Pierced Love (27 page)

This is it…Howie Day, you’ve just told my story. It’s no joke that Loudon and I have found one another…we did Collide.

When I needed someone the most, he found me.

No matter how much I wanted to push him away in the beginning, he stuck by me.

In my darkness, he was the one that wanted to pull me into his light.

I continue the rest of the way, heading to Ames in a Loudon induced fog.

It’s only been a few days since I saw him, but something about the anticipation of being near him has me giddy.

Geez, what is up with me…I’m giggling, I’m smiling and I’m giddy.

I can feel the happiness coming through my pores and I can’t get enough of it.

I’m only a few minutes away from the Clarke’s house as I pull off the highway and onto the Ames exit.

Glancing into the rearview mirror, I see a smiling face starring back at me.

Well, hello there, Zar Evans, glad to have you back girl.

I look back to the road and navigate myself to Loudon’s house. I watch as the town flies past me, with all the little shops, restaurants and the pizzeria where we met.

This town has always felt so comforting to me, even years ago when we came to look at the college for Zeke. There’s just something about it that is so inviting and welcoming.

Pulling into the Clarke’s driveway, I’m so excited to see him that I could seriously bounce out of my seat.

I can’t wait to see him, be near him and touch him.

As I jump out of the bug, I can see Loudon step down off the porch and walk around the front of the house.

“Hey!” I shout.

My feet freeze in place as I watch him come toward me. He’s still wearing his track pants and a white tee-shirt that is clinging to his body.

He appears to be covered in sweat. What the hell was he doing before I got here?

“Hey, doll,” he says, leaning in to kiss me.

Our lips briefly touch, but the air is still sucked out of my lungs.

I stand there like an idiot, hypnotized from the look in his eyes.

Loudon laughs and reaches for my hand.

“Sorry,” I say.

“No need to be sorry Zar, I like that I effect you like this. It’s cute,” he says

“Umm, okay,” I say, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“I’m not quite ready to go yet. I kind of locked my keys in my car and had to run home. I was just waiting for you to get here before heading inside.” He says looking down at the driveway. “I was a little sidetracked when I got out of my car and forgot to grab them.”

I can’t help it; I burst out laughing and try to contain my hysterics by covering my mouth with my free hand.”

“Are you laughing at me?” He asks, taking his hand away from mine.

I shake my head no, but can’t seem to pull myself together. The smirk on his face is
 priceless.  

“Oh you’re in trouble now, Zar,” he says, picking me up and tossing me over his shoulder.

I let out a scream and smack him on his back.

“Don’t try to get out of this, little miss thing. You think you’re all bad ass laughing at me, well who’s laughing now? Huh? Yeah that’s what I thought,” he says while punching in the code to the garage.

“Loudon please put me down. I’m sorry for laughing at you,” I plead through giggles.

“Well okay, since you asked me so nicely.”

He slides me down the front of him and I can feel his warm body and the sweat between our clothes. His arms come up around me and pull me in closer to him. I can feel him start to laugh with the vibration of his chest against my body.

“Eww, Loudon. You’re so gross. Now I’m all covered in your hot mess…yuk!” I screech.

He slowly pulls away, but not enough for me to escape his arms.

“Aww, come on Zar, I missed you,” he says, bending down to give me a kiss on the forehead.

How the hell can I even attempt to be mad at him when he says that? Instead of fighting his hold, I lean into him more and reach my arms around his waist.

“See isn’t that better than fighting me?” He asks.

“Mmhhmm,” I reply.

“Let’s head inside and I’ll take a quick shower. If you want I can get you a clean shirt and hoodie.”

“Yeah, thanks,” I respond as he pulls me into house.

I follow him as he guides me through the kitchen, into the living room and toward the staircase.

Not quite sure what’s about to happen or if I should continue to follow him I stop in my tracks.

Loudon starts to pull me toward the steps and feels the tug that indicates I’ve stopped walking.

He turns and looks at me.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He asks.

I nod gesturing that I’m okay.

“Then why did you stop?” He asks.

I shrug my shoulders. I have no clue why I’ve stopped, well actually, yes I do.

He sits down on the step and pulls me into him.

“Zar, I don’t know what you’re thinking unless you talk to me. Don’t be scared or worried about what I’ll think. I told you I’m here for you, just talk to me.”

I take in a deep breath and let it out.

“Loudon, I like you…you know that. It’s just, ugh I don’t know,” I say, shaking my head.

“Zar, spill it,” he says, starring into my eyes.

Those bright green eyes grab me every time and it’s almost impossible to fight their pull.

“Loudon, I’m being a stupid girl. You don’t understand; this is all so new to me. Everything about you, me and us it’s like a whole new experience for me. But for you, you’ve done all of this stuff and I feel like…I don’t know, stupid.”

“Zar, first of all you are far from stupid. Whether I’ve done anything with anyone before, it doesn’t matter anymore. Right now it’s you and me, that’s it,” he pulls me closer so that we are mere inches from each other.

“Yeah, I can see that it’s just you and me right now. I just hate that I have to second guess everything that we do because I’m scared.”

“There is nothing to be scared of when you are with me. I haven’t done anything to hurt you and I promise I never will. I want to help you, protect you and keep you by my side. It’s you and me doll.”

My heart melts with each word that passes through his lips. He knows exactly what to say and when to say it to me. No matter what fears are coursing through my veins, Loudon is the one to calm the storm inside of me.

I look down at his arms around me. He wouldn’t hurt me and I know that.

“I know that you’d never intentionally hurt me, I want to be the girl that’s right for you. Loudon, everything with you is a first. Our first kiss, our relationship, and the way I feel about you, even being here alone with you right now.”

Loudon takes his arms from around my back and pulls my face in closer to his. Our lips meet and instantly my legs want to go weak. He’s right, he totally affects me and it’s more than a simple crush.

The feelings I have for him are indescribable.

I want to fall and for him to catch me.

His tongue sweeps along my lower lip and I open my mouth inviting him to explore our kiss a bit deeper. I lean in closer to him as he moves his hands from my face back around my waist. He’s so gentle with his kisses, being careful not to rush me. Every nerve ending in my body is on full alert mode. I can feel the goose bumps forming on my arms and legs and want nothing more than to stay in his arms, kissing him for the rest of the night.

We pull apart from one another and I let out the breath I was holding.

He looks at me, with those bright green eyes and I feel as though he has just pierced my heart with his. These feelings I have can’t be one sided, he has to feel them too.

“We don’t have to ever do anything you don’t want to. We’ll take things slow and when you’re ready for what’s next then will move forward with it together.”

“Thank you for being so good to me Loudon, I don’t know what I’d do if I hadn’t met you. Everything about you makes me feel better.”

“I’m not going anywhere doll, you’re kinda stuck with me because I really like you.”

He places a kiss to the tip of my nose and I know that with him I will always be okay.

My stomach growls and we both start to laugh.

“I think we should go upstairs and get cleaned up. I’ll get you some of Allie’s stuff to change into since I got you all sweaty.”

“Okay, sounds good,” I say and follow him up the stairs

Loudon takes me into a room that I’ll assume was Allie’s. The walls are painted a soft pink and the furniture is light brown and cream colored. Loudon disappears into a closest and comes out with a green hooded sweatshirt. He tosses it on the bed and walks over to the dresser, opening the top drawer. He pulls out a grey tee shirt and lays it down on top of the hoodie. Walking over to me he extends his arms for to walk toward him.

I take one step forward just as he does and wraps me in his arms. He rests his chin the top of my head and I absorb the feel of our bodies standing together. There really is nothing better than being here with him. I feel secure and know that he wants me as much as I want him in my life.

“Now you’re all set. I’m going to jump in the shower and will be back to get you as soon as I can. When you’re done in here you can chill and watch TV or head downstairs. No one is coming home until later tonight so you’ll have the run of the house.”

I pull away just enough to look up at him. He bends down and kisses my lips and then pulls away.

“I’ll be quick I promise. If you need anything else make yourself comfortable. Allie’s bathroom is probably still fully stocked, my mom’s crazy like that.”

I smile at him and push him out the room.

“Go get ready so you can take me out, I’m starving,” I say, shutting the door.

I laugh to myself and shake my head, walking toward the bed.

I pick up the tee-shirt and hoodie and take it into the connected bathroom.

As I walk into the bathroom I shut the door and turn on the light. I set the clothes down on the counter top and look in the mirror.

Thank goodness I don’t look nearly as bad as I feel that I did. After a few hot and sweaty hugs from Loudon, I was worried I would look like a hot mess. I pull off my shirt, fold it and set in down next to the sink.

After pulling on the tee-shirt and hoodie, I fix my hair in the mirror and double check my makeup.

Good to go.

I pull out my cell and check the time. It’s almost six o’clock and I’m really getting hungry.

Instead of staying up here I head downstairs and sit down to wait for Loudon to be finished.

Not long after I sit down in the kitchen,
 I hear Loudon running down the stairs.  

He comes rushing into the kitchen and I stand starring at him in pure amazement. He laughs as he walks over to me and pulls me into him.

“Was that quick enough for you?” He asks, kissing me on the cheek.

“How do you do it?” I ask, not really even thinking before the words leave my mouth.

“How do I do what, get ready so fast? He asks, still laughing at me.

I shake my head no.