Him by Carey Heywood (reading strategies book .txt) 📕

I gasp when he bites my bottom lip. His eyes burn into me when he pulls back. He runs his fingertip down the side of my face before opening my door for me. He drives over to my house so I can change into my suit. He waits in his car, his forehead resting on the top of his steering wheel when I get back in. He leans over to kiss me after I ask if he's okay. When we get to his house, we're quiet. I've only ever been inside a handful of times. It's just not a happy place. When Will was in elementary school, his older sister Bethany died from an undiagnosed heart condition. His mother has never fully moved past that day. Will told me once that nothing in his house has changed since her death. It’s like a giant time capsule. I go straight through the kitchen and out to his backyard while Will hurries upstairs to change.

Will is done changing and in the pool before I even have my shoes off. His eyes lock on me as I shimmy out of my shorts and pull my t-shirt off. I make my way over to the stairs and slowly step into the water. Will is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. His hands reach out to touch my calves, and with each step I take, they move further up my body. Once his hands touch my waist, I'm lifted and in his arms. He hitches my legs up one at a time until they are wrapped around him. He walks us backwards until we are submerged to our necks.

He takes my mouth, his hands firmly gripping my backside. My hands are in his hair. He's turned on. I can feel it. It kind of scares me. I don’t want to move too fast, but now that I finally have him, I don’t want to lose him. I may have tensed. Will pulls back to look at me.

"Are you okay?"

I nod and lower my head to kiss his neck. He moves us out of the deeper water and leans me against the pool wall. The tiles are warmed from the sunny day and hot against my shoulders. I lift my lips from his neck. He grins and lowers his to mine. I lean my head back as he moves his lips lower. His hands have moved up my sides, and his thumbs move back and forth, just barely touching the undersides of my breasts. I'm breathing heavy, my chest rising and falling sharply. His lips dust the swell of my breasts not covered by my top. Conflicted emotions are waging a war inside my head. What do I do if he tries to move my top? Should I let him? God, it feels so good, but I'm nervous.

He moves his lips further up my neck. I lift my head, and his mouth is on mine again. He shifts his hands up, and his thumbs brush across the top of my suit. I shudder in his arms. He lowers his hands and pulls back. I open my eyes, confused. He's chewing on the side of his mouth, his eyes wide. I watch the rise and fall of his chest.

"You shook when I touched you," he said quietly.

I'm not sure what to say. I nod.

He reaches a hand up to cup the side of my face. "You are so beautiful."

"No, you are," I tease.

He's smiling, even though he's shaking his head. "I'm serious. I want to know what you're thinking about all of this."

I blush and look away. "It's all so new." I hesitate. "I get scared."

His thumb brushes my cheek. "Do I scare you?"

"That's not what I meant."

"What did you mean?" I pause. "Sarah, you can say anything to me."

I take a deep breath and look into his eyes "I haven't done all the stuff you have. I'm nervous you'd rather be with someone who has."

His face breaks out into a wide grin. "And I am all knowing?"

"Shut up," I huff.

"Not going to happen. Just think of me as your teacher. Ha! You can call me sir if you want."

"We both know I'm never calling you sir." I turn my face into his palm and bite it. If it's even possible, his eyes widen even more.

"That's why you're the only girl I'll ever want, Miller Lite."

He moves his hand to my waist, pulling us both back towards the stairs in the shallow end. He sits on the middle step. I'm now straddling him. I shift myself off of him, feeling exposed, and sink down to wet my hair. He's leaned back on the stairs, his elbows rested on the next step up. I swim up between his legs and lay my head down on his chest. He brings one hand forward to trail up and down my shoulder blade. I turn my head to kiss his chest. He's lean and cut. I consider licking the ridges of his abs. He surprises me, pushing off the steps, taking me with him. He swings me up into his arms and carries me out of the pool.

He lays down on a lounge, pulling me on top of him. I laugh, propping myself up on my elbows and look down at him. He's grinning, reaching a hand up to push my hair behind my ear. I could look at him all day. He bucks his hips, making me squeal before turning us onto our sides. I rest my head on his shoulder as he kisses the top of it. With his arms around me, we fall asleep.

"What the hell is going on?"

Will tenses next to me, and I blink my eyes open. It's dark out.

"Shit. I guess my mom's home."

I look over my shoulder quickly to see his mom standing in the doorway. She does not look happy. I look up at him, cringing. He leans forward and kisses my forehead.