The Truth of a Liar Page 18

  “You having fun, Lark?” she shouts over her shoulder, still in the closet. She removes her boots and then her socks. Next comes her sweater and shirt, leaving a heaping pile of clothes on the ground next to her. She seductively looks at me through her lashes and smiles. With her bra and jeans, she looks downright evil. “Is this fun to you?”

  Mocking me? Oh, she’s good.

  I gulp and nod slowly. Hell yes watching her undress is fun. But I have a sneaking suspicion that this isn’t going to lead anywhere near the neighborhood of fun. She’s teasing and I can’t decide if it makes me angry that she’s toying with my hormones or proud for being so damn coy.

  She tosses the small scrap of red lace she calls a bra onto the floor and I immediately regret wearing tighter jeans. A slice of soft breast peeks at me as she moves to get a shirt off of a hanger and I push my growing erection with my hand, demanding it settle the hell down because if I know my girl at all, we’ll be hanging out tonight—not doing anything physical, just so she can prove a point.

  But my efforts are useless when she begins to peel her jeans from her legs. Slowly, so agonizingly slow, she drags the thick denim down her thighs, and over her calves. When they pool at her feet, she bends down and removes them.

  All of me stands at attention. I rush to my feet and move to her before my brain can tell my feet to stop. My hands grab at her body with abandon and I bring her back to my front. She pushes her ass into me and I groan both in pain and in immeasurable pleasure. My eyes close and my head moves to the crevice of her neck. The scent of her sends me spiraling into a realm only Rowan can provide. My lips meet her skin and she moans with palpable desire. My tongue darts out to taste her and I can’t stop myself from sucking on the soft skin. I nip and bite causing her to squirm under my touch.

  I drag my hands up and down her sides and goose bumps break out across her skin. Placing my hands on the hem of her pure white panties, my mouth goes to her ear. “I want to fuck you like this.” The word fuck is so odd coming out of my mouth still but it also feels liberating. Almost like I can finally move on from the dirtiness of it and embrace its new power. “Do you want me to fuck you?” I say through my teeth as she rubs more forcefully against me.

  She moans, nodding but I give her a rougher bite on her neck. “No. I want to hear you say it.” I skirt my fingers to the front of her underwear and suck in a breath when I find her ready. Unable to hold on any longer, I quickly discard my shirt over my head and throw it in the pile on the ground, slamming her body back against mine with a force that rattles my teeth. She wraps her arms around me, her hands clawing at my body. Her left hand holds strong onto the side of my leg and the right skirts in between our bodies and grips me from outside of my jeans.

  She’s ravenous. With one hand, and let me tell you, the woman is talented, she unbuttons my pants and slides inside. I instantly pulse in her hand and a shutter of anticipation rips through my body. Rowan leans her head back on my shoulder and I kiss her temple. She rubs me. Over and over again, creating a friction that even I can’t duplicate. It’s delicious and intoxicating. My knees practically buckle and I spin her around, facing me. Her mouth crushes to mine and we merge together, all lips and passion. But this isn’t like all of the other times. It’s not seductive and slow. This is ramped up and savage. We attack each other as if we’re tethering one another to the world. We yank and pull at each other’s bodies and I have a half a mind to wonder if she’s still upset and taking it out on me. Not that I care at this very moment. She’s enthralling like this.

  Her eyes turn that shade of hunter green that I’ve come to love so damn much. She pulls back and looks at me with a seductive smirk. She raises an eyebrow and squeezes my ass. When she moves her face back to mine, her mouth gets close to my ear and my breath comes out in ragged huffs. “I had fun, Lark,” she says. And with one more kiss on my cheek, she turns around and picks up her jeans, leaving me dumbfounded. My mouth hangs open and I’m stunned, incapable of speech. I watch like an idiot as she shimmies back into her jeans and smiles at me over her shoulder.

  I gulp and follow behind her, angry and wound up so tight that I might physically explode if she leaves right now. “What are you doing?” I ask. My chest heaves and I’m sweating, the moisture trickling down my back. I’m kind of pissed she’s walking out right now. It’s one thing to be upset at me, but to play me with sex is almost hurtful.

  Before I can get too irritated, she turns around and runs at me, eyes sparkling. She honest to god, gallops into my arms and I catch her with a grunt. My limbs instantly soften and I shake my head. She wraps her legs around my waist and squeezes.

  Christ, she was just joking? Damn my feisty girl.

  She kisses at my neck with feather light kisses and makes her way to my ear, playing with it. I lean my head to the side and give her better access and she anchors herself to me, placing her hands on my shoulders.

  Forcing my legs to move, and with great effort, I walk us to the bed and gently lay her down. Her hair splays over the bed and I swear to God, she looks like a goddess. All pink, flushed cheeks, and pink skin.

  Unhurriedly, I push her legs further apart with my knee and crawl on top of her. My lips fall to her stomach and I kiss her belly button. She sucks in a breath and her hands find the sides of my head, moaning my name. One kiss after another, I make my way to the middle of her breasts. They fall to the side and I kiss the soft skin underneath. Bringing my mouth higher, I kiss her peaks. She moans my name louder this time and her hips buck to meet me. Giving the other breast the same treatment, I make my way up her chest to her neck. My tongue darts out to taste her and my eyes roll at her taste. Working my way up her jaw, I stop at her ear. “Are you with me?” I say in between shallow breaths. “Rowan,” I plead, “are you with me? Because dammit, if you’re not, I need to know.” I would hate to have to walk away from her, but if she’s not one hundred percent ready for us, I need to be the better man and let her go. Bow out, as they say.

  Both of her hands find my face and she pushes me away and her eyes look into mine. They glisten and she swallows. Her right hand leaves my skin and she wipes at the tiny tear falling from one of her eyes. “I’m with you. I love you.”

  A victorious smile engulfs my face and I kiss her nose. “I want to get so lost in you that I’ll never be found. Are you okay with that?”

  She nods vigorously. “I am.”

  “There are so many things I want to do for you,” I promise. “I want to take you everywhere. All of the places I’ve been and all the places I haven’t.”

  “I want that.”

  My heart beats so damn hard; it’s going to rip out of my skin but I continue, “We’re going to be running all of the time. Running from the people chasing us. From time. From anything that’ll separate us. But I don’t want to run with anyone but you.”

  She sniffles but beams, and I wonder who is this man that I’ve become. So easy to spill my feelings, I’m an entirely new person.

  She throws her arms around me and I know this’ll be one of the instances I’ll run from time. This moment, it’s pivotal and momentous. And time is my enemy.

  “I love you,” she says, again, pressing her mouth to mine.

  With as much grace as I can conjure in the moment, I stand with unsteady legs and push my jeans down my legs, my boxer briefs following them to the ground. My greedy hands work Rowan’s jeans and I pull them off, throwing them, not so elegantly, over my shoulder. One leg smacks me in the face and stuns me for a second, but Rowan’s laughter brings me out of it and I smile despite myself.

  Rowan bites her lip as I lower myself onto her. Her skin on my skin, her body melding to mine is art. She fits perfectly under me. I hook my hand under her knee and bring it around my waist. Her playful eyes turn lustful instantaneously and I squeeze her harder. She hooks her hands behind my head and I slam my mouth to hers. It starts with a connection, a chemistry and we suddenly become one. I feel her draw. Her pull. She’s my anchor. My
tongue invades her mouth and as if she was waiting for me, hers answers. She pulls greedily at my bottom lip and I growl.

  With slow precision, she drags her hand down my stomach and I pull away, observing her. She toys and plays with the contours of my stomach and grows giddy as she makes her way farther down. Using her nails, she skirts her hand around my hipbone, from one side to the other and it feels magnificent. A tease. I shudder on top of her. My arms strain to hold my weight but I can’t look away. She loves this. I love this. I love us.

  Her hand finds my length and her tiny fingers wrap around me tight. She pumps up and down in a slow, torturous motion causing my eyes to roll. I’ll never get used to having her hands on me. She begins to push me further and I have to stop her—and Christ, it pains me to do that. I place my hand on hers but she shakes her head, dead set on doing what she wants to do.

  I grind my teeth and watch her as a triumphant smile stretches across her mouth.

  My hands begin to explore her body. They caress her stomach and trace patterns on her puckered nipples I palm them with hungry hands and her head moves to the side in pleasure. She bites the inside of her cheek but her hand never stops its assault. My needy mouth finds her supple skin and I suck, creating bruises. Marking what’s mine.

  I lower my head to her neck, pressing my lips to her pulse line and it whacks unsteadily under my mouth. Her floral scent sends me over the edge. I have to force myself to remain as calm as possible. I kiss along her collarbone and she releases me. Our middles meet and her warmth engulfs my cock.

  I can’t wait any longer, I insatiably sink into her. I’m gluttonous for her. She moans and I pull out, only to slam back into her. We gasp together in the quiet room. Her tightness and my need to be rough is a heady fusion. She intoxicates me.

  Her leg falls from my waist as I pull in and out of her, causing her to wither with need. She whimpers my name and grabs hold of my arms, anchoring us, bringing her as close as possible to me. I allow myself to put my weight on her and bring my face to her neck. I slide in and out of her with ease, but she fits so perfectly around me.

  I wrap my hands around her back and flip us over with ease as she maneuvers herself, sitting upright. I’m enveloped. My blood boils and simmers as she begins to rise and fall on top of me. Grabbing at her hair with one hand, she pushes it away and her other hand falls to my stomach. My legs stiffen and I push into her with force. My burning thoughts and traitorous guilt silenced in the moment. It didn’t matter if Rowan didn’t feel exactly the same about me. If we could create this together, with love, even unequal love, it meant that I could live like this forever. With her.

  Rowan leans back and a wave of pleasure rolls over us like a bright blue burning fire. It overtakes and engulfs us in its blazing inferno. Every nerve ending rises. I hadn’t noticed but I’d closed my eyes. When I open them, she’s watching me. Her eyes half-closed and mouth open in desire. My hands find her hips and I rock with her, forcing her to meet me thrust for thrust. Her fingers grip my wrists almost to the point of pain. Not that I care. Her back arches with fervor and a flash of white-hot pleasure bursts in my eyes. Suddenly and rowdily, she begins to moan. I let my eyes study her in the early evening light. It isn’t dark enough to make the room black, but the hint of the moon shines bright through the window. God, she’s beautiful.

  I begin to feel her tighten around me and I lose it. My movements become erratic and increase and even though Rowan is on top, she’s somehow relinquished her power and given it to me. Her eyes close but I force mine to stay open. I want to watch her. I want to see her come undone. I want to see her wither on top of me. I want to watch all of her. I can feel every inch inside of her and damn if it isn’t the most perfect feeling I’ve ever had.

  The bed begins to crash against the wall and Rowan takes hold of the headboard, using it to her advantage. She plunges forcefully onto me and I relish in her madness.

  She opens her eyes and a sly grin settles on her face. We feel it. She mouths, ‘I love you,’ before she throws her head back and orgasms. Her tight skin spasms around my cock and I can’t hold out any more. That burning feeling from before scorches up my back and my senses fizzle away. All is see is Rowan.

  Rowan obliterates everything inside of me and I let myself fall. My body spasms underneath her and my toes instinctively curl. I moan her name over and over again and when we are both spent, Rowan falls to my chest and I kiss her wet hair.

  As we attempt to catch our breath, I run my fingers along Rowan’s spine. Delicately, I trace the word ‘love’ onto her skin and I feel her smile against my chest.

  We sit connected for I don’t know how long, and I let my mind wander.

  I inhale sharply, stunned by my unexpected epiphany.

  I’ve never felt such pure truth before. It’s always been some form of a lie. Rowan is my truth. She’s my certainty. And if I can figure out a balance between who I want to be and who I was, we might be able to find a truth so powerful, nothing could get in the way.

  The truth of this liar isn’t something…it’s someone. And it’s my Little One.

  “WHAT DID YOUR DAD TELL you earlier?” I ask, lying on Lark’s chest. His heartbeat under my ear is vibrant and sturdy. Mine is still thumping erratically against my ribcage and I’m not sure if it’s from our first time together or the fact that our entire world has changed.

  He kisses the top of my head and rubs soothingly up and down my back with his calloused hand. “When?”

  “When we got out of the truck and we were saying our goodbyes, he whispered something in your ear.” I smile up at him, resting my chin on the side of his chest. “You don’t have to tell me, but your expression was adorable. I just thought I’d ask.” Now that I’m asking, I feel like I probably shouldn’t have. It was an intimate moment between a son and father. It isn’t really any of my business.

  “Love,” he says, chuckling, removing his hand from my back to comb through his disheveled hair. A few pieces had fallen in his face but I didn’t have the heart to push it away. “That was yesterday.”

  I look to the clock on the wall and blush. I had no idea we spent so much time learning each other’s bodies. It’s two in the morning. I had stormed in here a little before five last night. Was that really nine hours ago? It seems like it all just happened. “Oh.” I bite my lip.

  Lark glances to the side, the blush creeping on to his cheeks. “He uh,” he stammers, “he told me something I needed to hear but I didn’t necessarily listen to at the time.”

  My eyebrows furrow. “I see.” Not really, though.

  “It was a good thing, Rowan.” Lark laughs, seeing the worry on my face.

  The stars in the night…err, morning sky make his tan skin look even more luminous and I can’t help but be enamored in the shadows and contours of his body.

  I stay silent and feel myself relax. I knew it had to be something interesting to make Lark smile the way he did. I don’t see him smile often. And when I do, it’s usually when we’re together. Liam is the only guy I’ve ever seen him really have a good, hearty laugh with. If he’s around Chris or Evan, he’s usually in business mode. I don’t know why that is. Liam and the guys can mess around, but Lark doesn’t.

  My furrow deepens as I contemplate. Lark just might be the kind of guy who wants to do his own thing.

  “What’s with the face?” Lark asks. He takes his thumb and lightly rubs the space between my eyes, smoothing the skin.

  I straighten my features. “What face?”

  He points. Feigning ignorance apparently isn’t my strong suit. “That one.”

  “Just thinking,” I say, cuddling closer to his warm body. Things seem to be constantly changing with us.

  I’ve always known he’s been a bit of an odd ball. Cut from a different cloth. It’s one of the things I like most about him. He’s not like other guys. He isn’t clamoring for the spotlight. It may have something to do with him not being in the entertainment business, but even normal guys, b
usinessmen, computer guys—hell—even the pizza delivery guy fights for attention. At least in my world. Woman or man, they just want to be seen. Don’t get me wrong, in high school, Lark needed to be on everyone’s radar. He practically demanded it.

  But he’s not that man anymore.

  Lark is a lot like smoke in that respect. He’s around but he doesn’t really need to be seen.

  Oh, how bad I want to challenge him. He may not demand the attention of everyone around him but he demands mine. Not that I’m complaining. But must he always know what’s going through my mind? Surely, I’m not that interesting.

  I swallow the impulse to tell him to go to sleep and not worry about it. But that’ll only piss him off and put me on my high horse. I like to show him who’s boss. His dominant personality sort of makes me want to defy him when I get a chance.

  “And?” he asks, letting me know he isn’t going to just let my thoughts slide. “What are you thinking about, Little One?”

  I sigh. “And that’s it. You drive me mad. But I’m actually glad for it.”

  He chuckles. “That’s what you were thinking?”

  I shrug a shoulder. “Kind of.”

  “Then what was it?”

  I bite my bottom lip. “How did we get here?” I ask. “How is it that I’m sitting in your family’s cabin? We were worlds apart and now I’m sitting in your arms. How is this even possible?”

  “Divine intervention?” he replies with a smirk and I roll my eyes. He laughs, shaking his head. “Listen, I’m not a firm believer in fate and destiny. I don’t think there’s some guy in the sky writing our story for us. We’ve got the pen and paper, and sure, sometimes people interfere and help us along the way, but when it comes to who the true author is to your life, it’s you. We found each other because our stories merged. Every single decision and act led us here.”