An Eternity of Not Enough
I STARE IN THE REARVIEW mirror as I drive from the grocery store back to Reagan’s. The same black Chevy Impala has been following me since I pulled out of the parking lot. It isn’t Louie’s usual ride, but I don’t put anything past him. I’m tired of these fuckers infesting my damn town.
Speeding up, I weave in and out of traffic before quickly turning down a side road into a neighborhood. I whip down the street and double back the way I came. When I’m finally sure I lost the fucker, I hurry back to Reagan’s.
Today has been perfect.
Just the two of us. Alone.
No stupid fucking Chase.
And despite her words, her expressions and actions spoke volumes. Reagan is affected by me. Whenever she looks at me, heat flickers in her eyes. I know the way I feel deep down about her isn’t unrequited.
She wants me just as much as I want her.
One day soon, she will see it.
I’ll be able to convince her we’d be good together.
I’m just so damn sure of it.
A smile plays at my lips as I plan on ways to flirt with her while she cooks for me. But as soon as I pull into the driveway, it’s wiped right from my face. Chase comes storming out of the house, his face bright red and angry.
What the fuck?
I throw the car in park beside his and jump out, snagging my two sacks quickly. After I kick the door shut, I stalk his way.
“She’s all yours,” he sneers as his shoulder clips mine when he walks past me. “That is, until she stops throwing her temper tantrum.”
I set the bags on the bottom step and storm over to him. He slings his car door open, but I grip the top before he can close it. “The fuck you say?” I demand, glowering at him.
He tries and fails to close the door. “I said she’s all yours,” he bites out. “Pet needs a pet. A dirty little stray like yourself.”
“It’s a good thing we’re roommates then,” I snarl, my tone mocking. “I like when she scratches behind my ears each night. Makes me want to lick her.”
With a fury I’ve never seen before, he slams his fist on his steering wheel. “I fucking knew it! Not only is she a child, she’s also a cheating whore!”
I’m so pissed that I nearly send my fist through the window, but a black Impala slowly drives by at that exact moment. I stare at the vehicle, trying desperately to see in the tinted windows, when Chase manages to yank the door out of my grip. He’s already pulling out of the driveway before I can stop him.
He squeals off down the street, and I have half a mind to go after him. But right now, I need to see how Reagan’s feeling after their obvious blowout. Chase is such a pussy. He better not have said anything mean to her, like he spewed at me. She doesn’t deserve that.
I snag up the bags and stalk inside. I’m not sure who was in the Impala but I’m certain if it were Louie, my ass would be dead. Louie doesn’t simply drive by. No, this was someone else.
“Rey,” I call out. “Everything okay? I just saw that douchebag and—”
The first thing that reaches my ears is the sound of her sniffling. When I step into the kitchen, I have trouble processing the scene in front of me. Reagan lies sprawled out in the middle of the floor, sobbing as she clutches her neck. I slam the bags on the counter and drop to my knees beside her.
I knew I should have dragged that motherfucker out of his car and given him a beat down he’d never forget.
“Talk to me Rey,” I grit out, my voice on edge as I stroke her dark hair from her face so I can see her. Her bottom lip is bloody. “Did he hurt you? What happened?”
Her entire body trembles but she doesn’t respond. That’s when I see the bright red markings on her throat that are quickly turning purple.
“THAT MOTHERFUCKER!” I roar, making her jump. “I’M GOING TO KILL HIM!”
She seems to snap into action and scrambles up, right into my lap, locking her arms around my neck. Her legs wrap around me as she squeezes me tight. “D-Don’t l-leave me.”
My heart sinks. She’s so broken. That asshole broke her. I’m going to slaughter him.
I rub my palms up and down her back. My lips press kisses to her bruised throat as if I have the ability to make it all disappear. I would erase it all if I could.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper against her flesh. “I should have known.”
She shakes her head but her sobs grow louder. It’s true. The signs were there. The stupid-ass pet name. The emotional abuse of controlling her by standing her up all the time and making her feel bad if she complained. The goddamned terror in her eyes when he came over Wednesday morning. She wasn’t afraid that something might have happened between us—she was afraid I was going to leave her alone with him.
I did.
I fucking left her.
Never again.
If the motherfucker even looks at her, I’m going to choke him with my hands. Then he can learn what it feels like when someone bigger than you exerts their strength over you. And I won’t stop. I’ll choke the life right out of him.
Just wait until Ram and Roman catch wind of this.
Chase is going to have a trio of raging bulls after him.
“Are you hurt?” I ask, my eyes closing as I kiss her neck. “Do I need to take you to the hospital?”
She pulls away and shakes her head in vehemence. “N-No! They’ll find out!”
I stare at her in confusion as I gently stroke her battered throat. “Sweetheart, who? Who will find out? And who the fuck cares? You’re hurt.”
“No,” she says more firmly through her sobs. “I just…I can’t deal with their disappointment. I fucked up again. I mess up with every relationship. It’s my fault and—”
“This is not your fault.” My tone is deadly. “Pricks like Chase prey on nice girls like you. You were a victim, Rey.” I hug her tight against me. “Not anymore. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.”
She relaxes against me. “Thank you. Promise me you won’t tell them. No matter what. My brothers. My mom. Please.”
I frown as I pull away. “I won’t betray you,” I vow. “Let me get this food put away and then we’ll talk more. Okay?”
She nods and releases me as she slides to her bottom on the floor. I’m just standing when the front door slings open. If that motherfucker is back, so help me, I’ll ruin his pretty face. Red hot fury surges through me, and I fist my hands. I’m just charging away from Reagan when her two brothers walk into the kitchen.
Ram’s jaw drops open as he gapes at the scene before him.
Roman doesn’t take a moment to think. He just acts. His fist cuts through the air, and I don’t have a chance to block it. Pain slices across my bottom lip the moment he punches me. With as much force as he hits me—even for a pretty boy wearing a bright orange polo—I don’t stagger away or fall down. I’m still too blitzed out on rage over Chase. I snarl like a beast.
“It’s not what you think!” Reagan screams at Roman.
He’s already rearing his fist back again when Ram yanks him back. Roman and I stare each other down.
“You fucking hit my sister!” he bellows, fighting against Ram’s grip.
Reagan climbs to her feet and wobbles. I immediately slip my arm around her waist, pulling her to me to keep her from falling. This seems to infuriate Roman more because it’s all Ram can do to keep him from killing me.
“Roman!” Reagan cries out, her fingers gripping my shirt tight. “I said it’s not what you think. I-I…” she trails off. “I fell.”
I close my eyes and my nostrils flare.
“Unbelievable,” Roman hisses. “You’re fucking covering for him?”
“Reagan,” Ram barks. “You didn’t fall. Tell us what happened.”
She starts crying harder. I snap my eyes open and pin them with a glare. “Just leave her alone. She’ll call you when she’s feeling better.”
Ram frowns, his eyes flickering with unspoken words. I can tell he’s putting together a different picture than what Roman’s seeing.
“No!” Roman growls. “You’re getting the fuck out of her house. We’re going to call the cops and have your carnie ass arrested! I don’t care if you’re my wife’s brother. I don’t give a goddamn because that’s my sister you just crossed the line with.”
“Leave,” Reagan hisses at him, fire in her voice. “I love you, but you need to leave right now.”
Hurt and confusion flash in Roman’s dark gaze. “Reagan…”
“NO!” she screeches and breaks from my grip to shove at her brother. “I want you to go.”
Ram frowns at me but his eyes don’t hold the same accusatory stare as his older brother’s. “You heard our little sis, man. Let’s go. When everyone has calmed the hell down, we’ll talk about this like normal adults.”
Roman’s chest still heaves but some of his anger at me seems to have dissolved. He’s missing part of the picture and deep down he seems to know it. His gaze darts past me to the window.
“Is that?” he asks, confusion in his tone. “Is that my nine iron?”
“Please go,” Reagan murmurs before pushing past them to head toward the front door.
Ram tugs at Roman and manages to drag him through the house. Before they leave, Roman jerks out of Ram’s grip and points at me. “I don’t know what happened, but mark my words, I will find out. And so help me, if you’re the cause—”
He doesn’t get to finish that statement because Ram pulls him out of the house. Reagan slams the door behind them and twists the lock into place. I stalk over to her and pull her into my arms.
“I’m sorry,” she murmurs against my chest as I hug her. “He hit you…because I didn’t tell him the truth…”
“I can handle Roman.”
“I should have told them…” she trails off. “Dammit! I should have just told them. I was just…”
I smooth down her hair and kiss the top of her head. My lip hurts but it doesn’t stop me from providing comfort to my girl. “It’s fine, Rey. Tell them in your own time.”
She sags against me. “I’m so exhausted.”
“I know, beautiful. Let’s get you to bed.”
I slip my arm beneath her ass and scoop her up into my arms. She’s silent, aside from the occasional hiccup, as I stride through the house to her room. When I reach her bed, I shove a bunch of clothes that were piled up onto the floor. Then yank back the covers. My shoes get kicked off before I’m climbing into the bed with her. Once we’re settled, I bring the covers up over us.
She’s on her back, her teary eyes searching mine as I lie on my side beside her. My gaze skims over her pretty face, lingering at her slightly swollen lip that now sports a small split, then down to her throat. I hate the purple marks there. He fucking choked her. And not even in the hot, I-love-you kind of way.
In the abusive way.
Fucking psycho.
Her palm touches my cheek, and the rage instantly cools several degrees. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I demand, the anger back in a flash. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You did everything. You are…everything.”
The need to comfort her is intense. She’s mine. Never his. At least not in her heart. My lips brush against hers. Our eyes lock and I can’t help but touch her gorgeous face. Her skin feels so goddamned soft. So perfect. Mine.
Her heart always belonged to me.
It still does.
“Kiss me, Linc,” she pleads, her voice soft.
I don’t wait for her to repeat that request. My lips capture hers, a little too harshly, considering we’re both suffering from painful, busted lips. I devour her with a kiss that has promise after promise wrapped up in it. When she lets out a moan, I deepen our kiss. Her taste is sweet and simply her.
My Reagan.
We make out desperately for what seems like forever and just a moment all at once. An eternity of not enough. Our hands are all over each other. Exploring feverishly. So long overdue.
“I need to touch you,” I murmur.
Again, I don’t even await confirmation before I’m pulling her yellow tank top up her body. She lifts up to assist me. I toss it away before cupping her full tit through her nude-colored, lacy bra. A moan ripples from her, which has me needing to be closer to her. I slide between her thighs and her legs lock around me. The moment my stone-hard cock rubs against her pussy through her yoga pants, we both groan like animals.
“I knew you’d be perfect,” I murmur against her mouth. My hands roam all over her but it’s still not enough. Now that I’m touching her like I want, I can’t decide where to start and I certainly don’t want to stop.
“Your jeans,” she whines. “Ugh. Make them go away.”
I chuckle against her mouth and sit up on my knees to unbuckle my pants. Her legs remain wrapped around my hips. “Make your bra go away,” I challenge back with a lopsided grin.
She smiles beautifully back at me as she fumbles to remove it. Seconds later, my shirt and jeans are gone. I peel away her yoga pants. All that stands between us are my boxers and her silky black panties. I pounce on her again. Once our mouths fuse together, I grind against her, loving the fact that I can now feel the lips of her pussy against my dick. I’ve dreamt about this moment for so long.
I want to make it last.
To hold on to it for as long as I can.
Lifting away from her face, I regard her pretty tearstained features. My palm cups her full breast in a reverent way. When my thumb drags across her nipple, she gasps. Desire and happiness and love shine her gaze. I’ve never seen her look more beautiful.
“Rey…” So many words claw their way up my throat. All I can do is say one. “Rey.”
She smiles and runs her fingers through my hair. “Linc.”
“This,” I murmur as I push against her clit with my cock, making her hiss, “is a long time coming. You ready for something real, sweetheart?”
She nods. “I’m beyond ready. I’ve wanted this for so long.”
That makes two of us.
“Are you sure?” I breathe. After everything she’s been through tonight, I don’t want to push.
Her eyes glimmer with understanding. “Absolutely.”
“Before I put my big cock inside you, I’m going to taste you,” I tell her, my voice husky. “You still owe me a meal.”
She giggles and reaches between us. Her hand pushes my boxers down so she can grab my dick. Fuck, that feels good. “Maybe I want you to starve and fuck me instead.”
A growl rumbles from my chest. I pounce on her again, my mouth attacking hers. This time, my cock is free and slides against her barely-there panties. “You feel so good,” I praise. “Better than I could have imagined. I’m dying to push your panties aside and shove my cock inside you. What do you think about that, Rey? You like it dirty?”
She moans. “Y-Yes.”
“Condom?”
“As long as you’re clean, we can do it without. I’m on the pill and I always used protection in my past. This time feels different,” she murmurs, her voice shy. “I want to feel all of you. I trust you, Linc.”
I rest my forehead against hers. She stares up at me as if I’m everything in her world. I’ve never been looked at by anyone like that in my life. “I’m clean,” I assure her, “but I’m about to get you very dirty.”
“I’m counting on it.”
“Pull your panties to the side, dirty girl. You need my dick inside you,” I tell her, a crooked grin on my face. “I’m going to fill you up with months’ worth of built-up need. Is that what you want?”
She nods and pulls her panties to the side. “I want to know what it feels like. Not with just anyone. With you.”
I press a kiss to her mouth and then grip my dick. The tip of my cock slides against her hot, wet slit. It’s practically jumping in my hand each time it throbs with need. Slowly, I ease into her. I’ve never gone bareback with anyone before. Couple that with not having had sex in so long, and she feels fucking amazing.
“Jesus,” I hiss, my entire body buzzing with desire. “You’re perfect, Rey.”
She moans and her fingers dig into my shoulders. “So are you.”
I’ve been called a lot of things in bed but never perfect. If I wasn’t balls deep in the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen, I’d beat my fists on my chest like a damn ape.
But I am inside her.
She’s mine.
She always was.
I kiss her hard and start to thrust inside of her. Nothing slow or smooth. Ragged and needy and rough. Her fingernails claw at me as we kiss desperately. Her pussy is soaked, but I want to send her over the edge when she’s wrapped around my cock. Sliding my hand between us, I locate her clit. One swipe across it, and she jolts. A whimper tries to escape her, but I drown it with a kiss that promises her the world.
She’s already given me more than I could ever ask for.
It’s only fair I return that to her tenfold.
Thrust after thrust, I pound into her as I circle her clit with my fingers with firm motions. She squirms and thrashes as her orgasm nears. I know the moment it hits because her body seems to grip my dick tighter than my fist ever does. Lifting up, I stare at her as she loses herself to ecstasy. Her brown lashes flutter. Her cheeks turn rosy. And her mouth parts open as her entire body trembles.
So beautiful.
Before she comes down from her high, I drive into her hard and kiss her mouth again. She shrieks against my lips as another orgasm ripples through her right on the heels of the last one. It’s so erotic, I come without warning. Hot and gushing. I pour everything into her in one sexy-as-fuck moment.
We’re both panting heavily, and I’m still throbbing out my release inside her when I nuzzle her nose with mine. “Did you like that, Rey?”
“Better than anything I’ve seen on Tumblr,” she pants before she starts to giggle. “Oh, God. I could have been having this all along? What is wrong with me?”
I stroke some of her hair away from her face and kiss her sweaty forehead. “Absolutely nothing is wrong with you. Everything is so fucking right. And don’t you worry, sweetheart, we’re going to make up for lost time. Now that I’ve had you, I’m never going to be able to let you go.”
Her brown eyes warm as she beams at me. “Promise?”
“You fucking betcha.”
I slide out of her and sit back on my haunches admiring her just-fucked, bright red pussy. My seed trickles out of her. So goddamned beautiful.
“I’m going to fuck you in the shower now, Rey,” I tell her smugly, my lips quirking up on one side. “Then make me a damn sandwich, woman. I’m starving.”
She snorts and throws her pillow at me.
We spend the next ten minutes rough housing in the bed—her trying to hit me with a pillow and me trying to tickle her. It isn’t long before I’m hard and inside her again.
So much for the shower.
I prefer staying dirty with my girl any day.
My girl.
I like the fucking sound of that.