“Seriously?” I almost barked a deprecating laugh.

  “It’s...complicated. Let’s just say my friends are assholes but it’s beneficial for me to remain their friends.”

  “Oh,” I replied, “Well, just don’t lose yourself in the process. I mean, you’re going to business school. We’re all learning the same thing.”

  “Yeah, which makes it even more important who you know,” he retorted.

  I felt my shoulders raise and fall nonchalantly, “I guess you’re right. However, I don’t know anyone, so I have to believe I can work hard and get where I need to go on my own merit, or I’m screwed.”

  “Well, now you know me,” he tried, but I wasn’t taking the bait.

  “Okay, you’re cute, but I’m not going to sleep with you to get a recommendation.”

  “Wow,” he staggered back, acting as though he was genuinely offended. “I definitely didn’t mean that. I was just saying we’ve met. Are you always this obsessed with guys trying to jump your bones?”

  I felt my face redden as I backed away from him slightly, “No. Normally, I never talk about it. I don’t even think about it. It’s just…” Feeling tears well up in my eyes, I sighed and put my head down.

  “It’s just what?” Collin asked, tilting his head to catch my gaze, now sounding slightly apologetic, “Flora, what happened to you in that house?”

  I took a deep breath and continued to walk forward, hoping to be able to stave off the tears before they really started to fall.

  “Well, I was with my friend, Riley, as I told you and after a few drinks, she insisted I get with someone. I told her no but I was too drunk at that point and so it didn’t take much convincing. However, when she found a guy who was willing, I changed my mind when I got into the room and he tried to attack me.”

  “Oh my God!” He explained, his eyes furrowing as he touched my arm supportively. “Who the fuck was he?”

  “I don’t know…It doesn’t matter anyway. I punched him and ran out of the room. He didn’t hurt me…He just scared the hell out of me.”

  “He didn’t tell you his name? Anything?” He insisted, but I didn’t feel like going into it. I didn’t need a hero, I just needed someone to walk me home, so I could sleep off this awful night.”

  By this point, we had made it deep into the fields.

  “It doesn’t matter, Collin, please.”

  He was quiet for a moment, before shaking his head, though it was obvious he still had reservations.

  “Listen, I’m sorry that happened to you. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I answered, “I told you, he didn’t hurt me.”

  “Yes, but are you okay?” The way his voice dropped, and the sincerity of his question caused me to stop short.

  I paused, contemplating what he was asking me. Eventually, though, I turned around, suddenly feeling drawn to him.

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same, but I’ll be okay. I certainly won’t trust anyone again.”

  “You trusted me to walk you home,” he replied, careful not to move, letting me draw nearer to him.

  When I grew closer, I could smell cologne and the light scent of body wash. His scent was alluring, intriguing.

  I found myself wondering what he tasted like.

  “That was the alcohol,” I assured him, tilting my head and going in for the kiss, before I could talk myself out of it.

  While I could taste a hint of beer and pizza, the overarching aura of him was inviting and invigorating. My body immediately yearned for more and yet, in a flash, he pulled away.

  “Was that also because of the alcohol?” Collin teased catching my eye in a strangely alluring manner, “Because I know booze had nothing to do with it for me.”

  Grinning and feeling an overwhelming sense of excitement, I pulled him close to me, but stopped, wanting him to make the first move.

  After all, I didn’t want to dominate him. I wanted, needed a man. I didn’t want to take control and have him resent me for it.

  It didn’t take long, however, for Collin to get my hint.

  He drew close to me with a slow, yet consistent intensity. His hand reached out for my face and his fingertips lightly brushed against my cheek. His hands weren’t rough, but they possessed a strength that I supposed I needed at that moment.

  Instantly, I wanted to feel more of him and as though he was listening to my thoughts, I felt Collin draw even nearer, as his lips connected with my parted, willing, inviting mouth.

  As soon as the spark of true intimacy was ignited from our touch, I knew this was the moment of truth. Thankfully, I didn’t have time to over-analyze my planning before I responded. I grinned against his lips as I pulled myself closer to him, immediately deepening the kiss.

  The intimacy of his true taste was what my senses longed for. I was immediately enthralled with the ease of our connection.

  I felt Collin’s tongue eagerly pierce my teeth and meet my tongue, as we both propelled forward in tandem. Within the breath of my heightening excitement, his hand slid around the back of my neck, easing me deeper into his advances.

  My hands started to search his body, instinctively, rippling up and down his shirt. Instantly, I wanted to know what it felt like to have his skin press directly against my body.

  I could tell that Collin was experienced and smooth in the art of making love and as he pulled me closer, his actions told me that he had a good idea where this was going, while I had yet to catch up.

  I, on the other hand, had absolutely no clue what I was doing. However, I liked the way he made me feel. I was swept up in his touch and being so close to him. My body reacted to him in a natural manner.

  Even though I had no idea what I was supposed to feel, I somehow knew that I wanted him.

  I felt his pulsing manhood against me, which caused me to want to explore this feeling even more intimately.

  I let out a surprised, shriek of delight as he yanked me up, and I instinctively wrapped my legs tightly around his waist.

  I leaned into him and a jolt of excitement rattled through him, shaking ups both, as a seductive growl escaped his throat.

  I giggled, more to expel the growing anticipation I felt than humor, as he turned me around and lay me down on the ground.

  I felt my hair spread out around us, as the sight of Collin smiling caught my eye. The beam sent a salacious, encouraging shiver of heightened arousal down my spine.

  His entire body encompassed me, completely, closing off the outside world. That was preferred, however, since all I wanted right this moment was to be with him. All thought, consequences, and external factors dissipated from my mind. In that moment, nothing else mattered but the two of us.

  Within moments of Collin pressing me down, on the ground, his lips had found mine again and we resumed our ravenous kissing.

  This experience was all so new to me and I wanted to ensure that I was able to take advantage of every second.

  For the first time, I found that I wasn’t overthinking anything, I wasn’t worried about anything; I wasn’t even thinking about anything.

  I had spent my entire life thinking, planning, hoping, and trying not to screw up my future, but in this moment, I had achieved the ability to be in the here and now. I didn’t care about what was to come or what had already passed.

  All that mattered was this moment and the plethora of feelings that presently coursed through me.

  My hands eventually wandered towards the back of him, feeling the toned, muscles rippling underneath his shirt, each time he made even the slightest move.

  Feeling the need to press my skin up against him, after a few strokes up and down his back, I started to ease my fingertips underneath his shirt, willing it to come off of him.

  The warm, masculine touch that was present on my skin, which was already heated with passion and yearning, was sensually encouraging. I felt slightly lightheaded as he took the lead and tore off his shirt, before he started to undress me.

  Since I was wearing such a provocative outfit, it wasn’t for him to relieve me of it and when he did, I felt a mixture of embarrassment and empowerment. It was a strange feeling, having the summer night air touch my naked form.

  Upon being revealed to him completely, his eyes widened, visibly assuring me that my naked body was even more alluring than he had imagined. His breath stopped short, before his eyes focused on my breasts, before dropping down at what was revealed behind the curtain of my skirt.

  I tried my best not to redden or giggle, at the absurdity of it all. I had never had a man, or anyone look at me that way before. It was both invasive and satisfying, dangerous and comforting. I loved being the center of his gaze in this moment, but also wondered how long it would take him to look away.

  However, instead of casting his gaze elsewhere, he heightened its view, by pulling back, as his eyes hungered for a fuller sight of me. I watched as his gaze shifted slowly down my body, taking in every inch of me.

  “You’re so pure…Perfect,” he insisted, almost as though in sheer amazement.

  At this, I couldn’t help but blush, though I kept my gaze on him and replied evenly, “Thank you,” although inside, my emotions were zipping and thrusting around inside my mind like wildfire.

  While I could feel the buzz of alcohol in my brain as my blood retreated to other areas of my body, coaxing it into more of a moister, receptive state, I was certain that intoxication had nothing to do with the intensity of feelings I was having for Collin at this moment.

  If anything, the sight of him and the reality of the situation had a sobering effect, but that didn’t intimidate me in the least. I was completely in the moment, and happy to not have to contend with a lapse in conscious thought due to alcohol. I wanted to enjoy every moment of this experience. If I was going to go through with it, which at this point, I was certain that I was, I didn’t want to miss a second of it.

  In a moment, I felt him reach up and playfully rub his hand over my exposed breast.

  I caught it quickly, surprised from the jolt I received from the touch, and stared up at him. He now seemed slightly confused.

  However, before he had a chance to speak, I recovered from the strange sensation, wanting to feel it again, so I grasped his hand a little tighter and pressed it firmly against my bare breast, already taught with emotion and anticipation.

  Oh my God! I thought, watching his reaction as I pressed his hand against my chest, urging him to stimulate my already pulsing body.

  My heart raced with intensity and need. His body was so toned, he almost looked fake. However, there was nothing fake about the heat that radiated off him, or the tightness in my pelvis as my body ached to have him inside of me.

  In order to sooth the tension that was hastily building up inside me, I reached up to kiss him but that only added sexual fuel to my already impassioned essence.

  I felt myself sliding down him, breaking away from his lips, feeling the grooves of his muscles, directly against my fingertips.

  The erotic turmoil that was shifting the gears of my usually levelheaded brain were going completely crazy.

  I was surprised that I hadn’t mentally tried to talk myself out of doing this, but at this point, I knew that it would be no use. I was all in now and the only thing I was concerned with at present, was if it was only going to be a one-night stand, it was going to be one to remember.

  Collin must have thought something similar, because he reached around and rolled me over, so that his back was against the ground and I was suddenly on top of him. I grinned as my hair now flowed down, all around us, encompassing us both.

  The movement caused the scent of his cologne to burst into the air, only adding to the ambiance of the moment.

  I knew that I wanted him, but I had no idea exactly how to go about it. So, I figured I would allow my body to tell me what to do.

  Sex is supposed to be natural, right?

  Easing down his body, I pulled his pants down and grasped his manhood in my hands. He looked down at me as his eyes widened with excitement. He didn’t say anything, but I took his silence as a good thing and continued what I had started.

  Carefully, I started to massage his already pulsing manhood, which caused Collin to lay back on the bed and groan with pleasure.

  The moment it felt right, I leaned down and kissed the tip, before taking him into my mouth. I started off easy at first, moving myself up and down with a slow, steady pace that grew in intensity as I felt his enthusiasm increase.

  Eventually, I heard him moan, assuring me that I was doing a good job.

  “Wait…” Collin finally breathed.

  I stopped and looked up at him.

  With a wild look in his eye, he pulled me closer and turned me over again, so that my back was flush against the ground.

  I quivered eagerly as my body prepared myself for him.

  He grinned at me before dipping his head to kiss my neck and ease himself down my bodice.

  Collin kissed my chest and suckled on each of my breasts, while he positioned himself easily between my legs.

  I wrapped myself around him, reveling in the feel of his balminess easing against my pelvis every time he moved.

  Moist inviting exhilaration made my body more than ready for him and as he continued his thrusts, easily, yet powerfully, I felt my body shake with readiness.

  With another controlled, tantalizing thrust, my body shifted upward, urging him to meld into me and complete us.

  He grinned in a devilish way, leaned down and kissed each of my breasts, before purposefully rising back up and forcing me to endure another tormenting thrust.

  I groaned and ran my hands up and down his arms, enjoying the feel of his sinewy, tightly wound muscles shifting easily and meticulously with each endeavor.

  “Oh God…” I moaned, once again pulsing myself toward him.

  He snickered but this time, he repositioned himself and when he thrust toward me this time, his inviting member penetrated the veil of my womanliness, causing me to gasp and cling to him.

  “Yes,” I moaned when he retracted himself, before easing back, now filling me completely. I shook as my body eased back and forth, in tandem with Collin.

  We started off slow at first but eventually, we were thrusting into one another with fervor. We rocked back and forth as our passions intensified.

  It didn’t take long for us to get into a steady, propelling rhythm that easily catapulted us into our most fervent desires.

  I felt him explode inside of me first, his love filling every crevasse of my womanliness, while my body convulsed, rising to its own epic climax.

  After thrusting a few more times, I felt myself become submerged in sensual enlightenment. My whole body, transposed into a state of unequivocal euphoria.

  When my emotions finally came back under my control and I was able to think normally, I was shocked at what I had done.

  I wasn’t by any means disappointed and I didn’t regret it, but I did feel a sense of panic build up inside me.

  Hastily, I wriggled out of his arms and pawed around on the ground for my clothing.

  Collin sat up, confused by my abruptness.

  “What’s wrong?” He insisted, narrowing his eyes with immediate discontent. “Didn’t you have fun?”

  His expression wasn’t angry, but it did make me feel bad. I didn’t wish to hurt him. I simply didn’t want to stay there any longer.

  I would never tell him this, but Collin was my first and now that it was over, the idea of having a first, that I had finally gone through with such an initiation was terrifying me.

  “I’m sorry, I have to go,” I replied as I gathered my things.

  “Wait! Don’t you want to talk? Can…Can I see you again?”

  “No, honestly, I don’t. I have to get home and I am extremely tired.”

  “Well, do you want me to walk you the rest of the way back to your dorm?” Collin offered sweetly, but I took it as him feeling obligated to do something nice for me.

  So, I answered coldly.

  “Collin, I appreciate it but please don’t do this. You don’t owe me anything. I had a great time, but I’m ready to simply leave everything in the past.”

  With that, before he could even think of something more to say, I turned and ran, disappearing into the high grass of the field.

  Collin

  I wasn’t the least bit sure what had just happened. I sat there, still half naked, with a dumbfounded look on my face, wondering what my next move should be.

  You should probably get the hell out of the damn field and back to the house. I told myself but the thought of returning to the house right now weighed heavily on me. I didn’t want to go back. I wanted to stay right here, take in the everything that had just happened and figure out what the fuck I had done to make her leave so abruptly.

  Maybe it wasn’t you… I thought to myself, even though I had a feeling that I was only making excuses. She was fine until after she realized what she had done. Maybe she doesn’t trust me? I considered, but realistically, what’s done is done. What we did together afterwards didn’t matter. We had already done everything that she could possibly have an issue with being revealed.

  Although, I wasn’t the kind to kiss and tell, I couldn’t exactly blame her for thinking I might be.

  So, being that I was unwilling to go home, I laid back on the ground and closed my eyes. I couldn’t say it was comfortable, but it wasn’t completely unpleasant, especially with Flora’s scent still lingering in the air around me.

  Flora wasn’t my first, but I wasn’t exactly experienced either; at least not like the other guys. So, I wasn’t sure if her leaving was a kind of normal thing for girls to do. I supposed it was possible she didn’t want to be labeled as a clinger, but that didn’t seem to be the reason either.

  I replayed what happened to us over and over in my mind, but nothing seemed to catch my attention as a reason for her to have left as abruptly as she had. I didn’t understand it.

  I had never felt like this. For, as complete as I felt, I still wanted her so badly. Usually, women, especially the kind of fly by night women that took him up on his advances were a means to an end. He needed a release and they wanted to have some fun.