Chapter Eight
CHAPTER EIGHT
GARRETT
Something’s up. Marie is being way too quiet today. She hasn’t even tried flirting with me since I arrived at the library, which is really not like her. I glance from my computer screen over to her and frown, concern making my stomach twist. She’s just sitting in her chair, staring down at an open notebook where she’s been reading over the notes I’ve taken for the paper I’m working on. The library is pretty much empty right now, which should be a good thing because that means I have more of her attention, but somehow it doesn’t feel that way today.
“Hey,” I say gently. “Are you okay?”
Marie looks up, blinking, and appears momentarily startled.
“Huh? Oh, sorry, I spaced out. I’m okay. Are you okay? Do you have a headache?”
I don’t believe her. I’ve always been able to tell when she’s not being truthful, and the frustration in her gaze, even as she tries to hide it, is a dead giveaway. It causes a heavy feeling to settle in my chest. I want her to be her usual bubbly, funny self.
“No, no headache. Come on,” I say, turning in my chair so I can face her fully. “I know there’s something going on. Tell me. Maybe I can help.”
Whatever is bothering her, I have the overwhelming urge to fix it for her.
She lets out a long sigh and shakes her head. “I doubt it. It’s not really something that can be fixed, I don’t think.”
“Still, tell me,” I insist. “I want to know.”
She stares at me before finally saying, “It’s Meredith… shocking, I know. She did the most unbelievable thing last night and told me my youngest siblings were sick with the flu and that Ally needed to come stay with me. Mind you, I don’t mind having Ally over, but it wasn’t a question or a request—Meredith simply declared that Ally was staying with me and I didn’t have a say in the matter. Then, it turns out the kids don’t even have the flu! They just have colds that they got from their birthday party this last weekend, which I wasn’t invited to! Meredith totally lied to me, but that really shouldn’t surprise me. She’s never had any qualms about lying to my face to get what she wants. This isn’t even the worst one, but it’s just so… ugh! I can’t stand her most of the time.”
She stops talking abruptly and stares at me with wide eyes, panting. I’m a bit stunned by her rant and don’t immediately know what to say.
“Oh, my gosh,” she quickly says, her cheeks turning bright pink. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go off like that.”
“Don’t apologize,” I tell her. “You can vent to me about this stuff.”
“Thanks,” she murmurs, her shoulders slumping as she drops her head in her hands. “This is so embarrassing.”
Embarrassing? She thinks expressing her genuine feelings about how unfair her stepmother treats her is embarrassing? She should be as furious as I am hearing how Meredith manipulates her so badly. It’s not right. Marie is one of the most selfless people I know. She’d do just about anything for the people she cares about, and that her stepmother would take advantage of that is infuriating.
“You should start telling Meredith no. Stand up for yourself against her. She can’t keep treating you this way.”
Whatever response I might have expected from her, it’s not her frowning up at me with narrowed eyes.
“I want to be there for my siblings,” she insists defensively. “I need to be able to help them. Yeah, Meredith’s a pain in the ass, but I’m not doing any of this for her. I’m doing it for them.”
“I get that, Marie,” I reply, firmly. “But you can be there for your siblings without letting Meredith or your dad walk all over you. You have a right to set boundaries.”
She scoffs. “You’re one to talk about boundaries. Aren’t you always dropping everything to help everyone else instead of pursuing your own dreams and plans?”
Her words are sharp and feel like a slap in the face. Anger pulses through me and I glare back at her.
“At least my family is appreciative of what I do for them. I’m not just running around helping people who don’t give a damn about me otherwise.”
She sucks in a sharp breath and pushes to her feet, sending her chair scratching along the floor.
“God, you're such an asshole sometimes!” she exclaims in a hushed tone, ever the librarian. “Why do I waste my time with you?”
Attempting to stand as well, I get immediately dizzy, so sit back down, and look up at her. I’m so fucking over these lingering concussion symptoms. I snap, “I don’t know, maybe because you’re stubborn and don’t know what’s good for you.”
She lets out a huff of irritation and turns, apparently intent on storming away from me. I’m not done with her, though. Now I stand and I grab her hand with my good arm and spin her back around, yanking her into my chest. I wince when my shoulder is jostled, but ignore the pain as I hold her against me. She gasps, her hands falling flat against my pecs, and she gives me a venomous look.
“What do you think you’re doing, you brut?”
My lips crashing against hers cut off her furious tirade. I can’t help myself. She’s pressed up tight against me, looking gorgeous in her fury, and my blood is so heated with anger and arousal, I can’t control myself.
She moans against my mouth and parts her lips, letting my tongue tangle with hers. Her hands slide up my chest and grip my shoulders, and I grab hold of her hips. As I move my lips over hers, I lose myself in the feel of her. Her soft body pressed tight against mine feels so damn right. I love the sound of her soft breaths and whimpers as I explore her mouth and run my hands up her back, slipping them beneath her shirt to touch her bare skin.
Fuck, she’s so soft. So lush. I could get addicted to the taste of her. She returns my kiss eagerly, clinging to me so sweetly that I can’t stop my imagination from running wild, and now I’m picturing her on her knees, gazing up at me with those big eyes and this sweet mouth parted and ready for what I have to give her.
“Garrett,” she suddenly murmurs, her tone low and needy.
The sound of my name—the one only she calls me—snaps me back to reality. Damn it… what am I doing? I can’t be like this with her. I can’t cross this line.
“...take care of my girls…”
Mom’s voice rings through my head and guilt slams through me. I break the kiss and quickly step away from her, pulling myself out of her arms. I’m dizzy and my head is throbbing, but it’s not just my concussion punishing me. It’s my shame as well. She looks startled and frowns up at me, confusion mixing in with the lingering heat in her eyes.
“Garrett… what?” She’s panting, looking beautiful all flustered.
“Sorry, I have to go,” I mumble, turning and grabbing my stuff, thankful no one was around to see what had just happened. “I’ll see you later.”
She stares after me, her jaw dropped, as I hurry away from her.
* * *
Fucking damn it! Why did I do that? Why did I kiss her?
Laying in bed later that night, I stare up at my ceiling, unable to sleep as I replay my kiss with Marie repeatedly. It was such a mistake, and now that I’ve had a taste of her, my body is demanding more. Even now, my cock is rock hard as I remember the feel of her curves in my hands and her tongue sweeping across my lips.
What would have happened if we hadn’t stopped? If I hadn’t pulled away, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to stop myself. My mind latches onto this thought and runs with it. I imagine that I’m kissing her still, but instead of breaking from her and running away, I turn her around and press her against the desk. She moans and tilts her head back, and I run my lips down her throat. I slide my hands up the front of her shirt and cup her breasts.
“We shouldn’t do this here,” she whimpers, but she doesn’t sound like she objects to this at all.
“I can’t wait,” I growl, and in my head, we’re totally alone. There’s no one else anywhere in the library, and I’m no longer confined in a sling. “Nobody else is here. I want you. Now.”
Shit, I can’t resist. I shove my good hand into my boxer shorts and grip my cock. As my fantasy continues to play out in my head, I stroke my shaft hard and fast.
“Let me make you feel good,” she purrs, slipping off the desk and lowering herself to her knees in front of me.
Holding my gaze, she unzips my pants and pulls my cock free. With a sultry grin, she licks me from base to tip. Pleasure shoots through me like lightning. I arch my hips off my bed, wishing she was really here, wrapping those plump lips around the head of my cock and sliding down, taking me deep into her mouth.
“You’re so sexy,” I hiss. “ This feels so good.”
She hums around me, and I shudder, squeezing my shaft tighter, matching my strokes to the rhythm of her head, imagining her bobbing up and down, sucking me so perfectly. I want more. I want her. This fantasy isn’t enough. Grabbing her head, I start thrusting and she takes me with no trouble. It’s good… so, so good. My orgasm builds within me. It twists into a tight ball deep inside my belly.
“Marie,” I groan out loud, keeping my eyes squeezed shut so I don’t lose the image of her sucking me. “Fuck… Marie!”
“You’ve wanted this for such a long time, haven’t you?”
I have—God, I want her.
“You know I want you too, Garrett. You don’t need to resist me anymore.”
I won’t. I won’t resist you. I can’t, Marie… you’re everything I’ve ever wanted.
“I want you to come for me, Garrett Please.”
Yes. Yes, yes, yes. I want that. Open your mouth, Marie. Take me, baby. This is all for you.
She flashes me an eager smile and the hunger in her eyes is just what I need to push me over the edge.
Throwing my head back, I let out a long, guttural groan as my orgasm slams through me. My body jerks and spasms and it just goes on and on. When the waves have passed and I’m left breathless, barely satisfied and back in reality, the guilt rushes back in. Stabbing my hands into my hair, I moan in frustration and anger at myself.
I’m such a son of a bitch.
I need to get a hold of myself. Disgust rolls through me for giving into my baser desires when I’m usually in more control than this.
Dropping my hands, I ball my fists into my sheets and take several long breaths to slow my racing heart. That’s enough. I have to bring this to an end. The kiss with Marie was a mistake, and one I will not repeat. Nothing more will happen than that. I refuse to break my promise to my mother.
I can’t deny that I want Marie. That I’m attracted to her. Fine. I acknowledge those feelings and desires. That doesn’t mean they get to control me.
After today, I will not touch Marie again, and no matter how difficult it might be, I’m going to push these inappropriate thoughts of her out of my head.