All Grown Up (Eden High)

We were barely halfway through my birthday, and already I couldn’t see how he could top it. I lifted the arm with my bracelet and smiled. It had taken me a while to realize that the two figures were actually him and I, but since I’d spent the better part of the day staring at it, it eventually clicked.

Then my eyes fell on the ring he’d put on my finger. Somehow I’ve been too afraid to look at it too much, afraid that the fairytale would come crashing down as soon as we got back to real life. My family was doing much better than they have been in a long while, and I no longer have the fear of my mother losing her mind or of dad running off with the town tramp. But I know once whoever has been sending me those notes have their way, it will be all over.

Somehow I know that Mandy will find a way to destroy what little peace we’ve found. I haven’t forgotten what she’d said, that it was because of me that she’d gone after my dad. Her jealousy over the way he’d once treated me had sent her into some demented space in her head that had set this whole thing in motion.

So, as silly as it seems and as much as I tell myself that I’m not to blame, I can’t help feeling somewhat responsible. I hate that she intruded even here, and just then, as if sensing my worry, Alex stirred behind me. “You’re awake.” His voice sent shivers down my spine, yet one more thing about him to make me crazy.

I think I’ve pinched myself black and blue to keep reminding myself that this is real. I keep waiting for reality to rear its ugly head, for a phone call from home telling me to come back. But all it takes is one look in his eyes. To see that special look that he saves only for me and I start to believe again.

I turned to face him with a smile and met a kiss. It was soft and sweet, and it took me under in less time than it took to blink. His touch was whisper soft and light, just what I needed. How can he know me so well in such a short space of time? He seemed to know that I needed to be held, cherished, the way only he can make me feel.

But even as I thought it, I yearned to feel his strength from hours ago when he’d talked me into taking a shower with him. The first couple of times we made love, I have to admit to being a bit tense. As much as I enjoyed what we did, it was still new to me. I was sharing my body with someone for the first time. Someone else was seeing me naked, exposed, vulnerable.

By the time we made it to the shower, I’d let some of my inhibitions down, and there was nothing standing between me and the pleasure he gave. He hadn’t been as gentle then either. His need for me had been strong, and nothing was more invigorating to my senses than that. Knowing he wanted me like that went a long way in helping me start to accept that he could really feel for me the things he says he does.

His hands moved over me now, with slow torture, reawakening my senses and making me burn with need. I wonder what he’d say if he knew the thoughts that were running through my head. If he knew that while we were outside sunning on the deck, how hard it was for me not to jump him each time I looked over at his bronze perfection.

Is it possible to feel this possessive this soon? I’ve been jealous of his attention before, but nothing beats what I feel now, after making love to him. It’s like my crazy gene has been activated like Valerie said it would. That had been said in one of our weekly conversations when the girls were giving me pointers on what to expect once Alex and I took the next step.

It’s thanks to them and him that it’s not taking me much longer to get into the groove of things. That, and the fact that I think I might be part nymph. Just imagining the way he felt moving inside me had my knees going weak, and I strengthened the kiss, moaning into his mouth as my body moved to get closer.

ALEX

Something is bothering her. I’d lain awake behind her for a few minutes before letting her know I was awake. I only need one guess to figure out what that could be, but I refuse to let that shit intrude on her special day. I wanted to take her mind off of it, so I started out teasing her with soft little nibbles of her lips as I moved my fingers gently over her sun-kissed body.