Page 34 of Bleeding Hearts (Pine Valley College #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

I felt rough for at least two days, and Lally never left my side. She helped me shower and wash my hair. She also cooked for me, made me drink plenty of water, and ensured I took my meds before I rested. We binge watched Castle , which happens to be her favorite show.

It was perfect . . . you know, apart from nearly dying.

“I can’t believe you hung it up.” I sigh as I stare at the painting she mounted over her TV. It’s the one I painted of her on our date, which feels like it was forever ago, but it was only a few days past. So much has happened since.

Lifting her head, she drapes her arm more securely around me as she pulls me into her embrace. I never thought I would say this, but Lally is clingy, and I fucking love it.

“Why wouldn’t I?” she asks with a frown. “It’s an incredible piece of art. I should get you to sign it before you become all famous and shit.”

“Why? Are you going to sell it?” I grin, propping my chin on her shoulder.

Her arm bends as she pets my hair and drops a kiss on my forehead. “Never,” she vows. “You gave it to me. I keep everything you give me.”

“Liar,” I scoff as I turn forward.

“Want to bet?” She carefully lets me sit up and then slides from the bed.

Following her, I perch on the edge as she walks over to her closet and pulls out a wooden box.

Kneeling before me, she carefully opens it and turns so I can see inside.

It looks like scraps of trash and receipts to me, but she selects one at random and holds it out.

“This is from the first time we went to the movies together.” She shows me the date, and my eyes widen as she puts it back in the box and pulls out something else.

“The receipt when we went to that fancy dinner for my birthday.” Rummaging around, she chooses a napkin.

“You doodled this while we were waiting for your brother and Evan.”

I reach inside and pull out a rock. “Ah, you remember when we went to the park when Alek demanded you needed more exercise and should try hiking? You threw this at me when I told you to speed up.”

Holding it in my fist, I gape at her, unsure what to say.

Shock roots me in place as she continues to pull out more and more items, telling me what each and every one is. It’s a collection, garbage to most, but she kept everything like treasures.

“You kept all this?” I ask softly.

“Of course. You gave them to me.” She shrugs.

My gaze sweeps over her face. “Even when you hated me, you kept it all?”

Shutting the box, she carefully sets it on the floor and takes my hands. “I told you that I never hated you. Even when I was lost, I put things in here rather than the trash. I think I might need a bigger box soon.”

“Why?” I search her gaze.

“I don’t plan on letting you go. We’ll have a lifetime of things to fill it with,” she answers like it’s obvious before she kisses my hands, picks up the box, and heads to her closet, putting it back.

Climbing from the bed, I hurry over to Lally and wrap my arms around her from behind.

My heart hammers with so much happiness, I feel like I might explode.

“I’ll buy you one,” I murmur as her hand covers mine on her belly.

“Good, now sign your work, baby. I want everyone to know I was the first.” She turns and hands me a marker pen before sitting on the end of the bed.

The painting really isn’t that good. Some of the lines are sloppy, and the colors aren’t perfect, but she doesn’t seem to care, and honestly, knowing that it makes her happy?

How could I deny her anything?

I worried that what happened the other night would send her spiraling again and she would fall into old habits, but if anything, it seems to have reaffirmed her need to keep me safe. I’m not saying she isn’t struggling, but she’s trying hard to not slide back into her old vices.

Instead, it’s like she made me her only vice, which is something I don’t mind at all.

Pressing up on my toes, I scribble my name in the right corner, drawing a little heart so she knows it’s all hers, and then I put the pen away and turn to find her watching me with a happy smile on her lips.

Her oversized, sleeveless tank rides up, exposing her perfect thighs, and desire rolls through me just like it always does when I’m with her, but more than that, so does happiness and comfort.

“Perfect,” she murmurs.

“Me or the painting?” I tease.

“Both of course.” She winks.

Lally leans back on her elbows as she watches me, and I can’t resist. How many times did I stop myself from reaching for her before?

Swinging my leg over her lap, I straddle her and drape my arms around her shoulders.

Her arms wrap around me, and I settle into the crook of her neck like I was made to be there.

“Pet me,” I demand, knowing I’m being whiny, but I don’t care.

Her soft chuckle stirs my hair, but her hand glides up and down my back, teasing and tickling just like I want. We sit like this for a while, both of us content to be stuck together. I know what happened scared her, and the truth is, it scared me too.

Thinking I was going to die terrified the shit out of me, so I soak in her comfort and warmth. I’m alive, and I’m okay.

As if she knows my thoughts, she tightens her hold on me. “You’re okay, baby. I promise.”

“I was so scared,” I admit against her skin.

“I know. I was too.” Her voice is choked, and when I lift my head, I notice her eyes are glassy. “Don’t do that again, okay? Don’t ever put yourself in harm’s way, not even for me.”

Nodding, I purse my lips to stop my own tears. “I’m sorry.”

“Shh.” Cupping my cheeks, she pulls me back into her embrace. “You’re fine—we’re fine. I won’t let anything happen to you again. I promise, baby. You believe me, right?”

I nod, moving closer so no room exists between us. She’s quiet for a moment before she suddenly pats my ass. “How about we forget all about school and the game tomorrow and we have a fun day? Just us two? Our first official date, if you will?”

I sit upright, happiness coursing through my veins. “Really?” I grip her shoulders in excitement. “You mean it?”

“I take that to mean you want to go?”

I tackle her, and her laughter fills the air as I pepper kisses on her face. “I want to go. I really want to go.”

Rolling us, she pins my hands above my head and grins down at me. “Then tomorrow, we’ll go on a date.”

“Can we wear matching couple outfits?” I blurt out.

“Not a chance,” she retorts.

“Please?” I whine, giving her my best pout.

“No, not even if you beg me with that pretty mouth.”

“Really?” I arch up, rubbing against her. “I think you want my mouth to beg.”

“Behave, you should be resting,” she orders.

“Then how about I rest and you do all the work?” I suggest, licking my lips as I try to get closer. “Lals,” I purr, “I need you.”

That’s all it takes.

She slides her hands under my shirt and cups my breasts, making me gasp as her expert fingers roll my nipples. My eyes slide shut until her hands disappear. She tugs my shirt up around my neck, and then her mouth is on my breasts, sucking my nipples until I cry out.

My clit throbs in time with my pounding heartbeat as pleasure rolls through me, shooting from my nipples to my needy pussy. I try to get her attention by lifting my hips, but she makes me wait, stroking my stomach and thighs as she kneels between them.

“Lals,” I whine, reaching for her.

“Don’t move, baby, or I’ll stop. Rest or I’ll leave you wanting,” she warns.

I slump back, pouting, but that soon transforms into a gasp as her fingers slide into my underwear and stroke my wet flesh, all while she sucks my nipples.

I whimper beneath her, clamping my thighs shut on her arm to force her to give me more.

My chest and face burn with my pleasure, and I know all it would take is one touch and I’d explode.

Her mouth finally slides down, licking my soft stomach before reaching my underwear. She kisses the fabric, teasing me as I roll my hips until she finally tugs my panties aside and replaces her hand with her mouth.

Lally seals her lips around my clit as she thrusts her fingers inside me, and I shatter, screaming her name.

When she lifts her head, I notice her lips glistening with my cream before she flips me, pressing my face into the bedding.

Her fingers find me again, rubbing my inner walls as I gasp and jerk, pushing back.

“Shh, baby, you’re supposed to take it easy, remember?” she teases before sliding her lips across my shoulder and down my spine. I shudder under her touch, pushing back for more as her mouth presses against my cunt again. I whine into her bedding as my pleasure builds once more.

She draws it out with sure strokes of her fingers. I rock into them, my nipples rubbing against her bedding as I fuck myself on her, her tongue lashing my clit with a rhythm that drives me wild until I scream her name again.

This time when I slump into the sheets, she kisses my pussy softly then tugs me into her arms. “Feeling better?” she asks breathlessly.

I hum in response, and she chuckles as I cuddle closer, my eyes closing in sated bliss.