I'll Always Be His

Chapter 5

TESSA

This week had been great. Classes were easy. My 4.0 GPA is being maintained. I’m on track to go to Brown, my parents alma matter. As much as I tried to avoid Hardin all week he has been everywhere I am and today is no exception apparently. He’s staying over with Sylas tonight. They’re hold up in his room playing video games. The doorbell rings. Sylas and Hardin beat me to it.

Nick is standing there looking super uncomfortable. I shew at them both but neither move. I sigh and push them out of my way dragging Nick further into the house to make our way out back. I push him into one of the deck chairs over looking the lake that borders the back of our house. I sat in his lap and put my arms around his neck.

“I'm sorry about them. They can be so over bearing sometimes.”

“I can see Sylas being like that. That was why I never asked you out before. Hardin has his own reasons I guess.”

“Wanna take the boat out? I feel like a swim.”

I stood up and he took my hand following my lead. We talked about college and our futures respectively. Nick was a great guy. He had his hair pulled back in a man bun and was sporting a grey t-shirt and jeans that hung low off his hips with flip flops. I could see his six pack through his shirt it was so tight but he looked amazing. We started the boat and left the boat house heading out to vast expanse of the lake. Hardin and Sylas were standing on the dock yelling at me. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I just waved and smiled and kept going. I stopped when I was far enough away that they couldn’t interrupt what I was about to do with their shenanigans. I turned the boat off and dropped the anchor. I stripped down to my bra and panties and he was in his boxer briefs when I looked over. He took my hand and we both jumped off the boat into the water. I could still see my brother and Hardin standing on shore watching us.

I swam over and put my arms around Nick's neck. He grabbed my legs pulling them up so I could lock myself around his waste. He put his forehead to mine for a minute before tilting his head so he could kiss me. I deepened the kiss, sliding my tongue along his, while he reciprocated. He pulled me as close as he could. He was getting handsy like he couldn’t get enough. This is what I wanted wasn’t it? Some how it just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t take this any further. Not right now anyways. I broke the kiss. I splashed him with water and swam away. He chased me around the boat both of us laughing and splashing as we went.

We took the boat back in about an hour later. My brother and Hardin were on the deck waiting like vultures. Neither said anything as we walked by them into the house still laughing and out of breath. They just gave Nick a death glare. I walked Nick out to his Suv.

“So I’ve never done this before but we have a big family dinner on Sunday nights and I would love it if you came with me this Sunday.”

“Babe I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

He gave me one hell of a kiss even dipping me backwards at the end. He took off and I walked back in the house only to find Sylas and Hardin glowering at me from the front door. What is wrong with them today? They were being extra moody and broody today.

“What the hell is your problem and why are you spying on me?”

“You may not know his reputation but we do. I’m watching him Tessa.” That was all Sylas said before he turned and walked away.

Hardin however didn’t leave. He stayed staring me down. His jaw was set and he looked like he was grinding his teeth. He took a deep breath to steady himself before he spoke.

“You are not bringing him to Sunday dinner.”

“Um you brought Hannah so why not?”

He stepped closer to me and bent down to whisper in my ear, “You and I both know he doesn’t do it for you so why toy with him?”

I could feel the heat of his breath lingering there. We stood there for a moment and silence. There was something unreadable in his expression as he pulled back away from me. He tucked a loose strand of my blonde hair behind my ear as his phone started ringing. It was Kendra. He’s over here messing with my live life when he clearly has his own to deal with. I shook my head walking away in disgust.

It’s three in the morning and I’m up texting Nick while I watch Grey's Anatomy and someone knocks on my bedroom door. I don’t even get to respond before Hardin barges in.

“I heard your TV. Your brother passed out on me.”

“So you thought what? That you’d come bother me? Get out Hardin.”

I rolled over onto my back holding my phone over my face and continued texting Nick. Moments later I was being pulled from the bed by my ankles. It happened so fast I couldn’t even scream. In a matter of seconds I was on my ass on the floor. He was standing over me laughing. This jerk was laughing. I caught him by surprise when I kicked his legs out from under him and he landed on his ass too. Now I was laughing. He crawled over to me laying his head by mine.

“You're a formidable opponent goldilocks.”

“I learned from the best. Seriously though, why are you in here?”

He rolled over on his side next to me and propped his head up on his hand so that he was looking down at me. He had the biggest smile on his face. Just then he leaned down and kissed me. Everything in me was screaming not to stop. Everything about this felt so right. He deepened the kiss while running his hands up my bare thighs. He played under the edge of my shorts and sent chills through my body.

I wanted to attack him like I was a lioness and he was prey. My body took over and I flipped him onto his back crawling on top of him. My ass was in his hands and he was rubbing and grabbing it. My hair fell over our faces like a curtain. He let out a moan under my lips that sent my libido into over drive. I wanted him so badly my entire body was shaking and about to combust.

The whole time is a little voice nagging in the back of my head. I can’t do this. I need to stop this. I have a boyfriend and he has a girlfriend. We needed to stop. I pulled away with the guilt nagging at me.

“What's wrong?”

“I can't do this. I have a boyfriend and you have a girlfriend. Please just walk away. Stop toying with me. I know what you want from me and you’re not going to get it. I’m not a conquest that can be won. You were supposed to be the one person who never hurt me and you turned out to hurt me the most and now you’re toying with me like cat with a mouse before it eats it. Please just get out.”

I tried to stay as calm as I could. I felt like I was having a panic attack and tears were streaming down my face making my vision blur. I would not cry in front of him. I got up and ran into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. He knocked on the door.

“Go away Hardin.”

A few minutes later the knocking stopped and I heard my bedroom door shut. I cried myself to sleep on my bathroom floor. I would always love him and it hurt too much.