Unraveled(96)

“No, baby,” I said, pulling her hand away from my crotch. “You’re going to make me blow too soon.”

“It’s been a long time for me too,” she whispered. The words heated my blood almost as powerfully as her touch.

“Okay, no talking either.” I lifted her up so that her mouth was even with mine and we kissed. It was like home. Every touch was made with wonder because I could hardly believe she was with me.

I reached over to grab a condom, but she stopped me. Through her lashes, she peered up and stopped my heart and made all the blood rush to my dick at the same time. “It’s okay. IUD.”

I think I trembled like a virgin when I entered her. It was as good as I’d remembered. Or hell, maybe better. All I knew was that my meager vocabulary had no words to describe the experience. The soft clutch of her interior flesh against my lonely sensitive dick made me gasp with pleasure. I felt her everywhere, though, not just on my cock. Her hands were roaming over my shoulders and her sharp press of her heels against my back only served to make me thrust harder and faster. Against my ear I could hear her little pants of desire. I wanted to stay like this forever, wrapped entirely around her, pumping inside of her, loving her.

I didn’t last long, and I was so lost from my release that I wasn’t even sure she had come until I lay gasping on top of her. Rolling to my side, I felt her shuddering, which signaled she had climaxed. Thank you, I mouthed to whatever higher deity watched over female orgasms.

“Do you mind if I explain a few things?” I asked, flipping the blankets up over our legs so she wouldn’t get cold. She snuggled close, and I took her silence as a yes. “First off, I want to say that I’m sorry you ever met Ethan Drake. You don’t know how sorry. When I left that afternoon, after the skydiving fuck up, I intended to have a few drinks with Bo and Noah and come back. But one beer turned into whiskeys, which turned into me being too drunk to drive back to see you.”

“I know,” she said. “You texted me, and it was all good.”

“Ethan Drake was at the house when I got there. Drake had been dishonorably discharged right before his four-year contract was up for cocaine use. He’d been using for a while, but this time he’d gotten caught in the bathroom. That couldn’t be swept under the carpet. He was…” I thought for a minute and was grateful Sam didn’t jump in. I needed to collect my thoughts because what happened was my fault, not Ethan Drake’s.

“He always had a way with women and was notorious for sleeping around. No one liked him much, which was why his coke use was eventually leaked to superiors. He’d done it plenty of times in the bathroom before so this time he was caught because someone was sick of his shit.”

“Maybe one of the members of his platoon reported him?”

“Yeah, who knows. Did us all a favor. When I saw him, all the shit that happened with Carrie came back and I just got scared.” I swallowed, but the lump in my throat wouldn’t go down.

“So you asked him to come over and what?” This time I heard the pain in her voice and I felt gutted.

“God, baby, no way. I was drunk and spouting off shit to Bo. I had no idea Drake was there. I went into the house, texted you, and passed out. Next thing I knew, I was waking up in a pile of drool and Adam was standing over me telling me that Drake’s at your place. I raced over there and some guy let me in. I pounded on your door but…” I left the rest unsaid.

“What happened to Ethan?”

“I went home and beat the shit out of him. Noah and Bo kicked him out.” I didn’t tell her that Tucker had come and struck me a few times too. “I had no idea he hit you. None.”

“Did he tell you that he’d hit me? What he said to me?”

“No.” I forced myself not to tense up. “But I can imagine that it wasn’t good. I fucked up, Sam. I didn’t send Drake to you, but I didn’t prevent him from going, and it’s not like I didn’t have second thoughts. But I don’t have those doubts now.”

“He said he would tell you he succeeded.”

“Ah shit, baby. I wouldn’t have believed him.” As I said the words I realized the truth of it. I trusted Sam and nothing Ethan Drake or anyone else could say would change my mind.

“I’m sorry, too,” she said.

“What for?” This surprised me. She had nothing to be sorry for.

“Because I didn’t give you a chance to explain. I wouldn’t open the door and I wouldn’t see you before I left.”

“Baby, you got nothing to be sorry about. But…” I hesitated but figured this was the time for getting our shit out, “…what made you change your mind?”