Changing Tunes (20 page)

I look up and see him watching me with hooded eyes and I can’t turn my eyes away from him.

“I’m not going to last long, sweetheart.”

I ignore him and continue to suck and twirl my tongue, using my hand up and down, up and down. I hear his breathing pick up and then feel him tug on my arm, signaling me to come back up. I reluctantly let go, but know this time I’m in control. I make my way back up and lean over him to yank a condom out of the drawer, which puts my breast directly in his face. He takes full advantage of it and latches on, lightly, making me groan at the contact. I never knew my breasts were so sensitive, having never let anyone mess with them before. Now I don’t know if I could ever have them not messed with. I love the feeling it ignites in my body and makes my toes curl. He lets go and I move so the other one is in his face and he can do the same thing to that one. He chuckles and I feel the air of his chuckle across my nipple causing me to shiver, again. “You like that?”

“Oh God, yes.”

“Good, I like your breasts and I like the reaction I get from you.” I sit up; leaning back and tear the condom open with my teeth, watching as his eyes roam over me, taking in all of me. I take the condom and roll it all the way down his shaft.

“That is so hot,” he says with a heated look.

I grab on to him, rising up, I position myself over him and slowly lower myself. He fills me completely and we begin to move in a comfortable rhythm. He holds onto my hips as I move up and down, with him hitting the right spot. He leans up and quickly turns us around so I’m on bottom and he’s on top. I wrap my legs around his waist and tighten them, pushing him farther into me.

“Oh God, baby, right there; faster.”

He kisses me senseless but moves in me faster and I come undone. I feel myself lean and then topple over the edge, never wanting to come back up. He quickly follows me, but continues to kiss me until his very last thrust.

“You know you’ve ruined me, right?”

I’m happy and pleased. “Good, because I’m not letting you go that quickly.”

His face turns serious for just a moment; showing just a fraction of worry around his eyes. “I hope not.” He says quietly.

He removes himself from inside me and rolls over, “I do need to tell you something, though.”

I’m too happy in this moment to listen and jump up grabbing his hand. “First shower and then afterwards we can talk.” He smiles and it melts my heart as he gets up with me, allowing me to pull him along.

We shower all right, washing each other thoroughly, but talking is definitely the last thing on my mind for the rest of the day.

God, I couldn’t get enough of her. After our shower, which ended up as another round of hot steamy sex, I finally talked her into getting dressed so I could take her to get something to eat. I certainly don’t want this relationship to be all about sex—which, by the way, was fucking amazing—I want it to be more than that. Much more. We went from irritating each other, to lab partners, to friends, and finally to acknowledging there is so much more between us.

I held her hand everywhere, not wanting to let her go, and loving that she was with me. She seemed shy and a little shocked I wasn’t going to let her go that easily. She’s mine, and I wanted everyone to know. I’m a little Alpha in my own right. I always saw what kind of attention Ashley attracted, even in class. She’s beautiful, for sure, but she is also so much more and, yeah, I want everyone to know she’s taken. Basically, I want these bastards to back the fuck off.

I catch her looking at me when she thinks I’m not looking. It makes me want to yank her to me, right then and there, and go all cave man on her adorable ass.

Hearing her revelations did not deter my feelings for her, in fact it made me feel more. I didn’t feel sorry for her; it made her brave in my eyes. All I saw was a gorgeous woman trying to do better, and who could ever fault her for that? I certainly didn’t. I was shocked she’d been assaulted, and I wanted to kill the bastard. None of these things affected my feelings for her; they only grew.

I still need to talk to her and have the conversation that never happened. It’s imperative with us going forward, and I’m scared as hell. Especially knowing what I know. Fuck, I’m terrified. I’m not sure what she can handle, but my life is what it is, and good or bad, I wouldn’t change it for anything. But now I just have to find a way to include her, and pray to God she’ll be accepting of it. I’m going home to my family this weekend.  I miss them. I need to talk to them, as well, and see what they think. I need advice.

Taking Ashley home was hard, especially since she knew we wouldn’t be seeing each other the weekend. I kissed her long and hard, and poured everything I had and every feeling I have for her into that kiss. When I pulled away we were breathless and I’d leaned my forehead down to hers.

“I’ll miss you while you’re gone,” she’d said quietly and kissed my lips lightly.

I’d groaned in frustration, not wanting to let her go, but knowing that I had to.

“I’ll make it up to you when I get back. Deal?” I’d promised.

“I’m counting on it,” she’d said with a twinkle in her eye.

A friend of hers that lives down the hall interrupted us and I’d almost pummeled him for the disruption. I’d let it go though, knowing he was a friend of hers.

She’d told her friend Austin to shut it while staring at me, but had laughed.

Ah, I knew that name. The douche from the club, I remember.

I reluctantly let her go after kissing her again. “I’ll call you some time tomorrow.”

She’d smiled and kissed me again quickly, opened her door and slid in, closing it behind her.

I’d made my way past the douche bag’s door and saw him standing in the doorway.

“Don’t hurt her,” he’d growled.

“I don’t plan on it.” Secretly, I was scared I would do that very thing.

“She’s my friend, and I watch out for my friends.” He’d replied seriously.

I’d nodded in understanding.

He’d pushed off the wall and walked closer. “I shouldn’t be saying this at all, but she’s never given anyone else the time of day. Lord knows they’ve tried. You’re the first, so don’t screw it up.” He growled the last part.

I nodded again and replied, “Thanks, I appreciate it.” I held my hand out and he shook it. It’s a guy thing. We now had a mutual understanding and respect. 

Truthfully, it was nice to know someone cared enough about Ashley to go to such lengths to warn me, and it made me respect him more. She was lucky to have someone care enough to have her back. I’d gone back to my dorm room and packed my things then took off for home. I was elated and scared at the same time. Elated for what awaited me at home, and scared at what it could all mean when I got back to school. All I knew is that I was crazy about Ashley, more than crazy. I was falling head over heels for her, and I was terrified it all could come crashing down and topple me over.

I walk into my apartment to find Mac sitting on the couch with a huge shit-eating grin on her face.

“What?” I ask, innocently. But I can’t stop the grin that takes over my entire face.

She glances down at her watch. “That was some night.” She says playfully.

I sit down on the couch, with no clue where to start. “It was perfect.” It’s all I’ve got.

“So I take it he likes you?” she laughs. “Oh girl, I’m going to need more than that.”

So I start from the very beginning at the club and end at being dropped off. I let some tidbits stay between Zeke and me.

She cocks her head to the side, “You love him, don’t you?”

I take a moment to collect my thoughts. “Yes, I think I do. It still amazes me that he wants me, ya know?”

“Nope, I sure don’t know. You are one hell of a catch, and anyone would be lucky to have you. Zeke sure is a lucky guy. Something tells me he already knows that, too,” she smiles.

“Thank you.”

“For what? Ash, I only speak the truth, and it’s about time you start to believe it. New beginnings remember? You’re dad sure has done a number on you.” She taps her lip with her finger, “Have you heard from him at all?”

Now that she mentions it, “I haven’t, which is odd.”

“Count your blessings, girlfriend, because that would have certainly been a mood killer.”

I cringe at the thought. “Ugh, stop it. The thought makes me want to poke my eyeballs out with a pencil.” She laughs, clearly finding herself very funny. “Okay, so enough about me. What did I miss? What about you?”

She evades my eyes and I can tell she doesn’t want to talk about it, but I’m her friend and as much as she’s been there for me, I will be there for her. “Spill.”

“Well, Austin’s bitch of a girlfriend showed up, and that wasn’t fun. She really isn’t a nice person, ya know? I know he cares about her and they have history, but dang, I couldn’t deal with it.” She visibly shudders. “We were all dancing, all of us just having a good time. She showed up and got jealous and they ended up in a screaming match and then he left. I hung out with Nick and Ian, and we danced. I mean, come on, we’re all just friends. Ian left to answer his phone because his girlfriend was calling. So it was just Nick and me. Nick leaned in and kissed me. I like him a lot, but as a friend, nothing more; I’m not ready for anything else.” She fidgets with her phone, twirling it around and around. Sighing she says, “I just don’t want it to ruin our friendship. I’m scared that it has.”

“Well, what did you do?”

“I pushed him away and told him I was sorry, but I didn’t look at him like that.”

I whistled, “Okay, so you knocked his ego down some, I’m sure he’ll be fine. I mean come on, it’ Nick after all.”

Not looking at all that convinced she says, “Yeah, I’m sure your right. I mean, Ash, he’s hot. Like really hot, but I just don’t see him like that.”

I wrap my arms around my friend, who’s so concerned about hurting a friend’s feelings, and it makes me love her more. She’s a good person who has an extremely good heart. “Why don’t we spend the rest of the weekend in, eating junk food and watching movies?”