I turned to enter my car again, but he grabbed my arm and turned me to face him.
“I admit,” he started, “I needed some time to think, but I was—I am—hungry, so I took advantage of that time to think.”
I tugged my arm and he let go. “Glad to see you manned up and came to tell me the truth.”
“About what?”
“All right. I’ll just spare you, okay. No need to tell me what a mistake it was, and that it won’t happen again. The message is loud and clear.”
I turned to my car again, but this time, he shot his arm out and blocked my way in. “Wait a minute, you think it was a mistake?”
I crossed my arms. “You clearly do.”
“Bia, do you think it was a mistake?”
“It doesn’t matter what I th—”
“Answer the damn question. Please.”
“N-no, I don’t. But like I said, I’m not clingy and I won’t bother you again.”
He took a step closer, making me retreat a step. My back pressed against the side of my SUV, and he loomed over me, so close I could feel the tension in his body.
“Bia, I don’t think it was a mistake.”
I gaped. “Then why did you leave?”
“For one, I really am hungry, and after being away all week, there’s nothing to eat. The last time I ate was five o’clock this morning, before arriving in town. I haven’t eaten anything since and was about to leave to grab something when you arrived. Two, I really needed to think, not about how to ditch you, but to understand what I’m feeling.”
I bit my lip, trying to keep the question in, but it was stronger than I was. “And what are you feeling?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure yet, but all I know is that I don’t want you to leave.” He grazed my cheek with his knuckles. I leaned into his touch. “Stay.”
I shouldn’t stay. Not because I didn’t want to. Meu Deus, I wanted to. However, I had to study. With all that had happened, I hadn’t done well with my midterms and I needed to do well on the finals to end up with a good GPA. After all, my grades would transfer when I did.
Garrett’s knuckles slipped down my neck, making me shiver. Who was I kidding? Even if I went back to my dorm, I wouldn’t be able to focus on studying now, would I? Hell no.
I nodded.
A lopsided grin adorned his lips before he pressed my body against the car with his body, and brought his mouth down to mine. I let him control the kiss and didn’t regret it. His lips moved slowly and deeply, and his tongue caressed mine, making me moan.
Groaning, he broke the kiss and whispered in my ear, “I want to hear you moan and scream for me again, but first—” He took a step back. “—let’s get out of this cold and eat.” He opened the passenger door of his truck and pick up a large brown bag and a tray with sodas from the floor. “Come on.” He jerked his chin to the cabin and started walking that way.
I followed him, and in those sixty seconds of silence, my mind raced.
What the hell was I doing? I should be at my dorm studying, and more than that, I shouldn’t be getting involved now that I decided I was going back to California. I mean, not that we couldn’t have a hot affair in the remaining week I still had here, but that was putting my heart on the line for something I was sure wouldn’t last.
Not to mention, if Audrey found out that Garrett and I slept together, she would probably find a way to spin this story into one of her terrible lies and make me look like a slut.
Even if I was able to convince myself to leave, it was too late now. With all the time we spent together and the way I knew him, I was already too attached.
Garrett sat on the couch and starting pulling the contents from inside the bag. “I hope you like pasta.” He placed a to-go plate of fettuccine Alfredo and another one of spaghetti a Bolognese on the wooden table in front of him. Lifting his chin to look at me, he patted the free spot beside him. “Won’t you sit down?”
“Yeah, of course,” I said, sitting beside him.
He grabbed napkins and plastic utensils from the bag. “Do you prefer regular plates and a fork? I have it.”
“This is fine,” I said. He gestured to the plates and I shrugged, not very hungry. “I like both, so I’ll let you choose.”
“Okay.” He grabbed the Bolognese plate and handed me the other one.
I opened the lid and played with the food while he dug in. After a minute of silence, I finally opened my mouth. “Are you feeling better? I mean, I came to find out if you were okay and I still don’t have an answer.”
He finished swallowing before answering. His eyes darkened. “I thought you had noticed, but I was pretty okay earlier, when we were in bed.”
Heat crawled across my face and I slapped his shoulder. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. I just wanted to tease you. I like when you blush.”
Of course, that made my face hotter, and I was sure my cheeks were bright red. “I’m serious. I am worried about you.”
His expression hardened. “Don’t. I’m okay. I’ll be okay.”
I wanted to prod, to make him talk and open up because there was no way he was okay after all that happened the past two days. Delilah lost the competition, and he saw her lashing out at her new horse. He drove back through the night—which reminded me, how the hell wasn’t he sleeping on his feet—and had to stand before his father while the man literally kicked Garrett out of his life. His insides were probably bursting with rage, frustration, and concern. I knew I would be.
I set my barely touched plate aside. “You said you drove all night and got here this morning.” With a mouthful, he nodded. “You’re probably exhausted.”
Relaxed, he raised an eyebrow and swallowed. “I guess the events of the day kept me alert.”
I lifted a brow at him and chuckled. “Excuse me? Usually, I’m ready to fall asleep after sex. In your state, I don’t know how you didn’t.”
He lost the amused mien and frowned. I practically saw the tension spreading through his body, and the walls going up as he shoved his empty plate inside the bag, picked up mine, and put it inside the bag too. He clenched and unclenched his hands.
Meu Deus, what now?
I leaned closer to him and took his hands in mine, stopping them from opening and closing. “I can see something is bothering you. Talk to me.”
He let go of my hands and stood, immediately pacing the small area. “I know Audrey’s lies are that, just lies. Fortunately, I got to know you and you’re nothing like how she paints you to everyone.” He stopped and faced me. “But you just … it’s just … Have you been seeing someone else?”
Where did that come from? “No.”
“Then were you seeing someone else?”
“No.” I stood in front of him. “Why are you asking me that?”
“You just practically implied you were having plenty of sex.”
I gaped at him and raked my brain. Usually, I’m ready to fall asleep after sex. “Meu Deus, no.” I almost chuckled, a little too happy about his jealousy. “I meant in the past. I haven’t been with anyone in nine months or so, and even then, that was a mistake. I didn’t feel anything for the guy, and I’m sure he didn’t feel anything for me either.” I slapped my mouth shut. I had just blurted too much information, which I knew guys hated. But it was the truth. I had gone out with Ri, Pedro, and Gui during a tournament in France. I met a guy at a bar and took him to my hotel room, which is as slutty as it gets, but I really didn’t do that. Not often, anyway. In the morning, I shooed him off before my father woke up and came to call me for breakfast.
Garrett stepped toward me. “Are you saying you feel something for me?”
My cheeks warmed. “I-I …”
He chuckled, reaching to me and placing his hands on my hips. “You don’t need to be embarrassed.” He pulled me to him and leaned into me. He whispered in my ear, “I care about you too.” My heart rate went through the roof. He did?
“What about Jennifer?”
He stared into my eyes. “Jennifer and I used to spend some time together, but there’s nothing going on with her. Not since last spring break.” He ran his fingertips from my cheek, down my neck, to my shoulder. “Right now, there’s only you.” Before I could say anything coherent, he pushed us back until I was pressed against the wall. “Let me show you what I mean.”
He cupped my face and kissed me, as if he was searching for the essence that gave him energy, which sustained his life. His tongue ravished my mouth and my knees weakened. I clasped my hands around his shoulders before I fell. But I wanted to. I wanted to fall headfirst.
No, Bia, you can’t. You’re leaving soon, and you aren’t planning on coming back.
Garrett trailed kisses down my neck and over my collarbone. He stopped long enough to pull my sweater over my head, and then he kept going, kissing around my breast and down my belly. He unzipped my pants and pulled them down before standing straight, shrugging his shirt off, and pressing his body against mine.
I gasped when his mouth met mine, and he thrust his hips on mine, his erection rubbing against me, making my core hotter and hotter. His hands slid around my leg and teased the edge of my panties. I whimpered and he smiled against my lips. He rubbed his finger on me through the panties, drawing a moan from me.
“Do you want it?” he asked, his voice throaty. I dug my nails on his skin and gasped when he pulled my panties aside. “Do you want it?” he asked again.
“Sim, por favor.” Realizing I had just spoken Portuguese, I added, “Please.”
He sank a finger inside me and I moaned. He buried his head on my neck and groaned with his mouth on my skin. “Fuck, Bia, you’re so wet.”
He slipped his finger out, and then thrust two in. I arched my back, trying to give him better access to me. I didn’t know what was better, the combination of his hot breath on my skin, the hand digging on my hips to keep me steady, his naked chest flush against mine, his erection running against my leg, or the way he was touching me, driving me to the edge.
“So good,” I whispered.
He rubbed his thumb on my clit and I burst. I trembled and whimpered, but he didn’t let it go. He increased the pressure and kept on thrusting those fingers inside me. I wanted to crawl inside myself, inside him, because there was no way I could survive this much pleasure, this much heat. A new wave hit me, and I screamed his name as I came.
With deft hands, he pulled a condom from the back pocket of his jeans. I reached to him and worked on his zipper, my eyes on his. I pulled his pants down enough to free his massive erection and closed my hand around him. A shiver assaulted his body, and a low growl rumbled from his chest.
He bent forward to kiss me, but I leaned back, wanting to look at him while I stroked him, while I gave him pleasure. I ran my palm over him a couple of times more before snaking my hand down and pushing his jeans all the way to his feet.
I sank to my knees and his gaze went wide. I smiled before clasping his hips and licking his erection from head to shaft and back.
“Oh fuck,” he muttered, knotting his fingers in my hair.
I took him into my mouth, sucking hard, and he cursed some more. I felt him tensing, his fingers curling into my scalp, with each stroke of my mouth, with each swirl of my tongue. I changed the rhythm, taking him in deeper and slower.
He shuddered. “Bia,” he gasped. I felt him coiling, his body stiffening, and I knew he was close. He cupped my face and pushed back, then pulled me to my feet.
I licked my lips. “I would have finished it.”
His gaze followed my tongue and he swallowed, finally ripping the foil package. “I know, but we can do that another time. Right now, I want to come inside you.”
I shivered with his words, with the raw desire in his eyes. He slipped the condom in place and leaned into me. His arm wound around my waist and he pressed me against the wall again. Not breaking his stare, I wrapped my legs around his waist, and he entered me, none too gentle. I cried out, arching my back to take him deeper, wanting, needing the mix of pleasure and blissful pain.
“God,” he muttered as a shudder ran through his body. He closed his mouth over mine and assaulted me with his tongue. “I can’t get enough,” he whispered against my lips. “I can’t get enough of you.”
His words thrilled me in a way they shouldn’t.
Just then, his thrusts became harder and deeper, and I forgot about what I should be worried about it. All that mattered was this. Us. Together at this moment. I knew I was moaning a little too loud, but who cared? There was no one for miles.
The heat wave was back and threatening to take me over any second now. Meu Deus, I wanted it to take me over. I wanted Garrett to take me over right now.
“Garrett,” I gasped. “Please, don’t stop.”
He growled and bit my neck. Somehow, his thrusts became rougher, and I thought I was going to break into a million pieces of pure bliss. Then I did. My ecstasy exploded and my legs turned into goo. With one more thrust, Garrett joined me on the other side. He held me tight while his body convulsed, his head buried in my neck.
His quivers faded, and he brought his face to me. He kissed me long and gentle, taking my breath away. He didn’t break the kiss while he lowered us to his bed, and we lay on our sides.
He placed butterfly kisses over my neck and shoulder, then sat up and reached for the covers. He brought them over us and lay on his back, tucking me under his arm. I rested my head on his shoulder and my hand on his chest. His heart still raced. I tilted my face to him and found him watching me.
Heat spread through my cheeks. “What?”
He kissed my forehead and tightened his arms around me. “Nothing.” He sighed. “It’s just … if you hadn’t come here, I would probably still be outside, working to death. Or I would have gone to a liquor store, bought plenty of whiskey, and spent my night with a bottle. I was really upset when I left the ranch this morning. Now I’m not anymore. Not too much, at least.”
“I’m glad I could take your mind off your problems.”
A half-grin broke onto his face. “Me too.”
I didn’t really want to bring it up now, but if it weren’t now, when would I talk to him about it? I was leaving in less than a week. He had to talk to someone.
“What now?” I asked, my voice low, afraid he would be mad at me.
He stared at me with those bright hazel eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t want to stop this—” He pointed to him and me. “—but I haven’t been in a relationship for a while. I’m not sure how to be in one anymore. How about we take it slow? By the way, are you going to California for the holidays?”
Wow, his answer took me by surprise. I propped my body on my elbow so I could look at him better. “T-that wasn’t what I meant.”
“Oh. Why? You don’t want to take it slow? Or you don’t want anything, period?”
I wasn’t sure I should answer those questions. After the events of this evening, every decision I had made these past couple of weeks seemed frail. My plan to leave for California for good looked like an insane one right about now.
“I meant, about you. Your future. What are you going to do now?”
His forehead creased. “Um, I don’t know. Find a job somewhere, anywhere, and try to finish the barn as fast as I can. It would be great to have it ready for spring. I have contacts; know a lot of people. Hopefully, I’ll open the ranch and already have riding groups scheduled and some horses coming for boarding.”
“What if you don’t find a job? Not right away?”
“I have a little money saved. I was using it to build this place, but if it comes down to it, I’ll use it to pay bills and such.” Running his hand through my hair, he closed his eyes. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
He was strong and determined. I knew he would be fine. However, that didn’t erase my worry.
I pressed a soft kiss on his chin. “Sleep. You’re probably about to die of exhaustion.” I started disentangling
myself from him.
His hands splayed on my back, keeping me in place, and his eyes shot open. “Where are you going?”
“Finals start tomorrow, and I should probably sleep in my dorm so I won’t be late.”
“Don’t go,” he whispered, the shine in his eyes pleading. “We’ll put an alarm clock for a little earlier, so you have plenty of time to get there, just don’t go.”
How could I resist that?
Smiling, I lay over him again. “If you want me to stay.”
He placed a finger under my chin and angled my mouth to his. “I do. I want you to stay.”
Chapter Thirty
I raced across campus, bumping into everyone and everything. I rushed through the building’s door and into the classroom, taking my seat with ten seconds to spare. The professor looked at me with an annoyed amusement.
I mouthed, “Sorry.”
He grabbed a pile of papers and started passing the stack around.
Of course, when the alarm rang this morning, I ignored it. Until Garrett shifted over me and did things to me that brought heat to my body even now. I pushed those memories back. This wasn’t time to have a meltdown. I had an exam to focus on, which was hard to do knowing I would see Garrett again tonight. The fraternity houses were holding the second to last mixer tonight, but he told me he would rather not go and spend the night with me at his cabin.
Once again, I reprimanded myself for not choosing to study, but how could I? Finally, Garrett and I were together. Finally, we were working things out. If I didn’t study, I wouldn’t fail. I just wouldn’t get great grades. Well, I would try to compensate for that next semester.
After I was done with my exams, I stopped by my dorm to take a shower and change clothes.
Breaking Fences (The Breaking Series) Page 26