Page 54 of Never To Forever

I press my thumb to her clit and rub, wanting her to hit her peak first. She lets out a cry, throwing her head back as her body seizes. She clenches around my cock as she comes and I can’t hold back anymore. My orgasm explodes through me. Arching my back, I hold on tight to her hips as I pump into her over and over again. Stars explode in my vision, and I swear to God, I leave my body entirely.

When I come back, Marie is slumped against my chest, breathing heavily. I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight, not wanting to let her go yet. I’m afraid that once I do, I might regret this, and I don’t want to. I want to cling to her for as long as I can before the guilt returns and pushes everything else away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

MARIE

I’m cozy and warm,and there’s something strong and solid wrapped around me.

Slowly, my eyes open and I’m lying in Garrett’s arms. The morning sun peaks through the curtains. Garrett is still asleep, and I gaze at his peaceful face as the events of the night play through my mind. He made me feel so incredible… sexy and desired, and the pleasure was mind blowing.

How could he ever doubt the chemistry between us? How good we are together?

Raising my hand, I lightly brush my fingers down his cheek. He stirs and opens his eyes. I’m not sure he knows where he is. I watch as realization comes over him, and with it, a flash of guilt.

Oh, no… please, no.

“Good morning,” I say, my stomach twisting with anxiety.

Garrett disentangles himself from me and sits up. He won’t look me in the eyes, and drops his head into his hands. I move to sit up next to him, clutching the blankets to my chest. I need something to act as a shield.

His shoulders tense and when I reach out to lay a hand on his back, he flinches away from me. I blink, jerking my hand back, hurt by his rejection to my touch.

“I’m sorry,” he says, shaking his head. “Fuck, Marie, I’m so sorry. We can’t keep doing this…”

“Why?” Annoyance and frustration bubbles up and overflows into my voice. “Why do you keep pulling away like this when you know we’re so good together?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he pushes the blankets aside and moves to get out of the bed, grabbing his pants and yanking them on.

Oh, no. He’s not getting out of this conversation that easily. I’m sick of him doing this to me, and I’m not going to let him go without giving me a damn explanation for once.

Grabbing his arm, I stop him and tug on him until he turns back around to me.

“Garrett, I am pregnant with your child! You made me promise that I woundn’t keep any more secrets from you, and you need to do the same. You need to start being honest with me right the hell now.”

He gazes at me, appearing surprised. I maintain eye contact, not willing to give him an inch of leeway.

At length, he releases a long sigh and hesitantly says, “All right… I… I made a promise to my mom.”

I furrow my brow. “A promise? What kind of promise?”

“That I’d look after you just like I would Haven. Like you’re my sister. To protect you and keep you safe. Every time I touch you, I’m breaking that promise.”

I stare at him, stunned. That’s why he won’t be with me? After all this time, he’s denying us because he is stuck with some weird notion that he’s supposed to treat me like a sister?

“Are you kidding me?”

“I’m serious,” he says. “I don’t want to do anything to hurt you…”

“That’s what you’re doing now!” I insist, throwing the blankets aside and getting out of bed. I hurry to grab my robe off the back of the door and throw it on. “Do you really think your mother would want you to deny your own happiness? Would she be pleased to know that holding on to this promise is only causing me agony?”

He goes still and stares at me, looking absolutely dumbfounded.

“I… I never considered that possibility before,” he murmurs.

Of course he hadn’t. He’s so focused on doing what he thinks is best, he is completely oblivious to what is actually happening around him.

My emotions are so overwhelming that I can hardly look at him anymore.

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