Chapter 3 #2
“Yeah, I’m with you. Just thinking about my sister and Jake,” she admitted.
He frowned at her words. “If you’re upset, we can just talk about it. We don’t have to do anything.”
“No,” she said quickly.
“Baby, we can do whatever you want tonight. So, why were you thinking about your sister and Jake?” Drew grimaced when he said Jake’s name, and that made her smile.
He seemed so protective of her tonight. He thought that she was mad about the fight, but she was the opposite.
She was grateful for the way that he stuck up for her.
He made her feel worthy, even important, and no one had done that for her in a long time.
“I was thinking that I need to thank you for the way you stood up for me,” she said.
“Baby, you never have to thank me. That will always be what happens when anyone talks to you the way Jake did,” Drew said. “I would take on the entire fucking world to protect you.”
She just stared at him and shook her head. She believed him. He would take on all her demons, but why?
“I was also thinking that I want a relationship with my sister again, but I don’t know how to make that happen because Jake is now a part of her life. I’ve decided that I want to know my niece or nephew. That means that I have no choice but to play nicely with Jake.”
A growl rose from Drew’s throat. “I don’t want you playing anything with that jerk, baby. I want you to stay away from him.” He was squeezing her fingers just a bit too tightly.
“Yeah, I get that. Ease up on the fingers, Brutus. I have no choice in the matter. That baby is his, too, and I plan to be a part of his or her life. Making nice with Jenna’s baby daddy isn’t the part of the plan that I like, but I have no choice.”
“Brutus?” he asked, faking a face. “Really, baby, it’s like you don’t even know my name,” he teased, giving her back her words from earlier.
“Yeah, that’s the other thing, what’s up with you calling me ‘baby’ now?” She could give as good as she got. He was unusually still. She bit her bottom lip, worrying she’d overstepped with him. “Don’t get me wrong,” she said quickly, “I like my new name.”
“Baby, when you bite your lip like that, it makes my dick stand at attention. I didn’t think that I could get any harder.
And I call you baby because it makes me feel closer to you.
I can’t explain it, I feel this need to protect you.
I have never felt the need to protect anyone, not even a damn pet.
I want you more than I have ever wanted any other woman, and you have been back in my life for mere hours.
” She felt some of her tension ease. That was the most honest anyone had ever been with her. She owed him the same courtesy.
“I have only ever been with Jake,” she said softly.
“Sex wise, I mean.” She waited for something from Drew, but his profile gave away nothing.
He was as stoic as a statue. “If you don’t want me now, I understand.
I wasn’t trying to hide that from you. Honestly, when you pulled up behind me on the road today, I never dreamed that you would need to know how many partners I’ve had sexually.
” She was rambling, but that was easier than dealing with his silence.
His breathing seemed to pick up, almost like he was angry with her.
She couldn’t help it; everything from that day seemed to come to a head, and she started crying.
Not just crying, but sobbing. She hid her face in her hands, unable to control herself.
Her whole body shook, and Drew growled at her.
What was it with the man and his growling?
“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, “I can’t seem to stop with the waterworks.
My aunt lives about twenty minutes from you.
She said that I can stay with her tonight.
Just take me to her house.” Karlie sniffled and wiped her nose on an old tissue she found in her clutch.
Drew pulled into his driveway and put his truck in park, quickly freeing himself from his seatbelt.
Yep, he was definitely angry. She started to unbuckle and get out of the truck, and he reached over to put his hand on her arm.
“Wait,” he ordered. She watched as he got out of his side of the truck and rounded it to open her door.
“Let’s go.” He spoke so harshly that she jumped.
“I’m sorry, Karlie, I just need to get you inside, please.
” He held out his hand, waiting for her to make the next move.
She just wanted to get her stuff together and call a cab.
She couldn’t stand any more humiliation today.
She didn’t take his hand, sliding past his extended arm and strode to his front porch, where she waited for him to open the door.
Damn it, why couldn’t she stop crying? How had Drew become someone that she cried over in just a few hours?
No, that couldn’t be it. She was tired and stressed from the day.
She’d go to her aunt’s house, and after tomorrow, she wouldn’t have to see Drew again.
∞
Drew couldn’t get her into his house fast enough.
Her crying was tearing him apart. When she’d told him about Jake being the only sexual partner she had been with, he didn’t know what to say.
It made him crazy that she had been with Jake at all, but that she was going to give herself to him, was such a gift.
He didn’t want to mess this night up, but he had done just that with his stupid silence.
Usually, his big mouth got him into trouble, but now his silence caused Karlie pain, and he couldn’t take it.
When she walked past him, he couldn’t stand the hurt in her eyes.
All he wanted to do was carry her into the house and tell her how much he wanted, no, needed her.
Then he would make love to her and show her how much he could give her, and hope that it would be enough.
He silently opened the front door, not sure where to even begin.
“It’s okay, Drew,” she said with a hint of anger, “I understand you not wanting me anymore. Jake didn’t like having sex with me either. God, I was such a stupid girl when I lost my virginity.”
Drew went completely rigid, not wanting to hear the details of her sex life with Jake. But he didn’t want to stop her from talking to him because her anger was preferable to her silence.
“I never had an orgasm with him. The only one,” she said, pausing and turning red with embarrassment, “the only one that I have ever had was one that I gave myself.” She looked down at the floor, as if ashamed.
The picture of Karlie touching herself, fingering her wet folds to orgasm, made him half-crazy with lust. Drew groaned and moved closer to her, not stopping himself from touching her.
“I know that you probably are used to women who are more experienced,” she cried.
“I’m sorry, Drew. I feel like I led you to believe that I had more experience.
The truth is, I don’t usually act like I did with you.
I don’t make it my goal to kiss virtual strangers on the side of the road.
” He was hovering over her, pushing her hair from her eyes to tuck behind her ear.
God, she was so beautiful. Her eyes were so blue, and she had cried off all her makeup.
He rubbed his thumbs down her cheeks and ran one over her bottom lip, so soft from her tears.
He’d bet she tasted like her salty tears, too.
He bent his head and tasted her lips, slow and soft.
It was so different from the kisses they shared earlier.
He savored her taste and licked away her tears.
“Umm, you taste so good, baby. Your lips are so soft from crying.” He was rubbing her bottom lip again with his thumb.
“But, honey, I can’t take it when you cry.
It breaks my heart and tears me up inside.
I can’t stand that Jake has the power to upset you.
You’re perfect. There’s nothing wrong with you.
He didn’t take care of you the way a man should.
Baby, with me, you will have an orgasm, and all you will have to do is lie back and scream.
And Karlie, you will scream for me.” His gaze felt so intense that he was afraid that he would scare her off.
“Can I ask you a question?” He looked directly into her eyes.
He wanted her to trust him. He wanted her to feel safe.
Karlie’s “Sure” sounded more like a question than an answer.
He smiled, trying to reassure her. “You said that you have only ever had one orgasm?” She nodded at his question, looking down at the floor.
He lifted her chin with his finger. “Baby, look at me, please. I need to know that you’re with me—that you want this. ”
“I’m fine, Drew.” She lifted her chin defiantly.
“Jake never gave you an orgasm—ever?” he asked.
“No.” She tried to look at the floor again, but he still had his finger under her chin, and Drew wouldn’t allow her to hide from him.
“He told me that I had something wrong with me and that some women couldn’t have them.
He told me that it was my fault that I couldn’t have one because he was doing everything right.
I just believed him because I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it.
” Her cheeks were bright pink with embarrassment, but she maintained eye contact.
“Baby, there is nothing wrong with you. He’s the problem. He just didn’t take the time to give you what you needed. He didn’t take care of you first. I will make sure that you have a few orgasms before we do anything else.” Her eyes were huge, and he chuckled at her expression of total dismay.
“Oh, no,” she stammered, “I don’t think I can have one with you, let alone a few. I just want it to be good for you. I am not worried about me.”