A/N - Thank you so much to all that review. It means a lot and really
helps. I hope you all like this chapter as much.
This is for "Nightshade."
~Sleeping Arrangements, Chapter 3~
Seth rolled over on his back and grinned at the ceiling when Summer let out a little moan of protest. It was good to be king. They had been kissing for a while now, rolling this way and then that way, arguing over position, making full use of the bed. He felt like he'd just been initiated into a club that had always been kept secret from guys like him. After Summer had kissed him at his Grandpa's party, for almost three days he had been prone to staring off into space glassy-eyed every half-hour or so, resulting in multiple injuries from walking into things and wrecking the skateboard. But now, after this? He would definitely crash the Range Rover again tomorrow; without Summer's help this time. But it would still be her fault. Anyway. Ryan was seriously going to have to drive.
"Why are you over there and not here?" Summer pouted at him.
He turned his head to one side on the pillow and eyed her. "Because this is like going from 0 to 150 in a Ferrari in 2.3 seconds. Let me adjust to the whiplash." Also, it was smart to keep your opponent confused and on their toes by making the unexpected move. Seth smiled. He couldn't wait to talk to Ryan. Dude, making out was SO like any game on the Playstation2. Why hadn't Ryan explained that?
Summer rolled toward him and began tracing little patterns on his arm with her fingers. "Explain the babble, Cohen. Whiplash?"
"Approximately 2 hours ago, you hated my guts. You spent your day trying to verbally remove my internal organs. Now you're questioning why I'm not lying on top of you. Ouch. My neck."
Summer looked sheepishly at him. "I did not hate you. I was just mad at you cuz I liked you."
Seth stole her trademark move and rolled his eyes at her. "Hey, that makes all kinds of sense. In the way that - it really doesn't, Sybil."
"I make no sense? You're the one talking about cars while we're in bed!"
Seth raised his head off the pillow and slowly swept his eyes down her body, then back up to her face. Maybe she was more like a Bentley. Class that said money. Nah, too subdued. She was definitely a Ferrari. Sleek, exotic, and always a wild ride.
"I'm comparing you to a Ferrari, Summer," he explained patiently to her. "That's a very GOOD thing. Would you rather be a Dodge Neon?"
"Whatev. I'd rather be doing this." She sat up and turned toward him with a sly smile, settling on her knees next to him. She ran both hands slowly under his t-shirt along his belly and up to his chest, delighting in the wide eyed look he gave her before he closed his eyes with a sharp intake of breath. She leaned down to kiss him, running her fingers lightly all over his warm skin.
Seth reached up and tangled his fingers in the hair at the back of her neck. Damn. Score one for the Ferrari. She had just schooled him in the unexpected move category. Tricky, she was. But he was -mmm - worried - ooh - she'd said - He gave up and put a "try back later" sign on any coherent train of thought. Right now his brain was only taking orders from the girl kissing him. The one with the wonderful fingers.
Summer pulled away and settled beside him, stretching out and worming her way under his arm. She rested her head on his shoulder, continuing to draw paths on his belly and chest under his shirt with the fingers of her free hand. She kept thinking about that wide-eyed look he'd given her. Had he ever been with anyone before like this? She highly doubted it, but then again he'd surprised her several times tonight already. His perceptiveness at what made her tick, that first out-of-the-blue kiss, the fact that he was a very good kisser. And he was such a gentleman. She was wearing very little, and most guys would have taken that as an open invitation to remove it as quickly as possible, or at least get their hands under it. Shocking, really. And let's not forget the unexpected hardness and definition of muscle she had just discovered under his shirt. Yummy surprise. If he hadn't been with anyone before, she would have to rethink her slightly aggressive strategy. He seemed strangely vulnerable to her all of a sudden, and she felt the need to make sure she did everything right with him. Let him make some first moves to build his confidence. Wow. Had she really just thought that? She was in trouble here.
"Have you ever-?" "What did you mean-?" They both spoke at the same time and laughed.
"Ladies first."
"Seth, have you been with anyone like this before?" There was silence and she looked up at him.
His eyes were hard. "Is that some kind of a joke? I think you know the answer to that." He looked away from her, embarrassed.
Ooh. Vulnerable. She hadn't meant to make him feel bad. "I'm not making fun of you. I was just curious. You kiss like you've done it before." He probably didn't want to know how adorable she found him right now.
He looked back at her warily. Was this a set-up of some kind or was she serious? "I do?"
Summer smiled warmly at him. "Yeah, you do. And I don't care if this is your first, um, experience. In fact I like that it is."
He narrowed one eye at her. "Why?"
She shook her head at him and gave him a smile. "You don't get to know everything, Cohen. What were you going to ask me?"
"Oh. Well." Seth looked at the ceiling, glad to move on from that topic. This one wasn't much better, though. "You said you were mad at me because you like me. That sounds to me like you don't want to like me. So exactly what's happening here?" He finally turned to look at her. "Or more to the point, what happens tomorrow?"
Summer sat up next to him. It was just like him to come out and ask point blank. That quality was one of the things she liked about him. Just like when he'd called her on using him at Grandpa Caleb's party. "You're asking me if I'm playing?" Seth nodded slowly. She took his hand. "The answer is no. Nothing's going to change tomorrow. If you know me as well as you say you do, then you know that once I make up my mind about something, it stays made up." He was still looking at her, doubtful, yet hopeful. She leaned down and kissed him, hard, and she hoped, convincingly, wanting to remove that doubtful look. "Really, baby."
Seth grinned up at her. "You want me bad, don't you?"
Summer rolled her eyes. He was convinced. "Oh, geez, here we go. Now you're gonna start acting like the typical guy. I've created a monster."
"I am not the typical guy. I'm the guy you want bad. Hey, did you just call me baby?"
"Right now I'm calling you moron. And don't get too excited. I called the grubby guy at the repair shop "baby" earlier."
"Doesn't count. Different context. You were threatening him within an inch of his life not to overcharge us." He cocked his head to the side. "Aaw, you just had warm and fuzzies about me! How cute!"
"Shut up Cohen. Don't make me hurt you." She got to her knees and crossed her arms, trying to intimidate him.
"Summer, it's come to my attention very recently that you usually resort to violence when you're having the warm and fuzzies, instead of following through on the love. Which, uh, come to think of it, means you've wanted me really bad all day. Oh hey. Most of my life!" He gave her a sympathetic smile. "I'll bet you've worked yourself into a frenzy of wanting and needing by now. But don't worry, I'm here for you. I'll help you through this difficult time. "
She swung at him then, but he sat up and easily caught her hand. "The feelings I'm having right now are definitely. NOT. warm or fuzzy," she warned him, and then she swung with the other fist. He caught that wrist too, laughing as she struggled, her dark hair swinging, then got on his knees also and pulled both of her hands around him and behind his back, holding them there. He leaned forward to kiss her but she turned her head away, so he moved to her shoulder and began pressing gentle kisses to it and down her arm. He looked up at her and was amused to see her glaring at him. He gave her a soft smile and went back to her shoulder again, this time kissing across it and up her neck. She was still trying to jerk her hands free, but didn't move her head away. His lips were under her ear now, and he paused to suck gently, then ran his tongue slowly down her neck to her shoulder. Her efforts to get her hands free stopped completely. He kissed along her collarbone to the little dent in the middle and when he started up her throat, she leaned her head back to give him better access. When he reached her chin, he drug his tongue back down her throat and then moved to the other side of her neck, kissing and stopping to suck gently occasionally, moving along her shoulder and back up her neck, until she finally gave in, moaning. She shuddered against him, moving forward, trying to get closer. Ha! Success! He smiled in victory against her neck, then raised his head and kissed her lips, encountering no resistance this time. He freed one of her wrists, cautiously waiting for an attack, but she just slid it up to his shoulder, so he let go of the other one. She brought that one to his neck and pulled him closer.
Seth whispered directly in her ear. "Dude, I am so like Jeff Corwin right now, taming the wild animal." Or maybe Siegfried. Definitely not Roy.
Summer immediately pushed him backward onto the bed, scrambling to straddle him before he caught his balance, sitting on his stomach and grabbing his hands, holding them down over his head. "You just had to run your mouth and ruin the mood, didn't you? Now I'm a wild animal? I thought I was a Ferrari! Which is it?"
"Hey!" Seth looked up at her, amazed that she had pinned him so quickly. "We're really going to have to talk about the man-handling, Summer. And they're both - uh, exotic. You can be both," he told her reassuringly. He settled back and surveyed the situation, discovering it had a few perks. To be truthful, it was quite pleasant, because with her bent forward holding his hands over his head, he had direct eye contact with her lovely chest. In fact, if he raised his head, yeah, just a little further, he could just get his mouth on-
"Seth!" She let go of him and quickly sat back. He followed her momentum, sitting up, grabbing her, and rolling her over and under him. Yeah. Two can play the manhandling game.
"That was totally unfair!" she protested.
"You're completely right. I'm sorry, Summer." He pretended to look ashamed of himself, rolled over and sat on the side of the bed. "I'll just make up the pull-out bed now. Good night."
As he started to stand, he felt her hand on his back. "Seth, wait."
He got up and walked to the couch.
"I know what you're doing, Cohen," she remarked dryly.
"Yeah, you just pull this thing out of there and - "
She let out a long sigh. "Seth? If you don't come back here, you really are going to be sleeping outside. Now come here. Please."
He turned to look at her, breaking into a wide grin. "You certainly are a demanding little thing, aren't you?"
"Now!"
He went back to the bed and sat down, crossing his arms expectantly.
She sighed again "What?"
"Admit it."
"Yes Seth, you are a manipulative jerk."
He smiled and stretched out next to her. "Weeeeelll, not exactly, but I think you can do better. C'mon, admit it, and I'll do that thing with my tongue again."
"I admit that you're an overwrought drama queen that must be the center of attention at all times?"
He dramatically grabbed his chest. " Ah, you wound me!" He rolled to her and began kissing her neck, her shoulders, and down across her chest as he lightly stroked her side, down her arms and across her belly. "Am I the center of attention now?"
" Well, no - "
Seth continued until she was moving under him, panting slightly, then he stopped.
She gave a moan of protest, then opened her eyes and looked at him. "You're so MEAN!"
"I'm sorry. What did you say?"
"All right already! You win!"
Seth laid his head on her shoulder. "I'm not always mean. I win and I'm -?"
"Jeez Cohen. You're unbelievable! You win and you're the king. Are you happy? Now shut up with the sadistic never ending talk and kiss me!"
He kissed her, and she suddenly rolled them over again, ending with her on top. She grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up. Taken by surprise and not thinking clearly, he raised his shoulders and arms for her, and she pulled it off over his head. Throwing it aside, she looked at him triumphantly. "You know what just happened, Cohen?"
He lay there in shock for a minute. His Ferrari could 180 like no other. He tried to look sad, but couldn't quite pull it off. "Yeah. New level, new playing field. New battle."
"That's right. Your reign as king is over, effective immediately."
Seth watched as she dropped her head to his chest and closed his eyes as her mouth began doing really remarkable things to him. "Yes, my queen." He let out a happy sigh. He loved a worthy opponent.
~Sleeping Arrangements, Chapter 3~
Seth rolled over on his back and grinned at the ceiling when Summer let out a little moan of protest. It was good to be king. They had been kissing for a while now, rolling this way and then that way, arguing over position, making full use of the bed. He felt like he'd just been initiated into a club that had always been kept secret from guys like him. After Summer had kissed him at his Grandpa's party, for almost three days he had been prone to staring off into space glassy-eyed every half-hour or so, resulting in multiple injuries from walking into things and wrecking the skateboard. But now, after this? He would definitely crash the Range Rover again tomorrow; without Summer's help this time. But it would still be her fault. Anyway. Ryan was seriously going to have to drive.
"Why are you over there and not here?" Summer pouted at him.
He turned his head to one side on the pillow and eyed her. "Because this is like going from 0 to 150 in a Ferrari in 2.3 seconds. Let me adjust to the whiplash." Also, it was smart to keep your opponent confused and on their toes by making the unexpected move. Seth smiled. He couldn't wait to talk to Ryan. Dude, making out was SO like any game on the Playstation2. Why hadn't Ryan explained that?
Summer rolled toward him and began tracing little patterns on his arm with her fingers. "Explain the babble, Cohen. Whiplash?"
"Approximately 2 hours ago, you hated my guts. You spent your day trying to verbally remove my internal organs. Now you're questioning why I'm not lying on top of you. Ouch. My neck."
Summer looked sheepishly at him. "I did not hate you. I was just mad at you cuz I liked you."
Seth stole her trademark move and rolled his eyes at her. "Hey, that makes all kinds of sense. In the way that - it really doesn't, Sybil."
"I make no sense? You're the one talking about cars while we're in bed!"
Seth raised his head off the pillow and slowly swept his eyes down her body, then back up to her face. Maybe she was more like a Bentley. Class that said money. Nah, too subdued. She was definitely a Ferrari. Sleek, exotic, and always a wild ride.
"I'm comparing you to a Ferrari, Summer," he explained patiently to her. "That's a very GOOD thing. Would you rather be a Dodge Neon?"
"Whatev. I'd rather be doing this." She sat up and turned toward him with a sly smile, settling on her knees next to him. She ran both hands slowly under his t-shirt along his belly and up to his chest, delighting in the wide eyed look he gave her before he closed his eyes with a sharp intake of breath. She leaned down to kiss him, running her fingers lightly all over his warm skin.
Seth reached up and tangled his fingers in the hair at the back of her neck. Damn. Score one for the Ferrari. She had just schooled him in the unexpected move category. Tricky, she was. But he was -mmm - worried - ooh - she'd said - He gave up and put a "try back later" sign on any coherent train of thought. Right now his brain was only taking orders from the girl kissing him. The one with the wonderful fingers.
Summer pulled away and settled beside him, stretching out and worming her way under his arm. She rested her head on his shoulder, continuing to draw paths on his belly and chest under his shirt with the fingers of her free hand. She kept thinking about that wide-eyed look he'd given her. Had he ever been with anyone before like this? She highly doubted it, but then again he'd surprised her several times tonight already. His perceptiveness at what made her tick, that first out-of-the-blue kiss, the fact that he was a very good kisser. And he was such a gentleman. She was wearing very little, and most guys would have taken that as an open invitation to remove it as quickly as possible, or at least get their hands under it. Shocking, really. And let's not forget the unexpected hardness and definition of muscle she had just discovered under his shirt. Yummy surprise. If he hadn't been with anyone before, she would have to rethink her slightly aggressive strategy. He seemed strangely vulnerable to her all of a sudden, and she felt the need to make sure she did everything right with him. Let him make some first moves to build his confidence. Wow. Had she really just thought that? She was in trouble here.
"Have you ever-?" "What did you mean-?" They both spoke at the same time and laughed.
"Ladies first."
"Seth, have you been with anyone like this before?" There was silence and she looked up at him.
His eyes were hard. "Is that some kind of a joke? I think you know the answer to that." He looked away from her, embarrassed.
Ooh. Vulnerable. She hadn't meant to make him feel bad. "I'm not making fun of you. I was just curious. You kiss like you've done it before." He probably didn't want to know how adorable she found him right now.
He looked back at her warily. Was this a set-up of some kind or was she serious? "I do?"
Summer smiled warmly at him. "Yeah, you do. And I don't care if this is your first, um, experience. In fact I like that it is."
He narrowed one eye at her. "Why?"
She shook her head at him and gave him a smile. "You don't get to know everything, Cohen. What were you going to ask me?"
"Oh. Well." Seth looked at the ceiling, glad to move on from that topic. This one wasn't much better, though. "You said you were mad at me because you like me. That sounds to me like you don't want to like me. So exactly what's happening here?" He finally turned to look at her. "Or more to the point, what happens tomorrow?"
Summer sat up next to him. It was just like him to come out and ask point blank. That quality was one of the things she liked about him. Just like when he'd called her on using him at Grandpa Caleb's party. "You're asking me if I'm playing?" Seth nodded slowly. She took his hand. "The answer is no. Nothing's going to change tomorrow. If you know me as well as you say you do, then you know that once I make up my mind about something, it stays made up." He was still looking at her, doubtful, yet hopeful. She leaned down and kissed him, hard, and she hoped, convincingly, wanting to remove that doubtful look. "Really, baby."
Seth grinned up at her. "You want me bad, don't you?"
Summer rolled her eyes. He was convinced. "Oh, geez, here we go. Now you're gonna start acting like the typical guy. I've created a monster."
"I am not the typical guy. I'm the guy you want bad. Hey, did you just call me baby?"
"Right now I'm calling you moron. And don't get too excited. I called the grubby guy at the repair shop "baby" earlier."
"Doesn't count. Different context. You were threatening him within an inch of his life not to overcharge us." He cocked his head to the side. "Aaw, you just had warm and fuzzies about me! How cute!"
"Shut up Cohen. Don't make me hurt you." She got to her knees and crossed her arms, trying to intimidate him.
"Summer, it's come to my attention very recently that you usually resort to violence when you're having the warm and fuzzies, instead of following through on the love. Which, uh, come to think of it, means you've wanted me really bad all day. Oh hey. Most of my life!" He gave her a sympathetic smile. "I'll bet you've worked yourself into a frenzy of wanting and needing by now. But don't worry, I'm here for you. I'll help you through this difficult time. "
She swung at him then, but he sat up and easily caught her hand. "The feelings I'm having right now are definitely. NOT. warm or fuzzy," she warned him, and then she swung with the other fist. He caught that wrist too, laughing as she struggled, her dark hair swinging, then got on his knees also and pulled both of her hands around him and behind his back, holding them there. He leaned forward to kiss her but she turned her head away, so he moved to her shoulder and began pressing gentle kisses to it and down her arm. He looked up at her and was amused to see her glaring at him. He gave her a soft smile and went back to her shoulder again, this time kissing across it and up her neck. She was still trying to jerk her hands free, but didn't move her head away. His lips were under her ear now, and he paused to suck gently, then ran his tongue slowly down her neck to her shoulder. Her efforts to get her hands free stopped completely. He kissed along her collarbone to the little dent in the middle and when he started up her throat, she leaned her head back to give him better access. When he reached her chin, he drug his tongue back down her throat and then moved to the other side of her neck, kissing and stopping to suck gently occasionally, moving along her shoulder and back up her neck, until she finally gave in, moaning. She shuddered against him, moving forward, trying to get closer. Ha! Success! He smiled in victory against her neck, then raised his head and kissed her lips, encountering no resistance this time. He freed one of her wrists, cautiously waiting for an attack, but she just slid it up to his shoulder, so he let go of the other one. She brought that one to his neck and pulled him closer.
Seth whispered directly in her ear. "Dude, I am so like Jeff Corwin right now, taming the wild animal." Or maybe Siegfried. Definitely not Roy.
Summer immediately pushed him backward onto the bed, scrambling to straddle him before he caught his balance, sitting on his stomach and grabbing his hands, holding them down over his head. "You just had to run your mouth and ruin the mood, didn't you? Now I'm a wild animal? I thought I was a Ferrari! Which is it?"
"Hey!" Seth looked up at her, amazed that she had pinned him so quickly. "We're really going to have to talk about the man-handling, Summer. And they're both - uh, exotic. You can be both," he told her reassuringly. He settled back and surveyed the situation, discovering it had a few perks. To be truthful, it was quite pleasant, because with her bent forward holding his hands over his head, he had direct eye contact with her lovely chest. In fact, if he raised his head, yeah, just a little further, he could just get his mouth on-
"Seth!" She let go of him and quickly sat back. He followed her momentum, sitting up, grabbing her, and rolling her over and under him. Yeah. Two can play the manhandling game.
"That was totally unfair!" she protested.
"You're completely right. I'm sorry, Summer." He pretended to look ashamed of himself, rolled over and sat on the side of the bed. "I'll just make up the pull-out bed now. Good night."
As he started to stand, he felt her hand on his back. "Seth, wait."
He got up and walked to the couch.
"I know what you're doing, Cohen," she remarked dryly.
"Yeah, you just pull this thing out of there and - "
She let out a long sigh. "Seth? If you don't come back here, you really are going to be sleeping outside. Now come here. Please."
He turned to look at her, breaking into a wide grin. "You certainly are a demanding little thing, aren't you?"
"Now!"
He went back to the bed and sat down, crossing his arms expectantly.
She sighed again "What?"
"Admit it."
"Yes Seth, you are a manipulative jerk."
He smiled and stretched out next to her. "Weeeeelll, not exactly, but I think you can do better. C'mon, admit it, and I'll do that thing with my tongue again."
"I admit that you're an overwrought drama queen that must be the center of attention at all times?"
He dramatically grabbed his chest. " Ah, you wound me!" He rolled to her and began kissing her neck, her shoulders, and down across her chest as he lightly stroked her side, down her arms and across her belly. "Am I the center of attention now?"
" Well, no - "
Seth continued until she was moving under him, panting slightly, then he stopped.
She gave a moan of protest, then opened her eyes and looked at him. "You're so MEAN!"
"I'm sorry. What did you say?"
"All right already! You win!"
Seth laid his head on her shoulder. "I'm not always mean. I win and I'm -?"
"Jeez Cohen. You're unbelievable! You win and you're the king. Are you happy? Now shut up with the sadistic never ending talk and kiss me!"
He kissed her, and she suddenly rolled them over again, ending with her on top. She grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up. Taken by surprise and not thinking clearly, he raised his shoulders and arms for her, and she pulled it off over his head. Throwing it aside, she looked at him triumphantly. "You know what just happened, Cohen?"
He lay there in shock for a minute. His Ferrari could 180 like no other. He tried to look sad, but couldn't quite pull it off. "Yeah. New level, new playing field. New battle."
"That's right. Your reign as king is over, effective immediately."
Seth watched as she dropped her head to his chest and closed his eyes as her mouth began doing really remarkable things to him. "Yes, my queen." He let out a happy sigh. He loved a worthy opponent.