After Lindsey graduated high school, she convinced Gina to let her stay as long as she pays rent. The twins did the same two years ago when they graduated, and I always wondered if it was because they didn’t want to leave me behind. I never had the courage to ask, mostly because I liked believing this version.
Things changed from the state paying Gina to keep us up to all of us paying her so we didn’t have to separate. When I turned eighteen two months ago, for my birthday gift my sisters paid my rent until I leave for college this summer so I didn’t have to worry about money while finishing school.
I didn’t know what to say, but I know that somehow, some day, I’ll return the favor. The three of them give me shit twenty-four hours a day, but I also know that they believe in me and push me to be the best I can be. They even filled out college applications and scholarship paperwork for me.
Luckily, Kingswood Prep opened all the doors it said it would, and I got a full ride. They not only cover my room and board all four years, but I got a grant to cover everything else while I studied. Lindsey cried the day I gave her the letter, and the twins jumped on the couch so hard it broke in half. Gina wasn’t happy about any of it because she knew it meant our time with her was coming to an end.
Lindsey’s been working as an assistant manager at the local diner for the past couple of years. She works every hour the restaurant is open, but she likes the place and it’s decent money. I know she’s been saving up for a house so that Amber and Allison can move in with her, since I’ll be taken care of in school. She told me the other day she’s hoping to become manager soon, and I have no doubt she’ll be running that place before they know what hit them.
The twins work as maids in one of the nicest hotels in town. From the stories they’ve told me they seem to love the hotel gossip, and the tips are better than any of the other jobs they’ve had. One of the perks is they get discounts on rooms and they got me a suite for prom.
My three sisters crossed their arms over their chests and all gave me “the talk” before I left to pick up Rosy. Being older and all in my business, they know I’m still a virgin and that Rosy and I haven’t had sex. I have no doubt they gave Rosy the same talk, only I’m positive I was the one that got the extended version that included getting her off and not being a selfish asshole.
They were the ones that took Rosy to the health department to get on the pill last year because that’s what Gina did with them. It might have been the smartest thing she ever did with the way the twins cycle through guys.
As I hold Rosy’s hand in my Bronco on the way to prom, I think about how my sisters have had a hand in keeping us together. Rosy’s parents don’t like me; they’ve made that clear every time I’ve been in their presence. Even though Rosy doesn't tell me what they say behind my back, I see it in the way they look at me and the questions they ask. Try as they might to push me away, none of it matters because I’m still here, right where I’ll always be. But for them trying to keep us apart, my sisters have somehow managed to make us closer. For that alone, I’ll forever be indebted to them.
“You look like you don’t want to go in,” I say as I take the key out and turn to face her. Rosy shrugs and looks down at her hands. “Hey,” I say, and her eyes find mine. “It’s my prom, too, you know.”
“Like you care.” She rolls her eyes, but I see the smile tug at her lips.
“I care about having a dance with you.”
“Really?” she counters, raising her brows in challenge.
“Really.” I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “We have to be able to tell our kids someday that we actually danced at our prom.”
She bites her bottom lip to hide the smile as I lean in and kiss her. I know she loves when I talk about our future, and I do too. We’ve got our lives planned out, and I’m ready to blow this school and get to it. But before then, I want to make sure we get all the experiences, including the ones we might not be too excited about.
We make it in and get our picture taken, then slow dance to a couple of songs. There’s no one else here tonight that we want to hang out with, and when Rosy tells me she’s ready to go, I nod in agreement. Maybe we should have done more to make friends, but after years of people trying to put us in boxes, we decided to create our own and keep everyone out.
“Amber told me she got us a suite tonight,” Rosy mentions casually as we drive away from the prom and toward downtown.
“Yeah.” I take her hand, but she doesn’t look at me as she keeps talking.
“She told me we’re staying the night.”
“You okay with that?” I ask, and she nods, her cheeks flushing. After a moment I squeeze her hand. “I got you something in the back.” She turns around and grabs the small black bag I have sitting on the seat behind us.
“What is it?” She bounces in her seat, and this is why I love giving her presents. She says she’s always so happy because mine are the best, but maybe I don’t have much to live up to. Her parents were always just giving her expensive stuff instead of the things she would actually enjoy.
“Look inside and see.”
She opens up the ribbon and then reaches inside. She pulls out several things and squeals with excitement until she holds up the last item.
“Darian,” she says softly as she looks at the silk and lace.
“The cozy clothes and shoes are for tomorrow when we leave the hotel. I didn’t think you’d want to wear your dress again, no matter how fantastic you look in it.”
“And this?” she asks, touching the lingerie.
“I wasn't sure how you would feel tonight, so I got you another option.” Rosy hasn’t ever been shy about her body, but we’ve never been naked together either. “I’ve never done this before…I mean, neither of us have, so I just thought, I don’t know, maybe it’s the wrong thing-”
“It’s perfect,” she cuts me off and places her hand on my thigh. “All of it, it’s perfect.”
My heart races as we pull up to the hotel, and she puts all of her gifts back into the bag. She smiles at me, and I hop out and wave off the valet as I go around to open her door.
We’re both quiet as we check in and completely silent on the elevator as we ride up to the top floor. It’s not that I’m nervous, I’m just so out of my depth on what to do that I don’t want to say the wrong thing and ruin the night. Rosy is so perfect and special, and she deserves everything.
As we get to the double door at the end of the hall, she takes the key from me when I can’t get the card reader to work. As soon as the light turns green we open the doors and then we stand there as we take in the space. The view of the city is incredible, but that’s not what has our attention. Because all over the floor and on every surface, the room has been decorated with rose petals and flowers.
“Oh my god, Darian.” Rosy looks around and sees the bed in the distance with rose petals shaped in a heart on top. “This is too much.”
She turns to me with tears in her eyes as she jumps into my arms. I’m kissing her before I can explain my sisters probably set this up, but maybe I won’t admit to that right this second…or ever.
With her lips on mine and the door closed, it’s like we’re in our own world. One that’s just the two of us and we make the rules. Her legs wrap around my waist, and without thinking, my hands go to her ass, and I carry her into the bedroom.
I place her on top of the rose petals as I stand up and look down at her. She’s like an angel in her dress, and I can’t help but think that she was put on this earth to save me. I undo the tie on my rented tux and take off the jacket and shoes. She sits up on her elbows as she watches me strip out of my clothes until I’m only in boxer briefs.
“Should I?” She motions to the bathroom, and I shake my head.
“Let me undress you.” My voice is so low I hardly recognize it as I kneel down on the floor at the foot of the bed and unstrap her sandals.
When they’re off her feet I kiss the red lines they’ve made across the top and around her ankles. I keep on kissing my way up her soft calves because I can’t help myself. All we’ve done in the past has been a few makeout sessions where I’ve slipped my hand under her shirt and she’s cupped me over my jeans. But I’ve done my share of fantasizing about this moment, and I don’t want to rush it.
Rosy sits up and cups my face before she presses her lips to mine. Somehow we both know that this moment is special, and it’s not one either of us is ready to hurry.
We take our time as her hands run across my bare chest, and I shiver at the touch. There’s not a lot of physical affection in our family for reasons I’ve never explored, so to feel her skin on mine is like a drug. All the blood in my body rushes to where her fingers connect on my skin, and I’m like a magnet as I follow her every movement.
“I love you so much, Rosy,” I say, looking into her eyes, and my fingers touch the clasp of her dress.
“I love you too, Darian.” She nods, and with one quick tug, the material of her dress falls away from her neck and pools around her waist.
She smiles softly as she stands up and unties the ribbon at her hips. I’m still kneeling on the floor as it falls to her feet and she’s left in only a pair of cream-colored lace panties. They look so delicate, like a puff of air would make them dissolve, and I want to do just that.
When I stand up, I feel the warmth of her naked body against mine, and it’s almost enough to make me lose control. She’s soft and smooth, and I’m hard and rough, and I wonder if I feel as good to her as she does to me.
“What about the lingerie?” she asks, placing her hands at my hips and playing with the waistband of my underwear.
“Later.” Once again, my voice is low and commanding like I’ve been taken over by someone much more sure of himself. “Right now, I want to taste every inch of you.”
She squeals as I lift her up and then come down on top of her in the middle of the bed. “You’re mine.”
“Yours,” she agrees, and I slowly kiss my way down her body.