“Okay! Group toast before dessert,” Gwen announces, standing abruptly with her wine glass in hand.
Everyone gets quiet as Ryker joins her.
“To all of you, our chosen family. Thank you for making this the most beautiful week of our lives. And to Italy—for the pasta, the wine, and the extremely entertaining drama.”
Cheers erupt around the table. My eyes meet Lainey’s as we raise our glasses. When we sit back down, my foot brushes lightly against hers, and she sips on her wine slowly, almost…seductively.
I don’t care what she says. She might be scared of love, or getting close to people, but I am determined to make her realize that she is supposed to be with me. I’m determined to make this work, even if it’s the lastthing I do.
Chapter 33
Holland
It’s been a week. A whole week since we’ve been back at Ellington. Lainey and I have spent almost every night together. Mostly at my place since Ellie is at hers.
I don’t know what Lainey’s been telling Haley and Ellie every night about where she’s been, but I know she hasn’t told them who she’s been with.
We’ve been doing a pretty good job at hiding whatever this is between us since we got back.
I’m pretty positive no one has caught on. Except for maybe Haley, because every time I see that girl, she gives me a weird ass look like she knows something.
Haley also has a resting bitch face, so that could have somethingto do with it.
Either way, I don’t know how much more sneaking around I can do. I mean, don’t get me wrong. The sneaking around is sexy as hell, and it adds a bit of a thrill to it. But I don’t want to hide anymore. I want everyone to know that Lainey is mine.
Although, she isn’t really mine. Not officially at least. Not yet. But she will be. I will make sure of it.
Lainey stirs next to me, her eyes fluttering open slowly as she wakes. It’s six in the morning and I haven’t been able to sleep since I woke up around four.
My mind has been racing with thoughts about school, Lainey, rugby, and the clubs. I’ve put work on the back burner for weeks, especially with the semester starting back up again, the wedding, and practice.
I know Ryker and Pat have a lot of that shit handled since they’re out of school. I, however, still have to worry about school shit which is annoying as hell, and I cannot wait to be done with this crap.
“You’re up,” Lainey says sleepily. God, she’s beautiful. Even when she’s just waking up and her hair is an absolute disaster.
She stretches, her arms reaching over to wrap around my torso, her head leaning on my bare chest. My arm wraps around her and I kiss the top of her head lightly.
“I am,” I say. Lainey looks to the alarm clock on the end table before groaning.
“It’s only six. Why are you up? You don’t have class, and practice isn’t until noon.”
I love that she knows my schedule.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I shrug. She pulls herself up so she’s looking down at me, her expression mixed with confusion and what looks like a bit of concern. I tuck a piece of stray hair behind her ear.
“Why not? Have you been up long?” she asks sitting up, her bare chest staring back at me. My god, if she isn’t the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. I mean, I’ve seen tits, but Lainey’s are out of this world.
Everything she does is out of this world. I don’t know how I never realized it before, but Lainey Barkley is perfection. She’s everything I need and more.
“A few minutes,” I lie. I don’t want her to worry about me and certainly don’t want to talk about all of the shit on my mind right now. It’s too early to talk about feelings and shit. Especially because miss psychology major will want to analyze my every feeling.
She gives me a look like she doesn’t believe me, but before she can question it, I wrap my arms around her waist and flip her onto her back so I’m hovering over her.
Lainey squeals and laughs before my mouth crashes onto hers. Her body relaxes instantly, and mine lowers so that my hard dick rubs against her warm center. She lets out a soft moan as she kisses me back with fervor.
This wasn’t exactly my plan this morning, but I’m not complaining. My tongue dives into her mouth, hers fighting for dominance, but she should know she won’t win that fight.
I’ve always had a more domineering side when it comes to sex. I’ve been told I can get a bit too into it by some women who couldn’t handle it, but Lainey? She seems to love it, and I love that.
