Hello there!
To everyone that read and reviewed the first chapter of the Big Cousin Obsession thank you very much.
I was unsure as to if the story should be a standalone, or if I should continue it, which is why I waited for what kind of reception it would get before I made that decision. So here it is. Enjoy!
Hugs and kisses,
DinaParker69
*****
SARAH
'No! No!'
The scream echoed throughout the entire open space. Sarah was standing upright on the sofa, every muscle in her body flexed. She heard the frantic beats of her heart on her ears, much louder than she should be. Drops of cold sweat were dripping down her face, chest and back, drenching her.
'Fuck...' Sarah muttered much more quietly. 'Dream. Just a fucking dream. Just a fucking nightmare!' She continued reassuring herself, closing her eyes, and trying to steady her breathing.
When she felt good enough to get up, Sarah put her legs down on the floor, opening her eyes. The big windows that overlooked the city let in a great amount of light, so she had to let her eyes adjust carefully. Her head hurt badly, and she suspected she would have a migraine for the rest of the day. She occasionally had some really intense ones, and they were awful.
The practicalities of dealing with an impending migraine forced her to rise up and go into the kitchen to search for aspirin. Gulping down the pill with some water, Sarah decided she needed a shower. When she got to the bathroom and looked in the mirror she was almost scared stiff by her own reflection.
Although she hadn't put on much make up the night before, what little of it had been placed was now completely smudged across her face. Her eyes were also red from crying, and her lipstick had found its way away from her lips and made streaks towards her chin. The black dress she loved was a mess as well, no longer smooth, but filled with creases from having slept in it.
Sighing, the brunette removed the dress and set up the water before going into the shower. For quite a while, she didn't bother to soap up, just letting the water fall on her. Without warning, the image of her kissing Derek the previous night returned, and unconsciously she ran her fingers through her lips, remembering the incredible sensation.
I was so nervous.
She recalled.
Sarah had spent such a boring and miserable time in Germany. She'd tried to go on a few dates, but found the few blokes who she went out with to not be even remotely good enough. Derek had been her best friend for years, caring, funny, kind. He set the bar too high.
And then he revealed himself to be an incredible lover. Passionate, strong, willing to sweep her off her feet when the moment came, but also respectful, never trying to dominate her.
How did she not realise that she was in love with him sooner? He'd quietly crept under her skin for years without her realising it. Even her impulsive decision to kiss him on the couch that night after his swimming competition seemed much more than that, looking back. It wasn't just lust, she realised now. She had fallen for him. Derek, though, had loved her almost from day one, and had for years after that. Had he lost patience with her, though? Had he gotten fed up of waiting for her?
It certainly seemed so, Sarah thought dismayed.
What are you waiting for, then?
Derek's words had filled her heart to the brim with happiness, and there had been no holding back when Sarah kissed him. God, it was heavenly. Her arms around his neck, his responding lips and the feeling of his strong arms pulling her to him.
The sweet memory turned sour in Sarah's mouth as the water continued to cascade on her head.
He'd just frozen suddenly, and pulled her away. Opening her eyes, Sarah noticed his eyes were closed, and his jaw was clenched, as if he was fighting some unknown internal struggle.
'Der, what's the matter?' she asked.
He swallowed dry before replying.
'I can't do this.'
'Why?'
'I... I just can't.'
She softly used her hands on the sides of his face, forcing him to open his eyes and look down at her.
'Derek, please.' Sarah whispered. 'Talk to me.'
Grabbing her hands, he pulled away, walking towards the windows, not looking at her. Sarah felt she'd almost preferred a slap in the face.
'I... You...' He began a few times, attempting to find the right words. 'You can't just show up after months and expect me to just follow back to the way things were, as if I'm some long lost puppy! That's not how it works!'
There was something very odd about his outburst that Sarah couldn't quite place.
'Derek,' Sarah said, surprising herself with the determination in her voice. 'I know that I have hurt you in ways I can't even begin to imagine, but that's not why you have stopped kissing me. If that anger and pain were enough to make you stop loving me, you wouldn't have kissed me just now!' She felt her voice crack on the last word.
His face appeared to be taken over once more by the internal struggle of a few seconds before.
She continued: 'Please, just tell me-'
'I'm with someone.' Derek blurted out.
Sarah felt the air leave her lungs, as if she'd just been punched in her stomach. Her mouth fell open with shock.
'I'm seeing someone right now. And I... I can't do this.' He ran his hands through his hair in desperation. 'I... I gotta go!'
With that he made his way clumsily towards the door, leaving Sarah standing in the same spot, her mouth still open. She tried to call him, but found that the words caught in her throat. As the door closed behind Derek, Sarah felt herself sob and curled into a ball on the couch, crying herself to sleep.
Back in the present, Sarah finished her shower and pushed the memory away, angrily removing a tear that made its way down her cheek.
'I've cried enough already!' She told herself aloud. 'Get a grip, Sarah!'
She dressed herself casually, just with jeans and a hoody, and quickly packed the discarded dress back into a small travel bag she'd brought with her. It would probably be best if she left quickly, since Amanda would probably want to check how things had gone, and Sarah had no desire to speak to anyone for the time being.
As she neared her car in the small parking space she'd left it in, she knew what she was going to do next. Derek would probably be at work, so Sarah would wait until late afternoon before going to their apartment again. Lauren might be there, but that wouldn't be a problem if she talked to her first.
The likelihood of Derek rejecting her again was quite high, but she really didn't care at the moment.
Turning the car key, Sarah realised she was looking forward to driving for a while to force her brain to focus on something else.
She laughed humourlessly.
'Wow, I'm looking forward to driving, I really must be miserable!'
///////////////
LAUREN
Unlocking the door to the apartment, Lauren stepped inside. Derek wasn't home.
Where can he be?
She was becoming increasingly worried. He hadn't come home at all the previous night, and judging by the look of the place, he hadn't been in her absence either.
She was exhausted, wanting nothing more than to go to sleep. She'd gotten less than 3 hours sleep the previous night, determined to be awake if Derek arrived.
I find myself in the group of women who don't like a cocky boyfriend.
Lauren cringed.
Why the fuck did I say that?
Worst of all, Amanda had appeared just before she could explain herself. But what would she have said? It was three months since she'd moved in, and three months since she'd lost her virginity to him. If anything, she loved him even more than she had then.
Lauren had told Derek the reason behind her desire for him to be her first. She trusted him completely, and so was sure he would make it good for her. And boy, had he been good... They made love most nights and continued to talk to each other in the carefree manner they always had.
They had been walking a tightrope, though, Lauren could see now. She knew Derek well enough to know that he wouldn't have been able to keep going on like this indefinitely. But it was too good to stop. And now he was avoiding her, she was sure.
Sitting down on the couch, Lauren tried to busy herself from her worries by reading a book, but found that she read the sentences without actually remembering what they were the next instant. When the lock turned, she almost jumped from the couch.
'Where have you been?' Lauren demanded angrily at the opening door. Only it wasn't Derek.
It was Sarah. She jumped at Lauren's shout, eyes wide.
'Germany.' Came the short girl's reply, a twitch of a smile playing her lips.
Despite her worry, Lauren couldn't help but laugh, accompanied shortly by Sarah. She closed the door.
'Sorry, I thought it was Derek.' Lauren explained.
'Yes, I could tell by the warmth in your voice.' Sarah mused, smiling.
Lauren liked her. She hadn't talked down to her the first time they spoke, even though she'd been 12 at the time. The feeling of embarrassment that she'd felt when meeting Derek's adult friends for the first time in one of his birthday dinners had been very quickly extinguished by the friendliness Sarah had shown her, seeming genuinely interested in what she had to say.
Obviously they hadn't met much more after that, but a few months before Derek had his swimming competition, they had spent the evening chatting. Lauren had guessed that Sarah wouldn't want to continue hanging out with her best friend's cousin, but surprisingly she'd discovered it had been Sarah to invite her to the trip to Portugal. It flattered her, for some reason.
Having teased her cousin about why he hadn't been the one to invite her, he'd simply said that he didn't want to force a family member along to a trip with his friends.
Sarah asked me if I minded. I said I obviously did, but she still forced me into it...
He'd smirked and Lauren had made a face.
The thought of Derek reminded her that Sarah was also the woman that had broken his heart, running from him afterwards. Lauren had also envied her for being the one who Derek wanted to sleep with. Now she was the one who got to do it. Well, maybe, if things weren't broken beyond repair. It was a weird situation, and Lauren didn't know exactly how to react.
'When did you come back?' she asked, trying to not seem weird.
'A couple of days ago, I've been with my parents.'
'If you want your room back just let me know...' Lauren instantly regretted saying it. No more torrid romps with Derek whenever she wanted.
'Oh, don't worry. Don't rush out because of me.' Sarah assured her. 'I take it by your effusive welcome that Derek isn't home yet?' She said "welcome" with an ironic tone.
