Reckless Youth: Reckless - The Smoky Mountain Trio Read online

  The current that ran between us sparked and sizzled, like the sound of June bugs lighting up the air.

  His touch was both welcome, and unfamiliar, as he laid his hand on my thigh, his thumb stroking the peach fuzz on the inside of my bare leg. My eyes closed as I luxuriated in the simple pleasure of his touch.

  I felt him shift forward, his palm sliding inward and upwards, as I clenched my legs together; to either stop him or keep him there, I’m not sure.

  “London, open your eyes and look at me.”

  I complied with his request and when I did, he was a breath away from my face.

  “I need to kiss you,” he said as if it pained him.

  Need. Not want.

  “Yes.”

  Slowly, ever so slowly, he leaned forward, cupping my face in his hands, and then covered my lips with his to kiss me. If I were to compare the way Cam first kissed me with Sage’s kiss, they were as opposite as the sun and the moon; yet both equally as vital to life.

  Cam had a reserve about him that he could control. A gentling factor.

  Sage was all passion. All-consuming. Completely unforgiving and demanding, as if to say, “You’re mine. You were made for me.” He took what he wanted from me and only wanted more. And I loved it.

  I. Loved. It.

  The kiss didn’t slow down or wane but instead intensified as his fingers curled into my loose hair, tugging me and keeping me there with him. His movements were stealthy, as he somehow managed to lift me onto his lap, sitting back against the couch cushion with me straddling him like I was riding my horse, Abby.

  With Sage’s hands under my butt, I lifted my own hands to his bare shoulders and squeezed, my fingers wandering down his arms, the crisp curly hair on his arm tickling me as I went.

  Soon, it wasn’t enough. The building pressure between our legs grew and intensified. I knew he was excited because his breathing increased, and his length hardened under me, placing pressure where I ached for him. For something just out of reach.

  Just as it had when I was with Cam, my panties grew wet and the throb intensified. Without even realizing it, I began to rut against his erection, seeking that elusive friction.

  We moaned in unison as Sage’s hand burrowed underneath my shirt, sliding up my back as I arched into him, deepening our kiss, our tongues flicking and warring with one another. I couldn’t tell if we were being quiet or if our kissing was noisy, but we both grunted and groaned into each other’s mouths as we each sought pleasure from the other.

  Over the previous winter, I’d become more self-aware and shall we say, developed a fondness for touching myself as I experimented with finding ways to get myself off. Sometimes at night, I’d slide my fingers through the wet, soft curls covering my lower lips and would wiggle them over the hardened nub of my clit until an explosion occurred.

  Other times, I’d wake up with my pillow between my legs, clenching my thighs together and writhing in mindless need as I came, uncertain of what brought me to that state of arousal.

  None of those experiences had prepared me for the feel of Sage bucking up against me. We were on a mission to learn how fast and how much pressure we could endure.

  In one swift movement, Sage flipped me over onto my back and unhooked my bra. Wedged between my now open legs, one hand placed near my head, he hovered over me, staring into my eyes as he lifted my shirt to expose my breasts.

  We’d seen each other naked when we were kids, darting through sprinklers and jumping into the lakes and river in the summertime. I’d even seen Cam’s naked butt once on a camping trip last year when he jumped out of his tent and ran to the edge of the woods in a crazed hurry to take a leak.

  But this was the first time any boy would see my developed boobs. The first of anyone to touch me there and taste me.

  His finger thrummed over my achingly hard nipple, eliciting a shooting spark response down below. I arched into him just at the same time he took the hardened peak into his mouth. He suckled and used the flat of his tongue to lick it, as his hand plumped the flesh, squeezing it and making me want to scream out in pleasure for more.

  But it wasn’t enough. I needed something more, I just didn’t have the words for what it was, and having no clue how to ask for it. What I did know was that we had far too many clothes on between us.

  “Sage, I need you to touch me…down there.”

  He stopped playing with my nipple and stared at me wide-eyed as if trying to comprehend what I just said.

  Sitting back on his heels, he began to unbutton his shorts.

  “Take off your shorts and I’ll take off mine.”

  The idea fear of getting caught with my parents right upstairs was nothing in comparison to the thrill that I’d have skin-to-skin contact with Sage. I was dying to feel Sage touch me where I needed him most.

  As we wiggled out of our shorts, Sage glanced over at me and I shook my head, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

  “Underwear stays on,” I giggled, suddenly uncertain about what we were doing together.

  But all that worry disintegrated like ash as he laid us back down; he on his side with his back against the couch, one leg draped over mine as I tilted my body toward his. He pried my legs apart with his hand, sliding his fingers over my belly, to the underside of my breast, and then dipping down beneath my panties.

  There are no words to describe how good it felt. The minute his finger pressed that hidden, forbidden spot, I nearly whimpered and trembled in release. I gasped loudly, hoping my parents didn’t hear me and come running down to investigate.

  Our kisses turned to hungry, open-mouthed tongue-lashing kisses, as he probed and flicked my clit in the same manner with his finger. And when he slipped his finger inside me, the first time in my life something or someone breached that inner sanctum, his palm rubbed against my core and I shattered in a million, trillion bursts of starlight.

  “Sage,” I cried out, my hand gripping hard at the ridge of his shoulder, hanging on for dear life.

  Sage wasted no time at all, rolling on top of me and connecting us in the most intimate of positions. He thrusted against my pelvis, his hard erection pressing firmly in that sweet spot as my fingernails dug into his cotton-brief covered ass, searching for more.

  More pressure.

  More pleasure.

  More Sage.

  I imagined what it would feel like to be completely naked and connected, the heat between us. What it would feel like to have him inside me. It was with that thought that I moaned loudly, my legs shaking out another release that I had no idea even existed inside of me. At that same moment, Sage buried his head in my neck, his teeth latching on to my sensitive skin underneath my ear, and he stilled.

  His body trembled uncontrollably as he let out a loud exhale of breath.

  “Shit.”

  The wonder and magic of the moment quickly chilled as reality dawned and I felt the wetness of Sage’s climax begin to seep out. He moved quickly, jumping to his feet and heading to our downstairs bathroom.

  Fumbling for the blanket to cover my nearly naked body, I pushed myself upright and sat up, reaching down to locate my shorts and shirt. As I slipped them on, Sage came stalking toward me. I blinked up at him, taking in his beautiful presence, as he bent down and gave me a quick kiss.

  “I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Confusion and hurt swept over me. I felt a sharp stab of pain in my heart as if he’d used a knife to slice through my chest cavity. It was that acute of a pain; to have him just walk out of there without any other endearment or acknowledgment of what we’d just done together

  Even though fully clothed, I was left naked and exposed.

  I sat unable to even squeak out a goodbye as he took the stairs two at a time until he was no longer visible, and the front door closed with a quiet snick.

  This wouldn’t be the last time Sage would walk out of my life without a backwards glance, but it was the first time I felt utterly alone.

  Chapte
r 7

  Our senior year began with a flurry of activities and celebrations that sent the three of us scurrying off in different directions.

  In fact, I tried to keep myself busy to avoid both Cam and Sage as much as possible, still confused over everything that happened that summer.

  Sage later apologized about that night, citing that he’d felt guilty for messing around with me. But even after we seemed to regain our balance, there remained a rough edge to our friendship. Like it was Humpty Dumpty, an eggshell teetering on the brink of ruin at any given moment.

  Cam was in daily, if not twice daily, football practices, as well as his Junior ROTC program. He’d also been active in some student council activities.

  As for me, I was back to my twice weekly dance classes, volunteering with my church youth group events, along with the planning committee for both the homecoming festivities and the spring carnival.

  We were rarely together, except for one weekend at the end of September. We’d all planned on attending a party being held in the field adjacent to Jace Lambert’s house. The nights were still warm enough to wear our summer clothing, but with the bonfire going, the blazing heat made for a sweltering evening.

  Cam had picked us both up in his truck, with me in the middle, as always. It gave us the opportunity to e all get caught up on each other’s lives. It felt good, but a little stilted and stiff at first.

  I nudged Cam in the side, his muscular arm resting behind my head in the cab of the truck.

  “What’s this I hear about you asking Hallie Cunningham to homecoming? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  My voice was light and amused, but inside, a small prickling of jealousy welled up, ready to crash into me like a gigantic wave. After the kiss we shared this summer, I had hoped he’d begin to see me in a different light and would consider asking me. Honestly, I’d hoped to go with one or both of my boys.

  Fat chance.

  Sage twisted in the seat, leaning over to stare incredulously at Cam.

  “He’s apparently looking to get laid with a sure thing. Isn’t that right, bro? ‘Cause we all know Hallie is hot to drop those panties for Cam.”

  “Fuck off, Sage. That’s not the case.” Cam stared straight ahead as both Sage and I looked at each other, trying to stifle our laughter.

  It didn’t work. We couldn’t contain our outburst, knowing full well that Hallie had been trying to get Cam for years and would do anything to hook her claws in him, especially if it meant sleeping with him. I’d heard it on good authority, too, that she was quite experienced in that department, having hooked up with half the boys in our class already. Sage had even had a short-lived thing with her.

  Cam’s hand shot out behind me and shoved Sage’s shoulder, whose head was now bent in roaring hilarity as he tried to catch his breath.

  The truck came to a stop along the side of the field and it suddenly grew silent. Cam shut off the engine, his hands gripping the steering wheel, his head bent to rest his forehead against it. His own deep, self-deprecating chuckle was all we needed to hear to prove we knew him better than himself sometimes.

  “Shit,” he laughed, peering sideways at us through his fingers. “I guess that’s how it looks, huh? I just assumed the two of you would go to the dance together,” Cam explained, looking at both of us for confirmation. “I didn’t want to be the third wheel.”

  None of us had ever even discussed the dance up until now. In fact, we’d never even attended those school activities with other people, either. We’d always just gone together as friends and had a good time. Somewhere along the way, something changed between us. Shifting our roles and creating a different look and feel to our threesome.

  I laid my palm against the thickness of Cam’s thigh, and then turned and did the same to Sage, turning my head each direction as I spoke.

  “I’d hoped you’d both take me.”

  While our friendship made all the sense in the world to us and always had, no one else in our small, back-water town could make heads or tails of it. Now that we were older, it was something that the gossip mongers latched on to and turned it into something torrid and taboo.

  Apart from the previous two times when I’d kissed them both separately, there hadn’t been any jealousy or deception that I was aware of. Although it did create a little awkwardness for a while, leading to some avoidance, this was the first time we’d openly discussed anything like this.

  “London.” Cam’s voice was hesitant, offering a whiff of condemnation. “People would talk if you went with both of us. I think it’s best that Sage take you.”

  I looked at Sage, who was staring out the window as if he wasn’t even paying attention. I squeezed his knee and he turned to me and shrugged.

  “Doesn’t matter to me either way. Y’all know we always have more fun together, anyhow.”

  His eyes darkened as he glanced at me and then at Cam, giving us a rare glimpse into the thoughts he kept hidden from us.

  The comment threw me off a bit because there was an implication there; a hidden innuendo that hovered just out of reach.

  I patted them on the thighs, smiling at them both. “So, it’s settled, then. Hallie can find her own date.”

  Turning to place a kiss on Cam’s cheek, I missed it entirely when he moved his face toward me at the last second and our lips smashed together. My eyes widened, as Cam’s sprang open, seeking to gauge Sage’s expression.

  None of us, to my knowledge, had shared anything about our separate and brief intimate encounters with the other. I guess I’m the only one who knew the whole truth.

  We’d kept it secret, not because of the potential jealousy that could arise, or because of the potential stigma associated with it, but likely from an underlying uncertainty of what it meant for our friendship.

  Whatever the case, it was still this fragile, guarded secret that could go either one of two ways. It could lead to something beautiful that we’d share together, the three of us; or it could shatter the friendship we shared entirely.

  The air in the truck cab sealed off like a lid on an airtight container, vacuum sealing our stalled breaths. Cam’s hand tentatively wrapped around the back of my neck, his fingers threading through my hair and pulling my mouth to his, stealing the sips of air that escaped my lungs, his lips curving over my mouth. I opened for him, his tongue penetrating and eagerly exploring, reclaiming what had been his all those months before.

  Without realizing it, my right hand searched for Sage’s, who remained silent next to me. Upon finding it, I clasped it tightly and pulled him in closer. My body screamed for his touch. For the connection. I couldn’t bare for him to feel left out.

  It felt undeniably good to have Cam on one side of me and Sage curled against my back, his thigh pressed snugly against me. My body was like an inferno, bursting into flames so hot it felt I was coming out of my skin. Sage’s breath turned ragged, a sexy sound that expressed his desire at what he was watching. Cam groaned into my mouth in the same manner.

  Pulling away from Cam, I licked my lips to find Sage staring at us, his expression a mixture of awe and raw hunger.

  “Sage,” I whispered, uncertain how to tell him that I wanted him, too.

  Instead of words, I showed him. A longing bubbled up from deep inside my belly as I leaned forward and grazed his lips with mine.

  Due to our height disparity, I had to lift myself off the bench seat, craning my neck slightly to touch the soft velvet of his lips.

  He sat immobile for a moment – perhaps stunned by my boldness. Either way, the crackle of electricity and desire swirled around us, and the sounds of our three breaths in synchronicity and chorus turned into a deafening orchestral concert.

  I blindly moved my hand from Cam’s thick thigh, while reaching around the back of Sage’s neck and grabbing onto the longer fringes of his dark hair, applying more pressure into the kiss. His breath came out in a warm whoosh as if something inside him had burst wide open, and he took the reins from me in one swift m
otion. His sensuality and confidence spilling over and drenching me with excitement.

  Sage covered my cheeks with his hands, his mouth moving solidly over mine, kissing, licking and sucking, as his tongue slid between my lips with a moan.

  Everything about that moment was heaven.

  It was the first time that the feelings we shared for each other were openly shared between the three of us – opening like a Pandora’s box of pleasure – morphing into something more. Something different and special. Something unique and shared only between the three of us.

  I allowed my fingers to weave through Sage’s soft locks as we kissed, and our chests pressed against one another. His hands moved to my waist, pulling me into him, telling me without words that he wanted me closer. As if to say I was the only thing he ever wanted and that he craved me, my touch and my kisses.

  Perhaps it was the love and friendship that Cam and I provided him that held him together most days, as he dredged through an otherwise loveless home life. Where his father would do and say anything to tear him apart. To belittle him and make Sage feel small and weak. And unloved.

  Emboldened by my squeak of pleasure that erupted when Sage’s tongue swirled deeper, Cam inched closer to our entwined bodies, his hand landing on my knee, trailing up the inside of my thigh, dragging the material of my skirt up as he went.

  This was the first time Cam had ever touched me in this manner - scrolling up my bare legs with his rough fingertips. The contradiction of his rough touch and Sage’s soft lips felt forbidden and erotic. It dripped with sensuality and carnality.

  I wasn’t sure where to place my concentration – on Sage’s kiss or Cam’s delightful exploration of my leg. Cam’s face was next to my ear beside me, his breaths rapidly increasing, as his nose drifted up my neck, the action mimicking to the movement of his fingers on my thigh.

  Goosebumps danced across my flesh, as Cam’s palm navigated toward the juncture between my legs where he abruptly stopped. I jolted from excitement and anticipation.