Every Time Read online

  fore and just taken some deep breaths. Had I not followed Drew’s insane advice to fuck her out of my system. Had I not turned to alcohol to try and cope with my shock, things might be different. She might have been talking to me about what was wrong instead

  of trying to conceal it from it.

  Hailey B ryan was getting frustrated, this much I knew. He was beginning to figure out something was wrong, which meant I wasn’t doing a very good job of concealing all this from him. I cursed myself for coming out tonight while we rode in silence back to my apartment, and all the while, I kept thinking about an appropriate time to do all this and to instate the plan I knew would eventually be good for Bryan. But was this really the time to end things with him? We slowly pulled up into the parking lot of my apartment complex, and he cut off his truck. We sat there for a little bit, simply digesting the night while my head laid against the car window glass. I was actually feeling a bit better, honestly. The nausea that had accompanied my headache and rid me of my appetite was finally gone, and I felt the creeping hunger I knew would ensue after it. I unbuckled my seatbelt and went to get out, but at that moment, Bryan reached out and grabbed my hand. I panned my gaze over to him, his eyes filled with worry while he studied my body. He was clocking things about me and trying to put all the puzzle pieces in place. “I’m really sorry for ruining dinner,” I said. “I want to get one thing clear with you right now,” he said. I felt my blood run cold at the tone of his voice. “My only concern in life right now is you. I know something’s not right. I know you’re hiding something from me, and I know you’re hiding it because you’re afraid of how I’ll react. But I need you to believe me when I tell you that I love you, that I care for you, that I’m here whether you want me to be or not. What happened at dinner, I don’t give a shit about. What I care about is making sure you’re okay. You will always be my main concern, Hailey. Always.”

  Tears of shock rose to my face while my eyes danced wildly around his body. His grip was tight on my hand, but it wasn’t hurtful. Just reassuring. Comforting. Like the words he pieced together in the lower register of his voice that always made me sigh and shiver. I felt the love he had for me radiating through our connection point, warming my skin as I nodded my head.

  “You’ve been a bit distant lately,” he said.

  “We’re just busy,” I said.

  “Hailey...”

  “Look. We’re busy. Really, really busy. And a lot is happening in all of our lives. All of ours. And I love you, too. So much, Bryan. But we all have other important things we are trying to accomplish to make our lives what we want them to be. And sometimes, those dreams mean sacrifices of time and people, of homes, and of other things. Chasing our dreams means we’ll have to sacrifice time with one another. Don’t misconstrue our lack of time together as distance. It only means we’re chasing our dreams.”

  “You didn’t mention your dreams at dinner, though,” he said. “Why didn’t you talk about your art therapy classes?”

  “I haven’t had anyone interested in them yet,” I said.

  In truth, I hadn’t advertised them yet. There was no use in advertising classes I wouldn’t be alive to teach, but I couldn’t tell him that. I couldn’t tell him that I was going to dump him and travel Europe and sell my artwork and die so he could get the millions from my sold artwork to help even more people.

  How the fuck was I supposed to tell him my own plans for my future?

  “That’s why I wanted you to move in with me because even those passing moments amount to so much,” he said. “Bryan, you know we—” “Move in with me, Hailey. I’m serious.” “It’s not the right time,” I said. “Whatever’s holding you back, I’ll fix it. I’ll pay to get you out of your lease. I’ll give you the extra gas money to get to and from work. Hell, I’ll help you move the gallery closer to my place if it means I get to hold you at night,” he said. “Bryan, come on. You’re not even being reasonable,” I said. “Why?” he asked, the irritation growing in his voice. “Why is wanting to know what’s wrong with you unreasonable? Why is you moving in with me unreasonable?” I could hear the irritation growing in his voice. I wasn’t ready for this conversation. Not yet. I wrenched my hand from his grasp and threw his truck door open, sliding to my feet as I walked up the steps to my apartment. I heard Bryan hot on my heels, his presence following me like a looming shadow I wanted to pretend didn’t exist. I wanted to pretend I wasn’t sick, so I wouldn’t have to think about it while I was with him. I didn’t want my illness tainting the beauty I experienced with him. “Just talk to me, Hailey,” he said. “That’s all I’m asking you to do.” I threw my apartment door open, and I heard Bryan shut it behind him. “Hailey, stop,” he said. I couldn’t take this anymore. He was hell-bent on getting me to talk tonight, and I wasn’t ready to. I whipped around and looked at him, his wild eyes drifting over my form again as he slowly approached me. But before he could say another word, I threw my lips into his. I wanted to distract him, to derail him from the train of thought he was going down. I knew Bryan well, and I knew when he got latched onto something, he wouldn’t let it go until he’d figured it out. I knew if I could kiss him deeply enough, I could get his mind off of what he had been trying to figure out all evening. However, I didn’t expect his kiss back to be so passionate after being so frustrated, and soon, we tumbled to my couch while my nipples rose to painfully wonderful peaks. My back hit the couch while his hands explored my body. He groped my breasts while his tongue prodded my mouth. His hand raked through my hair while my hips rolled into his. His hands fluttered up my shirt, raising goosebumps off my skin with every caress his warm fingertips made against my body. And right then, I allowed Bryan’s love for me push all of my worries from my head. His lips traveled down to my neck, sucking in patches of skin as he covered me in reddened marks. My hands raked down his back, feeling the strength of his muscles against his suit coat before I slid it from his shoulders. I sat us up and laid him down on his back, my breasts pressing into him while my lips fluttered along his neck, pulling a groan from between his lips as I smiled. How I would miss those sounds of his. His hands massaged my ass, grinding me down harder into his growing thickness while my hands pulled his shirt from his jeans. I slid my fingernails up his rippling abs, feeling the strength of his chest moving as he drew in a shaking breath. My teeth raked across his neck while his hands wrapped up in the faded tresses of my hair, and our lips were swelling underneath one another’s as he rolled us to the floor. His body was on top of mine while he slowly removed my shirt. He took his off, his skin pressing against mine, and I could feel his warmth filling the coldness of my aching bones. His lips dipped to my nipple, my breasts pulled free from my bra while his hips rolled effortlessly into mine. I pressed his face deeper into my bosom while I reveled in the sensation of him.

  “You are, without a doubt, the best thing that’ll ever happen to me, Hailey,” he said as he kissed my breasts. “No matter what.” His words rangheavily in my ears. His body descended between my legs while my hands rubbed up and down his naked back. I looked deep into his powerful brown eyes while his hand continued to play with my nipple, and I sighed with relief when he tugged at it. “I love you so much, Bryan. I need you to understand that,” I said. “I love you, too, Hailey.” “No,” I said as I opened my eyes. “Listen to me.” I finally had his attention, and I pushed him off me before I stood and took him with me. “I love you. With every fiber of my being. You always talk about how Isaved you, but the truth is you saved me too. We saved each other. You’ve opened my eyes to a world of love I never knew existed, especially after being abandoned by my parents. I always wondered what was so wrong with me when they did that and wondered what they hated so much that they were just willing to forget about me and act like I didn’t exist.” His hand came up to cup my cheek, and Inuzzled into the palm of his hand. “I need you to understand that all I want to do is make you happy. You deserve nothing but happiness in your life, and I’m trying so hard to gi
ve that to you. Okay?” I could feel the intensity of his stare on me as I turned and pressed a kiss into his palm. I knew he wanted to keep asking questions. I knew he wanted to keep prodding. But as I stood there, removing my bra and allowing my breasts to finally hang free for him, all I wanted was to feel his beauty against my body. All I wanted to do was feel normal. Just for a moment. With him. I took his hand without another word and slowly led him to my bed. He gathered me up in his arms and swept me off my feet, settling my stomach onto the bed before his hands slid down my sides. I shivered as my body came into the contact with my cool bedsheets, but the moment he slid his broad, strong hands down my back, my skin immediately warmed underneath his touch. Suddenly, his hands started at my shoulders. He slowly massaged my aching muscles, almost like he knew I was hurting, and I groaned with relief. He straddled my hips and propped himself up on his knees while his thumbs dug into my muscles, and all I could do was moan and groan while he slowly worked down my back. Goosebumps were rising on my skin while I felt myself flushing with his every touch, and it wasn’t long before he had worked all the way down to my ass before he pulled my skirt off my body. “So beautiful,” he said. His hands delicately massaged my ass, and I felt my panties soaking with my want for him. I raised my hips up into his hands, seeking more and more pressure as he dipped his lips to my skin. He kissed the small of my back, pulling a whimper from between my lips as Ispread my legs for him. I was even trying to prop myself up on my knees while his hands slowly removed my panties. He knocked my knees out from underneath me, and I giggled as I crashed to the bed. His lips kissed the globe of my ass time and time again while his hands slowly massaged my legs. It had been weeks since I’d felt this relaxed, and I allowed myself to lose my mind in his ministrations even while my arousal pooled onto the sheets of the bed. He massaged me all the way down to my feet before his calloused

  hands lightly drifted up the backs of my legs.

  Bryan T he way she attacked my body on the couch had me pining for her more and more. Thanks to her mouth and hands, I was more

  aroused than I could ever remember. She had thrown her entire body onto me as I laid her down on the couch, and the way she wanted to take control had my mind swirling. Her lips had suckled my neck so sweetly, and her fingernails had felt so good against my skin. She had my head spinning, even as the metallic taste of her kiss shocked me.

  But I wanted to make things last. I wanted to fully relax her and show her how much she meant to me. I could feel the tension in her muscles while I massaged down her back, and I could feel the lactic acid build up sliding from her joints as I worked every single one of them. I massaged out her arms and even popped her fingers. I massaged down her legs and even popped her toes. Every single moan and groan I could pull from her told me I was headed in the right direction, but I couldn’t deny the smirk that crossed my face when she worked her way up onto her knees.

  I would give her exactly what she wanted, but I wasn’t ready to do it quite yet.

  I slowly slid her body back down to the bed and kissed her beautiful skin. My fingers continued to work her muscles, relaxing every inch of her while her scent filled the room. I could see her heavenly arousal dripping from her body, coating the bed while my hands worked their magic on her. This was what Hailey needed, and it was something I was willing to give her for the rest of my life.

  But for now, I settled on simply giving it to her tonight. However, my patience was waning fast. I could see how wanton she was for me, how much her thighs glistened with her salacious beauty. I saw how her body warmed underneath my motions, bringing a color back to her pale skin that hadn’t been there for a few days. I smoothed my hands slowly up the backs of her legs before I grabbed her beautifully rounded ass. Then I snaked my arms around the front of her thighs and dipped my face between her legs. I could’ve sworn Iheard Hailey whisper “oh, thank you.” I nuzzled along her wet slit before I began exploring her with my tongue. I slid myself into her depths, exploring how she pressed her ass back into my face. She tasted different this time. Not her usual salted creaminess that always poured itself down the back of my throat. Instead, she tasted metallic like her tongue when she’d first pressed her lips against mine. I slid my hands up her sides, feeling her dwindling curves through the spaces of my fingers. Her legs crooked back, giving her the strength she needed to buck down on my lips. I licked, and I sucked. I puckered my lips around her beautiful clit and listened to her muffled sounds pouring from her pillow. I memorized her different taste while drawing from her the pleasure I knew she desperately wanted, and each time I fluttered my gaze up her back, I could see the color pouring back into her skin. “Bryan. Please. Please, let me come.” Her words hit my ears and filled me with a sense of purpose. I was made for this woman, wholly and completely. My tongue was made for her depths, and my cock was made for her body. Her curves were made for my hands, and her life was made for mine. I raked my fingertips down her side, leaving behind red trails as her hips arched off the bed. It gave me all the access I needed to hold her up, and I flipped her onto her back and away from the wet spot she had created.

  Now, her tits were in perfect view of my eyes while I reached up to grab them, stimulating them and tweaking them while she ground down into my lips. Her hands flew to my hair while her thighs tightened around my cheeks. I’d missed her like this. I’d missed her desperation while she used my body to chase her high. I missed the way her fingertips raked against my scalp, causing me to growl into her pussy, which shook her to her very core. I could feel her spilling onto my lips and dripping down my chin while she wailed out into the room. Her back bowed and her voice was drowned out by the ethereal drone leaving her throat. Her legs contracted, and her hands tugged at my hair, threatening to rip chunks of it from my scalp as I grabbed onto her love handles. Her body jolted and shook as I pressed my tongue deep into her, watching as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. I finally released her body when her legs fell to the bed. I placed wet kiss after wet kiss upon her skin, trailing up and reveling in the color that now permeated her body. She looked less sickly after orgasming like my tongue was the only thing that could breathe life back into her ragged body. I noticed her ribcage slowly protruding out. Something I knew her body never did until this very moment. I pressed kisses along each and every protruding rib, hoping it would communicate to Hailey how much I loved her, how much I cared for her, and how badly I ached to know what was going on with her. I pressed my lips to hers and felt her chest panting against my body. I slowly rolled us over, pulling her body tightly to mine while she worked to catch her breath. I could feel her arousal dripping onto my hips as my girth grew against her leg, and suddenly, all I could think

  about was having her in all the ways I still wanted to take her.

  She pressed small kisses into my neck before she rose up, a healthy blush rising in her cheeks before she giggled. Her body slid down mine, approaching my throbbing cock as I watched her stalk down my body. Her gaze, now fiery with lust, locked onto mine while I watched her hands ripple down my abs, and the moment she pressed a kiss to the head of my cock, my back fell toward the bed. She swallowed me down without a second thought, and I was consumed with the pleasure of her mouth. I reached down and wrapped my hands in her hair, thrusting into her mouth while her tongue wrapped around my cock. Her teeth lightly grazed me, causing a sharp breath of air between my teeth while her throat closed around me. I could feel her cheeks hollowing out while her hands massaged my thighs, and I knew she would have me spilling down her throat if she continued. And that’s not where I wanted to be tonight. I guided her lips off my cock and settled her back down on the bed. I sank between her legs and slowly pushed into her, watching the pleasure roll over her face while her back arched. I slid my hand underneath her back, tilting her hips toward mine as she eyed me curiously, and then I picked up one of her legs and slid it over my shoulder. I could tell I was already grazing against a wonderful spot when her breath hitched in her throat. Slowly,
I began to rock. I watched her face contort with pleasure while her walls throbbed around me. I slowly bent forward, resting my body weight on the back of her leg while my tightly wound curls lapped against her clit. Her lips puckered into that beautiful little ‘o’ I loved so much, and her hands grasped at any inch of skin she could get her hands on. I rocked steadily into her while feeling her walls fluttering