Page 52 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
Lina is in nothing but a red bra, but I still need to help her with her skirt. In silence, she stares up at me. Her eyelids look heavy. I drop to my knees in front of her. Immediately, both of her hands find my shoulder blades. With a light touch, her fingertips glide over my skin. Flashbacks of the library fill me with heat. What I would give to taste her again.
I bring my fingers to the zipper on the side of her navy skirt and gently inch the tight fabric down her legs. On instinct,my eyes dart back up to hers. Her expression is intense, and her pupils flare, but not from her fever. Without breaking eye contact, she slowly shimmies out of her skirt, letting it fall down her legs—my mouth waters, craving to have a lick. I need to taste her one more time.
“Thank you.” Her voice comes out cracked and weak, before both of her hands gently run through my hair, then clasp behind my head. I dip in submission while my dick painfully presses against my pants. I’m going to break at any second.
She tilts my head back up, forcing eye contact once again. From this angle, I can see her chest rise and fall deep from a heavy breath.
“What do you need from me?” I whisper, still on my knees.
Her face looks worn out and tired. “Stay until I fall asleep.”
I wrap my arms around her waist, bringing her closer. I rest the side of my face on the exposed skin of her stomach. It’s overheated. “I’m going to stay with you all night, baby.”
Lina tightens her hold around my head, pressing us together. Parting my lips, I lightly kiss her hip, directly above the sensitive area of her public bone.
“Mmm.” She hums.I can’t fucking be in here.
With one heavy exhale, I release her and straighten to a stand. My mind is clouded. “I’ll be right out there.”
She nods just as I close the door behind me.
Fuck.Fuck.Fuck!
She wants me just as much as I want her. We pain for each other more than a simple fuck.Goddamnit.
I wipe the sweat beading on my forehead and leave her room. I lumber down the stairs to find her sister still on the couch. Sheshoots me a side-eye as I grab a glass of water and return up the stairs.
I only have to wait a few moments before Lina comes out of the bathroom. Her long, blonde hair is thrown into a messy bun. She has little shorts and an oversized sweater hanging off one shoulder.
“How do you feel?” I ask, feeling a bit more level-headed after leaving the bathroom.
“Like shit,” she says, burying herself underneath the thick comforter on her bed.
“That sucks.” I hand her two pills and a cup of ice water. “Take these.”
She pops them into her mouth and chugs the water. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” I stand back momentarily, second-guessing whether my staying is a good idea.
“Please stay with me,” Lina mumbles.I can’t leave her.
What if she wakes up in the middle of the night with a higher fever? Or if she gets the chills and needs someone to hold her?Her sister could do it.
No.
My uniform won’t be comfortable to lay in, so I unbuckle my belt and slide my pants off, leaving on only my boxers. I unbutton my shirt and lay it across a chair near the bay window. Then I set my phone on top of her nightstand. Wearing only a T-shirt and boxers, I fold back her comforter and prop myself up against the wall in a sitting position.
Lina rolls over and rests her head on my lap as soon as I’m comfortable sitting. She’s sohot. And this time, I don’t mean appearance. Leaning forward, taking care not to disturb her, I flip off the heavy comforter, only leaving on a thin white sheet as a cover.
Suddenly, my phone vibrates next to me. With a quick glance at the screen. My eyes widen. The text is from Brian—Lina’s dad.
Baywatch: Hey, man. Was wondering if you’d be up for a double date with Bristol and her friend from yoga?
Shit. I forgot I told Brian I’d let him set me up with one of Bristol’s friends.
Looking down at Lina lying in my lap, I have no interest in being with anyone else.
Me: My schedule is pretty hectic for the next few weeks. I don’t think it’s going to work out anytime soon.
