Gem in the Rough

Chapter 12

The walk to my apartment is quick, to say the least. It's like we both can't wait to be alone together. This is already going a different direction than I wanted, considering he was supposed to be explaining himself to me, but my hormones are going out of control for him.

When reaching the apartment, I go inside and note that Alice isn't home. I set my shoes next to the door and wave Kieran into my room after he does the same. I hadn't expected this, but even so, my room is kept pristine due to my anxiety. Speak of the devil, here it is kicking in again.

I make a quick look around my room, trying to make the ache go away that's there because I didn't hang up a sweatshirt from earlier. I also notice there's an empty water bottle by the edge of my bed, so I reach for it and throw it in the recycling bin.

Setting my backpack down, I reach for a water bottle that's full on my desk and take a sip while watching Kieran explore my small room. He stops at a picture board on my wall, smiling at a few of them with members of the bands that we had been talking about. I didn't mention I was sort of a groupie, did I? Oops.

"Looks like you had a great time growing up."

"If that's what you want to call it, sure," I laugh nervously, putting my water bottle on my desk. Unsure of what to do next, I take some time putting my hair up into a messy bun with the hair tie that is around my wrist. Looking in my floor-length mirror to make sure it's acceptable, I find Kieran checking me out.

I don't mean a typical "checking out" where it's inconspicuous and you can barely tell it's happening. It's a checking out where he takes his time. He had set his backpack down at some point near my desk chair and is now walking towards me. His eyes are staring at me hungrily through the mirror.

Personally, the clothes I'm wearing aren't the most flattering since they're what I wore to work, but I guess they're doing something for him.

"I know we need to talk, Gemma, but god damn I cannot stop thinking about what you look like under those clothes," Kieran whispers under his breath while still perusing my body with his eyes.

He is up to my ass now. His hands reach out and grab my hips. What in the world...

Kieran's moods switch so fast I cannot keep up. At least my mind can't, but my body is right there along with him. My ass juts out to go against the front of his pants, magnetic energy surrounding us. A groan escapes his mouth and I smirk in the mirror, making eye contact with him while his lips meet my neck.

"You bring out the animal in me," he murmurs in my ear, continuing to move his hips against me, his eyes never leaving mine.

An involuntary moan comes out of me when he bites down on my neck, licking afterwards. I swear if he leaves a hickey that's noticeable, I'll lose it. I just don't know if it will be in a good way or a bad way yet.

"What kind of animal are you?" I mumble in response.

Kieran chuckles against me, finally breaking our eye contact when his head bows down. His hands grow tighter around my hips and then he spins me around, lifting me from behind my thick thighs and wrapping me around his waist. Kieran brings me to the bed easily, setting me down while he sets himself between my legs. He stops his face an inch from mine, breathing heavily.

"You tell me."

Kieran's lips crash into mine, his tongue finding mine immediately. He's a damn lion with the way he just pounced on me.

I wriggle beneath him, trying to feel more of his body against mine, but I'm unsuccessful; he has pinned me down just the way he wanted me last time. I'm guessing he may have some control issues; not that I'm complaining.

Kieran's hands begin their exploration upwards, over my stomach. I flinch slightly when they graze my bare skin there and I hope he doesn't notice. No such luck of course.

"Hey, what was that?" Kieran whispers against my mouth.

"Nothing, keep going," I urge, hating my body for reacting that way. My hands go to his face, and I attempt to pull it back down to me.

Kieran doesn't budge. One of his rough hands makes its way to my cheek, holding my head in place, while the other finds its way back to my stomach. My body, once again, flinches against my will.

I grunt in defeat, my hands falling to my sides, while Kieran continues to brush his fingers against my skin. He slowly pushes my shirt up to just below my bra and stares into my eyes. It's like he's looking into my soul. Like he can see my insecurities and my need for him, and he isn't judging me for it, but embracing it. I can't take the intensity of his stare while he touches me in my most vulnerable area. It is freaking me the fuck out.

"Okay, we have to stop. Please." I push him softly and he doesn't hesitate in moving off me. Good boy.

My breathing is heavy. I scoot to the edge of my bed that's against the wall, bringing my knees up. I cross my arms and set them on my knees, my face resting there to catch my breath. I don't want to look at him right now. This got real too quickly, and I don't know how to handle it.

I feel the bed dip slightly and then Kieran's voice in my ears.

"I'm sorry."

I take one last long breath and look up at him, noticing he isn't willing to make eye contact.

"It's not your fault, Kieran. I promise. I...I just. I don't get that intimate with just anyone. It freaked me out a little." I laugh nervously and run my hand through my hair that has fallen out of its bun.

"I get it. I don't do this with just anyone either. Well, I do. But, not like this. Am I making sense?" His face is turning redder by the second. As much as I don't want to know about his nightly conquests, I know what he means.

"It does make sense. I don't know how we got here though. Whenever we're with each other our bodies want to be together and even though that makes me feel sexy as hell, I don't know where that leaves me emotionally. That's scary. I'm not carefree and reckless, I'm anal and organized. You bring this out of me."

Kieran stands from the bed and runs his hands through his dark hair while he paces. God, even when he's frustrated, he's adorable.

"I am so attracted to you, it hurts. I want to get to an emotional level, I really do. I just don't know how to open up right now without being too intense."

I slide to the edge of the bed, grabbing one of his arms to stop him from moving.

"Hey, please sit down." I pat the spot next to me, indicating I want him there. He sighs and sits next to me, his hands in his lap and his foot tapping on the ground.

I smile and take one of his hands in mine, rubbing it with my thumb. "I don't know how to open up either. Let's do it one step at a time?"

Kieran nods and turns to me, smiling shyly. "I owe you, so you can ask me something first."