Take It (Sinclair 1)

“I’m not laughing at you.”

Nick sat up and narrowed his eyes at her. “Then what do you call what you’re currently doing.”

Kalilah sobered and sat up to face him. “Nick. Do you real

ly think I’m that insensitive? It was your first time, without a condom I may add. I never expected marathon sex.”

Nick’s guard was up again and Kalilah tried not to roll her eyes. His gray eyes studied her. He didn’t say anything, just assessed her every expression and micro-expression. Kalilah tried to remain serious and look at his face. She failed miserably.

His rarely seen body beckoned to be admired. Her eyes took a nice stroll down the column of his neck, slid down his collarbone, rolled off his chest, and rested on his abs. They didn’t warrant a quick tour; they needed to be perused. Once satisfied, her eyes moved to the costar of the Nick Show. Even flaccid, it was still a nice size and impressive as it rested next to Nick’s left thigh.

The sheets moved against her ankles when she shifted her position. Her still wet body became wetter at the memory of the pleasure it’d just given her. He’d felt so good. So right. She didn’t regret not one moment of it. Sex without a condom was amazing. She could see why people complained about having to use them.

Her only fear is not being able to do it again. She wanted him on top of her. Her legs around his waist. Skin to skin. His chest rubbing her nipples. Her nipples responded to her thoughts, and she was biting her lower lip when their eyes met again. If only men were multi-orgasmic like women; she wanted him again.

Gray eyes searched her face; curiosity and mild indignation warred to be the prominent emotion. He did think she was that insensitive. Irritation burned her gut and started to spread throughout her body. With all the shit… Nick’s eyes softened, and he shook his head.

“No.” One word diffused Kalilah’s anger bomb. It was a second from detonation, but Nick located the correct wire. “But…why were you laughing?”

“Because your imagination is ridiculous. Who plays baseball with no bra and an ill-fitting shirt? Besides, I believe you are supposed to think about baseball stats.”

Nick rolled off the bed after a quick nod of his head.

“I’ll be back.”

He shot over his shoulder right before he disappeared into the bathroom. The running water on the other side of the door was too loud to be from one of his sinks. A shower?

Kalilah got off the bed and noticed her soiled bandana. He must have something against her clothing. She shook her head in route to the guest bedroom. She took a quick shower. Nick was hard to read before he disappeared into the bathroom. She wanted to be prepared if he was through with her.

She did only promise to take his virginity and nothing much past that. Nor did he ask for anything beyond this moment. The last thing she wanted to do was get comfortable when he didn’t want her there. If anything, she would at least prefer not to smell like sex if she had to go to her sister’s couch.

Slight melancholy settled as she opened her overnight bag. What to wear? She wanted to be ready for either outcome. If he wanted her to stay, she didn’t want to look like she was trying to sneak out on him. If he didn’t want her to stay, she wanted to be able to move on quickly. Black spaghetti strap nightgown and nothing else. It was cotton and not see-through, so if she needed to slip on her sandals, she would not be revealing much since it was long enough to fully cover her ass. It was also simple enough to look like she was just getting comfortable for bed. She zipped up her bag and pulled it on over her head.

She padded into the kitchen to get some juice since Nick was still in the bathroom.

Nick had felt his nerves getting the best of him, so he retreated to the shower to buy thinking time. He looked at himself in the foggy mirror. He didn’t look any different; not that he expected it. Hearing her laughter after losing his virginity was the epitome of his worst fears. Or, at least that is what he’d initially thought.

The explanation of her amusement made perfect sense, but it still didn’t make him feel like he pleased her. He knew her body well enough to know that it was all over before she could have an orgasm. It was irrational and maybe a little insane, but her admittance to not expecting “marathon sex” stung a little.

Nick started to dry his body and fought against the nerves settling in his belly. He knew that their tentative arrangement was fulfilled, but his plan wasn’t complete. He’d almost made things between them awkward when he practically accused her of laughing at his performance.

He’d watched, fascinated, as her expressive eyes shifted from what he hoped was desire, to hurt, and then anger. Luckily, he used her advice and didn’t jump to conclusions. She said she wasn’t laughing at him, and he told her that he’d believed her. He wanted to believe her, but some of his old insecurities reared their ugly heads, and he hightailed it to the bathroom to keep the peace.

It was time for a come to Jesus moment with himself. He catalogued the things that he knew. She was the only woman, that wasn’t his mother or sister, he’d ever allowed in his home. Now, she was the only woman that he’d ever had in his bed and heart. He loved her. That love swelled in his chest, and it scared the shit out of him. Not for the reasons other men were scared. His main fear was that she wouldn’t return the sentiment. That he would go through life a shell of himself because the one person he’d wanted most was unattainable.

He was willing to do anything in his power to keep her; he just needed to give her a reason to stay. Not only in his bed, but in his life. He looked at the door that separated them. She may not love him, but she was still a willing participant in his bed. Hopefully.

Determined gray eyes met him in the mirror. His insecurities seeped out of his pores like sweat in a sauna. The realization dawned that Kalilah did not judge him; she continually encouraged him. Nick held onto the faith Kalilah had in him and made a decision. He’d do everything he could to make her his, even if that meant fucking her into submission.

“Kalilah!” She heard Nick yell like a caveman. Quick feet guided her to his room lest he be injured or something. Her nerves were on edge the whole time he was in the bathroom, but she was relieved to know he was still there. Her brain bounced between several different possibilities, the next one worse than the first. Her last fear before he resurfaced was that he’d sneaked out of the window to avoid her until she left. She rounded the corner to be confronted by stern gray eyes.

“Where were you?” he questioned while searching her face and taking in her state of dress.

She held up the cup in her hand. “Juice.”

He nodded. “I thought maybe you were trying to sneak off.” He looked pointedly at her attire.

“How? My car keys and purse are both on your dresser behind you.” His eyes followed her statement for confirmation. Once he matched the evidence to her testimony, he turned his eyes back on her.