouldn’t mind if I joined you,” he winks. “Would you like your surprise?”

I honestly forgot about that, but I nod anyway. He pulls his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans and flips open the slot where his cash is. He flips past a few bills before pulling out a folded white piece of paper. Setting his wallet on the table, he unfolds the paper and then hands it to me.

It’s a printout of a receipt for two plane tickets to Orlando in First Class for next Wednesday morning.

“I want you to come home with me and spend Christmas with my family. My parents live right on the beach so we can even bring in the new year under the stars without freezing.” He grabs my hand holding the paper that had started shaking. “They’ll love you because I do. My sisters ask about you all the time and my mom has already bought a five-pack of mac and cheese in preparation.” He nudges my shoulder. I move my eyes from the paper to his gorgeous face. “We all want you there so we can be together. Please say you’ll come with me.”

Being over a thousand miles from Shane for over two weeks sounds like agony I don’t think I’d survive. But what if my father finds out I’ve left Illinois, and it wasn’t to go back home to Indiana? He’d kill me for going somewhere that he couldn’t keep an eye on me, not that I’ve ever given him a reason not to trust me. But Benji travels with him and our mother and none of the housekeepers like him so they wouldn’t say anything.

I bite my bottom lip as I slowly nod. His face lights up with the biggest smile. He wraps me in a hug and pulls me onto his lap. I let out a small yelp then bury my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in my favorite scent.

We sit like this for the next ten minutes or so until Matt, Asher, and Ryder show up.

“Aww. Look at the two love birds,” Matt coos.

“Does this little cuddle session mean you’re spending winter break in the sunshine state,” Ryder asks.

I look up at Shane who’s already looking down at me with a soft smile. Looking behind him at the guys, I give Ryder a small nod.

“Thank fuck!” Matt lets out, sounding relieved.

Asher smacks him in the back of his head.

“The fuck was that for? Shane’s been stressed. He needs warm weather and his mom’s triple chocolate cake!”

Asher smacks him again as my heart sinks.

I never wanted to add stress to Shane’s plate. He has a lot going on between classes and being the team captain. I’m only adding my mess on top of it.

Shane must feel my heartache because he lifts my face to his.

“You are not a stressor. I get a little in my head with finals and the last game before break. You bring me calmness and pleasure. Never think otherwise.” He places a tender kiss on my lips.

“I didn’t mean… you didn’t think… Shit, sorry Charlie.” Matt looks confused.

“Just shut up,” Ryder shakes his head, trying to hold back a laugh.

Asher taps on Shane’s shoulder and signs something.

“That’s probably a good idea. Take that one for food first or he’ll annoy you with commercial songs from ten years ago.” Shane tilts his head to where Matt is standing.

“Yes! Food is a great idea! Wait, why is he taking me to get food? I missed something.” He scrunches his brows looking around at us.

“You’re such a dumb ass,” Ryder huffs. “Ash suggested we go study since this is the only day off we’ll get before the next game. And you’re a pain in the ass when you’re hungry. Hence the stop for food,” he finishes, an amused grin crossing his face.

Matt bumps elbows with Asher and starts bobbing his head to a beat no one can hear but him.

“Five…Five-dollar…Five-dollar foot loooooong.”

Asher lets out a low growl, rolls his eyes, and grabs Matt’s sleeve. He drags Matt out of the cafeteria still singing away.

“Ash is gonna kill him one of these days,” Ryder laughs. “You guys ready to go or do you want to keep sitting in that hard as hell chair?”

Shane stands, setting my feet on the ground. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me to his side.

“Let’s go.”

Classic rock filters through the speakers as Shane and I study. I’m on his bed with my artwork spread out while he’s at his desk flipping through a notebook. I don’t really have much to study. I passed all the practice tests and had high grades in all my classes. Right now, I’m looking over the work that I’ll be submitting for the fall semester. My portfolio is full, and I finished my heart sculpture a few days ago.

Shane lets out a slow breath as he closes his notebook and tosses it on top of the open textbook on his desk. He swivels his chair until he’s facing me.

“I need help studying for this class. I think I know everything but it’s starting to get all jumbled up. Can you quiz me?”

“Yeah, sure. I don’t know anything about kinesiology, but I’ll try.” I pile all my stuff up and place it on the bedside table.

Shane grabs a stack of index cards and walks over to me, sitting at the foot of his bed.

“I made these from my notes throughout the semester.” He hands them to me. “Shuffle them and I’ll try to answer.”

I do a quick shuffle and start to read off the first question before he stops me.

“How about we make this fun so I can remember the answers?”

He has a mischievous look, but I motion for him to continue.

“How about for every answer I get right, you take something off. And for every answer I get wrong, I’ll take something off. It’s a win-win!”

His bright smile has me nodding before I even tell my head to move. He could get me to do almost anything with that damn smile.

Rubbing his hands together, he leans forward. “Hit me with a question, beautiful.”

Looking at the top card I read off the question. “What does the I in FITT principle stand for?”

“Intensity.”

I reach down and remove a sock, tossing it to the floor.

“Starting with the feet. Kinky,” he smirks.

Ignoring him, I flip to the next card. “How many minutes per week should an adult spend doing moderate-intensity physical activity?”

He pretends to think about it, but I can tell he’s pulling my leg by the way he’s counting his fingers.

“You don’t have enough fingers for the answer,” I deadpan.

He gives me a shit-eating grin. “I know. It’s one fifty.”

I huff a laugh and go for my other sock, but he grabs my foot and pulls it off for me. “Oops, looks like you aren’t wearing any socks. Guess you have to pick something else to take off.”

“Is that how we’re playing this game?” I ask folding my arms across my chest in fake annoyance.

“Mhm.” He pumps his brows. “You should remove this,” he pulls on my pant leg. “It’s awfully warm in here.”

“Oh, is it? I feel fine actually.” I go to pull my pants down but grab the hem of my hoodie and pull it over my head instead.

He smirks and shakes his head.

“Read the next one, baby.” He says in that deep voice that only comes out when he’s turned on.

I read the next one in my head and even though I don’t know the answer, I flip the cards until one that sounds complicated appears. Sitting up straighter, I look at him over the card. He doesn’t look worried in the slightest. I clear my throat.

“Name the four anterior muscles of the hip.”

He doesn’t even think about it. “Pectineus, sartorius, iliopsoas, and rectus femoris.”

“You don’t really need help studying, do you?” I drop the stack of index cards on his bed between us.

“I may know a lot about the human body and the terminology.” He knocks the cards off the bed and moves closer to me. “I do need help removing my clothes though.” His husky voice mixed with his scent wraps around me, holding me hostage.

“Are your phalanges broken now,” I ask, pulling his hat off and running my fingers through his short hair.

“You know what phalanges are?” His brow lifts.

“I might have seen it on an episode of Bones.” I hold my hands up between us and wiggle my fingers. “Dancing phalanges.”

He snorts. “You’re such a dork.”

Looking into my eyes, the air around us crackles. He licks his lips as his eyes travel all over my face. He lifts my tee shirt and runs his fingertips along the waistband of my boxer briefs.

“I think you were supposed to take something off. Let me help you.”

He doesn’t wait for a response as he slowly lifts my shirt up and over my head, tossing it behind him. He quickly pulls his off before he attacks my mouth. His tongue battles with mine as we fight to explore each other’s mouths. Teeth clank as he forces me backward. Once my head hits the pillow, he moves from my mouth and down my neck. I suck in a breath as he takes my nipple in his mouth and sucks. It has a direct line to my dick, making it stiffen. He does the same to my other nipple, causing me to throb.

Kissing his way down the center of my chest, he looks up at me as he grips the waistband of both my boxers and pants. He smiles right before he pulls both down my legs. My cock smacks my pelvis, dribbling a drop of pre cum.

“You’re so fucking sexy, baby,” he rasps a second before my length disappears into his wet, hot mouth.

“Oh fuck.”

My hips buck up off the mattress, chasing his mouth. He holds down my hips as his nose brushes against my trimmed hair. His other hand tugs on my balls as his head bobs up and down on me.

“Sh-Shit,” I pant.

He pulls off, making me whimper.

“Don’t worry, baby. It’s just for a second,” he chuckles.

He sucks on his two middle fingers then pushes my legs apart. He circles my hole a few times before slowly pushing one inside me. I tense for a second then relax when he takes me back into his mouth.

He’s done going slow though. He works his second finger into me while going to town on my dick and massaging my balls. He grazes my prostate over and over, driving me crazy. It’s almost too good as I feel heat zing up my legs and settle in my groin.

“Shane. I-I’m gonna c-come,” I say breathlessly.

He quickly sits up and pulls his fingers out of me.

“No,” I whine.

He snickers as he pulls his jeans and boxer briefs off. “I want to be in you when you come.”

Reaching for the lube, he pours some on his cock then dribbles some of it down my crack. He rubs it around my hole before pushing some into me. I moan as he hits my prostate again.

“You ready for me, beautiful?” His sex voice sends goosebumps all over my body.

I nod vigorously. “Yes.”

He leans over me, hooking my legs in the crook of his arms, folding me in half. His cock head bumps my hole. I relax and open for him. He pushes in at the same time he kisses me. I get lost in the kiss as he pushes inside, enjoying the full feeling.

Pulling out slowly until just the tip is in, he sets a leisurely pace as we continue to kiss.

“You’re so fucking tight, baby. I love being inside you.”

“Go faster,” I whisper. “I need you to fuck me. Hard.”

“You sure? It’s been a while. I don’t mind going slow.”

I look him in the eye. “I’m positive. It feels so good when you’re in me. Slow is nice but I want fast and hard this time.”

“You got it, baby.” He kisses me fiercely before he sits back and tucks a pillow under my hips then lines back up.

He holds my legs against my chest as he plunges back into me. His hips snap against my ass over and over. He hits my prostate every time he pushes in, causing pleasure to radiate all over me.

“That’s it, baby. Squeeze my dick with your sexy tight ass,” he pants over me. “You love having my fat cock pound your tiny hole, don’t you?”

“Yes. Oh fuck…Shane…Ngh. Harder.”

He grabs my hip and flips me onto my stomach, pushing back into me in one swift motion. I don’t have time to protest the new position as he grips my hips and drills into me.

The new position has him even deeper.

“Ahhh…fuck yes,” he moans.

As he hits my prostate repeatedly, heat moves up my legs, into my stomach, and then my groin. On the next thrust, my balls draw up and I explode rope after rope of cum onto the bed.

“Yes, yes…Shane…nnuugghh,” I groan.

“Fuck. I’m gonna come so deep in your ass.” He slams into me one more time then holds himself as deep as he can as he fills me with his cum.

Unable to hold myself up anymore, I fall forward, landing in my own release. Shane follows, keeping his dick inside me.

I close my eyes as I try to catch my breath.

Shane’s warm breath hits my shoulder blade as his body traps mine under his.

“That was fucking perfect. You are perfect.” He kisses my overheated skin.

Once he slips out, we shower and make dinner, ending the night wrapped in each other’s arms with season one of Bones playing.