“You may need to get that.”
“Whoever it is can wait.” The phone buzzes again, and he takes it out, glancing at the screen. Annoyance flashes across his face as he hits ignore again.
Curiosity piques, and I’m about to ask who it was when he dips down to kiss me quickly.
“Be back to pick you up here in three hours, Devon.” He walks away with my eyes pinned to his ass.
Crystal comes over and ushers me into the building, laughing the whole time. I sink into the seat and blindly go through the motions of arranging my laptop.
“Bryce is really nice. You’re a lucky girl.” She points to my ring. “He’s also got great taste.”
“I am pretty lucky. If you’d have told me a year ago that this would be my life, I’d have called you a liar. We weren’t exactly on speaking terms.”
Her breath hitches, and her chin starts to tremble. She looks away and wipes her eye quickly to catch the tear that leaks out.
“Hey.” I reach for her hand. “Did I say something?”
She looks back, and I recognize her expression too well—the look of heartbreak.
“I was engaged once. Well, probably not by society’s standards, but to us, it meant something. Morgan didn’t give me a ring but promised me one as soon as he had the money saved.” Her voice breaks.
“What happened?” I ask softly.
“I’m an idiot and forced him away, but at the time, it was the best decision.” She shakes her head and lets out a cruel chuckle. “What a load of bullshit. That’s what I’ve been saying for so long, it now spews out automatically. The truth is, I was a prima-donna princess who was scared of Mommy and Daddy. They knew my weaknesses and threatened what meant the most to me.”
“Morgan?”
She nods in confirmation. “We dated all through high school. He was such a good guy—played sports, volunteered with local charities, excellent grades. We were going to come here together. He got a soccer scholarship to UVA. But it all fell apart spring break of our senior year. Even as hard as he fought for us, I tore us apart. It was my only choice.”
“What happened?” My heart lurches in my throat because, no matter what her story is, it crushed her. Years later and the emotions are pouring.
“His father owned a high end Auto & Body Shop in town. Morgan worked part time for him. Spring break, he and I went white-water rafting with a group of seniors. While we were gone, his dad died of a heart attack. He was alone in the shop. Morgan’s only sister found him. It hurt the whole family, but Morgan carried an enormous burden of guilt. In his mind, even if he couldn’t have saved his dad, he would have been there instead of his sister.”
My own eyes start to sting. “That’s horrible.”
“It was. But he was part of my family, and we all banded together to help. My parents helped in every way they could. The other shops in town shut down the day we buried Mr. Drake. He was so respected. The church was standing-room only. I still remember seeing the only two tears Morgan allowed himself that day. He insisted on being strong. I vowed to be his strength.”
“You’re a good person, Crystal. Not many eighteen year olds could find that within themselves.”
“It wasn’t enough. We got through the rest of our senior year, but Morgan never fully recovered. I tried so hard, and to this day, I believe I’m the only one he let see him suffer. He broke down with me several times. It was crushing, but I never allowed myself to break. He needed me, and ultimately, that’s why I left.”
She takes a deep breath and pulls some tissue from her purse, handing me one. “We were supposed to leave and come to Charlottesville in August. He started acting cagey. Our time together became limited because he worked longer hours in the body shop. Finally, he told me he was staying home to take care of the family business until he felt they could hire someone trustworthy enough. He also wanted to be with his mom a bit longer.
“I was crushed but supportive. It was my idea to stay with him, but my parents threw a fit, and they were largely vocal about it. My dad tried to reason with us, but we stuck with our decision. Until, one day, Daddy threatened me with the largest ultimatum of my life. Either I break things off and go to college, or he’d blackball the Drake Family Garage. They’d lose everything.
“Usually, this is the part of the story where people roll their eyes because it so cliché.”
“I’d never mock you,” I assure her.
“The threat wasn’t only a threat to the Drake family; it would affect so many people. But eventually, it would kill Morgan. The family business was well respected, but most of their clients came from referrals. My dad is in insurance and sent all his clients to the Drakes. If they lost Dad’s referrals, then Morgan and his mom would have to let staff go. That would start an avalanche of problems that would devastate Morgan. He already felt so much guilt, so I told him I was leaving without him and that it was best if we ended things.”
“He let you walk away?”
“Yes, I said some pretty ugly things to convince him this was my decision. I used words straight from my father’s mouth that I knew would shatter any hope of a future relationship. I told him I couldn’t be linked to a ‘grease monkey’ for the rest of my life. My goals had changed. He had nothing to say after that.”
“Was that the last time you saw him?”
“That was the last time he saw me. I’d get up at daylight and drive to the park across from his shop. I’d sit for hours after he opened and watch him work. It was pathetic. The week after I broke it off, his mom cornered me at the grocery store. She was livid, but once she was done reaming me, her pain was evident. I promised to stay away and never hurt any of them again. Then I went home and made arrangements to come to school the next week. I started Summer B classes.”
“The academic band-aid to extreme heartache,” I say confidently. “I know that maneuver very well.”
“You do?”
“Oh, yeah, I left Nashville with the same broken heart you suffered.”
“But it worked out, obviously.”
“Not without years of pain.”
“I know about years of pain.” Her eyes glisten again.
“It’s none of my business, but what about your parents?”
“I practically severed my relationship with my dad the day I drove away. He’s an arrogant asshole who thinks I’ll see his logic when I get my degree and start my career. My mom has spent the last three years apologizing. She tries to reason with me that he was trying to do what was best, but it’s pure bullshit.
“The only way I could be so stubborn is to stand on my own two feet. I am completely financially free of them, so they have no say so in my life.”
“Jesus, you’re my hero. That’s incredible.”
“It gets lonely. I don’t socialize much because I’m married to school and work. But no one will ever have the power to control me again. Morgan’s shop now has two locations and three managers. They’re doing amazing. That’s what matters.”
“Crystal, Bryce flies out tomorrow night. I opted not to be on the travel team this year for cheer, so I have a free weekend. Plan on coming over to have drinks with Quinn and me. I’ll tell you my story. My tale involves a pregnant fling, a fake engagement, and a lovesick teenager who had a crush for six years.”
Her lip tips up in a small grin. “You’re on.”
The professor comes in and starts a video, and my mind starts to wander.
First Shana, now Crystal, both gave up the love of their young lives. After finally having Bryce in my life, I’m pretty sure it would destroy me to lose him.
*****
“You know our story is going to have a happy ending, right?” Bryce runs his fingers through my hair gently. I just finished telling him Crystal’s sad story. Even repeating it hurt my heart.
“Yes, but she’s my age. She’s busted her ass to graduate this year and get into the Master’s program. She has no one supporting
her. It makes me sad. I had no idea in Brazil.”
“She obviously covers her sadness well.”
“Why didn’t he come for her?”
“I can’t speak for him… hell, I don’t even know the guy, but my guess is pride and love.”
“Pride and love?”
“Yeah. If they loved each other as much as she relayed, then he knew within hours that she didn’t mean what she said. He figured out it was coming from her father. At that point, any man’s pride would take a hit. He also may have been betrayed by a man he respected and thought highly of.”
“What about the love part?”
“He loved her enough to let her go. His role in life changed. He was trying to take care of his family.”
“But she was his family!”
“Maybe so… but she was going to give up an opportunity for a college degree for him. He was looking down the barrel of an unknown future. Learning the everyday business of his dad’s shop was going to consume him. He figured it out and let her walk away, knowing he was doing what was best for her. Pretty much, he was as selfless as her.”
“That’s a complete tragedy! Would you let me walk away?”
He doesn’t answer, and the silence stretches until I become uncomfortable. I roll to the side and see him staring at the ceiling, his face blank.
“Bryce?”
“I honestly don’t know what I’d do in that situation. In my mind, we had our own tragedy. It still kills me that if I’d have come to you and told you my feelings, we may have been together. That’s something that will stay with me forever. But at the time, I thought it was for the best.”
I put my head back on his chest and feel his heart racing. Talking about the year and half I spent avoiding him always puts him in a somber mood. Even as far as we’ve come, he’s in his own form of pain when we talk about it. For so long, I believed it was the loss of the baby, but now I know. It was the future he was facing.
We sit in silence for a few seconds in our own thoughts, the heaviness of the conversation weighing us down. A thought pops into my head that will ease the tension. It also makes my body tingle.
“Do you trust me, Bryce?”
“With everything.”
“I have a small surprise for you, but I need you to strip and promise to keep your eyes closed.”
His lips twist into his sexy as sin smile. “This I can do.” He lifts up, tearing the shirt over his head and removing his shorts in a quick motion.
I roll off the bed and turn to him. “Time to close your eyes, and under no circumstances can you open them until I say so.”
He does as I say, and I run into my closet, changing quickly. When I come out, he’s got his hands behind his head and is wearing nothing but a smug grin, the boxers tossed on the floor. As if he knew what to expect, his hard, long cock is lying against his stomach.
My brain screams at me to jump him, but I fight to stick with my plan. I crawl up the bed, kissing along both his calves and position my hands under his ass. He tenses at my touch but relaxes when I start to massage gently.
“Babe.”
“Here’s the deal. Do not open your eyes. If you do, I’ll stop. And believe me, you don’t want me to stop. You may not understand until later, but this is something I hope you’ll remember forever.”
“Eyes are closed,” he agrees, smirking.
“No matter what, Bryce—eyes closed. I’m watching you.”
He nods unconvincingly.
There’s no way he’s going to listen, but it’ll be fun to watch him try.
I run my tongue along the vein of his inner leg until I reach the top of his thigh. Then I repeat on the other leg. He squirms underneath. My mouth nips and licks from hipbone to hipbone, teasing him. When my lips graze the tip of his dick, he inhales loudly. Instead of sucking him in, I lick lower until his balls are in my mouth. Gently, I alternate rolling them with my tongue.
He starts to pant, placing his hands on my head. His fingers thread through my hair, trying to guide me, but I resist. My mouth moves up, slipping his head between my lips. I play with him for a few minutes, wanting him to beg, but he bites his lower lip, forcing his eyes closed.
Finally, I suck him in until he hits the back of my throat. He moans loudly, shoving his pelvis up.
I increase my suction while still massaging his ass. He mutters something then hisses my name, thrusting slightly. I alternate between sucking hard then slowing down, watching him fight the urge to open his eyes. My own desire runs hot, singeing through me. His stomach constricts and starts to tremble, while his fingertips dig into my scalp. My heart races faster, knowing he’s completely under my control. When his balls tighten against my chin, I move to his head again.
“You can open your eyes now,” I hum against his soft skin.
The moment he sees me on my knees, in my orange cheer uniform, sucking him deep, he explodes.
“Holy fucking shit!” he yells, pumping once more then releasing down my throat.
“Figured the athletic maintenance room wasn’t really your fantasy of uniform sex, so I wanted to give you something to think about.”
His eyes darken, and he reaches up, twisting me to my back. “Tell me you’re ready?”
I widen my legs, and he slips into me easily.
“Thank fucking God.” He leans down and sweeps his lips across my mouth “That was fucking hot. Now, I’m going to make sure you think of the same thing each time you wear this uniform.”
I arch into him, clenching hard. “Yes.”
He drives into me deep, hitting the right spot with each thrust. Our bodies rock together as he sets the pace. My hands glide up his back then grip his neck, pulling his mouth to mine. I kiss him slowly, running my tongue along the seam of his lips then nipping lightly. He swivels his hips and then stops, pushing flush against me.
My legs wrap around his waist and he leans back, grinning. Then he starts to move, this time rougher, going as deep as he can. His strokes intensify, and I close my eyes, feeling each sensation as he moves inside of me. The pressure builds low in my stomach and I loosen my hold on his neck, moving my hands to his back.
He reaches between us and grazes over my sensitive skin, setting me off. My eyes fly open and lock with his. Then stars cloud my vision as waves of pleasure roll through me. He slows his movements but doesn’t stop as I come down from my high.
He lays his forehead against mine and holds our stare. His eyes shine bright as love pours out of him. “You own me.”
I nod, hoping my face tells him the same.
Chapter 16
I walk anxiously into the coffee shop and look around for Shana. It’s been a few weeks since I saw her at the football game and her call to meet came out of the blue. She didn’t specify what she wanted to talk about and I didn’t care. Because, seriously, who would decline a meeting with Shana Willis?
She gives me a small wave from a back booth. Her smile is so bright it’s contagious. When I get to the table, she bounces up and throws one arm around me.
“Hi there,” she practically sings. “Thanks for meeting me.”
“Always,” I answer.
“You look nervous,” she observes, sitting down.
“I can’t help it.”
“Isn’t it time you start to get comfortable with me?”
“It’s not really that, but a part of me can’t believe I know you. Three months ago, I’d get drunk and pretend to interview Quinn, doing my best imitation of you. Now, we’re having coffee. It’s surreal.”
“Stop!” She tosses her hands up. “There’s nothing special about me. I can’t take that shit.”
“Okay, I’ll try to behave.”
A waitress comes over and takes our order, clearly recognizing Shana. When she delivers our drinks, her hands are shaking. I raise an eyebrow to Shana, who hides her grin.
“I have to admit, there are several reasons I asked you to meet me.”
“Okay.”
“Henry said you approached him about your classes next semester. He thought I may be able to help you with your schedule.”
“Really?”
“Well, there’s obviously not much we can do about the required courses, but maybe I can help answer any questions.”
“Thanks.”
“Also, we have a week to make any changes and additions to the submission for the University Paper. I thought I’d have the team over to my apartment this Sunday. Henry’s agreed to join us. We don’t have much to cover since it’s basically perfect, so it’ll just be a last minute run through.”
My face falls as my stomach drops with disappointment. She notices, and her smile fades.
“I’m supposed to visit Norfolk this weekend. Bryce has been there for almost a month, and I haven’t been yet. There’s a big party on Saturday. I’m not scheduled to come home until early Monday morning.”
Her eyes fill with understanding then turn soft. “We’ll do it another time.”
“No, don’t cancel because of me. If you need me, I’ll call.”
She nods in understanding. “Tell me what else has been happening.”
“For me, things are great… busy but great.”
“Have you set a wedding date?”
“No, we haven’t really mentioned it.”
She freezes, mid sip of her coffee, and looks at me strangely. Her face is full of questions, but she stays quiet.
“It hasn’t come up in a while,” I say defensively. “We’ve both been busy, and his schedule is erratic. Between cheer, classes, homework, and the feature article, we haven’t really talked about it.”
She stays quiet, but there’s disappointment written all over her.
“Why does it seem like you disapprove?”
“I’m sorry,” she says softly. “It’s none of my business.”
“What’s none of your business?”
“I’m thinking like a lovesick puppy. I’d have thought you’d be looking at china patterns and honeymoon destinations.”
I was wrong earlier. She’s not disappointed; she’s sad.
“I forget that I’ve lived a lifetime beyond yours. If I had a ring on my finger and a man who loved me as much as Bryce loves you, we’d be in front of the Justice of the Peace the day after he proposed.” Her voice is hollow, and for the first time ever, I notice sorrow in her eyes.
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