Omission (11 page)

I stopped short when I saw
her walking away from my townhouse. What was she doing there? Was she looking for me? I wanted to call out to her, but I didn’t. Maybe Jackson could shed some light on it.

I closed the door behind me. “Jackson? Was Payton here?” I found him sitting in the living room. I could tell he had been crying. “Are you okay?” I sat down next to him. He had been so quiet since everything went down at Payton’s apartment.
I worried that he was depressed, and I was afraid he would turn to drugs again.

“I’m good. Payton stopped by
, and we had a talk.” He smiled at me. “She forgave me, Garrett.”

I put my arm around him. “That’s good
, brother. Real good.” I knew he needed that from her, and I was so happy that she was able to give that to him. “Now, if we could just convince her to forgive me.” I smiled as I stood up. “Want some dinner?” He nodded. “Come on, you can help me make something.

***

I watched as Payton grabbed her things from under the bar and slipped on her coat. I hadn’t missed a day of walking her home since she returned to work. At first, she had been livid, just like I knew she would be, but lately she had seemed more comfortable.

She smiled at me as she walked to the door. My heart skipped a beat. That was the first smile she had given me
—without trying to hide it, that is. I hadn’t missed the hidden smirks, and I knew she was starting to like having me walk with her.

I followed her across the street where she stopped and waited for me. We walked in silence. She held her hands at her sides tonight instead of tucked into her pockets. I reached down and took her left hand into mine. She didn’t pull
away; in fact, she smiled and squeezed my hand instead.

I closed my eyes
, trying to memorize the feeling of touching her again. God, I had missed this.

We didn’t speak, and we reached the steps to her building way too quickly. “Goodnight, Garrett.” She reached up and kissed me softly on the cheek before turning and walking into her building.

I stood there like a fool holding my hand against my cheek where she kissed me. When I looked up to her apartment, I caught her grinning at me before she pulled the shades. I laughed out loud as I walked home, feeling like a teenager after his first kiss.

***

“What are we doing again?” Jackson asked as we walked through the Christmas tree lot.

“We are getting a tree for Payton.” I grinned. I had bought a box of decorations and lights for her tree already, and I wanted to find the perfect tree for her.

“Do you think she’s going to be mad?” Jackson worried his lip.

“Na
h, I think she’s going to love it.” I grabbed a full tree and stood it straight. “What do you think of this one?” I asked.

“
Kinda short, don’t you think?” Jackson frowned at the five foot tree.

“Well, Payton is
kinda short, too.” I grinned, and he laughed. It was perfect.

We hauled the tree up the stairs to her apartment and knocked. Jackson carried the box of ornaments and lights. I could hear Payton shuffling around by the door, and then I actually heard her gasp which made me laugh.

The door swung open. “What is this?” She stood there with her mouth open.

“This, my dear, is your Christmas tree.” I walked through the door when she stepped aside. I carried it over to her window in the living room. “Jackson, dig the tree stand out of the box for me.”

We adjusted the tree until it was straight and stood back. “What do you think?” I asked.

“It’s kind of bare.” She giggled.

“No kidding smarty!” I chuckled.

“We bought ornaments and lights.” Jackson grinned. It had been a long time since I’d seen him so happy, and it warmed my heart.

“Do you guys want some hot chocolate?” Payton asked as we started digging through the box.

“Yum! That sounds perfect.” I smiled at Jackson’s reaction. He was still such a kid in some ways. It made me miss
Mom and Dad a bit, but I was also so happy at how far he had come in the last year.

We went to work trimming the tree as Payton whipped up some hot chocolate and came in to watch us. I looked back several times, excited to see the light that had been gone from her eyes return. She looked happy.

“Well?” I sat on the couch next to Payton, and Jackson sat on my other side.

“Its perfect! I’ve never had a tree of my own.” She grinned at me and then leaned forward and patted Jackson’s leg. He grinned back at her. We sat on the couch, drinking our hot chocolate, just looking at the tree.

“This
is
perfect.” I smiled at both of them. “I’m here with the two people I love more than life.” I sat back and wrapped my arms around the both of them.

“Do you want to stay for bit longer?”
I wasn’t quite ready to let him go yet. The day had been absolutely perfect from the moment the guys had walked through my door with the tree. We spent most of the afternoon just hanging out. It was the first time I had been able to be around Jackson when the circumstances weren’t so heavy, and I was amazed at what a sweet young man he was.

I could see why Garrett loved him so much, and the more I was around them together, the more I understood why Garrett did what he did. He protected Jackson because he loved him. He was his family. I think it hurt me at first because I didn’t understand that type of bond. I never had that, but as I watched them together, I craved it.

“I’d like that.” Garrett smiled up at me.

“It’s okay, I’m going to go home and order a pizza.” Jackson winked. “Payton, thank you for a wonderful day.” Jackson thr
ew his arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug before kissing me on top of my head.

I reached up and cupped his cheek. “Thank you for the tree. It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.”

“Well, I have a feeling you better get used to being spoiled.” He grinned as he walked out the door.

“He really is sweet
,” I told Garrett after the door closed.

“Don’t go falling for my little brother now
,” he joked.

“I think the Taylor men are easy to fall for.” I felt nervous suddenly. We hadn’t been alone since everything had come to a head.

“What do you want, Payton?” I closed my eyes so I could concentrate. I couldn’t do that with those warm brown eyes taking me in.

“I’m afraid of getting hurt again, Garrett. I know why you did what you did. He is your family. I get that, but I’m just me, and I don’t want to get hurt. I don’t have anyone to help me pick up the pieces.”

Garrett took my hands in his. “Look at me, Payton. I am not perfect, but I love my family without hesitation. I would sacrifice
everything
for them. The happiness and well-being of my family always comes first.” I nodded. “But you also need to realize that I love you, and as far as I’m concerned, you are my family, too, so that applies to you. You have to trust me.”

I couldn’t believe what he just said. “
Don't tell me to trust you, show me I can. Don't tell me you will be there for me, be there. And don't tell me you’re sorry, because you’ve already shown me that you are. I love you, too, Garrett.”

He pulled me into his arms, crushing his lips to mine. Instantly, I couldn’t get enough. I opened my mouth, inviting him in, groaning when I felt the warmth of his tongue.

His hands were everywhere, and I knew he was feeling the desperate need to get close, just like me. “Make love to me, Garrett,” I moaned. I felt the cold on my body as he pulled back.

“Are you sure, Payton?” He stared at me in shock, and I knew at that moment that I had never been surer of anything
in my life.

“Yes. Without a doubt.” I leaned up and kissed him gently before taking his hand, leading him to my room
—the place I had put a halt to things many times before with him, but this time it felt different. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever feel secure enough to give this part of me to anyone, but I knew Garrett loved me, and I knew I loved him right back.

My hands were shaking as I unbuttoned my shirt. “Here, let me.” Garrett moved my hands aside and carefully undid each button, never looking away from my eyes. It was like we were one, like he was absorbing me into his soul. It was the most intimate thing I’d ever felt.

He slid my shirt off of my shoulders, dropping to his knees and kissing each of my scars on my stomach. I ran my hands through his hair, shivering from the feel of his warm breath on my bare skin. “God, Garrett,” I gasped.

He stood and pulled his shirt over his head. He was built like a god. His chest was solid, defined muscle. His skin was perfect like light caramel. I leaned forward and pressed my face against him, inhaling deeply the scent that was all Garrett. It was intoxicating.

I slipped my hands down to the waist of his jeans, undoing the button and slowly moving the zipper down over the prominent bulge in his pants. He groaned and threw his head back as my finger skimmed his erection.

He took a hold of my pants and shimmied them down my thighs, taking my panties with them. I stepped out of them, kicking them to the side. I reached back and unclasped my bra, letting the final piece of clothing that I wore drop to the floor.

“Beautiful,” Garrett gasped as he led me to the side of the bed, kicking his pants and boxers off as he moved, freeing his arousal, giving me no doubt that he wanted this as much as I did. He lowered me to the bed, carefully lying next to me as he captured my lips in the most sensual kiss I’d ever had. He continued to trail kisses down my neck, stopping at each breast, taking my nipples into his mouth until they were hard, before continuing south.

I had never allowed myself to be so vulnerable with someone before, but I couldn’t begin to dwell on that, especially once his warm mouth landed on my most sensitive area, sucking and swirling his tongue over me, sending bolts of electricity right through my core. “Oh my God, Garrett
, please don’t stop!” I screamed.

He moaned
, and I felt the vibrations right through me, sending me over the edge. My legs shook, and my whole body trembled as I called out his name. He continued his amazing assault until I came down from my release. He slowly climbed back up me, taking my lips into another kiss. I could taste myself on him, and it was the most erotic thing ever.

“You don’t have to do this, Payton. If you’re not ready, we can wait. I’ll wait forever if I have to.”

“I want this, Garrett. Please make love to me,” I begged. He kissed me on the nose and then reached for his jeans, pulling out a condom and tearing it open. I watched, mesmerized as he rolled it down his thick length, shivering at the thought of him inside me.

Garrett noticed
and smiled. “We’ll take it slow, okay?” I nodded. My heart was racing as he lowered himself to me, positioning himself in between my legs. I could feel him pressing against my opening. I relaxed my legs and nodded at him. “This is going to hurt. Tell me to stop if it’s too much.”

“It’s okay
,” I assured him before he leaned down and kissed me, pushing forward in one swift move and then stopping. I gasped at the burning and squeezed my eyes shut.

“I’m sorry, baby. Do you want me to stop?” He was looking at me when I opened my eyes, clearly concerned.

I shook my head. “No, don’t stop. It’s okay. Please.” The burning was subsiding as he began to make small movements back and forth. He continued to watch me until I visibly relaxed. The burning slowly switched over to pleasure as he moved inside of me, stroking and loving every part of me. “I love you, Garrett,” I breathed.

“Oh God, Payton
,” he groaned. I loved seeing the sheer pleasure on his face. “I’m sorry, I’m not going to last that long—it feels too good.” I ran my hands down his back, loving the way his muscles moved and strained with each movement. I wanted him closer—deeper. I grabbed his solid backside, pulling him farther into me, wrapping my heels around him to hold him there.

“Oh, yes!” I moaned.

Garrett pumped a couple more times before he stilled, trembling as he shouted my name. I could feel him pulsating inside me as he continued to fall over the edge of ecstasy. He collapsed onto me before rolling off and settling next to me. I missed the feel of him instantly as he slipped away. He stood up, walking to the bathroom and came back a minute later with a warm washcloth. After he cleaned me up so gently, he crawled back into bed with me, pulling me against him.

“Are you okay?”
he whispered as he kissed my hair.

“Yes.” I turned over, laying my head on his chest.
“I love just laying next to you—feeling you breathe, listening to your heart beat and thinking about how much I love you.”

“Payton?” I looked up into those beautiful eyes that I loved so much. “You know you’re stuck with me, right?” He smirked, and I started to giggle.

“Yeah, I know.” I smiled and laid my head back down.

“I love you, Payton.” I fell asleep with those four words in my head.