Page 15 of Tattered Souls (Whispering Falls #2)

Tatum

I looked at Talia and asked, “Is that okay with you?”

She tilted her head. “Is what okay with me?”

“That I claimed your brother back?” I said.

She smiled, then moved over to me and wrapped her arms around me. “I adore you, sweetie. I do. And I know that if I didn’t, Garrick couldn’t give two shits. He’s been into you for a while.”

Harlee smiled, “She’s right. And I’m so happy for you both.”

Lila leaned in then and asked, “So, how does he kiss? What’s his body like?”

I smiled at them and shook my head, “I wouldn’t know.”

Everly’s mouth dropped open.

As did Lila’s.

As did Harlee’s.

Talia said, “TMI.”

“You guys haven’t even kissed yet?” Harlee asked.

“Haven’t even kissed yet, and he’s shouting to the world that you’re his woman?” Lila asked.

Everly grinned wistfully, “I want that.”

I smiled at her. “Sorry, but he’s mine.”

They all giggled.

Just then, a guy moved in behind Talia.

I widened my eyes at her, which she noticed and turned her head, and then... well... Dom was there.

He had his hand planted on the man’s chest. “No. It’s girls’ night. Leave them the fuck alone.”

When did he show up?

The man moved away, and we all watched as Dom headed to the table and took a seat beside Garrick and Carter.

That was when Abel, the man who owned the bar, whistled, getting everyone’s attention.

“Y’all see these five women in front of me? Yeah, leave them the fuck alone. It’s girls’ night. And the men over at that table won’t hesitate to beat your ass black and blue. And since y’all have been warned, I’ll help them.”

Bridie walked over to her husband and slapped his ass. “Love to see that. Make sure I have popcorn first.”

I giggled.

Then I started thinking about it.

And the more I thought about it, the more I realized I really wanted that.

Like, really wanted that.

Had it been bad that I had thought about that when I was technically with Lance... yes... but... I mean, look at him. Can you blame me?

Just then, my phone pinged.

I glanced down at it from where it sat on the bar and smiled.

Garrick – What’s got that pretty little brain working over there?

I didn’t question it.

It was Garrick.

He noticed stuff about me that I didn’t think anyone else had.

Or ever had.

That was why I texted him back.

Me – Thinking about something the girls said.

Garrick – Care to share? Or is this a girl’s only thing?

I bit my lip and contemplated what to say to him.

But if I were going to learn to trust him.

If I was going to be the woman I was always meant to be... then I needed to be a big girl about this.

That was why I texted him back.

Me – They asked what your lips felt like. I told them I wouldn’t know.

Me – They were shocked that you claimed me as yours, and we haven’t kissed yet.

Then I set my phone down and turned to watch him.

He had his head bent reading what I texted him.

And then his head jerked up, his eyes flared with heat, he glanced at my lips, then I watched as he nodded, stood up, and prowled through the bar.

The moment he made it to me, he wrapped his hands around my legs and twisted me, so I was facing him.

Then he put slight pressure on my thighs, and I opened them.

He moved in then and placed his hands on the sides of my face, his thumbs brushing over the already faded bruises.

His oceanlike eyes bored into mine, and he said, “Haven’t made a move like that because I wanted to give you time. Time to get to know me. Time to get to know the man I am. And I haven’t made my move because once I do, I want you to know that you're mine.”

I took in a breath and said, “Thought I already was.”

His eyes flared, then he looked down at my lips, then back into my eyes, “Yeah?”

I nodded.

Then he bent his neck and almost, almost, against my lips, he whispered, “Do this, baby, there’s no going back.”

My body had a mind of its own, as my hand came up, curled around the back of his neck, my other hand fisted his white t-shirt, and I said, “Do it already.”

He smiled, then his lips were on mine.

My eyes closed of their own accord.

His lips were full, lush, and sensual.

His tongue teased my lips, and I opened them for him.

The moment his tongue tangled with mine, his body moved even closer into mine.

Something hard pressed against my vagina, and I moaned into his mouth.

He answered back with his own moan.

I lost track of time.

Kissing him back.

His fingers trailed through my hair.

We nipped, we teased, it was the best kiss I’d ever had, hands down.

It was a few more moments until he slowly pulled his lips from mine, and then he whispered, “You make me forget where we are.”

I smiled, “Yeah?”

He winked, then he rocked my world. “Oh, and by the way, that shit of you staying in the spare room ends tonight. Wait for you to be ready to fully become mine in every way imaginable, but ain’t no way in fuck are you sleeping in our house and it not being in our bed.”

And with that, he pressed a soft kiss on my lips and then headed back to the table.

And no, I didn’t miss the way he brought his hand down and adjusted his cock.

Lila cheered, “That was hot. We need shots.”

“I need a man,” Talia said.

Everly nodded.

Harlee just smiled and winked at Carter, whose eyes smoldered.

We stayed there for another hour or so. I couldn’t help but smile as Garrick, Carter, and Dom had switched to water so they could drive us home.

We were outside of the bar, giving kisses on the cheeks.

Carter tagged Harlee’s waist and smiled, “Everly, you're with us.”

Everly nodded.

Dom jerked his chin. “Lila, you're with me.”

Garrick wrapped an arm around my waist and said, “Talia, you’re with us.”

They did that because each person was on the other’s way home.

Once we dropped Talia off at her apartment, Garrick drove us home.

***

I was standing there, in my new pajamas, brushing my teeth after Garrick had tagged my hand and led me to the spare bedroom.

Then he proceeded to pack up all of my things.

I giggled, “Garrick, it’s one in the morning.”

His only response was to shrug, “Why put off tomorrow what we can do today?”

I giggled again, “You just want me in your bed.”

He winked, “Truth.”

Thirty minutes later, I had half of a dresser filled with my things, half of his closet filled with my things.

The right side of the bathroom counter was now mine, and my things were in his shower.

Garrick was locking the house up when I climbed into bed.

And when he sauntered back in shirtless, and with only a pair of boxers on, I was glad the covers were over my thighs that just rubbed together.

Trying to ease the ache between my legs.

His chest... it was magnificent.

Tanned. Toned. Tattooed. Scrumptious.

He winked as he caught me staring, and my cheeks flushed.

Then he pulled the covers back and climbed in.

I gasped when Garrick lifted my body and planted me on the other side of his body.

“Why’d you do that?” I asked.

He looked at me, and then curled his arms around me, pulling me into his body, as he said, “Cause, someone breaks in, they gotta go through me. And no one gets through me.”

At those words, I melted.

Completely.

Then I tentatively rested my head on his chest and curled my arm over his abs.

I felt him inhale a breath, and before I could remove my hand, his came up and lay atop it, halting me.

“Only did that because I’ve dreamed of your hands on me. Don’t take it away from me,” he said as he turned his head and pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

I smiled, then I whispered, “Okay.”

I felt his head nod, and then he said, “Night, gorgeous.”

I grinned, “Night, Honey.”

“One,” I heard him whisper.

And before I could ask him about that, my eyes closed of their own accord.

I was asleep in seconds, safe, warm, and... happy.

What I didn’t know was that he had lain there for a few minutes after I fell asleep, making promises. I would find out later, he would break his back to keep.

***

Waking up in Garrick’s arms... There was nothing like it.

I was curled on my side with his front facing me, and his arm was around my waist.

I took in his sleeping profile, and how relaxed he was, and I saw it.

I got to see parts of him that nobody else saw.

And that caused a part of my heart, a small section of it, to start mending itself together.

I brought my hand up and brushed a few strands of his hair that were resting on his forehead back.

Then I leaned forward and pressed a kiss on the top of his nose.

Then I carefully got up, and smiled when his hand searched for me, but he fell back asleep.

With my coffee cup in my hand, I took a sip of coffee and smiled as I looked out the window.

That was when I heard, “Woke up. You were gone. Didn’t like it.”

I turned my head to take him in. He was still shirtless, but he had on a pair of pajama bottoms.

I smiled, “Sorry.”

He winked, “It’s okay. You got more of that?” he asked as he nodded to my cup.

I sat it down, then moved to make him a cup and handed it to him.

He took it as he bent his neck and pressed a kiss on my lips. “Thanks, baby. I’m going to go shower.”

I nodded, “Want eggs and bacon?”

He winked, “Yeah, be nice. Can you make them sunny side up?”

At my nod, he winked, then kissed me again, and then headed to take his shower.

Taking intermittent sips of my coffee, I fried the bacon.

Then I got started on the eggs.

And when I cracked one too hard, I froze.

A memory assailed me.

One of the times I had made breakfast and messed the eggs up.

Lance had seen it and slapped me.

And he stood there watching over my shoulder as I cleaned the mess up, then he grabbed my bicep and squeezed, ‘ Do it again, and I’ll hit you harder.’

I was brought out of that memory by Garrick.

He just winked, smiled, and said, “Changed my mind. Want scrambled. Thanks, Tink.”

When I didn’t move, Garrick reached around and grabbed my waist and carefully spun me.

The moment I was facing him, he reached around me and turned off the burner.