Free Fighting to Survive (Guarded Hearts Book 3) by Alexis Noelle

We walk back out and find the boys by the bar where we left them. I walk up to Shawn. “Do you want to dance?”
    When he looks down at me, he smiles and nods his head. We walk out to the dance floor and start moving to the dance song that just started. I’m standing with my back to Shawn and moving against him. I hate that we’re going to his parents’ after this because all I want to do was to rip his clothes off.
    I just might need to give up my morals for one night.

Chapter Ten
     
Shawn
     
    The way she’s moving against me has me going absolutely insane. She’s grinding and rubbing against me, and instead of enjoying it, it’s just torture. It might be enjoyable if I knew I could take her home after this and be able to have her, but that isn’t the case.
    She turns to face me and the fire in her eyes gives me hope she might change her mind. She lifts her hands and runs them through my hair.
    “You’re killing me, babe.” She smiles and leans up to kiss me. “It’s a good way to go, though.”
    Christen laughs and we keep dancing. After almost an hour, I’m absolutely exhausted and more than a little ready to take her home. I’m sitting at a table with Carter because we had given up on trying to keep up with the girls about twenty minutes ago.
    “So, how is everything?”
    I look over at Carter. “It’s going good. She is really down to earth and we have been having a great time together.”
    “Just good?”
    “I don’t know. How did you know when it was right with Madison? I remember a couple days after you first met her you were pissed because she said you couldn’t hang out anymore. Jason and I thought you had really lost it, but I get it now. It’s only been a little over a month but I would not be willing to just let her go.”
    “Time doesn’t matter. People try to use time to justify the validity of things, but the only thing that matters is the way you feel. I knew Maddy was the one because I would do anything just to make things better for her. I would sacrifice what makes me happy just to be able to take care of her. That’s how you know it’s right.”
    Everything he just said made so much sense. The girls come up to the table looking like they might finally be ready to leave. Christen sits down next to me and rests her head on my shoulder. “You tired, babe?” She nods her head and when I look over at Carter, he motions his head toward the door. “All right, come on, girls.”
    We walk out to the car, I open the door to let Christen in, and start the drive back to my house. “Hey, Christen, I—” When I look over at her, she’s sound asleep. I don’t want to wake her when I pull into my driveway, but when I open her door to get her, she opens her eyes. “Good morning, beautiful.” I scoop her up in my arms and she relaxes against my chest.
    Maybe Carter was right. Maybe time doesn’t matter. I place her on my bed and grab her something to change into. I know she’ll be uncomfortable in what she’s in, and I also like seeing her in my clothes. I nudge her a little and she opens her eyes and smiles at me. She reaches up and grabs my face between her hands, pulling it toward her until our lips touch. When I pull away from her, I want to try to take things further, but I can see she’s in no condition for that.
    I help her get dressed, although it’s more like dressing a doll because she’s barely conscious. When I crawl into bed with her, she relaxes against me and I kiss the top of her head. “Good night, beautiful.”
    I love you

Chapter Eleven
     
Christen
     
    Today is the day we’re going from Shawn’s house to my house and I’m not at all ready for it. I love staying at his house and spending time with his parents. I’m not ready to be back in my tension-filled house.
    As we pull up to my house, my stomach drops. I know how judgmental and unfair my parents can be, especially when it comes to people who aren’t as well off as we are. All I can do is hope