by C. A. Harms
I didn’t say anything in return. The mention of Toby once again gave me that territorial reaction. Only I chose to not yet react.
“It doesn’t change the fact that I want to know you more. But if you’re still adamant about not giving me a chance to show you I’m not the guy you think I am, then I get that.” He removed his hands from his pockets and took a step toward me. “Okay, so I lied, because I’ll still try to change your mind,” he chuckled when I rolled my eyes at him. “But Toby is a great kid, and whether you believe this or not, I’d still like to be able to hang out with him.”
“Why?” I said. “Because you feel sorry for him and you feel like you’re doing something great by befriending him?”
“No.” He appeared completely unaffected by my aggressive words and demeanor. “Because he is amazing and his personality is refreshing. He’s brave and the way he smiles as if everyone around him has the challenges and not him himself is inspiring.”
“I don’t mean to be rude or bitchy, I’m protective of Toby. I can’t help it,” I said, suddenly feeling slightly defeated. “When it comes to him, something shifts inside me and the need to keep him safe is all I can think of.”
“I understand why you are so protective over him,” he added. “I’m the same way with both my siblings, but I can assure you of something. I’m not using him to get to you and I don’t feel sorry for him.”
“Hey, you two,” my father hollered out from the door, “grab the rest of the food from the truck and get it in here. Let’s eat before it all gets cold.”
Xavier raised his hand indicating to my father that he’d heard him before looking back at me. I could tell he was silently asking me if it was okay. How could I tell him no? It appeared that everyone else thought him being here was nothing big. Like he’d been accepted as part of the gang and I was the one overreacting.
Hell, maybe I was. But the idea of anyone using Toby, or looking at him as if he was an easy target infuriated me. It was something I would do everything I could to avoid. Even if it meant pushing aside my own needs and curiosity to protect him.
“I guess you’re staying for lunch?” I realized it was more of a question. I also knew I was the only one questioning it.
“Only if that’s okay with you.” With a tilt of his head, he offered me a sweet smile and suddenly the charm they all could see was right there in front of me. “I did promise Toby I would watch his favorite movie with him.”
“Pulling out the Toby card already, huh?” I asked, unable to hide my own smile.
With a shrug his grin grew wider. “Toby is pretty amazing.”
I couldn’t have agreed more.
“You do realize what movie you agreed to watch, right?” I asked. It was a movie I thought I could recite word for word I’d been forced to watch it so many times. Xavier looked back at me for the first time appearing concerned and shook his head. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
“Shew,” he said, pretending to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “For a minute I thought you were gonna say something like Legally Blonde or Pretty in Pink.”
“No,” I moved past him, “but in that case you should never agree to watch a movie with Marcus. Pretty in Pink is one of his favorites.”
I didn’t look back but I could hear him chuckling as he followed closely behind. “I will remember that if I’m ever invited over to watch a movie.”
Maybe it was just me, but his comment sounded a little hopeful.
Chapter 21
Xavier
I think I was enjoying my movie time with Toby a little more than I should, but the kid was a riot. He was so perceptive and the reactions from him throughout the movie may have brought out my inner crazed spirit. I’m talking imitations of the karate moves, the sounds they made when fighting the bad guys, the whole works.
Toby and I were like two young boys having the best time of our lives.
The moment Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael stepped onto the elevator I knew what was about to take place. By the look on Toby’s face and the way he pushed his hands out before him, I had a feeling this was one of his favorite parts too.
I slid forward on the couch and the beat began as I started to imitate the movements of playing the drums. Toby’s grunting laughter made it even better. I was so lost in the moment that I hadn’t even noticed we were no longer alone. It was the sweet sound of Morgan’s laughter that broke me out of my moment and I looked up to find her standing in the doorway of Toby’s room.
“You two look like you’re having fun in here,” she said when her eyes connected with mine. Toby squealed and her smile grew. “How many times has this been now?”
I held up two fingers and offered her a wink.
She was right; the kid loved this movie, but I honestly didn’t mind. It was one of my favorites too. Had I imagined watching it two times in a row, no, but I wouldn’t complain. Toby was enjoying himself, and that made it worth it.
“After this time, buddy, it’s time for therapy and then your meds.” She looked over my shoulder toward her brother and he just ignored her. I had a feeling that happened often when it was related to something he didn’t want to do.
When I looked back at Morgan and nodded my head, indicating she come join us, she only shook her head. Still insistent on keeping her distance from me. I didn’t give up though, this time patting the empty space next to me. Again she shook her head.
Please, I mouthed the word yet she still refused to budge. The flirty feeling I was getting from her now was much better than the earlier look of irritation. I understood her need to keep her life hidden from those she didn’t know well. I just had to convince her that I wasn’t the jackass she thought I was.
Still she made no indication she was going to give in, only backed away and left both Toby and I alone to finish out our movie.
So for the remaining time, he and I fell back into our silly roles and played out the scenes doing our best to imitate the green mutants moving around the screen fighting evil. By the time it ended, Toby was grunting the word more and I knew had I hit play once again, I may have had a sweet little blonde kicking me out the front door.
“Morgan said it’s therapy time, pal,” I told him as I stood tall and stretched my arms above my head. He looked up at me, for the first time without a smile. Slowly he shook his head and pointed toward the television. “Let’s make a deal,” I said as I held out my hand, waiting for him to shake on it.
“I’ll come back and me and you will have an all-day mutant turtle marathon,” I told him and his face lit up. “I promise,” I assured him and he placed his hand in mine.
“You ready, Toby?” I looked to my right and found Morgan looking at me with a skeptical look on her face.
I was caught off guard by the jerk of his wheelchair as he used his other hand to push the button and move it forward. I jumped back, bumping against the TV stand and Toby drove away, chuckling at my reaction.
It would seem the little guy was a jokester.
I noticed Morgan had yet to follow behind him, still watching me as if there was something she wanted to say but she was holding back.
So instead of waiting on her, I slowly moved toward her and leaned against the doorframe, only inches left between us. “What’s that look for?” I asked, noticing immediately the way her eyes shifted to my mouth before quickly moving back to my eyes.
“You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep,” she finally said and I knew she was challenging me and my promise to Toby.
“I never do,” I assured her. “I told him I’d come back and I meant it.”
She arched her brow and I couldn’t help but grin. She was feisty.
“Just like I told you that I’d be happy with even a small amount of your time,” I whispered moving in just a little closer. “I didn’t lie then, either. You may think I’ll eventually give up and lose interest. Like maybe if you ignore me and your curiosity long enough it’ll just go away. If that works for you,
then do it, but I’m not wired like that. If I want something, I make it known, and I want you. Gaining Toby was just one hell of a bonus.”
“You just don’t give up,” she said. “Do you?”
“No,” I whispered in return. “Not when it’s worth it.”
“How do you know it’s worth it?” she asked me, her eyes shifting toward my mouth once again.
“Because I’ve had one night with you and ever since then, I can’t think of much else. You’re different, Morgan, and I mean that in the best kind of way. You may not believe this, but you and me are more alike than you think.” She looked up, her eyes questioning me. “We both would do anything for our families. Neither one of us cares about all the material things, because they are all just things. It’s more about the people we share our time with, not what we’re actually doing, just them alone.”
“You’re either a really good liar,” she said, her chest rising and falling with one deep breath, “or a really good guy.”
I shrugged. “I’m a good guy.” I smiled when her lips tilted up at the corners. “I’ve tried telling you this, you just won’t listen.”
“I’m stubborn,” she offered. “Haven’t you figured that out by now?”
I nodded, taking the last step that remained between us. If I leaned in just an inch or two, I could’ve pressed my lips to hers, but I remained just how I was.
“That was evident our very first night together when you insisted that you were in control.” I noticed the way her eyes lit up with the memories.
“I am in control,” she said, daring me to argue. I remained silent, though in my mind I could only think of showing her just how uncontrollable I could make her. “I am,” she added as if she could actually read my thoughts.
“I agree,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing.
“Which is why I’m the one choosing to kiss you,” she said just before she rose up and pressed her lips to mine. Instinctively I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her body tightly against mine. Her own hands instantly went to my chest and slid upward to wrap around the back of my neck. “Stop taking control,” she mumbled against my lips and I smiled at her words.
Pulling back, I pressed my forehead to hers. “This is going to be a problem for us, isn’t it?”
“Not if you just accept that I make the rules and I make the choices,” she challenged me.
“Not a chance,” I shot back and she started to step away, but I tightened my hold on her. Pulling her in toward me, her body was now pressed firmly to mine. “I have a really hard time with rules.”
With those words I once again took her mouth with my own and I felt her body melt against mine. She might say she was the one leading, but I knew different. I remember the way she writhed beneath me, begging me to keep going. I remember the way she gave in and allowed me to take the wheel that night in her apartment. She liked letting go, she enjoyed the way her body reacted to mine.
I just had to remind her.
***
“Where are you going?” Isaac asked as I exited the house just as he was entering.
“Picking up Morgan and taking her to class,” I said as I tossed my keys in the air. It’d been a week since I broke through her walls. She was still hesitant, but at least she was willing to give me a chance now.
“Is that the girl you’ve been moping over?” he smirked.
“The girl I met at the party,” I offered, “the blonde.”
“Nice,” he said, nodding in approval. “You sure you wanna jump from one fire to the next, though?”
He was referring to my relationship with Britney. What he didn’t know is even though I was with Britney for close to a year, she didn’t hold a candle to Morgan. “I can assure you Morgan is nothing like Britney.”
He smiled as I turned around and continued to walk toward my car.
As I climbed inside my car, I sent her a quick text telling her I was on my way.
When I pulled up in front of her apartment, she was sitting along the curb waiting. Before I could even think of getting out to open her door for her she was inside the car and buckling her seatbelt. I knew she wasn’t the type of girl who wanted a guy to do those types of things, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to be that guy. It was just the right thing to do.
When I didn’t take my foot off the pedal, or say a word she finally looked up at me. Her brows scrunched in confusion as she looked over me, most likely wondering what the hold up was.
There was one thing, one very big thing that made my time with Morgan very enjoyable.
Her sassy attitude.
God, it turned me on.
Most guys would just classify her as a bitch and move on to something easier, but not me. I loved the challenge. There was nothing better than watching that outer exterior melt away when she gave in to me. It was a struggle to reach that point, but once we did, it was so fucking gratifying.
“What?” she asked, still curious as to why I had yet to move my car.
Once she looked back at me, her eyes locked on mine. I lifted my finger to my lips and tapped once. She rolled her eyes and tilted her head just slightly to the side. “Seriously?” she asked, throwing back attitude.
I only nodded, still refusing to move.
“I’m gonna be late for class,” she insisted, still refusing to give me a kiss.
“Then I guess you better give me what I’m asking for,” I told her.
“I don’t hear you asking.” She crossed her arms over her chest, this action only pushing her breasts up. When she noticed my eyes shift downward she made a “humph” sound. I was a guy, and she had really nice tits, so shoot me.
“Morgan,” I said in my sweetest voice. “Can I have a kiss?” I asked. “Please?”
“You are ridiculous,” she stated. I didn’t argue. She made me this way.
Once we broke through the shit at her parents’ and she finally accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to stop trying to break her down, things shifted. There was this fun, playful manner between us that made it feel as if we’d known one another for a lot longer than we had. I was relaxed around her, and though she tried to hide it, I think I was growing on her too. She liked me, she just didn’t want to willingly admit it.
“We can sit here all day,” I added, refusing to give in and let her have her way.
“Or I can just walk,” she tossed back with a grin of her own.
“You could,” I agreed, “but then you’d still be late.”
She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something and then closed it quickly. She did this a couple more times before leaning in and pressing her lips to mine. When she tried to pull back, I gripped the back of her neck and held her close. At first she was a little resistant, but ever so slowly she let go and accepted our kiss. Her tongue skimmed over my lower lip and greedily took over, and within seconds we both lost control just a bit.
As I sat back in my seat and released my hold on her, I took satisfaction in the redness of her lips. Swollen with that just kissed look.
“Now, will you drive?” She tried to be all sassy as if she was unaffected, but the breathless whisper she used gave it away. Morgan was just as attracted to me as I was to her.
Chapter 22
Morgan
“That smile looks good on you.” I ignored my mother as she danced around the kitchen looking more lively than she had in months.
After Marcus found her sitting in the living room crying and looking lost, things changed. Not only was she on medication to help with her depression, she was talking to a counselor too. Just someone to listen to her and never judge her for the things rolling around in her mind. She also took a pottery class once a week and joined a book club that met every Wednesday night.
Starting that week, every Saturday afternoon, she and my father were going to take a few hours to escape. Just some time to enjoy each other and reconnect. The idea of it all was so romantic. My father was being all cute about it, planning it all out,
keeping it secret.
The worry on his face that day when he rushed in through the front door was one I never wanted to see again. He blamed himself for her state, though we all knew he wasn’t to blame. He was providing for his family the best way he knew how but he couldn’t let go of the fact that he’d missed the signs. The thing is, I did too.
Now that she was smiling more, and even laughing, I realized just how long it had been since the last time I saw her this happy. It was easy to forget something when it was gone for so long.
“Would a certain tall dark haired man be responsible for that smile?” I rolled my eyes at her sappy tone.
She stepped up to my side, bumped her hip to mine, and I laughed. “Maybe,” I said, shaking my head at her. She was like an eager young girl, just itching for some gossip. “I just don’t know yet what to think of him.”
“What do you mean?” she asked with a genuine concern.
“We didn’t meet under,” I paused, looking away from her, “normal circumstances.” I still felt a bit strange discussing Xavier with her. I didn’t want her thinking that I did that kinda of thing often.
“You mean a one-night stand isn’t the normal college way?” I shot her a look and she snickered.
“Marcus told you.” It was the only explanation. When she shrugged, still wearing that same smile, I knew I was right. “I’m gonna kill him.”
“Morgan, I met your dad at a party. Three weeks later we moved in together. Two months after that I found out I was pregnant.” She laughed when my eyes grew wide. “Yeah, and then we were married less than a month before you were born.”
“I am not moving in with Xavier, and we aren’t getting married or bearing any children.” Was she insane?
“Ya never know,” she added.
“Oh, believe me, I know,” I assured her.
