Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Tristan

My hands are shaking so hard as I light the candle that it takes me a full ten seconds before the flame forms. My heart is pounding in my chest. I glance around my room, and an almost hysterical laugh is pulled from my chest.

It looks and feels like a fucking porno with the dim lighting and mood music playing from a cheesy Spotify playlist. She’s going to think I’m a sap, and I don’t even care.

She’s mine now. If she hasn’t said yes to my proposition yet, she will after tonight. I’ll make sure of it. She’ll want more than just “something.”

She’ll be my goddamn girlfriend.

The thought of it doesn’t terrify me as much as it used to. A six-year obsession is going to end with the thing I really wanted from the beginning. My fifteen-year-old self would be losing his mind if he could see me now, lighting candles and waiting for Amy to come to me.

After the end of her friendship with Harper, Amy wouldn’t even look at me when I tried to talk to her, and it used to kill me. Back then, if I’d seen a fraction of the warmth and tenderness that was shining from her eyes last night, I’d probably have fallen to my knees and begged her to become my girlfriend.

I won’t have to beg. When we’re lying in each other’s arms tonight, she’ll give herself to me freely.

She cares for me too. I know she does.

I take a deep breath to calm my racing thoughts. I can hardly believe this is finally happening.

I’ve waited six fucking years.

A soft knock resounds in the room, and my stomach flips over. “Come in!”

The door slowly opens, and Amy steps into my room. I rush over to her and lift her up into my arms. Just as I lean in to kiss her, I hesitate. Her usually bright eyes are dull. Is that stubborn chin of hers quivering?

“Hey, are you okay?” I ask.

She gives me a small smile and nods. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

I exhale, and an almost unbearable tenderness squeezes my chest.

She’s anxious.

“I’m a little nervous,” I say, hoping it will put her at ease. “I’ve been waiting fucking years for this.”

Her eyes grow wide, and I clear my throat as I set her down. Fuck, I really am nervous. This woman makes me crazy.

“So I bought all five seasons of ~Poldark~ for us,” I say, gesturing at my TV. “This better be good, Amelia. This is a lot of TV I’m committing to watch.”

Amy smirks and sets her hands on my shoulders. “That might have been a waste of money. I don’t think we’ll be doing much watching TV tonight.”

I shiver, and my hands find their way to her waist. She lifts onto her tiptoes and presses her mouth against mine. My body catches fire.

I’m fucking her tonight. How is this happening?

She deepens the kiss, massaging my tongue with hers and grinding her hips against mine. This is too fast. If I’m finally fucking Amelia Harrington, I’m going to draw this out as long as I can.

I gently push her back, and she sucks on my lip, making a popping sound when we break contact. “Amy, I want to take this slow with you.”

Her eyes search mine. She looks like she’s skeptical.

Fuck, not this. Not tonight. I need to make her trust me.

“Why?” she asks, her voice breathless.

I chuckle, running a hand through my hair. “Because I’ve been waiting years for this moment, and I don’t want to explode the second I’m inside you.”

She frowns. “How could you have been waiting years for this when you’ve been with Harper?”

I let out a long sigh. It’s a fair question, and I won’t hide from it. Not if we’re going to start something after this is over. As much as I care about Harper, I’ve used her. I’ve used her because I was lonely and pining for someone else.

“I haven’t…” I shut my eyes and take a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have been with Harper. I really did care about her at one time, but…I realized I was only going back to her because it was easy, and that wasn’t fair to her. But I promise you that the last time we broke up—which was months ago—it was for good. I told her we’ll never get back together again. Never sleep together again just because one of us is bored. And I meant it.”

She lifts her chin. “Then why were you trying to make her jealous?”

I flinch. Fuck, I almost forgot about that. I was an idiot for making that shit up. But there’s no hiding from it now. She needs to know the truth.

I grab her by the chin. “I made that up to get close to you. It was a dirty move, but I was desperate. Can you forgive me?”

“Yes, Tristan.” She smiles brightly, and something about her flashing eyes makes the back of my neck prickle.

She doesn’t believe me, let alone forgive me, and I can’t blame her.

I cup her face and lean down to press my forehead against hers. “Just give me a chance, little one. Let me prove to you that I won’t ever lie to you again.”

She answers me with a kiss. It’s not exactly the reassurance I crave, but I’ll take it. Our lips move together with renewed urgency. This time, though, she lets me move slowly and savor her mouth like dessert.

We have all night.

Our tongues dance as we explore one another’s mouths. Her fingers dig into my shoulders, and she gasps and moans and presses her body into mine.

Fuck, I knew she’d be like this. I knew all her intensity would be heaven once I finally taste her.

“God, Amy,” I whisper into her ear between kisses, “I’ve wanted you for so long. You’re perfect.”

“Of course I am,” she says, and I smile.

“Tristan,” she whispers, her fingers gripping my hair. “Take me to bed.”

As if my body has a will of its own, I lift her into my arms and cradle her against my chest. Our lips meet as I make my way to the bed. Every touch, every gasp, every sweet little moan is like a secret that I’ve craved to uncover since the moment I laid eyes on her. I knew she’d be passionate, but I never knew she’d be my sustenance when I finally got my hands on her. Wanting her left me ravenous for years.

“Years, Amy,” I murmur in her ear as I lay her down on the bed. “Years of watching you, craving you.”

Her eyes shimmer with something unspoken, and she pulls me in for another searing kiss. She traces her fingertips along my jawline, making my skin tingle.

“Tristan,” she says, her voice trembling, “make love to me.”

My heart grows full and heavy. Fuck, this is a big deal. I can’t let my hunger for her make me careless and greedy. I grab her chin and look into her eyes. “I will, Amy. I promise.”

And I mean it, because goddamn it, this feels just like love.

I can’t worry what it will mean for my future. Tonight, I’m going to let myself ~feel~. I’ll worship her with my body like I’ve always wanted to.

I take my time undressing her, savoring every inch of her as I gently remove each piece of clothing. Her skin is soft and warm under my fingertips, and I can’t help but trace patterns on her exposed skin.

“You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.

Her cheeks grow pink, and she turns her head away. “You don’t mean that.”

I rub my hand on her belly, so deliciously round and soft under my palm. “I do. You look like you were made just for me.”

Her swallow is audible. “That’s nice.”

My throat grows tight. Fuck, she’s sweet.

“I want to feel every part of you,” I say as I take off my shirt. When I pull off my pants and underwear, my rock-hard cock bounces around. “But we have to go extremely slow.” I laugh as I stand up to grab a condom from my desk drawer. “Just take one look at my dick, and you’ll know why.”

When she looks up at me, her eyes grow huge. My chest grows heavy. “Amy…are you a virgin? You don’t have to be… You can tell me.”

She shakes her head.

My skin grows hot, and my jaw clenches. Who got to fuck shy little Amy before me? If she tells me it was that dirtbag Cody Morris, I might have to warn him not to get too cozy with her anymore, that after tonight, she belongs to…

Jesus Christ.

She has me thinking like a lunatic.

This is a good thing. If she’s not a virgin, we both can enjoy tonight to the fullest.

“Alright, well, that’ll make it easier.” I tear open the wrapper and roll the condom over my dick. “But I don’t want to know who you had sex with before me, okay? Don’t ever say his name.”

“You mean I shouldn’t call out his name tonight?”

When my head jerks in her direction, she’s smiling mischievously.

I smirk as I walk back over to the bed. “Do you want to get punished, little Amy?”

“Little Amy,” she scoffs. “Why do you always call me little? I’m obviously not skinny.”

I scoot onto the bed and wrap my arms around her. “You’re little compared to me. And I don’t like skinny. You’re nice and soft.” I nuzzle my nose against her neck. “Years, Amy,” I repeat. “And it was worth the wait.”

When I pull away, she’s giving me a strange look. “Can you please stop saying that?”

I frown. “What’s wrong?”

She shakes her head. “I’d just rather you not tell me over and over again how long you’ve wanted me. Given our history, it’s confusing.”

Ah, she doesn’t trust me fully yet. Why should she? I just told her five minutes ago that I lied to her. It’s okay. I’ll show her with my body just how much I want her. Over the next few months, I’ll shower her with so much adoration that she won’t be left with a single doubt.

Will I be able to let her go? Somehow, it doesn’t feel like it, but I can’t think about that now. Not when I’m about to fulfill my deepest, most agonizing need.

I press my lips against hers as I crawl on top of her, relishing the warmth and softness of her skin. When I lower myself against her, I let out a groan.

“You feel so good underneath me,” I say, “I could come right now.”

She hums as I settle my hips against her. I’m inches away from her pussy, and I have to try as hard as I can not to think about it.

I’m taking this slowly.

I bring my hand to her cheek and stroke the hair from her face. After pressing a soft kiss against her nose, I move to her cheek, her jaw, her forehead.

“You’re really romantic,” Amy says.

My throat grows tight. Fuck, I’ve never gotten emotional during sex.

But this is Amy.

“Only with you.” My voice is strained.

Her body grows stiff, and she seems to retreat behind those hazel eyes. Was that the wrong thing to say? Am I confusing her again?

“Tristan…”

“What, beautiful?”

“I want to straddle you.”

I jerk back, chuckling almost hysterically. “You’re going to kill me.”

She crawls on top of me, her smile so giddy I’d probably laugh if I weren’t so unbearably turned on. Her eyes drop down to my dick, and just the sight of her staring with her inquisitive eyes could make me come right now. When she grabs it, I hiss. “A little slower, baby.”

She smiles. “It really is like a Redwood tree.”

I burst into laughter. “Do you know you’re the most adorable person I’ve ever met in my life?”

Hesitation enters her eyes once again, but she grips my cock tighter, sending a flood of heat into my groin. She lifts her hips and adjusts it underneath her. As she guides it into her entrance, I clench my gut to fight the exquisite pleasure flooding my gut.

“Amy,” I say, my voice gravelly, “do you have any idea how much I want you right now?”

Her cheeks turn pink as she guides herself slowly over my cock. She’s so tight, and when she catches her breath, I thrust my hips up to bury myself deeper inside her.

I wince. “Oh fuck.”

She hums. “This is nice. I think I like a big dick.”

I chuckle, hating myself afterward. The motion of it drives me farther into her tight, perfect cunt.

She bends down to kiss me, and I bury my hands in her hair and hold her head against mine, delving my tongue deep inside her luscious mouth.

Fuck, this feels like love. This feels like coming home after being lost at sea.

Now is the time to make her mine. Make her see that no one can make her feel as good as I can.

I thrust my hips upward, and her body trembles. With my hands on her waist, I sit up on the bed and pull her against me. She clenches around my cock, and a groan is pulled from my chest. I lower my head to her chest and take a nipple in my mouth. She moans.

“You like that?” I ask hoarsely.

She nods, her lip caught between her teeth.

“Fuck, I want to be inside you forever,” I say as I hold her and rock her over my hips.

Something flashes in her eyes… If I didn’t know any better, I’d think it were anger.

“I’m going to ride you now,” she says.

She throws her head back and pushes her hips down against mine, accepting every inch of me. Her hips rock against me, and the pleasure is so potent that I hunch forward.

“My girl, you have no idea what you’re doing to me.” I can barely get the words out. “I’m going to punish you for that one.”

A grin spreads over her face. “What are you going to do?”

I wrap my hands around her hips, digging my fingertips into her flesh. When I lift her up and drive into her again, her eyes roll back, and she throws her head back, revealing her throat. I drop my mouth to her neck and take a small bite.

“That’s all you’ve got?” she says.

“You asked for it.” I grab her thighs and flip her onto her back. My body comes down on her hard, and she cries out.

I wince. “Oh fuck, did I hurt you?”

She smiles mischievously. “I thought that was the point.”

“Never.” I grind into her as I lift her legs over my shoulders. “I’ll only punish you with pleasure, my little Amy.”

She whimpers as I thrust into her, and I lose my head. The room fills with sounds of smacking and gasping.

“Oh, that’s good!” Her eyes grow wide. “Really good.”

Her sweetness lights a fire in me. I need to make her cum. I crave it.

I quicken my pace, my hips slamming into hers as her body trembles beneath me. Her nails dig into my thighs, and a deep, dark possessiveness pulses through my veins.

I hope she leaves scratch marks. I’ll show them to any man who comes near her.

I belong to her.

And she belongs to me.

She writhes, jerking so far up the bed I nearly slip out of her. “Tristan, oh God, Tristan.”

I grab her waist and dig my fingers into her skin, holding her in place. “You be a good girl and take it.”

“Yes!”

I guide my fingers down her navel until I find her clit.

“Come for me, Amy,” I growl, “show me how much you want this.” I can feel her clenching around me, her breaths coming in short gasps.

“Oh fuck!” she cries out, her back arching off the bed as she clenches around me. I’m so close to coming, but somehow, I’m able to enjoy the sight.

Those big hazel eyes are wide, and her plump, pretty lips are parted.

She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

When her body grows limp, I drive into her with renewed intensity. Every thrust is filled with desperation, with the need to claim her completely. A pressure builds in my gut, making my thoughts scatter like leaves in a whirlwind.

“You’re mine, Amy!” I shout as unbearable pleasure floods my insides. I spill into the condom, and fuck, I wish it weren’t there. I wish a part of me could fill her and drip to her thighs. Marking her as mine.

When the last wave of ecstasy crashes over me, I collapse onto the bed and pull her languid body into my arms. I kiss her head. “This is only the beginning. I’m going to fuck you into oblivion before this night is over.”

She lets out a sweet, sleepy sigh, and a blissful heaviness settles over my body.

I could have no one but her for the rest of my life and be perfectly content.

I ought to be alarmed by that realization, but I’m too damn tired. God, that was heavenly.

What feels like a moment later, the room is dark, and my arms are empty. Fuck, I hope I didn’t sleep too long. I wanted to spend the whole night fucking her.

When I reach out, the bed is empty. She must have gotten up to use the bathroom. I rummage around on my bedside table for a moment until I find my phone to check the time. When I touch the screen, I have a text from Amy.

What the fuck?

Amy: Turns out you really are boring. Don’t contact me. I don’t want to see you outside of the game.

I leap out of bed, my heart pounding like a drum against my throat. What the fuck is going on?

Boring? How could she consider the most intense sex I’ve ever had ~boring~?

What the fuck happened? Everything was magical. She looked at me like—

No. She didn’t look at me like she loved me. That was probably how I was looking at her, and it clouded my perception of everything.

Her eyes told me something was off the second she walked into my room. She was different tonight. Distant and aggressive.

I’m nearly gasping for breath as I pace the floor, and a darkness descends over me. I scaled the heights of joy only to fall into this deep, dark pit.

Fuck, I think I love her.

I think I really love her, and she said our sex was boring?

No. She was lying. Having sex with me tonight wasn’t a spontaneous whim. It was part of a calculated plan. She ambushed me.

Everything in her words and body language told me she didn’t believe a word I said to her, and like the lovesick sap I am, I willfully ignored it.

An unholy rage flares through my body like wildfire. I told her some of my deepest, most fiercely kept secrets tonight, and she fucking hid herself away from me. She didn’t have the decency to tell me what’s really going on in her head.

She thinks she can slip away from me after tonight? Not a fucking chance.

I’ll strip away her defenses and uncover the truth, and I won’t be nice about it this time.

***

Dear readers, it’s up to you on how this story proceeds. What do you want to happen?

^Remember, this story is angsty, so all the options are full of drama. Don’t worry. This book has a guaranteed HEA!^

^Leave your answer in the comments. <3 Sky^

1. Tristan is so hurt that he lies and tells Amy he’s back together with Harper.

2. Cody tells Tristan about Amy’s entire revenge plan.

3. Tristan impulsively announces at one of the game dates that he won the fraternity bet, and the whole campus finds out that he slept with Amy.