Page 161 of Forever Never
The truth fucking hurt.
“Why?” she asked, as his fingers kneaded her hair, as his hips ground against her.
“Because I love you. I’ve always loved you.” His voice shook. “Because I won’t survive it when you leave.”
She froze.
“But you were always going to leave,” he whispered against her ear. “You’restillgoing to leave. Even after what we found together. You’re going to get on a plane or a ferry or a goddamn snowmobile and you’re going to leave. Me. You want a big life. You want adventure, novelty. You want to be great. How are you going to do that from here?”
Just like his mother.
It struck like the diamond point of lightning right into her heart.
“I don’t fault you for that,” he said, moving his lips over her neck. His beard abrading her skin. “I want people to look at what you’ve created and be dazzled by it, just like I’m dazzled by you. But this place is my home. The only place I’ve ever belonged. You gave that to me and you’re the only one with the power to take it away. Because I’d follow you if you let me. I’d go with you. But you’re not even going to ask. You’re going to stay here long enough for me to put Vorhees behind bars and then you’re going to leave.”
Tears rolled silently down her cheeks as it all sank in.
Brick Callan loved her. And he was terrified of her.
“You wanted to know why I married Audrey? You should be asking why we divorced. Because of you. Your name is the last word I breathe every night. Your face is the one I see when I close my eyes. I couldn’t hide that from her.”
She let out a broken sob and sucked in a breath. “Oh, fuck that. And fuck you, Brick. You let me think I wasn’t good enough for years. You purposelyhurt mejust so you could keep yourself safe.”
“So much for safe! I’m going to go to bed every night for the rest of my life thinking about you, and where will you be, Remington? Will you even remember me? Every fucking time I make you come, I feel you getting farther away from me. But I still can’t stop myself.”
“Because I don’t want you to hurt me again! I can’t take another rejection from you. Not after…”
“What? Not after what? Sex? Not after we fucked a few times? That’s the only reason I’m here, isn’t it? Because I make you feel good. That’s why you’re pushing that tight little ass against my dick, isn’t it?”
She spun around and let her closed fist fly. Darlene Ford’s daughters didn’t slap. They cold-cocked. Brick dodged the blow easily and pulled her in tight so she couldn’t put a knee in his balls. They struggled, wrestling each other to the hard floor. When they landed, his hand manacled hers over her head as she squirmed under him.
She knew they were fighting. Knew she was furious with him. But being restrained like this, being pinned by his heavy body, muddied things. She needed more, and so did he. Remi bucked her hips against him, an invitation as much as a challenge.
He gritted his teeth before kissing his way down her neck. “I hate myself for wanting one last time with you. One last chance to make you need me. Because that’s all I’m good for. That’s all I have to offer you. A place to feel safe. A way to feel good. It’s not enough,” he said, even as he loosened his belt.
Her chest heaved as she dragged in a breath.
“Open your legs,” he ordered.
She reared up and bit his lower lip. “Make me.”
She saw it in his eyes. The glimmer of excitement. The thrill of the line she was asking him to cross.
“You’re proving my point, and Istillcan’t help myself,” he said, levering up to free his swollen erection from his pants. “I still can’t say no to you.”
His weight was on her wrists, making them ache, but watching him work that thick shaft with brutal strokes blocked out any pain except for the empty trembling of her inner walls.
“Open your fucking legs, Remington.”
Biting her lip, she shook her head against the floor.
He let out a low growl as if he were in pain. “You tell me to stop if this goes too far.”
A nod was all she’d give him.
With permission granted, Brick inserted a knee between her thighs. She fought it, squeezing against him and loving the illicit thrill of being restrained.
She was no match for his brute strength.
