Crossroads of Love (Hicks Creek #1)

Prologue

Lena

“ W e have to quit meeting like this,” Gavin Wells breathes in my ear as he tugs me into him.

“I’m starting to think you’re following me.” I giggle as I turn around in his arms.

“Can you blame me?”

I look up into those pale blue eyes and get lost in them as a smile tugs at the corner of my lips. He towers over me at an impressive six-foot-three, adding to his powerful presence while making me feel feminine and fragile as his strong arms envelop me.

He leans down and covers my mouth with his, planting a scorching kiss on my lips. I immediately mold myself to him.

I cannot get enough of him.

He pulls back, and I drink in the full sight of him. His thick hair is dark brown, like a cup of espresso, with natural highlights of auburn and mahogany when the light catches it just right. It is unkempt and tousled, giving off a rugged and wild vibe. His muscular build suggests he’s extremely disciplined in the gym, but I know he’s not.

“Come back to my apartment with me.” His eyes bore into mine. “I need to taste you more.”

My knees almost buckle at his words and how he looks at me like a lion stalking his prey.

He knows I can’t resist that.

“I’m supposed to meet Claudia for drinks before the Gamma party. You know I leave to go back to Hicks Creek tomorrow. Will you come with me?”

“Cancel, please. You know I can’t. And I can’t possibly go a week without tasting you. I wish you weren’t going home.”

He knows damn well I’ll do anything he asks if it means spending more time with him.

He told me after Thanksgiving that he and his dad had gotten into a fight but wouldn’t tell me why. I wish he would open up to me more.

“What’s in it for me?”

“Did you not hear me say that I want to taste you, woman?” he growls in my ear. “Never mind, you don’t get a choice.”

He reaches down and throws me over his shoulder, then carries me to his car.

I love it when he does this. It’s so damn hot.

I giggle and pretend I don’t like it. He slowly slides me down the front of him until my feet are on the ground, pinning me between him and his car. He leans forward and kisses me hungrily.

I feel every hard line and muscle in his body.

My hand goes down to the massive bulge in his pants, teasing him from the outside. He groans against me before moving us to open the car door. I climb inside and watch him carefully as he crosses in front of his Corolla.

I’ve known Gavin for almost my entire life, as we grew up in the same town and lived next door. I dated his brother throughout high school and our freshman year of college, but things ended when Aaron joined the Army. The distance was just too much.

But Gavin and I had a sort of connection that I couldn’t explain or, rather, I’ve always had a crush on him. I always thought, because of our age difference, that Aaron was better suited for me.

I ran into Gavin while at a bar with friends one night. We were all celebrating passing an econ final while he was celebrating his new job as a day trader. We talked until the sun came up the following morning, and we were inseparable until we started making out one day. It’s been a wild ride since.

Once we start driving toward his apartment, he reaches over and links our fingers together. He pulls my hand toward his mouth and kisses it gently.

“You’re so beautiful. Do you know that?”

“Only because you tell me constantly.”

“As I should.”

It isn’t long before he parks the car and pulls me onto his lap. He grabs the back of my hair and peppers my neck with hot, hungry kisses. I can feel its effects down to my toes.

“Gavin”—I giggle breathlessly—“we can’t do this here.”

“C’mon, baby,” he purrs in my ear.

“Get a bigger car, and we’ll talk.”

He sighs before he chuckles and opens the car door for me to climb out. The second he’s out and his doors are locked, he picks me up and carries me into his apartment.

“I can walk, you know?”

“Why should you, though? I need you to conserve all your energy for what I’m about to do to you.”

Good thing he’s carrying me because my knees would have definitely buckled at that. As it is, I can feel how wet my core is right now.

Damn this man for having this effect on me.

“I’m wearing a dress, and you’re showing everyone my assets,” I joke.

He smacks my butt lightly, and I wiggle against him.

“They’re extremely nice assets to show off.”

“To you but no one else,” I breathe.

He unlocks his front door while still holding me over his shoulder and then carries me inside the apartment. It’s your typical bachelor pad with barely any furniture or anything on the walls, but it’s spotless.

As soon as we’re inside, he flips me around like a rag doll until my back is against the top of the door, my legs are resting on his shoulders, and his face is buried between my thighs.

“Why must you wear panties?” he growls as he blows a breath against the green lace.

“Because I love to torture you with them.”

“I think you like it when I rip them off.”

“I most definitely do.”

He tugs on the material before he tears it apart. He tosses the shredded material behind him as a finger slips inside me.

“Gavin.”

I moan at the sensation, my hips bucking slightly as his finger moves in and out. He's right; I do love it when he rips them off. Something so primal and possessive about it drives me wild.

He adds another finger, stretching me slightly, preparing me for what is to come. His thumb begins to circle my pulsing nub, sending shivers of pleasure through me.

“You're so wet,” he mutters. “I'm going to make you scream.”

Yes, please. Damn, I love it when he talks to me like this.

The way he looks at me, with a mix of hunger and possession, makes my entire body hum with pleasure.

“Please do.”

“You're going to get exactly what you ask for.”

His other hand reaches up to grip my breast, teasing the hardening nipple between his fingers.

“You're so wet, baby. I love how much you want me.”

My breath hitches as he thrusts another finger inside me, stretching me open. I moan loudly when his mouth joins the assault.

“Mmm, look how good you open for me. Such a good little slut, being so wet for me.”

The vibration of his words rips through me, and I can feel the heat pouring out of me.

Shit, I love his dirty talk. It’s so damn hot. I can’t even respond.

“That's it,” he encourages, his voice low and throaty. “Let it all out for me.”

He moves his fingers faster, driving me closer and closer to the edge. His other hand continues its relentless assault on my breast. I grip his hair tightly, and he nips at me gently.

“Gavin,” I moan, my words barely audible over the rampant sensations coursing through my body.

My hips buck wildly against him, my core clenching around his fingers as I approach the breaking point.

“That's it, baby. Come for me; let me feel you shatter in my hands.”

With one last thrust of his fingers and a fierce tug on my nipple, I break apart at the seams. A hoarse cry rips from my lips as electric pulses shoot through my veins.

He continues to torment me as I ride out the wave of ecstasy. His fingers work their magic, and his mouth never leaves its home between my thighs. When my breathing slows and my heart rate returns to normal, he slides me down until my legs wrap around his waist.

“Beautiful,” he whispers. “I love seeing you like this.”

As post-orgasmic bliss courses through me, he turns and carries me to his bed.

He gently lays me down on the soft blue sheets, then crawls beside me, his eyes never leaving mine. His fingers lightly trace my jawline, making me shiver in anticipation.

“You're so breathtaking. You have no idea how much I want you right now.”

I smile coyly at him, reaching up to trace my fingers along his chest. “Well, I'm always yours.”

His lips curl into a smirk, and he leans down to capture mine in a searing kiss, his hands gripping my hips as he pulls me closer. My fingers slide into his pants.

How is this man still wearing clothes?

He shifts positions, reaching for something behind him. The sound of a wrapper being torn echoes in the room. He sheds his pants and slides the condom on his engorged shaft.

“Get on all fours, baby,” he demands.

I do exactly as he says, eagerly awaiting him to fill me.

Okay, so I may be dickmatized, but I have no remorse about it whatsoever.

He positions himself behind me, his erection throbbing against my entrance. The head of his cock pushes against my folds. The heat between my legs intensifies in anticipation.

I whimper, wanting him so badly. I hear him chuckle behind me as he continues teasing me.

“Are you ready, baby?”

“More than you could ever know,” I whisper, arching my back slightly as I reach back to grab his hips.

He thrusts in one fluid motion, filling me completely. I gasp, feeling him hit the depths of me.

“Fuck yes,” I moan.

He slowly begins to move in and out of me, keeping a tight grip on my hips as he does.

“You feel amazing,” he growls, his eyes locked onto mine in the mirror across the room.

I used to hate that mirror, but now, I love watching him fuck me. It’s the hottest thing ever.

I moan softly with each thrust, my body already adjusting to his every movement. My mind empties of everything.

It’s the nicest feeling in the world, and it happens a lot with him.

“You like that?”

“Yes,” I breathe.

I reach back and grip his hands, needing him closer to me.

He slows down, pulling almost all the way out before thrusting back in with a forceful grunt. I whimper in pleasure, my core clenching around him.

“Is that what you want, baby? For me to fuck you like this?”

“Yes.” My words come out in short gasps. “Yes, I do. Harder, please.”

He picks up speed, his thrusts harder and more urgent. My body responds to his movements, my hips bucking to meet him.

“Are you ready to come again?”

“God, yes, please, please, please.”

He slams into me, his shaft hitting my G-spot every time.

My soul has exited my body. This is incredible.

The tension builds in my core, the familiar electric pulses coursing through me in anticipation.

“That's it, baby. Come for me again.”

I shatter around him, my pussy gripping his hard cock. He lets out a long groan.

“Lena, yes,” he hollers as he continues to pound into me. “Look at me.”

Our eyes lock in the mirror just as he growls louder and fills the condom with his seed. How he’s looking at me right now is the hottest thing ever. It’s like he wants to possess, own, and eat me for breakfast in the most loving way.

He stills and slowly pulls himself out of me before he removes the condom and throws it in the trash. I collapse on the bed before rolling off it.

“Where are you going?”

“I…”

“I’m not done with you. Come here and let me hold you.”

With pleasure.

With a grin, I do as he asks. He climbs up beside me and tugs me into him. He kisses the top of my head as I rest it on his chest.

I love how he goes from nasty and defiling, rough sex to this incredibly sweet man who wants to hold me.

This is heaven. I feel so safe with him.

“Kyle is having a New Year’s Eve party back home. I told him we would stop by.”

“You did what?”

“I told him we would stop by.”

“There is no we .”

I pull away from him, looking back at him quickly. My stomach drops, and I want to puke.

Did I hear him right? Is this a bad dream?

My breath catches in my throat, tears pricking at my eyes as panic claws at my chest.

“Excuse me?”

“Lena, we can’t be going to parties as a couple back home. No one can know that we’re fuck buddies.”

“Fuck buddies?”

Fuck buddies? Did he really just say that?

The panic is still there, but it’s being pushed down by my white-hot anger.

How dare this motherfucker!

“You know what I mean. I…I told you that we couldn’t be in a relationship because of Aaron. He still has feelings for you, and I don’t want to—”

“You never told me we couldn’t be in a relationship. I would have walked away if you had. You also have introduced me as your girlfriend to your friends. We’re together constantly.”

“That’s not back home. We can’t…”

I can’t hold the tears back much longer, so I quickly get out of bed and start finding my clothes.

I’ll be damned if I let him see me cry over him.

What else do you have to do for a man to get him to love you? How can he…how did I miss this?

Why can’t I find my damn clothes?

“You’re ridiculous. I can’t believe I fell for your bullshit.”

“Lena, come on.” He jumps up quickly and reaches for me. He’s standing just inches behind me, his hands on my hips as he tries to turn me into him.

“Nah, I’m not a fuck buddy.”

“Come on, why are you being like this?”

I want to scream at him. Punch him in the face. Kick him in the balls. The anger inside me is very close to coming out in a very unladylike way, and I don’t even care.

My heart is literally shattering into a bazillion pieces right now, and I’m trying my damnedest not to let this asshole see any of it.

“Why am I being like this? Are you kidding me?” I chuckle dryly as I shake my head. “We’ve been together every single day for the past two months. I’ve practically moved in with you. We go on dates constantly. And now, now you want to tell me that we’re nothing but fuck buddies? Screw. You. Gavin.”

“You’re overreacting.”

I gasp as I narrow my eyes at him.

Is he serious right now? I will claw his damn eyes out.

It’s like he’s begging to get smacked across the face.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I hiss. “No, I’m not overreacting in the slightest. I’d say I’m underreacting, if anything. You’re either clueless or a bastard. I’m betting on the latter.”

“I can’t date my brother’s ex-girlfriend. He’s still in love with you.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head.

“News flash, you have been dating your brother’s ex-girlfriend! Aaron will be fine about our relationship. He’s dating someone else. Go to the party with me so that we can…”

Oof, the amount of whine in that last sentence makes me cringe. I cannot let him see what his cruelty is doing to me.

I can’t give him that satisfaction.

“No. I won’t do that to my brother.”

“Again, you’ve been doing it. I’m not sure how you’re justifying what you did with me just now versus going to a damn party back home with me. You’ll be with me nonstop for the past three months, fuck me daily, but you’re too embarrassed of me to be around people we know? Is that it? Please tell me you’re joking.”

“No, Lena. You knew getting into this that…you’re my little brother’s ex-girlfriend. I can’t destroy my relationship with him over…”

You.

He stops without finishing the sentence, and that feels as though he’s just stabbed me in the heart to finish me off. I close my eyes and pray that the tears don’t fall yet.

“Yet you don’t care what you’re doing to me right now? Right?”

I open my eyes and stare into his, looking for even the hint of a flicker of regret or fear, and I see nothing.

Here I am. I’ve fallen head over heels for this man, and he can’t stand the thought of being seen in public with me back home.

I can feel the tightness in my throat, the heaviness in my chest, and the tears burning my eyes. My stomach hurts. I want to curl up in the corner and not move. I’ve never experienced pain like this before in my life.

It wasn’t like this when Aaron and I broke up.

I won’t be able to rein in my emotions much longer. I need to get out of here. I wait a little too long for him to respond, and when he doesn’t, I want to vomit.

“I’m out. Fuck you, Gavin Wells.”

I turn on my heel and rush out of that apartment as if it’s on fire.

I can’t believe I fell for his lies.

He calls after me, but I don’t stop. I won’t let him see me crying.

Aaron always told me his brother was a player of the worst sort, but I didn’t want to believe him. I guess I have the proof I need now.