More Than Lies (37 page)

Releasing her hair, I flip her around so that her back is to my chest. I reach down, grabbing the hem of her skirt and pull upward until it's seated at her waist. Next, I jerk my jeans and boxers down my legs at the same time. I need inside her and I need in her now.

“Bend.” She obeys, leaning over the deep freeze, which pushes her ass out, angling it just the right way. I fist my hard cock in one hand and pull her panties to the side with the other. I ram in harder than I ever have before, taking her hard.

“Aghh.” She gasps when I’m stuffed all the way inside. Her walls tighten around me when I start to pull out. “More.”

“Don’t worry, baby, I’m won’t be done with you until you know you’re mine.” I ram in again. Releasing her panties, I take both of her hips into my hands for control. I push her away and then yank her back until her ass bruises my groin with the force.

When I push her away she clamps down on my cock causing me to suck in air through my mouth. I love and hate when she does that. It feels amazing, but I can’t last for shit when she does it multiple times on purpose. She knows how to milk me and she’ll milk every ounce out of me if she can.

“Faster. Harder.” She pants each word out. My speed increases on her demand, pushing in and out harder than the last. She is coming, but I know she’s clamped down on her lip to keep herself from screaming. I do the same as I come inside her because right now if I open my mouth, the whole fucking bar will hear me.

I still both of us, pressing myself against her to catch my breath. Fuck me that was good. Better than it has…

“Fuck.” Holy shit, I did not. “Tara.” I call out her name. I’m still inside her and scared shitless. What am I supposed to do now?

“Move, off of me.” The heat in her voice has returned. Does she not realize what we did? I pull out, looking down, my dick is wet with both of our cum. My head is mixed with being turned on again by the glistening image of us and terrified because I’ve never fucked without a condom.

She twists around as she fixes her panties in place. We both look up at the same time then her expression changes.

“We didn’t use protection.” She is as shocked as I was moments ago.

“No shit.” The asshole comeback probably could have remained unsaid.

She pulls her skirt down in place and I pull my boxer briefs and jeans up my hips. I button and zip up.

“I get the depo shot regularly, we’re fine. Well, at least you are. Please, Shawn, please tell me you’ve never had sex without one before now.” Does she think I’m that stupid? Definitely shouldn’t verbalize that with the look she is giving me.

“No, I haven’t. What’s a depo shot?”

“Birth control. Okay, then.” Her voice rubs me the wrong way and I don’t know why. Good that she’s on birth control though because I want to do that again. I grab her in my arms and pull her closer.

“Does that mean we can do that again without anything between us?” I turn a smile on her.

“We won’t be doing that ever again, with or without a condom. Move.” My smile falls. What the fuck? That shit was good…great and I know she thought so too.

“Come again?” She can’t be serious. Jared. Did his words get to her? Does she believe him? Surely I’ve shown her repeatedly just how much I want her.

“I’m done with this.” She points back and forth between us. I’m speechless. “I’m done being just a convenient fuck for you. I’m done being the woman you want for sex, but not to date and not the one you want anyone else you know to see. I’m better than being someone’s dirty little secret.”

“Tara, you aren’t. I don’t think you are.” Where in God names did she come up with that bullshit?

“Don’t lie to me.” She shoves me backwards. My mind can’t wrap around any of this so when she pushes me I stumble backwards several steps. “You said yourself you didn’t want anyone to know we were seeing each other. You’ve told me that several times. The morning we woke up in bed together after we came home from Tupelo after Trent’s funeral, you said let’s keep ‘us’ to us.”

I did. I said that, but doesn’t she understand why?

“Tara, listen to me.”

“No, I’m done, Shawn. Done! Until you want a real relationship, if you want one that’s out in the open where our friends know, our parents know, then you can hang this up. I’m not going to be used for a good time. You can find plenty of actual whores for that.”

She storms past me.

What just happened?

I’ll fix this. We’ll be in Georgia this time tomorrow and she’ll be back in my bed. I guaran-fucking-tee it.

Women!

I went home as some as I left the bar after walking out on Shawn, leaving him in the storage room. I then packed and left again. This time I went to my parents’ house in Tupelo.

It was my last resort, that’s why. I couldn’t stay at Shawn’s. He would have come home and talked his way back into my bed. He’s gifted that way. I couldn’t go to Pam and Bill’s. What would I have said? Hey, I’m in love with your son and I’ve been sleeping with him. He doesn’t want a real relationship with me though, only sex, so I ended it and can’t face him like a big girl now. Yeah…no.

I should’ve gone to a hotel. A smart person would have thought of that. Not me because I’m an idiot, apparently.

When I got to my parents’ home, my dad wasn’t there. My mother’s car was in the driveway, but when I went inside she must have already been asleep because the house was quiet. I showered and crashed, sleeping over twelve hours. That’s unheard of from me. I’m always awake by seven no matter how many hours of sleep I get a night.

I dressed, well I pulled on a pair of yoga pants and put a bra on under the t-shirt I slept in and then came down the stairs only to be greeted by my mother’s wrath. She was hosting lunch. In attendance was her best friend, Judy Reed. The nasty woman matches my mother in every way from believing her shit doesn’t stink to if a wife is employed then it must mean they’re poor.

After my mother got over the shock of me being there, she reluctantly introduced me to her other two lady friends. One of them being Preston’s mother.
Great
. Afterwards she took me out of earshot and made it clear that loungewear was not appropriate attire for the middle of the day on a Thursday afternoon. She followed that up by asking me if my father knew I defiled my body with a disgusting tattoo. She noticed the one on my hip. The sleeve of my t-shirt covered the rose so she didn’t see that one.

I should probably not mention the next one I’m think about getting Shawn to ink on me. Something tells me it wouldn’t go over well with her.

That all took place yesterday, less than twenty-four hours ago.

Last night was even worse. My parents threw a dinner party, and wouldn’t you know it, Preston showed up alongside his parents too. Talk about an awkward dinner. Being the one with zero in common with anyone at the table, minus blood, was uncomfortable. I usually have my brother to distract me and talk to at these things. Not anymore.

I did learn though that Preston is now a junior lawyer at my dad’s law firm. He also has aspirations of becoming a partner within a few years.

Yippee ki-yay for him.

When I tried to excuse myself with the excuse of needing to pack because I’d be leaving for Georgia this morning, my mother plastered on the biggest fakest smile I’ve ever seen. Then she thought it would be the greatest idea if Preston took today off and came with me so he and I would have a better chance to get to know one another.

I looked to my dad thinking he might intervene because what father logically wants a man to go away with his daughter for the weekend when she isn’t married to that man? He said nothing. I don’t even think he heard a word of the conversation during the whole dinner. It was like he was off in la-la-land.

Preston made it known that he’d love to come with me and by the time they left it was set in stone that he was going and I never breathed a word. I didn’t agree to this. I didn’t want this, yet here I am, I’m sitting in the passenger seat of his Mercedes-Benz. I guess he got rid of the douchey Corvette.

We are five minutes away from Pam and Bill’s second home in Georgia. I’m silently flipping my own shit, in fear that Shawn is going to flip his shit when I walk in with Preston. Shawn hasn’t called or sent me a text since I left Mac’s the other night. For all I know, he’s moved on and doesn’t give a rat’s behind about what we did or didn’t have. It was sex, but why couldn’t it have been more? I’m such a girl.

“Take the next right.” I close my eReader and shove it down in my purse.

“No worries, the GPS will get us there.” He points toward the center dashboard of his car. His voice annoys me so in lieu of starting a conversation, I lean my back against the back of the seat and close my eyes. I read the whole six hours of the drive and now I wouldn’t mind taking a nap.

I feel the car come to stop so I open my eyes. We are here.

Finally.

Grabbing my purse, I exit the car, and then grab my large tote bag from his trunk when Preston pops the lock.

There are at least ten vehicles here. Shawn and Mason are friends with a lot of the locals from the town. When we come here, the house is always full of people a lot like it is back home on the weekends.

Walking through the front door, I head straight to the bedrooms in the back to drop my stuff off. Since Shawn’s parents aren’t here, he’ll most likely take the Master Bedroom. He usually does unless Shane beats him to it. Since Preston is here, that will free up a bunk for him to sleep in.

Walking in, the rooms are already junked up. I see Mase and Matt already have their crap everywhere. Shawn’s stuff isn’t in here, which confirms my guess that he took his parents’ bedroom. I toss my bag and purse on my bed then gesture to the other bottom bunk behind me.

“You can take that one.” Turning around, I look at Preston who’s eyeing the twin size bed. He doesn’t look thrilled. Oh freakin’ well. Maybe he shouldn’t have invited himself to come. I fake a smile and walk out.

Making my way down the hall, I continue through the living room until I reach the kitchen. Its midafternoon and I could use a beer so I go straight toward the refrigerator and take out a Corona. After searching for limes, I pop the cap and push a slice inside the bottle.

Tipping it back, I take a swallow as my eyes close to savor the crisp taste.

“About time you—” Mason stops mid-sentence. I reluctantly reopen my eyes to look at Mason. He’s peering over my shoulder. When I glance in that direction I see Preston coming toward us. I look at my beer then back at him remembering he’s a wine guy.

“We probably should have stopped by a liquor store. Sorry.” I hold up my beer. “I didn’t really think about that. My roommate’s mom might have some wine in a cabinet over there.” I point toward the cabinet above the stove that houses most of the liquor Bill keeps. I guess if Pam had wine it’d be there.

“I tell you what, I’ll live a little this weekend and have what you’re having.”

“Okay, they’re in the fridge.” I turn toward Mason. He grabs me by the elbow and pulls me out of earshot.

“What the fuck is he doing here? Shawn is going to flip the fuck out, Taralynn. What the hell were you thinking?” He swipes my beer from my hand and takes a swallow. “Jeez.” Mason shakes his head from side to side then takes another sip.

“Shawn’s not going to flip out.” He’s totally going to flip his lid.

“Why is he here?” Mason’s eyes glance in Preston’s direction before landing back on mine. “You didn’t like the guy when you went out with him last year. Are you trying to make Shawn jealous?”

“I’m not trying to do anything to Shawn. He’s here just because.” Because I don’t have the guts to stand up to my mother or to tell her where she can shove it that’s the real reason why.

Don’t lie to yourself, Taralynn. You know you’re hoping Shawn gets jealous.

Well, yeah, of course I am, but the likelihood of that is slim.

“When do we eat?” I’m hungry and I’m tired of this conversation.

“He was dropping the legs when I walked inside to get a beer.”

“Can I have my beer back, now?” He gives me a look before turning around and walking off. I huff and get another beer.

“Legs?” Preston questions.

“Crab legs.” I’ve been looking forward to them for weeks. The sound of the back door opens followed by Shawn’s deep voice.

“Foods on the table.” I look in his direction. He’s staring back at me, and then his eyes slide toward Preston. Shawn’s expression changes as anger flashes in front of me when his eyes land back on mine. He’s pissed. Walking fully inside, he kicks the door closed with his shoe. He stalks forward. “A word.” Taking my wrist into his hand he pulls me and I have no choice, but to follow. It’s either that or land on my face.

Shawn drags me into the bathroom before I can jerk my hand free of his. I doubt I would have managed getting loose from his death grip. The last time I ended up alone with him in a bathroom was the start of how I got into a mess with him in the first place. Now that I’ve had him, well sort of since I didn’t really have him, I don’t need to be alone with him. I know what he’s packing and I know just how it feels when he uses that beautiful man junk in his pants.