Mom falls asleep right after the movie, and I head to my own room. The guys aren’t back, and the last text Heath sent said he thought they were in for a late night.
Adam’s always been my protector. I never thought I’d need to repay the favor, but it seems like now might be the time. I can be the strong one this time.
I doze off sometime after one and wake up to the bed dipping with Heath’s weight. His familiar scent mixed with alcohol wraps around me.
“You’re back,” I say, voice thick with sleep. “How’s Adam?”
“Took all three of us to get him upstairs. Rauthruss is sleeping on the floor in there to keep an eye on him.”
“I’m really glad you were here.”
“Me too.” He pulls me tight against him and rubs my back in long, soft strokes. “How are you doing? I hated not being here for you tonight.”
“Well, I’ve had better Thanksgivings, but I ate my weight in pie, so I’m okay for the moment. It doesn’t feel real yet. Twenty-three years… can you imagine?”
His head shakes almost imperceptibly. The TV is still on and his face illuminates with flashing colors. His warmth heats the space between us.
“You can turn off the TV if it bugs you,” I tell him.
“It doesn’t bother me, and I know you prefer it.”
“Being scared of the dark is embarrassing. Maybe even more embarrassing than my parents announcing they’re separating over Thanksgiving dinner, but I’ve gotten used to sleeping without the TV since going to Valley.”
“I realize it probably doesn’t help, but you don’t need to feel embarrassed in front of me. Not for any of it.”
“It does help, actually. Thank you. What also might help is knowing your deepest darkest secrets and fears.”
He chuckles. “I’m scared of all kinds of things.”
“Like?”
“Worms.”
“What?” I laugh. “Why worms?”
He shudders. “We used them for bait when fishing. I never liked touching them and once Nathan noticed, he started chasing me around dangling the little slimy fuckers in front of my face.” He shudders again.
“Worms are gross but not scary.”
“Fears don’t have to be rational.”
“That’s true.”
“Why are you scared of the dark? Did something happen or have you always been?”
“When I was five or six, me and Adam were playing at my grandparent’s house. It was this old house with creaky wooden floors and doors that somehow no longer fit the frame, so you had to put all your weight into them to close. They had this great back yard with a treehouse and a trampoline. Before my grandmother passed away, the whole family on my dad’s side would get together. The adults would sit outside in lawn chairs and the kids could run wild.”
“Sounds like something out of a fifties TV show.”
“Well, it wasn’t quite that idyllic. Uncle Walter showed up stoned more often than not, and my cousin Tillie was always teaching us Urban Dictionary slang. My mom almost had a stroke with some of the words I learned. Anyway, one day, the whole family was over there, I think it was one of my cousin’s birthdays. Everyone was outside and the cousins decided we would play hide and seek. I’m the baby of the family and I really wanted to prove that I was a good hider, so I’d been scoping out places for weeks and finally found the best hiding spot. In the pantry there was this extra closet where grandma kept brooms and mops. It was really small, and I knew I was the only one who could fit in it and that no one else would think to look there. So, when everyone took off to hide, I hung back so not to give away my spot and then went and shut myself in.”
Heath strokes my arm as my voice wavers. Part of the memory is so real I can almost smell the dust and Pledge mixture of that tiny closet. Other things I only remember like I watched someone else go through it, like the way I wrapped my arms around myself, squeezing tight and sobbing through the screams.
“I don’t know how long I was in there. For a while I was so careful to be quiet. I didn’t want to give myself away. I could hear Adam calling my name and I just felt so proud, you know? He’s always been a total know-it-all. Cocky and just better at everything, so I was really excited to have beaten him at something. Anyway, eventually my cousins grew bored of the game and when I was certain I’d waited long enough that they were never going to find me, I pushed the door open ready to show off my awesome hiding skills, only I couldn’t get out. The outside of the door had one of those hook latches and it’d fallen in place when I shut the door. I screamed and screamed until I lost my voice. It was so dark and so small.”
“Fuck, Ginny.”
I nod. “By everyone’s best guess, I was in there for two hours before my mom noticed she hadn’t seen me in a while and went looking for me. They called an ambulance because I couldn’t get my breathing under control. Adam freaked. He knew I was missing but didn’t think it was a big deal, so it really hit him harder than anyone. He didn’t leave my side for weeks.” Heath’s hold tightens around me and I snuggle into him. “I know I probably should have gotten over it by now.”
“I don’t think fears work like that. I think they hang on until you face them in one way or another, poking holes in the pain and letting good shine through.” He pulls the sheet up over our heads and smiles at me in the near darkness. “Let’s make some good memories in the dark.”
The thin sheet doesn’t really block out the light of the TV, but it’s a step and I take it.
32
Heath
I disappear from under the covers long enough to grab a condom and then hurry back underneath where a very eager Ginny is wiggling out of her clothes. I had big plans for undressing her with my teeth, but I’m too busy appreciating the view to complain.
“You’re so beautiful.”
Her smile, even in the near dark, is bright and genuine. She eyes the condom in my hand. “I’m on birth control. We can…” She hesitates. “I mean, if you’re comfortable going without, so am I.”
My already throbbing cock is now harder than it’s ever been. I pull my shirt over my head and Ginny works on unbuttoning my jeans. Together we push them and my boxers down and before I can kick them off, Ginny’s mouth is covering the head of my dick.
“Oh Jesus. Slow down, babe. I’m never gonna last, like that,” I tell her, guiding her head up and down my length. Her warm mouth is heaven. She comes off with a pop and I groan at the loss. I pull her up and swipe a hand over her lips. She looks a little uncertain and I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
“You sure you wanna do this?”
“I do, but I’m a little nervous. I might suck at it.”
“Well, in that case, you can just keep sucking me with your hot as fuck mouth.” I wink so she knows I’m joking and shift so I’m on top of her, holding most of my weight off her slender frame. “Babe, don’t take this any other way than I mean it—a compliment—but there’s no way you’re bad at sex. You’re the sexiest, most enthusiastic partner I’ve ever had.”
That earns me a grin and I take her mouth in a bruising kiss. And just like that, the wild Ginny I’ve come to know is back. The blanket falls, but she doesn’t seem to notice or care. She pulls at my hair and rakes her nails down my shoulders. I swear I could make this girl orgasm from kissing alone, if I could ever bring myself to only kiss her.
There’s no single part of her that I like better than the rest. I like it all and I show her so with a dedication to touching and kissing every inch.
She squirms underneath me as I move down her body, tracing a single finger along the middle of her stomach, past her belly button, and down to her slick pussy. She raises her hips to give me better access and I dip my head.
Her hands find my hair and her fingers slide along my scalp and tug the strands as I taste her. She writhes and moans and it’s so fucking hot my dick leaks with desperation. I wait until she’s so close she’s panting my name before I finally line up at her entrance. I inch
in slowly, her tight pussy squeezing me.
I’m worried about hurting her and making it good for her for all of two seconds before pleasure wraps around my spine and zaps my brain.
“I’m okay,” she says when I don’t immediately move.
“That makes one of us.”
She laughs and the slight movement of her body nearly sends me over the edge, and I have to close my eyes and grind down on my back molars for a second to regain my composure. I move at a pace meant to keep me from coming, but that somehow tips Ginny over the edge. She looks up at me wide-eyed and gorgeous as she rides out her first orgasm.
Damn, she’s beautiful.
I pull out and place a kiss to her lips and then turn her onto her stomach and lift her hips.
I bite one ass cheek and then kiss it before nudging the head of my cock inside her pussy. She pushes back into me. “Hold on, baby. This won’t be as gentle.”
She flashes me a grin over her shoulder. With one hand on her hip and the other at the base of her neck, I bury myself inside of her sweet heat.
We both shudder. My balls are heavy, and I resist the urge to pound into her like a jackhammer. Slowly, I ease in and out, finding a nice rhythm.
“Harder,” she whispers so quietly it takes me a second to realize what she’s asking.
“You’re sure?”
She nods. “Fuck me hard like I know you want to.”
Stars dot my vision and my voice is gruff. “Grab the headboard.”
Her fingers find it in an instant. Her eagerness and the new angle gives new meaning to torturous pleasure. Ermahgerd.
I fuck her as hard as I’ve dreamed of doing, but with every thrust and every slap of skin against skin, it somehow feels more meaningful too. It’s never felt this all-consuming before. I know Ginny in a way I’ve never known anyone else and that makes this better in so many ways. I can read her body and the emotions on her face.
She owns me as she falls apart beneath me for a second time. I fight to hold off my orgasm so that I can keep watching her, but with two more hard thrusts, my eyes slam shut and I follow.
I wrap an arm around her waist and fall onto the bed with her tucked into my front. We’re gasping for air together. I feel like I’ve landed in another dimension. This girl… fuck, this girl.
I really don’t want to move, but I need to clean up and I know she’ll want to, also.
I start to pull back and she grabs onto my forearm. “Don’t go. Not yet.”
“Just going to clean up. I’ll be right back.”
I slide out of bed and pad to the bathroom to wash up, grab a wet cloth and bring it back to her. She sits up and reaches for it.
“I got it.”
She leans back on both elbows while I take care of her; she watches me with a sleepy smile. After getting rid of the rag, I climb back into bed with her.
Neither of us speaks as we lie there drifting off. A peacefulness I wasn’t expecting after the day’s events settles in.
“Heath,” she says as I’m just about asleep.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t think I’m bad at sex anymore.”
“No, baby doll.” I snicker. “You definitely aren’t.”
She yawns, snuggles into my side, and falls asleep in my arms.
The next morning I wake up before Ginny and head downstairs. Rauthruss is already in the kitchen with a cup of coffee. He looks tired, hair sticking up everywhere.
“Long night?”
“Yeah, man. Real long night.”
“How’s Adam?”
“Sleeping hard. We’ve gotta get out of here soon though.”
I nod and grab some coffee too.
His phone pings and he lets out a sigh. “What a weekend.”
“That Carrie?”
“Yeah, she’s pissed because I forgot to call her last night.”
“Had a few things going on.”
“No shit.” He sighs. “I should call her, let her yell at me, and get it over with so I can start groveling.”
“Sounds awesome.” I chuckle as he heads outside.
I try to conjure an image of Ginny and me like that but can’t summon it.
I take my coffee upstairs ready to wake my girl and enjoy the last moments before we head back. As I walk into Ginny’s room, her voice carries through the bathroom from Adam’s room. I glance in and see her legs hanging off the end of his bed and the bottoms of Adam’s feet.
“Are you going to be okay?” she asks him.
“Yeah, I just can’t believe it. They always seemed so solid. My whole life feels like a lie.”
“That’s a little dramatic.”
“But seriously, if they can’t work things out, what hope is there for anyone?”
“Oh, come on. You and Taryn are great. Me and Heath… it can work out.”
“You and Heath.” A deep, sarcastic laugh follows.
“Look, I know you’re all anti-love right now, but don’t rain on my parade. Heath is great.”
“Sure, of course he is, Ginny. My issue with you two was never about him being a bad guy—he’s not. Heath’s fun and always up for a good time, but I’ve seen him go through a lot of women. Some he hooked up with more than once, most he didn’t, but ultimately he moved on from all of them as easy as changing his underwear. I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
He's not wrong, but he’s missing the thing that makes it different now. Ginny.
“Relax, we’re good. Heath and I are...”
I’m holding my breath waiting for her to finish that sentence, but Adam lets out a long groan interrupting her.
“Oh, Jesus, you’re in love with him.”
“Stop it,” she says playfully. It sounds like she tosses a pillow at him as her light laughter trickles from the next room. “But since you’re being nosey, yes, I am. I love him, and I truly think what we have is special.”
My hand tips forward and coffee spills on my bare toes. Fuck. I place the mug on Ginny’s dresser, clean up the mess, and get dressed quickly. I manage to grab my stuff and head downstairs, heart in my throat, before either Ginny or Adam notices me.
33
Ginny
I walk out with the guys as they load up in Adam’s Jeep. My brother looks as hungover as he smells. He slides into the passenger seat, Rhett gets behind the wheel, and Maverick hops into the back.
I follow Heath to the other side.
“Let me know how he is?” I ask, motioning with my head to Adam.
“We’ll keep an eye on him,” he promises. “We’ve got practice this afternoon. Hopefully that’ll help.”
“If he doesn’t throw up all over the ice.”
He makes a disgusted face and shifts from one foot to the other. I lean into him and close my eyes, and his arms wrap around me. Despite all the awful things that happened this weekend, I enjoyed being with Heath.
The Jeep starts up, and I know the guys need to get going.
“Later.” He kisses my forehead and I step away.
The rest of the weekend is uneventful, a welcome change. Mom and I watch movies, I see a few of my friends from high school, I text with Heath between his practices, and I even have lunch with Mom and Dad together on Sunday before I head back.
After dropping my things at my dorm, I go to Reagan and Dakota’s apartment.
“And all I did was eat turkey and watch college football,” Reagan says when I’ve finished giving them the rundown of my crazy weekend.
“I saw Adam earlier,” Dakota says from the kitchen where she’s putting away groceries while Reagan and I sit in the living room. “He and Taryn looked like they were having a serious and depressing talk outside of the apartment. Trouble in paradise?”
“Oh no. I should probably check on him. I hope he didn’t do anything stupid.”
“Well, it has been what… three or four months? He’s about due for a new girlfriend.” Dakota smirks.
Maybe I’m turning into the new romantic of the famil
y, but I really thought he and Taryn were a cute couple.
Reagan nudges my foot. “I want more details on you and Heath. So, he met the whole family?”
“Technically, yes. But it wasn’t really like that. He was there as Adam’s guest, not mine. Plus, with everything else going on, I don’t think my parents even realized he snuck into my room at night.”
“Ooooh. A sleepover! Fun.” Dakota’s eyes lit up from across the room. “Did you two finally…” She waggles her eyebrows.
A slow blush creeps up my face and I glance from friend to friend.
“Awww,” Reagan says and tilts her head with a dreamy look on her face. Okay, maybe she’s the romantic.
Dakota joins us in the living room. “You’re totally gone for him.”
There’s little point in denying it. “Totally.” I bury my head in my hands. “He’s just so… perfect.”
Dakota’s eyebrows jump.
“Okay fine, not perfect, but the way I feel when we’re together—that’s perfect. Don’t worry. Adam’s already given me the ‘Heath doesn’t do relationships’ talk.”
“That was before you,” Reagan insists.
I look to Dakota. I know she won’t bullshit me. She shrugs. “If you’d asked me before you, I would have laughed in your face. Now, I’m not sure. Only one way to find out.”
“You think I should tell him?” I squeak.
“Why is that so crazy?” Reagan laughs.
“I don’t want to ruin what we have. What if it’s too soon?”
“You’d be okay continuing to hook up even if you knew that’s all it was to him? That he didn’t feel the same way?”
A heavy pit settles in my stomach. “No, probably not, but things are great. I don’t want to ruin it.”
Dakota snorts. “Isn’t love supposed to make everything better?”
“Yeah, yeah.” I lean back and wave a hand of indifference.
Secret Puck (Campus Nights Book 1) Page 19