Always the One, page 26
part #1 of Always and Forever Series
I wait a moment and think. My dad was right, we both have faults and we need to give or take. Tonight he communicated with me, now it’s only fair I ease his mind and agree to his one stipulation.
“Fine. But if you go behind my back, Trey Adams, and interfere with my career again, you won’t be so lucky to find yourself in a compromise.” He releases a deep breath.
“I agree. I will stop being jealous and using my past as an excuse, while you promise to not be alone with him.” He leans in and for the first time since this morning, when I left our secret bubble, he kisses me. The softness in his lips settles me, pulling me in when I still want to push him out. Love shows no mercy, I repeat. I’m just getting into the kiss, enjoying where it was taking us, when he pulls away and stands up.
“Let’s take a bath?” He grabs my hand and pulls me with determination, toward the bathroom.
“But I thought we would, you know.” I point back at the bed as we move into the open bathroom, it’s big enough to fit five people comfortably, same with the Jacuzzi tub.
“Don’t worry, I plan to make today up to you, baby. But I want to take a bath with my woman. They are your favorite, are they not?”
I blush, yeah, they are.
Trey removes my shirt and then I remove his, we do this with each item of clothing—slowly and piece by piece. The intimacy this builds strikes the desire to make up with him. I feel a carnal desire to use our bodies to say a deeper sorry, one we can’t reach with words.
I watch his perfect body and the way it moves toward the tub. Every movement is precise and without flaw, he moves with such confidence and surety; I can’t help but be turned on by his ways.
He starts the water, adding the lavender bath salts, making the water turn a soft purple. The smell is so enticing and my senses are on overdrive. Today, I’ve experienced so many emotions—nervous, happy, angry, sad, and now desire. I’m still teetering on the edge of giving in and pushing him away. I am unsure still of how I am going to handle forgiving him for today.
I watch him take a seat in the tub, getting a view of his tight ass before he sinks into the scented water. God, he’s a walking, living, breathing dream, and I’m the lucky girl who gets to keep him.
He scoots to the middle of the huge tub and reaches his hand out to me.
“Come here, beautiful.” I climb in one foot after the other, my hand in his keeping me steady. I know he wants me straddling him, so I abide. Putting one leg on each side of him, I sink down. Once I’m fully seated atop him, his lips are like a magnet, they instantly cling to my neck—licking and inhaling my scent. His strong, large, calloused hands slide from the dimples in my lower back up to the column of my neck, causing goose bumps to break out over the trail he leaves. He puts my hair in his tight fist and tugs my head gently back.
“Can I mark you again?” I feel his lips hovering over my heavy breast; I’m needy, so damn needy for him. He reaches up with a soapy wet hand and pinches my left nipple; a strangled moan escapes my open mouth. He should know he doesn’t need to ask; my body is his, as his body is mine. We can touch, tease, and take what we need from each other, that’s a part of being in love.
“Yes.” Before I’m finished saying the word, his mouth is on my right breast just above my erect nipple, sucking on the tender skin he marked yesterday.
With everything that happened today and the lingering sadness still looming over me, I break. Everything in me can feel he is hiding something, every connection feels severed, his touch is hot but it shows distance. Hot tears begin rolling down my face. He hears me sob and feels my chest cave in with each heavy cry. His lips leave my skin and he looks up at me petrified.
“Shayla? Wait, what’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” He checks me over, looking anywhere his eyes can from our position.
His eyes look so blue and inviting, reminding me of home. He’s my home, and I don’t think I can handle another thing to jeopardize losing that.
“Please stop jeopardizing us. Please stop hurting our bond,” I cry, dropping my head and bringing my wet hands from around him and up to my face.
“Fuck. Shayla. I’m sorry.” He tries to pull my hands away, but I keep them tight against my hidden face. I preach the façade of a strong woman who won’t take crap from a man and it’s all a show right now. I’m weak where Trey is concerned and though his intentions are pure, his actions are too harsh on my heart.
“I will not do this again, I will stop. I promise that the next time we cross paths—he and I—that I will behave. I don’t want to do this anymore. Fighting with you is fucking shitty. Hurting you is the worst feeling.” Lifting us out of the bath, struggling a little from the way we were sitting, I keep a tight grip around him, my legs wrapped around his waist and my arms around his shoulder. My face is hidden in the crook of his neck, letting everything wash over me. Getting every bit of emotion I have out.
Laying me on the bed, he hovers over me, resting his body on his forearm while his free hand holds my face. He looks so haunted, there’s secrets he’s hiding and for the first time, I feel more disconnected with Trey than I ever have.
“Please, stop lying, tell me what you’re hiding, why did you hit him, Trey?” I plead, tears still falling and my heart feeling heavy inside my chest.
“Shayla.” He pauses, his teeth biting at his lower lip; I’m sure breaking skin. “He said something, something I just couldn’t hear. I tried, baby, I tried not to go there angry.”
“Baby, what? Please tell me,” I say on a sob, reaching my hands around to cover his face, shaking it lightly. I need him to open up to me; I need to know that what my heart is telling me is true. That Trey couldn’t have reacted the way he did over his own jealousy. I want to and I’ve told him I could forgive him, but I don’t think I truly can unless I know there is something more valid to go on.
“He said…” His blue irises turn dark, a shade so far removed from the vibrancy that usually resides there and it chills me. Suddenly, I’m not sure I’m ready to hear what he’s about to say.
“He said you would soon realize I’m the insecure boy and you’ll want a man who can take my place. Shayla… He told me he wouldn’t stop until he had you.”
“Had me? Trey, I would never be that guy’s girlfriend, you know that. That’s why you hit him? So it is just insecurities.”
“Damn it, Shayla, no. He said he wouldn’t stop until he slept with you!” He leaves the bed on a rush, the heat from his body gone and the cold air hitting my damp body. I shiver as I sit up, reaching for the pillow to give me some coverage. My head spins as I sit up, completely repulsed to think that he said that. Knowing he said that, actually. Trey is a lot of things, but he would never joke or lie about something like this. Comments like that can destroy a woman. Saying you will screw a woman, no matter what, is almost as bad as taking sex from a woman with out her permission.
I feel violated, used, embarrassed…stupid. How did I not see it? Was I that blind to ignore signs that showed me who he really was?
“Shayla?” Trey’s voice interrupts my catastrophic thoughts.
“Huh?” I say, flustered, my eyes bringing him into focus.
“Please tell me you believe me?” he asks. He now has on his pants, although I’m not sure when he put those back on. I’m sure he did it when I blacked out for a hot second.
“Yes. You wouldn’t lie about that,” I say firmly.
“No, I wouldn’t even give breath to such a terrible thing. Talking about it makes me feel that same rage I did when he stood in front of me and said it.” I stop him, throwing my hand up.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I haven’t stopped crying since the bathtub, luckily my tears are much more calm now, one tear at a time slowly moving down my cheeks.
“Because I didn’t want to get in the way of your deal. Like you said earlier, this is your dream. I thought hitting him and warning him would do the job. That and asking you to stay away from him,” he adds, coming to kneel on the floor in front of me. I squeeze the pillow tighter to my chest, trying to process everything he’s saying while still trying to understand how Evan could have done this. Why? Why me?
“Shay… Baby, I love you, and I just want you safe. But I also want this dream of yours to fucking soar. You are so fucking talented and smart, you deserve this baby. I didn’t want to be the reason you lost it.” He rubs his hands over the back of my calves, between me and the bed. I close my eyes and shake my head.
“Trey, I don’t want this dream to be tainted by someone like that. Someone who’s purposely trying to sleep with me—someone who’s trying to end us. You are my dream, my life with you is my dream,” I confess. It’s true, I was so mad at him moments ago sure that he was not good for me, when in reality he defended me; he protected me when I was vulnerable and could have easily been hurt.
“Oh, baby.” Standing, he pulls the pillow from my chest and exposes me again. He leans down and his lips find mine. Bearing his soul to me with the movement of his tongue and the softness of his lips. I cry harder, not from pain or sadness, but from raw love and adoration for Trey. He knew Evan was no good for me, he knew that because he’s my soul mate and some divine power told him in his heart that Evan wasn’t a good guy. Because that divine power knew that I wouldn’t have known, and I would have been left unprotected.
“I’m calling off the deal.” I break our kiss.
“No, Shayla, this is your dream and you and Lana deserve it. Just make sure you aren’t alone with him, and if he didn’t listen to my warning and he does something to make you feel uncomfortable, you tell me. Okay?”
I just nod. But my mind is made up, tomorrow I’m telling Lana about what happened and then I’m backing out of this deal. We will find a way to make the expansion happen. We had other offers before and I know we will have more now. I believe in our talent that much.
Besides, I don’t want to even look at that man, see his seedy eyes look at me, or his mouth tell me words laced with ill intent. I’m—done.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. It’s making me sick.” He stands straight up and I follow, standing at my full height in front of him. I let my body take over and my mind shut off.
“Make me forget, Trey. I want to forget.” I place my palm flat against the underside of his chest where my initials lie. I look up into his eyes and beg him with a look. I need to feel his hands on my skin erasing the dirty feeling that’s drowning my body.
“Do something for me?” he asks.
“Anything, baby.” I lift my hand over and higher, placing it above his heart that’s beating rapidly. I’d run to the moon and bring him back a piece of it if he asked right now, that’s how thankful I am for him.
“Get on the bed and open your legs for me.” Doing as he asked, I position my head on the pillow, my legs pulled apart and knees bent while he loses his jeans again. I’m still a tad wet and now I’m exposed to his eyes. He’s standing at the foot of the bed, rubbing his hand over his abs and tattoo. It’s like he’s memorizing my body and taking a mental picture. I don’t feel the need to hide myself from his intense gaze; I only want to do more of what he asks.
“Touch your beautiful clit, baby.” His voice is deep when he speaks, sparking an immediate response from me. I don’t take my eyes from him. Starting from my neck, I move my hand slowly down the column and trail it down to my chest. He starts mimicking my every move, when my hands move down and across my stomach, dipping down along my belly button, his hand follows along his own stomach. I circle the tip of my finger just above my clit, on my pubic bone, then travel a little lower to zero in on my hard clit. When my finger connects with my bundle of nerves, the wetness from my arousal and the cold chill in the air intensifies the sensation, moaning my appreciation proudly. My back arches while my other hand grasps the sheet next to me. Slowly running circles over my core, my eyes find his again and the sight in front of me has my orgasm building quicker. He’s standing above me, the light from the falling sun haloing him, making him look like an angel—my angel. His has one arm to the side of him and his other gliding along his thick, erect cock. It looks smooth and warm; I want him inside me now.
“Oh my God, Trey!” I moan louder, feeling the tingling at the base of my spine.
“You are so beautiful, baby, come to the sight of me. I’m hard for you, I want to be deep inside you, Shayla.” His words sound like a threatening promise, one I want, and it’s my undoing. I let go. My body goes rigid and heat spreads from the top of my head all the way down to my toes in a rushed wave. I don’t know when or how fast, but when I open my eyes he’s perched on his knees and leaning above me. Grabbing one leg he throws it over his shoulder, then he holds onto my thigh. With his other hand he grabs onto his hard cock and slowly guides it into my pussy, filling and stretching me.
When I’m completely filled he pulls out and slams into me again. His arm grabbing the wooden headboard for stability.
“Tell me you love me?” I ask, needing to hear the words while he makes me whole again.
“I.” Thrust. “Love.” Thrust. “You.” Thrust. He’s jacking up into me with a newfound purpose, and I’m enjoying every minute of it.
“Oh. Uh! Trey, I love you, too!” Our eyes are focused on one another, being connected not only by body, but also by soul. Sex with him is not sex, whether it be mad, passionate, mournful, or filled with apologies, our sex is always making love.
“One day, I’m going to fill you with my cum and plant my seed. You’re going to have my children, we are going to create a beautiful fucking life together, baby.” His thrusts are becoming quicker and harder and my pussy is getting tighter. I want that with him one day, I want to create a life together.
“I can feel you squeezing my cock, baby, don’t hold back, let yourself go,” he reassures, and I do just that.
I moan his name followed with a sweet ‘I love you’ and before my orgasm subsides he fills me to the hilt, coming hot and hard inside me.
“Fuck. You’ll be the death of me, woman!” he says, rolling over and falling beside me. Smiling, I turn on my side and place my head on his chest, adjusting my leg over his hips. His long, muscular, and tan leg contrasts with my petite one. Showing the perfect picture of a man and his little woman. I love how he makes me feel feminine and safe, that alone makes up a huge part of my attraction to him. Nestling my chin against his chest, I smile.
“What better way to go than sex?” I tease, half-truth, half-joke.
“If I could I’d have you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’ve always enjoyed sex, because I’m a guy, but with you I am obsessed with it.” I cringe a little; a sting of jealousy hits me when he brings up sex before me. I push aside the thoughts of his life before me, since we just made up and I don’t want to think or talk about other girls with Trey.
“You fiend,” I say, poking his tattoo.
“Shay, I’m serious. I have to fight the urge to go jerk it during the day. I start thinking about you and bam! Fucking hard-on.” He snaps his fingers in the air.
“I don’t think you have it in you to please me that much anyway, so I guess it’s okay that we don’t have that much sex.” I joke with the best sarcastic voice I can, my hand is aimlessly roaming over his six-pack. Whenever he comes, the veins around the V shape of his pelvis bulge like lightning bolts. I trace the outline of the pelvic veins and see his cock stir back to life.
Oh my God, again?
“Challenge accepted.” Holy shit, I’m still sore, but I guess that’s what I get for being a tease. Oh well, I’ll take the punishment willingly.
Coming down from our sex-induced high, Trey finally speaks. “I called Pops on the way here.”
“And?” I urge him forward. My hand running tiny circles over his tattoo while his hand roams aimlessly over my thigh, propped across his hips.
“Oh, Shayla, I pissed him off something good.”
I laugh at his choice of words. Pops isn’t afraid to put Trey in his place, that’s for sure. “What did he say?”
He turns into me, taking his hand from my leg and touches me above my heart, his hand lingering and drawing little lines and shapes. It stills my beating heart, I swear I feel the electric current shooting through me and bringing a closer connection.
“He told me I need to stop spending my time chasing you, but more so following you. He said chasing is for cowards, following is for true men. I need to stop pushing you and start following you. He also said if I don’t marry you, or if I lose you, he’ll never accept or be proud of any other girl I bring home. He knows you’re it for me. If I lost you, I wouldn’t pursue another woman, ever.” Wow, I didn’t know he thought that highly of me. I feel a small victory at the knowledge. I love Pops.
And marriage? This seems soon, almost a little foreign to think about.
“Does that scare you—marriage?” I ask, knowing he’s come such a long way, but there’s no way Trey can be ready for that type of commitment, we are just now solving some of his deepest issues. Don’t start the race before the gun even fires.
“Before you, yes, I was terrified of marriage. Then I got the chance to love you and you changed that for me.” I don’t want to take all the credit for how much Trey has changed drastically in the past couple of weeks. Loving me and learning to accept my love—is something we have conquered together. I don’t believe love has a timeline, love is wild, unpredictable, you can’t tame it or tell it when it should happen. You have to let the heart lead you and then grab onto the reins for the bumpy, shocking, thrilling, and beautiful damn ride it takes you on. Weeks or months, I don’t care, I would marry Trey today if he asked. I’m head over heels for this man, I swear. Only he could make me question my mental stability and then have me ready to marry him within twenty-four hours. Like I said, love shows no mercy.
“You don’t think it’s crazy to be talking about this, this soon?” Itching to know what he’s feeling…is he reciprocating the same feelings I am?
