Chapter 9
CHAPTER
NINE
WILLOW
Everything goes quiet. Garrison stands in front of me, his hand still slightly outstretched, his eyes searching mine like he’s bracing for whatever I’m about to say.
My dad is behind me. I can feel him. Feel his anger. His disbelief.
Emma is there too. Watching. Waiting.
And I’m standing in the middle of it all. Torn. Completely, painfully torn. My chest rises and falls too fast, my heart pounding so hard it feels like it might break through my ribs.
I look at Garrison. At the man who came back for me. Who didn’t walk away this time. Who stood in front of my father and said everything I was too afraid to believe he would.
And something inside me— Finally settles. It’s clear. My heart knows. I turn slowly.
“Dad…”
My voice is softer now. Not sharp. Just… steady.
He looks at me, his expression already guarded. “Willow, don’t—”
“I love you.”
The words stop him. Not what he expected. Not what he was ready for.
“I love you so much,” I continue, my voice trembling just slightly. “And I’m so grateful you’re okay. That you’re both okay.”
Emma’s eyes soften beside him. Dad’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t interrupt.
“I was so scared,” I admit. “I didn’t know if I was ever going to see you again.”
Something flickers in his expression. Something softer. But it’s gone almost as quickly as it appears.
“And I don’t want to lose you,” I say.
“Then don’t,” he replies immediately.
It would be so easy. So simple. To just stay. To go with him. But I can’t because something else is just as real. Just as important.
I shake my head slowly. “I can’t lose him either.”
The words hang there. Final.
Dad’s expression hardens instantly. “Willow—”
“I know you don’t understand,” I say quickly. “I know this isn’t what you want. But this—” I gesture between me and Garrison without turning away from my dad “—this isn’t something I can ignore. It’s not something I can just walk away from.”
“It’s a mistake,” he snaps.
“Maybe,” I admit.
That surprises him. But I don’t stop.
“Maybe it is,” I say again, my voice steadier now. “But it’s mine to make.”
Silence.
“I’m not a kid anymore,” I continue. “I get to choose what I do with my life. And right now… I’m choosing him.”
Emma inhales sharply. Dad just stares at me. Like he doesn’t recognize me. Like I just became someone else entirely.
“That’s it?” he asks, his voice low. “You’re just going to walk away?”
My chest tightens painfully. Because that’s not what this is. But I know how it looks.
“I’m not walking away from you,” I say softly. “I’m following my heart.”
“That’s the same thing,” he mutters.
Tears burn behind my eyes, but I force myself to hold them back.
“Please,” I whisper. “Don’t make me choose like this.”
“You already did.”
The words hit hard. But I don’t take them back. Because he’s right.
I did. Slowly—I hug him. Tight. Like I might not get another chance. For a second, he doesn’t move. Then his arms come up around me. Firm. Protective.
“I love you,” I whisper against his shoulder.
His grip tightens just slightly. But he doesn’t say it back. Not this time. I pull away before I can change my mind. Before I can break. Emma steps forward next, wrapping her arms around me.
“Text me,” she whispers. “Please.”
“I will,” I promise.
And then I turn. Back to Garrison. He hasn’t moved. Hasn’t said a word.
But the look in his eyes. They says everything.
“You sure?” he asks quietly.
One last chance. One last out. I nod.
“I’m sure.”
And just like that—Everything changes. He takes my hand. He doesn’t hesitate. We walk away together. I feel my dad’s eyes on me the entire time. I feel the weight of what I’m leaving behind. And it hurts.
But as we reach the SUV and Garrison opens the door for me something else starts to rise. Something unexpected. Something… light.
He starts the engine. We pull away from the curb. And I don’t look back. I can’t. He glances over at me, his hand resting on the console between us.
I don’t hesitate. I reach for it. Our fingers lace together instantly. A small, breathless laugh escapes me before I can stop it.
He looks at me, a hint of a smile pulling at his lips. “What?”
I shake my head, my heart racing—but not from fear this time.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I just—”
I can’t even finish the sentence. Because I don’t have the words for it. This mix of excitement and nerves and something that feels a lot like freedom.
“I’ve got you,” he says quietly.
Even with the ache of leaving my dad still sitting heavy in my chest I feel something else rising up to meet it. Something brighter and hopeful that feels like the beginning of everything.
We walk into the hotel hand in hand. And we get to the room, the joy, the lust, the excitement, everything takes over. And then his mouth is on mine.
It isn’t gentle. It isn’t sweet. It’s hungry, his lips crash against mine like he’s been starving for this.
I gasp, and he takes advantage, his tongue sliding past my lips to tangle with mine.
His hand slides into my hair, gripping just tight enough to make me whimper, and I melt into him, my fingers clutching at his shirt.
When he finally pulls back, we are both breathing hard. His forehead rests against mine, his breath hot on my lips. “I can’t wait any longer,” he groans as his hands are sliding down to my waist, pulling me closer.
“Then don’t,” I breathe. That is all he needs. I push him to the bed.
I straddle him, my dress hiked up around my hips, my panties already soaked through. His hands are on my thighs, his fingers digging into my skin just enough to leave marks. I can feel how hard he is beneath me, his cock straining against the fabric of his slacks.
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” he growls, his voice rough with need. His hands slide up to my waist, his thumbs brushing against the undersides of my breasts. I arch into his touch, a soft moan escaping my lips.
“Garrison,” I whine, grinding down against him. “Please.”
He chuckles, low and dark. “Please what, baby?”
I bite my lip, my hips rolling instinctively. “I need you.”
His grip tightens just a little. “You sure about that?”
I nod, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. “Yes. Please.”
That is all it takes.
In one swift motion, he flips me onto my back, his body covering mine.
His mouth crashes down on mine, his tongue invading, claiming.
I wrap my legs around his waist, my heels digging into his ass, pulling him closer.
He groans into my mouth, his hips grinding against mine, the friction making me see stars.
His hands are everywhere—squeezing my breasts through the thin fabric of my dress, pinching my nipples just hard enough to make me gasp. I arch into his touch, my back bowing off the bed. “Garrison, fuck—”
“You like that?” he murmurs against my lips, his fingers rolling my nipple between them. “You like it when I play with these pretty little tits?”
“Yes,” I gasp, my nails raking down his back. “More. Please.”
He doesn’t make me beg again.
His mouth trails down my neck, his teeth grazing my collarbone before he latches onto one of my nipples through the fabric of my dress.
I cry out, my fingers tangling in his hair, holding him there.
He sucks hard, his tongue swirling around the stiff peak, and I can feel the wetness spreading between my legs.
“Garrison,” I whimper, my hips bucking against him. “I need—fuck—I need you inside me.”
He pulls back just enough to look at me, his eyes dark with lust. “You sure you can handle that, baby?”
I nod frantically. “Yes. God, yes.”
His hands are rough as he yanked my dress up and over my head, tossing it aside. My bra follows, and then his mouth was on my bare skin, his tongue swirling around my nipple before he sucks it into his mouth. I cry out, my fingers clutching at the sheets.
“Fuck, you taste good,” his free hand sliding down my stomach, his fingers dipping beneath the waistband of my panties. I was soaked, my clit throbbing with need, and when his fingers finally find it, I nearly scream.
“Garrison—oh, fuck—”
“Shh,” he murmurs against my skin, his fingers circling my clit, slow and teasing. “Let me take care of you, baby.”
I whimper, my hips rolling against his hand, desperate for more. He chuckles, the sound vibrating against my nipple, and then his fingers are sliding lower, two of them pressing inside me.
“Fuck,” I gasp, my walls clenching around him. “Yes.”
He pumps his fingers in and out, slow at first, then faster, his thumb still working my clit. I can feel the orgasm building. “Garrison, I’m gonna—fuck—”
“Come for me, baby,” he growls, his fingers curling inside me, hitting that spot that made my vision white out. “Come all over my fingers.”
And I did.
My back arches off the bed, a broken cry tearing from my throat as the orgasm crashes over me.
Garrison didn’t stop, his fingers still working me, drawing out every last shuddering wave of pleasure.
When I finally collapse back onto the bed, boneless and spent, he pulled his fingers free, bringing them to his mouth.
“Mmm,” he hums, his eyes locked on mine as he licks my juices off his fingers. “Delicious.”
I whimper, my pussy clenching at the sight. “Garrison, please—”
He didn’t make me wait.
He kneels between my thighs, his cock springing free from his pants. He is huge, thick and veiny, the head already glistening with pre-cum. I lick my lips, my eyes lock on his cock as he strokes himself, slow and deliberate.
“You want this, baby?” he asks, his voice rough.
I nod, my breath hitching. “Yes. Please.”
He lines himself up with my entrance, the head of his cock pressing against my slick folds. I whimper, my hips lifting off the bed, desperate for him. He groans, his hands gripping my hips, holding me still.
“Easy, baby,” he murmurs. “Let me take care of you.”
And then he pushes inside.
I gasp, my nails digging into his shoulders as he stretches me open. He is big, bigger than I expected, and for a second, the burn is almost too much. But then he is all the way in, his hips flush against mine, and the stretch turns into something else—something good.
“Fuck,” he groans, his forehead resting against mine. “You feel amazing, baby.”
I whimper, my walls clenching around him. “More. Please.”
He pulls out slowly, almost all the way, before slamming back in. I cry out. He groans, his hips snapping against mine, his cock hitting that spot deep inside me that drives me wild.
“Garrison—fuck—”
“You like that, baby?” he growls, his hips pistoning in and out, his cock slamming into me with every thrust. “You like it when I fuck you like this?”
“Yes,” I gasp, my walls clenching around him. “Harder.”
He doesn’t hold back.
His hands grip my hips, his fingers digging into my skin as he pounds into me, his cock hitting that spot over and over again. I can feel another orgasm building.
“Garrison, my god—”
“Come for me, baby,” he demands, his hips snapping against mine. “Come all over my cock.”
And I do.
A broken cry tears from my throat as the orgasm crashes over me. Garrison doesn’t stop, his cock still slamming into me, drawing out every last shuddering wave of pleasure. When I finally collapse back onto the bed, boneless and spent, he pulls out, his cock glistening with my juices.
“Fuck, you’re perfect,” he says, his hand wrapping around his cock, stroking himself. “Get on your knees, baby. I want to see those pretty lips wrapped around my cock.”
I do as he says.
I roll onto my hands and knees, my ass in the air, my mouth watering at the sight of his cock. He groans, his hand tangling in my hair as he guides me forward. I lick my lips, my tongue swirling around the head before I take him into my mouth.
“Fuck,” he hisses, his hips jerking forward. “That’s it, baby. Take it all.”
I hollowed my cheeks, my lips sliding down his shaft, taking him as deep as I can. He groans, his fingers tightening in my hair, his hips rolling forward, fucking my mouth. I moan around his cock, the sound vibrating against his shaft, and he groans, his hips snapping forward.
“Fuck, you’re good at that,” he yells. “Such a good little girl for me.”
My pussy clenches at his words. I love it when he talked to me like that—when he calls me his good girl, it makes me feel dirty, in the best way possible.
His hand tighten in my hair, his hips snapping forward, his cock hitting the back of my throat. I gag, my eyes watering, but I don’t pull back. I take him, every inch, my lips wrap tighter around his shaft.
“Fuck, I’m gonna come,” he yells, his hips stuttering. “Swallow it, baby. Swallow every drop.”
And then he is coming, his cock pulsing in my mouth, his cum spilling down my throat. I swallow, my lips still wrapped around his shaft, milking him for every last drop. When he finally pulls free, I lick my lips and my eyes lock on his.
“Good girl,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing against my bottom lip. “Such a good girl.”
And from that day forward, I belonged to him.