Peachy Keen (12 page)

“Let’s just keep walking,” I murmured.

Nate gripped his chin mockingly and spoke obnoxiously loud. “Fellas, I don’t know what’s worse, a cock tease who pretends to be a slut or a fucking slut who pretends to be a prude.”

Bile jumped in the back of my throat at his words and the way his eyes narrowed directly on me as he said them. I breathed deeply and lowered my head, intent on walking away as quickly as I could. He hadn’t exactly been nice this morning when I blew him off once and for all, but I didn’t expect him to pelt me with insults in front of his friends just to prove a point. I may not have cared what a lot of people thought of me, but I wasn’t the greatest at standing up for myself. It didn’t matter though, we were almost past them.

“What did you say?” Harrison growled.

My feet halted, pressing firmly into the soles of my sandals as I closed my eyes.
Come on, Harrison, don’t be a hero.
The sound of Nate’s smug laugh made my skin crawl. Was that really the kind of guy I’d been about to hook up with? He was so much like the other men I’d been seeing back in Philly—a thought that made me want to wretch on the sidewalk. Maybe I wasn’t a guy’s first choice to bring home to Mom, but I deserved better than meatheads who couldn’t handle the word no.

“A girl like that oughta know better than to act so high and mighty. I know a whore when I see one,” Nate sneered. His friends, Paul and Jerome, whooped it up beside him, covering their mouths dramatically, giving him a few “daaayuuum” encouragements to stroke his unwarranted ego a little more. The girls with them were giggling uncomfortably, staring at me like some sort of rodent they equally despised and feared. His words rolled through my head over and over.
Cock tease. Slut. Whore.

I swallowed thickly and turned to Harrison, but he wasn’t there. The girl who’d had her arm around Nate yelped and I heard Jerome call someone a motherfucker as my head whipped back to them in slow motion.

Harrison had Nate by the back of the neck and pushed him down, forcing him to bend at the waist, nearly shoving his head between his legs. Nate twisted, struggling against Harrison’s hand. When I took in the scene, the first thing I noticed was how much bigger Harrison was than Nate and his buddies. Jerome and Paul didn’t even attempt to charge Harrison. One against three and they didn’t even try.

Harrison bent down and spoke to Nate through gritted teeth. “You know what I’d love? I’d love to kick your ass. I’d love to knee you in stomach so you lose your lunch again like a little bitch. I’d love to crack you in the mouth to keep you from talking any more shit. I’d love to wreck that pretty boy face of yours so none of these girls will want you. But I’m not over here for me.”

My heart pounded in my chest and I couldn’t find a single word. Harrison’s unexpected aggression had me stunned. The compromising and embarrassing position he had Nate in delighted me. And though hateful slurs still rang in my ears, watching a man come to my defense was a unique experience I intended to watch play out.

“Come on, man!” Nate barked. His sudden bit of fight made his friends work up a little nerve.

My pulse jumped and fear flooded me as I anticipated an all-out brawl with Harrison as the main target.

Harrison glanced up at Jerome and Paul, narrowing his eyes at them. “This is between me and him. It doesn’t have to involve you two, so just back the fuck up. We’re almost done here.”

The men cleared their throats anxiously and each took a step back mumbling agreements to Harrison.
Pussies.

“Apologize,” Harrison commanded.

Nate struggled against his grasp yet again. “Jesus. I’m sorry. I’m fucking sorry. Let me go.”

Harrison shoved him down harder until Nate dropped to his knees with a curse. His firm hand didn’t falter and Nate cowered in pain, letting me know Harrison was crushing the back of his neck, never letting up.

“Okay, okay!” Nate howled as he strained to find me a few feet away with his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Say her name so I know you know it,” Harrison ordered, throttling him just a little more.

“G—Georgia! Georgia. I’m sorry, Georgia,” Nate shouted through panting breaths.

Harrison’s deep brown stare finally met mine as he raised his head without letting go of Nate. A whisper of a smile tugged at his mouth and his brow shot up briefly. “You good?” he asked.

My jaw fell open but no sound emerged. I cocked my head to one side, completely dumbfounded by the growing tender smile on his face as he looked at me. My tongue touched my bottom lip tentatively as I continued to search for an answer. When I saw his expression smolder at the sight of me wetting my lips, my insides trembled.

I nodded silently and his half-grin returned as he released Nate. He didn’t even look back as he walked away. He moved to me effortlessly and the way my heart surged the moment he tucked me under his arm as though I belonged there, confirmed we were bound for trouble.

Not a word passed between us. We continued our walk like nothing had happened, following the path to the stairwell. When we reached the first step, he moved his arm back and allowed me to ascend the narrow stairs ahead of him. I turned around to finally speak when I hit the first landing. I saw him dragging his hands over his face, stretching kinks out of his neck and moving his mouth—silently chastising himself.

The crisp giggle that passed my lips shocked me as much as it did Harrison. His eyes shot up to mine, growing wide, and a self-deprecating smile followed when my snickering suddenly turned into uncontrollable belly laughing. He nodded his head and rolled his eyes as the absurdity of what he’d just done to Nate overcame me.

“All right, all right,” he scoffed with a smile behind his words. He reached the landing where I stood and his hands quickly grabbed me.

“You think it’s funny?” he teased, tickling my sides. “I defended your honor and you laugh at me?” Harrison bellowed tauntingly.

I squealed and writhed under his touch. His lips split in a huge grin as we played on the landing a few seconds before he chased me up to the top of the steps, still grabbing at me. His large hands gripped my hips and pinned me to the wall next to a fire extinguisher and my breath caught. Our laughs subsided. Our chests heaved, fighting for steady air. As Harrison closed the small gap between us, I stared up at his sturdy frame, continuing to his captivating face, and shuddered.

His fingers rose to graze my cheek and I shut my eyes to memorize the feeling. His head bent low and his breath skated along my temple before he reached my ear.

“Georgia…”

“Hmm…”

“One more kiss,” he said hoarsely. “One more and I swear I’ll leave you alone.”

I ached for him between my legs. My stomach fluttered at the sound of his voice. My mouth watered and my lips twitched in agony thinking about another kiss from him. And my room was only two doors away.

12.

All Through the Night

Harrison

I don’t know what I was thinking. The moment she’d shown me her room key a few days ago, I’d lost all control of myself. I’d never been in anything close to a fight before and yet not ten minutes ago I was putting bruises of my fingerprints into some random asshole’s neck because he’d insulted her. The worst part was when I heard him spit those nasty words, the only thought that ran through my mind was
no one talks about my girl like that
.

My girl.

Grazing my lips against her ear, I ran through the events of the last week. I tried so hard not to want her. I tried so hard to believe myself when I told her I’d respect her boundaries. But I didn’t just want Georgia anymore. I craved her. I needed her. I’d become addicted to her.

Asking her for another kiss after being a gentleman when she pulled away from me this afternoon was daring, but I couldn’t stop it. I’d hate myself if I went home without having her lips on mine one last time. I had to burn it there, singe the feeling into every fragment of me so I’d never forget what Georgia tasted like. I knew the moment she sauntered over to me at the bar, interrupting what would’ve been a perfectly boring evening with a book, that I’d never meet anyone like her again. She was rare and precious and I knew I’d look back someday and think how lucky I was to have held her even for a moment.

I heard her sigh as I nuzzled her wordlessly, my request still hanging in the air. She turned her head and caught my lips with hers. My hands found her cheeks when she satisfied my hunger by brushing her tongue against mine. The kiss was soft and sweet and the opposite of everything from our first night together. The pressure we each gave and took as the kiss deepened had my heart racing and my hands growing greedy for more of her.

Georgia’s palms glided up my chest and she pushed me away carefully. I gulped for air and told myself that kiss would be enough. We were done. No matter how irrational I thought her reasons might be, she seemed bound by them.

She looked up at me and in the dusk light. I took in the beauty of her eyes, wide and full of life. Her sun-kissed cheeks seemed pinker than they’d been on our bus ride. With a ragged breath, I touched her face again and swallowed the words I wanted to say. Like how much I’d miss hanging out with her. And that I hadn’t become friends with a woman—with anyone—the way I’d become friends with her in years. She’d blown me over like a sexual tornado at our first encounter, tearing down my walls and destroying any hesitation within me. And she’d entrenched herself in my heart with her laugh, the ease with which she spoke truth, and the dazzling way she danced through her life. Despite how much I wanted her, how much I loved the smell of her hair and the curve of her hips, I knew I’d miss my
friend
more than I’d miss my one-time one-night stand.

I saw her lips move and waited for her words to emerge. I knew it would be goodnight or goodbye, my foolish need for another kiss wrecking the friendly dinner plans we had, but I still wanted to hear it.

“Walk me to my room,” she whispered.

I blinked then saw one side of her mouth lift into a sinful smile as she turned to walk away. I attempted to speak but my mouth was dry and my mind was blank. It didn’t sound like a friendly request. It sounded like an invitation. I followed closely behind her and halted when she did at a door, just a few steps from where we’d kissed. The sight of her key and the sound of the lock blurred and melded in my mind. It was so staggeringly familiar. When her hand slipped in mine, I allowed her to lead me into her suite.

Georgia turned around and suddenly she didn’t look like the vixen she had before. She looked like an angel, the glow of the sunset painting her through the open curtains. I closed the space between us and she put her forehead against my sternum, taking a deep breath before her hands snaked around my waist. Cool fingertips slipped under the hem of my shirt, slowly at first then she pulled the fabric high until I raised my arms to let her tug it off of me.

The simplicity of her silent movements ignited a spark in me. I wanted her to feel the slow burn I’d been feeling. I wanted her to feel the undeniable chemistry between us. I wanted her to feel
me
. For days.

I reached out to her and lost all control once again at the scalding temptation of her skin. My arms gathered her up and my lips crashed into hers. We stumbled back toward the bed together, a mess of limbs and roaming hands. I stripped her shirt over her head and tugged the button of her shorts open before shoving them down her slender legs. Georgia’s breath heaved as she looked down, seeing how swiftly I’d disrobed her. I charged into her space, making her step back and out of her clothes until her legs met the bed. I tipped her onto it with commanding hands.

Her arms swung over her head, the position I’d been dying to get her in. Open and waiting, unashamed of her body and the pure sexuality she exuded. She looked ready to take whatever I offered. Our gazes collided and held firm as I pulled at the strings that tied her white bikini bottoms at her hipbones. Freeing her from the fabric, I reveled in the tiny gasp she let out despite her usual poise.

Her pelvis twitched and lifted off the mattress, a dance that told me her unspoken desires. I slowly dragged a hand from her throat to her bare pussy, never letting my eyes leave her face as I caressed her. The way her eyelids fluttered and her teeth claimed her rosy bottom lip made my cock stiffen.

Feeling warmth radiating from her, I couldn’t resist sliding my fingertips along her slick flesh. Georgia moaned and reached for my hand, attempting to pull me on top of her, but I withdrew from her grasp.

“You remember what I said,” I growled. “I get to take my time with you.”

She looked stunned for a moment until something must’ve clicked within her. I watched as she nodded and let her hands swing above her head again. A wicked grin plastered on my face and I pressed my palms into her knees to spread her legs. My hands slid up her thighs, the sight of her skin puckering with goosebumps thrilling me more than the second breathy gasp that sounded from her.

Smelling the ocean on her skin, I kissed a trail up her thigh and watched as her muscles trembled. I let a breath out onto the spot just centimeters away from where she built heat and wetness for me. Her hips continued to writhe, putting a smile on my lips. Deciding not to torment her any longer, I spread her pussy open gently and let my tongue glide along the engorged pink satin in one long stroke.

Her arms flew down to me, her hands balling fists in my hair. When I hummed a laugh into her as I took another taste, she groaned and pressed herself to my face. I devoured her, loving the tug of her grip and the sound of her throaty moans. I’d been obsessed with the thought of this since her striptease. Pushing two fingers inside her, I greedily sucked her clit.

“Oh, God,” she uttered.

I flicked my tongue over the spot, her cries urging me not to stop, but I slowed my tempo and took long laps at her flesh. Her hips twisted and her hands gripped my hair tighter. Her sighs and her agonizing whimpers only made me continue the subtle torture.