Still Creek (The Cove Series Book 2) Read online

  Looking in her eyes, I see it before she even realizes what she’s going to do. Her spirit burns with desire, taking the choice out of her hands. She’ll do whatever it takes. Holding nothing back to get what she wants. Whatever she needs to do to make me hers.

  Tilting her head, she moves into his neck, close to his ear. Her mouth moves subtly and then, without a second thought, his head nods in understanding. He’ll do what she asks. He does what I will not.

  Mother fucker, they’re leaving.

  Before I can get my emotions under control, my feet move faster than my mind. And my heart. I barrel through the door on my way to the parking lot to plow a new damn road through his fucking ass.

  Looking around quickly, I almost miss them. I set off in a dead run to get to her. Son of a bitch has her laid out on the hood of her car. I’m about to fucking blow my mother fucking lid. He’s on top of her, kissing her as he holds her legs around his waist.

  I might just kill him after all.

  Before I have a chance to think, I spin him around to face me. I ask no questions. Say no words. My fists are on him as I pummel the fucking bastard. Blood splatters me just as the ass-hat drops to his knees and falls forward.

  Stopping long enough to wipe the blood from my knuckles, I turn to find her. Still lying on the hood of the car, passed out cold. I’m livid as I think what could’ve happened to her. He could’ve raped her. What the fuck was she thinking?

  Throwing her over my shoulder, I’m halfway to my truck before I realize I can’t take her to her new place. I have her keys, but I’m sure nothing is set up, so she’s going home with me. Whether that be a blessing or a curse, I’ll soon find out.

  The drive home is shorter than the last time I was with her. She’s home now. Clemson was almost the death of me. It’s the first time I laid eyes on her. Every man in the room wanted her, but I was the only one who was going to get her.

  Waiting for her to cross the room, there was no doubt, she’s one gorgeous woman. Her body was made for sin, and every man in the room longed to break any promise they had ever made to stay faithful. Her full, red lips could bring the strongest man to his knees.

  When she stopped in front of me and introduced herself, I just knew I had finally won the lottery. I failed miserably at playing it cool, but by the end of the night, she had convinced me to stay the weekend.

  Just like the first time we met, she knew exactly what she was doing tonight. Why the hell would she put herself in harm’s way? Acting like a fucking teenager isn’t going to help her cause. Reckless as fucking hell.

  Why would any sensible young woman put herself in danger like this? It had to be her wanting my attention. That’s all I can come up with.

  Her lips part as she lies sleeping beside me, she’s breathtaking. I’m so far gone; I can’t even think straight. I fall deeper down the rabbit hole as her chest rises and falls, rooting herself deep into me.

  Thoughts of her in my bed spin out of control. Waking up with her by my side is all I’ve ever wanted since meeting her. How will I ever rid myself of her?

  Once we arrive at my place, I pull into the garage so my neighbors won’t see me carrying her in. I unbuckle her seatbelt and throw her over my shoulder. Yeah, I grab her fine ass to help hold her in place. What’s a man gonna do?

  Kicking the door closed, I make a beeline for my room. Laying her on my bed, I try to decide if I should stay. How many times have I dreamed of having her in my bed? What the hell am I thinking?

  She stirs with a slight moan. I try to back out of the room as I hear another moan. She tries to say something as she rolls to her side. Sitting up, she looks at me as if she recognizes where she is.

  “Hey. You alright? You look as though you’re going to be sick,” I question her as I watch her struggle to stand upright.

  “No. Pee.” Slurring her words as she walks out the bedroom door. I have an en-suite, but I guess she didn’t see it.

  Bouncing from wall to door to wall, she stands in the hallway. About the time it hits me what is wrong with her, she doubles over. Hurrying her to the hall bath, we almost make it.

  Three a.m. and I’ve cleaned the whole bathroom. I throw her clothes in the washer but get a little nervous about drying them, so I hang them up to dry.

  I text Christy when she hit Thayer’s phone up. I really want to blast her ass for letting Thayer leave with that asshole but left it a simple statement, all is good. Besides, how the hell will she know if Thayer is really okay?

  The thought truly pisses me the fuck off as I think of how I found my girl. Oh, hell no. It’s time for some sleep, I’m talking crazy shit now.

  Sleeping in the extra bedroom or even in the living room would have been the most intelligent thing to do, but I tend to lose every good thought when I’m around her. After she had ruined her clothes and bra, I put her in one of my dress shirts. The strength it took for me to button that shirt can only be compared to superhuman power. She’s still wearing her turquoise panties, and even sprawled on my bed, I’ve never seen her look more beautiful.

  I’m a better man than I give myself credit for. Pausing at the end of my bed, I watch her sleep. She’s on my pillow, her leg thrown over the comforter. My dress shirt shifted to the side, showing her perfect ass. Just to think, another man came so closely to making her his.

  Pulling my shirt over my head, I debate how to sleep with her. My decision isn’t based on anything but carnal thoughts. I just want to feel her beside me. Skin on skin. So I drop my pants and climb in on the opposite side.

  When the bed shifts from my weight, she rolls over into my side. Focusing on her features, I see things which escaped me our first night together. With a deep sigh, I give in as I watch her until I fall into the most restful sleep I’ve had in years.

  Oh, my God. What the fuck is blinding me? The brightest light known to man is making my brains come out my ears. What the hell did I drink last night? And why the hell am I sweating like a man?

  Kicking away the comforter, my foot runs across a rough surface. It’s firm and long. Muscle-bound with hair. Touching it again, I realize what it is I’m touching.

  I’ll be damned, I’m in bed with a man.

  Wide-eyed now, I force a recollection from the night before. Alcohol. Lots of alcohol with dancing. A large man comes to mind. I remember being really angry and very drunk. I’m sure one of those two reasons will explain this throbbing headache.

  Slowly closing my eyes, I release a huff of anxiety. Why the hell was I so careless? I’ve never in my life done anything as remotely ignorant as last night turned out. I let that man get the better of my good judgment.

  Lying here with a stranger, no clue where I am or how I got here. I’m so disappointed in how I handled his rejection. Never stopping to think of the repercussions of my lack of tact. I rushed to make him regret not wanting me.

  Now, I’m in a predicament. In a strange place, bodies intertwined like two snakes. Well, I mean, I’m pretty sure this dude has an anaconda in his shorts. I almost wish he had fucked me with it, but I was unconscious so gross.

  Looking around the room, I appraise my surroundings. The bright fucking light tells me it’s morning. The sound of the ocean so close tells me we’re near the beach. I’m clothed to some extent. So far, so good.

  The dude next to me tightens his grip when I try to move. I gotta get outta here. Luckily, nothing seems to have happened last night. But that doesn’t mean this guy won’t wake up with certain expectations. Now, how do I loosen his hold?

  Furthermore, shit is gonna hit the fan if I’m not home soon. My big brother is gonna call every law enforcement person he knows in Myrtle Beach if I don’t show my face really quick. I really don’t want to explain how I got here.

  My phone. Where’s my phone? I hear a phone, but it’s not mine. Damn it! This fucker’s going to be getting up. I have to get out of here. I hope Hardy didn’t see me leave with this asshole, he’ll never give me the time of day if he did.


  Slipping one leg over the side of the bed, I attempt the ‘slow slide away’ for my escape. His grip loosens as his hand slides over my breast. I inch closer to the edge of the bed, the shirt I’m wearing exposes my breast, and I break a true sweat in panic.

  I adjust my shirt and realize, I still have my panties on but my bra is off. What kind of perv does that? I don’t want to know; I just need to leave with my dignity intact. Or at least as much as I can.

  If my oldest brother finds out I allowed myself to get into this mess, the wrath of all that’s unholy will fall upon me. He’s protective as hell and ridiculously overbearing. Although a Neanderthal at times, he’s an amazing brother.

  Ungluing myself from this dude’s grasp, I slip away. Once in the hall bath, I see why I’m in his shirt. Apparently, he washed my clothes and hung them up in the extra bath to dry. Who the hell is this guy?

  By the taste in my mouth, I can deduce why my clothes needed washing. I must’ve vomited at some point last night. I find a new toothbrush in the cabinet and take care of my nasty breath before slipping my clothes on. I also take a few minutes to clean my face off. Raccoon eyes are nowhere near as hot as the smoky eye was last night. I giggle at the thought of waking up next to Hardy looking like this.

  Which in turn, makes me think of the man lying in the bed in the next room. From what I could tell, he was certainly built well. His claim on my body felt too real. Too good. Banishing my strange thoughts, I refocus on getting out of here in one piece.

  Sneaking through the apartment, I find my phone on charge with a million missed text messages. Hitting search for a taxi to call, I realize I didn’t even get a good look at the man I made my slithering getaway from. Curiosity gets the best of me, and I decide to tiptoe back to his bedroom to check him out.

  I mean come on, it can’t be the same guy who was all over me last night. This one washed puke from my clothes and didn’t try to fuck me. Why didn’t he try? Now, I’m determined to find out who he is. Maybe he’s gay?

  Peeking around the door, it’s easy to see he’s still sleeping. He has one arm thrown over his head, my pillow covers the rest. Nothing but those damn boxers cover his perfectly sculpted body. He’s a bronzed god with muscles defining every curve and nuance.

  Intricate tattoos run the path from his left arm across his chest. As far as I can tell, his right arm is covered also. The perfect ‘V’ points to all things heaven sent. I don’t care, saint or sinner would want this man. Another five minutes, I might talk myself out of leaving.

  This isn’t the ridiculous mess I was dancing with last night. I need to see his face. Creeping closer, I’m about to see the Holy Grail when out of nowhere, I’m attacked from behind. I fall to the floor before I can defend myself.

  I yell as I scramble about, trying to stop the onslaught of tongue and humping. My screams turn to giggles as I realize what’s happening. When I said I wanted a fur coat, I didn’t mean like this.

  With abandon, I throw my head back in laughter. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I blink and see the very thing I wasn’t expecting. Hardy. The hottest fucking man ever. In nothing but boxers, showcasing his massive, thick cock.

  Fuck me. Hard.

  His brow is cocked, and the look on his face makes me think he’s jealous. This damn monster of his continues licking me everywhere, including in my mouth, making me bolt upright, pushing it away as I clean my mouth.

  He stands there, laughing his fucking ass off, while the gigantic shaggy monster with doggie breath continues to try to claim me as its own. They’re lucky I like them both. He finally stops laughing enough to order his fuzzball off of me.

  “Lulu, get off her. Damn, I didn’t even get to do that,” he professes as he offers me a hand up.

  Oh, fuck him.

  “I don’t think so asshole,” I scoff as I knock his hand away. I push up from the floor, immediately losing my balance and fall straight into his arms.

  Fuck my life.

  “You sneaking out? Looks as though you were about to ditch me,” he questions me as he ogles my exposed breast. When he releases me, I adjust my shirt as I step away.

  “I, uh, need to get going. I haven’t been by my parents yet, my brother’s livid.” I zone out as I check my phone again. Three missed calls and still nothing from Christy.

  “Yeah, I’m sure he is. He’d shit bricks if he’d seen you last night,” he gives an exasperated reply, crossing his arms over his body as he does.

  His tone garners my attention to which I roll my eyes once I take in his stature. Always so damn bossy. He has no clue what One would think. Honestly, I don’t want to think about it.

  “How would you know? It doesn’t matter, I need to go.” Pushing past him, I reach down for one last kiss from his gorgeous Collie. “At least you have one woman who’ll stick around you.”

  Turning to the door, he follows me out to the living room. He stands by the counter, still in his boxers, looking every bit as fuckable as he did the first night I met him. Only less so than this morning when he was pressed against me. Hard and unsatisfied.

  “So thanks for watching out for me. I appreciate you controlling yourself around me. Mustn’t have been too hard, though.” I glance down to his barely covered cock. To my surprise, he’s still hard. My eyes bounce back to his face, he’s wearing his shit-eating grin.

  “After pulling the mother fucking asshole off your unconscious body, I wasn’t in the mood. I don’t remember you drinking this way before, happen often?” Still speaking to me in his condescending tone. Asshole.

  What does he mean, ‘not in the mood’? I guess he thinks he’s had better in his bed. Good. Fuck him. I’m over this, I’m over him. He keeps pushing me away, and I don’t have time for his games.

  “Fine, Hardy. You’ve made it abundantly clear you don’t want me. So it’s all good. I gotta go. Keys?” I try not to glare at him but fail miserably.

  His smile falls from his face, and he stands there, looking despondent. He’s practically naked, and all I can focus on is his beautiful face, marred with regret. I’m so confused.

  “I’ve never said I didn’t want you, Thayer. It’s complicated. It’s so much more than this.” He motions between us making me feel no better about his rejection. I can’t even look at him now.

  “Whatever. I need to go. My keys?” I demand as I hold my hand out, looking everywhere but at him.

  “Thayer. Please. Look at me.” His voice drops to a deep bass, making me squeeze my thighs together as I imagine him whispering in my ear while he takes me from behind. Damn.

  I have to end this, now. Obviously, it isn’t going anywhere. Hardy refuses to give us the chance we deserve. The weekend we spent together meant more to me. I’m okay with that. I’d rather learn it now than to pay the ultimate price later.

  “Hardy, give me my damn keys. I get it. Okay? You have made it clear, you don’t want anything to do with me. Now, fuck off.” I jerk my keys from his hand and rip the door open. Making my break for the taxi waiting for me.

  I wave off the driver as he attempts to get out to open my door. I yank the door open and plop into the backseat. What the fuck is happening? I’m chasing a man who has shown me on numerous occasions he doesn’t want me. So what the hell is the draw?

  I’m not the kind of girl who looks at these things like it’s a challenge. I couldn’t care less about his issues he keeps reiterating he has. Pretending to want me hurts more than his flat-out rejection.

  Asshole. Hardy is the biggest prick known to woman. All the bullshit he spewed while we were in Clemson together was just that, bullshit. He just wanted to fuck me for a fling. A one-night-stand he could throw away. Asshole.

  Wiping the tears from my eyes, I pull myself together enough to tell the driver my address. “Twelve twenty-two, Cherry Grove. Thank you.”

  Tugging my phone from my jeans back pocket, I open the home screen. Scrolling through the first hundred texts, missed calls, and notifications, I see Christy has woken from the de
ad. I can’t believe she just let me leave last night.

  Typing her a quick message, I tell her I’m good and remind her to be at my parents’ home in less than two hours. It’ll be a miracle if she makes it. It’ll be a miracle if I do. If I’m even one minute late, One is gonna have my head.

  I know this because that’s exactly what his text said when I opened it. One has been in such a mood lately. Mother says it must be about a woman. My brother doesn’t get crazy over anything, let alone women. Not since his divorce anyway.

  But he’s been weird for a week or more now. Maybe, it’s in the water? Some kind of chemical making all the men lose their shit and be dumbasses. I have no clue. All I do know is that I have ninety minutes to shower and shine.

  I’m not even sure who my mother has invited to this thing. All I wanted was a family gathering, grilling by the beach and laughs. Lots of laughs.

  Pulling into my drive, the driver jumps out, but I meet him at the back, hand him his money. and sprint through my front door. I’m dropping clothes as I hurry to the shower. I don’t have time to wash this head of hair, so it’s an up-do for sure.

  Toweling off, I shoot Chord a quick text asking about attire for the little party. He replies with a quick, ‘Wear shorts and a tee, she gave you your wish.’ Hot damn, a cookout. Southern style. Chord is the baby of our family, and he’s such a sweetheart.

  Hair up in a messy bun, eyes lined and winged. I slip into my red shorts and my button-up, cherry-covered white shirt. Finishing with the perfect red on my lips. My blue eyes stand out in my mass of dark hair.

  Oh, yeah. Fuck off, Hardy.

  When the door slams, I stand there. Like the fucking asshole I am. Watching her walk away from me without a fight. Just walk out with no explanation or comforting thoughts.

  I’ve never been more attracted to a woman in my life. Thayer drives me insane, but by God, I want her. What am I supposed to do with that fact? I want her in my life, but I’m afraid of the cost. The price that will need to be paid to be with me.