Authors: H.M. Ward,Stacey Mosteller

Shadows of the Past (27 page)

BOOK: Shadows of the Past

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"Are you trying to make me crazy?" he asks, his voice deeper due to his arousal.

His hand travels down my stomach, before slipping between my legs. His eyes close when he feels how ready I am, but he moves down my body, pressing kisses on the few little stretch marks I've been so self-conscious about. The feeling of his lips on my skin has me squirming, especially since I know what's coming next.

The first touch of his mouth on me has me arching my back off the bed in an attempt to get closer. My hands land in his hair and I know it's only going to take one touch of his tongue on the bundle of nerves he's avoiding to make me explode. I'm writhing beneath him, begging him to please be with me. I can't even describe the agony I'm in right now. I love the way his touch feels, but I need more.

Oliver kneels between my thighs, watching me. I slide my legs up to wrap around his waist, pulling him into me. We both groan as he fills me, feeling so much more than just the physical sensations.

He pulls almost all the way out before thrusting back inside me. Leaning over me, he takes my hands, entwining our fingers together and pinning me to the bed.

I'm so lost in the sensations he's causing that I gasp when I'm suddenly airborne. Oliver pulls out of me before flipping us so that he's on his back, and I'm straddling him. We were in this position earlier, but it's different now, more intimate for some reason. The look on his face makes me feel powerful, and I sit up on my knees, hovering over him and slowly bringing him back inside of me.

In this position, he touches me so deeply that every time I slide all the way down there's a small twinge of pain. It only adds to the pleasure as I begin to move faster and faster. I can tell by the way he's clenching his jaw that he's close. When he squeezes one finger between our bodies to press down, I shatter around him, which causes him to follow.

My cries are loud, muffling his low groan of satisfaction. I fall forward, resting on his slick chest, completely sated and feeling boneless. He brings up a hand to caress my back while the other plays with a strand of my hair. I lay in his arms feeling both of our hearts race until our breathing calms.

Oliver slides me off to the side so he can get up and dispose of the condom, but he's soon back in bed beside me. I'm lying on my side, facing away from him, warm and sleepy. He scoots over so the front of his body is flush against mine and wraps his arm around my waist, taking my hand in his and sliding his fingers in between my own. I'm asleep in minutes, completely secure in the knowledge that he'll take care of me.

CHAPTER 47

After three days of spending time with my mom and my sister, meeting her fiancé and catching up on everything I missed while hiding abroad, it's time to go home. I'm going to miss them both, but my life is with Oliver and Emily. I have friends and an amazing apartment, and I'm ready to enjoy where I'm going. As much as leaving my family behind, I know I'm doing what I'm supposed to. For the first time in years, I feel at peace.

When they tell us that Oliver’s plane is ready, my mom steps toward me. We’re standing in the middle of the small room at Tetaburo Airport, surrounded by other people flying on private jets. Shannon makes a comment about how big Oliver’s jet is, and I elbow her. She giggles before saying, “Hug me, idiot. And don’t wait so long to come home this time.”

“I love you, too. I’ll be here in June.”

“You better be.” She kisses my cheek and backs away. “I’ll be out front.” She rushes off sniffling.

Mom steps up and hugs me tightly. Her tears falling unchecked down her cheeks just like Shannon's.

"It's okay, Mom," I tell her. "I promise I'm going to do better at keeping in touch. I won't disappear on you again."

She pulls back to study me, smiling at whatever she sees in them.

"You mean that don't you? No more hiding, no more running." Her expression sobers. "I understand why you felt you needed to leave, Kayla. Just please remember that you have a mother and a sister who love you and want the best for you. Don't cut us out of your life like we don't matter."

"Yes ma'am," I say, properly chastised.

Oliver grins hard and kisses the top of my head.

“I’ll give you a moment. I need to chat with the pilots anyway.” He walks off to the other side of the room and meets the guys flying us home.

I know the way I handled things before wasn't healthy. Everything reminded me of the babies, and it made staying here impossible. Now that I've put it all to rest, I can move on. I want to be happy, to be content with my life. Right now I am.

I turn back to Mom and say, "He's quickly becoming the most important person in my life. That scares me so much. Oliver could break me, and it would so much worse than when Charlie left."

"Charlie was an ass who didn't know what he was losing," she says sternly, placing her hands on my shoulders to keep me in place. "Don't base relationships on what Charlie did. Charlie isn't worth even a second though, he left you when you needed him the most, and he wasn't there in the end either. He doesn't deserve to have you so much as think his name.”

My mom hugs me one last time, telling me, "I love you, baby girl.”

“I love you too, Mom.” I release her and step away, trying not to cry.

Oliver's arms wrap around me from behind and I'm thankful for the support he's giving me. Saying goodbye to people I love so much is hard.

Suddenly, Shannon rushes back in. “Wait! I forgot!” She’s huffing and stops in front of Oliver Pointing a finger at him, she narrows her eyes to let him know she means business. "If you break my little sister's heart, I'll shove you in a box and bury you in my backyard, got it?"

Oliver nods, "Yes ma'am. Loud and clear." Resting his hand on my shoulder, he whispers in my ear, "I won't break your heart, American Girl. You can trust me with that."

“I know I can,” I answer, smiling.

I hug them both a final time, as does Oliver before we head to the door where our plane waits. Mom and Shannon walk behind us as far as they are allowed.

Just before we leave them, my mom says, "We love you, Kayla. Be happy."

As we follow the pilots out onto the tarmac, I turn to Oliver and ask, "What did my mom say when you hugged her?" I know she thinks she was sneaky, but I saw her lean up and say something to him.

"Ahh, she just told me to be gentle with you."

Yeah, right...sure she did. My mom would have said way more than that, she's no wallflower, and she doesn't hold back with what she's thinking. That's part of the reason I left before. I knew she'd tell me how I should grieve instead of letting me go through it.

"You're so full of it. I know she said more than that. Come on, spill...for me?" I give him the puppy dog look I always see Barkley give him, and he immediately relents.

Sighing, he tells me, "She said to be careful with your heart, to not let you hide, to and force you forward. Oh, and she said no living together before we're married or she’d hex me." He says this with a completely straight face and my heart starts to pound. We just got back together; surely he's not talking marriage yet.

"Relax," he laughs. "We'll get there. It just won't be today."

Settling in for the long flight, I lay my head against his shoulder and murmur, "I love you, Ollie."

He grins at the nickname and replies, "I love you too, American Girl."

COMING SOON

To ensure you don’t miss H.M. Ward’s next book, text AWESOMEBOOKS (one word) to 22828 and you will get an email reminder on release day.

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