Chapter Fifteen
Lark’s Second Chance
It’s almost three in the morning, on my first night off in nearly two weeks, and I can’t get my brain to settle enough to fall asleep. Instead, I am lying on the couch with my eyes glued to the television, watching two men attempt to hunt alligators. I’ve watched every episode of Swamp People about a dozen times, but I’m too fucking lazy to even change the channel. There would be no point.
It wouldn’t matter what I was watching; I’m not focused on the show anyway. My mind is too full of regrets, regrets of fucking everything up with Paisley. For the last two weeks, I have spent nearly every minute replaying my time with her over and over again in my head. Most of it was full of excitement and fun, things I hope I never forget. All of that is over-shadowed, though, by the last day we were together. Just thinking about them makes my chest ache and my stomach roll.
Her reaction to Crystal and the news of the baby was expected, but the wall she built around herself afterward was not. I knew keeping secrets from her was going to end badly. Hell, I expected her to be angry. I just didn’t expect her to cut me out completely, but that is what she did. All of the sweetness I had grown to crave was gone, to be replaced by an icy silence. It’s like I don't even exist in her world.
I’ve tried to get her to give me another chance, showing up at her house every damn day. Hell, I’ve fucking begged for her to talk to me just once more. I even sent her flowers, more than once, something I have never done for any woman. None of it seemed to matter; she even sent the flowers back. She doesn’t want anything to do with me, not a damn thing, and her silence has made that perfectly clear.
The sound of tires rolling over gravel pulls me away from my thoughts. Headlights shine through the window, illuminating the dark room, letting me know someone just pulled into the driveway. Trip came in about an hour ago, so I know it’s not him. I jump up, wondering who the fuck is here so damn late.
By the time I get to the door, the headlights are off. When I open it, only the moon illuminates the dark blue sedan sitting in my drive. It’s Paisley’s car, one that her dad gave her and she doesn’t like but refuses to get rid of it. When I see it, my heart skips a beat in both excitement and a touch of fear. She could be coming here to finally talk to me, or she could be here to tell me to stay the hell away from her.
I stand stock still, watching her climb out of the car and walk my way. She is wearing her pajamas, a pink tank top and a pair of cupcake covered fleece pants. Her dark hair is loose, a mess of tangles hanging down her back. As she gets closer, I get a better look and my stomach sours. There are dark circles under both of her eyes, letting me know she isn’t sleeping any better than I am. I can even see tear streaks running down her cheeks. Seeing her like this, so obviously broken, feels like a punch to the gut.
“Did something happen to you?” I ask as she steps onto the porch, looking as if she is about ready to break into a million pieces. “Are you okay?”
She doesn’t respond, just rushes up to me and jumps into my arms. One arm goes to my chest as the other reaches up to draw my head down. A second later, her lips are plastered to mine. The kiss starts off gentle, but it quickly becomes all consuming. Our tongues clash as my hands run up and down her body.
I’m not sure what the hell is going on, but there is no way I am missing this opportunity. I walk backward, dragging her inside, and use my foot to kick the door closed. We continue to kiss as I lead her to my bedroom, stopping for a moment to push her against the wall and grind my hard cock against her waiting heat.
Once inside, our clothes go flying. As soon as her skin is bared, I can’t stop myself from touching her. I never thought I would feel her again, especially not like this, so I need to get my fill. I run my fingers from her neck all the way down to her hot little pussy, enjoying the way her skin prickles with anticipation.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble, bringing her into my arms. “I should have told you everything right from the beginning.”
“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” she states, pulling me across the room. “I need you, not your apologies.”
We end up in the bed, bare bodies tangled as we continue to kiss. Taking my lips from hers, I kiss my way to her neck. I draw the sensitive skin into my mouth, needing to leave my mark on her. I move down her body and run my tongue over her nipples, adding a little nip to each one. When she lets out a moan, I do it again, biting down a bit harder. That brings forth another moan, this one longer and louder.
“I missed you, cheri,” I mumble around her nipple. “I missed you so fucking much. I damn near lost my mind.”
She places her hands on the side of my head and forces me to look into her eyes. “I missed you, too. I’ve never felt so alone in my entire life.”
“You’ll never be alone again,” I vow, giving her a promise that I have every intention of making sure to keep.
I bring my mouth back to hers, needing to taste her again. The kiss goes on and on, claiming her soul as mine. Our hands explore each other’s bodies, becoming reacquainted with each other. When her hand finally reaches between us, she wraps it around my cock and squeezes. I growl out my appreciation as I continue to devour her lips.
She strokes my hard length, causing my balls to tingle in anticipation of what is to come. My hand travels up her thigh until my fingers reach her heated core. Sliding my fingers through the wet folds, I thrust two fingers deep inside her pussy. I glide my fingers in and out, cupping her mound to add pressure to her clit. She lets out little whimpers as her free hand runs up and down my back, her nails scratching just hard enough to smart.
She pulls my cock to her, wanting me inside. “Please, I need you.”
“I’ve gotta get a condom,” I grumble, realizing my wallet is laying on the kitchen table and it holds the only condom.
I brush my lips over hers and start to pull away, but she stops me, letting go of my hardness and wrapping her arms around my back. “I’m on the pill.”
Her words rush through my brain like a bullet cutting into my skull. I don’t know what to say to her, don’t know what to do. I’ve never had sex without a condom, never even considered it. Even as a randy teenager, I always wrapped my shit up. I honestly thought it would never happen, not unless I settled down and got married. With Paisley, I want to be skin to skin, feel the delicate skin of her pussy wrapped around me.
“Are you sure?” I ask, unable to believe the words coming out of my mouth.
We had the protection discussion way before we had sex. She let me know that even when she was engaged, she forced her fiancé to wear a condom every single time they were together. She claimed that, looking back, she never really trusted him, and making him wear condoms was proof of that.
In return, I told her a little about my history, but obviously not enough. I did let her know that I always wore protection because I never felt comfortable enough with any woman to go without. I also told her that I got tested regularly. In fact, I got tested right before we went out on our first date. What I didn’t tell her is that I got tested because of Crystal’s pregnancy, but I’m guessing she knows that now.
“Yes, I’m sure.” She blinks, biting into her bottom lip. “I love you, Lark. I’m pissed that you didn’t tell me about Crystal, but I love you. I want to share this with you. I want something that is just mine, just yours.” Knowing that she has so much trust in me, and wants this just as much as I do, is the greatest gift she could ever give me.
My heart pounds in my chest, damn near taking my breath away. “I love you, too. I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you blush.”
Deciding not to overthink this, I bring my lips to hers in a gentle kiss. We are both so tense that I know we need to take it slow. What starts off as gentle quickly turns into something more. I devour her mouth, drawing in her unique flavor, as she does the same to mine. Each stroke of our tongues causes my need to grow, filling my body with a blazing fire. My dick is responding in kind, pushing against her waiting pussy. I want her; I need her now, but I want her to be just as needy as me.
She shifts her hips, bringing me to her entrance. Then, her eyes meet mine. She looks at me with pure lust. Wrapping her legs around me, she uses them to pull me inside. As the tip enters her, she lets out a strangled moan. The sound is enough to push me over the edge. With one thrust, I go in all the way to the root.
I groan, unable to hold back my pleasure. Being inside her, with nothing between us, is like nothing I've ever felt before. Her pussy feels like silk wrapping me in its tight heat. Pulling out to the very tip, I slam back inside her, over and over again.
“You're mine, cheri,” I tell her, wanting her to know exactly what she is to me. “You’re all mine, and you always will be.”
“Yes,” she agrees, panting out her pleasure. “And you’re all mine.”
I have had many women try to claim me, but with Paisley, it’s different. I want her to be mine, but I also have every intention of being hers. If I get my way, she’ll be wearing my ring on her finger and sporting my last name before the year ends.
“Yes, I’m all yours,” I agree, placing my lips on hers again.
I plunge into her pussy, getting closer with each stroke. I work my hips faster, bottoming out every time I stroke into her. Within seconds, I can feel her walls tightening around my length. She is ready to explode, and I want to be with her. My strokes gain speed, going faster and faster. I’m right on the edge when she screams and her pussy clamps down on my cock. Her orgasm bursts in giant waves, milking me in a way that draws a groan from deep inside me.
I slam into her once more, pouring my own release deep inside of her, and say, “I love you, cheri.”