Chapter Fifteen

Garrett

The collar of the damn polo he had stupidly decided to wear today was starting to feel like a noose around his neck. Everyone was hanging out in the living room, laughing a little too loudly, getting along great when he’d gone to the bathroom to take a moment for himself. He’d kissed the top of Stef’s head and went on to splash water on his face to give himself a moment like his therapist had recommended when the walls were starting to close in on him.

The funny thing was he had wanted to be there. Among the laughter and craziness. Marc talking about the logistics of a green screen, while Val and Bryan went on about the addition they wanted to do before the end of the summer. Hell, even his parents had gone on and on about the ranch and urging him to tell Stef all about it.

Looking into the mirror, he found his lips crooking upward. She fit with them. She fit fucking fantastically. The only thing that had him on edge was Nicola’s unusual quiet demeanor. Quiet and his grandmother weren’t things that mixed well or at all.

Stepping out of the bathroom, heading back to everyone, he immediately noticed his bit of sunshine was gone.

Ignoring his mother call his name, he moved through the house, probably like a bull in a china shop, but he couldn’t help himself. He spotted her immediately sitting next to his grandmother.

“Relax,” a deep voice said behind him, “they’re fine. She’s fine.”

“How would you know?” he growled, not bothering to look behind him, hating the fact her back was to him. He couldn’t get a read on her.

“Because I’ve kept an eye on her since Nicola hobbled over there.” Donnie shared, and Garrett exhaled slowly before turning to look at the man who his family might as well adopt.

“You sure?”

“Nicola must have said something a little bit ago. Your girl looked upset, ready to storm off. I was about to walk out there to see how I could help, but you know Nicola. She must have charmed her way back into Stefanie’s good graces.” Garrett grunted.

“Why you lookin’ after her?” he asked in a low tone.

“Relax, G.” Donnie put his two hands out before sitting down, putting a leg on over his other knee, obviously getting comfortable. “I just know how Nicola can be, and well, we all saw it didn’t happen earlier, and I’ve been watching the old broad,” he said taking a sip of his water bottle as he looked out at them. Garrett knew it was a term of endearment, one Nicola would wear like a badge if she heard Donnie say it. “When women join this circus the first time, everyone being together is always a show. Nicola being off, I had to make sure she was okay. She’s tiny.”

“Of course, she is. She’s old.”

Donnie laughed shaking his head. “I meant Stefanie. She’s an itty-bitty thing. She looks even smaller standing by you.”

“She is,” he gruffed, taking a seat and looking out at the women in the backyard with Donnie. His grandmother had her hand over Stefanie’s. He frowned.

“She didn’t want to come,” he shared with Don.

“I wonder why,” he muttered, and Garrett rolled his eyes.

“I know you know why,” he said, laying it out. He knew Donnie turned to look at him; he could feel his buddy’s eyes on him, but he didn’t meet them. “I get it. You have the hardest job of all of us in the family.”

“I do, do I?”

“Keeping us safe. Making sure people don’t latch on for the sake of latching on or publicity,” Garrett pointed out. He didn’t envy Donnie for anything in the world.

“Garrett, you gotta know, man, I didn’t mean any disrespect. It’s just what I have to do anytime someone comes into our lives. I did it with Val and Grace.”

“There isn’t anything in that file your people gave you that would make me change my mind about her,” he said, out loud, admitting it as much to Donnie as to himself.

He’d known it for a while.

He felt it in the marrow of his bones that she was it for him.

“She’s a good one.” He sighed once he broke his silence. “I mean, if you wanna get yourself tied up with someone.” Garrett almost wanted to laugh at Don’s choice of words.

“She’s the best.” He turned to Donnie and caught his face changing.

“G, I think it’s time for you to make your way out there.” He didn’t look at what Don was warning; he just moved.

And didn’t stop until he was right behind her, his hand on her shoulder, his grandmother’s inquisitive eyes pinned on him.

“Garrett.”

“Mom’s looking for you,” he lied.

“Really?” Nicola knew he was full of it, but thankfully, she didn’t straight up call him on it.

“Something about wanting to know where you left some blanket for Henry, or about planning a shopping trip for some baby chair thing that would help Bryan and Val get Henry to sleep.” That was a lie, too, but one that had possibility of being true. His nephew was the apple of his mom’s eye, and anytime he had listened in to his mom talking to Val, there had been something Val needed to have.

“Well,” she sighed, tapping her hand on Stefanie’s, “it was lovely talking to you.” He watched as she stood and walked back into the house, closing the French doors behind her.

“Lovely talking to you?” he repeated as he moved around and in front of her, kneeling at her feet.

“I am pretty lovely to talk to.” She shrugged, not giving anything away. He watched her as she sat there and thought about the day. Having seen her hold Henry had given him a jolt he hadn’t expected. The softness of her smile, the serenity that filled her, and the delicate way she’d held the baby was all a glimpse of what she would give to her own children one day. Mine. That stupid voice wouldn’t leave his head.

“Don’t I know it,” he muttered, studying her for a longer moment before asking, “You okay?”

“Yeah. I think I’m just tired.”

“She wear you out?” he asked, nodding his head toward the house, knowing she would understand he meant his grandmother.

“I… No. It’s been a great day meeting everyone,” she answered. He noticed she didn’t say anything specific about his grandmother, and he wondered about it. “It’s just been a long day.” Her hand touched his chest, and his semi aroused body shot off like a rocket. He wanted to feel more of her, and soon.

“You wanna get going, or should we crash in their guest room?”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to sleep in my own bed.” Our bed, he wanted to correct but shook his head and stood up.

“Anything you want, sunshine. Let’s get out of here,” he said and gave her his hand,

_______________

“Babe.” He looked down at her sleeping face. She sighed, mumbling something under her breath as he kneeled in front of her.

He had driven them home and didn’t miss her quietness, but he tried not to let it worry him. He knew she’d had a long day and needed to process everything. He had grown up with all of them, and they were a lot to take in for him. Holding her hand as he drove was enough for him. About thirty minutes into their drive, he was about to break the silence only to find her fast asleep and hadn’t had the heart to wake her. Sneaking peeks at her as she slept, he didn’t think there was anything more beautiful.

“Mmm…” she muttered.

“Baby,” he softly called again as he reached to undo her seat belt when her head moved and landed on his shoulder.

“Mmm,” she grunted, snuggling even closer into him. He felt his face break into a huge smile.

“Stef, baby, we’re home,” he said softly to the top of her head and felt her sigh.

“I love it when you call me that.” She yawned, lifting her head from his shoulder to look up at him, and he really fucking liked what he saw. Sleepy, warm eyes filled with something he wasn’t brave enough to name.

“Stef?”

“Baby,” she whispered back, her eyes on his lips. Damn, he could feel her gaze like a touch. She was hard to resist.

Why should I?

His lips touched hers. His intention was to only steal a small taste, but he should have known better. One taste and he was a goner. Deepening the kiss, he swallowed the sweet sounds she made, obviously becoming more awake by the second.

“Wow,” she dreamily sighed, giving him a bright smile with her eyes still closed. He felt an odd chuckle bubble up his chest. He laughed, a lot, when he was around her.

“Come on, my goof, let’s get you inside.” He tried to sound serious but knew she could hear the joy, the amusement in his voice when she peeked one eye open and quickly shut it, muttering something about unfairness under her breath.

“Yes, let’s get inside of me,” she joked. He laughed, loving the way her cheeks turned rosy. “I mean get me inside.” She grinned bright-eyed as she hopped out and looked up at him as if he had personally hung the stars in the sky just for her. “Carry me?”

“Carry you?”

“I’m tired.”

“Bossy thing, aren’t you?”

“But you like it.” She winked saucily. Without thinking, he felt another chuckle bubbled up, his chest rumbling. Something in her face changed. “I like it when you laugh,”

“Stefanie,” he warned. Something in the back of his neck prickled. Something about her tone and the softness in her eyes put him on alert. She had no idea how much she gave away.

“I do. I like it a lot.”

“Okay, sunshine, I think you’ve been up too long. It’s time for me to get you to bed.” He turned his back and crouched low, then looked up and over his shoulder. “You going to hop on?” Her squeal of delight broke something inside of him, but he was too busy helping boost her up to notice.

Stefanie

Waking up in the middle of the night wasn’t anything new for me. I’d done it for as long as I could remember. It didn’t take a psychiatrist to figure out why. Growing up, I didn’t have a stable roof over my head. Waking up to yelling matches and other things made me a light sleeper.

But sleep had been deeper since my bearded soldier had somewhat moved in with me. Not even during our overnight stays at the hotel had I slept like I did when we were in my home. I’d stir and wake, falling asleep quicker than I had in the past, but still, sleep had never been as peaceful as it had the last month.

There was something about him being in my home, Garrett wrapped around me, as if he was shielding me with his large, strong body from the outside world that helped put my mind at ease. That made me feel safe. Safe. I shook my head as I stared at the man currently snoring lightly in front of me.

His handsome face was serious. There were frown lines on his forehead. I carefully brought my hand up to smooth the lines out, smiling as his face leaned into my touch as if searching for me even in sleep. I couldn’t help myself. I leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose, something I didn’t think I dared do if he was awake, the gesture too cutesy for someone like him.

I was wide awake. Maybe it was everything Nicola had said still swimming in my head. I was worried, and if I was being honest, a little scared.

I had done the one thing I had promised myself I would never do.

I’d fallen in love.

I’d fallen in love with a surly, grumpy, selfless man who didn’t realize could be so damn sweet it gave me an honest to goodness toothache.

Dark eyes opened, and my body stilled. I’d been caught being a creeper. My hand was suspended right over his cheek. Without a thought, I opened my mouth and let the words I’d been thinking about drift right out my mouth.

“I love you.”

“What?” his deep voice rumbled, heavy with sleep.

I wondered if he was half awake. If there was any way I could take the words back, even if I didn’t necessarily feel like I wanted to. If there was any way he’d wake up tomorrow and not remember. If there was a way I could get my heart to stop thundering in my chest like it was trying to pop out and rip through my rib cage.

But I doubted it. His dark now focused eyes were on my mine, and I did what I was best at. Making a fool out of myself.

“I love you,” I repeated, digging myself deeper in a hole. It was better to let someone know how you felt. I braced, knowing exactly what would happen the second his hazy mind processed those words. The earth would collide with the sun, and the world would end. Dramatic much?

“Stef—” I put a finger on his lips. His hand moved to grab my wrist, but I didn’t stop.

I couldn’t.

He was going to leave.

I knew he would.

He was too good and way out of my league, so it was only a matter of time.

Garrett Wright came from an amazing group of people, and all I was, was a stop in his journey of finding a happily ever after of his own to match his brothers’. And as much as the idea of him ending his days with someone else hurt, I wanted it for him because he more than deserved it.

But as goofy and awkward as I was, I had an ugly part to me. I was selfish.

I needed him to know exactly how he had affected me and what an enormous difference he had made in my life.

A positive impact.

That he knew he was loved by someone other than those connected to him by blood or duty.

“I know I probably sound crazy.”

“Sometimes.” His lips did the half-smile twitch I’d come to recognize and cherish like a gift. One day, someone else would get the whole smile, but that half smile was the bigger accomplishment. I’d cracked him open somehow, and I didn’t take it for granted.

“I mean it. I—” I couldn’t get another word out because Garrett was part cheetah when he wanted to and moved us.

Before I could blink, I was flat on my back, his strong body hovering over me, but no part of his body touched me. He was looking at me, his upper body resting on his elbows as we stared into one another’s eyes. He didn’t say one word, his heat radiating and melting with mine, and with every second that ticked past, I was moving from freaked out about what I’d said to panicking over his silence.

“Garrett?” I willed myself to speak, to say something, anything.

“Say it again.” His voice was tight.

“Garrett.” I put my hand on his chest. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to bring him closer or push him away.

If I pushed him away, I knew he’d let me. And the second he did, I would build something bigger than the Great Wall of China around my heart.

“Say it again,” he urged, and I licked my lips.

There was something about his eyes that should have scared me to death, they were so intense and ravenous. Something emanating from more than just his body heat and fear wasn’t at all what I was feeling.

My hands slid up from his chest, my body melting into the mattress, fingers digging into the muscles at his biceps. His skin was hot, as if it was on fire.

“Stef, say it again,” he demanded through gritted teeth.

“Garrett,” I whispered softly.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said as if reminding me, somehow knowing what I needed to hear.

“I love you.”

“So fucking sweet,” he growled, and that intensity that shining from his eyes moved through the room, making the air crackle and snap. “So goddamn sweet.” His nose nuzzled against mine as he lowered his body just enough for me to feel the hardness of his girthy length.

I opened my mouth to say something.

Anything.

But I couldn’t utter a word because his mouth touched mine and we ignited.

There was no slow build.

No sweetness in his kiss or mine.

Need inflamed, hands roamed, and his body pressed into mine. Spreading my thighs further, he sunk into me in one hard thrust. I gasped.

“Say it,” he grunted.

“I love you.” I sighed, the feel of his cock filling me, stretching me. It was too good, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes.

“Open those pretty eyes for me, sunshine,” he coaxed. “Need to have your eyes on me. Need that pretty light on me.” Doing as he ordered, I looked up at him. Emotion lodged in my throat at what was looking back at me.

He slowed drastically, and I whimpered at the loss of his speed. I loved it when he worked me hard and deep. He usually built up to it. Never had he started off the bat like he had right then. The way he had been working me, he would have got me faster than I knew was possible. Greedy and selfish for both of us to find the relief of our orgasm, I dug the heels of my feet into his plump ass cheeks, pulling him back into me.

“Stef,” his voice rumbled against my lips as his eyes searched mine. Something more shined through, and I slid my hands up, touching his face.

“Garrett.” I whispered. He sunk in deep and didn’t move. “I love you,” I repeated softly. Something in his eyes told me everything he couldn’t seem to say.

With his forehead gently pressed against mine, he rocked back and forth inside of me.

Our eyes never wandered off one another.

His speed increased.

Little by little, his thrusts picked up, and I wrapped my body around his. Our breathing was labored. Sweat slicked our bodies as we kept moving forward. I gave everything to him I had somehow kept to myself. In those moments in the darkness, there were no longer two people with two separate hearts; there was only one being, beating together.

A tidal wave built higher and higher around us, our bodies taut and tense when it came down, washing through us, taking us over and under in intense pleasure as he emptied into me with nothing between us. Our hands clung to one another as we breathed and panted one another’s air.

I’d never known what coming home felt like.

Not really.

Not until that moment.