by Rae, Harloe
“I’m trying to be romantic, Trip.”
“And I’m being realistic. I have to protect myself.”
“From what?”
I gesture between us. “This isn’t a guarantee. I don’t have much trust left to spare.”
“I put that hurt there,” he says and brushes under my eyes. “The distrust has buried your belief. I’ll bring it back, though.”
“Yeah? Then tell me why I wasn’t good enough. You should have come back for me, no matter what.”
Zeke is quiet for a minute. Finally, he says, “I did.”
I shuffle backward. “What’s that?”
He rubs over the scruff coating his jaw. “No one knew about it. This was a few years after I’d left. I wanted to check on you. I laid low and poked around, staying out of sight. Turns out you weren’t in Garden Grove.”
“College,” I say, filling in the blanks.
“I guess? Regardless, that solidified my decision. You were off living and didn’t need me. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I was glad in the end.”
“That was a shitty assumption.”
“Yeah, Trip. I fucking know. I’ve made a lot of really stupid mistakes. We’re moving forward, right?”
“You ruined me,” I croak. When he reaches for me, I dodge his touch.
Zeke’s brow furrows. “Trip, I thought—”
I slash through the air, cutting him off without a word. I stand in a flurry, more than ready to rip this flimsy Band-Aid off. Zeke follows suit, launching up in one fluid motion. For weeks, this tether between us has been pulling taut. With each beat, the strain gets tighter, threatening to snap. It was bound to happen eventually. A crushing wave of sadness slams into me, drowning me on the spot. I can’t breathe or escape or understand how the hell we got into this position.
With a crack of thunder, drops begin falling from the sky. Go fucking figure. The only thing missing from this shitstorm was rain, so at least there’s a cherry on top. In seconds, I’m completely drenched, and not in the good way. My sloppy state feeds the fury, adding weight to the breaking point.
I shiver against the cold splatter, but outrage burns across my skin. “You broke us, Zeke!” I yell through the whipping wind. “You shattered me and wrecked yourself too by the looks of it. I hope staying away was worth it.”
He stalks into my personal space. “I did it for you!” Zeke roars.
I fling the wet hair off my cheeks. “Oh? You walked out of my life, broke my heart, and destroyed my faith in love for my benefit? That’s so sweet.”
Zeke’s eyes flash, like a streak of lightning. “It’s about damn time I fixed us.”
CRASH
Zeke
WHILE DELILAH CRUDELY lists my crimes against her, I obliterate the space between us. I hate the way she’s looking at me, like the man in front of her is a stranger. But in many ways, I am. We’re solving this shit once and for all, right the fuck now, and I know exactly how to make that happen.
Before she can blink, I have Delilah hoisted into my arms and pressed against our tree. There’s a reason we chose this one—the smooth bark is forgiving on her back. A boom of thunder explodes, and we crash together. Our angry words die as my mouth slams against hers, punishing and brutal.
I feel the instant Delilah surrenders, her resistance melting away like snow in the sun. Her lips open for me, and I moan while our tongues twist together. I take full advantage, plunging deeper. This time she greets me, giving back what I’m taking. Our movements are a frantic blur, yet we can’t get naked fast enough. The furious rain pelts against our heated skin, ensuring we don’t go up in flames.
Delilah rips her mouth away and begs, “Please, Zee. Don’t make me wait.” Her legs cinch around my waist, and she bucks against me.
“Fuck, Trip. You’re too damn sexy. I’m never gonna last.”
“Who the hell cares. Just get inside me,” she pants.
Delilah’s skirt is the greatest blessing. I’m granted fast access between her thighs with a flip of denim. Her flimsy bikini bottoms are no match for my strength, and I tear the fabric with a savage jerk. I manage to shove my shorts down just far enough without losing the grip on her hip. In the next breath, I’m sliding inside her, joining us as one.
“Holy shit.” Delilah’s wail pierces me while her nails dig into my shoulders.
I grind my teeth, firing off a round of expletives. Delilah is so damn tight, and it feels like our first time all over again. Her strangle hold on my dick is unforgiving as I piston in and out. The pinch of pain fends off the release that’s already rushing forward.
“You wanna scream and yell? Let me hear you,” I demand.
“It f-feels so d-damn good,” she stammers.
I grunt and punch forward. “More.”
Delilah claws into my neck, the skin there screaming, but I hardly feel it. “You’re so fucking big, Zee. I almost forgot how far you stretch me. You’re gonna split me in half,” she whimpers.
I hum along her tilted jaw. “You’d love that.”
She nods. “So much.”
“I’m gonna make sure you’re still feeling me tomorrow,” I growl.
“Y-yes! Please,” she moans.
Delilah pushes down, grinding into me. I thrust harder in response, wanting to give what she’s seeking. This needs to be good for her, but I’m ready to blow. My skin is sizzling, and I feel higher than the stormy clouds. I grip her ass cheek, using my hold to propel faster and deeper. I’m hammering her with brutal force and for a split second, it seems too rough. But when Delilah screams for more, my second-guessing vanishes with another powerful thrust.
This is sex with a purpose—to reclaim what we’ve lost.
Soft touches and sweet words don’t belong here. We’re screwing the anger out and releasing our pain. Years of pent-up feelings are pouring down with the rain. The slap of skin surrounds us, the sound filthy and erotic. Delilah scratches down my back. I grip her ass so tight the skin is bound to bruise. She squeezes me past pain, and I jerk her closer in response.
“Fuck,” I snarl. “You want it to hurt?”
Delilah’s breath hitches with rapid inhales. “I just need to know this is real.”
I bite her collarbone. “Nothing has ever been this real.”
She bends back until wet hair tickles my hand on her hip. “Never stop,” she pleads.
“Have you missed this?” I ask, accentuating the question with a forceful plunge.
I watch her throat move with a harsh swallow. “E-every day.”
I bring Delilah flush against me, setting an unbreakable rhythm. She slips back and forth, riding me so fucking good. I stare into her forest green eyes when they collide with my sky blue. Then focus on her open mouth. I slow down for a moment and suck her bottom lip between my teeth. Delilah gasps, and my gaze bounces back to hers.
“You’re mine, Delilah. Always have been.”
She clutches fistfuls of my hair and steers me closer. “Yes,” she murmurs.
I bury my nose into her neck and inhale, groaning at the sweet scent. I assault her delicate skin, alternating between nips and licks. My hand latches onto her hip while the other sticks to her ass like glue. She squirms in my hold, moaning so loudly my ears are buzzing.
“Say it,” I demand, needing to hear it.
“I’m yours,” Delilah says. “All yours. Always.”
That flips a hidden switch I didn’t know existed. All at once, I melt and turn to stone, an electrical current blasting into me at an alarming rate. I discover another level and surge forward even stronger.
“I’ve got you, Trip. You’ll always be mine, dammit.”
“No doubt,” she whispers against my cheek.
Once upon a time, we were fumbling rookies without a clue. The years have changed us in this way, too. We aren’t questioning anything in this moment. There’s no hesitating or sloppy missteps. We’re not afraid to devour each other. My strokes are sure and confident, her body welcoming me deeper.
Desperation jolts through me when I buck upward, driving her further against the tree.
“You’re so fucking wet,” I mutter. And she is. My cock glides in before dragging out with zero resistance. Delilah’s legs are spread impossibly wide, but she doesn’t complain. Quite the opposite as she manages to arch further, giving me the freedom to adjust and hit a new angle.
“Make me come,” she wheezes.
I circle my hips and rub faster, trying to hit her clit. Delilah’s loud gasp lets me know I’ve struck gold.
“Yes, there! Holy shit, yes!” Delilah has never been more agreeable.
“I can’t hold off much longer.”
“Me either,” she pants.
“That’s my girl.” I’ve never been more thankful for her quick trigger than this moment. Lust thrums in my veins, overpowering everything else. The need to conquer every piece of her possess me, and I slam forward even harder. Blinding heat scorches up my spine, and my eyes cross from the mounting pressure. The bomb inside of me explodes, utter destruction to my grasp on reality. I clench my jaw while unbearable pleasure rips at me. Delilah’s clenching so fucking hard that I feel every wave while she shudders in my arms.
I erupt with a roar at the same time Delilah screams, “Oh, oh! K-keep going. I’m g-gonna . . . Yesssssss!”
We’re clutching each other so tight, no space exists between us. I jolt with each shot, giving her all of me. Delilah’s entire body is locked up and tense. Mine is the same way. When the searing white light clears from my vision, I rest my forehead against hers. Our panting breaths mingle with each forceful exhale. In the midst of everything, I realize it’s no longer raining, and Delilah’s bliss is sparkling across her damp skin.
“Holy shit,” Delilah sputters.
“Damn,” I blow out. “Sorry if I was too rough.”
She shakes her head against mine. “Never apologize for that.”
I take a few steps back, and Delilah loosens her grip. I slowly lower her to the ground. When she’s standing, I go to yank up my shorts and stop short with a curse.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
I release a heavy breath. “I didn’t wear a condom.”
“Oh,” she says simply.
When I look up, she’s biting her lip and avoiding eye contact. “I fucked up, Trip.”
“It’s okay,” Delilah murmurs.
I stare deep into her, finding the truth reflecting there. “Yeah? We’re safe?”
She nods and tucks some hair behind her ear. “I still have an IUD. No worries.”
I scrub the back of my neck, unsure how to bring up the other concern. I swallow bile just thinking of her with someone else.
“But what about . . .” I trail off, hoping she gets the hint.
Delilah’s foot digs into the muddy ground. “Uh, well . . . I’m clean, if that’s what you’re implying.”
I wait a beat before responding, my face heating with the impending confession. “Okay, good. Same here.” I clear the sand from my throat. “There isn’t any threat considering I haven’t slept with anyone in years.”
Her head jerks up. “Really? Wow. I never would have guessed that.”
I chuckle, a little pressure easing off my chest. “Why? You assume I was fucking around?”
“I didn’t think that was a possibility. You’re super-hot, like a walking advertisement for getting laid. This is the prime of your life and all that. How did you manage this?”
I shrug her words off. “Because I’ve only wanted one girl. If I couldn’t have her, there was no point in trying.”
A strangled cough escapes her. “Oh my God.”
I smirk at her reaction. “Crazy, huh?”
Delilah gasps. “Wait. Are you really saying—”
“I haven’t had sex since we made love under the stars five years ago,” I finish for her.
Her lips part as she studies my expression, seeking and searching. Her eyes glisten in the low lighting and she blinks quickly. “I’m trying to figure out what to say,” she tells me honestly.
“Does this change your mind about me?” I joke.
Delilah sniffs. “Just the opposite, Zee. That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. It also makes it easy to admit I haven’t slept with anyone either.”
Shock barrels into me and I gape. “No way, Trip.”
“There’s only been you for me,” she continues. “I’ve been close, sure. But when the moment came, I could never share myself with someone else.” She laughs, the noise hollow. “I hated that weakness. I was holding out for a man who might as well be a ghost.”
Delilah gathers her hair and drapes it over one shoulder. She turns slightly until her tattoo is in full view, exposed to me in more ways than one. Her fingers tremble when they brush over the patch of colorful ink. Suddenly I can’t take a decent breath, my throat squeezing in a vice.
“This is my tribute to you . . . and us. I created the design and had it done on my eighteenth birthday. Even when you didn’t come back, I never regretted the decision. I want you with me always,” Delilah explains.
I stare at the array of blooming hydrangeas, begonias, and camellias. Those are her favorites. But the letters in the center of it have me gasping. Hidden within a few petals are our nicknames, curved into a heart. We’re permanently marked on her body in an ultimate gesture of devotion. I feel like my lungs are failing. How can this be real? Why would she do this for me?
In the next second, she’s wrapped in my arms. The hug is fierce and expresses all the emotion bubbling through me. “I love you so fucking much,” I murmur.
She lifts her face to look at me. “I love you, Zee. Always.”
“This is all so . . . unbelievable.” The awe easily slips off my tongue.
“I know we planned to get tattoos together, but I couldn’t wait. I wanted to surprise you, and better late than never. Mission accomplished, I guess.”
“Will you go with me to get one?” Getting her name scrawled across my ribs is suddenly all I can think about.
Delilah nods. “Of course, but don’t feel obligated.”
I shake my head. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”
“I can design something for you. I mean, if you’re sure.”
My eyes sting and I smile. “You’re all I’ve ever seen, and that will never change.”
Her nails dance along my jaw. “Same for me. I’ve missed you so much.”
I kiss Delilah’s cheek, tasting the salt of tears long overdue. She’s finally letting me see her again. I hold up my hand and she places her palm against mine, our fingers forming parallel lines. Hopefully we’re going in the same direction.
My lips sweep along her forehead. “I’ve never stopped loving you, Trip. Even when I made the choice to stay away, you were always on my mind. In some warped way, I was trying to protect you. That decision had nothing to do with my feelings for you.”
She shivers, and I drag her tighter against me. “I wish you’d found a way to tell me that,” she whispers.
“I know, D. But it’s gonna be better now. I’ll regain your trust and fix everything.” I press her palm to my ribs, moving our joined hands along the ridges. “These wounds have healed,” I start, referring to the countless sprains and breaks I faced under my father’s hand. I drag her fingers up until she’s touching my temple. “But there's still a battle happening in here.”
She brushes my hair away. “I miss the hope in your eyes. Let me show you the good again.”
I lean into her touch. “I want that. I miss the guy from five years ago.”
“Me too. But he’s still in here,” she says and strokes over my left pec.
I kiss her softly, pouring so much between the brief press of our lips. “You’re so beautiful, baby.”
Delilah snuggles closer. “You’re beyond words. I can’t believe this is happening.”
We’re quiet for a few moments, just content with being intertwined. But when Delilah trembles, I realize the temperature
has dropped significantly. “Should we go? I’d love to hold you all night, but we’re soaked.”
She pats the wet fabric stuck to my chest. “I don’t mind you this way. You’re extremely sexy. So ripped,” she purrs, and her hand slides down my torso.
I pause her descent. “Keep going and you’ll be against that tree all over again.”
Delilah tries to escape my hold with a light tug. “Promise?”
“Absolutely, but not here. I want to worship you in a bed.”
“Round two?”
“At least. I think we’ve fucked the anger out of our systems. We needed to blow off some steam, huh?” I chuckle, and she wrinkles her nose. “From now on, it’s about spreading the love.”
Delilah hums. “We have a lot of making up to do.”
I bump our hips together, letting her know I’m more than ready. “Your place or mine?”
YOURS
Delilah
I WAKE WITH a jolt, my eyes flinging wide open. It takes a few moments for the memories of last night to break through the fog. I stretch, and a dull ache pinches between my legs, offering a lovely souvenir. A satisfied moan escapes my curved lips at that.
I press my mental rewind button and review our methods for testing the box springs. Zeke proved he still knows my body better than I do. And I was all too happy to let him show me, over and over. My smile grows when I glance at him lying naked beside me. I’m content to continue lounging and replaying the sexcapades in my head. Until I get a glimpse of the clock.
“Shit,” I whisper-yell into the fading darkness. I have to get a move on and haul ass downstairs. I’m already running behind. After another look at Zeke’s resting face, I swing my legs off the mattress.
His raspy voice halts my movements. “Making a fast getaway?”
I grin at his accusation. Without turning around, I explain, “I have to work.”
“No rest for the owner, huh?”
I peek over my shoulder, which is a mistake. This time my gawking involves his entire . . . package. Zeke is sprawled out with the paper-thin sheet hanging low on his hips. One muscular arm is behind his head, propping him up. That bulging bicep beckons me, sparking a highlight reel of his virility and strength. My toes curl into the plush carpet, and I try to ignore the buzz racing through me. Then Zeke’s fingers on the other hand begin making a slow trail along his flexing abs. Down and down until he’s tracing the hem on the fabric barely covering his growing erection. The outline of all that hardness is on full display, and I want to be the one touching. My mouth waters and getting out of bed has never been so difficult.