Page 65

NINE

GAVIN

Beckett: Where’d you disappear to?

Me: Just hit the bathroom. We grabbing a drink at the bar?

Beckett: Nah, Aiden disappeared with his phone. Probably FaceTiming the new chick, and Brooks went to bed. I think I’ll do the same. We have an early flight home.

Me: Okay, night.

With a sigh, I pocket my phone. Millie’s not at the bar where the last of the guests are now congregating. She probably went to bed too.

Ford and Lake disappeared about an hour ago. Naturally, he made a show of scooping her up and carrying her away bridal style. Her loud laughter rang out over the crashing waves and the live band. I’m happy for him. Tonight was a perfect night. He even pulled Millie out onto the dance floor, and as they swayed to the music, they talked. I swore I even saw Millie smile.

That was the last time I laid eyes on her. It’s for the best. I need to forget about her. I can’t fix her problems, and it won’t do me any good to continue watching after her. If I do, it’ll only make me want to touch her, and that can’t happen.

I rub at the ache that’s formed in my chest again. Too much booze and not enough food, I guess. This heartburn is something else. That’s the only reasonable explanation.

As I’m heading to my room, I take in the view of the ocean. This really is a beautiful place. Thousands of stars glitter against the cobalt-blue sky, and the way the moon illuminates the ocean makes it look mystical.

On the beach by the water’s edge, I catch sight of a lone figure.

I know who it is before my feet start moving in her direction.

She’s nothing but a shadow.

Her knees are pulled up to her chest, and she’s got her arms wrapped tightly around them, keeping the fabric of her burgundy dress from blowing. Her hair is another story. It whips chaotically in the wind, making her look a little wild.

Beside her, wedged in the sand, is a bottle of tequila.

“You gonna drink that by yourself?”

Millie turns her head quickly at the sound of my voice, then gives me a half smile. “Haven’t even opened it.” She snatches the bottle of Jose and swings it back and forth, the liquid sloshing near the neck.

That makes me feel a modicum better.

“You going to?”

She shrugs. “Didn’t have any limes or salt. And I didn’t want to drink alone.”

I glance back toward the bar. From here, the people still mingling are smudges of color. The music and sounds of conversation can barely be heard over the waves. We aren’t alone, but there’s no one even remotely close by.

Ford did tell me to watch out for Millie, right?

“Can I sit with you?”

She eyes the spot beside her in assent.

I put my jacket down on the sand and give her the same kind of look, silently offering it to her, but she merely shrugs. “I’m already sandy. No sense in us both being that way.”

Once I’m settled beside her, legs bent and forearms resting on my knees, she hands me the bottle. Drinking tequila straight from the bottle has no appeal, but now that I’m beside her, I need something to keep my hands and mouth occupied. Because more than anything, I want to kiss her. I want to hold her.

Since I can’t do either of those things, I unscrew the cap and swig. When I pull the bottle away, relishing the way the alcohol burns on its way down, she’s holding out her thumb. Fuck, I’m an asshole. I’ll use any excuse to get closer to her. So I don’t hesitate. I grasp her wrist and suck on her thumb, all the while keeping my eyes locked with hers. Once I release it with a pop, I hum. “Perfect.”

She smiles, her eyes a little hazy, like maybe she had a shot or two at the bar before she wandered out here. She takes the bottle from me, takes a swig, grabs my hand, and licks across my wrist.

The feel of her hot tongue against my skin is almost as incredible as the soft moan she makes.

“Fuck, Peaches,” I curse, my body heating to levels I know it shouldn’t. “We can’t keep doing this.”

Even as I say it, I snag the bottle from her grasp and take another swig, then I push her hair off her shoulder and lick a line right up her neck.

“Someone could catch us.” Her voice is all sex. Breathy and teasing.

I hold her in place, push up her chin, and kiss the space beneath it. “I wouldn’t be able to explain why I had my mouth on you.”

She hums. “No, this is definitely not what my father had in mind when he asked you to spend time with me.”

Now that I have my mouth on her, I can’t stop. “Open,” I say as I lift the tequila bottle.

She parts her lips and, focus fixed on me, sticks out her tongue.

My cock strains against my pants as I pour the liquid straight into her mouth. The second I pull it away, I dive forward and suck on her tongue. And a moment later, the bottle is in the sand, and I’m pulling her onto my lap.

“Oh shit,” she murmurs against my mouth.

Fuck. I can’t stop kissing her.

We’re out in the open. The beach is empty, sure, but I have a dozen or more friends here. Her family and my family are all staying at this resort.

Any one of them could easily be out for a late-night walk. If they stumbled upon us, there would be absolutely no reasonable explanation for why I have Ford’s daughter on my lap. His twenty-two-year-old daughter.

There’s no innocent reason for her to be grinding against my erection. For our lips to be fused like this. For me to be grasping her tits like this.

I squeeze them, pulling a whimper from her.

“Gavin, god.” She throws her head back. Then her lips are brushing mine again. “I need you.”

“I can’t fuck you now that I know who you are.”

It’s wrong. I know it’s wrong.

“Can I fuck you? Can I just?—”

I slam my lips to hers again before she can finish that question. There isn’t a world where I’m not filling her up when she’s begging for it. I slide my hands beneath her dress and pull her panties to the side.

“Take my cock out and ride me, Peaches. Make yourself come. Use me.”

I won’t come. I can’t. But I can’t say no to her either. Can’t deny her.

With her lip caught between her teeth, she lifts a little so she can unbuckle my belt and unzip my pants. Then I’m helping her by lifting my hips so she can shimmy my pants and underwear down. Her hands are so damn warm and tempting, stroking up and down my shaft. I clench my jaw, staving off the almost uncontrollable need to possess her.

“Sit on me, Millie. Use my cock like you’d use a vibrator. It’s not wrong when you fuck a toy, right? So just…use me to get off.”

The web of lies I’m weaving is ridiculous. I could have earned a law degree with all the ways I’m bending the truth. But I’d do anything to make her come right now.

“I’ve never had a toy this large, and believe me, I have never made myself come the way you do.”

She lines herself up and slides down, her warmth sucking me in, and god dammit, I can’t help but grasp the hair at her nape and pull her down until her lips are on mine.

“I could never deny you,” I say between desperate kisses.

Above me, she’s fully sheathed and holding still so she can adjust to the feel of us finally together again.

She sighs into my mouth. “I love fucking you.”

I laugh. “It is truly the best feeling. God, you’re squeezing my dick so damn tight, Peaches.”

The smile she gives me is slow and so fucking sexy. “I love when you call me that.”

“I know. Now ride me before we get caught.” I grasp her bare thighs beneath her dress and roll my hips.

It’s torture at first. Slow and exquisite. She needs to get off, and god knows I shouldn’t. I’m so goddamn depraved for doing this. But fuck, the way she’s writhing above me, the way her pussy pulls me in, the way she flexes her inner muscles, squeezing me tighter, has me certain I won’t be able to stop myself.

“Peaches, I’m gonna come so hard, and then you’ll be walking through this resort with my cum dripping down your leg.”

She grasps the front of my shirt and works herself over me faster. “Hold it, and I’ll do ya one better.”

Regardless of what she has in mind, I’d follow her to hell, so I do as she says. I grit my teeth and flex every muscle, holding back my release. Then I thumb her clit, stroking it until she unravels on top of me. “That’s a good girl. Look at you riding my cock, taking what you want. So beautiful. So fucking perfect.”

I pull her top down and suck one of her nipples into my mouth. After a couple of strokes with my tongue and another long pull, she shatters, crying out my name as she does. My vision goes dark, and I’ve barely recovered from the feel of her squeezing me when she lifts off me, then lowers down and sucks me into her perfect mouth.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I growl, tangling my hand in her hair and pulling her head back. Fucking her to make her come was one thing. Allowing her to blow me? That—fuck. “Millie, please, baby. That feels too good. I’m gonna come down your throat.”

At my warning, she doubles down, moving faster and sucking harder, taking me all the way to the back of her throat until I’m fisting her hair and thrusting into her mouth and coming so hard I can barely breathe.

My vision is still mostly dark when I pull her up so she’s lying on my chest, our hearts beating wildly against one another.

That’s precisely how I feel about her. Wild and untamed.

“Fuck, baby. What are you doing to me?”

She breathes heavily against me. “God, that felt so good.”

The husky note in her voice has me hauling her closer so I can kiss her again.

I wish I could keep her. I wish this night could go on forever.

“Let me walk you back to your room.”

She shakes her head. “Daniel and I are neighbors. I don’t want you to get caught.”

I nod, even as my jaw hardens at the reminder that we can’t be together. That even something as simple as walking her to her room would raise suspicions.

The dread that’s weighed me down since the moment I realized she was Ford’s daughter momentarily vanished when I was buried inside her, but now it comes rushing back with a vengeance. We shouldn’t have done this. I should have stayed the fuck away. Fuck.

She presses one last kiss to my mouth, but I barely register it. I’m too busy spiraling.

She fixes her dress quickly and stands, but I take my time redressing, holding on to this moment for as long as I can.

“I hate this,” I admit, rubbing a hand over the back of my neck.

She nods, her eyes downcast. “I really am sorry, you know. For putting us in this position.”

I press a finger to her lips. “I’m not. Here,” I say, holding my hand palm out. “Give me your phone.”

Her eyes crease in question. “Why?”

“Text me when you get to your room. Let me know you’re safe.”

It’s the least I can fucking do. I won’t sleep until I know she’s okay. But I’m also an asshole because by suggesting that I want to make sure she’s safe, I’m also getting my best friend’s daughter’s number.

I’m already going to hell, though…

She rolls her eyes as she hands it to me, but she can’t fight the smile that tips her lips. Yeah, she likes that I care.

Even if she didn’t, now that I’ve met her, I don’t see how I can’t care about her. Even if she can’t be mine.

Once I’ve programmed my number, I hand the phone back to her. “Be safe.”

She swallows and then nods, gazing into my eyes. “You too, Gavin. Be happy.”

I hate that this is goodbye, but I can’t tell her that. It has to be.

I watch her make her way slowly back to the resort, my heart in my throat, pretty positive that I just let my soulmate walk away.

Then, with my hands shoved into my pockets and my head bowed, I walk back, in no hurry to get to my quiet room.

I’m just stepping into the building when my phone buzzes.

Peaches: You programmed yourself as “Coach.”

Me: And you’re Peaches. You back in your room?

Peaches: Yes.

Me: Good. Listen, use this number whenever you want. I’ll always be here to talk.

Peaches: Is that all I can use the number for?

Me: I think that would be best. I’m pretty sure it’s obvious how I feel, but in case you don’t know, I’m crazy about you. If you weren’t my best friend’s daughter, I’d ask you on a date.

Peaches: I’d say yes. Where would you take me?

Me: Probably a fancy steak house. I’d want to impress you.

Peaches: You could bring me to McDonald’s, and I’d be impressed, Coach.

Me: That’s why I like you.

Me: One of the many reasons, really.

Peaches: I’d definitely sleep with you on the first date.

Me: Ha. I wouldn’t even try. I’d make you wait.

Peaches: Now you’d make me wait?

Me: True. I’d want to. I’d want to date you and wine and dine you and make you fall for me. But yeah, I’d probably give up on holding out after an hour because I can’t say no to you.

Peaches: Come to my room.

Me: I can’t. You know I can’t.

Peaches: I know. I’m sorry.

Me: Don’t apologize. I want you so much it’s physical torture going to my room alone, but it wouldn’t work. You have to work things out with your dad before you have a shot at a healthy relationship with anyone, and I can’t get in the middle of that.

Peaches: Maybe one day.

Me: Maybe.

Inside my hotel room, I toss the phone onto the bed while I undress. The maybes and one days do me no good. She’s too young, and she’s got a lifetime ahead of her, but at forty, my one day is now.

I just have to accept the fact that what we had wasn’t meant to last.

“Your sister coming?” I ask Daniel as I sidle up next to him beside the car waiting to take us to the airport.

He shakes his head and lowers his chin, his face mostly hidden beneath his blue Bolts baseball cap. “Nah. I guess some woman offered Millie a job, so she’s staying here today to discuss details and then flying straight to Paris to start.”

My stomach drops. “She’s what ?” I can’t even hide the irritated shock in my voice. “She just met this woman, and now she’s following her to Paris? You and your father are okay with that?”

Beckett appears at my side and squeezes my shoulder. “It’s Cat James. I saw them at breakfast. She’s going to be working on Sienna’s show.”

My lungs seize as my mind races. I’m really not going to see her again. I told her we couldn’t keep talking. I pushed her away…

And apparently, I pushed her all the way to Paris.