Beneath The Lies

by Riann C. Miller

  If I’ve learned anything since moving here to California, it’s that my parents babied me. Without a doubt, they sheltered me from the Carly’s of the world. I knew mean people existed, but I never had firsthand knowledge of them...until now.

  Carly is definitely causing problems, which is exactly what she wants, and I’m allowing it to affect my relationship with Gavin. What he doesn’t seem to understand is he’s doing the same exact thing.

  I’m nowhere near asleep when I feel the bed dip as Gavin climbs in. I’m debating turning over and saying something as I feel him brush my hair away from my face. Moments later he places a kiss below my ear. “I’m sorry. I was acting like an asshole. You’re right. I’m used to Carly and her fucked up behavior and you’re not. I hope to hell you never are, but I need to follow my own advice and not allow Carly to have any control over us. That includes getting upset with you after you’ve had to deal with her.”

  I turn over and bite my lip. This is my chance to prove to Gavin that I’m not like Carly. That I don’t need to continue a fight just for the sake of fighting.

  “I’m sorry, too. I know I shouldn’t listen to her, but it doesn’t help that we’re still learning things about each other, things like a broken engagement. I’m not mad that you didn’t tell me, but it allowed Carly to have the upper hand. In a sense it gave her control.”

  After hearing my comment, I can feel the tension start to drain from his body. “I know. I’m sorry. I wasn’t keeping it from you. Honest to God less than a week went by from the day I bought the ring until she threw it in my face. I’m sure she tried to make it sound like more than it was, but truthfully I don’t consider it an engagement, that’s why I didn’t say anything. And if I’m being honest I didn’t even think about telling you about her coming here today because Carly’s my problem and I hate making her yours.”

  “We’re a team, right? That makes Carly my problem just as much as she’s yours.” Another thought crosses my mind. Carly claimed that we haven’t had sex since the accident. Chances are she was guessing and hoping it would pay off, exactly how it did. But right now I want to correct the situation. I want Gavin. I lean my face up toward his and softly start to kiss him.

  I’m rewarded with a slow heated groan escaping his mouth, which fuels me to keep going. I reach my hand down and quickly slide it into his boxer briefs, finding him already hard. I start to pump his shaft up and down but all too soon he removes my hand. “Babe. You’re tired and still sore from the accident.”

  I have been extremely tired lately but the doctor said to expect that. My body is healing from the accident, but other than sleeping more, I wasn’t given any restrictions.

  “Gavin, please? I want this. I want you.” He’s caving, or at least he’s struggling to tell me no again. With that knowledge I slide my hand down to his rock hard erection and I start pumping him up and down.

  Gavin’s eyes start to flutter shut. When he opens them again, I see how greedy he’s become. He pulls my hand away from him but this time it isn’t to say no, it’s so he can work his way down my body. First, he pulls off my shirt, then my panties. Gavin moves my legs apart then lowers his mouth on me and sucks.

  “Ah. Oh. Yes.” I’m panting out some kind of response. Gavin seems to always know exactly what my body needs. My old boyfriend never offered to repay any oral favors and to be honest, I never thought to ask because it seemed dirty, almost wrong, but there is nothing wrong with what Gavin is doing to me right now.

  “Do you like my tongue on you? Do you want to come on my face?” Oh, Lord. Gavin has already discovered my desire for dirty talk, but add that to what his tongue is doing and I might explode in seconds.

  Gavin shifts his eyes to mine but he doesn’t stop his magical touch on my clit. When he adds two fingers along with seeing his beautiful dark eyes staring at me, I can’t hold off my climax any longer. “Oh. God.” I clench against him as my release seems to go on forever. Once I start to come back down to earth, I see Gavin rolling a condom on then he leans over me and slowly slides in.

  “Fuck me. You’re always so damn ready.” I’m expecting him to start pounding into me, but instead he goes slow and sweet, holding my eyes the whole time he’s thrusting in and out of me.

  “Kate...” Gavin practically growls out my name.

  I can’t tell if he’s fighting off his desire to be rough with me or his desire to come, but either way I don’t want him to be anything except himself when we’re together.

  I reach up and lock my mouth with his while I start pumping my hips upward, helping him out. I’m either going to push him over or remind him I’m not fragile.

  “Oh, God. Kate. Fuck!”

  Gavin starts speeding up and it’s not long before his body tightens and he’s riding out his own climax. The whole time he keeps his eyes glued to mine. The emotional connection definitely adds to what we just shared.

  Once Gavin’s breathing returns to normal, he leans down again and ever so softly kisses me on the lips. When he pulls back, his eyes return to mine.

  “Kate, I...I...I don’t know what I’d do without you. I know it seems like we just met, and it’s most likely too soon to feel this way about you, but I...do. I can’t stomach the idea that something might happen to take you away from me. The idea of that makes me crazy, which causes me to act like a dick sometimes. I’m fucking sorry for snapping at you earlier. Carly’s a conniving bitch, and I’m the reason you have to deal with her so...I’m sorry.”

  Any anger I still had melts away. “No matter what happens from here on out, we both have to decide not to allow her to have any control over us. I won’t listen to anything she has to say and you’ll keep me in the loop where she’s concerned. Deal?”

  Gavin breaks out in a gorgeous smile then he moves his hips, and I’m reminded of the fact that he’s still inside of me. “Deal.” Slowly, Gavin pulls out and climbs off the bed. I hop up behind him, heading to the restroom myself when I hear a mumbled “shit.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Gavin slowly turns in my direction with a strange look on his face. “The condom broke. Fuck. I should have pulled out of you sooner, but—”

  “We should be fine. I’m on the pill and I’m clean.” A look of relief washes over Gavin. “Good. That’s...good, and the same thing here. Not the pill part but the clean part.”

  I can’t help but giggle at his fumbled words. He’s nervous and I find it cute. I’m still laughing as Gavin sweeps me up into his arms and carries me back to bed. “You think that’s funny, do you?” Instead of answering I lock my lips on his. Within seconds Gavin melts into my body and broken condoms and his crazy ex’s are long forgotten.

  ****

  “I need to call you Elsa?” Callie is nodding her head yes while she’s stuffing her face with the dinner I fixed.

  Gavin asked if I would be willing to stay with Callie for a few hours after he got a call from Kiran who needed his help with something. I finished cooking while Callie watched Frozen for the thousandth time since I met her and now she’s eating, insisting I call her Elsa, the princess from Frozen. “Does your dad call you Elsa?”

  She stops and thinks about my question before shrugging her shoulders with no clear answer. “Okay, Elsa, finish up eating then you’re off for a bath.” Callie’s face lights up at my statement. I know she’s taking advantage of me but at the same time I don’t really care. She has Carly for a mother, which I’m sure makes her life harder than it should be at only four years old.

  Giving Callie a bath was very easy and borderline fun. She told me about how her friend at school has special crayons that she can write on the bathtub wall with, but her mother told her she couldn’t have them. Again, I’m certain she’s taking advantage of me, but I don’t care. Tomorrow I’m going to lunch with Gabby and Alyssa, and while I’m out, I’m going to buy her those bathtub crayons.

  While I’m helping Callie into her pjs I hear a knock at the door. “Elsa, stay here. I’ll be right
back.” I’m rewarded another huge smile before I head to the door. I’m positive whoever’s here didn’t come to see me, which is why I thankfully look through the peephole because it’s Carly.

  Shit, shit, shit. Seriously. I can’t open the door or she’ll go crazy and end up taking Callie out of spite when she discovers I’m here alone with her.

  “Open the door, now.” I race over to my phone and hit Gavin’s number, but it goes straight to voicemail. I tap out a quick text telling him Carly’s at the door. When I look up I see Callie walking into the living room with a panicked look on her face.

  “Open the door now, asshole!” I hurry over toward Callie and quickly place my finger over her mouth, “Shh. Let’s be quiet okay, Elsa?”

  Carly is her mother, but she’s a shitty mother and I’m certain that even Callie knows this. I’m not trying to replace Carly in her eyes, but I know in my heart if I open that door without Gavin here all hell is going to break lose and Callie will be the one who ultimately pays the price.

  My only hope is that Carly will think no one is home and leave, which is exactly what happens ten—very long—minutes later.

  By the time Carly finally left, Callie was in tears. Somehow I managed to get her to agree to go to bed and she even allowed me to lay down with her. Snuggled up tight in a twin bed, I sang to her until she finally gave up and fell asleep. Quietly, I sneak out of her bed and head back to my own and almost an hour later I give up and fall asleep, too. Hours later I come awake when I feel the bed move then Gavin pulls me tight against his chest and I immediately fall back asleep.

  ****

  When I woke the next morning, Gavin was already up with Callie. The two of them are lying together on the couch watching something other than Frozen. “Good morning, Elsa.” Callie giggles and Gavin shoots me a peeved look.

  “She’s convinced you her name has changed, huh?” Callie’s smile dims some but she doesn’t look at Gavin.

  “Oh, I don’t know. I’m not sure there’s anything wrong with believing she’s a princess.” Callie’s smile pleasantly comes back but she doesn’t take her eyes off the TV. Gavin’s face changes to a look I can’t quite describe.

  I end up pouring myself a cup of coffee and the whole time I feel Gavin’s eyes following my every move. When I walk back into the living room, my suspicions are confirmed as he continues to watch me. “I’m going to go take a shower then I’m going out to lunch with Gabby and Alyssa.”

  Gavin’s eyes glaze over with what appears to be almost anger. He’s only met my friends once and he even agreed they are nice girls. This better not be about me not feeling up to going out.

  “I’m going to go take a shower,” I repeat. Gavin’s mouth opens like he was going to say something but he closes it and nods his head.

  I quickly shower and get myself ready but before I’m even out of the bathroom I hear a knock on the door followed by Alyssa’s voice. When I walk into the living room, I only see Alyssa and she’s trying her hardest to talk to Callie, who appears to want nothing to do with her.

  “Ready?” Alyssa hops to her feet then turns toward the door.

  “Yep.” I look over at Gavin and again I see a strange almost upset look on his face, but unlike moments ago he’s not curled up with Callie.

  “Everything okay?” I ask as Gavin clears his throat.

  “Yeah. I was going to talk to you about something, but not when Callie was in the room and now...fuck, now you’re leaving.” This big gorgeous man is acting almost shy and I love it. I love how different, almost soft he is with me compared to the way he acts toward the outside world.

  “I won’t be gone long. Promise.” I lightly press my lips on his, not knowing if showing this type of affection in front of Callie is considered acceptable, but Gavin pulls me tight to his body and deepens our kiss. When he finally releases me, I feel like I’m in a fog of desire.

  “Go. Have fun with your friends, but be safe. Remember to watch your surroundings, and don’t forget I was planning to talk to you this morning. No matter what happens from here on out, we talk to each other before we get upset.”

  Instantly my mind goes into over drive trying to figure out why I would be upset, possibly with him. I was mad last night when I was here dealing with Carly by myself, and even more when he didn’t answer his phone or text and again when he didn’t come home when he implied he would, but I’ve slept since then. I would still like an explanation even if I’m no longer upset about what happened.

  “Okay. We’ll talk later about what happened last night and why you got home so late. Now I’m heading off to enjoy time with my girls, so I’ve got to go.”

  “Okay...later,” he adds while nodding his head.

  “Bye Elsa, be good for your daddy.” I’m rewarded with another adorable giggle then I follow Alyssa out the door.

  Gabby is waiting for us in her car. The two of them appear to have put their tiff behind them and went back to acting like the same pair I met when I first arrived at Berkley. Gabby drives us to an upscale restaurant in a part of town that I’ve never ventured to before.

  As I’m looking the menu over I see about a thousand different salads I can order but their menu lacks what I’m really craving, which is a juicy hamburger. When the waiter comes over to take our order, I’m still lost, so I just order the same thing Gabby does.

  As soon as the waiter walks away, Alyssa turns to me. “Where were you last night?” Her eyes are huge as she awaits my answer.

  “Home. At Gavin’s, I mean, with Callie. Why?”

  The girls discovered Gavin was a father when they stopped by to visit me after my accident. They were just as shocked as I was when I found out about Callie.

  “Man that sucks. We were at a party when Kyler got a call from his brother. The whole place cleared out within seconds,” Alyssa says.

  Gabby is nodding her head. “Yeah. They claim last night would be the last time, but they’ve said that before. Either way fights are happening there less and less so everyone jumped when the call came in.”

  I clear my throat, trying to think of something to say, because clearly they know something I don’t. “Oh. Shit. He didn’t tell you?” Alyssa questions.

  “I...” I have no idea what to say.

  “Gavin hosted a fight last night at The Hill.” Gabby, unlike Alyssa decides to put me out of my misery.

  “Oh,” I whisper, slightly embarrassed that I didn’t know what they were talking about.

  “Yeah, I was wondering where you were. Then we saw that bitch that’s always hanging around Gavin and not you. I almost called you but Gavin removed the chick’s hands from his arm then he had a friend of his kick her ass out.”

  “She was freaking pissed. Screaming at him in front of everyone how she’s going to make him sorry,” Gabby adds.

  Holy crap. I wonder if that was before or after she showed up at Gavin’s house. I can only imagine what Carly would have done if I had answered the door.

  “He didn’t tell you any of this?” I swallow again, trying to figure out how I should answer without making Gavin look awful in front of my friends.

  “No. He came in late and told me this morning he wanted to talk to me about last night, but he didn’t want to with Callie in the room.”

  “That makes sense. I got the impression from Noah that the fight happened at the last minute,” Gabby adds with pity laced in her tone seconds before Alyssa speaks up again.

  “Kyler said there wasn’t going to be any more fights at The Hill. I hope he’s wrong because I’m not about to go to Phil’s. Too scary for even me.”

  The topic changes from school, to Noah, to a guy Alyssa is hoping to score a date with, then to eating a salad with nuts as the protein. Everything was going great until I suddenly hear my name being called. I glance over my shoulder in time to see Leeta appear at our table.

  I smile up at her, but it falls instantly when her eyes narrow at me. I have no idea what she’s about to say but I tell just by how
she’s holding her body that this isn’t the same Leeta I know.

  “Kate, dear, how are you feeling? I heard about your accident.” My whole body coils with tension when I hear the tone of her voice. All three of us stop eating and look up to see this different, almost evil version of Leeta.

  When I lived with Leeta there were a few times I felt she was trying too hard to be my friend, but fake or not she was always nice. By the look on her face I would say she’s taking enjoyment at my expense, and I’m not sure why.

  “I’m doing fine. Thank you for asking, Leeta.” My eyes remain fixed on hers while she continues to study my features before speaking again.

  “I was scared when I received the call that you had been an accident. Then I was upset when you didn’t even bother to call me yourself.”

  “Oh, God. Leeta, I’m sorry. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

  She slowly taps her finger on her chin. “You’ve also been busying moving in with that no good son of mine. I guess it’s safe to say our relationship is over. There’s no way Gavin will tolerate us being friends.”

  I want to reassure her that Gavin doesn’t control me, that we can be friends, but every warning Gavin’s given me is right at the surface. Not to mention the Leeta that is talking to me now isn’t the same woman I’ve known.

  “I’m sure the board at SGS was happy to hear you were okay. After all, the company will be yours one day very soon.” I see looks of shock cross both Gabby and Alyssa’s face. I’ve never spoken about my father’s company or the fact that I’ll one day—very soon—be a millionaire due to my father’s death, and this is a crappy way for them to find out.

  My voice when I find it is weaker than I intended. “Everything is fine, Leeta. Thank you for your concern.” Hoping she’ll get the hint that I’m done talking with her, I turn back to my friends and plaster on a fake smile. I either irritated Leeta more than she was expecting or she had a whole other reason for coming over in the first place, and I learn that with her next blow.