10. Then

“He is totally out of your league,” Nicole mutters before plopping on my bed. I finish my eyeliner and snort.

“I’m still shocked he asked me out,” I mumble before adding a little lip gloss to my pink pout. I look hard into the mirror and sigh before wiping off the makeup I just applied. I glance over at my sister, who is now reading my latest library book. “You can borrow it if you want,” I tell her, with a smile.

She looks up at me with a grimace. “I don’t read. I’m not a nerd like you.”

I smile and pick up my brush, gently running it through my wavy blonde locks. The springs of my mattress creak as she climbs off my bed. “You might enjoy it. It’s full of smut and teenage drama. It would be like your usual Saturday night,” I joke. It’s true though. I am the good one. The one who studies hard and helps around the house. Nicole is the one who pushes boundaries and is always having our dad pick her up from parties.

She snorts, coming up behind me and grabbing the makeup wipe. I guess I missed a spot.

“Why did you remove your makeup? You looked pretty. In a totally innocent ‘I’m a good girl,’ way.” She takes the brush from me and finishes combing it through my blonde waves. I hand her my hair tie, and she pushes my arm away.

“You look better with it down,” she mutters before grabbing the curling iron. I watch as she turns me into a mermaid. My soft blonde hair is now in big bouncy curls. She grabs my brush and gently combs them out, giving me perfect waves.

“I never wear makeup. If I show up wearing it on our date, he’s going to know,” I whisper, and she starts to laugh.

“It’s a date. If there ever was a time to step out of your comfort zone and try something new, it would be today.” I think about what she says for a minute, then nod. She’s right. I really like Rex.

“Will you help me?”

She holds a hand to her chest and gasps dramatically. I roll my eyes just waiting for the Nicole show to start. She would seriously be an amazing actress if only she would attend the classes. At a year younger than me, she’s already experienced more life than I have.

When I was twelve my dad took us to a mall to see a movie, and a talent scout saw Nicole and fell in love. She said Nicole had the look and wanted to bring her in for some modeling shots. My dad laughed it off, but my grandma convinced him to give it a shot. Soon after that, she was traveling the country and leaving me behind. Well, that was until she got in with the bad crowd and had to come home.

“You want me to corrupt the good girl? What would Dad say?” I snort and nod. She wipes an imaginary tear and grabs my makeup bag. “My big sis is finally growing up.” I burst out in giggles, and she gives me a wink.

“Okay, we have thirty minutes to get you date-ready, and you are not wearing that. Just wait sis, Rex is going to cream his pants when I’m done with you.” My eyes bug, and she laughs while shaking her head.

Crap what did I get myself into?

* * *

We pull up to a carnival,and Rexley makes me wait in the car ‘til he can open my door. I was a little embarrassed to mention this was my first date, but now, I’m glad I did. He is totally pulling out all the stops.

He showed up at my house with flowers and a pack of steaks for my father, now he’s opening the doors. I feel like a princess. I take his hand and let him pull me into a kiss. He runs his hands down my back to my butt, grazing the skin on my upper thighs.

“Did I mention how much I love you in dresses?” he mumbles into my neck, and I shiver. He has about ten times now. Nicole was right to pick this short, black sundress with white flowers on it. My dad about had a fit when I came down to answer the door, but in the end, he smiled at me and hugged me goodbye. Plus, it helped that Nicole followed behind me in a short crop top and booty shorts. I’d say I owe her one, but she wears things like that all the time.

“So much easy access,” Rex continues to talk and slowly gets my blood boiling with his soft caresses. I have never had a boy touch me in the way he does. He pulls away when someone calls his name, and I sigh with relief. It’s not that I don’t like him touching me, but I needed a little air to breathe. This is all so new to me.

Rex grips my hand tight, and I wince a little at the force. Nick, Kelly, Ronnie, and his teammate Adam come closer, and Rex’s posture changes as they look me over.

“Wow, Rex I can see now why the little virgin interests you so much,” Ronnie snarks, then laughs with Kelly. Is it really common knowledge how innocent I am?

Adam moves beside her, nudging her shoulder.

“Well not everyone likes throwing a pickle down a hallway.” Everyone starts to laugh, and I scrunch my brows. I don’t get it.

Rex shakes his head and leans down to press a kiss on my cheek. I smile up at him and ignore the fake gagging.

“Come, there is so much I want to do with you, and you have a curfew.” My cheeks redden, and I avoid his gaze.

“You probably think I’m such a child. Almost eighteen and have to be home, tucked in bed before the clock even strikes twelve,” I mutter, and he laughs.

“It’s one of the things I like most about you, kitty. How sweet and pure you are. It makes me want to dig deep and get to the real Cat. The one who”s hiding beneath the sheltered walls around her.” I stop next to a vendor and listen to how passionate Rex is about this.

“I don’t know what you mean, Rex. This is me. I may have been sheltered, but it was my choice. Nicole was the one who got to go off and be wild. I stayed home and cooked, cleaned, did my homework, and volunteered at the veterans hospital whenever we had one on the base where we were stationed.” He shakes his head and lifts my chin, running his thumb under my neck.

“There is so much still to be awoken in you, Cat, and I can’t wait to be here by your side when it is.” He leans down and presses his mouth to mine. I whimper and open for him, letting him take the lead.

Someone coughs next to us, and I pull back, glancing at the man, who is trying not to laugh. Rex glares and grabs a spool of cotton candy, tossing some cash at the man’s face. He takes my hand and pulls me away, muttering about something. I look back over my shoulder and give the friendly man a wave.

“That was rude,” I mumble as we stop next to the shore. I take in the crashing waves and the night sky, lit up with all the lights from the rides. It’s so peaceful. Rex pulls me into his arms and kisses my head. He’s shaking, and I wrap my arms around him tight. Sighing, he pulls me down to sit on his lap on the sand. He holds a small bite of the spun sugar to my lips, and I open for him.

I moan once the sweet treat melts onto my tongue. “Oh, wow, that’s incredible.” I glance up at the wonder on his expression. I give him a small smile and open my mouth for more. He places some on his lips then presses his mouth to mine, giving me a really sticky kiss. I hum, then lick his lips.

“That is so good. I’ve always wondered what it would taste like.” He pulls away from me and raises a brow.

“Wait, how have you never had cotton candy before? It’s like a childhood staple,” Rex laughs as I shrug. I climb to my feet and offer him a hand up.

“My father is a huge health nut. Spun sugar, oh wow, he would go crazy if he knew I was eating this,” I say as he offers me another piece. I gladly take it, as he licks his fingers then presses his mouth to mine.

“Um, so sweet. I bet you taste sweet all over,” he growls, just for me to hear. I squirm against him and gasp as I feel his hardness pressed against my stomach.

“There you guys are. Come on, the girls want to hit the rides,” Nick says, moving down the beach to where we are. Rex takes my hand and pulls me back to the carnival.

“If you think cotton candy is amazing, just wait for fried dough,” he says softly as not to bring attention to me. I know he can tell how on edge his friends make me. Especially the girls. They always have mean comments or are trying to tear me down, making me doubt myself. Which isn’t hard when they look like Barbie supermodels.

“I have never liked rollercoasters to be honest. They kind of scare me,” I whisper to him. Ronnie has been giving me glares since we arrived, and I don”t want to deal with her backhanded comments right now. This is my first date, and I’m so nervous as is. I mean so far things have been great, but we still have a few more hours before I’m due home. Rex laughs and wraps his arm around me tighter. He kisses my temple and whispers back.

“I won’t let anything hurt you, kitty. Trust me, okay?” I take a deep breath and glance up into his green eyes. I find myself nodding and fighting not to vomit. I can do this. Soon, I’ll be eighteen, and I need to grow the hell up.

We get in line, and I can’t stop my shaking.

“You’re really scared aren’t you, kitty?” Rex asks me, and all I can do is nod. “Hey, look at me, it’s okay. I have a better idea.” He takes my hand and leads me somewhere. His friends call out for him, but he doesn’t look back or answer them. I laugh as he brings me to the Ferris wheel. He hands the carney some cash and says something quietly to him.

“I’m sorry, I’m such a child,” I mutter as we climb into the basket. He sits opposite me, watching me.

“Trust me, Cat, you are no child.” I blush, and he climbs to his knees in front of me as the basket starts to lift into the air.

“Rex, what are you doing?” I whisper. The ride isn’t busy and it is night, but I don’t want to draw attention to us, especially as he moves closer to my closed thighs.

My eyes widen, and I try to push him away as he leans up to kiss me. “Somebody is going to see us,” I insist. But he grabs my wrists and holds them at my sides until I let him kiss me deeply, and I moan when he licks my lips. He pulls away, and I blink.

Without me even realizing it, my legs have opened for him and he’s moved in between them. My dress is bunched up to my waist, and Rex is running his nails up and down my thighs. I gasp when he slides his finger up, slipping it into the side of my panties. Nicole tried to get me to wear a thong, but I was nervous since the dress was so short.

Rex growls when he pulls his finger back and holds it up so I can see how wet I am. He places it on his tongue and groans.

“I knew you would be sweet, kitty.” I whimper and lean my head back to watch the night sky as he pulls my panties down my legs. My flip flops have been kicked off, and I place my shaky hand on top of his head, running my fingers through his messy hair when he starts to kiss along my thighs.

“I have been imagining what it would be like to have someone do this to me,” I gasp when he licks up my dripping center. He growls and spreads me wider. I glance over the side of the basket, nervous someone is watching this. But I realize that the ride has stopped at the top, and the buckets closest to us are empty.

“You will never imagine anyone else doing this but me,” Rex growls, slapping my center hard. I yelp, then moan as he eases the sting with his lips and tongue. Lightning flashes when I close my eyes, and it doesn’t take me long ‘til I’m panting and squirming on his face.

“Rex,” I gasp as he runs a finger down my center and swirls it around my opening. The ride starts to move again, and he pulls away from me. I watch as he licks his lips.

Leaning closer, he starts to rub me faster looking me in the eye, he growls, “Come, Cat.” My thighs clench, and my back arches against the cool metal as I feel myself clenching and pulsing as he shoves his finger inside me.

“Wow,” I gasp, blissed out from the intense sensations. I give him a small smile, and he grins back at me. We’re almost to the ground, and I reach for my panties when he shakes his head. He grabs them and stuffs them into his pocket before he pulls my dress back down over my thighs.

I raise a brow, and he shoots me a wink. When the ride ends, he helps me onto my shaky legs and gives the carney some more money. I avoid looking his way as he watches me with a smirk. His friends meet us at a food stand, and I try to listen to their conversations, but I can’t take my eyes off of Rex.

I think he’s right about awakening something in me. I have never felt such a rush before and now that I have, I want more.

* * *

We get home late,and I”m so scared that my dad is going to have a fit. Rex opens my car door, and I take his hand. He pulls me up and into his arms then kisses me hard. I can taste myself on his lips, and it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. He grips my bare butt, and I squirm. The outside lights flicker on, and I pull away as Nicole opens the door. She’s crying, and I quickly push Rex aside to get to her.

“What’s wrong?” I immediately ask, and she collapses into my arms, sobbing. She hands something to me, and I gasp. I pull Nicole away and look into her eyes that hold so much sadness.

“Why do you have Bizzy’s collar?”

“She’s gone, Cat. I have looked everywhere, but she’s not there.” I glance up at Rex, and he has an odd look on his face, almost as if he’s happy.

“Shh, we will find her,” I coo to my sister all while not taking my eyes off the boy who is still a mystery to me.