Page 17 of When In Rome
“Boys were always… a little put off by me, I think. Why try with me and take a knee to the balls when you can go for the easy choice, the girl who doesn’t care if you kiss and tell?”
“And you’re how old?”
She pulls back at that question, a look crossing her face, “I’m eighteen.”
I can’t stop the smile that starts to form on my lips. She has no idea.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because Sunshine… I’m not a boy and real men don’t mind putting in the work it takes to make someone like you feel… at ease and comfortable.”
She looks at me like she might not believe me, or worse, I’m just saying what she wants to hear to get what I want.
“You don’t scare me, Sunshine. And you’re not some trophy I’m after for the sake of winning something. You’re a sweet woman wrapped in steel and doing me a huge favor because you are so sweet.” She takes a long pause to search my eyes for the truth before she gives me the barest nod. “Now shut up and kiss me, Sunshine.”
Our mouths meet again and both of us set to work learning what makes the other feel good. Nolia is a fast learner, paying attention to when I moan and become more demanding with my kisses, and then doing what she just did so I’ll do it again. I think both of us are surprised when she maneuvers around so she’s straddling me bringing us even closer and letting as much of us touch as possible.
I don’t shy away from running my hands up the backs of her thighs and around her hips until I can take both her bare cheeks in my hands and massage them. I run my mouth down her throat and gently suck on the soft column. Her head falls back giving me more space to kiss and nibble her.
One of my hands leaves her bottom so it can sink in her hair, and I can tilt her head where and how I need it tilted. I spend time on her neck but always come back to her mouth.
“I…I think this might be happening too fast.”
“You want to stop, sunshine, just say the word.”
Instead of telling me to stop, she gives me a soft moan and brings her mouth back to mine. Before I can kiss us back down to a slower pace, my door is flung open and Nolia is crying out while pulling me closer.
I immediately go on the offensive, standing with her in my arms. Only to come up against…my sister. “Pearl?”
“Oh my God!” Nolia wiggles to let me know she wants down. I follow her unasked demand, but I do it on my own time, slowly sliding her body down my own and taking time to help her make sure her dress is well in place. She slips behind me but I don’t let her go too far, taking her by the hand so I can keep her close.
“Pearl, what the hell are you doing here? Why the hell didn’t you knock?”
“Uh, I did. And knocked and knocked. Finally, when I got no answer I just came on in. I wanted to make sure Nolia was okay. She… seemed upset when we were all at the hospital.”
“I… I’m okay, Pearl.”
“Yeah, she was upset because you told her sister we were sleeping together.”
“Well, I’m sorry, Mister. But since Summer is a little busy at the moment, I have no problems stepping up and making sure you aren’t playing around with her sister’s heart.”
She would come off a lot more serious and badass if she didn’t trip on her way further into the room.
“I’m…I’m alright, Pearl. Thank you for thinking of me. How is Summer and Roan doing?”
“Oh, they’re fine. He’ll be able to go home tonight or tomorrow.”
“I should probably go back over to the hospital and spend some more time with her.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No! I, uh, I’m sure you have work to get done and…I wouldn’t want you to put yourself out…”
“I can do whatever I have to do at home tonight. Let’s go. Pearl, are you coming with us?” Pearl looks from me to Nolia and back again.
“No, although I wish I was now. Spade is waiting for me outside.” She turns to Nolia. “He’s taking me out to eat at the seafood place on the creek. I’m super excited about it. God, I hope I don’t puke.”
Nolia’s eyes widen and I watch as it dawns on her that my sister is most likely pregnant. Even as she takes in Pearl’s hand on her stomach, my eyes travel to her own tummy area. I’ve bought myself time but there is one guaranteed way I could settle my little beam of sunshine down, one sure way to keep her from running from me. One perfect answer to the question of how I can make Nolia stay with me!