Free Bittersweet Symphony by J.L. Beck Page A

gently grip her arms, holding her in place so she can’t escape me.
    “Please don’t hurt me,” she begs. I’m bewildered by her admission.
    “If I wanted to hurt you, K, I would,” I mumble into her hair.
    “Please…” she pleads with me, assuming that I could ever lay a hand on her. Then I remember everything she has been through with Sam.
    “K, look at me. I would never, in my entire life, lay a hand on your delicate body. I would never inflict any type of pain on you. I might get angry, and I might hit shit, but it will never be your beautiful face that my fist lands on.”
    Her eyes pop open, the deep, blue hue urging me to dive into her, to dissect her as a person, and figure out what makes her tick.
    “I care about you, Kennedy.” The sentence slips out of my mouth before I can stop it.
    She looks at me, mystified by the fact that I could care for someone. She’s not alone though, I can’t believe it either.
    “Well, I care about you too, Ryder, so I think you should tell your brother.” I bite my lip hard, the sting of my teeth digging into my lip as drops of blood pool in my mouth. I shake my head at her. I will never tell Rex. He has so much going for him, so much in life. I refuse to darken his life with my burdens. Plus, he would feel as if he’s to blame, and the last thing I need is pity.
    “Kennedy, you cannot tell him. You cannot tell anyone. If I want someone to know, I will tell them. It’s my secret to tell.” Her wide eyed stare tells me she understands me. We both have secrets, and it’s our choice to share them.
    “But…” she says, nibbling on her bottom lip. I take my finger and place it against her lips.
    “No but…”
    “I just want to help you,” she mutters against my finger. Her hot breath does something to my mind, clogging it with images of her under me, on me, on the table, in the shower… My lips descend on hers before I even realize what I’m doing. A squeak emits from her as she opens her mouth allowing my tongue to mingle with hers. I know it’s just a kiss, but the beast in me takes hold as I grip her face between my hands not allowing her to move one millimeter from me.
    We kiss with passion and aggression. She pushes to meet my lips, standing on her tip toes. I let out a loud groan as her teeth nip at my lip. I feel myself growing possessive of her.
    “Stop,” she says against my lips, a groan escapes her, and I question if she really wants me to stop. When her hand comes up to my chest to push me back softly, I know the line has been drawn. Down boy, down. 
    Her lips look tender as she peers up at me. Her hair a sunshine mess.
    “Now what?” she asks curiously, pulling away from me.  I can’t believe what I’m about to say, but I know after what I just did, I have to say it. It will happen one way or another; God has a funny way of bringing the right people into your life when you need them the most.
    “Now, we try,” I whisper into her hair, breathing in her unique scent.

Kennedy
                 
    I couldn’t believe Ryder when he said he wanted to try. I toss and turn in bed for hours over the course of three days, trying to figure out if there is a motive behind him wanting me. He doesn’t come off as someone who would use someone for his own ways, but neither do a lot of people.
    Pushing the covers off my legs, I sit up in bed. I peer over at my alarm clock, my eyes lingering on it for a long time. It is only seven A.M., but it’s also the last week of classes before Spring Break. I know I really need to get up and get ready for the day, but I just can’t bring myself to leave my nest of blankets. My phone dings on the night stand, so I look at it, secretly hoping it is Ryder but knowing it won’t be. Most men didn’t do mornings, and I suspect that he was no different.
    Opening the text, I see Mimi’s name. The text reads, “Wake up bitches! We’re going to the beach today.” I smile a little bit, finally knowing what