Love Me Like I Love You

by Willow Winters

“Nothing.” Most likely nothing, at least. I’m seeing Sierra again tonight. Late. I don’t doubt that I’ll stay over at her place again. That’ll be three nights in a row we’ve been under the same roof. And three nights of not hooking up. I’d never push her, but there’s a good chance I’ll get carpal tunnel from all this.

  “Really, because it seemed like something. Are you going to Sierra’s again?”

  “How do you know?”

  “You can’t take a piss in this town without someone finding out. I knew you were full of shit when you said you two didn’t hook up.”

  I take a drink order and turn my back on the crowd, pulling a bottle of vodka from the shelf. There’s no point trying to convince Josh otherwise. Why disappoint him, anyway? Besides, if I keep going out with Sierra, I’m sure we’ll eventually hook up. Unless I die from fucking blue balls first.

  I make a Dirty Shirley for a college-aged woman and move on to the next customer.

  “You know that chick is eye-fucking you hard, right?” Josh whispers, motioning to the girl who ordered the Dirty Shirley. “If she bends over, her tits are going to spill out of her top. And you didn’t even notice.”

  I look over, and the Dirty Shirley girl catches my eye. She smiles, and then slowly pulls her straw from her mouth.

  “Sierra’s that good in bed, huh?” Josh heckles.

  “Yeah,” I agree. I have no doubt that she is, but it’s so much more than that.

  “You can leave early,” Josh says. “I have it covered tonight.”

  “I can stay. I said I’d be here tonight.”

  “You are meeting Sierra again tonight, right?”

  “I’m going over once I’m done here.”

  Josh smiles. “You’re done. Go.”

  The whole people-doing-favors-for-me thing is still weird. Really fucking weird. “You don’t mind?”

  “Not at all. Like I said, I want you to stay. And if Sierra’s got you so wrapped up you didn’t even notice Tits over there, she might be the one to convince you.”

  “She just might be,” I echo. “I’ll do a round clearing tables then take off.”

  “Chase, just go. And have fun,” he adds, raising his eyebrows.

  “I can do that.” I fill one more drink order then head up to the apartment, needing to wash the smell of the bar off me before going to Sierra’s. It’s nine-thirty, and she wasn’t expecting to hear from me until at least after midnight.

  Texting her throughout the day…starting our date hours before we planned…it goes against everything I’ve done. Breaks all the simple rules I’ve set up for myself.

  Being eager to see her, to just spend time with her, is a new feeling for me. I fucking like it, though in the back of my mind, in the small area that I allow to process emotions, I’m terrified.

  I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to be disappointed. Facing my fears comes naturally. I don’t let it hold me back, and I’m not stopping now.

  Pausing in the kitchen, I pull my phone from my pocket and stare down at the screen. I lick my lips, heart thumping in my chest as I unlock the device. My finger hovers over the green phone icon. I shouldn’t do it. I need to stop.

  But I can’t.

  I need to hear her voice. Feel her pain.

  “The therapist asked if I still call you.” Sierra’s voice is thready, void of any emotion. “She says it’s not healthy and that I won’t be able to move on if I keep doing this. I hate when people say that. Moving on isn’t going to make my life good again. Moving on isn’t a magical cure. What am I moving onto? What do I have to look forward to anymore?” She sighs and pauses for a few seconds. I press the phone closer to my ear. I think I hear the river in the background. “I remember being happy. I miss it. But I just don’t see how I can ever feel whole again.”

  The message ends, and I pull the phone away from my face. The next message is from three months later. I guess she took her therapist’s advice for a while at least.

  “I got into grad school. And my first thought was to tell you.”

  The bad feeling is back in my stomach, and I curse myself—again—for listening to these messages. I lock my phone, set it on the table, and strip out of my clothes to shower. I’m about to turn the water on when someone knocks on the door.

  I roll my eyes. I should have known better than to leave Josh tonight. I wrap a white towel around my waist and stride to the door, yanking it open. Josh isn’t standing in the threshold.

  Sierra is.

  Her mouth opens and her eyes widen. She runs her eyes over me then looks away, only to turn right back.

  “Chase. Wow. I mean hi.”

  “Hey. What are you doing here?” I ask. “Not that I’m not happy to see you or anything. I wasn’t expecting it.”

  She blinks a few times in a row, following the line of hair that goes down my stomach to my cock, before looking me in the eye again. It’s turning me on to know she’s enjoying what she’s seeing, and now is not the time to get a hard-on. I’m only wearing a towel.

  “Lisa wanted to go out for drinks, and I thought I’d come see you. Your brother said you just left and thought you were up here.”

  I step back, letting Sierra come inside, and shut the door behind her. “Yeah, I was going to get in the shower then call you and say I got out early.” I hold the towel at my hip with one hand and reach for Sierra with the other. The moment my fingers sweep across the silky fabric of her dress, I’m a goner. My heart speeds up and my lips part. I need to feel her. All of her.

  She hooks her arms around my shoulders, and her finger instantly goes to the scar on my back. I press my lips to hers, softly, knowing that if the kiss turns into anything more, I won’t be able to stop myself.

  “You look beautiful,” I tell her. She’s wearing a red dress with white polka dots, a red bow in her hair, and yellow heels. “Your outfit looks familiar, which is weird to say, I know.”

  She shakes her head, smiling. “It’s not weird, and it should be familiar.” She runs her hand along the dress. “Minnie Mouse.”

  I use it as an excuse to slowly check her out again. Her large breasts are hidden away, which makes her outfit all the more sexy for some reason. I know what’s under there, but I can’t directly see it, like a present waiting to be unwrapped.

  “Right. I see it now. It’s subtle, but I like it.”

  “Thanks. I like to dress like characters but in normal clothing to see if anyone picks up on it. I have fun coming up with the concepts. Most people think it’s strange.”

  I run my fingers through her hair. “I like strange.” I kiss her again. “I like you.”

  She kisses me back, hands running up and down my back. I push my tongue into her mouth knowing I shouldn’t because once I get started, I won’t be able to stop. Sierra’s hands fall down my back, over my hips, and onto the towel. She slips her fingers inside, slowly, just half an inch, teasing me in the best and worst way possible.

  I kiss her harder, dipping her back. Sierra moans when I run my hand down her back and onto her ass, giving it a squeeze.

  The someone calls her name, voice muffled through the closed door.

  “Sierra? Are you up here?”

  I stop kissing her, but I don’t let go.

  “It’s Lisa,” she sighs. “She didn’t like me going up here alone.”

  “She’s smart.”

  “I know,” she agrees but seems annoyed. Hell, I’m annoyed. But if Sierra is going to cut me off again, this is a good stopping point. I won’t push her to do anything she’s not ready for.

  “You should let her know you’re fine.”

  Sierra nods, sliding her hands back up to my shoulders. I stand her upright and look at the door, keeping one hand on Sierra’s waist. I know it’s crazy, but it feels like if I let go, if I stop touching her, she’ll slip away and disappear forever.

  Or maybe I will.

  I re-tuck the towel around my waist the best I can one-handed. Sierra turns, pulling out of my arm. She
opens the door a foot and sticks her head out.

  “Yeah, I’m here.”

  “Did you find Chase?” Lisa stops by the door, eyebrows raised as she looks me up and down.

  “Yeah. I found him.”

  Lisa blinks, cocking her head to stare down Sierra. “And you stripped him naked?”

  “I was already naked,” I quip, giving Lisa a smirk.

  “Well then,” she replies. “I guess I’m not needed here. Have fun.”

  Sierra makes a face. “I feel bad not getting a drink with you. That’s why we came, after all.”

  Lisa shakes her head. “I’d feel worse knowing you left that for me. We can get drinks another time. Like tomorrow. When you give me details.”

  “I don’t kiss and tell.” Sierra purses her lips and tries not to smile.

  Lisa turns to me and puts her hand next to her mouth. “Yes, she does,” she whisper-talks. “So give her something to talk about.”

  “Now two people have told you that,” I say to Sierra. “Maybe you’ll take her advice at least.”

  “She better,” Lisa says. “Don’t disappoint me, Si.”

  Sierra rolls her eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want me to get a drink with you?”

  Lisa checks the time on her phone. “I’m gonna call Rob. He gets off in twenty minutes so he’ll be here in thirty. I can play a game of pool with Wyatt until then.”

  “Let him win,” Sierra teases.

  Lisa grimaces. “I physically can’t do anything bad on purpose. Wyatt can just grow a pair and deal with it.”

  Sierra laughs, emerald eyes glimmering. “Then don’t complain to me when he stomps around work annoying the shit out of you for it.”

  Lisa huffs. “Fine. Call me in the morning.”

  “I will.” Sierra moves away to give Lisa a hug goodbye. Lisa eyes me up and down once more, then whispers, “not fair” to Sierra before leaving.

  “So,” Sierra starts, closing the door.

  “So,” I echo. “Are you hungry? We could get something to eat.”

  “I am, actually. I was going to get something here with Lisa. You?”

  “I’m always hungry.”

  She bites her lip and I notice her eyes keep dropping down to the V-line of muscle above my hips.

  “I’ll take a quick shower,” I go on. “And then you can tell me which of the two sit-down restaurants in this town to take you to.”

  “I like that plan.”

  “Do you want the TV on or something?”

  She reaches into her yellow bag and pulls out her Kindle. “I’m good.”

  “I’m sorry,” the waitress says, coming over to our table, bill in hand. “We’re closing in five minutes.”

  I tear my eyes away from Sierra and look around. The tables around us are empty and cleared. We’re the only ones here.

  “Oh, sorry,” Sierra says, looking just as shocked as I am. “I lost track of the time.”

  The waitress gives her a warm smile. “It’s all right, honey.”

  I take the bill before Sierra has a chance to even consider paying it. After dinner we ordered drinks, and then dessert, and then drinks again.

  I always thought the whole ‘we can talk for hours’ thing was bullshit until today. Because the time went by too fast, and if Sierra and I sat and talked the rest of the night I’d be happy. And saying ‘she gets me’ is even more of a bullshit line, but she does.

  “Every cat I’ve ever met has been an asshole,” I say, going back to our conversation. I pay the bill and leave the waitress a generous tip since we kept her here.

  “Then you haven’t met the right cats. Mine are nice. Well, Tinkerbell is.” Sierra finishes her wine and laughs. “Dolly is an asshole. I’m trying to contradict you and I’m failing.”

  “Dogs, on the other hand, like people. Even people who are shitty to them.”

  I stand and go around the table, offering a hand to Sierra. “I know. I like dogs too. Maybe it’s the way you have to earn a cat’s affection that I like. You just said it: dogs love you no matter what. But cats—“ She holds up a finger, pointing at me. “You have to earn their affection.”

  We step into the thick, summer air, emerging onto the main street that runs through the downtown of Summer Hill. The bookstore is a few blocks away, and while most shops are closed by this hour, people mill about the town.

  “I’m not used to this heat yet.”

  “The humidity is high,” Sierra comments. “It’s been a humid summer. And you never really get used to it.”

  “I didn’t think so.”

  “Want to go swimming?”

  “You have a pool?” I ask, not remembering seeing one in her yard.

  “Not technically, but my parents have one and they’re still out of town.”

  “Then, yes,” I say, not caring that I don’t have swim trunks with me. I have a few pairs, actually, since I frequented the beach while living along the shore in New Jersey. Sierra says nothing about going to her house to get one either.

  “Thanks,” she says as I open the passenger door of my Mustang for her. I hurry around and get in, and head toward her house. We park by her parents’ house and go around back, Sierra enters a passcode and opens a gate to the backyard. Crickets sing out as we dash along a cobblestone path to the pool.

  My previous line of work permitted me inside a handful of upscale, luxury houses like this. I was there for a job, not as a guest, but I still stood in awe of people who lived that way. The Belmont’s historic estate isn’t as over-the-top as some of the new mansions I’ve been in, but they know how to live lavishly. The pool setup is no exception.

  Sierra opens French doors to a pool house, revealing a built-in bar.

  “Want anything?” she asks.

  I close the space between us, standing behind Sierra. I wrap my arms around her, and she presses her ass into my cock. My lips meet the skin on her neck and Sierra melts against me.

  I already feel drunk.

  I’m struggling to stay in control.

  “I want you,” I whisper. Sierra takes in a quick breath. I can feel her pulse rise, bounding through her body. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  “Chase,” she moans, whirling around in my arms. Her eyes fall shut and she rests her head against my chest. “Thank you.”

  “Stop thanking me, Sierra.”

  She doesn’t say anything. She just takes my hand and leads me to the edge of the pool and takes her shoes off.

  “Float with me?” she asks, reaching for a big, pink flamingo floaty. I take off my shoes, pull my phone and wallet from my pocket, and toss them all onto a lounge chair. It takes a bit of creativity, but we both get on the damn thing with minimal splashing. I let my bare feet dangle in the water and lay back. Sierra’s right next to me, head resting on my arm. We look up at the stars above, not talking. Time passes, minutes, then maybe an hour, and we’re still perfectly content and comfortable together.

  “How did you get the scar on your back?” she asks quietly, slipping her hand onto my chest.

  “I was in the right place at the wrong time,” I say after a moment’s consideration. There’s no good way to tell her I broke into someone’s house to take a piece of priceless art.

  “Don’t give it all away,” she teases.

  “It was from a piece of glass,” I go on. “From a broken window.” A window I broke as I snuck into a house that was supposed to be empty. I felt bad for the guy and went easy on him. I left him unconscious on the floor but alive at least, after I allowed him to get one good swing on me. I failed to see the broken glass in his hand, however.

  “Ouch,” she says. “No wonder you knew to check for glass in my ankle.”

  “Yeah, I learned from experience.” Carefully, I turn onto my side and face Sierra. She hooks her arm around me and closes her eyes, tipping her head up so her nose brushes against mine.

  And now we’re kissing. Slow, soft kisses. I cup Sierra’s cheek with my hand and the kisses turn hard. Deep.
Desperate. I move my hand down to Sierra’s waist. And then her hip. I gather her skirt in my hand, bunching up the fabric around her ass. Sierra moves closer, bringing her leg up and over mine. My fingers press into her skin, feeling the warmth between her legs as I urge her onto me. Sierra pushes up, fury in her kisses. I slide my hand up to her waist, pulling her close.

  She’s over top of me now, and, fuck, she’s hot. Her breasts crush against me and she’s kissing me like her life depends on it. She widens her legs, straddling me, putting us off balance, but it’s so far in the back of my mind, I don’t realize it until the floaty flips over and Sierra and I both sink into the water.

  In the shallow end, we both pop out of the water, Sierra flips her wet hair out of her face, green eyes wide. She looks at me for a beat and then we both start laughing. I reach for her, bringing her against me.

  “You did say you wanted to go swimming,” I muse.

  “True. And the water does feel good tonight.”

  “It feels very good.”

  Water laps against us, and I reach out to push Sierra’s wet hair away from her face. I’ve never been a cuddle-after-sex type of guy, but right now I want to hold Sierra to me, wrapped up in peaceful silence as much as I want to fuck her.

  Sierra takes my arm, wiping beads of water off my tattoos so she can trace them with her finger.

  “Do you want to dry off?” she asks.

  “Only if you do.”

  “I don’t mind being wet.”

  I can’t help but smirk.

  She flushes slightly but laughs. “Take that how you want.”

  “Can’t I just take you?” I take her around the waist and bring her over.

  “I think so,” she whispers softly as her long, wet lashes come together. She leans back in the water, spreading her arms and legs out in an attempt to float. “I always sink.”

  “The wet dress isn’t helping,” I tell her. “It’s weighing you down.”

  “Chase Henson, are you trying to get me out of my dress?” she asks with fake shock, standing upright. She backs up to the edge of the pool and hops up, keeping her feet in the water.

  “Is it working?” I ask as I join her.

  “There’s a good chance it will.”