Instead? She didn’t say a word during our ten-minute drive to her house.
“What’s the matter? And don’t tell me that nothing is wrong. Because I know that’s a lie. Let me help you for once.”
She doesn’t say anything for a few minutes, and this worries me even more. Paige has always been honest with me. But this look in her eye, it reminds me of the day she told me about…
Oh shit.
“Paige. Did something happen with your mom today?”
She nods, but still doesn’t say anything. I continue to hold her, because I know that’s what she needs right now. She needs me to be strong for her, even though inside my blood is boiling.
“She was there, Garrett. She was just standing there like it’s what she does every day. I went to talk to her. I didn’t want her around any of you, around any of the kids, so I took her around the back to find out what she wanted.”
I take a deep breath, pushing down my anger. Of course, this was the day we didn’t have one of Mark’s guys watching her. We figured he could take the day off considering we would all be at the clinic together. And I hate that she did this on her own, though I shouldn’t be surprised. This is Paige. My strong girl who wants to fix the world.
“What did she say?”
“She lost her house, well, our house. She had rented it for years off of a slumlord, and in the months she couldn’t pay, she… Well, let’s just say they had an alternate payment plan. I can tell she’s still using. She says she wants money and pills, and that she’s sure you can help me.”
“Why didn’t you come find me? Or Mark?”
“She wouldn’t hurt me. At least, that’s what I was hoping for. She needs me too much. But something isn’t sitting right with me about this whole thing.”
“What’s that?”
“My mom, unless it involves using her body to get what she wants, has never been someone to put pieces of a plan together. She’s not stupid, but she’s not book smart either. There is no way she could have found me, driven up here and made the demands she did on her own. She had pictures of you, and Mark and Charlie and the kids. Heck, she even had pictures of Anthony and Cassie. This is way too elaborate for her. And that’s what scares me.”
I bring her closer to me; her head falling to my chest, and I just hold her, because I don’t know what else to do. If she was sick, I could treat her. If she needed money, that would be no problem. But this? I haven’t the faintest idea of how to fix this for her.
But I know someone who can.
“We need to tell Mark. One, if she knows where they live, they are in danger. And two, he can help. More than just a security detail.”
She nods, though her head is still buried in my chest. “I know. I don’t know how unstable she is. I really thought she was out of my life. Why? Why now?”
I feel the tears against my shirt and I let her cry. I can’t imagine the emotions she’s dealing with right now. I always knew I hit the lottery with my parents, but it really puts it into perspective when you know that a mother can literally choose a drug-dealer boyfriend over their own kid.
She lifts her head from my chest, and I take my thumb to wipe away the stray tears that are left. “I hate that you’re hurting. What can I do? Please, I need to do something for you.”
She repositions herself on my lap, now straddling me as she wraps her arms around my neck. “You can make me forget about this day. Make me forget, Garrett.”
I don’t have a chance to protest as her lips meet mine, the sweet taste of Paige overtaking my senses.
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into me even tighter. The fact that she feels that she is in danger is triggering a deep sense of protection inside of me.
Nothing can happen to this woman. Nothing.
Because I love her.
I love her so damn much.
My hands travel underneath her shirt, which makes her shiver. She reacts this way every time I touch her, and I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of it. I bring her shirt over her head, her bra not too far behind it. I leave her mouth and slowly kiss down her jaw, her neck, until I reach her breasts.
“Yes, Garrett. God, I love when you do that. More. Please.”
I continue sucking on one breast, loving the way she arches into me every time we are in this position. I take her other nipple between my thumb and finger, working it how I know she likes it. I switch sides, my tongue and fingers doing everything to drive her as crazy as possible. I want to make her think only of my touch. My tongue. To feel me in every part of her body.
“Oh God, Garrett… I think I might… You feel so good.”
Is she about to come just from my mouth on her tits? Holy shit. Just the thought of that makes my already-hard cock turn to stone. And now I have one goal and one goal only, to make this woman explode just from my touch.
I flick my tongue rapidly over her nipple, and the sensation makes her hips buck on top of me. Her hands are in my hair, pressing my face deeper into her chest. Fuck, if she keeps this up I’ll come in my pants.
“Do you like that?” I say, pulling back and taking both of her breasts in my hands, working her nipples with my fingers. “Do you like it when I touch you like this? Play with you?”
“Yes. I love it. I’m so close. Make me come, Garrett.”
As if I could ever deny her. I dive back in, sucking on one, then the other. Using my lips, tongue, and hands to bring her maximum pleasure.
“Yes! Garrett!”
I feel her hips buck once, twice, and then on the third they freeze as she climaxes, and I look up to watch her. Her beautiful face is enjoying every ounce of pleasure that I just gave her.
I take my hand to the nape of her neck and bring her in, needing to feel her lips on mine. I don’t know how long I kiss her, but I know that I kiss her with everything in me.
Because she’s mine.
I break the kiss, but touch my forehead to hers, still needing connection.
“I love you, Paige. I know it’s soon. I know things are just starting. But I have never felt this way about anyone in my life.”
She’s quiet, and for a second, I wonder if I said the wrong thing. Does she not feel the same way about me?
Before I can say anything else, I’m gifted with the best words I could ever hear.
“I love you, Garrett Dixon. With my whole heart and soul. I love you so much.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Paige
If head games are what my mother is going for, she’s doing a really good job of playing with mine.
It’s been two weeks since I spoke to her. I thought after the day I saw her at the clinic that I’d be getting daily phone calls and threats. Instead, nothing.
I think that is worse. This is making me paranoid. This is making me look over my shoulder at every turn.
Like right now, during my normal after-school tutoring session with Anthony. We only have about ten minutes left, but I want to keep him here forever. We are safe here. There is a security guard outside the door—his name is Ben and Cassie drools over him every day despite his wedding ring or me telling her that his wife Gretchen is amazing. No one can hurt me or Anthony here.
When we leave? I can’t protect him. I don’t even know if my mom knows where he lives. I can only hope that she is only focused on me, and the pictures of Anthony and Cassie were just threats.