Chapter 28
Angela
“I actually didn’t think this would be as fun as it is. I like being in a time bubble with you,” I say later, as Garrett and I sit on the sand, the waves lapping our ankles before retreating, only to return again and again.
“Same, actually.” He focuses on the water, and I admire his chiseled jawline before he meets my eyes. A knowing smile graces his lips, then he smirks and looks away.
I dig my toes into the sand, watching the water fill the holes left behind. “You think Charlie would approve?”
“I’ll have to bring the shorts as proof, but yeah, she’d approve.”
There’s more to what he’s saying. It’s humming through the undercurrent of his tone, the charged look in his eyes, but I don’t know what it is. This man, with his grunts and frowns, his wild mood swings, I can’t read him. I don’t know what he wants. What he’s thinking.
It drives me crazy.
Because even though I know I shouldn’t care, I do. I don’t just want to know what he wants. I want to know if I’m what he wants.
We leave the beach and get dressed, then stop for dinner at the café he pointed out earlier.
Good Beginnings. Part of me whispers the name is prophetic.
That today was a good beginning to whatever is growing between Garrett and me.
The rest of me screams that nothing good can come out of the two of us together.
Not when there are so many reasons to keep us apart.
Unfortunately, the café is only open for breakfast and lunch, so we walk the streets until we find a bar called Fisherman Jack’s that serves food and has a musician setting up on a small stage.
The meal is simple and delicious, and Garrett and I sit quietly while an older man plays his guitar, singing in a husky baritone, deep and rolling, just like the sea.
At the end of his set, a woman who must be his wife pulls him into her arms and kisses him like her life depends on it.
Something in the way she looks at him reminds me of the way my mom looks at my dad.
That makes me smile until I glance at Garrett and find him scowling in my direction.
Hot and cold.
Push and pull.
He’s a freaking enigma.
As the night comes to a close, he drives us back to the hotel. We walk quietly down the hall towards our room, pausing in front of the door like we’re afraid of what comes next.
“I had a lovely time,” I say, feeling ridiculous at how childlike I sound.
“I had a nice time too.” Garrett smiles, his eyes locked onto mine with intent. “Such a nice time that I feel like I can do this…”
He threads his hands into my hair, cupping my face as he leans close, his lips brushing mine, softly, insistently.
His fingers tighten into a fist, tilting my head back as his kiss deepens, our tongues sweeping together like the waves licking our skin.
He advances and my back presses against the door, the thick length of his erection digging into my stomach.
This is bad.
This is wrong.
This puts everything I’ve been working for in jeopardy.
But we’re in a time bubble and I’m past caring about right and wrong because good things happen to good people. And Garrett and me? We’re good people.
And we’re even better together.
His push and pull, hot and cold, it lights me on fire and everything feels more. Better.
I like being with him.
“Should we… Do you want to go inside now?” I ask, breathless between kisses.
He nods, capturing my bottom lip with his teeth. “Open the door, Angel.”
Fumbling in my purse, I dig for my keycard while Garrett slides his hands down my waist, around the curve of my hips, and grabs my ass.
His growl of approval puts my body on alert.
Nipples pebbled. Thighs clenching. Desire pooling in my lower belly.
I turn to slip the keycard into the lock and Garrett brushes my hair aside, kissing the delicate skin at my neck, then nibbling at my ear.
His touch is fire. Destructive yet necessary for existence.
My life will cease to exist without it from this point forward.
The door opens and we stumble in. His hands. His skin. His voice. The low groan rolling through his chest. It blends with the throbbing in my core. I drop my bag and fumble at his shirt because after a day of looking and not touching, I need my hands on his body.
He catches my wrists, stopping me from pulling the hemline from his pants. “I want you to beg for it, Angel.”
I laugh, reaching for his belt, but he tightens his grip. “The day was yours, but this? This is mine.” He traces a finger down my cheek as I drop my gaze.
Why do I like it so much when he talks like that?
Garrett pinches my chin and lifts my face. “Beg.”
“Beg?” I scoff, looking away. Embarrassed that he’d ask it of me.
“We won’t go any further until you do.”
My voice catches in my throat. I’ve never begged for anything in my life. I’ve never needed to. Whatever I wanted, I either had it already, or found a way to get it for myself. I’m a strong, proud woman.
I don’t beg.
I meet Garrett’s eyes and soften against the strength I see there. He is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. His energy clicks with mine, unlocking a part of me I didn’t know existed. A part that needs someone stronger than me to relax into.
My gaze falls to the floor.
I lick my lips and find my voice.
“Please.”
“Please what?” he growls.
My gaze crawls up his torso, along his chest, past his full lips and chiseled jaw until I meet his eyes. “Please let me see you.”
“Good girl, my Angel. I like it when you do what I say.”
Sweet Jesus what is happening? I’m grinning—though I don’t know why—and quivering with need for him.
For this.
For us.
I reach for his pants again, but he steps away.
“I want to see you first.”
With one delicate finger, he slips the strap of my sundress off my shoulder, then stalks behind me to draw the zipper down, his fingers grazing the delicate skin along my spine.
With another flick of his finger, the dress drops to the floor, a puddle of fabric at my feet.
He growls in approval of the white lace bra and panties.
“It fucking killed me to have my hands on you today.” Garrett grips my waist, his thumbs caressing the line of silk against my skin.
I glance over my shoulder. “And why is that?”
“Because I can’t touch you without wanting to own you, Angel. I need to be inside you. I want your moans, your screams, your pleasure.”
I shiver at his words. “Jesus, Garrett. Who talks like that?”
“I talk like that.” His fingers work the clasp of my bra and that, too, falls to the floor. He caresses my shoulders, kissing my neck, coming to stand in front of me as his fingers trail goosebumps across my skin. “So fucking beautiful.”
He bends, sucking a nipple into his mouth and I gasp at the sudden warmth, the bite of pain. A hand presses to my back and he kisses the tender flesh of my breast, sucking until I’m sure he left his mark. I ease into his embrace, melting with his attention. His touch leaves me trembling.
“Please, Garrett…” I don’t even know what I’m begging for, I just want more, more, more.
He backs me up, kissing and sucking, his hands and mouth sending shivers of energy through me as my inner muscles throb with want.
The back of my knees hit the bed. I drop to the mattress, staring up at him as he pulls his shirt from his pants and shrugs out of it.
The smattering of hair above his belt catches the light and I drag my gaze up his muscled torso to meet blue eyes as deep as the ocean.
“Scoot your hips to the edge and lay back.”
I do as he says, lifting my hips to slip my underwear down my thighs, my ankles, and toss them to the floor. His eyes meet mine as he kneels in front of me, strong hands spreading my legs while he gives me a wicked smile.
It’s filled with promise. With lust. With want…for me. This man, this grumpy, inscrutable man wants me. He touches me like I’m precious, kneeling before me like I’m a queen, yet I’m beholden to his every word. His every command.
The gentle pressure of Garrett’s tongue dancing across my clit calls up a moan from somewhere deep inside of me. A place I didn’t know existed. A version of me I haven’t met. My head drops back as my eyes slip closed. “Fuck, Garrett.”
“Look at me, Angel. Watch what I do to you.” He lowers his mouth to me, teasing this new part of me to life.
My hips buck and my body writhes and pleasure wings through me like seabirds swooping and diving.
Like the ocean rolling and contracting. I press up on my elbows to get a better view of Garrett’s head between my thighs driving me toward the edge of pleasure and pain.
He meets my eyes and smiles, pulling his head away to slowly, oh, so fucking slowly, slip a finger inside.
“You like to watch, Angel?”
“I like to watch you.”
His finger caresses my inner walls, and the heat begins to build again. Garrett sucks my clit into his mouth, pushing another finger inside, then, holy shit, another…stretching me, testing me. The teasing is over and oh my God here we are.
It’s him, it’s us, it’s this.
I cry out, panting and bucking as he drives a pounding rhythm and yes, yes yes! Starshine and sunbursts and fucking yes, sir! Yes, more! Let me be your good girl!
While I’m still riding the waves of pleasure, Garrett stands, wiping his face with the back of his hand, smiling down at me while I spiral back to awareness. “Did that feel good, my Angel?”
I nod, my arms flung over my head as I stare hungrily at the erection straining against his pants.
“You taste so sweet, I could do that all day, but I want to watch you come like that on my cock.” His deft fingers slide the belt from his pants, a wicked glint in his eyes catching my attention.
Instead of dropping it to the floor, he drapes it around his neck, then pulls a condom from his wallet and steps out of his pants.
His dick is long and proud. My eyes go wide as I process his girth.
“The fingers are a warmup.” Garrett climbs onto the bed. “But I’ll go slow until you’re used to me.”
He pulls the belt off, slowly wrapping it around my wrists, then pinning them over my head.
I’ve never been bound before.
I like it.
Sitting up, he slides the condom into place, then presses himself against me. “Look at me, Angel. I want your eyes on mine as you take all of me.”
My lips part as he presses inside. I gasp as he inches forward and lift my head off the pillow, pressing my forehead to his as he tightens his hold on the belt.
“That’s my good girl. You take me so well.”
My chest heaves. I’m full. So fucking full. How am I not combusting?
And then Garrett’s hips touch mine and the tap on my clit has me shivering in anticipation.
He smiles. “Fuck, Angel. You feel so good. So tight. You’re like silk.”
His words barely register before he’s moving again and I’m over the edge, beyond feeling, beyond meaning, beyond words. This is a slow fall through oblivion as he reduces me to sensation, a keening cry slipping past my lips.
This is beauty.
This is grace.
This is the thin line between pain and pleasure and he keeps me on it with the precision of an expert, the belt tight around my wrists, my hands begging to clutch his muscled back.
His thrusts gain speed. His body rocking and rolling into me, his eyes holding mine hostage. His breath hitches. His jaw grinds closed, and then he finishes with a spasm, lowering his forehead to mine as we pant together in the aftermath.