Breathing For The First Time (11 page)

He pulls me back toward the water, pulling his fingers through my hair to help rinse the shampoo out. Then he presses his body against my back, our skin meeting from my shoulders to my knees. “What next?” he whispers in my ear.

“Wash,” is all I can say. I’m lucky my knees are holding up at this point.

Tyler steps away from me and a chill washes over my body with the loss of contact. A moment later I feel my loofah dancing over my back, brushing my shoulders, caressing my ass, and trailing down my legs. Tyler spins me around and works his way up the front of my body, pressing kisses to my naked skin ahead of the loofah.

My body is pouring with need for him, but I don’t give in. Tyler washes every bit of me, then rinses out the loofah, returning it to the hook I keep it on. His eyes meet mine and I say, “Your turn.”

His eyes flash with shock, but amusement quickly follows. I reach across him, pressing my breasts against him. He closes his eyes for a moment and lifts his hands but drops them to his side before he touches me. He snaps his eyes open, knowing I was watching him. He takes a deep breath, but the look in his eyes betrays the calm he tries to project.

He dips his head to allow me to reach his hair. I gently work the shampoo in, enjoying the feel of his hair beneath my fingers. I rub his scalp, caressing him as I rinse. Then I turn to the body wash and loofah. I squeeze body wash onto my pink loofah then scrub it in to make bubbles, keeping my eyes trained to his.

I press against him and wash his back with our chests pressed together. His heart is pounding in his chest just like mine. I run the loofah down to his tight ass, then drop to my knees in front of him, washing his legs.

I look up at him from my position on my knees and his breath stops. “Brooke,” he whispers. I keep our eyes locked as I open my mouth and wrap my lips around his throbbing erection.

His knees soften as my lips touch him, but he quickly regains his strength. He moves against me, eager to find a release. Tyler wraps his fingers through my wet hair, moving my head to the right rhythm. I leave the loofah on the floor of the shower and wrap my hands around his hips, encouraging his movements.

He releases my hair and stretches his arms to rest his hands on the shower wall behind me. “Oh, Brooke, you have to stop, I’m going to... I can’t stop.”

I dig my fingers into his hips, my nails pressing against the edge of his ass and his pace increases. He grunts and moans before exhaling my name. With the sound of my name his body releases his warm desire into my mouth. I slow my pace, but keep my lips tight around him.

He reaches his hand back down and caresses my hair until I release him. I give him a kiss on the top of his still taut erection. Tyler reaches under my chin and lifts my face to meet my eyes. “Thank you,” he says. I smile at him, pleased to make him feel so good.

I resume washing his body, taking extra care as I wash his proud erection, still looking like it needs a release. Tyler’s breath halts when I stand back up, sliding my body against his slippery, soapy skin. I rinse him, making sure to clean every last bubble from his body.

I hang up the loofah, reaching around Tyler. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me tightly, “You’re amazing.”

I smile, “Don’t forget it.”

He closes his eyes and holds me close, letting the hot water cover our bodies. We stand in the shower for a few minutes, enjoying the water and the closeness of being together. Tyler reaches behind himself to turn the water off then steps out of the shower. He picks me up again, dripping wet. I squeal in opposition before he deposits me on the edge of the bed. He drops to his knees before I can move and his eyes glint at me, “Your turn.”

He dives between my legs, flicking his tongue over me before I can speak. A moan escapes my lips as he hits the right spot and earns a buck to his face. He presses his arm gently across my waist, pinning me to my bed. His other hand drops to the floor, repositioning himself to press deeper between my legs.

His tongue teases me, circling me and pushing me toward insanity. He slides his fingers into my deep wet center, pressing hard against me. The world starts to fall away as Tyler’s tongue and fingers pull me into oblivion. I press my hips upward, restrained by Tyler’s arm and moan loudly. Tyler’s name escapes my lips as the world disappears.

I don’t know how long I’m gone, but when the darkness fades from my eyes, Tyler is still sucking on me and I drop away again, another orgasm shattering everything outside us. I scream his name as I release and tell him I want him. He releases me, dropping kisses on my stomach and thighs. My body shivers as I come down from pure ecstasy.

Tyler lifts me off the bed and pulls me into his arms. He covers my mouth with a passionate kiss. I wrap my arms around his wet body and his hands trail across me. Tyler dips, sucking my nipples into his mouth and making me moan. His hands cover my ass and he jerks me upward, my feet leaving the ground. Instinctively, I wrap my legs tightly around his waist.

I feel the tip of his erection peeking into my wet opening. Tyler lowers me slightly and presses against me. My eyes meet his and I lick my lips before pressing our mouths together.

My tongue plunges into his mouth the same time his erection plunges into me. I gasp against his lips, feeling him deep inside me. His hands hold me against him, his erection filling me like nothing else ever has.

Tyler lifts me slightly, emptiness filling me as he vacates my body. He drops me back onto him and I close my eyes against the pure pleasure rising with the single thrust inside my body. Tyler cocks an eyebrow at me when I open my eyes again. I grind myself toward him, encouraging the building pleasure inside me.

Tyler lifts and lowers me with expert precision, my body opening to him with each thrust. He leans against the wall and drives deeper into me. Each plunge inside pushes me toward the edge.

He spins us around and presses my back to the wall. I tighten my legs to lift myself above him as he slides from me. We slam back together and a moan pours from each of our lips. We repeat the process, each being pulled together and separate toward our own climax.

I feel my body starting to let go and I press myself harder into Tyler, digging him deeper into me. I drop my head back and Tyler seizes the opportunity. He licks and kisses my neck, nipping my skin and drawing my orgasm out of me in waves of pleasure. I moan his name and feel him pouring into my body.

Our bodies shudder together in a delicious release of our shared orgasm. I run my fingers through Tyler’s hair, caressing him and whispering kisses over his face. Tyler buries his nose in my hair, inhaling deeply and kissing my neck.

He pulls back from me, meeting my eyes. Passion is still boiling over the surface, with intense satisfaction covering it all. “I guess a little teasing works for us.”

His husky voice washes over me and I run my tongue along his jaw, “Oh, yeah, it definitely works.”

Tyler lowers me to the floor then reaches for my hand, pulling me toward the door. “Come on, a little naked lunch might be just the teasing we need before round two!”

I raise my eyebrows at him then follow him to the kitchen, laughing.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Tyler

Easter weekend is always a big one in my family. My parents are very faithful Christians. Being the youngest I went along with all the holiday traditions. Easter was one of the holidays that didn’t really do much for me, but I wanted to be with Mom and Dad.

This year is different.

For undergrad I was close to home. School was only a few hours away from Mom and Dad. LSU is a great school, and I had a lot of fun there, but family came first. I would make the drive home to Houston to be with my family. Being in South Carolina makes things harder.

Dad offered to pay for a plane ticket for me to come home, but it would be a lot of travel and a very short stay. Plus, it would mean three days away from Brooke. I don’t think I could have lived without her for that long. Sappy, I know. The last month together has been unbelievable. She’s stunning and simply amazing, there’s no other word for it. My life wouldn’t be the same without her. 

She gave up being with her family for Easter, telling them she has to study for finals. She said they believed her, but that all she wants to study is me. We made love after she said that. Twice.

My roommates have been giving me shit about being with Brooke all the time. They’re good guys, but we’re all in different programs, so I don’t know any of them too well. I like being at Brooke’s place because we can be alone, and don’t have to worry about an interruption or my roommates getting into our business.

I pack a bag with a few things. I know we plan to stay in so I don’t need much. If I have my way, it’ll be a naked weekend, but I’m not sure Brooke is up for that. I make sure to at least pack my toothbrush and deodorant. I throw in a couple of t-shirts and an extra pair of shorts. She told me she likes me in white boxers so I went out and bought some new ones just for this weekend.

I’d do anything for that woman.

After a quick shower, I pull a towel around my waist and shake my head to dry my hair. I slide on a pair of white boxers, smiling and knowing Brooke will be the one to take them off. I slip khaki shorts over them and pull on a sky blue shirt.

My phone rings as I grab my bag. It’s Rachel. I don’t want to answer it, but we’re trying to be friends. I slide the arrow and say, “Hey Rachel, what’s up?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Brooke

We finally have a long weekend. It’s Easter weekend, but I told my parents I had too much studying to do for finals. I hated lying to them, but I wanted to spend the time with Tyler and I knew they wouldn’t understand.

We plan to spend the entire weekend cooped up in my apartment, eliminating the outside world. I have no intentions to do anything except get lost in Tyler. I think he feels the same.

I picked up some supplies at the store for us. We said we didn’t even want to leave for food so I bought snacks and food to cook dinner. We’re testing out cooking together and I look forward to trying a few new ideas from Pinterest this weekend.

I hear a knock on my door and dance over to open it. My breath stops when I see Tyler. Something is wrong.

“Are you okay?” I manage. I step back to let him inside. He follows me in, not speaking, not touching me.

Tyler walks to my couch and sits down. He looks catatonic and I’m getting really worried. I touch his arm and say, “Ty, what’s wrong? Talk to me.”

“I... I can’t. I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry, about what? You didn’t do anything. What’s going on? Talk to me.” Panic rises in my gut. What could be so bad?

“I don’t know how to say it. You’re going to hate me. You’re never going to talk to me again. I-”

“Stop. Stop, we’re fine. You can’t say anything that would make me hate you. Just tell me what’s going on.”

Tyler looks terrified. He takes a deep breath and reaches for my hand. His blue eyes meet mine and all I see is sadness and pain.

“Rachel’s pregnant. It’s mine. The baby is mine.”

The room spins as all the air is sucked out. I hear blood pounding in my ears and see Tyler’s face, but I feel like I’m falling. I’m suffocating.

A tear falls from Tyler’s eye. I’ve never seen him cry, I’ve never seen any man cry. I don’t know what to do while my heart shatters in my chest.

“How?” is all I manage.

“On the cruise. I went to you. You said you needed to think. You were going to get back to me, but I didn’t hear from you. I thought it was over. I thought we were over. I was so upset and I went drinking. I hit every bar on the ship and barely made it back to my room.”

I want to stop him, but I can’t. I don’t want to hear about him and Rachel, but I know I have to.

“I had a dream. You came to me and we slept together. But is wasn’t a dream, it was Rachel. In the morning I woke up and I was alone. I threw up for two hours and it never occurred to me that it wasn’t a dream. I really thought it was a dream. I even called her Brooke.”

“But now she’s pregnant,” I finish for him.

We sit on my couch in silence. I hear cars passing by the window outside, horns blasting, the sounds of the city around us. I am numb. I don’t know what to say or do. He’s still holding my hand, but it’s different now. Everything is different.

“What... what are you going to do?” I ask, afraid of the answer. Tyler will take care of her. He’ll probably marry her. He always does the right thing.

He looks at me. His pain is shouting to me. He is begging me to forgive him, but I know it wouldn’t matter. Forgiving him is not going to release him of his obligation to Rachel and their child.

“I don’t know, Brooke. I don’t know what to do.” The tears fall down his face now and he buries his head in my neck. I hold him close and cry with him. I cry for the child that isn’t mine, for the love that’s slipping through my hands, for our broken hearts.

“This isn’t how I wanted to spend the weekend. I never imagined this would happen. I’m just so confused.”

His face twists into anger as the pain drops away. “How could she do this to me?”

I pull him close again and kiss his head like a child’s. “Shh, don’t worry about that now. Let’s just go out for a walk or something.”

“No, I just want to be here with you. I know that’s asking a lot of you, but I need you right now. I know you must hate me and I’ll leave if you want me to.”

Tyler starts to get up but I pull him back to the couch with me. I push him down on the couch and lie down in front of him, pulling his arm tight around me. I flip on the TV that neither of us will watch and find a movie to fill the silence.

I feel Tyler’s breath heavy on my neck and realize he’s asleep. I let my thoughts wander, trying to figure out how I feel about this.

How I feel about his baby.

With Rachel.

Fresh tears fall from my eyes. I know this is the last weekend I will have with Tyler. He will go back to Rachel. He will do the right thing. And I’ll have to tell him I’m okay with it.