“Don’t laugh at him; he’ll get a complex.”
“He does have a mind of his own.”
Hopping in the bed, Ev pats my side.
“Get in here, woman, and show him some attention.” Realizing how demanding he sounded, a boyish grin spreads cheek to cheek, reaching his wide eyes. “Please,” he adds impishly.
I can’t play hard to get, and he knows it.
I can’t wait to be Mrs. Reese Casteel, either.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Travis
As I set the table in my apartment, my nerves are in overdrive like they were Thanksgiving Day. It’s Wednesday, and as soon as I pried and got Becca to divulge that Clay was in D.C. for the week, I convinced her to come to my place for dinner.
As much as I want her to myself, I’m excited for her to meet Clive. He has become a good friend, and it’s something else new she can uncover about me.
He’s a link to the progress I’ve made with my recovery, too, and I need someone from that world to convey to Becs that I’m healing and staying sober.
I hurry to the kitchen and flip the hamburgers I’m cooking in the skillet. The knock at the door has me sucking in a breath. I hope it’s Becca so I can have a few minutes alone with her before Clive arrives.
I swing open the door, and my wish is granted. Her sweet smile makes my stomach tighten.
“Hey, beautiful. I’m glad you came.” Giving only a faint smile, she steps inside, and I follow her down the hall to the living room.
She sets a plate of brownies on the kitchen counter and turns to look around the apartment.
Say something … anything.
Her eyes travel over the space as she shrugs off her coat and lays it over the back of my couch.
“Your place looks great.”
“Yeah, it’s in much better shape than when you were here last time …. It mimics my life.”
Turning to me, her eyelids blink slowly as if she’s savoring my words. Her hands hanging down in front of her clasp together.
“I can’t express how happy I am for you,” she says.
“It means a lot that you care.” I step up to her and rub her arms. Her hair is down this evening and wavy all over. “Can I kiss you before our other guest arrives?”
Those stunning sapphire irises tilt up as she nods. With caution, I duck my head and skim my lips along hers with the hope she’s going to let my tongue slip inside her mouth.
She opens, and as our tongues collide, I draw her close, engulfing her in my arms. My urge to be greedy is overwhelming, her whimpers fueling my desire, and a desperation to have more time alone with her consumes me.
Grabbing her ass, I picture my lips teasing her neck with feather-like kisses, her angelic whimpers egging me on to explore every one of her sensuous curves.
My mouth would graze along her body, and she’d pull my hair, murmuring my name while I push her to the brink of pleasure.
I can almost feel her perky tits in my mouth and recall the taste of her pussy. Fuck, I want to devour her this instant and claim her as mine.
I want to fuck her hard and hold her tenderly. I wish to give Clay Carlton the big middle finger and tell him all his money and prestige don’t hold a candle to the bond Becca and I share.
The hard knock on the door has us both coming up for air.
“Just a second,” I shout over my shoulder.
She wipes her lips as her body trembles.
“Where did that kiss come from?” she whispers.
I stare down into her eyes with a forewarning look of the brazen words to come.
“Baby, I’m thinking with my dick tonight. You look too damn hot for me not to be.”
The swallow catching in her throat incites a smirk from me. I adjust my cock and attempt to regain my composure as I walk to the door. Pulling it open, I find Clive with a goofy grin on his face.
“Am I late? I wouldn’t want to miss a free meal.” I want to tell the bastard he could’ve been much later so I could’ve had my way with Becca.
“No, man. Come on in. The burgers might be burnt, though.”
“Oh, no,” I hear Becca say. Knowing her, she probably feels responsible for the food getting overcooked.
Clive’s jabbering about what happened in the shop today as we stroll back to the living room. Becca steps out of the kitchen, and I knew she was checking on the burgers.
“Clive, I want you to meet Becca. She actually works in the office at Casteel.”
“Oh, we’ve met,” he says. “How could I miss a pretty girl like her?”
She blushes and shrugs. “We were in the break room together last week.”
“I should’ve guessed you two might meet.”
“I hope you brought more of those fabulous psychedelic brownies,” he says to her as he leans around me to eye the table.
“Those tasted so good, and they gave me such a high I thought they had pot in them for a minute.” He gives her a wink. “But then I remembered the sweet girl who made them.”
She’s giggling and grinning. “I did bring more.” This woman appreciates any compliment given to her, and I believe it’s from living in Reese’s shadow all these years.
When I get the next opportunity to bring it up, I’ll remind her she’s equally special and more so to me.
“Did you leave brownies in the break room and didn’t tell me?” I ask with a smirk.
“No, uh, I dropped some off at the food pantry last Thursday.”
“You saw us serving food there?”
“Yes, and it was a wonderful thing y’all did.”
She’s pleased, and Clive looks even happier. Shitbird. He planned the whole thing, getting her to show up there. Well … I guess I owe him a thank you. It’s cool she saw that side of me.
I leave the two of them alone to chat while I dish out our food in the kitchen. In a matter of seconds, I feel Becca behind me. I glance over my shoulder, and she’s setting down our glasses from the table.
Frequently taking peeks, I watch her fill them up with ice. Like she knows it’ll be there, she opens the fridge and grabs the pitcher of sweet tea. I’m sure glad I thought to make that today.
Along with her being familiar with this apartment, since Reese once lived here, she’s familiar with me, and it’s why it’s a natural thing for her to check on the food I might be burning or to make our drinks without a word.
We were developing a comfortable routine together before our split, and tonight proves we can find that again.
Becca
Clive, Travis and I eat dinner at a round table inside the eat-in kitchen. Only a counter separates it from the living room.
While they’re talking shop, my eyes admire how clean his apartment is. He’s keeping it neat, and this pleases me. I can’t get over how happy he is … how vibrant he appears.
After thinking back to the coldness he exhibited when I saw him in September, a solace settles over me. He’s the old Travis I fell in love with, but there are bonus attributes.
He has matured, takes nothing for granted, and although it’s certainly not as important, his body has changed, too.
Damn, has he ever filled-out, becoming more of a man every day. That kiss … I didn’t want it to stop unless his lips were going to migrate elsewhere. Lord, and those words after were so hot, making me wet for him.
“Becca, is the food that bad?” he asks. I swallow and glance down at my plate of food I’ve barely touched, which consists of a cheeseburger, potato salad I’m fairly certain his mother made, and green beans.
“Oh, gosh, no. It’s delicious. I was just thinking about something that happened a little earlier,” I reply, giving him a sweet yet seductive look.
He brandishes a pleased smile, and if Clive wasn’t present, Trav would take my hand and bring me up out of this chair.
His grin would widen before he’d plant kisses all over my face and hug me. Then, the switch would flip, and he’d become serious, ravishing my body next. I’m so
screwed and need to get my mind off of sex.
“So, Clive, how do you like working at Casteel?” I ask.
“It’s perfect. I feel right at home with the guys. It’s nice having people around every day to talk to, and I enjoy the work.” He shifts his gaze to Travis. “I called Brandi before I came over.”
“Really? How did it go?”
“Who’s Brandi?” I interject.
“My daughter. Travis convinced me to give her a call while we were in rehab. It took me this long to get the courage, but I finally did it.
“She’s doing wonderful. Got another divorce, but she swears she’s happy and able to take care of herself and those granddaughters of mine.
“Once I told her I was working and sober, she agreed to meet with me. She said if it goes well, she’ll let me see the girls and will give me photos of them.”
I take a glimpse of Travis, and his eyes become glassy.
“I owe it all to this young man right here,” Clive says, pointing his fork toward Travis.
Trav looks down at his plate, obviously fighting his emotions that are vying to display themselves.
“You made it happen, Clive.”
“No, you might not want to take the credit for it, but you’re the reason my life is golden right now, and I’m gonna do my best not to let you down.”
“Just keep thinking about that family of yours,” Trav says to him with a smile.
“And the incredible new one I’ve been blessed to become a part of,” Clive adds with a somber expression. He’s referring to the Casteel family, and they are incredible. Both men look like they’re choking up, so I squeeze Travis’s knee while I smile at Clive.
“That’s wonderful news, Clive. I’m happy for you and believe it will all work out. You’ll have to bring your grandkids by the store. Let me know ahead of time, and I’ll have treats there for them.”
“Well, you weren’t lyin’ all the times you said Becca was extra special, Castle.”
My eyes flit to my plate, and I shove a bite of food inside my mouth. Travis’s hand clutches mine underneath the table. It’s warm and relays his emotions about the moment.
“That’s sweet of him, but I can be a little shit, too, when I don’t get my way. He must’ve left that part out.”
“Nah, I find that hard to believe. You sure saw him through some dark days in rehab, and you didn’t even know it.”
“OK, I think that’s enough. Quit telling all my secrets, or I won’t feed you again,” Trav says with a smirk.
As soon as Clive eats a brownie and packs a couple to take home, he insists he’s exhausted and says goodbye. It’s only eight o’clock, so I think it’s his way of giving Trav and I time alone.
With my hands resting on my hips, I spin around and sigh to Travis.
“Clive’s a special person. I hope he can stay sober because a man with that big a heart deserves a fulfilled life.”
“You deserve a life like that, too, and I want to be the one to give it to you.”
I tilt my head to the side. “You’re sweet, and it warms my heart that you’ve been such a good friend to Clive.”
“He spouts off all that mushy shit, but he’s really the one who was there for me. I’m only trying to repay him for it.”
I slip my arms around his waist, and his eyes gradually close from the feel of it.
“Did you really think about me that much while you were away?”
His eyelids open, and he stares down at me.
“Yes. Thinking I could become a better person for you saw me through that difficult month and every day since.” His hands hanging at each side of him are contradicting the desire dominating his blue irises.
“Is there a reason you’re not touching me?” I whisper.
“Becca, if I touch you, I won’t be able to stop.”
“If I tell you to stop, I know you will … but right now I’m saying go.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Travis
Jesus Christ, Becca gave me the green light to touch her, and I’m not giving her a chance to change her mind.
Grabbing her hips, I hoist her up. Sexy legs wrap around my waist and slender arms circle my neck, the affection further entrapping my heart.
“That a girl. I’m taking you to my bedroom. The one that could be ours soon. You need an opportunity to get comfortable in it.”
“Your charm wins me over every time.”
“Good to know I possess one of the magic ingredients.”
Our eyes are chained to each other’s as we move down the hallway. I reach my door and kick it open, never letting her gaze go. Like every other time her nerves are running the show, she gnaws on the corner of her bottom lip.
“I’m nervous like you’ve never touched me before,” she murmurs.
“That’s because we just met, remember?”
She grins as I drop her to the floor and shut my door. Like she did with the rest of my apartment, her eyes soak it all in. She’s staring at my bed, still nibbling that lip.
“It won't bite, but I might.” I skim my fingertips up her arms, and she shivers as if we did just meet, and maybe that’s a good thing. A do-over without the awkwardness of first dates.
Her head falls to the side, signaling she wants me to taste her alluring neck, and I’m surprised she’s being complaisant. Hell, she’s more like the instigator tonight. My lips nip at her skin as they travel to her ear.
“I’ve been dying to make you feel good.” Her arms come up, fingers finding their way inside my hair, and as they play with the strands, she inhales for several seconds. The anticipation for our night together compresses her lungs, holding in her next breath.
“Breathe, baby. I’ve got you. I’m never letting you go.” I give her a faint kiss behind her ear, and she trembles again. “Do you understand that, Becs? I won’t stop until you see how perfect we are together.”
“What are we going to do tonight? I know you want to have sex, and I want to, but we can’t. I haven’t even told him about you yet.”
Sighing, I turn her around and frame her cheeks.
“I don’t want to sleep with you. Not tonight, anyway. If you have sex with me, then you might with him, and nothin’ is worth that.”
Her eyes dart the distance to my bedroom window.
“I want you to touch me, and I want to touch you. Tell me I’m not a bad person if I do this.”
“Look at me, beautiful. There’s not a damn thing wrong with you or what we’re doing. You’re figuring shit out, and I’m going to stand beside you every step of the way. If this is what you need to do to be sure, then do it with no regrets.”
Her lip quivers, and without warning, her fingers begin undoing the button of my jeans.
“I have to know, Travis. I have to know if we still have the same bond.” Her fingers unzip me before her hand reaches down in my jeans. My cock’s iron-hard, and I hiss from the feel of her palm rubbing down the length of it.
I’m not sure what her words meant, but I’m too distracted by her urgent hand to sort out what she’s gettin’ at. It’s slipping into my briefs, making me feel all kinds of good.
With urgency, she squats and yanks on my jeans. I help her remove everything from the waist down, and her hands tug on my long-sleeved t-shirt next.
Before I can toss it aside, she’s removing her sweater in a frenzy. She’s in her black bra and blue jeans as I grab her shoulders to still her.
“Hey, are you hurrying because you’re afraid you’ll change your mind if you have time to think about it?”
“No. I’m hurrying because I’m desperate to have you inside of me.”
Along with a tilt of my head, I squint.
“I told you we’re not having sex.”
“And you also said this is me figuring shit out. Please, make love to me. Show me we still have what it takes.” Her fingertips inch up my chest until they’re traveling through my hair.
Her lips brush left across mine … and back to the
right. “Please,” she whispers against them. Her other hand grips my cock and strokes it at a slow, steady pace.
The sensations of her fingers on my scalp and her palm around my dick are making me lightheaded. My longing for her runs rampant through my veins, controlling me like a bottle of booze.
My willpower wanes, but my heart could never survive it if I made love to her and she chose him after.
“I can’t.” My fingers burrow inside her hair, and I hold her gaze. “Fuck, you have no idea how bad I crave you, but there’s no way I could give you up afterward. No. Fucking. Way.”
“Then can I taste you?”
I smirk and shake my head. “The persistent Becca I remember.”
She grins and drops to her knees. Before I can protest, and I’m not sure I could, she takes my throbbing cock into her fiery mouth.
“Holy fuck.” My hands get a hold of her long locks again, and I fist them. She moans, and I might blow my load this second if she makes that fucking sound again.
I pull back a bit, to gain control, but she clutches my ass and brings my cock farther into her mouth. She’s practically to its base before she drags her plump lips up it again, and the sight of her sucking me off is magnificent.
“Yes … suck me till I come, baby. I’m already close.”
Sucking harder and faster, her juicy mouth takes me in and out effortlessly. Her fingers graze my balls just right while every stroke from her mouth sends a rush of pleasure to my nerve endings.
The sounds her wet lips are making combined with her whimpers have me spurting cum inside her mouth. She moans even louder and swallows it down.
As the pleasure eases up, all I can think about is how I want to hold her, kiss her, and make her feel that damn incredible.
“Fuck, you’re still great at that.”
The back of her hand grazes over her mouth, wiping it clean. Blue eyes shine up at me, and I savor the sight of her flushed cheeks, juicy red lips, and hair I’ve untamed with my urgent hands.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful. Get naked and in bed,” I say, pointing to it. “It’s your turn, and you’ve sure set the bar high.”
Fail to Trust (The Casteel Trust Series Book 2) Page 16
