Falling Deeper (Falling Series)

by Lucia Grace

  “You want to move in together?”

  She sounds shocked, and I don’t know why.

  “Of course I do, baby,” I state, incredulously. “I want you with me as much as possible. And like I said, I know next year you’ll be finishing up high school, but it’s important to me that you like where we’ll be living and feel safe there.”

  “But what about college? Don’t you want to try and see if you can find an interest in something?”

  I snort at her question before I answer. “As much as I might do well in school, I can’t think of one thing I want to do. I’d rather keep working for Damon’s dad doing construction and take the year off from school, saving money, and spending all my free time with you.”

  “Okay, that’s fine. But what about for me? You know I want to be a teacher.”

  “And you will be. There are plenty of colleges around South Carolina. But if you decide you want to move and go to another school in a different state then that’s simple.” I bring a hand to Ember’s soft cheek and turn her face back to mine so I’m staring into her rich brown eyes. “I’ll follow you. Because, baby, I can’t be without you.”

  At that, she leans into me and tips her head back, offering up her lips for a kiss. She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I lean down, meeting her halfway, and place a gentle touch against her full lips. My heart feeling fuller than it has in a long time knowing that eventually we’ll be living together.

  Once we’ve had our fill I place the leftovers and garbage back in the basket, and move back beside my girl. She’s been exceptionally quiet tonight, not that she ever talks too much, but it causes that uneasy feeling from earlier to come roaring back. It’s like she’s stuck in her head, so I try to pull her out.

  I pull her gently from her seated position beside me until she’s sitting between my outstretched legs, her back to my chest. I wrap my arms around her waist from behind and settle my hands in her lap. Her hands come over top of mine as a contented sigh leaves her lips.

  I brush her long, dark hair over one shoulder and drop a couple kisses to her neck. I take in her delicious scent and release a contented sigh of my own.

  “Thank you for this. For tonight. For all of it,” she whispers into the night.

  Maybe I was uneasy for nothing.

  I wrap my arms a bit tighter around her. “You deserve this all the time, Ember. Not just as a reminder of our connection after all my fuck-ups.”

  I curse myself under my breath when I feel her body tense at my comment. Goddamn my stupid fucking mouth. I can tell her whole demeanor has changed, I can see the frown marring her face even though I’m not looking at her. I didn’t mean it the way it came out so I rush on to confirm that.

  “I didn’t mean it like that, baby. This night is a sort of thank you for staying even though I don’t deserve it. But it’s also so much more than that.” She’s still tense as she leans back into me. Fuck. “You deserve all this. Every day. So I’m trying to get us back there.”

  “Yeah, well, the fuck-ups are still there no matter how many romantic nights you give me, Kayson.” Her soft voice is hard and sad. Piercing through my heart.

  “I know, baby, but it’s been better. We’ve been better. Don’t you think?” I can’t keep the unease and pleading out of my voice.

  “It has, but for how long?” That question hangs in the air around us. I mull over my response carefully.

  “Forever.” I release a deep breath. “Because I can’t lose you, Ember. I wouldn’t survive it.”

  “It feels like I’ve been losing you since I got you,” she replies so softly, her words carrying on the breeze that blows through the salty air.

  I drop my head in defeat at the sadness in her tone. But it’s like the stars are aligned because, as the conversation reaches its heaviest point, my iPod switches to our song, effectively ending all conversation. It’s the same song we danced our first ever dance to that night she promised to be mine.

  I gently move from behind Ember and jump from the bed of my truck. I turn to see her questioning look turn knowing when I hold out my hand to her and ask, “Dance with me, baby?”

  All the tension from before eases from her body and a soft smile crosses her beautiful face as she gracefully gets up and walks to my outstretched hand. She places her soft, small hand into my rougher, larger one and I help her down. As soon as her bare feet hit the sand my arms are around her waist, pulling her close, and her hands are around my neck, running through the longer pieces of my hair.

  She lays her head on my chest as “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele croons away in the background. She presses in closer, swaying gently in time with me.

  Just like that night back in October, I hum along to the words softly in her ear. Goose bumps rise up on her flawless tan skin, and I lean down to kiss her bare shoulder. When a soft moan trickles past her plump lips, I trail my kisses up her shoulder to her neck. Placing a tender kiss just below her ear before I nip her lobe gently. She melts into me completely, and just like that I’m lost in her again. Crashing my lips down on hers. Stealing her breath and replacing it with mine.

  We kiss and sway as we give and take.

  As the night was going on storm clouds started rolling in over the ocean. Now, as our kiss deepens, those clouds decide to open up and pour down rain.

  Ember breaks away on a shriek and throws her hands out over her head, like that will help keep her dry. I chuckle as she starts laughing at herself, she then brings her arms out to her sides. My hands never left her waist so she tips her head back, trusting my hold, and lets the rain drop on her flushed skin.

  I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful in all my life. Even when she’s letting go under me, letting my pleasure bring her under, I’ve never seen her as beautiful as she is right now. Carefree and young and gorgeous. With that last thought I can’t help but bring her drenched body back flush with mine. Devouring her lips again.

  As the thunder starts to roll in I scoop her up into my arms, her laughter getting lost in the rain, and jog to the cab of my truck. Not caring about the shit getting wet in the back. When I get to the passenger side rear cab door I throw it open, place her in, and watch her climb across the seat, catching a glimpse of her lace panties under her dress. I groan then follow her in.

  Once I get the door shut we look at each other then burst out laughing and start wiping the excess water from our faces and skin. I grab an extra T-shirt from my gym bag on the floor and toss it to her to wipe up with.

  “Oh my goodness, I cannot believe that just happened.” She’s breathless from our kiss and the excitement of getting caught in the rain. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe this is the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. Hell, I know every new moment with Ember is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Each smile, each touch, each laugh is more beautiful than the last.

  “What?”

  I realize I was caught staring at her. “You’re beautiful,” I reply smoothly. She blushes. And then I’m on her. Unable to stop myself.

  My fingers span the side of her neck, into her hair, as my hands cup her jaw. Instead of devouring her with a rough kiss, I take my time, slow it down, and treasure her lips.

  She matches me stroke for stroke, just as slowly. The only noises filling the cab are the sounds of our breathing, our kissing, and the dull roar of the pounding rain around us.

  Ember pulls away to gulp in the steamy air around us. I forgo the much-needed air to breathe her in instead. I drop my lips down to her neck, nipping and kissing and licking as I go. She gasps then moans while moving her hands from fisting in my hair, to trailing down my chest, to the first button on my dress shirt. She starts to unbutton each one, but I get frustrated and bring my hands to each side of the fabric and pull. Buttons fly as her giggles let loose. Then her hands drop to the hem of my undershirt and she tugs.

  I reach behind and pull my T-shirt free, baring my chest to her. As soon as my shirt hits the floor I’m pulling Ember’s dress up her
gorgeous body, over her head, then tossing it right along with my shirts.

  She moves in, hands to my chest, lips to mine, and I lay her back onto the bench seat. Draping her legs over mine, as I stay seated and lean into her.

  Before I utter a word, I grab one side of her black lace panties and pull, shredding them from her flushed body. She gasps again, jacking my dick even harder than it had been. She arches her back to give me room to unclasp and remove her matching lace bra. I oblige willingly. As soon as she’s naked beneath me, sprawled out over my back seat, I sit and stare at her magnificence.

  “I am one lucky son of a bitch.” I breathe out, fogging up the steamed-up windows even more. “I may not deserve you, but I’m going to show you how much I need you.”

  “I love you,” she whispers. Her eyes shining bright, a small smile ghosting her pouty lips, her tan skin flushed with need. “I need you, Kayson.”

  At the break in her voice I waste no time undoing my jeans, sliding them and my boxers down my legs, and kicking them and my boots off onto the floor. I shift as I spread her legs and settle between them.

  With the rain still falling around us, a dull roar outside. With our love renewed and empowered, consuming us both. I slide into heaven, into home, into my everything.

  Ember places her hands to my face, sliding her fingers through to tangle in my hair. My hands brace my weight above her. In that cramped space of the backseat of my truck we move in unison, as one. I love her slowly, smoothly, tenderly. She takes me wholly, lovingly, unconditionally. We both get lost in each other’s eyes. My gray to her rich brown. We tell each other everything we don’t need to say with one look.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  -JULY-

  KAYSON

  “Let’s go to the beach. Take a walk down to the pier. Put our toes in the sand,” she says as she tries to pull me up from the couch. But just as I clasp her hand to make it seem like I want her to help pull me up, I pull her down on top of me.

  “How about we stay inside? Hmmm? I can think of a thing or two we could fill our afternoon with,” I say while grabbing Ember’s lush ass and nuzzling her neck. Kissing up to her earlobe then nipping it gently. Fuck, I could spend forever right here. Just like this.

  “Kayson Williams. You let me go right now. Get up and let’s go spend the afternoon enjoying this beautiful day like you promised,” she sasses to me. Fuck, I love her sass. She tosses it around on occasion and it makes me hard as a rock. Which completely defeats the purpose of her trying to get me to listen to her and do what she wants.

  “Ember Martinez. Get your sweet, curvaceous body over here so I can drag you upstairs and show you how much I love you,” I sass right back while waggling my eyebrows at her. Knowing it would drag a giggle out of her. And it does. So damn sweet, making me even harder.

  Thank God for summer vacation and her mother being away at work. Makes getting to take Ember any way I want a bit easier. I can take her to her bedroom and she doesn’t need to hold anything back. Hearing her scream my name over and over is damn music to my ears. I really need to stop thinking of this shit if I want my hard-on to go down so we can get out of here.

  “Please, Kayson. You promised. You remember, right?” she asks wearily with a slight frown on her beautiful face. Ah fuck. I hate seeing that damn look on her face. The all too knowing look that shows me she pays more attention than I’ve given her credit for.

  Things have been good. Really good. I’ve been trying lately. Trying for her, for us. Trying to be the better man she deserves. And it’s helping. She’s smiling more, laughing again, and acting more like the Ember from when I first met her. But I’m still slipping. Still snorting lines, still popping pills. She just doesn’t know how often.

  “Okay, baby, we’ll go.” I concede. “Go toss on that sexy-as-fuck red bikini you’ve got. Actually, on second thought, don’t put that on. Unless you want me to kill some fucker for even glancing at you.” I finish on a growl. Thinking of any douche bag even looking at her causes my fucking blood to boil.

  “Kayson. Shut up,” she says on a laugh. “I am not wearing a damn bikini anyway. You know this. I’ll be right back. I’m going to run up and change,” she says, smiling at me while jogging up the stairs. Allowing me a view of her round ass bouncing up the stairs. Fine as fuck.

  “Can you grab the towels off the kitchen table and put them in the bag that’s on the chair, babe?” she hollers down to me from her bedroom. “I think your board shorts are still in there from a couple of weeks ago, too,” she adds on.

  Walking over to the kitchen table, I find the towels and my board shorts. I take the shorts out of the bag, put the towels in it, and then head into the downstairs bathroom to change. Leaving the door open since I don’t give a fuck, I drop my pants and slide on the shorts. As I’m adjusting the pockets I feel smooth plastic in my right one. My heart stalls then jackhammers, knowing what I’m about to find, but not remembering that I put it there. Shocker, dude. What do you remember lately? Besides Ember.

  I pull the plastic baggie out of my pocket to see a little bit of white powder and a rolled up bill with it. My pulse starts to thrum even faster, anticipating the rush and euphoric feeling that will come with snorting a line.

  “Ready to go?” Ember, all of a sudden, asks at the open door, surprising me. I throw my fisted hand behind my back and try to make it look like nothing is wrong.

  “Ah yeah, baby,” I stammer out. Clearing my throat I try again. “Sorry, just one second. Let me use the bathroom first and then we can go,” I say to her while kissing the side of her head, my hand still behind my back, trying to control my racing heart.

  “All right. You okay, babe? You look a bit flushed?” she questions me. Probably conjuring up a million different scenarios in her head. I need to ease her worries, so I try.

  “Fine, baby. Just hurrying, trying to get to the beach for my girl,” I reply, trying to remain calm knowing what I’m about to do. Adding my signature smirk into the mix. Hoping that it conceals my lies.

  She gives me one last weary look then closes the door for me. Once I hear her footsteps start walking away I lock it as quietly as possible. After making sure there’s no way she heard the click, I pull the baggie from behind my back and take a deep breath. One line. Just one line and I’ll be fine.

  I carefully open the baggie, pull out the rolled up bill, then pour the coke onto the bathroom counter. I pull my wallet from my pants pocket, grab my driver’s license, and then cut the line. Once I have it lined up, I put the rolled bill to my nose and snort as hard as I can. I let the burn settle while I hold my nostril, tip my head back, and let the euphoria settle already.

  I wipe the counter of any residue, slide my finger in my mouth along my gums, and then wash my hands. Looking in the mirror I check my face to make sure there is no white powder around my nose, dry my hands, then I’m out looking for my girl.

  I feel jacked as fuck as I walk hand in hand with Ember back to her house from the beach. Her mom’s house is only about a five-minute walk so we often do that instead of taking my truck.

  We were at the beach for about two hours. First getting some lunch on the pier. Then we walked a bit down the beach to secure a nice secluded spot where I could ogle and grope my sexy-as-sin girlfriend as much as I wanted. My favorite part—getting to rub lotion all over her delectable body.

  Ember really doesn’t know how beautifully sexy she is, but I try to remind her often with either a compliment, a touch, or a kiss. So while rubbing her down I made sure to do a lot of reminding.

  After applying her suntan lotion and then watching her sunbathe for about an hour, I dragged her up, tossed her over my shoulder with ease, then jogged down to the water. Her laughter trailing behind us, lighting up my life. We splashed and played in the surf for a little bit. Long enough to cool off, wrap her body around me with a hot make out session, then cool off again.

  Now we are dried off, re-dressed, and heading back up to her house for dinner. I don
’t spend much time at my mom’s so her house has become like my home these past several months. I don’t know what Ember’s said to her mom to make her okay with all the time I spend there. Especially with what has gone down these past few months. But I’m thankful as fuck that my girl has fought for us.

  With my thoughts racing from a mix of anxiety and the blow I snorted a few hours ago, I’m brought crashing down to reality when I hear a wolf whistle from behind us.

  I spin around so quickly I almost take Ember down with the hand I am still clutching. There, cruising by on a street bike, is some fucker panting after my girl and whistling at her like he can’t see me. He can’t be blind when he’s driving a bike and ogling Ember’s body in her short-as-fuck denim skirt and tight-as-second-skin white tank top, I think to myself, seething at this douche nozzle for even thinking he could look at her that way.

  He slows down as he approaches, yelling out, “Looking good, baby,” as he passes by. I look over to Ember to see her flushed red from embarrassment and biting her thumbnail with worry. She knows I am about two seconds away from flipping my shit.

  When the fucker glances my way he flips me the bird, and that does it. My adrenaline spikes and the coke still coursing through my veins doesn’t help my rational thought. I drop Ember’s hand and start sprinting so fast I don’t even know it happened until I hear her screaming my name faintly. The stupid motherfucker is stopped at the stop sign up ahead, and right before he takes off I have him tossed off of his bike and I’m on top of him. Beating the shit out of him. Landing a blow to his jaw, then his ribs, then back to his face.

  With that final shot I’m pulling his face closer to mine by the collar of his shirt and seething into it. “You listen here, you stupid cunt. That girl is mine. Hear me? MINE. You don’t look, you don’t whistle at her, you don’t even fucking think of what she looks like when she’s coming as I’m pounding into her. You hear me?” I say in a mad rage into his stunned face.