27. Emotional Meltdown

27

EMOTIONAL MELTDOWN

V an was outside with Frankie while the puppy was running around the yard doing his nightly business.

He'd felt bad the dog had been locked up while he was having an internal emotional meltdown.

Kelsey had been a rock until the end.

Guess she did mean it when she said everything in her life wasn't a joke.

He wouldn't admit that her tears almost pulled some out of him for a man he didn't know.

It was getting harder for him to deny that his grandfather wasn't the bad guy in this.

He knew where it all lay. Right at his father's feet.

But there were still unanswered questions as to why his mother would believe his father. Or what the pull was there.

His mother had never been motivated by money. Ever. And if that was what his grandfather was trying to sway her with, he could see where it wouldn't work.

Could it have been something as simple as that?

He didn't believe it.

But he knew his mother could hold a grudge. He'd seen it a lot in his life when his father did something and his mother didn't always let it go. Even friends she'd had, if her mother wanted to wipe them out of her life for some minor offense, she could do it.

"Come on, Frankie. Are you done playing now?"

"He has to run a few laps to make sure the pee is all out," Kelsey said, coming out onto the deck.

The pup ran toward his mother and into the house. Van wanted to get his hands on Kelsey and knew he'd have to do it before bed. Otherwise the dog would be between them and that wasn't going to happen. Talk about a mood killer.

"There isn't much on TV," he said.

"I wasn't thinking of watching TV," she said. "I need you to comfort me."

It was the grin on her face. "Is that what you're calling it now?"

"Yep," she said. "I think we both need it. Not sure which one of us needs it more."

"Is this your way of trying to help me?" he asked.

"Well, if giving me an orgasm is helping you, sure. We can say that." She did a little hip thrust with the words.

There was no reason to tell her to be serious. He realized that was part of her personality that he enjoyed the most. She came through for him today without him even knowing until a few minutes ago.

He wasn't sure why he gave her such a hard time earlier.

Talk about a rollercoaster of a day.

He scares the shit out of a dude wanting to meet his girlfriend. Then gets into a fight with Kelsey over how irresponsible she was online. She gives him crap right back, only to say she loves him.

As hard as it was to get those words out of his mouth, he said them back and he felt lighter for it.

Maybe being able to say them made it easier for him to take the next step with the information from his grandfather.

If he was home right now, he'd be reading the journal and he had to shut it off.

He picked her up before she could say another word and had her over his shoulder.

"No more talking," he said.

"Not even if we talk dirty?"

"You always have to get the last word in," he said. "No. You want comfort. Talking dirty isn't that and you know it."

"Will you snuggle with me?"

He dropped her on the bed to her laughter. "Later when we are ready to sleep."

"Really?" she asked. She was serious this time. No laughter and he wondered if maybe she did need some comfort and that he might not be enough for her.

He hated to think that. Hated that he spent most of his life always wondering if he'd be enough for anyone.

"Yeah," he said. "We can do that. Now stop talking or I'm taking it back."

She reached her arms up and put them around his neck to pull him down for a kiss. "One more thing to say."

"The last thing," he said.

"I'm on birth control. I started to take the pill."

"That's a good thing to say," he said, his mouth crushing hers.

She wanted comfort, but there was a part of him that needed to be unleashed and he had to draw it back.

The ride to the cliffs helped take the edge off, but he'd gotten worked back up at his place watching that video.

"Van. Don't think. I can almost hear you thinking. I'll stop talking if you stop thinking. I'm trying to distract you more than anything."

Which he should have realized.

"I won't think about anything more than giving you pleasure," he said. He shifted down her body and undid her jeans, then yanked them down quickly with her underwear.

He didn't give her a chance to say another word before his mouth landed between her legs and dove in face first as if he were a starving man.

He was licking and nibbling on her so much she was squirming and he had to pin her to the bed to get her where he wanted her.

"I don't want to come this way," she shouted.

He sat up and looked at her. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she said. "Sorry for yelling. But I want to come together with you. I want to feel you inside of me without a condom. I was squirming to get you to stop. You didn't get the hint."

He moved back and lifted his shirt over his head. "Heard," he said.

She removed her shirt and bra while he got naked and then crawled back on the bed and lay on top of her.

He moved between her legs and lifted some. She put her hands on his cheeks and forced him to look into her eyes.

"Enter me now. I want us to be watching each other when it happens for the first time."

He didn't understand what she was saying or what the big deal was until he started to slide in slowly and was covered completely by her wet heat.

"God, that feels good."

"Open your eyes and you should see that I'm feeling the same way," she said.

He hadn't realized he closed his eyes when he did it, but he opened them to look at her. The blue of her irises was deeper than normal. Darker.

Her hair was spread out on the pillow making her look almost angelic.

His hips started to move back and forth before he even realized he was doing it.

She was matching his speed but keeping it somewhat slow.

As much as he wanted to rush he knew that this was one of those times where they had to just enjoy it.

It wasn't about the orgasm but about...comfort.

His mouth lowered to hers, their tongues started to move in and out in the same motion as their hips.

Her legs lifted up and went around his waist, only sending him deeper yet.

She was letting out some low moans telling him she was close and he knew he wasn't going to be that much further behind.

"That's it," he said. "Keep it up."

She did start to move faster, him matching it. He was on the edge and wasn't sure how much longer he could hold off.

He didn't have to worry, as she started to come and squeeze around his dick, sending him over with her.

His speed hadn't changed though. He continued at a nice steady pace and felt each and every pulse of her around him before he lay down on his forearms and kissed her cheek.

He felt some wetness and reared up fast. "Sorry," she said. "Didn't know I was crying."

"Why are you? Did I hurt you?"

She sniffled some. "No. I guess I'm hurting. I miss Barry and seeing him set me off along with the rest of the day's events."

He rolled and had her on his chest. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"No, Van. I'm sorry for yours . You didn't know him like I did. He was a great guy. I'm just sad at what you both missed out on."

"Maybe I'm starting to feel that way too."

She put her head on his chest. He knew his heart was racing. "You can honor him by doing what your mother and he are asking for. Open your eyes and your heart."

"I'd say I've been doing that since I set foot on this island," he said. "Fate or not, it's where I am. I think where I need to stay."

He felt her smile against his chest and for once she didn't say a word.