in this morning. I thought hard about being very forward then, but I decided for the slow approach. I’m glad I did. Now I can’t help it: I’m giving in to my impulses.
“Do you like it?” I whisper.
“I do.” His response is almost inaudible.
“Would you like to do the same to me?”
He smiles and opens his eyes. I lie back and pull him toward me.
Drake does as requested and kisses me, starting with the side of my neck. It tickles me at first, but before long, goose bumps spread over my skin. His kisses are firmer, stronger. His warm breath stirs me. When he reaches my shoulder, he slides my bra straps down with gentleness. I know the smallest movement might make him hesitate, so I stay still. But he just leaves the bra, untouched, partially covering me, and takes his lips down to my belly. My back arches; my muscles tighten. Soon I loosen up and let out an involuntary moan. He knows me; he knows how to drive me crazy.
“Enjoying it?” he asks in a low tone.
“Very much.” My eyes are still shut. I giggle.
“What?”
“You’re using your bedroom voice,” I say.
“I like to be accurate, you know, location-wise. I’ll shut up now.”
His lips resume their exploration. He kisses the side of my tummy and comes back to the region he skipped. His mouth touches the exposed top of my chest.
I melt.
“Wait…” I tell him.
He pulls back slowly. I look at him. He’s still smiling.
“Excuse me a little bit,” I say, squeezing from under him and leaving the bed.
Drake’s face works hard to hide his disappointment. But he has no reason to.
Still gazing at him, I walk to the bedroom door and lock it. “Just in case,” I say, using my bedroom voice.
His full smile returns. His sinuous, sculpted torso beckons.
I go back to him.
Chapter 8: Drake
Seattle’s maddening weather has never been sweeter. I had never noticed how much the gray clouds look like classic marble sculptures. I decide to leave the car at home and walk.
The cold breeze lashing at my face makes me feel alive. The constant drizzle of the rain cleanses me and energizes me for a new day. I walk to the pool with light steps, as if I’m floating above the ground. Life is good.
When I arrive at Greenwood, I cast a glance to the main building. They have almost finished removing the debris and cleaning the area. The reconstruction will take some time. I feel a twinge of guilt before remembering it couldn’t have been avoided. It was an accident, and nobody got hurt. Well, except Brianna and me. And we ended up better than expected. You know, alive and all.
Soon the thought leaves my head, and I open the door to the pool building across the street from the school. The pool hasn’t been damaged, and it’s still open for students.
Splashing sounds and chattering startles me. I enter the pool and find the swim team practicing.
I usually pick a time when the pool is deserted, but today I forgot to check. I just wanted to swim.
A lane is reserved for laps for the public. I’ll use that one.
But Coach Summers sees me before I head to the locker room. “Hey, Mr. Hunter! The Black Swan himself. Did you finally decide to join the team?” He gestures to the gang of Speedo-clad, goggle-wearing guys and girls racing in the water.
I smile at him. For some reason, the talk I had with Skye is imprinted in my mind. College. Maybe a swim scholarship.
“May I?”
Skye is right. What’s the big deal? Why can’t I swim with folks? I can do my thing and be eligible for a scholarship if my times are good enough. Maybe things will break my way.
“Come on, don’t be sarcastic with an old man. It’s disrespectful.”
“No, I mean it. May I practice with the team?”
Coach Summers stops and looks at me as if I’m one of the body snatchers’ clones. “What are you talking about? You, the loner, want to join?”
“It’s not actually a team sport, is it?” I say.
His eyes narrow. “It totally is. The events are individual, but
The White Jade Fox (v1.0)