Page 111 of Trusting Tanner
Xander turned it off then stood. “I didn’t mean to upset you, I just thought you both deserved to know the truth.”
“Where did you get that?” Tanner asked. “How did you get her to confess?”
He grinned, clearly very proud of himself. “Lucky for you, people like me. I made nice with Adam, who happens to be in charge of this year’s pledge class. I offered up a grand to the first one who could get Rebecca to confess she never had sex with Tanner.”
Leave it to Xander to pull off the impossible. God, that recording. It changed everything.
“How long have you had that?” Jules asked, her voice weak and shaky. “Did you have that when you called me and begged me to come here? Did you know all of this then? Is that why you said youneededme to come here?”
“No. I just got this three nights ago.” Xander took a step toward her then stopped. “I didn’t share it sooner because you two seemed to be getting along, and I didn’t think it would matter. I mean, if you two could work things out on your own, you wouldn’t need this.” He held up his cell phone.
Dropping his arm from Jules, Tanner lunged at Xander, flinging his arms around his brother’s neck. “Thank you.”
Xander froze for a second then shoved Tanner away. “What the fuck, man? Save that shit for Jules.” He laughed.
“I owe you one.”
“Damn fucking right you do.” Xander went to the door, and Tanner followed, intent on closing and locking it so he and Jules could have some privacy. “Get your girl, bro, and try not to lose her again.” With that, Xander left.
“Tanner, I am so sorry. This whole time, you’ve been telling me the truth, and I didn’t believe you.” Her voice cracked. “God, the things I said to you. The way I treated you. I am so, so sorry.”
He slowly turned to face her. Her eyes were wet with unshed tears. “Jules, I—”
“Wait.” She held up her hands.
He clamped his mouth closed.
“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you.” She slowly walked toward him. “I’m sorry I doubted you and broke your heart. I—”
“You don’t have to—”
“Shh. Please, I need to say this.” He nodded for her to continue. She blew out a breath and wiped at her tear-stained cheeks. “All that stuff we just heard, none of it matters. Not to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you didn’t have sex with her, but even if Xander hadn’t barged in here with that confession, it wouldn’t have changed my mind because I came up here to tell you that I love you, Tanner. More than anything else in this world, and I want to give us another—”
He didn’t give her a chance to finish. He took her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. The fire in his veins returned with a vengeance, his body burning from the inside out at the feel of her lips, of her tongue dueling with his. Her soft moans echoed through his mind, driving him mad with the need for more. He slid his hands down her back and yanked her tightly to him, their mouths never once parting.
She slipped her hands up his shirt and chest, and over his shoulders, tugging it until he ripped it off over his head. Then he slowly undressed her. “I need you, Jules.” It was a need bordering on madness. He nipped at her jaw, kissing down the column of her neck.
“I need you, too.” She tilted her head. “Mmm, that feels good.”
His cock jerked, and he groaned. God, he wanted her so damn bad. Beneath her jeans, she wore a pair of black lace panties. Sweet Lord. He sucked in a sharp breath. “You’re so beautiful.” He kissed her again, harder and deeper than before.
“Tanner…stop…I…”
He pulled back enough to look her in the eyes. “What?”
“Why are you still dressed?” Frustration laced her words as she reached for the zipper on his pants.
He laughed. “I’ve missed you.”
“Bet I’ve missed you more.” Her smile was a pure challenge, and excitement swelled inside him.
He guided her forward until her back was against the door, and then he put his palm flat on it above her head. “You throwing down with me, Shea?”
She looked up at him under her lashes, and his chest tightened. This was it. This was the moment he finally got her back. “Yeah, I am.” She grinned.
He lowered his head so their faces were inches apart. “Name your terms.”
“I win”—she began to unzip his jeans—“and I get to be your girlfriend. Exclusively.”
