LWLU – Sums Up
Once dressed, Sara fluffed her hair and inspected her appearance in the mirror. Her skin was flushed and her lips were swollen from being kissed. On the outside, she had it together enough to rejoin her friends and share a meal. Sure, they’d all know by looking at her what had gone on in her room, but considering how long she’d been behind closed doors with Paul, anyone would be hard pressed not to know.
On the inside…on the inside she was mess, plain and simple. His words were Michael’s words. When she heard Michael’s words she was a hurt, confused, helpless, scared sixteen-year-old girl, a child really, again. She was back in that night again. No, that wasn’t fair. The night wasn’t all bad; wasn’t the sole problem.
Was it?
No, it was just enough to remind her though. That was all it took. In that memory was enough. She didn’t want to associate that pain with Paul. Not now. Not ever. No, she only wanted to associate goodness with him because that’s what he was to her. Paul Kellerman was her fresh start, her chance for happiness…her chance to get over Michael and all the pain he’d left in his wake so very long ago.
Paul’s hands slid around her waist and his eyes connected with hers in the mirror a moment before his lips grazed the side of her neck. “You look great, angel.”
Here in the privacy of her room, it was easy for Sara to let herself forget about everything else – everyone else. When it was just the two of them together, she felt whole for the first time in a long time. Maybe ever. In his embrace, there was a measure of safety that made her never want to leave. He would always protect her. In his arms, she would never be hurt.
She twisted around to face him. “Keep that up and we got dressed for nothing.” Her arms wound around his neck and she pressed her lips to his. Was this what love felt like, she wondered. Not the superficial love one felt for chocolate or a spectacular pair of shoes, love for a person. Was this what it was like not to be infatuated with your first childhood brush with puppy love but the first real taste of mature adult feeling?
He pulled back. “Oh, no you don’t. I’ve already trashed the condom so unless you have another one under your pillow then don’t even start that.” Something about the way his eyes sparkled purple fire in their blue depths was so appealing.
Sara grinned and reached for him again. He darted out of her reach like a toddler at bath time. “Stop running away from me, you dork. I’m trying to fix your hair, not get in your pants.” She could barely talk for laughing.
“It’s hard to tell with you.”
“Just get your ass over here, Kellerman. You look like you’ve been playing in a wind tunnel all day.” She hopped up on the bathroom counter, motioning for him to come to her.
“You did it, Tancredi.” He stalked over to where she was. “Do I even have hair left?”
“Quit your bitching. You know you liked it.” She smoothed his hair down with light fingers, cringing at the red marks on his scalp from where she’d been too forceful in her enjoyment. In apology, she kissed the top of his head.
She tried to hop down, but he stopped her, eyes again dark. “There was a lot I liked.”
There was plenty she enjoyed as well. In fact, the only part she didn’t like was the part where he pulled out before satisfying her most carnal desires. Though she didn’t yet know if she loved him, she sure did want him. And she wanted him bad. After getting only that brief taste of what the man could do with his hands and body, there was no doubt in her mind he could leave her a delirious heap of nameless sated bone and flesh.
Yet he had already disposed of the wasted protection so why was he looking at her with that particular mix of lust and longing? “Paul?”
“Maybe I’ll have to restrain those hands of yours next time.” His palms rested flat on the top of her thighs.
Her teeth caught her lower lip and scraped across it on the release. Any lingering thought of Michael fell from her head when she saw herself reflected in his eyes. She wasn’t a little girl anymore. Why was she still acting like one? “Oh, you think you’ll have to restrain me to protect yourself, do you?” Like molasses, she let her knees drift apart, drawing him near while her hands traveled over the expanse of his chest, hearing the friction of her fingernails on the shirt’s fabric. “Do you really think you’re man enough to take me on?”
A smile tugged at his lips. “You already know I’m more than enough man for you. I’m all the man you’ll ever need, babe.”
“Oh, yes…that was quite impressive…” she lifted a hand to her mouth to fake a yawn. “But now you’re just all talk.”
He grabbed her hands by the wrist and pressed them back against the mirror, sliding between her thighs. “That enough action for you?”
The cool glass against her wrists stood in sharp contrast to the heat pouring off his body. Even through all their layers of clothing, she could feel the raw masculinity he exuded flooding her senses. “Not even close,” she breathed, wrapping her legs around his waist.
“Tough.”
“Tough?”
“Yeah. Tough.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips over her forehead. “That’s all you get until later tonight.” Paul released her hands and grinned at her. “I know, I know. I’m an evil bastard.”
Sara slid off the counter, making sure to let every inch of her body move against his. Turnabout was fair play. “Yeah, but you’re an evil magnificent bastard so you’re forgiven.”
“Sara?” His eyes turned serious and he boxed her in with a hand on either side of her on the counter. “You’re enjoying tormenting me like this, aren’t you?”
“No more than you’re enjoying torturing me.” She felt the smile melt from her face. “But I’d be enjoying it a whole lot more if we weren’t having to torment each other right now.”
“I know, angel.” He tilted her chin up. “It won’t be much longer now.” His mouth moved over hers in promise.
Impatient fists pounded the door. “Yo, Paul!”
He broke the kiss and rolled his eyes. “We’re coming!”
“I don’t care if you’re coming. Just fucking get out here!”
“Keep your pants on, Linc.” Paul blew out a breath and slung his arm around Sara’s shoulder as they moved to the door.
“Put yours on,” Lincoln growled.
Sara took Paul’s coat from the doorknob and tossed it onto the rumpled bed. She flung the door opened, grinning at a surprised Lincoln. “What do I need to put on, Lincoln?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head, glared at Paul and retreated in the general direction of the kitchen.
Paul shared a private smile with Sara and then followed her into the kitchen. Hushed conversation was taking place while they gathered around the chips and salsa on the island. Sara rubbed her hands together. “Something smells amazing in here.”
“It’s you,” Paul whisper in her ear.
All conversation came to stop. Jane looked around at everyone, confusion on her face. Nika was first to break the silence, smacking Lincoln in the gut.
“I told you not to go bother them. You are such a jerk.”
Sara felt the heat start in her ears. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Yeah, it is, Sare. We all agreed to wait for dinner and we were all fine with chips and stuff except for him.” She glared at Lincoln. “Jerk.”
“I was hungry.”
Nika sliced her hand through the air. “No! If it were you in there…you would so have punched whoever came to the door to bother you.”
“That’s not true, Nika and you…”
“Billy Siskin’s party…my sophomore year,” Veronica interrupted.
Lincoln leaned back against the counter, lifting his hand to his mouth in thought. “Oh, yeah. That was one hell of a party, V.”
“Yeah. It sure as shit was,” Mike grumbled.
“Bro, it was a long time ago. I didn’t know it was you at the door or I wouldn’t have come out swinging.”
Mike took a swig of his beer. “Whatever.” His eyes connected with Sara’s. “That was an eventful night.”
“Yeah…it…” Sara caught Veronica’s eye and she jumped in.
“Stop changing the subject.” Unfortunately, Roni changed it right back to another embarrassing subject. “The point is that you never should have bothered them, Lincoln.”
“I was hungry!”
Paul laughed. “It’s really okay.”
“Yeah,” Sara chimed in. “We were just talking. Let’s eat. Come on. Hand the birthday girl a plate.”
“Here you go.” Paul reached for a plate.
As conversation started to resume, Jane set down her beer bottle on the island and frowned. “Okay, let me make sure I’ve got everything straight since I don’t know anything about y’alls back story here.” She gestured to Lincoln and Veronica. “You two hooked up at this Billy Sissy guy’s party back in high school and then you punched your brother…” she gestured to Michael, “when he knocked on the door for something. And then at this same party, something happened with your brother…” she looked over at Sara. “And the birthday girl here who was just talking to her boyfriend in her room for the last hour or so even though his fly is down. Did I miss anything?”
“Fuck,” Paul swore under his breath, turning to zip up.
“I think that pretty well sums up this conversation. Look. Enchiladas.” Nika picked up a serving utensil and smiled brightly. “Who wants a corner piece?”
