“Take me home,” I whisper.
I see him swallow. I’ve clearly taken him by surprise.
And I like that.
When I sit back in my seat, he reaches over and loops his hand with mine, slowly stroking the skin on my palm, running his fingers softly between the dips and valleys of mine. On the surface, it’s a fairly innocent sign of affection, but it’s causing my skin to boil, a heat rushing up my chest and flushing at my neck.
We ride the rest of the way to Jeremy’s that way, our hands together apart from a few times he uses both hands at the wheel. And by the time we pull into the parking lot of his apartment complex, I’m a bundle of nerves.
When we walk through his front door and he flips on the lights, I take a moment to survey his home. It makes me want to laugh a bit, which is a nice feeling that helps curb my slightly erratic nervousness. He’s in that zone between college student and adult. A fancy TV on a shitty stand. A nice couch with laundry dumped on it. His kitchen is the same, with red solo cups stacked up underneath hanging wine glasses and next to a decanter. It’s like his apartment is going through puberty.
“What’s so funny?” he asks as he toes off his shoes at the door and takes my purse to set it on the small table near the entry.
“Just super impressed at your ability to pull off the ‘I’m in college but I’m also a real adult’ style.” He looks a bit confused, so I dive into my explanation, pointing things out to him. “I’m not making fun, I promise,” I try to reassure him when he looks a bit unsure. “I can see that you’re really comfortable here, which is more than I can say about anywhere I’ve ever lived. It’s just so clear that you’re trying to be an adult, and it just makes me feel so young. That’s all.”
His shoulders relax and he gives me a small smile. “Glad to know you approve of my latest art installation. I like to call itUnfinished Business,” he says, gesturing to the laundry pile.
I crack up as he walks to the pile and lifts it all into his arms, carrying it down a short hallway to what I can only guess is his bedroom.
When he returns, he has a towel, a shirt and some boxers in hand. “I figured you’d want to shower off, and then we can watch a movie or something.” He motions towards the bathroom, which sits across from his bedroom. “I’ll just put these in here.”
I walk past him and into the small room, turning to thank him before closing the door. After a good rinse and scrub to get off all the sand and salt, I dry off and pull on Jeremy’s clothes, giving them a slight sniff. They smell like him and I love being enveloped in that clean, earthy smell. When I walk back out to the living room, I find Jeremy on the couch, surfing through the TV channels.
“Better?” he asks when I plop down next to him.
“Much,” I respond. “Except I’m all pruney.” I lift my foot just slightly in front of me, showcasing my super wrinkly toes. “I don’t think my toesies were a fan of being wet and shoved into boots all evening,” I say with a laugh.
Jeremy laughs too. “Don’t worry. Pruney or not, yourtoesiesare still adorable.” He stands and hands me the remote. “I’m gonna shower, then I’ll be back. Feel free to pick a movie you want to watch. I have Netflix.”
“Sweet!” I reply as he heads to the bathroom to clean up.
I spend a few minutes flicking through the options and finally settle onDie Hard. Can’t go wrong with an action movie, I’m sure.
When Jeremy finally comes out of the bathroom, I feel my throat dry up and my eyes go wide. He’s got on a pair of plaid pajama pants and a light blue shirt that makes his eyes bright. I don’t know why I’m reacting to him like this, with my skin getting clammy and my heart starting to thump a bit more aggressively. It’s not like he’s doing a strip tease or something. He’s literally just coming into the living room in a pair of modest pajamas.
He drops down on the couch next to me.
“Oh,Die Hard. Always a good choice,” he says, clicking the play button. He settles in and glances over at me, where I sit like a rigid board. “You okay?” he asks.
I nod, not saying anything, then try to force myself to settle and get comfortable. Jeremy lifts his arm and motions for me to snuggle in next to him. So I do.
The minute I’m pressed up against him and I smell that delicious soapy smell wafting off of his still warm skin, the nervousness begins to melt away.
I rest my hand on his stomach as the movie begins, playing lightly with the material of his shirt. After a few minutes, his free hand joins mine, and he starts with the torturous finger touching again. Heat creeps along my skin, and my breathing becomes a bit harsh. And then, almost without my permission, my hand slides under his shirt just slightly, my thumb softly stroking the skin beneath. Jeremy stills for just a second, but I can hear his heart beating in his chest, his steady thump picking up speed, his own breathing becoming a bit rougher in my ear.
When I finally have the nerve to look up at him, he looks at me for only a second before his lips are on mine, his tongue plunging in as if he wants to suck the air out of my chest. I can’t do anything but moan and grip him harder, my fingers pressing deeper into his flesh. He raises slightly and pushes me onto my back on the couch, leaning over me and continuing to kiss while his hands roam across my body. My hips, my thighs, tilting my leg up and pressing against me where my legs split, eliciting another moan from deep in my chest.
“Jeremy,” I whisper.
He pulls back and looks at me, panting slightly. “You okay?” he asks.
I nod. “I just…” I pause.
“Whatever it is, it’s okay,” he says back.
“Okay, well. I just, I don’t know if I’m ready for… you know. It’s just a little fast. I didn’t want to spoil the mood, but I just wanted to tell you now so you weren’t expecting it.”
Jeremy smiles at me, a warm smile that melts my insides and pushes my fears aside. “Hey, I don’t expect anything from you, pretty girl.” He starts to pull away, but I grip him and hold him close to me.
“I’m… I’m okay with what we’re doing now, though,” I whisper, squirming slightly at the ache that throbs low, where he rests against me. “Can we…”
His smile turns lustful and he bites his lip, pressing harder against me where he rests between my legs. He closes his eyes in pleasure as he grinds into me, but I can’t look away from his strong jaw and the look of bliss that has overtaken his expression.
“Like this?” he asks, leaning forward and pressing his lips to my neck, temporarily drawing my focus to the area he’s licking and sucking, biting slightly. “This what you want?” he whispers into my ear, then rolls his hips.
I whimper, unable to contain the feelings that are rushing through my body. “Yes,” I say back.
“Good. I only ever want to make you feel good,” he responds, pressing his lips back against mine. I twist my arms around his neck, holding him to me, and give in to the desire I’m feeling.
It’s hot and heavy, and the time passes so quickly, we don’t even notice when the credits on the TV begin to roll.
