I stand here, motionless, my back pressed against the house as he jumps on his motorcycle and rides away. Having his mouth so close to mine just seconds ago leaves me weak in the knees as I finally make my way inside.
“Where’s Easton?” My mother questions when she finds me sitting on the couch. “Did he leave?”
“Yeah.” I look away, not wanting her to see how emotional I am at the moment. “He left.”
“When are you two going to talk and work things out?” She takes a seat beside me and brushes my hair behind my ear. “Honey, we already told you how we felt about you and Easton caring about each other. What’s holding you back?”
“Answers,” I say softly. “I need some answers first.” I lay my head back on the pillow behind me. “But first I need some time. I just went to visit Quinn.”
“Then take some time.” My mother pulls me in for a side hug, resting my head on her shoulder. “Just not too much. The two of you have already spent too much time hurting. It’s time to put an end to it.”
My head is lost in Easton the remainder of the time I’m at my parents’, and I’m sure they can tell, because my mother eventually tells me to go home in case Easton shows up.
So here I am, an hour later, sitting in Easton’s truck, trying to push my nerves aside. I sit here for a while, wondering what he said to my parents. Wondering if he told them he wants to be with me. I was terrified my parents wouldn’t understand about me and Easton, but I was wrong. They understood more than anyone else that you can’t choose who you love. So, I know if that’s what he came here for, they gave him their approval. Which means there’s a chance he’ll show up tonight at my house.
That’s what I’ve been waiting for, right? It’s what I waited four weeks for, and now that it might happen, I’m so nervous I can hardly catch my breath. I’ve said what I needed to say to Quinn, and now I just need answers from Easton.
I might get those tonight. I hope that I’m ready, because spending any more time away from Easton isn’t an option for me. I’m ready to stop hurting.
Easton
Pulling up in Dakota’s driveaway, I take a few seconds to get my shit together, before climbing off my bike and walking to the porch steps. After seeing her earlier at her parents’, getting her alone has been the only thing on my mind.
From the way she reacted to me almost kissing her earlier, I hope that she wants the same. As nervous as I am and afraid she’ll tell me we can’t be together—knowing that I’m about to finally talk to her has my heart feeling alive again. Being in the same town as her and staying away has been pure hell. I came close to showing up outside her house a few times, but Roman talked me out of it, reminding me it was a bad idea.
Taking a deep breath and exhaling, I walk up the porch steps. My heart pounds violently in my chest when I get ready to knock on the door. But right as I get ready to know, the door opens and Dakota steps outside.
My heart goes crazy at the sight of Dakota standing at the door dressed in my damn Metallica shirt. She knows how I feel about her in my shirts. I don’t know if she’s doing this to torture me or to let me know she wants me. But shit, this is definitely torture right now.
“Hi, Kota.” I run a shaky hand through my hair and move in closer, hoping she won’t push me away this time. I’ve been as patient as I can be. I’m not willing to go another day without feeling her skin on mine. I can’t.
“I didn’t expect to see you at Stiles’ funeral,” she says, her big gray eyes landing on mine. “I wasn’t prepared to see you yet, Easton. I waited so long for you come back, and then suddenly there you were. I’m still not sure I’m prepared yet. In fact, I’m terrified.”
“Fuck…” I clench my jaw and move in closer, needing to touch her. With shaky hands, I cup her face and move in again until our bodies are flush. “The last thing I want you to be when it comes to us is scared. Do you know how much it hurts me to hear that? I don’t want that shit, Kota. I want to make you feel safe and loved. Not fucking terrified.”
“Then tell me the truth, Easton. Why did you leave the first time? I don’t want to hear that you can’t. That’s bullshit and you know it. Give it to me straight.”
She goes to turn away, but I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me. “I left to protect you. Nothing hurt more than leaving you. It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever made. You have to believe that.”
“Explain to me how you leaving was protecting me.” Her voice hardens as her eyes study mine. “You left during the hardest time of my family’s life. You left when me and Roman needed you the most. Do you have any idea how many nights I laid in bed crying because the one person I wanted to talk to about my sister was also gone? My best friend voluntarily left, and it felt like you had died along with Quinn. I barely survived that first year.”
My throat burns and my chest feels heavy as I run my thumbs over her cheeks and place my forehead to hers. “If I could take back leaving when and how I did, I would. Trust me. There’s nothing I want more in this world. It kills me to hear what I put you through, but if I had stayed, it would’ve been far worse. I did what I thought I had to at the time. Not what I wanted to do.”
“That doesn’t make sense.” She places her hands on my chest, putting some space between us as if she can’t breathe with me so close. “Nothing could ever be bad enough for us to lose you. You’re a vital part of us and you took that away. It was selfish. You had obviously forgotten that we loved you through your dad dying, but you didn’t stick around when we lost Quinn. Running off was the worst thing you could’ve done. We needed you. You did it anyway. After all these years, I need to know why.”
“Because I almost fucking kissed you!” I take a step back and run my hands over my face, ashamed to finally admit it out loud. “That night at your parents’ house when everyone was there mourning over Quinn, you were alone and broken and all I wanted to do was fix you.” Her nostrils flare and she sucks in a breath, turning away so I can’t see her face. “How would that have looked, Kota? Me kissing my dead girlfriend’s sister just days after she passed away… Tell me that wouldn’t have destroyed everyone, yourself included. Be honest. Tell me I should’ve stayed knowing what you know now.”
She turns back around and I move in close, wiping away the tears that are now falling down her face. “I can’t tell you that. Wow. I wasn’t expecting that. You almost kissed me that night?” She shakes her head and bends over to grab her knees as if she’s having trouble breathing. “That would’ve destroyed my family’s trust… in both of us. And what makes it even worse.” She stands up straight and meets my gaze. “I might’ve kissed you back. At a time like that, when I was already harboring feelings and that vulnerable… shit… I would’ve never… I can hardly forgive myself for wanting you now, and Quinn’s been gone for years.”
“You have to.” Keeping my eyes on hers, I tangle my hands into the back of her hair and bow my head so that my lips are hovering over hers. “I won’t let you push me away anymore. We both know we fucking belong together. I’m yours. Always have been. Stop fighting me on it.” Before she can say anything, I back her against the front door and cover her mouth with mine, my kiss desperate and needy. “Do you love me, Kota?” I pant against her mouth. “If you do, then tell me. Don’t fucking lie to me. Not right now.”
When she doesn’t answer after a few seconds, I brush my lips over hers and press my body flush with hers. “Yes,” she finally breathes out, the word fanning across my lips. “I love you, Easton. I’ve always loved you. Even when you belonged to someone else and it was killing me. Loving you from a distance has always hurt, and I don’t want to hurt anymore. It’s too hard.”
My heart slams against my ribcage at hearing her admit she loves me. I’ve waited too many years to hear those words from her, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I hear them again. “You don’t have to. I love you, Kota. I’m right here in front of you, giving myself to you. All I need you to do is let me in.”
/> She stares into my eyes for a moment, not saying anything. “I want to,” she whispers, “so fucking bad.”
“Then do it,” I push.
Her breathing picks up, and the next thing I know, she’s pulling me in for a kiss that’s just as desperate and full of need as mine was moments ago. This kiss… her heart beating fast… her hands shaking in my hair… is all the confirmation I need to know that Dakota is just as much mine as I am hers.
I grab the back of her head and press my forehead to hers. “I don’t want to hide what’s happening between us anymore. Fuck what everyone else sees when they look at us. I’m yours.”
Reaching behind her, I push the door open and guide her into the house, my lips capturing hers the moment I close the door behind me.
“You’re wearing my shirt,” I whisper, pulling away long enough to remove her jeans, before tugging her onto the couch to straddle my lap. My lips move to hover over hers. “You know how I feel about you wearing my shirts.”
“Why else do you think I wore it?” She grips my hair with both hands and pulls my head back until our eyes meet. “I was hoping you’d show up at my house. This isn’t the only shirt of yours I’ve worn since you’ve been back.”
I grab her face. “Shit, I love you so much.” Slamming my lips against hers again, I reach in between us to undo my jeans, before shoving them down and slowly lowering her on my dick.
We both moan out; her shaking above me as I enter her deep and stop. I hold her still for a moment, our bodies impossibly close as we breathe each other in, taking this moment to feel each other.
With my mouth on hers, I grab the back of her head with one hand, my other wrapping around her waist as I guide her up and down, her moaning into my mouth each time she comes down.
“Fuck… Kota. You feel so good.” I lower my mouth to her neck, kissing it a few times before moving back up to taste her lips.
“How do you make me feel this way?” she whispers, digging her nails into my back.
“What way?” I stop moving and cup her face to look at her.
“Like I’m going to die the moment our bodies separate… like I need you to survive.” Her eyes search mine as she holds on to me tightly.
“Because that’s how you make me feel.” I run my thumb over her bottom lip, before kissing her and moving again, our bodies moving perfectly together.
Each time I stretch her, she digs her nails in deeper and kisses me harder, as if to tell me how much she needs me inside her. I need to be inside her too.
Minutes pass, or who knows, maybe even an hour—her coming above me twice—before I release myself inside of her, growling into her mouth when I do.
Breathing heavily, I hold her close, our mouths inches apart, needing to just feel her against me for a while. I don’t want this moment to end.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
“For what?”
“For hating you when you came back.”
I smile, running a thumb over her cheek. “Which time?”
She gently pushes my chest and smiles against my lips. “Both times. Although, I never could’ve really hated you. I was just hurt and angry. Hating you is impossible. It always has been.”
“Good.” I move in and kiss her, before laying her down on the couch, my body hovering above hers. “I can’t have the girl I love hating me. I’m a miserable asshole without you. I never want to be that guy again.”
She grabs my neck and pulls me in for a kiss. “You won’t have to be. I’m all in with you, Easton. This time, we’re doing it right. No more lies. No more hiding.”
“Perfect.” I sit up on my knees and pull my shirt off to clean her up. I toss the soiled fabric aside and press my lips against hers, before laying down and pulling her on top of me. “Let’s just lay here for a while. I don’t care how long. I just want to hold you. Can we do that?”
She snuggles into my neck, no words needed to know she wants the same right now. We both need this.
It’s going to be a while before I won’t feel the need to touch and kiss her every second of the fucking day. I’m back with my woman and I’m making every second of it count.
Dakota
Easton and I have spent the last two days cuddling on the couch and watching movies together, neither one of us wanting to be too far from the other. It’s exactly what we needed to heal and move on. I can’t even begin to explain how good it feels falling asleep and waking up in Easton’s arms again. What makes it so much better is that we’re no longer hiding it from everyone we care about.
We haven’t been around any of our friends since making up, but they all know that we have. Hope has sent me a few messages since the other night, excited to get us out of the house so we can do something fun with everyone.
As much as I’d like to spend the next year lying in bed with Easton and letting it soak in that we’re finally together after all this time and heartache we’ve both been through, I can’t be selfish for too long.
Roman has even been texting Easton to try and get us out of the house and into the pub. He said it’s getting lonely without us, so that’s exactly what we agreed to do.
The moment we pull up at the pub, Easton grabs my hand and kisses it. The smile on his face says it all. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hold your hand in pubic. Shit, this is going to feel good.” He leans over, grabs my face, and kisses me. “And to kiss you. Don’t be surprised if I can’t keep my hands to myself once we get inside. I’ve held back for too long, Kota.”
I smile against his lips. “Good. Because I don’t want you to. I’m yours to kiss whenever and wherever you want.”
Releasing my hand, he jumps out of the truck and jogs around to the passenger side to open the door and lift me out. The moment he sets me down, he presses his lips against mine and backs me against his truck as if he can’t get enough of kissing me. “I’m going to love kissing you anytime I want.”
He grips my waist and moves in close, his erection pressing against me. “Keep this up and we might not make it inside. Hope will kill me then.”
He growls against my neck, before backing away and grabbing my hand. I look down at our fingers when he laces his through mine, my heart happy at the sight. I’ve pictured Easton holding my hand in public so many times in the past, and now that it’s happening, I can’t stop smiling. “I can’t believe this is happening right now.” My lips curve into a small smile that I try to hide from Easton, but he grabs my face, not letting me turn away.
“Don’t hide that smile from me, Kota. It’s the only thing I’ve wanted to see for the past month. I plan to put a lot more on your face now that I have the chance. Your smile keeps me happy. It has since the first day you smiled at me and flicked a paper football at my head.”
I laugh and head for the door, walking inside as he holds it open for me. “I didn’t flick it at your head and you know it.”
“No, but I still would’ve liked you just as much if you had.” He pulls me back into his arms, not giving a shit who can see us now that we’re inside. “I might’ve even liked you more and played with you that day instead of going upstairs with Roman.”
“I’ll remember that the next time you try taking off to play with my brother over me.”
“Kiss already!” Hope screams from across the room the moment she sees us.
Not giving me the chance to hesitate—not that I would’ve—Easton moves his mouth over mine, kissing me in front of anyone and everyone in the pub.
“Well that was different,” I say, breathless, the moment he breaks the kiss. “You kissing me in a roomful of people. I think I like it.” He kisses me again, his hand gripping the back of my hair. “No, I love it. I definitely love it.”
“I told you she wanted to rip your clothes off that day,” Talon says as he walks by to join Hope and Roman at the bar.
I have no clue what that’s about, but Easton laughs and places his hand on the bottom of my back, guiding me toward the bar where my brot
her, Hope, and Talon are now gathered, watching us.
Roman immediately slides Easton a beer, before turning to me, looking a little tense over seeing us together. “Are you happy?” he questions. “That’s all I need to know.”
I nod and grab the beer he set in front of me. “I am. Happier than I’ve been in a very long time. So don’t give us shit or I’ll kick your ass, Roman.”
“Okay, shit.” My brother’s tense mouth curves into a small smile, before he turns to look at Easton beside me. “Told you not to worry, man. It just needed time. I’ll admit, it’s weird as fuck seeing you two together this way, and it’s going to take time to get used to, but I knew it would work out in the end. Everyone should really start to listen to me around here.”
The last part earns a laugh out of Hope. “If only I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard you say that. I mean, I’m not complaining, because I’d be rich by now.”
My brother flashes her a playful grin and pours her another drink. “Here. On me.”
Hope smiles and hops down from her stool, grabbing my arm and pulling me away with her. Once we’re alone, she nudges me excitedly. “I’m so happy everything worked out with you and Easton. It’s been miserable seeing you two apart. I know it’s going to take everyone time getting used to you two as a couple, but just know that I’m happy for you. I want you to be happy, just like Roman does. We all do, Dakota. We love you.”
“Thanks, Hope.” I smile and look over at the bar to find Easton sipping on his beer and looking at me while talking to the guys. “Easton truly is what makes me happy.”
She looks at Easton, her smile widening. “I wish your brother would look at me the same way Easton is looking at you this very second. Holy shit! My heart can hardly take it.”
My heart jumps when Easton’s arms wrap around me from behind moments later, his mouth brushing against my ear. “Dance with me.”
I laugh as he turns me around in his arms and pulls me against his chest. “Since when do you like to dance?”
Wreck My World Page 33