Roughing

“I would do anything for you.” With our faces so close together, I can feel his breath on my lips.

I lean in closer and stare into his eyes. My body stills but my heart is another story.

“Then show me,” I whisper. He either needs to kiss me or get off the bed. It’s hard being this close to Bash without wanting to jump him.

He doesn’t hesitate. Bash grips my ass with one hand and my face with the other. Our clips crash together, and when he slips his tongue into my mouth, his touch goes straight between my thighs. One thing I always loved about Bash was his ability to make me wet just from one kiss. His tongue is like magic, spelling me into believing this is all real and like it was before everything had fallen apart.

At this moment, I can forget about the Bash I hate and focus on the Bash I love. Moaning, he sucks on my bottom lip. I love the sexy sounds he makes, always have. Each sound he makes dampens my panties. I want him to touch me, make this throbbing between my legs go away.

I can feel his erection pressing against my thigh through his jeans. Licking my lips, I feel his length over the material. He’s so big that to this day, I can still remember what it was like when he took my virginity. It was perfect, something out of a fairy tale, but it hurt like fucking hell. I’m not even sure I can handle Bash right now with how much my head hurts. One body part at a time.

Bash is the only guy I have ever had sex. Unlike him, it has meant something to me. He meant everything to me. For a second, I let myself enjoy the sweet scent of his skin and the way his hips rock against me.

I separate my lips from him, moving my head to the side, but he kisses my neck instead. “What are we doing, Bash?”

“Kissing,” he mumbles against my skin. “I missed you, Tori. I missed you so fucking much.”

I don’t want his hands to leave my body or his tongue to stop doing whatever he does that causes my toes curl and my body to tingle with pleasure. I want to fight him, but I don’t have the willpower. Because I am powerless with one kiss, one touch.

“I missed you, too,” I confess, hating myself for saying the words aloud.

His tongue caresses mine once more, and he kisses me with an animalistic passion I crave. Heat runs over my body in waves as his hand slides up my thigh. Everything about this feels normal, familiar. I wish my body would reject him the way my mind has tried to over the years, but it’s a goddamn traitor.

I sit up just enough so he can lift my shirt over my head. He throws it on the floor behind him and unhooks my bra, sliding the straps down my shoulders to expose my breasts. His palm falls to my back, pulling me closer, as he leans down to suck on my nipple, tugging it with his teeth. The tiny bud hardens at the flick of his tongue.

He takes his time as he explores my body.

On the verge of an orgasm, my brain shuts down, functioning long enough to mutter, “What are we doing, Bash?” I grip his hair in my hands, and he stops sucking on my nipple, peeking up at me. “We shouldn’t do this.”

“I was planning to make you come.” He peeks up at me, so confident and relaxed, as always.

Gripping his hair in my hands, I get his attention, holding him in place. “After what happened at the SAC, we should stop.”

“Because of Harper?” He slips from my grip and sits up, locking onto me, his expression serious. “Don’t let her get to you. She’s trying to piss you off.”

“I know that, but I just can’t do this with you. Not right now. We can’t be together. This cannot happen again. It was a mistake the first time.”

He frowns. “It wasn’t a mistake. What we had was real.”

“You cheated on me, Bash. I was the laughing stock of this school because of you and what you did to me. And you know what happened after that…” My voice trails off, and I don’t dare finish the rest. It’s hard enough to forget the past. I don’t want to relive it

He shakes his head. “I never cheated on you. Never. I never even as much as thought about another girl while I was with you.”

I sit up and use the stack of pillows behind me for support. “I caught you in bed with another girl. Try again.”

“It wasn’t what it looked like.” His tone is defensive, upset, even. “You never gave me the chance to explain.”

“I saw all I needed to see,” I spit back. “Can you hand me my shirt?” This conversation is making me sick to my stomach.

He huffs before reaching for my clothes and hands the tee to me. “I cared about you, Tori. A lot. I still do.”

“Look, Bash, I appreciate that you are staying with me, but this cannot happen between us. We’re not good together.”

“Why not?” He challenges. “Because I think we are perfect together.”

“Not even close,” I counter. “You’re like a celebrity around here. And why wouldn’t you be treated that way when your dad is an actual celebrity? And I’m…me.”

“I can’t do anything about my dad, but what’s wrong with being you? I like you the way you are, always have.”