Page 17 of The Pact

The image of Aaron’s face flashes behind my eyes, the stench of his breath, the clammy heat of his body pressing against mine.

He called me a cocktease. A temptress. His voice is still ringing in my ears and for a moment it sounds eerily similar to Dad’s voice. Every time he chastised me for wearing revealing clothes, for talking to anyone that wasn’t him or Mom after a service.

I don’t even realize that I’m crying until Kelley’s rough fingers come to wipe my tears away.

“Hey, hey. Ausra, no. Please don’t cry. I took care of that scumbag, ok?”

His voice is low and soothing, he’s standing so close to me that I can see the green flecks in his amber colored eyes.

“I ... he said I was teasing him, I didn’t mean to—”

Kelley’s fingers trace the line of my cheek, chasing away another tear. “That’s fucking bullshit. You were just doing your job and that loser wouldn’t leave you alone. God knows I came to the bar ten times to try to ask you out and he was always up in your business.”

Somehow the part that sticks with me is the last one. “You wanted to ask me out?” I ask hesitantly, fearing that I misheard him.

He smiles again, softly this time. His hand is still on my face and it descends to cup my jaw. “Of course I was! Why the heck do you think I stayed behind? Since that idiot wouldn’t leave you alone, I thought I’d wait until closing time to ask you.”

My eyes follow the trajectory of his hand and I notice his bruised knuckles for the first time. Unsure about what else to do or say because he isn’t really asking, I take his hand in mine, looking at the broken skin. “Kelley, you’re bleeding. I’m sorry.”

He shakes his head, his brown hair catching the light of a lamppost and showing some golden highlights. “It’s nothing,” he whispers. “You’re safe and that’s all that matters.”

His eyes travel down to my mouth and as I keep following his gaze, I notice the dark red bruise on his jaw where Aaron hit him.

“Oh no,” I say, tracing the bruise with the tips of my fingers. “He hit you.”

The corner of Kelley’s mouth quirks up in response. “Well fuck, I think I hit him a few more times than he did me. What do you say?”

“Yeah, and I can’t thank you enough for stopping him ...” My words fade as his eyes go down to my lips again.

“You’re welcome, Ausra ...”

Then his lips touch mine and I stiffen.

This is the guy who called me a freak, an unfuckable freak. But he’s also the guy who helped me tonight. And this version of Kelley, the kindness in his voice, the softness of his smile, is the version I want to believe in. So after the first moment of hesitation, I don’t move away, I lean into the contact with his lips.

I don’t know what I’m doing, I’ve never been kissed before today. Fuck, I’ve never been close to a man that wasn’t my father before today.

When Kelley increases the pressure of his lips on mine, I surround his neck with my arms. Grateful that this isn’t Aaron, admitting to myself that I want this kiss even if I’m not sure I should.

The tip of his tongue teases the seam of my lips and I know he wants access, so I open my mouth and ... it feels warm.

Not just my mouth where his tongue swipes intense strokes against mine, sleek and daring. My whole body is on fire. My heart is pounding violently against my rib cage, my nipples are straining against my bra, hard and sensitive.

The space between my legs is throbbing in sync with every hungry swipe of Kelley’s tongue against mine.

I don’t want this to end and I soon feel confident enough to mimic his exploration of my mouth, beginning my own as his hands are tangled in my hair.

“Fuck, you’re so pretty,” he says, grazing my bottom lip with his teeth.

I don’t say anything, not trusting myself not to ruin this moment, not wanting him to stop kissing me.

“Can I see you again, Ausra?” he asks with his forehead touching mine when he breaks the kiss.

I don’t even think about the answer, I say yes. I’ll worry later about the fact that I’ve spent the last six months hating Kelley, when I’m by myself.

“Goodnight, Ausra. Can I get a kiss for the road?” he says before kissing me again. “Go inside, baby. I can’t go until I know you’re safe in your house.”

I walk the couple of steps to my door and unlock it with trembling fingers. “Goodnight.” I close the door behind me and it’s just when I hear the engine of his car that I realize that he never really asked me out.

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