Page 24 of Between the Boards
I pull back, frowning. “What the fuck is going on?”
She meets my eyes. “The first date I was ever going to have turned out to be a shit show, and the guy was a jerk. Then you came in here and kissed me like the world was about to end.” She lets out a shaky breath. “So, now I’m frustrated, turned on, and I just want to feel good for a while.”
My frown deepens. “But why me?”
She gives me a look like the answer should be obvious. “Because.”
“Because what, Kairi?” I press. “Friends don’t just sleep together because they’re sad.”
“They also don’t kiss each other likethat,” she shoots back.
Fair point.
“Look, it doesn’t have to mean anything,” she says, softer now. “I just know we had fun last time, even with your injury, and I–I want funright now, Colton.”
That’s the problem. It’s not that I don’t want to have sex with Kairi. In fact, there’s nothing I want more right now, but Kairi isn’t built for things that mean nothing, no matter what she says. She feels too deeply, and cares too hard. And if we do this sober, there’s no pretending it was a mistake afterward. There won’t be an easy escape.
But the way she’s looking at me with those wide, puppy dog eyes makes it impossible to say no. Without a word, I pull out my wallet and toss a twenty on the bar before taking her hand and leading her outside.
Maybe the drive home will cool down the sexual tension between us; maybe five minutes will be enough. But by the time we walk through the front door of the house, I realize five minutes is not nearly enough time because I still feel like I’m made of exposed wires about to explode.
“Where is everyone?” she asks, glancing around at the empty space.
“It’s free time.” I shrug. “They’re all probably out doing their own thing.”
She slowly turns to look at me, and I know whatever happens next is in my hands. I glance at her and the hunger in her expression makes the decision for me.
I take her hand and lead her upstairs to my room, my heart pounding the whole way. Once we’re inside, I turn to face her, running a hand through my hair.
“I’m not fucking you,” I say, watching her expression turn confused.
“But wh?—”
“But,” I continue, cutting her off, “I’ll still help you get some relief.”
I take a step toward her, hooking my finger into her jeans and tugging her closer.
“Starting with these,” I mutter, popping the button and lowering the zipper before I tug them down her legs until they drop at her ankles.
She steps out of them, standing in front of me in black lace panties. I take a step back to admire her but I let my curiosity get the best of me as I reach for her shirt and slowly lift it, finding a matching black bra underneath.
“I hope you weren’t matching your underwear because you were trying to impress your date tonight," I say, feeling unreasonably jealous.
She swats my hand away and narrows her eyes at me. “I can’t seem to get laid by anyone in this house, so why wouldn’t I keep my options open on a date?”
The thought of Brandon’s hands all over her, undressing her, fucking her makes me pissed all over again for not cracking that beer bottle over his head when I had the chance. A dark pulse of jealousy hits so hard it scares me. I don’t want to imagine herwith anyone else. But then what the fuck am I doing agreeing to be her love coach?
Being a good friend, I tell myself.
I move my hand to her cheek, thumb brushing softly over her warm skin. “You know you never have to go looking for attention anywhere else, Kai.”
Her breath catches, and her thighs press together as she stares up at me before reaching for my arm and gently tugging.
“I do if I want sex,” she says quietly as her eyes drag slowly down my torso, unhurried and hungry, before settling lower.
The look on her face nearly brings me to my knees as she drops my arm and reaches for my pants, undoing my belt and unzipping my pants before pulling them down along with my boxers. My cock springs free, and she drops to her knees in front of me, wrapping her hands around it, and squeezing gently, a small bead of pre-cum forming at the tip.
“I’m supposed to be helping you come,” I say, already breathless. “Not the other way around.”
