8. Harley
HARLEY
H ow Slade broke through all of my defenses I had no idea, but he had.
Each morning after that night, he was waiting with a breakfast burrito in hand, and forcing me over to his house every night for dinner.
It was awkward the first time I met his parents, but they treated me like a long-lost friend.
To say I was grateful was an understatement.
For the first time in almost a year I’m getting three meals a day.
And when Slade’s parents found out I was a vegetarian they made sure to have not put the meatballs in the spaghetti or other little things like that.
They’re making my decision to leave in a few weeks difficult.
Then there was Slade. My dark knight who watched me from the shadows as I ran each night.
I wasn’t running so much to forget so much now, but to enjoy the freedom the beach and ocean provided.
And I liked having Slade sit beside me as we silently stared out at the ocean instead of all the prying and glaring eyes that were focused on us while at school.
I still tried to keep our time at school to a minimum.
We sat by each other during our one class and ate lunch together.
No walking through the halls to make the girls hate me more than they already did.
“What are you thinking about?” His deep voice was little more than a whisper on the wind.
I didn’t bother to look at him as I spoke. I wasn’t sure if I’d have the nerve if I was looking into those murky green eyes of his.
“That I think I like you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him reel back and then circle his arms over his one bent knee. I could feel him drilling a hole in the side of my face before he ever spoke. “Well, I know I like you.”
As much as I didn’t want to, I couldn’t stop my lips from tipping up at the corners. “I mean it’s obvious from the way you stalk me.”
He chuckled with a slight shake of his head. “No, really, what were you thinking about?”
Wanting him to know I meant the words I was about to speak, but unable to look at him, I shuffled closer and rested my head against his shoulder. “That I’m thankful you and your family took me in, and I’m going to miss you when I leave.”
“You do know you don’t have to leave. The school year is almost over. Why not finish up? Have you even decided where you’re going to go once you leave?”
“No,” I mumbled. All I knew was I wanted out from under my mom. Once I turned eighteen, I’d have the money to go to school or live wherever I wanted. The only problem with that was I’d be alone wherever I went.
“Stay,” he sighed. His hot breath fanned the hairs around my face. “It’s not like once you turn eighteen, I’ll stop feeding you.”
He didn’t even know how much my life could or would change. I would want for nothing except to have my father back.
“I won’t need money or for you to feed me.” I leaned further into him.
“You won’t?” Why did he sound sad at the prospect one day soon I wouldn’t need him?
“We used to have money. Well, my parents did. I grew up in a house bigger than both our houses combined, and drove a Porsche to school every day.” I didn’t want to continue, but Slade deserved to know the truth about my life before I came here.
Tears pricked at my eyes. I hated to think of before.
My toes flexed in the sand ready to take off running at any moment.
Slipping his arm from under me, he wrapped it around my waist and laid his head on top of mine. “You don’t have to tell me, but I would like to know.”
“After my dad died and left my mom with very little, she sold the house, and my car since they weren’t in my name. Well, she didn’t sell the house right away. Not until Trent.”
“Why move here if your house was bigger?”
“I can’t say for certain. It’s not like she was talking to me about her decisions.
” I breathed in a deep breath and spoke words that had never escaped my mouth before.
“I think my mom and Trent were having an affair before my dad died, and that’s why he only left her a small amount to live off.
It was enough for me to reach my next birthday if she didn’t spend it all on a new wardrobe and vacations with her boyfriend. ”
“Fuck, I’m sorry, Harley.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re the only good thing that’s happened to me in the last year.”
His hand on my tightened on my hip. “Can I ask you how your dad…?”
“Died,” I supplied for him. “He was sick with cancer. He knew his time was coming sooner than he wanted that’s why he had everything prepared.
Or at least he thought he did. I’m sure he never thought my mom would go to the lengths she has.
” Since I’d opened up to him more than I ever thought I would it was time for me to ask him the question that had been nagging at me for some time now.
“Why are you so hard on yourself? Something happened before I ever got here, and you’ve been punishing yourself for it.
You don’t hang out with your friends, and you never go out. ”
I felt the deep breath he took in and then slowly let out. It was a good sign his body stayed relaxed.
“I was hoping to get a football scholarship to pay for college, but my team played like shit this year. Now I don’t know how I’m going to pay for college.”
Swiveling in his hold, I faced Slade. His eyes were downcast as he tried to bore a hole through the sand. “You’re smart, Slade. How have you not received an academic scholarship?”
“I’ve been offered a few, but none cover the room and board. The only option is to attend college here, and live at home.” The corner of his mouth curled up.
“What’s wrong with staying here? Your parents and sister are great.”
“They are. You’re right, but the college here isn’t the greatest. I wanted to go somewhere that would get me places in life.”
I understood that. I hadn’t heard of the college here.
An insane idea popped into my head and before I thought better of it, I let the words spill out of my mouth. “What if I got accepted to one of the schools you did, and we lived together?”
“What?” His head reared back. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure, I do. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if you hadn’t followed me my first night here.” Picking up his freehand, I ran my thumb over the veins in his hand. “You’ve done so much for me it’s the least I can do.”
Leaning forward, he rested his forehead to mine. His eyes fixed on mine. “Does that mean you’re staying?”
“Only if you agree to live with me wherever we go to college.” What was I doing? Sure, I liked Slade. A lot. But this might be the craziest thing I’d ever done.
Brushing his nose along mine, he tilted his head down. “Please, tell me this is okay.” The words sounded like a plea as his soft lips grazed mine. “I’ve been dying to kiss you for weeks now.”
It would be a lie if I said I hadn’t thought the same thing.
At first when I saw the girls at school with their eyes glued to his ass, I thought Slade was a player, but he hasn’t so much as looked at another girl when I was around.
And every night he’s been with me, right here on this very beach for hours silently watching over me. Protecting me.
“Yes,” I answered, breathily as I opened my mouth over his.
Slade wasted no time covering my mouth with his own and tasting me for the first time. We both moaned as he gripped me by the hips and placed me to straddle his lap. Feeling him grow hard underneath me, I deepened the kiss and tangled my fingers in his hair as I rocked against his length.
For the first time since my dad died, I felt alive, and it was all thanks to Slade. I knew with him by my side, he’d never let me fall. He’d protect me to the ends of the earth, and I’d do the same for him.
Big, strong hands roamed the length of my back before slipping underneath my shirt and skimming my stomach. My breath became ragged at his touch. I wanted more, but had no idea what that more was until he thrust his hips up and dragged along my clit.
I needed him more in that moment than I’d ever needed anyone or anything.
Pulling his length from his sweatpants, I ran my thumb over his mushroom shaped head and marveled at how soft yet hard he was.
“Harley.” My name was prayer as he gasped and pushed further into my hand. “I need to be inside of you.”
I needed that too.
Once he was inside of me, I knew things would change between us forever, and I was okay with that change. I might have been young, but I knew the man who had taken care of me since the night I arrived in San Sebastian was my forever.
Standing before him, I toed off my tennis shoes and rushed to remove the rest of my clothes.
“Fuck, you’re perfect,” Slade moaned as he looked up at me. He was shirtless with his pants pushed down to his ankles. He looked pretty damn perfect himself. He was all hard lines and defined muscle underneath the moonlight.
He held out his hand and I took it without thought, and resumed my position.
I had no idea what I was doing. I only went with my instinct of what felt good, and the reactions Slade gave me as I rubbed my pussy up and down his dick.
It was big and I wasn’t sure how he was going to fit, but I was sure as hell going to try.
Once he was at my entrance, I paused and braced myself on his shoulders. “I have something I need to confess.”
“Okay,” he muttered as he trailed kisses along my jaw and down to my collarbone. One hand cupped one breast while the other played with my nipple sending a zinging sensation straight to where I wanted him most.
“I’ve never done this before.”
“That’s okay. Take your time. I’m in no rush,” he panted as he thrust up until his tip breeched my entrance.
“I don’t think you understand what I’m tell you, Slade. I’m a… virgin.” I wasn’t sure if he would want to have sex with me after knowing that tidbit.