In The Together: Where You Are Part 9

The door swings open and Bethany and Heather are both standing there with open mouths. "Please, can I have your life? For one freaking day!" Heather squeals, grabbing my arm and pulling me into the room.

She is bouncing up and down in her pajama shorts and tank top. "If you don't want the Australian I will certainly take him."

Bethany pushes Heather's arm and widens her eyes. "Just show me how he kisses, I swear I won't tell anyone!"

"Sorry, Beth. I don't want to throw up in your mouth. That plan isn't until later."

"Really? You'll throw up in Aiden's mouth?"

I slap my forehead. "h.e.l.l, no. It's a joke, which is what I hope you two are doing. f.u.c.king weirdoes."

Heather drags me to the bed, looking down on me when I lay back. "Aiden is starting to get a little touchy...not to mention dreamy. He doesn't seem too bad to me."

Bethany scoffs, sitting down on the other side of me. "He doesn't normally act like this. He really likes you."

Slipping out of my shoes, I tug on my pajama shorts. "About that...I was thinking maybe we should pull out before it gets too serious. I mean-I'm hurting him way more than he hurts those girls. They don't really care about him...they think they do. They're attracted to his looks, not his heart."

Bethany jumps up from her seat and tosses her hands in the air. "We can't pull out now. Us girls gave him something special. We slept with him."

"Is it that special if you sleep with him after one night? I mean, it can't be that special, can it?"

Bethany is livid. She is tapping her foot and has her hands on her hips. "Regardless, if you pull out now I'm going to tell Aiden the truth."

I look down to see if there is blood on my s.h.i.+rt, because it feels like a knife has been stabbed into my chest. "Are you serious?" I glance at Heather, but she just looks down at her toes. "I'm helping you out. I don't want to date Aiden. I have enough bulls.h.i.+t going on in my life right now."

Bethany's cheeks are red, like a ripe tomato. "We can't stop now! We've already started. Laney-please listen-you promised. You have to do this for me. He is starting to fall for you, I can see it. Because it was the look I always wished Aiden had when he looked at me."

I give her a blank look.

She grinds her teeth together. "If you don't keep going with the plan I'm going to tell Todd that you coached Heather on how to get him." What? My heart stops in my chest. Todd is not the kind of guy that would understand this. He would accuse Heather of lying to him and blame me for being conniving. Which isn't too far from the truth, actually.

Heather gasps. "b.i.t.c.h."

Oh, no. d.a.m.n it. I bite my lip and give Heather a sideways glance. Her lips are pressed into a hard line but I can see the worry in her eyes. I can't let that happen to her. I'm no Bethany. I can't ruin her relations.h.i.+p for my own selfish reasons.

Closing my eyes, I rub my forehead, hard. "Bethany-d.a.m.n you-I'll do this but you've got to promise to never tell Aiden or Todd. It's one thing to break someone's heart but another to deliberately do it."

Bethany smiles and opens her arms wide. "I promise. Come on, give me a hug." I hug her back, even though I feel like yanking her hair from her head. "Well, I'm heading to bed. I've got a test tomorrow. I'll stop by in the p.m. for more strategy building. What do you have in mind?"

"Well, now that we have him semi-hooked, we b.u.mp up the game a little bit. What's the most frightening thing to a man?"

"No s.e.x," Bethany says.

I frown. "Yes, but no. He isn't getting that from me anyway. For Aiden, it's being undesirable. He is always wanted, he'll never have a problem getting a woman. So," I pick up a brush off of Heather's bed, "we make him undesirable."

Bethany points toward the brush and laughs. "We shave his head!"

"No, but we give him a small haircut." Heather scoffs. "What? It'll grow back." I shrug.

Bethany is laughing hysterically when she reaches the door. "I'm outie guys, you two are too much. I'll see you tomorrow. We'll get this s.h.i.+t straightened out. Thank you."

I glance at Heather once Bethany has left. She shrugs. "That backstabbing b.i.t.c.h. I can't believe I talked you into helping her. Now, she's going to blackmail us."

Changing out of my s.h.i.+rt, I slide onto my bed. "What a friend. I swear I know why I had no girlfriends during high school. You guys are the best actresses in the d.a.m.n world."

Heather sighs and opens her laptop. "You aren't going to do it with him, are you?"

"Gag. No."

Heather types away on her keys for a bit. "Have you ever done it?"

Sitting up, I glance over at her. She is looking at me under long lashes, a bit of a smile on her face. "Does it look like I'm a virgin?"

She nods. "Sorry, but you've got that look. The nerdy, beautiful girl. You know, like in She's All That? Hey!" She starts laughing. "Her name is Laney, too!"

I can't help but laugh. "Well, no, I'm not. In high school I-I did it."

More clacking against the keys. "With Lachlan, huh?"

d.a.m.n tears. I turn onto my side, pressing my face into the pillow. The smell of my fabric softener is heavy in my nose. It was him. Only him. My body had craved him like a drug. He was the only guy I had ever let touch me. There, at least. He was so soft, gentle, willing to go slow.

"Come with me," he had said. His voice like warm honey running over my chilly skin. I was standing in my nightgown. It barely hit mid-thigh.

I blew a gasp of air through the open window, and it sent a blurry of fog in front of me. Lachlan's large hands wrapped around the window frame, his face peering up at me from under long lashes, the green in his eyes bright from the moonbeams.

"It's cold. Why don't you come inside?"

A grin spread up his face and he reached inside, sliding his fingers against the outside of my arm. "I have a surprise. Don't worry, luv. I'll keep you warm."

Chills ran through me, all the way down my spine. "Okay, let me put on some pants." I ran toward my dresser, pulling out a pair of yoga pants. My heart was thumping hard, causing me to drop things and stumble over my shoes.

Lachlan had his brow lifted and an amused grin on his face. We both knew what was going to happen. We had been talking about it for two months. Scared, as always, I had backed out a few times. Lachlan finally said it would happen when it did. Now, I felt ready. A surge in my body was rocking against my insides, making my nervous.

I grabbed my phone and slid into a pair of TOMS. "Ready?" Lachlan asked.

I nodded and swung one of my legs out of the window. It wasn't a huge drop to the ground, but Lachlan wrapped his arms around my waist and helped me. Breathless from sneaking out, I glanced up at Lachlan and he pressed his lips to mine swiftly. His fingers lingering on my bottom lip before he pulled away.

"Let's go. I took my dad's old pick-up truck." Lachlan began to push me toward the truck. It was sitting in the distance under one of the large oaks in my family's backyard. We lived out in the middle of nowhere, down a road where there isn't anything but woods and fields.

The wind was whipping at my hair as we picked up speed. Excitement and nervousness swarmed me, making me smile. "Where are we going in the truck?"

Lachlan glanced down at me, opening the driver's door so I could scoot in. He waited until I was settled in the middle before he jumped in and started the truck. It roared to life, loudly. I prayed the 'rents didn't hear us. But I secretly didn't care if they did. I was so high off of my escape that my entire body was shaking with antic.i.p.ation.

Lachlan dimmed his lights, then pulled out onto the road. I sat Indian style, fingers fidgeting with the radio. "Where are we going?"

Lachlan shook his head then placed his arm on the back of the seat. "It's a surprise, luv. We're almost there."

He took a back road leading us by the river. I had been there with my dad when I was little, but I vaguely remembered it. We had spent the day fis.h.i.+ng. The cool air swept through the open windows and slapped my hair back again. When we finally slowed to a stop, it was dark, darker than I was comfortable with.

Lachlan opened the door and tried to grab my arm. I shook my head. "It's dark. I'm scared."

Lachlan laughed, grabbing me underneath my legs and carrying me out of the truck. The wind caressed my skin, the crickets singing a soft song in the distance. Lachlan sat me on the tailgate and pointed behind me.

Blankets were layered in the truck bed with two giant pillows lying on top. "Go get underneath the covers; it's getting chilly."

Too nervous to respond, I crawled to the back of the truck bed and snuggled underneath the covers. They smelled just like Lachlan's house. Sweet, flowery.

Lachlan jumped into the back of the truck and closed the tailgate after him. He seemed too big to be in the truck, but he crawled underneath the covers. "Are you warm enough, luv?"

Nodding, I snuggled into his arm. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Making this special. I always wanted it to be special, to remember it for the rest of my life."

Lachlan pressed his fingers into my side. "Special for what, luv?" he whispered into my ear.

"Oh," I said, sitting up and looking over at him. "I thought we were going to try to-ugh, never mind. Just forget it."

Lachlan laughed and pressed his forehead to mine. "Joking, Laney. Now, relax, baby. I'm not going to hurt you. Calm down. You're shaking." I hadn't realized I was shaking, and we both knew it wasn't from the chill in the air. My body relaxed, then my eyes zeroed in on his lips. G.o.d, I wanted to feel them on me.

Lachlan leaned down, eyeing me to make sure it was okay. I nodded, giving him permission, and he pressed his lips against my neck. My thighs lit up in fire, my body smoldering with heat. His kiss traveled up my neck to my earlobe where he bit down, hard. "You sure about this, luv? I'm not rus.h.i.+ng you. It's completely up to you."

I hadn't realized I was holding my breath until I began to talk. "Yes, please," I said, feeling myself grow anxious with the distance between us.

Gently, Lachlan guided me to the blanket. It was soft, and I was glad he had layered them. His eyes roamed my face, as if to memorize every part of me. This time, when he leaned in to kiss me, he didn't pull away. Thank G.o.d.

He deepened our kiss, sliding his tongue into my mouth. His hands roamed my skin, finally stopping in my hair and pulling, hard. I moaned into his mouth, arching my back. I don't know when it happened but he was suddenly in-between my legs. "You taste so good, luv."

Holding myself together, barely, I cried out when he rolled his hips against mine. It was all cloth on cloth but the growing bulge in his pants rubbed against my most personal place. Pus.h.i.+ng back, Lachlan gripped my hair tighter, forcing my chin up. "G.o.dd.a.m.n it, Laney. I want you. Please, say I can have you. Forever. Always."

I nodded against his lips. "Always. Please, take me, Lachlan. I want you."

He growled, sliding his fingers against the edge of my pants. My thighs heated more as his calloused fingers trailed against my ribs all the way to the bottom of my bra. "Is this okay? Can I touch you here, luv?"

"Touch me everywhere," I whispered.

He groaned, cupping my left breast with his huge hand. The sensation was new but a familiar ache grew between my legs. I hooked my legs around his waist and pulled him closer. A hard-as-granite bulge pressed into me.

Lachlan gripped my chin, hard, forcing me to look at him. "I love you, Laney. Don't you ever forget it."

"I won't," I said breathless.

He smiled, then leaned up so he was sitting on his s.h.i.+ns. Reaching down, he tugged his s.h.i.+rt off. I'd seen him with his s.h.i.+rt off before, but knowing he was going to be hovering over me, making me scream his name, made my antic.i.p.ation grow. The hard, fine lines of his stomach were drool worthy. I'd wanted to touch him since the first day I laid eyes on him. Even if I had socked him in the jaw.

Shaking, I asked, "My turn?"

Lachlan's eyes widened and he nodded. Reaching down to the hem of my s.h.i.+rt, I slipped it over my head. The cool wind kissed across me, raising goose b.u.mps along my body.

He took a sharp intake of breath, and raked his eyes over me slowly, taking in every inch of me. "You're so f.u.c.king beautiful, Laney," he whispered before pressing a kiss to the center of my chest. Placing his index finger at the base of my neck, he trailed it down to my navel and then to the top of my jeans.

"You're sure, baby? We can stop right now, I won't be mad."

Closing my eyes, I tried to picture anything else I wanted this badly in my life. "Lachlan," I said, slowly, "I want this. Please."

He smiled, his teeth s.h.i.+ning in the moonbeams. "Luv, you'll never have to beg with me. Come here." He reached behind me, pulling me onto his lap, until I was straddling him in the back of his dad's truck. He took his time, trailing kisses over my neck and between my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Frustrated, I grabbed his hand and placed it on the back of my bra.

His hand hovered over the latch for a few minutes, while he kissed me all over. Finally, after a few torturous minutes had pa.s.sed, he unlatched my bra. "I've been dreaming about this since I met you, Laney. I wanted to know how you would feel underneath your clothes. How you would feel pressed against me," he lowered his voice to a whisper. "How you would feel with me inside you."

The ache between my legs throbbed with a need I had to fulfill. "Well," I whispered. "Let's find out."

He nodded, sliding each strap off my shoulder. I felt exposed, my b.r.e.a.s.t.s in his face. His green eyes gazed over me. He slid the tip of his finger around the edge of my nipple before taking me into his palm, rubbing his finger across the peaked tip. A yelp came from my throat; I'd never been touched there. "Oh," I whispered, helpless. Suddenly, I was his. This was right. I had to have him. I would never have anyone else.

"Feel good, luv?"

Nodding, I pressed my lips against his ear. "More, please. More."

That was all he needed. Laying me back, he brought his mouth down to my nipple, taking the sensitive skin in his hot mouth. "f.u.c.k," I moaned, grinding my hips against him, frustrated that I couldn't feel his skin on mine. "Take these off."

Lachlan grinned and stood up. Sliding out of his jeans, he stood in front of me. His boxer briefs fit him well, and his size made my heart pump into overdrive. Oh, G.o.d. This is going to hurt, isn't it?

My bottom lip trembled. Lachlan dropped to his knees, cradling my face in his hands. "What's the matter, luv? Are you okay? Cold?"

No, I was burning up. Everywhere.

"No, I'm-you're just so...big. I don't know if I can take it."

Lachlan pressed his finger against my bottom lip, and smiled. "We can stop. It's not a big deal, baby-"

"No," I shook my head, pulling him toward me. "I want you-I just want to make sure we can go slow. I've never done this. I don't know what to expect."

Lachlan kissed my cheek and guided me down to the blankets. "We can go as slow as you want to, luv. Anything you want, you can have it."

Gripping his biceps, I pulled him on top of me. "I want this now-right f.u.c.king now, Lachlan." I rocked my hips toward his.

Grabbing my yoga pants, Lachlan slid them down my legs, until they were a puddle of fabric at the end of the truck bed. Eyeing my panties, he licked his lips, sliding his index finger from my ankle all the way to the moist spot between my legs.

I groaned, feeling the roughness of his fingers, only separated by the thin fabric of my underwear. He moved his head back slowly, groaning while stroking me. "G.o.d, luv, I can feel how wet you are through you knickers." Leaning down, he pressed his lips to my forehead. Embarra.s.sment rushed to my cheeks; I'd never heard anything so s.e.xual in my life, directed at me, at least. I was suddenly glad for the darkness.

Lachlan sat back up on his knees and trailed his fingers down my legs, to the tip of my underwear. His eyes flickered toward mine, and held, while he pulled them down past my ankles. I felt uncovered, chills running up my naked body. In any other situation, I would have hid in humiliation, but the male looking down at me made me want to open my thighs and invite him in. His jaw had grown more defined over the last year, leaving him with a strong jaw and full lips. The stubble on his cheek was thick, dark, and paired nicely with his lime-green eyes. I wanted him. More than anything else in the world.

Lachlan took his time looking at me before sliding over me, holding himself up with his elbow. "I want to kiss you everywhere, Laney." His fingers grazed my navel, then lower, then I felt the heat of his hand over my s.e.x. "Everywhere, baby. Can I kiss you there?"

Nervously, I nodded. Lachlan kissed my jaw, down my chest, and paused to take each nipple in my mouth. My skin was afire with sensation. His kisses slowed as he got lower, finally stopping above my s.e.x.

"I've dreamed about how you would taste, luv. Are you ready?" His finger slipped into my opening, causing me to let out a loud groan. The ache in my stomach erupted, making me arch my back in pleasure.