For weeks after that, we spent a great deal of time lip locked. I really loved kissing him, and the way he groaned into my mouth, I was confident he liked kissing me, too.
“Here comes the rain,” Ki said, holding his palm out. “We’d better make a run for it.”
I’d known the chances of it raining were high that day, so I’d left my sketch pad at home. Just as Ki helped me to my feet, the heavens opened.
“Too late,” he said, smiling at me, both of us soaking wet.
Placing my hands above my head, I stared up at the dark clouds and smiled as the rain splashed down on my face.
“You’re so beautiful,” Ki said, raising his voice to be heard over the pouring rain.
I dropped my gaze to meet his, and my hands cupped his face. “So are you.”
We stumbled away from the clearing to seek protection under one of the trees. The rain continued to pour down, but the only thing I was aware of was his soft lips on mine and his strong arms encircling my body, claiming me. I never wanted this moment to end. So caught up in the moment, I tugged at his shorts. He did the same to mine, and we became a frenzy of fumbling hands and legs. After what felt like an eternity, Ki lifted me up, pushed me against the trunk of the tree and started thrusting into me.
I gave my virginity to the only person I’d ever wanted to take it.
The tree was rough against my back, and I was uncomfortable. It hurt. I always knew my first time wasn’t likely to be the incredible experience I’d read about in romance novels, but this was so bad that I couldn’t help laughing.
Ki stilled, shifting himself a little. The rain had made everything slippery. “Are you laughing?”
Nodding, I laughed harder as he slid out of me and helped me down. My whole body shivered violently from being in soaking-wet clothes, which just made the whole situation even funnier. Without saying a word, he removed the condom.
“Did that just happen?” I asked, still chuckling.
“You mean did I just ruin our first time?” he asked. He turned away from me with a solemn expression, and I was swamped with guilt. I thought it had been absolutely perfect.
I pulled my shorts up and pushed my slick hair out of my face. “Ki,” I said, tapping him on the shoulder. He turned, still looking desolate. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I am happy, I promise.”
He looked incredibly confused. “You’re happy I ruined your first time?”
“You didn’t ruin anything,” I said, stepping closer to him and kissing him lightly on the lips. “I wanted you to be my first, and it had to be here. It was perfect, just like us.” Then I kissed him hard so he knew I meant it. When we parted, I looked him in the eye. “You had a condom.”
He nodded. “I’ve wanted that for so damn long, Emerson.”
A pang of jealousy hit me and I winced. “Was I your first, too?”
“Hey,” he said, grabbing my chin and forcing my eyes up to his. “Only you, Kalimna. It will only ever be you.”
His words meant everything. Knowing we were on the same page, I smiled up at him, loving the goofy grin on his face. Despite feeling warm on the inside, the wet clothes that clung to my body were making me shiver.
“Come on,” he said, grabbing my hand. “Let’s go.”
We ambled along the dirt road, dodging potholes and puddles. The rain had completely cleared, and the sun was peeking through the clouds. “I wish I didn’t have to go home,” I said, snuggling into his side.
He kissed the top of my head. “Do we need to talk about what happened earlier?”
“I think so,” I replied honestly. “Do you regret it?”
“Emerson.” He pushed a stray strand of my long hair behind my ear. “The only thing I regret is that it wasn’t a better experience for you.”
“And I already told you it was perfect.”
Our slow wander came to an abrupt end when Ki nudged my shoulder. “Race you back,” he teased.
Laughing, I ran after him. When I finally caught up, I was lifted into his arms, my legs automatically wrapping around his body as our lips crashed together in a searing kiss. After only a few moments, Ki stilled, and I felt his whole body tense up. When I turned my head to see why, I dropped my feet to the ground. Trent, Jacob, Isaac and Troy stood in our path.
“Well look at what we have here,” Trent sneered.
“Get behind me,” Ki whispered, his arm moving across me protectively.
“She’s out of your league, mate.” Jacob pointed at me without breaking Ki’s gaze. “Take a look at her.”
“We’re not mates,” Ki said, taking a step closer to Jacob, and I held my breath. “We haven’t been mates for a long time. Remember?” He loomed over Jacob. “Emerson and I are none of your business.”
“Emerson is my stepsister and that makes her my business.”
The vein in his forehead pulsed, and his fists were clenching and unclenching. I grabbed Ki’s arm, knowing he was going to lose his mind at any moment. There were four of them and only two of us. I didn’t like our odds, and I didn’t want Ki getting hurt.
“Just keep your paws off her, you dirty dog. She’s mine.” Jacob looked Ki up and down. “Stick to your own kind.”
I was taken aback by the look of utter disgust on Jacob’s face. How dare he speak to anyone like that, let alone my best friend and the greatest person I knew? Enraged, I stormed forward and around Ki and got up in Trent’s face first. “I am none of your business, so don’t bother with the stepbrother bullshit. My mother might’ve married your father, but we’re not a family.” Then I turned to Jacob. “And what is your problem?” I pushed him hard in the chest with both my hands before Ki grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to him. “We’re not even friends, so you have no business caring who I’m with.”
Jacob took a step forward. Trent, Isaac and Troy flanked him like bodyguards. “I thought you were just being a little cock-tease, but it seems you were saving yourself for him.” He raised his eyebrows. “This lowlife you’ve been playing with since you were a kid.”
“Don’t ever speak about him like that again,” I said, seething. “You’ll never be half the man he is, and I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last person on earth. I would never be with someone who treats people the way you do.”
Jacob’s eyes flared with rage. “You think you’re better than everyone, Emerson, but you’re not. Just because you’re hot doesn’t mean you can talk to me like that. Ever.”
“Everything alright here?”
Snapping my gaze towards the stern voice, I stiffened. We were all so caught up in the heated exchange, we hadn’t heard a car pull up next to us.
“Yes, Officer,” Jacob said.
Trent piped up. “We were just messing around.”
The police officer pointed at Trent, Jacob, Isaac and Troy. “You’ve already had warnings. We’ve got our eyes on you.”
They all nodded like naughty school boys.
“Move along then,” the Officer said, shooing them away like flies.
Before they left, Jacob turned to Ki and whispered, “You’ve crossed too many lines, Mereki, and one day it’ll catch up with you.”
With that malevolent threat lingering in the air, they stalked away, shaking their heads.
“You two okay?” the police officer asked when they’d gone.
“Thank you. We’re fine,” Ki said, irritation still evident in his voice.
When we were alone, I grabbed Ki’s hand, relieved that the situation had been defused without a fight.
“I’m sorry, Ki,” I said as we walked slowly the rest of the way back to town. “They’re such arseholes, and I’m really worried they’re going to hurt you.”
“Don’t worry about me,” he replied. “They’re just words.” His fists clenched by his side. “I will kill either one of them if they touch you.”
“They won’t,” I said, taking his hand. “I promise I’ll stay as far away from them as I can.”
Ki didn’t appear even remotely reassured, and the tension only eased when we reached my bus stop and I pulled him in for a kiss. When we broke apart, he cupped my face with his hands and looked into my eyes with an intensity that made my knees buckle.
“I’m so happy we’re together,” he whispered, his mouth still close to mine.
“Me too.” I rested my forehead on his and wondered if it was possible to feel any happier than I did right then. “I want to be . . .” I hesitated briefly before finishing my sentence. “I want to be worthy of you.”
He took a step back. His eyebrows knitted together, and worry lines creased his forehead. “What do you mean by that?”
I looked down, digging a small hole as I ground my toe into the grass. “You know.” I swallowed hard. “I don’t want you to ever leave me.”
He grabbed my hands and jerked me forward. “I’ll never leave you.”
I nodded, fighting back tears and unable to form words.
“You’re the most beautiful girl to ever walk this earth. You’re kind, resilient, loving, and good, even though you don’t receive those things from enough people in your life.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “You’re my shining light whenever the world is dark.” He placed his hand over my heart. “Never let your light die because it’s going to brighten more than just my world.”
“But you’re my world. There is nothing and no one else.”
His lips touched mine, and I knew their tenderness would stay with me forever.
When the bus arrived, I climbed aboard and found a window seat so I could wave to Ki. I wanted to stay with him but didn’t want to push it with Mum, who’d become increasingly erratic.
“I love you, Emerson,” he called.
Before I had a chance to say the words back, the bus pulled away. I’d spent the last seven years caring for this boy, and there wasn’t the slightest shadow of doubt that I was now completely and utterly in love with him.