By Chance Box Set 1

by S A Clayton

  I tell her about reporting it and getting the email back saying that they were banned.

  “It still doesn’t stop them from creating another account and doing it again.” I take a deep breath, knowing she’s right. After all, that’s exactly what happened. I just hope I can get this all under control before it goes too far.

  “I know. But I try to ignore it. It’s just, this time, it got under my skin.”

  She asks what they said, and I tell her.

  “Who the fuck are these people? I swear, it’s like they think they’re hot shit because they’re behind a computer screen.”

  “No shit,” I mutter as we sit, and I watch the crowd around us.

  “You ever think about stopping?” I shake my head no. Because that’s not even an option. I knew when I started my YouTube channel that I would be in the spotlight more than I was used to—more than I wanted—but running it also means I can share my passion. That’s something that means more to me than feeling uncomfortable in public spaces. It means I’m doing something that brings me peace.

  I can’t give that up.

  I won’t.

  ELEVEN

  DAMON

  “Thanks for watching, guys! Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button to see videos every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday! Until next time!” Clara blows a kiss to the camera, waves, and then the next video starts to load.

  I’ve spent the last four hours in a loop of watching as many of Clara’s videos as possible. I’m addicted. Do I need to know how to contour properly? How to create that perfect smoky eye, or what concealer is the best for undereye circles? No. But I know all of that now—and more.

  The woman is amazing. The videos themselves are simple, but she lights up on camera. She’s confident, funny, and her skills are impressive. I’ve never given much thought to how makeup is applied, but the way Clara does it? I could watch for hours…obviously.

  I continue scrolling through the videos I haven’t watched yet, and one piques my interest. It’s from a few weeks ago and titled Perfect First Date Makeup. I can’t help but press play, and her beautiful face fills the screen once more. I don’t really pay attention to how she applies the makeup, all I want to see is what she might look like when we go out tonight. As she talks through the application of her look, I scroll down and read some of the comments. A smile breaks out at all the women commenting that Clara has helped them find their confidence and that her personal stories help them when they’re having a bad day. A sense of overwhelming pride sweeps through my chest as I continue reading the comments.

  There’s a knock at my office door, and my eyes shoot up to see Liam pop his head in. “Are you still watching those videos?” he grumbles as he lets himself in and sits in the leather chair opposite my desk. I say nothing, just nod as I mute Clara’s voice. I ignore Liam’s stare and focus my attention on one comment that catches my eye.

  That lipstick makes your lips so fucking sexy. One day, they will wrap around my dick, and it will be so far down your throat, you’ll beg me to breathe. I can’t wait. Xoxo B.

  What the actual fuck? Do people really think this shit is okay?

  “What are you looking at?” Liam mutters, coming over to my side of the desk as he reads over my shoulder.

  “What the fuck? Is that actually real?” I scroll down even farther and find another one.

  I bet that voice will sound amazing screaming my name while I fuck you senseless.

  Seriously, I’m going to kill every person who writes something about fucking my girl.

  My girl?

  Since when did that happen?

  “I know, there seems to be more good comments than bad ones, but how does she read all these? It would mess with my fucking mind every time I made a video.”

  Liam agrees and leans back against my desk, crossing his arms.

  “What are you gonna do about it?” I look at him like he’s insane. As much as I want to use my connections and find every fucker that says anything even remotely sexual toward Clara, I can’t. She would kill me. And as much as I want to deny it, she’s crawled her way into my life, and I won’t fuck that up.

  “Nothing. I’m going to do nothing because she’s a grown-ass woman.” I grit out the words as if they physically hurt to say. God, what I wouldn’t do to get my private investigator buddy to look into this, but I rein myself in.

  “If it were me—”

  “I know. You would be all up in it. But I’m not you. I really like this girl, and I don’t want to scare her off.” Liam gives me a knowing look, and I roll my eyes, leaning back in my chair.

  “Fine. I’ll talk to her about it tonight.”

  After Liam shuts my door on his way out, I glance at the comments one more time, and the anger starts to boil beneath my skin. Why doesn’t she have the comments disabled? It would solve all these problems.

  Before I think better of it, I take out my phone and text her.

  Why don’t you have the comments on your videos disabled?

  It takes less than a minute before my phone rings, and Clara’s picture stares back at me.

  “What are you talking about?” she snaps. Her accusatory tone grates on my nerves.

  “I want to know why you don’t have the feature disabled when you’re getting comments about someone who isn’t me fucking you.”

  “You watched one of my videos?” she asks quietly, and the rational part of my brain knows that I need to tread carefully here. But that’s not what happens.

  “I watched many, and on every single one, there is a comment about how sexy you look, how fuckable you are.” I tense, the anger ready to burst through me, aimed directly at Clara.

  “I know,” she states as if it’s not the most despicable thing I’ve ever read.

  “You know,” I mutter, my voice oddly calm, waiting for her response. But when it doesn’t come, I continue. “You know, and yet the comments feature is still enabled.” I can hear the disgust in my voice, and I hate it. Yet how should someone react, knowing the woman they’re sleeping with is basically being called a whore and more online?

  “It’s none of your business why the comments are still up,” she says calmly, and I lose it.

  “None of my business? Clara, the second I put my cock in you, it became my business. Unless you like being called a whore and get off on it. If that’s the case, you should have told me. I could’ve been doing it this whole time.” I regret the words the second they leave my mouth, but the moment I hear her intake of breath, I know I fucked up.

  “Clara, I—” I start, but she hangs up.

  Fuck.

  TWELVE

  CLARA

  I hang up and fight the urge to throw my phone across the room. I can’t believe he said something like that to me. Like I’m nothing but the scum on the bottom of his shoe. Worse, he thinks he has a right to dictate how I run my business.

  Nope. Not happening.

  I glance around the room and look for something to throw and come up with a pillow. When it hits the wall with an unsatisfactory thump, I fall back onto my bed and call JJ.

  “What’s up, chicky?” Normally, the smile in her voice would bring out one in me, but right now, all I can think about is the fact that Damon basically called me a whore.

  “What’s wrong?” JJ asks when I just groan out loud. “Clara, what is going on?” she demands, and I sit up, playing with the edge of my comforter.

  “Damon and I might have just had our first fight.” Even saying it out loud makes it seems so stupid. Our first fight. Like we deserve a plaque for the effort. We’ve only been seeing each other for what? A week at most? And I can’t even call what we’re doing dating. No, we’re fucking. That’s what we’re doing.

  “Might have?” she questions, and I roll my eyes at my own damn self. God, this is so stupid. I need to revoke my adult card and go back to high school.

  “I hung up on him,” I mutter, and JJ laughs.

  “Honey, I hate to break it to you,
but hanging up on a guy is not a fight. Tell me exactly what happened.”

  I tell her everything, and after a few seconds of silence, she curses. “I’m gonna kill him.” I smile at the thought of JJ taking out a guy like Damon.

  “I’m serious. That boy is so dead. I swear, he’s never been with a girl long enough to know what the fuck to do in a situation like this.”

  Fuck, she’s probably right. He’s likely never had an actual fight. What if this is it? What if he’s done with me now?

  “I’m gonna set that boy straight,” JJ says, bringing me back to reality. Before I have the chance to ask her what exactly she means, she disconnects, and I’m left in silence, wondering if I just made the whole situation worse.

  I look at my phone and see no missed calls from Damon and try not to let it affect me, but my heart sinks at the thought of us being finished. What if I overreacted? What if he was really just trying to protect me, and by telling him to butt out, I made him lash out? There’s a small part of me that loves the idea of Damon feeling protective of me. I’ve never had someone in my life—besides JJ—act that way. And I won’t lie and say that I didn’t like that side of him. I liked knowing that he cared enough to leave logic at the door. Then my mind reminds me that he called me a whore, and I get angry all over again.

  I sit there for a second and question everything. Do I want this to be over because of this?

  No.

  A knock at the door takes me out of my thoughts, and I head out into the living room, making my way to the front door. There’s a moment of panic that it’s Damon and he’s here to break things off, but when I open the door, I see a massive bouquet of yellow lilies. I can’t help but smile.

  “I was told these were your favorite,” Damon says softly, lowering the flowers. I take in his appearance for the first time. His hair is a mess of dark curls, and it looks as if he’s been running his fingers through it for the past hour. His dark blue tie hangs loosely around his neck, and his crisp white shirt is untucked, the collar undone. To be frank, he looks like shit.

  “They are. I’m guessing JJ told you that?” He nods curtly as his eyes roam over my body. I look down and realize that I’m wearing boy shorts and an oversized fluorescent pink sweater. The heat from his gaze lets me know he still likes what he sees.

  “Can I come in?” he asks, almost unsure of himself, and I open the door wide enough to let him in. He passes me, and I close my eyes as the scent of his cologne washes over me.

  It’s not fair for a man to smell so good.

  “Clara I—”

  “Damon…” We both speak at the same time, making each other smile.

  “You go.” He motions as I take the flowers into the kitchen off the living room and put them in water. His eyes never leave me as I work, and when I look back at him, he’s leaning against the doorframe.

  “I wanted to apologize.” Part of me doesn’t want to since he said some pretty nasty things. And the look on his face says he agrees.

  “You shouldn’t have to apologize. What I said was completely out of line. I was an overbearing ass. At least, that’s what JJ made me realize.” I smile at that, but the expression fades when I meet his eyes.

  “I didn’t mean what I said.” I try and say something, but he continues. “Those bastards calling you a whore is not on you. I shouldn’t have—”

  I hold up my hand for him to stop.

  “Damon, I won’t lie and say that the words didn’t hurt. Of course, they did. You were someone I thought I could trust, and you demolished that with one phone call.” His eyes turn downcast, and the shame flows off his shoulders in waves.

  “But I should have told you my reasons instead of telling you that it wasn’t your business. I know you were just looking out for me. And to be honest, I haven’t felt that in a very long time.” There’s a questioning look in his eyes, but he lets it go.

  “Sunshine,” he says as he walks toward me, taking my face in his hands. “I don’t know what’s happening between us but, damn, I want to find out.” I smile up at him, nodding even though he never asked me a question.

  “I just worry. Which is a new feeling for me. You’re going to have to give me some leeway for a bit, okay?” I agree again. His forehead lowers to mine as my eyes close.

  “Can I please take you on that date I promised you?” he whispers, his lips brushing mine lightly.

  “Okay,” I croak, looking into the eyes of the man I know will either ruin me or set me on fire.

  THIRTEEN

  DAMON

  “Where are we?” Clara asks as we pull up to Mama’s Diner. I smile to myself as I help her out of the car and take a look at the way her ass looks in the jeans she’s wearing. They’re like a second skin, and I can’t keep my hand from brushing down the curve of her ass.

  “Can I help you?” she teases, turning as our eyes meet. Hers sparkle with lust as my fingers take purchase, caressing the soft flesh. I growl low in my throat as I grasp her hips and bring her back flush against my front. I hear her gasp as she feels exactly how much I love the jeans she’s wearing.

  “You can help me, Sunshine, but not until later. I want to fantasize about pulling these fucking jeans off your body one inch at a time, then tasting that pussy for hours.” Her breath hitches as my fingers trail up her stomach as I reach under her flowy top. My lips trail a path up her neck until they are right next to her ear.

  “I want you wet and waiting for me all night. Okay, Sunshine?” She nods, not saying a word as my fingers leave her skin and take her hand, leading her into the diner. I can feel her shivering next to me, and a smug look crosses my face.

  “What the hell is that look for?” Mama Jenn calls from across the diner. “I sure as hell didn’t put it there.” I hear Clara chuckle beside me, and I look down and wink at her.

  Man do I love that flush that covers her skin when I do that.

  “Mama Jenn, this is Clara. Clara, this is Mama Jenn, she practically raised Liam and me.” I motion for her to sit at the reserved table that Liam and I share whenever we’re here. When she’s seated, I slide in next to her.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Clara. I never thought I’d see the day Damon would bring a girl here.” Clara gives me a questioning look, but I just shrug. What can I say? She’s the only one who’s been worth the effort. She’s worth everything.

  “What can I get you two?” Mama Jenn asks as I look at Clara. I ask if I can order for her. She smiles shyly and motions for me to get whatever I want. I order my favorite meal, and Mama Jenn leaves us alone once again.

  “So, she raised you? What happened to your parents?” Clara looks shy as she asks the question, but I just take her hand and make sure she knows that she can ask me anything.

  “Oh nothing bad happened to them.” She sighs in relief. “They, like Liam’s parents, were more preoccupied with their status in society than concerned with what their teenage boy was up to.” She smirks and gives me a look.

  “Is that the polite way of saying that you were a pain in the ass?” she teases as Mama Jenn brings over our milkshakes—a staple of my diet as a kid.

  “That’s putting it lightly,” Mama Jenn interjects, and I groan. “This boy was worse than Liam, and it took a lot more than a few shifts at this place to set him straight.”

  “Wait, you used to work here?” Clara asks as she looks between Mama Jenn and me. I shrug and look to my left because I know what’s coming.

  “Yes, he used to work here. When he was arrested at fourteen, I knew he needed the same treatment as Liam. So, I gave him a job and made sure all his free time was spent here and not out being a dipshit.” I roll my eyes.

  “You were arrested?” Clara yells, gaining the attention of all the other diners in the room.

  “Scream it louder, I don’t think the chef heard you in the back,” I mutter while Clara just stares at me. Her eyes are wide and expectant, and I look to Mama Jenn for help.

  Her hands rise in mock surrender. “Do
n’t look at me. I’m not the one who didn’t tell her you were arrested.” Mama Jenn laughs as she leaves us be, and I look over at Clara, who is still staring, waiting for me to explain.

  “I was young and stupid, okay?” She raises an eyebrow, and I chuckle.

  “I was in with the wrong crowd. My parents didn’t care what I did, so I got into some trouble. I stole a DVD from Walmart.”

  “That’s it?” she asks, and my gaze lowers because this next part is where I get embarrassed.

  “I might have also punched the cop because one of the guys dared me to.” Clara laughs and shakes her head.

  “Mama Jenn was right, you were a dipshit.” A burst of laughter leaves me, and when her radiant smile appears, I know everything’s okay.

  “Yeah, she’s right. I was. But she set me straight, and the twelve or so years I spent here were the best I could ask for.” She nods.

  “So, what about you? Where are your parents?” I realize that we haven’t really talked these last few days. We’ve mostly just had sex or texted about having sex. The more time I spend with this girl, the more I want to know, the more I want to immerse myself in every aspect of her life.

  “There’s really nothing to tell. I grew up just outside of the city, and my parents were great…until I started my YouTube channel.” The sadness on her face makes me feel it in every limb.

  “They didn’t like the idea of me exposing myself to the world. They told me I had to stop the channel or get out. So, I left.”

  A server brings over our order. Two burgers and fries with Mama Jenn’s signature dipping sauce. The minute Clara takes a bite, I know she loves it. The moan that leaves her gorgeous mouth makes me imagine all sorts of fantasy scenarios. Unfortunately, I can’t do any of them in this diner.

  “Do you talk to them now?” I ask, hoping for some semblance of a happy ending for her. Unfortunately, she shakes her head.

  “They told me last time I called that they would only speak to me once I stop whoring myself out to the world.” She rolls her eyes and tries to smile through the pain, but it’s there. It stares back at me with uneasiness and panic.