I think he was more nervous than me. This meant everything to him. Convincing them that we were in love. When he took my hand, I realized how easy this would be for me. I didn’t have to act. I’d fallen. Head over feet.
“AUSTIN!” several deep voices shouted mixed in with a couple of “Falsones”, and his perfectly aligned, white teeth bared through a full-blown smile. He didn’t let go of my hand until an entire group of guys surrounded him. His laughter thrilled me. A cluster of girls watched them, all rolling their eyes.
Austin returned to my side. “Guys this is Phoebe. This is Bret, Connor, Grant, Seth, and Ryan.”
“Hi guys. I’ve heard a lot about you,” I lied. Jesus, they were all hot. Ryan was huge. He was the pro football player. Grant’s hair was curlier than mine and he looked like a pro surfer.
“Austin.”
We turned to the baritone voice. Damn, a stunning guy extended his hand to shake Austin’s.
“Hey, Zach. Good to see you. This is Phoebe,” he introduced, tugging me up to his side.
“Hi, Phoebe.”
Zach smiled, shaking his head for some reason. He was gorgeous but not in the exotically classic way my temporary Italian lover was. I held onto Austin’s upper arm. A pretty girl with a headful of strawberry blond hair stepped up to the group, smiling.
“Hi, Phoebe. I’m Emma. So, nice to meet you,” she said, leaning in for a hug. The curly spirals of red hair were similar to mine. I hugged her in return.
“Nice to meet you too.” I beamed. The full force of her beautiful, green eyes intimidated me, but she seemed so nice.
“There’s a lot of masculinity in this room, so we may have to stick together.”
We laughed. But it was like looking in a mirror. Two pale skinned, freckled, strawberry blond, green eyed girls. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. When I turned back toward Austin, his eyes found mine, luring me back in. Next to him, I gritted my teeth together. “Really?” I asked.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He knew I was a replica of her. Basically, a reproduction. I guess since he couldn’t have her, why not someone who looked just like her?
After dinner, everyone agreed to gather on the beach in the spot. I wasn’t sure what spot that was, but I wanted to spend as much time on the beach as I could. Just not with Austin. I was too fucking mad at him. Once he closed my car door, he walked around to his side. Fire burned my nostrils as I fueled to explode.
“I don’t know how to say this…”
“Say what, Austin? That I’m a fucking twin to your ex?”
“No. I was going to say, you did great tonight.” He didn’t look at me. Guilty should have been stamped across his forehead.
“You mean I faked it well, like the other night.” Here she came. Bitch Phoebe who wants to hurt. The girl who lashes out because she’s hurt.
He semi-grinned. “That’s cute. It’s a lie… but it’s cute.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked as he parked back at the mansion on the beach.
Austin got out of the car and slammed the door. I followed him, not slamming the door. “Please don’t ignore me,” I begged.
Without casting even a glance my way, he took my hand and led me into the house, up the bigger stairway, not the spiral one, and straight through the bedroom and out onto the deck before he let go of my hand. “I would never ignore you, Phoebe. But before we have this Emma conversation, I want to know about Nick.”
I spun around in the opposite direction of him, trying to put distance between us but instead caught the most breathtaking sunset. Like fiery brightness sinking into the Pacific.
My eyes closed when his body moved in behind mine. The heat radiated into my body warming me.
“Tell me.”
“That’s not a story you want to hear. Trust me.”
Austin rotated me to face him. “That’s a cop out. Tell me.”
“You don’t want to hear it, Austin. You don’t want to hear that he raised his hand to me one time too many, and I walked away.” Austin’s Adam’s apple darted out and back in. “You don’t want to hear that after leaving him, I found out I was pregnant. You don’t want to hear that Sloan told him I’d gone to get an abortion. You don’t want to hear that he still thinks I had an abortion even though I lost the baby after taking multiple morning after pills because I was so scared. You don’t want to hear that he won’t go away. That he won’t leave me alone. That he went to anger management. That he loves me and doesn’t want to let it go.”
The beautiful brown eyes dissected my face as his mind analyzed my words. “And how do you feel?”
“I don’t want any part of Nick, Austin. But my pathetic, drama filled ghetto relationship doesn’t really compare to your beach love affair, does it? Maybe the differences between our worlds are too much.”
Austin slid his hands into his pockets and took a couple of steps back. “He hit you and yet you whisper his name when you sleep.”
“You’re making this about Nick and that’s so unfair. At least you could have prepared me for being face-to-face with her. It was like looking into a mirror. When you look at me, do you see her?”
His lips pursed while he remained silent.
“God dammit. I’m serious. If you want to fuck her, fuck her—not me.” Storming past him and back into the room, I kicked off my wedges, one of them taking flight.
“I don’t want to fuck her, Phoebe,” he said softly from behind me. Like magnets being drawn together, our eyes connected. An undeniably predatory look in his. “I want to fuck you.” With one hand he tugged his shirt over his head. Holy, holy sweet mother of Jesus.
My insides melted into a gigantic pool of goo. My body completely ignored my pissed off brain.
“Lay down.”
A part of me wanted to play hard to get. Wanted to put up a fight. Yet, I found myself doing exactly what he commanded. I felt my heart pulsing between my legs as anticipation took over. I unfastened my white capris and started to slide them over my hips until he took them in his hands, pulled them off my feet and dropped them to the floor.
“We are going to address this faking it thing, right now,” he said, kneeling and heaving me to the edge of the bed. “That takes priority.”
My teeth pinched my lip with anticipation. I hadn’t faked anything last night. He made me come fair and square. I had a feeling deep in my pelvis that it was about to happen again.
“Phoebe.”
“Austin.”
“Right before you fake it again, I want to hear one thing come out of your mouth.”
The softness and the warmth of his touch stole my breath. His lips and tongue were making it difficult to concentrate on what he was saying. In some ways this was more intimate than sex. An act so very personal with sole intent to please someone else rather than yourself. As he sought pleasure for me, my knees fell open granting him full access.
“Mmm,” I moaned as the heat in my lower abdomen built. An unconscious rotation of my hips brought his hands around to grip my thighs and hold me in place. The intoxicating pleasure had my head spinning without reservation or thought. GOD! Besides law school, this guy went to the university of Fuck her Good. Embarrassed by how fast he got me there, I tried to think of most anything to hold off if even for a minute. But the sensual assault was a torrent of perfect maneuvers with his talented mouth guiding me in one direction. When his finger joined the party, I was toast.
“Austin,” I hissed as my body released literally right in front of him. His finger absorbed the shock waves while he dropped wet kisses on my thigh.
“You faker, you,” he teased, and I covered my face. “That was about three and a half minutes. Maybe we could try for a Guinness world record?” Readjusting my panties, he propped himself up on his elbow next to me. “You’re flushed.”
“Even with that gold medal performance, I’m still frustrated with you.”
“Noted.”
“What did you mean when you said one thin
g better come out of my mouth.”
“It doesn’t matter, you said it.”
“You wanted me to say your name?”
“Yes.”
“I wouldn’t say another name, goofy,” I chuckled. There was no freaking way.
“Ever,” he said, and both of us froze with those words. The unspoken insinuation hung in the air between us, followed by, “We need to get down to the beach.” Obviously he regretted saying the word ever the minute it left his mouth. Regardless, I was with him and I didn’t want to waste it. I hopped off the bed.
“It’s gonna be cold. Here’s a sweatshirt.”
“Can I wear shorts?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I’ll take a blanket.”
My arms naturally wound around him from behind. “Something’s bothering you. I can tell.” My cheek lay flush with his back.
“A half hour ago, I learned that another man laid his hands on you and that you carried his child for a short time. That would be difficult for any man to reconcile in their head.”
He brushed my hand with a kiss then swiveled around to face me.
“I didn’t have to tell you that stuff,” I whispered. “We are so different and…”
“I dated a girl named Libby, who got pregnant too. It ended up not being mine, but I believed it to be. We aren’t so different, Phoebe. Except I’d never raise a hand to you like he did. I’d rather fucking die than hurt you.”
My tears fell before I even realized. “I’ve never had someone want to protect me. My own parents didn’t even…” my words trailed off just as he pulled me against his chest and kissed the top of my head.
“Let’s go.” I wasn’t sure why he didn’t want to finish the conversation, but I did let it go. For the time being.
From the distance, the fire looked big, and it only grew as we got closer. A couple of the guys were tossing a football. The wind whipped my hair around, but I didn’t find it annoying. There was nothing about being there that I would complain about. Suffocating heat awaited me back home. Cold sand oozed between my toes with each step. Austin had only grabbed one chair, so I wasn’t sure who would sit where.
The football came barreling toward me, and Austin dropped the chair, the bottle of wine and the blanket to catch it.
“Sorry, Phoebe,” Emma shouted. “My brother is a douche bag.”
I laughed. Part of me didn’t want to like her, but I had to admit she was likable. So far. It all made sense why Austin picked me. Her replica. A poor man’s Emma.
Austin burrowed the chair in the sand, unfolding it completely. Once he sat, he patted his lap, so I stepped on the chair and nestled down next to him, avoiding his lap. I wanted to be able to whisper to him if I had a question. Plus, I was still irritated and wanted him to know it. Unfolding the blanket, he covered us to help block the wind. Being there. Being on a beach in front of a fire with the most handsome man—nothing could beat this.
“What are you thinking?” he asked. “You seem lost in thought.”
I thought before I answered, then just decided to go with the truth. “I wish you would have warned me. At least that she has red hair too or green eyes like me. Something.”
Beneath the heavy blanket, his fingers intertwined with mine. “That’s fair. You’re right. I should have. I’m sorry.”
Taken back by his graciousness, I sat stunned. That seemed easy for an argument. Too easy.
“Something else is on your mind?” he whispered, nudging me.
“I think there’s finally a visual…” I shook my head not sure how to say it. “I mean an image of what I’d always dreamed.”
“Yes, it’s beautiful here.” He misunderstood.
“No, not so much geography,” I whispered. The roar of the ocean prevented anyone else from hearing our private conversation. “After all these years, there’s a face to the man I’ve always dreamed about.” I was scared the very second the words came out of my mouth. Scared that I’d scared him.
Surprising me, his fingertips brushed down my cheek, raked through my hair and he pulled me closer until our mouths melded together in the slowest, tenderest kiss of my life. The taste of me from earlier lingered on his lips and I, too, never wanted to hear any other name off his lips.
Chapter 8
AUSTIN
Clarifications
“TRUTH OR DARE?” Grant shouted, and Zach growled in his stupid my girl isn’t playing this with you sort of way. Some things never change.
“Would you drink some wine with me?” I whispered to Phoebe.
She nodded. “I’ve never really drank because of the kids.”
My father had an entire selection of twist cap wine. Always easy to take with you. No need for a corkscrew. Even at 60, he still took mom on drives, picnics and wine on the beach. I wanted that. As I twisted off the cap, I hoped this was the first of many bottles with Phoebe.
Phoebe’s green witch eyes cast a spell over me. It was too soon for her to love me; but desperation to make her forget her resemblance to Emma was behind me pleasing her earlier. There was no way I wanted to lose her over that.
“No glasses?” Phoebe whispered.
“Not down here. Taking it straight from the bottle.”
“We’re getting old,” Grant said, plopping down next to a girl who rolled her eyes.
The teepee fire blew high into the sky.
“A lot of memories on this beach,” Ryan piped up in his deep voice.
“Best summers ever,” Emma said, laying her head on Zach’s chest.
Weird how seeing the two of them together didn’t bother me. Not a single bit. Phoebe handed me the bottle.
“Do you like the wine?”
She nodded, laying her head on my shoulder. Those little mannerisms basically threw a net over my heart and completely captured it.
“There are so many different kinds. We’ll find one you like.”
I took a sip and realized she must have gulped because more was gone than I expected. There was no way I was going to hurt her feelings by explaining wine was a sipping drink.
“How’d you two love birds meet?”
Beneath my arm, her entire body tensed. We hadn’t really discussed this, dammit. We’d discussed a lot, but somewhere along the line I had gotten distracted.
“Please don’t tell them,” she whispered.
“We bumped into each other at Braums and started talking. The rest is history.”
“Sounds romantic,” Connor joked.
“It was,” Phoebe piped up, defending what I’d said. “Peppermint ice cream and sweet talk,” she giggled as she tipped the bottle back again. When she was done, I dropped two kisses on her wine-soaked lips.
“I’m so happy for you,” Emma said softly, but loud enough for us to hear.
With a simple nod, I acknowledged her comment. “Thank you.” Nuzzling my nose into Phoebe’s ear, I whispered, “You like peppermint ice cream?”
She giggled in the damnedest way. “Yes. And red wine.”
A low laughter rumbled through my chest, but my laughter faded when her hand slid between my legs beneath the blanket. My heavy gaze fell to her mischievous one. The red curls looked like Medusa’s snakes flailing around her face. Her cute little nose scrunched up.
Her hand cupped me perfectly down low and then migrated up like a slow burn. Jesus Christ, I wanted to take her on this beach, on this chair, in front of everyone. The warmth of her body against mine, the heat of her breath on my neck, the taste of wine on her lips. My God, I was legit going to go mad if I didn’t have her.
“You’re playing with fire, sweet pea.”
“I know I’m not supposed to be, but I’m crazy about you.” I could barely hear her words over the roar of the waves and the wind.
I tilted her chin till her mouth was accessible and then my lips covered her mouth, searching for the slow kiss that held unfulfilled promises. Her guttural moan full of longing nearly destroyed me as I deepened the kiss.
“You want us to leave?
” Grant asked laughing.
“Get a room!” Ryan shouted.
I grinned, almost embarrassed, until Phoebe’s desire-filled eyes stared up at mine. I had flashbacks of Zach taking Emma away from us on the beach in his caveman way, a way I had never understood until looking at her.
Everyone’s eyes were on us. Shaking my head, I stood, taking Phoebe with me until I rested her feet in the sand. She had a death grip on the wine bottle and me. I tossed the blanket over my shoulder, snagging the chair and never letting go of her.
“We’re out of here.”
“Bye, you guys,” Phoebe said next to me.
“Dude. You can have that pussy any time you want. How often do you see us?” Grant shouted laughing from behind.
“Dude,” Zach growled, surprising me.
I spun around so fast Grant took a couple steps back and shot his hands in the air. Ryan grabbed Grant, covering his mouth.
“Now is a fine time to go spend with your girl,” Ryan covered for his friend. Grant nodded with his mouth still covered. It wasn’t until Phoebe tugged on my arm that I spun back around.
“Man, what’s gotten into him?” I heard Grant say as Phoebe and I walked away.
It wasn’t what had gotten into me. It was who I’d gotten into. And I was about to get into her again.
PHOEBE
The alcohol coursing through my veins freed my senses. Austin’s smell, the warmth of his hands, the taste of his mouth…all of it stirred something low in my pelvis. A longing that I’d had for a very long time but suppressed for many reasons, but something he was able to easily find and release. The wine running through me relaxed me in the best possible way.
“Take me here,” I said so softly I wasn’t sure if he heard, but he faced me instantly.
“Please don’t ask me that. They are too close, and I don’t want to share any part of you with them. With anybody.”
“I could take care of you right here. Like you did for me earlier.”
Following a long blink, his eyes only opened to half-mast. “And you don’t want to wait? We’re 100 yards from the house.”
Finally...My Forever (Just One of the Guys Book 4) Page 9