Beyond the Cherry Trees: The Cook Brothers Series (20 page)

I AWOKE THE
next morning to soft wet kisses on my neck and breasts. At first, I thought I was dreaming. His lips brushed so lightly across my sensitized skin that I felt it heat with lust. His nose skimmed up my neck, and when he reached my ear, he paused and groaned. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured as his teeth bit down lightly on the flesh. “I have no plans to leave this bed today. I hope you know that,” he warned just as his weight shifted and he rolled on top of me.

I remember moaning as my back bowed up to meet him. My hands moved blindly to feel for what or who was promising this pleasure while my eyes remained closed. I didn’t want to open them in fear that this was only a dream, and as long as I pretended to still be asleep, it would continue.

His mouth traveled down my chest as his teeth lightly scraped against me, stopping over my left breast. The nipple tingled in anticipation as his warm breath fanned over it. My skin burned with need. It was as if every molecule of my being was begging for him. His deep voice chuckled before he moved to tug it into his mouth. “You’re so soft and supple,” he mumbled around the firm mound before applying a suction that caused me to moan even louder. “I could do this for days.”

As he leaned in to feast on the right one, his knees began pushing my thighs apart. My brain had shut off all conscious thought at this point; it was only seeking pleasure, and I let him bend me to his will. “I’m gonna fuck you so deep that you won’t be walking anywhere today,” he growled as he pushed his hips forward, entering me in one quick thrust.

“Oh god!” I cried out as my eyes opened to meet Tyler’s. His grin slipped into place as he pulled back before surging forward again.

“I love it when you call me god.” His eyes darkened as he moved his mouth to connect with mine. As our tongues dueled, his hips continued to make slow deep thrusts. His thighs trembled in restraint as a hand slid down my side stopping to lift my hips toward his. I could feel his cock swelling inside me as it brushed against that magic spot. My head rolled back as the wave built, and Tyler began to pick up speed. “Fuck, you feel good,” he growled as his other hand reached for my other hip. He reared back on his haunches, gripping my hips in a way that he could pull me on to him, and as he plunged even deeper, I wrapped my legs around his waist.

“More, Ty,” I panted. “Give me more.” I was begging at this point and as desperate as I sounded, I just didn’t care. All that mattered was falling over the edge and doing it together.

Tyler’s face was strained and right as I felt the wave approaching, his chin fell as his mouth gaped open in pleasure. His eyes rolled back as his hips lost their rhythm and the grip he had my hips tightened almost causing pain. His entire body tightened in preparation for the explosion before he shook with pleasure. It was hard not to watch him like this. When we were together as teenagers I was always self-conscious. I made Tyler keep the lights off, and always pulled the covers over us. I’d never really looked at us, and was always too embarrassed to really let go.

Tyler sighed as he fell forward catching himself on his elbows. His forehead pressed to mine as his lips placed a light kiss to the tip of my nose. “Morning,” he chuckled and I could feel the vibrations zing through me.

“Good morning,” I whispered as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. We were still connected and at that moment I wanted to stay that way forever.

“If I get to wake up like this every day, I may never leave,” he smirked as he pulled back to stare into my eyes. He watched me for a few minutes, his face going between happiness and what looked like fear. I couldn’t really tell, and Tyler had always been good at hiding stuff. His ability to act like everything was fine when it really wasn’t was part of what drove us apart. It had been my decision, but he had started the crack that I widened.

“What’s wrong?” I reached up to cup his cheek. He opened his mouth like he was getting ready to tell me something before slowly shaking his head and turning away.

“Nothing,” he sighed. “Let’s take a shower, and then we’ll go get some breakfast.” He pulled back slipping from me with the movement before climbing off the bed, and heading for the shower. As I heard the water turn on, I began to sit up and that’s when I felt it. Wetness on the sheets between my legs.

“Ty!” I called out slightly panicked. “Did you use a condom?” I began searching the room like it had answers before scrambling into the bathroom. “Tyler!” I yanked the shower curtain back to see him standing there with a head full of soapy hair. “Did you use a condom?”

He swallowed as his face went white. “Shit! No. I’m sorry. God damn it!” He pounded his fist on the wall.

“Ty!” I screeched as I watched my dream go down the drain at his feet. I’d just gotten back to dancing. I couldn’t get pregnant now. “I’m not on the pill. I stopped taking it after we broke up. Fuck.” I leaned in the shower, placed my hands on his chest, and shoved. “What did you do?” I began to cry. “Was this the plan all along? Get me pregnant?”

“Fuck! No!” His head jerked back as if I’d slapped him. “I used one last night. I just didn’t think about it. We never used them before.” He reached for me and as genuine as he seemed, I still couldn’t help but question him. I’d worked so hard for years, given up so much, and now he was jeopardizing it all for what? To get laid?

“I can’t believe you!” I cried as I stepped farther into the shower and pounded on his chest. “Why would you do this?”

“Shit Mia! I didn’t mean to!” he bellowed. “I just… fuck! I wasn’t thinking, ok? I wasn’t fucking thinking.” He grabbed at his soapy hair and tugged harshly as his back hit the shower wall. “Damn it!”

I tried in that moment to believe him. I wanted to, but as flashes of all the things I’d given up over the years began to drift through my mind I couldn’t help but think that my career could be over with just that one mistake. I watched him as the weight of what he’d done lowered onto his shoulders. The happy carefree man that had climbed from on top of me was gone, and the one I’d walked away from two years ago was back. The look on his face was the same one that stared back at me when I told him I was leaving. I’ll forever remember what he looked like when I turned and walked away from him that final time.

Tears welled in my eyes as I started to shake. I wrapped my arms around my middle as I let the tears fall and mix with the shower water. How could a morning that started out so great turn bad so fast? Were we not meant to be together? Was this really how we were going to end? Was I making a mistake by letting him back in?

“Mia,” Tyler’s voice sounded so defeated. I lifted my eyes in time to see him swipe at the soap that was beginning to run down his forehead. “Fuck!” he hissed as he quickly stepped under the water to rinse his hair. He rubbed vigorously, washing the soap away before wiping the water from his eyes and reaching for me. “I would never do that. You have to believe me. I would never do something to jeopardize your career.” He bent his knees so that our faces were level to one another as his arms squeezed me tighter to his chest. He swallowed a few times before sucking in a deep breath. “I love you.” His eyes darted from side-to-side as he watched me. The words stuck in my throat. “Say something,” he urged.

“I don’t know what to say,” I whispered as more tears leaked down my cheeks.

“Do you love me?” he pleaded with me.

I stood there unblinking in his arms as my thoughts began to spin out of control. What were we doing here? Did I still love him? Could I make a forever with him like I once dreamed about? “Yes.” It fell from lips in a barely audible whisper.

“I’m sorry,” his arms moved around my shoulders as he pressed a kiss to the top of my forehead. “I didn’t mean for it happen. God Mia, all I was thinking about was being with you. You make my brain short circuit when I’m around you. I swear it will never happen again.” He pulled back to look me in the eyes. “Please tell me you believe me,” he begged.

“I want to,” I paused. I really did want to believe him, but all that kept playing through my mind was the fact that I’d be waiting now to see if we’d changed our lives forever with that one screw up.

“You’re not letting this go, are you?” he sighed dejectedly.

“I need time.” I pulled myself from his embrace. “This can’t happen again, Tyler. I can’t take any chances.”

“Are we going to be ok?” He reached for me, but I stepped back.

“Yeah,” I mumbled before I turned my back on him. We spent the next few minutes quickly washing up, and then stepped from the shower wordlessly. Tyler dressed in his suit from the day before while I tugged on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt. I could tell that our lack of communication was hurting him, but I honestly didn’t know how to fix this. Until next week passed and I knew that I was ok, I wasn’t going to be able to forget what had just happened. I was going to spend the next seven days worrying that we’d altered our relationship forever.

OVER THE NEXT
week Tyler and I didn’t really spend much time together. I started going back to the studio daily and had been working with Garett to get ready for Swan Lake. Practices would start soon, and being busy helped keep my mind off of my situation. Tyler had been busy with the case he was working on anyway. The few times I called his office, he didn’t answer. His assistant answered one time, and a colleague did the other times. I’d left messages for him, but he had a habit of calling back when I was busy.

When Thursday rolled around, I was able to sigh in relief. It was the one time in my life that I’d been happy to wake up with cramps. It meant everything was ok, and we hadn’t wrecked our future the week before. I said a silent prayer that morning when I sat in the bathroom taking care of business. I shot a text off the Ty letting him know that we were ok, and suggested dinner the next day. He didn’t answer right away, but when he did, he agreed that dinner sounded nice maybe even lunch. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get away for lunch, but I told him I’d try.

Now here I was packing my bag at the studio after putting in a full morning of ballet. Sweat was dripping down my face and my feet ached, but it felt good. I’d been taking it easy like the doctor suggested, but today I’d really pushed myself for the first time. “You’re awfully happy,” Garett teased as he sat down and began removing his shoes.

“Gonna try and surprise Ty for lunch,” I grinned back.

“So he doesn’t know you’re coming,” he smirked. “And you’re showing up like that?”

“What’s wrong with showing up like this?” I frowned as I glanced down at my sweatpants.

“He’s a big deal in his office. You need to pull out all the stops,” he shrugged. “Go home and shower. Spritz on some of that perfume you like. Put on something sexy, or better yet, show up only wearing a trench coat,” he chuckled as he wagged his brows.

“Hmmm, you might have a point.” I lifted my arm and sniffed to see if I smelled.

“See,” he narrowed his eyes as he tipped his head. “I know what I’m talking about. I am a guy after all.”

“Shut up,” I groaned as I threw a toe shoe at him.

“Whatever,” he chuckled. “You know you’d be lost without me.”

“Probably,” I shook my head as I stood and shouldered my bag. “I gotta go if I’m getting all that done.”

“Have fun,” he saluted me before I turned to head toward the door.

When I stepped outside into the cold winter air, I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. I was ok. Tyler and I were going to be ok, and Garett was brilliant. I turned toward my apartment and bounced down the sidewalk without a care in the world. Today undoubtedly couldn’t get any better.