Trick - By Lori Garrett Page 0,43

nice fucking fire, turning all my memories to ash.

But I’m trying to grow past the need to destroy everything that doesn’t work my way. Otherwise I’d spend every day of my life sifting through ruins.

I’m at the door before she can knock, and she looks so damn gorgeous, it kicks the breath out of my lungs.

She’s wearing ripped up jean shorts that barely cover her ass, a tiny white tank top, and her feet are bare. I want to tell her it’s not safe to drive in bare feet. I want to tell her it’s not safe to come here, to my house, when I’m feeling like my world is falling apart. I can’t say a word, because her face is shining.

Like she’s been waiting to see me all day.

Like she gives a damn about me.

God that feels so good.

She runs up to me, her light hair picked up by the breeze the summer wind brings across the fields. “Hey there, stranger,” she says, biting her bottom lip and stopping short before she’s in my arms.

I could reach out and touch her, but I don’t.

I can’t.

“I was worried about you.” I’m not surprised at how dead my voice sounds.

“I’m so sorry, Gunner. That’s Daisy’s stupid ass rule. About calling. I guess I agreed to it. But that was before it applied to you.” She takes a step toward me, and I shift back.

The look of hurt and confusion in her eyes is a knife in my heart.

“You should have called before you showed up,” I tell her.

She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “Oh. Um, I met Rochelle.”

I close my eyes and swallow. “I heard.”

“But you called me...I thought maybe she wasn’t...maybe she isn’t...” She looks at me with pleading eyes because she wants me to tell her that Rochelle is just some jealous asshole who means nothing to me.

Which is so true and such a lie all at once.

“Rochelle and I have been on and off for a while,” I finally say.

“Oh.” She stares at her perfect little toes. “She said something about an engagement ring.”

“Did you see one on her finger?”

She shakes her head.

“So, you said you two are on and off. Just how off were you when we got together?” Her lip trembles.

“Haven’t slept with her in weeks.”

She looks up at me, eyes wide with hurt. “I’m not asking how long it’s been since you slept with her.”

“She’s more a friend than anything else.”

She steps closer, and I have nowhere left to back up to.

“Do you love her, Gunner?” she asks, her words a soft rush, her fingers hot on my arm. “Tell me. Because I’ll leave now.”

“I never loved her. I never loved any girl in my life like I love you, Harlow Mills,” I tell her, grabbing her around the waist and sinking my mouth to hers. “I missed you the last few days. And I want you. I know it’s a fucking bad idea. I know it’s the worst idea. But I want you. Tell me to let you go. Tell me to fuck off and never come near you again, and I’ll do it.”

“Take me to bed,” she says instead, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I love you. I don’t give a damn about girls you slept with. I don’t give a damn about anything but you, Gunner Hunt.”

I open the door and we fall in, my mouth rough on her sweet lips because I can’t get enough of her. I strip that tank off over her head and her tits jiggle out, full and soft. I dip my mouth and feast on one, then the other, squeezing and sucking. Her fingers undo the button and zipper of her tiny shorts and they drop off her hips. She’s not wearing a thing under them.

I lift her around the waist and set her back against the door, one arm under that sweet ass. My fingers find her and I press them in and out, over and over until she’s panting hard and pumping against me.

“I ought to horsewhip you for going off and not calling, you damn fool. I was worried out of my mind.” I press my mouth to her neck, exposed for my taking by her back-bent head.

I’m shocked to hear her laugh. “You should spank me a little. I think I’d like that, actually.” Her eyes dance and she wiggles in my arms and turns, backside to me. “Was I a bad girl, Gunner?” She bats her lashes