She was exhausted. The temp job had served its purpose as a distraction since Lance left two weeks ago. The extra cash had been nice, too. But working constantly in an unfamiliar environment, trying to stay on top of someone else’s job while they were out, plus barely sleeping because staying with Lance all those weeks had made it impossible for her to sleep on her own made it so all she wanted was a nap.
The sound of the front door closing startled Abby awake. “Hey, Abs, you hungry?”
Blinking and rubbing her eyes, Abby tried to gather her bearings after being startled awake from her unexpected nap on the couch. “Yeah, I could eat.”
Megan breezed past the couch into the kitchen, opening the fridge. “Great. There’s nothing here. Let’s order a pizza and we’ll go to a party after.”
Abby groaned. “Megan, I’m really not in the mood to go to a party tonight.”
Casting a look at Abby over her shoulder while she filled a glass of water, Megan shook her head. “You’re never in the mood for a party. But you don’t have a choice. I’m not taking no for an answer.” She walked back into the living room and stood over Abby, who had toppled over sideways on the couch in silent protest. “Don’t make me drag your ass to the car when the time comes.”
“You’re not strong enough. I’ll go limp, and you won’t be able to move me.” Abby’s voice was slightly muffled from speaking into the couch cushion, but she knew Megan heard her.
Megan paused, seeming to contemplate Abby’s pretend threat. “True. I’ll just call the guys then.” She turned and walked toward her bedroom.
“What guys?” Abby sat up, her whole body tense as she waited for Megan’s response.
“Chris and Matt,” came the nonchalant answer.
Abby followed Megan into her bedroom. “You’re still talking to them?”
“We text sometimes. They let me know about good parties. Like the one tonight.” Megan leveled a glare at Abby. “And you’re going, so quit whining and pick out some clothes.”
“I thought we were going to order a pizza first.”
“We are. I’ll call in the pizza in a minute. But if I know you, you’ll try to wear your Pluto T-shirt, and I’ll have to make you change. So pick out something now so I can veto it before the pizza gets here.”
Abby wandered to her closet, hearing Megan’s voice on the phone with their favorite pizza place. Well, second favorite. Their favorite didn’t deliver.
Sliding some hangers around in her closet, Abby didn’t try very hard to pick out anything to wear. Megan was right. She’d just veto anything Abby picked, so she might as well just wait for Megan to come in and pick for her.
A minute later Megan appeared in the doorway. “Well?”
Abby gestured at the closet. “You pick.”
Megan raised her eyebrows at her, but didn’t say anything. She pulled out a light blue sleeveless top with a scooped and gathered neckline and held it out to Abby. “Here. Wear this with your black Bermudas and some sandals.”
Abby didn’t take the shirt. It was the one Lance had bought for her after he’d destroyed the one she’d worn the night they met. “I don’t want to wear that.”
“Why not? It’s cute, and it brings out your eyes.” Shoving it into Abby’s hands, Megan turned to leave. Abby wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw a knowing smile on Megan’s face. She had no idea what that was about.
A couple hours later, Abby closed the lid on the leftover pizza and slid it into the fridge for later. She turned and saw the extra bag over Megan’s shoulder. “What’s that for?”
“The last time I dragged your ass to a party, you spilled your drink all over yourself and bailed early. It’s a change of clothes in case you get clumsy again.”
Abby furrowed her brow and opened her mouth to protest, but Megan turned and headed for the door before she could say anything. With a resigned shrug, Abby followed her. Megan would do what Megan wanted regardless of what Abby said, especially in her current mood. Arguing was beyond pointless.
They climbed into Megan’s old red Honda and were on their way.
Abby wasn’t really paying attention to where they were going, assuming it was at some random person’s house. The sun was already setting, the earlier onset of twilight one of the hallmarks of August and the end of summer. It seemed strange to her that sunset moved up an hour in just two short months. When she’d met Lance it was light until well after nine. Now the sun was going down by eight.
But she recognized that Tudor style house on the corner. And that other house with the ugly bass fish mailbox. They were on the way to—“Megan, why are we going to Lance’s house?”
Megan glanced at Abby out of the corner of her eye. “Remember I said Chris and Matt told me about the party tonight? It’s at their house.”
“Didn’t you think it might be hard for me to be there since I’m still getting over Lance?”
Megan shrugged. “I thought you might like it better if you were at a party where you knew your way around and knew someone else besides me. And it’s not like getting over Lance is going all that well by staying away. Have you heard from him lately?”
“We’ve been texting and talking on the phone some. He’s been home late the last few nights and hasn’t been able to talk.”
Megan made a noncommittal sound in her throat, and parked the car on the street in front of Lance’s, well, Chris and Matt’s house.
Abby looked around and didn’t see any other cars except the ones that belonged there. “Are we early?” She checked the time on her phone. It didn’t seem like they were early.
The sound of Megan’s door slamming had Abby scrambling out of her seat. Megan had the backpack she’d brought with her and was walking to the front door. Abby thought it was kind of weird that she was bringing it inside the party. She’d figured that if Megan were bringing a change of clothes, she’d leave it in the car until it was needed. But Megan was in a strange mood today, and Abby didn’t have the energy to unravel the mystery, so she decided not to worry about it and followed Megan through the front door.
And froze.
Lance stood in the middle of the living room, wearing his customary cargo shorts and a T-shirt. It was the Superman T-shirt she’d worn that first night they met. He looked like he hadn’t shaved in a day or two, dark stubble shadowing his jaw. His eyes were roving over her body like he couldn’t take her in.
Abby’s lungs seemed to have forgotten how to work. She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. What was Lance doing here? Why hadn’t he told her he was visiting? What did this mean?
The soft click of the door closing behind her pulled Abby out of her frozen state. She looked behind her and noticed that Megan was gone, the backpack sitting next to the front door. She and Lance were alone in his living room. Confusion and hope warred in her chest, along with a fleeting thought about Megan’s part in all this. Confusion won out.
“What’s going on?”
Lance crossed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms, taking her mouth in a searing kiss. “I came back.” He pulled her over to the couch, sitting down with her across his lap. He kissed her again, a little more in control, but she could feel his barely restrained hunger.
Abby relished his kisses, having thought she’d never kiss him again. But she pulled back after a moment. “I don’t understand.”
He smiled down at her. “I was miserable in Texas. I came back to be with you.”
“But your parents? Your dad’s shop? I thought you had to work there.”
Lance shook his head. “We worked it out.”
“How?”
“My mom convinced my dad that making me come home was not the best idea for me. Especially once she found out about you. I called up my supervisor at the Forester Group and took the job they offered me before I left.”
Abby’s eyes widened. “What did you tell her about me?”
Lance ran his hand up her leg from ankle to knee. “I told her that
you’re sweet and caring. That you won’t put up with any bullshit. That you’re snarky and funny.” He leaned his head close to her ear to whisper the last thing. “And that I love you.” He pulled back his head, looking down at her face again. “Both my parents are excited to meet you.”
Abby sat in stunned silence for a moment. “You love me?” She felt completely overwhelmed and unable to process what was happening. Stupid and dazed with Lance’s presence and this new information that she never expected, never dared hope for.
He grinned and nodded. She felt her mouth curving in an answering smile. “I love you, too.”
“I know,” he whispered before kissing her again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Lance took his time kissing her. Savoring her. Reacquainting himself with the taste of her mouth. Soon, though, that wasn’t enough. He needed more. Needed her. Now.
He stood, picking her up easily, and carrying her to his bedroom. The guys hadn’t found a replacement roommate yet, so he was back. Here, where he’d first had Abby. Where they’d said goodbye. Where he’d have her again.
She laughed when he tossed her onto the bed. He’d noticed that she was wearing the shirt he’d bought her on their second date when she first walked in. Seeing her in it always made him smile. But seeing her out of it was even better.
He reached back one handed and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it to the side before crawling onto the bed with Abby. His hands skimmed up her sides, bunching the shirt as he went. She sat up, lifting her arms so he could take it off. Then she reached behind her and unhooked her bra, letting it slide down her arms. He reached for her, palming her breasts, tweaking her nipples, enjoying her gasps of pleasure.
He leaned forward and took one in his mouth, suckling it, rubbing it with his tongue, biting gently with his teeth. Her hands came to his head, threading through his hair, holding him against her. He moved to the other, giving it equal attention, before moving down her body, kissing and nipping, soothing the sting with his tongue. Not like last time—not hard enough to leave marks. There was no need. She was his. And he was hers. They were together again, and he wasn’t going anywhere this time.
He kissed just below her belly button, then undid her shorts. He’d been mildly disappointed they weren’t the short denim shorts he really liked, but now he didn’t care at all. He hooked his fingers in the waistband and caught her panties—a thong—at the same time.
In his haste to undress her, he’d forgotten she was still wearing her sandals. They were strappy ones, not her usual flip flops, so they hadn’t come off when she sat down like he was used to.
Abby laughed when her clothes got tangled on her shoes. He looked at her face, and she kicked her feet a little to help free them, then reached down and undid her sandals herself, tossing them off to the side.
Now she was naked and in his bed. All was right in his world again.
* * *
Abby was disappointed that Lance had undressed her but left his own shorts on. Her disappointment was short-lived, though, when he ran his hands up her inner thighs, spreading her. She leaned back on the pillows and felt his tongue following the path his right hand made up the inside of her leg.
And then all conscious thought left her at the feeling of his tongue on her center. She was already wet and ready from the kissing and his attention to her breasts and the rest of her body. His tongue and his fingers were quickly taking her closer and closer to the edge, the stubble on his jaw and the tickle of his hair on her thighs only adding to the sensations.
She gripped the blankets convulsively, her back arching, her whole body tightening, then he pressed up with his fingers, and she shattered. He stayed there, his fingers pumping in and out, his tongue still moving, but slower now, wringing out every last bit of her orgasm.
When she finally lay boneless and spent on the bed, he withdrew his hand and stood up, stripping off the rest of his clothes in one smooth motion. He rolled on a condom and then she was reaching for him, welcoming him into her body.
He entered her in one smooth stroke. “You feel so good,” he whispered against her ear. She lifted her hips to meet him, then wrapped her legs around his waist.
“Oh, God. I can’t—I want to, but—you feel too good, Abby. I can’t hold back.” In answer Abby rocked against him, and he began moving faster, not holding back, chasing his own release.
* * *
Lance sighed in contentment as he lay spooning in his bed with Abby, his arm around her middle holding her close. She lifted his arm and kissed it, like she had that last night they were together, and he smiled to himself.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
Lance snuggled her closer, kissing her hair. “I wanted to surprise you.”
She twisted around so she was lying on her back and could look at him. “You know I don’t like surprises.”
He let his hand drift in circles on the soft skin of her belly, watching the motion. “I know. But I do. And I thought this might be a good surprise.” His eyes flicked to her face. She was watching him.
She seemed to think over his answer. “It was a good surprise. I would’ve liked it better if you’d told me, though.” Her eyes narrowed at him. “Don’t you dare ever throw me a surprise party.”
He smiled at her, then gave her a quick kiss. “Alright. No surprise parties. You can throw me one sometime, though.”
“I already did once. Isn’t that good enough for you?” Her voice was light and teasing, all traces of the sadness that overshadowed their last days together gone. Because he was here for good. Lance just chuckled and pulled her closer, unable to get enough of touching her, kissing her. So glad to be able to do it again.
“You should move in here.”
Abby’s eyes widened, and she pushed up slightly from his chest so she could look at his face better. “What?”
“You practically lived here all summer. Just move in.”
“What about Chris and Matt? And what about Megan?”
Lance’s brow furrowed. “What about them? The guys didn’t seem to mind when you were here before?”
Abby gave him a look like he was slow. “Yeah, but then it was only supposed to be for a few weeks. They might object if it was permanent, especially without asking them. And I don’t know that I want to live with three guys. And then Megan would be out of a roommate. I can’t just bail on her.”
Lance considered what she said. “Okay. How about this. We start looking for a place together. We’ll let everyone know so they can find replacements once we find a place and move out.”
The look on Abby’s face was still dubious.
“Please, Abby? Say yes. The last two weeks have been torture. I don’t want to be without you if I don’t have to. I want you to live with me.”
“I’m paying for half the rent.”
He wrinkled his brow, torn between happiness that she wasn’t saying no, and annoyed that she’d lay down that stipulation right now while they were happy and sated. Why would she insist on that anyway? He would be working full-time, starting his new job on Monday, whereas she was a struggling college student. He understood her need for independence, but it made more sense for him to cover the rent. She could contribute in other ways.
When he opened his mouth to argue, Abby didn’t even let him get out a single word. “It’s non-negotiable, Lance.”
“So, if you can pay half the rent, you’ll live with me? We can find a place together?” His fingers curled reflexively at her waist. He held his breath while she examined his face.
At last she nodded.
His grin was triumphant. And they sealed their agreement with a kiss.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Abby set the last box down in the living room of the new apartment she shared with Lance. She looked into the kitchen where Megan leaned over the breakfast bar drinking a glass of water.
“Is that the last of your stuff?” Megan asked, gesturing at the box with her glass.
Abby nodded, heading to the kitchen for her own glass. “Yeah. The guys went back to our old apartment to get your things. They said we should meet them at the house.”
“Cool. We can take a little break while they load up my boxes and then head over. Chris already gave me a key.”
Abby searched Megan’s face. “You sure you’re okay with all this? I know it happened really fast. I was expecting to take longer than a week to find and move into a new place.”
Megan smiled. “Of course. At least our place was month-to-month, so it all worked out.”
Abby laughed. “Yeah, that was a bonus. I meant are you okay with moving in with Chris and Matt? Lance did offer to cover my half of the rent until you could find a new roommate.”
Megan grimaced. “Yeah, I know. I thought about it. But I don’t really feel good about taking his money.”
“He can actually afford it,” Abby pointed out. “His job pays really well, and I’m making him let me help pay for things here.”
Megan glared at her. “Yeah. About that. Why are you doing that to him? He’s your boyfriend, not your roommate. He makes way more money than you. Just let the guy pay for stuff. He loves you. It’s not like it’s some skeevy thing.”
With a shrug, Abby looked down at her glass, unsure how to explain why she felt the way she did. “I know. I’m just used to taking care of myself, and I don’t like letting other people take care of me. No one has in a long time.”
Megan’s face softened. “I know. Lance isn’t going to bail on you, though. He’s not like that. And he already came back for you once. I don’t think he’ll ever let you go again.”
Sipping her water, Abby grunted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. “For now we’ve come to an agreement, and we found an apartment that we both like.”
Megan laughed out loud at that. “You can’t tell me that Lance wouldn’t prefer a house over an apartment.”
Players of Marycliff University Box Set, Books 1–3 Page 24
