Not a Chance(72)

She didn't allow herself to get too lost in him, remembering that the bath was running. She hopped off of him and slapped him on the arm. "Get your boots off my bed," she said, and then strolled toward the bathroom, unbuttoning her jeans. She turned to see him hopping on one foot taking off his boots. Then he grinned and followed her into the bathroom.

They finished undressing in front of each other and took their time drinking in the sights. Arden turned off the water and stepped into the hot whirlpool, sinking slowly up to her chest in the water, the bubble jets massaging her lower back. He lowered himself in at the opposite end, leaning back and propping his elbows on the sides behind him.

She sank beneath the water and came back up, slicking her wet hair back out of her face. He was smiling at her, watching her every move.

"Give me a cigarette and a beer and I'm in heaven," Travis said.

"You're not in heaven with me?" she asked, pooching out her bottom lip.

He shrugged. "You're all the way over there."

"Well I can fix that." She leaned forward and pushed off toward him. He grabbed her waist and pulled her down against him. He slid his hands up her sides and to her breasts. She gasped when he took one breast in his mouth. He slipped a hand between her legs and his fingers worked their way inside of her. She felt herself open up to him and the waves of pleasure slowly heightened until they burst inside of her and she gasped and panted and dug her nails into his shoulders as the spasming subsided and she was left trembling and breathing hard in his arms.

She felt his chest shaking and realized he was chuckling. She kept her cheek pressed to his chest. His arms were wrapped firmly around her. She slapped him on the arm. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," he said. "I just thought it would be so difficult to get you here. I thought you'd make me wait days or weeks even. And here you just drag me up to your room as soon as I walk in the door. You couldn't wait to get my clothes off."

She retreated to her side of the tub. "You were the one who asked to come up here."

"Yeah, but you didn't argue. Admit it. You've wanted me all along."

She stood slowly and stepped out of the tub, appreciating how his arrogant grin disappeared as he watched her, his eyes widening in appreciation. She grabbed a towel and started drying her hair. "Fine," she said. "I wanted you all along."

He practically leapt out of the tub and took her in his arms. "God! We could have had such a good time during that snowstorm if you hadn't been so fucking stubborn."

He lifted her off her feet and carried her toward her bed. She giggled and laughed. He tossed her on the bed and climbed on top of her, this time taking complete control of the situation, touching her and kissing her so passionately that she lost her breath. He went down on her bringing her back to the verge of orgasm. Then he came inside of her and it was all friction and sweat and blinding, glittering pleasure. Arden cried out more than once before he came with one final, powerful thrust, crying out through gritted teeth and bearing down on her so hard she felt she'd sunk halfway through her mattress.

Slowly his muscles relaxed. Arden stared at the ceiling, hugging him with her arms and legs, listening to his breathing slowly even out. Finally he groaned in pleasure, his voice muffled by the pillows. "There is a God. And he loves me," he said.

Arden laughed. Travis rolled off of her, onto his side. He propped his head on his hand and gazed adoringly at her, reaching out to touch her face. She felt both powerful and cherished. She reached out and touched his face and smiled as he closed his eyes in pleasure. She thought to herself that this must be what forever feels like.

"I love you, Arden," he said softly, looking seriously into her eyes.

For the first time she really heard the words and felt them deep inside of her. Tears sprung to her eyes and she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. "Oh, Travis," she murmured, nuzzling against him.

He rolled onto his back and she lay curled up against him. They dozed in and out for a half an hour.

"I need to tell you something," he said.

She had been half asleep. "Hmm?"

"I'm not doing this anymore." His voice was firm.

Arden sat up on her elbow. "What?"

"This," he said. "With you. In your parents' house. It just doesn't feel right. Tonight's fine. But not anymore."

She crinkled her brow. "Why? They're not home."

"I know. But it just feels wrong. It's their home. And...I don't know...I'm just not comfortable with it."

"Maybe when you get to know them."

"I don't think so."

"I don't understand," Arden said. "Nick used to stay over all the time and my parents didn't care."