Starless Nights (Hale Brothers Series Book 2) (33 page)

This was not at all like the night on the beach. We were cautious back then, careful, and sweet. Right now, it’s like we’re starved for each other, craving intense passion, and holding on tight.

“Stay the night with me,” he says in a gravelly voice with his head still tucked into my hair. It’s not a question. It’s not a statement. It’s a command. His breathing is still a little heavy but all of his muscles have loosened and the weight of him on me feels so good.

“Yes.” There isn’t anywhere I want to be more. The world could be ending and I would still be exactly where I want to be.

He pulls his head back and looks me in the eyes. “Really?”

I nod, taking in his appearance. His hair is completely sexed up, there’s a redness under the stubble on his cheeks, his mouth still looks so delicious, and his eyes are lighter—back to hazel. He’s stunning, both inside and out, and I feel so lucky that it’s me he’s here with.

“Good, because I am not done with you and I want to do that over and over again.”

The blush that is already on my skin burns. He sees it and his eyes drop back down to my mouth.

“You just gonna stare or are you going to kiss me?” I ask him.

Without hesitating, his lips land on mine. “Oh, I’m going to do a lot more than just kiss you,” he mumbles, while biting my bottom lip. His hand that is holding mine above my head clamps down tight, his free hand comes up to my armpit, and he starts tickling.

Squealing and squirming, I somehow get us pushed off of the couch and on to the floor. Beau is laughing with me and it is such a beautiful sound. I hardly ever hear him laugh anymore.

“Payback’s a bitch, Mr. Hale. Consider yourself warned.”

His eyes are sparkling, clear, and happy. I love knowing that I am the one who made him this way.

Tucking some of my hair behind my ear, he says, “Game on Ms. Starling, only I hate to break it to you . . . I never lose.”

THE SUN’S RAYS streaming through the window and onto the ceiling, is the first thing that I see when I open my eyes. Memories of last night flood through me and now, here I am, at the next fateful moment. Closing my eyes, I don’t move a muscle. I just don’t want to know. I’m afraid that reality is about to break the afterglow that’s warming my heart.

I can’t stop my mind though, did she stay or did she go?

“What’s going on over there in your beautiful head? Your whole body just went tense.”

My heads whips to the left at the sound of her voice and there she is. She’s curled up on her side facing me. Her hair is rumpled all over the pillow and those beautiful blue eyes are watching me.

My heart starts to ache in my chest. She is so stunningly gorgeous, forgetting to breathe, I blink at her instead. I feel like the biggest weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. For years, all I have ever wanted was for her to stay. No moving away, no walking off, and no leaving me come morning.

Leila’s eyebrows furrow and worry flashes in her eyes. She scoots a little closer and puts her hand on my cheek. I close my eyes and lean into the softness of her hand, then reach over and pull her under me. I need her close. I need to feel her warmth and I need to know that this is true.

“You stayed,” I breathe out.

She pulls back to look in my eyes and I’m struck again by how bright and blue hers are. I hold her tighter, not wanting to have even an inch of space between us.

“What do you mean?” There’s confusion on her face.

“You are always leaving me. You left me when you moved, you left me after the first twenty-four hour truce when Dad was arrested, you left me the morning after prom, you left me the morning after Drew proposed . . . you are always leaving. And that doesn’t include all of the times that you have walked away from me.”

She lets out a small gasp as her jaw drops a little. Her hand slips to my shoulder and her grip tightens. I can see so many different emotions swirling in her eyes as they shift back and forth, searching mine. Silence stretches between us and then she lets out a deep sigh. Closing her eyes, she shakes her head.

“Oh my, how did things just get so messed up between us?” She looks back at me and there are tears shimmering in her eyes. “To me, how I saw things, you were the one always leaving me. You left and didn’t say good bye to me when I moved to Atlanta, you left me standing on the beach when I moved back, you left me and walked away from me countless times over the years at school, and you left me on the beach the night after the going away party. You left.”

My lips pinch into a thin line and my heart rate starts to pick up. She’s right. If I think about this from her perspective, it would seem that I was always the one to walk away from her.

She slides her hand down my arm, links her fingers through mine, and then brings our hands to her chest. She hugs my hand holding it tight and close.

“Beau, you have hurt me so many times over the years. I always told myself that this would be the last time, but it never seemed to work out that way. After we moved back from Atlanta, I was so excited to see you. I knew that you had probably moved on and your life was completely different, but I missed you, so much. On the beach, you scowled at me and turned away without saying anything. To me, I thought this was the second time, and I ran all the way to Bean Point and hid under the wooden walkway to cry. You ended up there as well with Drew, and I overheard you tell him that you hated me. You meant it too. I felt so stupid. It was as if my entire childhood was a lie. I didn’t understand how you could hate me. No matter what, I never could have hated you.”

Letting out a deep sigh, I pull my hand from hers, wrap my hands around her face, and run my thumbs across her cheeks. Her little freckles are so light, you really don’t even notice them unless you are looking for them. Her eyes drift shut and her eyelashes fall upon her cheeks. She looks so sad and this is from a memory that I caused unknowingly. There have been so many miscommunications over the years. It never occurred to me that she might have hurt just as much as I did.

“Leila . . . I’m so sorry you heard that. But knowing what you do now, can you understand how I was feeling? Those two and a half years were so hard for me. Losing you, dealing with my dad on a day to day basis, the pain, the rehabilitation and physical therapy, I wasn’t the same person . . . I’m not the same person.”

Her foot wraps around my calf, her hand moves to my hip, and she inches a little closer. Taking a deep breath, lavender registers, and it calms me. I love the way she smells.

“And I’m so sorry for what I said to you at the studio. I was angry and being irrational. I didn’t mean it.” The regret in her tone is evident.

“I’m sorry too. I never should have called you a bitch. I was out of line, and I could never think that way of you. You do know that I really have had nothing to do with all of your success, right? You have done this all on your own. You were the one who got into the school, you were the one who was chosen for the Rising Designer award. You are the one who is making all of your dreams come true. Not me.”

“I know that now. I’m so sorry that I hit you, Beau. I don’t know what came over me. Please believe me when I say that I never want to hurt you.” Tears instantly fill her eyes and roll down the side of her face.

My jaw locks at the memory of this and I feel my eyes narrow a little at her. “I’m not going to lie, you did hurt me. I never ever thought that you of all people would raise a hand at me.”

“I’m so sorry.” She lifts one hand to cover her face and her chin trembles.

“Lei, please don’t cry. I really hate seeing you cry.” I pull her hand away and wipe the tears. I know my next words are going to be harsh but I need to say them. If only to make her realize how important they are. “I gotta say though, do it again, and we’re done.”

She turns into my chest and tucks her head under mine. Strawberry blonde curls land on my face and inwardly I smile. She has gorgeous hair.

“I won’t. I promise,” she mumbles against my collarbone.

I let out a sigh.

My hand drifts to her back and I begin rubbing up and down. She’s wearing one of my T-shirts and just a pair of underwear. I’m unnerved by our conversation, but I am still a red blooded male, and Lei in my clothes is sexy as hell. My hand falls under the shirt and I continue the rubbing. Her skin is soft and smooth.

Her bare leg runs up over my leg and hooks over my hip.

“How did you even know that I got into Parson’s?”

“It was completely random. One day at school, I was walking behind you and Chase in the hallway when I heard him mention Parson’s.”

“Hey, have you given a reply to Parson’s yet?” Chase leans over and asks Leila, thinking no one else can hear them.

“No, I’m still waiting to hear back on that last scholarship that I applied for.” Leila hugs her books to her chest.

“Are they the last one?” he asks.

“Yep.” Her voice sounds sad. I wish I could see her face.

“What happens if you don’t get it?”

“I don’t know. I guess I’m not going to Parson’s then.”

“You’ve worked so hard. That would really suck.”

“Tell me about it. It’s all I’ve dreamed about for the last three years.”

“Let me know, okay?” Chase bumps his shoulder with hers.

“I will, but please don’t say anything to anyone.”

“You know I won’t,” he says looking down at her. He gives her a smile and turns down the next hallway.

Leila’s watching me closely as I tell her this memory. I grab onto her hip and hold her in place.

“I didn’t even think twice about it. I walked out into the parking lot, Googled Parson’s, and called the school. They didn’t care where the money came from, so it was actually pretty easy to set up.”

“But why? Why did you do this for me?”

“Because, despite what you thought, I never hated you. I’ve always wanted the best for you, and because I could,” I shrugged. “I had the money and well, I’m proud of what I spent it on . . . you.”

“Thank you, Beau.”

None of the anger that was pouring off of her two days ago is present now. There’s gratitude in her eyes as they shine at me.