Chapter 19
Harbor
Lark jumps into my arms, wrapping them around my neck and kissing me like she wants to medal in the Olympics for it.
I kiss her right back, holding her bare ass in my hands, and carry her inside not only to get her out of the cold but to fucking apologize.
When I kick her bedroom door closed, our lips remain attached until the very last second when I lay her down . . . a few inches above the mattress. Laughter erupts from her as she lands with a bounce.
She has a way of getting me to confess my darkest secrets, the desire to have someone else sharing the burden in carrying them runs deeper than I could have imagined.
I’ve never had the inclination to share at this level with anyone else.
She bared her body, but I know she was also baring her soul to me.
Me doing the same wasn’t as hard as I would have thought.
It was our way of communicating, to get to the core of the issues, reminding me of something I once overheard my mom telling Loch. Every couple has their own way of working through a problem. As a team, they have to find their method and always respect each other.
“When I said I love you, I meant it, Lark.”
She catches her breath and lies on her back, studying my face when I sit down. “I know you love me, babe. I wouldn’t have let you come back here if I didn’t love you just as much.” Sitting up, she anchors her hand to the bed, and says, “You said you’d always come back to me.”
“I will. I promise you, I will.”
Grabbing hold of my arm, she pulls me down until we’re both lying flat on the mattress, our heads barely touching and staring up at the ceiling. It’s been a night already.
Talking about her, Liz, and then when I shared some of my history with Lucas. We talked more than I have in years. I’m usually one more for listening, but for Lark, I’ll stay up all night and talk if that’s what she prefers.
There’s just the matter of this not-so-small issue of my erection. It’s not going away. As if knowing that she’s naked under that T-shirt isn’t enough to keep me hard, I will never in my life forget the sight of her in my car, dressed the same. She’s a fantasy come to life.
I’m not usually one for sex in cars. They’re cramped and uncomfortable, but an exception will eventually be made for Lark Summerlin. I’m an asshole for thinking about her body, but she’s very distracting, and currently oblivious to how sexy she is.
Our hands bond together in the space between us.
She says, “I know you will. I really do, but for me, it cuts deep that you’d walk out during an argument.
You’re asking me to stand by while you process your emotions.
It doesn’t work like in an argument. I need to know you’re going to stay, that you’ll fight through whatever’s upset us, and that you’ll fight for us in the end.
” She turns to look at me, seeking an answer by the questions in her eyes.
The heat of her hand against my skin has me pulling her in closer, and the vulnerability in her eyes makes me want to be a better man. “We’re new at this, not just being together but being in a relationship. Relationships take time and effort. I’ll give you both.”
Although she’s silent, her expression remains thoughtful. I feel like I’m holding my breath. Not that I think she’ll break up with me, but more her believing in me enough to give us a real chance, a third chance to get this right.
She sits up and faces me. “For all the times we lay here and talk, which I love to do with you, I’ve come to learn that you’re not a wordy man. You hit straight to the heart of the matter, so I’m going to as well. I’ll give you room to process if I can rely on you to stay.”
I don’t think I’ve ever been held accountable for anything before. So I give her a lot of respect for doing it now. She knows what she wants and won’t settle for less. I don’t want to be the “less” in her life either. I want to be more than she could ever dream of. “I can’t argue with that.”
Her smile blooms for me like a night flower that opens for the moon. “Good because I don’t want to argue with you anymore.” Leaning over, she kisses my cheek, her hand leveraging my leg to get her closer. With our mouths pressed together, she whispers, “Unless it’s under the covers.”
I close my eyes to kiss her, but she’s off the bed and standing before me with her hands on her hips. “I think we need ground rules, Mr. Westcott.” And my dick is hard again.
Gulping obnoxiously, I then say, “Rules? I never did well with rules. I’m more of a rebel type.”
“You wear button-ups and drive a Maserati, babe. So let’s correct that statement to you were a rulebreaker.
Now, you’re my boyfriend.” She has a point.
I’m not so rogue these days. Standing in front of me, she toys with the hem of her T-shirt.
.. or what I call, teasing. “And as my boyfriend, I promise you two things.”
I lean back with a cocked eyebrow. “Go on.”
“Loyalty. It’s one of the traits that I value most in myself and in others.”
That’s an easy one. “I’m ride or die, baby.”
Running her hand up her hip, the fabric is dragged with it, giving me a peek at her sweet little pussy. She’s determined to torment me. I run the tip of my tongue over my bottom lip as a little reminder of what she’s missing.
Losing some of what I call the upper hand, my peekaboo view is covered, and she crosses her ankles. I’m getting to her, wearing her down, and ready to blissfully deplete her of all releases. “And the second promise?” I ask, feeling quite cocky about now.
“Honesty.” That stings a bit. She adds, “You’ve mentioned being someone else for your family. I don’t want someone else. I want you—the good and the bad, the dark and the light. The truth. Promise me you’ll be honest with me, Harbor.”
I stopped tracking the lies I was living years ago, but there’s something I can say without a doubt. “I’ve always been honest with you; I promise never to lie.”
This time, I’m rewarded when she straddles my lap and pushes me back. Leaning down, she says, “I won’t lie to you, not ever.” I’m quick to wrap my arms around her and hold her there. It’s not a frenzy to get off or anything like that.
It’s a slow seduction of our mouths coming together and then our bodies.
Her thighs are tight around my middle as she seeks relief I’m more than happy to give her.
Maneuvering my hand between us, I reach lower until the tips of my fingers find her clit.
Like a shock of electricity running through her, her head falls back as I rub circles to get her off.
Her body dances against my hand, erotic, craving, her chest pushing against mine as I hold on to her hips with my other hand and listen to soft moans in my ear. “Talk to me, babe,” she whispers.
Pumping in and out of her with two fingers, I slide my free hand around to her backside, dip under the shirt, and take a firm hold of that great ass of hers, squeezing. Hard. I whisper in her ear, “I want you to take off my jeans.”
She stops like a good girl and moves to the side to give me access to pop the button and drag my zipper down. I shift to get them to my ankles.
Lark moves to the floor to take my shoes off before helping me remove my jeans altogether. When she starts on the waistband of my underwear, I stop her by the wrist. “What are you doing?”
“We don’t have to have sex, but I want to feel you.”
And she just graduated to vixen.
In all fairness, I want the same. I want to feel all of her, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to handle her riding me bare and not push in. I’ve never had the challenge before. “I want that with you.”
She takes my boxer briefs off and then slowly settles back onto my lap.
Her arms hang loose over my shoulders, and her gaze is soft when she starts to move on top of me again.
Running my hands over the curve of her waist and lower, I move my hand back to the apex of her thighs.
Though she has a steady rhythm going, she pauses to spread her legs wide enough for my hand.
I could tease her and only fuck her with a finger, but I’d rather see her come undone.
I push two fingers inside her, anchoring my hand next to my dick.
Each rub of her pussy against my erection is another strike of a match.
With every thrust and push-pull of her body, a fire is lit deep in my belly
When her head falls back and her mouth falls open, her body starts bouncing on top of me, chasing her release, and then mine hits.
The stars burst behind my closed eyelids as she continues to roll of her hips, insisting on every ounce of my pleasure releasing.
She cries out my name just as she drops her head onto my shoulder and comes on my hand.
Her body rocks from the inside out and when she finally takes a breath, her head resting on my shoulder, she says, “I could get used to this.”
I push her hair out of the way to kiss her neck. “I hope you do.”
We only give ourselves a minute to unwind before we take turns leaving to clean up in the bathroom.
Feeling more relaxed than I have in long time, I lie in bed beside her with the lamp turned off.
I say, “It’s going to be a rough day ahead if we stay up much longer.
” I don’t put this pressure on her, but I’d fight sleep just to spend more time with her.
Her smile blooms in the middle of the night, just for me. Touching my cheek, she says, “Let’s get some sleep then.” She kisses me, and then I lean over her and steal another.
She must have been more tired than she realized. It takes her no time at all to find her slumber, but I stay awake, fighting against it just to have a few minutes to think.
I’ve fucked up in the past and almost got kicked out of my house and school a couple of times. I don’t blame anyone else involved but myself.
I didn’t have to drink like I’d never get another.
I didn’t have to smoke weed.
I didn’t have to let my ego get the better of me.
But I did.
Holding her now while she sleeps, I don’t know what good I did to deserve this peace, even if temporary, but I recognize when there’s an angel in my midst. I kiss her head as the past is forgotten, and an opportunity for a new beginning fills this room.
Lark.
I stare at her, almost willing her awake just to selfishly see her eyes again. She stirs, so I lie as still as I can, hoping she can fall asleep again. We stayed up late, too late to try to make sense of the changes.
“Hi,” she whispers softly, her voice faded from sleep. Lying against my chest, a little grin appears before she opens her eyes. I didn’t have a doubt about staying, but if I had, the slate would be wiped clean.
This is why.
She is why.
She yawns but blinks and closes her eyes again, squeezing the hand she’s holding between us. “I like you in my bed.”
“I like you.”
There’s a pause long enough to make me wonder if she fell asleep again. But then she says, “Charming Harbor, never change.”
“I’ll change for you.”
But I’m not entirely sure she heard me since her body grows heavier as her breathing evens.
Then she whispers, “I don’t need you to change who you are for me.
I just need you.” Closing my eyes again, I try to find the same deep sleep, but the smile plastered on my face might be the culprit keeping me awake.
That’s okay. I’m in no hurry to rush through the remaining hours I have with her before sunrise.
Despite my happiness, exhaustion sets in anyway, leaving me no choice but to give in and fall asleep.