Page 13

KEENE

G od, I loved my life.

I was young and fit, and chicks wanted to have sex with me. What more could a guy ask for?

Still smug about the fact one had sought me out and specifically asked for my specialty, I whistled as I stepped into the cool night, leaving the party behind, and I made my way toward our designated meeting spot.

I swear, nothing beat the thrill of knowing you were about to get laid.

I’d just about reached the half-finished gazebo I’d given Makayla directions to when I picked up the barest whisper of footsteps behind me.

Damn, she’d told me she had to stop by the bathroom first and then she’d meet me out here in five. But she must’ve been so eager she’d come out directly behind me.

I’m not gonna lie, it did my ego good to know she wanted my D that much.

Grinning mischievously, I paused to wait for her to catch up, but the dadgum girl walked right past me in the dark, straying away from the path that led to the gazebo altogether.

Shaking my head, I stepped in behind her and followed her for a few steps, wondering where the hell she was going before I decided to strike.

“There you are,” I murmured in her ear as I lassoed one of her breasts with my hand while I used the other to cup her pussy.

She gasped and lurched forward, tripping over her own feet as she ripped herself from my arms.

“Whoa, hey!” I laughed, grabbing her elbow to steady her. “Makayla. It’s okay. It’s just me.”

She paused, going momentarily still. “Keene?”

Her voice was so quiet I barely heard her.

“Yeah,” I assured, stepping closer and finding her hand when she turned my way. “Not a serial killer. Just Keene.” Squeezing her fingers in reassurance, I lifted them to my chest so she could feel me for herself. “See. One hundred percent flesh and blood Keene Dugger here.”

My other palm found her hair, and I patted it in calming strokes.

I could barely make out her form in the dark, and for some reason, the absence of sight made her hair feel incredibly soft against my fingers.

She exhaled audibly as if relieved.

“You okay now?” I asked as I shifted even closer to inhale her scent.

She smelled good, like a woodsy, smoky, vanilla-ish scent. It reminded me of old, leather-bound books being read in front of a crackling fire while you were curled up on a soft, warm couch in front of a big bay window overlooking a snowstorm.

I shuddered, wanting to open her from cover to cover and burrow into her warm, inviting pages as I devoured every word.

“I didn’t mean to scare you quite that much.” Finding her ear with my nose, I nudged the lobe playfully and whispered, “I mean, maybe a little. Just enough to get your blood flowing.”

She shuddered against me but didn’t pull away, making me think this one was a good shudder.

“My blood is definitely flowing,” she admitted.

I grinned. “Yeah?” Letting go of my grip on her hand, I ran my fingers up her arm. “Then perfect.”

On my chest, her hand slowly slipped its way down with her thumbnail dragging along behind.

I drew in a heavy inhale, feeling the touch all the way to my junk, and I gripped her shoulder.

She swirled small circles across my pecs, clearly curious about the terrain and exploring it openly.

A shiver of need coursed through my veins, and my flat nipples must’ve beaded because she paused on one and sucked in a quick breath before she pinched it lightly between two fingers, right through the cotton of my shirt.

“Jesus, woman.” I squeezed her shoulder to steady myself against a sudden wave of desire. “You’re killing me here.”

“Sorry,” she rasped and tore her hand away as if chastised.

“No, wait.” I nearly wept from the absence of her touch. “Come back,” Finding her hand once again, I squeezed it in reassurance. “I liked it.”

“Oh.”

She sounded uncertain as if she didn’t know what to do now; I grinned and tugged on her hand, pulling her behind me as I started back up the path from the way we’d just come. “Follow me. The gazebo’s this way.”

She did willingly, not saying a word. And her silence made the moment feel heavier somehow. Sexier.

My body stirred, and anticipation mounted.

At the gazebo, I paused. “Watch your step.” I tightened my grip as she stumbled around before finding the first stair. “No lights yet. But we have plans to install them.”

Once we were inside, Makayla drew in a deep breath. “It smells like new wood,” she murmured in obvious appreciation.

I smiled, drawing in my own nose full. “Yeah.”

“Why isn’t anyone else out here?”

She was talking in such a low voice it was hard to make out her words, but it was also hot as hell, causing something in my ear to twitch with arousal.

“It’s not finished yet,” I explained, leading her toward a railing that seemed to be the most-lit place. “We still have to build benches and put in electricity.”

“Ah.”

I frowned when we paused because I still couldn’t make out her face. “It’s too dark out here. We should go in?—”

“No.” She moved closer and barely touched my neck, the hesitant teasing glance of flesh across flesh made my cock thicken. “Here is perfect.”

I groaned out a light breath and tipped my face down to dust her temple with my lips.

“Alright then. We’ll stay here.” Shifting my nose along her jaw until my breath washed across hers, I paused there with our lips half an inch apart, making her shudder. “So you ordered the Happy Kitty, right?”

Exhaling roughly, she asked, “Did I?”

With a smile, I caught her hand to bring it back up to the center of my chest because I liked how she’d played with me. “Yes, ma’am. I do believe that’s what you said you wanted when we were inside.”

“Oh.” She sounded almost disappointed as her fingers curled around the cloth of my shirt.

Hearing the uncertainty, I asked, “Did you change your mind?”

“Hmm?” Clearly distracted, she let go of my shirt so she could smooth her fingers over my chest again.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was marveling over the surface.

It made me smile, but still… I needed to make sure she was down with this before it continued.

“Makayla?” I kept my voice sing-songy and light. “Do you still want me?”

“I always want you,” she admitted in a raspy voice that made my entire body shudder.

“Well then, let’s take me, shall we?”

I leaned in to kiss her, but she must’ve sensed me coming.

She pulled away at the last moment. “Wait.”

Pausing, I lifted an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?” Silently cursing, I hoped she hadn’t changed her mind after all. “You want to stop?”

“No. I mean—I just—you think—” She broke off her fumbling with a frustrated huff.

“It’s okay, darlin’,” I murmured, catching her hip and stroking it easily. “You can talk to me. Just lay it all out there.”

So she blurted, “I’m not who you think I am.”

I blinked, then furrowed my brow. “Don’t worry,” I assured. “I didn’t think you were easy or anything, even though none of that reputation bullshit matters to me. If it matters to you , I can keep quiet about this. No problem.”

She muttered another irritated sound before saying, “No, that’s not?—”

“Besides,” I went on. “You’re allowed to like sex. You’re supposed to. The guy with you isn’t doing it right if you don’t.”

She paused before whispering, “I bet you do it right.” And her hand lightly fluttered up my arm.

Her words were breathy and impassioned, and they sent a shudder of longing straight through me.

But damn. I had no idea Makayla could be so…

I don’t know.

Sensual.

Tightening my grip on her waist, I tugged her against me. “Damn straight, I do,” I assured her. “So what’s holding you back?”

She heaved out a breath as if my question affected her heavily. My fingers curled around the back of her neck, and I lowered my face to hers until our brows were nearly brushing.

“Makayla?” I prodded quietly in the dark.

“I…” I could hear her swallow before her chin lifted and her shaky breath washed across my cheek. “What if I do it wrong?”

I groaned with achy need. “Not possible,” I assured. “You just standing there doing nothing is already driving me crazy. I swear, I will like everything about this.”

She shuddered without replying, and her hand fluttered over my chest again. Light and teasing at first. Her palm pressed boldly against one peck, right over my heart.

Wrapping my fingers around her wrist, I shifted her touch, running it down and encouraging her to keep moving it as I coached her hand to go where I wanted it to go.

She released a strained breath. “I can’t believe I’m touching you.”

I grinned. But seriously, I had no idea Makayla had been carrying such a torch for me. In class, around her friends, she’d always acted turned off. I guess a girl’s true feelings came out when you got her alone and away from the rest of her herd.

“Nice, right?” I teased with a satisfied smirk. “And you haven’t even reached my best feature yet.”

Her explorations paused. I held my breath, hoping I hadn’t put her off with my dumbass comment. But she started smoothing her fingers again, over my shirt and heading south.

“Fuck,” I croaked, not about to stop her. “How the hell could you think you’d do something wrong?”

She said nothing, just slipped down past my navel until she reached the top of my jeans.

The night was chilly. Sweater weather. But I was burning up. Desire thickened in my lungs and made it hard to breathe. Labored pants exited my lips. Sweat gathered on my brow, and the heaviness growing between my legs was starting to ache, throbbing with my increasing heart rate.

“Can I?” she asked as she grasped the top button of my fly.

I nearly came then and there.

“God, yes,” I answered, gulping greedily. “I may weep if you don’t.”

The button popped apart. I grunted, momentarily dizzy with anticipation.

“Jesus,” I grated out.