Crazy Girl(58)

I’d researched it and found there were different versions of this method being used. Trappers would put bananas in bottles to capture monkeys. The monkey would reach its thin arm inside and grab the banana but wouldn’t be able to get it out. Instead of letting the banana go, it risked its own life trying to get it out. The monkey was hungry. It liked bananas. It saw this banana and went for it. But that banana wasn’t coming. The monkey could’ve let it go, saved its life, and searched for another banana. There are plenty of bananas out there. But it fought for this one. It, for some reason and against all logic, had to have this banana. The metaphor was so profound. In the end, I wanted love. I wanted to be with someone. And if I was being honest, I wanted Wren. But was Wren really that guy? Could he be that guy? Or was I the monkey refusing to let go of my banana?

My anxiety flared as I turned it over and over until finally I told myself, “Stop it, Hannah.” Gripping the steering wheel, I inhaled and exhaled slowly, easing the anxiety that was building inside of me. “Just relax and see what happens.”

The problem was, I never listened to myself.





Boom





I couldn’t believe the woman came back again and spent more of her free time helping me pack my stuff. Two days had passed since she’d helped me start packing. Helping me twice in one week was unheard of. She really was crazy. But I was starting to see the better parts of her, not just the parts that scared the hell out of me. Hannah was sitting on the floor, tying up some wooden blinds I’d taken down, her dark hair twisted over her shoulder and the slightest hint of her hot pink thong peeking out the top of her cutoff jean shorts.

I was labeling boxes with a Sharpie and every time I walked by her, my eyes honed in on them. She’d been quiet since she’d arrived, almost standoffish, but she’d arrived early to help, so I told myself she was just tired. I was also wiped. As if the move wasn’t already draining, I’d been up most of the night trying to finish up my course layout before Henry had an aneurysm. Damn, I couldn’t stand that man. The stress of it all was weighing on me, but at least I had help today. Hannah was a diligent worker and resourceful too. When I ran out of tape she started tearing apart trash bags to tie the blinds up—pretty clever. Kegs and Duke had helped me pack some the night before, but Hannah had ultimately helped the most, and I was grateful to her.

“I really appreciate all your help, Hannah,” I told her sincerely.

When she glanced up at me, her expression changed and a soft smile lit across her face, her dark eyes bright, and it hit me—hard. A strange feeling—something that hurt and felt good all at once. Dropping to my knees, I took her wrist and used my teeth to pull the cap off of my Sharpie. Her expression was unsure, but she didn’t try to pull away as I wrote on her palm.

I am stunning.

If she needed to remind herself of things, I knew that was one of them. She was beautiful. Her lip was tugged between her teeth when I moved my gaze to hers again, her dark eyes soft. I’d hit something—she was touched. I didn’t even think about what I was doing—I was just pulled to her, I had to do it. I cupped her face in my hand and kissed her.

She kissed me back, a soft whimper escaping her.

Pushing me away, her stare remained fixed on mine as she moved to her knees and tugged her shirt over her head. My blood pumped hard, my muscles tightening, watching her long hair fan out, brushing over her smooth shoulders. Leaning in, I pressed my lips to hers again, moving my tongue gently along the seam of her mouth, while reaching around her and unhooking her bra. Pulling away, I watched as she let the lacy garment drift down her arms and fall to the floor between us, revealing her full and heavy breasts. Her head fell back, her eyelids fluttering closed, when I took one of her pert nipples and rolled it gently between my fingers. Hannah was a beautiful woman, but here, her openness, her presence in the moment—she was breathtaking. After a moment, she raised her head and met my gaze again, slipping her delicate hand under my shirt, skating over my abs up to my chest. I’d sold my bedroom set to a guy I’d met on Craigslist since the house I was moving into had one in the master bedroom already. My current room was mostly empty except for a few boxes stacked against the wall. I had no bed to take her to. The floor would have to do. In the next heated moments, we were naked, me on my back, Hannah straddling me, riding me as she began her song. Gripping her hips, I assisted her in her movement, allowing her to relax more and focus on reaching her orgasm. Her breasts bounced as she moved, her lips parted, her head thrown back as that first beautiful curse word slipped from her perfect little mouth.

I was so turned on I knew I wouldn’t last much longer, but if I slowed down she wouldn’t come. “Are you close, baby?” I gritted, my body tense as I fought my own release.

“So close,” she rasped smacking her hand against my chest. “Don’t stop, baby. You feel so good.”

“Fuck,” I grunted as I moved her faster, hoping it would help get her to her orgasm before I fucking exploded. I was so close, hating myself because I was going to finish and she didn’t when it happened. She cried out, her fingers digging into my chest and I was done. Letting out a roar, I held her down, as I throbbed inside of her, both of us panting as we gulped in air. After a moment, she fell to my chest, letting her body settle against mine, neither of us speaking as I lazily ran my fingers through her hair.