Page 8 of Dare to Need

I took a sip from the porcelain mug before resting it on my knees again. It was wild to think that graduation was over already. After talking with Garth’s mom and the independent studies counselor, it had made sense for me to finish my degree on time and seek additional experiences through internships after graduation. The last two semesters of my college career had been a blur, packed with coursework in photography and business so I could one day run my own photography company.

I had worked my ass off the past nine months, making sure I soaked up as much information as possible before sending out my resumé and portfolio to internships across the country. So much of my life was focused on making it to graduation and it was over before I could even fully grasp what was happening. The sense of urgency to keep pushing to the next step and the step after that wasn’t lost on me. It was the culture I’d been raised in—always rushing on to the next thing without fully appreciating the journey. There had to be more to life than reaching goals, no matter how important those goals seemed.

I promised myself that things would be different now that I had the freedom of choice. I would savor every moment and make sure I maintained a presence in my journey instead of always looking toward the future.

I looked back out the window to the street below. A girl with long straight brown hair caught my eye and it reminded me of Paulina. A jolt of confusing emotions shot through me as I thought of her confronting me at graduation yesterday. I was still so angry with her…for everything. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get over what she did to me. Even after Garth and I talked about the future and hoped that she might make some changes of her own. She hurt me, more than anyone had ever hurt me before. I still couldn’t wrap my head around what she’d done. But there was still a small piece of me that wished she would change. That going off to medical school and getting some distance from her mother and our old friends would be good for her. Despite my anger, I could still wish her well.

A rustle of sheets caught my attention and as I looked over to the bed again, Garth’s toned arms were outstretched over his head. A smile broke over my face as I set the coffee mug down and made my way over to him.

“Hey there, sleepyhead,” I whispered to him as I lifted the covers and snuggled against the warmth of his body.

“Mmm. I missed you.”

A giggle escaped my lips as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer.

“I’ve been within twenty feet of you this whole time. How could you possibly miss me?” I pulled away to look up at his face just as his eyes fluttered open and the blending of greens and yellows and browns stole my breath away. I would never get used to the rush of awe I felt every time I looked into his eyes.

“The bed is much warmer with you in it. And it’s much more fun too.” He pressed his hard length against my thigh as he reached around and cupped my bare ass with his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Another giggle tore over my lips as I tried and failed to smack his hand away from under the sheets.

“Babe, we have to start packing if we want to get on the road before—”

His soft lips crashed against my own, silencing me. There wasn’t an ounce of my being that could resist the feel of his lips gently melding against my own. He slipped his other arm around my waist and tugged me under him, pinning me to the bed with his hard body.

As he pulled away to look at me, he said, “What were you saying?” A sly smile pulled at the corner of his lips.

Utterly breathless, I felt my cheeks flush. “That’s not fair.”

That mischievous smile of his widened as he ground his length against the thin lacy fabric of my thong. “Anything is fair in love and war, doll face.”

I rolled my eyes and shoved against his chest just as a rumbling sound emanated from my stomach.

“Hungry?” Garth arched a brow at me.

“I thought you’d know by now that your woman isalwayshungry.”

He chuckled and leaned down to plant a swift kiss on my forehead before he hopped out of bed. I watched his gloriously taut ass from the comfort of the soft linen sheets as he headed toward the espresso machine.

The machine sprung to life as the earthy aroma of espresso beans floated through the air. Garth turned back to look at me, his chest flexing as he planted his palms against the countertop and leaned against it.

“Close your eyes, beautiful.”

“Ummm, why?”

He arched a brow. “Because I haven’t finished giving you your graduation presents yet.”

“But I thought last night was my present?” I clamped my legs together as tension built between my legs—a not-so-subtle reminder of just how wonderful my present from last night had been.

“Just do as your told.” His voice dropped an octave, making my core tighten even more.

With a disgruntled huff, I obliged him. There was some clanging of a spoon against a coffee mug and what sounded like rustling paper. Then his footsteps drew closer and closer until I felt a dip in the bed and a heavy weight on my lap.

“Okay, you can open your eyes.”

I looked down at my lap. There was a breakfast tray with a beautifully made latté sitting to the left. On the right side of the tray were two wrapped boxes, one significantly larger than the other. I glanced up at Garth and he nodded toward the boxes.

“Open them.”

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