Crashing Hearts (Pine Valley College #2)

37. Bones

CHAPTER 37

BONES

“ I ’m not in the mood, Alek,” I snap when I see him lingering at the gym door. It’s late, but I couldn’t sleep. I thought if I worked out until I dropped, I might be able to.

At least, that’s the lie I’m telling myself.

The truth is, I miss him, and I think I fucked up.

I panicked and pushed him away to protect him, but I should have spoken to him and found another way because my life without Skylar sucks.

I’ve never felt proud or excited to finish anything, just relieved it’s over. There was no joy, highs, or lows before Skylar Warren. There was just existence. He taught me what it meant to truly live, and I taught him what it meant to hurt. I got his happiness, and he got my darkness. It wasn’t a fair trade, but he didn’t seem to care.

He wanted me, scars and all, and I ruined that out of fear. I took a hammer to our carefully growing glass house, walked over the shards, and left him there in the midst of the destruction. I hurt him, and I hate that.

He’s the last person in this world I want to hurt.

Alek heads over and stops before me, eyeing me then nodding at what he finds.

“Did you know there was an accident at the racetrack today?” Alek says conversationally, putting his hands in his pockets.

“What? Is he okay?” I leap up, my heart slamming to a stop as I grab Alek and haul him close. “Alek, is he okay?”

“He’s fine. It was his partner who got hurt.” I blink in confusion. “I was just checking if you cared or not.”

Releasing him, I swallow and lean back. “Of course I fucking care.”

“Then act like it,” he snaps.

I stare at him. “Did he tell you?”

“No, he’s protecting you. He wouldn’t tell me anything,” he replies. “But it’s easy to see my friend is hurting, and I don’t like it. You’re both hurting. Is it worth it? Whatever this bullshit reason you’re giving for hurting him, is it worth it?”

I could make an excuse, but it would be lame. He’s right. I hurt his friend. I hurt someone I care for.

“I thought so. Wouldn’t you do anything to keep Evan safe?”

“Not if it meant losing him. I’d stand with him and we’d tackle it together. There is one thing I’ve learned through all the shit we went through—anything is possible if you do it together. Things are never better apart, no matter how hard it is or how impossible it seems. I lost Evan once by being stupid, and I will never do that again. Don’t make the mistake I did.”

“You don’t understand,” I mutter. How could he? Alek and Evan were meant to be together. They didn’t have my father standing between them, threatening to destroy the one I love.

“No, I don’t. I really fucking don’t. You’re miserable and suffering, and he’s pissed.”

“He’s angry?” I whisper. I don’t know why that hurts more than him being upset.

“What do you think?” Alek retorts. “There are only so many times you can push someone away, Bones, before they stop coming back.”

Panic like I have never felt winds through me. Has he given up on me? Has he walked away for good? Has he realized I’m not worth it? That’s what I wanted, right? I can’t breathe, and I realize the idea of losing him forever scares me much more than him growing to hate me because of my father.

Alek is right. I’m a fool.

I’m a fucking idiot.

I should have stood at his side. I should have fought. I should have told him.

Suddenly, nothing else matters but getting to him. I’ll work to fix this.

I’m not letting Skylar Warren go.

“Where is he? Alek, where is he?” I demand as I shove my shoes on, indifferent to the fact that I’m just in shorts and a tank.

“Well, it’s about fucking time,” Alek mutters as he pulls out his keys and throws them at me. “I know you walked here, so take my car. He’s at the track. I don’t do this for anyone. Take care of my fucking car . . . and my best friend. Don’t hurt him again.” He steps back, smiling. “Go get him.”

Clutching the keys, I run out of the gym, hitting the fob before I slide into his car, start the engine, and speed toward the garage and the track.

I get there as quickly as possible, leaving Alek’s car at an angle—he can fucking bill me. I rush past the garage. There are no lights on inside, but I can see his car making its way around the track, the headlights splashing across the tarmac.

“Skylar!” I yell, but obviously, he can’t hear me. I tried to call him on the way, and he didn’t answer. Something strange guides me as I climb over the railing and stand just before the finish line as he skids around the final corner and down the straightaway.

His car barrels toward me, but I don’t move.

I tilt my chin up, my stance wide as I stare and wait with nothing but love.

I hear the moment he slams on his brakes, and he skids to a stop right before me, his front bumper almost touching me. He rips the door open, tosses his helmet away, then storms over to me.

“Are you okay? Bones, are you okay?” he demands, checking me over, and when he realizes I’m not hurt, he shakes me, his hands high on my upper arms. “What the fuck were you thinking? I could have killed you!” He doesn’t let me get a word out. “Fuck, angel, I could have hit you!”

“I needed to see you. I trust you,” I whisper, my voice choked. Everything I want to say fades away as I stare into his eyes.

“Are you fucking crazy?” he snaps and drops his hands, so I grab them and press them to my cheeks. He freezes, his eyes narrowing in confusion as he searches my face.

His headlights shine on us, letting him see everything I try to hide.

“I knew you wouldn’t hit me. I knew you would rather die than hurt me, but I couldn’t go another second without being in front of you and telling you . . . without fixing this. I’m sorry, Skylar. I fucked up and panicked and pushed you away. I love you, Skylar Warren, and if you’ll let me, I’ll tell you everything. I’ll fix everything. Just tell me I’m not too late. Tell me you still want me. Tell me you still love me.” I search his wide eyes. “I didn’t mean anything I said. I was just trying to protect you, but I realized I can’t live without you. No matter what happens, I can’t live without you. I love you.”

I trail off, waiting.

Please, tell me I’m not too late.

Tell me he hasn’t given up.

Tell me he still wants me the way I want him.

“Say it again,” he whispers, and when I stare, he tightens his grip. “Say you love me again.”

My lips tilt in a smile. We are going to be okay. I know it.

“I love you,” I say, and then I cup my hands around my mouth and scream, “I love you!”

“It’s about fucking time,” he snarls and yanks my head to him, his lips crashing onto mine.

Groaning, I lean onto my toes as he drags me closer so there isn’t an inch of space between us. He kisses me like he’s never saying goodbye again, like he knows I’m the love of his life and has been waiting for me to realize it.

He kisses me like I’m his and he’s mine.

Moaning, I slide my hands into his hair, pulling on it until he hisses. He breaks the kiss. “Keep saying it. Keep saying it while I fuck you and prove to you that you’re never getting away from me.” Before I can speak, his lips are on mine again.

It’s a hard, dominant kiss that has me softening into him and sliding my hands down his suit to tug him closer.

He kisses life back into me.

I have been cold, dead, and lost for days, but now I’m alive.

I push him back, and he stumbles as I pull the zipper on his suit down to his crotch. I slide my hands inside and press my lips against his, needing more.

I need Skylar Warren to breathe me back to life.

I need him to prove that he still loves me . . . that I’m loveable.

My hands slip deeper into his suit, stripping it from his shoulders as he backs me to his car and bends me over it, never breaking our kiss.

His hand slides under my tank, gliding across my abs and up to my pecs. He squeezes them hard as he breaks our kiss and drags his lips down my neck, biting the top of my shirt. He drags it up, and I help him take it off. He shoves his hand into my shorts, gripping my hard cock as I gasp. My back arches, and my eyes shut.

“Eyes on me, angel,” he orders. “You’re going to look at me while I fuck you. You’re going to remember this moment forever. The next time you doubt us, you’ll think about it.”

My eyes snap open, colliding with his as he squeezes my dick to the point of pain.

“Sky, please,” I beg. “I only feel alive in your hands. Please, please, I need you.”

“You’ve got me,” he growls as he bites my chest before kissing the sting away.

Shoving my shorts down, he leans back far enough to peel off his suit and remove his shirt. He doesn’t bother stripping anything else off, just yanks his pants down and presses his hard cock against my ass as he kisses my chest.

“Fuck, baby, it was torture being away from you these few days. I kept my distance, giving you the space you wanted. I knew if I pushed, you would run, so I waited. I fucking waited, and now I want my prize for being so patient, so be a good boy and take all of me.”

“Sky!” I scream as he slams inside me, forcing himself deep. The edge of pain and pleasure is familiar and so good, tears squeeze from my eyes. He wastes no time and starts to move, setting a hard, quick pace. His lips drag along every inch of exposed skin, biting and licking.

My hands grip his shoulders and his hair, stroking him as I arch up over his car as he powers into my ass. My cock leaks against my abs, jerking with the need to come. His lips press against mine as he claims me.

“Mine,” he growls into my mouth as he pulls away. “You’re mine, angel. Try to leave me again, I dare you.”

“Never,” I vow, sounding breathless as I push to meet his thrusts. “Please, Sky.”

“Come for me,” he demands, biting my jaw. “Let me feel it while I fill you with my cum so every step you take tonight is a reminder that you’re mine. I want to see my cum dripping from you.”

I whimper as he twists his hips, hitting that spot inside me that has my eyes crossing. My balls draw up as my release slams through me so hard and fast, I choke as I come all over myself.

His groan matches mine as he pounds into me as hard as he can and empties his balls inside me, my name on his lips as he holds me against him.

Our foreheads knock together, both of us locked in pleasure, and his lips find mine for a moment.

“I love you, Silas Townsend. You need to know that. Nothing could ever change it. I’ll always be right here, at your side,” he promises under the stars.

I know we have a lot to talk about, but we are going to be okay. It’s in the way he helps me dress and kisses me softly before taking my hand. He never lets it go as he puts his car away and locks up.

Hand in hand, we walk into the lot, and he whistles. “Shit, Alek loaned you his car?”

I nod.

“I tried to drive it once, and he slapped me so hard I hit the ground. Why did he give it to you?”

“So I could find you,” I reply. “Don’t tell him, but I have a feeling Alek has a soft spot for you.”

“Well, well, isn’t that sweet? How about we explore the back of his car?” He chases me to it as I laugh and push him away at the door, but he kisses me. “Alright, fine, drive safe. I’ll be right behind you. See you at home.”

“At home,” I murmur before kissing him again. “I won’t run again.”

“Good.” He grins as he steps back. “You could try, but I’d catch you every time.”