But I don’t just want to sleep with her. I’m obsessed with everything about the woman—her curves, her personality, the innocent way she sees the world. Her spark and vivacity when she talks about plants. How she’s taking care of her grandmother and little brother, caring and worried, and willing to sacrifice herself so that they can have a better life. There isn’t a mean bone in her body, and I love her all the more for it.
WTF? Love? I must be going fucking nuts. That’s the only explanation. And yet, it feels good because I care about the woman, and have been doing things I’ve never done before. For example, caught up in Trina’s story, I offered to send money to her family.
Trina looked shocked when I mentioned the money. Blushing, she stammered, “I’m sorry?”
Amused, I raised a dark eyebrow. “I hope I’m not being overbearing, but sweetheart, you know I can help. It’s no trouble. I’ve got plenty of what you’re lacking right now, so just tell me how much. I won’t take no for an answer.” I said this with finality so she knew I wasn’t kidding.
She’d stammered again, unable to compute. “I-I’m not sure,” she stammered. “It’s just … I mean ….”
In that moment, my heart pounded hard enough for me to feel it in my throat. A surge of protectiveness rose up in me. “It’s nothing,” I said roughly. “Take the money, pretty girl. It comes from a good place.”
Because shit, she’s been going it alone for so damn long. There was no way she was going to deal with all this hard stuff on her own again as long as I was concerned. I wanted to make her life easier, so that she could relax a bit, the stiffness in her shoulders dissipating.
After staring at me for a long time, she finally spoke in a murmur, her brown eyes wide. “Would five hundred be okay?” she asked, her cheeks flushing pink. She continued quickly, “I’ll pay you back as soon as I’m able.” It was obvious she fully expected me to withdraw my offer for some reason or other.
My laughter was instantaneous. She was so damn cute. Because shit, five hundred is nothing to a guy like me. Not even a drop in the bucket. Even less, like loose change you pick up on the pavement.
“Five hundred’s not enough, sweetheart. There’s three of you, and doesn’t Mickey need to visit the doctor as well? He has a bad cough, you said. Let’s make it fifty thousand.” Even that amount of money is nothing to me. Knight Investments makes five times that much in a lunch break.
Trina’s eyes went wide and she stammered, obviously on the verge of telling me that was too much money, but I wouldn’t take no for an answer. Because my girl needs help and I have the means to provide. Besides, it feels so good to take care of a sweet, giving girl who has no one else in the world.
But unfortunately, that girl’s about to be sold at auction to a group of hungry billionaires. Those assholes. My hackles raise again at the thought, a low growl coming from my chest. Because I want Trina all to myself. Not this stupid two-week set-up that have at the Billionaires Club. Not the rent and return business model the auction entails. I want more than that—I want her as mine for as long as these crazy feelings last, which I suspect, could be for a long while.
That’s why I’m taking her out on a date today. A real one. And it’s not just an invitation to my room to fuck. This date is something fun to take her mind off her money troubles and everything else she’s been worrying about. She’s supposed to be in that limo on her way to Club Headquarters with the rest of the girls, but I’ve pulled her off the line.
After all, my girl’s been scrabbling her whole life and hasn’t had time to have fun. She’s young and vibrant and deserves to enjoy life a little.
Taking her to Six Flags in Jersey should help with that. With a grin, I grab my wallet and keys. I can’t wait to see her face light up when she figures out where we’re going.
***
“Oh my God! I can’t believe this!” Trina bounces up and down in the back seat of my chauffeured Town Car as the driver brings us to a stop outside Six Flags. “This is so amazing! When you said we were going out this afternoon, I never thought...” Her big brown eyes are wide and sparkling as they eat up the sight of the snaking roller coasters, the towering rides, and tall trees making up the silhouette of the park. After taking a deep breath, she turns to me. “Thank you, Grayson. I’ve never been here before.” She pauses, embarrassed. “It’s a little more than I can afford, with everything else going on.”
Her happiness is contagious and I can’t even hide my pleased grin. Like a sap, I brush the back of my fingers against her soft cheek. “I know, sweetheart. You can pay me back later.” As if I’d ever allow her to give me back a single dime. “Come on, the park is waiting.”
But my cell phone rings a second later. It’s a familiar ringtone.
“One second, sweetheart.” I pluck the phone out of my pants pocket and step to the side, hoping the call isn’t going to be too bad. I know how I fucked up. “Hello, Mother.”
“Darling!” My mother’s clear New England accent barrels out at me through the phone. “I was worried you’d be too busy with your hooligan friends to answer your own mother’s call.” She chuckles like she just told the funniest joke.
“You know I always have time for you, Mother,” I say with a grimace at Trina, who stares at me in shock. Why, does she think I just hatched from a gorgon or something? Despite my mother’s chiding voice on the phone and the scene I know that’s about to come, I smile.
Even though I want Trina exactly where she is, I don’t want her to hear me talking to my mother. That woman can make me feel like a kid in a high chair with just a few words.
Ah, well, it’s not like I have a choice right now.
“If that were true, Gray, my darling, you would’ve been up to visit this past weekend like you promised.”
Shit! Was that last Saturday? I thought she was going to ream me out for not RSVP’ing to her charity holiday ball.
“Mother—”
“You don’t have to say another word, darling. I can tell you forgot all about the woman who gave birth to you.” She makes a noise like a wounded animal, but it’s only a little bit sad because it sounds like she’s laughing at the same time. “I just hope those little boys you gallivant with all over the city can provide you with a nice home-cooked meal and forgiveness when you need it the most.”
Jesus, where does this lady get this stuff? Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I run a hand through my hair and wince when I see Trina’s look of surprise slowly melt away to become something else.
“I’m sorry, Mother, I did forget about dinner with you and Pop. It’s my fault.”
On the seat next to me, Trina watches me with fascination. Her big, brown eyes are wide and a small smile curves up her pretty red mouth. I turn away so she doesn’t see the slight embarrassed red in my cheeks.
“Well, you can make it up to us by making another date with us for sometime soon and actually follow through.” Although her tone is firm and motherly, I can hear the steel behind it. “Can you do that, my darling son?”
Of course I can. I’m absolutely helpless against the women I love. “I’ll set up something with you and Pop soon. Maybe for next weekend?”
“Check your calendar and let me know for sure,” Mother says airily as if she didn’t just make me feel like a little boy in his time-out chair. “We’ll have your favorites for dinner while you squirm with guilt and make sure you never stand us up for a meal ever again.”
“When you put it that way, how can a good son resist?” I ask drolly.
“Oh, lovely. I hoped you would say that.” She laughs and the sound is more of a girlish giggle. In the background, I can hear Pop grumbling about something, his voice raised like he’s asking her a question.
“Okay, Gray. I must go. Your father misplaced his medication again, for the umpteenth time. Chat soon!” Then she hangs up.
God. That’s my mom for you. A Category 10 hurricane on her best days, a Category 20 on her worst. Shaking my head, I carefully lock the
screen of my phone and tuck the cell back my pocket.
“Is everything okay?” Trina’s mouth trembles like she’s trying not to laugh.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “I do believe I’m about to die of embarrassment.”
“You look fine enough to me,” Trina says, finally laughing. Her giggles fill the car with pure happiness.
“It’s all happening on the inside,” I say, shaking my head. “My mother… Well, she’s a little crazy, as you can tell. Both of my folks are.”
“But they love you.”
The longing on her face makes my chest tighten with emotion. “Yes, they love me.” There’s nothing else I can say to that. For years, I thought my parents were regular people, just like everybody else’s. Only later when I started to really get to know my friends from school and their home life, did I realize how rare it is to have parents who were still in love, still together, and who made sure their kids knew they were loved unconditionally.
“You’re very lucky,” Trina says in a soft voice. She meets my eyes. “But you seem like you know it.”
“I do, believe me. And I’m grateful for it. When I was growing up, I took them for granted, but not anymore. I spend nearly every holiday with them, and when I can’t be with them at the family home, I make sure to send cards, presents, and sometimes even a silly video to entertain them. They do the same thing for me.”
“When I have kids, I want to give them a life like that.” Trina smiles despite the shimmer of tears in her eyes. “They’ll never have to wonder if I love them.”
I reach out my hand and smile when she takes it, blushing like a newly plucked rose. “I don’t doubt for a minute that you will,” I growl. “You’d make a wonderful mother, Trina.” Suddenly, possessiveness rips through my frame because the thought of this curvy girl, ripe and pregnant with my child makes the air evaporate from my lungs. I literally can’t breathe for a moment, my blue eyes burning into her warm brown ones. Because it’s right. So utterly right that I feel it in my bones.
But then the moment passes, and blushing, she pulls away and tucks a lock of her curly brown hair behind her ear.
Yeah, maybe this is a little too intense. I clear my throat. “You ready for the park?”
“More than ready,” she says shyly, shooting me a sweet look. We get out of the car and after I tell the driver to come get us at closing time, before heading into Six Flags together. A lighter air descends, dispelling the suddenly charged moment when my heart awoke. Because that’s what happened. I wouldn’t trade my place for anywhere else in the world right now. This is about being with Trina and making her happy by any means necessary.
The pretty girl skips along at my side on our way into the park. She’s so excited that she can’t even keep still, and I absolutely love it. In her green dress, she practically glows. Trina walks in the black ballet flats that make her feet look delicate, and her thick, shining brown hair flutters in the breeze. Of course, she smells incredible. A little bit like the floral shampoo in her room, and a lot like a sexy and almost-innocent woman.
As we walk, her hand brushes mine. It feels like the most natural thing in the world to take her hand and link our fingers together. Blushing, she looks up at me, her brown eyes amazed and happy.
“Is this okay?” She points her chin at our linked hands.
“Absolutely,” I rumble. “As long as it’s okay with you.”
“Oh Gray,” she sighs happily, her eyes sparkling up at me. “It’s definitely okay with me.”
Smiling at each other, we walk all over the park, holding hands. In my foolish chest, my heart beats fast and hard. I have no idea what I’m doing with Trina but it feels so good, I don’t even care.
Trina and I try a few low-key rides and after the last one, end up walking some more and eating everything and anything we want. After a couple of hours, we stop under a tall tree to catch our breath and finish off our ice cream cones.
Above us, one of the many rides rattles on its tracks, its wooden cars filled with people chugging up and up toward the sky. From nearby the sound of squeals bursts through the air. Children, women, and a few guys yell out with excitement as their ride plunges down toward the earth.
“That looks like fun,” she says, pointing to the Green Lantern ride.
It’s pretty high and although I’ve it plenty of times before, I’m not sure if she’s ready for it. But I ask her anyway. “Do you want to try it?”
“Sure, but later maybe,” she says with a wry smile. “We ate so much that I think I might puke instead of really having any fun.”
“Later then. For now, let’s try the Skyride,” I tell her. “It’s nice and slow and shouldn’t upset your stomach too much.”
“That’s a great idea!” she burbles, taking my hand as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Up on the ride, we sit together and enjoy a nice and slow tour across the park. The view is satisfying, not just of Six Flags, but of her pretty face too, all lit up like a Christmas tree.
“This is the best day ever,” she gushes with a big smile. “Thank you, Gray”
The smell of her, the way she looks happy and bright enough to power an entire city makes me feel warm inside. I pull her even closer to me and she leans into my chest with a sigh. Her soft body arches into mine and it’s a weight I would gladly support for the rest of my life.
Wait. Where did that thought come from?
Very gently, I pull away from her, frowning. My side immediately feels cold after we move apart. And that coldness feels wrong, but I have to abide by the rules.
“Is everything okay?” Trina asks, concerned. “Do you feel sick?”
Can I tell her? No. Maybe. But how can I tell her that I’ve never enjoyed another woman the way I’m enjoying her now? We only met a few days ago and already I see her in my life for a damn long time.
“Yeah, everything is good. I just thought about some stuff from work.” Damn, that’s a bad lie. Even her sick little kid brother would probably see through that one. But my Trina is so damn trusting. She accepts what I say as the truth, nodding.
“Well,” she says, shyly reaching out and taking my hand, “like you told me when you picked me up today, just ignore your worries for now and enjoy the day out. There’s plenty of time to worry tomorrow.”
And she’s right. What’s the point of worrying when I have her with me? Plus, she wants to be here, too. The sex with her blows my mind and her kindness and sweet nature are just the things I crave in my cold and cynical life.
“You’re absolutely right, sweetheart.” With a grin, I reverse the position of our hands so I’m the one holding hers. Her fingers are so soft and they feel perfect clasped in mine. With our hands joined, our bodies naturally gravitate toward each other and soon, we’re pressed side by side again. Trina smells sweet and sensuous, making my body stiffen once more.
But all too soon, the ride comes to a stop. Fortunately, because it’s a weekday and nobody’s in line, we stay on. It sails back over the park.
“Tell me, Trina,” I begin.
“Yes, Grayson?” A teasing smile curves up her red mouth. A faint arousal throbs in my dick but I ignore it.
“Why did you stay a virgin for so long?”
She aims a shy look at me. “Are you complaining?” Although she’s sassing me, a blush colors her soft cheeks.
I stroke the center of her palm with two fingers and smile at the delicate shivers that quake her sexy body. “You know better than that,” I rasp, enjoying the unexpected way she’s teasing me. “I’m into everything about you.”
She blushes again. So damn cute. What I said is absolutely true. Everything about this girl is right for me.
“Well, you know what I told you about my parents,” Trina trails off.
“Yes, they left you and your brother.” Those assholes deserve to be tarred and feathered for abandoning a teenager, and with a young kid to take care of too. Just sickening.
“Yeah, after that,
I didn’t trust people to stick around, you know.” She nibbles on her bottom lip, worry tucked into the soft spaces in her eyes. Like she wasn’t sure just how much to share with me. “My body...my body isn’t the most ideal according to society so I wanted to be sure that anybody I shared it with in such an intimate way...” Her eyes flicker up to mine, filled with worry. “I guess I just wanted to make sure they stuck around afterwards, and there’s never been anybody I trusted like that.”
But she trust me now. “Trina—”
“No,” she bites her lip. “I’m not saying I expect you to stay. Don’t think that. I know I’m just another girl for you,” she says quickly before continuing. “But when you touched me, for the first time I felt safe. Everything about you felt too good to push away.”
I nod, understanding completely. Whether or not she wants to see it, some part of her trusts me. Yes, there is passion between us, but she let her guard down with me for a reason. Whether her trust is for me not to break her heart or hurt her beautiful body, it almost doesn’t matter. The point is that she’s put her heart in my hands, and I don’t want her to ever regret placing that faith in me.
“I get it, sweetheart. No worries.” Promises pound hard in my chest. But I clench my jaw and keep them inside. “The gift of your virginity is priceless. Just know that I realize the value of what you gave me. And I know what you are worth too.”
Smiling softly, Trina looks up me through her lashes. She’s so beautiful. So soft. I can’t help but lean down and kiss her sweet lips. The flavors of cotton candy and her delicate, unique taste slide under my tongue as she holds onto me and kisses me back just as deep, just as hot.
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