by Alla Kar
His hot mouth takes my nipple in and he bites. An orgasm is building. Pumping my hips toward him, I long for it. Long for that release. I tilt my pelvis his way, giving him better access. “Laney, Jesus Christ. You’re so fucking tight.” He releases my hands, and my own go straight to his neck, interlocking my fingers in his hair. He plunges into me harder, making me cry out. Trembles race through my body. I let go, my body shuddering with want. Need.
“Laney,” Lachlan sighs, clutching my hips harder. “You want me?”
I’m still riding a wave from my orgasm, but I nod. “Yes,” I scream, my voice foreign.
“Okay, baby.” He plunges harder into me, back and forth. He growls before he comes down in front of me, his cock jerking powerfully inside me.
Our breath is hard, fast, and the only noise in the room. I feel him shift off of me and hear him tearing the condom from him. A second later I’m wrapped in hard arms.
“Laney.”
My eyelids flutter closed, unable to stay open. “Hmm.”
“I think I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Where you are.”
Smiling into his pillow, I nod. “I think so, too.”
Epilogue
Laney
“And in the end, the love you take
Is equal to the love you make…” – The Beatles
My clenched fist hovers over the door.
This is a bad idea.
But, it’s the only way to make any of this better. I have to right my wrongs, even if I have to grow a pair to do it. A few guys walk behind me, mumbling something under their breath. Bet and bitch are definitely two words I hear. It’s been like this since the party. Everyone at school knows about the bet now. The girls applaud me while the guys treat me like a leper. I guess I deserve it; I should have never done it, but I did. So, it’s live with the guilt or grow up and apologize. I’m going with the latter. It’s been two weeks since the party. Aiden has turned the other way every time I get near him. He goes straight to his room, at least that’s what I’ve been hearing.
Before I lose my nerve, I bang my fist against the door three times. There is stirring behind the door and I hope another girl doesn’t answer. A few seconds later the door creaks open. Aiden is standing with one hand on the doorknob and the other tucked in his sweats’ pocket.
His jaw clenches when he sees me and his brown eyes widen with hurt. “Do you need something?” His voice is deep, snarky and rude. Can’t say I blame him.
“Can I come in?”
Anger washes over his face. Closing his eyes, he opens the door wider, allowing me access. His roommate is sitting on his bed, earphones plugged in his ears.
“Hey, can you give us a minute?”
The guy looks up. “Oh,” he mouths, letting out a low whistle. “I will definitely be leaving now.” He grabs a bag and scurries out of the room.
The guilt has wrapped around my chest, squeezing the life out of me. I stand with my back to him for a few seconds, trying to regain my breath. “Aiden, I’m sorry.”
He scoffs, and I hear him start to dig around in his mini-fridge. “Right,” he mumbles.
“What I did was wrong, I shouldn’t have agreed to it, and the more I got to know you the more I didn’t want you to ever find out about this. But you found out anyway.”
Aiden sits down on his bed, drink in one hand and the other twisted into his blond locks. “I just—I liked you, Laney. I did.”
I slide his desk chair out and roll over until I’m sitting in front of him. “You didn’t, Aiden. You liked that I was hard to get. You liked that I was a challenge. That I didn’t give in. It’s imbedded into your DNA, you can’t help it.”
Glancing up, he rolls his eyes from the top of my head to my feet. “You said it was a bet. Who bet you to do it? You don’t seem like the kind of person to just do this to be mean. Who talked you into it again?”
“Bethany. You slept with her a few weekends back. She was my friend at the club.”
“Brittany?”
I roll my eyes. “Can’t you see that you hurt girls when you do this? I mean, I think they should keep their legs closed, but a lot of women are engrained with it. They want to please their potential mate, and so they give it up. It’s inevitable.”
Aiden scratches his head, before making eye contact with me. “You’re not into me at all? Not even a bit.”
Tucking my lip inside my mouth, I give him a slow, one-shouldered shrug. “No. I—I love someone else. I have for a long time.”
Aiden nods. “British guy.”
“Australian, but close enough.”
“Well, congratulations to you and him. He throws a mean right hook.” He points toward a yellowing bruise on his cheek.
Smiling, I reach over and brush my fingers against his. “I’m sorry. I should have never done this. I hope you can forgive me.”
He grunts and stands up. “There is no way I couldn’t forgive you. You broke my heart and, even if it was fake, I cherish the time we had. It was…nice. I’m sorry for the way I treated your friend.”
“Thank you, Aiden. Maybe you should tell her yourself?”
Grabbing my arm, he pulls me toward his chest. I fit my head into the crook of his neck and exhale. “Thank you, Laney. I will.”
Aiden grips my hair when I reach up and kiss his cheek. “See you around?”
Aiden nods. “Yeah, maybe we could hang out sometime. Just for old time’s sake.”
“That would be nice.”
My hands is on the doorknob when Aiden stops me. “Tell Lachlan that he has a good girl. That I’d be proud to call you mine.”
Tears are forming in my eyes but I push them back down. “I will.”
***
Lachlan is hanging a photo on his wall when I get there. The place is actually starting to look like home. His low-rise jeans are the only thing hanging on his hips. His back muscles are hard, moving as he hammers the picture frame into the wall.
The faint sound of music hums from his living room speakers. Shutting the door, Lachlan turns around to see me. His green eyes are bright, a smile curling up his strong jaw.
“Did you see him?”
I nod and toss my brown paper bag on his kitchen cabinet. “Yes.”
He lifts an eyebrow and turns completely toward me. The lines in his abs are deeper than I remember from high school, his shoulders wider. Age has done him well. “And?”
“He says he forgives me.”
Lachlan clears his throat and nods toward the brown paper sack. “What do you have in the sack, luv?”
I shake my head. “Girl stuff. You want to take a break?”
A wicked grin crawls up his face. “Do you have something in mind, baby?” his voice drips with sex. If that’s even freaking possible.
I take a few leisurely steps toward him. “I think I may, luv,” I mock.
Lachlan wraps an arm around my waist, bringing me close to him. “Well, why don’t I jump in the shower and then we can put said plans into motion.”
I nip his ear with my teeth, making him growl. “Or we could forget the shower.” Laughing, I push him toward the bathroom.
“Hurry,” I say.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Waiting until he is around the corner, I grip the paper bag and lock myself in the guest bathroom. All the nerves I’d been hiding jut out and start dancing at the sight of the test. Pregnancy test. I’m a week and a half late for my period.
I open the box, memories resurfacing. I screw my eyes shut and lock them away. I won’t be tormented by my past mistakes anymore. The therapist Lachlan suggested has helped me. She doesn’t judge, only listens. It’s nice to talk. To admit my fears.
I shake it off after I pee on it, and set it on the counter. I bite my lip and slide against the bathroom door. I hear Lachlan in the kitchen. He must have taken a damn whore bath. Checking my phone, I ease my way up.
The small stick is staring up at me. Begging to be read. “Laney, are you okay, luv? Are you s
ick?”
“Not yet,” I mumble. “That’ll take a few weeks.”
“What? Let me in,” he says, wiggling the doorknob. I instantly grab the knob and open the door. I won’t leave him out again.
“What the—” he trails off as he sees the stick in my hands. Eyes wide, he nods toward it. “Are you?”
I shrug.
Lachlan puts his drink down and wraps his arms around my waist. “Want to look together?”
Nodding, I grip the sides of his sweat pants. “Yes.”
Lachlan pulls me back, and sits me on the bathroom counter. My eyes are closed; I’m too afraid to look. Lachlan takes the pregnancy test from me and the silence digs into me.
“Look, luv.”
Pressing my lips into a hard line, I open my eyes fast. Two pale blue lines are staring back up at me. Heart pounding, I glance up at Lachlan. He’s grinning wildly. Snatching his hands up, he runs them through his hair. “We’re—we’re pregnant, luv.”
The large lump in my throat falls down my throat. I’m not scared. The look on Lachlan’s face erases every fear, memory, and doubt in my mind. “We’re pregnant.”
Lachlan wraps me in his arms, those big, safe arms, and squeezes. “Christ, we’re getting a second chance. Another chance.” He is shaking against me, tears soaking the shoulder of my shirt.
I’m doing my best runny-nose sob into his shoulder. He pulls back, his eyes as wide as his smile. “I love you so much, luv.”
Biting back the happy tears, I nod. “I never stopped.”
“It's been written in the scars on our hearts
we’re not broken just bent
And we can learn to love again” – Pink
Song Credits
“Just Give Me a Reason.” Written and performed by Pink.
“The Scientist” Written by Guy Berryman, Chris Martin, Johnny Buckland, Coldplay. Performed by Coldplay.
“Wrecking Ball.” Written by Stephan Moccio, Lukasz Gottwald, Sacha Skarbek, Cirkut, Mozella. Performed by Miley Cyrus.”
“Flaws.” Written by Daniel Smith. Performed by Bastille.
“The Kill.” Written by Jared Leto. Performed by 30 Seconds to Mars.
“Broken.” Written by Federico Scoot, Jason Wade. Performed by Lifehouse.
“Hallelujah.” Written by Leonard Cohen. Performed by Rufus Wainwright.
“Far Away.” Written by Nickleback and Chad Kroger. Performed by Nickleback.
“Dreaming With a Broken Heart.” Written and performed by John Mayer.
“Haunted.” Written by Jimmy Messer. Performed by Kelly Clarkson
“When We Were One.” Written by Rune Westberg and Brooke White. Performed by Brooke White.
“Pompeii.” Written by Daniel Smith. Performed by Bastille.
“Scars.” Written by Tobin Esperance. Performed by Papa Roach.
“Paradise.” Written by Guy Berryman, Chris Martin, Johnny Buckland. Performed by Coldplay.
“Troublemaker.” Written by Olly Murs, Claude Kelly, Flo Rida, and Steve Robson. Performed by Olly Murs.
“Every Girl.” Written by DeWayne Carter, Aubrey Graham, Jarvis Mills, Jermaine Preyan, Carl Lilly. Performed by Young Money and Lil Wayne.
“The End.” Written by Lennon-McCartney. Performed by The Beatles.
ALLA KAR
Alla Kar is from the Deep South. She lives there with her husband, Chihuahua, and pit-bull. She loves YouTube and bringing alpha males to life. When she isn’t reading or writing, she is watching the Hodge Twins and swooning over book boyfriends to whoever will listen!
CHAPTER ONE
“Are you listening to me, Jaden?”
No, not really.
My father’s BMW grinds to a halt in front of my brother’s apartment building. Or should I say my apartment building.
God, this is going to suck.
My freshman year of college, and I’m being forced to live with my older brother. Dad wants me to be safe. He says Adam can show me the ropes and make sure I’m hanging out with the right group of friends. If only that were the case.
The truth is, I have no friends, and Dad wants to make sure I’ll be around other human beings instead of staring at my walls all day long.
He won’t have anyone to watch over me if I stayed in a dorm room. What’s he going to do pay my roommate to hang out with me? With my brother being a social butterfly, I’ll be exposed to people my age. What Dad forgets—or decides to ignore—is that I’m going to be surrounded by half-naked girls all the time. Adam is definitely one of those guys. I love him, he’s my brother, but he’s an ass.
Dad snaps his fingers in front of my face, and I jump. “Huh?”
He ruffles his graying hair and goes to say something when his phone beeps..
“Dr. Baker, here. What can I do for you?” He says into the Bluetooth speaker. “Yes, our appointment is tomorrow. Yes, eleven.”
Dad clicks his pen, and I watch as he pulls out his checkbook. “Jaden.”
I roll my eyes.
Money fixes everything, according to Dad, who’s a psychologist, so he should know you can’t buy happiness. “I’m giving you three blank checks. You get anything you need for school. New clothes. Things for school. All of your books are on your bed upstairs. Nancy’s already got everything you’ll need for your room and classes.”
Nancy is my dad’s secretary and the closest thing I’ve ever had to a mother. I wish she were here. But she has her own kids to worry about.
I fold the checks and slip them into my jeans.
“Are you ready to go inside? See your new room?” He has this fake enthusiastic tone to his voice. He uses it on me like I’m three, not eighteen. It’s the same one he uses on his clients—the ones who need mental help.
“No,” I say, grabbing my purse, which Dad spent a fortune on. “But, like I have a choice.”
Dad frowns, pulls the keys from the ignition, and faces me. The icy look—his real look—is there, but I don’t care. “This should be exciting for you, Jaden.” He reaches for me, but withdraws his hand like I might bite him for touching me. His brown eyes narrow and he furrows his thick brows. “This is your chance to make a fresh start. Make friends. Make new memories. Good ones this time.”
Dad pulls on his tie. “Okay, Dad. Can we go inside now?”
He stares blankly at me for a long while before getting out of the driver’s seat.
I sigh and step out of the Beemer. This is where rich parents send their children for college. I don’t know how much the rent is, but I know it’s a butt load. Dad doesn’t think twice when Adam asks for money, or me. It’s like second nature to hand over wads of cash. It means he is taking care of his children. More like bribing them, but whatever helps him sleep at night.
I follow him up the three flights of stairs to the fourth floor. There is music vibrating from the other side.
Dad raps his knuckles roughly against the door.. He knocks louder, grumbling underneath his breath. His arm flies up, and he glances at his watch. He’s sweating in his damn suit. Only my dad would wear a suit to help his daughter move. Not that we have to actually do any moving.
Dad pulls out his cell. I figure he’s calling Adam, but it goes straight to voicemail. “Damn it,” he grumbles before pounding his fist against the door. “Open the door, Adam!” he yells.
I play with a dark curl hanging against my shoulder and bite my lip to keep from laughing. A bead of sweat drops from Dad’s upper lip. Then the door swings open and my eyes snap upward.
Holy Shit.
My. God.
A shiver shoots down my spine as I drink in everything that’s standing in front of me. He has dark brown hair that’s standing up like a woman has recently been raking her hands through it.. My eyes drag down his body over each lean, long muscle. Tattoos cover his torso, from a long, tribal tattoo to something peeking out of his low-rise sweats, to a cluster of them along his other arm. Jesus Christ.
Something settles in my lower stomach, and I squee
ze my thighs together to keep the heat in. Is this a dream? Are we at the right apartment? We have to have the wrong apartment. I glance at the door.
306.
Nope, right apartment.
Dad makes a disgusted snort and waves his hand in front of him. It isn’t long before I smell why. Either a skunk died in their apartment or they’re smoking weed. “I’m looking for Adam.”
My eyes settle on his dimples—of course he has dimples—and then move with him as he rests against the doorframe.
“Adam Baker?” he asks. His voice sends another roll of lava under my skin while my toes curl in my Dolce & Gabbana suede, knee-high boots. Damn.
Dad’s teeth grind together. “Yes, my son. Is he here?”
Pursing his thick, pink lips, he strokes the scruff on his jaw with a long finger. Dad seems uneasy. “Adam. Hmm, Adam.”
His gaze drifts over to me for the first time, and my sex clenches. Lifting a brow, he rakes his eyes from my hair to my toes. I squeeze my already curled feet into my shoes. What. The. Hell?
Dad snaps his fingers in front of his face, and he drops his “I’m-taking-all-your-clothes-off-in-my-head-right-now” look. “Is Adam here?”
He smiles—God he smiles—and I bite my tongue. He’s making fun of my dad, and I can’t help but grin. “Yeah, he’s in the living room.”
Dad pushes his way in. I wait in the hall unsure of what to do and fighting the urge to drink him in again. When I do look his left hand is wrapped around the top of the doorframe, and he leans toward me. His dark eyes penetrate me, and I’m trying not to lap like a dog from the heat of it.
“You can come in. I won’t bite you, Princess,” he whispers before his tongue darts out of the side of his mouth. “But no promises about licking.”
I haven’t even stepped foot inside of my new home, and I need to change my panties. He laughs at the expression on my face. Could I be any more embarrassed?
“What are you doing to my sister, Cade? Leave her the hell alone.” Adam shows up in the doorway. He has a lazy smile on his lips and his arms wide open. I take a few cautious steps toward him, definitely aware of how close I am to the tall, dark and handsome standing next to me.
