Between Him and Us Page 9

  He winked but didn’t take his eyes off the road this time. “I’ve been out of the loop with my sisters lately. But I do know that Sophia got accepted to UDubb. My brother is an awesome skateboarder. His dad started teaching him when he was about three years old, entered him in his first competition at six, and he won his first trophy at seven.”

  “He must be really good.”

  “He is. He’s one of the top contenders in his age bracket. Each time I’ve seen him compete, I was in complete awe of his dedication and skill—kid can rip shit up.”

  “Do you get to see him often?”

  “Before moving here I did. I made it a point to see him at least once a week and hang out, even if it was only for an hour or so. It’s always been important to me that he knows I’m there, you know?”

  The way his face lit up as he paid homage to his little brother warmed me. His involvement and seeing how proud he was of him gave me the impression he might make a good father one day.

  “I was a cheerleader in high school,” I said without giving it much thought.

  “I bet you looked real cute in your short skirt, breaking all them boys’ hearts,” he drawled and winked. I felt the blush creeping up, and I had no idea why I had mentioned that piece of old information.

  “So where are we headed?”

  “Statesboro, and don’t change the subject.” He chuckled. “Tell me more about this cute little skirt you used to parade around in?”

  “You’re such a guy.” I playfully smacked his arm and laughed.

  Easton reminded me so much of Tyler when he would show off his playful side. There was hardly ever a time when Tyler wasn’t joking or goading me about something or another. The thought made my stomach twist and my heart warm at the same time.

  “I have no idea why I even mentioned that. It was totally off topic.”

  “It’s a little piece of who you were.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” I turned to face the window and watched the world pass me by while I let his words sink in. I wasn’t sure how to deal with this emotional person I had become. It was too much and all at once.

  We must have sat there, with nothing but the radio playing for a while until the sound of Easton’s voice called for my attention.

  “Water?” He handed me the bottle.

  “Thank you.” I set it on my lap and got a good look at his profile. He really was a handsome guy, but it was his kindness and thoughtfulness that I was grateful for and secretly attracted to. “How long did you play soccer for?”

  “Twelve or thirteen years. I started when I was five.”

  “Oh, you’re one of those career jocks.” I bit the corner of my lip.

  “You could say that. I was a hyper kid. My grandmother said I needed a positive outlet to burn all of my energy on. The funny part—I totally sucked at it. I always played full back. Do you know how boring that position is? I used to sit there most times, pulling out weeds and sing to myself because the ball never came to me. After each game, my grandmother would always tell me how well I played.” He smirked and shook his head. “Then it all changed around the time I turned ten. The kid playing goalie got sick, and I got thrown into his position, which had become my position. I had found my niche.” He smiled. “It was probably halfway through the season of my freshman year when my coach said he wanted me playing on his varsity team.”

  “Wow, that good, huh?”

  “Statistically, yes. It also helped that Craig Martin got busted for smoking weed behind the auto shop building. Idiot.” I chuckled. “He got kicked off the team, and I became the new goalie. But I never cared too much about titles. My coach, who I looked up to and respected, told us that no matter how good each of us was, we should always remember there was someone out there better.”

  “That doesn’t sound so encouraging,” I interrupted.

  “It actually was—think about it. Think about that cocky quarterback you used to cheer for.” He laughed. “God, what I would give to have seen you in that little skirt.” I rolled my eyes. “Or that baseball player that got drafted to the major leagues right out of high school. Tell me they didn’t have egos as high as the Empire State Building?”

  “Well, when you break it down like that, yeah, I guess you have a point.”

  “I know I do. What people forget is that the limelight only shines for a short period of time, so there is no point in letting it go to our heads. So, our players put our energy into making the team the best it could be. I might have ranked among some of the best in the league, but I couldn’t win the game on my own.”

  His words gave me goose bumps. “I like the way you think.”

  “Keeps me grounded.”

  “I can see that.”

  Eventually, Easton pulled off the highway and into the parking lot of a shopping center. Before getting out of the truck, he shifted in his seat facing me with his arm dangling off the top of the steering wheel. “Lilly?”

  I swallowed hard. I couldn’t look at him. If I did, I would be met by rustic honey-colored eyes, and I was sure it would make me feel more than I was ready to acknowledge.

  “Yes.”

  “Will you look at me, please?” He slid his finger under my chin, turning my face to look at him. “Lilly, I like you.” I froze. “I like you a lot, and I know what I said the other night, but I needed you to know.” I smiled an uneasy smile. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you these past few days, and I don’t want to go days on end without talking to you . . . or kissing you,” he whispered the last part. “I want to kiss you now, but by your lack of response and the way your body is tense, I’m guessing against it.”

  If I were being totally honest with myself, I would admit that I liked him, too. I just lacked the confidence I needed to admit my feelings aloud. It would be too much of a betrayal.

  Easton sighed and pushed his door open. “Why don’t we grab that part before they close up shop?”

  I nodded and forced myself out of the truck. Stuck on his words, I struggled with not giving him some kind of response. When the light in his eyes dimmed, my heart dropped. I needed to be mindful of his feelings; it could very well change in a matter of minutes, and I didn’t want him getting the impression they weren’t mutual on some level.

  As we approached the front of the parts and supplies store, a mannequin in the window of a little boutique two stores down grabbed my attention.

  “Hey.” I clutched on to Easton’s arm. “Do you mind if I take a look at that shop over there?”

  “Go ahead, I’ll come and find you when I’m done.”

  “Thank you.” I gave him another easy smile and headed toward the boutique.

  I entered the shop, and within seconds, my eyes had already gone on a wild shopping spree. There were so many cute tops and sundresses with sandals to match. I didn’t think I’d ever been in a store that had so many things catch my eye all at once. The young store clerk greeted me with a smile and offered her help. I thanked her and headed straight for the racks.

  The guy behind the counter was on the phone when I walked in. Great. It took him a minute before he covered the receiver and asked, “Can I help you with somethin’?”

  “Name’s Easton, I called about a motor.” I hoped he would hurry his call up. Lilly was gone for all of two minutes, and I already missed having her next to me.

  I was totally fucked.

  “Yea, gimme a sec, and I’ll grab it.”

  “Thanks.” I stood there, trying not to look like a creep, eavesdropping and watching the guy jot down information. I picked up a sample size of something, read the label, and still had no idea what I had just touched.

  “Thanks for waiting, man. Here you go.” The guy slid a box and sheet of paper in my direction.

  “Thanks.” I handed him my credit card.

  After paying, I hauled ass out of there, dropped the part off at the truck, and headed to the shop Lilly walked into. A bell chimed, and a young sales clerk greeted me. I looked around, but Lilly was
nowhere in sight.

  “Are you looking for something, or someone?” she asked.

  “A woman came in here a few minutes ago, pretty, short red hair, about this tall.” I held my hand to my neck.

  “Yes, she’s in the fitting room. Right that way.” She pointed toward the back of the store.

  Walking between the racks of clothing, my arm brushed against a rack of lingerie, and I couldn’t help but stop. Lilly would look sexy wearing this. I slid my finger between the small scrap of lace and just the thought of her wearing something like this had me thinking dirty thoughts. I tucked my chin to my chest and made sure my back was facing the sales clerk before discretely adjusting myself.

  That was when I heard Lilly’s hushed voice.

  “Yeah, I called the doctor this morning. Their first available appointment isn’t for another six weeks . . . will you come with me? I’m scared to do this alone.”

  Is she sick? She doesn’t look sick.

  I dropped back into one of the leather chairs, my elbow digging into my thighs and my fist to my chin. My knee bounced uncontrollably, trying to come up with a logical reason she would be afraid to see a doctor.

  “Oh, hey.” She bit her lip, looking around as she walked out of the little room. “I hope you weren’t waiting too long.”

  “Nope. I just sat down a second ago.” She sighed in obvious relief. “Did you find anything?” I pointed to the stack of clothes she had hanging off her arm.

  “I did.”

  “Did you need help carrying any of that?”

  She smiled and shook her head. “No, thank you.”

  I stood, and she tilted her head back. She looked so damn sexy standing there, and my hands itched to grab her by the neck and lean in for an overdue kiss. Her sweet smell of orange blossoms pulled me in deeper, and before I made a fool of myself, I took a necessary step back.

  “What if I make a deal with you?” she asked.

  “A deal, huh? Well, I’m all ears.”

  “Take me out and maybe I’ll wear one of these for you.” She glanced at the pile of clothes and a piece of red lace caught my eye.

  “Like on a date?” That deal definitely sparked my interest.

  “Yes, a date.”

  “You’re on. When can we go on this date?” I was getting a bit excited just thinking about this date.

  “Would next weekend work?”

  “Next weekend sounds perfect.”

  The sales girl came over and removed the clothes from Lilly’s hands, set them on the counter, and Lilly turned to face me. “Why don’t you wait for me in the truck? I’ll be just a minute.”

  I nodded, grinning like a damn fool, excited and thankful she wasn’t fighting whatever was happening between us. All I kept wanting was for her to give us a real chance.

  “All right, I’ll see you in the truck.” I kissed her cheek and got the hell out of there.

  As soon as I sat behind the wheel, I started the truck and parked closer to the boutique, waiting with a shit-eating grin plastered across my face. She had actually agreed to a date with me, and the best part—she initiated it.

  The second Lilly stepped out of the store, I got out of the truck, took the bags from her hands, and set them in the backseat. I held her door open, and when I shut it, I told myself to relax.

  “Are you hungry at all?” I asked, reversing out of the parking spot.

  “Not so much, are you?”

  “Not really. I was just making sure you weren’t starving. I could whip something up if you wanted to hang out at my place for a while.”

  “I’d like that. Or we could stop by that Chinese place and grab some takeout. Whatever is easiest for you.”

  “Chinese sounds good.”

  We made it back on the highway, and this time I let Lilly have the quiet. Besides, I needed time to think of where I could take her on our date. I turned the radio dial and stopped on “For Her” by Chris Lane, which was quickly becoming my favorite song. It reminded me so much of this beautiful woman who was falling asleep in the passenger seat and what I was willing to do for her.

  Every once in a while, she would shift or flip the station on the radio, but the silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable. Besides, it gave me time to plan the date. Too bad that by the time I pulled into the back parking lot of the flower shop, I had no idea where I should take her.

  Confused, she gave me a small smile, asking, “What about dinner? I thought we were going to stop at the Chinese restaurant?”

  “Why don’t you go upstairs, and I’ll run out and grab it?”

  “That works.” We got out of the truck, and I led her upstairs.

  “Is there anything in particular you like?”

  She shook her head and sat on the couch. “No. Surprise me.” Just as I was about to close the door, she changed her mind. “Umm, I don’t like cooked vegetables, so maybe something with shrimp or chicken,” she expressed shyly, which earned another laugh from me and shake of the head.

  “I’ll be back in ten minutes. Make yourself at home.”

  “Thank you.”

  I shut the door and took the stairs two at a time, feeling like an awkward and giddy teenage boy.

  “I wonder if Chinese food tastes this good in China?” she asked as I refilled her wine glass.

  “I’m guessing it’s probably better.” I set the bottle down and handed her glass back to her. “How are you feeling?” Her eyes were half-mast and a shade darker. And it wasn’t due to the lack of light.

  “I feel good . . . relaxed . . . warm. It’s nice.”

  “Good.”

  “Tell me about your tattoos,” she said, brushing slow strokes with the pad of her finger along the ink on my forearm. Her feather-light touch was warm and slow, and I wanted her to touch me like that everywhere.

  The entire time her eyes remained fixed on mine. And if I weren’t such a patient man, I would have taken her hints as incentive to push her into the seat back and devour her, starting at her warm wet mouth only to end at her sweet, soaking sex.

  I swallowed hard. “What do you want to know?”

  “Whatever you want to tell me.”

  “Why don’t you tell me about yours?” I rubbed the small compass tattoo she had on her wrist, and surprisingly, she didn’t jerk her hand away or flinch.

  “Tyler and I got matching tattoos the summer before I left for college.”

  At a loss for words, I nodded. She said his name, but I hoped it was me she was seeing.

  “Tennessee Whiskey” came on, and I reached for her hand. Not even batting an eye, Lilly set her wine glass on the table and stood. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close.

  Body to body, we moved to the deep raspy sound of Chris Stapleton’s voice, and her eyelids fluttered as they closed. It was clear she was letting go, even if it wasn’t by much.

  As she leaned back, I slowly cut her through the air, admiring how beautiful she was. Delicate soft skin, tiny waist, and curves that would make any man drop to his knees. Her soft lips curved upward, and her silky reddish-brown hair hanging below her was a vision if I ever saw one.

  Wanting nothing more than to devour every inch of her, I trailed my palm from her flat stomach, upward between the valley of her breasts, gently up her throat, and ended with my thumb rubbing along her soft bottom lip.

  Her lips parted, and I pulled her in close, needing her upright and against me. My hand dropped to her neck and her pulse thundered against my palm. My fingers ached with a need to touch her in places I had yet to discover.

  “Are you wet, Sunshine?” I whispered, nipping on her earlobe, trailing my lips along her neck. Her body shuddered against me, and a whimper bubbled from her chest. “Do you want me?” I rasped, holding a death grip on her waist. “Because I fucking want you like I’ve never wanted anything in my damn life.”

  With my forehead pressed to hers, we continued to dance slowly. My hands fanned the small of her back, sinking lower until they rested on th
e top of her ass. “Lilly,” I groaned, digging my fingers into her soft flesh, needing her to feel me against her and forgetting every reason we should slow this down.

  The entire time she didn’t say one word. She didn’t need to. Her touch said more than any amount of words ever could. She slid her hands under my shirt, grazing the expanse of my chest, and my voice caught in my throat. “Sunshine.”

  One by one, I undid the buttons of her blouse, but a part of me grew inpatient. Caressing her lace-covered breast, thumbing her nipple between my finger and her bra, I took her mouth in mine. I devoured her, stealing her every breath, hanging off the ledge as her moans vibrated in me. Seconds away from the last band of restraint tearing in two.

  I pulled my shirt off and tossed it behind me before removing Lilly’s top, one arm at a time. I curled my fingers around the bottom swells of her ass and as soon as her legs were wrapped around my waist, I crashed my lips to hers, carrying her down the hall to my bedroom.

  I held her tight, refusing to let her go, hissing at the contact.

  “Easton, please,” she begged between kisses as I laid her down on my bed.

  “Please, what, Sunshine?” I followed her down, kissing along her jaw and throat, needing to taste her skin. I pressed a kiss to her bare stomach, my lips inching lower, kiss by kiss, as I undid the button of her jeans. “Are you sure, Lilly? We don’t ha—”

  “Yes, please don’t make me beg.”

  I rid the clothes from the bottom half of her body, reached behind her to unhook her bra, then flung it across the room. Sucking in two deep breaths, exhaling each one slowly, my cock throbbed to the point of painful, and I wanted nothing more than to sink myself into her wet heat. It had been way too long, and I needed her more than I needed my next breath.

  I rose to my feet and brushed my hand across my mouth, appreciating the woman lying before me. I knew how bad I wanted her, but I couldn’t help but ask myself if she was ready.

  “Easton, come here.” She sat up on one elbow, holding her other hand out, and without hesitation, I took it.