Chapter 21

Willow hung back from the group slightly, falling one step behind, studying them all. She didn’t want to pry, she really didn’t. They were such great women (and one girl) and none of them knew about her, so it wasn’t fair to them, but something was niggling at her. Something huge. Their dominant thought-forms were all almost identical, except for minor differences Willow attributed to their differences in personality. But it was clear to Willow that they were all keeping a secret from her. The exact same secret. Something big that involved her in a major way. They all were thrilled every time Bruin grabbed her by the hand and stole her away to turn her into jelly with his big hands and his soft lips, but it was more than that.

She contemplated peeking into one of the thought-forms, just for a second. Secrets were hard on her, especially since she was so unused to them. She didn’t understand them. She had her own, but people rarely were able to keep any from her, even if she did her best not to peek into their thoughts and feelings. Just one quick peek couldn’t be too wrong…?

But then she heard the purring. Bruin was coming up behind her. Her lower lips swelled immediately, throbbing hard in time with her heart. She groaned before he even got to her, knowing it was going to only get worse, deliciously worse, before he was done with her. He fell into step next to her, and his arm snaked around her, his hand palming the outside of her right hip.

“Kiss toll,” he purred into her ear and her muscles went immediately limp. He ushered her to the side of the path, ducking her around a tree, then pushing her up against the rough trunk. She was helpless with him. Completely submissive to what he wanted from her. She wanted it, too. Wanted everything he had to give to her, to take from her. His body covered hers and he dropped his face lower, until she felt his warm, minty breath on her face. His eyes were open, and she tried to keep her eyes open this time too, bending her neck to him, yielding completely.

His lips touched hers and his tongue probed her mouth, sending sweet convulsions through her body. Her hips jerked. It was the purring. And his absolute wideness and sureness and his manners that did her in. He was so big, but so gentle. So handsome, but so humble. A true gentle giant.

His left arm was around her neck, protecting her head from the tree, his right palm was against the tree above her head, holding him up. She grasped his hips in her hands. She hadn’t done this yet, had been saving herself for the angel, but she couldn’t do that anymore, although at that moment she wasn’t convinced that Bruin wasn’t her angel. He was perfect enough to be one. But even though she was inexperienced, she knew what was supposed to happen. What all these kisses were careening them toward. And oh God did she want it to happen. If he tried to take her up against this tree, she might just lose her panties, wrap her legs around him, and beg him for more.

She pulled at his hips, feeling the delicious crush of his weight against her as he kissed her like it was the only thing in the world worth doing. Slow. Thorough. Taking his time. Leaving her completely breathless.

She spread her legs, letting his thick thigh between them. She gasped as suddenly the fabric of her skirt and his pants was the only thing between him and that secret part of her that throbbed so much it screamed. Bliss. Clenching. If only she could… she rubbed shamelessly against him, bucking her hips once, twice, three times, then digging her nails into him as an explosion rocked her. A heavy, thick wave that started low and spread through her body in a way she’d never experienced.

She put back her head and cried out, unable to keep from screaming her pleasure to the pink and blue sky through the branches of the tree above her. Bruin’s purr accelerated, his big body still pressed against hers.

It faded, little spurts of pleasure still rocking her. Too soon, she was able to think again, to realize what she had done. A hot flush shot in to her cheeks and she forced herself to meet Bruin’s eyes.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he said softly, his face serene. “And if you let me, I’m going to kiss you just like that for the rest of my life.”

Willow nibbled on her bottom lip, her body lax, her muscles relaxed, her core swelling for him again already, reading the undertone to his words easily. He’d meant it before, when he’d told her he loved her, and that love was growing. She could see it in his face. His conviction was simple and sure, but intense, and she was about to be lost to him.

She was ready for it.

***

Willow ran to catch up with Rogue. They had looped around the park and were heading back again, trying to get out before dark. She’d peeked, she couldn’t help it, and she knew bits and pieces of their secret, and it was making her tremble with excitement, even as she couldn’t quite see how it could be true. Unless… A whole new life stretched out before her. This night was her introduction to that life, a way of easing her in, preparing her, getting her ready for what she’d been waiting for.

Rogue slowed and they walked together quietly for a few minutes, soaking up the laughter and small talk of the others. Finally, Willow broached the subject she’d been thinking about for an hour. “Rogue, is Bruin… experienced with women?” She didn’t know which answer she was hoping for. He didn’t seem like a playboy but he was a man, and it would probably be best if one of them knew what they were doing. And if he’d had long term girlfriends before she wanted to hear it from Rogue and not from Bruin the first time. He was so open with his feelings that she thought it might crush her if he spoke of another woman with love still in his eyes.

But Rogue took the conversation in a different direction. She eyed Willow for a moment, then nodded. “You’re a virgin, huh?”

Willow could only nod. “I’m so sick of being one.”

Rogue looked at Bruin, who was laughing at something Mac had said. “You might want to take it slow, babe, my guess is your first time is gonna be a doozy.”

Willow licked her lips. She hadn’t considered the difference in their sizes. “Will it hurt?”

Rogue nodded, then shook her head. “Maybe. It will be worth it eventually. If not the first time, then the second or third. Bruin strikes me as a gentle lover.”

Willow nodded, curious that Rogue’s thought-form twisted like gentle wasn’t a good thing. “I would have thought gentle would be good.”

Rogue shrugged. “Sure. For a while. Not forever, though.”

Willow was spellbound. How could gentle not be good forever?

Rogue caught the expression on her face. She raised her hand, using it for emphasis. “Let me tell you, when you get more experienced, you’re gonna want him to spin you around, hold you down, pull your hair, force you to do shit sometimes.”

Willow was aghast. “Force?! Why?”

Rogue shot her a look. “Not real forcing. Pretend forcing. Play forcing. I don’t know why. It just feels good. Gets shit flowing. There ain’t nothing better than a man who is dominating in the sack.”

Willow swallowed. “Girls don’t ever dominate?”

Rogue nodded. “Sure we do. Some like it more than others, but I think most like the guy to be in charge a lot of the time. Even the ones who would never allow that outside of the bedroom.”

Willow was glad she had Rogue to talk to. She didn’t completely regret never having had sex, but in a way, she did, just a bit. Having someone open and experienced like Rogue to talk to made it just a bit easier. “You like to be dominated by Mac?” She shuddered. She couldn’t help it. She liked him, but he was a scary guy all the way around.

Rogue caught her tongue between her teeth and nodded hard, staring at Mac. “Hell yeah I like it. I need a man who can match me, handle me.”

Willow could understand that. “Bruin can handle me.”

Rogue laughed. “Yep, he’s got your number alright. We heard you screaming.”

Willow covered her face with her hands and stopped walking.

Rogue laughed again and grabbed her by the elbow. “Don’t be embarrassed. Go get him, babe, you want orgasms, he wants to give you orgasms, you’re perfect for each other.”

Willow got herself moving again, but she was worried, now. “Shit,” she whispered.

Rogue studied her. “What’s wrong? You want to give him orgasms too?”

Willow nodded. Right. Exactly that.

Rogue leaned in close and dropped her voice. “You know what to do, right?”

“I think so.”

Rogue nodded surely. “You do. It’s instinctual. You just be eager and let him lead you. You can play it however you like, babe, sweet or aggressive. He’ll lead, I know he will.”

“So far he only wants to kiss.”

Rogue scoffed. “It sounded like he did more than just kiss you.”

“No, he just kissed. I-I rubbed against him.”

Rogue appraised her again. “Greedy. I like it.” She grabbed Willow’s arm and stopped her from walking, then whispered in her ear. “Ok. If he needs a push here’s what you do. Take his hand and put it on your boob. That’s it, it’s all over. That’s all you gotta do. In a few moments, virgin no more. But you make sure he knows you’re a virgin. That’s very important. If he hurts you because he didn’t know, he’ll never forgive himself. He’s a sensitive ah-sensitive guy.”

Willow nodded. She could do that. All of it.

Rogue’s phone went off in her pocket. Then the air filled with the sound of text messages and phone calls.

All of their phones but Willow’s were blowing up.

“Baby time!” Cerise yelled, and took off at a run toward the exit. Everyone but Bruin followed.

He waited for Willow.