Chapter 20
Morning came with bright rays of sunshine streaming through the cracks of the blinds. Before rolling over, I knew the bed was empty. I felt Garrett’s absence…the emptiness. I drew my arms above my head and stretched. A folded piece of paper lay in the indention of his pillow, and I couldn’t have stopped my lips from curling into a grin if my life depended on it. My heart galloped in my chest as if I were a teenage girl giddy with the thrill of a note from a boy. Opening it, I read the words written in Garrett’s handwriting.
You were smiling in your sleep. Hoping it was me visiting you in your dreams because you were in mine. I’ll bring you breakfast in bed. –G
I breathed in the scent of him that lingered on the pillowcase and reread his words. If only he knew—he didn’t just visit me in my dreams, he pervaded them. Thoughts of the night before filled my mind as I tossed the sheet back, my body still humming from the intense pleasures. Walking up to the mirror in the bathroom, I noticed a small red spot marking the curvature of my neck.
Garrett had left his mark on me.
I traced the invisible brand he’d left on my lips and felt the juncture of my thighs come alive with a throb at remembering how it felt when his mouth feasted on my body. I ran the pads of my fingers over my mouth, trailing over what he’d claimed as his.
I lost track of time as I let the flashbacks flood my mind. Closing my eyes, I lost myself in the erotic memories.
I thought about how lonely I was before Garrett, how if George hadn’t put the wheels in motion, I’d still be convinced I was happy alone when it was the farthest thing from the truth. Garrett had shown me what I’d been missing, how it felt to be desired, and he’d melted the ice around my heart so I could feel again.
Garrett still hadn’t returned after I stepped out of the shower. It didn’t take long to run the blow dryer through my hair and pull it up in a simple updo. I stepped into a pair of salvageable white capris and a short-sleeved shirt to cover up the red mark on my skin.
Too giddy to wait for his return, I rushed out of the room to find him. The smell of bacon cooking filled the stairwell as I trotted my way to the dining area of the ship. Halfway down, muffled voices became louder, and I stopped on the last step when I heard the seriousness in Garrett’s tone.
“Don’t cross the line, Avery.” he bit out.
“Oh, you’re drawing a line between us? I love you like a brother and am only trying to stop you from making a huge mistake. You’re just too blind to see it for yourself.”
“I’m going to handle this my way, Avery. My way.”
“Listen to me, Garrett: he knows, and all of this is going to blow up in your face.”
“I don’t want your advice, and I don’t give a shit about your opinions.”
“You can’t—”
“Stay out of my fucking business.” His clipped tone was barbed with ruthless shards of dismissal.
I flinched at the level of tension between them and debated whether or not to interrupt. Garrett loved his family, and this argument was steadily getting out of control.
“When this is all over, I’ll be the first to say I told you this was going to backfire on you. Finish frying the fucking bacon. I’m sure you can handle it just fine.”
I stepped around the corner in time to see Avery fling a piece of silverware onto the counter and storm through the doors leading to the deck.
Gathering my wits and feeling slightly guilty for eavesdropping, I thought about scurrying right back up the stairs. Then Garrett slammed his fist down on the granite countertop.
“Dammit!” he growled, his back to me.
He kept his hands flat on the surface, leaning forward as his back heaved up and down. I wasn’t about to leave him in that state.
What in the hell happened between them?
I eased beside him and reached for the fork to turn the sizzling bacon in the pan. He looked over his shoulder at me before pushing away from the counter.
“You okay?” I asked slowly. Based on the lingering anger on his face, I knew anyone in his path could be subject to his wrath—including me.
He stilled. “How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to know whatever you and Avery disagreed about upset you. Why don’t you let me finish up breakfast and you go work out whatever that was about?”
He pulled the fork from my hand and began removing the crispy strips from the pan, laying them out on a paper plate. Tension filled the air as he filled the pan with uncooked slices. I watched him retrieve a carton of eggs from the fridge and whip them in an angry assault.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.” He lightly coated a cast-iron skillet with a non-stick spray. “Since you’re up, if it’s all right, we’ll eat breakfast outdoors on the deck with my family. I insisted on cooking since I make the best bacon and eggs.”
“Would you just stop for a minute?” I frowned in frustration.
“There’s nothing to talk about, Brooke. She and I had a difference of opinion, and I was tired of hearing hers. End of story. Do you want an omelet or scrambled?” He lifted his eyes to mine.
My insides pretzeled at the dark storms swirling and clouding the happiness in his gaze. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, fueling the desire to do everything in my power to help him fight against whatever was causing his reaction.
“I don’t give a damn about eggs right now. I care about you. If we’re going to be a couple, we have to share the things that trouble us. Communication, Garrett. We need to help and lean on one another—that’s how relationships work.”
“Not now.” He closed the distance between us in a flash and I landed in his arms. He covered my lips with his in a fierce domineering kiss, silencing my argument. Slanting his head, he deepened the deliciousness, his hands finding the sides of my face and stroking my cheeks. It was crazy reckless abandon as he owned my mouth in a kiss that felt more like desperation.
Heart pounding in my throat, pulse beating in my ears, I locked my fingers in his silky hair, pulling him closer. Hitching my leg around him, I felt like I may liquefy in his arms.
Breathless, he slightly pulled his lips back, but only a whisper away.
“Forget all that shit and let’s start over. Good morning gorgeous,” he whispered low and husky against my mouth, pressing his forehead to mine.
“Good morning to you too.” I rolled my eyes at his antics; he wasn’t playing fair.
He inched back a little more, the intensity in his eyes hypnotizing and overshadowing my thoughts.
“We should always start out the day with a kiss and cook together in the kitchen. That’s how any perfect day should begin.”
Smiling, I reached up and kissed him above the line of the growing beard on his tight cheek, his face full of tension.
“Mornings would never be dull,” I purred.
“The thought of us cooking together turns you on?”
“No, but the thought of having sex on the kitchen floor does.”
He cut his darkened eyes down to me, and I knew lust when I saw it. Fire blazed from his incredibly sexy gaze, and for a second it was as if we were all alone again on the shores of our private deserted island without another soul in sight.
God I am in deep with this man.
He pulled my bottom lip between his and grazed his teeth over the sensitive flesh.
“Christ, you make me want to fuck you right now, right here. It’s a shame my parents and Gammy are just outside on the deck.”
Judging by his hardness pushing against me, he meant it. I bit back a grin because I wanted to play with him, wanted to tease him and make him forget everything that troubled him.
“I wouldn’t stop you. My panties are wet just thinking about it.”
He whirled me around, pressing my stomach firmly against the edge of the counter, his chest pressing into my backside. His arms snaked around my hips, caging me in.
“Stay still.” His whispered instruction brushed against my ear.
Slowly he unfastened the button of my capris then trailed my zipper down, the metal teeth separating at a snail’s pace. My breathing became fast and heightened.
“Your family…” I managed to say. “I was…was just stoking the fire for fun.”
“The fun is just beginning.” His arms still caging me in, he grabbed the bowl of eggs with one hand and grasped the whisk with the other. “Slide your hand into your panties. Touch yourself. Fuck yourself with your fingers.”
I gasped in shock, looking over my shoulder toward the windows. “Someone could walk in.”
“Then you should hurry and do what I say. If anyone walks in, all they will see is me hugging you while we cook eggs together. Pleasure yourself, Brooke—now.”
I didn’t think I’d ever been turned on more than right then, and my body went up in flames. I shivered against him, my hands still on top of the cold granite.
“Do it. Touch yourself, babe.”
My sex throbbed with the intensity of his demands, the huskiness of his voice, and the way my body fit perfectly against his.
Oh my God.
He bit down on my earlobe, licking his way down my neck and up again, driving me away from reality. It was just us, his mouth, his words, his breath against my skin…and the threat of being caught by his family no longer mattered.
I delved my hand inside the front of my lacy ivory panties, finding my slick crevice. Rubbing the inner folds, I circled the hardened bud and let out a moan, throwing my head into his chest.
“That’s it, baby. Fuck yourself for me.”
Licking my lips, I thought about his mouth, his fingers, and his cock pleasuring me into bliss. I jerked involuntarily as I shoved two fingers deep inside, fucking myself for him. It wasn’t going to take much to take me over the edge.
“Shit, Garrett.”
“That’s it, babe. Harder—you’re almost there. Come for me. Come for me, baby.”
I swirled the pad of my thumb over the bundle of nerves while moving my fingers hard and fast, the ticket to my own fireworks show.
The rush hit me full force and I let go, riding the waves of my orgasm. I bucked involuntarily before sinking into him. His arms circled around me, holding me steady to keep my Jell-O knees from giving out.
I withdrew my hand and, in a flash, he grasped my wrist, bringing my soaked fingers to his lips.
“You taste so damn amazing. Do you have any idea how hard I am right now?”
My eyes widened as he sucked them into his mouth all the way to my knuckles, erotically swirling his tongue and making me lose my senses again.
“How are things coming, brother?” Chad called out.
Before he made his appearance from the other room, I zipped up my pants in a flash and walked over to the sink to wash my hands. He’d never know I’d just had a fabulous morning orgasm.
“Things are coming along beautifully. Wouldn’t you say so, Brooke?” Garrett’s eyes twinkled, his voice laced with playfulness.
“Damn, it’ll be time for lunch by the time you finish. I told Mom she should have supervised.”
“Brooke keeps distracting me. She can’t seem to keep her hands to herself.” He winked.
I goosed him in the ribs with my elbow then dried my hands with a paper towel. I knew I was blushing from my head to my toes, and I felt like one look at me and Chad would know what had happened.
“Tell everyone to give me five minutes and we’ll bring out the food.”
“Do you need a hand?” Chad asked.
“Nope. We’ve got it.”
“Well hurry up,” Chad chided before closing the French door behind him.
A timer chimed, and Garrett slid on an oven mitt. Opening the door, he withdrew a baking sheet filled with golden brown biscuits.
“I’ll butter them while you scramble the eggs.”
“That’s right—I forgot you said you can’t cook. When we get home, I’m going to keep you in the kitchen, teach you how great cooking can be.” He poured the mixture into a deep iron skillet.
“I’d rather you fuck me on the kitchen floor.” I sliced the stick of butter, shoving a thin dollop inside each hot flaky biscuit.
He slapped the cheek of my ass. “Careful. Be very careful—I’m still rock hard and have no problem fucking you right here, right now.”
I arched a brow. “I don’t think you would.”
His eyes went a shade darker than I’d ever seen them, but before he replied, his mom waltzed inside.
“Good morning, Brooke. You look lovely after a decent night’s sleep.” She opened the fridge and retrieved a pitcher of orange juice.
“Good morning, Mrs. Mitchell, and thank you. I slept so soundly I think I forgot where I was.”
“Tomorrow night you’ll be back in the comforts of your own home, dear.”
I didn’t correct her, but the next night I’d actually be in a cold hospital room. While I was beyond eager to see my mom, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen with Garrett and me.