Don't Follow Me: A High School Bully Romance (Diamond In The Rough Book 4)(18)

Before I came crashing back down to earth.

“Holy shit,” I breathed.

I coughed as Clint rolled off my body. He pulled himself upright long enough to turn around. I rolled over, catching his eyes and seeing how flushed his face had become. The dew glistening against his lips. The beads of sweat framing his face. He was a mess. And I knew I looked like one, too.

He reached out and wiped off my cheek with his thumb.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured.

I smiled. “I love you.”

He cupped my cheek. “I love you too, Rae. Never, ever forget that.”

And when he kissed me, I felt our souls intertwine.

I nestled into his body, feeling him shaking. Just like I was. He pulled me close with his strong arms, then dragged the covers over us. The feeling of those cool sheets against my skin made goosebumps tingle along the edges of my body. Out of nowhere, I heard the television turn on and the flipping of channels caught my attention. I looked up and saw the reflection of the screen in Clint’s eyes. I smiled as I kept watching. A reflection of a reflection. Finally the sitcom Clint landed on was exchanged for my face as he looked down at me.

“Dinner’s at six. We’re going to a steakhouse,” he said.

I kissed his cheek softly. “Want to take a nap until then?”

He snuggled down into bed with me before reaching for his phone. He put it to his face as my leg slid between his. I snuggled close. My naked body pressed against his. I heard his phone beeping before he set it down. Then his lips fell to the top of my head.

“Alarm set. We’ll have an hour to get ready. And until then, we can do whatever it is we want.”

I nuzzled against him. “What time is it?”

“Not quite four.”

“Mmm, okay. Time for a bit of a rest.”

And as he held me in his arms, with my eyes fluttering closed, I wondered why he didn’t want this all the time.

Why he didn’t want to move in with me and have me all the time.





14





Clinton





My eyes fell open as the sun barely peeked through the black-out curtains of the hotel. As I shifted against the comforter, I felt my cock hissing with need. It shot electricity through my groin, aching my pelvic muscles. And even after last night--even after fucking Rae into oblivion before we both passed out--my body wanted more.

“Morning, handsome.”

Her greeting came with a soft giggle, which did nothing for my raging hard-on. I tossed my arm over my eyes as I tried to pull myself out of my entranced slumber. I wanted to roll over and go back to sleep. I wanted to sink myself into Rae from behind and fuck her slowly. Gently. Until we both passed back out with me still sheathed inside. I wanted that more than anything. Her naked body pressed back against mine. Like she’d been all night.

But when I rose up on my elbows, I found her at the foot of the bed. Fully clothed.

Putting on makeup.

“What are you doing?” I asked groggily.

She giggled. “Trying something new.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s college orientation day. Might as well make a good impression.

“You can do that by just being yourself.”

“You sound like you need coffee.”

I sat my back against the headboard. “Is there coffee?”

She pointed and I followed her arm. I wanted to kiss it. Massage it. Tug on it until she fell back against my body. I slipped my hand underneath the comforter and rearranged myself, trying to find some sort of relief. My bones needed her. The marrow of them pulsed with fire. It almost hurt to pull away from her. To slide out from underneath the covers and make my way to the coffee pot.

“I also took the liberty of ordering some things for breakfast. You know, pastries. There’s some bacon, I think. Oh, and cereal.”

I nodded. “Cereal.”

Rae giggled again. “I had some myself.”

I walked over toward the silver rolling tray and stumbled around trying to make my coffee. I spilled milk trying to get shit into the bowl, which required me to chug a mug of hot liquid before I could even eat. I turned around as milk dripped down my chin. I watched as Rae painted makeup on her face. I mean, I’d seen her wear it from time to time. Especially for prom. My God, she’d looked incredible at prom.

I didn’t want her looking that incredible for the guys on campus.

“What are you staring at?”

Her voice pulled me from my trance and I took another bite of cereal.

“You.”

She blushed, and the color impeded on the foundation she’d slathered all over her face.

“Since when did you start wearing heavy makeup?”

She sighed. “Are you really going to give me a hard time about this?”

I shook my head. “No. Just making sure you aren’t doing this because you feel like you have to. This is just orientation.”

“It’s not just orientation, Clint. This is where I meet the incoming class. Even some of my professors. There’s a tour of the campus, and I want to make sure that anyone I come into contact with gets a good first impression.”

I grinned. “Then you may want to go easy on the lipstick. You look like you’re back at prom.”

“Thanks.”

The flat tone of her voice made me sigh. I had to pull myself out of my own headspace and put myself in hers. She was nervous. I got that. I just had to make sure my worries about her didn’t trump her own worries. Because hers were the most important. I had to keep her grounded and settled during these meetings and tours. I had to make sure she digested information and didn’t get too overwhelmed. Or lost by herself on campus.

“I think you look great,” I said.

And when she smiled softly, I felt my heart skip a beat.

“Thanks. But you’re right. I think lipstick is a bit too much. So just lip gloss.”

I nodded. “Good idea.”

“You know, I don’t know how late this thing will go today. So, if you ever want to dip out at some point in time, feel free. Okay?”

I shook my head. “No need. I want to be there with you through this.”

“Are you sure? Because I might end up doing some last minute things. You know, if there’s another tour or if there’s an option to meet the English teachers. Things like that.”

I paused. “Do you not want me to go?”

“No, no, no! It’s not that at all.”

“You said that pretty quickly.”

She closed her lip gloss and sighed before turning to face me.

“It’s just…”

I set my bowl of cereal down and went to sit beside her. I took her hand within mine, stroking my thumb along her skin. Her eyes wouldn't meet mine, and I knew why. Even before I asked the question, I knew the answer.

“You want to do this alone, don’t you?”

She sighed. “Is that bad?”

I shook my head. “It’s not bad. I get it.”

“It’s just that having you on campus with me even though you won’t actually be on campus or around campus might, I don’t know…”

I brought her hand to my lips to kiss. “It’s okay, Rae. I promise, I get it.”

“But, that leaves you being the third wheel with Michael and Allison all day. And I don’t want that to--”

“Hey. Hey, hey, hey. This is your experience. And I want you to have this experience the way you want to. You’ve got your phone on you, right?”

She nodded. “Right.”

“Great. So, if you realize you want me there with you, all you have to do is call. I’m sure Mike will drive me over. Or I’ll catch a cab. Something like that. Okay?”

She sighed. “I feel so bad.”

I cupped her cheeks. “Stop it. You’ve got enough pressure on yourself right now. You don’t need this perceived one, either.”

She sighed. “When did you get so wise?”

I snickered. “Popular question, apparently.”

She furrowed her brow in confusion, but I only kissed the tip of her nose. I stood up and walked back over to my cereal, intent on finishing it. I wolfed it down before pouring myself another mug of coffee. I watched Rae gather her things, double- and triple-checking her purse.

“How much time do you have before you go?” I asked.

She sighed. “Uh, fifteen, twenty minutes?”

I wiggled my eyebrows. “How about a quickie for good luck?”

She laughed. “I just did my hair and makeup. It’s not happening.”

“Oh, come on, gorgeous. You know how fast I am in the mornings.”

She shook her head, giggling. “Not a chance. But if you play your cards right tonight, you won’t have to make it quick.”

“Mm, is that a promise?”

She smiled up at me and I chugged back the rest of my second mug of coffee. I walked over to her, threading my arms around her waist. Touching her ignited a fire in my gut. Gazing into her eyes seized my heart within the palm of her hands. Every time I held her, she held me back. And the idea that there would come a time when an hour would sit in between her holding me held my gut hostage with terror.

“I promise, but you’ll have to wait until later. You know, after we find a fun party to go to and all.”

I grinned. “I’m holding you to it, then.”

She giggled. “Good. Because you know you’re my favorite way to unwind.”

“Oh, really now?”