Chapter Twenty-Six #2
“Good. We've got three games to play. I know how much you love group activities and loud noises.”
I smile. It’s hardly a punishment to be in her presence again, regardless of the circumstances, but if she wants to play this game, I’ll play.
“I didn’t think group activities were your thing either, Killer. But if you really want to share, I’d do it for you.”
Her whole body jolts. “Really?”
Her face sinks, and I know we’re not playing anymore. I can’t drag this out.
“No, Olivia. I was playing. I don’t want to share you with anyone. Fuck, I don’t want to share you for a game of bowling.”
“Three games of bowling,” she whispers, and I roll my eyes.
“Yes, two games of bowling.”
“Three!” she laughs.
“Three, and then I am literally carrying you out of here. Got it?”
She grins, putting her hand out to shake. Instead, I stand, grab her hand, and pull her in.
“We only seal our deals with kisses, Killer,” I whisper against her lips before pressing mine gently against hers .
Our lips mold together, and I feel her sink against me.
Hope springs in my chest, and I finally fully relax until, with brute force, she launches herself at me.
Her teeth nip at my bottom lip; her tongue invades my mouth as she tastes me.
In an attempt to regain control, I press the flat of my palm against her back, pulling her flush against my chest, but she hitches her leg instead, grinding her perfect pussy against my thigh.
Her little whimpers escape her mouth to caress my hardening cock.
“Ah, hem.” An irritated tone cuts between us as a wolf whistle from another lane rings through the air.
We break apart. Oh yes, we’re in Satan’s armpit, the Bowlarama. How could I forget?
“This is a family-friendly establishment. Get yourselves under control or get out,” a curly-haired twenty-something-year-old manager hisses as our entire party flushes with embarrassment.
“Do you guys need to leave?” Nicole giggles.
“Nicole, don’t be improper,” her brother snips as Josh rolls his eyes. I’m unsure if it’s aimed at us or them. And if it’s them, if it’s Nicole or Mike.
“No, no, no, we’re all good,” Olivia says.
“I bet your panties say otherwise, Killer,” I whisper so only she can hear.
She flushes beautifully but pretends not to hear.
“My turn!” she announces, bouncing toward the lane. She picks up a bright pink ball and lines herself up against the lane. With a straight arm, she throws the ball hard, slightly off center, and every single pin comes crashing down.
What the hell? My girl is full of surprises.
The girls all woop loudly as the boys slow-clap their appreciation, jaws slightly slack.
“Yes, girl!” Nicole sings loudly before high-fiving Olivia.
She gives me a shimmy before perching next to me, and I stand to take my turn.
After a disastrously poor game on my part, Olivia relents, and she pulls me by the hand away from the group.
“Bowling was really the only activity I could afford to take Danny to do after Mom and Dad died. This kept us both out of trouble. For a while at least.” She laughs.
I love that she trusts me enough to still give me tidbits about her growing up.
“Until he met me, you mean.”
“Well . . . yes, but I’ve changed my mind about all of that.”
“All of that being the reasons you kidnapped me and held me hostage in your basement.” I twirl her hair between my fingers.
“Hostage really does suggest there was a ransom request, which we both know there wasn’t.” She’s right, annoyingly.
I grin down at her, cupping her cheek. Her citrusy shampoo perfectly engulfs her. I want to lean down and take a bite.
She hesitates for a second before lifting her hand up to my face and stroking my beard. It’s so familiar I still can’t believe I’m not dreaming.
“You kept the beard . . . it looks good.”
I run my hand over the stubble. “You like it?”
“Yeah, it suits you, makes you look a little softer.”
I nod, smiling, and then we’re silent until I can’t take anymore. I have to tell her everything. I know Alfie told me to take it easy and give her a chance to catch up, but I can’t.
“I’m sorry for Danny. For breaking my promise...fuck, I’m sorry I let you go. And I’m sorry it took me so long to get my head out of my ass to make it back to you.”
“I know. I forgive you.” She strokes my face.
“You do?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Okay, but I hurt you.”
“Yes, and I hurt you too. And I’m also sorry.”
“You have nothing, fucking nothing, to be sorry for, Olivia. I dragged you into this.” She rolls her eyes and steps back. Fuck, it stings.
“It’s not for you to decide when I’m ready to forgive you, Austin. That’s not how this works. It’s not how this is going to work. I decide. I make my own decisions and I make my own choices.”
“Okay, well what’s your choice then?”
“You’re forgiven. I love you, and I want to be with you here.
We can start fresh. From what Danny has told me, you can work remotely or you can build a second farm out here, or we can even split our time between here and Seattle.
I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you, because I choose you, I don’t want anyone else.
I’ve met a lot of people this last month or so-”
“Wait,” I interrupt, “what do you mean?”
She sighs, softening slightly, allowing me to pull her back in between my legs.
“Yeah Austin, I met a lot of people, I’ve been asked out a few times. And honestly? I was tempted to say yes sometimes because it meant I might have a chance at getting over you and not feeling so shit all the time.”
I groan and lift my chin up to the sky, trying to compose myself, but she ignores me.
“But I didn’t feel anything for anyone, so no, I didn’t actually go on any dates. No excitement or joy, or spark of attraction. And they were hot, Austin. Like, model hot. Beefcakes that could keep up with me on a workout.”
I still can’t look at her, but I sigh. “No one can keep up with you on a workout; you’re a machine.”
She rolls her eyes. “Okay fine, they could almost keep up.”
I grin finally dipping my head down so I could nuzzle into her neck. That’s my girl. Now I just need to find out these fuckers’ names.
“Are we just going to skip past the fact that I told you I want you to move here? ”
“I’m just reveling in it for a minute.”
“Take your time. I’ve only been waiting for nearly a month.”
I tilt her chin up and run my thumb over her cheek. Her lips are so pink and pretty. It’s been so long, I never thought I’d be this close to her again.
“Austin?” She frowns.
I smile, kissing her gently. Our lips mold together as I cup her face, my fingers tangling in her hair.
“Olivia Daniels. I’ll do whatever you want.
If you want me to stay in Seattle for the rest of my life, miserable and alone, I’ll do it if it means you are happy without me.
I would watch all your fucking videos over and over until I memorize every single one, just so I could keep a part of you with me.
So when I hesitate to say I’ll move here, it’s not because I don’t want to.
It’s because I want this to be your choice, your decision.
Coming here wasn’t meant to ambush you.”
“What’s a little ambush between boyfriend and girlfriend?” she whispers before squinting up to the sky to think. “It’s almost as forceful as kidnapping someone rather than having a conversation, don’t you think?”
I draw her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles; tears glisten in the corners of her eyes.
I continue, “I want you to be the best version of yourself. If that means that I can be with you, I’d be ecstatic, I’d be fucking yelling it from the rooftops and then I’d probably call Alfie and ask him to calm me down.
But yeah, I’d move here, I’d do anything for you because you’re the love of my life, Olivia.
I love you, I’m in love with you. Fuck, for the love of all things holy, tell me your new place has a basement? ”
She laughs, throwing her head back before I catch a stray tear falling down her cheek.
“No basement, I’m afraid.”
I nod. “Okay...I’ll get a shovel tomorrow. I’ll dig one for you.”
“How about you just stay with me?” She kisses my lips, her hands pulling at my shirt.
“In your bed? Outrageous. What would your brother think?”
“Given that he forced your ass down here, I’d say he was cool with it.” Her fingers reach the nape of my neck, and she tugs my hair gently. I pull her in, crushing her body against mine.
“Let’s stop talking about your brother. I wanna see my new room.”
“Does that mean you’re moving in?” She grins.
“I can move in, we can find somewhere new, we can stay in Austin, move back to Seattle, whatever the fuck you want. I’m with you. Wherever you want to be.”
“Let's start in our room and see where it takes us.”
“Lead the way, Killer.”