HE KISSES ME back.

Not at first. He seems too shocked to understand the fact I just walked into his bedroom while everyone is asleep, told him I don't want him to be alone tonight and kiss him. I don't blame him. It's kind of hard for me to believe.

It was easy to see Easton was struggling at dinner. His usual coping mechanism is partying, drinking and sleeping with random women. All three he can't do.

I hate that I still care about him—even after everything we've been through.

He sits up and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. I move my hand so my arms can wrap around his neck and his free hand moves to cup my cheek as he deepens the kiss.

He flips us over, my back against the bed as he climbs over me and continues to kiss me. I place my hand on the back of his neck, kissing him deeper as his hands roam across every inch of my skin that he can get.

I run my free hand down his chest to his abs, and he breathes out my name. I hook my leg around his waist, pushing our lower halves together, and we both moan.

"Are we really going to do this again?" he mumbles against my neck as he places kisses there.

"Not if you question it," I tell him, and he chuckles against my skin.

I move my hand lower, tugging on his pajama pants before dipping my hand inside to curl my hand around his dick. He lets out a hiss as I do.

"Someone's gotten brave," he says as he nips at my neck.

"You have no idea," I say, stroking him a few more times before pulling my hand out, and he lifts his head from my neck to kiss me properly again.

He sits up, bringing me with him, so I straddle his lap and his hands push my thin camisole above my head, throwing it across the room. His hands soon replace my top, cupping my bare breasts, giving them a generous amount of attention.

He pulls back from our kiss before moving his hands to press against my back as his lips wrap around one of my nipples, making me gasp.

I rest my hands on his shoulders, keep me steady as he sucks, nips, and kisses my breasts. He groans as I grind against him and he pulls me closer as if to get my breasts closer to his face, which is impossible.

"So beautiful," he mumbles before he lies me back down on the bed, pulling off my shorts. "Fuck, I've imagined this."

He starts to kiss down my trembling body. The anticipation is killing me. My hands run up the back of him as he moves further down and the look in his eyes as he looks up at me from between my spread legs tells me that tonight I'm his and only his.

I moan and throw my head back as he presses kisses against my pussy before he flicks his tongue against my clit. His fingers tighten around my thighs as he devours me, leaving me breathless and panting.

"Easton, more," I breathe out, bucking my hips, pushing more into him. My lower belly starts to tighten, my orgasm starting to build, and it's as if Easton can tell from my moans. He pulls back and I whine in complaint. But when he removes his pajama pants and lies back over me with his hard dick rubbing against me, I moan once again. "You're a dick."

He smirks. "I'll give you plenty more orgasms, I promise, but right now, the first time you cum tonight is going to be around my dick, Red."

"Then fuck me, East," I tell him, pulling his lip between my teeth as I nip at it and he groans. "I'm still on the pill."

He looks into my eyes. "Are you sure?"

He is asking me if I trust him enough for something this intimate, and when I nod my head, something passes through his eyes.

"Who am I to deny my fake girlfriend then?" he says and I can't help but laugh for a moment that turns into a moan when he pushes himself inside me. "Fuck."

Our bodies mold together instantly, our moans and curses falling from our lips as he pushes into me. His hand digs into my hip as he holds it for stability as he rocks our lower halves together.

My nails run down his back, pushing into his firm ass and he groans, dipping his head into my neck that he nips at.

"You feel so good," he groans, and I rock my hips against him. "Faster, baby?"

I gasp out a what somewhat resembles a yes, and he lifts his head to kiss me, picking up his speed. He thrusts into me hard and fast, where I know I'll have bruises on my hips, but I don't care. The bed rocks with us and I let out a small scream as he rotates his hips.

"Touch me," I beg, and he does as I ask. While one hand is holding him up, the other reaches out to squeeze my breasts, toying with my nipples before his hand cups the side of my neck and jaw as he kisses me deeply. "So good."

He hums in agreement before lacing his fingers with mine, bringing my arms above my head, our hands linked together as he slows down. He hits the deep spots inside of me, slowly, where we can feel every single movement and I throw my head back, but his eyes remain on me.

Our climaxes start to build and he takes his time with me, rocking against me slowly, pushing in and out at his leisure. Our eyes are connected with each other's as we both orgasm, something so intimate passing between us.

He presses a kiss to my forehead as our breathing is uneven and he rocks against me as we ride out our highs together. He rests his forehead against mine and I whimper as I go limp from my orgasm, winding down.

His body does the same, collapsing against mine, and I can feel every inch of our bodies pushed together. Our breathing fills the silence in the room, and a serene smile appears on my lips as I close my eyes, knowing he is watching me.

I feel his hand move from mine before his fingers trail across my neck, jaw and he runs his thumb across my lips. I open my eyes, seeing him watching me with an expression I can't place.

We stay like this for a moment, our bodies entwined, both of us memorizing every aspect of each other. He leaves gentle touches, brushing hair away from my forehead, a stroke on my cheek and a tap on my nose that makes me giggle.

He gives me a final soft kiss on my lips before he pulls out and lies next to me on the bed, on his back. I reluctantly sit up and he runs his hand down my back, before I give him a smile and get up to head into his bathroom to clean up and pee.

Heading back out, he watches me as I walk over to him naked and climb back onto the bed. We climb into the covers and he pulls me into his side, my leg thrown across his body, with half my body lied on top of him, my fingers trailing across his chest.

His arm is around my waist while his other hand runs across different areas of my body in a comforting and sensual way.

"Wait," he says, pausing for a moment before looking down at me. "Was this a pity fuck?" I can't help but laugh loudly as he says that, and I muffle my laughter with my hand while he has an amused look on his face. I bury my face in his chest.

"Did it feel like one?" I ask him, raising an eyebrow.

"No, but apparently girls fake their orgasms and guys never know," he tells me, stroking my cheek and I roll my eyes.

"It was definitely all real. Don't worry, it wasn't a pity fuck," I admit to him and he places a kiss on my head.

"Is this the part where you get what you want from me and kill me then?" he asks, and I can't help but laugh again.

"Wouldn't be a bad way to go," I say and he nods his head.

We lie there in silence, in each other's arms as we find comfort in one another. While I did come in here to make sure he wasn't alone tonight, the tension that has been running between us since I came on tour led to this moment. But we've been getting closer and maybe I just wanted to feel this again.

I sigh, hesitating. "Can I ask you something?"

He stops stroking my leg with his hand for a moment before carrying on. "Anything."

I don't look at him as I ask. "Why did you never tell me you were leaving earlier? And why did you just ignore me after? You never called when you were on tour. We were best friends, Easton, and you just threw me away."

"I was young and stupid. I listened to everything he said," he quietly says and I tense for a moment before leaning up, resting my arm on his chest as I look down at him.

"Everything who said?" I ask him and the pain in his eyes is hard to watch.

"I never told you I was leaving earlier was because I knew it would hurt too much to say goodbye to you," he tells me. "It's the worse excuse in the world I know, but you've been in my life since we were really young, to then not see you every day was going to be hard and I didn't want to see your face when I told you I had to leave earlier. I saw your face when I told you the original date. You looked crushed, Gabs."

"You're right. It is the worst excuse. I was still happy for you, you idiot." I push at his chest and he tightens his arms around me.

"I know you were happy for me. But I had to leave earlier than originally planned and I hadn't even wrapped my head around it myself. I have psyched myself up so much to be able to say goodbye to you the week after, but I wasn't ready to say goodbye to you yet," he says.

"I can't forget that, Easton. It would have been hard, but it was much harder the fact you just left. Especially after we slept together," I say, and he reaches up to wipe a tear away that has fallen. I sniffle and look away from him.

"I'm so sorry, Gabi," his voice breaks and I shake my head.

"And the reason you never called? Who did you listen to? Atlas?" I ask, and Easton immediately shakes his head.

"Do you remember my first agent?" he asks and I nod.

"We all hated him," I say, and it's true. He was a sleazebag, concerned with getting as much money from Easton as possible.

"Well, when I left and started the tour, he sat me down. Told me I couldn't afford any distractions or else I'd never make it to the championship tour again if I allowed distractions to get to me. I'd surf poorly and lose everything. I know I shouldn't have believed him, but I was young, I was new to the whole professional surfing scene, I wanted it to work out," he says.

"Asshole," I mutter.

"He told me if I didn't cut off distractions, specifically you he mentioned, if I wouldn't take it seriously, he was done being my agent and he would make sure no one took me on. I was young, I believed he had that power which he did not, I was worried about losing everything that instead I chose to lose you," he explains to me and I rest my head back down on his chest as more tears break free.

"Why did you never tell me?" I ask him as he runs his hand through my hair to comfort me.

"After I got rid of that agent, the damage had been done. You hated me and didn't want anything to do with me ever again. You never wanted to talk about what happened and opened that door. I didn't want to hurt you more than I had already, so I didn't bring it up because you asked me not to," he explains to me, kissing my head.

I let more tears flow and he keeps a tight hold on me as I cry. I cry for everything we lost, the time and our friendship. Something I haven't let myself do since it happened.

He doesn't say anything. He lets me cry everything out. He doesn't try to make excuses. All he says is how sorry is and I know he means it.

I don't know how much time passes before my tears have dried and I lift my head to look at him once more. I see his eyes like mine are red, having shed tears of his own.

"I'm sorry he blackmailed you that way, that he tainted the start of your career for you. It should never have happened. I forgive you for that. You didn't know any better. Leaving without telling me, especially after what we shared that night, is going to take some time. I would have never left you. No matter how hard it would have been to say goodbye, I still wanted to say goodbye to you," I tell him and he nods his head. "Promise me?"

"Promise you what?" he asks, stroking my cheek.

"Promise me no matter how hard it is, you'll always say goodbye to me?" I ask of him and he doesn't hesitate before nodding.

"I promise." He leans in to give me a kiss. "And I'll spend the rest of the tour gaining the trust I lost, if you will let me and if you'll carry on coming with me?"

"Don't you dare blow it," I warn him, and a wide smile appears on his face.

"Never again. I lost you once, I won't lose you again," he tells me, squeezing my hand before placing it over his heart. I lean down to kiss him and he turns us so we are lied down facing each other as we kiss. He places his hand on my cheek as he kisses me, pouring every emotion into the kiss. "I've missed you so much."

I look into his eyes. "I missed you too. Make love to me?"

He nudges his nose with mine. "All night, every night, for as long as you'll let me."

And that's what he does. For the rest of the night, into the morning, he worships my body, makes me feel special and whispers sweet nothings into my ear as we smile and laugh with each other.

And when he tells me he loves me and always has, I believe him.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

A U T H O R   N O T E

THEY SLEPT TOGETHER!!!!!

I loved writing this chapter, and the change between the hot and heavy to the intimate moments between them when they were talking about the past.