Chapter Seven
Charli
As I turn around and wipe the tears from my face, I can”t help but let the misery overtake me. Watching Kas get smaller and smaller out of the back window nearly broke me. What hurt the most was the torture on his face. I know that feeling, but I turned my back this time and walked away. Even if it wasn”t by choice today, it would have had the same effect and emotions if this had happened on Monday.
Absolutely heartbreaking.
I pull out my phone and text Kas. I didn”t get a goodbye, so this will have to do.
Me: I hate that this had to end this way, but maybe it was for the best. I couldn”t have lived with the heartbreak of watching you walk away. You’ve shown me so many amazing things this summer. You took away the loneliness of my life, and I’ll never be able to repay you. I will miss you always. Please take care of yourself.
My heart shatters as I hit send, but I know this is for the best. With every bit of strength I have left, I try to rebuild the wall I worked so hard to construct over the years, the one Kas knocked down in a matter of weeks, and let the numbness take over. I sit quietly in the back seat of Harper’s dad’s car as my heart gets left further and further behind us until my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Kas: Don”t you dare write off the summer we just had. Don”t you dare give up on me. Tell me where you are right now, Fairy. What mile marker?
Me: There”s nothing you can do. I have to go home. I can”t take this.
Kas: What did I tell you, baby? Before you left. What did I say?
Me: It doesn”t matter.
Kas: It fucking does! Now, what did I say?
Me: You will fix it.
Kas: Exactly. I”m going to fix this, but I need you to tell me where you are. Please, baby, tell me where you are.
I break. I text him exactly where we are. As we drive, I watch the clock, the miles, and the road signs. I feel like I”m on autopilot, just continuously texting Kas updates. It”s like I can feel him getting closer to me, and it”s easier to breathe. The weight on my chest slowly lifts with each update I get from him as he and Grayson catch up with us.
Mr. Jackson finally stops for gas and to grab a quick dinner. I relay that to Kas and hope they are close enough to catch us. I can”t even eat as I sit at the old table; I just push things around the plate. I don”t even have the energy or forethought to look at Harper, but I”m guessing by the deep sigh from her father, she’s probably doing the same thing.
“You’ll both thank me one day,” he tells us softly, but I’m tired of holding my tongue. I’m tired of smiling quietly or just doing what I’m told.
“I’m glad you really honestly think that. One day, in the future, when you’re left alone in that big house of yours because you tried so hard to keep Harper tied down to you and close, I hope those thoughts make getting sleep easier. I’ve always respected you, sir, but this time, you’re wrong. So when you are sitting there completely alone, I want you to think of your daughter”s face, of my face, right in this moment. I want you to know that loneliness you feel when everyone has left, that gut-wrenching darkness wanting to swallow you whole. Just remember, you were the one that caused those feelings in your daughter. You made her suffer that loneliness, too,” I tell him, not waiting for a response before getting out of the booth and heading to the restroom. I just need a minute to get my thoughts in order. That may have been too harsh for him to hear, but I don”t want him to lose Harper because of his selfishness.
I exit the bathroom just as Harper and her dad get up from the table. I wait for them as they pass, heading out the door, and follow them. I feel so lost and alone right now, and I know Kas is coming as fast as he can, but what if he can”t make it in time? What if…
Just as I have the thought, I hear a familiar voice behind me.
“Sir,” Grayson says, and I sigh in relief. They made it.
“Grayson!” Harper gasps, and her voice breaks into almost a sob.
“What the fu-” Mr. Jackson yells, but Grayson continues. I honestly don”t know what they are saying, because my eyes are only for Kas. I can”t believe they made it in time. His eyes haven”t left mine since I turned around, and I can”t stop the silent tears falling down my face. Grayson pleads with Mr. Jackson for more time with Harper, but I don”t come out of my Kas trance until I hear my name.
“You have to be home at least three days before school starts. Charli, you need to talk to your parents. You know how they can be, but they were expecting you home,” he tells us.
“I’ll drive back with you if they won”t let you come. I’ll find a place in your town to get a summer job and finish the summer with you. Wherever you are,” Kas says softly as he sweeps a piece of hair off my cheek.
“Believe me, they don”t care where I am. I’m coming back with you guys. Let”s finish our summer together,” I tell him, leaning into his touch.
“I thought I lost you,” he whispers before leaning down and placing a kiss on the corner of my mouth.
“You came for me.” I can’t tell if I am stating a fact or asking a question because I”m still in shock.
“What did I tell you?” he asks, leaning his forehead against mine.
“You would fix it,” I answer, smiling.
“I don”t go back on my word, Fairy. Ever. Now, let”s get the hell out of here before he changes his mind.”
***
A few hours later, we pull back into the beachside town that has felt more like home in the last three weeks than the house I grew up in ever has. I breathe a little easier just being on the island. As we get to town, Grayson looks across Harper, who spent the drive plastered to his side on the bench seat of his truck, at Kas, with me cuddled on his lap.
“Want to crash at my place? We can get the inflatable mattress from my parents,” Grayson offers.
“Naw, thanks for the offer, man. But if you don”t mind, just drop us at the inn. I already texted Riley on the way in, and he”s at work. I”m gonna see if he can get us a room,” Kas explains. With only a nod from Gray, we head back to where it all started. It doesn”t take long to get to the inn, and before I know it, we are saying our goodbyes as I watch my best friend and her man drive away.
“Come on, Fairy. It”s been an emotional day. Let”s find a place to lay our heads.” He holds his hand out to me, and I don”t hesitate to tangle my fingers with his. As we make our way up to the front counter, I wave and smile at Riley.
“You got your girl back. Thank the lords of the sea for that,” he laughs but then turns serious as his eyes reach mine. “It”s really good to have you back, Charli. I wasn”t sure what we were going to do with him after you left. He all but lost it.”
I wait for Kas to flip him off or disagree, but looking into Kas’s eyes, I see the pain still lingering just behind his gaze. He doesn”t refute his friend, and I know Riley is telling the truth.
“Alright, I bet you two are ready to hit the hay. We had one last room open for the night. It”s ready for you now.”
“Thanks, man. How much do I owe you?” Kas asks, pulling out his wallet.
“Not a dime, brother. Just get some rest and enjoy the night. I can only hold it for one night, but if y”all need to stay longer, just let me know, and I can work something out and move you guys around a bit.”
I almost start crying again at the love these guys have for each other, but before the waterworks can come, Kas grabs my hand, the key from Riley, and walks us down to our room.
“Kas?” I ask as I’m dragged behind him on the way to our room.
“I almost lost you today, fairy. Please, just give me a minute before I lose it.” I can hear his heavy breathing, and it’s making my heart race.
I smile as he takes the key and unlocks the door. This might be my chance. I’ve been ready for weeks to take this to the next level, but Kas has held back. He might burst with just a tiny push, and I can finally have the man of my dreams, fully.
“Lose it, you say? What all does that entail?” Inside my head, I’m rubbing my hands together like an evil villain, barely holding back a giggle.
“Fairy, I said don’t push. I’m ready to take everything you’ve got, and I don’t want to push you.”
“Not much of a push if I’m ready to give you everything I’ve got,” I say, giving him a teasing smile.
Before I can finish that sentence, he grabs me in his arms, turns me around, and lays me on the bed so fast I almost get dizzy. He follows me down, kissing over my cheek and jaw. His hand trails under my shirt, and the heat coming from him warms me up.
”Charli, please don”t let me scare you away. I just can”t stand the thought of not being inside you tonight.” His mouth covers mine in a deep kiss. His lips and his tongue caress mine before he bites my bottom lip, drawing it out.
I arch up, wanting his warmth to surround me. My whole body is aching to feel his. My hand trails under his shirt, needing more. More contact, more Kas, and more skin. His chest is so broad, and his abs are rock-hard. He has the most gorgeous body; I can”t wait to explore.
”More,” I pant out, breaking the kiss. ”Take this off. Now.” I yank at his shirt, needing the material to stop obstructing the view.
”Fairy, if you keep saying things like that, this isn”t going to last very long. You need to tell me when you want me to slow down or stop.” He looks a little concerned, but mostly just as desperate for this as I am.
”Please don”t ever slow down or stop.” I tug him toward me. ”Show me, make me yours.”
He leans his head against mine, groaning. ”Fuck, this is a bad idea. But, I”m gonna do it.”
He quickly rips off his clothes while I watch in rapt fascination. When his naked flesh is revealed, the only word that comes to mind is yummy. Every single part of his body is toned, sculpted, and lickable. His wide shoulders, chiseled abs, and narrow hips have me biting my lip and crossing my legs, trying to stem the ache growing there. His large erection juts out, proud and straining towards me. A drop of fluid is glistening at the tip, and the sight causes my own need to pool between my thighs. I want him more than anything. I reach out, pulling him closer and wrapping my hands around him.
”I have never seen a more perfect man in my life,” I whisper, feeling breathless and overwhelmed.
He growls, ”Mine.”
In seconds, he tears the clothes off my body and then pins me down, licking and nipping at my now-bare breasts. The feeling is intense, and I writhe under his attentions. His lips close over one nipple, suckling gently. Then, he pinches the other, and the dueling sensations are almost too much.
My hands grasp the sheets, and my feet push down on the mattress. ”More,” I moan.
He lifts his head, ”Do you like what I”m doing, Charli?”
I can barely nod. His eyes are blazing, and his muscles are tight with restraint.
”Yes,” I manage.
He grins. ”Good, now just let me love you, okay?”
I nod again, overwhelmed by the love I see radiating from his heated gaze.
”Thank god. You drive me wild; I can”t even think. Let me try to show you what you mean to me.
No talking, understand?”
I nod again.
”You look a little flushed. Maybe I should kiss the rest of your skin and see how hot it gets,”
Kas purrs. His voice is pure silk, and it flows through me.
”So pretty, Charli.” He runs his finger over my folds, dipping into the liquid pooling there.
”So wet, too. I can”t wait to taste you.”
I can”t help the sound I make at the thought.
”But not yet. I”ll come the second I”m inside you.”
He positions his thick erection, placing himself right at the entrance to my pussy.
”Tell me now, fairy, if you want me to stop. After this, I won”t have the willpower to hold back.”
I shake my head no, unable to talk from the desperate need to feel him fill me.
He nods, opening his mouth like he wants to say something, but changes his mind quickly and slams home. I scream out in pleasure, his huge cock filling me up, stretching me out.
”Fuck,” he curses. ”I”m trying to take it easy, but you keep clamping down on me. God, you”re perfect. We fit perfectly.”
Kas thrusts his hips and begins sliding in and out. He reaches his thumb down, rubbing gentle circles over my clit, and my body lights up. It”s so much stimulation I can”t stop the moans. I”m panting, writhing, and the coil within me is so tight I can”t breathe.
He thrusts again, harder, and the world splinters apart. Pleasure shoots out to my limbs, and I can”t see, hear, or speak. Nothing exists except the ecstasy flowing through me. He roars his own release and slams inside me a few more times, pulsing, and I feel his come coating the walls of my pussy.
I”m exhausted, my bones are liquified, and Kas” weight is a welcome comfort.
”Holy shit, fairy. That was the best experience of my life.”
”Ditto,” I say weakly.
”Charli,” he starts, and I can feel his body tense with concern.
”Shh,” I put a finger to his lips. ”Don”t spoil the moment. It was amazing. You were amazing.
Now, shut up and hold me.”