Chapter 16

Chris couldn’t remember hurrying home after work before, but he did this day. Kasey had been gone to work the next morning by the time he got up. Pulling into the driveway, he saw her Jimmy parked there. Well, at least she hadn’t moved out while he was at work.

The hope he had left when he found a note on the table beside the door. Gone shopping. Girls’ night out. We’re all together, so relax. K’

Relax? He hadn’t relaxed since she’d read that journal last night.

He grabbed a beer from the fridge and he went towards his library. Hopefully he could get some work done and make up for not being able to focus on anything at the office all day.

“What are you going to do?” Rachel asked while taking one of Kasey’s fries.

“I don’t know.” Kasey pushed the rest of the fries towards Rachel. “You should have seen him last night. He expected me to throw the book at him, call him names, and leave.” She sipped the pop. “I thought of it a few times while reading, to be honest.”

“It was that bad?” Cora asked quietly.

Kasey turned to Cora. “Yes, it was horrible—genius, but still horrible. I can’t believe the man I know, that we know, did all that.”

Leena shoved her plate away. “And he told you that you were the reason he stopped?”

Rachel sighed. “Why can’t I find a man to say things like that to me?”

“Well you’re certainly trying enough. Maybe someday you’ll find one.” Cora snorted.

Rachel stuck her tongue out. “Thanks, that helps.”

Leena reached and took Kasey’s hand. “Have you and Chris... slept together, Kase?”

Kasey blushed. “Sort of.”

Rachel leaned forward until she was a few inches from her face. “Sweetie, you either did or didn’t. ‘Sort of’ doesn’t work in this case.”

Kasey twisted the napkin in her hands. “Well, he knows I haven’t ever, and he’s been pretty patient. We do other things. Then he holds me and lets me sleep with him.”

Rachel fanned her face. “Does he have a brother? Kasey, adult males don’t wait.”

Leena smirked. “Not if they’re with you.”

“Hey, is this pick-on-Rachel night? ’Cause if I’d gotten the memo, I would have made other plans.”

Kasey leaned her head on Rachel’s shoulder. “You’re so lucky, Rach. Being my age and still a virgin is really beginning to suck.”

Rachel leaned her head on top of Kasey’s. “Not from where I’m sitting. The man is taking his time with you. He’s been so completely honest with you. He’s completely friggin’ reformed for you.” She looked at the other two women. “How does that suck?”

Cora busied herself by taking a drink, and Leena smirked. “It doesn’t, to be honest.”

Kasey sighed. “I wish I could just climb into his bed and stop being so scared of everything.”

Cora lifted her eyebrows at her, and Leena smiled.

Rachel leaned over again. “So why don’t you?”

“Oh, I couldn’t.” Kasey blushed.

“But didn’t you already once?” Cora asked quietly.

Kasey shrugged. “Yeah, but it was from having a nightmare.”

“So do it again, and put yourself and him out of your misery.” Rachel reached for Cora’s fries while winking at a blushing Kasey.

“Well... I could... but I don’t know what to do, really. Well, I do, but not really.”

Leena chuckled. “I’m pretty sure Chris does, and will help in that department.”

Kasey put her hands on her hot cheeks and let out a slow breath. “I can do this,” she said more for herself than the others. She looked at them. “What do I wear?”

Rachel shrugged, “A paper sack, ripped T-shirt, he won’t care!”

Cora pushed Rachel over out of the way. “Oh, I have just the thing. I bought it only to get it home and find out I was too tall to wear it. We’ll swing by and get it before I take you home.”

Kasey just nodded and took deep breaths.

“Subject change!” Rachel threw in. “Tomorrow night at Doc’s, are we going to do things the same way as last time?”

Cora smirked. “Yes, except Kasey and Chris aren’t allowed to be next to each other.”

Leena nodded. “And Owen can’t be beside me. I swear that man is in heat or something the last few days. He’s finished another book, and I’m exhausted!”

Rachel scowled at her. “I don’t need to hear you’re getting that lucky.” She turned to Kasey. “And now Kasey is too. I ask you, when is it my turn?”

Chris heard her come in and tried not to run out to see her. Failing, he thought, as he found himself walking out anyways. He found her shoes and purse by the door. There were a few bags sitting at the bottom of the stairs, but no Kasey.

Walking slowly up the stairs, he found her walking out of the bathroom. She jumped when she looked up and saw him standing there.

She looked past him, and then at him briefly. “Hi. I was going to have a swim. Unless you want the tub, then I can wait.”

Chris put his hands in his pockets, trying not to touch her. She stood looking at his chest and not his face. “No, go ahead.” He waited to see if she’d look at him. “How was shopping?”

She shrugged and turned towards her room. “Fine. Found lots of interesting stuff.” She gave him a quick smile over her shoulder. “I forgot something to put on after my bath.” Then she quickly walked to her room.

He watched her walk away from him, again. She couldn’t even look him in the face. Hadn’t he thought this would happen? What possessed him to tell her? He took a shaky breath. Because it was better to lose her now than to lose her later? But was it?

He turned around and walked into his room and closed the door quietly. He went over stretched out on his bed and held his arms across his face. What will he do without her?

He didn’t know how long he stayed that way. He heard a quiet tap on his door and turned to look and see Kasey standing in the doorway. He swallowed. She stood there with the light from the hallway shining behind her. She was wearing some sort of black teddy. The front was low cut with no material over her stomach, just two thin pieces running down her sides to a small ruffle of black lace.

He bolted upright but couldn’t move as she moved slowly towards him. Was this some dream? He had to be sleeping. This was not the same Kasey who had practically run from the sight of him in the hallway.

“Chris?”

He swallowed. “Yes?” She stood at the edge of the bed now as he looked over every inch of her. His heart was beating in his throat, and he couldn’t think of how to speak.

Kasey put one knee up on the bed and leaned down closer to him. “Love me,” she whispered in a shaky voice.

His quickly looked at her face. She moved closer to him. Reaching out slowly, for fear she wouldn’t really be there, he held his breath until he touched her cheek softly with the tips of his fingers. Leaning closer, he searched her eyes for the fear he’d seen the night before. There was none.

He placed his hand behind her neck and gently pulled her closer while he feathered kisses across her cheek. “Yes.” She came up on the bed on her knees. He reached to place his other hand on her cheek as he feathered light kisses over her lips next. She was shaking, or maybe that was him. He wasn’t sure. He kissed her lingeringly for a few moments.

Pulling her into him, he leaned back so she lay across him. He was nervous and couldn’t believe he still knew that feeling. Caressing a hand down her back, he held her gently against him. He shifted more onto his side.

He touched her neck with his lips and trailed teasing kisses at the delicate, delicious hollow. She held on to his head, holding it tightly to her.

Gripping her hips, he rolled so she was on her back. His face was buried in the warm valley between her breasts. He inhaled her scent, and his blood heated. He lifted his head and kissed her again, plunging his tongue into her mouth and exploring all of it.

He kissed her with a feeling of desperation. He’d thought he’d lost her. She kissed him back with the same heated desire, and he thought his heart was going to burst.

He moved his mouth down her throat and then lifted his head and looked down at the black lace covering her. He had been so shocked when he’d seen her dressed like this he hadn’t even noticed the fairy framed by the material against her skin. Leaning down over it, he rested his head against her warm skin as he swirled his tongue around the fairy before kissing just underneath it. She hissed out a breath. He teased her with his tongue just above the lace before skimming his mouth over her bare hips.

When he cupped one knee gently and bent her leg to run his mouth along the inside of her thigh, she moaned and relaxed her leg for him.

He breathed against the wet material between her legs, and she moaned again. Running his tongue along the outside of the lace, he moved over to her other thigh and kissed it softly. When he licked slowly along her other hip, she groaned and the sound vibrated through him.

“Chris...”

He kissed along her ribs and licked just under the material beneath her breast. She hissed and ran her fingers into his hair. Licking a hard nipple through the fabric, he felt her arch against his mouth.

With her other hand, she reached and released the clasp holding the top in place and pushed it down so his mouth was against her bare breast.

Holding his head, she arched her back until her breast was against his open mouth. He cupped it in his hand and sucked the nipple gently. She panted and squirmed against him.

Pushing up on her elbow, she buried her face in his hair and wrapped one leg around him. With impatient hands, she tugged at his shirt impatiently. He lifted up so she could unbutton it with shaking hands. Then he shrugged out of it. Her mouth ran over his throat and across his shoulder. She bit him gently, and he threw his head back and moaned. Pushing him back, she fumbled and undid his pants while trying to push them off his body.

He rolled and got rid of them before moving back to lean over her. She was so lovely, her lips swollen from his kisses, her neck red from his mouth, the black lace was resting around her waist.

Kasey looked up at him and then pulled his head so she could kiss him. Her mouth was hot against his. He began to push the lace down over her hips while he kissed her back with the same urgency. As the material moved down her thighs, he waited for her to hesitate but she just lifted her hips so he could pull the material off.

Sliding his hand back up her leg slowly, he ran it inside her thighs to feel she was wet with wanting him. Stroking over her softly, he heard her groan deep in her throat, and she dropped her head back. He pushed a finger inside her and almost cried out with his own pleasure to feel how hot she was.

Devouring her breasts, he quickly brought her to a shattering climax, needing her ready for him, not wanting to wait anymore. She vibrated against him and then pulled him back up to her. He fumbled to reach the night stand and get a condom while she kissed his throat, it wasn’t helping his coordination. Getting one he put it on with shaking hands as she pulled him closer and opened her legs to let him move between them.

When he felt their bare skin touch against him, his whole body tensed, and he had to fight not to plunge into her. Slowly he pushed against her, allowing her time to adjust to the feeling. She gasped and pushed her hips towards him. He gripped her leg to stop her from moving. He didn’t want to hurt her.

He moved his mouth to her throat, he sucked it gently while he pushed farther inside her. She was so tight. He didn’t know how much longer he could wait. Sensitive muscles pulsed around him, and he panted, trying to go slowly. Her breath was coming in short gasps when she suddenly gripped his hips and thrust up onto him. He almost exploded from the feeling of being all the way inside her.

Kissing her roughly, he tried to stay still, for a moment. She opened her legs wider and wrapped them over his hips, pulling him into her. Unable to stop, he began moving quickly into her. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he couldn’t stop the hard thrusts of his hips. He’d waited too long.

She began to whimper against his neck. Her fingers dug into his back as she met his thrusts, causing him to reach that unstoppable point. She began to make squeaking noises into his ear, and he couldn’t hold back any longer.

As her muscles clenched tight in orgasm around him, he came with such force his whole body shook. She went lax in his arms, breathing as hard as he was.

“Wow,” she gasped against him.

He pulled her so they could lie on their sides, but didn’t want to pull out of her. “Mmm,” was the only reply he was capable of making.

He kissed her eyelids softly, and then her cheeks, before kissing her lips. When he looked into her eyes, he saw the smile before he looked at her mouth. Turning his head, he saw silver sparkles dusting their way down towards their heads. He smiled. “I’ll have to try for fireworks next time.”

Kasey smiled. “Sparkles were all I could manage right now.” She snuggled against his chest.

He rolled onto his back, still trying to catch his breath as he turned and kissed her gently. “Old man needs a nap again.”

She smiled and cuddled against him and closed her eyes. “Me too.”

Chris woke to an empty bed. Did she run as soon as her eyes opened? Glancing at the clock, he saw he still had an hour before he had to leave for work. Groaning, he got up and went to take a shower.

He was leaning against the wall, letting the water wake him up, when two arms came around him from behind.

“I went to put the coffee on and came back to find you missing.”

Turning in her arms, he smiled down at her. “I woke up to an empty bed.” He kissed her tenderly. “Are you very sore this morning? I wasn’t very gentle last night.”

“A little, in a good way. And you were gentle enough when needed.” She kissed his chest and ran her hands down his flat stomach. “So, how does this work in the shower?” Her hands ran down his thighs and back up over his hips.

He kissed her while picking her up. Her legs immediately wrapped around his waist. “I’ll show you.”

He sat looking at his knife.

Why couldn’t he find her to finish what he’d failed to do right?

He needed to free her before moving on to the next.

He dropped his head into his hands and rocked.

The pain had been so bad since he failed.

No one would tell where she was.

Didn’t they know she needed him?

She had come to him to save her from the sins she’d committed.

The pain was back.

He had to find her.