Hooked on You: An Annapolis Harbor Series Prequel, Lea Coll [love letters to the dead .txt] 📗

“Gabe? Are you okay?”

I shifted out of her. “Never better.”

I saw her wince a little as if she’d expected prettier words but that wasn’t me. I couldn’t even make sense of all of the emotions I was feeling. Her disappointment stung, so I laid down next to her, caressing her stomach and placing soft kisses on her arm. “Give me time, okay? I’ve never done this before.”

She smiled, but I detected sadness in her eyes. “We’ll figure it out together.”

I knew it wasn’t okay. Her eyes had been so open and vulnerable during sex and now they weren’t. She didn’t trust me not to walk out on her again, which was understandable.

“Yes.” It sounded like the best thing I ever heard. “Together.” I kissed her mouth as my hand landed on her hip.

She chuckled, backing away from my lips. “You’re insatiable.”

“You wanted a bad boy. Are you sure you can handle it?” I needed to steer this situation into something lighter and quick before I freaked out and left again.

“Oh, I can.” She smirked as her eyes twinkled with mischief. Then her hand went to my cock and the smile slid right off my face.

This is what I wanted. No holding hands. No staring into each other’s eyes.

She cocked her brow as she scooted down the bed, wrapping her lips around my cock. My fingers threaded in her hair, allowing her to take the lead. She used her hand to pump my cock as her tongue and mouth licked and sucked. Before I exploded into her mouth, I touched her shoulder and caught her eyes, and tugged her upward to straddle me. My hands glided over her body, cupping her breasts, her ass, gripping her hips tightly as she slowly slid down my cock.

“You’re so beautiful.” I loved watching her like this—free, uninhibited, confident, and sexy. “Touch yourself.” When her finger trailed down to circle her clit, I almost lost it. “Fuck, that’s hot.”

With a tiny smile, she continued to circle her clit and threw her head back as the sensations overwhelmed her. I gritted my teeth. Why did I think I could emotionally detach during sex? I couldn’t. Not with Taylor. I gripped her hips tighter as I took over thrusting into her from underneath, chasing my release while her pussy clenched around me.

I gathered her to me, turning her so she was cradled in my arms at my side. I gently brushed her hair out of her face, staring at this woman in wonder. She had the power to bring me to my knees no matter how much I tried to resist.

We spent the rest of the day in bed, only getting up to eat and then returning to her bed to rest while the television played in the background. It was like I was walking on quicksand, slowly falling into her more as I touched her body, twirled my fingers in her hair, and kissed her mouth. But I couldn’t get enough.

Could I have her? Could she be mine? Would the novelty of being with her ever go away? And did I want it to?

It was late afternoon before I remembered my standing dinner date with Zach. Should I leave, and with what excuse? I’d already told her about Zach. Could I trust her with more? After what we’d shared, would she support me? What I knew of her so far told me I could—that I should. “Would you mind going somewhere with me?”

“I’d love to stay here, but as long as we’re together, I’m good.”

“Good. Because I cook dinner for someone special to me every day and I’d like you to meet him.” I held my breath, waiting for her response. After I’d told her about the situation with Zach last night, we hadn’t discussed it again and I wasn’t sure how she felt about him or what I was doing.

“Zach?”

“Yeah.”

“I’d love to meet him.” Her hands played with my hair. “I’m happy you’re including me.”

“I am too.” I kissed her, realizing that I was relieved she knew about Zach. I could share this burden with someone. It was a huge leap of trust for me to bring her into my life, to introduce her to Zach, but something told me I could trust her. She was kind, caring, and she wouldn’t hurt me.

“Shower?” I rolled her over so that she was under me, my cock nestled in its favorite place.

“Ugh. Stop doing that or we’re never going to leave here today, and I really want to meet Zach.”

I lifted off of her holding out a hand for her to take. “Let’s go.”

She smiled, taking my hand, and following me naked into the bathroom. I turned on the water in her tiny shower.

“I don’t think we’ll even fit in here.” Her face was apologetic as she looked around the tiny bathroom.

“It will make it more fun. I want to be close to you.” I stepped under the warm water tugging her in with me. We soaped each other’s bodies and hair before stepping out to dry off and get dressed. It was way more intimate than sex. Each moment with Taylor was more than I was expecting.

“I’m not sure we can actually have sex in that shower,” I said, pulling on my jeans.

“Me neither.” She laughed. “I hadn’t thought about that when I rented the place. I just thought it was perfect for me and it reminded me of home.”

My apartment wasn’t any bigger than hers, but it was in a worse location. Maybe it was time to look for a new place. The only thing holding me back was Zach. If I moved, what would happen to him? He needed someone nearby if he needed help. I couldn’t leave him.

As much as it scared me, this thing with Taylor felt right. It had hurt when Selena left, but she was just one in a long list of people who were never there for me or abandoned me.