“Wouldn’t tell you if I did
know.”
When Trav would have lunged, Ariel wrapped her arms around
him, hugging his back to her chest. “Shh,” she said into his shirt. “Let’s just
go.” She pivoted, still holding her arms around him and he had no choice but to
follow or fall.
“Go ahead, walk away like the pussy you are,” his father
taunted. “Never were worth shit as a kid. Nothing’s changed, huh?”
His father’s curses serenaded them on the walk back to the
car. But just before Trav opened the door for Ariel, he turned back. Matthew
was still framed in the doorway.
“Just so you know, I’m moving back to the area.” He gave
himself a moment to revel in his father’s stunned silence. “And if you approach
me or mine, ever, you’ll live to regret it. That includes Sarah, if she’s
around here, or anyone else that I care about.”
He opened the door for a slack-jawed Ariel and gently guided
her into the passenger seat. After sliding in the driver’s side, he started the
car and pulled away. Ariel said nothing, which gave him a chance to reflect on
his impulsive announcement.
The moment he walked away—with Ariel’s help—he knew that the
running was over. No, if he thought back, it was before that. His father’s
words and disappointment stopped mattering years ago. But this one trip was the
final confirmation he needed.
And now he could start over. Again.
Now the biggest question was what role—if any—Ariel would
play in his new life.
* * * * *
Moving to the area?
The announcement stunned her. She hadn’t been able to say a
word on the ride back to the hotel. Even as Trav parked, she wasn’t sure what
to say. He opened her car and she stepped out, then wondered what to do next.
Get in her own car and drive off? Walk him to the hotel room?
The decision was made for her when he took her hand, linked
fingers with hers and headed for the front doors of the hotel. She tagged along
behind him through the lobby, stood quietly next to him in the elevator and was
dragged down the hallway into his room. He shut the door behind them and pushed
her back against it, covering her with his warm body. His mouth slammed down on
hers with an urgency she couldn’t ignore.
She ground her hips up, feeling the ridge of his erection,
and he returned the pressure, pushing her harder into the door. He groaned into
her mouth and his fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her head to the side for
better access. She looped one leg over his hips, creating a cocoon with her
body and urging him closer, if it was even possible. She hated the layers of
clothing between them. Wanted to feel his cock pressing against her, into her,
with the same intensity.
His hand streaked under her shirt, knocking her bra askew as
he reached for her breast. No gentle exploration, just hard possession and a
sharp pinch of her nipple. She gasped and then the contact was gone.
She let the door prop her up as she opened her eyes. He
stood two feet in front of her, chest heaving, eyes still hungry. But he turned
away and started to pace.
Ariel took advantage of the moment his back was turned and
straightened her bra and shirt, then sat on the bed to wait until he was ready
to talk. It didn’t take long.
“I’m sorry.” He didn’t stop pacing, didn’t look at her, but
she knew he was sincere. “I’m an ass, that was wrong.”
“I didn’t mind. In case you missed it, I was enjoying
myself.”
Finally, he turned toward her and rubbed a hand over the
back of his neck. “No excuse. Just adrenaline and frustration and I had no
right to take it out on you.”
“Stop. Seriously, stop apologizing about that. I wanted it
just as much as you did and I can say no when I mean it. I didn’t want you to
stop.”
“You didn’t,” he said slowly, as if he were afraid to
believe her.
“No.” When he didn’t move, she stood. “Trav, finish what you
started.” She wanted to add please to the end, but she knew he didn’t
need
know.”
When Trav would have lunged, Ariel wrapped her arms around
him, hugging his back to her chest. “Shh,” she said into his shirt. “Let’s just
go.” She pivoted, still holding her arms around him and he had no choice but to
follow or fall.
“Go ahead, walk away like the pussy you are,” his father
taunted. “Never were worth shit as a kid. Nothing’s changed, huh?”
His father’s curses serenaded them on the walk back to the
car. But just before Trav opened the door for Ariel, he turned back. Matthew
was still framed in the doorway.
“Just so you know, I’m moving back to the area.” He gave
himself a moment to revel in his father’s stunned silence. “And if you approach
me or mine, ever, you’ll live to regret it. That includes Sarah, if she’s
around here, or anyone else that I care about.”
He opened the door for a slack-jawed Ariel and gently guided
her into the passenger seat. After sliding in the driver’s side, he started the
car and pulled away. Ariel said nothing, which gave him a chance to reflect on
his impulsive announcement.
The moment he walked away—with Ariel’s help—he knew that the
running was over. No, if he thought back, it was before that. His father’s
words and disappointment stopped mattering years ago. But this one trip was the
final confirmation he needed.
And now he could start over. Again.
Now the biggest question was what role—if any—Ariel would
play in his new life.
* * * * *
Moving to the area?
The announcement stunned her. She hadn’t been able to say a
word on the ride back to the hotel. Even as Trav parked, she wasn’t sure what
to say. He opened her car and she stepped out, then wondered what to do next.
Get in her own car and drive off? Walk him to the hotel room?
The decision was made for her when he took her hand, linked
fingers with hers and headed for the front doors of the hotel. She tagged along
behind him through the lobby, stood quietly next to him in the elevator and was
dragged down the hallway into his room. He shut the door behind them and pushed
her back against it, covering her with his warm body. His mouth slammed down on
hers with an urgency she couldn’t ignore.
She ground her hips up, feeling the ridge of his erection,
and he returned the pressure, pushing her harder into the door. He groaned into
her mouth and his fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her head to the side for
better access. She looped one leg over his hips, creating a cocoon with her
body and urging him closer, if it was even possible. She hated the layers of
clothing between them. Wanted to feel his cock pressing against her, into her,
with the same intensity.
His hand streaked under her shirt, knocking her bra askew as
he reached for her breast. No gentle exploration, just hard possession and a
sharp pinch of her nipple. She gasped and then the contact was gone.
She let the door prop her up as she opened her eyes. He
stood two feet in front of her, chest heaving, eyes still hungry. But he turned
away and started to pace.
Ariel took advantage of the moment his back was turned and
straightened her bra and shirt, then sat on the bed to wait until he was ready
to talk. It didn’t take long.
“I’m sorry.” He didn’t stop pacing, didn’t look at her, but
she knew he was sincere. “I’m an ass, that was wrong.”
“I didn’t mind. In case you missed it, I was enjoying
myself.”
Finally, he turned toward her and rubbed a hand over the
back of his neck. “No excuse. Just adrenaline and frustration and I had no
right to take it out on you.”
“Stop. Seriously, stop apologizing about that. I wanted it
just as much as you did and I can say no when I mean it. I didn’t want you to
stop.”
“You didn’t,” he said slowly, as if he were afraid to
believe her.
“No.” When he didn’t move, she stood. “Trav, finish what you
started.” She wanted to add please to the end, but she knew he didn’t
need