“Pigeon,” he said, panting, “it doesn’t have to be tonight. I’ll wait until you’re ready.”
I looked above my head and reached for the top drawer of his night stand, pulling it open. Feeling the plastic between my fingers, I touched the corner to my mouth, tearing the package open with my teeth. His free hand left my back, and then pulled his boxers down, kicking them off as if he couldn’t stand them between us.
The package crackled in his fingertips, and after a few moments, I felt him between my thighs. I closed my eyes.
“Look at me, Pigeon.”
I peered up at him, and his eyes were intent and soft at the same time. He tilted his head, leaning down to kiss me tenderly, and then his body tensed, pushing himself inside of me in a small, slow movement. When he pulled back, I bit my lip with the discomfort; when he rocked into me again, I clenched my eyes shut with the pain. My thighs tightened around his hips, and he kissed me again.
“Look at me,” he whispered.
When I opened my eyes, he pressed inside me again, and I cried out with the wonderful burning it caused. Once I relaxed, the motion of his body against mine was more rhythmic. The nervousness I had felt in the beginning had disappeared, and Travis grabbed at my flesh as if he couldn’t get enough. I pulled him into me, and he moaned when the way it felt became too much.
“I’ve wanted you for so long, Abby. You’re all I want,” he breathed against my mouth.
He grabbed my thigh with one hand and propped himself up with his elbow, just inches above me. A thin sheet of sweat began to bead on our skin, and I arched my back as his lips traced my jaw and then followed a single line down my neck.
“Travis,” I sighed.
When I said his name, he pressed his cheek against mine, and his movements became more rigid. The noises from his throat grew louder, and he finally pressed inside me one last time, groaning and quivering above me.
After a few moments, he relaxed, and let his breathing slow.
“That was some first kiss,” I said with a tired, content expression.
He scanned my face and smiled. “Your last first kiss.”
I was too shocked to reply.
He collapsed beside me on his stomach, stretching one arm across my middle, and resting his forehead against my cheek. I ran my fingers along the bare skin of his back until I heard his breathing even out.
I lay awake for hours, listening to Travis’ deep breaths and the wind weave through the trees outside. America and Shepley came in the front door quietly, and I heard them tip toe down the hall, murmuring to each other.
We had packed my things earlier in the day, and I flinched at how uncomfortable the morning would be. I had thought once Travis slept with me his curiosity would be satiated, but instead he was talking about forever. My eyes snapped shut with the thought of his expression when he learned that what had happened between us wasn’t a beginning, it was closure. I couldn’t go down that road, and he would hate me when I told him.
I maneuvered out from under his arm and got dressed, carrying my shoes with me down the hall to Shepley’s room. America sat on the bed, and Shepley was pulling off his shirt in front of the closet.
“Everything okay, Abby?” Shepley asked.
“Mare?” I said, signaling for her to join me in the hall.
She nodded, watching me with cautious eyes. “What’s going on?”
“I need you to take me to Morgan now. I can’t wait ‘til tomorrow.”
One side of her mouth turned up with a knowing smile. “You never could handle goodbyes.”
Shepley and America helped me with my bags, and I stared out the window of America’s car on my journey back to Morgan Hall. When we set down the last of the bags in my room, America grabbed me.
“It’s going to be so different in the apartment, now.”
“Thanks for bringing me home. The sun will be up in a few hours. You better go,” I said, squeezing once before letting go.