Straddling the Line(50)

He suddenly felt ashamed for hiding it all these years. "And I can help people-I can help kids-by talking about it."

She reached for his hand. "Yes. Definitely yes. Any time someone of your  caliber talks about it, you help someone who-like you-is ashamed and  not seeking help."

"Shit. I should have done something about this a long time ago."

She squeezed his hand. "I understand your fear. Your shame. Your father  didn't help the situation. And you thought you were like him."

"Trying to read-to comprehend-every time I tried it made me mad. And  getting angry and frustrated scared me, because it made me remember my  dad. So I just backed away from it. I ran away from it. I've been in  denial all these years, pretending it didn't exist. I hired people I  trusted who would keep my secret, refusing to talk about. If I didn't  talk about it, I didn't have to acknowledge it existed."         

     



 

"It does exist. What you do about it now is up to you. I will never tell anyone about this. You can trust me."

It was time to push the fear and shame into the past. He was tired of hiding. "How do I get help? Will you help me?"

"I will help you, but I know scores of professionals who would do a much  better job. Let me recommend some people to you, both here and in St.  Louis. They're very trustworthy, and will take it slow and work at your  own pace."

He had to trust Haven. He did trust Haven. He needed her. "Yeah. Recommend some people to me."

"Thanks."

"No. Thank you. For coming back here. I didn't deserve it after the way I  treated you. I'm sorry, Haven. I acted like an asshole and I'm asking  you to forgive me for that."

She came over and sat on his lap, and he'd never felt such warmth, such  love. Such forgiveness and acceptance. "There's nothing to forgive,  Trevor. Now I understand what you were going through. I backed you into a  corner and for that, I'm sorry."

"You made me face something I should have faced a long time ago. I'm  grateful. And I should never have asked you to leave. You don't ask  someone you love to walk out of your life."

Haven lifted her head and stared into Trevor's eyes, not sure she'd heard what he said correctly.

"What did you say?"

His lips curved. "I said I love you. Want me to say it again?"

"Yes, please."

"I love you, Haven."

She smiled, and her heart swelled with so much emotion she felt like she might burst. "I love you, too, Trevor."

He swept his hand up and down her back. "I like the sound of that. Now you say it again."

"I love you, Trevor."

"We should probably seal this with some kind of kiss."

She nodded. "Followed by some equally hot lovemaking, I hope."

"Definitely."

Trevor stood and pulled her against him, cupping the back of her neck  and dragging her lips to his for a kiss that definitely left his  intentions clear. From the very first time their lips met, she'd known  he was it for her. Maybe she hadn't realized it at first, because that  initial spark of chemistry had distracted her, but now she realized it  was more than simply biology that had drawn her to Trevor.

It was love-two people who were supposed to be together. They just . . . fit.

Especially when they kissed, when his mouth explored hers and exploded  her brain cells left and right, making her sag against him until all she  wanted was to tear every inch of clothing off to feel his skin against  hers. There was something about this man that demanded she be close to  him, touching him. She'd never been a big believer in that whole destiny  thing, but he was it for her.

So when he broke the kiss and took her hand to lead her upstairs to his  room, she followed along, taking in the sight of his very fine ass  moving up the stairs.

And when they got there, it was her who pushed him onto the bed. She  climbed on top of him and continued where they left off. She couldn't  get enough of his mouth, the sexy fullness of his bottom lip, the slight  scratchiness of his jaw when it was peppered with a day's growth of  stubble. She straightened only long enough to pull off her top and undo  her bra, then bent down to slide one of her nipples in between his  waiting lips. And when he sucked, she was in heaven, a delight of  sensation to feel him pull and tug on the bud until she wanted more.

Apparently, so did Trevor, because he rolled her off him and drew her  pants and underwear off, then spread her legs and buried his face in her  sex, his tongue and mouth doing decadent, delicious things to her  pussy. She grabbed hold of the cover and held on while he took her right  to the edge.

And over. She cried out with her orgasm, but barely had time to draw in a  ragged breath before Trevor got undressed and put a condom on.

She was still pulsing, still reeling from her climax when he slid inside her, his face looming over hers.

"We're supposed to be together. I missed you when you were gone. I'm sorry I sent you away."

He said this as he pulled out, then eased back inside her.

She wrapped her legs around him. "You're forgiven." She swept her  fingers over his brow, his temple, then his lips. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Feel free to say those words as many times as you want."

His lips curved. "Yeah, you, too."

Then he kissed her, and nothing else was said as he made love to her  with a depth of passion that was filled with a new emotion. It was as if  both of them had shed the walls they'd erected to protect their hearts.  And as he moved within her, she knew without a doubt this was the man  she was meant to be with, that he'd protect her, and she'd protect him.         

     



 

He swept his hand under her buttocks and lifted her hips, grinding against her as he buried himself deep.

"Trevor." She whispered his name, and her pussy quivered around him, tightening as she came close to orgasm.

"I want to feel your pussy squeeze my cock. Make me come, Haven."

She loved the gritty sound of his voice when he was deep in the throes  of passion. And the way he slid against her, rubbing her clit as he  thrust in and out, was her undoing. She shattered, dragging her nails  along his shoulders as she came. Trevor took her mouth in a hard,  passionate kiss, taking in her cries and mixing his own groans in there  as he released with a shudder.

They were glued together by perspiration and clasped arms and legs.  Haven was in no hurry to move. Trevor rolled to his side, taking Haven  with him. They stayed like that, stroking each other's bodies for a  while until he disengaged and left for only a few seconds. When he came  back, he pulled her against him and tangled his fingers in her hair,  kissed her deeply, and tucked her close.

"Are you staying for a while?" he asked.

"Yes."

"When do you have to be back in New York?"

"After I finish my interview with you."

He looked into her eyes. "I'd like to include the dyslexia thing in your interview."

She drew back. "You want me to break it?"

"Yes."

"Trevor. Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I trust you'll do it right."

She laid her palm over his heart. "I will do it right. And I'll get those recommendations for you starting tomorrow."

"I'll get started on it tomorrow. And I'll go to the literacy center and talk to them as well."

She laid her head on his chest. "I believe in you, Trevor. I always have."

"That's what'll get me through this."

She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.

Together. They'd get through anything together.





THIRTY-FIVE




TREVOR WALKED OFF THE FIELD, A MUDDY, VICTORIOUS mess. It had rained  almost nonstop through the entire game against Green Bay. He didn't know  when he'd had more fun. He'd caught two passes for touchdowns, and had  over a hundred yards in the game.

More importantly, they'd won, and that's what counted the most,  especially since the Hawks were on top of their division. He wanted them  to stay there, which meant playing well every week. Right now they were  firing on all cylinders.

Professionally, things were going well.

Personally, things were going even better. In the past two months, he'd  been working with a specialist in learning disabilities who'd been  patient in diagnosing his dyslexia and teaching him to read, plus work  on his frustration issues when things didn't go his way. Denise  Lancaster was formidable and no bullshit, and she didn't fall for his  charm. She made him work and work hard. For someone nearly sixty and  barely five feet tall, she was one scary woman.

But she was his savior, and for the first time in his life, he was  starting to enjoy reading. And even better, he was learning to  comprehend what he was reading. It was like the lightbulb had finally  gone off in his head, and a whole new world was opening up for him. He  could already imagine diving into books he'd waited his whole life to  read. Sure, he'd enjoyed audiobooks, but he'd waited a lifetime to read  books-really read books.