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  She shook her head, blond hair blowing in the cool wind. Half of it was pulled from her face, but the rest lay against her back. I loved it that way. Smooth, and long, yet I could still see her bright green eyes.

  “I’m fine. I just…” she trailed off, looking out at the forest. It’s the same side of the river I took her for our first time. The same spot.

  “Just what? You can tell me, Laney.”

  A tear slid down her face, falling into her lap. Her fingers were shaking against my thighs. I wanted to beat the fuck out of anything that made her so scared. So frightened. I just didn’t realize I had played a part in it.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  My jaw dropped. Black threatened to take over my eyes. Pregnant? How? Well, fuck, I knew how. I just…we had worn protection. Each time. No, pregnant?

  “Laney, I—”

  Her bottom lip trembled and I reached for her. She moved away, off of the tailgate and onto the ground. “I can’t do this. I’m seventeen. You promised we would be okay. That the condom wouldn’t break. I can’t…”

  “Luv, I would never leave you to do this alone. Never. I would…I will be there for you…for our baby. Are you sure? Have you been to the doctor? I…I didn’t realize it had broken.”

  She nodded. “I’m pregnant. I’m late, I’ve taken two tests and I went to the Health Clinic. I couldn’t go to my doctor; I was scared they’d tell my parents.”

  “You haven’t told your parents, Laney? You have to tell your mom. She can help you. You’ll need to go to monthly visits.”

  “No,” she shouted. “I’m not doing any of that. I’m…going to get an abortion.”

  Abortion. My heart stood still in my chest. “You can’t be serious…I thought…I thought you didn’t believe in them?”

  She wipes her eyes, her make-up covering her cheeks. “I have to. I’m going to California to paint, Lachlan. I can’t go with a baby. Who’d watch it? How would I pay for the milk? The food, clothes, diapers?”

  “We could do it together, Laney. We talked about having kids in the future, right? We can start early. Get a place together. We’ll figure it out, you don’t have to abort our…baby. Luv, please talk to me.”

  She started to shake, her entire body on the verge of breakdown. I saw it in her eyes. The fear. The cries. The inability to control the situation. “No, I’ve already set up the appointment.”

  “Without asking me?” My breath started to come in harder gasps. “You were just going to do it, without asking me.”

  “I have to, Lachlan. I have to do this.”

  I racked my hands through my hair and hopped off of the tailgate. “How? You’re not eighteen yet, you’ll need your mother’s permission.”

  She pulled out a piece of paper from her jeans pocket. “It’s called a judicial bypass. A judge grants you permission to do it without an adult present. It’s the only way.”

  I glanced down at the paper in my hands, trembling as I tried to read. Our baby. Gone. Never going to be seen. “No, baby,” I choke on the words. “Please, I want to be here for you.”

  A scream ripped from her throat, echoing against the bridge walls nearby. “Lachlan, I have to do it. I’m scared. I’m too young. I can’t have this baby. What would I do?

  Tears were pouring from my eyes now. I didn’t give a fuck. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and hold her there forever. Protect her from her fears. “Please, baby.” I grabbed her waist, falling to my knees. “Please. Let’s just talk about this. You don’t have to be scared. You don’t have to be afraid, luv. I’ll be here to help you through it.” I sobbed like a baby, and slowly crawled up to my feet, to cup her face with my hands.

  Sobs, tears, and heartache were written on her face. She shook her head, turned and, for what I thought was the last time, ran away from me.

  ***

  Applauding brought me back to the present. Everyone in the room is standing, clapping. I glance over my shoulder and Cynthia is standing behind me, gesturing for me to take a bow. Oh, they’re bloody applauding for me. I smile and give a modest bow, and everyone goes back to their dinner.

  My eyes snap back to Laney’s. This time she is staring at me, a smile rising from the corner of her lips. Unable to stop myself, I walk over to her table. Her friend is sitting in front of her. I can tell she’s trying not to smile.

  “Ladies. Who is your friend, Laney?”

  “Heather,” Laney says lightly, taking a huge mouthful of food. I hear her moan under her breath but she tries to hide it with her drink.

  “Nice to meet you. You must be Lachlan.”

  I nod and take her hand. “You two enjoying the dinner tonight?”

  Heather gives me two thumbs up. “It’s fucking great. Excuse the language. But, yes, you deserved to win that contest. But, I knew that. Laney told me so.”

  Laney shoots daggers at Heather before glancing up at me for the first time. Her dark green eyes are darker than normal. Dark bags line underneath her eyes. She’s been crying. A lot. It’s been an entire week since the party. She’s cried every night, I see it on her. In her eyes.

  “I’m glad she thinks so.”

  Laney darts her eyes back toward her food, biting her lip and twiddling her fork. “So, you’re staying in Florida, huh? You’re not going to miss Australia?” Heather asks over her food.

  “No,” I glance toward Laney, “it seems I have unfinished business here. I plan to stay for a long time. Especially, if everything works out with that said business.”

  Laney’s cheeks are red. Her ears, too. I smile and give both of them a short nod. “Come back and see us, ladies. It was a pleasure having you here. And Laney?”

  She forces her eyes up and stares at me over her glasses. “Yes?”

  “I never left.”

  ***

  My first night is over. Leaning against the countertop, I peel the chef’s jacket off, tossing it to the side. I smell like basil and garlic. Stretching my neck, I realize how tired I am. I stayed up and studied all bloody weekend. My eyes hurt from straining. Now that I have the menu down, everything is falling into place. All my worries have drifted away.

  Grabbing my keys, I walk toward the EXIT door when I hear a soft knock against the front entrance. “We’re closed, mate,” I say to the knock. Another three thuds ring against my ears.

  Bloody hell. Striding toward the doors, I stop dead in my tracks. Laney is standing on the other side, a coat tucked neatly against her bent elbow. Her blond hair is long, blowing in the wind. And…bloody fuck if her outfit isn’t stuck to her body. She gives me a small wave, and the worry crease in her eyebrows shows me she doesn’t think I’m going to unlock the door.

  If only I couldn’t.

  Stepping forward, I fumble with the key and let her and a gust of cool wind in. She shivers, and keeps her back to me. I’m staring at her back like a bloody twit, but I don’t move. I know her. She needs to do this on her own.

  Turning, she glances up at me. Her tongue darts out, tracing a line against the fullness. “Lachlan…I’m sorry.”

  Sorry. For what? She’s already apologized. I crease my brow and shrug one shoulder. “For what, luv?”

  Pain crosses over her face. I want to reach out and stop it but I don’t move. I keep my hands shoved down into the depths of my jeans. “For everything. For the…” she swallows hard, “abortion. For leaving you. For denying you the right to…at least have an opinion. I just did it. I don’t know…I was childish, selfish…and a child. A child that got caught up in something that could have happened to anyone. I’m sorry for blocking you out. I’ve always wanted you. You. No one else. Not Aiden…not anyone. It’s been hell for me. To see you. Here. So close.” She screws her eyes shut and bites her bottom lip.

  Heat swarms my chest. I’ve waited for her to say this for years. To call me and tell me. To fly down under to see me. But, now that it’s finally here, I can’t make myself move. I’ve replayed this in my head for so many nights. Weeks. Years. I’ve known w
hat I would do when I saw her again. Now I’m sitting here like a pussy, not moving, not breathing.

  Laney’s eyes flutter open and she shrugs. “I don’t deserve your love, Lachlan. I don’t. I know that. You know that. But, I’m asking for one chance. One chance to show you how sorry I am. If you’re not interested, I’ll walk away right now. I won’t ever bother you again. I promise.”

  A flicker of heat lights over me and my brain starts to work again. Stepping forward, I look down at her. Her glasses are pushed high on her tiny nose, hiding her dark, green eyes. The flush on her cheeks makes my body hum. “Laney.” I trail a finger against the side of her cheek down until I cup her chin. “Have you forgiven yourself?”

  A cry escapes her lips and tears fall down her cheek. “Yes. I—I have.”

  A smile rides along my lip. I dip my head low and taste the skin of her ear. A moan slips through her lips, causing my dick to protest against my jeans. “Do you love me, luv?”

  A breathy sigh. “Yes.”

  My hormones are burning inside of me. Every cell in my body feels like it’s on fire. “Say it.”

  Trembling, she licks her lips. “I love you, Lachlan.”

  Groaning, I close my eyes. Fire is scorching me, edging me toward her. “Do you want me, Laney? Do you want me again?”

  “I never stopped.”

  My self-control rages out of me and disappears somewhere beyond my vision. “Goddamn,” I whisper, cupping her face. “I can’t express to you how much I’ve missed you.” Without warning, I press my mouth against hers. Her soft, delicious lips offer me access right away. Goddamn it. Gripping her hips, I holster her up onto my hips. Her long legs wrap around my waist, squeezing herself to me.

  Placing her on the counter, she gasped her mouth away from mine. “Lachlan, as much as I want this. Do you think we should do this here?”

  I glance around. “Damn it, luv.” I chuckle. “Let’s go to my apartment. It’s not ready yet, but it’s got a bed.”

  Red swarms her cheeks but her eyes darken. “Let’s go.”

  ***

  Laney

  Holy fuck, this is happening. I’m trailing behind Lachlan as he zooms between cars toward his apartment. My radio is up loud, but I’m shaking too bad to care. My entire body is on fire. His touch. His arms. Lips. It was so much and not enough. I want him so badly it hurts.

  Lachlan eases Lucas’s car into a parking lot on the right. It’s a nice part of town. His taillights guide me into a parking space close to the door. Lachlan is out of the car and to my window in seconds.

  Reaching down, he scoops me out of the car and into a baby hold against his chest. I laugh as he runs toward his door. Swinging my feet down, he unlocks it and throws it open.

  My back is pressed against the back of the door before my eyes adjust to the darkness. As he leans on me, my body is aware of every single place we touch. My knees. Hips. Chest. Lips. They’re igniting under my skin like flares.

  His lips are warm, firm, and when he slides his tongue against my bottom lip, I grant him access. His tongue dives into my mouth, sliding against the roof, with my tongue, and against my lips. All the while, his hands travel in the opposite direction, one large, flat palm cupping my breast. My sex aches at the touch, and I arch my back into him.

  He lowers his lips to my ear, sending chills down to my toes. “Goddamn it, luv. I’ve waited for this moment. To feel you against me again.”

  Before I can respond, he grips my upper arm and pulls from me. Leaving me breathing hard and wanting him. I don’t ask questions as he guides me through the cluttered apartment. He wasn’t lying; his bed is one of the only things up. I’m thankful.

  Shutting the bedroom door behind him, he stands in front of me. The ridges in his arms strain as he breathes harder, his chest rising and falling quickly. “Take your clothes off, luv.”

  Blood heats my cheeks. His eyes are still, he is obviously not joking. I haven’t been naked in front of a guy since him. Only him. Biting my lip, I close my eyes for the briefest moment. Licking my lip, I glance up at him.

  His light green eyes are bright against his dark, black hair. His tongue darts against his lip, causing my sex to ache. Christ. Reaching up, I grab the edge of my shirt and pull. I’m mentally thanking Heather for making me wear my lacey bra and panty. Hungry eyes roam over me, and his hand twitches. He wants to touch me. God, I want him to.

  Taking a large breath, I gently guide my jeans down my legs until both items are puddles of fabric beside my feet. Lachlan’s eyes stroll down my body, and slowly back up to the top. He growls and storms toward me.

  His breath at my ear, he slides his tongue against the curve, stopping when he takes the fleshly lobe between his teeth. Before I know it, he’s carrying me toward the bed. I land in the soft covers, and relax.

  Lying down slowly on top of me, his lips play over mine. “Are you comfortable, luv?”

  “Yes,” I say weakly. “Lachlan…it’s been a while.” He stiffens. “I mean…I haven’t since senior year.”

  His eyes widen and he snaps his head back to get a better look at me. “What? You mean…you haven’t been with anyone since me? Since senior year?”

  Swallowing, I shake my head slowly.

  “Christ, Laney,” he presses his forehead against mine. “Do you want me to stop now?”

  “No,” I whisper.

  “Thank God.” He leans back down, plunging his tongue into my mouth as I dig my hands into his hard biceps.

  Stroking his tongue with mine, I suck it harder into my mouth. A low grown rumbles from his chest, causing me to wrap my foot around his ankle and pull. Agitation flutters over his face and he reaches behind me to unhook my bra. My breasts fall free, and Lachlan has a nipple in his mouth before I blink.

  “Fuck,” I mumble, as his other hand trails along the cup of my bra. Both hands palm my breasts and my breath stops for a few seconds.

  “You feel so good, baby,” he coos into my ear, biting down where the flesh meets my shoulder. “So bloody good.”

  His thigh has pushed my legs open, his jeans rubbing against the fabric of my panties. Black swarms my vision. Something erupts inside of me. I let out a cry. “I need you, Lachlan. Please, fucking touch me. I’ve waited so long—” He silences me with a kiss. Rolling us to our sides, he slips his fingers inside of my lacey underwear. His fingers settling on the spot, he rubs slight circles against my wet flesh. “Ah,” I cry out, arching my back.

  “That’s right, luv. You’re so bloody wet for me.”

  He leans his head down and kisses me again. It feels like a marking. Like he is branding my heart. Whether he knows it or not, it never left.

  Slipping his fingers up the ridge of my underwear, he slips them down my thighs and I help him take them off of my ankles. My flesh is warm, heated from him. Lachlan sits between my legs, gazing down at me. A flutter of nerves wrack through me. I haven’t had sex in so long. Will I be good? Will it hurt like the first time?

  “We don’t have to do this, luv. I can wait as long as you need me to.” His green eyes flicker toward me, his thick neck constricting when he swallows.

  Biting my lip, I take him in. He will wait…he was always patient, but the evidence in his jeans shows he’s ready to take me to bliss.

  Sitting up on my knees, I reach for his jeans. My fingers shake as I unzip him and start to pull. He helps me until he is sitting on his knees in front of me. My mouth dries when my eyes flicker toward his boxer briefs. They’ve filled out more since high school.

  “Like what you see, luv?” he whispers, sliding fingers against my bare stomach.

  “Yes,” I mumble, grabbing his waistband. “Lachlan, I need you to fuck me. I feel like my body is going to explode. Please.”

  Lachlan lays me back, his light eyes searching my own. “No need to beg, luv. I’ll give you what you want.”

  A laugh slips from my throat but stops when he pulls a condom from the pocket of his jeans. I watch as he pulls down his underwe
ar. His cock springs to life. Rolling the condom over his length, he keeps his eyes fixated on mine. “Relax, baby. I’m going to make you feel good.”

  He is so fucking sexy, hovering over me. I feel like I may die if he doesn’t touch me soon. He pulls me up to crush his full lips against my own. I try to wrap my fist around him, but my fingers barely touch. Definitely bigger. Much bigger. He growls, dropping his head and closing his eyes. I stroke him up and down. The sound of a male being pleased passes his lips. Gripping my wrist, he brings it over my head, trapping me between him and the bed.

  “If you keep touching me like that, this isn’t going to take very long. Let me take care of you, luv. You bloody well deserve it.”

  Bending down, he kisses the hollow of my ear. “Laney.” Just his one word sets me on fire.

  “Please, no more stalling. I want it.”

  Lachlan smiles, the corner of his mouth crawling dangerously slow up his jaw. “My pleasure, luv. We aim to please, do we not?”

  My world tingles when I feel him at my entrance, his thickness making my sex ache with a need unimaginable. I toss my head against the mattress as he slides into me. God. He fills me so deep. So long.

  “Christ,” he grunts. “So. Fucking. Tight. Goddamn.” He still has my wrist in one hand, as he slowly slides in and out of me.

  Keeping my wrist in one hand, he slides the other hand down to where we meet. His calloused finger glides against my wet folds. My eyes flutter to the back of my head. This. Is. Heaven. Pulling out, he glances down at me. “Are you mine, luv? Say it.”

  Deliriously, I nod. I feel undone. Gone. “I’m yours.”

  His face is stern, jaw tight, eyes fixated on mine. “You want me inside of you? Now? All of me?”

  “Fuck, yes,” I whimper. In one second I’m filled with him again. Hard. I cry out, clenching my muscles in the most dangerously magical way. He starts slowly, then his pace quickens. He is pulsing furiously in and out of me. My muscles wrapping tightly around his length, begging for more.