Page 80 of No Easy Catch
She held on tight when I picked up the pace, coaxing her with my body and my words, and she dug her nails into my back when she got close. I reached down with my hand and gave her the added pressure she needed, and she arched her hips when she orgasmed for the second time. Her cries started deep in her throat, coming out sexier than hell, and I just watched and admired her. She didn’t hold back in the bedroom with me anymore and each time with her felt better and different, like we were exploring new ground together, and it thrilled me.
“Fuck,” I groaned when the base of my spine tingled. Just seeing her pleasure was enough to set me off and I pumped a final three times before spilling into her. “Amber…” I kissed her collarbone, her face, her forehead and pushed myself up. “Can I sleep over with you tonight?”
“Yes,” she replied with a sweet giggle. “I’m not sure how much sleeping we’ll do. You got me addicted to you.”
“You say the perfect things sometimes.” I tickled her side and disposed of the condom. “Thank you for giving me another chance. I’m not sure what I would’ve done.”
“Well, what can I say, you’re just such a catch with all your baseball muscles and perfect hair,” she teased. She patted her bed and moved over so I could join her. “I need to fill you in on some stuff, but we can talk tomorrow since you don’t have practice or a game. Let’s just enjoy each other tonight, okay?”
“God, my girlfriend is the best.”
“Yeah, I guess I am,” she mumbled against my chest when I pulled her into my side. It was the first time in…forever I’d felt good. There wasn’t a single worry and I wasn’t afraid for the other shoe to drop. She nuzzled closer to me. “Mm, this is perfect.”
I smiled even though she couldn’t see me. It was perfect.
EPILOGUE
Amber
Four monthslater
“Henderson.”Jeff’s voice caught my attention and I looked up from my nook in the library to find him walking toward me with a huge smile. It never got old, seeing him look at me that way, or the fact we were together.Us.A real couple who said I love you’s and held hands. “I brought you something.”
“A cookie?” I asked, trying to see what he held. He smirked and bent down to give me a quick kiss. Each time was a thrill and he sat on the chair next to me, scooting it closer to me so our legs touched.Look at us showing PDA and not caring!
“Not a cookie.” He straightened and a serious look crossed his face. “Just, take a look at this and let me know what you think.” He handed me a brochure and looked more nervous that I had seen him in months.
“What is this, Jeff? Why are you worried?”
He didn’t respond and jutted his chin to the brochure when he reached under the table to put his hand on my knee. I was a little concerned with his silence and opened the brochure. It was for an apartment complex just north of campus, a small one bedroom with a den.
“Are you moving?” My voice dropped a bit because the fact our lease was up on the house at the end of June—only five weeks away—meant making big decisions and I loved living two houses down from him. This would be miles away. “Have you toured it?”
“You’re taking a year off before applying to grad school. I’m taking a year to study for the LSAT and apply next year.” He spoke like he was checking off a list.
“Yes, we’ve talked about this, Jeff.” I gulped and butterflies exploded in my stomach. My initial thoughts were insecurities about the investigation, or if he was having seconds thoughts…but that didn’t make sense. Things had been so good between us. “It’ll be risky for us, but I think getting some part-time jobs and with the explosion of the social channels, I can freelance my writing. I’m sure we can do it, or at least take out loans.”
“Have you thought about where you’re living after your lease is up?”
I made a face and shook my head. “I’ve been avoiding it, actually. Laney is moving to Chicago and Marissa is moving back home until she can save some money and, well…” I paused and held his gaze. “Truthfully, I wanted to see what you were going to do first.”
“God, I love you.” He grabbed my face and kissed me hard. “We’re on the same page and now I feel silly for not just asking.”
“Asking what?”
“Amber Henderson, will you move into this apartment with me? I know it’s kinda fast, but at this point, I know what future I want and you’re in it. If you’re game…I say we do it.”
I eyed his hesitant smile and the warmth in his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t realize this was what I had been waiting for when I’d put off making any decisions and I threw my arms around him. Now it made sense. “Let’s do it.”
“So yes?”
“Yes, Jeff.” I laughed against his neck and felt weightless. “We can eat macaroni every day and fight over who uses the blankets more.”
“Can’t fucking wait to celebrate this with you.” He pulled back and kissed me long and hard, right in the library. Onlookers watched us, but I didn’t really care. It was a new normal for me to have people recognize me after the article went out, but my close friend circle had never changed. Jeff glanced at the binder on the table and tilted his head. “Shit, sorry. I interrupted whatever it was you were doing.”
“A little late for that, punk.” I leaned into him and closed my notebook. “This is a better distraction that looking for scholarships and part-time jobs. ”
He nodded, because he, too, would be in the same boat, and lowered his voice like he always did before he asked, “Have you heard from your uncle since the trial started?”
