Out on the Serve (Out in College 7)

I traced the shell of his ear and the curve of his strong jaw, loving the feel of his end-of-day stubble. I bit his bottom lip and sucked on it before gently tugging him sideways onto the futon. And we just…made out. He ran his right hand over my biceps and rested it on my hip. I cupped his cheek, then the back of his neck, and tilted my chin to deepen the connection. But it wasn’t urgent or possessive. Neither of us was staking a claim or attempting to get to the next base. This felt more like exploration…the sweet and unhurried kind that required no explanation.

I had no idea how long we lay tangled in each other. But eventually we broke for air and stared at each other in a daze. I brushed his hair from his forehead and grinned. “You’re a great kisser.”

Braden gave a sheepish grin. I could practically see the war for words unfold. The “We should talk about what the fuck we’re doing” versus the “Please don’t rock the boat” vibe I was personally in favor of.

“Thanks,” he said shyly.

“Are you going to kiss your date good night?” I teased, nipping his bottom lip.

He widened his eyes and shrugged. “Probably. With tongue too.”

I rolled on top of him, tickling him till he arched his hips to buck me off. Then I grasped his wrists and flattened my chest over his.

“I’m jealous,” I admitted. Of course, I made it sound like I was kidding, but I was as serious as a heart attack.

“Sophie would set you up too, you know,” he singsonged, hooking his legs over my ass.

“Oh, I’m sure she would,” I huffed sarcastically. “I could watch over you while you watch over her.”

Braden pulled his hands free and snaked his arms around my neck and arched his hips. “That’s kinda sweet.”

I rolled my pelvis over his as I licked his lips. “I’m not sweet.”

“You are. And you’re very—oh, fuck. That feels good.”

“Mmm. That’s all I want…just to make you feel good.”

Braden broke the kiss and looked up at me with a kind of wonderment. I played the words back in my head and decided I hadn’t made a major faux pas. Before I could ask if everything was okay, he tightened his hold around my neck and pulled me toward him, sealing his lips to mine in a passionate fusion that nearly stole my breath away.

In that moment, I wanted more from him than I’d ever wanted from anyone. I wanted to feel him inside and out. I wanted to know what was in his head and his heart. And yeah, I wanted to be the one who made him feel alive and complete. I’d happily take another round of orgasms, but somehow I knew it wouldn’t be enough. Maybe I was greedy. Or maybe I could tell that on some level, whatever was happening here was bigger than both of us.

6

Braden

Blind dates were archaic. No one agreed to meeting a complete stranger for dinner these days without stalking them on social media first. Even if your date posted a photo from five years and ten pounds ago, some savvy sleuth-work could get you vital info in minutes. Enough to at least be assured that he or she wasn’t a total psychopath. Yet, somehow, I’d let Sophie talk me into this.

I rinsed toothpaste from my mouth, turned off the faucet, and reached for a towel just as Elliot slid into the bathroom behind me. He handed over a towel…and my cell.

“It’s your mom. She’s called three times in a row. It might be important,” he said nonchalantly. “I’m gonna take a shower.”

“Oh. Right. I’ll get out of your way.” I smiled at his reflection in the mirror and almost swallowed my tongue. Elliot’s bare chest glistened with sweat. He looked like a bronzed god with ripped muscles, broad shoulders, and a stony expression. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” He reached for his toothbrush and gave me an appraising once-over. “You look hot.”

“Thanks.” I wore my best jeans with a light-blue oxford shirt. Not exciting at all, but his gaze moved over my body like molten lava, and whether or not I really looked hot, I certainly felt it. Temperature-wise, that was. “What are you doing tonight?”

“Meeting my mom for a drink,” he said around his toothbrush.

I twisted the cap back on the tube to keep my hands occupied and not give in to the urge to run my fingers along his spine and cup his ass. Not gonna lie, this had been a weird week. Elliot was busy with practice, and he had a couple of evening events to attend hosted by his sponsors. And I had…well, not much. I went to LA to visit my folks on Tuesday, spent Wednesday with some college buddies in Orange, and stayed at the theater all freaking Thursday.