A Protector's Second Chance (Unit Matched #2) (13 page)

I felt Oliver sit next to me and take my hand.

“Whatever I say, just let me say it, and please don’t mess with my emotions.” I whispered to him as the tears began building up.

“You have my word.”

I let go of his hand and picked up the first book in the stack. I flipped through the slightly aged pages, and saw that it was one of the first ones. There were more pictures than words.

I closed my eyes, trying my best to keep my emotions in check, and tossed it into the flames. When I opened my eyes, I saw the fire overtake the pages and quickly, it was gone, nothing but ash.

Even though there was a ping of hurt in my heart, a small piece of my soul was healed as the weight of that burden left me. I could feel the tears rolling down my cheek as Oliver ran his hand up and down my back. He wasn’t calming me, but his presence there helped more than I could ever express to him.

First day of high school.

Broken bones.

Bruises.

Laughter with Xaveria and Gia.

Thaddeus.

It was all there.

One by one, I put the books into the fire, retrieved another set, and continued my process until they were all gone.

I sat close to the fire and watched the flames continue to devour all of my written memories. The tears continued and Oliver never said a word or left my side.

“Thank you,” I finally said when I was able to find my voice.

“There’s no need to thank me Amaya. You know that I’m always going to be here for you.”

“At least for the next twenty days,” I reminded him.

“Amaya,” Oliver shook his head. He did that a lot around me. I thought that I frustrated him more and more every day. “I really wish that you would stop saying that. For the next twenty days could we please just enjoy each other’s company?”

“I already say yes to that when you asked before.”

He rolled his eyes, and I laughed, pushing on his shoulder to lie on his back. I placed my hand on his cheek and softly kissed his lips.

“I do have one thing to say,” my heart was pounding hard.

“What is that?”

I took a deep breath and looked into his green eyes. “I’m happy that we’re Matched.” I said it softly, and I wasn’t sure that he had heard me.

The smile on his face let me know that he had. “I’m very happy, too.”

“It didn’t start out that way.”

“Well, no, but look at where we are now. I mean,” he shrugged. “I’m glad that we went through that rough patch.”

I rested my chin on his chest, still looking up at him.

“If you hadn’t been punished and we hadn’t been sent up here, would you have agreed to stay together after our first decision period was over?”

Oliver looked down at me, and I knew that he was picking his words carefully.

“In all honesty, I don’t know. I wanted it to work. I thought that we were a great couple, on paper, but you’re quite stubborn.”

I giggled. “I have my moments.”

“What about you? Would you have agreed?”

I rose up on my knees and shook my head. “No, because you’re too good and I wouldn’t have been able to be everything that you need. Hell, I’m not real sure that I am now, either.”

Oliver leaned up on his elbows. “What makes you think that?”

“You know why. I broke the Rules and if I kept my mouth shut no one would have known. Then again, someone might have figured it out and I didn’t want you to feel that blowback.”

He continued to stare at me. “Why did you tell? I mean, no one knew but Thaddeus and you. What made you tell the princess?”

“Guilt. Love for Xaveria. There were so many reasons why I told her that day, but most of all, I wanted the secret out.”

“Thaddeus isn’t a bad guy.” Oliver defended his Royal and friend.

“True, but he broke the Rules, like I did, and she needed to know about both of us.”

“Did you feel better after you told her?”

“Yes and no. I was glad that I told her and the truth was out in the open. However, look what happened.”

He nodded and got up off the floor. He went over to the table and began to clean up everything from lunch several hours ago.

I turned back to the fire. It had died down. It was mainly ash and a few specks of notebook that hadn’t burned yet, but all my written memories were gone, and I was okay.

I would survive being banished. I had the memories of Oliver and my time here at the cabin to get me through. It was what I would need to go on with my life.

I was sad and I knew it was because I wouldn’t be able to talk to him anymore once I was banished. I also felt a twist of my heart at the thought that he would be Matched with someone else.

All I thought was that she better treat him right.

Chapter 29

Day 75 of 90

My eyes fluttered open. The sun was bright and glaring in my face as I woke up. The last five days had been perfect. There was no way I could have imagined them any better.

I gazed up at Oliver, who was still sleeping. I was using his chest as a pillow. He and I had been sleeping in the same bed, and even though we had kissed and touched more, it hadn’t gone any further.

I studied his beautiful face. His shaggy hair had fallen on his forehead. I had the urge to run my fingers through it, like I had last night, but I left him alone.

I gently rolled out of the bed and headed to the bathroom. I quickly freshened up and softly tiptoed down the stairs.

We had stayed up last again, binge watching another season of
How I Met Your Mother
. I still couldn’t believe that Oliver had never seen it.

I looked at the clock, and even though it was early afternoon, I decided to make breakfast. It felt like a French toast day, and I gathered up everything to get started.

As I was finishing it all up, Oliver came down the stairs.

“That smells so good.” He kissed my cheek.

“Set the table and it’ll be ready in a second,” I smiled. Oliver nodded and went to the fridge to help out. I laid everything out for him, and I hadn’t realized how hungry I really was. The sweet smell of the syrup made my stomach grumble.

“I do need to work a little bit today, Amaya. Oscar sent me a text last night and there’s a problem I need to fix.”

I nodded. “That’s fine. I need to work out anyway. After eating all this on my plate, I’ll need to shed ten pounds.”

“Mmmm… this is so good,” Oliver moaned around his fork.

My cheeks flushed at the sound of his moan. He’d made the same one the other night. It drove me wild.

Oliver went on to tell me about two new clients that he’d signed and how much easier they were than the last client he’d worked with.

He seemed much more relaxed these past few days. Even if I was still trying to get him to tell me what was going on in Unit, he wouldn’t budge an inch.

We cleaned up everything together, and I headed off to the gym. The sounds of Oliver clicking and typing were rhythmic as I turned on the treadmill. I actually had no plans to run. Weighed down by the carbs in the French toast, I decided on a fast walk. That would at least burn off a few calories.

I stayed on the treadmill for a full hour before the carbs won and I realized that I shouldn’t have eaten that much and taken a nap instead of walking.

“Hey, I’m going to jump in the shower. Want to start season five when I get out?” I yelled at Oliver.

“That’s fine.”

The cool shower was exactly what I needed to get rid of the rest of the carb hangover. I slipped on a pair of purple yoga pants and a white T-shirt.

“Hey, I got it all ready.” Oliver handed me a bottle of water as I sat on the couch. “Are you hungry?”

“Don’t even mention food to me.”

“Same here,” he chuckled, sitting next to me. I curled up next to him as the first episode started.

I fell asleep somewhere in the middle of the season and woke up as Oliver carried me up the stairs.

“I’m too heavy for you to carry.”

Oliver smirked. “No, you’re not.” He laid me on the bed. “Rest,” he said and kissed my forehead.

When I woke up it was dark outside. I had slept the whole afternoon away. I felt refreshed but upset that I hadn’t spent the time with Oliver.

I felt his side of the bed, and he wasn’t there. I went downstairs and found him sitting at this computer, still clicking away.

“Sorry, I was so tired.” I sat down on the bench next to him.

“We’ve been keeping some crazy schedules these past few days. It’s not a big deal.”

I leaned on his shoulder. “Are you almost done? It sort of looks like it.”

“I’m done almost with this one.” He pointed to the left side of the screen. “I need to finish a few little things, and then I can start on the next one. However, right now, I’m ready to lay in bed with you.”

“I bet you’re tired.”

“Nope, not at all, but I would like to spend some quiet time with you.” He kissed the top of my head.

“I think I can arrange that.” I lightly pinched his side. It didn’t matter I just rolled out of bed. I wanted to be with him.

He took my hand, and we headed up to the bedroom. He kicked the door shut, and began to kiss me, walking me back toward the bed.

Oliver’s lips were soft on mine and felt almost like silk. He was so gentle and kind with each touch, it sent shivers through me.

I scooted back to the headboard as Oliver continued to kiss me. I opened my mouth for him, and it was my turn to moan. I tugged at his shirt, pulling it off of him.

Oliver had been getting braver, and he had actually slipped his hand under my shirt. He would still stop at my bra though. But I wasn’t wearing one tonight. I wanted so badly for him to touch me. He quickly pulled away from my lips when he noticed that his stop sign wasn’t there.

He looked deep into my eyes. I knew that he was asking for permission. He was such a gentleman.

“Oliver, I’m your Matched. It’s okay. It’s fine.” I tried to keep my voice smooth, but it was cracking with desire.

He nodded, but didn’t move his hand.

Okay, I needed a plan B.

I adjusted my legs, and he was cradled perfectly in between them. I could feel him and he felt good. I moved my hand from his back and lightly trailed it down his chest to the top of his jeans. He was either going to freak out or let me touch him.

I easily unbuttoned his button. I stared deeply into green eyes that were full of lust and desire. I bit down on my lip and smiled as I pulled down the zipper. Oliver had officially stopped breathing, and I silently prayed that he wouldn’t pass out on me.

I counted to three and cautiously moved my hand farther down, until I was able to grasp him fully. I pulled him free of his jeans. He finally began to moan as I softly stroked him. He laid his head in the crook of my neck and moved his hand farther up my chest. He grasped my breast with a little force, but quickly eased up.

“This might be easier if my shirt was off.” I suggested. I was surprised that I could even form a sentence at this point because I was so turned on.

“Okay.” He sat up and dragged me with him. Swiftly, he yanked off my shirt, tossing it across the room.

I know that he was trying
not
to look at my breasts. His eyes remained locked on mine. While we both were up on our knees facing each other, I grabbed his wrists and placed them on my breasts.

I know that I should have been taking things at his pace. However, if he didn’t speed things up soon, I was going to spontaneously combust. I reached back down and continued what I had started. He moaned louder this time and laid his forehead against mine.

“Amaya.” He pinched my nipple, and I hissed through my teeth. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, I’m okay. Just relax. It’s just me and you.” I stroked him faster.

“Amaya,” he panted, and I continued to keep the same pace, knowing that he was coming apart quickly.

I was right; after three more strokes, he released, right onto my yoga pants. He was breathless as he went soft in my hand.

“Sorry. I ruined your pants.” Oliver’s eyes were still closed.

“It’s fine, but you’re still pinching me pretty hard.”

“Oh,” he quickly let go of my nipple and shot up, away from me. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

I reached out and held his face. “Stop saying that, I’m okay. You need to relax. You’re being a sucky Controller right now,” I winked.

“I’m not sure what’s happening or what the hell I’m doing.”

“Stop, right now,” I growled at him. “Why don’t we clean up and come back to bed, and see about round two?”

He nodded. We headed to the bathroom, and I took off my clothes.

“Um, what are you doing?”

“I figured that I would skip the clothes part. I left my panties on in case you had the urge to rip them off.”

Oliver’s face turned fifty shades of red. I patted his shoulder and crawled back into bed. A few moments later, he came back in wearing only his boxers.

I rolled over to my side, seeing him throw his arm over his face.

“What’s wrong?”

“I suck at this, don’t I?”

Before I could answer him, he continued.

“I mean I’ve heard stories. These types of situation are supposed to last for hours and hours, and people should be screaming, and sweating, and all of that jazz.”

I laughed.

“What books have you been reading? Oliver, if it’s lasting hours and hours that means you took a little blue pill, and even they have warnings against that. And I’m not a screamer, so there won’t be any of that. As for sweating, that will come once we get our rhythm going. Would you please stop worrying?”

“I’m not sure I can when I can’t even last eight seconds.”

“Oliver.” I straddled him. “Stop it; I mean it, before I get pissed. You’re fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine. We just need to find our way, that’s all. Now I don’t want you knocking yourself anymore, or I’ll kick your ass.”

Oliver’s face cracked a small smile. “May I be blunt for a moment?”

I nodded.

“I really like you in this position.”

“Now you’re talking.” I leaned down and pressed my naked chest against his. “I think our intermission is over.”

I kissed him and began to grind my hips against him. He moved his hands up to my breast without me having to do it for him.

I kissed his neck and down his chest. If the stroking worked well, this might be even better.

“Amaya,” he panted as I dragged his boxers off and tossed them on the floor. “Amaya.”

“Please, relax.” I begged him as I took him in my mouth.

Oliver tensed up and jerked his legs as I swirled my tongue around his tip. Oliver was thick and long. I had to keep my gag reflex in check. He continued to say my name over and over. It was what I needed to keep going.

“You have to stop,” Oliver commanded, and I let him go. I continued to stroke him until he finished
again
, all over my hand.

When I looked up at him, his hands were covering his face. I let him go and cleaned up,
again
.

“This isn’t fair.” Oliver stood behind me as I dried my hands.

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t this supposed to be a…um…two way street.”

“Oliver this is about us. Not just me. I’m enjoying myself with you and it doesn’t have to about both of us every single time.” I took his hand and led him back to bed. “Please, stop making me feel like I’m a sex-crazed female trying to steal your virtue.”

Oliver laughed. I lay on my back and he was on his side. He was running his hand up and down my arm. I was staring deep into his eyes. He was so gorgeous, and I loved him.

Loved him?

Could it be true?

It started out rough, but look at us now. We have laughed, joked; I’ve opened up to him, and he was still here. Of course, I know Xaviera forced him to stay here, but he didn’t seem like it was a burden to him. I didn’t want to force him to have sex with me. That wasn’t what we were about. That wasn’t how you treated the people you loved.

“Can you turn off the light, please, right now, I want my Matched to hold me.”

“Okay.” He kissed the tip of my nose and turned off the light.