"Where are we going?" Lauren asked.
The trees seemed to be moving with the car as they drove along the twisty road. She was in that warm, fuzzy phase of being drunk; still able to walk by herself, but giggly and lightheaded.
Connor had said that he was okay to drive. Somewhere in the back of her mind an alarm was ringing, but overwhelmed by Connor's interest in her, she ignored it.
He pulled up in a secluded area by the railway track.
"Let's get in the back seat," he said.
She shook her head. "I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"Of course it's a good idea. Come on."
He walked around the car, opening her door and taking her hand. Pulling her into his arms, he laughed, kissing her again, his tongue tentatively pressing against hers.
She sighed as she flopped back in the seat, and Connor climbed in over top of her.
"What if someone comes by and sees us?" she whispered.
"No one will. It's really quiet here. Lots of time for us to be alone."
She giggled. "Why would we want to be alone?" Full of drunken confidence, she ran her finger down his chest.
Connor kissed her, his tongue probing her mouth as he sought hers. Lauren could feel his erection pressed against her leg as he worked her legs apart with his knee.
"Why do you think?" he murmured. One of his hands landed on a breast, gently squeezing it.
"I don't know about this. Mark will kill me if I'm not home soon. What time is it?"
"Don't worry about it, Lauren. We have other things to worry about. Like how fast I can get you out of your clothes."
He kissed her again, and any thoughts of Mark disappeared. This was the guy she'd lusted after all year, and now he wanted her. Screw anything else.
Connor pushed up her shirt, taking her bra with it and exposing one breast. Her nipple beaded in response to his touch, and he bent his head to take it in his mouth, rolling his tongue over it before sucking gently.
"Connor," she whispered.
"You have such pretty tits," he murmured, pushing the other side of her bra up. Bending his head, he took the other nipple in his mouth. She closed her eyes, arching her back as the new sensation of his mouth on her breasts made her whimper with desire.
He pushed her skirt up, pulling at her panties. Lauren grinned as he slid them down, lifting her legs in the air either side of him to pull them off.
Connor kissed her ankles, slowly sliding his hands up her legs before resting them on her thighs.
"Want me to go further, baby?"
She nodded shyly. He grinned, leaning over for a kiss before kissing her thighs, working his way up to the spot that ached for his touch.
Gingerly, he probed her with his tongue, flicking it up and down.
Lauren sighed.
"Am I doing this right?" he asked, sitting up.
She laughed. "How am I supposed to know?"
"Oh. I thought you had done this before."
She shook her head. "No. Why would you think that?"
"I don't know. Stories I've heard. I've been with a couple of girls, but I never tried this. Do you think I'm doing it right?"
"What stories?" She leaned up on her elbows, nearly head-butting him in the process.
He grinned, going back to work with his tongue. Lauren moaned, lying back down as he worked her over. She closed her eyes, rocking her hips against his face as he moaned in return.
Somewhere in her drunken, horny haze she heard him unzip himself and fumble for the condom packet.
"I've not done this before," she whispered.
"You'll be fine. It might hurt a bit to start with," he said, stroking her thighs.
He inched into her, gently pushing until he was all the way in. Lauren's breath quickened as he began to move inside her. It wasn't the most unpleasant sensation, and the discomfort eased as he moved.
"Connor," she murmured.
"You feel really good," he said.
She pushed herself up onto her elbows, trying to get comfortable as he moved inside her. He kissed her, pushing her back against the car door. The door handle pressed into her neck, and she pushed at him to move back, growling her frustration.
Connor laughed, picking up the pace before leaning over her, groan-ing in her ear.
He kissed her while slowly pulling out. Sitting up to take care of the condom, he looked down. "Shit, you really were a virgin."
"What do you mean? Did you think I'd lie about something like that?"
Connor shrugged. "I don't know."
He handed her her panties, and she sat up, pulling them on before opening the car door. Outside in the cool air, she adjusted her shirt, pulling it back down.
"Lauren, let's get you home. I've got heaps of packing to do tomorrow so I can get ready to go."
She looked at him, bewildered. "Go?"
"I'm going away in a couple of days. Getting settled before I start my degree. I thought I told you?"
Lauren shook her head. "No. You told me you were doing a degree. Not that you were moving away."
"Well, I am. It's been a great night, baby. We'll see if we can sneak you in without you getting caught."
The drive home was silent, Lauren trying to process what he'd told her.
At home, the living room light was still lit, and her stomach sunk into her legs as she realised Mark was waiting for her.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"A little after two."
"What? Shit, Mark will kill me."
He leaned over, kissing her on the cheek. "Thanks for tonight. It's been a great farewell."
"What do you mean?"
"It was nice, Lauren. Thanks."
"So that's it? I won't see you again?"
He shrugged. "I won't be here. See you ‘round one day maybe."
"You fucking asshole," she exclaimed.
"Hey, you wanted it as much as I did."
Lauren jumped at the sound of a door crashing open, and she looked up to see Mark coming down the path towards the gate.
"Shit," said Connor. "Get out of the fucking car."
"You are fucked now," Lauren said, flinging the door open.
She intercepted Mark at the front gate.
"Where the hell have you been? You're two hours past your curfew."
"Connor and I got drunk and we had sex. That was all he wanted. He's leaving town."
Mark's eyes lit up with rage. "What the hell? I told you not to drink."
"What? It's not all my fault."
"No, sweetheart. It's not all your fault, but with a clear head you might have thought things through differently. I'll be having words with him."
The car started behind them, and Connor sped off, leaving Mark running down the road chasing him.
Lauren watched as he came running back.
"Where does he live?"
"What's the point? He got what he wanted, and now he's leaving. I had a crush on him all year and he used me. Like I meant nothing to him."
Mark frowned. "That is why we will be having words. No one treats my sister like that. If he were any type of man he would have helped you home, not screwed you."
Lauren burst into tears. "I'm sorry, Mark. I should have listened to you."
"Yeah, you should have. You know I'm only looking out for you."
He wrapped his arms around her, rocking back and forward as she sobbed into his chest.
"I thought he liked me," she said, her words muffled by her brother's frame.
"Yeah, they all say that. Sometimes they mean it. Sometimes they're useless pieces of crap like that one. Was he drinking too?"
She nodded. He held her even tighter before cupping her face in his hands.
"Don't you ever get in a car with someone who's been drinking. I don't care who they are, or what they say. If you have to, get in a taxi and come home. I'll always pay for it. No matter where you are, baby girl. I couldn't lose you, not in that way."
"Okay," she whispered. "I'm sorry, Mark."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. It's his fault. Do you remember what his license plate number was?"
She shook her head. "Why?"
"I was going to call the cops. Figure I'll pay him a little visit instead. Either to tell his parents he was driving while drunk, or to beat the snot out of him."
He let her go, pushing the hair from her face affectionately. "Now. How about you come inside? I'll make you a hot chocolate and you can go to bed and get some sleep. Sounds like you've earned it."
"I want a shower first."
Mark nodded. "Go do that and get changed for bed. I'll go sort out a hot drink for when you're ready."
Lauren closed her eyes as the water ran over her. Every last bit of scent of what she’d just done had to go. She soaped up the sponge, scrubbing her body to remove every touch. Tears running down her face, she started all over again.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid," she said, kicking the shower wall.
The sudden knock on the door made her jump.
"Are you alright in there, kiddo?" Mark's voice was full of concern.
"I'll be out in a minute. I'm okay."
Lauren sighed. Of all the stupid mistakes to make. Connor's touch had set her on fire, but the reality of his treatment made her ache.
Mark sat on the couch waiting for her, smiling when she emerged.
"Here you go, Lauren. This will help you sleep."
She sat beside him, staring at the cup on the table.
"Lauren?"
"I'm so stupid," she said.
"No you're not. You're young, and I bet he made you feel really good about yourself. It's hard to find the good ones sometimes. You just picked a crappy one to start with."
He hugged her, stroking her hair.
Safe now.
"I just wanted him to like me."
"Lauren, you are such an amazing young woman. Some day you will find someone who will appreciate you for you, and he'll love you so much."
"I wish Mum and Dad were here."
He sighed. "I know, love. You will just have to make do with me. I'll take care of everything. I promise."
She didn't know what he meant by that—didn't want to know. Lauren simply nodded, resting her head on his chest.
"All I have is you, and I would die if anything happened to you," he whispered.