Until the End (Sea Breeze #9)(37)

His words warmed me. I slid my legs up the back of his and locked them around his waist.

“Fuuuuuck,” he groaned, and buried his face in my neck. “Them long legs of yours. Just damn, baby. I’m the luckiest son of a bitch in the world.”

Smiling only for a moment, I enjoyed knowing I had the power to bring this big man to this. He wanted me, and I had him as insanely wrapped up in me as I was in him.

The build that I had felt before began to grow again with each rock of his hips. I craved that feeling. Pressing into him, I let the pleasure rise in me. Just before it claimed me again, I begged for it.

“GAAAAHHHHH!” Rock’s roar and trembling and jerking of his body sent me spiraling off again.

“Trisha! Fuck!” he cried out, just before I lost my grasp on reality.

Rock

Six years ago . . .

Standing inside the one-bedroom apartment I had just paid a year’s worth of rent on in order to get approved for the lease, I realized I had done it. Working nights wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. I had all the money I needed to move Trisha in with me. Telling my dad that I wasn’t signing with any of the four SEC football teams that were trying to get me was the last thing I had to face. He’d be furious and he’d kick me out. But that didn’t matter now.

I had a truck of my own and an apartment. I had a job that I was going to be able to work at more once I graduated in six months. Trisha wasn’t going to be left in that shithole with her wicked stepmother anymore. Once I rescued Trisha, I knew Krit would be gone too. He would have left already if it weren’t for Trisha.

Krit had already said he was moving in with Legend, an older guy in his band, the moment I got Trisha out of his mom’s trailer. Trisha didn’t like that idea, but her little brother was sixteen now. He was also six foot two and had grown into that tall lankiness. He could take care of himself. Convincing her of that was difficult, though.

Dewayne and his dad were bringing me some furniture Mrs. T said she didn’t need anymore and insisted I should take. Dewayne had told me that she was also sending me towels, pots and pans, dishes, rugs, and even a quilt. I didn’t argue with her, although I had a feeling she was giving me stuff she was going to have to replace in her own house.

Marcus was giving me his old bed and dresser. His mother had said she wanted to redo his room and I could have his old stuff. He was bringing it over later today. With their help, I didn’t think we would need anything. I was waiting until I had it set up and ready before I showed Trisha. I was also talking to Krit and making sure he was set up to move out too.

Fandora had gotten better about not letting the men in her life hit Trisha. But when they went for Krit, who was capable of beating the shit out of the f**kers himself, Trisha always jumped in and ended up hurt, if only a little, before Krit put a serious whipping on them.

I was ready to be able to sleep with Trisha tucked safely in my arms. Two years of sleeping with a phone in my hand and often sleeping on the floor of her room had been tough. I hated leaving her in that house. If Krit wasn’t a badass crazy shit, I wouldn’t have been able to do it. But the boy had a temper, and anyone who pissed him off needed to get the hell out of his way. And his sister was the only person he loved on earth. I knew he’d kill someone before he let them hurt her.

“So this is it?” Preston asked. I hadn’t heard him walk in. My thoughts had been elsewhere.

“Yeah,” I replied, glancing back at him as he stood in the doorway checking the place out.

“You did good.”

I thought I had. I just wanted Trisha to think so too. She was all that mattered here.

“I think so,” I agreed.

He sauntered in and nodded toward the two doors to the left. One was the bathroom and the other was the bedroom. The rest of the apartment was right here. Living room and kitchen all together. “There’s only one bedroom. Where will I sleep?” he asked.

I chuckled. “Not here.”

“Damn. And we were supposed to be best friends. I’m wounded.”

“Sure you are.”

“You told your dad yet?”

I wasn’t telling my old man until I had my things ready to move out. Because he was going to lose it. My plan was to get everything in that house that I wanted to keep out first because my dad was likely to throw it all in the yard and light it on fire. The man talked nonstop about my college choices. He wanted me to go to Florida State. He was driving me crazy about choosing. I knew I wasn’t choosing any of them. I couldn’t take any scholarship that required me playing football. If I played ball, I wouldn’t be able to work as much. I needed to work and take care of Trisha.

“I’ll tell him once I have everything moved in,” I told him.

“Smart,” Preston agreed.

Two knocks on the door and then a “This ain’t shit. I’m impressed.”

We both turned to see Dewayne walking in the door with a grin on his face, followed by Marcus.

“Y’all aren’t allowed to have parties here unless I’m home from school. No fun allowed while I’m away,” Marcus said.

Marcus was leaving for the University of Alabama next year. He was the only one of us leaving town. We tried not to think about it often. Preston had a baseball scholarship at the local junior college. He had gotten scholarships to bigger schools, but he wouldn’t leave town. His siblings needed him.