My Only Regret (Twisted Fate Book 1)

by James, Rhonda

  “I should have given you more respect than that.” He walked over and sat on the edge of my bed. He tried to make eye contact but I refused. “Come on, Rhyann. You were out with another guy, what was I supposed to do?" He pleaded.

  "What did you think I was going to do with Alex tonight?” When he didn’t respond I tried again. “Jesse?”

  He sighed loudly before speaking, “I was jealous, okay. I saw you with him and I was so fucking jealous. I was afraid you would let him take you back to his place.”

  "Why would I do that? I've only known him a few days."

  "You'd only known me ten minutes before you decided to go home with me." He argued. "I saw you at Theo's and, I don't know, it was the first time we'd been together in that place since that night. I couldn't stand watching him with you."

  "Jesse," I moved closer to him. "The night we met was different. I wasn't out looking for someone to take me home. I'm not even sure what I was looking for tonight." I muttered.

  "I still didn't like watching him touch you, not when I know the sounds you make when you're touched certain ways. I couldn't bear knowing he would be the one to make you respond that way." He squeezed his eyes shut and blew out sharply through his nose.

  “That's what it took to make you realize your feelings for me?"

  "No. I've known all along." He admitted, quietly. My head snapped in his direction and my mouth gaped open. "I've done a lot of things that I'm not proud of, but my only regret is that I wasn't honest with you from the beginning." He reached out to grab hold of my fingers, and held me firmly in place. "I should have told you the day I hired you. Hell, I should have told you that last morning we were together. I knew something was happening even back then. I guess I just assumed that it was because we had shared an amazing night, but deep down I knew it was much more. I haven’t been with another woman sexually in months. I can't go to sleep at night unless I keep one of your shirts on the pillow next to me, just so I can smell you when I close my eyes."

  "I wondered why all of my shirts were disappearing." I whispered, my voice shaking as I spoke. "Wait, what about all those women that came here while I've been working? What about Josie the other night?" Now I was even more confused.

  "I hung out with them, and I may have kissed them, but we never had sex. I couldn't bring myself to touch them like that after you came back into my life. Don't you see? I didn't just bring you here because I needed someone to organize my shit. I brought you here so I could be close to you." He moved closer, cupping his hand around the back of my head and pulling me to him while speaking with his lips pressed to my forehead. "I know that I've taken my sweet ass time to tell you this, but I've thought about you every day since our first night together. I've thought about how you smelled, how you tasted, how your body shuddered when you came around me. You were only supposed to be in my bed, I never expected you to move into my heart."

  My eyes filled with tears at his confession and I choked out my next words. "Why didn't you just tell me? You knew how I felt about you. I was honest with you from the start."

  "It wasn't that simple. I've never chased a woman before, but after you left me two years ago I couldn't stop thinking about you. I thought about your lips, and how I wanted to kiss them. Even though I'd only heard it a short time, I missed the sound of your laughter. Fuck, Rhyann, when I woke up that morning and you were gone--" His hand moves to cup my face and I stare up at him through tear soaked lashes. "You fucking ruined me. I fell hard for you that night. After that I did everything I could to try and get you out of my head, but it was no use. I'm sorry I never called you. I'm sorry I waited this long to tell you what you mean to me, but I'm not sorry that I finally told you. I couldn't stand seeing you with someone else, seeing his hands on our body, not when I know how amazing that body feels. I want to hold you and keep you safe, but at the same time I want to do things that make you scream. For the first time in my life, you make me want more.” He lifted my face to his before continuing. “I'm not sure I can promise you forever, not yet anyway. I want to, God knows I do, but it's been a long time since I've let myself fall like this. All I know right now is that I'm fucking crazy about you, and even though I don't know what our future holds, I can promise you tomorrow. I'm willing to do the work to prove it to you.”

  "I've waited so long to hear you say that." I whispered, throwing my arms around his neck.

  I lifted my chin and our lips came together tenderly. Tasting one another. He nibbled across my lips slowly, savoring each bite. I moved my hands up around his neck and ran my fingers through his long hair. I lifted my body slightly to meet his and his weight pressed against me, pinning me to the bed. Our lips were still locked together, and our tongues delicately brushed together as if testing the waters again before diving in headfirst. He slipped his hands beneath me and held the back of my head. His lips inched down the side of my neck, leaving delicate kisses along their path before making their way back to my all too eager mouth. He kissed me hard, pulling softly on my bottom lip before breaking the kiss.

  "I liked it when you sang to me. I was shocked, but I liked knowing that I was the only person in the room that mattered." I smoothed my hand over his tight chest.

  "You are the only person that matters." He kissed the top of my head. "I'll sing to you anytime."

  "Will you sing something to me now?" I snuggled closer, even though we were pressed against each other I still sought to be closer. At this moment I would have crawled inside him if that were possible. I'd waited two years for his arms to hold me like this. Sure, we had kissed and made out a few times since, but this was different. The way he held me made me feel wanted. He began singing softly, and as he sang his hips rocked slowly, moving us back and forth in perfect rhythm.

  The love that I'm feeling s'got me going insane.

  My heart's beating faster than a runaway train.

  Was lost to the bitterness, blinded by pain,

  Your touch was my healing I'll forever be changed.

  Destroying the heartbreak, erasing the shame,

  I'm jumping the tracks to board this runaway train.

  "Hmm, I love that song. That one has always been one of my favorites."

  "Well, Tyler wrote it for Stefani when they got married." His fingers brushed through my hair as he spoke. "Now I get to sing it to a woman who has no idea how incredibly beautiful she is." I shook my head and tried to pull away but instead he pushed me back onto the bed and leaned over me. "Rhyann, what is it?"

  “I’m not used to men telling me that I'm beautiful. I mean, look at me.” My voice was almost a whisper.

  “I am.” He kissed me delicately. “All I see is perfection. Everything about you drives me wild. Everything.” He reiterated. “From here.” He lightly kissed the top of my head. “To here.” His finger traced down to the toe of my boot. “Make no mistake, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

  “Thank you.” I whispered, softly. “For some reason, when I hear you say it I believe it.” I ran my fingers through his hair, raising my mouth to his for another kiss. He pulled me against him and wrapped his arms around me, holding me close as we talked through the night. Not once did he attempt to take it further, we just spent the evening locked in an embrace, kissing like we were a couple of teenagers and that was the only option we had.

  It was incredibly sexy, and just what I needed from him.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Two days later, I woke to the smell of coffee and Jesse’s deep voice in my ear. “Time to get up sleepy head. Let’s go.”

  “Ugh,” I groaned looking at my clock. “Why are you in my room at this hour?”

  “Come on, I’ve got plans for us today. We are getting out of this house and forgetting about work, just two friends hanging out together. Here’s your coffee. Now get up, get dressed and meet me downstairs.”

  “Wait,” I sat up quickly. “Where are we going? I need to know how to dress.” Honestly, this man was something else. I must admit
that he was certainly going out of his way to prove himself to me.

  “It’s a surprise, but we will be walking around and it’s a warm day.” Thirty minutes later I was out of the shower and getting dressed. I pulled my hair back in a loose ponytail and threw on jeans and a T-shirt.

  I made my way to the kitchen and grabbed another cup of coffee. I heard Jesse’s voice coming from the porch, he was on the phone, and I gathered that he was talking with Tyler.

  “I think we should take the day off.” There was a pause in the conversation. “I have something that I need to do today so I’ve already made plans. I won’t be there. Just forget about the music for today and spend the day with your beautiful wife. Hell, she deserves to be spoiled so take her someplace nice.” He turned to find me standing in the doorway and his face broke into a warm smile. “Man, I have to go, there’s a beautiful woman waiting for me. Yeah, I’ll do my best. You do the same.” He walked over to me. “You are gorgeous.” He held out his arm for me to take hold of and we headed outside.

  "Where are we going?"

  He took my hand and led me to the garage. “I thought we could go on a picnic by the river.” We step inside and he guides me over to a beautiful vintage motorcycle.

  “I didn't know you rode." I ran my finger over the seat of the Harley Davidson. I didn’t know a lot about motorcycles, but one of partners at the law firm used to have a bike similar to this, and he’d given me a ride home a few times when my car had been in for repairs. I loved the feeling of the wind in my face and couldn't wait to have an excuse to wrap my arms around Jesse's waist as he drove.

  “Hey babe, I thought we could stop by a club later tonight and watch an old friend showcase some new music. I really want him to meet you. Would that be okay?” I was giddy at the thought of him wanting to show me off to his friends.

  “Of course," I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "I would love to see your friend perform.”

  "Great. I think you'll love his sound. Now, mount that gorgeous ass on this seat and wrap your arms around my waist." His deep voice practically growled at he instructed me.

  "Okay." I followed his directions and settled in. "Are my legs okay like this?" I asked, holding them close to the impressive piece of machinery.

  "You can wrap those around my waist too, if you want." He rubbed his nose with mine and gave me a quick peck on the lips.

  I laughed seductively and moved closer. "Maybe later I will." He let his hand fall and gave me a gentle squeeze before firing up the bike and leading us down the driveway and out into the street.

  He took me on a tour of Seattle, stretching out our time together. Traffic was surprisingly light as we made our way along the beautiful stretch of road. The hills were steep and at one point my grip intensified.

  "Uh, babe, I need you to loosen up just a bit. I'm already distracted by being this close, and I don't want to crash." He threw his head back and laughed.

  "Oops, sorry." I eased up on my grip and pressed my cheek against the warm leather that stretched over his back.

  We rode a little further, stopping once for me to snap a picture of us with the Space Needle in the background. By the time we pulled into Kerry Park I was famished.

  He'd thrown together a small cooler filled with wine, crackers and brie, dried figs and assorted nuts. There were containers of deli meats that Jesse seemed fond of, but I preferred the cheese and figs that paired nicely with my wine. We sat on a beautiful quilt that Jesse had pulled out of one of the saddlebags on his bike. Once I had my fill of everything I leaned back, propping myself on my elbows to do a little people watching. Jesse leaned back and assumed the same position.

  “See that couple over there.” I pointed discreetly to a young couple hugging and looking very happy. “She just told him that she is pregnant with their first child.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I’m playing a game. I like to observe people and try to guess what it is that they are going through. By the looks of them they are sharing some very happy news.” I shrugged.

  “Or, maybe she just told him that he was going to get lucky tonight.” he joked.

  I tapped my index finger against my chin and thought about it for a moment. “Nah, I like my story better. If she told him they were going to have sex they wouldn’t be still standing there.” I scoffed.

  “Good point. Find someone else.” He encouraged. We played back and forth like that for a few minutes before the young couple walked past us, smiling proudly. “You look very happy.” Jesse called out to them.

  “My wife just told me that we’re having a baby. I’m going to be a father!” He beamed at his beautiful wife.

  “Congratulations!” He called out before turning to me and shaking his head. “You never cease to amaze me.”

  “Now your turn.” I poked him gently in the arm.

  He rubbed his hands together devilishly and chuckled. “Prepare to be wowed.” He looked around the park and took a few minutes to find his target. “There.” He tipped his head in the direction I should be looking. “See the young guy with the guitar and a pencil between his teeth?” I strained my eyes and soon they landed on the subject in question. I nodded in affirmation. “Right now he is feeling overwhelmed by the task of writing the perfect love song for his girl. He’s struggling, I can tell by the tension in his jaw. He wants to propose with this song but he just doesn’t know how to put the words of his heart on paper.” He leaned back smugly on the blanket and left me to ponder his theory.

  “We have to go help him.” I announced. I stood and lowered my hand to help him up.

  “Seriously? I thought this was just a game.”

  “Jesse, if in fact he is doing what you just projected then we have to at least offer our assistance. Besides, I don’t know of anyone better to help write a poetic love song.” My words dripped with sweetness, and I batted my eyelashes for the full effect.

  “Yeah, I guess you’re on to something.” He laughed and headed off in the direction of the young man. “Hey buddy.” He greeted as he sat down.

  The young man looked back and forth between us before his mouth fell open. “Holy shit! You’re Jesse Montgomery, from Twisted Fate! No fucking way are you sitting here next to me.” He looked around again as if expecting someone to jump out and yell surprise. “Am I on Punk’d or something? This is a joke right?”

  “Nope, no joke.” I replied calmly. “This is real and he is, in fact, Jesse Montgomery.” I smiled, reassuringly.

  “So, I was watching you from over there.” Jesse pointed in the direction of our blanket. “It appears that you are having some trouble and I am curious if you are trying to write a song. For a special lady perhaps?”

  “Yeah, how did you know? How could you tell that from that far away? I’m trying to write a love song for my girl, Stacy. I want to ask her to marry me.” Jesse looked over at me smugly. I winked letting him know I was impressed.

  “Can I be of any assistance?” Jesse offered. “I might know a thing or two about putting a lyric together.”

  “Hell yeah you can help! Would you really do that for me man? That is freaking awesome dude! No way. I’m Matthew by the way.” He held out a hand for Jesse and I to shake. He then showed Jesse what he had written so far and I watched as the two of them worked out the words that Matthew wanted to express to Stacy. Once they had come up with something suitable Jesse took the guitar and played out a melody for Matthew. He sang the lyrics and I had to admit that if I had been the girl on the receiving end of those words my heart would have melted. Thanks were expressed profusely and the young man ran off yelling that Jesse Montgomery had helped him propose to his girl. Soon, Jesse and I were on our way back to the blanket.

  “You know you totally made his year don’t you.”

  He shrugged his shoulders and stared in the direction that Matthew had just gone. “Maybe I helped, but I’m guessing that a yes answer from Stacy will top anything I could have done. He is a special young man.
I hope she knows that.”