Insurmountable Read online

  in·sur·mount·a·ble

  T.E. WHITE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used factiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. The scanning, uploading and distribution of the book via the Internet or via any other means without permission is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchased only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support for the author’s rights is appreciated. For information contact the author.

  First Edition

  Copyright 2013 T.E. WHITE

  Cover Photography and Design by

  Regina Wamba, Mae I Design

  Cover Model

  Calen Dehen

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN:978-1500658380

  ISBN- 1500658383

  in·sur·mount·a·ble

  (insərˈmountəbəl)

  adjective

  “too great to be overcome.”

  DEDICATION

  This one is for all those who have ever been in love.

  Prologue

  A riptide of emotions clamped down on my throat, rendering me unable to speak. I wanted to reach for her hand before I let my own fall away. Stunned, I’d been unable to do anything but stare at the mouths that had continued to speak. However, the ringing in my ears prevented me from hearing a coherent word.

  A single ember burned a chasm down my cheek. The blazing hot tear was as unfamiliar as it was appropriate given the situation. My world had burned to ash with the things said and not said in that room.

  I felt like a foreigner while the walls moved in on me like a house of cards ready to fall. Claustrophobia had set in and finally I turned to the woman behind me.

  “Don’t,” I said, watching her horror. She gazed at me like I was a monster. The stranger reflected in her eyes wasn’t me. “Please.” It was almost pathetic how I pleaded. How the mighty had fallen. I felt their pity and scorned them for it.

  One woman had made me weak and I hated it and didn’t care all at the same time. She was it for me. If somehow they succeeded in poisoning her with their blasphemy, I would live my life a lonely and broken man. No way could I survive without her.

  BEFORE

  1

  I was horny as hell and looking for a quick fuck. Tits and ass were cued up as promised at the dive bar that Friday night. But the mixed scents of stale beer, sweat and vomit just made me want to leave. Too bad it was the only place within a reasonable distance of school and the closest thing to outside entertainment as we could get.

  So I perched with a wall at my back, a fresh drink in my hand, and searched for my prey for the night. In the dim light, I thought about how long it had been since I sated my needs. As the unlucky son of a senator, I didn’t do girlfriends for fear of the backlash from press, and any dolt with a cell phone if things went south. I kept things causal, giving away very little of myself and never staying around any woman for long. Even my best friend, who stood next to me, didn’t know my family lineage.

  Breaking my thoughts, two girls who looked like they had lubed up to fit in their dresses started to pass but then stopped in front of us. With grins the size of California and sprayed-on tans to match, the dark haired one said, “Tade.” She eyed me up and down, then slowed at my fly before meeting my eyes again. I gave her a two finger salute and half smile. Then she looked over at my best friend. “Gavin.” He gave a quick nod before her gaze found mine again. With a wink, she said, “Catch you guys later.” I tipped my head up, knowing full well I wasn’t going there again. Instead, I found my mark on the far side of the bar.

  Once we were along again, Gavin asked, “Who’s the redhead you’ve been staring at all night?

  My eyes shifted from the captivating creature and back to my best mate who sported a smirk having caught me watching her. She was stunning. Her hair was almost the same color as her strawberry colored lips, contrasting sharply with her porcelain skin. Stupefied with lust, I’d been mesmerized by her Venus flytrap cleavage, intoxicating to look at but deadly to the heart. It was barely revealed, yet I was captivated by it.

  “I don’t know her,” I said simply.

  In the nearly four years I’d spent at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a small private honors college on a stretch of remote eastern shore, I’d never seen her before. And I didn’t get the vibe she was local. According to Gavin, some high schools were larger in student population than our school. So it was odd our paths hadn’t crossed, and I knew I would remember a face like hers.

  “Why don’t you go talk to her before she thinks you’re some creepy stalker, or you can take on Cruella for the night?” He laughed to himself at his joke about the girl who had just spoken to us.

  I tipped the beer I’d been nursing all night to my lips and took a long swallow. “Mind your business Gav.”

  He chuckled. “No fucking way some chick has you caught all up and you haven’t even said one word to her. This is fucking priceless. In three and a half years, no one’s had you this wound up.”

  I might have been coiled tight because my dick was uncomfortably hard at an odd angle in my pants. Any more pressure and I might just jizz. It had been too long since I’d gotten laid and it wasn’t like I had any difficulty getting any. I was just particular and choosy because it was important to maintain a low profile. Tonight, the redhead in question was the reason I was all worked up. The problem was she didn’t appear the type for a one-night shag. And that was all I had to offer.

  “Dude, just bag and tag her like we’ve done a thousands of times before, or do seconds with someone else. Fuck your rule for one night.” He laughed again, thinking he was pretty funny with his mix of words.

  It was never good to tap the same piece twice if you wanted to ensure no misunderstandings. My five year plan was all mapped out and a girlfriend wasn’t on my list of goals. We’d just returned from winter break and I had one more semester of my only act of defiance against my father’s choices. After that, I would be made to heel and attend Harvard, his alma mater, for law school.

  I’d been begrudgingly allowed to attend SMCM with the knowledge that they were number two in the country for Sailing after Yale. I was rowing captain which was an altogether different sport but my parents agreed to pay the tuition anyway.

  “Earth to Tade?”

  I heard him speak but I’d just caught the eye of Red. She sat at the bar with a light spotlighted on her like a beacon. Her blue eyes twinkled the color of the sky during my early morning practice sessions on the Chesapeake Bay. She was striking in every way I should notice. Unfortunately for me, the eye contact was gone just as fast as it came. She hadn’t done the usual double take.

  “Tade.”

  I still didn’t answer, just tilted the tumbler to my lips and continued to nurse my drink. I didn’t get drunk. Couldn’t shame the family, one mantra my father said to me a million times. Plus, she went against every rule I had. It was best to stay away.

  “What the fuck man, just go for it.” Gavin continued to badger me, causing the buzz that came from me finishing the beer sooner than I thought to rush to the surface.

  Just then, her lips curved in a wide smile and she laughed the kind of laugh that was genuine and carefree. She was oblivious to the guys checking her out. Her dress only hinted at curves and didn’t advertise, like those of her friends. All signs pointed to her not being quick bang material
. The friend who stood next to her with a blue dress that hugged her like static cling was the kind most guys would have assumed was an easy lay.

  “I can’t.” I mumbled the words, giving in to reluctance.

  “Why not?” Gavin asked.

  Two guys approached her group and my stomach dropped. Quickly, her friends were led away, breaking up their trio, and I felt a sigh escape me.

  Gavin was saying something like there is your opening but I was already moving, against my better judgment. I had to talk to her; otherwise she’d invade my dreams. My hope was that she wouldn’t be able to hold a conversation, or better yet she’d give me the come fuck me eyes letting me know that the shy act was just a game.

  At the bar, I sidled up next to her but didn’t speak. The smell that drifted over to me was like wild strawberries on a summer day, which only made my dick harden more. Hell, the walk over had been awkward as I tried to conceal the wood in my pants with my drink and a well-placed arm.

  Quickly, I placed my empty glass on the bar and shoved it away a little to the left when no one was looking. The bartender finally came over and asked what I wanted. “Guinness,” was my reply. A glance over to Red let me catch her placing her empty drink down at the same time. To her, I asked, “Would you like another, hey?”

  Her eyes widened and I knew it was because of the accent I’d acquired from my time abroad. For secondary school I’d been sent to England to be educated, where I’d resided with my mother’s sister. The hope had been that I might have a more normal life there than I would have gotten here as a senator’s son. Being American overseas, I wasn’t that interesting to the foreign press and was able to live life under the radar. For college I decided to return home, choosing an unlikely school, to my father’s dismay.

  I took a minute and waited to hear her voice. What would it sound like? Shards of glass, rich like dark chocolate, or—.”

  “No, thank you. One’s my limit but thanks for asking.” Or damn, did it sound like warm honey drizzled over a warm bagel with butter, a weakness of mine.

  She turned away, not giving me a second glance. I wasn’t conceited, but I knew most girls found my features appealing. An arched brow from the bartender had me waving him away. He set off to get my draft, while I stood wondering what to do next. I was totally out of my element. It didn’t bode well for me as I was only intrigued more.

  I was saved when her blonde friend came over and tripped, splashing my back with cold liquid. I wasn’t soaked, but it would leave a wet spot. Hands swiped at my back as a voice reminiscent of Minnie Mouse apologized profusely.

  “I’m sooo sorry,” the blonde slurred. When I turned, her eyes widened. Unlike her friend, Red, her reaction was the one I was used to getting. “You are so beau-beauti-beautiful.”

  It was too late for me to stop the smug smile. Red rolled her eyes and turned away from me after handing napkins to her friend. Strike two. Why had I given the blonde the smirk? Probably because it had been my go-to action with girls like her, ones Gavin liked to so eloquently put it bag and tag for only a night.

  “Sweetheart, let me help you.” Gavin, the best wingman there, had most likely witnessed the whole thing. The blonde turned her wide grin in his direction before returning to me. The bartender set the Guinness in front of me before heading off.

  “I’m reeaallyy soorry.” Gavin caught the tilting blonde before she fell flat on her face. She continued to apologize to me, patting me dry with a handful of napkins. “Can I do anything to make it up to you?”

  She gave me an opening. “How about you convince your friend here to dance with me, yeah?” It wasn’t the slyest move but I would take what I could get. No guy wanted to be shot down, including me. Gavin gave me a glance so I quickly added, “And you dance with my friend here.”

  Red turned around and gave her friend a scathing glare. The blonde waved us off, and still giggling said, “Give us a minute.”

  I nodded, taking my Guinness, and walked away to give them a bit of privacy. Red was facing in our direction and glared down at her friend, gesturing wildly with her hands and then added a roll of her eyes for good measure.

  “This is too easy,” Gavin commented.

  “She’s drunk. You’re not going there are you?”

  Before he could answer, the blonde turned around, waving us back. She winked at Gavin and strode to the small dance floor with him in tow. The mass of movement tempted me as music poured from speakers near them.

  Red stood with her hands folded over her chest like it was a burden to dance with me. Pride finally won and I said, “Don’t bother, yeah. I really wouldn’t want to put you through so much trouble.”

  Down my throat went my fresh drink and I slapped the empty glass and a fifty on the wooden bar counter for my tab. I didn’t wait for change. I strode past, not bothering with another glance in her direction.

  2

  The freedom out in the open water appealed like no other, with nothing to churn my thoughts other than the ripple of the water as my oar barely broke the surface. My biceps burned as the familiar movement became a chore, because I’d doubled my normal morning workout. When I make it back to shore, I paid for my efforts as I struggled to carry the boat back to the boat house.

  Sun blazed a fiery path along my skin and I berated myself for not using sun block in my haste to get out of my room and out of my head. Red starred in my dreams, making me jerk one out this morning. It had been forever since my control had broken and I couldn’t wait for a girl to do me the honor of sating my needs. Tonight, I thought.

  There was rumored to be a party in one of the upper-class townhouses I lived in. It was one of the pluses at this school. Besides the normal, they offered townhouses as an alternative to dorm style living. There were four small bedrooms, a kitchen, and two baths in each townhouse. It was almost like having your own apartment.

  I pulled up short while heading to the café for a late breakfast. The small area with a meager amount of sand to emulate a beach area held towels with bodies laying out catching the sun. It was an unusually warm day in late January, hitting record highs. Everyone was enjoying the mild heat while it lasted. There amongst them was the scarlet haired girl, and my dick jumped at the mere sight of her.

  Abruptly, I headed in another direction, hoping to avoid her and her blonde friend.

  “Hey,” a bright voice sang out. I continued forward, pretending I hadn’t heard. It was plausible that whoever called out wasn’t trying to get my attention. “Gavin’s friend.”

  There was a decision and I wasn’t sure which to make. I could blow her off and continue on. Then she would probably hurl curses at me, and I was trying to stay under the radar. Last thing I needed was a girl with a cause. She might start a wage a war and Google search me. With my luck she would hit pay dirt and find out my Dad was a senator. Slowly, I turned around.

  The blonde got to her feet and I was given a view of her impressive breasts. They nearly spilled out of her bikini top. However, I found myself glancing away from her and down towards her friend. Red propped herself upon her elbows and watched her friend’s forward movement. I wondered where the third friend that had been with them at the bar was, or had I mistaken a duo for a trio of women?

  “Where’s Gavin?” the blonde asked when she stopped within a foot of me.

  “I’m not his keeper.” I folded my arms across my chest and feigned boredom.

  Ignoring my snark, she asked, “Are you English?” having finally picked up on the hint of accent I had.

  “I’m something.” Okay, I was being a total asshole but I blamed Red for that.

  “Look, I’m sorry for—,” she broke off to glance over her shoulder and waved at her friend. “She’s not good with guys like you.”

  A part of me wanted to throw out another sarcastic remark like good, because I’m not good with her kind either. However, I found myself asking, “What kind of guy am I?”

  Her arms rose and it was hard not to notice her tits bou
ncing with the movement. I shifted my eyes north just as she said, “You know… pretty.” She animatedly used her hands and arms to gesture at all of me.

  “Look, I’d love to continue this conversation, but the café will close for breakfast soon.”

  “Sure. But can you put in a good word for me?” Her eyes held the glassy dreamy gaze some girls got when talking about my friend. It took me not thinking about Red to notice that she didn’t sound like Minnie Mouse anymore. Yes, her voice was high but it wasn’t as annoying as it had been the night before.

  “I don’t know what I can say. I don’t know you, and Gavin has his own mind.”

  Her smile dipped. “Just tell him you spoke to me and I’m not that lunatic girl from last night.”

  My stomach rumbled, and I wanted this conversation to end. Red lifted up a bit more to see over the bodies in her field of vision. I got the loveliest view of her cleavage. My swim trunks weren’t equipped to conceal hard-ons. I had to move. “Sure.”

  Striding off, I made it to the café with enough time to snag the remnants of breakfast. By the time I got back to my room, my cell rang, indicating my mother was calling.

  “Mom.”

  “Darling,” she crooned. I knew the tone. It was the start of her about to ask me for a favor.

  “Just ask.”

  “Oh Tade, don’t be such a poo. I call with good tidings.”

  “The last time you called me Darling, I ended up knee deep in horse shit with a girl who could ride but whose IQ couldn’t rival the top speed on Interstate 95.”

  She laughed because she knew I was right. Ever since I got back to America she’d tried her best to set me up with every eligible bachelorette she knew. “Stop complaining, I heard she rode more than that horse that weekend.”