“That sounds amazing.”
“He died four years back.”
It didn’t feel like it had been that long ago. It still felt like it was months ago. I swallowed dryly, trying not to let the emotions come up.
I still missed him so fucking much. He had been my best friend growing up.
Garth reached out and touched my knee gently. “I’m so sorry.”
I shrugged. It's not like there was anything he could do. It wasn’t Garth;s fault that Rut got cancer. It wasn’t his fault I couldn't do anything to save him.
“It happens. They don’t live as long as we do.” I hated saying it. It made it sound like I didn’t care—but that’s what it was supposed to do, right? That’s why I’d started saying it. “Anyways,” I added, “it was for the best; he’s not in pain anymore. That’s what matters.” It was a bit of a lie. It wasn’t all that mattered. But I wasn’t going to go into detail with it.
“Anyways, you wanted to know something—there it is.”
“I didn’t realize you were such a softy.” A smile touched his lips as he took my hand, our fingers tangling together. My cheeks flushed.
“I aim to surprise,” I said.
Garth poured us each a shot of Sake, and we downed it. It took my mind off my lost friend for a little while. I pushed myself up and headed to the window; the sun was past setting by now and all the lights were on.
“Oh, my God.”
I looked out along the skyline and was floored. It was gorgeous. I’d seen pictures, but just like all of Japan that I had seen, the pictures just didn’t do it justice.
The sky lit up with billions of light red, green, white, blue. Buildings rose up all around us, some taller, some shorter. I could see a lake or some other body of water, at least. Even it had lights around it—but it was the roads that caught my eye more than anything. They were well lit, and winding around the city, ducking around the towers and the larger buildings just the same.
I tried to take it all in, trying not to forget it.
I felt hands touch my hips, slipping lower—warmth touched my skin. Garth stood behind me, pulling me into his arms. His lips touched my cheek. I took a deep breath, leaning against him.
His arms wrapped around me. “It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?” he whispered, his hot breath against my neck.
“Yes,” I admitted.
“Almost as gorgeous as you.”
My cheeks flushed. I turned to see a wide grin across his lips. Clearly, that blush had been what he was going for.
“Cute, but do you expect me to actually believe that?” I raised an eyebrow.
“No, you’re too rational. You'd think the scenery is the most beautiful thing out there.” He shrugged. “But I’d have to disagree with you on that.” His eyes roamed over my body. I took a deep breath and my cheeks burned; I could feel them getting hotter. I pulled away from him, turning so he couldn’t see my blush as I made my way closer to the window, looking out to the skyline.
I had to admit, his words touched me, but I wasn’t going to say it out loud.
Garth stepped closer to me, his arms wrapped around me again, and his lips touched my neck softly. I bit back a moan, my eyes rolling back. My nails dug into the window frame as his lips trailed along my neck, brushing my hair out of the way.
“Oh …” I moaned. My hips arched, my ass pressing against his. Garth blew out a deep breath, thrusting his hips against my ass.
Arousal ran through my body, his arms tightening around me. Holding me close to him.
I pulled away, turning to face him; my lips touched his for a fraction of a second, and heat rushed through my body, desire pooling in the pit of my stomach. I pulled him close to me, my fingers tangling in his hair as our kiss deepened—growing more and more passionate. Garth pulled me close to him, a deep breath escaping him as my teeth grazed his lower lip gently. His nails dug into me, and then he pulled away, his eyes sparkling. His eyes roamed over my body as he pulled me towards the bed.
My heart skipped a beat as he sat down on the edge of the bed, and I climbed onto his lap, my lips crashing against his. His warm hands traced over the curves of my body, lifting my shirt. I pulled away just enough for him to pull it over my head and toss it onto the ground. I pulled at his shirt, forcing it over his head and tossing it onto the ground behind me. I grinned, taking in every inch of his muscular chest. I reached out, touching him. A deep breath passed through my lips. God, I’m lucky, I thought.
I caught his eye. He smirked. “What?”
“I’m just thinking about how lucky I am to have such a hot boyfriend.” I said it as if it didn’t really mean much, but I watched his blush grow. I smirked, glad that I could make him blush.
I wanted to make sure he knew how much he meant to me.
My lips touched his for a fraction of a second, this time soft compared to our last kiss.
“I love you,” I whispered against his lips, barely breaking the kiss.
His fingers tangled in my hair.
“I love you too,” he whispered against my lips; pulling me closer to him, he guided me down onto the bed, my back hitting the soft bedding.
I let out a soft moan as his lips trailed along my neck softly, touching every inch they could. My fingers tangled in his hair, thinking about his words. He loved me. My heart skipped a beat. I felt giddy about it—like a girl with her first boyfriend.
I grinned, looking down at the man I loved as his lips made their way lower and lower. My fingers traced over his scalp softly.
He pulled away, his eyes sparkling as he looked me up and down. His thumbs grabbed my panties, and in a fraction of a second, he pulled them off me. I gasped, my hips arching, moving with him so he could get my clothing off.
“Do you want me naked that bad?” I teased
“I’ve wanted you naked all day.”
His words made my heart skip a beat and arousal burn in the pit of my stomach. I wanted him inside me and wanted to feel him thrusting in and out.
He pulled me into another kiss as I reached for the button of his jeans. It popped quickly. I reached down his jeans, my fingers curling around Garth’s thick cock.
He let out a deep breath, his eyes rolling back as my fingers worked over him quickly. I grinned widely.
Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.
I rubbed him faster and faster, my heart racing as I watched the pleasure written all over his face.
He took a deep breath, pulling away from me and pushing himself off the bed. His eyes shone as he padded over to his backpack and pulled out a condom.
I swallowed dryly and sat up, slipping out of my bra. I watched as he came back towards me. He paused at the bed and slipped his jeans off, his boxers along with them, and his erect cock sprang forward.
I bit my lip, my eyes sparkling.
“When we get home I’m going to go to the doctors,” I told him, my mind going to birth control. God, I’d love to feel him inside me without a condom. The idea made my skin tingle.
As if realizing what I was talking about, he gave a broad grin. “Sounds like a damn good plan to me.”
I watched as he tore into the condom and slipped it over his full length. I lay down as he crawled back onto the bed and spread my legs.
He settled down between them, pulling me close to him, his fingers placed on my hips as he pushed into me without any hesitation. I gasped, my eyes rolling back and my hips arching.
“God,” I gasped.
Garth grinned as I opened my eyes.
“I didn’t realize you wanted me inside you that bad.”
“I’ve wanted you inside me all day,” I said, watching his eyes flash with lust.
His lips lowered to mine for a fraction of a second.
“You have no idea how much I like hearing that,” he whispered softly.
“I’ll have to start telling you more often,” I retorted, making a mental note to start telling him at least daily if it was going to make him that hard. After all, I wanted him to
feel just as wanted as I felt.
My hands traced over his muscular arms as he pulled away from me and thrust back in gently.
Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.
I moaned, my eyes closing as my fingers dug into his skin. He reached out and took my hand. Our fingers tangled together, and he squeezed my hand gently.
Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.
Faster and harder, Garth thrust into me.
My eyes rolled back as my moans grew louder. My fingers squeezed his hand, my free hand slipping between my legs and finding my clit.
Garth thrust into me faster and faster, harder and harder.
I massaged myself, keeping time with him. His lips touched my neck ever so gently.
Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.
Faster and faster.
Garth thrust into me, his fingers digging into my hips as his lips worked their way up my neck; his teeth grazed my earlobe for a fraction of a second. “I love you,” he whispered.
I didn’t expect it to be so hot hearing him say those words.
Garth’s free hand traced over the curves of my body as he pulled away from me.
“On your hands and knees.”
His words were met with a quick response. I rolled onto my hands and knees and felt him behind me, his warm hands tracing over my butt. His head pressed against my folds, pushing into me. I gasped, my eyes rolling back.
Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.
Fast and hard.
His fingers dug into me as I reached between my legs for the second time, my fingers massaging myself faster and faster, keeping time with him. I moaned louder, my free hand digging into the bedding.
Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.
Faster and harder with every thrust. Garth’s hands against my body traced over every curve they could reach, so gently it almost tickled.
“Fuck,” I moaned. “I’m so close.
“Cum with me.” His voice, thick with lust, was enough to send me over the edge. I gasped, my eyes rolling back. Everything went a fuzzy white as he thrust into me, faster and faster.
Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.
“Oh yes ...” My moan grew louder and louder. Pleasure ripped through my body. My hips bucked as I arched, gasping.
My toes curled as pleasure surged through my body. Waves and waves of it crashing through every inch of me. My fingers worked over my clit faster and faster.
Another wave of pleasure. Then another.
My hips bucked. Another wave of pleasure.
Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.
Garth thrust into me harder and harder.
He slammed into me, letting out a deep breath. His fingers dug into my hips. Another wave of pleasure crashed through me. I let out a moan as Garth gasped. He slammed into me again. And again.
My fingers massaged my clit, faster and faster, and I gasped.
Another wave of pleasure, this time, softer. The next softer than that. The last so soft I could hardly feel it.
I forced my eyes open as Garth slid out of me. He inhaled deeply, his eyes locked on mine. A smile touched his lips as he pushed himself off the bed and padded to the bathroom.
He tossed the condom and made his way back over to me.
“There is no one else I’d rather have taken this trip with.” He smiled, climbing onto the bed and taking my hand in his.
I pushed myself up and slipped off the bed, grabbing his shirt and pulling it over my head—despite the fact it hung to my knees. He grinned, looking me up and down.
“I’m glad you decided to bring me and no one else,” I teased.
“I’m not sure who else I would have brought. No one would have been as much fun as you.”
I barked out a laugh and crawled back onto the bed. “Cute, but I’m not buying it.”
He laughed softly as I lay down and rolled on top of me, straddling my hips. His lips touched mine.
I raised an eyebrow. “You wanna go another round already?”
This time he was the one who barked out a laugh. “Sorry, I’m not that young anymore.”
My eyes sparkled as he leant forward and placed a kiss on my lips. I pulled him close to me, our lips locked in passion. My arms wrapped around him but easily fell back when he pulled away. He sat on my hips, his smile widening as he took my left hand from me and kissed the top of it—his eyes on the ring for a fraction of a second.
“You do like it, right?”
“Of course!” I said quickly.
I hadn’t been expecting it from him, but I liked it a hell of a lot more than I really wanted to admit to anyone—including myself.
“Does that mean I should buy you another one?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe not quite yet.”
His smile widened for a second and then faded. “Really, though, uh … about that. Marriage, I mean.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“What about it?”
“Is that something you’re looking for? Because I decided a long time ago that I wanted a family.”
“Of course.” I’d known that since I was 12. Yes, I had been one of those teenagers who knew exactly what their wedding was going to be like. “I mean, not right now. Not until I’ve got a career going, but I want it eventually, ideally before I’m 30.”
His eyes shone. “So, when the time comes… this is going to be something we both want? We’re not going to have to end our relationship because you’re not looking for a family?”
It sounded like he’d been there before.
“No,” I said.
Unless of course, it changed, I mean, you never knew these kinds of things for sure. But I did know that if I wanted to be anyone's wife, right now it was Garth. Plus we’d have a killer wedding, I thought.
I felt bad the second I thought it, but it was true, the wedding would be amazing with the budget that we’d be able to afford. I found myself already making changes to the plans I’d once had. Maybe I could have two, or even three, dresses.
I took a deep breath, mentally shaking myself. That’s a long ways away, I told myself.
Chapter Eighteen
Stepping out of the airport felt like my life would return back to normal. Garth held my hand as we headed for the car he had left there.
“So, what now?” he asked.
“I’ve got a little bit of work I want to catch up on,” I said.
“Want me to drop you off at the office?”
“That would be perfect, actually.” As much as I liked working from his place, or even my place, it was harder to get the work done. At least, at the office, I felt like I was at work, and I had to get work done. At home, I was too wrapped up in watching TV or getting a snack, or doing some online shopping. At work, there was nothing to distract me.
I hadn’t checked my email since last night, not that I really expected there to be anything interesting on it.
I slid into the passenger's seat of Garth’s car, and he gunned the engine. He smiled widely, his eyes on the road.
“What?”
“Nothing, it just … feels good to be home.” He paused. “You know, I was thinking we could go to New York sometime.”
“Okay.” What was he getting at?
“I mean, I haven’t been to see my parents in a year or two …” My heart skipped a beat. He wanted me to meet his parents. “I know you said you liked traveling … we could make a trip out of it.”
He was trying to make it sound like it wasn’t a big deal, but that’s not how I was taking it. My jaw tightened so it wouldn't fall open, and I stared at him. I couldn't believe what he had just told me.
I looked down at the ring on my hand.
“So, you want to meet my parents too, then?”
“I think it would be nice for them to meet your future business partner.” He shrugged. He was trying to play it cool, but it wasn’t working.
He wants to meet my family, I thought. I bit my lip.
We were ignoring something that put a major dent in that plan.
“Even with
everything going on right now?” I asked. I didn’t want to say it out loud and didn’t want to remind him of the body we’d traveled so far to forget about.
“If you think it’s best to wait until that is wrapped up, then we can.” I wasn’t sure what to think.
I wasn’t even sure I wanted to tell my parents I was dating someone. But I wasn’t going to tell Garth that—the last guy I’d said that to had taken it personally, and then there hadn’t been any relationship to tell my parents about.
My stomach turned.
If I don’t do this, is he going to want to break things off too? I wondered.
I didn’t want to lose him. I really liked Garth. Like, really liked. But I wasn’t sure I was ready to get my parents involved in our relationship.
I didn’t say anything as we made our way into the office parking lot. There were still a few cars left. I glanced down at the clock, 4:00.
“I’ll come in with you,” he said as he parked the car and unbuckled his seat. I did the same, and we stepped out of the car together. I grabbed my purse and we headed for the building.
The elevator dinged. Everyone looked up as we stepped off onto the floor.
“Garth!” Alyssa jumped to her feet.
Everyone stared at us. Suddenly, voices mixed together. Welcoming us back, asking how it was, that sorta thing. Alyssa stared at Garth. I tried not to let it bother me but jealously nipped at my stomach. I wished it aside. You’re the one dating him. She’s not. She can’t have him. He loves you, not her—now get over it. I forced a smile over my lips and let Garth tell them all about the trip as I slipped away from the crowd and headed for my desk. I flicked my computer on and waited for it to load.
The Billionaire's Fake Marriage: A Single Dad Next Door Romance Page 66