I looked into the bag, pulling out the tissue paper, there was a small tin and inside was a gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Her cheeks were bright pink, clearly embarrassed, although I wasn’t sure why. She bit her lip and explained, “I figured since you wanted to play hockey again, that you could use some new equipment or something.”
“Thank you, this is the best.” I meant it; she’d put thought into the gift, and that meant the world to me.
“I’m glad you like it.” She kissed me, and I got lost in her all over again—I couldn’t get enough.
“Are you sure about this?” She was really worried.
“So, what are we doing?” The tattoo artist asked as he came over to help me.
“I’d like a hockey stick on my forearm.” I looked at Easton. “An Easton hockey stick.”
Her eyes widened. “A what?” she choked out.
“Yeah, dude, what’s an Easton hockey stick?” The tattoo artist wasn’t sure what I was talking about.
I pulled out my phone to show him a stick with the logo. He’d asked me to email it to him so that he could print it and draw it out.
Easton gripped my arm. “This is permanent, Tanner.”
“Baby, I know that you haven’t caught up to where I am. I’ll wait as long as I need to. But no matter what, you will always be permanently a part of me.”
Her eyes shimmered. “Are you sure about this?” she whispered—again.
“One thousand percent.”
“All right then, go for it.” She kissed me deeply before pulling back. “You’re fucking crazy, though, for the record.”
“Yeah, crazy about you.” I was a dork when it came to Easton, but I didn’t care.
The artist came back with the drawing, and it was perfect. The only thing I asked him to add was some hints of pink. The pain wasn’t as bad as I’d expected, and seeing her face when she saw the finished product was priceless. It was exactly what I’d wanted.
We were walking in the garden later that night, hand in hand. It was a perfect night out. “This was the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
She turned to me with a look of confusion on her face. “Really?”
“Yeah, I’ve enjoyed every minute of this weekend with you. I’m so glad we did this.”
“Me too.” She leaned into my side, and I put my arm around her.
We took off our shoes and sat at the pool’s edge to dip our feet.
“Thanks for being so patient with me, Tanner. I know that things haven’t been easy for you, but I’m glad you didn’t give up on me.”
I looked over at her. “I’d do anything for you. You’re more than worth it.” I pulled her close and kissed her.
“Do we really have to go home? I mean, who would really miss us?” she whined.
“I wish we could live in a bubble forever, but life doesn’t work that way.”
“You suck. Why do you have to be all responsible and shit?” She nudged my shoulder.
My phone pinged in my pocket, and I pulled it out. “See, real life.”
I looked down to find a text from my mom.
“So…”
She looked at me with brows furrows. “Yeah?”
“That’s my mom. She said they could get some cheap tickets for Thanksgiving next week.”
Her face portrayed the fear I knew she’d have. I took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Listen, we have options. They can stay at a hotel, or I can tell them I won’t have time to hang out and schedule again, or you can completely avoid them, and I can say you’ve gone away to your mom’s. Whatever you want.”
She looked out over the pool, and I gave her some time to process. I would support whatever decision she made.
“They can stay with us.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
“Yes.” She turned to look at me and smiled. “They’re your family, and I’d like to meet them.”
“Every time I think you can’t possibly be this amazing, you throw me for a loop, and I realize you’re even more amazing than I’d thought.”
Her eyes flashed with mischief. “Don’t get too excited there. I only agreed to this because you’ll owe me one…or ten.”
This woman. “I’ll give you anything.”
I sent my mom a quick text, letting her know they could stay in the guest room. “She’s so excited. Thanks for doing this. I promise they’re nice people and won’t be a bother.”
“They raised you; they can’t be half bad.” She bumped my shoulder playfully.
Twenty-Seven
Meeting The Fields
Easton
I’d been cleaning incessantly for hours now, trying to keep my mind off the fact that Tanner's parents would be here tonight. I was pretty sure they could have eaten off of every surface in this apartment; I just kept scrubbing.
I had my AirPods on full blast, so when Tanner came up behind me and gripped my hips, I screamed and turned around, ready to fight him.
“Sorry, baby, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He pulled me in and kissed me senseless. “I missed you.” He looked around and then back at me. “Have you been cleaning all day?”
“Basically. I wanted to make sure everything was perfect for when your parents get here.” I turned around and started to clean the counter again, but he spun me back around.
“You don’t need to do this. The apartment looks amazing. Please calm down. Do you want a drink? Maybe that’ll help calm your nerves.”
“Are you sure? Just look around before I stop, and tell me if I missed anywhere.”
“If it’ll make you feel better, I will, but please sit down. I’ll grab you a drink.” He steered me toward the sofa and then grabbed me a cooler out of the fridge.
“Thank you.” I took a deep breath, then a swig of my bottle, and sank back into the sofa.
“I found a bunch of dust in the master bathroom,” Tanner shouted.
I jumped up and ran back there only to find Tanner laughing his ass off. “You dick.” I slapped his shoulder hard.
“Babe, you really need to calm down. My parents are going to love you. They don’t care what the apartment looks like. They’re probably just happy they won’t have to pay for a hotel.” His smile turned mischievous. “You know…” He wrapped his arms around me, walking me back toward the bed. “I do owe you for letting them stay with us. Maybe you should cash in on one of those favors now. An orgasm can do wonders for stress.”
“Is that so?” I would never deny him. The look he was giving me had me instantly wet. “I could get on board with that.”
“Good because I’m hungry. I skipped lunch today.” He took my drink from me and placed it on the side table before stripping off my T-shirt and shorts. “No bra or panties? Mmmm.” He turned me around to bend me over the bed and slowly kissed his way from my neck down my spine.
I was squirming and so ready that I reached down between my legs, but Tanner stopped me before I got to where I needed relief.
“No way, baby. That’s all mine.”
He continued his lazy kisses down my body until I felt his light breath against my pussy. He kissed me and then finally flicked his tongue against my clit. My knees gave out without warning. God, I loved his mouth; the man knew how to use it. He had me moaning and writhing.
I needed release, but he wasn’t letting me get there just yet. “Tanner.”
“What, baby?” he asked as he kissed my ass and inserted two fingers inside me.
I moaned in pleasure. “Fuck, Tanner, please. I need to come.”
He stood and whispered in my ear, “Do you want my cock or my tongue.”
“Cock, now. Please fuck me.” I wasn’t usually this vocal, and I certainly didn’t beg, but I needed him inside me. I looked over my shoulder to find hooded eyes staring back at me.
“What my girl wants, my girl gets.” He unzipped his pants and pulled out his dick, rubbing it in my juices before thrusting to the hilt.
“Fuck!”
He didn’t give me time to adjust before he started to pound into me.
“Oh. My. God.”
Tanner wasn’t usually rough, but this was exactly what I needed at the moment.
He gripped my hair and pulled slightly as he leaned over my body and continued his rapid plunges. “Shit baby, you’re so fucking tight.” His breath at my ear caused tingles down my spine.
I met him thrust for thrust, but the moment he reached around and pinched my nipple, I came, screaming his name. He continued his relentless assault on my pussy before he finally climaxed and collapsed onto my back.
“Holy shit,” he said between breaths.
“Yeah, that about sums it up.”
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Leave it to Tanner to worry about me after one of the best orgasms of my life.
I tilted my head and kissed him. “Not at all, that was fucking amazing.”
“Thank God!”
Reality hit me just then, and I started to panic. “Shit, your parents are going to smell sex in the apartment.”
He rolled onto the bed and pulled me over to straddle him. “Do I need to fuck you senseless? Because I will if it’ll help you settle down. They are not going to smell sex in this apartment. All they’re going to smell are the cleaning products you used all day.”
“Maybe you should fuck me stupid. It couldn’t hurt at this point.” I rubbed up against his shaft, felt his cock twitch, and I smiled. “Round two?”
We sat in the living room, waiting with bated breath. Well, I was. Tanner was cool as a cucumber. I should’ve taken his lead since he wasn’t nervous. I was sure things would be fine, and his parents would be really nice; weren’t all Canadians?
The moment I heard the knock, I felt like I was going to puke, but I got up and went with Tanner to greet his parents. He opened the door, and there stood the sweetest-looking couple I’d ever seen. His mom was a short, stout woman, with her hair in a ponytail, and his dad wore a cardigan and his hair in a side part. Tanner looked so much like him.
Tanner started to introduce us, but his mom pushed passed him and embraced me. It was unexpected but welcome at the moment as it helped to ease my anxiety.
She pulled back, holding me at arm’s length. “You’re so beautiful,” she said in a whisper. “It’s so great to meet you, sweetie.”
“Move aside, honey.” Tanner’s dad pulled me in for a hug, too. “Sorry, we’re a family of huggers.”
Tanner went to shut the door, but it was pushed open. “Surprise!” A brunette who looked to be about twenty jumped into Tanner’s arms. For a split second, I wanted to gouge out her eyes. Then I realized it must be his sister. She came over and gave me a hug, too.
“Welcome to our apartment,” Tanner said as he pulled me toward him.
“Our?” His moms’ eyes went wide.
I looked up at him in question.
“I guess I failed to mention that before.” He shrugged.
“Eek. That’s exciting. I’m so happy for you two.” His mom had an infectious smile, and I couldn’t help but grin back.
“Let me show you to your room so you can get settled. Then we can figure out what you guys want to do for dinner.” Tanner took the bags and started toward the guest room. “Teagan, you’ll have to crash on the sofa. Sorry.”
She shrugged. “That’s cool.”
“Would you like a drink?” I asked Teagan as I walked into the kitchen.
“Sure, thanks.”
We sat at the bar and clinked our glasses. “I love your hair. I wish I could do something like that, but my job wouldn’t allow it.”
“Aw, that blows. It ended up pink once by accident, and I’ve just kind of gone with it since. It suits me, I think.” I honestly couldn’t picture myself with any other color at this point.
“It really does.” She seemed really nice, like a female version of Tanner. Even her mannerisms were the same.
Tanner walked in just then with his parents. “So, what’s everyone want for dinner? I thought we could stay in, but we can go out if you want. Completely up to you guys.”
“We’re beat from the flight, so let’s order in if that’s okay with you?” His mom was all smiles.
I was a little more at ease now that they were here, so I could relax a bit.
His parents sat on the sofa, and I sat on the floor with Tanner and Teagan as we ate dinner. I was so hungry from all that cleaning. I’d skipped lunch in favor of scrubbing the bathroom, and I could now see that I’d gone a little overboard.
Teagan turned to me with a cheeky grin. “So, Easton…I hear you’re quite the surfer.”
I swallowed the last bite of my burger. “I’m all right.”
“She’s amazing. She's just modest.” Tanner smiled proudly.
“If you aren’t too busy, would I be able to give it a go this weekend?” She was begging me with her hands in prayer formation.
I chuckled. “Of course, I took the weekend off. We can all head to the beach if you want, and I can help you.” Thumbing toward Tanner, I outed him. “Your brother here still hasn’t gotten back on since he was here a couple years ago.”
“Oh, my goodness.” His mom covered her mouth as we all looked at her, wondering what she was going on about. She lowered her hands, revealed a huge smile, and looked over at Tanner. “She’s the girl, isn’t she?”
I turned to Tanner, who was turning bright red. “Yes.”
His mom squealed. “That’s crazy, you knew—”
“Ugh, please, Mom.”
“Okay, sorry, sweetie.” She winked at me, and I laughed. She was adorable.
“So, what is there to do around here?” Teagan asked.
I shrugged. “Not much, really. It’s a pretty quiet small town.”
Her shoulders slumped. “No good bars? Anywhere with Canadian beer?”
“God, I can’t get over how much you and Tanner are alike. It’s crazy.” Every time she spoke, there was just something about it.
“It’s a twin thing.” They both said in unison, and I whipped my head up to Tanner.
“Twins? What? How didn’t I know this?” You’d think that would be something he would tell me.
“Thanks, Tanner.” She reached around me and punched her brother on the shoulder. “You talk that little about me that you didn’t even bother mentioning we were twins? Wow.”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I’ve heard a lot about you, but he’d never mentioned he was a twin. To me, it seems like a pretty big deal. But I guess maybe it’s not to you.” I felt bad that I’d made her feel like he hadn’t talked about her because he really had, so I tried to change the subject. “My mom’s a twin.”
“Well, you never mentioned that to me.” Tanner piped in, trying to prove a point.
I rolled my eyes at his attempt. “Because it was my mom, not me.”
His mom's face lit up again. “Oh, wow, maybe you two will have twins. What are the chances? That would be so exciting.”
Tanner must have sensed my fear as he reached over and squeezed my thigh. “Mom, can you please calm it with the talk about kids? I don’t even know if Easton wants kids. Jeez.”
Way to throw me under the bus, Tanner. I kept my mouth shut and just smiled, hoping they’d move on, but no such luck.
“Surely she does. Right, Easton, honey?”
“I’m still young. I haven’t really thought much about it if I’m being honest.” I really hadn’t, and Tanner and I were nowhere near that stage as far as I was concerned.
“Mom, please,” Tanner urged.
Teagan hopped up suddenly and yawned dramatically. “I’m really tired, and since you guys are all in my bedroom, do you mind?”
I could’ve kissed her. I stood and turned so no one else could see me and mouthed thank you. She smiled back. Everyone got up and went to bed after we’d all said goodnight.
We shut the door to our bedroom, and I flopped down onto the mattress with a huge sigh.
&
nbsp; Tanner came and leaned over me, kissing me softly. “It wasn’t that bad, was it?”
“It could’ve been worse for sure; the whole baby thing came out of left field, though.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. She’s dying for grandkids. She probably would’ve been fine with me knocking someone up at eighteen just to have a baby around. She’s a little crazy like that.”
“She’s sweet, although your dad, I swear, didn’t speak the whole time.”
“Yeah, he’s a man of few words.” He pushed himself up and started to undress, and then I remembered something and hopped up, snickering.
“What are you laughing at?” he asked.
“You told your parents about me after we met?”
“Fuck, I was hoping you’d forgotten about that.” He pulled me to him. “I told you, I knew you were different from the beginning, so of course I told them about you.”
“Aw, now I almost feel bad for blocking you.”
“Almost?” He tickled me.
I squirmed out of his arms. “Okay, I do...a little.” I looked back at him standing there in nothing but his boxers.
He gripped his cock and asked, “Do you think we can be quiet?”
My mouth watered at the thought, but the thought of touching him with his parents in the next room made me drier than the Sahara. “Not happening until they leave.”
“You’ve got to be kidding? That’s two more days!”
I stripped down and went to get under the covers, nude as usual. “I’m well aware, buddy, but I’m not taking the chance.”
“Uh huh, you put something on then, or there’s no way that I’m not getting inside you.”
“You can’t be serious. I’ll end up naked anyway. I always take them off if I try to sleep in something.”
“I’ll take my chances since I’ll be sleeping when they come off.” He chucked a tank and panties at me. “Please, I’m already dying. Tanner rubbed his cock again, and I groaned, but I wasn’t giving in.
Twenty-Eight
Surf’s Up
Caught Inside Page 17