The Perfect Emotion (36 page)

Reed rocks into me a couple more times and then we both lie limply with him still inside me.  His face falls into the crease of my neck and I turn my face over to press into his letting our rapid breathing mix together.  Feeling fulfilled my body hums with the after affects and my mind can’t get over how it feels to have ….
Nothing between us
.

C
HAPTER 25

Morning sun breaks in through the slit in Reed’s dark curtains causing me to turn away from it and hide my face into Reed’s side. The smell of masculinity, sex and us fills my nose. His arm tightens instinctually around me, but his breathing stays deep and heavy. His hand rests on the dip of my lower back with his fingers splayed across my backside. My head feels full of weight still and my breathing is shallow calling me back towards sleep. I don’t bother to think too much about my morning classes, but my mind does linger on last night…

After having sex with no condom we stayed tangled up together afraid to move or break our new bond.  Eventually, Reed did get up and when he came back he dipped down below to clean me with a warm washcloth.  Nerves tingled and sensations spread through my body yet I stayed almost incoherent.  Too much had happened throughout our night and my mind and body was exhausted.  When Reed asked if I was ready to talk like we had planned to do originally I pulled him up behind me and had him spoon me.  Then I drifted off into la la land.  Just like I do again this morning.

I start stirring running my hands over and under cool sheets.  My body has a slight chill to it and I know that I am alone in Reed’s bed.  I miss his hands on me.  Stretching and yawning I pull myself further up the bed to lean against the headboard.  I rub my eyes and then look over at the desk with the alarm clock on it and see that my second class starts in about two minutes. 
Shit.
  There’s no chance of making it so I don’t freak out, but if I want to make my next class I need to get up. 

I use the bathroom and brush my teeth with Reed’s toothbrush… normally that would gross me out, but after everything else we’ve shared and done I’m over it.  All the other roommates’ bedroom doors are open and empty so I tread to the back stairwell to the kitchen.  The smell of bacon permeates the house.  Entering the kitchen quietly I stop in my tracks to see Reed shirtless in jeans with his back to me at the stove.  Instead of moving to him I just stare, especially at his bottom.  God, I love the way jeans fit him… slightly hanging from the hips and molding his ass, evident that it’s muscular and fit, then covering the length of his long toned legs and to top it off he’s barefoot.  His hair is wet dripping onto his firm shoulders.  He must have showered while I slept.  I bite the bottom corner of my lip thinking of muscles rubbing on top of my body and then I think about his lock on my wrists.  I rub my hands over my wrists and the feeling is still there.  Stepping forward I move closer to him around the small table.

“Are you taking orders?” I ask unable to hide the sleepy rasp in my tone.

His head cocks to the side and then he looks over his shoulder at me with a bright smile that has my heart skipping a beat.  He turns around with a spatula in hand moving towards me shaking his head back and forth. 

“Katherine, you are going to be the death of me.  Luckily, my roommates are all gone already, but I mean it if anyone saw you in just my t-shirt I’d have to kill them.”  His free hand moves in between my thighs gliding up past the hem of the t-shirt.  “These are for my eyes only.”  His lips dangle right in front of me, but don’t touch mine. The mint of our breaths smells the same, like one. I close the distance between us and kiss him sweetly.

“Well, I definitely don’t want to be the cause of murderer on your resume.”  He pushes into me taking my bottom lip into his mouth while backing me up against the counter. 

“Mmmm,” I moan before he releases my lip. “You need to feed me before anymore of that happens. I’m starving!”

He plants a tender kiss on my cheek and lifts me onto the counter.  “Good, I need to fatten you up some,” he says on his way back over to the stove.  “Eggs, bacon and toast.  Plus, I have coffee made too, but I don’t have that flavor cream stuff you like.”  Now normally I’d be grouchy without my flavored cream, but the fact that Reed Harper just made me breakfast and coffee makes me anything, but grouchy. 

“Sounds delicious, thank you.”  Reed fills a cup of coffee up and puts some cream and sugar in it too.  I take it in my hands and just let the warmth of the cup warm my hands.  Watching him setting up the little table in the kitchen I get a strange feeling of butterflies in the pit of my stomach.  My breathing becomes a little jittery taking in his ease and effortless movements.  It gives me a feeling of hope, promises and … the possibility of the future.  Once the table is set with our plates filled with food he comes back over to me moving himself between my dangling legs.  I run my hand through his damp hair and shake it a little.

“No fair, you’re clean,” I tease him. 

He raises his eyebrows and wiggles them a little before saying, “Hey, I cleaned you last night.” I roll my eyes and snicker. He wraps my legs around his waist and lifts me from the counter kissing my neck and then places me in a chair at the table.

I devour my food barely stopping to breath.  Reed watches me in amazement at just how hungry I am. 

“Wow, I guess I know what I have to do to get you to eat like this from now on,” he jokes with me giving me a famous wink that has me thinking about last night. 

After we finish up eating we clean up the mess and all the dishes together.  Playfully we tease each other and Reed’s hands find ways to the easy access of my behind.  I look at the clock and realize that I’m about to miss my third class of the morning.  I’ve never missed classes like this before… of course, I’ve never really had a reason.

“I missed my first two classes already and I’m about to miss another. What about you?”

“Yep, want to play hooky? Then we can talk and have the day to us,” Reed says with sincerity. The little bit of heaviness I was feeling about bringing up our conversation that we still need to have lifts because he’s ready and not pushing it off like I was afraid he might do. I sigh quietly in relief and shake my head yes to playing hooky. His hands cup my cheeks and then run through my tangled and messy hair when he says, “You didn’t think I’d let you off that easily did you? I want us to talk about everything, Kate.”

“I thought you wouldn’t want to talk, but I’m relieved that you want to.”  I pause to take in his eyes before I continue.  “I want and need to know more about you, about us.”  I peck his lips sweetly and then he grabs my hand to take me back upstairs. Just as we reach the top of the stairs we hear the front door open and close with one of his roommates coming in.

“Just in time… I wouldn’t want to kill whoever that is,” he says playfully and pulls the hem of the t-shirt down. 

After I throw back on my clothes from yesterday we walk back over to my dorm so that I can shower and put on clean clothes. Maggie is gone at her classes and we don’t see any of the others. Reed lies on my bed flipping through a magazine of Maggie’s while I flit around the tight space getting myself put together.

“Can we go for a run or play tennis later?” I ask as I comb my wet hair out.

“Sure, both if you want, but first I have something in mind to do.” He smiles at me and it reaches his eyes. My knees weaken a little. “You look hot with wet hair,” he says while winking at me over the top of the magazine.

“You looked hot this morning cooking with no shirt on and wet hair,” I throw back out over my shoulder before heading back into the bathroom.

“Hmmm and now I don’t?”

“Oh please, I can’t feed your ego too much!”  He chuckles and I fire up my hair dryer. 

After I finish drying my long hair Reed tells me to meet him downstairs when I’m all done.  I look at myself in the mirror and put on a little blush, mascara and lip-gloss.  I knot a light chevron black and cream scarf around my neck.  The weather is exceptionally nice out for March in Milwaukee so I just throw on my light North Face fleece.  Before heading out the door I text Maggie to check on her and let her know my plans. 

As I’m crossing through the lobby I look up and see Brandon sitting on a couch.  He sees me and gives me a tight-lipped smile.  A look of caution flits across his face or maybe nervousness.  There is no way to avoid him. 

“Hey Brandon.”

“Kate.” He stands and I watch the tattoo on his arm flex into motion. “How’s it going?”

“Good, how are you doing?  Are… are you…” I trail off not really sure how to ask if he’s over Maggie.  He kind of laughs at my stuttering and shifts his stance. 

“I’m fine.” I raise my eyes and eyebrows questioningly. “Yes, really I am. I miss her though, but don’t tell her that.” His throaty chuckle echoes in the large open space.

“I won’t. I’m sorry things didn’t work. I just hope you can be friends.”

“I’m sure we’ll get there. How’s Reed?”

“Good, actually he’s outside probably.”

“Yeah, I saw his car.  Take it easy.  I’ll see ya around.”

“Okay, bye.”  I start to head to the doors and then see a somewhat familiar face coming through the doors.  God, what did Maggie call her… dirty Diana or was it dirty Diane?  She smiles at me, but quickly makes her way to Brandon. Huh, go figure. I guess Maggie could always tell something more might have been there. No need to tell her about this though.

I stand against my car outside of Kate’s dorm waiting for her to come out. When I see her crossing through the lobby my body hums. Damn, she’s so beautiful. Then she stops to talk to Brandon. I feel bad for that guy. I’m sure Kate feels bad too and awkward talking to him, but then I see a girl I’ve seen Brandon with before coming in. Good for him I guess.

“Hi handsome,” Kate says when she comes out into the sunlight.

“Ready, beautiful?”  I say right before I plant one on her perfect and welcoming lips.  Just being back in her presence puts me on cloud nine.

We hit the road and her hand strokes along my thigh as I drive.  I have to think about something other than her to keep myself from getting too excited… baseball, grandma’s and law classes.  Yep, that will do it.