She's My Everything (Crave and Claimed Book 1) Read online

  Waking up in his arms had been exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. She couldn’t even begin to describe it.

  Now as she watched him, she knew without a doubt, and a rush of guilt flooded her. She’d messed up in more ways than one. Blue had told her every single day that he loved her, kissing her as he did, and she hadn’t.

  By the time play finished, Blue shook hands with his teammates and she ran off the stands, rushing toward him. Normally, he went to the locker room to clean up, but this time, she didn’t give him chance.

  She launched herself at him, throwing her arms around him and kissing him hard. Blue, like so many other times, caught her, holding her close.

  “What is it, baby?” he asked when she allowed him to breathe for long enough to speak.

  “I love you,” she said, cupping his face and laughing. “I know you must hate me for taking so long to say it, but I do. I love you so much.”

  He gripped the back of her neck, holding her close, kissing her harder than before.

  “I don’t hate you. I can never hate you. Fuck, you love me?”

  “Yes, I love you.” She giggled. “It feels so good to finally say that.”

  He lifted her up, and she had no choice but to wrap her arms and legs around him for support.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Taking you home.”

  “You’re not going to shower?”

  “I can shower after I fuck you.”

  Chapter Nine

  “I can’t get enough of you. I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but fuck,” Blue said, spinning Laylah beneath him.

  A few hours earlier, they had just won a grueling game, and all he wanted to be was inside his woman. Ever since Laylah admitted that she loved him, he’d been on cloud nine.

  She was his everything.

  His entire world.

  All he wanted was her.

  Every single part of her.

  Plunging in deep, he relished the sound of her moan. Since taking her virginity, their time of making love and fucking had gotten so much better. He took possession of her lips, swallowing down her cry of his name as he went deeper.

  He grabbed her hands, pinning her to the bed, to stare down into her beautiful eyes, and he smiled.

  “What?” she asked, thrusting up against him, making him moan.

  “I’m not going to be able to last.”

  “I don’t care.” She wrapped her leg around his hip, taking him off guard as she spun him to the bed with her now on top. They were both completely naked, and in the past couple of weeks, she’d gained the confidence to ride him.

  With her naked tits so temptingly close, he couldn’t resist taking one into his mouth. At the same time, he ran his hands down to the curves of her ass, pushing her down to take more of his dick. In and out, he slid inside her, working her pussy. He was so close, but first, he wanted her to come on him.

  Moving one hand around her body, he fingered her clit, feeling the answering pulse around his dick. He let go of her breast long enough to watch her. She was so damn beautiful.

  Even before her orgasm had finished, he took control, pushing her back to the bed so he was now on top. Holding her in place, he pounded inside her pussy, making her take all of him. She wrapped her legs around him, and this time, he didn’t stop. He found his release, filling her up.

  The pleasure went on and on until it ebbed away. He stayed inside her, moving so he could look at her. Reaching out, he pushed a curl behind her ear.

  “I talked to your dad,” she said.

  He frowned. “Not exactly the person I want to talk about after I just fucked your brains out.”

  “Well, whenever I brought up colleges before, you always gave me the brush-off. I needed to find out where you were going, and I applied.” She put her hand to his chest.

  “What?”

  “Yep, I start classes in September, providing my grades are on point,” she said, smiling.

  “But I bribed the receptionist to share where you’re going and I applied to your college.”

  She sat up. “You didn’t.”

  “Yeah, I did. We can go where you want to go.”

  She groaned. “I know they don’t have the best football team, though.”

  “So, it doesn’t matter so long as I’m with you.” He kissed her neck but she covered his mouth with her hand. “Laylah?”

  “We’re not going to my college.”

  “And why the hell not?” he asked.

  “Because, I’m not having you give up your dream for mine. I checked out your college. They have an amazing literary program. I also did some extensive research and they even have workshops for writers. It’s an amazing opportunity.”

  “But it wasn’t your first choice. It wasn’t on any of your choices.”

  “That was before I had you. Now I’ve got you and I need to keep you happy.” She kissed his lips. “And this will make us both happy.” She nibbled on her lip. “I don’t know where you see us being in five years or even ten, but when I look, I do see us together. I don’t want you to resent me.”

  He cupped her cheek. “How could I resent you?”

  She rolled her eyes. “You won’t if you get to have the life you always wanted as well.”

  “Those dreams, they happened before I even realized you were the woman for me.” He took her hand, pressing kisses to her knuckles. “I love you, Laylah. I won’t ever resent you. I promise.”

  “Does that mean you’re going to stop arguing with me and accept that I am right?” she asked.

  This time, he rolled his eyes. “Will it make you happy?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then, yes, I will call and make the necessary arrangements.” He cupped her cheek. “You’re the only one I want though.”

  She offered him a smile. “Good. You’re the only person I want to be with. Forever. No questions asked.”

  “Laylah, I love football, I do, but you’re my everything.”

  Silence met his declaration.

  “I think we’re kind of scaring our parents.”

  Her mother was still pissed at him over the skipping-class incident. He didn’t know exactly how to win her trust, but he figured loving her daughter and showing his devotion would help.

  As for his parents, they loved to see him settling down. According to his father, having a girl clearly agreed with him, and he couldn’t deny it. He was so damn happy.

  He loved Laylah and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. All he could see in his world was a future with her.

  “What would scare our parents is if you came back pregnant.”

  She burst out laughing and he joined her. “Damn, you’re so bad. Do you think we should tease them with it? Let them suffer a little bit?”

  He kissed her lips. “Do you want to have kids?”

  “Someday. You know, when I’m not eighteen and thinking about college and the future.”

  “With me?”

  She looked at him. “What are you saying, Blue?”

  “That I want it all with you.”

  “Well, maybe we should just consider living together at college. How does that work?”

  “It’s a start.” But it wasn’t enough. He did have a plan though, one he intended to implement soon.

  ****

  “I’m going to be hanging out with the guys this weekend. Is that okay?” Blue asked.

  Laylah looked up from her study books and frowned at Blue. “Yeah, of course.” It was odd for him to ask but then, since they’d been going out, he rarely left her side. Their weekends were often spent over at each other’s houses and when he had away games, he always called. They talked well into the night, about everything and nothing.

  He’d become a constant.

  A loving constant.

  In the matter of months, he’d made her very addicted to him, all parts of him, not wanting to give him up for anyone.

  “What are you going to be doing?”

&n
bsp; “This or that. It’s nothing for you to worry about.” He got up from his bed and moved toward her.

  Tilting her head back, she accepted his kiss with a smile. “Why are you being so vague?”

  One of his hands moved to cup her breast. “I’m being vague?”

  “You know you are, but I don’t mind. Becky wanted to hang out. It has been a long time since we’ve been together. It’ll be kind of fun.” She put her textbook away and opted instead to make love to her man.

  That weekend, though, as she stood at one of the few remaining video stores around with Becky—who loved the outdated store—trying to pick a movie, she couldn’t help but wonder what he was up to.

  “Do you think it’s normal for guys to go out and do … guy stuff?” Laylah asked.

  “I feel like this is a trick question.” Becky put the latest horror back on the shelf and turned toward her. “Come on, you’re supposed to be helping me.”

  “I am.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re moaning about Blue. Trust me. He’s fine. He’s doing guy stuff. You’re totally supposed to be paying attention to me.”

  Laylah looked at her friend and her suspicions rose.

  “You and John normally do movie night,” she said.

  “And now you and I are going to be doing it.”

  “Why?”

  Becky glared at her, holding up a shark movie.

  “Hell, no, and stop evading me right now. Just tell me.”

  “There’s nothing to tell. I swear, since you became a girlfriend, you’re like, highly suspicious. John’s on a date with his girlfriend. The one he’s already engaged to and intends to marry.”

  Layla didn’t believe it. Being on a date never stopped John from enjoying movie night.

  Becky picked up her pace, and Laylah caught up with her, grabbing her arm and spinning her around. “What gives?”

  “Nothing gives. You need to learn to trust.”

  “I’m not stupid, Becky. You and John have been doing the movie thing for years. His girlfriend has always been on dates with you guys. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about because I used to be part of them as well. What the hell is going on?”

  Becky groaned. “I told John this wouldn’t work, but he said to keep you distracted with the movies.”

  “What the hell does John have to do with this?”

  “You really don’t know?” Becky asked.

  She growled, ignoring the glares and whispers from a couple of customers trying to pick their own movie. She didn’t care what they were trying to do. Her best friend was being a giant pain in the ass.

  “Clearly, I don’t know.”

  “John is with Blue.”

  “Since when did John join in with the jocks?”

  Becky ran her fingers through her hair. “Can you drop it and just accept that something amazing is going to happen come Monday?”

  This time, Laylah tilted her head at her friend. “You know I hate surprises. Come on, Becky, stop being a pain and tell me. Is Blue going to dump me? Is that what this is about?” She hadn’t thought of it like that and it certainly didn’t make her excited.

  She had truly fallen for him.

  “He’s going to fucking propose to you,” Becky said, yelling at her. She threw her arms in her direction, tense, with anger rolling off her. “That’s why Blue is hanging out with the damn guys. It has nothing to do with needing a break from you. Monday morning, in front of the entire freaking school, he is going to get down on one knee and propose. He told me and John and asked how we could help to make this the most memorable experience for you. Guess what, I told them that under no circumstances would you believe a movie night with me. John told me to sell it. I tried, but you’re too damn nosy to see a good thing when you’ve got it.” She took a deep breath. “See, there. I’ve admitted it. You’ve got a damn good thing in your boy there. Blue is a good guy. He’s head over heels in love with you, and he can’t stand to have a moment without you. He intends to marry you.”

  She squealed. “And now you’ve gone and made me spoil the surprise.”

  Without picking a movie, Becky turned around and walked right out of the video store, leaving Laylah completely speechless. She didn’t have a clue what to say.

  “I think congratulations are in order,” an older woman said.

  She offered a smile but quickly chased after her friend.

  Becky was already halfway down the street. She grabbed her arm and spun her around. “You’re serious about this. Like totally, no-joke serious?”

  “Yes, I’m serious.” Becky pulled away. “And I went and ruined the surprise.”

  “They’re at the school now?” Laylah asked. “Making it … ready for me.”

  Becky nodded. “Yeah. I suck at this, but Blue wanted you to have something to remember. Something you’d cherish for a lifetime.”

  Tears filled Laylah’s eyes. “I want to go to the high school.”

  “I had a feeling you would,” Becky said. “John’s not going to allow me to forget this. I had one job, and look what I did.”

  “I still love you.” She went to Becky and held her close.

  “Can you at least tell me what you’re going to do?”

  Laylah shook her head. “Nope. You can wait just like the others.” She winked at her friend before she made her way over to the car.

  Chapter Ten

  “Seriously, you want fake snow?” John asked.

  “Yeah, she loves snow.”

  “Then propose to her in winter.”

  Blue glared at John. They’d gotten along pretty well in the past couple of weeks and he wasn’t giving him crap for falling in love with his friend. Right now, he wanted to beat his ass. “I don’t have time to waste. I’m not waiting to propose to her.” He already had the ring and a plan. The corridors needed to look perfect.

  He had all the guys with the decorations, which would start outside, leading into the main corridor to her locker, which he was decorating with the words asking her to marry him.

  It was perfect.

  What wasn’t going well was the message from Becky warning him it wasn’t working. The last thing he wanted was to be away from his girl, but this would be the most amazing wedding proposal ever.

  “You know, I think I liked you better when you didn’t care all that much.”

  “Oh, shut up and get to work.” He pulled out his cell phone to see his texts hadn’t been responded to by Becky.

  Not a single one.

  Dialing her number, he put his cell phone to his ear, waiting.

  Nothing.

  Damn it.

  After all the guys helped him, he’d promised them all pizza, and if he didn’t follow through, they would all be pissed. He wasn’t above bribery to get what he wanted. Pocketing his cell phone, he noticed John watching him. “What’s up, man?”

  “Nah, just thinking.”

  “Does it stop you from working?” he asked.

  John burst out laughing. “You must really love her.”

  “I do. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

  “You don’t think that’s a little, you know, intense and heavy for being only eighteen?”

  “Is that how you feel about your girl?” he asked, turning toward him.

  “Point taken, but I don’t have your reputation when it comes to girls, do I? I’m just me. What made you change?”

  Blue looked past John’s shoulder and smiled. “I looked at her one day, and it was like I’d never seen her before. At first, I thought it was a weird-as-fuck crush. Then, I just found myself watching her. I’d look for her smile, and then I’d stare at her during class. I wanted to know everything about her. Yes, I paid for people to find out as much as they could. I wanted to know it all. When I had all the information, I just, yeah, I completely fucking fell and it has been that way for weeks now. I love her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. There’s a shitload of firsts she never got of mine. I’ve had loads of hers
, but she is the first and only woman I ever fell in love with, and there’s no way that is going to change. I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I know it’s corny as shit, but I want to get old with her. Raise our kids and have grandkids together. When I think of the future, she’s all I see.”

  “Then marry me,” Laylah said, surprising him.

  He looked down the long corridor and sure enough, there she was, watching him with a beautiful smile on her face.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “If you want to surprise me, you should find someone else to take care of me. Becky isn’t the best person for the job.” She took a step closer. “I thought you wanted to dump me, not ask me to marry you.” She offered him a smile. “I want to marry you. I love you so much. I … this scares me, a lot, but you’re the only one I want. The only one I can see myself marrying. I don’t know how you did it, Blue, but I am completely and totally in love with you.”

  “You spoiled my surprise.”

  “This is the best surprise a girl could ask for, but you haven’t given me your answer,” she said, giggling.

  “Fuck, yes. Hell, yes.” He closed the distance between them, taking her into his arms. He sank his fingers into her hair, pulling her close and slamming his lips down on hers. She moaned his name, wrapping her arms around him, and this, right here, this was what he wanted. “I wanted to ask you to marry me.”

  “Well, at least I got in there first. Please tell me I’m the first girl to ask you to marry me.”

  “Well …”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “You’re the first girl to say yes to me, how does that work?”

  She giggled. “I can handle that. How long have you been planning this?”

  He looked at Becky then John. “A week.”

  “Oh, please, he had this idea for like ten seconds and then he was totally winging it. Well done, Blue, I didn’t think you had it in you to actually take me by surprise but I like it.”

  Blue patted his arm and then he pulled her friend in for a hug.

  John came toward them and she hugged her best friend. “Thank you.”