Page 98 of The Longshot

They say it takes the human body five-hundred milliseconds to process a thought. That’s half a second for the words to come out of one’s mouth and retain in the mind of another. But for Gary, I refuse to believe that that statistic applies.

For the instantaneous moment that I finish my request—“take the lead,” I find myself tangled in his arms, lost in the way his lips fit securely against mine.

I’m confident that there’s nothing better in this world than the taste of him, the touch of him, the look of him. Gary’s a forbidden fruit—one that from the moment I first locked eyes with I knew held the power to make my mind spin in the best way possible.

A day hasn’t gone by where I haven’t reflected back to the way he came pounding on that bakery door with frosting across his chest and a coy smirk on his face. I knew he was trouble, but somehow, I also knew he was the one…

The one who would rid me from my past.

The one who would remind me to live in the present.

The one that would allow me to trust in my future.

Gary’s the hope I lost.

The peace that can never, ever be taken from me.

And with that thought, as Gary’s tongue dances along my bottom lip, tempting me with a kiss that only continues to escalate, I allow his hands the liberty to explore my body.

“Do you mean it?” he moans into my mouth. “Are you sure? Do you really want me to take the lead, baby girl?”

I’m breathless as I choke out, “Yes.” Practically begging at this point. “I want all of you, Gary. I want you to have all of me. No more waiting.”

“Christ.” I love the rasp in his voice as he scoops me into his arms and wraps my legs around his waist. “Don’t say things like that, Chels. You know I can’t just take you here. Your parents… they’re in the house. They might see.”

I groan out in sexual frustration, my head falling into the nape of his neck in defeat until suddenly, an idea propels through my mind.

“Over there,” I gesture ahead with my chin. “We’ll go in there.”

With wide eyes, Gary’s face fills with concern. “The greenhouse? Are you… are you sure?”

I rest my forehead against his in absolution, my body trembling not from the uncertainty that lies ahead but from the sheer anticipation I can feel coursing through my veins—the endorphins ready to unleash.

His hesitation is understandable. The greenhouse holds memories—dark memories of my life before Gary Wilkinson. But now, with him by my side, I see the greenhouse as something that could be different. What once was a space where my world came crumbling down can now become a place where I can rebuild myself from the ground up—only this time, with him.

“Give me something new to hold onto,” I plea with every ounce of my being. “Please. I want to make a new memory.”

It doesn’t take long for Gary to agree with my request, and before I know it, we’re in the greenhouse, stumbling with no sense of direction.

One second, Gary’s got me pinned up against the glass, hands pinched to either side. The next second, I’ve got him in the same position. We’re a mess. Knocking over plant boxes, spreading dirt across the floor, but we’re too engulfed in grasping at one another to care.

“I don’t have any condoms. Are you on the pill?” Gary asks, already out of breath as he assesses my face for an answer.

“I’ve got an IUD,” I assure him, just as breathless. “Is that okay?”

“More than.” I translate what he says as he dives back into my mouth. “As long as it’s okay with you.”

“Less talking, more kissing,” I undo the buttons of his dress shirt. I could care less about discussing precautions right now, I need him shirtless. I need him naked. I need him all over me…

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Gary replaces my slow hands with his own as he tugs down on either side of his dress shirt, practically ripping it open. The gesture forces buttons to fly everywhere. It’s a spectacle, to say the least, but one with the greatest opening act—his abs.

How are we going to explain this when we go back inside?

God, I don’t care. I’m in my own dark and twisted distortion of heaven as I stare down at him, amazed by all that he is. Marveled at the way that I’m about ready to fall onto my knees and do whatever he asks as he flashes me a cocky smirk. “Better?”

I’m left salivating as I run my hands up and down the warmth of his abdomen. “Better.”

“Good. Now, before we go any further…” Gary takes slow, controlled steps backward, stopping once he reaches the workbench. “I need you to do something for me.” He slips his shirt away from either shoulder, tossing it to the side as he hops up to take a seat. “Think you can do something for me, baby girl?”

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