Ch. 2
Peter showers for what seems like forever. I pull a corduroy burgundy skirt that zips up the front from my bag, a thin black turtleneck sweater, and put on my trusty high heeled combat style boots I finally snagged from Margot for good. Sitting in front of the full-length mirror on the door I dust my cheeks again with some blush, high lighter, add a dark berry lip, and amp up the mascara. I hear the water turn off and I quickly stand to admire the whole outfit. The boots and skirt are pretty edgy but with the sweater I feel pretty balanced. My legs are still tan from the summer.
Peter steps out of the bathroom, jeans on, towel slung around his neck. There are still some glistening water droplets across his shoulders. He looks more muscled now, amazingly, after such a short time practicing but he's still got those squared lanky shoulders and I'm noticing a little beard shadow at the jaw. He's gone from boy to man-boy now. He gives me a one sided smirk, eye brows up and now its my turn to blush. Peter's so in tune with the effect he has on women.
"That skirt is hot. Is that zipper real?"
I give it a tug up and down an inch to show him.
"Lemme pick a different shirt. If you're dressed to impress I better do the same."
"Should I change then? I didn't even ask where we were going. I've just been dying to wear this skirt ever since I picked it up."
"No no. Don't even think about not wearing that skirt. It's driving me crazy." I am so glad that I drive him crazy. The compliment gives me a surge, I'm starting to feel braver. Peter and I have talked about our first night together on the phone, in our snaps, in our texts. I can't believe its finally here.
He rummages in his drawers and pulls out a button up to throw on, slim fitting with a delicate little dot pattern. On a different guy it would read a little feminine, but on Peter it just looks like he knows how to dress.
"You clean up nice. Peter K do you wanna go on a date with me?" I tiptoe up and he meets me so I can kiss his cheek.
"Yes. I'm starving." Well… magical sweet talk is over because the boy needs food.
We walk to a little bar downtown. 409, oh so cleverly named after the street address. Its very hipster inside, metal chairs, Edison lights, dark hard wood floors bar tables. There's a patio with a stage out back, the sign advertising a band for tonight.
"This is my new favorite place. They start carding after 10 but if we eat and then stay here we can probably catch some of the band. I saw them once already and they're actually pretty good."
"Oh lets! Tell me if you get too tired though, I know it has been a big week."
"No no let's make the most of the weekend. Sunday will be here before we know it."
He orders a huge burger and avocado fries, and I get small BBQ pizza. It's delicious. I keep stealing avo fries. We instagram our food and a selfie, Peter puts a picture up of me with BBQ sauce on my chin on his story. This is my favorite date other than prom that we've been on. It feels so grown up. The band starts unloading.
"Oh hey Peter!" A girl comes over and gives Peter's shoulder a squeeze, I recognize the long legs from the bench. She's wearing a black dress and some over the knee boots. Clearly she knows her best asset. Eyes are a little too wide, but she's got high cheek bones and full lips, very pretty. A sprinkle of freckles. She's looking at me expectantly.
"Lara Jean this is Claire. She's going for the physical therapy program, so she's an assistant to our athletic trainer for lacrosse and the football team."
"Hi! Great to meet you. Mm…well…. Hi! I'll be off then." Peter's glancing at her, brows drawn together, and he sees it too.
"Peter…why did CLAIRE just feel so weird meeting your girlfriend?"
"Oh really…Our first night together in college and we're going that route? She wrapped my ankle one time, and she iced my shoulder the other day, strictly professional, that's IT. She's just shy or something."
"I used to be shy so that probably is it. I'm sorry Peter. Can we just rewind 5 minutes and keep having our awesome grown people date night?"
"Uhh yeah. You know I love you right?" I think about how Peter is loyal to a fault, how his mom basically made me break up with him because she knew his mind was set. How even though she manipulated him Gen kept a hold on Peter even when he didn't love her anymore because he's so devoted. I think it has a lot to do with wanted to be the opposite of his father.
"No. I know you wouldn't. I really think she did feel awkward though."
"KAVINSKYYYY!" a voice shouts from the door, interrupting us. I recognize one of the other lacrosse freshman players I've seen pictures of. "Lara Jeannn Peter talks about you 24/7, for real 24/7." His words come out slow and lazy, he's been drinking.
"Lara Jean this is Jalen. Jalen, Lara Jean." He's tall, taller than Peter even, dark skin and dimples when he smiles. "My girl will be here in a few minutes, they're hassling her on her fake because her sister is tall but they're twins basically."
A second later there's a girl on his arm, she hugs me warmly. "Yay! Finally another girl to hang with. Let's run to the bathroom." I give Peter my best rescue me eyes and he says "Yeah we'll wait right here for you." I've never really understood why all girl crews scatter to the bathroom together.
The lines long. Most of the girls have been drinking, everyone in line is chatty, complimenting each others outfits. "Great skirt!" someone slurs at me emphatically. College is so great and so weird.
"Come in here!" Talia pulls me into the next open stall, and I'm terrified she's going to drop her trousers and pee with me in there, but she pulls a flask out of her purse. I've only drank two times, both times ending poorly, but I take swig. Its not bad, probably watered down. It feels warm in my belly. She takes a gulp then shoos me out so she actually can do her business. When we return, Peter has a beer. He gives me a kiss that's more friendly than what we'd usually do in public.
"Covey you taste like bourbon?" Talia grins at him and pats her purse.
"Haha why use a fake ID and still sneak your own booze?!" he asks her.
"It's for the thrill!...And I'm cheap." she shrugs with a laugh.
"Peter, is that ok? You're underage."
"It's more of a don't ask don't tell policy if you come in before they start carding."
We head to the patio, the band is playing a cover of Hey Jude and people are swaying. Talia sneaks me another drink.
"Hey I don't want you to be drunk for tonight." Peter says, looking at me meaningfully.
"No that's my last one. I don't want that either." The band is actually really good, I don't even notice how much time has passed, Peter and I just keep dancing with Jalen and Talia. I definitely think this will be our new thing. I remember when I used to be so shy I wouldn't even go to a lacrosse party with Peter where there would be no dancing. I think about my dad being right, about it being a good thing Peter got me out of my shell. The band starts playing Bruno Mars Finesse and everyone is dancing. Peter and I dance all silly, I feel relaxed and warm from the bourbon.
"Hey…let's get outta here." Peter whispers in my ear and kisses my neck. I feel a jolt of nerves and excitement. "Ya…I mean yes. Yeah let's go." Peter smiles, waves at Jalen over the music to signal we are leaving.
On walk back we hold hands, Peter points out the building his calc class is in. The walk back feels longer at night.
"Covey… um… is there anything you want to ask me…or talk about before we get to the dorm? You know….before…" I stumble, blushing and Peter steadies me and we keep walking like I didn't just fall over myself.
"Um…not really…I know about the birds and the bees Peter!" I try to shut him down to avoid any embarrassing conversation, but that's not going to fly with Peter. He's so into talking sex on snapchat, and I'm pretty bold when its just textual.
"You know what I mean! Is there anything you want to say? Do you want to have sex…do other things only?"
"Um…yes I do want to if that's where it goes. But…are you kinda like..nervous or anything? Even though you've done it before loads of times?"
"I'm a little nervous. But mainly I'm just…you know…excited. I think it's the skirt." He winks at me. I slip my hand into his back pocket and wrap my arm across his waist in the front.
We make it to the dorm, a new RA takes my ID for the baseball card binder and he looks at me appreciatively. Peter clears his throat and he waives us on.
When we get to his room Peter and I are silent.
"I'm going to.."
"Why don't we…"
We both start speaking at the same time, start laughing.
"Okay…what were you saying?"
"I was thinking I would just go freshen up in the bathroom, brush my teeth, and then I'll be ready," I stammer.
"Ready for what?"
I swat his arm and he pokes me in the rib, he's insufferable!
I emerge from the bathroom, sit into the hammock chair. I imagine now Peter will approach me and start the kissing.
Instead he fetches his toothbrush too and then sits in front of me crosslegged, brushing his teeth, paste in the corner of his lips. "I'm sho glab you're really here." We bust into giggles again, and I'm thinking about how this is the first time I've seen him brush his teeth, and his socks are off, jeans and bare feet in the floor. Its so intimate. I think about how I even like his feet.
Peter comes back out of the bathroom serious now, puts the radio on. He opens his desk drawer and lights a candle, I see it's the same vanilla sugar cookie one he sent me.
"They say scent is the sense most closely tied to memory…so every day for the rest of your life when you have a sugar cookie…" He wiggles his eyebrows up and down at me, smirking again.
"I'll think about…what?"
"This." Peter's walks to me, leans over me in the chair and kisses me soft lipped, one hand cupping my face, the other pulling me to my feet. He sits down in the chair and pulls me towards him. I go to sit on his knee, but he hikes my skirt up just a bit and pulls me to straddle his lap. I snake my hands under his shirt, trace over his abs, then under his shirt to feel his back, his eyes are soft staring into mine as I'm tracing his skin like I know he likes. He's kissing my neck again, hands in my hair. Then they move to cup my butt. I grind a little deeper into his lap and he groans, grabs my lips with his again.
"I'm going to take such good care of you ok?"
"Ok."
I start unbuttoning his shirt, fingers trembling. Peter helps, then pulls his undershirt over his head, making his hair all over the place. I always think he looks so young when his hair gets fluffed up like that.
He stands me up, pushes his jeans off clumsy while I watch. He grins over at me.
"I can't wait to finally see all of you," he whispers to me over the music. I move to start on my skirt, but he stills my hands and kisses me again while untucking the sweater. He pulls it over my head, and unfastens my bra after a brief struggle. I fight the urge to cover my breasts. Peter pulls my hips towards his and takes my left breast in his hand, rolls the nipple between his thumb. He bends awkwardly to kiss my neck and its an awkward angle since he's so tall. "You're such a shorty." Now I'm too nervous to laugh but I don't think he notices. His eyes are heavy and he drops to his knees, which puts his head pretty much level with my breasts. I flush all over. He kisses all across my chest before taking my other nipple in his mouth and sucking gently. He rolls the other in his hand and pinches it just enough to hurt. It's amazing. My hips are pushing against his abdomen on their own, my mouth is open, head back, I let out a little moan.
That must have made Peter pretty happy, he grabs my head down for a long kiss, while tracing his hands gently up each thigh, up my skirt. When his fingers hook my underwear I still again. He kisses my stomach gently, and peels them down painfully slow. I step out of my underwear and he runs his hands back up and down my thighs and up to my butt under the skirt, kissing my stomach, giving me goosebumps. I thread my hands in his hair.
He traces his hand now in circles closer and closer to my inner thigh, inching up. I start kissing him earnestly now, half from needing to feel his lips, and half from wanting to distract myself from the fluttering nerves in my stomach.
He's going painfully slow with me, which I appreciate except its also prolonging this edgy feeling I've got too. His finger finally curls between my legs, and he moans so loud when he feels.
"Fuck you're so wet. This is awesome!" I blush and can't stifle my giggle. Peter can never be too serious for too long. He takes my breast again while circling his thumb over my clitoris. I'm leaned into him, using him to stand almost, with one hand threaded into his hair and the other caressing his muscled back. His mouth and fingers slow and hes staring at me again, with a wicked grin.
"I really do love this skirt." He unzips the skirt slowly, and I think that noise will also be ingrained in my head for life. He gets to his feet and takes a step back, appraising me head to toe, instinct tells me to avert my eyes, but I make sure to keep staring back.
"You're beautiful Covey." "Thanks."
He pushes me over to the hammock again, kneels in front, and I know what's about to happen.
"Peter I'm ready to…" I trace over the bulge in his boxer briefs and he pushes into my hand.
"Hey…be patient here. I'll be fast so this is probably the only chance you'll have to get off."
"Hahaha…OMG Peter. You don't have to be so blunt."
"Sorry…where was I?" I'm startled out of my sexy trance briefly. Don't think too much, don't think too much. I concentrate on his hands tracing over me, watch his muscles as he takes one leg, pushes it to the side, and takes the other and places it over his shoulder.
Once he's giving me soft kisses on the thigh and I'm staring at his perfect lips between my legs all is quickly forgotten.
His mouth finally meets my most sensitive place, and after a second he slides a finger in me too and I cry out. That's all the positive reinforcement he needed.
He keeps the same pattern going, seems like forever…he did tell me to be patient.
I start to feel my body tightening up around his finger.
"Omg I think I'm about to…..faster…..yes….slower….." I toss my head back, eyes clamped down, moaning. My thigh across his shoulder is trembling and I shut my eyes tight as I orgasm. After, I look down at him, he's kneeling between my legs, grinning.
"You're welcome." Of course that would be his response.
"Oh yes thanks. I guess we are done here. I'll just go to sleep now."
I pretend close my eyes and go limp.
"Oh nooo….nope." I'm plucked from my perch and Peter playfully swats me on the butt.
"Up to the bed now."
"Oh if you think I'm climbing up to that loft naked with you seeing everything, you're very very mistaken!"
"Well I don't want to be mistaken. Jump when I say…Jump." Peter lifts me easily to the loft and circles to the back to climb up behind me.
He must have taken the boxer briefs off first, because hes climbing up the bed, condom between his teeth, stark naked.
He pulls the covers off me, and I think he's going to cover us both back up but he doesn't. He turns on his side to kiss me again, and takes my hand and places it around his erection, then puts his hand back over mine to show me what he likes. I can't believe after what just happened that I can even be turned on again, but I'm already feeling a tightness in my lower belly again.
"I'm on the pill so we don't need the condom unless you want to" I whisper, voice shaking.
I pull his shoulders and roll onto my back. He steadies himself above me, kisses my forehead, each cheek, then my lips again, and he just kisses me and lets me arch up against him, feeling our naked skin together for the first time. I could do just this forever.
"Are you still….?" he says, and circles his thumb over my clitoris again, and then dips inside, testing.
"Omg. I fucking love you." My hand is still pumping him up and down His breathing is ragged, and I have a feeling of power, knowing how I can get Peter all undone too.
"I love you Peter K and I want you. I'm ready" I whisper. I realize I am ready, I've never wanted anything as much as I want this right now.
Peter takes his hand and guides his erection into me, I wiggle underneath him, helping. He draws himself back put, painfully slow, and pushes back in, just as slow and I feel every inch of him. Even a virgin would know that Peter's dick is impressive.
"Does that hurt?"
"No. It feels good. Like really good." I arch into him eagerly, drawing him further in.
"Ok…whoa whoa….wait." Peters face is taught eyes closed, like he's concentrating. I withdraw and grind against him again and it feels amazing. Peters hips buck, I can tell he just cant hold himself back anymore. His lips crash into mine and he starts grinding against me in a perfect rhythm. I trace over the muscles in his back and grind against him with each thrust, I can feel my body tightening up again and I moan softly. Peter buries his head in my neck and thrusts one last time, moaning in my ear. Seconds later he goes limp on top of me.