Page 24 of Beneath the Scars
“As long as you kiss me, I couldn’t fucking care less where we are.”
His mouth curls into a sexy smirk. There’s a sparkle in his eyes when he looks at me now. I’m not too modest to say I’m the one who put it there. He’s brought more joy into my life since I moved home, and I’m determined to do the same.
I tilt my chin, needing him more than I could ever express.
Then he’s kissing me. His plush lips devour mine withevery movement. Waves of desire crash into me, pushing and pulling until I’m too far out to find the shore.
With every nip of Michael’s teeth and swipe of his tongue, he guides me further into the safety of his love. I don’t have to worry about finding my way out because Michael will be there. He’s always been there, but now I get to have him in all the ways I’ve longed for.
The immovable pole behind me is in sharp contrast to the soft flex of muscles in front of me.
Michael’s only kissing me, but it feels like so much more. He’s entrusting me with this side of him—a side no other woman has ever gotten to have.
I’m humbled by his trust in me and stirred by his ability to give without expecting anything in return.
I’m determined to show him that he deserves to be repaid tenfold. He’s spent his life trying to prove he belongs in our family of friends, when all we’ve ever wanted is to love him the way he loves us.
Maybe this growing relationship will be the light he needs to see how much we care for him without any strings attached.
Chapter 13
Addie
“Where the hell are you?”
Rhythmic thumping and laughter in the background distorts Caro’s bold laugh. “I’m at a drum circle.” Her eyes are glassy with the effects of alcohol.
“Are you being safe?”
“Yes, Mom.” Caroline grins through the phone. “No, I am safe, I promise. Check it out.” She holds up her fist, and it looks as if she has cat ears on her knuckles.
It takes me a second to figure out what she’s showing me. “Are those brass knuckles?”
“Sure are. I haven’t taken them off my fingers since I got here. I don’t think anything’s going to happen, but I’m ready if it does.”
“Oh, Caroline. You’re a mess.” I laugh.
“And I’m having fun doing it. So what’s up? How are you?”
“I had my first man-made orgasm,” I blurt out. The words have been bubbling up for days after my date at the ball fields with Michael. At first, I needed time to process on my own. Then he swept me up into the best kiss I’ve ever had,and I’ve been dying to tell someone. I’m not sure how much of our relationship needs to stay a secret—it’s one of the many things we need to talk about—but I’ll explode if I don’t get an outside perspective on this.
It looks as if Caroline’s brain is frozen for a second, then she blinks. She doesn’t say a word as the video begins to bounce around. A door closes, and the music abruptly shuts off.
“Okay, spill,” she says once her face fills my screen again. Now that I can see her, she looks freaking adorable. Her brown hair is tied up in two space buns. Wispy pieces of hair hang down to frame her face, which is decorated with sparkly stars and adorable glittery swirls. She’s posted up in her van, where she’s painted her own artistic spin onThe Starry Nightaround her bed.
The words come pouring out of me. I tell Caroline everything, from going over to Michael’s house to writing a list of limits, as well as how incredible the sex was when all he did was use his fingers.
The only thing I don’t go into detail on is his issue with hands or why he’s into kink. Of course, she already knows most of Michael’s history, so I imagine she can guess the reason. We all grew up together; there was no hiding any of our histories.
But the details are Michael’s and Michael’s alone to share.
I end my long-winded rant with our make-out session under the bleachers of the baseball field.
Caroline squeals, falling over into her bed with dramatic flair. It makes me laugh, and the weight of holding in this secret lifts immediately.
I hadn’t realized how much hiding this relationship has taken its toll on me. I’m not sure I’m ready to tell everybody, but I also needed someone to know.
“This is incredible,” Caroline says. “I always wondered if that man would be a kinky fucker, and he sure is.”
