Bloody Sunset by Gwendolyn Harper (inspirational books for students TXT) 📕

of you, Jack,” she murmured, kissing the curve of his broad shoulder. “Not everyone is brave enough to ask for help. But you did it.”

“Only ‘cause you pushed me,” he said. “Prob’ly woulda just toughed it out like before.”

“That’s like trying to run a marathon on a broken ankle. It only hurts you more.”

Ducking his head, Booker hummed in agreement.

“A’ight. Better quit the theatrics,” he said. “Hand me that bottle of water?”

Caitlin did as he asked, smiling softly as she watched him pop two pills into his mouth and swig them down with a huge gulp of water.

Running her fingers through his hair, Caitlin leaned closer.

“Good job, champ,” she said. “Want a lollipop?”

Booker screwed the lid back on the bottle and set it down.

“Nah,” he murmured, turning to wrap his arm around her. “I want somethin’ sweeter.”

Caitlin giggled into his sudden kiss, fumbling for purchase on his arms.

“Have you always been this corny and I just never noticed before?” She asked, laughing as he trailed his lips down her neck.

“It’s a hidden talent,” he mumbled against her collar bone.

Shifting onto his knees, Booker hovered over her as Caitlin flattened her back on the bed.

She felt giddy, as if it was their first time or a special occasion.

Lifting the hem of her soft thermal long sleeve, Booker’s calloused fingers caressed her sides as he ducked down to kiss across her abdomen and navel.

“Could take it off of me, you know,” she teased, letting her knees fall open further. “Same with my jeans.”

“Could…” He murmured, nuzzling against the soft skin just below her sternum.

When he didn’t make a move to disrobe her however, Caitlin remembered what he’d asked for without so many words.

Remembered the many times Booker had wanted to serve instead of be served.

Vaguely she wondered if his desires fluctuated with his other emotions. If being stressed and aimless gave rise to the need to be directed and used.

Pushing at his shoulders, Caitlin sat up.

Before he could ask if she was alright, she kissed him until he was flushed all the way to the tips of his ears.

“Take your clothes off,” she told him, voice firm. “But don’t lay down yet.”

Booker blinked, momentarily stunned.

“Unless you’ve changed your mind.”

He shook his head quickly. “Definitely not.”

Nearly tripping over himself, Booker yanked at his boots and socks, then his belt and jeans, tossing them all into a pile by the foot of their mat. Tugging his shirt off, his head got caught for a second and Caitlin thought about helping him, but he freed himself soon enough.

The giddiness returned as she stood up.

Before he could strip his boxer briefs off, Caitlin nudged him in the leg with her foot.

“Leave those,” she ordered. “I have a plan.”

“Yes ma’am,” Booker said, licking his lips.

Jerking her chin at him, she said, “Lean back against the wall.”

Watching him settle in the middle of their bed with his naked shoulders pressed against the cinderblock wall, Caitlin hummed her approval.

“God, you’re gorgeous,” she blurted out, gaze skipping over his muscled chest and the ridges of his abs, more pronounced after months of fighting for survival.

He started to chuckle, ducking his head, but she continued.

“I don’t think I tell you that enough,” she admitted. “I mean, you know you’re handsome, but I should tell you more.”

“Y’do,” Booker said, voice like smoke and whiskey. “In your own way.”

Curious, Caitlin arched an eyebrow. “Oh?”

He nodded. “Like how y’watch me in the mornin’ when I’m gettin’ ready. Or when y’smile at me from across the room.”

“Hm.” Caitlin took a step closer. “Still, those aren’t words.”

Slowly—just to tease him—she popped the button on her fly and dragged her zipper down.

“And I get the feeling you’d like some verbal affirmations every once in a while.”

Booker’s gaze tracked her movements and he jerked his chin as a ‘yes’.

“Good thing I can rectify that tonight, huh?” Caitlin said, peeling her jeans down her legs and stepping out of them.

Leaving her shirt on, she dropped to her knees, prowling closer in the space between Booker’s thighs. Her long brown waves dragged across his skin, and she watched in the light from their camping lantern as goosebumps rose on his arms.

Kissing up the line of dark hair under his navel, Caitlin smiled as she watched him twitch beneath the thin grey cotton of his shorts.

“Before we got together,” she started, breath ghosting over his stomach. “Did you ever think about me while getting off?”

Booker’s sharp intake of breath was visible in the taut flex of his abs.

“I tried not to,” he murmured. “Thought it was… disrespectful.”

Dragging her nails over his inner thighs, she toyed with the elastic and material keeping him covered.

“But you did, didn’t you?”

He nodded. “Not like I was doin’ it all the time, but…” He swallowed. “When we were camped by the pond. I’d be gettin’ cleaned up, and…”

Caitlin glanced down at the thick outline of his cock under fabric and grinned. With a single fingertip, she traced the curve pointing towards his belly, enjoying the soft whimper he made at the back of his throat.

“And you just couldn’t help yourself, huh?”

Before he could answer, she dipped her head to gently mouth at him over his briefs.

Cursing softly, Booker shifted his hips. As he reached to brush the hair from her face, Caitlin stopped him.

“Until I say so, you can’t touch me,” she told him, grip firm on his wrist. Smiling, she added, “But you can touch yourself while you watch me.”

Sitting back on her heels, Caitlin pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it to the side. Left in only her bra and black panties, she arched her back a little to give him an eyeful.

Booker’s