Forever (This #5) (17 page)

“I know it is, but you’re halfway through your junior year.”

“Right. And nine months from now I’ll be starting my senior year. I’m so close.” I roll onto my side so we can make eye contact. Well, and so I can put some distance between me and his breath on my ear. “I can’t wait to have babies with you, but I have to finish.”

“You assume we’re going to get pregnant the first time.”

“Uh. Yeah.” I look away. “It’d be my luck that I’d be so close to finishing, and something would happen to where I couldn’t. I promised my mom.”

“What didn’t you promise her?”

My mouth gapes open and a tear strays down my cheek.

“I’m sorry.” He swipes it away. “I didn’t mean it quite like it sounded. Gabby, she’s gone, though. We’re here, and you make me the most impatient patient man in the world.”

Turning away, I get up from the bed, go to my overnight bag, rummage through until I’ve found my silk nightgown, and slip it over my head. “So, this is my fault?”

“No.” He stands and slides his boxers on, then pulls me into his arms. “I don’t want to fight tonight. That’s not what this was about.”

“You’ve opened Pandora’s Box. How do we go back at this point? I’m just going to be thinking about how you want babies and I don’t.”

“Ever?”

“Bradley Banks.” I tilt my head.

He smirks and raises his eyebrows. “What?”

This is a serious conversation, and he’s not going to bring it up then dismiss it like he asked something trivial and simple. My mouth starts computing months in increments of nine months. “August of next year.”

“What about it?”

“That’s my compromise. We can start trying next August.”

“As in approximately eight months from now?”

“That’s right.”

“Deal.” He leans his forehead on mine. “Dance with me.”

“There’s no music.”

“Pretend it’s
One Thousand Years
.” The song we danced to when we met.

I laugh, closing my eyes, and put my head on his chest. “I can do that.”

“I love you, Gabby Girl. I only want you to be happy,” he whispers,

“I want you to be happy. I hope you don’t think I’m being selfish.”

He stills us, and tugs my chin up, and our eyes connect. “I shouldn’t have asked you to pick starting a family over finishing school. Those little girls were so cute, though.”

“They were. And our time will come, but I also don’t want to rush the time we have together alone. For instance, this moment right now.” I bring his lips down to mine. “Wouldn’t be the same if there was a baby in a crib where the bottle of wine is.”

He chuckles. “Good point.”

“So, for the next eight months, let’s travel. Let’s make our traditions as a couple. Let’s do lots of practicing how to make a baby.”

“Now?”

“Please.” I jump up, and he catches my butt in the palms of his hands. “Against the wall maybe.”

“Surprises. You are full of them.”

“You have no idea what I’m capable of, Mr. Banks.”

“Luckily for me, I have the rest of my life to figure it out.” He pushes me against the wall to the bathroom. “Better use one that doesn’t have a potential neighbor. Like your sister or my best friend.”

I giggle. “Thank you!”

He frees Chaos and drops me a bit, then guides him in, filling me. “Ah. I. Love. Wall. Sex.”

Bradley chuckles. “I love you.”

He moves in and out, and the friction builds. My fingers tangle in his hair, and our tongues lash out with each other’s, tangling and thrashing. “Faster.”

The thrusts come quicker and harder. That low, throaty growl vibrates on the sensitive skin of my neck. “You smell like outside, hot chocolate, and me.” His words send shivers from my head to my feet. My toes curl. His tongue grazes my ear lobe. “You taste so sweet.”

Everything he says sends me closer to the edge until the currents of pleasure become too much and my body shudders from its orgasm. Bradley grunts and we stare in each other’s eyes as we climax together. “Incredible.”

“Always.” He carries me to the bed. “Rest here. I’ll get you some strawberries, wine, and run us a bath.”

I smile, completely content and sated. “Thanks.” Then my mind drifts back to the conversation we just had. I can’t help but wonder if eight months is enough time just for us. Because maybe I am a bit selfish and want to keep him all to myself for a while.

Ryan takes our suitcases from the limo. Bradley, Gabby, Joe, and Rebecca have already gotten their things and headed to their room. My shoulders relax for the first time since the confrontation with Rebecca.

I twist my neck from left to right, shrug my shoulders, and take a few deep, cleansing breaths. While I should be excited to have alone time with Ryan, I’m dreading it. “Hey,” he says.

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t I go put our stuff in the room, then we explore this area a bit?” He nods toward the street. “The lights here are beautiful, and I think I hear music.”

“You definitely hear music.” I smile. “That sounds good to me.”

“Do you wanna come with me or just hang out in the lobby?”

“I think there’s a courtyard through there. I’ll wait for you there.” Gabby told me about how pretty the area was from when she stayed with Bradley. When he told me we were coming here for the night, I was excited to get to see the place in more detail for myself.

Ryan gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “See you in a few, then.”

I smile. “Okay.”

I make my way to the back. It’s more of a pack porch with a big fireplace and rocking chairs. Maybe it’s changed. I plop down on one of the chairs and sigh as my thoughts wander to Joe. Is he making love to Rebecca? And what right do I have to even care after the last trip we were on together? That last time I saw him in Charleston.

“Gabby, are you okay with the ghost tour? Because I’ll only agree if you are,” I say.

She looks at Bradley. “Maybe I can be brave. The ghost tours are probably okay.” Her voice is shaky, like she’s trying to convince herself. “It’s just…up until this very moment, there’s no way I would even consider it. But you’d never let anyone mess with me, right?”

I nod. “Right. It’s not like anyone’s going to jump out and scare you. You’re not even guaranteed to see a ghost.”

Ryan laughs. “Do you actually believe in ghosts, Sam?”

My mouth dries, and I glance at Gabby, then Joe clears his throat. My eyes are drawn to the deep brown pools of his. His jaw ticks, and I’m having trouble figuring out his mood. “What if I do?”

“Well, nothing, I guess. But there are no such things as ghosts.” He nods at Gabby. “So, there’s no reason at all for you to be afraid. These tours are another way for people to make money off tourists.”

Ryan’s wrong on so many levels, but I refuse to get into it with him now. Or maybe even ever. He’s entitled to his opinion, and I’m entitled to mine. “Whatever you say.”

“So, are we going or what?” Joe asks.

Bradley nudges Gabby. “You sure you’re good with it?”

She nods. “I didn’t have Mr. Banks here to protect me when I was a timid teenager.”

He chuckles. “Good thing I wasn’t there or I would have kicked those guys’ asses for being jerks to you.”

Gabby’s eyes widen. “I’ve seen you beat people up for me. It’s hot.”

He smirks, then turns to Joe. “Ian.” Gabby’s ex who conspired with Bradley’s ex to trick them both into believing the baby was Bradley’s so Ian could sweep in and steal her back. Ian and Veronica said it went down differently, but who cares. They were both guilty of being fools. They deserve each other. What I would have paid to be a fly on the wall when Bradley figured it all out with Joe’s help. Bradley had walked up right as Ian was trying to kiss her, and let’s just say, Bradley nearly knocked him out. “Man, that dude’s name makes my blood boil. Prick.”

“Ah.” Joe smiles, and my insides flip. Watching his fists clench and his jaw tighten, I can only imagine him getting into an alpha pissing contest with another guy would be just as sexy as Gabby described Bradley and Ian’s.

Picking up my cell, I Google the tour company’s info. “So, five for the next ghost tour?”

Everyone nods, and I step into the kitchen to call the order in to reserve our tickets.

“I’d like to make a reservation for five for the latest tour you have operating tonight.”

“That’s our nine-thirty departure time. Does that suit you?”

“Yep. Perfect.”

“How many adults?”

“Five.”

“Any children?”

“Nope.”

Ryan storms into the kitchen. “Babe.”

I put my finger to my lips.

He shakes his head. “I got called in.”

“Can you hold on, please?” I ask the girl taking the order.

“Sure,” she replies.

I cover the phone with my chest. “What do you mean you got called in?”

“Just what I said.”

“Impossible. You weren’t actually on call.”

He nods. “Kurt was, but he had a family emergency, and he just texted to ask if I’d switch with him.”

I shake my head. “Fine. Go. I’ll get a ride back with someone else.”

“I’ll make this up to you. I promise.” He kisses my forehead.

“You sure will.” I smile. “Be careful.”

“You have fun tonight.” He leans down and kisses me.

“I’ll try.”

Replacing the phone to my ear, I take a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Can I make that four instead of five?”

“Sure. No problem.”

I finish the call, securing the order with my credit card, and return to the living room where it’s just Bradley, Gabby, and Joe now. Joe’s fists are no longer clenched, his shoulders are relaxed, and everyone’s laughing. I can’t help but grin. “What’s so funny?”

Joe’s laughs stop, but he’s still flashing those beautiful white teeth. The way his eyes sear into me makes me feel like I’m a rare piece of art on exhibit. A naked painting of a goddess. My insides flip, twist, and heat swirls like vines wrapping around me, totally consuming me. His looks shouldn’t make me feel this way. “Nothing.”

I narrow my eyes playfully. “Right.”