The One (The Halo Series Book 2)

by Kimberly Knight

  “Easton told me that he likes Brooke, but since she has a boyfriend he hasn’t tried anything which is very unlike him.”

  “Brooke hasn’t told me that she has feelings for him, but I can tell. She doesn’t look at her boyfriend the way she looks at Easton.”

  “Maybe it’s only a matter of time?”

  “I hope so. I wouldn’t mind road tripping it with her from Boston to New York on the weekends.”

  I smirked. “I wouldn’t mind that either.”

  We started kissing again and before I could control my thoughts, my dick got hard, pressing right where it wanted to be buried.

  “Feels like we’re not the only ones excited,” Nicole said, wiggling against my erection.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I teased.

  “Do what?” she asked, still rubbing on me.

  I loved when she played dumb. It was cute. She did things on purpose to get me all worked up, but if she bit her lip and rubbed against me at the same time, I had a feeling I would bust a nut on contact.

  “Keep doing it.” I wasn’t playing around. It felt good.

  “Like this?” she asked, still moving her crotch over my hard dick.

  “Yeah,” I groaned.

  People started to come in the water after they’d explored the island. It was probably for the best since I didn’t have a condom on, but fuck! I wanted to take Nicole again.

  “Let’s…um, go swim with Cassandra.” I stopped Nicole’s body from moving.

  She followed my gaze to the people getting closer. “Damn, but when we get back on the ship…” She wiggled again. “We’re gonna finish what we just started.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise,” she said and kissed my lips before swimming off towards Cassandra, leaving my dick hard as a rock.

  The more time I spent with Avery, the more I was falling for him. He made me feel good. Made me feel special. Made me feel…loved.

  I was in love with him.

  I knew it.

  I could feel it.

  He had a way about him that I was drawn to. I supposed that in every new relationship you felt on top of the world, but something about him was different. It was like we’d been dating for years instead of days. Everything felt natural. We’d spent every day and night together for the last seven nights.

  The trip was perfect.

  But tonight was the final night and in the morning Avery and I would go our separate ways. I hoped that it was just for the week, and on the weekends one of us would drive to be with the other. I was going to miss him something fierce.

  It was going to be weird sleeping alone. It was going to be weird not waking up in his arms. It was going to be weird not seeing his face every day, touching him, kissing him. It was going to be weird period.

  It was going to fucking suck.

  Not only was everything going right with Avery, but Brooke had finally admitted she liked Easton. It took her sister to make her confess, but I knew it. And the icing on the cake was that she was finally going to break up with Jared.

  The trip had turned into something I wasn’t expecting. I’d expected to meet a few guys, but I hadn’t expected to get so wrapped up in one that I wanted to move to New York to be with him. It sounded crazy. Maybe I was crazy, but I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it through the week with only phone calls and Facetime.

  “I feel like I’m eighteen again,” Brooke said, checking herself out in the mirror. She twirled in her floor-length, strapless, satin, teal evening gown with a bandage waist that wrapped around and then flowed down to the floor.

  “I know, right?” I said, watching her. I was wearing a semi-strapless floor-length, scarlet evening gown with a triangle halter that wrapped around my neck.

  Since tonight was the final night of the cruise, we were getting dressed up to attend a masquerade ball. I felt like it was prom. Brooke’s mask was made out of black plastic with round black sequins around the edge of the face. In the center of the forehead, silver round sequins and crystals came together to make a flower with twelve-inch feathers extending from the top. My mask was similar but white with gold and no feather.

  “Ready?” Brooke asked, giving a big sigh. We both knew this night was bittersweet.

  “Yep. Remember, no matter what happens, I will see you tomorrow here at nine in the morning.”

  “Got it,” she said, opening the door.

  The ship was due to arrive in Los Angeles at seven and we were told that each cabin would be called in groups when it was time to de-board. Our flight back to Boston was leaving at one in the afternoon and we didn’t have time to goof around. Basically, I didn’t have time to spend with Avery before we left.

  We walked out into the hall and Avery and Easton were walking towards us. Even though I had just seen Avery a little over an hour before, it was like he was coming to pick me up for our date. When I saw him dressed in his black and white tux, I instantly smiled. He looked good. Insanely good.

  “Hi,” I said to Avery. Easton nodded towards me and went straight to Brooke. It would only be a matter of time before they were together. I couldn’t wait!

  “Hey, beautiful,” Avery said, kissing me lightly.

  I reached up and rubbed my lipstick from his lips. “Maybe I should have you walk around with my mark on you.” I teased.

  “Your lipstick on my lips?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How about I just never let you leave my side?”

  Forever?

  “That shouldn’t be a problem.”

  I helped Avery put on his plain black mask. Apparently the guys couldn’t help each other with their masks because Brooke had to help Easton with his too. Avery grabbed my hand and the four of us walked to the ballroom.

  I watched as the disco ball flashed on people dancing on the dance floor, feeling like a bump on a log. I wasn’t enjoying myself. All I could think about was that we were going home the next day and I wouldn’t see Avery for a few days. I didn’t have any desire to be with these other people; I just wanted to be with Avery. I wanted to savor our last few hours together, and I didn’t want to do that with people grinding on the dance floor next to us.

  “Want to get out of here?” I asked, whispering in his ear.

  He looked over at me. “We haven’t even been here that long.”

  We’d been there long enough to eat, drink a glass of champagne, and dance one dance. I was over it. I didn’t care that I’d gotten dressed up, did my make-up, and did my hair. I wanted to be in my pajamas cuddling with him.

  “If you want to stay, that’s fine.” I sighed, looking over Avery’s shoulder.

  “I want to do whatever you want to do.”

  I looked back at him. “I want to go back to our room.”

  “All right. Let’s go.” He stood and reached for my hand.

  Brooke and Easton were out on the dance floor laughing and falling in love—at least it looked that way. I’d never seen Brooke so happy, and I wanted to call Jared and tell him to suck it. He was a piece of shit that didn’t deserve her and I couldn’t wait to laugh in his face.

  We didn’t say goodbye. Instead, we just left and walked quickly to our room. People gave us the thumbs up, nodding their agreement and whistling as we walked by. Little did they know that they were seven nights too late; what we were going to do wasn’t the first time.

  Just like our first night, I slipped the key card into the door and Avery kicked it closed behind him. I turned towards him. He took two steps, grabbed my face in both hands and kissed me, my mask pressing into my face.

  “I’m going to miss doing that,” he said, taking a step back and untying his mask.

  I felt my throat tighten and my eyes sting. “Me too.” I untied my mask, setting it on the desk next to us.

  “I’m going to come visit you next weekend. I’ll make sure Easton covers the bar,” he said, returning his hands to my face and looked me straight in the eyes.

  “What if he
wants it off because of Brooke?” I looked up at him, my head tilted back.

  “He has Cheyenne. He’ll need to spend the weekend with her.”

  “Okay. Will you call me every day?”

  “Honey, I’m going to hunt you down and I’m going to call you multiple times a day. Just because this trip is over, doesn’t mean we are.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise,” he said, and then kissed my lips again. “Just try and stop me. It’s me and you, Baby.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  “Good. Now let’s turn that frown upside down.”

  I giggled and he kissed me again, my hands threading into his finger-length dirty-blond hair. We stayed like that for several minutes. I was going to miss his lips, his mouth, his smile. He started to unzip my dress and I turned in his arms to allow him better access. He brushed my long blonde hair off one shoulder, placing kisses on my neck as he slipped the zipper down.

  I sighed quietly, loving the feel of his lips and hands on me. I was going to miss his hands. Miss them on my body. Miss them holding my hand. Miss them playing in my hair. Miss them working my core.

  The zipper met its base and he slid his hands over my shoulders and pushed the dress down. His mouth returned to my skin, kissing along my neck and down my spine until he reached the bunched up fabric of my red dress.

  “I’m going to miss doing this too,” he said, slipping the dress down my legs.

  Did he know what his words were doing to me? I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, trying not to cry. I wasn’t sure why I was so emotional. I knew I’d see him again, but in seven days I was already attached. “Me too,” I finally choked out.

  “I might kidnap you and never let you leave once you visit me in New York.” He laughed.

  I laughed back, relieved he was lightening the mood. “I don’t think you’ll need to go to those extreme measures. I’ll probably not want to leave and you’ll have to kick me out.” I stepped out of my dress and remained in my bra, thong, and gold strappy heels.

  “Not a chance.” He turned me so I was facing him again.

  I was fighting it; fighting the damn tears that wanted to slide down my cheek. I didn’t want him to see me cry, so I kissed him again. I had to distract him from talking. His words were squeezing my heart and I didn’t want the pain. Even though he promised to call me every day, we couldn’t know what the future held.

  I kissed his lips while I undid his bowtie, pulling it from his shirt and throwing the black tie on the floor. I kissed his neck while I unbuttoned his dress shirt, and then tossed it on the floor with his tie and my dress. I kissed his chest while I bent down to undo his belt and slacks. He groaned as I got closer to his cock and I wanted him in my mouth. I wanted to please him; make him forget that this was our last night together for a week. Make me forget that this was our last night together for a week.

  We made quick work of his pants and left him standing naked in front of me at eye level. I looked up and smiled. Over the last seven nights, I hadn’t once done this for him. He was always pleasing me.

  “You don’t have to do that…”

  “I want to.”

  I grabbed his hardening cock and stroked it with my hand. He let out a hiss, closing his eyes and tilting his head back. I pumped him in my hand a few times then leaned forward on my knees, licking the tip of his cock. Avery reached back, steadying himself on the wall.

  The moment my hot mouth opened and slid him in, he groaned, grabbing a fistful of my hair. I bobbed, my mouth and hands working together to please him. His hips began to rock, syncing with the motion of my head. Pre-cum beaded his tip and I licked it, looking up at him. He looked down at me and smiled, and my heart skipped a beat. I was going to miss that smile.

  I lifted my mouth from his cock, my hands still milking him.

  “That feels so good,” he groaned, watching my hands pump his length.

  I licked his tip like a lollipop, loving the taste of him: salty, sweet, and mine. My mouth opened again, sliding him back in. His hands held my hair, pushing and directing me. His hips rocked, fucking my mouth, my hands pumping, twisting and gliding through the slickness of both my saliva and his pre-cum.

  “Baby, you need to stop or I’m going to come in that pretty little mouth of yours.”

  I didn’t stop. What girl would?

  Sucking, licking, bobbing, thrusting—everything worked together to bring him to his knees, literally. After he’d come in my mouth and I’d licked every drop, he kissed me, holding my face in his hands.

  “Now, it’s your turn,” he said with a smile.

  The following morning, I woke to the sound of pounding on the door. Avery was wrapped around me and not moving. I had no idea what time it was.

  “Nic, it’s me.” More knocking. “Nicole, open the door, please.”

  I climbed out of bed, wrapped a robe around my naked body and looked at Avery’s watch then groaned. Swinging the door open, I asked “Really, B, it’s like eight o’clock. I thought we decided on nine?” I yawned.

  “I kissed Easton last night, and I’m freaking the fuck out!”

  “Oh shit! Okay, give me five to say goodbye to A and then we’ll talk.”

  I closed the door and turned to Avery as he sat up in the bed. “Your best friend kissed my best friend.”

  “And?” He laughed.

  “And Brooke’s freaking out because she has a loser of a boyfriend and probably thinks she cheated on him.”

  “So I gotta leave?”

  I frowned. “Yeah. It’s an hour earlier than we thought, but I can’t leave her in the hall.”

  “I understand,” he said, getting out of bed.

  I watched as he slipped his legs through his boxers, covering his nice ass. I sighed as realization was starting to set in. “I’ll miss you, you know?”

  He smiled as he walked over to me. “I’ll miss you more.”

  I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck and hugged him as tight as I could.

  “Call me when you land tonight, okay?”

  I nodded against his shoulder.

  “Look at me,” he said.

  I stepped back and looked into his ocean blue eyes, my eyes stinging because I didn’t want to let him go. The week had gone by too fast.

  “We’ll make this work.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.” He kissed me.

  We stayed wrapped in each other arms for a few more minutes and then Avery finished getting dressed. After I’d kissed him goodbye for the final time and he’d left the room, Brooke told me how she fallen in love with Easton at the same time I fell in love with Avery.

  Saying goodbye to Nicole was hard. I didn’t want to do it. I wanted to stay in bed with her and never leave. I wanted her to miss her plane and stay with us for the night in L.A. I wanted her to come to New York and not go to Boston.

  I wanted her.

  “I’m going to hunt you down,” I said and kissed her goodbye. There wouldn’t be much hunting. I had her number, but I wanted her to know that I’d be coming for her and soon.

  I said goodbye to Brooke as I left the room to meet up with Easton. She looked pissed. I didn’t see the big deal that she and Easton kissed. She was going to break up with her boyfriend and she wanted Easton. Oh well, that was their crazy story. I had my own and I was trying to play it cool and not show Nicole that I was torn up about leaving her.

  Nicole seemed to be doing well with the situation and I didn’t want her to think I was some pansy who was already in love with her. I knew I was though. Saying goodbye to her had hit me hard in the chest. My heart stung. It broke. It stopped beating. I was a lovesick fool. Okay, maybe not a fool, but I was lovesick and it hadn’t even been a full minute since I’d last seen her face.

  Slapping on a smile, I used my key card to Easton’s room. “I’m in love!” I said, swinging the door open.

  “What?” he asked, only lifting his head as he sat on the edge of one of the
beds.

  “I’m in love, dude.”

  “Good for you,” he grumbled.

  “What the fuck is your problem?”

  “Nothing,” he said, folding a piece of paper and stuck it in his pocket.

  “Why are you in a bad mood? I’m the one leaving the one I love.”

  “I kissed Brooke and she didn’t say goodbye. Sue me all right?”

  “She didn’t say goodbye?” No wonder she looked pissed. Easton obviously fucked up.

  “Yeah,” He sighed.

  “Wow, you fucked up.”

  “I know. Let’s talk about you. I don’t want to talk about this shit.”

  Fine by me.

  “Dude, Nicole is—fuck man, she is fucking…I can’t even comprehend how fucking amazing she is and not just in bed. I’ve never had this connection with anyone before.”

  “Uh huh,” he said, stuffing clothes into his suitcase.

  Even though I wanted to continue telling Easton about Nicole, I knew he didn’t want to hear it. I’d never seen him act this way about a girl before and I didn’t want him to try and kick my ass for flaunting my happiness in his face. So I changed the subject.

  “Ready to see Cheyenne?” I asked.

  A smile finally spread across his face. “Yeah.”

  “Me, too.” I smiled back.

  Easton continued to pack and a few minutes after he was done, our cabin was finally called to de-board. We met Bill and Cheyenne in the parking lot. The moment Easton saw his little girl, his mood changed. He now had two girls in his life and it was going to be a balancing act. Cheyenne needed him, but he needed Brooke. He needed a woman in his life. Hell, Cheyenne needed a woman in her life and not just her grandmother.

  While Bill drove us to our hotel for the night, Easton told Cheyenne about our trip. Easton had missed his Peanut, I’d missed her too. I glanced over my shoulder from the front seat a few times as Easton spoke. Cheyenne’s eyes would light up at his words. He gave her a necklace of a sea lion and told her how we went swimming with Cassandra. I couldn’t believe how fast the week had gone by. It felt like only yesterday that we’d arrived.