Finding Wicked

by Kathryn L. James

  “I’d like that.” He turned toward me. “You’ll love my niece, Savannah. She has adorable dimples and bounces around like she’s the happiest little six-year-old in the world. Just don’t ask her anything if you don’t want an honest opinion.”

  “She sounds like she has you wrapped around her finger.” I loved the way he beamed when he talked about her.

  “Well, I’ll leave you two alone and go help your mom in the kitchen.”

  “Please don’t forget the phone.”

  “Why don’t you take a relaxing shower and eat a real meal first—it will do you good,” Garrett said softly.

  “What? No, I need to hear her voice. I need to make sure she’s okay.” My worst fear was something happening to her.

  “Of course I’ll bring you the phone,” Avery said as she rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind him—he’s only trying to look out for you. The Mitchell men can be pretty determined and always think they know what’s best for their girls.”

  As soon as the door closed behind her, I challenged, “What’s gotten into you? Why would you want me to wait to call her?”

  “Of course I want you to talk to her. I wasn’t thinking straight.” He tossed around a few articles of clothing. “Most of this shit needs to be thrown out.”

  “Garrett,” I whispered.

  He kept shuffling things around, moving his belongings here and there but not really doing anything at all. His shoulders rose and fell with his deep breaths. “Fucking sand all in my clothes.”

  “I don’t think ruined clothes or a suitcase full of sand has anything to do with it.”

  He whipped around and came at me so fast it was a blur. I didn’t have time to react before his mouth covered mine in a desperate, passionate kiss. His hands found my hair, releasing the band and fisting the locks between his fingers.

  His kiss was intense and hard.

  “It’s you…all I want to focus on is you.”

  Chapter 18

  Footsteps approached the room before a light tap sounded on the partially closed door.

  “Come in,” he called out as I slid out of his arms.

  “It dials out normally,” Avery explained as she handed me the phone with a genuine smile.

  “Thanks.” I eased down onto the oversized chair.

  “Your dad is about to grill steaks and your mom is throwing together sides while Gammy makes your favorite—peach cobbler.”

  “Sounds good. Tell them we’ll be ready in about an hour.”

  Before leaving, she lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek then grasped his hands tightly. “Garrett, I’m so glad you’re okay. Watching Stone, knowing I couldn’t do a damn thing other than being there was a nightmare. He…I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him more distraught.”

  “Nah, I was with him when he thought he’d lost you—both times.” He winked.

  She tenderly pressed her lips to his cheek again. “See you two at dinner.”

  I curled my feet underneath me, fingers trembling, heart pounding in my chest as I dialed my mother’s cell phone number. Two rings later, I squeezed my eyes closed, begging for her to answer. On the fourth ring, Jillian answered the phone, and I stopped breathing.

  “Aunt Jilly, it’s me. Where’s Mama?”

  “Oh my God, where are you? Are you okay?”

  “I’m good. Mama? Where…is she…”

  “Oh baby, she got her new heart four days ago. So far, she’s not rejecting the transplant, and the doctors say she’s doing amazing. Where are you? Are you hurt?”

  I let out a sob and Garrett came out of nowhere, kneeling down and wiping up after the broken dam of emotions had tears streaming down my face. He made a pained sound, and all my feelings seemed to have me around the throat, choking the life out of me.

  “I’m okay. Our plane went down but Garrett was able to safely land us on a deserted island. Aside from him having a small laceration that healed up nicely, we’re both okay. His family rescued us a few minutes ago. We’re on a yacht headed to the closest airport.”

  “Thank God for that. It’s so good to hear your voice.”

  “Is Mom coherent? Does she know?” Garrett swiped the pad of his thumb just below my eyes.

  “She knew you never made it to your destination but figured you were gallivanting around in the tropics, soaking up the sun.”

  I rolled my eyes. “That’s Mom, always glass half full.”

  “She’s still on the ventilator and they have her sedated. I’m not sure she’ll hear me, but I can’t wait to tell her you’re on your way home.”

  “Tell her I love her. Tell her I’m coming home, and I’ll be there soon.” I gave her the number of the phone on the ship and made her promise to call with the latest updates. I pressed end and blew out a deep sigh.

  “Sounds like you got good news.”

  “She had the transplant. She really got a new heart.” Happy tears lodged in my throat. “She’s going to be okay.”

  Garrett kissed my forehead then pulled my slumped, exhausted body into his arms. Carrying me into the bathroom, he sat me in front of the vanity on a small shiny chrome stool. It was the first time I’d gotten a glimpse at my natural, raw image. Castaway life had bronzed my skin, and I’d lost a few pounds.

  I ran my fingers through the wildness of my dull hair. Sure, it had been washed and brushed daily, but it lacked a healthy shine. Trailing my fingertips to my dry lips, I licked the small cracks.

  “You look beautiful.”

  I cast him a frown, noticing the signs of exhaustion in his chiseled features for the first time.

  “You’re crazy. I’m a mess.”

  “It’ll be nice to sleep in a real bed with you tonight.”

  “Yes, it will.”

  He lifted my arms above my head and eased my shirt off. Holding my hands, he pulled me to a standing position, his fingers sliding my shorts down my hips. It seemed the universe was moving in slow motion as he guided me inside the shower.

  “There’s not room for two, or I’d join you.” He reached in and kissed me hard. Water sluiced down my body, spraying him and the marble floor.

  He was like a predator slipping in a kiss I hadn’t expected, and it made me utterly still. Somehow, I had to rebuild the shield of ice I’d allowed him to melt away from around my heart.

  Then he left, and I was left staring at the closed door. It took a good minute before I managed to pour shampoo in the palm of my hand. The scent of tangerine filled the stall as I massaged it into my scalp and to the tips of my hair for a deep clean.

  In the solitary moment, I wept for my gratefulness, thankfulness, and blessings. We’d survived a crash landing, my mother had received her gift of life, and I was headed home.

  After scrunching my hair a bit, I lightly applied some makeup then slipped into sandals and the cobalt blue sundress I’d worn en route to St. Thomas. Making my way up the staircase, I heard deep laughter resonating down the hallway. I stopped, absorbing the sound of Garrett’s laugh mixed with those of his brothers.

  Garrett’s voice sounded husky and sexy as hell. I couldn’t hear everything he said, but I did make out “half-assed crab trap” and bit back a smile.

  I rounded the corner, and the first thing I noticed was the neatly trimmed facial hair he’d left in place. He wore a navy polo with khaki shorts, and he stole my breath away.

  “Did he tell you he still likes to bet on his skills?” I said to Stone and Chad, winking before meeting his burning gaze.

  I ventured through the vast open space into a sitting area, finding Avery stretched out on a pristine white sofa. Walls made of windows drew in bright sunlight on each side of the ship, making it a lovely place for relaxation.

  “Come join me,” she called out sweetly.

  Avery was gorgeous, with flawless ivory skin, blonde hair worn in a messy updo, and sparkling blue eyes. Everything about her screamed sweet, happy, and in love with her life.

  “I’d love to.” I sat across from
her on a lounger, and a chrome and glass coffee table took up the space between us.

  “Did you reach your mom?”

  “I spoke to my aunt. My mom’s been on a heart transplant list for a while now, and it seems while I was gone, she got one.” My eyes blurred, and a smile teased my lips.

  “Oh my God, that’s incredible. Is she doing okay?”

  “My aunt assures me she is.” The grin on my face turned into a small happy giggle. “I’m overwhelmed with relief and joy. I just can’t wait to see her.”

  “We’ll be in St. Thomas in two days.”

  The air filled with the masculine Mitchell brothers’ laughter.

  “Are they always like that when they’re together?”

  “Always. I grew up next door to Gammy, and it’s been this way for as long as I can remember. Things were never dull in that house full of testosterone.”

  “Were you and Stone high school sweethearts?”

  She let out a small laugh. “I’ve loved Stone since we were kids.” She paused before adding, “It’s good to see Garrett happy with someone.”

  Her remark caught me off guard, and Avery grinned. I didn’t know how to respond, but my lips curled involuntarily on their own.

  “He’s not always happy,” I joked.

  “He is when he looks at you.”

  “He doesn’t know me well enough for me to have anything to do with it.”

  “My parents got married three months after they met. I used to wonder if they had a reason, but I didn’t come along until four years later. My mom has always said she knew the moment she laid eyes on him it was love at first sight. I’ve never not loved Stone.”

  “Garrett and I are definitely not in love, if that’s what you’re implying.”

  “Maybe not, but I see the way you look at each other, and that doesn’t need rhyme or reason. There’s something going on—it’s obvious.”

  “Hey, you two, Dad said dinner is ready.” Garrett strode into the room with Stone by his side. “Gammy has Chad setting the table—can you believe that? He was always the first to bail when it came to kitchen duty.”

  “Somebody needs to take a picture of that,” Avery declared playfully.

  We gathered around the large table at the back of the yacht in an open, breezy dining area. The Mitchell family displayed their strong loyal bonds in the shared laughter and jovial conversations. I captured the silent thankfulness in their eyes as they stole glances at Garrett.

  “Where are you from, Brooke?” Mr. Mitchell asked.

  “Born and raised in Dallas.”

  “I understand you work for Garrett?”

  I swallowed hard. “Yes. I started out in marketing before joining the administrative team.”

  “Ahhh, so you worked for George.” He took a sip of wine.

  “You know George?”

  “He and I went to college together.”

  “Garrett told me you were good friends with Mr. Lockwood, but I didn’t realize you knew George as well.”

  “Yes. Jennings handles the company’s legal affairs, and George moved back from San Diego to work for Garrett several years ago. He and Andrea wanted to come back home to retire.”

  The conversation turned in the direction of a new restaurant opening in the small community at Port Bolivar near Stone and Avery’s quaint beach home. After a few glasses of wine and finishing the savory meal topped off with cobbler, my eyes grew heavy.

  “Tired?” Garrett asked, eyeing me carefully.

  “A little.”

  “I’m going to see Brooke to her room. She’s exhausted.”

  “So are you, son. Get some rest and we’ll see you later in the afternoon,” his mother ordered in a sweet, matter-of-fact voice.

  “Thank you all for everything,” I said sincerely.

  “You’re most welcome. If you need anything, please let us know,” Gammy said.

  I nodded. “I will.”

  We walked up the staircase in silence, and halfway up, Garrett linked his fingers with mine.

  I am not falling in love.

  I am not falling in love.

  I am not falling in love.

  Chapter 19

  When I opened my eyes, I lay on my side spooning against Garrett’s hard body, his arm possessively circling me, our legs intertwined. I stayed still, listening to the sound of his breathing and holding on to the moment for as long as possible, because soon we would be home…and I knew things would change.

  “Hey.” He pulled me tighter against him.

  “Did I wake you?”

  “No.”

  Slowly I rolled to face him, finding a hint of grey shadowing his beautiful chestnut eyes. He looked completely worn out, his gaze weary.

  “Did you get any sleep at all?”

  “A little.”

  “You need more rest.”

  “I’ll sleep tonight.”

  “It’s okay if you need to move to the other room.”

  He groaned, and his lips curved upward in an amused grin. “Then I wouldn’t sleep at all.”

  “I’ve grown so used to sleeping next to you, it’ll be weird climbing into my cold bed alone when we get back.”

  Garrett stilled for a second before running the tips of his fingers up and down the curvature of my spine, stroking the skin at the small of my back before trailing upward again. “Your aunt called while you were asleep.”

  In a whirl, I shuffled to a sitting position with wide eyes. “You should have woken me! What did she say?”

  “I would have if it were urgent. You were sleeping too soundly and needed the rest. She said they’re going to try to wean her off the ventilator tonight, and if that’s successful, they plan to move her out of the ICU into a regular hospital room tomorrow. She also said your mother squeezed her hand when she told her you were on your way home.”

  My eyes instantly misted. “That’s wonderful! I can’t wait to see her.”

  He pulled me down to snuggle against his chest. “Two days...we’ll be home.”

  We lay in silence, my hand over his beating heart, enjoying the gentle soothing motion of the ship trudging across the calm seas. His soft eyes warmed the blood in my veins like melted chocolate ready to be drizzled over fresh plump strawberries…so delicious and seductive.

  Dipping my gaze to the stubble lining his jaw, I shivered at the thought of the roughness against my skin.

  Oh what he does to me.

  “I kept it so you could decide if you like the feel of it on the insides of your thighs.” His lips curled at the corners and he flashed a searing grin.

  I felt the blush tinting the skin of my face and met wicked amusement dancing in his expression.

  “I’m glad you did.”

  Garrett let out a husky groan and rolled me onto my back in a flash. His lips found my neck, driving me mad, teasing me with his tongue all the way to the peak of my already beaded nipple. He palmed the other breast before licking his way over to join in on the play. I gasped and tugged at his soft hair when his teeth grazed my sensitive flesh. The scruffiness of his face prickled along the path down my stomach, and a whimper escaped my mouth.

  Trailing, licking, and nipping, he worked his way between my thighs. His hands grasped my hips, pinning me in place as he ran his tongue through my crevice in a slow devouring swirl.

  “God, I could taste you all night.”

  His delved his tongue inside me, lapping with deep greedy strokes, working me up and down. He flicked and sucked the bundle of nerves, and they screamed in response. I pulled at his hair fisted in my hands, lost in the way he worshiped me.

  “Oh my God.” I panted and tried to buck against his mouth, but he kept me pinned in place on the mattress while he took me closer to the edge.

  Tingles engulfed my entire body as the delicious roughness of the stubbly hair made me grind against his face. He sucked me deep into his mouth and swirled his tongue one final time, lapping me into oblivion.

  “Yes. Oh God, yes! Garr
ett!” I cried his name in my sweet release, quivering as wave after wave of pleasure rippled through me.

  When he pulled back, his mouth glistened and, my body hummed with the aftershocks. His teeth nipped the inside of my thigh before sliding his face against my sensitive flesh.

  “The look on your face when you come brings me to my knees. It’s fucking gorgeous.”

  I reached down to unfasten the snap of his shorts but his hands found mine. “No. This is about you.”

  “Take your shorts off.”

  “No. I want to be just for you.”

  “Do you like giving me pleasure, Garrett?” I purred.

  “More than the air I breathe.”

  “If I asked for more…asked to come again, would you make me come again?”

  The wicked glint in his eyes told me I had him right where I wanted him. He looked like he held a bottle of bourbon and hadn’t had a single sip in months.

  “I would make you come all night long.” He sucked my nipple into his mouth and flicked his tongue over the tip.

  “I want you to fuck me. I want to come with you inside me.”

  He leaned up on his elbow with fire in his eyes before kissing me hard like he was starving for me… starving for what I’d demanded.

  This time when my finger sought the metal button, he just stared deep into my eyes.

  Pushing him onto his back, I crawled my way over his body, straddling him in the center of the bed. He drank in my every move as if I were his last meal. Heavy hooded eyes and deep ragged breaths turned me on even more.

  Without waiting, I guided him inside me and slammed myself down, filling myself completely and grinding against him. We both moaned in unison, and I rocked my hips up and down, faster and faster.

  “Fuck!” He blew out the word several times, his hands on my hips, guiding my rhythm.

  Garrett arched, thrusting and meeting each rock of our hips with a deep plunge. His hands moved to my hair, fisting and pulling, gentle and rough at the same time.

  In a quick move, he rolled me onto my back. With us still joined together, he thrust into me, fierce and hard, grinding into me.