Forever Never

by Lucy Score

“It took you damn long enough. Do you realize how lucky you are that she held out for you this long? My daughter has the attention span of a gnat. If she didn’t feel something powerful for you, she’d be working on divorce number two to some idiot she met at Burning Man or an organic cheese tasting by now.”

“I don’t like to give my cops or my daughters relationship advice. But be good to each other. By my calculations, you two have been circling this for a long-ass time. I’d hate to see one of you fuck it up.”

“Are you giving me your blessing to date Remi?”

“I’m not an idiot, like someone else in this room. You’ve had my blessing since she was of age. Not that I was going to broach the subj...

“Remi’s in the back. Weird coincidence about you both showing up with matching hickeys.”

“We are together, and if you tell me we’re not, I’m going to fuck that tight little pussy of yours until you agree.”

“I need you safe even more than I need you naked. That’s how important you are to me.”

“I-I love it when you box me in like this. When you don’t give me an escape.” “You were made for me, Remington. Don’t ever fucking doubt that.”

“What if I run?” “I’ll chase you down and bring you back. As many times as it takes.”

“You need to accept that this is the way it is. I know you’re scared. But you’re not alone anymore, and if you think I’m going to let you face this alone, then I really must have fucked that brain right out of your beautiful head.”

“Dirty dirty dirty,” she purred.

“Just because you wanted something and you worked really fucking hard to get it doesn’t mean you don’t get to acknowledge what a horrific pain in the ass it can be,” Remi pointed out.

“Don’t forget who makes you wet.”

“Don’t forget who you belong to. Who makes you come.”

“Y-you,” she whispered. “That’s right, baby. Push back against me. Come all over my fingers.”

“Next time you want to tell me this isn’t a big deal, or you don’t want to say that we’re in this together, I want you to remember this,” he said darkly and then he walked out the door.

She remembered then. The why this wouldn’t work. He’d made his choice, and it hadn’t been her.

“Do you know what it does to me to be that close to you and not be able to touch you like I want to?”

“It’s fucking torture. It’s a new ring of hell to know what your skin feels like, to

know what you taste like, but I still can’t touch you unless we’re alone.”

“I can’t help myself,” he confessed. “I know how this is going to end and I can’t stop myself from wanting more anyway.” “What kind of more?”

“What? You wanted to talk. So let’s talk. Why did you marry Audrey? Why did you pick her? Why not me?”

“Because I couldn’t have you,” he said hoarsely. “Why the fuck not, Brick? You knew I loved you.”

“You loved me?” he repeated. “Of course I did. I loved you, and you chose my best friend over me. Why?” “Because I couldn’t fucking have you!”

“What does that even mean? Why not? Audrey was my age. So it wasn’t that I was too young. My parents have adored you since they met you. I wanted to be yours so much, and you just kept rejecting me.”

“I married Audrey to ruin any chance I had with you.”

“You haunt my every waking moment, Remington. The best thing about this world is that you’re in it. But I can’t have what I want.”

“You aren’t making any fucking sense! What is so horrible about the idea of being with me?” “Because I won’t survive you! Because if I did get lucky enough to lock you down, eventually you’d find out.” “Find out what?” “That I don’t deserve you. That I’m not good enough for you. That all I have to offer you is protection and sex.”

“You’re my dream come true wrapped in a nightmare. The only thing you’re willing to give me is your body, and that’s not enough.”

“Are you saying I’m using you?” “I’m saying I feel used. And I hate myself for still wanting you. For wanting that to be enough.”

You could have had me! I could have loved you. I could have been the best thing that ever happened to you!”

“Yes. Until it was over for you. Until you were ready for your next adventure. Your next city.”

“Because I love you. I’ve always loved you.” His voice shook. “Because I won’t survive it when you leave.”

“But you were always going to leave,”

Brick Callan loved her. And he was terrified of her.

“I hate myself for wanting one last time with you. One last chance

to make you need me. Because that’s all I’m good for. That’s all I have to offer you. A place to feel safe. A way to feel good. It’s not enough,”

“This is the last time,” he promised,

“My beautiful girl.” He punctuated each word with a thrust. “My Remi. I love you.”

“What are you doing, Remi?” he asked. She turned and looked him in the eyes. “I’m dating you.” “Dating me?”

“What do you mean you’re ‘dating me’?” “You thought I was using you for sex.”

Now I’m showing you I can do better. That I want more from you than just your supernatural ability to make me orgasm.”

“We’re dating,” she affirmed. “You’re important to me, and I’m sorry I ever let you

doubt that for a second. And you’re sorry for ever believing that I’d use you.”

What kind of an asshole says “I love you,” delivers a rough good-bye fuck, then walks out while his girl was still on the floor? The Brick Callan kind of asshole.

“I’m going to be the best damn girlfriend you’ve ever had,” she said brightly.

“I knew what I wanted to feel instead of what I wanted to do,”

“Happy. Respected. Loved. I wanted to feel like I was important to someone beyond my parents and sister. I wanted to matter and not just in the ‘this is my weird little sister who sees music’ way.”

“It devastates me to know that you don’t realize what a good, honorable man you are.” His throat tightened. “I love you, Remi.”

“Baby, I love you so fucking much I can’t breathe unless you’re in the same room. So much I wish I were saying it to your beautiful face and not just your goddamn ear.” His doorbell rang, and he swore.