Cool air caressed my back sending chills down my arms. My eyes drifted open at the draft, and an uncontrollable smile crept across my lips.
"You better not be asleep." Lauren rustled behind me as I lay in bed, probably removing her boots.
A silent laugh escaped my lips as I turned onto my back and faced her. Hovering over me, the moonlight poured over her beautiful face, and her hair glistened with droplets of rain from the light drizzle outside. I couldn't get enough of the sight of her.
"You came through the tree . . . in a storm," I stated as she crawled into bed and immediately positioned her body on top of me. She still wore her clothes.
My dad had arrived home last week, and it went without saying that Lauren was not welcome for any overnight visits. Of course, Lauren and I had already assumed this. I knew my dad loved Lauren, but she wasn't going to put up with finding her in my room either. That was understandable.
Resting both arms on either side of my head, Lauren gazed down into my eyes. "Yeah, we used to sit in that tree all the time when it rained. It's like riding a bike. I never forget how good it felt."
Tears welled in my eyes. The years that separated us had hurt, but how quickly they'd passed. We were together again. We'd never forgotten how to be together.
"Do you like your car?" She smiled and started nibbling my lips with soft, teasing kisses. Giving me little pause, I could only nod.
Last weekend, after my dad had gotten home, we all took a trip to Chicago and bought my G8. I'd owned the sleek, dark metallic silver car for only a few days so far.
Dad had decided to turn over the rest of the Germany project to his partner, so he could stay home with me. It'd been tough to face him after the video leaked, but after a couple of days and lots of talks, we got the situation under control. He came down on me for making such a dumb choice at a party, and he was slightly uncomfortable with Lauren's new role in my life. But, he admitted, he probably wouldn't be comfortable with anyone at any time dating his only daughter.
Lauren and I had been online constantly, taking down the video wherever we found it. Our classmates also seemed to be laying off the gossip. But I was sure it had more to do with their respect for Lauren than their sense of decency.
A week ago, I thought I'd never live down that storm, but I was already concentrating on other things. I had a list of modifications to perform on my new car, and I hoped Lauren, my dad and I could work on it together throughout the winter. Madoc seemed to think he'd be included, too, and I didn't do anything to dispel his little brain fart.
My father agreed to let me take the money for Lauren's repairs out of my trust, but I'd have to get a job to replace it. He was very strict that my college fund wasn't a snack dish that I could stick my hand in whenever I wanted. And that was fine. A job was a good idea. I needed something to take up my time now that Dad was limiting my time with Lauren. I don't think he was as worried about our intimacy as he was about me losing focus in school.
Jared started a slow grind between my legs as her soft nibbles quickly changed to devouring and caressing. The chill that came into the room with her was replaced by sweat and heat.
Oh. I breathed hard, the pulse between my legs twitched with the friction she was making.
"You know," I gasped. "I want you here more than anything, but my dad will wake up. It's like he's still in the Army or something. He sleeps with one eye open."
She abruptly stopped and peered down at me like I was crazy. "I won't be able to stay away. Not with knowing that your cute little body is curled up in this nice, warm bed without me."
"You would never disrespect my dad. Even I know that."
"No, you're right," she conceded, and then her eyes widened. "Do you want to come over to my house?"
I folded my lips between my teeth to stifle a laugh.
As I guided my legs up and around her, she kissed me harder before whispering against my lips. "I love you, Camz. And I'm here for you always. With or without the sleepovers. I just needed to see you."
I held the back of bee neck as she raised himself to look down at me. "I love
you, too."
The top half of her body slid off of me, over the side of the bed, as she
searched for something on the nightstand. I ran my fingers along her back, barely noticing her scars beneath her shirt. She popped back up with a box in her hand.
"What's this?" I asked.
"Open it," she urged gently.
I sat up, and she leaned back on her feet, watching me. Sliding the lid off, I
pulled out a charm bracelet. Not the clunky, jiggling kind that makes lots of noise but a dainty, silver chain holding four charms. My eyes darted up to Lauren, but she just sat silently, waiting for something.
Eyeing the bracelet closer, I saw the charms were of a cell phone, a key, a coin, and a heart.
A cell phone, a key, a coin, and . . .
"My lifelines!" I burst out, it finally hitting me.
Lauren exhaled a laugh. "Yeah, when you told me on our way to Chicago about how you always wanted your escape plans when dealing with me in the past, I didn't want you to see me that way anymore."
"I don't—" I started.
"I know," she rushed to assure me. "But I want to make sure I never lose your trust again. I want to be one of your lifelines, Camz . I want you to need me.
So . . ." She gestured to the bracelet. "The heart is me. One of your lifelines. I took Chris with me today to pick it out."
"How is your brother?" I ran the bracelet through my fingers, never wanting to let it or her go.
Lauren shrugged his shoulders. "He's hanging in there. My mom is working with a lawyer to try to get custody. He wants to meet you."
I smiled. "I'd love to."
I didn't know what else to say. The gift was beautiful, and I loved what it represented. But what I loved more was that I was getting to know Lauren. We'd missed time over the years, but she had found family in her brother, and I could see the love she had for him.
A tear glided down my cheek, but I brushed it away quickly. "Put it on me?" I handed her the bracelet and blinked back more tears.
She worked the clasp and secured it around my wrist, not letting go of my hand as she sat back and pulled me on top, straddling her.
She brushed the hair away from my face, and I came down, meeting her lips. She tasted like heat and freedom, and I wrapped my arms around her, savoring the reality of just being here with her.
"Lauren." My father knocked on the door, and we both jerked our heads up.
"You need to go home now. We'll see you for dinner tomorrow night." My heart thumped so hard it hurt.
Crap!
Lauren snorted back a laugh and spoke to the door. "Yes, sir."
The heat of embarrassment covered my face, my arms, my toes—hell, everywhere as I saw my father's shadow under the door disappear.
"I guess I need to go."
I clenched her black t-shirt and touched my nose to hers. "I know. Thank you for my bracelet."
"I'm going to spoil you." Her hands caressed my hair.
I smiled. "Don't you dare. Just do me a favor. Leave your window unlocked. I may surprise you some night soon."
She sucked in a breath, and I crashed my mouth down on hers. Her tongue touched mine, and she dug her fingers into my hips, bringing me hard against her. I could already feel that I was ready for her.
Damn it. Must earn father's trust back. I repeated my mantra.
"Go on. Get out of here. Please," I begged and stepped off the bed. She got up but grabbed me for one more kiss before she walked to the French doors.
I watched her climb safely back through his window, where he gave me one last look before grinning and turning off her light.
I stood there for a minute, watching the rain splatter through the tree.
The thunder rumbled in the night, reminding me of my monologue and how Lauren and I had come full circle. We were friends again, and also more.
I was hers. And she was mine.
We had never been gone from each other. Both of us were shaping the other even though we didn't realize it.
And now we were complete.
