Sweet Chemistry (15 page)

Lloyd nodded his head. “It’s not so difficult to plan for the future. I’m glad you’re heeding my advice. That’s all I wanted to say. Good job.” He picked up his pen and turned his attention back to the papers on his desk.

“Thank you Lloyd.” James gave him one last smile before he went to his office. Even though Lloyd treated him like a good dog, James was still proud of getting his attention in such a positive way. He would have to tell Sam about it later. After he unwrapped his pant legs and changed his shirt and shoes, he cleaned up in the bathroom and went to his intro class with a stack of graded assignments.

Sometime during Biochem lab, the dark clouds that had been gathering all afternoon started to dump. The rain came down in sheets, pelting against the window at the end of the hall. It was so noisy the entire biochemistry lab filed into the hall and pressed their faces against the window. It was at that moment James realized he had forgotten his rain jacket at home.

“What’s wrong?” Kate asked as they walked back into the lab.

“I forgot my rain jacket, and I rode my bike to work today.” A mile in the rain meant a twenty-minute ride instead of five, not to mention the wetness.

“Take the shuttle. It picks up on the south side of the building every half hour.”

Angelica piped up, “Oh, do you live close to campus?” She narrowed her eyes at Kate.

All the blood drained out of Kate’s face.

“I bumped into Miss Rhodes on my way to the store one day.” James said quickly, trying to cover for Kate. “It’s a small world.”

“Mm hmm, small world,” Kate parroted.

“I have my car, if you need a ride,” Angelica offered.

James shook his head. “Thanks, but I think I’ll just take the shuttle. Does it have a bike rack?” He was facing the entire class.

Another student, Shelly, answered, “Yep, you’ll want to get there early so you can load your bike as soon as the shuttle pulls up.”

“Thanks for the info, class. Now let’s finish this lab.”

It took him twenty minutes to pack up his riding gear and get down to the shuttle pick up spot. He knew he was in the right place because Kate was sitting inside the bus stop shelter. James dashed through the rain, leaned his bike outside and ducking inside. Although they were alone, he propped his shoulder against the wall, carefully avoiding the spot next to her on the bench, just in case someone was watching.

“I was hoping I’d catch you,” Kate whispered.

“Why are you whispering? No one else is here.”

Kate shrugged. “Thanks for covering for me. I didn’t even realize she would hear me.”

“Angelica doesn’t miss anything. I don’t think she thought much about it. Can I see you tonight?”

“Doesn’t this count?” A smile played across her lips.

James shook his head. “No. I had plans to see a lot more of you.”

“Don’t you have lab notebooks to grade?” Kate crossed her arms over her chest.

“Yes, on Saturday.”

“Perfect.”

The bus pulled up, and in the two minutes it took James to hook his bike to the front, he got drenched. Kate stifled a laugh as he walked down the aisle and took a seat in front of her.

The bus driver turned to face them. “We’ll give it another couple of minutes and then head out.”

“No worries Mac,” Kate called out to him.

James turned to look at her through the crack between the seats. “You know him?”

Kate nodded. “I ride the shuttle all the time.” She laughed when water dripped down his face. “You should’ve just ridden your bike home with as wet as you already are.”

James scoffed. “You think this is wet? After a mile in this rain, I would’ve been soaked to the bone.”

“All of them?” Kate leaned forward.

He was about to respond when another wet person got on the bus and sat several seats ahead of him, forcing him to face forward. Mac and the other passenger started talking about the weather as Mac drove.

“There’s only one
bone
I’m interested in,” Kate murmured next to his ear. She pushed her delicate hand in the gap between the seats and pointed to his lap. “That one.” She contorted her wrist to touch him, barely grazing the bulge in his pants.

James pressed his lips together and groaned. “I thought we were supposed to be careful in public,” he whispered.

“I
am
being careful. Otherwise, I’d be in your lap right now.” Kate’s words stirred his dick even more.

“Don’t tempt me,” he ground out between clenched teeth.

The bus lurched around a corner forcing Kate back in her seat. After a few seconds, her breath was on his ear again. “I’d really like to get you out of those wet clothes.”

“Me too.”

“And then I’d really like to fuck you.”

James groaned again. “You’re killing me.”

“I’d rather
fuck
you.” She emphasized the word “fuck” as if she knew how much it turned him on. “See you later.” She sauntered down the aisle and stood just behind Mac’s chair.

“Thanks for the ride, Mac. I hope you get back to the garage without any problems.”

“Thanks Kate. Have a good weekend,” Mac replied as Kate got off the bus at the curb in front of the dorms.

As James struggled to free his bike, he lost sight of her. He peddled through the parking lot and across the street, and by the time he was climbing the steps to his apartment, his clothes were splattered with road grime. When he got to the third floor, he nearly dropped his bike when he noticed Kate leaning against his door. She was dripping with water.

“How did you…?”

Kate grinned. “It took you forever to unload your bike.”

“I thought you were going to torture me and make me wait until later.” James gripped the open flaps of her jacket. His breath caught when he noticed how wet her shirt was. He could see her nipples through her creamy white shirt.

“I wouldn’t dream of making you wait.” Kate kissed him, pushing her tongue inside his mouth.

James tried to embrace her, but she pulled away and clicked her tongue.

“Not so fast. You’re filthy and I’m wearing white.” She reached inside his pants pocket and as she retrieved his keys, she brushed against his hard cock. “Let’s get you out of those wet clothes.”

Kate unlocked the door and he eagerly followed her inside. “What about your bike?”

“I have a blanket.” He tugged the old stained blanket out of the coat closet, working as quickly as possible. He wanted Kate, but he couldn’t leave his bike outside.

Kate dropped her jacket and backpack in the kitchen and bent over to help him straighten the blanket. Her teeth chattered.

“Shower.” James dumped his bike on top of the blanket and pulled Kate into the bathroom with him. Her skin was covered with goose bumps as he undressed her. Her shirt clung to her skin, and when he finally got it off her head, it splattered the wall with water. Her bra was saturated and completely transparent. She unbuttoned his shirt and threw it in the sink. Once she had his pants off, she locked her lips on his. He peeled her jeans off and held them with his foot so she could step out. Their mouths never broke apart as they continued to undress. When their naked bodies finally touched, a jolt of pleasure washed through him.

The warm water was marvelous, but having her in his arms was even better. Her hands were all over him, tugging and caressing and massaging. She pushed him against the back wall of the shower. He closed his eyes and gasped when she sucked his dick into her mouth.

“Gah.” His eyes snapped open and he watched her.

She was bent over, and the stream of hot water pulsed against her back, splattering the walls with a fine mist. She moved her head up and down and swirled her tongue.

He marveled at how she knew exactly how to give him the most pleasure without making him come.

When she straightened her back, her cheeks were flushed. “I’m warm. How about you?”

James nodded.

“Good. Now I’m going to fuck you.” Kate stepped out of the shower, wrapped herself in the towel, and went into the bedroom.

As James followed her, his legs shook.

“You forgot to dry off.” Kate smiled as she unwrapped herself and used her towel to dry his skin.

She pulled the covers back and got a condom before she kneeled on his bed and crooked her finger. James walked to the edge of the bed and stopped. He was waiting for instructions. She sucked him back into her mouth, making his legs wobble again. Her mouth was replaced with a cool slippery ring of latex as she unrolled a condom on him.

“How do you want me?” His breath was quick and shallow.

“On your back. Right here.” Kate pointed to the bed next to her. She straddled his hips and reached between their bodies. “I’ve been waiting all week for this.” She sighed as she impaled herself on his dick.

James moaned. He had been waiting all week too.

Kate rode him, rolling her hips and moving her body up and down. Her face contorted and her breathing quickened. Her mouth formed a perfect circle as she came.

He cupped her breasts and squeezed her nipples then pulled her down so he could kiss her. Her wet hair stuck to his face as her body molded to his. In this new position, he had more power. His hands slid down to her hips, and he held her steady while he fucked her, her wet, hot flesh yielding to him.

James flipped their bodies until he was staring down at her. Her dark hair glistened against the soft gray sheets, which were gradually becoming darker as the water diffused out of her hair. He sat back on his heels and gathered her legs so they were resting against his chest. With his arms wrapped around her knees, he began to thrust hard and fast.

Kate was gasping and moaning. “So good.” She pushed against the wall meeting each thrust, and then she was screaming.

He grunted as he came. His body shuddered. He didn’t want to pull out of her; he wanted to stay buried in her heat forever. As if she could read his mind, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss as her limp legs fell on the bed.

Her lips were hot and dry and her chest was still heaving as James rested on his elbows and kissed her. He moved to pull away from her and she shook her head slightly.

“Don’t go yet.” She opened her mouth again and lifted her head until their mouths joined again.

He could wait a little longer. Finally he pulled away from her, and when she protested again, this time, he shook his head. “No sense in using condoms if they fall off, right?”

Kate let out a dry laugh. “Right.”

While he was in the bathroom cleaning up, Kate said, “I’m sorry my hair got your bed all wet.”

James brought a small towel to her and joined her on the bed. “Here, put this on it. It’ll dry in no time.”

“This is why I wanted to be on top.”

James raised an eyebrow. “Is it?”

Kate grinned. “Well, one of them anyway. I’ve been called bossy before, and it probably applies to the bedroom too.”

“I like a woman in control.” He kissed her and then scooted her body until it was nestled against his.

Kate rested her head in the crook of his arm. “Thanks for warming me up.”

“I’ll warm you up any time.”

“Sorry we are always here. My RA doesn’t go for this sort of thing.”

“You’re not allowed to have guys in your room?”

“Not for sleepovers.” Kate rolled her eyes. “That’s what she calls it, as if we’re twelve.”

James cleared his throat. “Have you had many, um, sleepovers?”

Kate turned her face up to look at him. “No. Have you?”

James shook his head. “No.”

“Besides your ex…”

Her words hit him hard. He struggled to find his voice. “No one since
her
.”

“How long?” Kate was touching his face, smoothing out the crease of hurt on his forehead.

“Three years.”

Kate smiled. “No wonder.”

He couldn’t help but smile too. “No wonder what?”

“You’re so insatiable. I thought I was having a dry spell.”

“How long?” James tilted his head as he echoed her question.

“A little over a year.”

“Ha! That’s nothing.”

“So how do you explain the copious amount of condoms you have in that drawer?” Kate nodded to the nightstand.

“After I saw you at Addiction the second time, I was hoping to get lucky.” He squeezed her. “I did. Lots.”

He took another deep breath. It was now or never. “So, are we together?” His heart sank when she shrugged.

“I don’t know. Are we? I didn’t want to assume,” Kate whispered. Her breath tickled his chest.

James stopped breathing. “Do you want to see other people?”

“No.”

It was the best word he’d ever heard. “I don’t either,” he offered before she had to ask.

“It’s settled then. You’re my secret boyfriend.” Kate nuzzled into his chest.

It was too good to be true, and yet, there she was, in his arms. The word “secret” was the only part of her statement he didn’t like. “I can’t wait to get you away from here so we can be together in public. I want to be able to kiss you and hold your hand.”

Kate slipped her hand inside of his. “This’ll have to do for now. How was your week?”

As James recounted his very full week, Kate listened intently. Relief washed over him again as he explained how Sam had been helping him.

“So he’s mentoring you
and
introducing you to powerful people? Sounds like you need to make him cookies or something. Well, that’s what I would do. What do professors do for each other?”

James shrugged. “I’m not sure. He’s my first friend at Bowman State.”

Kate smiled gently. “I didn’t know you played racquetball. I just thought your amazing legs were from riding your bike.”

James laughed. “I need to practice. I’m playing again on Thursday.”

“I could give you a run for your money.”

“You play?”

“I took a class last year.” Kate gave him a smug smile.

“I was going to ask Jon to practice with me, but I would much rather play with you.”

Kate giggled. “I’m sure you would.”

“Sunday?”

“Sure. How about eleven?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Great. I’ll reserve a court.” Suddenly, she sat up and made her way to his dresser. “Can I borrow a shirt while we eat?”