Stronger than the Rest

Chapter 12 | Itch

"The more buttons you undo, she said, the faster I become undone." - Michael Faudet

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My parents had texted me once Derek and I got to my place that they would be having dinner together and wouldn't be home for a few more hours. I had to pick up Jack in an hour. An hour is all Derek and I needed.

Once we got to my room, I practically jumped Derek. My hands went straight to his neck and my lips began moving against his. He gripped my waist and walked me back until my legs were touching my bed. He broke the kiss to slip off my sweatshirt and he started kissing my neck as I was removing my shoes.

He gently bit down on my collarbone which caused me to moan his name into his ear.

He smirked against my skin and ran his hands up my stomach, slowly feeling my soft skin. His long fingertips reach the bottom of my sports bra and gently pushed his hands underneath the material until he was cupping my breasts. "Fuck, Rose."

He voice was rough, raw and I couldn't take it anymore. I pulled off my bra as he took off his shirt. He pushed me down on the bed and hungrily kissed my lips. My legs were wrapped around his waist and my hands were sliding into his basketball shorts. He moved his mouth from my lips to my neck while biting and licking all the way down to my breast. He tugged on my nipple with his teeth and I grabbed his prized possession firmly with my hands. He groaned against my breasts and his hands slipped into my pants now, too.

We were both caught up in lust to do anything slow, he was attempting to slip off my shorts as we hear knocking on my door.

I sat up immediately, pushing Derek off me, "You've gotten to be fucking kidding me." I stated. 

I could hear Gabby's voice shout from downstairs, "ROSE! Open the damn door."

Derek mumbles, "Saved by the bell, I guess." And I wondered to myself if this was a sign. 

Derek and I scramble to put our clothes back on before Gabby decides to break in my front door. We rush downstairs and I open the door, "Hey Gabs, what's up?" I look behind me and Derek is nowhere to be seen.

She looks me up and down, "What the hell have you been doing?"

I wipe the sweat off my forehead, "Oh, I just got back from the gym." 

Gabby walks past me into my house, "So you give up theatre to be a gym buff now?"

I laugh at her as we head into my kitchen, "I've been boxing for years, I just haven't gotten around to tell you yet, Gabs." She opens the fridge to grab out a yogurt smoothie and begins to drink it. She sits down on one of our bar stools, "Rose, there's a lot you haven't gotten around to tell me." She doesn't say it in a way to accuse me like Landon did, but just to remind me. I let out a deep breath and sit next to her, "I know and I'm sorry. I just don't open up to people that well, okay? It's not that I don't want to tell you. It's just I don't want to tell anyone, you know?"

She places her head on my shoulder, "Yeah, I understand. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."

I'm glad to hear Gabby supporting me, "Thank you."

We sit there in silence for a few moments until our seats are pulled from under our butts and we go crashing down on the floor. 

"What the hell?!" Gabby and I exclaim at the same time. I turn around to see Derek laughing his ass off on the floor as well. 

"Where did you go?" I shout at the same time Gabby yells, "When the hell did you get here?"

She blinks at me, "Wait, was he already here?"

My face burns red, "Yeah, he disappeared when I opened the door." I let out a shaky laugh. 

She narrows her eyes between Derek and I, "You're hooking up, aren't you?"

Derek takes this time to gradually leave the premises, "I'll see you, lucky ladies, tomorrow." As he winks and points at us.

I roll my eyes as I turn to Gabby and she's patiently waiting for my reply.

I decided to be honest about one thing, "We went to boxing together after Landon chewed my ass out for bailing on the musical this afternoon, I was frustrated and we ended up making out. We didn't have sex though."

There was a flash of emotion on her face I couldn't decipher before she settled on being content with my answer. She replies, "Don't blame you, he's pretty hot."

I get up to throw out our yogurt containers, "Yeah, but I don't think it's gonna happen again. It was in the heat of the moment I guess."

She let it drop, "Well, do you want to watch some Outlander? I have a Starz account."

I turn to her and wipe a fake tear from under my eyes, "I think I'm in love with you now. But we have to go pick up my puppy first." 

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"JACK!" Gabby exclaimed as Jack licked her face from chin to her hairline. My sides were hurting from laughing so much. Jack has been nonstop loving on Gabby and it's the cutest thing in the world to me. Jack seems to really like the people in New Bern, North Carolina. Maybe he needed a change of scenery too, away from all the bad memories of Leo death, my hospital stay, and everything else that followed after. 

Not a lot of people realize dogs are just as sensitive to emotions, situations, and environment just as much as us. I literally don't know where I'd be without my puppy. 

Sensing that I've been zoning out, Jack comes and lays his massive head in my lap and looks up at me. "Hi, buddy," and I tangled my fingers through his thick fur. 

"Can I have Jack's puppies?" Gabby blurts out and I laugh. 

"Maybe," I tell her, "We haven't gotten him fixed yet, we were debating on whether he's gonna be a daddy or not. Jack is just waiting for the right pup, aren't you?" He lifts his head up to give me a goofy grin and I kiss his nose. 

Gabby gets up, "Well, it's pretty late. I gotta get going. I'll see you tomorrow." 

I smile up at her, "Sure thing."  

I decide it's time for bed for Jack and I, too. I stop by my parent's bedroom to tell them goodnight and then I head for the shower.

Later that night, when I'm chilling in my bed all clean and smooth, I text Megan and update her on Derek and Landon. She tells me Anna and Justin are still together, I haven't gotten a chance to ask what the hell they both were thinking, but I will later I guess. 

Derek's name pops up on my phone.

Derek: Hey, Rose. I just wanted to say I had a great time today, but I think we both know it was a one-time thing. But for the sake of communicating and making everything less awkward, I just wanted to make sure we both were on the same page. 

Damn. A fine ass guy with the sense of communication. Maybe I should actually date him. I smile to myself as I type out my reply.

Me: Yeah, I get that. I think it was just in the heat of the moment. I'm sorry for jumping on you and using you as a stress outlet. You're pretty great, you know that?

Derek: Oh, I'm definitely aware, babydoll.

For some reason, only Landon calling me babydoll felt right. I rolled my eyes at myself for the thought, I literally just made out with his best friend.

Me: I'll see you tomorrow, Derek.

- end of chapter twelve - 

*****

So, things got a little heated.

How do you guys feel about Rose and Derek?

Do you think it was just a one-time thing?

Let me know your thoughts!

-jlc, xoxo