Take Me Away (8 page)

CHAPTER 9

TRESTON

THE MOONLIGHT SHINES through the curtains in my bedroom, illuminating the dark room, showing her perfect body. This beautiful woman lying next to me, curled up against my body, is making my heart nearly beat out of my chest. I take the time to really look at her and my mouth drops open. She’s fucking beautiful. Automatically, my hand softly brushes her face, feeling her smooth, rosy cheek against my fingers. Running my index finger down her cheek to her bottom lip, I watch her lips slowly part and her breathing slightly speeds up. Images of kissing her, taking her lips in mine, come to my mind. A small whimper flows through her soft lips. Her body inches closer to me, and it feels oddly comfortable.

It'll be easier for me to get out of my bed, run away, and never turn back. I could wake her up and make her leave, telling her never to come back. I need to get her out of my room before I do something I can’t take back. Trying to move away from her, she holds my hand tighter in hers. Fuck. I’m screwed.

I’m used to being alone, playing with the demons filling my head and reminding me who I really am – a monster. Everything I touch I destroy. I’m an arrogant asshole, not worthy of being in love or being happy. My eyes shut and I focus on my breathing so I don’t wake her up. I’m going to hurt her and she doesn’t need that shit in her life. Zara’s too good. She’s an angel and I’m the devil, waiting for someone else to hurt. But I don't want to back away.

The foreign sensation from watching her sleep is scaring the shit out of me, but is comforting in the same manner. She’s not some girl I want to sleep with and then ignore; no, she’s more. So much more. There’s something about her, a vibe of goodness that she’s sending out. A goodness that’s touching me. I realize that I'm falling for her. I relax with her in my arms and all I want is to protect her and keep her near me. I don't know if she feels the same or if she's only my friend. It's hard to tell with her. In a way we're the same person. We keep our emotions hidden until someone worth it comes into our life and opens the hidden compartment.

Here, on my bed, she's in my arms, peacefully sleeping. My bed isn't cold or unwelcoming anymore. I don't know what I'm thinking or what I'm feeling and it's okay. In my mind, we're together and I'm happy. Truly happy.

"Treston?" She mutters, holding me tighter.

"Right here, Peaches. I'm here."

I feel her body relax and it eases my mind. She's okay and will be okay as long as I'm here.

Leaning in, I gently kiss her forehead and fall asleep again.

For the first time…

I watch her walk out of my room and instantly miss her. The subtle scent she left behind is lingering in my room. My dick is hard and all I can think about is Zara back in my bed. Getting out of bed, I walk to the bathroom and look back, imagining her little body in my bed. It hits me that if she's doing this to me, the man with a cold heart, then there's probably ten guys who feel the same.

No. Peaches is mine to protect.

Mine.

Finishing my shower and getting ready, I head back to my room and find Gavin on my bed with a smirk on his face.

“Good morning.”

“What?” I snap, falling into the chair by my desk. I pick up a lacrosse ball and toss it in the air a few times.

“Oh nothing. Just sitting here, thinking about how someone came to a very pretty girl’s rescue last night." Gavin pauses and looks at me, “You could have had Audrey or Peony, but you chose to be with Zara. Why is that?"

“Clingers. Done with them.”

“Right. You’re done with two hot as hell girls. Okay, that’s fine. So, why don’t you tell me about Zara and your night?”

I grit my teeth, “There’s nothing to tell. She slept and so did I. You know, things people do when they’re tired, asshole. What are you getting at?”

“Nothing at all. Just that you smiled a whole lot last night.”

Not wanting to hear any more from Gavin, I leave my room and head downstairs. As soon as I walk into the kitchen, I about have a fucking heart attack.

Short shorts should not be allowed. My eyes travel from her low back, across her ass and down her long legs. All I can think about is slamming her against the wall, feeling her legs wrap around me and cherishing each and every part of her sexy body.

“Stop staring, perv.” I look and see Katy winking at me before she slaps my ass.

“I’m not,” I sneer, walking to the living room, not looking back. I feel her staring at me. I don’t want to turn around. I hear whispering in the kitchen and when I see the couch sink a little, I know she’s sitting next to me.

“How you feeling, Peaches?”

"Like a truck ran me over a few times. Please tell me never to drink that much again." She leans her head on my shoulder and we silently sit and watch TV. Gavin and Katy join us on the couch and from the corner of my eye I see Katy sitting on Gavin's lap, smiling. Nosy people.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. Reaching to get it, I see a text from my mom.

Come over today and spend some time with us.

"Hey I'm about to head out. See you later, Peaches."

"Okay," she says, looking at me, wondering where I'm going.

Maybe I should've asked if she wanted to come with me today. The damn girl looks like she needs to do something. Instead of asking, I walk away and drive to see my parents.

"Mom!" I yell, walking through the front door. I smell her famous cookies and rush to the kitchen. Sitting down on the bar stool at the island, I grab the cookies and eat. I don't care how old you are, you will never get bored of your mom's cookies. Never.

"Hi, honey," my mom says, kissing my cheek. "You hungry?"

"Always."

She fixes me a sandwich and puts it on a plate, handing it to me with a mischievous look on her face.

"What?"

"Your brother said he saw a picture of you dancing with some pretty girl at your party last night."

Brent is fucking dead.

"Mom, don't." I tell her. "It's nothing."

"Mmm hmm." Fuck, she doesn't believe me. "All I know is my baby, my very handsome baby, has been alone and I know what you're doing up there, Treston Jonathan Parker. So don't think you're going to be Mister Playboy your whole life."

I smile, not acknowledging her. Aside from the team, my mom knows me the best. She was the rock I needed for a while and I still do. We talk every day and sure, I guess I am a mama's boy. But everyone needs someone in their life to lean on and I'm okay with having that person be my mom.

Heading inside after spending time with my parents, I find Katy and Gavin on the couch and my feisty girl on the floor, laying on her stomach. Getting down on the floor next to her, I place my head on her shoulder. She turns her head and gives me the dirtiest look.

“Can I help you?”

“I missed you, Peaches.”

“Ugh, seriously go away. Don’t you have some skank to sleep with or something?”

Without thinking, I grab her hand and we’re outside in seconds. It pisses me off that she thinks all I do is mess around with girls. Sure, I get a little horny every now and then, but seriously, I’m a fucking guy. It happens.

I lie down on the ground and pull her down with me. I can’t look in her eyes. When I’m looking at her, I don’t think clearly and it bothers me.

We’re both on neutral ground and I can tell her like it is.

"So, are you truly disgusted with me?”

“Kinda. I mean you treat girls like they’re nothing.”

It’s the truth I have little respect for the girls I let suck me. But let’s recap. They are the ones to come to me and beg to suck me off. Why would a single guy turn them away? Did I make any promises? No. Did I tell them we’ll date and I’ll wine and dine them? Hell no. So what the fuck is the problem?

“Let me clear something up for you, Peaches. I do not treat girls as if they’re nothing. For instance, I love Katy and Jamie. They’re my girls and mean a lot to me. I’d do anything for them and sometimes I may purposely annoy them, but it’s only out of love. While Audrey is a slut and she knows it. The girl lives for these kinds of parties so she can show off her body and tease guys, then pick the one she wants. She’s a groupie, only wanting to be on the arm of someone with status. She deserves to be treated the way she is, since she presents herself in that way. If you don’t give a shit about how you appear, then you’ll get treated like so.”

“You’re something else, Treston.” We both turn our head at the same time.

“Yeah, I know.” She rolls her eyes and looks a little calmer.

“Where do I fall on your list of girls?”

“Pretty high up, Peaches. I let you sleep in my bed, which I’ll remind you, no one has and deep down I think you know I like being around you, even though we’ve only just met.”

"Is this your way of trying to sleep with me? Because it's not going to happen."

At first, I'm shocked, and now I'm laughing my ass off. "Just when I thought I had you figured out, you say this. No, I am not trying to sleep with you. Anyways," I stare at her, "I wouldn't have to try." I'm not sure where the hell that came from.

Her eyes slowly fall from my eyes to my lips and I see her breathing change. I'm getting to her. I want to lean over and kiss her. I want to feel her lips on mine, but I hold back.

"Tell me something that no one knows," I mutter, hoping to distract both of us.

“When I was twelve I lost my dad. It hurt me and my mom and for a while I blamed myself.”

My head jerks to her, “Why would you do that?”

“I was hungry and he ordered pizza. He said he’d be back, but he never came back. My mom said he died at the scene of the car accident. I never got to say bye and if I wasn’t hungry he’d still be here, so trust me, I know what regret feels like. My regret stays with me and has been since the night he died.”

“I’m really sorry. But you have to know that’s not your fault.”

“I know that now, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I miss him like crazy, but Joe, my step dad, is great and makes my mom happy.”

I listen to her talk and feel comfortable. Usually, I don’t give a shit when a girl wants to talk and it’s my cue to peace the fuck out. Not this time though.

“Joe did everything with me. He helped me with my game and became my best friend. I still think about my dad and hope he’s proud of me.”

“He is, Zara.” I tell her, stroking her arm and keeping my eyes on her.

“You know,” she starts to say, “I got a tattoo and I’d show you, but that'll have to be for a different time. Katy and Jamie are the only people who've seen it.”

Fuck me. Fuck me. Images of her getting up and slowly taking off her clothes come to mind. I wonder what kind of underwear she has on. Then I wonder if she even wears underwear. Fuck. Stop!

"Your turn."

It takes me a few moments to decide what I should tell her. "I'm scared that I'll be alone forever."

A sexy as sin smile crosses her face. I'm not sure why she's smiling, nor do I care. Zara's everything I'm not. She's happy, carefree and it fascinates me. All I can think about is carrying her to my room, resting her on my bed, tasting her and spend hours cherishing her sexy body. Images of her legs wrapped around my waist, screaming my name, telling me to fuck her harder, alerts my dick to want her too.

"You have all of us, so you'll never have to know what it's like to be alone."

"I guess." I need something to distract me. "Wanna watch a movie?"

"Sure." She gets up and I do the same. She follows my lead, walking through the house and up the stairs to my room. Letting her go in first, I watch her get on my bed and pull her legs up.

“
Fast and the Furious?
I have all the movies.”

"Can we watch the first movie and go in order?” I nod. “Okay!” She pushes herself up and crawls to the top of the bed, resting against the pillows and headboard.

I start the movie and rest on the bed next to her. She’s quiet as the movie plays and it’s a nice kind of quiet. The whole situation with Zara is welcoming and I want her here with me. Before having her in my room, I used to lay here and feel alone. It was a room where I slept, thought and got ready. I barely spent any time in here, until now. With Zara in my room, it now feels safe.

The different sides of Zara make me feel like I can trust her. She’s not here because of who I am. She’s here because of some other reason and I hope it’s the same as why I want her here.

The next night Gavin and I head to the pub to grab dinner. Ordering burgers with beer, I tell him a little more about Zara.

Gavin's eyebrows shoot up. "So, tell me again. You
want
to be friends with Zara?"

"What's the big deal?" I take a bite of my food and drink my beer. I've been toying with the idea of being friends with Zara. Anyone who knows me knows I don't have female friends-besides Katy and sometimes Jamie.

"The big deal is, you're letting someone in your circle. You know, the circle that is for the boys plus Katy and Jamie."