Remember Me

by Jo-Anna Walker

  Garrith brushed his lips along hers, his self-control cracking by the second. Maybe one kiss wouldn’t be so bad. “What, love?” he whispered.

  “Kiss me.”

  ***

  As soon as the words left her lips, Keisha regretted it. The look of hesitation etched across Garrith’s features made her heart hurt. She tried pushing out of his grasp. She wanted his lips on hers so badly her mouth tingled for his touch. She pushed against his chest but his hold on her tightened. “Garrith, please let me down.”

  In a quick move, Garrith had his hand around her neck, holding her in place. His bright blue eyes bored into hers as he squeezed her jaw. Her lips parted and she licked her lips.

  Garrith took a deep breath, the hesitation in his eyes soon replaced by a deep hunger she had never seen before in him. Or not that she could remember, anyway.

  She held onto his arms, gripping him tight as he brushed his lips over hers again. Keisha couldn’t wait any longer and slowly peeked her tongue out, licking his full bottom lip. A deep, guttural sound erupted from his chest, making shivers run down her back.

  She gently bit his lip and smirked when his breath hitched. “Garrith, kiss me.”

  Not hesitating this time, Garrith crushed his lips to hers while pushing his pelvis into her.

  Keisha moaned at the feeling of his hardness in between her legs. It felt familiar yet different. She didn’t remember anything about the man holding her, pinning her to the side of his vehicle, but her body craved him. Hummed for his attention. Wanted him inside her at that very moment.

  Keisha opened her mouth to him and as soon as their tongues touched, something snapped around them. Garrith growled, shoving his tongue roughly against hers. Her core throbbed and ached for the man making love to her mouth.

  Keisha’s throat burned from the smoke that she had inhaled but Garrith was kissing her and she wouldn’t have changed it for the world. She ran her hands down his chest, gripped his shirt and pulled, popping some of the buttons free. She pulled harder, freeing the rest. She wanted to see him. See what had made love to her body for the last couple of years.

  She grazed her fingers down his hard torso, running a thumb over his hard nipple, making him push into her harder. She sighed against his mouth. Her fingers scratched down his chest, making him groan.

  Garrith ran his hips in circles against her core. A little maneuvering and she could have him inside of her, not caring in the least that they were in a parking lot near her brother’s club. She wanted him so bad it hurt.

  Garrith released her mouth, kissed the corner of her lips and down her jaw. “Fuck, Keisha, I…”

  She dug her heels into his ass, pulling him closer and slowly moved her hips. The erection that he was sporting in his pants clearly indicated that he wanted her but he was having some sort of inner turmoil. This would be the first time for her but not for him. He remembered everything about her. The thought that he already knew what she looked like naked or what she sounded like when she came made her nervous, yet excited. She knew she wasn’t a virgin and she remembered an ex but it wasn’t Garrith. Confusion tore through her and she wrapped her arms around Garrith’s thick neck, needing him to hold her.

  He lifted her and opened the door, setting her gently on the seat. She refused to let him go as she kissed him fully on the mouth. She could lose herself in him. Give over full control and let him have his way with her. She knew he could make her feel good. Just one kiss proved that he knew how to use his body for pleasure, for her pleasure; at that moment she just wanted to feel him.

  He released her completely and closed the door, walking around to the driver’s side of the big vehicle. She took a deep breath and straightened out her dress. Liquid heat seeped between her legs and the throb of no release made sitting uncomfortable. She needed Garrith to touch her, to ease the ache that was brewing inside of her.

  Garrith slid into the driver’s seat, his face grim. He pulled out of the parking lot and twitched in his seat.

  Keisha looked down at his lap, the large bulge clearly painful. Her cheeks heated at the knowledge she was the cause of that. She sighed, lowering herself in the seat, making her dress ride up higher on her thighs. She heard his breath hitch and looked up at him. His gaze quickly darted back to the road and a laugh escaped her lips.

  Garrith turned to her, his eyes narrowing. “What?”

  Keisha shook her head. “I…I don’t even know. I just…” The laughter soon turned into sobs and she covered her face in her hands. “Oh God, Garrith…I…”

  Garrith placed a hand on her knee and squeezed it reassuringly while she cried. The sobs continued and a moment later, the vehicle stopped. Cool air kissed her skin as he stepped out of the SUV. Her door opened and warm arms embraced her. He lifted her as she continued to cry against his chest.

  He walked them up a set of stairs and Keisha realized that he had taken her back to Brett’s place, not his, and that made her cry harder. She hadn’t seen where she used to live with him. He wouldn’t let her. He was closed off about it, wouldn’t tell her why.

  He set Keisha on her feet once they reached the apartment door and she angrily grabbed her keys from her clutch. With shaky hands she tried unlocking the door, her vision blurring.

  Garrith grabbed the keys from her hand, unlocking the door for her.

  She sighed, walking into the apartment and threw her clutch on the hall table.

  “Keisha.”

  She turned, he was still standing at the door. He hadn’t even bothered closing it yet.

  Before she could change her mind, she walked up to him. “Stay. Please.”

  Chapter 4

  Garrith couldn’t believe his ears. She wanted him to stay with her? “Keisha, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  She chewed her bottom lip and turned, heading down the hall without saying anything. The pain he saw in her eyes before she turned away broke his heart. Knowing he was to blame, he cursed himself. He scrubbed a hand down his face and closed the door, took off his shoes, and followed her.

  He had only been to Brett’s apartment a couple of times but each time it took his breath away. He swore every time he saw the place, it got bigger and bigger. Its open-space concept was smart on Brett’s part, knowing he could see everything and everyone from each corner of the vast room.

  As he followed Keisha, his gut clenched. She should be at home with him, not at her brother’s place, but Garrith didn’t have the balls to actually admit out loud that he had made a mistake. God, after everything they had been through, if Keisha got her memory back would she still want him? He made her fall in love with him twice. Could he do it a third time?

  He reached the room where she was currently staying and stood at the doorway, watching her. The room wasn’t hers. She stayed there, yes. Slept there, but it didn’t remind him of her. No vibrant colors. No black satin sheets. No canopy bed with straps beneath the mattress. Garrith’s body stirred.

  Keisha caught his gaze in the mirror of the dresser and smiled sadly. She had changed quickly into a t-shirt. Just a t-shirt. Of course. If she was anything like she used to be, she wouldn’t be wearing any panties either. Garrith’s dick hardened to the point of breaking. Actually, if Keisha was still the same, she’d be spread out on his bed naked, waiting for him. But he couldn’t talk to her about that yet. He didn’t want to scare her.

  Keisha walked up to the bed, pulled back the covers, and sighed. She looked up at him. “Are you staying?”

  Garrith didn’t respond. If he stayed, he’d end up between her legs by the time morning came.

  Keisha crawled onto the bed and kneeled, placing her hands on her knees. She tilted her chin. Garrith’s stomach flipped. Don’t. Please don’t. She spread her legs just enough that he could see that she wasn’t wearing any panties. Shit.

  Garrith averted his gaze from her shaved pussy and walked to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Taking a couple of deep breaths, he gripped the bathroom counter, his kn
uckles turning white. Shit shit shit.

  He needed to get control of his urges and desires. This would be Keisha’s first time with him if he took it further. He couldn’t. Not yet.

  “Garrith?”

  He jumped at the sound of Keisha’s voice. He turned to her and found her standing in the doorway, still in that damn t-shirt.

  She ran her hands together and looked up at him, her cheeks flush with color. “I’m so sorry. I never…I just…please don’t leave.” She took a step towards him.

  Garrith sighed, grumbling inwardly. He couldn’t leave even if he tried. His skin hummed and the air in the room crackled with pent-up desire. He had never needed her so badly.

  He shoved a hand through his short blonde hair and closed the distance between them. He picked her up. Cradling Keisha in his arms, he turned off the bathroom light and walked over to the bed, placing her gently on it.

  “Garrith?” She lowered her eyes, as though she thought he was going to leave.

  Garrith kissed her forehead before releasing her completely. He took off his shirt and threw it on the floor, pants following soon after. He could feel Keisha watching him and if this were before her getting shot, he would have made her strip him. Garrith’s stomach twisted, missing those wonderful memories.

  “You have a tattoo.”

  Garrith looked down at the intricate script on his left hip. Love. He smiled and nodded. “I got it for you years ago.”

  Her eyes warmed. “Garrith.”

  He shook his head, heart heavy. She sighed, a shaky breath escaping her lips as she rolled onto her side. He cursed himself. Once he was in his boxers, he crawled onto the bed beside her. He would probably kick himself in the ass for it later because he knew he couldn’t control his desires for much longer, but he needed to feel her against him.

  He pulled the covers over them and pulled her against him. Her small, soft body curved perfectly against his hard one. Garrith frowned. She was shaking. He hesitated and did what he thought was best; he grabbed her chin, turned her head to his, and kissed her. He’d kiss her all over if it made her feel better. He wasn’t sure if they could ever fix what had happened and he didn’t know if he could ever get over the fact that she didn’t remember him.

  He tasted the saltiness of her tears on her lips and what was only meant to be a soft kiss but then something changed. Keisha curled a hand around the back of his neck and deepened the kiss. She opened her mouth to him, her tongue slipping out and instantly finding his.

  He moaned against her lips and rested his forearm beside her head as their mouths moved as one. His body hardened, his cock rock solid, needing to dive between her legs. A couple small movements and he could be in her before she knew what was happening, but he couldn’t. Keisha needed to be in control of this moment but as soon as she gave the go ahead, Garrith would dominate. Control her.

  He released her mouth, kissed the corner of her lips and down her jaw. Their breathing picked up and as much as he wanted to touch her, he needed her permission. He would not take advantage of her. A moment of shame tore through him. What the hell was he doing? He lifted his head and looked down at her. Keisha’s lips were swollen from their kiss and her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were dark with lust and the brown curls that he loved to pull framed her beautiful face.

  She frowned and ran a thumb over his bottom lip. He kissed it and then placed a soft peck on her mouth. “I’m sorry, love.”

  Keisha nodded, her eyes glossing over as she turned onto her side.

  Garrith kissed her cheek and let go of her completely, lying on his back. He turned onto his stomach, flopping down onto the bed hard, frustration settling deep in his core. His rock hard cock didn’t help any either. Sighing, he closed his eyes, wishing he could fall asleep quickly.

  Keisha’s breathing soon turned deep and even. She must have passed out from the emotional trauma of her night. Garrith’s heart ached, knowing that he could have lost her again. He turned onto his side and ran a hand down her tanned arm, his fingers lightly grazing her soft skin. She twitched and moved slightly but didn’t wake up.

  He lay there, staring at the ceiling. Minutes or maybe even hours passed. He wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he couldn’t sleep. He grumbled to himself and closed his eyes just as a scream shattered his insides. His eyes shot open to Keisha flailing about on the bed, a look of pure terror etched on her features.

  ***

  A gunshot. Black eyes. Jose Alvarez. White-hot pain flew through—

  “Keisha…”

  Keisha groaned at the sound of the deep voice.

  “Keisha.”

  Keisha opened her eyes and found Garrith staring down at her with deep concern on his handsome features.

  Her nightmare left her breathless and prickles of fear coated her skin. She lifted a shaky hand to cup his cheek and instead wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight against her. She was safe. She was in her bedroom with a man she loved. Keisha shook her head at the unexpected thought.

  Garrith returned the embrace, lying half on her. She wanted to feel him everywhere. She tried to move under him and lightly grazed her fingers across the back of his neck.

  “Keisha, what was your—?”

  Keisha kissed his shoulder, interrupting his question about her dream. She didn’t want to talk about it. Her dreams terrified her. “Please just…just…”

  Garrith lifted himself off of her and just when she thought he was leaving, he placed a hard kiss on her lips. She moved under him and wrapped her legs around his tight waist. She may have been much shorter than him but they fit well together.

  She ran a hand down his back, gripping him tight. God, he was gorgeous. Movie star good looks that made her heart stutter and he felt so good. She couldn’t get enough of him.

  He shoved his tongue in between her lips, deepening the kiss.

  Keisha gripped his arms, lifting her hips to meet his. “Garrith,” she said, releasing his mouth.

  Garrith panted and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Yeah?”

  Keisha chewed her bottom lip, not quite knowing how to ask what she wanted from him. “I…” Instead of asking, she reached down in between them and grabbed onto the waistband of his boxers, her fingers grazing over his tight abs. Abs that she wanted to sink her teeth into, nipping and scraping his tanned, hard skin. Maybe if she showed him, he would get the hint. She reached into his boxers, brushing her fingers along the smooth skin above his erection.

  Garrith’s breathed hitched at the small contact. “Keisha, we don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” he whispered.

  She knew that but that’s what the problem was. She wanted to do everything with him. She wanted him to show her what she couldn’t remember. Create new memories with him but he was so damn stubborn. Before she could change her mind, she wrapped her hand around his thick…holy shit.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Keisha swallowed, attempting to close her hands around his cock. Her fingers didn’t meet and she shivered, knowing that they had had sex before. Anticipation built deep in the pit of her belly. “You’re huge.”

  A smug smile formed on his face. “Yeah, and you loved every inch of it.” Garrith leaned down and kissed her jaw, his teeth nipping as he moved to her lips. “You loved it when I filled you with my cock, thrusting slow and deep.”

  She shivered at his words. Since being shot, she had never seen this side of Garrith. The things he said to her made her core throb. More.

  “Your favorite position was doggy style and you loved me pulling your hair…” he licked up the side of her neck. “…while I fucked you from behind.”

  “Oh God.” As far as Keisha knew, she was never into dirty talk. The ex she remembered didn’t say anything of the sort but hearing those words come from Garrith’s lips made her body ache with need.

  “Stroke me harder, love,” Garrith breathed against her neck.

  Keisha gripped his shoulder and ran her other hand up and down his co
ck. She squeezed him, making him gasp.

  “That’s it. Let me remind you how hard you make me.” Garrith ran a hand along her thigh, kneading her flesh. His hips bucked against her hand as she rubbed her thumb over the hard tip of his length.

  “Garrith,” she breathed. Her body ached for him, needing him inside of her at that very moment. She released him completely and gently pushed at his chest. He sat back on his haunches, his large erection peeking out from the hole in his boxers.

  Keisha grabbed the hem of her shirt and lifted it above her head, leaving her lying naked before him. His gaze travelled down her body and a moment of hesitation marred his features.

  She sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her naked chest against his. Curling her fingers in his hair, she licked his bottom lip. “I need you. Right now. Please.”

  Garrith’s dark blue eyes filled with hunger and desire for her but he still hesitated. “Keisha, are you—”

  She placed a hard kiss on his lips. “Please, just make me feel good. Remind me what you can do to my body. I can’t wait anymore.”

  Garrith cupped her ass and lifted her onto her knees. “Are you sure?”

  Keisha huffed. “Yes, I’m sure. Now stop asking me.”

  His eyes darkened and he grabbed her jaw. “I’m asking because once I start, I won’t be able to stop and I have to make sure that you’re ready for that.”

  Keisha swallowed hard at the firm, commanding tone of his voice. “I’m ready.”

  Garrith smirked and grabbed her hands in his, holding them behind her back. She arched against him, her breathing picking up at being restrained. Knowing that he knew what she liked before she did thrilled her to the core.

  He grinned, smug, before covering her nipple with his mouth. His velvety tongue moved around the hard peak, making her buck and moan against him.

  Releasing the hardened nub with a pop, he lightly blew over it. Shivers ran down her back as the cool air caressed over her wet nipple. “Garrith.”