Gun Games (26 page)

“Do you keep in contact with any of your old friends?”

“No.” A pause. “That part of my life is over and done.”

Said with an angry note in his voice, Decker noticed. “Have you talked to your mom lately?”

He shrugged again. “I’m fine, guys. I’d let you know if there was a problem and there’s no problem. So seriously, go rest. I’ve got KP covered.” He adjusted the earbuds of his iPod, then went into the kitchen and closed the door. A moment later, they could both hear the faucet running.

“Serious kid.” Decker sat down on the couch. “I hope at some point fun fits into his schedule.”

“I think he might be seeing someone,” Rina said.

Decker said, “Did he tell you that?”

“No, but he leaves the house very early every weekday morning. I think he’s catching someone before she goes to school.”

“Good call.” Decker thought a moment. “It can’t be much of a relationship if all they do is meet before high school.”

Rina patted his cheek. “That’s why God invented weekends.”

“That’s true enough. We really don’t know what he does once we leave the house,” Decker said. “Should we be worried?”

“You know, I thought about being worried.” Rina folded her arms across her chest. “But he’s never given us any reason to worry.”

Decker picked up the paper and settled into the couch. “If you’re not worried, I’m not worried. He’s leaving for somewhere in the fall. How much trouble could he get into in six months?”

“If he were inclined, he could get into a lot of trouble,” Rina said.

“Well, I choose to think positively. You know what they say. Hope for the best, then learn how to duck when the stuff hits the fan.”

Chapter Twenty-eight

T
he knock was timid. When Gabe opened the door, Yasmine was breathless. “I can’t stay more than maybe an hour. I promised my family I’d make it to shul.”

She was dressed in a short tight black number with a faux fur jacket, complete with stockings, makeup, and jewelry. Every hair was in place. Clearly he wasn’t getting any today.

“So come in for as long as you can,” Gabe told her. “You want some coffee? You look lovely by the way.”

“Thank you.” She stepped into the Deckers’ living room. “You always know what to say. How can one boy be that charming? Do you practice in the mirror?”

“Every day along with my piano. Sometimes I combine it by practicing the piano in front of a mirror.”

Yasmine’s ultraserious face managed a small smile.

Gabe said, “Honestly, I just made a fresh pot of coffee. The Deckers don’t use the coffeepot on Saturday. They drink instant. It sucks.”

“I’m okay.” She perched herself on the edge of the sofa cushion, her back ramrod straight.

“Suit yourself.” He got up and went into the kitchen.

She raised her voice to be heard. “I really need to go soon, Gabe. It’ll take me twenty minutes to walk to shul.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Gabe came back carrying two cups. “Two sweeteners and a dollop of nonfat milk, right.”

“What am I going to do with you?” Yasmine sighed. “You are perfect.”

“Thank you. Wanna fool around?” When she blanched, he said, “I’m just kidding.” Not really. “We’ll just talk. Rather, you can talk and I’ll stare at your beauty.”

A blush rose in her cheeks. She took the coffee cup and sipped. She was still wearing her jacket. Beads of perspiration had gathered on her face.

He said, “Why don’t you take off your coat?”

“Because I can’t stay long.”

“I know that, Yasmine. It doesn’t mean you have to be uncomfortable while you are here.”

She put down the cup. He helped her off with her jacket, and then drew her onto the sofa, hugging her tightly. “Just relax, okay? I won’t jump your bones.”

“I am relaxed.”

“No, you’re not.” He kissed her soundly on the lips, receiving a healthy dose of red lipstick. “I know relaxed very well and it doesn’t say Yasmine. What’s wrong, my love?”

“I think my mom is getting a little suspicious.”

“Doesn’t surprise me, being as you leave home every day at six in the morning without explanation.”

“You’re taking it as a joke.” She was upset. “If she finds out, she’ll tell my dad. He’ll
kill
me.”

“He won’t kill
you,
he’ll kill
me,
which is okay. I’d rather die than to be without you.” He kissed her again. “Can we make out? I’ve already ruined your lipstick.”

“Do you ever stop?”

“Not when you’re around.” Gabe sat up and sighed. “Okay. I’ll let you drink coffee in peace.” He gave her back the coffee cup. “Oh. Guess what. I’ve got something for you. Well, it’s not exactly for you. It’s sort of for the both of us. Close your eyes.”

She looked at him suspiciously.

“No, really. It’s not what you think. Close your eyes.”

Reluctantly, she obeyed. “This better not be a trick. Like you’d better not be naked when I open my eyes.”

“Now there’s a thought.”

She opened her eyes. “Ga . . . abe.”

She had turned his name into two syllables. He definitely wasn’t getting any. “Close your eyes, Yasmine. Just cooperate, okay?”

She let out a mock sigh and did what he asked of her. He whipped off his T-shirt. “Okay. Open up.”

She saw his bare chest and grew irritated. “Gabe, I don’t have time—” She stopped talking, and her eyes got wide. She brought her hands to her mouth.

Gabe grinned. “Do you like it?”

Wordlessly, she touched the blue ink on his right arm below the swell of his shoulder. He had gotten a tattoo of two armlets: the first one was interwoven flowers that framed her name in script; the second band consisted of treble clef notes. She was speechless.

“Did you notice that it’s a jasmine vine?” Gabe told her. “A little literal, but I think it came out nice.” She still couldn’t talk. “Do you like the band below it?”

She was still mute.

“Read the notes, cuckoo bird.”

She did. It was the coloratura for “Der Hölle Rache.” Her eyes grew moist. “Why . . . did you do that?”

“Why?” Gabe put his shirt back on. “Because I love you, that’s why.” Tears began to stream down her cheeks. “Don’t do that. You’ll smear your makeup.”

She wiped her tears with her fingers, then leaned her head against his shoulder. “I can’t believe you
did
that.”

Gabe said, “So now you know . . . that no matter what happens between us . . . I will never ever forget you. You are permanently inked into me.”

“I can’t bear the thought of never seeing you again.” She broke into a fresh batch of tears. “I will never, ever love anyone as much as I love you.”

“And I will never love anyone as much as I love you.” Gabe felt heaviness in his heart. Whenever they were together, he was elated. The moment she left, a black depression crowded his soul. The last year had been one of unbearable loneliness. His attachments had fallen away one by one by one. Yasmine had been the only bright spot in his dismal life. Eventually her parents would find out about them, and she’d be ripped from him. He tried not to think about it, hoping to steal as much time together as they could before he was set adrift in a sea of desolation.

Yasmine lifted the sleeve of his T-shirt. She touched the blue art and then kissed his arm. “Don’t you have to be eighteen to be tattooed?”

“You ever see those places?” Gabe laughed. “They asked me if I was eighteen and I said yes. That was that.”

“Did it hurt?”

“Not as much as psychic pain.” He lifted her face and brought her lips to his. “I don’t want to get you in trouble. Go fix up your makeup and get outta here.”

She hugged his arm. “You know I don’t want to go now.”

She lay down on the couch and pulled him on top. Within moments they were kissing passionately. He became dizzy with lust. “I think you’d better go or something’s gonna happen.”

Yasmine took his face in her hands. “You did something special for me. I want to do something special for you.”

“You already have just by being you.”

“It’s not enough.” She stared into his emerald eyes. “I want to do it, Gabriel.”

His heart skipped a beat. He said, “You know it isn’t quid pro quo. I got the tats ’cause I wanted to get the tats. Not to get something from you.”

“I know that.” She kissed the tip of his nose. “Which is why I want to give myself to you.”

He swallowed dryly. “When?”

“Now.”

“
Now?
” Gabe sat up and pulled her next to him. “I thought you had to go.”

She sighed. “We both know that my parents are gonna find out. We’ve got right now. We may not have tomorrow.”

“I . . .” He was nervous. “I just don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”

“It’s my decision, and I won’t regret it. And even if I do, who hasn’t done something they regretted?” She put her arms behind his neck. “Help me up.”

He pulled her up until they were both standing. He was already hard.

“Help me undo my dress.”

He moved in back of her and unzipped her dress, revealing her soft, bronze sculpted shoulders. He loved her shoulders. He could have kissed them for hours. She stepped out of her dress, and he unhooked her bra. He reached around and felt her small, defined breasts and a shiver went through his body.

She turned around and, now half nude wearing black panty hose and heels, boldly stared at him. As he lifted her up, she threw her legs around his waist. He took her into the bedroom, laid her atop the mattress, and then pulled off her shoes, stockings, and panties. Drinking in her nakedness, enthralled by every square inch of her being.

He quickly stripped and lay atop her, propping himself up on his elbows, his dick just millimeters away from the spot.

“Are you sure?” he whispered.

“Positive.” Again, she wrapped her legs around his waist. “Do it.”

He closed his eyes, losing himself in elation as he entered another universe. Her flesh around him—warm, wet, tight. He tried to hold the moment, to savor and relish it, but it kept slipping away, faster and faster and faster, until he knew it was over all too soon. With untold willpower, he forced himself to pull out and climaxed on her stomach, her blood mixed with his seed. It was only then that he could focus on her, witnessing the anguish on her tearless face.

He got up and washed himself off and brought back a warm washcloth, wiping the evidence away. Afterward, he tugged the bedcovers over both of them and took her into his arms. She remained rigid, unyielding to his touch.

He was nervous. He didn’t want her to hate him. “You okay?”

She shrugged. A tear fell down her cheek.

He kissed her cheek. “We don’t ever have to do it again, Yasmine.”

“A little late for that.”

He was quiet. The tears were in full force by now. He whispered, “I love you, Yasmine. I’d do anything in the world for you. What can I do for you now?”

“Just hold me.”

“Of course.” He wrapped her in his arms until he could feel her body melting against his. His cock started to stiffen and she tried to pull away, but he held her in his embrace. “It’s just a reflex, Yasmine. I’m not gonna do anything.”

“It
hurt
!”

“I’m sorry—”

“A
lot
!”

“I’m sorry it hurt, but I’m not sorry we did it.”

“I
never, ever
want to do it again.”

“That’s fine. I’ll love you no matter what.”

She was quiet for a few minutes, finding untold comfort in his embrace. Then she broke off the hug and sat up. “I mean, do
you
want to do it again?”

“Me?” Gabe sat up, his eyes sweeping over her naked breasts. “I’m a guy. Of course I want to do it again. And again and again and again. I’d be happy if we did it until it fell off.”

She managed a half smile. “It didn’t hurt you?”

“My mind was in another sphere. I don’t remember anything except complete, unmitigated pleasure.”

“I got blood on your sheets. Won’t the Deckers be suspicious of something?”

“I’ll change and wash them after you leave. I do my own laundry all the time.”

She blew out air. “My parents are gonna kill me.”

“They’ll never find out unless you tell them.”

“Not about that. Of course I won’t tell them. They’re gonna be mad that I’m late for shul.”

“I’ll help you get dressed.”

But she didn’t move. She said, “Do you think it’ll hurt as much the second time?”

Gabe’s heartbeat quickened. “I suppose we won’t know unless we try.”

“I should really leave,” she said.

Gabe kissed her shoulder. “Do whatever you want.”

“Stop being so understanding.”

“Ah, you’re finally catching on to my tricks.”

She plopped back down on the bed and spread her legs. Her face was scrunched up into a tense ball. “Okay, do it!”

“Are you—”

“Do it!” she ordered him.

He lay between her legs, this time his eyes open, watching her wince as he entered her. Each movement brought on another taut grimace. Abruptly, he sat up, his legs extended, his cock pointing to noon. “I have an idea.” He patted his lap. “You get on top.”

She looked at his dick with displeasure. But ever the sport, she straddled his lap while guiding it inside her. She got about halfway down before she made a face.

“Hurt?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

Gabe placed his hands on her hips. “Take a deep, deep breath.” When she did, he shoved her hips downward and he thrust his hips upward. She let out a little yelp of pain. No surprise there. She was dry and tight. “You okay?”

“Not really.” She blew out air. “It’s tolerable as long as you don’t move.”

“So I won’t move.” He was completely inside her. “Wrap your legs around my waist and just kiss me.”

“You won’t move?”

“No, I won’t move. I promise. Kiss me.”

Warily, she brought her mouth to his, her body coiled steal. As promised, he didn’t move and within a few minutes, they fell into a familiar routine with their limbs entwined and their mouths enmeshed. His fingertips slowly skipping down her delicious spine while her fingers danced through his hair. She took off his glasses and flung them onto the bed.