Page 19
Chapter Nineteen
Sienna
I hightail it out of Hector’s, Ryland keeping up with me and talking nonstop about how great it was to see my brother again, while my only goal is to get away from Gavin as quickly as possible.
Oh, he looked freaking pissed seeing me with another guy. He wouldn’t stop watching us. I could feel his heated gaze on me practically the entire time once they arrived. I was watching him, too, as covertly as possible, and the moment he got up to order more beer—figures—I took my shot and brought Ryland over to talk to Coop and meet Nico. I knew if I didn’t, I’d never hear the end of it from my brother.
Ugh, Nico. He was grinning like a loon and loving every minute of me standing there with Ryland because I’m sure Gavin had some sort of reaction and Nico picked up on it.
But my brother? Nope. He’s clueless. He didn’t seem to mind seeing me with Ryland, but I don’t know if he figured out it was a date. I was trying to keep it casual, but come on. It was totally a date. With a guy we went to high school with, and I was having a nice time until Gavin had to appear and screw it all up.
I think of what Destiny said earlier. Ew men. And while I’m thinking of Destiny ...
Reaching into my bag, I pull out my phone and send her a quick text.
Me: You doing okay? Just checking on you.
No quick response, and I try to take that as a good sign as I stash my phone back in my purse.
“Everything okay?” Ryland asks as we stroll along the sidewalk, headed in the direction of my apartment. At least I’m not running anymore.
“Oh yeah. My roommate had a moment of crisis earlier, and I’m checking up on her,” I explain.
“Are you two close? You and your roommate?”
“Um, not really? But I think we’re getting closer. We’ve been roommates since freshman year. She can be a little grouchy.” I launch into a modified story about Destiny and her potential breakup with Lizzie. And I call it a potential breakup because I’m hoping the two of them are able to get over their argument and are already back together again.
“I hope they can work it out,” Ryland says once I finish explaining Destiny’s predicament. He’s always positive and I appreciate that. He’s a nice guy. Attractive. Ambitious. And he seems totally into me.
Why am I not into him?
Gavin. That’s why. I don’t want this guy. I want Gavin.
I touched Ryland a couple of times during dinner—on purpose. Trying to elicit some sort of spark between us, but I felt nothing. I kept my focus on him as much as possible throughout dinner, though I got distracted by Gavin’s appearance. That incredibly sexy scowl on his face and the way his gaze roamed over me. Possessive. I felt claimed, just by him looking at me.
I’m just not that attracted to Ryland. Not even close, though I should be. My stupid hormones have failed me. It’s like they only want one person, and that is so frustrating.
Ryland walks me all the way to my doorstep, and he turns to face me when we come to a stop, his lips parting. He’s about to say something when I feel my phone buzz in my bag. Holding up a finger, I pull it out of my purse to see I have a response from my roomie.
Destiny: We’re working on it. Pretty sure we’re good.
“Looks like my roommate and her girlfriend are getting back together,” I tell Ryland as I tap out a response to Destiny.
Me: Yay! I’m so glad.
Destiny: Don’t wait up for me though. I’m thinking I’ll be staying the night.
Me: Good. Have fun.
I send her a couple of winky-face emojis and a fire emoji. At least someone is having fun tonight.
“I’m so relieved.” I shove my phone back into my bag. “I was worrying about them all night.”
“You did seem a little distracted. I thought maybe it was because of your brother making an appearance at Hector’s.” Ryland smiles at me, but I don’t smile back.
I wish it was Coop who was the distraction, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
“Right. Coop. He can be extremely overprotective of me.” I sound dreadfully serious.
“Oh yeah?” Ryland’s smile fades. “He won’t mind me going out with you, will he? We go way back.”
Come on. They weren’t that close.
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. He’s still protective of me. I’m his baby sister and we’re close. It’s like no man could ever measure up in Coop’s eyes.”
“That’s crazy. You’re an adult. You can make your own choices.” Ryland actually scoffs, and I wonder if he’s a little offended.
How am I going to let this guy down easy? I don’t know. I also find it interesting that not a single one of those men mentioned anything about their party tomorrow night, not even Nico. And he’s a giant shit-stirrer who probably would’ve loved seeing me bring Ryland as my date to the party.
I’m glad they didn’t mention it. I don’t want to bring Ryland. I want to talk to Gavin and have it out with him because he’s acting ridiculous. And so am I. We’re playing games with each other, and that’s not fair to Ryland or ourselves.
“I can definitely make my own choices, but I value my brother’s opinion.” I offer Ryland a soft smile. “Thank you for dinner. It was great.”
“It wasn’t anything special. Just Hector’s.” Ryland shrugs. I notice he downplays practically everything he does. He’s hard on himself. “We should’ve gone somewhere nicer for our first date.”
It’s the words first date that move me into action. I have to end this now. I can’t keep stringing this guy along. That would be downright cruel.
“Um, about that.” I shuffle my feet and avert my gaze, though I can feel him watching me. “I think we might be better off as friends.”
He goes silent, and I return my attention to him just in time to see the disappointment wash over his face. “Was it something I said?”
I slowly shake my head, unsure of how to say this without revealing I’m interested in someone else. “You’re a great guy, Ryland. Really. I just—”
“You don’t like me like that,” he finishes for me, sounding upset. “It’s cool. I get it. I can’t compete when you hang around football players all the time. Is that what you’re saying?”
“What? No. Not at all,” I start, but he takes a couple of steps backward, talking right over me.
“Whatever. I think it sucks that you won’t even give me another chance, but I guess your mind is already made up.” He glares at me. “I thought we had something.”
I don’t like how angry he is. I fully expected him to be disappointed by my gentle rejection, but his behavior is a bit extreme. I decide to not acknowledge what he said. “Thank you for taking me to dinner, Ryland. I had a nice time.”
“Thanks for ruining my night,” he retorts before he storms off, never once looking back at me. I watch until he disappears before I hurriedly unlock my door and rush inside the apartment, turning the locks into place immediately.
It’s quiet inside. And dark. I turn on the single table lamp we have in the living room, wishing Destiny was home. Then I wouldn’t feel so alone.
Ryland’s over-the-top reaction has completely freaked me out.
I’m awoken by a steady pounding sound, and at first, I think it’s my head. But no. I didn’t drink a single drop of alcohol tonight. There is no reason I should feel hungover.
The pounding stops, and I lie in my bed flat on my back, my heart racing, my imagination kicking into overdrive. I’ve gotten used to being here alone, but Ryland’s behavior earlier was unnerving. I had a difficult time falling asleep, but I was sleeping pretty hard before the loud noise woke me. Grabbing my phone, I check the time to see it’s a little after one o’clock in the morning.
The pounding starts again, startling me, and it’s louder this time. Someone is knocking on my door. Aggressively. Panic flares. What if it’s Ryland? Oh God.
I should text Coop. Call 911. But then I swear I hear someone say my name—and the voice is familiar.
“Sienna! Goddamnit, open your door now before I bust it in!”
Oh, holy shit. I’d recognize that voice anywhere.
I leap out of bed and stomp my way toward the front door, undoing the locks and swinging it open without a single ounce of hesitation to find the bane of my existence standing on my front doorstep, looking deliciously furious. His hair is messy, and he’s got on a threadbare Dolphins T-shirt that has seen better days. It stretches across his chest, showing off every muscle he’s got, and everything inside me warms at seeing him.
He’s flexing his fingers, curling them into fists, his arms hanging at his sides, and the misery on his face makes my heart want to sing. Oh, I’m the worst. But this is a jealous, jealous man who’s arrived at my apartment, and my body stands at attention in the hopes that he’s going to unleash all that pent up fury he’s got all over me.
But I can’t act thrilled that he’s here. There is a part of me that’s annoyed too.
“Gavin, what are you doing? You’re going to wake up the neighbors,” I start, but he’s not listening.
“I don’t give a fuck,” he mutters as he barges inside the apartment, and I have no choice but to step out of his way. He grabs hold of my waist at the same time he slams the door shut, pinning me against it with his big, warm body, his fingers curling around my chin and forcing me to look up at him. “Is he in here? Are you fucking him?”
“What? No, he’s not—”
His lips land on mine. The kiss is almost feral. Rough. Delicious. The possessive thrust of his tongue in my mouth sends a scattering of tingles all over my body, and the next thing I know he’s lifting me as if I weigh nothing, my back braced against the door, my legs winding around his hips as he presses himself against me. He’s hard as a rock, thrusting that thick cock against me where I want him the most, and I give in. There was no thought of not giving in either. I wanted this. Needed this.
Needed him.
We kiss like we haven’t seen each other in months. Years. His greedy mouth never lets up, and his hands are everywhere. Sliding down to my ass, his fingers slipping beneath the thin fabric of my panties, which is all I’m wearing along with an oversize pale-pink tank top. It’s so big I have to be careful or else my tit slips out every so often, and Gavin discovers that fun little fact when he skims his fingers across my chest, his fingertips touching my exposed nipple.
“Jesus,” he mutters as he pulls away from my still-seeking mouth. “Your body drives me out of my fucking mind.”
I can’t speak. All I can do is moan when he dips his head and wraps his lips around my nipple, sucking deep, his tongue lashing at my sensitive flesh. I cup the back of his head, holding him to me, and he tugs extra hard on my flimsy panties like he’s trying to rip them off my body.
“I hated seeing you with that fucker,” he murmurs against my chest, then teases my other nipple with his flickering tongue. “Were you trying to prove a point, Freckles? Because it fucking worked.”
“N-no.” That was never my intention. I didn’t purposely try to run into Gavin tonight, but a small subconscious part of me probably had an evil plan. I’m more than aware that the guys go to Hector’s all the time. It’s one of their favorite places to eat.
Hmm, maybe I’m more devious than I realized.
But I definitely didn’t think this would happen. It’s as if a dam broke inside Gavin and he’s unleashing everything he’s kept locked up all over me. When he drops me to my feet, a wave of disappointment washes over me, only to disappear when he falls to his knees in front of me and grips the sides of my panties in his fists as he presses his face to my pussy and breathes deep.
The back of my head hits the door, and I close my eyes, melting as he nuzzles my pussy with his face. Teasing me. My panties are soaked, my pussy flooding with wetness at having him so close, and I want him to not only pull the barrier away and touch my actual flesh but also keep it there. The way he teases me, holds me, on his knees in front of me.
Like he’s worshipping me.
“Fuck, I missed this pussy.” His lips move against my sensitive skin, making my body jerk, and he glances up, his eyes blazing with an unfamiliar emotion. “I found your red panties under my bed.”
I bite my lower lip, not about to admit I left them behind by accident / on purpose.
“I’ve jerked off to thoughts of you every night since we last fucked. I can’t stop thinking about you, Sienna. You’re fucking with my head. Seeing you out on a— date with that fucking guy just about destroyed me.” The way he stares at me makes it hard for me to breathe, and I watch as he gently pushes my panties aside, exposing me. My scant pubic hair glistens with my juices, and he splays me wide open with his fingers, staring at me. I can feel myself drip, coating the inside of my thighs, and I close my eyes, focusing on the gentle heat of his breath touching my skin. His calloused fingers keeping me open to his searing gaze.
“Such a pretty fucking pussy, Sienna. I can’t get enough of it.” He licks at my clit once. Twice. Swirling his tongue, slipping a finger inside me at the same time. Filling me up, driving me out of my mind, and when he grabs hold of my thigh and drapes it over his shoulder to give him better access, my legs almost give out.
“Oh God.” I’m moaning, my head swiveling back and forth against the door, my fingers clutching at the ends of his hair, tugging hard. He doesn’t seem to mind. Just keeps licking and sucking and fucking me until I’m practically crying. He’s brought me so close to orgasm only to pull away every single time I’m about to go over the edge.
“I shouldn’t let you come,” he murmurs, and I open my eyes, looking down to find he’s already watching me. “I should punish you.”
“F-for wh-what?”
“Going out with someone else.” He slides two fingers inside me, holding them there. “This pussy belongs to me.”
“Prove it,” I whisper, worry clenching my gut when I see the gleam appear in his eyes.
The man loves a challenge. I’m sure he’s going to have me screaming that my pussy belongs to him by the end of the night. I might even start screaming that right now.
He dives in, focusing all his attention on my clit, his fingers thrusting inside me again and again until my body is shaking and I’m moaning. Crying out his name as the orgasm sweeps over me, leaving me a near-sobbing, shaky mess.
There is no hesitation. He rises to his feet, grabs me, and slings me over his shoulder so I’m hanging upside down, my hair almost dragging on the floor, I’m so tall. He carries me with ease to the bedroom while I curse him a hundred different ways, irritated that he would haul me around like this. Secretly impressed, too, because I am a solid girl and he acts like I weigh nothing.
Lord, this man is going to be my undoing.
“Put me down.” I smack his ass because that’s the only thing I can reach, and it’s as hard as rock. I tug at the waistband of his athletic shorts and slip my fingers beneath it to find he’s not wearing anything underneath, and oh my God, my pussy just got wetter.
We enter my bedroom, and he drops me on the bed, ridding himself of his T-shirt and shorts until he’s gloriously naked. “Take off your clothes,” he demands, and I do it, shedding my stretched-out panties and oversize tank in record time. I almost choke myself with the tank when it gets caught around my neck, but he doesn’t notice.
No, he’s too focused on my body and starts at my calves, running his mouth along one leg, then the other. Drops hot little kisses over my knees before moving up to my thighs. Spreading them wide so he can kiss the sensitive skin inside before he settles that mouth once again on my pussy, far too briefly.
I’m breathless. I can’t speak or think as he runs that magical mouth of his all over my body like he’s trying to claim every part of me. Maybe he is. And when he flips me over and I’m on my stomach, his low command sends a fresh spiral of heat through my body.
“On your knees, Freckles.”
I comply, eager to see what he might do. He palms my ass as he kisses the back of my thighs, shifting up until his mouth is on my ass, licking at the underside of one cheek, then the other. Driving me out of my mind with lust because I want his mouth back on my clit.
“Dripping for me.” He runs a finger through my folds, gathering up my juices, and I can hear him lick at his finger. Like he’s savoring my taste, and oh God, I buck against him, wanting more. More, more, more.
He spanks my ass, the sharp sound ringing in my quiet room, and I go still, the pain and shock of it shooting straight to my core. I’ve been craving exactly this sort of treatment, and if I’m being real with myself, I’m up for anything. As long as it’s Gavin doing it to me.