Page 34 of The Keeper
“So tell me, Mack” I continue, “did you set that up before you came back to see me or after.”
“Before.”
It’s just one word, but my face bunches up in reaction as tears begin to fall.
“So you made plans to get together with her and then drove over here to… to what? See if you could bang a random no one to round out the evening?”
It’s the only real possibility, and I shouldn’t be shocked. My life is a series of unfortunate circumstances and hurt. I just feel like I finally had something good, even for just one day, and now it’s tainted too.
Mack’s response comes quick. “RJ, when I talked to Ronnie on Saturday, I only agreed to meet up with her because I wanted to tell her in person. I wanted to tell her that I met someone I was interested in, and that she and I just needed to go back to being friends.That’swhy we made the date.”
I’m shocked by his revelation, frozen in place, unable to move. Is he saying he was going to call off hanky-panky withRonnie Kadeafter one date with me?
“What?”
It’s only a whisper, but his response isn’t much more. His hand comes to the side of my face, his thumb sweeping under my eye to wipe away the few traitorous tears that have fallen free. Unbidden, I lean my face into his hand, reveling in the feeling of closeness in this moment.
“I called her back on the drive over to see you.”
My eyes are glued to him, and all I can do is whisper back, “But we hadn’t even kissed yet.”
“I didn’t need to kiss you to know that you were a person who was going to change everything. And if I could see that within just a few hours of knowing you, I wanted to make sure nothing would get in the way of whatever was going to happen next.” His thumb swipes again, catching the last tear that’s tracked down my cheek. “I want whatever is next.”
We sit like that for seconds, minutes, I’m not sure. But I can feel the air in the room shift and crystalize with tension. His attention drops to my lips, only for a second, before his eyes flash up to mine.
Before I can even internalize his glance, he leans forward and plants his soft lips firmly on mine. I let out a breathy sigh as my lips part for him, inviting his tongue to explore my mouth. His other hand moves to my side and grips me tightly. I quickly release the blanket and wrap my arms around his neck, tugging him close.
Suddenly I’m on my back and he’s hovering over me, resting his strong, muscular body between my legs. My hands dig into his hair as he leaves my lips to lick and kiss my neck, my head tilting back to give him better access. My body shudders, my physical response to him so strong.
“God, Mack,” I whisper. I feel his fingers slipping under the bottom of my shirt, his cool hands gripping the warm skin on my sides.
I feel consumed, like my body has been zapped with a warm sizzle of electricity, and the resulting tingle is radiating from the middle of my body to the tips of my fingers, to the tips of my toes. I can’t get close enough. He can’t get close enough. Our bodies are melded together and I’ve never felt sorightbeing this close to someone.
He pulls his mouth from mine and stares into my eyes as he rocks into me, letting out a husky moan. I gasp raggedly and clench my eyes shut at the overwhelming feeling of lust rushing through me.
“Fuck,” he whispers, his lips coming back to mine for a heated kiss. Deep and passionate.
I can’t get enough, can’t get close enough. I want to press every inch of us together and bind us there, because this feeling… oh this feeling. This depth of passion and feeling of being so lost in the moment is something I’ve never known before.
But when he pops the top button on my jeans, my eyes fly open as if I’ve been doused with ice water. The gravity of this moment has rushed into my bloodstream, eradicating the desire and longing almost completely.
What am I doing?
This is my coach and we’re grinding on the floor inside of the entryway of my apartment.
Fuck.
Thedooris still open.
My body flushes again with heat, but this time out of a sudden and very shocking jolt of embarrassment. His haste to remove my clothes is a swift reminder ofmyinnocence andhislack of.
“Mack, stop.” My voice comes out strong and sure, masking my confusion and sudden nervousness.
His hands instantly come off of my body, but his body is still connected to mine from knee to cheek, his mouth next to my ear and his breaths ragged. I give him a tiny push and he rolls off of me, laying flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling.
“You need to leave.”
He remains unmoving on the floor next to me for a moment before his head turns and I see him looking at me. When I turn to meet his gaze, I see the longing in his eyes.
