TYLER

I wake up feeling awful. My mouth feels dry and the space behind my eyes throbs with pain. I open my eyes and find my eyes are also dry and stinging. What the hell happened? I blink repeatedly, trying to get some moisture back into my eyes and then look around.

I'm lying on Nora's bed, but she's nowhere to be seen. Memories of everything that happened last night come flooding back in. Fuck, my eyes widen at the realization I almost cried in front of her. I fucking fell apart like a pathetic little shit and she saw it all.

I throw the covers off, ignoring the familiar scent of lavender drifting around me, and sit up, planning on getting the hell out of here before I manage to make an even bigger fool of myself.

Nora decides that exact time to skip back into the room, wearing a matching set of red silk shorts and a camisole, her toned legs going on for miles. I momentarily forget what I was doing as I drink in the sight of her. Fuck she's sexy.

"Oh, you're awake," she stops in her tracks, seeming suddenly unsure of herself. After a moment's hesitation, she makes her way over to me and gives me two Aspirin and a glass of water, both which I'd missed she held in her hands because I was too distracted by her body. "I thought you might have a headache."

I take the pills and gulp them down with the water, drinking the glass empty. "Yeah, you guessed right. Thanks." Well this is awkward. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

"Your clothes are dry," she points toward a plumb chair on the other side of the room where my t-shirt and jean are neatly laid out.

"Great," I ignore the stab of pain in my skull as I stand up and make my way to get dressed. I can't believe she actually had to help me get my pants off last night. I must have been totally shit-faced. "What time is it?"

"Ten-thirty, give or take," she wrings her hands together like she doesn't know what to do with them. I notice her eyes are a little red. From sleeping only a few hours? I must have kept her awake almost the whole damn night.

"Why aren't you at school?" I can't help but frown. Nora never skips school. She must have a perfect attendance record.

"Oh," she seems surprised that's what I'm asking. "Well, I was really tired and didn't feel like going," she shrugs her shoulders casually, like it's no big deal.

I raise a brow at her suspiciously and she rolls her eyes. "It's fine, really. I told mom I threw up all night, something I ate yesterday. She doesn't know you're here," she explains. "And I also called your dad to tell him the same thing, so he called you in sick, as well. It's all taken care of."

I don't know what to say. I can't believe she did that for me. Now I feel even worse about ruining her goodnight sleep and pouring my troubles on her.

She opens her mouth like she wants to say something but then closes it again. She looks around a little hesitantly, then sits down on the edge of the bed.

The behavior is so unlike her that I can't help but arch a brow at her. "What?" I ask, patting my pockets for my phone. I'm sure I had it with me last night...

"It's on top of the drawer there," she points behind me and I look around and sure enough, my phone is right where she said.

I unlock the screen and groan at the million missed calls and texts from my dad, all asking where the hell I am. He must have been worried out of his mind last night when I didn't turn up at home before midnight and wasn't answering my phone.

"I hope you don't mind, but I texted him last night after I got you to bed," Nora gnaws at her lower lip, a nervous habit. "I didn't tell him you were drunk, or anything," she hurriedly adds, "I just told him you're okay and with me."

"It's fine," I wave off her worries. "More than fine, actually. Thanks." Dad must have been so relieved.

She nods, relief clear on her face. She must have been really worried I'd blow out on her or something. Not that I blame her.

"So, do you, uh, remember anything?" she asks after a long and uncomfortable moment of silence. I bet she's been wanting to ask that since she walked in.

"Yeah," I avoid looking her in the eyes. What a pathetic loser she must think I am, basically bawling all over her after first showing up shit drunk.

"Oh, good," she nods, looking relieved. "I was afraid the amount of alcohol you drank wiped your memory of last night."

I wish. "Nope, all still here," I point to my head.

"Do you..." she hesitates for a moment before plowing on. "Do you regret any of it?"

Can I say all of it? The thought crosses my mind before I can even consider it. I don't though, I realize. I don't regret it all. The almost crying, sure, but telling her everything... I'm actually glad she knows now.

"No," I answer honestly and she smiles. She must have been really worried about my answer. "Where does that leave us?" I ask the question that seems to hang in the air between us. Yesterday I would've said she still hates my guts but after how she helped me last night and how nice she's been today I just don't know where her head is at anymore.

She ponders it for a moment. "I don't know. I mean, I meant it, what I said. I'm here for you," she looks up and meets my eyes head-on. "If you ever need to talk, or just someone to be there, I will be there. I... I care about you more than I've let myself admit," she looks away then, as if embarrassed by the confession.

I stare at her in dumbfounded silence. She cares about me. A lot. I think I already knew it but it just seems to baffling. I'm not worthy of her, and yet she cares about me. Me.

"Tyler?" she asks when I still haven't replied.

"I..." why is it still so hard to say it out loud? "I care about you, too."

Her lips twitch up into a smile and I cross the room to go sit next to her. I take one of her hands in mine and my heart immediately responds to the touch by almost flying out of my chest. 

"So, what does it mean?" I ask. Is she ready to forgive me for Jenny?

She frowns, deep in thought. "I don't know. We worked great as friends, before..." she doesn't need to finish the sentence. "But we only made it a few weeks as, well, whatever it was. I don't know if I'm ready to go down that road again. I don't know if I want to." She looks down at her lap as she makes the admission.

I squeeze her hand. "I know I messed up. And I'm so sorry. But if you give me just one more chance, I promise you I won't let you down again. And it won't be like last time," I add before she has a chance to protest. "I don't want any of that friends with benefits crap anymore." It was a ridiculous idea doomed to fail to begin with.

"So what is it that you want?" her voice comes out as a whisper as she looks up from our joined hands.

I cup her face with my free hand and stare into the endless depth of her brown eyes and answer with such sincerity that she will for sure be able to hear the truth in my words. "I want it all. I want you. The whole you, not just a part of you."

Her eyes shine as she recognizes the truth of my statement. "I think I maybe want that, too."

I close my eyes and lean my forehead against hers, relieved beyond words.

"But..." she continues, gnawing at her bottom lip with her brows forming a frown. "I'm not sure I'm ready to trust you like that. How can I know you're serious? That you're not just going to go back to your old habits after a while?" And by old habits I'm sure she means me fucking around with half the female population.

I pull back, only a little, so that I can press my lips to hers. I can feel her shiver as I kiss her gently. "Because I would never hurt you like that again," I say against her lips. "The thing with Jenny..." she flinches a little as I say the other girl's name, "I was stupid. And I regretted it the instant it happened.  I hate that I hurt you."

Her eyes search mine as she takes in my words. I know it must be hard for her to trust anyone when most of the men in her live have broken her trust and betrayed her one way or another. Me, her dad, Caleb, Zane... the list goes on.

I stroke my thumb across her cheek and will her to believe in me. "I only want you. You're all I've been thinking these last few months, hell, even before that! And if you need me to show you I've changed before you can trust me, I'll do just that. But please, Nora, give me a change to show you."

She looks at me for a long while, clearly debating what to do. I find myself holding my breath as I wait for her to make a decision. When her face finally fills with resolve and she nods, my lungs expand and I kiss her.

She melts under my touch, her body relaxing into my hands as my mouth slowly devours hers.

We fall backwards on to the bed as our lips dance together and our hands memorize every curve, every crook, every cranny of each other. I can't get enough of her. 

Her fingers tug at my shirt and I move off her long enough for her to pull the shirt over my head and toss it aside, her eyes running over my bare chest hungrily. She bites her lower lip and that does me in. Groaning, I cover her mouth with mine again and pull down her pajama shorts, revealing a black G-string.

I move my hand slowly down her side and over her hip to caress her bare ass while my mouth lifts from hers to draw a line down her neck. I suck at a tender spot above her collarbone and her fingers sink into my hair in response. She tugs me closer, her back arching from the bed and I use the opportunity to rid her of her top and bra.

Seeing her perky tits makes me even harder, my dick straining uncomfortably against my jeans. She seems to realize this, because her hand comes between us and moves down to my zipper, pulling it slowly open, teasing me with a glint in her eyes.

Not so patient, I kick off the jeans and boxers, my dick springing free. She stares at it hungrily, her fingers wrapping around the shaft as I lower my mouth to cover one of her hard nipples.

She moans as I suck at the hardened peak while my other hand squeezes her ass. Her firm round ass. Fuck. Her thumb flicks at the tip of my cock, wet with precum.

I have to fight the urge to push inside her, then. Not yet, I tell myself as my fingers find the edge of her G-string and pull it down. She whimpers in need as I take my time to run my fingers along the inside of her thigh. When she raises her hips of the mattress, begging me to touch her already, I cave.

My fingers find her pussy dripping wet and ready and I stroke her while simultaneously licking and sucking on her neck, down her breasts...

In no time at all she's shaking underneath me, her breathing uneven and eyes closed in pleasure. I watch her as she comes, her body stiffening and gasps leaving her lips as she rides out the high. It's such a turn on, seeing her come by my hands.

When her body relaxes, she opens her eyes, catching me watching her. Instead of being embarrassed or coy, she smirks and starts pumping her hand up and down my dick.

"I need you now," I say through heavy breaths as she moves her hand down to fondle my balls.

"Then have me now," she responds, lust making her voice husky. "I'm on the pill." She guides my bare dick to her entrance and I balance myself on my forearms before pushing in her. My eyes close as her warm pussy envelopes me. Fuck she's tight.

I pull back and then push back in slowly, tortuously, wanting to enjoy this as long as I can. I know neither of us can handle the slow pace for long, though, and she confirms my thoughts by grabbing my ass and pulling me against her hard. I groan as I bury myself even deeper inside her, her breathless moans spurring me on.

I speed up the pace, her hands moving to my back and gripping on tight as she pushes her hips against mine. I kiss her swollen lips and they part instantly, allowing my tongue to explore hers.

I can tell by her accelerated breathing that she's close and pick up the intensity, slamming deep into her with every stroke. I force my eyes open, meeting her heated gaze as I pound into her. Then her eyes roll back and her walls tighten around my cock, making me reach my own climax at the same time. I shoot my load into her and collapse on top of her, a panting mess.

After a moment I roll off her on my back, catching my breath. Fuck that was good. I doubt I could ever get tired of fucking her, like I got tired with all the other girls. They have nothing on Nora. Being with her is different, more intense somehow. I've never much cared if anyone I've slept with has come or not, only caring about my own pleasure, but with Nora... Taking her over the edge and seeing the pleasure on her face is the hottest thing ever. I would be satisfied just making her orgasm over and over again without shooting a load myself.

She moves to snuggle up against me, her head coming to rest on my chest. I hear a contented sigh as she throws a hand over my waist and I can't help the smile that crosses my lips.

We stay like that for a long moment and I'm absolutely content to just hold her like that. Then  Nora's stomach starts grumbling.

"You hungry?" I grin, lifting my head from the pillow to get a good look at her now a little reddish face.

"Maybe," she grumbles embarrassed and pushes off me. "Your fault. You haven't fed me properly."

I laugh. Of course she would blame me, even jokingly. "My bad. Let me fix that right now," I get up and start pulling on my boxers.

"Well, we can shower first," she visibly restrains from rolling her eyes. "I don't know about you, but I could use one."

"Okay," I halt my dressing and reach for her glorious naked body. "Shower sex first, it is."

"Hey!" she yelps when I pick her up by the waist and throw her over my shoulder. "Not what I meant!" she tries to scold me but the laughter kind of defeats the point. "Let me down," she wiggles against my bare skin, only managing to harden my dick even more.

"In a minute. I've got a pretty good view up here," I smirk and slap her naked ass, making her squeal. I'm pretty sure I can feel her nipples harden against my back. "Hmm," I stifle a laugh, "someone's got a thing for spanking, huh?"

"Shut up," she wiggles even more, and I know she's now well aware of the effect it has on me.

"You're evil," I smile and shake my head, carrying her to the bathroom and carefully lowering her down on her feet in the shower. Her eyes immediately go to my awakened dick standing in attention.

She licks her lips and takes a step closer. "I don't think I'm in any hurry to get food, after all. "

I grin, shamelessly enjoying the view in front of me. "Is that so?"