The Way We Break

by Cassia Leo

  My eyes widen when we arrive at the Four Seasons hotel. “Why are we staying here? Isn’t this a bit much?”

  Houston pays the cab driver and slides out of the cab, holding his hand out to me as he replies, “There aren’t many pet-friendly hotels in this area.”

  As if he understands what Houston just said, Skippy hops over me and leaps out of the cab. Houston reaches down and scoops him up easily, scratching him behind the ear as Skippy licks his face.

  “That’s right, buddy. Only the Four Seasons will do for you.”

  I shake my head as I slide out of the cab. “I knew you liked him better than me.”

  The hotel is well prepared with a complimentary leash and dog biscuit for Skippy.

  “A bellman will come up to your room shortly with a doggy bed and bowls for water and food,” says the handsome guy in a suit behind the check-in counter.

  I gasp. “I don’t have any of his food.”

  The guy winks at me. “We’ll take care of that. Does he have any food allergies?”

  Houston and I exchange a look, silently asking each other if this is real.

  I turn back to the guy. “No. No allergies. Regular dog food is fine, thanks.”

  Once we’re checked in, we walk Skippy outside to mark his territory, then we head back into the lobby. As we enter the hotel elevator, I’m reminded of the first time Houston and I rode in the elevator at my apartment building in Goose Hollow. I accused him of trying to get on my good side by being nice to Skippy. Here we are, five months later, and Houston is the one holding Skippy’s leash and insulin kit.

  I look at the reflection of Houston’s face in the shiny metal elevator door and he stares right back at me, but he doesn’t smile. I don’t know if he’s having the same thoughts I’m having, but something has shifted between us. A bone-shaking realization grips me and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

  What if the whole purpose of writing and losing my book was to bring Houston and me back together?

  The elevator dings and the doors slide open. Houston and Skippy exit right away, but it takes me a moment to get my bearings and follow.

  “What’s wrong?” he asks as we head down the corridor toward room 1822. “Something’s wrong. I can see it in your face.”

  I take a deep breath that rattles inside my chest. “Nothing, I just… I can’t shake the guilt from wasting so much of your time and Hannah’s time by coming out here.”

  “Come on, Rory. You have to give yourself a break. You couldn’t have known what was going to happen.” He slides the card-key into the slot and looks over his shoulder at me as he pushes the door open. “You just need to get some sleep and you’ll feel a lot better when you’re home tomorrow.”

  “I don’t have a home,” I reply, making no attempt to enter the room.

  He looks a little confused by this, then he sighs as he unclips the leash from Skippy’s collar so he can go sniff out the room. He sets the insulin kit down on a table in the entryway, using his foot to hold the door open.

  “I have an extra bedroom,” he says. “Kenny can stay there. When he finds a place, I’ll help him move his stuff out of storage again. Okay?”

  I shake my head in amazement. This man is willing to do anything for me.

  “No,” I whisper.

  “Rory, please just come inside and we’ll talk about it.”

  “No, you don’t understand. I don’t want Kenny to live with you. I want to live with you.”

  His eyes lock on mine and the muscle in his jaw twitches. “Are you fucking with me?”

  I chuckle at this response. “Did you read my book? I’ve been in love with you for thirteen years.”

  “I didn’t read your book.”

  For a moment I’m stunned, considering everyone seems to think it was their right to read my book lately. “You didn’t?”

  He looks confused. “I wasn’t going to read it without your permission.”

  I shake my head again. “You make me feel like the goddamned luckiest girl in the world.”

  I step inside, reaching up to grab his face so I can kiss him. His hands land on my waist and he pushes me inside so he can let the door fall shut. His tongue slides into my mouth and I let out a soft moan as he presses me up against the wall. He tastes a little like beer and a lot like mint, like he had a beer on the plane then popped a breath mint. I tangle my fingers in his hair, hungrily pulling him into me. Willing him to lift me up so I can wrap my legs around him.

  But he does the exact opposite. He pulls away, breathing heavily as his gaze falls to my chest.

  “Not that I don’t want to fuck you, but maybe we should feed Skippy and give him his insulin first.”

  “Oh, shit. How can you remember that and I don’t?” I ask as I head into the one-bedroom suite to search for Skippy.

  He chuckles sheepishly. “I was repeating it in my head the whole ride over here. I knew the first thing I’d want to do when we got to the room was rip your clothes off.”

  I find Skippy in the ensuite, drinking toilet water. “Skippy, no.” He looks up at me, scrunching his brow together in an apology. “Come on, boy. I’ll get you some clean water and food.”

  Once the bellman has brought up Skippy’s doggy bed and food, we get him fed and medicated and settled down for a nap. The tension in the air grows thicker as Houston watches me from where he stands near the door leading onto the balcony, his eyes glued to me as I make my way to the bedroom. I enter the master suite and, without looking over my shoulder, I can sense him behind me, following me into the ensuite.

  By the time he enters behind me, I have the shower turned on and the water set to the perfect temperature. I turn around and he stares at me for a moment, drinking me in, a love-drunk look in his eyes. Then he reaches up and softly brushes his thumb over my cheekbone, sending a chill through me.

  “I wanted to believe this would happen. I knew I had to be strong, but I’d be lying if I said there weren’t nights where I wanted to give up.” His fingers graze the side of my face as they move down until he has my chin softly grasped in his thumb and forefinger. “You’re the only thing in this fucked-up world that makes sense to me. I don’t ever want to lose you again.”

  I lay my hand gently on his chest. “I don’t want to lose you either.”

  He reaches up to cradle my face in his strong hands. “You’ll never lose me. You’re stuck with me.” He smiles and plants a soft kiss on my forehead. “You’re the only one I want to be with.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “You’re the only one I want to kiss.”

  I hold my breath as his lips fall gently over mine. This is the kiss I’ve been waiting for, slow and sensual and breathtaking. His hand clasps my face firmly, his velvet tongue brushing gently over mine, stoking the fire in my blood. He groans softly and the sound sends a bolt of electricity straight to the apex of my thighs. Taking my bottom lip between his teeth, he tugs gently then lets go when I open my eyes.

  He smiles as he reaches down to grab the bottom of my shirt and lift it over my head. “You’re the only one I want to touch,” he says, tracing a line down my chest with the tip of his finger from my collarbone down to my navel.

  He kisses me one more time before grabbing my hips to spin me around slowly until my back is to him. His fingers work deftly to undo the clasp on my bra, then he tosses it aside. His large hands lie flat against my belly as he pulls me into him, his lips landing on my shoulder as his fingers slide down to undo the button and zipper on my jeans.

  I have to keep reminding myself to breathe as he kisses my neck while pushing down my pants and underwear. Then he kneels down behind me and helps me step out of my jeans, tossing them aside with my bra and panties. But he doesn’t stand up. He remains knelt behind me, his fingers softly skimming over the inside of my ankle. My skin tingles as he works his way up until his hand is resting on the inside of my thigh.

  He lays a soft kiss on the small of my back as his fingers trail their way upward, finding the
wetness between my legs. “You’re the only one I want to fuck.”

  I gasp as his finger slides into me. But he pulls it out right away and glides it forward through my swollen lips until it lands on my clit.

  My body shivers as his finger caresses me. “Oh, Houston,” I breathe.

  He lays his free hand over my abdomen, pulling me closer to him as he presses his hot mouth to my hip. His other hand continues to stimulate me, sending rivers of pleasure flowing through me. I grasp the shower door handle for support. My knees tremble as the heat between my legs intensifies.

  He presses his lips to my ass, kissing my cheek as his finger works my clit. He lets out a sexy chuckle as my body convulses. He’s relishing his control over my body, enjoying this every bit as much as I am.

  “Are you going to come?” he murmurs, his lips right against my cheek so I can feel his hot breath.

  “Yes.”

  He slows the roll of his finger over my clit, drawing out the pleasure as he kisses his way down to the sensitive area where my ass melts into my thigh. “Bend over, baby.”

  I fold my body forward, my forehead almost pressed against the glass shower door as his mouth kisses a hot trail from the inside of my thigh up to my clit.

  “Oh, God!” I cry out, my body spasming as he sucks on my flesh. “Don’t stop. I’m gonna come.”

  My muscles flood with warmth, my body trembling as the orgasm rockets through me, lighting me up with white-hot painful pleasure. I let out a high-pitched scream, but he doesn’t stop. He flattens his tongue over my clit, curling it intermittently to coax the full orgasm out of me.

  “I can’t,” I breathe, my knees weakening. “I can’t stand up.”

  He wraps his arm around my thighs to hold me steady as he drags his tongue up to my entrance and drives it inside me, lapping up my juices as if it were his first drink of water in ages.

  “God, I fucking love the way you taste,” he growls as he kisses his way up over my ass and the small of my back.

  He stands up behind me, hooking his arm around my waist to steady me as he pulls me flush against him so I can feel the massive bulge in his jeans. His lips brush softly over the curve of my neck until his mouth is next to my ear.

  “I’m going to fuck the shit out of you.”

  His voice is so primal it sends a shiver through me. I need him inside me.

  “Fuck me, Houston,” I plead, my hand reaching back to clasp his neck.

  He bites my earlobe, his breath heavy in my ear, severing the last shreds of control in me. “Get in the shower.”

  I turn around and reach for his pants. “Let me do that.”

  He flashes me that criminally sexy half smile as I sink to my knees and begin undoing the button of his jeans. I slide the zipper down slowly, glancing up to savor the hungry look in his eyes. Then I help him out of his pants and boxers the way he helped me out of my clothing. His erection flings up as soon as I push his boxers down and, even though it’s only been five months since I last saw it, the enormity of it still takes me by surprise.

  I shove his clothes aside as he yanks off his shirt. Looking up at him, I see a glint of impatience in his eyes, which only makes me hotter. I curl my fingers around his shaft and slide my hand down to the base, stretching the skin taut. Then, I wet my lips and smile up at him as I take him into my mouth. I taste a hint of saltiness on the tip, so I pull him out and lick it off so I can use it.

  “Holy fuck,” he hisses, as I trace the tip of my tongue around the head, massaging the sensitive ridge.

  My tongue stops on the underside of his cock, teasing the delicate frenulum until his body begins to quiver. I take him in my mouth again, making sure to keep my lips wrapped over my teeth as I bob back and forth. My right hand pumps his cock as my left hand grips his firm ass.

  “That’s it, baby. Keep going.”

  I slow the bobbing a little so I can focus on taking him in deeper. The tip of his cock hits the back of my throat and my eyes water as my gag reflex kicks in. He grabs a chunk of my hair to hold me steady as he pulls out then back in slowly, each time hitting just a fraction deeper in my throat.

  “Fuck!” he growls. “I’m coming.”

  He slides out of me, and I pump my fist over his cock as he releases himself on my chest. As he softens, I take the tip of his cock into my mouth to lick him clean.

  “Get up,” he commands, offering me his hand to help me up.

  I finish licking the last few drops, then I rise from the floor as he opens the shower door. Stepping inside, I chuckle when he smacks my ass.

  “That ass is mine,” he says, stepping in behind me.

  I smile as I turn around and reach up to coil my arms around his neck. Within moments, I’m pleasantly surprised to find his cock reawakening. His rising erection presses against my abdomen as he kisses me deeply. I reach down to curl my fingers around him, but he grabs my hand and places it back on his neck.

  “Slow down,” he murmurs against my lips. “We’ve got all night.”

  His lips skim over my jaw, landing on my neck. His teeth scrape gently over my skin as he sucks on my flesh.

  “No,” I protest.

  “What?”

  “No,” I insist, grabbing his shoulders to push him back. “We can go slow later. Right now, I want you to break me.”

  He narrows his eyes, as if he’s unsure how to respond. After a moment of silence, he kisses my forehead then leans down to whisper in my ear. “Your wish is my command.”

  Rory gasps as I press her against the shower wall, my cock sliding between her supple cheeks. Her hands splayed across the travertine tiles, her perfect mouth hanging slightly open with anticipation, she looks positively fuckable. I grab both her hips and pull her ass toward me, then I take my cock in my hand and glide it through her wetness.

  “Oh, God. Put it in,” she begs, and the sound gets me rock hard.

  I slide in just an inch and instantly meet some resistance. I try not to dwell on thoughts of her and Liam together, but in a way it pleases me to know the lumberjack never broke her in. She’s still mine.

  I grasp her hips hard, digging my fingers in as I thrust into her. She lets out a high-pitched whine and I groan as my cock meets more resistance.

  “You’re so fucking tight,” I growl, working my hips back and forth, slowly penetrating her a bit farther until finally I’m all the way in. “Oh, fuck, that’s it.”

  “Oh, God,” she whimpers, her fingers curling into fists as she tries to grip the slippery tile. “Fuck me, Houston.”

  Her face is pressed against the shower wall as I crush into her from behind. Each thrust of my hips drives her cheekbone harder into the tile. I curl my fist around a large chunk of her hair and pull her head back so she doesn’t end up with a bruise on her face. She moans as I thrust my cock deep inside her, holding tightly to her wet hair.

  “Harder!” she urges me.

  I slam into her, my cock driving into her pussy until I can’t fucking stand it anymore. The motion of my hips slows as I unload inside her, not at all concerned with whether or not she’s on birth control this time. I’d be on cloud nine if I got a second chance to see our child growing inside her perfect body.

  I lose my grip on her hair as I finish coming, my body folding forward as my cock twitches inside her. “I love you, Rory. I love you so fucking much,” I murmur, my hands sliding over her abdomen as I help her stand up.

  She twists her head around so I can kiss her and she tastes so fucking good. I want to devour her again. I slide my hand between her legs and swallow her gasp as if it were my lifeblood.

  Three more orgasms later, we manage to get cleaned up before we drag our spent bodies out of the shower. Once we’re dried off, she smiles at me as she holds up the hotel hair dryer and I know exactly what she wants. I carefully comb my fingers through her hair as I run the blow-dryer over it, smiling when I see goose bumps sprout over her creamy skin. When her hair is dry, we put on some bathrobes and head out into the bed
room to relax.

  “We should order room service. I’m starving,” she says, grabbing the TV remote off the nightstand as she plops down on the king-size bed.

  I lift the Guest Services binder off the other nightstand and sit down next to her on the bed so we can look at the menu together. An hour later, we’re stuffed to the gills with pizza and chocolate-covered strawberries. Not to mention the beer, which has us both a bit loopy.

  She lies back on the bed, rubbing her full belly. I lie next to her, propping myself up on my elbow so I can slide my hand inside her robe.

  “I can’t believe you’re buzzed off two beers,” she teases me.

  “I haven’t been drinking much lately,” I say, my hand inching upward toward her breast.

  She grabs my hand to stop me. “Houston?”

  “Yeah?”

  She takes a long pause. The kind of pause that gives other people time to contemplate all the horrible things that may follow. Like maybe she’s going to tell me we should just be friends. Or worse. What if she tells me she’s pregnant with a tiny lumberjack?

  She turns her head to look me in the eye, and the words that come out of her mouth hit me like a punch in the gut. “What if I can never forgive my father? What will that say about me?”

  My jaw clenches at the mention of him. The fact that she’s worried about what people will think of her only fuels my anger. She shouldn’t be the one worried about keeping up appearances. He’s the one who shattered their perfect family, and my not-so-perfect family.

  I draw in a deep breath and let it out slowly before I respond. “Rory, I talked to my mom about Hallie a while ago and… I don’t know if I’ll ever get there either, but I want to try.”

  Her hand reaches up and lands on my cheek as she looks me in the eye. “I’ll try with you.”

  I nod, turning my face to kiss the inside of her delicate wrist. “I’ll try anything with you.”

  She chuckles as I kiss my way up her arm. “Anything?”