Waiting for Love ((Waiting) Book 2) (18 page)

Chapter - Eighteen

Shelby

      The past two days have gone by without any sign of Garrett and I’m beginning to feel as though I may be able to handle working here after all. I’m surprised by how quickly I’m settling into the daily grind of a full-time job. I’ve been in college for the past six years and my schedule was a lot lighter than it is now.

      I thought it would be difficult to establish a rapport with the students, but it’s been surprisingly easy. I think it helps that I’m only twenty-four years old. Apparently, I’m still in the cool age bracket, so I try to take advantage of that by encouraging them to do their homework, especially, the teenage boys. I don’t know what it is about boys at that age but they’re so resistant to completing work at home. We’re only five days into the school year and I already see a pattern forming. 

      Max and I have continued to enjoy each other’s company during our lunch breaks. I found out that he has a boyfriend who he’s been dating for the past year. I should’ve known that any man that perfectly turned out, couldn’t possibly be straight. He’s so gorgeous, he’s almost pretty. I wonder what his boyfriend Noah, looks like? I bet he’s hot as hell and the two of them probably set the sheets on fire when they have sexy time.
Now that I’d like to see.
I smirk before taking a sip of my coffee as I sit alone in my classroom, savoring the silence. Soon the students will be back from their enrichment period and the room will be filled with all the sounds that they bring with them. The squeaking of their sneakers on the freshly waxed, tile floors, the non-stop chatter as they settle in their seats and the thump of their backpacks being dropped onto the floor.

      I’m roused from my thoughts by a knock on my door and when it opens, my heart feels as though it drops clear out of my chest. My breath whooshes out of me and not very subtly. I’m sure Garrett heard it and now he knows the effect he still has on me. It probably gives him all kinds of pleasure and makes him feel powerful to know that I’m not indifferent to him.

     He closes the door behind him and walks toward where I’m sitting. His expression is serious and his stride is sure. He stops in front of my desk and I’m relieved that we have this large piece of furniture between us. It makes me feel safe from him and even though I know it’s a false sense of security, it helps calm the butterflies that are wildly fluttering through my stomach. I know that if he wants to get his hands on me, I won’t be able to stop him. Garrett has always been good at going after what he wants. I just hope I’m no longer one of the things he desires

     “Hello, Shelby.” His deep voice has me on the verge of trembling. I feel a bit like Pavlov’s dog, except I’m salivating from the way he enunciates my name.
Shelll- be.
He always did like to slow down the pronunciation as if he’s savoring it on his tongue before he releases it for my ear’s enjoyment.

“Garrett.” I keep my reply short and my tone has a bit of a bite to it.

“I was thinking that since you and I are going to be working together, we should sit down and talk. What are your plans this afternoon? Would you have time for us to grab a coffee or a drink somewhere?”
Hell no. I’m so not up for this shit right now.
I shake my head before answering his question.

“No, I can’t go with you this afternoon and probably not any other one either. It’s unnecessary for us to get together and hash it all out. I’ve moved on as I’m sure you have. Besides, I don’t think my fiancé would appreciate me meeting up with you.” At my mention of the word fiancé, Garrett’s eyes go impossibly wide and immediately shift toward the ring finger on my left hand. He stares for a moment at the large oval diamond, flanked by a smaller amethyst on either side, before raising his eyes back to mine. I lift my chin up a notch and brace myself for what I know is coming.

“You’re engaged?” He questions, his tone of voice is sharp and his eyebrow is raised.

“Yes.” I answer knowing he’s going to flip out when he hears that it’s Jeff, I’m marrying.

“Who’s the lucky guy?” He asks, his manner stiff and unwelcoming. I take a deep breath and pause, preparing myself for what I know is to come. This moment feels similar to the calm before a bad storm and I know my answer to his question is going to be the final piece needed to set him off.

“I’m engaged to Jeff Walsh.” I wait to see if the name rings a bell for him. He squints his eyes as he thinks about it and I clearly see the moment he makes the connection. It seems as though he tenses every muscle in his body before he replies.

“Jeff, that you used to fuck before we were together, Walsh.” He spits out the words as if they’ve left the worst possible taste in his mouth and in a way, I’m sure they have.
Talk about a bitter pill to swallow...

“Yes, that very same person is now my fiancé. Although, I think it’s safe to say that our relationship has progressed way beyond the friend’s with benefits stage.” I can’t help but toss a little fuel on the fire and I know he’s not going to react well to it. However, I don’t care how he feels about me being with Jeff. It’s really none of his business.

“Wow, I find it hard to believe you’re actually marrying him.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I cross my arms over my chest and lean back in my chair.

“I can’t believe you’re marrying that punk.” He grips the sides of his hair with both hands before running his fingers through to the ends. I reflexively jump from my chair.

“Jeff, is not a punk. He’s got a great job that he supports us with and he’s twice the man you could ever be. He’s been by my side without fail, whenever I’ve needed him. You don’t get to stand here, in my classroom and insult my fiancé.” I shout at him as my hands fisted with anger. Right now we aren’t employee and boss, we’re ex-lovers trying to navigate through a shitstorm of emotions and I’d like to punch him in his sanctimonious face.

    He moves around my desk until he’s standing in front of me. I’m so pissed at him right now, I’m physically shaking.

“Shelby, you’re not seriously considering marrying him. You don’t love him,” he scoffs, angering me even more.

    “Garrett,” I begin, my teeth clenched tightly. “You need to listen to me when I tell you that I’m not going to put up with you disrespecting Jeff or our relationship. I love him and I’m marrying him. If you don’t like it, that’s too bad, for you. Your opinion stopped mattering to me three years ago when you disappeared without a word. Just so there’s no confusion, I would marry him tomorrow if I could.” I’m trying not to yell but he has me so frustrated. The thought of inflicting some sort of bodily harm on him right now brings me great pleasure.

    He grips my upper arms, tugging our bodies close together. I grimace and arch my back to lean away from him. His hold is too firm, and I’m unable to escape his nearness. He steps even closer to me, impossibly close, so that our torsos are now as tightly pressed together as if we’re physically connected to one another. My breath hitches and I’m disappointed that the strong chemistry we had before is still very much in existence. My nipples are tingling from touching his chest and my panties are becoming wet.
Fuck.
I don’t want him to have this effect on me. Having this strong reaction to Garrett makes me feel as though I’m being unfaithful to Jeff. Apparently, my vagina is a traitorous bitch and has no loyalty to any particular man.

“You and I aren’t done with this discussion. I want you to come to my office at the end of the day.” He leans his face forward as if he’s going to kiss my lips and at the last second he moves to nuzzle my nose with his. I close my eyes as an unwanted wave of longing washes over me. To make matters worse, I smell the woodsy scent of his cologne and it seems so familiar to me. It’s as if the last three years never happened. I slowly open my eyes to find him studying my face.

“I need to get back to work,” I say, trying to get him to let me go and leave my room. He unclenches his grip on my arms, taking a step back away from me.

“I’ll see you this afternoon,” He replies before turning and walking away. I don’t answer him because I have no intention of meeting with him in his office or anywhere else. The two of us, alone, in an enclosed room, has disaster written all over it. If I’m going to resist him, I’m going to have to limit our interactions and try to keep any necessary ones to public places.

    To say I couldn’t wait for the final bell of the day would be a gross understatement. I grabbed my things and power walked as fast as I could to my car. I even slipped out a side exit so there would be less chance of me bumping into Garrett while I was trying to make my escape. Now that I’m home it seems a little funny to know that he’s probably expecting me to knock on his office door at any moment. Oh well, he’ll be waiting forever if he thinks he can tell me what to do.

    My cell phone alerts me that I have a new text and when I glance at it I see it’s from Hailey.

What time are you guys coming here?
Jeff and I are spending the weekend at her family’s beach house on Cape Cod. Hailey and her fiancé Cory are already there.

J wants to leave asap. I’m packing up now.
I know that as soon as he gets home from work he wants us to get on the road as quickly as possible. Even though it’s September, the traffic going to the Cape on a Friday night will be horrific.

Can’t wait to see you guys. It’s been too long.
She’s right, it does feel like a long time has passed since we last got to hang out. She’s busy with her part-time job at the law firm her father founded and she’s almost done with law school. Cory actually works for her father and that’s how he and Hailey ended up together. The two of them had been on bad terms for years and she avoided him like the plague, until she began an apprenticeship at her father’s law firm, here in Boston. When she went in on the first day, she found out that her dad had assigned Cory to be her mentor. It was touch and go at first with the two of them. Hailey wanted to fuck his brains out one minute and stab him the next. It all worked out for the best, they’re engaged now and ridiculously happy. I think I always knew she would end up with him. She’s had feelings for him since she was twelve years old and it’s wonderful to see them together. He clearly dotes on her and they have this crazy dynamic between them. They tease one another and when you observe them, it’s as if you can see the passion there, just simmering under the surface. It sort of reminds me of the way Garrett and I were together, but we were a couple for such a short time, who knows if it would’ve continued. Maybe it would’ve fizzled out sooner or later. It doesn’t really matter because I’m over him.
Over him. Over him.
Maybe if I say it enough, it will become the truth.

    By the time Jeff comes home, I have our bags packed and waiting by the front door of our apartment. He glances down at them as he walks inside.

“You didn’t need to carry the bags out here. I would’ve done it.” He leans over to brush his lips against mine, in a quick hello. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him in for a deeper connection. I suck on his bottom lip and slide my hand inside the back of his shirt, caressing his sleek back muscles. It doesn’t take J but a second, to reciprocate. His tongue slips in to meet with mine and his hands slip down into the back of my cutoffs to caress my ass. He cups the bottom of both cheeks in his hands and lifts me until my legs are wrapped around his hips.

“Fuck, you’re not wearing any panties,” he growls against my lips. He keeps kissing me as he begins walking toward our bedroom. He stops suddenly, pressing my back against the wall of our living room.

“I have to have you now,” he groans out and I drop my legs to the floor as he unsnaps my shorts. He quickly tugs them down over my hips and I quickly kick them off my feet.

His hand slips down between my legs finding me wet and ready for him.

“Is this for me baby? Have you been craving my cock all day?” I nod my head as he braces my back against the wall and uses both of his hands to push his Beacon running pants and boxers, down his legs. He strokes himself slowly between us while watching my face. I lick my lips and moan with longing. I have such an intense need for him it’s burning like fire in my core.

“Is this what you want baby?” he asks as he continues to work his thick, hard cock with his fist.

“Please, J;” I whisper, resting my head back on the wall. I glance at him, my eyes at half-mast.

“What do you want baby?” He asks as he rubs the head of his cock back and forth along my clit. I moan from the pleasure and fist both of my hands in his hair, gripping hard. He picks me back up and I wrap my legs around his waist and undulate my core against the tip of him.

“Give me your cock,
now,”
I order. I see the flare of passion in his eyes as my words register. He growls as he thrusts inside me so forcefully, it’s almost painful, but it’s a good pain. He takes me hard and fast against the wall. There’s no finesse to his movements, this isn’t making love. We’re fucking, pure and simple and it’s just the thing I need after the day I’ve had. I need him to fuck all the thoughts of Garrett right out of my head.

    He grips my shoulders with both of his hands and pulls me down as his hips thrust up. I squeeze his waist between my legs and let him control our movements. His breathing is harsh in my ear, adding another element of excitement to our fucking. I love to hear his ragged exhales when we’re in the throes of passion. It turns me on to know that I have that effect on him. He leans down, taking my nipple between his lips and teasing it with his tongue. I grip the back of his head, letting him know that I want more of what he’s giving me. I arch my back as he sucks on my nipple before biting it.