Hitched (36 page)

“Agreed.”

The girls headed back for the living room full of the people Allie loved most in the world. Well, all but one.

She glanced once more at the back door.

The
main
one was missing. But he’d be back.

She was pretty sure.

The clock said two a.m. Allie was just digging in her suitcase for her left shoe and mentally rehearsing how to tiptoe across her bedroom floor, skip over the creaky step that was eighth from the top, slip out the side door and borrow her brother’s car to drive to Hayley’s when she heard three quick taps, a pause and two more taps on her window. She spun, transported for a moment to third grade, fully expecting to see Devon’s face in the window.

But it was Gavin.

“Oh, thank god,” she breathed as she slid the screen out of the window and opened it for him. “Did Devon tell you how to get up here?”

“Yeah.” He climbed through awkwardly, but before he was even solid on his feet, he was cupping her face in both hands. “God, I need you.”

She felt the same way. The moment his mouth covered hers, she felt the tension and worry melt away. She drew in his heat, the firmness of his chest and shoulders, and completely immersed herself in the reality that he was
here.
He was here, with her,
because
of her…

She tried to pull away, to ask how he was, where he’d gone, but he wouldn’t let her get far.

“I need you, Allie. I need to have you right now.”

Hunger slid through her, attempting to block out the other emotions. She wanted him to have her right now too—to feel him big and hot and solid against her, surrounding her, moving in her. She craved the way he made her feel like she was the most important thing in the world.

If she was the most important thing to him, he wouldn’t leave, right? He wouldn’t break her heart.

But the intensity of his kisses, the way his hands gripped her hips and pressed her against the very obvious erection, the need in his voice all made her hot…and panicked.

God, just like always, the love and panic warred. But this time the panic wasn’t for what he was making her feel, but for how
she
was making
him
feel. He’d do anything for her. Even something that was bad for him.

“Gav…” She wedged her hands between them somehow and pushed.

He relented enough to rest his forehead against hers, but his big hand cradled the back of her neck and the other stayed at her hip, not letting her pull away.

“Are you okay?” she asked, running her palm over the prickliness along his jaw.

He turned his head and kissed the middle of her hand, sending desire zinging through her. “I am,” he said. “Everything’s fine.”

“I was wor—”

“Allie, you love me, right?” he interrupted.

She frowned slightly. “Of course.”

“Then everything’s fine.”

“You just seem…” She trailed off, not sure how to describe him. He seemed determined. Like he had when she’d first come to Alaska. Determined to make things right, to make her happy, to make it work.

Which was okay, wasn’t it? Things took work. Relationships weren’t easy. This was all new territory for them. She had to expect it to be a little rocky. Right?

“I just need you,” he said, tipping his head to kiss her again. He kissed her softly at first, then opened slightly and licked along her bottom lip. “I need your body, your heat, your softness,” he said huskily against her mouth. “Let me have you. Tonight. Now.”

Sure, she was going to say no to
that.

“Gavin.” She whispered her surrender, her hands gripping the front of his T-shirt.

He lifted her to her tiptoes and she could feel the delicious, incredibly hard length of his desire behind his zipper.

When he let her up for air, all she could do was nod. If Gavin needed her, she couldn’t deny him. For anything.

He started to back her toward the bed, but she dug her heels in. “Can’t,” she said shaking her head and grinning. “The headboard will bang against Danny’s bedroom wall.”

Gavin chuckled. “It’s been a long time since I had to worry about a girl’s little brother overhearing us.”

She shook her head. “Don’t want to hear your sordid stories. Just kiss me again.”

He did. Hot and thoroughly. As he turned and walked her back to the wall beside the window. He pressed close, his hips to hers, making her moan.

She had been planning to go out to find him, but she certainly wasn’t dressed in many layers. Gavin made short work of stripping off her light T-shirt and tossing it over his shoulder. Her bra followed and his hands cupped her, tugging on the tips that begged for his attention.

Her shorts and panties landed on top of the T-shirt and bra seconds later. Then his hands were everywhere. Insistent. Hot. Bringing her to the edge he knew so well. He stroked and sucked, pressed and plucked until she was writhing against the wall.

“Please, Gavin, please.”

He didn’t even undress. He unzipped—somehow keeping fingers thrusting deep, though not
quite
hard enough—and shoved his clothing out of the way so that when he bent his knees and surged upward, he slid home.

He filled her, stretched her, set every nerve on fire. She used his broad shoulders to lift herself and wrap her legs around his hips, pressing close and taking him fully.

“Yes, god yes, Al,” he panted. “This. You. All I need.”

His words, his strokes, the look of desire and love on his face were all she needed to thunder toward the crest and shoot over the top as her orgasm swept through her, shaking every cell.

Gavin continued to thrust, his gaze intent on hers. One hand cupped her butt, keeping her in place against the wall, while the other snuck between them and found her clit, circling, then pressing, then circling again.

Allie quickly felt additional tremors begin deep inside and sucked in a sharp breath. She tightened on his length, digging her heels into his butt so she could move with him. This time the orgasm came over her slowly, like lowering herself into a warm bath. But it was no less satisfying.

Gavin still thrust beyond her climax. She kissed him, curled her fingers into his hair and finally licked up the length of his neck, then whispered hoarsely in his ear, “I love you, Gavin.”

He let go of his control then and pounded into her, coming hard in only minutes.

Gasping for air, he slumped forward, his forehead to the wall over her shoulder. Allie just held on, her arms and legs still around him, her cheek against his shoulder.

“Damn, girl, that was good.”

She laughed softly. “Feel better?”

“Much.” He squeezed her ass before pulling back and letting her slide to the floor.

She felt pretty damned good herself. “Wish you could stay.”

“Me too.” He cupped her face and kissed her, then tucked himself back into his jeans.

Allie pushed her hair back from her face. She’d gotten used to sleeping in his arms. This was going to suck. “I won’t be living here forever,” she told him. “I’ll um…have to…get a place.” For some reason she felt like an idiot.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He leaned in for another kiss, then started for the window.

“Barbecue. At the Brewster’s. Eleven o’clock, okay?”

He nodded as he swung a leg over the windowsill. “Hayley told me. I’m bringing chips.”

She smiled, wishing it was all as easy and comfortable as it sounded. “See you then.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Then he disappeared through the window and into the night.

In spite of the two a.m. booty call, Gavin awoke early.

He knew it was the tension that had been swirling in his gut since Allie had told him she was coming home to Promise Harbor, but hanging out with Allie’s family, a long drive, an even longer run and half a bottle of Rolaids hadn’t helped.

He heard Haley banging around in the kitchen and headed in for hot caffeine. Hayley made fantastic coffee.

“Morning, sunshine,” Hayley greeted him with a grin. She was being annoyingly perky this morning and he knew it was just to drive him crazy.

“Hey.” He poured coffee and drank without even letting it cool.

“So, two a.m., huh?” she asked, handing him a piece of toast.

It was an old house with plenty of creaking boards and squeaky hinges, but he’d been incredibly quiet sneaking out and back in. “How’d you know?”

“I’m a cop, Gav. You really think I’m not going to hear somebody going in and out of my house in the middle of the night?”

“Right.” He grinned. “Thanks for not coming after me with your billy club.”

She winked. “I won’t do that unless you try to leave here without Allie, ’kay?”

He swallowed his coffee wrong and started to hack. He set his cup down, braced his hands on the counter and breathed until he could do it without coughing.

When he looked up, Hayley was leaning against the counter, watching him, munching on her toast. She was dressed in a simple T-shirt and shorts, her hair pulled back, but somehow she managed to look intimidating. “I’m serious, Gavin,” she said when he stopped making so much noise.

“I’m not going to leave her,” he said crossly. “Why’d you think that?” But he felt heat rise along his neck. Fuck. He wasn’t
actually
going to leave her, but he couldn’t deny that yesterday, for just a minute, he’d wondered if that would be best. Leave her here where she wanted to be, where she thought she needed to be.

“You looked pretty spooked yesterday.” Hayley tipped her head, studying him. “And right now.”

“I’m just not used to all of this.” That had to be it. This would pass. Like a pair of new shoes: things felt tight and uncomfortable right now, but over time things would ease—or he’d build up some calluses.

Hayley gave him one of her cop looks. “Don’t lie to me, Gavin. You don’t want to be here.”

“I’ll get over it.” He paced to the other side of the room, feeling crowded by his best friend.

“Yeah, probably. Maybe. But the harbor doesn’t have everything for everyone. And that doesn’t make you a bad person.”

He stared down at the pattern on Hayley’s kitchen floor and let himself really feel all the things he’d been trying to keep tamped down since setting foot in his hometown. Finally he lifted his head and met Hayley’s eyes. “You sure?”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to live here in my hometown with my family and old friends. I want to take Allie away from her home, family and friends. Are you sure that doesn’t make me a bad person?”

Hayley set her cup down on the counter beside her and crossed her arms. “I guess that depends on
why
you don’t want to be here.”

He could be honest with Hayley. She wouldn’t judge him. She knew him. “I don’t think it’s good for her. There’s a whole big world out there, Hayley. She loved Alaska. She relaxed. She saw new things, met new people. She could carve out the life she wanted somewhere else. Here there are expectations and history and…her mom’s ghost. I don’t think she’ll ever be totally who she wants to be here.”

Hayley swallowed and nodded. “See, that doesn’t make you a bad person.”

“Well, it’s all convenient, considering
I
don’t want to live here either.”

“Why? Still your dad?”

“That and…” He took a deep breath. He was going to be honest and hope that he didn’t hurt her feelings. “There’s a lot more in the world than this little town, Hayley. Staying home is great for some people.” He gave her a pointed look. “But it’s not for everybody. Around here, though, you’re a black sheep or selfish or just plain wrong if you don’t want to live here with your family in your backyard, hanging out with the same people you’ve known your whole life.”

Hayley cocked an eyebrow.

“I love you, you know that,” he said quickly. “But our relationship is great, it’s strong, even across a distance.”

She nodded and said softly, “I know.”

“So, am I a bad person?”

“Not at all.” She pushed away from the counter. “You could come visit more often though.”

He smiled. “Yeah, well, in spite of my big speech, I’m not going anywhere.”

Hayley sighed. “I knew you were going to say that.”

“I can’t.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “She’s not ready to go. If she ever is, I’ll definitely be the guy to show her the world, but…” he sighed, “…until then, I’m here with her.”

Hayley crossed the room quickly, wrapping her arms around him. “I have fantastic taste in best friends,” she said against his shirt.

Surprised, he hugged her back. Hayley was definitely showing a softer side since meeting Jackson. “So, everything good with you?”

She pulled back and nodded, giving him a big smile. “Really good.”

He was glad. This was certainly one bright side to staying in Promise Harbor. He’d love to spend more time with Hayley and Jackson. The guy seemed perfect for her. Which was a good thing. Gavin would have felt compelled to kick Jackson’s ass and, frankly, he wasn’t sure that would have gone his way. He didn’t think it would be the smartest move to try to take on an ex-hockey player.