Desire: A Novel Part 14

Chapter Twenty-One.

I woke before the alarm sounded. Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling trying to figure out if I should tell Neri or not. If I were her, I'd want to be told, but I also knew at fifteen, I'd obsess over news like this. I decided to tell her. Devon was right.

Argh. Devon. What the h.e.l.l was his problem? He couldn't be with me, that's fine, but the whole yes/no att.i.tude was driving me crazy. He was the first guy in a very long time to get under my skin. I thought about his dark, slightly curly hair, and those deep brown eyes that looked like melted chocolate. Then there was his smile. The way the crook of his lip lifted when he smiled made my heart lurch, and his beautiful soft, completely kissable lips...

I wasn't sure what my feelings were toward him, all I knew was if I didn't keep them I check, it wouldn't take much to push me over the edge.

I hit my alarm as it rang loudly. Even though I was awake, the sound made me jump. Sighing, I climbed out of my warm bed into the cold morning. Ready or not, the day was about to start. I trudged down the hallway, wrapping my robe tightly around me.

"Hey, Neri," I stood in the doorway to her room, "Can we talk?"

Neri looked up at me. She nodded, and continued brus.h.i.+ng her hair. Her school uniform on, as usual, she was ready to leave with a good half hour to spare.

"Sure. What's up?"

I sat down on the bed, and smiled. "How are you going?" I asked casually. She shrugged.

"I'm okay," Her face broke out into a smile, "I'm looking forward to seeing Jeremy tonight." I could hear the excitement in her voice.

s.h.i.+t. I had forgotten about the party.

"How are you coping with your mom's disappearance?"

Neri's smile faded. Her green eyes filled with sadness, making me regret bringing up the topic. Maybe keeping her in the dark was the best thing for her? Regardless of how mature she was, she was still only fifteen.

"I'm okay." She finally said, "It's hard. I get sad a lot." I reached for her hand and squeezed it. "Have they heard anything?" Her voice sounded so hopeful, so vulnerable.

"Neri, they have found something." My voice cracked as I saw the hope in her eyes. She was hoping for good news, and all I had was this piece of information that may or may not be bad news. "The police found some blood in your mom's car. Not much, and it could be from anything. A blood nose from months ago, even."

Neri was silent. She put down her brush. Through the mirror, I could see tears in her eyes. "Why do you do that?" she asked suddenly.

"Pardon?" I had no idea what she was talking about. Had I missed something here?

"You talk like she's not your mother. Just then, you said your mom. Not our mom." Neri looked at me, waiting for an answer.

I started defending myself, then I stopped. I did do that.

I always separated myself from my mother whenever I could. Especially when talking about her disappearance.

Was it easier for me to support Neri and Sam with her being gone if I could exclude myself from the situation?

"I don't know," I eventually said, "I don't know."

"Kait, I didn't blame you. For what happened with dad." I looked up at Neri, shocked.

She didn't?

All of her behavior towards me the entire year before I left suggested otherwise. "I was angry. I was angry at him, and I didn't know how to show that. So I ended up directing that anger at you."

"You weren't angry at me? I was sure you hated me." I said softly. Neri shook her head, climbing onto the bed with me.

"He had started paying more attention to me. I knew what he was doing to you, and I didn't try to stop him." She sobbed softly as she avoided my eye contact.

"Neri!" I took her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. "You were eleven! It was my job to protect you," I whispered, "It was mom's job to protect both of us." We hugged each other, until Sam came to see why we hadn't come for breakfast.

"Oh, cool!" He yelled, racing to the bed and invading our hug. I laughed, feeling better than I had in a long time.

Though I didn't have a Lit lecture today, I was nervous about running into Charlie on campus. Following my cla.s.s, I decided to stop in for a coffee at The Angry Bean, the cafe just off campus.

Caffeine had become a necessary part of my life lately, and today was no exception. No wonder I struggled to stay asleep when I eventually did get to sleep.

I ran over my conversation with Neri in my mind. Hearing her say she wasn't angry with me was a huge thing. A thing that left me feeling even guiltier than before about not being around for them the last few years. If I'd just swallowed my pride and gone to see them, maybe I wouldn't have missed out on so much of their lives.

"Kaitlin?" I knew that voice. My stomach filled with anxiety. I looked up, right in time to see Charlie join me at my table. "Do you mind?" He asked, already sitting. I shrugged, his presence intimidating me even more so since our night together.

Every time I thought about us, together, I cringed. The worst thing was, on some level I'd enjoyed the feeling I'd felt when I was with him. That scared me.

"Hi," I forced a smile, not quite meeting his eyes, "Fancy running into you here."

His raised eyebrows suggested the opposite, as did the knowing look in his eyes. I couldn't shake the crazy feeling that he'd followed me here. I chastised myself for being paranoid. Maybe I really was going crazy.

"Yes, well, I suppose you'd get that, being at the same college and all." He nodded, chuckling. I smiled faintly.

"Are you working tonight?" He raised his eyebrows again, just in case I didn't get his meaning from his tone. I got it.

I nodded, "I am." A smile slowly spread across his face.

"Well, I might see you later. I guess I had better get home." He said, standing up.

To your wife, I wanted to say. Instead, I smiled.

I had no doubt I'd see him later, and I couldn't deny the rush I felt run through my body.

f.u.c.k Devon. I didn't need him.

"And then they brought out a snake!" Sam howled with laughter as he showed me how some of the girls in his cla.s.s had reacted to the snake by jumping on the coffee table and shrieking. I grinned. It sounded like animal day had been a success at kinder.

"Sound like you had a blast, Sambo." I ruffled his hair as he continued on with his story.

"Kait?" I turned to see Neri standing in the doorway. I gasped. She looked stunning. Dressed in tight dark jeans, black knee high boots, and a purple top, she looked older than her fifteen years. Her blonde hair, as it hung straight down her back, looked striking against the purple "Do I look okay?" She asked, her eyes filled with uncertainty. She had no idea how truly beautiful she was.

"You look beautiful, Neri. Stunning." Neri blushed, a smile creeping across her face. "What time is he picking you up?" I asked, glancing at my watch.

"Nine," She came over and hugged me, "Thanks for this, Kait."

"For what?" As far as I knew, I hadn't done anything.

"For trusting me enough to go out with Jeremy."

Oh. That.

That had been a hard thing to act cool about. I remember how I'd been at fifteen, and more to the point, I remember how boys had been at sixteen. However, I also knew that Neri was an extremely smart girl who had very high aspirations, who wouldn't do anything stupid enough to jeopardize those plans.

"I trust you because you are mature enough to understand what you want." I replied earnestly. Neri smiled. Her nerves became more apparent as the doorbell rang.

"Do you want to meet him?" She asked, shyly.

h.e.l.l yes I did.

She wasn't going anywhere until I met him. I nodded a simple yes.

Neri sprinted to the door, Sam and I at her heels. Even Ara was poking her head around the corner to catch a glimpse of Jeremy.

"Neri, you look hot." Jeremy breathed. Neri certainly had good taste. If I'd been five years younger this young man would have me in a puddle on the floor too.

It took Jeremy a moment to notice that more than just Neri stood at the door. His demeanor changed to guarded. He eyed me, unsure of what to make of me.

"Jeremy, this is my sister, Kait. And you know Sam." Jeremy put his hand out. I took it and smiled at him.

"I've heard a lot about you, Jeremy." I smiled, he visibly relaxed at my friendliness.

"All good, I hope." He made a face, "Nice to meet you, Kait. I've heard a lot about you too. Neri speaks about you all the time."

She does? I Glanced at Neri. Her eyes were firmly on Jeremy. It was like we weren't even there.

Ah, young love.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

I arrived at work fifteen minutes early, as I usually do, just enough time to make myself a coffee.

"Kait!" Mauve came running out of the office, her face flushed, "You've been booked for two hours!" My mouth dropped open.

Two hours? My first thought was how the h.e.l.l I was going to manage two hours of s.e.x. I nearly fell asleep after one five minute session!

"Huh?" I managed to sputter.

Mauve nodded, "That professor hotshot has booked you from ten until twelve. At the same rate as last time!" I winced. Why was she shouting at me? "Kaitlin! Don't you get it? That's four grand!"

My mouth dropped open. No f.u.c.king way.

Four grand?

He was paying four grand to spend a few measly hours with me? Surely he had better things to spend his money on.

Like his wife. And his kids.

I didn't have time to think about it. I had to change.

Seeing Charlie made me feel extremely nervous. Did he really think I was worth that kind of cash? He smiled easily at me. I smiled back, leading him into the room.

"Long time no see." He reached for my hand, bringing me flush against his chest. His hand ran over my back, before bringing them to the front to undo my b.u.t.tons. He c.o.c.ked his head and looked at me quizzically, "You don't look very happy." He observed.

"Did you spend four grand on me, Charlie?" I demanded. He laughed, realization flooding his features.

"That's what this is about?" He shook his head, making me feel as though I was being silly. "Technically I spent the money on myself." My face must have suggested that was the wrong answer. "Look," He added, "I wanted you, that was the rate, I have the money, so why the f.u.c.k not?" I didn't respond to that.

Who was I to tell him how to spend his cash? If it wasn't me, it would be some other hooker he'd be paying three grand for. Why the h.e.l.l not me? If I could get through this next two hours, I'd be that much closer to sending Neri to camp.

"So then," I tilted my head and removed my now unb.u.t.toned top, "What do you want to do with me?" I looked up at him innocently, biting down on my lip.

I gasped as Charlie pushed me onto the bed. He reached behind me, unclasping my bra and whipping it out from under me.

Kissing me, he guided my arms up over my head, binding them with my bra. He took my nipple into his mouth, a scream escaping from my mouth as he bit down. His tongue circled my nipple, while his hand gently rubbed my other breast.

"Oh yes." I whispered, as he lowered himself onto the floor, unb.u.t.toning my skirt in the process. He eased off my skirt and underwear. I began to laugh as I noticed the mirror on the roof. I thought those things were only in movies.

Charlie looked amused by my outburst.

"You like to watch, Kaitlin?" He murmured.

I closed my eyes as he moved my legs apart. His tongue entered me, making me jump. Noises escaped from my mouth that I'd never heard before. When I was sure he wasn't looking, I peeked above me and watched him as his tongue worked me.

"You dirty girl, you do like to watch." He muttered, amused. I gasped as I realized he'd caught me watching. "Keep watching, Kaitlin. I want you to watch." I obeyed, secretly more than a little bit turned on.

His tongue played my s.e.x like it was an instrument that required years of expertise to perfect. Years of experience I was sure he had. When I closed my eyes, I found myself imagining it was Devon between my legs.

"Oh lord." I cried, clutching onto the sheet with my still bound hands.

"Come for me, Kaitlin," He whispered, "Come for me hard." I didn't hold back, my toes curled as I released the feelings of ecstasy from my body.

"Good G.o.d!" I gasped, all energy evaporated from my body.