by Lily Kay
“Hey, baby. Let’s try again. I’m Joey and you’re coming with me. I’ll make your night one you’ll never forget.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward his chest. My head dizzied from the overpowering smell oozing from his body. And they thought I stunk earlier today? I was a soap commercial compared to this guy.
“Let me go!” Adrenaline kicked-in from his manhandling.
“Listen, asshole, let go of my friend.” Emmy may be small, but she had the capacity to create a scene if she wanted.
Besides, Nick could kick pretty much anyone’s ass, unless they were a higher level black belt than him. Before the guy responded to Emmy, Nick finally chimed in on our conversation. “Hey, man, why don’t you make a wise choice, and listen to the lady.”
“Listen, dickwad, I staked her first. Go back to your own bitch behind the bar.” Oooh, bad move by Joey boy.
“I’d try again.” Another voice chimed in, causing me to gasp as Gavin hovered over me.
“Who the fuck are you?” Joey asked.
“Her fucking boyfriend.” He stepped forward, towering a head taller than the douchebag. “And if I see your fucking ugly face even look at her, I won’t be afraid to cause permanent damage.”
“Dude, I’m friends with the owner. Don’t fuck with us.” Nick punctuated the lop-sidedness of the situation. No doubt the night would end with Drakkar-boy getting his ass pommeled. Not to mention said owner loved Nick and would probably join in on the ass kicking. Maybe not, but he would at least throw this Joey guy out once the ass kicking concluded.
Drakkar boy assessed Gavin and Nick. “Don’t know what you see in the fucking bitch.” He flung his hands in the air like he tossed me away, before retreating into the crowd.
Gavin started to attack, but Nick held him back. “Scumbag’s not worth it, mate.”
“Well, jolly good fun.” Nick patted my back. “I’ll leave you two at it.” Nick delivered my drink and turned to give Emmy hers. “Shall we?” With drinks in tow, he held out his elbow for Emmy to loop her arm, escorting her back to the table.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed.
“We’re talking. I gave you your space, and now you’re hearing me out.” Gavin wasn’t shitting around, based on the intensity of his tone.
“Gavin, I already told you. I can’t do this anymore. It hurts too much.” I turned to head back to our table.
“Will you—” Gavin seized my shoulder and released. When I turned to face him, his hands were curled before they opened and settled on my shoulders again.
His tone softened. “Will you please listen and let me explain? And then you can decide what you want to do. You owe me an opportunity to explain.”
“Fine. Talk.”
“Not here.” He grabbed my drink and escorted me over to the table. Upon seeing Gavin, Matt stood up.
“What the fuck is he doing here?”
“My sentiments exactly.” I grabbed the drink from Gavin and gulped down a third of the daiquiri before brain freeze took over.
Nick pulled the hem of Matt’s shirt. “Sit down, mate. It’s cool, I invited him.”
Matt turned toward Nick. “What the fuck, man?”
“She needs to hear him out.” He lifted his brows, shoving a beer at Matt.
I thought was Sierra the traitor, forcing me to the club. But Nick? Pure travesty. He was going down. Even if he did kinda help me out with the Joey situation. Maybe I’ll cut him a little slack. A very little.
I turned toward Sierra. “Did you know about this?”
She pasted a very feeble, pathetic smile onto her mouth. “Maybe a little?” Still a traitor.
My eyes roved over to Emmy who shook her head vehemently, eyes widened. At least she plead ignorance with this staged intervention.
“What the fuck, Sierra?” Matt now turned his attention toward her.
“Is that your expression of the night, Matt? What the fuck?” She mimicked in a deep voice.
“I’ve had it with all of you, Fricking A.” I turned toward the traitors. “You guys are in deep shit later and owe me lots of chocolate chip cookie dough and Thai food.”
“Quit antagonizing everyone,” I yelled at Matt.
Finally, I faced Gavin. “Make it quick. You’ve got five minutes. I’m not even sure you deserve that.” I took another gulp of my daiquiri, slammed the glass on the table, and stomped toward the exit.
Once outside, Gavin grabbed my hand and marched us toward the back of the building.
“I was this close to sending him to the hospital. I’m not kidding, you better let me teach you some self-defense moves or take a class.” With feet pounding the pavement, he only took a couple steps before he would change direction.
“Listen. Gavin.” The words coming out in staccato while I pointed at him. “I’m fine and could take a guy down if they tried to attack me. Besides, you have no say in what happens to me anymore. You lost protection privileges the moment you left me for your non-girlfriend.”
He stopped pacing and stalked toward me, his chest puffed out ready for battle, his finger stabbing the air with every syllable. “I asked you to stay. You’re the one who left. Because you’re too afraid of what we have.”
“Bullshit.” My lips trembled.
“Then, why are you still running away?” He closed in. Close enough I couldn’t help but consume his clean yet rugged earthy smell. It took all my strength not to fall into him. But I was still pissed.
“Me running away? Are you shitting me?” I asked as I jabbed his chest. “You’re the one who keeps leaving.”
“If you give me a fucking chance I’d explain it to you.” He encased me now, his hands on either side of my head against the brick.
“Why should I?” My heart pounded as if I had an entire percussion section trying to escape my chest.
“This is why.” He collided his mouth with mine, devouring me.
As much as I wanted to push him away, my traitorous body seemed to melt. He roamed his hands over my body before one hand entwined my hair at the nape of my neck, the other cupped my breast. Finally, he wrapped his hands around my ass and pinned me against his chest.
He wreaked havoc on my mouth, his tongue coaxing mine to dance, and I gave in. When he kissed me, everything felt good and right and sent shivers of pleasure exploding through my entire body. Screw him and his gifted mouth. Gavin slowed the pace and used his teeth and lips to suck on my lower lip before letting go.
He leaned his forehead against mine. “I’m taking you home. No excuses, no distractions.”
Chapter 24
After texting Sierra, I left with Gavin. We spent half the car ride in silence. Occasionally he would broach the topic of our relationship, but I would turn toward the window. Five minutes resembled fifty. “This better be good or I’m calling Sierra to come get me.”
He concentrated on the road, but he reached down to hold my hand. I still wasn’t sure about renewing this relationship thing with him again, but his touch felt right.
“You remember I told you about my sister?” He didn’t wait for a response. “I used to volunteer with at risk teens back at Berkeley. A suicide prevention program, and I would mentor high school kids. When I got here, I wanted to do the same thing. It’s the program I’ve volunteered at since the beginning of the semester.
“When you first saw me at Groove, I was meeting with the Executive Director of the local program. When I signed up, I signed a confidentiality waiver. I’m not allowed to give away the identities of the kids I mentor.
“When you saw me at Greens with Shannon, I couldn’t tell you she was my mentee. And when she kept on calling, I couldn’t have you guessing Shannon and my mentee were the same person. I couldn’t tell you, but I wanted to.”
He shifted his gaze
back to the road. “The first time I had left you, she threatened to cut her wrists. And when I didn’t call you back, I had been with her at the hospital with her family. They had said my friendship was the only thing helping her get through the bullying and depression she experienced.”
He squeezed my hand. “So, I had to stay. But it had killed me because I couldn’t tell you anything. Especially not after you saw her. I couldn’t attach a name with her face. I was in a bind.”
We pulled into his driveway, and he cut the engine. “Lou? Will you please say something?”
I listened, processing everything. It did make sense. Though, I still didn’t feel good about this Shannon person. Especially about the power she wielded over everyone.
Sounded like she required more professional interventions than Gavin could provide as a mentor. I turned in my seat to face him. “This last time when you left, when we were at your house, she threatened suicide?”
“She had cried into the phone, threatening an overdose of her meds. Her parents were out on a date, and she refused to call them. I had threatened to call 9-1-1 but she promised me she would wait if I went to her house. Obviously, I called Tara, our executive director, who got a hold of her parents.” He paused. “I needed you when I got back.”
I held my breath a moment and let the air slowly escape. After hearing his story, it did make sense why he couldn’t tell me who she was. But if he left me every time she called, I wasn’t sure I had the strength or the patience to endure the emergencies.
Maybe when I aged a bit more, had more therapy under my belt, I’d be more open to helping and being the supportive girlfriend. Hell, I might even volunteer myself. But at this point, I focused all my energy on ensuring I had zero relapses.
“I talked with Tara, and we agreed to assign a different mentor to Shannon. We shouldn’t have this issue anymore. She grew too attached to me.”
And then I grunted because it was simple. “She fell in love with you.” Of course, she did. Her along with the rest of the female population.
He chuckled sheepishly. “Maybe a little.”
I snorted. “Maybe a little,” I mocked back. “Did she know about me?”
“I may have mentioned you in hopes of redirecting her attention toward someone more appropriate.”
“Well no wonder she called all the time and went off the deep end when you said you were on a date.”
“In hindsight, you might be right.” He shrugged.
“Ya think?” Snort number two. “Are you going to get in trouble now that you’ve told me what’s happening?”
“It’s always a possibility I could still get in trouble. But I’m no longer her mentor, I haven’t told you her last name, and there’s no reason you two would ever meet.” He squeezed my hand one more time. “I trust you, and I don’t want to lose you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and I’m not about to make the biggest mistake of my life by letting you go.”
My heart stopped. “But all those girls you’ve had—”
“A lot of one-night stands. Doesn’t create a strong foundation for a long-lasting relationship. You’re the first person I’ve contemplated what it would be like to have a life together, beyond sex.”
“Oh.” Because what else could I say? And could I trust he’d stay, and not put some other crusade before us? I wanted to believe him, and I think he told the truth. He did change mentees after all. But we had only known each other for a few months now.
Dr. Liz’s voice nudged my conscience, reminding me everyone deserved a second chance.
He didn’t push me for a response, and I breathed a sigh of relief because it was a butt-load to process.
“You know what I think?” he said. “I think we should go inside. Make some popcorn, put in a movie and let me make it up to you on the couch, or whatever surface of your choosing.”
“Aren’t we getting a little ahead of ourselves?”
“I think you’re forgetting how persuasive I can be.”
I whacked his shoulder. Though cocky, he was accurate. And how could I be mad at him anymore? How can you tell someone what is going on when you’re bound by confidentiality agreements? He probably could have handled it a little differently. Maybe clued me in? Especially after Sierra, Emmy, and I saw them together at Greens.
I get he couldn’t say anything with minors involved. And maybe I should have pressed him more whenever she called.
He marched around the side of the car and opened the door for me, grasping me like I might try and escape. He steered me past the living room, past the kitchen and the popcorn maker, and directly into his bedroom. Apparently, popcorn and a movie were not on the menu tonight.
Gavin sat down on the edge of the bed, and pulled me toward him, rolling me onto my back.
“I’ve missed you.” Hair fell out of my bun, and he swept it behind my ear. He skimmed his lips against the edge of my cheekbone, making a trail toward my right ear and down my neckline. I shuddered, the adrenaline sending a shockwave through my system. Yes, my pulse articulated erratically.
He ventured his lips back up my chin until his mouth pressed on the corner of mine. He prodded his tongue at the crease, teasing my mouth open for access. I melted into his touch, as he pinched and lightly brushed my nipple with his fingertips. I flung my arms around the back of his neck and snaked my fingers through his wavy hair as he executed his assault.
This man reduced me to a quaking mess with a kiss. I arched my hips toward his, feeling his hard length press into my upper thigh, as my body quivered.
After our kiss, I whimpered from the loss of his lips on mine. He chuckled and lifted my shirt over my head.
His green eyes never left mine, always asking silent permission. He replaced his mouth for his fingers on my breast. With his teeth, he grazed the tip of my nipple, and circled the bud with his tongue, making sure to pay the other breast a little attention before heading south.
Shivers radiated through my body as he unbuttoned the top of my capris. My head sunk into the pillow and my eyes closed, heightening the sensation of his touch.
“You with me?” His voice rasped with hunger. He played with the edge of my undies, waiting for my consent.
“I swear, if you don’t hurry up, I’m . . .”
“You’ll what?” Resting his hand on my waistband, he lifted his brows while half his mouth curved up.
“Please.” And forming complete sentences? Not happening. All I knew was I wanted his mouth on me and his fingers inside.
“Hm? Tell me what you want me to do, Lou. You know I like it when a woman tells me what she wants.”
“You know more than I do what I want you to do.” I did know when he put his mouth on me and did his come-hither movement with his fingers inside me, my body went into seizures of ecstasy.
Gavin licked the crease where my thigh and pelvis met. “Is this where you want me?” He tested my patience, kissing everywhere but where I wanted him.
“God, please,” I pleaded.
“Please what?”
“Please will you kiss me?” My body threatened implosion if he didn’t do something stat.
“I like this term of endearment you keep giving me,” he teased.
“Gavin.”
“What, I’m no longer God?” I groaned at him and thrust my hips toward him. This landed me a wry smile, the left side curling up slightly higher than the right.
He prolonged the torture. “Kiss you where?”
“Are you going to make me say it?”
He tsked. “I’ll have to keep guessing.” And he moved to my leg, kissing down my thigh, the scruff of his five o’clock shadow adding to the sensation. “Is this where you want me?”
I groaned.
“Oh, maybe the other leg craves my attention?” He kis
sed his way up my other leg, closing in on my coveted spot. He flicked his tongue around my folds, still teasing.
“Please.” I begged, once more.
“Tell me where you want me to kiss you.”
Shit, he was going to make me say it. Sex talk made me more than uncomfortable. Too embarrassed. Too insecure. One eyebrow lifted, waiting for my response.
“I want you here.” I pointed down, heat rushing my cheeks, no doubt turning them a shade to match my lipstick.
“That’s my girl.” He rewarded my request. At first his tongue brushed, teasing and testing my patience. And then he covered me, his mouth working magic.
Having mercy on me, he found my entrance and penetrated a finger with ease, quickly making my newly discovered G spot a favorite. A second finger joined in, bringing me closer as the tension amplified.
“Please don’t stop.” My eyes rolled to the back of my head, while he continued his onslaught.
“Come for me, babe.” And I couldn’t stop it even if I tried. He swept his tongue over my tiny bundle of nerves, sending me over the edge.
“Holy shit,” I gasped, as he lifted his head to watch me. My body floated in a state of complete bliss while he wrought the last of my orgasm with his fingers.
“Fuck, I love watching you come.”
And I smiled, feeling a bit self-conscious. I had no clue what I looked like, and I wasn’t about to do any kinky mirror shit. Gavin pulled his fingers out of me, and curled up, facing me on the bed.
“Thank you.” I was clueless what else to say to the man who gave me the biggest climax of my life. Having a partner was a google times more fulfilling than my vibrator. I still loved my little bullet, but my body never hummed like this before, and I ached for more.
“My pleasure.” He leaned down to plant a chaste kiss on the tip of my nose.
“I want to do something for you, now.” Not sure if I successfully hid my insecurity.
