“You’ve always been mine, just like I’ve always been yours.”
“Yes,” I eek out. “Gah!”
He slides inside me, almost like he teased himself too long, like he couldn’t wait a second longer to get inside me.
“I’m glad I didn’t bother asking if you were ready,” he says, closing his eyes as he sinks into me again. “So…damn…wet.”
His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat, a low guttural groan originating somewhere deep inside. I could almost get off just watching him enjoy me.
Dropping my knees wider, I roll my head to the side to allow him to bury his head in the crook of my neck. “You are so sexy,” he whispers through gritted teeth.
“Go deeper,” I pant, locking my heels around him. It puts me in a position I know he loves, an angle I know he can’t resist.
“God,” he groans, thrusting harder. “This feels so good.”
“So good.”
He kisses me at every possible point, doing just as he promised—touching me in every place he can. He holds my shoulders, pinches a nipple, cups the side of my face, the outside of my thigh, making every possible connection he can between us.
Up, up, up I go, pulled into a swirling state of bliss between the friction of his cock and the sweet words he whispers in my ear. It’s a heady mix, a complicated yet simple combination that is as irresistible as he is.
“Cross,” I pant, my legs shaking with the impending climax. “I can’t…you…”
My eyes squeeze shut with the force of the eruption that’s starting to build in the bottom of my belly. Like a slow-burning fire, the heat rolls out to the tops of my thighs, into my chest before radiating into my toes and the top of my head.
“Cross!”
He pounds me into harder, his breath whispering over my skin with each push. He mutters something under his breath, but I can’t make it out over my moans.
My body falls apart around him, my mind reeling with an influx of sensations. I feel him tense, his body shifting on top of me before he enters me hard and holds the position with the tip of his cock at the back of my pussy.
As he slips it back out and milks his orgasm, he flutters his eyes open. Instead of the lust I saw a few minutes ago, all I see now is something different, something soft…something I want to hold on to for a very long time.
He presses a soft kiss to my lips before pulling out and settling on the bed beside me. Pulling me into him, he nestles his face into my hair.
“I know you need to get up,” he whispers, kissing a spot just above my ear. “But give me a few seconds first, okay?”
As I drift off to sleep, I keep reminding myself to get up and go to the bathroom, but I don’t. This feels too good.
Ten
Cross
“Are you ready?” I ask.
Taking Kallie’s hand, I help her out of my truck. The wind moves little wisps of hair around her face as her feet hit the asphalt. She’s gorgeous in cutoff blue jeans and a plain, navy-colored T-shirt. Maybe it’s from the shirt—I don’t know, but the gray in her eyes almost looks blue tonight.
Her palm rests in mine, her skin soft and warm. I have half a notion to throw her back in the truck and take her home with me, but that’s not what tonight is about. Having her in my home, in my bed, for the last couple of days has been a dream come true. Tonight is about showing her how good we are together outside of the bed. Outside the gym. In front of all our friends.
“Are you sure about this?” she asks, looking up at Crave.
“Hell, yeah I’m sure about this.” I’m sure about a lot of things. I squeeze her hand tighter. “It’ll be fun.”
The door is pushed open from the inside and a couple exit. I usher Kallie in front of me as a stream of music and laughter fills our ears. My hand rests on the small of her back and I hope she takes it as a sign I’m here for her. In reality, it’s to sturdy myself.
My usual ability to stay calm despite the situation is gone. My fingers flex against the fabric of her shirt, my blood pounding through my veins. This is the one thing I’ve always wanted: my girl walking with me on a mundane Friday night.
Heads turn as we enter and shouts of “Hey, Kallie!” echo over the music. She waves at a few tables of people we know as if she just saw them yesterday. It’s as natural as the day is long and a smile tips my lips.
She reaches for my hand. I take it and then tug her, bringing her to a stop. Her back to my chest, I hover my lips near the shell of her ear.
“If you decide you want to leave,” I say, my arm going around her and my fingers splaying against her belly, “just say the word.”
Her head falls back to my chest as her perfume floods my senses. “Keep it up, bud, and we won’t get a chance to sit.” She presses her ass backward.
“Kal …” I growl before her giggle cuts me off.
“Behave, Cross.” She flips me a look before heading toward the bar. “Hey, Peck!”
Peck sets a bottle down in front of him and grins. “Hey, Kallie. I’d hug you but I don’t want to get knocked out.”
“Smart guy,” I say, helping Kallie onto a stool next to him before climbing on one myself. “What’s happening, Peck?”
“Not much. Just got off work and thought I’d come by and see what I can get into.”
“How was Walker today?” I ask.
“The usual.” He groans. “On the phone with Sienna. Watching Sienna’s ass when she comes in. Texting Sienna. Super fucking annoying.”
“Like that wouldn’t be you with Molly McCarter,” Machlan says, planting his palms on the bar.
Peck tips his bottle Machlan’s way. “One day it will be. One day.”
“Only if the universe hates you.” Machlan winks. Then he turns to Kallie. “Well, if this isn’t a sight for sore eyes.”
“Better be talking about us together and not her. I’m not above busting your ass, Mach,” I say, half-kidding.
He stands straight and holds out his calm, even hand. “I’m shaking.”
“Fucker.” I laugh.
“How are you tonight, Machlan?” Kallie asks, looking at him sweetly.
“Can’t complain. Actually,” he says, leaning against the bar, “I’m probably a little better than usual now that you’ve taken that asshole off my hands.” He looks at me and grins.
“Can you get me something to drink?” Kallie asks Machlan.
“Sure. What do you want?”
“I don’t know. I don’t drink much.”
Machlan chuckles. “What level we looking at? Buzzed? Karaoke? One-night stand?”
That last part was for my benefit. I try not to react.
Kallie’s hand hits my thigh just a half an inch from my groin. I cup mine over hers and hold it in place.
“Probably buzzed. I don’t sing and your buddy here might have something to say if I went with one-night stand.”
“Damn right,” I say, stroking her hand with my thumb.
“I vote for the one-night stand,” Peck chimes in.
“Peck? Today’s not the day,” I warn.
He peers at me around Kallie. “And why is that?”
“I told you to behave,” Kallie says, swatting at me. “I’m going to use the ladies’ room. Is Nora around?”
“She’s in the back talking to Kip.” Machlan rolls his eyes.
“What did she do?” Kallie asks, mouth hanging open. “Kip is the sheriff now, right?”
“I’d guess she did him.” Machlan snorts. “I just stay away from the store room when he needs to debrief her.”
Kallie makes a face as she gets off the stool. “Ew. Okay. I’ll avoid that area. Be right back.”
I watch her walk away, ignoring Peck’s comments. She stops a few times and says hello to random people and it’s all I can do not to follow her.
“You got it bad,” Machlan says, pulling my attention away from the bathroom door.
“Nah,” I say, taking the beer bottle from him.
Machlan taps th
e top of the bar and ventures to the far side to take an order.
Once he’s gone, Peck leans toward me, twisting his cap around backward. The typical goofball look on his face is gone. It’s replaced with one that has me biting my lip.
“She’s a good girl. I know you know that,” he says.
“Then why are you telling me?”
He grins. “You know she left before because you were a shithead, right?”
“Again, not sure why you’re telling me this,” I say, taking a swig of beer in hopes the alcohol kicks in quick.
“Look,” he says, leaning on the bar. “You didn’t ask for advice—”
“Exactly.”
His grin digs deeper. “But I’m gonna give it to ya anyway. Just don’t fuck up and everything will be fine.”
His words slice through the worry I’ve tried to keep stuffed. My gaze snaps to the bathroom to see her standing, arms over her chest, talking to Megan McCarter. I gulp. “I hope so, Peck. Damn it, I hope so.”
“It’s all in your hands, man. She’s your girl. She knows it. You know it. I know it. Hell, Megan knows it and that’s why she’s over there trying to plant some seed of doubt in her brain.”
“Megan wouldn’t do that,” I scoff. “There’d be no point. I’ve never fucked her or given her any idea that I even like her.”
Peck’s shoulders rise and fall. “I know y’all write off most of what I say, but I see a lot. You should listen to me.”
“You see a lot and then you still have the hots for Molly McCarter?” I laugh. “We’ve all seen her ass, Peck.”
His nose wrinkles as he grabs his beer. “Fuck you, Cross.” He chuckles. “That’s not the same.”
I look back at Kallie again. She’s heading our way with a furrowed brow. I toss her a smile and she returns it with enough reluctance it has me springing to my feet.
“Gonna check out the bulletin board,” Peck says, clamping my shoulder as he walks by just as Kallie arrives.
“Hey,” I say, holding out a hand. She takes it and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah.” Lifting her glass filled with a pale yellow concoction, she downs a good three gulps. “And that’s better.”
“What’s going on?”
“Not a thing. You ready to go?”
“Sure,” I say, confused. “But is everything okay? I saw you talking to Megan and …”
She squares up to me, her chin lifted. “You and Megan just work out together. Right?”
“Twice,” I insist. “Once more and it’s over. Why?”
“You’ve never had a thing for her?”
“Good, God, no.” I laugh, pulling her into my chest. She’s stiff for a moment before giving in and sinking into me. My face buries in her hair and I breathe her in, hoping it calms her as much as it does me to have her so close. “You’re the only girl I’ve ever had a thing for.” I pull away and kiss her forehead. “Ever.”
“Forever ever?”
“Forever ever.” I peer in her eyes. “I don’t want to rush this thing between us, but I want you to know I have no desire, interest, or plans on being with anyone but you. Period.”
“Forever ever?” She grins.
“Forever ever.”
She takes our fingers, lacing them together, and pulls me toward the door.
“Is that going on your tab?” Machlan chuckles as we go by.
“That’s my payment for all those things you could’ve moved by yourself the other day.”
“I thought that was a favor?” He lifts a brow and looks to Kallie and smiles.
Laughing, I pop open the door and watch Kallie walk out. “It was. Thank you.”
He winks.
Eleven
Kallie
“That glow says everything I need to know.” Nora laughs, sitting down across from me at Carlson’s.
“You don’t know anything.”
“Look me in the eye and tell me you haven’t slept with Cross.”
I grab a menu and hold it vertically between us in hopes of covering my blushed cheeks. It’s not that there’s anything to be embarrassed about, but it seems like it was so expected and I just caved.
How could I not?
I set myself up for this by going home from the golf course with him. It’s absolutely what I wanted. But now the soreness between my legs is faded, a hint of concern is becoming evident.
Nora laughs from the other side. “So I was right. Go on, say it.”
The menu drops to the table. “Of course you’re right, but that squeal”—I point a finger in her direction—“is not necessary.”
“Oh, yes it is! This is almost as good as Justin and Britney getting back together. It’s the natural progression of things, the way they’re supposed to be. How can I not celebrate this?”
“You realize you’re essentially celebrating my orgasms, right?”
“Plural?” She throws her head back. “Of course plural. Fucking asshole.” While I laugh at her reaction, she takes moment to recover. “So, I’m assuming he’s better than before.”
“He was always my best. No matter what, he was the bar I measured everyone else up to, you know? But now…it’s like that’s not the same person.”
Nora’s eyes grow wide as she gulps for effect.
“He’s patient now, almost…tender? He kisses me and—”
“No more.” Nora’s hands are an inch away from her ears, mock trying to block out my recant of last night.
“What?” I giggle.
“I have to see him every Friday night at Crave. I don’t want to be looking at him thinking of the way he kisses you in private time and all that. It would be weird.”
Veronica comes out of nowhere and leans against the table. She pretends not to have overheard us for a minute and then, like the small-town business owner she is, she gives in. “You and Cross are together now, huh?”
“No,” I say as Nora says, “Yes.”
Veronica laughs. “I remember the two of you dating. You were always so cute, this big tough guy and a sweet little girl.”
“Yeah, well, we aren’t together,” I say, looking at Nora pointedly. “We’re feeling things out, I guess.”
“I’d say you felt it out.” Nora tosses me a wink. “You’re fighting the universe here, Kal. You and Cross are supposed to be together, having beautiful little babies. You can’t fight it forever.”
“I’d say she’s right. I saw how he was looking at you yesterday,” Veronica chimes in. “But I’m glad to hear you aren’t together right now, not officially, anyway.” She looks down at her notepad and takes an ink pen out of her pocket like she just didn’t say that.
Avoiding Nora’s eyes and swallowing past the lump in my throat, I try to look unaffected. There’s zero doubt she’s toying with me, seeing if I’ll take the bait she just dropped. I wish I could ignore it and continue on with my order and my day, but I’m not strong enough for that. “Why do you say that?”
“No big deal,” she says, giving me a fake laugh. “He was just through the drive-through a few minutes ago with Megan, and we all know that girl’s reputation.”
“Cross was with Megan McCarter?” Nora asks. “Today?”
“Yeah. I mean, if he’s not taken, how can you blame him? Men have needs,” Veronica says.
“That’s the biggest load of horse shit I’ve ever heard.” Nora takes her menu and slams it into the condiments tray.
My hand visibly shakes as I try to get my menu lined up with hers. The plastic rattles as it swings back and forth, bouncing off the metal. Nora has sympathy and takes it from me then puts it away.
The lights of Crave twinkle overhead as I look into the eyes of the man I both love and hate.
“Did you sleep with her, Cross?”
His Adam’s apple bobs. “No. I didn’t sleep with her.”
“Did you do anything with her? Because that’s what they’re saying,” I gulp, my eyes stinging from the tears of the last few hours.
They said he was with a redhead from Merom. All I knew is I couldn’t find him. And now, here we are, and I almost wish I hadn’t found him.
“We were at the same party,” he admits.
“The one you weren’t going to?”
“Come on, Kallie …” He blows out a breath. The smell of alcohol is thick on his breath.
Blinking back another round of tears, I take a step back. “You come on,” I tell him. “All you do is party. Drink. Be with God knows who.”
“It’s who I am,” he says, his arms out to the side. He wobbles a little.
Walker stands a few feet away. I look at him.
“You drunk?” I ask, wiping my tears with the back of my hands.
“Nope,” Walker replies.
“Good. He’s all yours.”
I didn’t look back.
Maybe I shouldn’t have now.
“I’m not with him,” I say. It’s aimed at Nora, my words directed across the table, but in reality, I’m saying it for me. “He is working with her at the gym.”
“Look, I didn’t mean to stir the pot…” Veronica looks at me with more smugness than I ever care to see on a person again. It sparks something inside me.
“No, you did.” I slide out of my seat so we’re eye-to-eye. “You always do.”
“Kallie, really, I didn’t.”
“It’s fine, Veronica,” I tell her. “You know why? Because your small town gossip is all you have.”
With a smile as deadly as I can make it, I swing myself in a half-circle and storm to the doors. Nora’s voice trails behind me but I can’t hear what she’s saying. The white noise pulsing through my ears is too loud.
As soon as we’re in Nora’s car, I collapse into the soft leather seat. She flips on the engine but doesn’t pull out.
“This is why I can’t do this with him,” I say out loud.
“Because Veronica is a bitch?”
“No, because this is what it always is.” The words crack with emotion. “I don’t want this and if I don’t stop this shit with Cross, I’ll be settling for a relationship I have to fight all the time.”
“She could be lying, you know. Just saying.”
Gibson Boys Box Set Page 61
