The Deeper We Get (The Harder I Fall #2)

by Jessica Gibson

  When I pulled back my heart sank, standing just behind us was Scarlet. The look on her face spoke volumes. She shook her head and walked away. She was hurt, and rightfully so. A voice inside of me rebelled against that line of thinking. We weren’t dating, I didn’t owe her anything.

  I pushed Leah off my lap, back onto her chair.

  “Hey, what gives?” She looked confused.

  “Sorry, I have to go.” I got up.

  “What do you mean you have to go?” she pouted, looking less appealing than she had all night.

  “I saw someone I have to talk to. See you around okay?” I walked off before she could respond.

  Scarlet was just reaching the front door when I found her.

  “Wait!” I yelled from down the hall.

  She turned and looked at me before walking out the door.

  “Scarlet, damn it, wait up,” I called once I was outside. She was halfway down the long driveway.

  “Why? What is it that you have to say to me? I thought you weren’t interested in starting anything with anyone right now? Or was it just me?”

  “Stop it okay, just stop it. I didn’t do anything with Leah, I just met her tonight.”

  “That didn’t look like nothing to me. How would you have felt if you found me on some guy’s lap with my face attached to his?”

  “I would be pissed,” I admitted. Pissed was an understatement, livid was a better word for it.

  “So what, you don’t want me, but you don't want anyone else to have me either?”

  “I never said I didn’t want you,” I said softly.

  “What is it then? Why do you keep pushing me away, why was Leah shoving her tongue down your throat?” She looked close to tears.

  “I’m a dick Scarlet. I keep telling you that, maybe now you’ll finally believe me.” I raked my hand through my hair.

  “You’re not though.” She took a few steps toward me, her anger melting away. “You keep telling yourself that you are, that you aren’t worth my time. I’m capable of deciding that for myself. Look, we’re not dating—we went on one date—you don’t owe me any explanations about Leah. I was just hurt. It killed me to see her kissing you.” She looked away.

  “Okay, so what now?”

  “Whatever you want. You know my feelings, the ball is in your court. I just can't have you out there kissing all the pretty girls in L.A. in the meantime.”

  I paced around on the driveway. “So, you want to date.” It wasn't a question.

  “Yes, I think I made myself clear before.” She wasn’t giving me an inch.

  “I’m not good at dating.”

  “How do you know? You've never dated me before, you might like it.” She smiled.

  “You’re all I can think about anymore.”

  She walked toward me. “Is that so bad?”

  “Not bad, just confusing.”

  “What’s so confusing about it? I’m a girl, you’re a boy, and we have amazing chemistry. You feel it too, I know you do.” She was inches from me now.

  “Fuck it.” I yanked her forward and claimed her. Her lips fought with mine in perfect harmony. I slipped my hands around her waist and pulled her closer, wanting all of her, everything she had to give.

  She pulled back and looked up at me. “What was that?”

  “That was me not fighting it anymore. Let’s see where this goes.”

  “No more running?”

  “Nope, my feet are planted.” I kissed her again. “As much as I want to leave with you right now I can’t. I'm their ride.”

  “It’s fine, I’ll go back in with you.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want it to be weird for you.”

  “It won’t be weird for me. It might be weird for Leah, but then again she has a habit of throwing herself at hot guys.”

  “Well, well, well, Scarlet has a catty side.” I grinned down at her.

  “Not catty, just speaking the truth. I’ve known her for a long time. And yes, she knew I liked you and made a play anyway.”

  “It’s not all her fault, Ian sort of pushed her in my direction.”

  “Honey, stop defending her to me. I know exactly who she is. Let’s go and have a good time okay?” She linked her hand with mine, and we walked back up the driveway and into the house.

  Vin arched a brow when he saw Scarlet with me, but he didn’t say anything. Ian shook his head and laughed. “Guess you’re wrapped up after all huh? Can’t blame a guy for trying to broaden your horizons right?”

  I started to speak but Scarlet cut me off.

  “Ian, his horizons are broad enough thank you. He’s got everything he needs right here.”

  “Looks like he does. Point taken.” He shrugged.

  “Be sure you remember it.” She poked him in the chest.

  “Hey, I get it now. He’s on lockdown.” He laughed.

  “And happy to be there.” I kissed her forehead.

  After dropping the guys off and collecting my bike I met Scarlet down at the beach where we had first met. She was sitting on the hood of her beat up old truck waiting for me.

  “So, you’re sure about this?” she asked.

  “About what? Us?”

  “Yeah. I don’t want to scare you off.”

  I stepped between her legs and snaked my arms around her waist. “I told you, no more running.” I kissed her softly. “I don’t want to fight this anymore. It feels right.” I stepped back and helped her down.

  We walked out onto the sand and sat on the blanket she had in her truck. The waves crashed one after one onto the shore. It was peaceful to watch, knowing that it would always do that until the end of time.

  “What made you change your mind?”

  “The thought of someone else’s hands on you. Something in me is drawn to you, I can’t explain it, but it’s there. I want to see where this leads. I’m no good at relationships, I always find a way to screw them up before they even start.”

  “Don’t compare us to anything else. I’m not like anyone else, and you can't screw this up because I won’t let you.” She reached for my hand. “Don’t look for ways this could go bad okay, just enjoy it.”

  I knew she was right, but I also knew myself, and I knew I would ruin this eventually. So, I would just enjoy it while it lasted.

  “Is it weird, moving to a whole new state on your own?” she asked.

  “Sort of, but so far I like it. There are definitely some pluses.”

  “I hope I’m one of the pluses,” she said softly.

  “You know you are.” I pulled her onto my lap. It was like her lips were made for mine. I ran my tongue along her lower lip and felt her shiver.

  She yanked my shirt over my head, and I didn't stop her. I wanted to feel her against me, to lay her back in the sand and devour her. My head was already fuzzy, full of nothing but her. I needed to put the brakes on a bit. If I wanted this to last the worst thing I could do was jump into bed with her before I even knew her.

  I kissed her neck, letting my lips glide along her soft skin. “Tell me something about you I don’t know yet.”

  She laughed. “You want to play twenty questions now? I think we could find other ways to amuse ourselves.”

  “I’m sure we could.” I bit her lightly. “But I want to get to know you, who you are inside.” I set her on the blanket next to me.

  She gave me a look that said she would rather be exploring my body and not my mind at the moment but didn't protest. “What do you want to know?”

  “I don’t care, just something.”

  “I love to read. It’s always been my escape, even as a little girl. When I went to live with Frank, the first thing he did was get me a library card.”

  I imagined her as a little girl with her nose buried in a book. “I was never a reader. Becca was though. She used to read to me every night before bed.”

  “Your turn.”

  “I love old tv shows. When I moved in with the Kleins, I got in the habit of watching Nick at Night
with Ruth. I Love Lucy is my favorite.”

  “I so cannot picture you watching I Love Lucy.” She laughed.

  “It’s true, I’m a sucker for Lucille Ball. She cracks me up.” I shrugged.

  “I like that, it’s a different side of you.” She put her hand on mine in the sand.

  “Who is your best friend?” I asked.

  “Taryn. We’ve been friends since elementary school. She’s helped me through a lot. I used to sleep over at her house a lot before moving in with Frank.”

  I wanted to ask more about what had happened before Frank, but I figured it was best to keep things light for now. I didn’t want her asking questions I wasn’t ready to answer either.

  “Was she at the party tonight?”

  “Yeah, but she was off somewhere with her boyfriend Danny. They’re always fighting and making up. I can’t even remember if this was a fight or a makeup night. What about you?”

  “My best friend from back home is James. I met him right when I moved to New York. He’s a good guy, I still talk to him a few times a week. He goes to school back there.”

  “Can I ask you a question?” She turned to look at me.

  “Sure, isn’t that what we’re doing anyway?” I joked.

  “Yeah I guess. Why did you stop things just now?”

  I sighed, I knew she would ask this eventually. “I want to really know you before we take it to the next level. That was always my mistake before, I never took the time before. I’m not making the same mistakes with you.”

  She stared at me for a moment before leaning in and kissing me gently. “I think you’re worth the wait.”

  I knew she would be worth it. “I know it’s weird to have the dude be the one to pump the brakes right?” I grinned.

  “A little, but it makes sense to me. I’ve made a lot of bad choices with guys in the past. Getting in too deep way too quickly. It usually starts with jumping into bed right away. Sex can complicate things. It’s not really intimacy if you can barely remember the other person’s name is it?”

  “No, it’s not. It’s meaningless. I don’t want meaningless with you.”

  “I want more, all of it. Everything you have inside of you Chad.” She touched my cheek.

  The scary part was that I wanted her to know all of me. I didn’t want to hide anymore.

  We fell into an easy routine, I would pick her up on the days I wasn't working. She was in my blood already—probably not a good thing, but I couldn’t make myself care. I couldn’t get enough of her, and the weird part was we still hadn’t slept together. I just really enjoyed her humor and how much we had in common.

  “Can I come watch you box?”

  “Why would you want to do that?” I didn’t know if I was ready for that yet. Scarlet was fragile and seeing me like that might ruin everything.

  “Because, that’s why.”

  “Not a reason.” I kissed her neck.

  “It’s important to you, and I’d like to see it.” She twisted around and looked at me.

  “Better, but I don't think you’re ready for it.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “It’s a whole side of me that you don’t really know.”

  “I saw you with Max, so I won’t be afraid, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “That was different.” I wished she would just drop it, but I knew she wouldn’t.

  “How was it different?” She scooted away from me on the bed.

  “I was in control, I knew how far I would take things.”

  “You’re not in control when you’re in the boxing ring?”

  “Not always, but the situation itself is controlled. Does that make sense?”

  “Sort of. I still want to go.”

  “I just am not sure I’m ready then.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “I’m not afraid.”

  “Then let me come,” she countered.

  “You won't drop this until I say yes will you.”

  She grinned. “Nope.”

  “Fine, you can come. But when I say, not when you say.”

  “Okay, I can live with that.” She crawled across the bed and straddled my hips.

  “Scarlet.”

  “What? It’s been like a month. How slow are you going to go?”

  She had a point. Plus, restraint was never one of my strong suits. “You asked for it.” My lips were on hers before I had finished my sentence. I peeled her shirt off, streaking my lips down her neck to her shoulder.

  “Are you on something?” I asked before my brain got too cloudy.

  “Yeah, we’re good. Now hurry up and finish what you just started.” She pulled my lips back to hers.

  I slipped the straps of her bra off, pulling it off in one smooth motion after unclasping it. There she was, all beautiful soft skin, and I couldn't keep my lips away any longer. I used my tongue and teeth until she was writhing on top of me, begging me for more.

  “Your turn.” She climbed off me and stripped out of the rest of her clothes. I yanked my shirt off and quickly took my jeans off. She crawled toward me on the bed but I stopped her.

  “Baby, you can repay the favor another time. It’s not your mouth I’ve been dreaming about.”

  She sucked in a breath and pulled me down on top of her on the bed. I sank into her slowly, she felt as good as I had been imagining for weeks.

  “Jesus,” I moaned and nipped at her neck. I wanted to consume her, take her until nothing was left between us but sweat.

  Scarlet was just as greedy for me, she clawed at my back, urging me on. Whispering in my ear. Her lips were on any part of my skin she was near.

  “Stay with me,” I panted in her ear.

  “I’ve been with you since we started. Say when baby, say fucking when,” she growled.

  That was all I needed, I quickened the pace, taking us both over the edge.

  I leaned down and kissed her before I let her wiggle out from under me.

  “Tell me again why you thought waiting was such a good idea?”

  “Probably not one of my best ideas.” I rolled over onto my back and laughed.

  “So back to this boxing discussion.” She pulled on a pair of my boxers and a tank top.

  “I thought the discussion was over.” I rolled my eyes and pulled on some clothes.

  “No, it was over for the moment, and now it’s back on. When are you going to take me?”

  “I don’t know, maybe next week. Why is it so important to you?”

  “Partly because you don’t want me to go.” She grinned.

  “Thanks for being so mature.”

  “Shut up.” She threw a pillow at me.

  “I’m done talking about this for now. I’ve said you're going and you will.”

  “God, you're grumpy after.”

  “I’m not, you just ruined my post lay buzz.”

  “I apologize for harshing the vibe.” She rolled her eyes.

  “I’ll forgive you on one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You order some pizza, because I could murder one about now.”

  The rest of the day was spent in my bed eating pizza, watching movies, and letting her beg for my forgiveness over and over again.

  “Hey O’Hara, don’t fall asleep over there.”

  “Mmm, my last name’s not O’Hara,” she mumbled sleepily.

  “Have you never seen Gone With The Wind? I was making a joke. Seriously though, no sleeping, we have to get up in a minute to drive you home.”

  “Yes, I’ve seen it, and no, I’m not getting up.” She rolled over and put a pillow over her face.

  “Frank would shoot me if you stayed over all night. Come one, get up.” I pulled the covers off of her.

  “He wouldn’t shoot you. He might kneecap you but not shoot you.” She sighed and sat up.

  “Either way, I don't want to get on the wrong side of him. Especially since he’s my boss, and I happen to really like my job.” I h
ustled her into her clothes and out the door in record time.

  “Hold on tight.” The familiar feeling of her molded to my back was comforting in an odd way I never expected.

  “See you tomorrow?” She kissed me after I pulled to a stop at her house.

  “Yeah.” I kissed her back.

  “We have to stop or I’ll never make it inside.” She brushed her lips against mine.

  “Go on, I’ll see you after work.” I watched her walk inside and started back home. How in the hell had I gotten in so deep so fast?

  “Dude, you aren’t even paying attention.” Vin yelled at me as we trained. “What’s up with you?”

  “Scarlet, I’m all wrapped up.”

  “That was fast.”

  “I know, faster than I would like.”

  “Could have worse problems bro. She’s smokin’ hot. I know a bunch of guys who would give their left nut for a chance at her.”

  “I know I’m lucky to have her, it just moved at lightning speed when I was trying to keep the brakes on for a while. She’s hard to refuse.”

  “Quit bitching and get your head in the game.” He threw a punch that I should have dodged, but I didn’t. It hit me right in the cheek and knocked me back a few steps. “See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

  “I know, I know.” I needed to snap out of it and focus. I couldn’t let her affect every part of my life like this. Not this soon anyway.

  “Come on, let’s get on with it.” He circled around me, looking for his opening.

  I was ready this time and stepped away as he swung. I countered with a punch to his jaw and one to his side.

  “Better,” he panted.

  I watched him consider his next move and cleared my head of everything except the fight. It was like a curtain closed on everything else, and my attention snapped into working condition again. I went at him full force, with everything I had.

  “More like it.” He grinned and hit me with a wicked uppercut.

  God, it felt good to fight. Vin could take everything I hit him with and gave me back worse.

  “Had enough yet?” he taunted.

  “Not by half.” I launched myself at him, pinning him to the ropes and attacking his sides with a series of vicious punches.

  “Okay, I give.” He shoved me off him. “Serves me right for giving you advice.” He rubbed a hand over his jaw.