Veer (Clayton Falls) (21 page)

Thankfully
,
he sobered up enough that he could walk on his own, but there was no
way
he could drive. I helped him into the back seat, and we headed over to his
house
.

I unceremoniously dumped him out on his bed while Becca looked on with a slight smile. “You could have been a little gentler.”

“And he could have
drunk
a little less.” I sounded more judgmental than I meant to. Really
,
I didn’t care, but
I still didn’t know what had gone down before she called me.

We walked out to the car, and this time I moved fast enough to get her door. I stayed there while she buckled and decided to get my question answered. “What did you mean when you mentioned Jake’s earlier behavior?”

“Oh, don’t worry about it.” She looked away.

“But I am worrying about it.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“If it weren’t a big deal, you’d tell me and you’d look at me.”

She turned toward me. “He was just making drunken suggestions.”

“What exactly is a drunken suggestion?” I had a pretty good idea, but I wanted to hear it from her.

“He uh
,
suggested we see if
we ‘worked.’”
She made quotes with her hands.

“Son of a bitch.”

“He was drunk, and he didn’t push it.”

“But it still upset you.” It was plain on her face.

“Yeah.”

I closed her door and walked around and got in. “Are you tired, or do you want to hang out?”

“It’s got to be after eleven, what’s there to do at this hour?”

“I don’t know. Want to just come over?”

“Come over
? T
o your place?”

“Uh huh.”

I could tell she was mulling it over. I didn’t say anything, giving her time to decide. The fact that she was even considering it was good. Man, had I imagined that morning that I’d
actually be inviting her over again that night
,
I’d never have believed it.

She bit her lip again
.
I made her nervous a lot. “Yes.” She nodded
as if
making a monumental decision.

“All right, good.” I started the car and pulled out of the driveway of Jake’s rental. As soon as I was back on the road
,
I reached over and picked up her hand.
It was cold despite the warm evening.
“Do you think Max
will
be happy to see me?” She broke the silence. Of al
l
the
things to ask about, she
’d
brought
up my dog.

“Yeah, he’s a fan of you
,
all right.”

“I’ve never had a dog, but I think I might get one when I have more time.”

“We always had at least two growing up, but Max is the first dog that’s actually mine, you know?”

“
Yeah, I bet it feels different.”

I pulled into my driveway and got out, glad to see that Becca waited long enough for me to help her out. Not only did I like doing it, but I liked having the excuse to hold her close
. T
he fitted t-shirt she wore and those tight jeans
did
a number on me.

We walked up the steps
,
and I remember
ed
the last time we’d climbed them together
.
I’d make sure we had a different ending
this time
.

“I need to take Max out
. Y
ou’re welcome to come, or you can wait inside.”

I wanted her to come. I
thought about offering her a drink, but after last time
,
I wanted the night to be alcohol free.
I wasn’t sure if it would be awkward just sitting there.

“I’ll come.” I wondered if she was thinking the same thing.

Max wait
ed
by the door, so I put on his leash
,
and we walked toward the beach.

“Isn’t the beach closed
this late
?”

“Sure, but who’s to stop us?”

“I don’t know. No one
,
I guess.”

“Exactly.” I moved to her right side so I could hold her hand with my free one.

“It’s beautiful tonight.” She looked up at the sky.

“Definitely is. There’s nothing like a full moon over the ocean.”

“It almost feels
magical.”

She looked so happy with a childlike expression of wonder on her face. I wanted to make
her feel that way all the time.

“It doesn’t have to be almost.”

I tugged on her hand to pull her closer and claimed her lips. She responded, arms wrapping around my neck,
and mouth opening up to
me
. I took full advantage and dropped Max’s leash so my hands could do what they’d wanted to do all night. I slipped a hand under her t-shirt and bra, loving the small groan it
elicited
. She was so sensitive to my smallest touch, and I didn’t want them to be small anymore.

I forced myself to break the kiss “Ready to go home
?
”

“Yes
,
”
s
he said breathlessly.

Max waited obediently, so I whisked us home as fast as possible, glad we hadn’t made it too far down the beach.

She’d just closed the door behind her when I knew I had to have her. I push
ed
her back against the door and leaned in. I let my hands and lips wander, pulling off my shirt and then hers, loving what waited for me once I
’d
unclasped her bra.

“You’re not going to tell me to forget
,
are you?”
She look
ed
away from me.

I looked right in
to
her eyes. “No. I’m going to make sure you never forget.” I saw her small nod and returned to
her amazing body
,
s
liding down her jeans while she undid my belt and pants. I stepped out of them, kicking them to the side.

I raked my eyes over her.
She
wore
nothing but a pair of lacy black panties. I wondered if she
’d
worn
them
especially for me
. As
good
as they looked, they were in my way. I took them off, and
let my hands and lips continue to wander
, shocked when she
grabbed me
, making quick work of my boxers. Her touch was hesitant at first but then
grew
more confident.

I had fully planned to take her to my bed, but we never made it that far.
I picked her up and placed her on the kitchen table. It was as far as we were going to get.
I needed her, and from the look in her eyes
,
she needed me. The first time had been incredible, but without the effects of alcohol, it was even better.

***

I’d forgotten to close the blinds when we finally went to bed around
two
a
.
m. I
usually
liked waking up to the sunrise, but I didn’t know if Becca would appreciate it after the long night we
’d
shared.

She stirred,
likely
feeling the light pouring in. She picked her head up from where it lay on my chest, her arm slung across me. She moved around a little, getting a few strands of her hair in my face.

“M
m
m
, I’m sorry
.
I should pull it up.”

“No. Don’t.”

“Okay.” She got this mischievous look in her eye, and I hoped it meant what I thought
it meant
.

She climbed on top of me, holding her head back for a moment, probably to feel the sun. The effect had to be the most
beautiful thing I’d ever seen—t
he colors of the sunrise spilling in the window and onto her naked body—her perfect
,
naked body. In that moment
,
I knew there was no way I was ever letting Becca go.

Chapter
Twenty
-One

Becca

Waking up with Gavin was completely different the second time. For starters, it wasn’t just on
c
e. We were up at dawn when the gorgeous sunrise spilled its rays into the room. We eventually fell back to sleep after
and woke up around
nine
.

“Good morning again,” he murmured into my hair. We were completely tangled up together in just the sheet. We’d kicked off his comforter sometime during the night.

“Good
morning
.” I tilted my head so I could look at him. A bright smile on his face let me know he
’d
enjoyed the night and morning as much as I
had
.

He smoothed out my hair and kissed me on the forehead. “So, what’s the verdict?”

“The verdict?”

“Yeah? Isn’t that
lawyer-
speak for you
r decision?
”

I laughed. “What decision was I supposed to be making again?”

“Will you ever forget last night
?
”

“No, I think I’ll remember every moment.” I ran a hand down his chest, still marveling
at
how comfortable and confident I felt with him.

“I thought that first night was the best, but this surpassed it.” He kissed my lips lightly. “It was amazing.”

“Mmm
,
” I mumbled as his lips
left
mine and moved to my neck.

“You are amazing.”

“Gavin?”

“Yes
?”

“Before you
,
uh
,
start anything, I need to go.”

“What? You can’t go.” He sat up on an elbow, face in a state of panic.

“Oh, no, not leave. I mean I need to go.”
I pointed
to
the bathroom door.

He relaxed. “Oh, okay, you can do that.”

“I need your permission to use the bathroom now?”

“Not all the time, just when
you’re
naked in my bed. I’m kind of picky about when you get to leave then.”
He tried to keep a straight face, but before long
,
a playful smile broke through.

Even though he’d obviously seen me naked plenty, I felt funny getting out of bed with him looking. “Could you turn away
?
”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“No way. You’re not allowed to feel
self-conscious
i
n front of me. I love your body,
and I don’t ever want you trying to hide it from me.”

Gavin seemed like such a contradiction.
Sometimes
,
he was
a real gentleman
,
others he was really aggressive a
nd determined. I didn’t mind it
.
I liked the combination. I found both sides
of him
attractive in their own ways.

“
Y
ou don’t feel
self-conscious
walking around naked in front of me?” I figured I’d make him put his money where his mouth was.

“Not at all.”

“Is that so?”

Instead of answering, he pulled back the sheet and got up. I couldn’t help
staring
—there was a lot to stare at.

“Your turn,” he said with an amused expression.

My hands went to
the scars
, but I took a deep breath and pulled off my side of the sheet. “There, I did it.”

I’d barely stood up before he had
his
arms around me. “That wasn’t so hard
,
was it?”

“Nope.”

“Good.” His lips moved to my neck again
,
so I shook him off.

“I’m going to the bathroom, remember
?
”