Sycamore, Stars and the Air Between

PART VII

Hair still dripping from the shower, I blow out a long breath as I stand in front of his door. I glance up and down the hallway, nerves replacing the need in my stomach. Stupid. This is stupid. I take half a step back. The door to my back swings open, and I turn to face it, stumbling back.

"Hello there." A handsome brunette slurs, leaning into me, the scent of vodka wafts off him stinging my nose. I retreat another step. "Wait." He reaches out for me, fingers parting, looking ready to grope. Another step back. A wall connects with my back. Trapped.

"Don't." I warn. It's too little, way too late. Fingers fumble against my cheek and I turn my head away as my blood goes icy.

The wall behind me disappears and I feel myself tumbling backward and hit a hard surface, eyes still on the drunk. A strong arm winds around my waist and guides me further into the room. Kellan. "f**k off." He growls at the brunette and slams the door.

"Nate's not here." Kellan lets me know, his eyes looking anywhere but at me. I take advantage of it, gazing at his bare chest, the shorts low on his hips. Muscled but not gauche, lean with a strength that is made outside, not a gym. I brace my feet and force my chin up.

His eyes slip to mine, whether it's due to my movement or my silence. I don't care. Those eyes, unrelenting and beautiful - they trap mine. A jolt courses through me.

Without thinking I breathe. "This doesn't mean anything." And then I crash into him. There's a pulse of surprise followed by wicked delight as he takes over the kiss. And I give in. God, so willingly I give in. The kiss is harsh, demanding. I clutch at his shoulders and press myself into him.

A low whisper of a sound flows from him. He pulls me even closer. Any threat of separation gone. The smell of fresh pine and the ocean breeze overwhelm me and I tilt my head to deepen our kiss. His tongue flicks along my lips, a silent plea. I open my mouth and moan as his tongue rushes in, tasting me, devouring me. I dive into it, lost in his touch.

Somewhere, some part of me feels us move, senses his direction. It isn't until my legs hit the edge of his bed that I come up for air. I bend down, Kellan lets out a hiss. "I need to see you." My cheeks flush at his boldness, core heating. He steps back from me and with unwavering eyes he adds, "Please."

I slip the straps of my dress off my shoulders and with a shimmy of my hips I let it fall to the ground. His eyes are feral, hands clenching as he stares at me. "f*****g Christ, you're beautiful." Low and taut, I'm left speechless. So I just pull him into me. he rams his lips into mine, it's less of a kiss and more of a brand. An invisible marking.

A nudge, his knee knocks against mine and he lowers me into the bed. With a devious smirk he pulls back the comforter, climbs on top of me and covers the both of us. Tortuously slowly he drags a hot tongue up the side of my neck and -

The door slams open. Kellan moves to the side, his body blocking mine and I dive under the covers going dead still.

"Nate." Kellan greets casually, "I have a guest." He adds curtly.

"Sorry man you should've texted." Footsteps. My breathing quickens. I can't let Nate see me here nearly naked in his best friends' bed. I will myself to stay collected.

"It was kind of last minute." I hear the smirk on his lips.

"Damn. She hot?" His voice drops into a whisper. He thinks I'm sleeping I realize.

"Do I ever settle for less?" Kellan replies cockily. I pinch his thighs through the sheets and he jumps. "Are you going to get out or what?" He grits out, slowly he rubs his thigh. The pinch no doubt burning.

Nate grunts. "Come on, I'm drunk. I'll turn off the lights and put in headphones. She won't even know I'm here. I'll leave early."

"No way." Kellan responds. I hear the padding of feet and the lights go out.

"It'll be fine!" Nate whisper yells. His mattress creeks as he throws himself down onto it. Kellan lets out a long loose breath and turns into me, inching further under the covers.

Face to face in the darkness I pinch him again. "What the hell Kellan! I can't be here." I whisper to him.

"Then leave!" He replies. I bite my lip. There's no way I can. No way I can sneak out without catching Nates attention. I don't even know where my dress is, where my shoes ended up.

I stay silent and pinch him again. "f**k! Stop doing that. Let's just go to bed, he said he's leaving early."

"He better be" I grumble and adjust myself to lie on my back. We're on a twin bed so when Kellan tries to mirror my position, I'm smashed up against the wall. Without warning Kellan flips me onto my side and pushes himself up next to me, spooning me perfectly. I want to argue, to tell him to stop pushing me around but -

But he feels so good, warm and powerful at my back. His arms circles around me one on my stomach the other under my neck. He presses an open mouthed kiss to the back of my neck.

I shudder, arching as a gasp comes out of me. I feel him smirk against my neck. His hands begin to roam. With my own I stop them. Tightly, in my ear, he says, "You came here for a reason. Let me make you feel good." A tempting pulse begins in my stomach. I release him. His hands tense expecting resistance then return to making small, intoxicating circles on my skin.

He dips lower, a teasing stroke just above my panties. I arch into him as my core heats. A low dark chuckle. "So sensitive." He breathes into my ear. The grizzle in his voice forces my breathing to become a pant and my n*****s harden. His long finger makes it's way lower, brushing over the lace of my panties teasing, the pressure light and aware. My stomach clenches and I ease myself up on the bed hoping it will send him lower.

Another chuckle, his hand moves with my body. "Don't be greedy." He continues his rubbing, slow and heated. The touch grows harder. Desperation fills me, I ache for friction, for satisfaction to my growing need. I moan, it's loud enough that he slaps his free hand over my mouth.

A book slaps the ground. A warning. A reminder. Immediately I lose whatever was stirring in my core. Nate's presence snapping back to me. I turn in the bed, unwrapping myself from Kellan, I lay on my stomach, face turned to the wall. Each time his hand creeps over me, I make a point to slap it away until the touches stop coming and we succumb to a restless sleep.