Chapter 14
The moment I saw her get into the black Mercedes Benz S-Class with her shoulders drooped. I didn’t think—I just reacted. I hurried to my Mustang and followed her. I won’t ever be sorry for that. It’s not like I didn’t tell her that I am a little fucked up in the head.
The secrecy has to end. I want her to trust me because I’d do any-fucking-thing for her. I’m done with whatever is holding her back. When Abigail said she loved me, she should have known there was no going back.
I’m done talking. This is me showing her, I’ll always be there for her.
Parking the car on the side of the street, I eye the towering building she walked into. Tapping my finger on the wheel, I wait for her to come out. When she finally does, wearing a winning grin, I smile at the girl who owns me—my heart, my thoughts, my life.
She ignores the driver clad in a suit and runs straight toward the street—my little rebel.
I push the door open, and her eyes widen, but she jumps in.
“Go.”
I start the engine, driving away. Now that she’s here, everything in me calms down.
She turns to me and shakes her head at me. “You’re crazy.”
“You love my crazy ass.”
She giggles, a melodic tune that plays my heartstrings with perfect ease and natural dexterity. I would do unthinkable things to hear her laugh, to see her happy.
She’s silent as I drive back to the dorm, glancing at me. My smile gets bigger the more I catch her doing it.
I park the car behind the dorm, and she follows me inside my apartment. In the small kitchen, she pats her neck. My smirk is full on now.
“Hmm, do you know anyone who would put a hickey on my neck?”
“Princess, if anyone who’s not me put that on you, he would be dead.”
“Not sorry at all, then?”
“Not even in the slightest,” I say and pull her to my chest, rejoicing in all her feminine softness pressed against my hardness—made to fit on every imaginable level.
She snuggles to me. “What am I going to do with your reckless ass?”
“Keep me. Stay mine. The list goes on.”
I cup her face and say what has been bothering me since this morning. “Stop thinking we’re bad for each other. I don’t know what has you continually backing off, but I will always be there showing you how good we are together.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Yes, it is. One week.”
“What?”
“A test. Let’s see if you can put aside whatever you tell yourself about why it won’t work between us. You can tell me afterward if you still think the same.”
“I stand no chance with you, do I?”
But she smiles, starved like me for this connection tethering us together.
Her stomach rumbles, and I proceed with care. “I’m starving.”
Ease frames her face, and I look through my fridge, picking eggs and some mushrooms for an omelet.
“Do you miss home? Your parents? It can’t be easy for either of you…”
As the eggs cook in the pan, I see the concern for me etched in her eyes.
I fucking love this girl—my person, my other half who makes the mess that I am feel less messy.
“Sending me away was my parents’ desperate attempt at keeping me from getting even worse. It can’t be easy with a nut job like me.”
“Stop calling yourself that. Please.”
I fill each plate, and my attention redirects to her.
“It wouldn’t make it any less real.”
“I wish you’d see yourself like I do.”
“And how do you see me?” I ask in a low voice, jutting my chin for her to continue.
She tips her head to the side, and I catch the hickey there. Not one of my smoothest moments, but zero regrets.
She crosses her arms around my neck, and through kisses, she says, “Strong. Lovable. Driven. Attentive. Mesmerizing. Captivating—”
Every word punches me in the chest with stronger emotions.
I clear my throat. “I’m already hard. You can stop now.”
She slaps my chest playfully.
Her words fill me with pure life. Her presence calms the dark storm whirling in my head and wreaking havoc.
She hops onto the table, and I feed her a forkful of omelet and then myself.
“I know what you’re doing.”
“Just feeding my girl.”
“It shouldn’t sound this good, but it does. The caveman in you loves that.”
“Only for you. Only with you.”
Desire takes over, food forgotten. In a flurry of movements, she’s lying naked for my greedy eyes to indulge in––a vision for my eyes. All that smooth skin and soft curves. Her round tits are topped by two cherry nipples that make me salivate on the spot. Kneading them, I brush my thumbs along the buds, and they instantly pebble under my caress. A shiver rocks her and her electric blue eyes take on a lustful haze as I suck on one, then move to the other while my hands glide along her sides down to her thighs and back. Every time my thumb brushes the lines of her pussy she sucks in a breath, grinding against my cock.
“You like that, hmm? Me playing with your tits… my hands on you, my cock so fucking hard by just watching you… I could do whatever I wanted to you, and you’d let me…”
“I would… but so would you.”
She tears my shirt off me, tossing it aside and leisurely exploring my chest, down to my V-line until the teasing gets too much and I need to be inside of her before I come in my own damn pants. Unzipping myself, I push inside of her, filling her to the brim and feeling her hot core stretching around my cock.
I can’t get enough of her. Not wanting one inch between us, I pin her hands above her head, interlinking our fingers. Rocking in and out of her, I bury my face in her neck, inhaling her sweet scent.
“You feel fucking incredible. I’m pulling out. I just need you like this, no barrier.”
“I do too, but this is how every teenager ends up pregnant.”
“No, we’re holding off on babies for a few years.” Maybe forever.
“Have you planned our future?” she asks through another moan, kissing my chest, nails scratching down my back.
“All of it,” I say, dead serious.
She looks amazed, her eyes sparkling, yet the corners of her lips pull down. Oh, she has another thing coming. You don’t leave the person that everything inside you recognizes as yours.
I knew what I wanted to do since I could barely talk and walk. That’s how I know it’s her for me just as much.
I kiss her, and she hooks her legs around my back. At this angle, I go even deeper inside of her. Her moans fill the room as I push in and out of her. Eyes locked, I lose myself in my woman while she loses herself in the pleasure I give her. What a formidable feeling and exquisite sensation. Insatiable for her, I thrust in and out of her in a frantic rhythm of desperate want and uncontained need. When we’re both teetering on the edge of our release, I bite into her plump lip before licking the contour of her mouth.
“Come for me, baby.”
And only after she does, I barely pull out in time and come on her belly, loving to dirty her up. I’m not even sorry. Dipping my finger in my cum, I draw “D’s” all over her body, from her neck to her chest, both of her nipples, her belly, pussy, and thighs and end up with her mouth.
“What have you done to me?” she asks incredulously. She licks her lips and watches me painting my initials on her body.
“Made you mine, like I was meant to do.”
I dive in and kiss her until we both remain breathless.
She hops off the table and, over her shoulder, says, “I’m the naked chick in your tub,” before bolting through the door.
I chase after her into the bathroom, and her squeals echo off the walls. This girl brightens my world, bringing colors and sounds into my life. That’s what I think as I fill the tub.
She’s the first to climb in, stretching out her hand to me. I take it and get behind her, forgetting about everything as the water runs.
While I caress the valley of her breasts, she says, “Tell me something no one knows.”
“You’re my greatest motivation to do and be better.”
She tilts her head. “That’s lovely, but baby, do it first and foremost for you.”
Too choked up to form words, I nod, kissing the side of her head. We stay like that until our skin prunes.
I wrap her in a fluffy towel, and we move to my bedroom next. She lies on the bed, and I slip next to her, searching for the remote, and scrolling through some movie options.
Contentment settles on my chest. I want more moments like this. Scratch that. I want all of her and a life with her so fucking much.
The action movie starts, and as I stroke her belly, she nestles into me, watching the screen. My attention is on her throughout the movie. I imagine this is our life, and my chest warms as my brain focuses on my newfound goal.
When the movie ends, she kisses me lazily and falls asleep.
A few minutes later, her phone vibrates, and Kaden’s name sends a bolt of anger through me.
By the end of the week she’s going to be mine, like it should be.
She fills every empty place inside of me and lights up all the dark corners of my brain. My body is the perfect nook for hers.
I pull her closer to my chest, where she belongs. Entangled in each other, I fall asleep as well.
I wake with her still in my arms and press a kiss to her head. When she rolls over, a bright smile tugs at the corners of her lips, and she draws her finger over my chest.
“We have to go to class.”
“I’m taking you out tonight.”
She chews her lower lip. “It’s Friday. That means dinner with Grandmother. I can’t skip that.”
My good spirit deflates, and she adds, “But we’re returning around eight. Where are we going?”
And just like that, everything else doesn’t matter.
“You’ll see.”
“You don’t know yet, right?”
“Smart ass.”
I watch her walk down the hallway to her apartment when Kaden steps out of his. She halts, and I can clearly read her name falling from his lips, worry etched in each letter.
He should fight dirty if he wants to stand a chance.
Kaden glares at me, and I step out, ready for a confrontation.
Abigail looks at both of us and says to me before she walks inside, “Behave.”
I’m wired and pumped up when he reaches me.
“You care about her?” Kaden asks.
“I do.”
“Since she can’t stay away from you, you should. In the end, she’s the one who will get hurt.”
“Fuck off.”
“Between you and me, she will choose what’s best for everyone.”
“Stop talking in damn riddles. I’m not going anywhere. Abigail’s mine.”
“She can’t be,” he says, taking the stairs down.
This arrogant asshole. I’ll find out what the fucking deal is with the Family. I am not going anywhere.
Instead of letting my dark thoughts consume my brain until I’m a jumbled mess, I think of date ideas.
We need to unwind.
Throughout my classes, I kept changing my mind. Finally, I settled on an amusement park not too far away and book us a hotel room.
My good mood wins, and the excitement of tonight makes me push through the day.
When I’m back at the dorm, I’m getting ready for our date when I get a message from her.
I’m on my way back .
I wait for her in my car, and she rushes from hers straight to mine.
“That went quick.”
“Bailey saw I was restless, and she feigned feeling bad. We got excused sooner.”
“Then why the sad face?”
“Because I hate that she had to do that. But to know my friends have my back…”
Even if I can’t stand Kaden, I’m happy knowing she has people in her corner.
“I saw you were civil today.”
“I’m not blowing my chances.”
She arches a brow. “I knew you had an endgame.”
“You’re my endgame.”
I want her to always look at me like she does now, her eyes full of emotion, shining with pure love. I lift her knuckles, kissing each one. The moment traps us, enveloping us with intense, deep feelings.
Once we drive away, she starts the music and raps the entire drive.
She’s truly fascinating.
“Any other talents I should know about?”
She bats her eyelashes playfully at me. “Guess you’ll have to find out for yourself.”
Her bouts of self-confidence call to me like nothing else. She should always be confident. She should know her worth and own it. It’s a huge turn-on.
When I park the car, her hands fly to her mouth. “Oh, my God.”
You’d think she never visited an amusement park. “I have never been to one.”
What the actual fuck? This is like on every parent’s checklist when they have kids.
The glee in her eyes stops me from asking heavy questions. Tonight is about having fun.
From bumper cars to taking a ghost ride and kissing on the Ferris wheel, time flies when I want to freeze it. I want to keep her like this forever—mine.
Holding hands, she drags me from one attraction to another. I don’t know if she realizes, but this time she not only eats more, but points at stands and says, “I want to try that.”
And we do until our stomachs hurt from both laughter and too much food.
Loud music, throngs of people, and flashing lights are all simply backgrounds in our movie.
When we leave, she crashes into the passenger seat and pats her stomach.
“I’m so full.”
Paranoia fogs my mind, thinking this is the only thing that will be in her stomach for a while.
“I’m so happy. Thank you.”
That punches me in my solar plexus so hard it might knock me out.
“Don’t thank me. There’s no need. Spending time with you is my pleasure. Experiencing stuff together is my honor. Being together with you is my privilege.” I’ll give her everything and more, I swear to myself.
I start the engine and drive to our next destination. My hand rests on her thigh, and a smile teases her lips. Calmness like I never experienced before washes over me.
I park in front of a little bed and breakfast by the ocean. Abigail takes in the scenery, her eyes widening with awe. It’s quaint. The moon reflects on the ocean, casting a rippling live painting. Small waves tumble toward the shore. Yet, it doesn’t hold my attention for long.
“This is beautiful.”
“It is,” I say, watching her, and she catches me, a blush coloring her cheeks.
“I don’t know how you can top tonight.”
“Princess, that’s a challenge for my brain, and I told you how my brain functions. You give it a challenge and I obsessively focus on that.”
“I should be ashamed to even say this out loud, but I love being the focus of your brain.”
That’s one worry less because I couldn’t stop her from being the center of my thoughts even if I wanted to. But it’s more than that; it runs deeper. My heart gets all mushy, and my chest fills up when I think of her, or when I am with her.
It’s not only my brain invested. I’m completely, irrevocably, and permanently hooked on her.
Abigail drags me by my hand. She slips out of her flats, removing her tweed jacket and dress. Wrapping her arms around herself, her teeth chattering and goose bumps scattering across her body, she runs toward the water in just her bra and thong.
I reach behind my neck and tug at my shirt. Unbuttoning my jeans, I stumble with one leg still caught in them.
She giggles and jumps in the water. I dive in headfirst. Nothing is far enough, deep enough, or unreachable enough for me to get to her.
With my arms outstretched, I part the water and find her, all soft and wet. My fingers dig into her waist, and I lean in to kiss her luscious lips. My hand sneaks between her thighs—needing to touch her, get inside of her.
I push her thong to the side and thrust inside of her, making us one. Euphoria lights up every atom in my body. She bites my shoulder, and I confess, “I can’t get enough of you. I’ll never get enough of you.”
When we both come, a dazed expression transforms her face. She’s looking at me with awe, and that is the headiest fucking feeling.
We swim for a while, until shivers rock her body, and we head to the shore. Dressing quickly, water drips from our clothes as we run straight for the washed-out white and blue bed and breakfast, heading for the reception. A middle-aged woman puts her hands on her hips but smiles at us in understanding.
“To be young again,” she says, bringing us two towels.
In this place, it appears time stood still a few decades ago with the antique furniture and marine tapestry, but it offers a cozy ambiance.
As she shows us to our room on the first floor, she tells us what we can do around the coastal village. Abigail smiles and nods enthusiastically, her eyes telling me she wants to explore it. I squeeze her hand, letting her know we’ll do that.
The moment my head hits the pillow, I’m knocked out.
When I blink awake from my peaceful sleep, I see Abigail carrying a breakfast tray.
“Morning, baby.”
Strong emotions envelop my chest.
“Don’t get soft on me. I’m all for keeping a balance. You treat me as if I am a queen, well I am treating you as if you are my king.”
“I fucking love you.”
She closes her eyes for a moment; her face radiating at my declaration. The sun’s rays bounce on her lashes and make her long blond hair shine. She looks ethereal. She has to be real because my brain couldn’t have conjured something this perfect.
“What do you want, princess?”
“Simple, I’d like simple.”
“I see nothing wrong with simple.”
“I think only people who have enough of pressure, of legacies, of not being able to be their own person want simple. Even if at the end of all this I’m free, I don’t know if I could go another route than simple.”
“I like simple too.”
“Of course you do. You want in my pants.”
“That too, but more in your life.”
“How do you picture a simple life as a race car legend?” she asks, sounding curious.
“We’ll find a way. Because at home, I wouldn’t be that.”
She tilts her face. “I wish I could see things as clearly as you.”
I palm her cheek, my thumb caressing her soft skin. “Because you’re focusing on the aspects of the problem instead of focusing on potential solutions. There isn’t a problem without an answer.”
“Yes, then what about dark matter and dark energy?”
“We’re talking about human questions, not the cosmic ones.”
After breakfast, we take two bikes and ride along the shore, then stop for ice cream. I never imagined that life could be this good, but for the first time, I feel alive. There are no struggles to survive, no battling internal demons, just enjoying my time with my girl.
It’s late afternoon when we return, and she makes me pose for her as she sketches me. It’s not a chore at all being the entire focus of her attention, the sole object of her art. She uses only a black pencil, and her talent is clear in the pointed lines, every detail coming to life as if it’s painted in vivid colors.
“Maybe this is what I’d do. Drawing and creating our house and then helping others create their perfect home.”
I give in to the serenity of that image.
Our house.
Us.