Page 87 of Until You

His snort is unexpected. “Don’t you start in on me too,” he says, thoroughly confusing me. “I’ll talk to Justin about it when I’m goddamn good and ready.”

Rather than ask what he means or make assumptions I have no business making, I opt to remain quiet, to run my fingers through his hair, and let him lead when he’s ready again.

“Coming here to Redemption Falls was supposed to be a reset for us. A simplification of life that we couldn’t get at home with reminders everywhere of this and of Britt. We needed a break so that I could focus on getting my head right, on the girls getting to just be kids without all this worry. And the plan was when we head back at summer’s end, all will be fixed and we can resume life as it used to be.”

“But do you want it to resume as it used to be?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?”

CHAPTER THIRTY

Crew

I stare at Tenny through the dim light, desperate to forget.

Eager to get lost in something—someone—other than my thoughts.

Needing to so I can erase the empty hollowness the nightmare always leaves me feeling.

I reach up and cup the back of her neck, urging her down toward me until our mouths meet. Until our tongues touch and our sighs meld.

I need her. I don’t want to need anyone but fuck if I don’t need her right now. And she’s just proven that it’s okay to want that.

She listened when I needed to talk. She comforted me when I needed solace. She was quiet when I needed to hear my own thoughts.

She was here for me when I can’t remember the last time I’ve let someone other than my family or Justin simply be here for me.

I can’t even remember the last time Brittney had been this giving, this selfless, this warm.

And so when I shift positions, when I sit against the headboard and guide Tenny to straddle my lap, I don’t hide from the emotions that have owned me since the night of the shooting. I don’t push them down and pretend they don’t exist.

I let her see them.

I let her see me.

And while it scares the ever-loving shit out of me, what other choice do I have? I can’t ask her to open up to me, to be vulnerable with me, when I can’t be the same with her.

So with her eyes on mine, I draw in a breath and put words to what I’m feeling.

“I need you, Tenny.” I bring my hands to her face and press a kiss to her lips before resting my forehead against hers. “I fucking need you right now.”

“Then have me.” She leans back and meets my eyes. “Take what you need.”

Our lips meet as we move efficiently and without fanfare. Her tank top comes off over her head. Both of our shorts get discarded. And then I hold my cock as she sinks ever so slowly down onto it—her eyes on mine.

A wave of dizziness threatens to assault me from the all-consuming sensation. Tenny’s pussy gripping my cock is otherworldly and just what I need to help me forget.

To make me remember what it is to feel again.

She doesn’t look away as she begins to rock back and forth on me. She doesn’t hesitate as my hands find her hips, my fingers gripping the flesh there, and control the pace. Instead, she holds my gaze so I can see what I do to her. So I can watch the desire turn to pleasure and the pleasure then turn to greed as she whispers words of encouragement.

Right there.

God, yes.

My name in a drawn-out, hushed moan.

She feels incredible.