Rock Candy Kisses(26)

I pull my phone off the nightstand. Would you let me hear your voice?  There I asked. I've wanted to ask for some time, but she's careful not  to use it, so I figure it might be a sore subject. My weak Internet  research on the subject of signing brought me to some interesting  YouTube videos, some of which addressed the topic of speaking. It's more  than touchy. Some people felt it was too painful to even try in fear of  others judging them. I need Annie to know I'd never judge her, never  think less of her if she had a difficult time with it. I just want to  hear the sound of her beautiful voice and drink it down. Just once would  suffice. Now that would be music, any word my favorite song.

Annie bites down on her lower lip and shakes her head. That smile I put on her face never leaves.

"Why not?"

She curls into me wrapping her arms and legs around me, shivering. I  reach for a blanket and toss it over us, tucking the edges into her  back.

I roll over a bit into the stream of moonlight so she can see my mouth clearly.

"I bet you sound beautiful." Hell, I know she does.

Annie reaches for my phone. I sound like a cross between a ninety-year-old woman and a goat.

A dull laugh trembles through me. "What makes you think that?"

Her brows rise as if she's about to make a point. I went to a regular  school when I was younger (up until 3rd grade). My parents thought  integration would be best. I was in special ed with an interpreter. I  talked all the time.

I give her a thumbs up. She takes the phone back before continuing.

The kids would tease me. I remember a girl telling me those exact things  (the old lady, the goat). I suspected they were true. My brothers  wouldn't tell me if they were or weren't. They said I talked like a pro.  I've had a ton of speech therapy. My therapist says I'm okay at it,  that I should speak whenever I like, but that girl is still in the back  of my mind. I guess out of all the people in my life, it was her I chose  to believe.                       
       
           



       

A heavy sadness covers me as I take the phone. I'm sorry you had to go  through that. I wish I were there for you. I would have protected you.  We could have been best friends. My fingers comb through her hair.

Annie giggles softly. Annie is a work of art. I trace her tiny nose, her  well-defined lips that bloom out on the sides like wings, her eyebrows  that hitch up at the corners and give the world the impression she's  constantly amused. I touch my finger over her tiny ears and silently beg  them to open for her.

Annie texts back. We could have done all kinds of inappropriate things  together. She grimaces and types something else in quick. Not that this  was inappropriate. *foot in mouth* This was beautiful.

"It was beautiful." My lips find hers and stay there for a while before  she pulls back and smiles at me. "You're beautiful." I touch my fingers  to her lips. I wish she could hear me say those words.

She types into my phone again. In a few weeks there's an oral exam in my Digital Studios class. It's just a presentation.

"Annie-are you going to do it? You should." I bear into her, pleading.

I'm afraid.

Afraid. I let the word swill around my mind for a minute. I didn't fear  much until I lost my brother. It takes losing something that's vital to  your life to put you in that position to begin with.

I borrow the phone from her. You said you'd help me hop back on a bike.  You do this, and I'll take you for a ride after. In fact, I'll come and  stand by the door. Cheer you on. I'll be your biggest supporter.

I'd like that. She cringes a little before taking the phone back. The  idea of speaking to a room full of my peers is hard enough, but with you  there, I'll be that much more self-conscious. Something in her loosens.  I'll do it.

"Yes." I pull her in and hold her a good long while before responding.  I'm so proud of you, Annie. I know you're going to kill it.

A quiet laugh drifts from her. It will be the shortest speech known to man. Thank you by the way.

I hold my hand out and shrug as if to say for what?

For being there for me unconditionally. And … for what we're about to do next.

I offer a tight squeeze, subtracting any space between us before reaching for the phone.

You can thank me when it's over. I pull the blanket back just enough and  glide my hand up and down her body. "Because it's far from over." I  pause a second looking at her before typing in one last message. I want  you to know that I hate the idea of anyone being cruel to you, Annie. I  may not have been there in the past, but I'm here now and I'll do  whatever I can to keep that from happening. A part of me wants to add  that I know about the girl who tripped her, the same one that smothered  my face in her tits tonight. I want to tell her that she shouldn't let  her brothers treat her like a second-class citizen, but I don't want to  drag any of those people into this bed with us. Instead I land my lips  onto hers and move over her like a love song. I race my tongue down her  neck, down her chest and lap over her perfect nipples. I float down to  her belly button, dropping off a kiss before diving down to my final  destination. My mouth settles over her wet slick, and I love her right  there, love the fact she's writhing beneath me, love the way she's  tugging the shit out of my hair. I tongue Annie for hours but can't seem  to bring it home for her. Annie pulls me up, laughing with a hint of  sadness at the same time.

"It's me," she whispers. "My body is silly."

"We'll get you there." Eventually. I feel terrible that I wasn't able to do that for her.

A dull grin rides up my cheek as I pull her moist chest to mine.

Practice makes perfect. And I intend to practice a hell of a lot.



* * *



Annie and I make love well into the morning. I make sure my lips become  acquainted with every nook and crook that her body has to offer, and  Annie returns the favor. Annie tastes like powdered sugar, soft and  buttery, sweet as Christmas morning. I don't see how she can ever leave  my bed again. All kinds of crazy thoughts sail through my mind, like the  fact I can drive her to Whitney so she never has to go back to her dorm  again. A dull smile comes and goes. I'm sure her brothers will love  that idea. My arms float over her waist, and I pull her in from behind.  My hard-on is already ripe to greet her. I try to fall back asleep, but  the sun sizzles over my lids and demands I stay the hell up. I keep  meaning to find a damn curtain for that window.

Annie groans, and I hear it, her beautiful voice strumming through her  vocal cords. I kiss her cheek softly as she rolls into me.                       
       
           



       

"Morning," she whispers. Her eyes are half opened. Her hair is rumpled,  her makeup smudged just enough, and she takes my breath away. Annie is  sheer perfection 24/7, and this, right here, just proves my point.

"Good morning, beautiful." I kiss her temple. I'm not sure if she saw my  lips, but I couldn't help myself. "Don't move." I reach over, grab a  condom and roll it on. I push in from behind nice and slow. I'm sure  she's sore as hell from last night. Annie tucks her hips into my  stomach, and I go for it. My hands cup her chest, and Annie and I say  good morning with our bodies in the best way possible. Every now and  again she gives a moan like a dove being released from a box trap. I'm  still waiting for something tangible like my name, an entire sentence  just for my ears only. I'd take a fuck off at this point. Anything would  be a gift. I reach around and try to bring her there with me, but  Annie's body isn't having it. I'm starting to feel greedy coming on  queue, and here she is just along for the ride.

"Want to hit the shower?" I nod to the bathroom as my hand glides over the curve of her hip.

"With you?" she mouths.

"Yes, with me. But if you'd rather go at it alone, I totally get it."

She shakes her head. "Let's go." She gives it in a heated whisper.

We head on in, and I get the water going, pulling Annie's naked body to mine once the temperature is nice and warm.

"You should never wear clothes."

"You should never wear clothes," she whispers. I'm beginning to admire her tenacity in refusing to use her voice box.

"We'll cause a scene wherever we go," I mouth.

"We should always cause a scene," she whispers, pulling me into the  heated stream. I watch as she bends her head back and slicks her hair to  her skull. Water trails off her creamy skin. It beads off her supple  and alive. Each bead its own magical universe with Annie as the nexus,  the giant sun in this watery solar system. I can't look away.

I've showered with girls. Hell, I've done most everything with girls,  but everything with Annie is like the first time. This feels new. This  feels beautifully raw and amazing. Water melts over her skin, her lips,  her face and I kiss her wet mouth, dip my fingers back inside the warmth  of her body where they've found their new home. I try again to bring  her to the next step this time with my hand, but after a while Annie  gently pushes me away with a mournful smile. I get it. I'm not bringing  her closer to a climax, I'm just making her sore. Crap. I need to fix  this. My ego can only take so much. I'd take back every orgasm I've ever  gifted any other girl just to give one to Annie.