Chapter 13

Zane was dead. I was sick and tired of him catching Izzy off guard, freaking her out all over again. She had enough emotional damage from the shit he pulled during the summer. From everything that had happened to her.

It wasn’t even all he’d done. The number of times I’d caught him watching her? Eyeing her like some piece of prized meat like she was his to own?

Over my dead body.

The flowers, the looks, the intimidating stares. Cornering her when she was alone. The guy was one more fuckup away from me breaking his face in.

I glared when I passed him in the locker rooms the next day, the threat on his face matching mine.

“Wow,” Noah commented, running his comb through his already perfect strands after athletics. “You’d almost think you were the one that crossed the line.”

Jet scoffed. “And y’all don’t know the half of it.”

I slammed my locker, sitting on a nearby bench to pull on my shoes. “Pretty sure he thinks I was. Like if I hadn’t shown up that night that he’d still have Izzy. Asshole. What she ever saw in him…” It still blew my mind. I dropped my foot to the ground after tying the laces.

“You worried he’ll get her back?” Kyle asked, tugging his shirt back on.

“Fuck, no.” I shot him a look, and he held his hands up.

“Jeez. Just asking.”

“Annie’d never allow it,” Jet chimed in. “Neither would I.”

We shared a look of solidarity, grabbing our bags, and left the locker rooms to head to our next classes.

“You okay?” Jet asked, jerking his head to nod at my neck where my hand was locked in a grip.

I frowned, lowering my hand, not even realizing I’d been doing it. “I need a night out.”

“You and me, both.”

I looked down, surprised at his tone, but Jet just stared ahead, not acknowledging it. Giving a mental shrug, I frowned when I saw Zane suddenly do a double take up ahead, and he turned. I followed the direction of his stride and spotted Izzy under the oak, adjusting the strap on her bag.

Oh, hell no.I nudged Jet’s arm, jerking my chin before taking off. My strides being longer, I cut Zane off before he could reach her, stepping in front of him, and he reeled back to not collide with my chest.

“The fuck, Pierce.”

“Don’t even fucking start,” I growled. “You stay the fuck away from her.”

“Or you’ll what? You’re too much of a pretty boy to really do anything here at school. Might lose one of your golden scholarships.”

I stepped forward, closing the space between us, and Jet yanked on my shoulder, pulling me back. Zane smirked. “That’s right. Good, guard doggy. Protecting your master.”

My arm started to reel back, but Jet caught my wrist. “Don’t. He’s just egging you on.” He looked at Zane. “You want to push buttons, do it off school property. None of us need the shit that comes with it here on campus.”

“Fine,” Zane growled, backing away. “But with Izzy, don’t ever expect me to back down.”

“Well, damn,” Jet grumbled when the threat had passed, but I was livid, every muscle in me tense. I needed an outlet. Something to get it out of my system. I turned, ready to stalk away, when I saw Izzy still standing by the oak, her eyes wide and telling me she’d watched the whole thing.

She came up to me, slipping her soft hand into mine, and reached up to cup my cheek. I leaned into her touch on instinct, just having her near enough to cool the rage left simmering inside me. I took her hand from my cheek, engulfing it in mine. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Helping.”

She frowned, and I grabbed her bag from her shoulder. I was walking my girl to class.

Zane’s threat hadn’t been hollow. The rest of that week, he’d cornered Izzy at least three more times and started leaving whole bouquets of flowers in her locker. She was stressed, so close to losing it. I was pretty sure the only reason she hadn’t was because she’d completely buried herself in dance. I was barely seeing her, and while I’d never considered myself a romantic, in any capacity in the past, it was like a constant ache had formed in my chest with her absence lately.

“Annie wants to meet up at Bob’s for burgers.” Izzy checked her phone when we got out of class on Friday.

I shook my head, basically desperate now for time with her. “I’ve barely seen you this week. The past few weeks. Annie can wait.”

“You’ll be with me at the restaurant, though.” Izzy stared up at me, a cute frown on her face. “And I’ve barely seen her and Jet, either. I miss the four of us.”

“And I miss the two of us. Hell, I don’t think I’ve ever even taken you on a date that was just you and me. Have I?”

One of her eyebrows raised, her hand going to rest playfully on her hip. “Just realizing that, huh?”

My face scrunched, and I ran my hand over the back of my neck before dropping it. “I’m making that up to you. Immediately.” I grabbed her hand, and Izzy pulled back.

“Um, game night, whiskey…” she teased, using that nickname she’d dubbed me with but hardly used. I narrowed my eyes playfully.

“I know that. This weekend, then. You and Leo will just have to take a break. My girl deserves to have a night out.”

She beamed. “Deal.”

It was Archer that let me in the next day, and he looked up at me, his eyes narrowing as if he was considering what to say. It was like I was staring at a little Patrick, the expression so similar. It didn’t hurt that he’d gotten his dad’s nose and blonde hair, too.

“So, this thing with you and my sister,” he started, and I had to work to school my features, realizing he was giving me the brother talk. I cleared my throat.

“Yeah?”

“You’re not gonna hurt her like that Zane guy did, right?”

Oh, shit. “You know about that?”

He shrugged. “I hear stuff. And are you?” He sent me a warning glare, and I made a cross motion over my heart.

“I swear. She’s always safe with me.”

I held eyes with the little man for a few more seconds before he finally stepped back and opened the door enough for me to come in.

“Izzy! Tucker’s here!” he bellowed up the stairs, flopping down on the couch to grab a discarded video game controller. I smirked, and the next thing I knew, Annie came downstairs.

“Might as well sit.” She tossed a hand at the armchair. “She’s been getting ready for hours and still isn’t ready.”

My brow rose. “Hours?”

Annie nodded. “Welcome to my nightmare.” She nudged her brother over and took a seat at the end of the sofa while I took the chair, both of us sitting back to watch Archer demolish some ancient Roman guys. It was another twenty minutes before Izzy came down the stairs, and I stood up, speechless as always to see her. But damn, did she look good tonight.

Her hair was done in an over the shoulder braid, some wisps loose and framing her face. She wore gold strappy heels and a deep purple dress that hugged her curves, showing just the right amount of cleavage. She looked like an angel that I’d somehow been granted the chance to worship.

I scraped a hand over my mouth, dying to throw her in my truck, spread her legs, and eat her, she looked so good.

She held up a bag at her side. “I packed leggings, jeans, and a crop top, too. Just in case this is too formal.”

“You look amazing. It’s perfect for dinner. But yeah, the other clothes may come in handy for what I planned next.”

She shot Annie a triumphant look that made her twin roll her eyes. I took her bag when she reached me, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips. She smelled like candy. Or honeysuckle. Some kind of mixture of both. My eyes closed, lingering in her scent. “You ready?”

She nodded, and I pressed my fingers to the small of her back, guiding her out the door.

“Have fun!” Annie called out. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

“Well, that’s not much of a warning label, is it?” Izzy teased, and I smirked, loving her playfulness.

We headed across the street to my truck, and I opened her door for her, holding her hand to help her steady as she climbed in, a part of my brain wondering if there was more of that black lace she liked to wear under her dress.

She smoothed out the shimmery material as I shut the door, and I ran around, climbing up behind the wheel. We held hands on the seat between us as I drove, the two of us taking turns staring at each other. She’d dressed to the nines while I was in jeans and a button-up shirt with a tie. Though I had my gym bag in the back for later.

Either way, the night had barely started yet, and the tension between us was crazy. Like a magnet was pulling us together. I couldn’t stop staring.

I drove us to a new Italian place out in Summer Ridge that my grandpa recommended for its three Michelin stars. Not that I knew that much about the culinary world, but I knew that was good. I let him use his connections to get us a reservation, which wasn’t something I liked to do all the time, but if it was for Izzy…I could make an exception.

A valet took my truck when we arrived, and I guided Izzy in. The ambiance was rustic, with stones along the walls and vines and a working waterfall on one side of the room. We were given a table not too far away. I took Izzy’s hands after we’d ordered, holding them across the white tablecloth, a candle burning between us.

“You really do look beautiful tonight.”

She blushed, shifting in her seat. “Thank you. You look amazing, too. I love seeing you dressed up. Especially when you roll up your sleeves.” She bit her bottom lip.

“Oh, yeah? That can be fixed.” I unbuttoned the cuffs, rolling them up my forearms, and Izzy’s eyes darkened.

“You’re making it hard to be patient,” she teased, though I could see the sincerity behind her words. She was just as hungry for me as I was for her. And that dress did amazing things for her chest and ass.

“Oh, yeah? Maybe I should be the main course.” I waggled my brows, making her laugh.

“Oh, you will be. Later.” Her eyes raked down my chest, and my cock twitched in my jeans. Down, boy. Too early.

When our food arrived, Izzy moaned, taking the first bite into her mouth. “Oh, my God. I think my mouth just had an orgasm.”

My brow rose as my cock jumped again, wishing it was her fork. “That good, huh?”

“To die for.” She rolled her eyes with her second bite, like she’d just tasted heaven.

I took a bite of my own and was almost moaning myself. “You’re right. This is really good. Remind me to thank my grandpa for recommending it.”

She just nodded, already halfway through her plate. I smiled and hurried to catch up, glad there were still two courses ahead of us.

We waited outside for the valet when we finished, and Izzy held her hand to her middle, the both of us so stuffed I wasn’t sure we’d be up for what was next, but I knew it’d be epic. So, I pulled up to a nearby park first, grabbing a pack of crackers from the glove box I’d stashed in my truck. I hadn’t planned it, but there was a bridge over the water covered in fairy lights, and Izzy and I made our way out to the center, talking and laughing as we tossed broken cracker pieces to the ducks in the water.

We found a bench under a gazebo on the other side, and Izzy pulled me down, tugging at my collar to capture me in a kiss. I wrapped my arms around her, feeling the goosebumps trickling over the skin of her exposed back, and pulled her tighter into my arms.

“You’re cold?” I asked when we broke away, and she shook her head.

“Not in your arms.” But she shivered just moments later. Wanting her out of the cold, I stood and held out my hand, pulling her to her feet.

“Come on. I don’t want us to miss the next part.”

I drove to a place across town, and Izzy’s mouth fell open, her eyes lighting up when she read the sign.

“We’re going rock climbing?”

I smirked, proud of myself for the idea. “If you’re up for it.”

“Of course, I am. I’ve always wanted to try it.”

“I know.” We hopped out, and I grabbed our bags from the back seat, heading inside. I signed us in as Izzy went to change and then headed to the locker rooms myself. I still made it back out before Izzy, but I really didn’t care. Not as long as I got to watch her ass move in those leggings. Note to self…stay below my girlfriend while climbing.

We headed over to where our instructor was waiting, both of us listening carefully to the instructions and safety info before they helped us into our climbing harnesses.

“You ready to get smoked?” Izzy placed her hands on the jugs, bracing her legs on the floor like it was a race.

I smirked, taking my own stance. “You realize I’ve got over an entire foot on you.”

“All I hear is smack talk.” She tilted her head back, her braid still falling over her shoulder as she looked up at the wall. “Ready. Set. Go.”

I waited a few seconds before starting, too busy watching her, when she fussed, “Get moving, whiskey.”

“Sure thing, princess.” I grabbed a couple of jugs, pulling myself up, and made myself go just fast enough to keep up with her without totally passing her up, but when we reached the top, she glared at me with a scowl, her hands on her hips.

“Nah-ah. Not gonna fly. It’s not fun if you take it easy on me.”

My brow rose. “You really want me to race you? Because I want to do this with you. Not leave you in the dust.”

She raised an eyebrow at that. “Not the whole time, but I want at least one good race. I want to see how close I can get to catching up with you.”

I nodded. “Okay, but how about we save that round for the end? Get some practice in first.”

“Deal.” She looked at the instructor. “Is it safe to go down?” The guy nodded, and she positioned her feet at the edge, jumping off the top rung in her descent.

She was pretty decent, and before I knew it, she had me agreeing to some playful races. I smoked her each time, but by the end, she was definitely starting to catch up.

Sweat soaked our brows, our faces flushed, but Izzy never gave up. On our last round, I rushed, realizing she was gaining, determination blazing in those mossy emerald depths when I looked down. I took the last few jugs at more of a jump and reached the top, throwing my hands in the air in a triumphant whoop, when suddenly the instructor rushed forward, alarm on his face.

I spun around, my heart lurching in my chest to see Izzy falling back, unconscious as the guys slowed her descent to lower her to the ground.

Shit. Izzy…I hurried to rappel, rushing over to her, relieved to see she was already coming to.

She blinked, sitting up, her heat flushed cheeks blushing darker at all of the eyes staring at her. “Sorry,” she murmured.

“No, don’t be. I just want to know what happened.”

“I…don’t know. I was fine, and then the next thing I knew, black spots were dotting my vision.”

“She probably hasn’t had enough water,” one of the instructors offered.

“I’ll get some.” The one that had been with us up top hurried off. He was back within seconds, and I took the bottle to open it, noticing the way Izzy’s hands shook. Handing it back to her, she took several long swallows, eventually polishing off the bottle.

“Thank you.” She handed it back to the guy. “That helped.”

“I figured it would.”

“Yeah, it’s happened before, so I’m not surprised.”

“Wait. What?” My mind did a double take. “It’s happened to you before?”

“During dance once or twice.” Izzy waved it off like it was nothing. “Just when I get way too into it and forget to drink. Or eat.”

I frowned, reaching out to help her steady as she stood.

“Would you like to rest a bit more?” the first instructor asked, and Izzy shook her head.

“I’ll take another water, though.”

“Are you sure?” I pressed, seriously freaked out.

Izzy placed a hand to my chest, smiling up at me in understanding. “I swear, I’m fine, Tucker. I just pushed too hard.”

I nodded, worry still aching in my gut.

My thoughts wouldn’t settle. The entire drive home all I could see was Izzy passed out, falling backward and limp with her arms dangling below her. It had been the scariest feeling I’d had to date, other than the night my cousins had taken her.

I kept her hand in mine on the seat between us, my thumb brushing over her knuckles and all the lines in her palm, feeling the pulse in her wrist. Just needing to feel it to ground me, reassuring me that she was okay.

“I feel like I ruined the night.” She sighed as we turned down the street that led to our neighborhood, and I shook my head.

“It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t mean to.”

“Translation. Yes, the night is ruined.” She sighed again. “I wanted to be with you.”

Be with me? “You are…” I trailed off when I realized what she meant and squeezed her hand.

“I did, too. I do. I’m just…is it okay for us to…” I looked over, meeting her gaze, and she smiled.

“I’m not broken, Tucker.” There was a hunger in her eyes that had my own desire flickering back to life.

“You’re sure?” I asked, needing her confirmation one last time before I was willing to put my doubts aside.

“Positive. Now, where can we go? Because I’ve been thinking about fucking you all night.”

And bam. All doubts were incinerated.

“My parents are on their own date night, and my sisters are at my grandparents’.”

“Your place it is.”

Izzy ran her tongue over her lips, and I sped up to come to a fast halt in my spot of the wraparound drive. Izzy threw her door open, hopping out before I could even run around, and the two of us rushed to the door. The second I had us inside, she leapt up, and I grabbed her thighs below her ass, her legs wrapping around my waist. Our mouths met in a desperate kiss, our tongues tangling, her hands burying in my hair.

I raced up the stairs, not breaking our hold, and fumbled with the knob to my door before kicking it open.

“Shower first. We’re gross,” Izzy directed before I could lower her to the bed, and my cock shot to full attention at the thought of her naked wet form under the spray of my shower.

Pushing my way into the bathroom, I finally lowered Izzy gently to the floor, and she looked up at me, teasing desire in her eyes as she slowly pulled away her top.

Emerald green lace covered the swell of her chest, and before I got a real chance to admire the color with her eyes, she reached around her back, the lace falling free down to my bathroom floor.

“Am I the only one doing this?” Her brow rose as I just stared, and I jerked into action, pulling open the shower door to turn on the water. I peeled off my clothes as fast as I could, and Izzy stepped forward, her creamy body now bare and aching for my touch. She glanced over her shoulder, hooking her finger at me as she stepped under the water.

Fuck. Yes.

Something made me pause, and I reached into the jar on the shelf, grabbing a condom. Just in case. I finally stepped into the shower, pulling the door closed behind us, and Izzy immediately reached up, pulling me down for a kiss. I reached down, gripping her perfect, pert ass in my hands.

“Do you know how much I want to kneel and bury my face between your thighs right now?” I murmured, the desperation to taste her on my lips. Izzy shook her head, taking one of my hands and guiding it to her bare pussy instead.

Well, when the instructions are clear…

I dipped my fingers between her folds, my mouth enveloping hers as she moaned with my first touch. I glided my fingers back and forth, circling her clit before moving them down to swirl at her entrance and back up to her clit. Teasing, loving her sweet sounds and her frustration when she finally gripped my arm. “Tucker,” she half fussed, half begged, breaking our kiss, and I finally slipped my fingers inside, loving the way she cried out, clutching herself to my arm as I trailed my lips along her jaw, kissing my way down to the spot below her ear I’d discovered not long ago to suck. She gasped, her knees wobbling at the sensation, and I held her up, my fingers assaulting her pussy as her panting breaths filled my bathroom. Her nails clutched into my arms, her orgasm close, and I brushed my thumb over her clit, rubbing in circles until she was spasming around my fingers.

“Oh, God, yes.” Her hips bucked, begging for more. She reached between us, grabbing my cock, the skin slick with the spray of the water, and I groaned as she slowly pumped up and down.

“I can’t wait to have this inside me,” she murmured, rubbing her palm slowly over the sensitive head. I hissed, earning a grin as she took the condom from my hand, using her teeth to open the package, and I stood still, enraptured, watching the drops of the water’s spray rolling across her skin, wondering what it would be like to lick each and every one from her body.

As soon as she had the condom in place, I scooped her up, pressing her back against the wall, and dipped my head to swirl my tongue over the drops from the swell of her breasts, sucking greedily on her nipples. She sucked in a breath, her hand reaching behind her to find my cock again, and I rested my head against her clavicle for a moment, appreciating the long, slow strokes from her soft hands.

“Be careful how long you play,” I warned, not wanting my stamina too far gone, everything elevated with her bare form under the water’s spray. The sensations more. I was dying to have her. Izzy grinned, letting go to grip my shoulders as I slammed my cock inside her.

I groaned, holding still, just enjoying the tight fit of her pussy, when Izzy used the wall as a brace to rock her hips. “Move, whiskey,” she demanded, and I grinned, adjusting so that I gripped her ass in my hands. I pulled out and slammed myself inside her again, and Izzy’s head fell back against the white tiles with a sharp gasp.

“God, yes. Just like that.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I pumped again, using the sides of the shower as a brace for my feet. I pummeled inside her, rougher and rougher as she cried out, our movements becoming frenzied. Hands slipping over bodies. Tongues licking. Panting. We were desperate, like two frantic animals that couldn’t get enough. I refused to stop. Not when it felt this good. The shower was a whole nother level. I forced myself to keep going, never wanting it to end, but just after Izzy’s second orgasm, I felt my balls tightening, my own release about to reach its peak.

“Touch yourself,” I ordered, desperate to have her come just one more time, loving watching her come undone, doing that together. Izzy’s hand left my shoulder to reach between her legs, frantically rubbing, and I knew she had to sense I was close.

“Ah, God.” I ground my teeth, relieved when I felt her legs begin to shake, and she cried out, her pussy spasming around me, milking me for all I was worth as I fell over that edge alongside her.

We collapsed. My head and shoulder leaning against the shower wall as Izzy turned to butter in my arms. I slowly lowered her to the ground, holding her steady for a moment as her legs wobbled, pride swelling in my chest. Because damn, that had to mean it had been good. She stepped out, grabbing a couple of towels as I shut off the water, and I took the one she held out, drying off my face before stepping out of the shower. The entire room was fogged in steam, and I waded through it to ditch the condom in the trash.

Izzy shimmied the towel over her body before wrapping it around herself and padded out into my room.

“Crap. We left your door open.”

“It’s okay. We’re the only ones here.”

“For now.” I heard her shut it.

I came out of the bathroom next, wrapping the towel around my waist, and Izzy’s eyes trailed along my chest to the trail of hair that disappeared beneath it. Her eyes darkened, hunger sparking in them again.

“Already?” My brow raised when she reached for the nightstand.

“You gonna complain?”

“No ma’am. Your wish is my command, princess.” I tossed the towel away as she climbed onto her knees on the bed, our next round just as frantic as the first.

When we finished, Izzy pulled the covers back, crawling under them, and she cuddled into my chest. “Just for a little while.” She yawned.

Something deep within me stirred at having her snuggled against me so late in bed. Something primal. Wanting her near after that scare earlier tonight. I ran my fingers through her hair, hearing her content sigh. “You could stay, you know…”

Her lips curled into a smile.