“Jill, wait, don’t go.” I heard Holly calling after me, but I didn’t stop. I knew when I wasn’t wanted, and I was already late for my meeting with Hutch. I had promised him that I would be at his place at nine tonight to finally tell him why I had left him without saying goodbye. I had dragged my feet long enough. It was time to face the music.
***
All the lights wereoff at Hutch’s apartment when I arrived at nearly eleven o’clock. The front door was open, the screen door shut, and that was odd to me considering how he felt about safety. I tightened my grip on the six-pack of beer I had picked up on my way before I headed up the stairs, noticing the light from the television inside. How long had he been inside waiting? Did he blow off Pat’s party for me? The screen door slapped shut behind me, and I saw Hutch’s bulky figure on the couch, but he never moved. I toed off my shoes and walked barefoot toward him.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” Hutch’s voice was low when he finally spoke, and I realized he had the sound off on the television. “What happened, Jilly? Couldn’t decide if you wanted to show up or not? Got cold feet or something?”
I took a shaky breath. “It’s not that simple.” I hated how I sounded. “I tried to leave earlier, but Jo was drunk, and...” My voice trailed off as I stared at him when he finally glanced over his shoulder at me with a completely blank face.
“Is one of those beers for me?” Hutch’s husked voice sent heat throughout my body. I placed the alcohol on the end table next to the sofa. Hutch reached for one, popped it open, and took a long sip without saying anything. I finally reached for a bottle, but didn’t open it right away.
I knew I hurt Hutch. He told me his darkest secret, we fell in love, and then I left him without saying goodbye. It hurt me just as much, but I did it because I had no other choice. I was here tonight to finally confess everything, and wish him the best because I wanted him to be happy. He deserved nothing less. I suddenly had the urge to touch him, but kept my hands to myself.
He finally glanced over his shoulder to look at me, his brown eyes shining from the light of the television. He didn’t say a word as he stood up, placing the now empty bottle of beer on the table, and began to move toward me. I hadn’t even realized I had backed up until I felt the wall behind me. Hutch’s hands cupped my face as he slowly brought his lips against mine. They were warm, and I eagerly opened my mouth for his tongue to evade my space. Hutch growled deep in his chest, causing desire to pool deep inside my belly, and I clung to his shoulders as he pushed me further against the wall.
Hutch’s tongue swept through my mouth from top to bottom and back to meet mine again as my nipples hardened inside my bra. They ached to be touched, needed to be licked and sucked as Hutch’s teeth grazed my lips. When he stopped to look at me, I felt like I might burn up into a million pieces with the way his gaze made me melt. How could I have left this man? Why did I think that I would be okay without him in my life? When I opened my mouth to speak, he placed a finger over my lips and simply shook his head, his lids heavy with lust.
Hutch ran his hands down my arms, over my hips, and then my ass, causing a pounding need to begin to build inside me. He peppered little kisses against my mouth and down my neck as his hands moved around my back to remove my shirt. He took a step back to help me slip off my top, and then he moved in to unhook my bra, making sure to drop it onto the floor. He easily removed my pants next, his hands brushing over my nipples, and then he hooked two fingers into my panties, ripping them off.
I reached up to grab Hutch’s face, kissing him hard on the mouth, the sound of his zipper somewhere in my mind, and then he slammed me back against the wall, thrusting into me in one move. I screamed out his name, pleasure pulsing through my body. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he lifted one leg, and then the other, his cock searing into me over and over again. “More,” I demanded. “Please, baby, more.” I needed him to make me forget the past four years before I came apart.
Hutch’s hips smacked against mine as he dove into me, his lips never leaving mine. His eyes flashed between lust, desire, love, and need as he fucked me with something I had never felt before. “I missed you, Jilly,” he murmured as he moved together like a well-oiled machine.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” he groaned as we moved together. “I’ve been dreaming about this since the day you left,” His voice caught in his throat as he thrusted harder, and when he pressed his hand down to my clit, I dragged my nails across his back, seeing stars behind my eyes as I exploded around him. He buried his face in my neck just as all his muscles went stiff and he followed me over the edge.
I clung to Hutch for only a moment before he helped me back onto my feet. He took a step back from me before he turned and rushed to the bathroom, the sound of water filling my ears. I followed him, hoping I could ease whatever was going on inside his head right now, only to have him meet me halfway. “Whatever you’re thinking right now, I want you to tell me.”
“I was getting a cloth to clean you up.” Hutch held out his hand. “Please.” I couldn’t see his ears in the dark apartment, but something told me they were probably bright pink.
Once I was washed up and clad in another one of Hutch’s shirts, we sat down on the couch, with the lights on and the television off, facing one another.
“You’ve changed.” I traced his palm with my finger. “I think I like this alpha male version of you,” I teased just to see him blush.
“This isn’t about me, Jills.” Hutch took his free hand and tilted my face up, this thumb dragging along my jaw. “Tell me.” His voice sounded sad. “Tell me what I did.” I saw the way his baby browns filled with tears, and I was in his lap before I could stop myself.
“It was never you, baby, I can promise you that.”
“Prove it, bean, because you made me feel like I wasn’t the man you wanted.”
I cupped his face with my hands. “You’re the only man I wanted in my life, Hutch Kelly. Always and forever. There has never been anyone after you.” I slid my lips over his.
Hutch flashed a brief smile. “Please tell me,” he begged again.
