Chapter 13
It’s the people who know you the best who can hurt you the most.
—Drew Callahan
Drew
I’m desperate to lose myself in her so I can forget.
After the cemetery, we grabbed some fast food for lunch, then headed back home.
There wasn’t much talking between us, and I couldn’t have held a conversation if I tried.
I’m exhausted, both emotionally and physically, and she knows it.
Fable doesn’t push, doesn’t ask for any explanations unless she deems it necessary.
Like her asking what happened the day Vanessa drowned. Hard to believe, but it felt good getting everything off of my chest. I’ve never talked about my sister’s death with anyone. Not my parents, no one. I’ve held that inside me for two years and once I started talking, it was like a dam broke.
I cried. I mourned. I told my story and was so damn thankful when she didn’t flinch, didn’t condemn, didn’t judge. She just held me and let me cry, like I was some sort of big baby.
Damn it. I refuse to judge myself, get down on myself for having fucking emotions. I lost my baby sister on my watch. I have every right to cry and rage if I want.
We slept the rest of the afternoon away. Together. Curled up in the middle of my bed, our arms slung around each other, a blanket drawn up over us. All afternoon through most of the evening we remained like this, and I knew we both needed it. Neither of us has slept much this week while in Carmel.
We leave tomorrow, the day my family is acknowledging as the two-year anniversary of my sister’s death. I’m glad to get out of here, but unsure what life’s going to bring Fable and me when we get back home.
I’m afraid of what I might do. What she might do. What we both might do together to screw everything up.
My cell pings and I know without looking who it is.
My dad or Adele, the very last two people I want to talk to.
I scoot over and sit up, reaching for my phone.
The lamp on the dresser across the room is still on, casting its dim glow.
Glancing at my cell, I see that yep, it’s my dad who sent the text, and just as I’m about to read it, the phone starts to ring. Again, it’s my dad.
“Sorry I haven’t returned your calls,” I immediately say, feeling bad. He’s having a tough time of it, too, and I shouldn’t shut him out, no matter how easy he makes it.
“Don’t you dare hang up on me.” Fuck, it’s Adele.
“What do you want?” I keep my voice low, trying my best not to disturb Fable, but she rustles under the blanket, turning away so her back is to me.
I have no idea if she’s awake or not, but I have no plans to say anything to Adele that Fable might question later. It’s bad enough I confessed what happened with Vanessa today. No way can I dump any more on her.
“You’re coming with us tomorrow, right? To Vanessa’s grave?”
“I went already today.”
Dead silence answers me and I say nothing in return. I’m not going to be the one who says something first. I’m tired of being at this woman’s bidding. It’s gone on far too long.
“Did you go with her?”
“I did.”
A hiss escapes her. “How dare you bring her to my little girl’s grave.”
“She’s my sister, damn it. I can bring my girlfriend to her grave.”
“She’s not your…God.” Adele seems to choke on her words. “You’re coming with us tomorrow. I need you there.”
“We leave tomorrow. I can’t. That’s why I went today.” Not exactly true, but the explanation works.
“You’ll disappoint your father.” She lowers her voice, until it sounds like she’s almost crooning to me. “You don’t want to disappoint him, do you? You’re always such a good boy, Andrew. You always do what I say. What I ask from you.”
My skin is literally crawling at how she’s talking to me and I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and pray I don’t fall apart.
Yet again. I’ve been on a nonstop emotional bender since I came back here.
I knew it would be bad. I didn’t expect all this, though.
“I’m not going with you, Adele. It’s time to cut the ties for good.
” I hang up on her before she can say anything else.
I look at Fable to find that she’s rolled back over so she’s facing me again, those intense green eyes watching my every move. My stomach bottoms out and I wonder how much she heard.
“She giving you a hard time?” she asks softly.
I nod. Don’t say a word.
Pushing the blanket off her body, she gets up on her knees and comes to me, resting her hands on my shoulders, her face in mine. Her lids lower and she stares at my mouth. I can see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, feel the comforting warmth of her touch. This girl, she just…
Does it for me.
But I don’t know how to put it in words and tell her.
“Thank you for everything today,” she says, surprising me.
I frown as I reach out and tuck a strand of silky hair behind her ear. “I should be thanking you for all that you did for me.”
“Yes, you should.” A tremulous smile curves her lips. “But I wanted to thank you for being so honest. For telling me about your sister and sharing that part of your life with me. I know it wasn’t easy.”
My fingers linger on her soft cheek and I stroke my thumb back and forth. “Thank you for being there for me. Listening to me.” And holding me in your arms and letting me cry.
She crawls on top of me, her legs on either side of my thighs, and I automatically grab her, splaying my hands across her perfect ass and hauling her in close.
God, she feels amazing like this, nestled up so close against me you couldn’t fit a slice of paper between us.
“Drew.” Her voice is whisper soft as she leans in and presses a gentle kiss to my lips.
“This is our last night here. Together.”
My body hurts at the realization. This is it. We go back to our regular lives tomorrow evening. I can’t wait for this torture to end, yet knowing that I won’t have Fable pretending to be my fake girlfriend any longer…
That stings. More than I care to admit.
Sliding one hand up her back, I slip it beneath her sweater so I’m caressing bare, smooth skin. She trembles beneath my touch as she leans in, her hair falling all around our faces, her lips hovering just above mine. I know what she wants.
I want the same thing.
Tilting my head back against the headboard, I cup her nape and pull her in, our mouths meeting in a soft, lingering kiss.
I sneak my tongue out and lick her upper lip, then trace the edge of her lower lip, savoring her sweet, decadent taste.
A little moan escapes her and I take the kiss deeper, clutching the back of her head harder as I plunder her mouth with my tongue.
I’m overcome with my need for her. I’ve never felt this way before, and memories of our night together flood me.
When she so selflessly brought me to orgasm and never asked for anything in return.
I want to do the same for her. Give her whatever she wants, whatever she needs from me.
I want to be with her, our naked bodies entwined all night long.
I also need to make sure she wants this. Wants me…
“Are you hungry? I mean, we only just woke up.” I say this after I break apart from her kiss, my lips tingling and already eager to be back on hers. I think I’m trying to give her an out, I don’t know. Which is so stupid, but I don’t want us to get in too deep only for her to back off.
I know I’m ready. But is she? Really?
Pulling away from me, she reaches for the hem of her sweater and tugs it up and over her head, tossing it onto the floor.
She has on a simple white bra, trimmed with lace and the tiniest white satin bow in the center.
So innocent and sweet looking, though my thoughts are far from that as I stare at her, contemplating how I can get her out of that damn bra without looking like I’m moving too fast.
“I’m hungry for you,” she whispers, her eyes glowing, her swollen mouth glistening from our kiss. “Take off your shirt, Drew.”
Without hesitation I reach for the bottom of my shirt and tear it off, leaving it beside me on the bed.
Her gaze never leaves mine as she wraps herself around me, her legging-covered legs curving around my waist, her arms going around my neck.
She buries her hands in my hair and I close my eyes, absorbing her scent, the feel of her warm body so close to mine.
Our upper bodies are skin on skin, her bra the only barrier, and the satiny-smooth fabric arouses me further as she brushes her chest against mine.
As our mouths find each other, I’m overwhelmed with emotion for this girl. I’ve craved this connection with her for days. Hell, I’ve craved this sort of connection with someone for years, always too afraid to believe in it.
But I’m a believer now. Thanks to my one-week girlfriend.
Thanks to Fable.
Fable
Drew Callahan truly has the most beautiful male body I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve laid eyes on more than my fair share of masculine bodies.
I was so distracted by his ever-persistent mouth locked with mine that it took a while to break away from his kiss, and now I’m even happier to soak up all of this exposed muscle and sinew.
Last time we were together, we were shrouded in darkness.
Too scared to look at each other for fear of what we really might see.
Now I want to see all. Everything. I want to stare into his eyes the first time he enters me. I want to keep our gazes locked when he makes me come. I want to hear him whisper my name when I make him come…
A shiver moves through me as I slide my fingers across his broad shoulders, down his arms, lingering on his rock-hard biceps, skimming over the dark hair that covers his forearms. He remains utterly still, but I can feel his hot eyes on me, devouring me as I intently search his flesh with my hands.
I touch his chest, the tips of my index fingers gliding over his nipples simultaneously, and he jumps a little, making me smile.