by Shel Stone
So what were her options now? To embrace that inner bitch in her and rip him apart like he had her. Try to extricate herself without doing harm, which probably wasn’t possible with the state he was in. Or embrace it.
Was she able to do deep and heavy with Adrian Morecroft? There was no other option. This was all in or all out. There were no in-betweens. If she went all in, he could be the love of her life, and he wasn’t easy to deal with. Thorny and power-hungry, ruthless and capable. And he loved her. He needed her.
Her heart felt bruised. The exhaustion stretched to her as well. It had taken a toll on both of them, and there was a heavy decision that needed to be made. But all she wanted right now was to get back in bed and luxuriate in the warmth of him, feel his body to hers, his arms around her. She wanted his love—she just wasn’t sure she trusted it.
Going to the bathroom, she took a moment to herself. A wild, flushed creature stared back at her in the mirror. The decision she made now would probably determine who this person was. And if she got back into that bed, she had to seriously consider giving him a chance. Or she could try to drive his car, at least to the nearest train station.
A part of her so badly wanted the warmth of him. To believe that he would protect and care for her—would be there when she needed him. The one she could count on. And she would have to do the same in return.
Did she dare give it a chance?
Okay, and it was fucking cold standing around naked. Scurrying back to bed, she got in and drew the blankets over them. Hard questions would have to wait. Right now she wanted him. Half waking as if he sensed she was there, he drew her to him and she melted into the embrace. All these things could be dismissed from her mind and she could just feel good.
Chapter 42
THE WIND HOWLED outside as they woke and repeated what they’d done the night before, creating the same intense sensations and the same wonder. Their bodies felt familiar now, felt unified, as if they knew they belonged together. The release had been just as earth-shattering. And then the questions had returned.
Adrian did his best toasting frozen waffles for them. It was one of the few things they had, but they were great. The sea was wild outside, the wind forming whitecaps and the waves stretched up onto the shore. Sand flurries occasionally danced down the beach. It wasn’t a day for going outside. And there wasn’t a soul around.
There was no chance of getting back for school, so no point trying. And Adrian didn’t seem in any rush. Putting his plate away, he kissed her, tasting like maple syrup. Something about him seemed calm and relaxed. This was what he wanted—he had what he wanted. He was in and had no qualms about it.
“What?” he said, clearly reading something in her expression.
Cecily shrugged, not quite knowing how to say the things on her mind. “I don’t know.”
She went to move away, but he grabbed her and lifted her to him. It was hard to think when he was so close, but he didn’t kiss her, instead walked her to the couch and sat down so she straddled him. “What?” he demanded, pinning her down with his eyes, refusing to let her look away.
“Can I trust you?” she asked, letting her concerns surface. His hand kneaded her bare thigh underneath the oversized sweater she was wearing. “If we do this, can I trust you?”
“Firstly, we’re doing this. Secondly… I hope so.”
Not exactly the answer she’d hoped for.
Again he refused to let her look away, demanding her attention. “This is unchartered waters for me,” he admitted, looking her straight in the eyes. “I’ve never done this before—have never been here. I’m insane around you. I do things I never would have seen myself doing. All I know is that I have to keep you with me. That’s it. It is literally all I care about right now. I want you—it’s a simple proposition. That I won’t ever hurt you—I can’t promise that. But I love you and I feel like everything is right in the world when you are with me. I’ll probably fuck up and I’ll beg you to forgive me—beg you to kiss me, because I need it. And if you fuck off to Europe, I will probably follow you. I will do whatever I have to, to make it right again. That I can promise you.”
In her soul, Cecily knew he spoke from the heart. God when they would fight, it would be mayhem. He’d be infuriating, but if he came back, if he tried to make it right again, then maybe it would be worth it. “We could try not to be crazy drama all the time.”
A smile spread across his lips. God that got to her when he did that. “Come here,” he said, tipping her to him so he could claim her lips again. These kisses she just couldn’t get enough of, they were like an itch that was there all the time, the need for him. His arms held her, his mouth claimed her. It was compelling and urgent.
“Fuck,” he said when the kiss broke and with his arm around her back, he lifted her up and underneath him. “You’re going to be the death of me.” Urgently, he unbuckled and pressed his cock into her. Did he just tear her underwear? The question slipped from her mind as the pleasure of him pushing into her took over. There just wasn’t a way of sating this want. His groans reverberated through her mind as sunk into her completely, her feeling loss every time he pulled away. Didn’t they say this was a form of madness? It felt that way, but it was impossibly sweet.
*
Walking was slightly uncomfortable when she got back home. Their rigorous activities had left a mark. Not that she didn’t love feeling it. It was like a part of him she bore with her. They must have done it six times before finally agreeing that they had to return. Hunger was a large part of the decision too. Adrian would probably quit school so he could spend the week fucking her, but she couldn’t allow that to happen. She still had grades to keep up.
It was close to dusk as she got home. Lauren stood in the living room in her silk pants. “And there you are. You neglected to mention you were staying with someone,” she said.
“Sorry. I forgot.”
“That’s not good enough, Cecily. The least you could do is inform us that you’re not coming home.”
“Yes, I’m sorry. Things got…” What was she supposed to say? “messy.”
Lauren’s botoxed eyebrows tried to draw together. “Is there something you wish to talk about?”
No, was the immediate answer that barked in her mind. “Maybe one day I’ll tell you about it.”
The answer seemed to surprise Lauren. “Oh. Well, I am here if you ever need someone to talk to.”
Cecily smiled, even if her instincts told her not to. Her instincts with Lauren had always been to push her away as far and hard as she could. In fact, she’d been quite a bitch about it.
“Well, me and your father are going out to dinner.” She blinked for a moment. “Maybe we should… all go?” She said it as if she was trying it on for size. “I think that would be nice, don’t you?”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Alright. I’ll call your father and we’ll change the reservations. Might have to change restaurants actually.”
“Okay. I’m going to my room.” With that, Cecily left. That had definitely been awkward and as Cecily got in the shower, she wondered if Lauren was on the phone that very minute, telling her father how they’d just had a breakthrough.
Under the stream of the water, Cecily rolled her eyes. But it did feel good to potentially put some of the tension to rest. Lauren was a fact of life and even as she was so very New York, maybe Cecily could just accept her for what she was. They might not be alike, but they were a part of each other’s lives. And her father did love her, even if Cecily had flatly refused to see why.
Finishing her shower, she wore her terry cloth dressing gown and lay down on her bed. Something quite major had changed since she had been in her room last. Adrian had happened, as he tended to do.
Her phone rang and she knew it was him. Or potentially her father, who was the only other person who called her. Please don’t let it be him wanting to talk about Lauren. No, it was Adrian.
“Hey,” she said when she answered.
“Come over.”
“I can’t. I kind of promised to have dinner with the family.” It still felt awkward including Lauren as family, but it was a day for new beginnings, wasn’t it?
“Blow it off.”
“I can’t. Do you want to come?”
“Sit through dinner with your father? Yeah, that sounds like fun after what I did—and have continued to do. I’m sure he’d be thrilled. Come over after.”
“We have finals in like a week.”
“Fuck them.”
“No, I have to get good grades, because I have to get into a good school, and you would distract me.” Besides, she was sore and needed some recovery time.
He groaned down the line and she heard him taking a drag of a smoke. “What are you doing over Christmas?”
“I was thinking about going skiing in Europe.”
“Ugh,” he winced. “I want us to spend that time together. Ideally with no one else. Caribbean, maybe.”
“Yeah, I can see my dad agreeing to me swanning off to the Caribbean with you.”
It was silent down the phone for a while. “Then come back to the Hamptons with me.”
Internally she groaned because she knew she couldn’t do anything else. The thought of going to Europe without him was just unthinkable, and they were too new to hang with her friends.
“Or we could just stay here,” he said after a while. “My dad won’t be around.”
Cecily hadn’t gotten the whole situation with his dad, but she knew it wasn’t good. “We’ll work something out,” she finally said. “I have to get dressed. I’ll see you tomorrow.” What were the chances of them getting through the day tomorrow without having sex somewhere in the school? Probably none. “I’ll come over tomorrow.”
She heard him sigh. “Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too.” It felt odd saying it. It felt right, but also scary.
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Other Books by Shel Stone
Marbella Nights - Getting a job on a yacht in Marbella hadn’t exactly been Adelaide Simon’s plan, but it was worth giving up her back-packing travels for a cushy job in the sun. The owner is decent, although his girlfriend is a complete bitch. This weekend’s trip out on the Mediterranean, Quentin Cartright is onboard as a guest—a guy you’d have to live under a rock to not have heard about. Gorgeous, rich and a member of the exclusive set of rich kids who live around here. Rumour has it he’s nothing but trouble.
Festival - Doing the Eclipse Festival after graduation has been the plan for ages for Harlow Bensen and her best friends, Danni, Piper and Ocean. Two days in the desert with music, fun and a chance to cut loose from everything. The perfect way to put high school behind them and to focus on the things that are important.
Although Harlow’s boyfriend, Cayden, is coming, it’s a weekend primarily about friendship. Also in the mix are Harlow’s biggest detractors, particularly Damien Heyman, who’s hated her from the moment she moved to Clearlake. What’s a weekend without partying with your enemies, right? Well, one weekend can completely redraw who you think your enemies are. It can redraw everything.
Better Run - From her social media, the wild and carefree Alicia Dunmore, Nook her friends call her, looks nothing like the type who would end up being part of a robbery, and neither had her shocked eyes as she’d desperately tried to stop the bleeding from Parker Dorian’s bullet wound. But she had been, and as the surviving member of the trio too dumb to know you don’t rob the guy who ran the Miami drug trade, she’s skipped town. Clearly she’s smart enough to know it won’t end well.
Now she could be anywhere, but she ran with one of his phone, the one line of communication he has with her, even as she takes great care hiding where she is. He only needs to keep her talking, drawing her in until she give herself away, along the way cataloging everything there is to know about the girl who is everything he’s would never allowed himself to be—impulsive, unrestrained and uncompromising.