BriarEdge Academy: Winter Break Read online

  Back in the apartment several minutes later, he asked, “Did you bring a nice dress?” It hadn’t occurred to him to warn her to do so.

  She nodded. “I had no idea what we were going to do, so I brought everything. I could go to the beach, for an Antarctic expedition, or a fancy dinner.”

  He laughed. “You wouldn’t want to go to the water right now. It’s too cold.”

  She sidled a bit closer, placing her lips almost to his as she purred, “I’m sure you’d keep me warm.” She pressed a quick kiss to his mouth and darted out of his reach. “Give me like an hour, and I can be ready.”

  “That should work out perfectly.” He headed to the room he was using to take a shower and prepare as well. He slipped on a charcoal-gray suit with a red and green-striped tie. After putting on dress shoes, he exited his bedroom and moved to the living room to wait for Candace.

  She was only a few minutes behind him, and when she entered the room, she stole has breath. She wore that fancy red gown she’d worn to the Christmas dance. She was just as stunning tonight. Even more so, because this was all for him this time. He could openly admire her instead of keeping his distance.

  He moved closer after recovering from the sudden erection that plagued him, unable to resist the temptation of embracing her. He sniffed her hair without thought, finding it the usual pleasing scent, and he was still hard against her. For a moment, he was so tempted to strip the dress off her to take her to his room, but he held himself in check. His voice sounded thick when he said, “You look gorgeous. You looked amazing the night of the dance. I wanted to tell you then, so I’m glad you wore this tonight. I can tell you that now.”

  She grinned up at him. “Thank you.”

  He hugged her, careful not to wrinkle the rustling mesh stuff making the skirt puffy. “You look stunning. You’re always beautiful, but tonight, you’re the perfect package.”

  “Speaking of packages,” she said in a sultry tone, as she rubbed the front of his pants where he was visibly hard, “I can tell you really like the dress.”

  “I like what’s in the dress even more.” He bent forward to kiss her, but he pulled back at the last moment. “I don’t want to ruin your lipstick, and I think if we start that, we’ll never leave the apartment tonight. You don’t want to miss this, I promise.”

  She looked a little bit disgruntled. “It better be the best surprise ever,” she grumbled.

  With a laugh, Kip helped her put on her winter coat, since she didn’t have a nice evening coat to go with the dress, before he slipped on his own wool overcoat, and they left the apartment. There was an Uber driver waiting that he’d ordered before Candace emerged from the guestroom and it carried them to the Boston Opera House.

  Kip got out first, and then he held out a hand for Candace to help her from the car. He ensured her skirt didn’t brush against the snow too much as she exited onto the sidewalk. The Uber driver drove off as he tucked his arm through hers and led her up the stairs and inside the iconic building.

  Her awe was obvious as she looked around, and when she found out they were seeing “The Nutcracker,” she kissed him on the cheek spontaneously. Then she rubbed frantically at his skin, clearly having left red lipstick on him. He didn’t mind.

  “I guess you’re right. I wouldn’t want to miss this. We can do that any time,” she said with a playful gleam in her eyes.

  He nodded. “I can’t compete with the Boston Opera House showing ‘The Nutcracker,’ that’s for sure.” With a chuckle, he led her to their seats, which were the best he’d been able to acquire when he had the idea of inviting her to Boston a couple of weeks ago.

  They had a good view of the orchestra pit and the stage, and the show began shortly thereafter. Candace was enthralled from the beginning, but so was Kip. He’d seen the show several times, usually with his grandmother, though twice with Veronica, but it never failed to enchant him. They’d updated the costumes a bit, and they’d made enough other changes that it felt new all over again since the last time he’d seen the performance. It felt amazing to share it with Candace, and having her hand wrapped around his for the entire performance was perfect.

  After the show, he took her for dinner at a nearby restaurant, though it was getting late. She was yawning a bit, so he figured she’d want to go straight to bed when they got back to the apartment. He called for an Uber driver from the restaurant, and she delivered them back to the apartment within a half hour.

  When she was inside, he helped her take off the coat before removing his own. “Are you ready for bed?”

  She yawned as she nodded. “I’m really tired.”

  “Me too.” They’d crammed a lot of activities into the day, and he hadn’t slept as well as usual the night before, worrying about if he was doing the right thing by progressing with the relationship with Candace now and not holding off until she graduated in May.

  He kissed her on the cheek. “I hope you had a good time today.”

  “I had a fabulous time.” She kissed him lightly on the lips, not lingering because of her lipstick, he assumed, before stepping back from him. She wiggled her fingers in a semblance of a wave as she walked away from him and down the hall. He followed a moment later, going to his own room to strip off. He was in bed within ten minutes, not bothering with pajamas.

  He leaned back, allowing some of the moments of the day to filter through his mind as he started to drift off to sleep. It had been wonderful being with Candace, and he could envision years and years ahead of them. She made just walking in the park seem like a new and different adventure, and he could see her bringing that touch of excitement and whimsy to his everyday life.

  His eyes were closed, but they snapped open when his door creaked. He turned his head as Candace slipped inside, standing uncertainly. “Do you need something?”

  She bit her lip, which was freshly scrubbed of the lipstick, along with her face no longer covered with makeup. Her damp hair indicated she’d had a shower to clean off the remnants of the evening, and she wore a lacy white gown that was modest enough but tempting in its own right because of its translucence.

  “I really don’t want to sleep alone. May I sleep with you?” She nibbled on her lip, seeming afraid of his response. “We only have so much time together, and I don’t want to waste it sleeping apart.”

  “I don’t want to rush you into anything.”

  She yawned. “Don’t worry. You won’t be rushing me tonight. I’m too tired for much of anything besides sleep, but I want to be in your arms.”

  Without another word, he lifted the blanket so she could slide in, and she crossed the room to join him. As she cuddled up against him, he suddenly remembered he hadn’t bothered with pajamas. He’d worn his briefs, but they did little to hide how her presence affected him.

  She turned in his arms, putting hers over his waist and clutching his back gently. She lifted her mouth, and Kip accepted the unspoken invitation to kiss her. It was a slow, gentle kiss that segued into a more passionate one.

  He dipped his tongue into her mouth, enjoying her taste, as she shyly stroked it with her own. He had no idea how far she’d gone with her other boyfriends, but this felt like it was her first time, and it certainly was her first time with him. He held her close even after they stopped kissing so she could yawn again.

  He resisted the temptation to resume kissing her after that, seeing the discoloration under her eyes and her obvious exhaustion. He was tired too, but he could’ve rallied enough to make love to her. However, she wasn’t physically up for it now, and he wasn’t going to rush her.

  Instead, he just tucked her in his arms and held tightly to her as she fell asleep within a few minutes. Holding her felt so right that he didn’t allow himself any moments of chastisement for how he felt. He just accepted and rolled with it for the moment, cuddling her and surrendering to his own need for sleep.

  Waking with her in his arms was amazing, but also kind of torturous. It reminded him of what he’d had to wait
for these several months, and would have to wait for again to have on a regular basis, assuming they lasted that long. Based on his emotions, he was certain they would, but Candace might change her mind.

  She could only have a few stolen moments with him here and there, and it might not be enough to keep her engaged. He hoped it wouldn’t end badly with her, because he knew it was going to break his heart. He was falling in love with her. On an intellectual plane, he was already deeply in love with her. Their Friday afternoon chats had ensured that, and he didn’t have far to go emotionally or physically to fall for her as well.

  Her eyes blinked open, maybe aware that he was watching her, and a soft smile graced her lips. “Good morning,” she said.

  “Good morning.” He bent his head to kiss her, nonplussed when she turned away. “What?”

  “Morning breath,” she said with a hint of self-consciousness. “I don’t want to gross you out.”

  “I have the same.” When he tried to kiss her this time, she didn’t turn away. He pulled back quickly, not wanting things to escalate just yet. “We have a full day ahead of us again.”

  “That sounds fun, but I hope we have some time to just be alone and cuddle…and other things.” She winked at him.

  He nodded. “I don’t have anything planned for tomorrow. I thought we could just stay in and spend time with each other before you have to return to Portland?”

  She grinned, clearly happy with that plan. “So, what do we have on today’s agenda, besides meeting your grandmother?”

  “That’s the first thing. We’re having brunch with her in a couple of hours. And I wanted to show you some of my favorite places and meet with some friends I haven’t seen for a few months. Is that all right?”

  She nodded. “I’d like to meet your friends too. How are you going to introduce me?”

  “Just as Candace. If anybody asks, I’ll tell them I met you at the school.”

  “Do you want me to imply that I’m in administration rather than a student?”

  Kip winced, hating the need for the deception, but he nodded reluctantly. “It’s probably for the best.”

  “Hopefully, no one will ask. I hate having to lie about this and about us. It’s not fair that we can’t be open with how we feel.”

  He pulled her closer for a moment, hugging her. “It’s true that it sucks, but it’s what we can have at the moment. I hope it’ll be enough to last until you graduate.”

  He looked down at her when she put a hand on his cheek. “Are you doubting how much I care about you? Do you think I’m just going to give up on us because it’s harder to be together?”

  Kip wanted to deny the fear, but he was certain it was on his face. He just sighed in return.

  Candace shook her head. “You don’t know me well enough yet. I care a lot about you, Kip, and I’m not going to let the obstacles get in our way. I can see a very long relationship with you, if that’s what you want?”

  “More than anything.” He brushed a kiss against her nose. “But we should get ready for brunch.”

  “It would be silly to waste water on two showers, don’t you think?” She was flirtatious, but there was a hint of a flush in her cheeks that added to an innocent air she probably wasn’t aware of projecting. It seemed obvious she hadn’t showered with a man before.

  Kip was red-blooded enough that he wanted to be the first to mar that innocence, to claim it for his own, so he nodded. Her first time wasn’t going to be in the shower, but he could give her a good experience and claim that first. “It’s important to conserve water.”

  She rolled out of his arms and onto the bed a moment later, and as Kip watched, she took off her nightgown with one quick move. She seemed a little self-conscious, but she was also projecting confidence with her hands on her hips as she tossed the garment on the bed.

  His first glimpse of her body, bared fully to him, made his mouth water. He was slower getting out of bed, while removing his briefs methodically. There was no hiding his response to her, which had made his morning wood so hard it almost hurt. He gestured for her to come forward as he walked away from the bed and toward the bathroom.

  She joined him a moment later, their hands entwined. He led her into the bathroom, taking her to the shower. It was an elaborate affair with multiple buttons, and he set all the showerheads to run, along with adding citrus scent to the stall. When he pulled her inside, he pressed her against the wall of the shower and kissed her thoroughly. It was going to take a while for them to get ready this morning. He was sure of that.

  While he was still kissing her, she reached out a hand, and he heard the automatic dispenser dispense body wash. A moment later, he groaned when her hands wrapped around the length of his cock, caressing him from base to tip with the slippery soap. She pumped gently, occasionally squeezing her hand as she coaxed him toward coming.

  This was supposed to be about her, but he couldn’t find the willpower to pull away from her soft, snug hand. He wanted to slip inside her, but he wasn’t going to have their first time in the shower. He wanted it to be perfect and romantic for her, but he was certain there was no way he was going to be able to hold out on sleeping with her before she returned home to Portland. He needed her too badly.

  She coaxed an orgasm from him, and he spilled his seed before turning his attention to her. With a palmful of body wash, he started rubbing from her shoulders downward, paying special attention to her breasts, until she was tossing her head and moaning as she pressed forward. Her back was still against the shower stall wall. After rinsing her breasts, he bent his head so he could lick her nipples before taking one in his mouth and sucking firmly.

  She whimpered and arched against him, and he moved his hand down her body, ensuring he had plenty of body wash before he started stroking her slick folds. He buried two fingers in her as deeply as he could before her tight channel didn’t yield easily, since it seemed to be what she craved, and she writhed against his hands. His palm was against her clit, clearly giving enough stimulation, since she came with a small cry a few minutes later before collapsing against him.

  He held her for a few minutes before turning his attention to rinsing her properly and making sure she was completely clean. When his fingers pressed against her pucker, slick with body wash, she winced and gasped, but she didn’t pull away. He slid one digit lightly inside her back passage, just to see her reaction. He was gratified that she seemed to enjoy it after a few minutes. When he withdrew from her, he clearly left her slightly frustrated. He was experiencing the same. Though they’d both had orgasms, all that did was whet his appetite for more with her, and he knew it was going to be a long day.

  They met his grandmother for brunch, and Kip wasn’t at all surprised that she soon adored Candace. Candace seemed to like Millicent just as well, and they were on the path to friendship before the meal had ended.

  Kip hadn’t specified too much about Candace, other than having met her at BriarEdge, and he was hoping his grandmother would assume she was a fellow employee there. He figured that had been her assumption, since she hadn’t asked and was carrying on a normal adult conversation with his girlfriend, so it was a nasty shock as the meal wound down when Millicent asked, “What are your plans after graduation, Candace?”

  He groaned under his breath, certain his grandmother was going to lecture him later about his dangerous choices. At least she wasn’t giving Candace any flack.

  Candace looked startled for a moment, and then she said, “I’m not really sure. A lot depends on…other factors.” It was a vague answer, but Kip knew what she meant. She was still involved with Jonas, Lex, and Dalton along with him, and they would all have to make some decisions on what would happen next. He absolutely wanted her to go to college if that was what she wanted, and he was certain Lex and Dalton would be headed that way as well. Jonas was content to take care of the roses, so would he want to leave BriarEdge? Kip wasn’t certain he’d want to either.

  If he and Jonas remained at BriarEdg
e, there were colleges within commuting distance, but it was difficult to maintain a long-term relationship that way. Those choices were definitely something to discuss, but not yet. They had to make sure they were in it for the long haul, along with whomever she was with besides him. It was a discussion for all of them, not a decision he and Candace could make together, just the two of them.

  Millicent seemed to accept that, though she encouraged Candace to figure out her career path soon. At the end of lunch, Millicent kissed Candace on the cheek, and Candace embraced his grandmother. Millicent turned to Kip, hugging him as well. “Be careful and make good decisions,” she said quietly against his ear as she pulled back before kissing him on the cheek. “I’ll see you on Christmas Eve, dear.” She turned to Candace. “It was lovely to meet you, and I’m sorry you won’t be joining us for the holidays.”

  “Family obligations,” she said with a grimace.

  After Millicent had left the restaurant, he and Candace walked out a few minutes later. He spent the day taking her to his favorite haunts, the places that were home to him rather than the tourist attractions. He was happy to see her falling in love with his city, and he tentatively added returning to Boston as a possibility for their future, depending on the others.

  That afternoon, he led her into his favorite pub, blatantly ignoring the “No One Under 21” sign. His friend owned the place, and he was certain his pal would turn a blind eye to Candace if he even bothered to ask for her identification. Candace wasn’t going to order any alcohol, so it was a small risk worth taking to see his friends again.

  Candace was a little nervous. It was obvious from the way her hand flitted from her hair to her hip and back again.