Sweet Chemistry (2 page)

It wasn’t until she looked away from him that she noticed he was driving toward her dorm. She was about to say something when he turned into the parking lot of the apartment complex across the street. “You live here?”

“As of last week I do.” He pulled into a parking spot. “Do you still want to come up?” His face was hidden in shadows, but even so, she knew he wanted her to say yes.

Kate nodded, got out of the car, and followed him up three flights of stairs. His hands shook as he unlocked the door. His apartment was dark and still.

“It’s not much, but I…”

No more talking.
Kate cut him off by kissing him again. She pushed him against the door, forcing it closed. Her hands fell between their bodies, and after fighting the button holding his pants closed for a few seconds, she sighed when it finally opened to her. Her hands pushed inside eagerly, too excited to wait. His body jerked when she cupped his dick and squeezed it lightly. He pushed his tongue into her mouth and she sucked on it as her fingers attempted to free his hard-on from the clothing that contained it.

He eased the hem of her shirt up, pushing it over the top of her breasts. His fingers deftly moved to the clasp holding her bra closed. He sighed when her flesh filled his hands. He rolled her nipples between his fingers. Her hot hands succeeded in their task and she pumped his cock in time with each draw on her nipples.

He closed his eyes and dipped his fingers inside her jeans, dragging them across the top of her panties, setting her nerves on fire. He pulled away from her to breathe. “Are you sure you want this?” His forehead wrinkled and his eyes wouldn’t meet hers. Everything about him was even and perfectly in place, except for the feral snarl that turned his pretty lips into pure sex.

She twisted out of her shirt, dropping it by the door. “Yes, I’m sure. Now kiss me.”

She didn’t have to tell him twice. His tongue swept inside her mouth, coaxing her tongue out. He echoed her earlier movements and sucked on her tongue each time his finger caressed her hot slit through her jeans. She squeaked when he lifted her and carried her to his bedroom. He put her down on the bed and then flipped a light on.

“Do you have a…” She was panting, looking from his lips to his dick. Before the word “condom” fully formed in her mind, he tore into the unopened box, which was poking out of the open drawer on the nightstand next to his bed, pulling one out.

He shucked his clothes and ripped open the flat package with his teeth, nearly dropping it on the floor.

She sat up and her fingers joined his, smoothing the slippery latex over his long, hard dick. She wanted to touch every inch of his body, explore the lean muscles that covered his tall frame. There wasn’t time. She needed him inside her.

He turned his attention to her jeans, which were in the way. She shimmied her hips while he pulled, dropping them and her panties onto the floor. He crawled onto the bed next to her. He cupped her pussy, pushing his middle finger inside of her. He kissed her, capturing her moan before it could leave her mouth. His dick twitched against her hip as he finger-fucked her. She came in seconds, shaking against him and squeezing his finger with each powerful contraction.

He removed his mouth so she could breathe, revealing a cocky smile that made her hungry for more, and then he sucked his finger clean.

“More.” It was the only word she could form while her body still tingled in ecstasy.

She didn’t have to wait long.

It was James’ fantasy come to life: to have his Dark Haired Girl in his apartment. Naked. All he had to do was ask. His brother was right. Sometimes asking a direct question gave you the answer you wanted to hear.

He shifted between Kate’s legs, nudging them open. So soft, pink, warm, and inviting. Above all else, she was beautiful, and she was waiting for him. All thoughts disappeared when his cock pressed impatiently against her slippery sex.

“Mm, hmm. Yes. More.
Please
.” She gasped when the head of his cock was inside. “Holy shit.”

“So tight,” he whispered into her mouth before kissing her again.

She moaned when he was all of the way inside her.

He pulled out of her slowly, spiraling his hips when he pushed back inside. He thrust his tongue in her mouth and she bit it gently. He growled and slammed into her.

“Oh yes!” Her lean legs wrapped around his thighs. She dug her heels into him in time with each lunge of his hips.

Her eyes were shut and her lips were parted. The muscles in her neck strained with every moan. Focus. So tight. So hot. So good.

“I’m gonna come.” Her words flowed out of her mouth in a single long breath.

He growled again as she spoke and slammed into her harder and faster than before, sending her careening over the edge, filling the room with her scream until it shattered his focus.

“
Fuuuuck
.” He drew out the word with a long exhale. His hips jerked erratically and tiny grunts escaped his mouth as his body convulsed.

She closed her eyes and smiled. “Wow…that was…wow.”

He sighed. “Yes it was.”

She kissed him again. “That was better than I thought it would be.”

James chuckled. Apparently, they had a lot in common, sex fantasies being at the top of the list. “You were planning on having sex with me?”

Kate blushed. “Well, no, I mean, I was hopeful.” She looked over at his nightstand. “You must’ve been planning on it too, since you were excessively prepared.”

“Hopeful.” He grinned. She had a point. He
was
excessively prepared. The drawer in his nightstand held an economy size box of condoms, which was also his brother’s suggestion. He made a mental note to thank him, but at the moment, he needed to get rid of the condom still covering his dick.

Their bodies shuddered in unison as he pulled out of her. He scooped up his pants so he could get dressed after he disposed of the condom in the bathroom. His mouth fell open when he was confronted with his reflection. Satisfaction. Where had that been all these years?

By the time he came out, she was dressed and leaning against the doorframe. “It’s late. I’ve got a busy week ahead of me.” Kate’s black hair was tousled and her skin was flushed, making her blue eyes sparkle.

James nodded and his eyes fell to the ground. What had he expected? That she would stay the night? “Me too. Can I have your number?” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.

Kate smiled. “Sure.” She rattled the string of numbers off to him. “Can I have yours?”

She pulled her phone out of her front pocket and entered the information.

“Can we see each other next weekend?” Just thinking about being with her again made his dick stir in his pants.

“Sure. I’ll call you and let you know how it’s looking, closer to the weekend. Unless you, um, want to call me.” She blushed.

“Until then.” James walked over to her and kissed her shiny lips, savoring the feel of them and the sweetness that still lingered. He dug his fingers in her hair, trying to hold onto her one more time before she left.

She was smiling when she pulled away. “Okay, see you soon.”

Kate had been gone for about five minutes before James realized he hadn’t offered her a ride home. He paced his bedroom while he dialed her.

“Hello?”

“Hi Kate, it’s me. James.” He exhaled. “I just realized I didn’t offer you a ride home. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

Kate laughed. “It’s fine. I’ve got it taken care of.”

“But I…”

“Don’t worry about it. I can take care of myself.” No hostility, just honesty.

James sighed. “I had a really good time tonight.”

“I did too.”

He could hear the smile in her voice.

“Thanks for checking on me. I’ll talk to you soon.”

* * * *

His first semester as a professor was about to start. James had worked tirelessly for the past nine years—undergraduate school, graduate school, and a teaching assistant position—all perfectly planned, and here he was, on the cusp of achieving his life-long goals and all he could think about was Kate.

James looked at the clock next to his bed. It was one in the morning. He desperately wanted to call his brother, but knew he would have to wait until tomorrow. Jeff was already up enough with his eight-month-old baby, he didn’t need James disturbing his sleep too.

The sweet scent of her perfume lingered on his sheets, and he thought of her as he fell asleep. That night, he dreamed of her, and when he woke on Sunday, he was exhausted and giddy. He couldn’t wait to tell to his brother. The previous night replayed in his head on the drive to his brother’s house.

James’ leg bounced through dinner as he waited for a moment alone with his brother. “I talked to Kate again last night,” he whispered as soon as he and Jeff were alone and cleaning up after dinner. James washed the dishes and Jeff dried, just like they did after every Sunday dinner.

“What? You did?”

“Yep, and we did more than talk. Thanks for the, um, suggestions.” He lowered his voice. “The condoms, I mean.”

“Holy shit.” Jeff’s mouth hung open. “I didn’t think you had it in you, what with all the pussyfooting around and stepping on her and whatnot. Don’t spare the details. Listen bro, with a baby sharing our bedroom, there’s not a lot happening, if you know what I mean.”

James shook his head. “She has black, jaw-length hair and eyes the color of cobalt.”

Jeff rolled his eyes. “You mentioned that.”

“And the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen. She also looks vaguely familiar for some reason.”

“Probably because you’ve been stalking her for weeks.” Jeff laughed and then leaned closer to his brother. “So you made her smile?”

“Mm hmm. A lot.” James pushed his lips together.

“You’re killing me. Thanks a lot. Got any other news you’re
not
going to tell me about?” Jeff scowled.

“I’m just not willing to share more. That’d be weird. What if you meet her?”

Jeff’s mouth hung open even wider. “Seriously? Do you even know her last name?”

James grimaced. Why hadn’t he thought of that last night? “No…but I could ask her when I call. I can’t stop thinking about her.”

Jeff laughed. “Be cool man.”

“Be cool about what?” Heather asked from the doorway, their son Miles on her hip.

Jeff wiggled his eyebrows up and down. “James talked to his dark-haired girl last night. He likes her. A lot.”

Heather ran across the kitchen, making Miles giggle as she jostled him, and then she kissed James on the cheek. “That’s great! When do we get to meet her?”

“What the hell’s wrong with you?
He
just met her.” Jeff shook his head.

Heather shrugged. “There’s no harm in pursuing a girl if you like her. Call her, James. Don’t wait. Call her and tell her you want to see her again.”

“Thanks, Heather. I will.” He stuck his tongue out at Jeff.

“How old is she anyway?” Jeff asked.

James shrugged. “I don’t know, early twenties.”

Jeff snorted. “Can’t find anyone your own age? Gotta prey on young girls?”

“She’s not that much younger than me. Unless you forgot, I just turned twenty-eight. You make me sound like a repugnant perv.” James scowled at his brother.

“If the shoe fits…”

“Boys, play nice,” Heather called over her shoulder as she left to put Miles to bed.

“Fine. But just remember it was me who told you to leave your dumpy apartment and go hook up with a girl.”

“My apartment isn’t dumpy. It’s close to campus and it’s got covered parking. You should know you helped me move in last weekend.”

“I’m sure that comes in handy, since you ride your bike to work. And your apartment
is
dumpy. You don’t even have a couch.” Jeff elbowed his brother. “Seriously, I’m glad you met someone. It’s about time you got over Tina.”

James exhaled. “Tina was really something.” It was only in the last year James could say her name out loud without seething.

“Well, Tina left your sorry ass three years ago, and you need to get over it. Sorry bro, but you can’t expect a woman to wait around while you work fourteen hours a day. You’ve got to sweep them off their feet with flowers and chocolates, and then trick them into marrying you before they change their mind.”

James scoffed. “That’s your advice? Remind me to stop talking to you about relationships.”

The truth was James was envious of his brother’s life. Not the part where Jeff took over the family business running a construction company. James had that opportunity too, and the day he passed it up for graduate school was the day his father stopped being civil to him. James worked for Baker Construction plenty of summers growing up, and had no desire to deal with lumberyards or contractors for the rest of his life. For as long as he could remember he wanted to be a professor, and he sacrificed a lot to make it happen. While James spent the last six years working on his PhD, his little brother got married, learned how to run a business, and had a kid. It seemed like no matter how hard James worked, he never got to the point where he got the whole package, and every time he saw his brother with his family, he knew he wanted it too.

* * * *

James rode his bike to Hatch Hall, which housed the offices of the college of science faculty at Bowman State University, early Monday morning. He tucked his bike against the wall in his office, changed into a fresh shirt, and visited the bathroom in the hopes the water would lift the dents in his short hair from his helmet. He was ready for his first day.

The department chair, Lloyd Moore, had been kind when he created James’ schedule, allowing him time to adjust to the demands of his new teaching position. Introductory Chemistry and General Biochemistry were his two main classes, and Lloyd padded the rest of his teaching credits with independent student research and thesis advising, both of which only had one student each.

Despite his relatively light load, he was nauseous as he faced a hundred students in his intro class. The lecture hall sloped up and away from the projection board behind him, and even though he practiced last week, he couldn’t get his laptop to sync with the equipment, so he ended up reading off of his computer screen. By the end of the hour, he had obviously lost the attention of the students in the back rows, who were talking almost as loudly as he was.