The Langfield Brothers: Box Set

41. Gavin

FORTY-ONE

GAVIN

My head pounds and feels like it’s underwater. I deserve to be tortured this way after what I put Millie through.

She steps out of the bathroom, cast in light from the doorway, wearing a ribbed pink cropped tank that exposes the curves of her stomach and a matching pair of light pink pajama pants that sway as she moves. The sight of her sucks all the air from my lungs, making the sensations plaguing me that much stronger.

“Come on, Coach. Bath is ready.” The worry in her tone as she approaches me makes me want to tell her to leave. I’ve been so horrible to her, yet she’s here, taking care of me. I’m such an asshole.

Her wild, curly hair is pulled back in a messy bun, with loose strands framing her face, and like an idiot, I reach for one and tug on it gently like I used to. When we were in bed. Or when she was playing the piano, focused and writing a song. Her eyes would glint like she knew I was a schoolboy just after some attention. I’d pull her hair, and then she’d press her lips to mine or tear off her top and grace me with the sight of her gorgeous tits. Inevitably, she’d end up riding my cock, teasing me while I made her come at least three times.

Despite how close to death I feel, my cock goes rock hard at just the memory.

Millie holds out her hand, but with a grunt, I ignore it and push off the bed and onto my feet. It takes far too much effort, but I keep myself from swaying, even though I immediately feel dizzy.

The soft, defeated sigh Millie releases sends a similar feeling through me. I wish I knew how to act around her. I wish I knew how to stop hurting her.

This is a losing situation.

She doesn’t want this. She doesn’t want a family with me. To be tied down. Why won’t she just give up on us already?

If she keeps pushing herself toward me, I’m liable to grab hold of her, and the moment that happens, I won’t let go.

I can’t do that again. I can’t get lost in the devastation. Vivi needs me.

The bathroom is all white and blinding, making my head throb with more force.

Clad in only my black slacks, I lean against the wall with a grunt, staring at the bubbling bath through slitted eyes. Damn, it looks enticing. With a grunt, I work my belt buckle, pushing away my concerns about Millie seeing me naked. She’s right. We’re both adults, and she’s seen everything.

The bright light above goes out, leaving us shrouded in the dim glow of the single light over the shower. The change eases the pain in my head almost immediately.

“Thanks,” I grind out, sliding my pants off and leaving them in a heap on the floor.

Millie faces the other direction, as if she’s trying to give me privacy, but the mirror covering the wall reflects the image of my naked body, so it’s a useless gesture.

Every step I take toward the bath is excruciating, so I get little enjoyment out of seeing the flush creep up her neck. As I steady myself with a hand on each side of the tub and sink into the water, every cell in my body screams in relief.

“Fuck,” I murmur when I’m fully submerged.

Millie is still facing the mirror, frozen to the spot, her shoulders rising and falling as if her breaths are labored.

I rest my head against the tub and turn it so I’m facing the wall, intent on not staring. “You can go. I can call for you if I need help.” My eyelids flutter shut, the ability to hold them open a losing battle.

“Not safe,” Millie murmurs, closer than she was a moment ago. Her fruity scent mingles with the lavender fragrance of the bath water.

I blink my eyes open and turn, finding her seated on the side of the tub, worry etching her face.

“You gotta stay awake until we get you back in bed.”

Eyes heavy, I let them close again, and my head lolls against the cool porcelain beside her thigh.

“Gavin,” she says, her tone a bit more urgent now.

I try to open my lids, to obey, but the task is an impossible one.

Fingers scratch at the top of my head, and I whimper in appreciation. “So good,” I mutter.

She does it again, and I moan.

“Feel good?” she teases.

I force my eyes open, fighting against the heavy weights keeping the lids lowered, and find her watching me with a smug smile. But it’s the way she studies me that stops me from telling her to leave again. The caution that’s missing from those golden hues.

That’s Millie, though. She loves big and gives herself to the people she cares about, even when they don’t deserve it. It’s what drew me to her years ago. The way she gave her attention, her heart, to people who were too busy to notice made me want to give her everything.

“You know it does,” I rasp.

Her chest swells with a surprised breath, the movement drawing my attention to her tits again. There’s no denying it now. She’s done something. “What’s on your nipples, Mills?”

Her smile widens. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“Fuck.” The curse is sharp under my breath.

She shakes her head and laughs silently as she turns away. Then she leans over the tub, cups her hands, and pours water over my head. It feels so fucking good I forget everything else.

Like how I’m supposed to be staying away from her. Like how I can’t love her again. Like how na?ve that idea is, because I never stopped.

She pours another scoop of water, this time onto my chest, and rubs slow circles over my pecs. I silently watch her, giving up the battle. Her touch feels like heaven. With every swipe of her fingers, my cock hardens and my resolve weakens.

Openly ogling her now, I clear my throat. “Why’d you come back?”

An almost aggravated huff of breath slips through her lips. “I thought that was obvious.”

“Brat,” I mutter.

She smiles, and then I do too. Immediately, I regret it. The slight movement makes my head throb. With a breath in, I school my expression and wait for the pain to ease again.

“Tell me,” I beg.

Her golden eyes shimmer. “It was time.” She slides her hand lower, continuing her soothing ministrations.

When she dips beneath the water. I hiss. She sucks in a breath and slides her hand up again, but I grasp her wrist to stop her, holding her fingers right on my abdomen.

“ Gav ,” she pleads.

I hold her gaze and squeeze. “Time for what?”

A knock at the door cuts through the silence, startling her so badly she pitches forward into the bath. Before she can hit the water, I catch her. We stay like that for a moment, heads close and our breaths mingling.

“Shit.” She blinks and pulls back. “That’s probably room service with your medicine.”

She gently disentangles herself from my hold and points toward the door, the wall coming down between us again. “I’ll go handle that. Don’t get out until I’m back.”

I nod, though I have no intention of staying in this bath now. Not after our close call a moment ago.

When she returns, a bottle of water and pills in her hand, I’m seated on my bed, toweled off and in a pair of shorts.

“You’re a terrible listener,” she murmurs, handing me the water and medication.

I point at her with the neck of the bottle, my lips tipping up. “Pot, meet kettle.”

With a snort, she looks away and points to the door. “I’ll be in the other room if you need me.”

“Could you—” I clamp my mouth shut before any other words slip out.

Millie turns back, her golden eyes open and shining, her heart laid out for me, allowing me to take from her again. “Anything, Gavin. I will do anything you ask.”

Pain lances my chest at her words. I close my eyes and breathe through it. I’m really starting to believe her. Truly starting to believe that not only would she do what I asked, but she’d do it happily, and not just because it would make me happy. That maybe it would make her happy too. That I could make her happy too.

So I say what I should have said months ago. The single word that’s been burning a hole through my body, trying to escape. “Stay.”

Without hesitation, she rounds the bed and sits on the other side of the mattress, her head tilting my way. “Of course.”

What she doesn’t know is I wasn’t talking about for the night. What I need more than anything is for her to stay with me forever .