“Sure,” he says with a shrug, and I narrow my eyes, because that was way too easy.
“I’m serious, Gareth. If I’m going to be living here with you and the boys, I’m going to do my part.”
“Yeah, and we’ll discuss all that after you move in.”
“No, we’ll talk about it before I move in.”
“After,” he says, and I start to see red.
“Before, Gareth,” I snap.
“After, Ember,” he growls.
“Aww, is all not well in paradise?” Beth asks, walking up the driveway toward us, and I spin to face her, hating the smug look on her face and the fact that she saw us arguing.
“I told you we have plans with the boys and not to show tonight, Beth. So why are you here?”
He did? I didn’t know he told her not to come over tonight.
“I told Max I’d buy him the video game he was talking about. I’m just dropping it off to him.” She waves the game she’s holding in her hand out toward us. “And relax, I’m not staying. I have a date.”
“Send whoever he is my condolences,” Gareth says, and I press my lips together to keep from laughing.
“Whatever.” She glares. “Are my boys inside?”
“Like I said, we have plans. Bring the game by tomorrow, or give it to me and I’ll give it to him.”
“And steal my thunder? No fucking way. He told me you refused to buy it for him.”
“Did he? Did he also tell you that I refused to buy it, because I have to pay for other shit, like food and the roof over his head?”
“God, you’re so fucking dramatic. Whatever. I’ll just bring the game to him tomorrow.” She spins on her heel and stomps to her car.
When she pulls off I turn to face Gareth and rest my hands against his waist and he tips his head down to look at me. “We’ll talk about the bills and stuff when I move in,” I give in hoping to ease some of the anger I can feel coming off him in waves. He closes his arms around me and I tip my head back. “Let’s just go get ready and try to have a good night tonight.”
“Yeah.” He dips his head, touching his mouth to mine briefly before leading me into the house.
When we get inside, Lidia leaves after saying she will be over tomorrow afternoon, and Gareth goes to make sure the boys are getting ready. I go to the bedroom, taking my bag with me, and shower quickly. Gareth comes in to take a shower while I’m curling my hair and leaves before I start my makeup. With my hair finished and my makeup done, I leave the bathroom to get dressed.
Once I put my heels on, I go back into the bathroom to check myself out in the mirror over the sink. Since there isn’t a full-length mirror in the house, I stand on my tiptoes trying to get the whole look. The black simple halter-top jumpsuit is a lot like the dress I wore on Gareth’s and my first date. It doesn’t show a lot of skin, but it’s still sexy in a sophisticated kind of way especially with my makeup and red lipstick.
“Jesus,” Gareth rumbles, and I find him standing in the doorway. I swallow as he walks toward me, devouring me with his eyes. “You look gorgeous.” His arms wrap around my hips and he drags me against him.
“Thank you. You look handsome.” I rest my hands against the smooth navy blue material of his dress shirt and his hands palm my ass.
“I know you said you want to go out with your girls tomorrow, and I’m cool with that, but you should know Mitchell is staying with a friend and Max is going to spend the night with his mom, so the house is ours.”
“I’ll make sure it’s an early night,” I say immediately.
“That’d be good.” He slides his nose across mine then my cheek to my ear, where he nips softly. “I’m still fucking you tonight.” His eyes drop to my feet briefly. “In nothing but those heels and that lipstick.”
“I’m good with that.” I move my hands to his shoulders panting and tingling in a few specific places. I lean deeper into him pressing my tits against his chest watching his eyes darken.
“We should go,” he says but he doesn’t move to let me go instead he lowers his head and kisses me so wet, and so deep that I’m breathless and weak-kneed when he drags his mouth from mine. “Meet you in the living room,” he says gruffly, wiping his hand against his mouth as he leaves. It takes me a minute to get myself together and when I finally do fix my lipstick then leave the bedroom knowing one way or another tonight will end well for me.
_______________
“I just can’t get over how handsome you both are. Aren’t they both so handsome?” Mom looks at my dad, and he gives her a non-committal grunt, which makes Mitchell and Max laugh.
“Mom, can you not freak out my boys with your craziness please?”
“Your boys? Oh, I love that.” She beams, and I fight the need to roll my eyes then feel a hand come to rest against my lower back.
I look over my shoulder at Gareth, and he nods toward the front door of the restaurant. “Our table is ready.”
“Yay. I, for one, am starving,” Mom says dramatically as we move through the crowd to get inside.
“Me too,” Max tells her, and she smiles down at him like he’s her new best friend.
“You are just like your mom,” Mitchell whispers, and I turn and mock glare at him as the hostess signals for us to follow her to the same staircase we went up last time we were here.
“Take that back,” I order.
“No way, it’s true. You’re both nuts,” he keeps whispering, and I hear my dad chuckle and Gareth make a noise like he’s trying not to.
“Just wait. You already said I could come to your next meet, and because of that comment, I’m going to totally embarrass you by screaming and acting a fool every time it’s your turn to run,” I threaten, and he grins then shrugs like he doesn’t care.
“This really is beautiful,” Mom says, looking around when we reach the top of the stairs and are led to a large round table. Just like before, the space is empty except for us, and I wonder if anyone ever really eats up here.
“Good evening. My name is Simon, and I will be your server this evening,” Simon says, coming forward grinning at Gareth the moment we’re seated. I barely cover the giggle that escapes with my napkin. When he walks away after taking our drink orders, Gareth places his hand on my thigh and squeezes, and I look at him.
“Any regrets now?” I ask just loud enough for him to hear.
His eyes stay locked on mine, and I watch a million emotions filter through his gaze before he captures my hand in his and brings it to his lips. “Not even one.”
I hear my dad make a sound and my mom pull in a sharp breath, and when I look at the boys, I notice they look content, happy, and relaxed. It’s right then I know I found the impossible, a real life happily ever after, and I promise myself that I will do everything within my power to take care of it.
Fifteen
Gareth
I STEP INTO the bar December asked me to pick her up from and scan the packed space, spotting Sage standing at the bar. I head his way, and the moment he sees me, he grins. “What’s up, man? You here to pick up December?” he asks, patting my shoulder.
“Yeah.” I do another scan, not seeing her from where I’m standing.
“Back left corner.” He lifts his chin, and I finally see her sitting at a high-top table, laughing along with her sister April. “Do you know my brothers Bax and Talon?”
I force my eyes off December and turn to face both men, noticing they look just like their dad, Nico. It’s something I probably should have realized about Talon when I saw December out at dinner with him, Sage, and Kim if I hadn’t been dealing with the jealousy I was feeling at the time.
“What’s up?” I shake both men’s hands, and then a moment later, Wes, Harlen, and Evan walk in, joining us at the bar, soon followed by Jax and Cobi as well.
“So who’s going to put a stop to that?” Wes asks, lifting his chin toward the table where the girls are seated, and I note a group of men have moved in. One of them is standing way too fucking c
lose to December, smiling down at her like she’s as cute as she fucking is.
I push away from the group and hear Evan mumble behind me, “Swear to Christ, I could put a rock on June’s finger big enough to be seen from Mars, and some dick would still think it’s okay to get up in her space.”
Fuck, December doesn’t even have a ring on her finger to let men who might hit on her know she belongs to someone, and that’s something I’m going to have to change… and fast. As soon as I reach the table, I glare at the guy who is still smiling like an idiot then lean down to kiss December’s cheek. “Hey, baby.” She turns to look at me and her eyes light up. Fuck, she’s beautiful.
“You’re here.” She stands, swaying slightly in the heels she has on, so I reach out to steady her with my hand on her waist. “I was just telling this nice guy—” She points at the guy, who is now looking at me with wide eyes. “—that my boyfriend would be here soon, and then poof! Here you are.”
“Here I am,” I confirm.
“You should know—” She rests her hands against my stomach. “—I’m a little drunk.” She lifts one hand between us and holds her fingers an inch apart.
“I can see that.” I smile, touching my fingers to her cheeks that are tinged with pink from the alcohol she’s drunk.
“You should also know—” She lifts up on her tiptoes so our faces are close. “—I’ve never had drunk sex before.”
Jesus, my hold on her automatically tightens, and I look around the table at the girls, along with Wes, Harlen, Jax, Cobi, Sage, and his brothers. “We’re out of here,” I announce, listening to her giggle as I lift her off her feet, and laughter erupts behind us as I carry her away from the table and out of the bar.
When we reach my SUV, I open the passenger side door and place her inside then run around the hood. “Can we stop by McDonald’s?” she asks, putting on her seat belt as I get in behind the wheel.
I turn to look at her. “Pardon?”
“Can we stop at McDonald’s? I really want a hamburger.”
“Babe, you just told me you’ve never had drunk sex. I’m not taking you to McDonald’s. I’m taking you home and fucking you.”
“Oh.” She licks her lips, dropping her eyes to my mouth. “I like your plan better.” Shaking my head, I capture her behind the neck and pull her forward to kiss her quickly.
“Glad you approve.” I release her and back out of my parking space. The drive home only takes a few minutes, and the moment I pull into the driveway, I shut down the engine and get out, meeting her at her door just as she’s opening it. I lift her from her seat, and her legs wrap around my hips as I carry her inside. When I get the front door closed, I cover her mouth with mine, not bothering with the lights as I walk her through the house to the bedroom before stopping just inside to press her against the wall.
“Where is Sloth?” she asks, and it takes a second for me to remember we now have a dog.
“With Max.”
“Oh,” she says, and then her fingers push through my hair. “Why are you stopping?”
“I’m not.” I smile tearing her dress off over her head. I slide her panties to the side, finding her soaking wet, and thrust two fingers inside her.
“Oh, God.” Her head falls back and she moans my name while her pussy clamps down around my fingers. Wanting inside her more than I want my next breath, I drag my fingers from her slick heat and lick them off before I free myself from my jeans.
“This is going to be fast,” I warn, wrapping one hand around my cock and hooking her knee up over my elbow, and I thrust into her in one smooth stroke. “Fuck there is nothing better than being inside you,” I groan, resting my forehead against hers, waiting for the urge to come to pass before sliding out and back in again. Her nails dig into my shoulders and her heels dig into my ass as I fuck her hard. “Touch your clit, baby.” Her hand slides between us, and I watch her fingers roll her clit, feeling her walls clamp down around me.
“Gareth.”
I pull her away from the wall and carry her to the bed, placing her on the edge. “Lose the bra and panties,” I demand while lifting my shirt over my head and dropping it to the floor. I turn on the light then kick off my boots along with my jeans and place myself back between her legs, holding her open with my hands on her inner thighs. I slide into her, watching myself disappear, and then groan when she cups her breast with one hand. She slowly moves her fingers down her stomach and rubs her clit.
Breathing heavy and lightheaded from the orgasm building, I thrust into her hard and hiss her name as she starts to come, forcing me to follow. With the little strength I have left, I lift her in my arms, putting one knee in the bed then the other, before I fall to my side, settling her against me. When our breaths even out, I trail my fingers down her cheek and ask quietly, “Are you asleep?”
“No,” she whispers then lifts her head and grins down at me. “Drunk sex is awesome.” Laughing, I slide my hand up into her hair and pull her head down so I can kiss her then tuck her face against my neck. “I love you,” she whispers against my skin, and those three words seep into my soul, filling me up in ways I never imagined.
“I love you too.” I tip my head down to kiss her hair then curl her deeper into my side. When her weight settles into me and her quiet snores fill my ears, I carefully get up and adjust her in the bed, dragging the covers over her before I go to the bathroom. Once again, I didn’t use a condom, and although I know I shouldn’t want her to get pregnant before she has my ring on her finger and my last name, I’d secretly be thrilled if it happened, which goes to show just how far gone I am.
I clean myself up then take a rag to the bed and do the same for her before tossing the cloth toward the bathroom and getting back into bed. Once I’m settled, she seeks me out, burrowing into my side, and I curve my arm around her back then reach up to shut out the light and follow her off to sleep.
_______________
“It’s Sunday. I’m not going! I’m hanging at home with Dad and December,” I hear Mitchell shout, and I stop the treadmill and hop off, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat off my face.
“You can’t keep avoiding me!” Beth shouts back as I step around the corner into the living room, where she and Mitchell are facing off. Max is sitting on the couch, with Sloth at his feet and December is standing at the edge of the hall that leads to our bedroom.
“Beth, maybe—” December starts, and Beth turns on her, holding her hand up and cutting her off.
“You are not in this, bitch.”
“Mom!” Max cries as Mitchell growls, “Don’t talk to December like that.”
“I can talk to her however I want!”
“No, you absolutely can-fucking-not,” I say and she turns, narrowing her eyes on me.
“Mitchell is my son, Gareth. Your girlfriend is not involved in my relationship with him.”
“When you’re in her house, it’s most definitely her business, and when it comes to the boys, she has the right to share how she feels. And—” I lean forward to emphasize my point. “—if I ever hear something like that come out your mouth toward her again, you and I are going to have issues.”
“Is she living here with you and my kids?”
“Your kids?” Mitchell’s voice is full of disgust, and Beth turns away to look at him. “We aren’t yours.”
She plants her hands on her hips. “I gave birth to you, Mitchell, so as much as you might not like it, you’re still my kid.”
“Being a mom is more than giving birth to a child.” He shakes his head. “You’d get that if you ever stuck around for more than a few weeks at a time.”
“I have a career that keeps me on the road, Mitchell,” she says defensively.
“You’re a glorified bartender for washed up rock stars. You’re not working for the government trying to accomplish world peace,” he fires at her.
Shit, I know it’s wrong, but I still feel my lips twitch.
“I can’t believe—” She turns, pointing at me
. “—you are allowing him to speak to me like this.”
“He has a right to tell you how he feels, Beth. And sometimes, the truth is a hard pill to swallow.”
“You’ve brainwashed him.” She glares at me then points at December. “You and her have turned him against me!”
“No they haven’t.” Max shoots up from the couch, and Sloth stands with him, barking once. “Dad wouldn’t do that, and neither would December.”
“Max.” She points at him. “You need to stay out of this.”
“Why?” he asks, moving to stand next to his brother. “Mitchell is right. You’re not around; you’re never around.”
“Are you going to tell me she has been? You don’t even know her.”
“This isn’t about December,” Mitchell states, crossing his arms over his chest and looking much older than he is. “This is about you and the fact that you have been out of our lives more than you’ve been in them.”
“I’m trying to change that. Why do you think I’m moving back to town? I want to work on my relationship with you boys.”
“I heard you,” Max whispers sadly, and my muscles seize from the pain I hear in his voice. “I heard you last night, when you thought I was sleeping. You said that you were leaving here soon and that you couldn’t wait to get back out on the road.”
“I….” She steps toward him, and he steps back. “You misheard me. I’m just leaving for a few weeks, and then I’ll be back.”
“I know,” he agrees. “You always come back. I also know you always leave again. It’s okay; I get it. It’s who you are.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” she snaps, and I see his bottom lip start to tremble right before he turns and takes off down the hall to his room, slamming the door before Sloth can get in with him.
Fuck.
“Oh no,” December whispers, going to follow him, but Beth lunges to block her path. I move forward quick, but not quick enough. December spins around and places her hand in Beth’s chest, shoving her back. “Do not try to get between me and my boy,” she hisses, looking like a pissed off mama bear. “Get out of this house.” She looks at me. “She needs to leave.”
Until December: Until Her/ Until Him Page 20