Page 26 of When The Mountains Held Us

I know that last part is only a joke. Eva is always there for me when I need her, the same way I am for her.

“Thanks, sis. Have fun, and watch your drinks. Don’t give me a reason to come down there and drag your ass home,” I say, knowing that she’s definitely going out tonight with her friends to celebrate the start of the semester.

“Blah blah blah, I know, I know. Love you!”

“Love you.” The line clicks, and I drop the phone on the couch beside me, startling Bandit who glares up at me with disapproval.

“Sorry, bud.” I stand from the couch and climb the stairs to my room, figuring a shower will help clear my head a bit. I know Eva is right—she usually is—but all of my thoughts since meeting Oakley have revolved around her. When I’m around her, I can’t seem to get enough, and all I want to do is get to know her better.

I also know, though, that Eva’s right. I shouldn’t push my luck. Maybe backing off is the way to go. The last thing I want to do is come across as a creep and scare her off. This may be a small town, but there are ways to avoid people if you want to.

Justin texted me on the drive home to tell me he and the guys are meeting at the bar again tonight, and I make a mental note to shoot him a text back when I get out of the shower to say I won’t be joining.

My teeth clench when I think about Justin hanging around the bar with Oakley while she works tonight. I know he’s harmless, and, despite his shameless flirting, he would never force himself on a woman. Still, the thought of him getting to look at Oakley all night has envy surging through my body and my muscles tensing.

I hop under the spray of hot water and stand there for a minute, letting the water roll down my body, and willing the tension in my back and shoulders to ease, before grabbing the body wash and lathering up the washcloth. I drag the rag across my chest, the suds sticking to the smattering of dark hair in the center, before moving on to the rest of my body.

What will Oakley look like tonight? Will she have her hair pulled up messily in one of those big clips to keep it out of her face, showing off the delicate curve of her neck? Will she have on another pair of those tight little leggings she wore during our hike, or will she be wearing those sexy cut-off shorts?

My cock twitches at the memory of her bent over the console that first night. I so badly wanted to peel those shorts down her legs and plunge myself inside her. I bet she’d squeeze the life out of my cock, stretching to fit all of me. I imagine her soft whimpers as I slide into her wet heat, begging me to give her every inch. The way I’d run my hand up the length of her spine and grip the back of her neck, whispering in her ear what a good girl she is for taking me so well.

I give up the fight and fist my cock, leaning my back against the tile wall as I pump myself slowly from root to tip. The suds cascade down my body, and I catch some in my hand, imagining it’s her wetness I’m gliding through as I stroke. A drop of precum beads at my tip, and I swipe it away with my thumb, letting out a whimper when I repeat the motion.

I want to coax my thumb into her mouth and listen to her moan as she sucks on the taste of me.

A few more strokes and my spine tightens. I’m already right there. Blue-gray eyes darkened with lust turn to look at me over a smooth shoulder, and I’m fucking done for.

I careen over the edge, a low groan falling from my lips as pleasure racks its way through my body. My legs tremble with the force of my orgasm.

I’d say I’m seeing stars, but all I can see are those haunting eyes.

Thirteen

Oakley

My phone jostles me from my dream, and it takes me a minute to reorient myself to my surroundings. The sun is bright in the motel room, and I fumble blindly on the bedside table until I find the vibrating phone. A glance at the Caller ID shows me that Danielle is calling. I press accept and hold the phone to my ear.

“Good morning, sunshine!” Her voice is as bright and cheery as the sun blazing through the windows, somehow managing to fall perfectly across my face. I roll over with a groan and bury my face in the pillow, mumbling an incoherent greeting to my friend on the other line.

“No idea what you just said. Anyway… where the hell have you been? I met with Professor Cormen the other day, and she let it slip that you haven’t registered for the semester yet. Don’t worry, you still have until ten tonight to register.”

I turn until I’m lying on my back, trying, and failing, to detangle my bare legs from the sweaty sheets.

“Yeah, about that…”

“Oh no. Don’t tell me you’re not coming back.” Danielle knows me well enough by now to be able to read between the lines, but I still owe her an explanation.

“It’s a funny story, actually.” Nothing about it is funny. “I’m in upstate New York right now.”

There’s a beat of silence, during which I know she’s probably holding her breath and waiting for the punchline. One she knows isn’t coming.

“It finally got that bad, huh?”

A humorless laugh claws its way up my throat. “Yeah. It did.” I swallow around a lump.

Danielle doesn’t know everything about Travis, but she knows enough. Ever since I met her a year ago in our first semester of grad school, she’s had an uncanny way of seeing right through me. Unfortunately, she’s never been one to sugarcoat the truth of what she sees. She’s younger than me by a few years, having not taken a break between undergrad and grad school like I did. After meeting Travis exactly one time, Danielle was certain he was bad news. If only I had listened to her. Shame courses through me, knowing that she tried to warn me, and I foolishly waved off her concern.

“I’m so sorry, babe.”