The Beginning of Us (82 page)

“Oh, I hope I can do this.” She says unsure.

“Are you ready to give this a shot?” Ivy says. “Ready to drop when you are.”

“Let’s do this.” Eaven says. I notice one of the skis float into the water. I lean over to reach for it and see both girls give Holden a thumbs up.

“Holy Shit!” Taron yells over at me. I look up and see them both up skiing, each on one ski. Taron is left holding Ivy’s other ski. I can’t help but laugh. I under estimate her all the time.

Each set of skis has one that has a back boot. The girls knew which one to drop. They have definitely done this before. The only problem is that we didn’t really think they would get up at the same time and Holden doesn’t have a spotter in the boat to watch for their safety. Holden circles pretty quickly and the girls are going in and out of the wake. As they pass by us, Eaven pulls far left and practically lays down causing both of us to get drenched in her spray. I might have just fallen in love with her.

Holden circles again and as the boat passes the girls let go of the rope and glide toward us. Eaven lands near me and I attack her in the water.

“That was messed up! You let me think you didn’t know how to ski.” I say as I dunk her. She comes up laughing.

“I never said either way. You just assumed we couldn’t. You aren’t the only one who spent summers at the lake.” This explains why our first date was so easy. I can’t believe I never asked about this.

Holden circles back around and kills the engine. He stands on the back of the boat and bows his head and arms at the girls. “Well played, ladies.”

We spend most of the day switching off skiers and drivers. I squeeze Eaven’s hand when I notice her looking at the spot in the boat where we first kissed. I know she's thinking about it too because her face blushes just a little when I do.

We anchor down in the middle of the lake late afternoon and swim the rest of the day. Yet again, another easy day goes by with Eaven. We have been teasing each other under water. I was about to lose my mind several times throughout the day.

Taron and Ivy have even been decent to each other. I think Taron has learned not to pull his shit on her. She will throw it right back at him. They're both extremely funny and quick to keep us entertained the entire day.

We finish the day and I drive the girls back to their apartment. Thinking back I realized that I only had two beers all day. Sadly we usually drink all day and I don’t have near as much fun as I did today. I help them carry their bags into the apartment.

Eaven thanks me for the day and I bend over and throw her over my shoulder. I walk like a caveman with his woman to her bedroom and lock the door.

“Talon! Seriously? You can use your words and you would have gotten your wish.” She yells at me from over my shoulder. I don’t set her down until I get into the bathroom.

“Yea, well this is more fun!”

“Says the barbarian!” She says slapping my chest. I grab her and lift her onto the counter. Our tongues and hands get entangled instantly. I finally get to pull the strings to her bikini that I have been thinking about all day. I push down her cover up and let her bikini top drop to the ground. She battles to get my shirt over my head as I'm busy devouring her gorgeous body.

She slides off the counter and we both drop the rest of our clothes in a pile on the ground. All thoughts in my mind are heading to the same place. Shit. I don’t have a condom.

“Babe, we have to stop.”

“What? Are you crazy? Why?” She says confused.

“I didn’t think to grab protection this morning. We were in such a hurry.”

“I’m on the pill.” She continues to nibble on my chest and stomach.

I pause and tense up. I really care about her a lot. I'm just not sure I'm ready to put that part of my life back into someone else’s control after what happened the last time. Eaven notices immediately and looks up at me. I'm going to hurt her when I say this.

“I can’t do this. If more time had passed, maybe.”

“Don’t worry about it. I understand.” She says staring into my eyes.

She turns away and starts the shower water. What am I doing? I can’t keep my hands off of her. There is no way I'll make it through this shower after the day we have had.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Eaven

“Fuck this!” He says as he grabs a towel and leaves me in the bathroom alone. What did I do? I can understand his reluctance to go without a condom, but I'm really on the pill. I take it religiously for my own personal reasons. I'm not ready for a child yet.

I hear the bedroom door slam. I wait and a lump climbs into my throat. I know he's just frustrated about the situation. I start to wash my hair and I hear the door again. I glance over at the figure through the shower door and I can see him drop his towel. He slides the door open and unrolls a whole strip of condoms.

“Um.. Where did you find those?” I ask suspiciously.

“Ivy, now make room for me.”

“You went to ask Ivy for condoms while sporting nothing but a towel.”

“Yes, I knew she would have some because she's the female version of my brother. If I was out at home, I would have asked him.”

“Oh. My. God. Look at yourself. You must have been poking through the towel.” I notice he's very erect and ready.

“It’s not like she hasn’t seen one almost like it.” I nod at that. That is all sorts of wrong and at the same time, I can’t help but be thankful for his quick thinking.

We take quick showers and before I know it we are in bed initiating our attacks on each other. I love how compatible we are. He knows how to push me into ecstasy multiple ti
mes before there is even a need for the condom. 

My entire body reacts to him.  To his touch, his smell…. Oh god the taste of him, the sound of his moans, and especially the sight of him as he consumes me in all ways. 
He's even breathing into me and at this moment he's
even the air that I breathe. 

I'm
done.  I love this man with everything inside of me.  He holds my heart in his hands.  He can be gentle and care for it or he can crush it single handedly.  A single tear drops down the side of my face as I realize how quickly I have fallen for him and how the thought of him crushing my heart would break me for good. 

He sees my tear and pauses to wipe it away with his thumb.  “Oh
baby. Why the tears?”

I turn my face to look away and he forces me to look at him.  I can’t force the lump in my throat to subside enough to form a word.  I begin to feel panic and a sense of enclosure that is causing me to tear up even more. 

“Please.” I finally whisper. Please what? I’m not sure why I said that. It was the only thing that would come out of my mouth. Please get off of me? Please don’t break me? Please take me now? Please never leave me? Please love me? Please?

He rolls off of me and takes me into his arms.  He holds me tight as I let my eyes finish draining.  I know
I'm confusing him, because I'm
confusing myself. 
I'm
letting the fear of losing him get in the way of enjoying him.  He begins to softly caress my back trying to sooth my emotions. 

“Ev. You don’t have to say anything. I understand what you are feeling.” He whispers.

I eventually fell asleep in his arms. I wake the next morning alone. I have class this morning, but I wanted to start uploading the pictures from Saturday night. I work on flagging my favorite photos and still make it in time to leave for class with Ivy.

“Did you enjoy your night?” Ivy says winking at me when I enter the kitchen.

“We didn’t use any of your stash if that is what you are asking.”

“WHAT? Why not?” She looks appalled.

“Because I'm
stupid.  Things were going great and I started to realize how strong my feelings are for him.  It seemed like everything came crashing down on me at once and I couldn’t help but cry.  I crumbled.”

“What did he do?” Ivy looks concerned.

“He held me.”

“Oh Ev, you are falling fast for him. What are you so scared about?”

“Uh…the obvious. 
I'm scared he will break my heart.”

“Wouldn’t you rather have the memories of love, even if it comes with hurt, than never feel love at all?  I promise that if he breaks you into pieces that
I'll
be here to help you pick them up and put you back together.  Take the plunge and just live, Ev.  You guys are perfect for each other.”

“I love him Ivy.”

“I know you do! A best friend knows these things. I also know that he loves you!”

I take what Ivy has to say and build myself up to face a conversation with Talon.  I need to apologize for last night.  I know this will be awkward, but it has to be done.  I
decide to skip the first class and ask Ivy to take notes for me. I drive to his house to get this over with.

I try the door and I’m excited that it's
unlocked.  I walk straight to his bedroom and I can hear the water running in the shower. 
I'm startled when I see movement in his bed.

“Who the fuck are you?”  This strange woman sits up in his bed. 
She's wearing a skimpy, cami tank top and her hair is sticking up in all directions.

“Who are
you
?”  I say not impressed with the way
she's glaring at me.

“I’m Nicole, Talon’s girlfriend.  If you are here for Taron, you are in the wrong room.”

I stare at her in disbelief.  This can’t be happening.  How could he do this to me?  How can he leave my bed only to join someone else in his? 

Nicole?  I know that name.  His ex, or so I thought.  I leave his house and go straight to my apartment.  I lost it the instant I closed the door to his house. 
I'm
a blubbery mess by the time I reach the apartment.  I lock up and close all of the blinds and curtains.  I want darkness.  My phone starts vibrating.    

Talon:  Good morning beautiful!  Sorry I left you last night.   

Eaven: Why did you go?

Talon: Something came up that I had to take care of.

Yea, I bet that something was his dick.  I shut my phone off.  I can’t take any more right now. 

~Chapter Twelve~
 

Talon

I woke up last night to Holden calling me.  When I answered he told me that Nicole was dropped off at our house. 
I'm
livid pissed that she keeps bothering me.  Who does she think she is?  She gave up any rights to being in my life when she fucked it up.

I raced home to find both of
my brothers and Nicole in the kitchen. 

“What are you doing here?” I growl when I enter.

“Talon, I came to talk to you.”  She says softly with her head
lowered.

“Say what the fuck you came to say and get out.”  I have zero sympathy for her.

“I'm
sorry.”  She says so quietly that I almost didn’t hear her.  That is what she came to say?  Three words?  Three words that don’t mean anything now that the damage is done.

“Fine! Now get out.”

“Talon, please listen to me.” 
She's
looking at me now and tears are running down her face.  I stare at her and wait for her to finish.

“Can we have some privacy?” She asks.

“No. You can say what you need to say and get out.”

“Talon, I'm
sorry that I messed up. 
I'm
clean now.  I love you and I never meant to hurt you.”  I laugh.

“Please listen. I need you in my life. I want us to work on things and get back to where we used to be.”

“Do you mean back to where you slut yourself out for drugs and overdose killing my baby? Or do you mean to where you are so fucking out of it that you are going to jump off the bridge?” These words make her sobs louder.

“There is not going to be a point in my life where I let you back into it. You and I are done. I want you to leave now.”

“Talon, she doesn’t have anywhere to go tonight. 
I'll
get her out of here in the morning.”  Holden says calmly trying to bring my temper down. 

“Fine, I'll
sleep in my truck.”  I say as I slam the door on my way out.