Crashing Hearts (Pine Valley College #2)

28. Bones

CHAPTER 28

BONES

S kylar Warren is like the Energizer Bunny. He’s up every morning before me, and my breakfast is made as well as my lunch. He drives me to school and drops me off, then he goes to work and picks me up after, all while texting me incessantly.

I said I would give this a go, and I meant it. I can’t deny there is something between us, and being with him makes me happy. We have no labels, but I’m not keeping it a secret.

At night, he fucks my brains out, scrambling them so much I end up crashing in his arms rather than heading back to my place. I think it’s his plan, to be honest.

Evan heads toward me, grinning widely. It’s a short day at college today, and I’m not surprised he found me. He makes a habit out of seeking me out. I think he misses Tommy, not that he will ever admit it.

“Happy birthday, you magnificent asshole!” he shouts when he gets near enough. My eyebrows rise as I stare at him. The bundle of sunshine stops before me, his bright eyes sparkling and his icy hair catching the sun.

I’m the total opposite. If he’s the sun, then I’m the darkness, but he doesn’t seem to care as he starts to sing loudly and off-key for me. I glance around with a wince. I would never stop him, though, because he looks too fucking happy doing it, and when he finishes and grins at me again, I mutter, “Thanks, forgot it was today.”

I pretend I forgot it was my birthday, like I don’t care. I didn’t, though I wish I could. I had the insane urge to tell Skylar this morning, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“What? How?” He punches my side, and I stumble back a step. Evan might be a ray of sunshine, but he has the ability to beat the shit out of most guys. I have a theory that if he really wanted to, he could even beat me. He just hides his anger better.

Shrugging, I focus on my phone, which I had been looking at before his sudden appearance. “Bones, seriously, it’s your birthday. Don’t you want to do anything?”

“I hate my birthday,” I admit, and it’s true. It’s just another reminder that I’m another year older and I spent another year without people I lost. First, my mother, and then my love. I might have friends and Skylar this year, but that doesn’t mean I’ll celebrate. “I always spend it alone. My father used to insist on spending it together, for his image, I guess, but he never turned up, so I stopped going. It’s just another day.”

“Shit, that’s fucked up,” Evan says, “but it isn’t another day. It’s your day, your birthday?—”

“What’s so great about that?” I retort with an arched brow.

His mouth drops open before he shakes his head. “There is so much wrong with everything you just said, I don’t even know where to start. And I thought I had parental issues.” Slinging his arm around me, he sighs. “At least let me buy you dinner.”

“Oh, um, I’ll probably be . . . ,” I trail off, unsure what to say. My eyes scan the lot for the familiar car that is never late picking me up.

“With Skylar? He texted me. He’s going to be late today. Work ran over. Alek will drop you off at your place after,” he says happily.

Nodding, I let him lead me away, even as my shoulders slump. I guess I was excited to see him. I may not want to celebrate my birthday, but it might have been fun to spend it with him, even if he didn’t know.

Bones: Hope everything is okay at work.

He doesn’t reply.

“I am so full, princess, rub my belly,” Evan whines from the front of Alek’s car.

Grinning, Alek reaches over and slides his hand across Evan’s flat abs, making him groan. “That better, pretty boy?”

“I don’t know. You could rub something else?—”

I cough loudly. “Did you forget I’m here?” I snap from the back seat.

“Oops.” Evan grins as he glances at me. “Kinda, sorry.”

“At least someone should get some on my birthday,” I mutter as I flop back, my arms crossed. I’m not pouting.

I’m sulking.

Skylar didn’t text me back. He never fails to respond, usually seconds after. It makes me worry, but when I see his car in our apartment parking garage, I feel annoyed. So he’s just ignoring me? After I said I would give this a try, he got so comfortable he decided to stop putting in the effort?

What an ass.

I’m definitely not sulking, not at all, just pissed.

“Here.” Evan hands over a gift bag. “From Alek and me. Happy birthday.”

I blink down at the bag then look up at Evan as he grins at me mischievously. “Go on, head inside.”

I eye him and Alek, who seem far too excited. They’ve been like this the entire meal. Maybe they just really want to get home to fuck. It wouldn’t surprise me, since they are like rabbits. “Thank you. You didn’t have to.”

“We’re friends.” Evan sighs. “I wanted to get you something.”

Alek smirks. “I had no choice. He made me.”

Grinning, I slap his shoulder. “Thank you, I mean it, and for the meal.”

“You’re welcome. Now fuck off, I want to take my boy home,” Alek says.

“Asshole,” I mutter as I slide from the car and wave at them.

I will not go to his apartment tonight. Fuck him. He thinks he can ignore me?

Fine, I’ll ignore him right back.

I don’t need anyone. I never did. I’m fine on my own. I can spend my birthday alone. I always have. This won’t be any different.

“Well, goddamn, beautiful, it took you long enough.” My head snaps up as Skylar pushes from the wall next to his apartment door. “Alek texted that you left the restaurant thirty minutes ago.” He grins at me, almost bouncing on his toes. “Come on, hurry up.”

“For what?” I mutter. “I’m going to bed in my apartment. I’m tired.”

“Uh-uh, no, you’re not.” He reaches for me, but I duck under him and head to my door.

“Yes, I am,” I snap. “Goodnight, Skylar.”

“Baby,” he whines, sounding adorable.

I ignore him as I fumble to find my key, and he sighs.

“Bones, look at me.”

No . I don’t say it out loud, but I refuse.

Suddenly, I’m spun around and tossed into the wall next to his door.

His arms wrap around me, pressing me against the wall as his forehead rests on mine. “Are you sulking, my little brat? Is it because I didn’t reply to your text?”

“No,” I snap, pushing at his chest, but he simply grins, and I slump into the wall, glaring at him. “Well, why didn’t you?”

Fuck, why did I say that? He’ll get the wrong idea for sure, and from the happy glint in his eyes, I know I’m right. He kisses the tip of my nose.

“Adorable, you are fucking adorable. Why don’t you come and see?” Pushing from me, he captures my hand and interlaces our fingers, refusing to let go as he opens his door.

I try to resist, but he just yanks me inside, kicking the door shut behind me and releasing my hand as I stare at the boxes covering nearly every surface of the living room. All of them are wrapped in black and gold with my name scrawled across them.

“What is this?” I whisper in shock.

“Surprise!” he yells. “Sorry I didn’t reply. I was finishing setting this up, so I asked Alek and Evan to distract you.”

I gape at the number of birthday presents spread around his apartment. “What the fuck, Skylar?”

“One for every year I missed,” he says as he turns to me, grabs a big bow, and puts it on as I arch my eyebrow. “And this year’s present . . .”

Biting back a smile, I shake my head and look around again. “How did you even . . . Alek.”

“Alek.” He grins as he wraps his arms around me. “You like it?”

“I—” I stare past him again in shock.

He got me a present for each year he missed. He remembered my birthday.

I’ll never admit it, but deep down, I’m happy.

As a kid, I always wanted someone to make a big deal out of my birthday. As I got older, I pretended I didn’t care, but seeing the effort other people’s parents, friends, or partners would put in . . . Yeah, I was jealous and always trying to convince myself I wasn’t, but staring at Skylar Warren and the apartment overflowing with presents and love, I have the overwhelming urge to cry.

He gave me this without prompting or being told. He didn’t care about my protests or the act I put on. This isn’t for his reputation or the cameras. It’s because he wants to see me happy.

“Sky,” I whisper.

“Happy birthday, baby.” He kisses me softly. “I’m so glad I get to celebrate with you this year and the rest to come. I promise to make each birthday better than the last.”

I stare into his dark eyes, lost for words. “I hate my birthday,” I admit.

“Evan told me what you said, but listen to me.” His hands cup my face so I’m really listening to him. “Your birth should be celebrated because you’re a fucking miracle, and you are the best part about my life. Do you hear me?”

Nodding, I glance back again, and he grins. “Come on, let’s open your presents.”

He leads me over to the couch and pushes me down, shoving a little box on my lap. I glance from it to him, and he waits excitedly, so I carefully pull the paper open and fold it next to me.

“Rip it, baby!” he encourages.

“But it’s too nice,” I admit. “I think we should save it.”

He grabs the paper and carefully folds it for me, and I smile as I open the box to find a key ring inside. It has his car’s number on top of a race flag, and I grin. “I’m already sensing a theme.”

Grinning, he grabs another box, and I open this one just as carefully. It’s a framed photo of us, and I stare at it, confused. “Skylar Warren, was this the night we almost died?”

“You were super cute when you were angry,” he says as I gape at the picture. It’s in the back of the car, with me on his lap, glaring past him as he grins behind me.

“Jesus,” I mutter, but the picture is whisked away and another box quickly replaces it, bigger this time.

This one holds a jacket. I unfold it to see the patchwork designs on the leather. It has Starfire Racing, his name and number, and some flags and flames on the back. It’s cool as hell.

“For you to wear when you see your man race,” he says eagerly.

Nodding, I lay it down, eyeing the presents worriedly. There are so many of them, I don’t know what to say. I feel awkward. I’ve never really received a gift before, never mind so many.

I think he can sense I’m overwhelmed because he suggests, “Why don’t we save the rest for later?”

Nodding, I play with the edges of the jacket draped over my lap. “I’ll be back, just going to the bathroom.” I watch him go before stroking the embroidery. It’s my colors, my style, and I want to wear it.

I want everyone to see his name on my back when I’m at the races, so they won’t get any ideas.

Maybe I am a possessive bastard like he said.

Suddenly, the lights go out, and I jump to my feet, flashbacks from that night filling my head. Skylar, wearing a corny birthday hat, comes around the corner from his bedroom. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, my boy, happy birthday to you.” He stops when he’s before me, holding a huge, round chocolate cake with my name on the top and hearts all around it.

Candles burn brightly on the surface as I stare at it.

“Happy birthday, beautiful. Come on, blow them out and make a wish,” he whispers softly.

Closing my eyes, I lean in and send up a wish before blowing out the candles. My eyes open as he cheers and turns to the counter.

“Tell me what you wished for!” he says as he puts the cake on the counter and grabs two plates.

“I can’t tell you,” I say, feeling embarrassed. “It won’t come true.”

That, and I don’t think I could survive him knowing.

He pouts, but he lets it go. “You want to cut it, beautiful?” I just stare at the cake, tracing the letters across the top. “Bones?”

“I’ve never had one before,” I tell him, peering at the smoking candles and the incredible frosting below.

“What? A chocolate cake? I wasn’t sure?—”

“No, a cake.”

“To yourself?” he asks with a frown.

“At all,” I admit, meeting his eyes.

The heartbreak in his gaze as he stares at me makes me shift uncomfortably and look away.

I hesitate as I stare at the cake. It’s so beautiful, I don’t want to cut into it. “Baby.” His voice is soft, but I can’t bring myself to look at him, shame heating my cheeks. His hand gently cups my chin and turns me, his eyes tracing over my face. “I promise you will never spend another birthday alone, and every single year, you will have a cake. I will never, I mean never, let you miss out on anything else. Do you understand?”

I peer up into his eyes and nod, believing him.

Every day, Skylar Warren fixes something within me, something others broke.

Grinning, he slides his fingers into icing, breaking the perfection for me, and bops my nose with a wide grin. “Asshole,” I mutter, then my voice turns soft as I stare into his eyes. “Why are you so patient and kind to me when I’m nothing but cruel?”

He searches my eyes for a moment, a small, understanding smile flitting across his lips. “Because, baby, I think you act like that because you’ve never been shown kindness or how to accept love, and I’m willing to teach you.” His grin only grows. “Besides, I never liked sweet things,” he murmurs as he licks the frosting from my nose. I inhale deeply as he leans back. “I much prefer sour.”

I glance away, but I know I’m smiling as I turn to the cake and start to cut it. His arms wrap around me, and his chin rests on my shoulder from behind. Once it’s cut, I stare at the decadent chocolate, thinking through his words.

“But you grew up in a worse situation than I did and you turned out well,” I mutter in annoyance.

“Baby, it doesn’t matter how much money you had or didn’t have—a house without love or safety is just as bad as the streets I grew up on. Besides, I didn’t turn out well. I have my own issues, ones I wish you didn’t know about. I hate the idea of you thinking less of me. Before I had you, I was drinking every day. I told everyone I was fine, just having fun, but the truth is, it was the only time I felt anything . . . . It was the only time I was truly happy, not just forcing an act for everyone around me. I was tired and lost and bored, and you came along. You’re my vice now. Maybe that’s unhealthy, but I don’t care. You make me happy, and taking care of you, protecting you, and cherishing you make me the happiest. Fuck our upbringing, and fuck our pasts. Let’s focus on the present and being together, okay? We can learn how to love together.”

Closing my eyes, I lean back into his arms, letting him comfort me. He’s right. We should look to our future, not what happened before. I’m happy with Skylar. He makes me laugh and enjoy things again, and he’s added some feeling into my numb world.

I don’t know where this will go, but for the first time in a long time, I’m excited.

My skin is still scarred from the touch of another, and my heart is still broken from that love, but being surrounded by his warmth is bringing me back to life. It’s healing those wounds and giving me another chance at love, but along with that comes fear.

This could be taken away again, and I could lose this before it truly begins.

Every good thing in my life is taken or ruined. I don’t want that to happen with this . . . with us.

Feeling that desperation, I turn and kiss him. It’s fast and hard, but his hands cup my cheeks and he slows it down until we are both panting.

“Thank you for caring, and thank you for remembering my birthday when my own father doesn’t. Thank you for always making the effort, even when I don’t make it easy. I might not be able to say it a lot, but I didn’t like my life before you, Skylar Warren. You brought joy into it, and I’m . . . happy when I’m with you. Really happy.”

It cost a lot to admit that, and I see that knowledge in his eyes as he kisses me softly, treasuring my words. “You make me happy too,” he whispers against my lips. “I’ve never been this happy. You make me believe in a future, and you make me want to be a better person to deserve you. I won’t ever give up on you. Give me your worst, I’m not going anywhere.”

My words will never be able to encapsulate everything I want to say, so instead, I show him with my body.

I kiss him hard, and desire roars through me as he grips my thighs and lifts me onto the counter, chasing my lips. My head falls back as his lips glide down my throat and back up. My gaze lands on the cake. Using two fingers like he did, I cup some of the frosting and press it to his lips as he leans away.

Gripping my hand, he sucks my fingers clean of the frosting. My cock jerks at the sight and I pant, licking my lips.

It’s always like this between us, the desire so strong I can’t even breathe.

I’ve never wanted someone the way I want Skylar Warren.

Kissing the tips of my fingers, he drops my hand as we crash together again, our mouths meeting in a brutal kiss until I push him away, breathing heavily as I tug at his shirt, tearing it down the middle and exposing his perfect chest.

He grabs a handful of the cake and holds it to my mouth. I take a bite as I watch him. “Good boy,” he purrs before lifting his hand to his mouth and smearing the frosting there.

Gripping his cheeks, I trace my tongue across his lips and chin, licking it up. Our lips meet in a messy kiss as we gasp, tugging each other closer. His hand moves past me again, and I wait, anticipation running through me at the hunger I see in his gaze. His hand returns covered in chocolate frosting, and a devilish smile curls his lips. Dragging it down his chest, he eyes me and arches one eyebrow, taunting me.

Driven by desperation and desire, I drop to my knees before him and trace my tongue across his muscles. The taste of him mixes with the chocolate, creating my new favorite flavor. Sliding farther up, I circle his nipple with my tongue before biting down. He hisses and reaches down, yanking me to my feet, and his lips meet mine again in a hungry kiss. When he pulls away, he kneels and tugs my pants down, freeing my hard dick. His tongue darts out and licks his lips as he stares at me.

When his eyes meet mine, I grip the counter so I don’t fall. Seeing the big, powerful Skylar Warren on his knees for me has me feeling like a god.

“Cover your hand in frosting, baby,” he orders, his breath wafting over my cock as he speaks. I reach back blindly, smashing my hand into the cake before I offer it to him. “Stroke yourself.”

Eyes on him, I wrap my hand around my cock and stroke my hard length. I groan as I tighten my fist.

“Enough,” he demands, and I stop instantly, dropping my hand.

Keeping me trapped in his feral gaze, he leans in and licks a long line down my dick, tasting the frosting before he sits back with a hum. “Delicious, angel,” he praises as he grips my cock at the base, holding it still for his tongue, and then he proceeds to torture me by licking every drop of frosting from my cock. His tongue traces over me until I mutter obscenities, my hips rolling as I try to suppress my desire.

“Skylar,” I beg, and it’s like he was waiting for it. His lips wrap around my tip and he sucks hard, making me arch away from the counter as my eyes slide shut in ecstasy.

Chuckling, he opens his mouth wide and takes me all the way into his throat. His wet, hot mouth seals around me as he sucks hard before pulling back. His head bobs as he takes me deeper each time. I force my eyes open and onto him, not wanting to miss a moment. He ignores his own desire completely as he sucks me, playing with my cock and piercings until I thrust into his mouth.

His other hand grips my thigh, and he tugs my legs open wider before his fingers trail up the inside of my thigh and to my ass. I shiver in want, and pleasure spirals through me as I look down and anchor my hand in his hair. It falls around his face, giving him a roguish appearance, and my dick jerks at the sight. His mouth pops from my cock as he smirks.

“I knew you liked my long hair. You like to pull it, don’t you?” he teases.

“Shut up,” I say. “Fuck, please, for once, just use that mouth for something other than talking.”

Laughing, he sucks me into his mouth, and my head falls back with a groan.

He grips my ass, his fingers sliding up my crack and parting me as he circles my hole in time with him pulling from my dick and swallowing me again. I push into him, begging wordlessly, until I can’t take any more. I’m about to yell at him when he presses inside me.

His fingers push into my ass, making me cry out as they bury deep, twisting to rub the spot that has me jerking and forcing my cock farther into his mouth.

“Sky!” I cry out as he takes me all the way down his throat, his fingers digging into that spot until red-hot pleasure explodes through my body, like a lightning bolt hitting me. I bellow, my cock pulsing in his mouth as I fill his throat with my cum. It seems to go on forever, trapping me in an endless orgasm until I struggle to breathe. The pleasure is intense, and when it finally subsides, I slump back, barely able to stand. His fingers slide from my ass as he pulls his mouth from my cock and places a gentle kiss on my tip before rising to his feet like an avenging angel.

“Happy birthday, beautiful,” he whispers, his lips swollen as he grins. His eyes are filled with nothing but happiness and love as I tremble in aftershocks against him, knowing I’ll never be able to eat birthday cake without getting hard.

I start to fall, and he sweeps me into his arms, carrying me to the sofa as he keeps his possessive gaze on me. I suddenly understand how Evan feels when Alek looks at him.

Sky stares at me like I’m his everything, like nothing else exists in the world other than me. It’s addictive but also powerful—a feeling I never want to let go of.