Tiptoeing across the room, I bumped into the side table in the foyer. Reaching out, I kept a wobbling picture frame from falling over the edge. “Dammit,” I muttered.
“Have a good time?” Stone bit out in a growl.
“Shit!” I flinched. “You scared the daylights out of me!”
He jumped up from the chair, moving like a predator in the night. With long strides, he reached me in a blink. I braced my hands on the table behind me, tilting my head up to find his piercing blue eyes on me.
“Back off, Stone. You have no right to question me about a damn thing.”
But he didn’t back off. Instead, he pressed in closer. “I don’t have any right to do this either, but I can’t seem to help myself.”
He slammed his lips onto mine and stole my breath away.
Chapter 22
Oh. My. God.
Stone’s lips owned mine as the moonlight snuck its way through the window, and there wasn’t enough alcohol in the world to numb the delicious burn. My knees buckled as my hands fisted his shirt, holding on for dear life, and he cupped my ass, pulling me to sit on top of the side table. The picture I’d saved earlier toppled to the rug on the floor, and this time I didn’t try to catch it.
Desperate to make the moment last, I wrapped my legs around his thighs, locking them in place.
“Do you know what you do to me?” he muttered against my mouth, lips nibbling at mine. His lips were like silk, and they stoked the fire between my legs. I parted, inviting his tongue to enrapture mine.
My hands slipped to back of his head, grasping his hair in between my fingers. It was soft as sin, and I wanted the sin. His head slanted to the side, the passion maddening. I held him tight between my thighs, wanting more. I’d never been as hungry for him as I was right then. He made it impossible for me to ever walk away whole.
“Do you? Do you know what you fucking do to me?” he asked again, pulling my lip in between his teeth, gently nibbling in the most erotic kiss.
I shivered in excitement. I knew. I knew, because of how I felt. I knew he would always be the one piece that made me whole. My brain whirled in a million directions, all leading to him, to this moment.
He licked his lips, waves of desire pouring from his ocean blue eyes. I moaned softly as he slipped his hand under the hem of my dress and ran it over my bare thighs. Leaning into my ear, his haggard breathing emptied the air from my own lungs.
“This pretty little dress is in the way.” Electric jolts sent tingles up and down my spine to the center of my folds as he trailed his mouth down to the curvature of my neck. “I want you in a way I can’t describe, more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”
More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.
No.
Just a few days before, he’d made it perfectly clear that I was the last thing in the world he wanted. In the midst of our frenzied need, a deluge of sensibility won out, making my heart crack wide open. God, how I wanted him. My body fought against the right and wrongs, but I knew…Stone and I were done. Unlike him, I didn’t possess the strength to separate lust and love, and having one more taste of the forbidden was like tasting the last bite of poison.
God how I wanted him to love me. More than anything in my life, I wanted him to love me, but he didn’t. My eyes brimmed with tears, but I refused to let them escape.
“Stop. Things got out of control.”
Pulling back, he didn’t hide his confusion. His gaze was laced with desire as he breathed hard, searching my face for answers. I knew mine was surely filled with an equal amount of unmistakable lust, but I blinked it back.
I hopped off the side table and folded my arms across my chest as if I could protect it with a barrier, but it had already suffered an irreversible injury at the hands of Stone Mitchell. He reached out, clutching my upper arm to stop me from brushing past him, but I kept walking.
“You can’t run from this.” His brows furrowed, daring me to deny his words.
“Yes, I can. You taught me well.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Defeated, I looked up at him, square in the eyes. “You’ve done nothing but push me away, assured me there’s nothing between us. I finally accepted your feelings, and yet you still come at me full force. Kissing me. Seducing me with words. You sometimes look at me in ways that trick me into thinking you do care about me, deep down, but you don’t, not in the way I need. Every time, it’s like I lose a piece of me that I’ll never get back because I keep giving myself to you. I can’t do this yo-yo thing with you. Give me space, Stone. Leave me alone and let me try to get over you…again. If you care about me at all, you’ll honor what I’m asking.”
This time I found the strength to keep the tears from spilling over. I darted past him down the hall to my bedroom, slightly unbalanced. Closing the door behind me, I slid down the wooden surface until I sat on the floor. Toeing off my boots, I drew my knees to my chest and buried my face between my knees. Rocking back and forth, I dissolved in a pool of heartache.
A tap sounded on the door, vibrating my back. “Let me in.”
I covered my mouth with the back of my trembling hand. He sounded miserable, was begging, and I struggled to not throw the door open and jump into his arms, even if it meant ruining me. Why couldn’t Stone let me be? A wounded sob escaped my throat and echoed into the air.
Damn him. Damn me. And damn love.
“Open the door, Avery. Let me say what I have to say, then I swear I’ll leave you alone if that’s what you really want.”
“Why? So you can fuck me and then in the morning tell me how we can’t be anything? I’m done with all of that.” The liquid courage of tequila helped pull the filter from my tongue, and it felt good to unleash.
“It’s really not like that.”
“I don’t understand you.” I deepened my voice, mocking him. “Avery, I want you. You make me want things, more than anything in my life. We can’t be together. I need you to leave. We’re parents. We can be friends.” I let out a sarcastic laugh. “You know what? I’m glad I went to The Blue Cactus and met Drew. He could teach you a thing or two about women.”
Seconds ticked by, silent except for his hard breathing. The knob turned and he slightly pushed the surface against my back.
“Move back, Avery. Let me inside. Now,” he commanded
“I’ll never let you inside again.” I tapped my hand over my heart, never having felt as lonely as I did right then. “I’ve cried my last tear for you. For five years, I’ve been a single mother and have rocked at it. I have a great job that I love, and I finally figured out that I’m young and need to be alive again. Thanks to you, I learned how much I missed sex. I love it, and I want it. You and a stranger named Drew gave me a taste of feeling beautiful again. I won’t ever be the mother that leaves my child to get drunk off my ass, but I’ll be a woman who lives life to the fullest and has sex—good sex.”
“Ave, open the damn door.” Though his voice was quieter, he roared. I knew he held back to keep from waking Savannah, but his words sounded as though he growled them through clenched teeth.
“Goin’ to bed,” I whispered, unfazed by his pleading. “I’m tired. The room…it’s spinning.” Eyes on the white eyelet bed skirt, I crawled on my hands and knees toward my bed.
With me no longer obstructing the entrance, he pushed the unlocked door open. I no longer cared. I didn’t have anything else to say. I only wanted my bed and the room to stop feeling like I sat in an out-of-control carnival ride.
“Who the hell is Drew?” he ground out.
I sat on my legs in a submissive kneel, but there wasn’t an ounce of fear at his dominant stance. Like a scorned woman, I wanted to dish out slicing words. “A nice man, in all the right ways.”
“Did you fuck him?” He ran his hands through his hair, kneeling in front of me.
“What if I did? Who I decide to fuck is really not any of your business, is it?” I taunted, stoking the fury
in his eyes.
“The hell it’s not!”
The room began spinning faster, driving waves of nausea through my stomach, and bile crept up my throat. “Shit! I think I’m going to throw up.”
Strong hands lifted me up, carrying my limp body across the hall to the bathroom. I leaned over the toilet, violently losing the contents of my stomach. He gently held my hair out of the way, securing it behind my head, and I thought I heard him say, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll make this okay.”
When the retching subsided, he picked me up, cradling me against his rippled chest. “I’ll help you.” My eyes grew weary and I tried opening them, muttering weak thanks, but everything faded away and I slipped into a peaceful darkness.
The next morning, the bright sun caused a stabbing pain in my head. I rolled to my side and noticed rumpled bedding next to me. An indention in the pillow meant Stone had slept next to me, or had at least lain with me for a while. Other than him effortlessly scooping me up from the floor, I didn’t recall anything else.
I peered down at the lavender tank with matching shorts. He’d changed my clothes. In my drunken state, he’d removed the chevron dress and all my jewelry. I reached over to the pillow he’d slept on last night, drawing it to my nose. It smelled of Stone. Fresh and minty, the citrus-woodsy scent of him lingered.
Next to the bed were a bottle of water, two small brown tablets, and a handwritten note.
Take this. You’ll need it. Savannah and I went to the store. Sleep in. -Stone
I took his advice, swallowing the medication and drawing the covers under my chin. That day, Stone had to vacate the premises. He could either book a hotel room or fly back to Houston, I didn’t care, but he had to go. Enough was enough. No more self-induced pain. No more mind games. No more back and forth with indecisions, playing tug of war with my emotions. No more hot and cold. We were done, and I meant it this time.
My phone vibrated on the bedside table.
Lindsey: You alive?
Me: I hope I look better than I feel.
Lindsey: Don’t look. I did…trust me, take a shower without looking in the mirror ;)
Me: Gahhhh, no more shots for me.
Lindsey: Anything going on between you and dumbass?
Me: When I came home, he was awake. I don’t remember much…he was all over me, but I stopped it. I’m done with the whiplash. I’m telling him he can’t stay here anymore.
Lindsey: I’m here if you need to talk. I know this is hard for you.
Me: I’ll be fine.
Maybe I will be fine eventually, but not today. I’m empty, cold, and lonely.
Lindsey: Not trying to give false hope, but I saw him looking at you last night. His jaw did drop to the floor. When he was walking out the door, I thought he might smash something…maybe, just maybe there’s something there, Avery.
Me: It’s too late for us. Our relationship died a long time ago.
Lindsey: Love you friend.
Me: Love you back friend.
Grabbing my clothes, I walked to the bathroom for a shower. Rays of morning sunshine streamed through the small window, intensifying my already pounding headache. Squinting, I ignored Lindsey’s advice and snuck a peek at my reflection in the mirror above the vanity.
“Dear God.” I shook my head, frowning.
I should have listened; I looked like hell. Crazy tousled blonde strands looked like I’d put my finger in a light socket, and a mixture of mascara and black eyeliner smudges painted my face. The tears I’d shed the night before hadn’t helped, but the alcohol-induced deep sleep had probably put the icing on the cake.
Stepping into the shower, I sat down on the bench in the corner and let the steamy water stream over my body. The water helped ease the throbbing at my temples, but waves of nausea lingered. I wanted nothing more than to crawl back in bed and hibernate there all day.
Lifting my face to the nozzle, I rinsed my eyes and washed the ugly stains from my face. Lindsey’s insight replayed in my mind; I, too, had seen the look Stone flashed my way, and I knew he liked what he saw more than he’d ever admit. I’d also seen the piercing steely eyes before I walked through the door, leaving him on babysitting duty.
I may have been impaired as hell last night, but I remembered the green jealousy rearing its head when I blurted out that I’d met another man. He didn’t want a relationship, but would be damned if I had one with anyone else.
After running the blow dryer through my hair, I pulled it up in a damp messy bun. Then I slipped into a pair of ripped denim shorts and a soft mint-colored tank with a lacy neckline. It was a no-makeup, lazy kind of day. I looked at my reflection once more, nodding in approval.
It was time to have the dreaded eviction conversation and to make plans to not only tell my sweet Dovie, but his parents as well. It was the only way to restore balance to my life and start over without a base of deception and lies.
When I opened the bathroom door, I glanced across the hallway into my bedroom, and it was my jaw’s turn to drop. Standing in awe, I gaped at a dozen beautiful pink roses in full bloom arranged in a gorgeous crystal vase on the bedside table. No movement sounded in the house as I reached for the card perched in the middle of the bouquet.
My feet seemed to move without help, robotic and dazed, and my fingers trembled as I opened the sealed envelope. Settling on the edge of the unmade bed with trepidation, I recognized Stone’s scribbled handwriting immediately and read his words repeatedly.
If it takes a lifetime, I’ll make it all up to you. Remember what pink stood for and give me a chance. -Stone
I pressed my nose to the velvety petals, inhaling the fragrance.
Pink—I knew what it stood for. He’d often sent pink roses, most of the time ‘just because’. It was never any other color, not even the traditional red. The first dozen he’d ever sent, the card had read, Because pink is the color of your skin when we kiss. Another time, Because your nipples are the perfect shade of pink. The time he’d said, I almost love the taste of your cotton candy chap stick as much as your lips, but not quite. Because he knew it was my favorite color, he would sing the lyrics of “Pink” by Aerosmith while dancing, just to make me crack up laughing.
Those were good times. That was the boy I fell in love with, the one I would walk through fire to be with…if only I could.
Chapter 23
“Savannah is playing with Kaylee.” He swallowed hard before continuing. “It’s gotta be a good sign you didn’t toss them in the trash.” Traces of dark shadows tinted the skin under his begging red eyes, and I wondered if he’d slept at all the night before. A five o’clock shadow covered his jawline, and the depths of his blue eyes seemed to be filled with reserve.
“They’re beautiful.”
“And pink.” He winked, only smiling slightly, as if holding back.
He sauntered my way, stopping in directly in front of my legs where they dangled off the side of the bed. Dropping to his knees, he pressed his hands on either side of me on the mattress, caging me between his corded arms. The way he stared into my face reminded me of the way he used to look at me when we were carefree, happy, and without strife of any kind. It was the same as when he used to tell me he loved me more than the air he breathed.
“Say something, Avery.”
“I’m scared.”
“You scare me. Nothing in the world has ever made me feel the way you make me feel.”
I swallowed hard. “You’ve given me a million reasons to walk away.”
“There can be millions upon millions of reasons, but it only takes one reason to stay. Let my promise to make up for all the times you’ve been sad or broken be the one reason you stay.”
“What are you asking, Stone? Just a few days ago, you didn’t want this. You sent me away. You’ve been up front from the beginning about not wanting anything more than sex.”
“Us. I want there to be an us, without the promise of anything other than being together. I’m not cut out to be marrie
d. We’re proof that shit isn’t meant to be, but I can promise to be faithful. To take care of you and Savannah. To be there when the tough gets tougher.”
I wanted to believe in him, believe in us. His words found their way inside the hardened shell around my heart, slowly mending the gaping hole in my chest. A haunting trepidation at the thought of us being on borrowed time tried to steal the joy he’d given me. While he hadn’t professed love, there were sparkles shimmering in his eyes.
“I don’t know if I have it in me to take that chance. Losing you once nearly killed me.”
“Take a chance, a chance on us. We’ll work at it together. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I’m asking you to get to know me. Let me get to know you again. We can try to figure it out along the way. I can’t promise not to be an asshole from time to time, but you’re the only one who has the power to knock me on my ass with just one look.”
I couldn’t have said no if I had wanted to. He chose to take a chance on us. A relationship. Together. And in everything, that was what I was ready for. We weren’t ready for commitments, but he wanted us. My heart thudded with happiness at the milestone he’d crossed.
Still sitting on the edge of the bed, I gave a faint nod and leaned toward him. Circling my arms around his neck, I drew him to me. Our lips met, his nibbling at mine as if tasting the sweetest dessert and coming back for more. Gently, he sucked my bottom lip between his, making my heart ricochet in my chest. I fought for air and my skin zinged as I parted my lips.
One brush of his tongue against mine sent sparks through every nerve ending in my body, all targeting my center. I’d never wanted to love again, never wanted to give anyone the opportunity to hurt me ever again, but this was where I was meant to be, right here with Stone Mitchell. It felt too perfect to be anything less than right.
His hands found my hair, winding strands around his fingers, fisting it to the base of my neck. A low moan escaped his mouth and when he broke the kiss, I whimpered in loss. He rested his forehead against mine, our noses touching, and it finally dawned on me that somewhere in the frenzy, he’d pulled me from the bed to a standing position.
Chasing Wicked (The Mitchell Brothers - Wicked Series Book 1) Page 16
