Page 74 of Silver Spoon Falls, Vol. I

FIFTY-TWO

GARRETT

"Fuck," I groan, dragging Ciara up against my chest to deepen the kiss. She clings to my shoulders, making the sweetest little sounds of pleasure as her mouth works with mine. She's driving me wild and doesn't even know it.

I've been thinking about her non-stop today.

I know damn well that I shouldn't be kissing her or trying to make her mine, but I've been playing by the rules since I moved to town.

I've kept my distance and tried to do the right thing for the sake of the boys counting on me.

A man can only take so much. I'm not risking everything for the hell of it.

This isn't a fling. Ciara isn't an itch I want to scratch.

I'm in love with her. She's going to be my wife.

If the school board wants to fire me for following my heart, well, that's their prerogative.

But I'm not just teaching my boys to play ball.

I'm teaching them what it means to be men.

And men fight for what they believe in. I believe in us…

in me and Ciara and the future. She's mine.

"Garrett," she moans against my lips, shifting restlessly. Shit. She's hurting for me.

I run my hand down her back, gripping her luscious ass. "You hurting for me, Cherry?"

"Yes." Her answer is shy and sweet.

"You going to be good and let me take care of it for you?" I nip her bottom lip before trailing kisses all over her throat, leaving the choice up to her.

It doesn't take her long to decide. "Please," she whispers, trembling in my arms. "I-I..."

"I know. Believe me, baby. I know." I spin her around so her back is against my chest, and I have access to her throat, those perfect tits, and her pussy.

She leans back against me, her head resting on my shoulder. I gently nudge her feet apart to give myself room to work, nuzzling her throat at the same time.

"Do you have any idea how many times I've thought about this?" I whisper, running my hands all over her. She's soft and lush everywhere. And responsive as hell. She arches into my hands, moaning. I pinch her nipples. Roll them between my fingers.

"Garrett," she gasps.

"It'll feel even better when it's my mouth, Cherry. I'll leave my marks all over them."

She groans from deep in her chest.

I smile against her throat and slide one hand down her stomach. "You didn't answer my question, Ciara."

"No."

"Every damn day since I met you," I growl, slipping my hand into the waistband of her pants. The button gives way when I do, slipping free. I quickly twist my wrist to tug the zipper down.

"M-me too," she whispers.

I freeze for a moment, barely breathing. "You thought about me, Ciara?"

"Yes. I dreamed about you. Even though it was wrong, I couldn't help it."

"Fuck." I press my face against her shoulder, letting her confession work its way through me. She's been thinking about me this whole damn time, dreaming about me this whole time I should have made a move long before now.

I tug her wet panties to the side. She stops breathing as I run my thumb down her slit, parting her folds.

"Breathe, Cherry."

She sucks in a deep breath.

I press my thumb to her swollen clit.

"Garrett," she sobs, her legs bowing beneath her.

I hook my arm around her waist, anchoring her to my body as I play with her. "No more dreaming, Ciara. From now on, it'll be real between us."

She cries out in bliss, shattering around my fingers. Fuck, she's responsive. I nip at her throat, drawing out every last tremor from her body before I slip my hand from between her legs and turn her in my arms.

Her gorgeous green eyes are dazed and glossy as she stares up at me. They flare with heat when I pop my fingers into my mouth, licking them clean.

"Delicious," I growl.

A pretty blush climbs up her cheeks before she faceplants into my chest. I chuckle, pressing my lips to her head.

"Let's go get you fed, Cherry. And then I'm having you for dessert."

"The bar is closing."

I glance up from my plate to see Ciara watching me intently. "Is it?"

"Carlie told me today."

"Interesting." I spear a piece of chicken and pop it into my mouth.

"It's your doing, isn't it?"

I swallow the bite and then take a sip of my beer before answering. "Possibly," I say, not lying to her. "If Leone got wind that the Labor Department was about to drop the hammer on him for wage theft, he may have decided to close up shop to avoid having them prowling through his business."

Ciara nods thoughtfully, an adorable wrinkle between her brows. "Are you sure that your brother-in-law can find work for everyone? I don't want to be the reason anyone is unemployed. Everyone there really needs those jobs."

"We'll make sure they're taken care of, Cherry," I promise, sensing how important this is to her.

She relaxes slightly, the wrinkle between her brows smoothing. "Thank you."

"You're close to them?"

"No." She shakes her head. "Well, Carlie is my best friend. I'm not really close to anyone else there, but we were all there for similar reasons."

"What reasons?"

She fidgets with her fork before setting it aside.

"I won custody of Todd when I was barely twenty.

CPS has been looking for a reason to take him away ever since.

I'm too young, too inexperienced, too irresponsible…

The list goes on. But I refuse to let my little brother end up in foster care," she whispers vehemently.

"Leone was a terrible boss, but he didn't ask questions and I didn't have to worry about him reporting me if I said or did the wrong thing. "

Jesus. Poor baby has been living in fear of losing her brother since the day she got custody of him. He's her only family, and the state could just decide to rip him away from her at any time. Foster care isn't any place for a kid. For every good foster family out there, there's one who isn't.

"My sisters were in the system."

Her eyes widen. "I didn't know that."

"It was a long time ago," I murmur. "They were just little. They were in and out for a while until CPS finally took custody after their biological parents left them at home and disappeared for a week. Adalynn, the oldest, was placed with my parents."

"They were separated?" Ciara's face falls.

"They were. Right up until my mom found out. She raised hell to have the girls all moved in with us. By the end of the month, we had all five of them." I smile at the memory. "Our family was complete."

"You adore them, don't you?" she asks, a soft smile on her face.

"I'd do anything for them, just like you would for Todd.

You're an incredible sister, Cherry, and you're doing a fucking amazing job with him.

You may feel like you're alone, but you aren't," I say quietly.

"You have me. You have his teachers. You have a support system ready and willing to back you up.

It takes a village to raise a kid. We're yours.

CPS isn't taking him just because you make a little mistake.

They won't take him if he makes a little mistake. We won't let that happen, sweetheart."

Tears well in her eyes. "I worry about it so much," she whispers. "I can't lose him, Garrett."

I rise to my feet and circle around the table, lifting her into my arms. "You aren't going to lose him," I murmur, brushing away her tears. "I promise you that I won't allow that to happen."

It's a big promise to make, but I know her.

I know how hard she works and how fiercely she loves her brother.

She's the best thing for him. He flourishes in her care because she cares so much.

That's something money can't buy. Not every kid is as fortunate.

Kids like Lincoln may have whatever money can buy, but if asked, I think he'd change places with Todd in a heartbeat and take parents who show up and care over money. Most would.

"Okay." She takes a breath, putting herself back together. She's so damn strong, so brave. Fuck, I'm in awe of her.

"Are you still hungry?"

"Not really," she whispers.

"I want to kiss you again."

Her gaze drops to my mouth, her lips parting slightly. "Kiss me, Garrett," she pleads. "Please, kiss me."

I groan, willing to give her anything she wants. Anything at all.