“What about you?” Alyson asked him, ignoring the words that threatened to spill out. The ones that wanted to ask why he wasn’t taking her with him if he felt the same way. There was no point in arguing when they had so little time left together. She didn’t have any control over the situation, but she could control whether or not Jami left on a good note. When he was miles away, she wanted him to have a smile on his face. She wanted him to be happy and focused and worry free, so he could win that fight and get home to her faster. “If you could go anywhere, where would it be?”
He didn’t even have to think about it. “That’s easy. I would go to California.”
Alyson’s nose scrunched. “California? What’s there, besides smog, wild fires, and way too many people?”
“You’re kidding, right?” Jami sounded truly baffled. “Aside from the mountains, woods, vineyards, and beaches, they have some of the best food in the country. And did I mention that they have a shark-free ocean? I could swim all day and not have to worry about being attacked by Jaws.”
Alyson laughed and snuggled in closer. “You’re a nut.”
“Who, me?”
“Yes, definitely you. You do realize that Jaws wasn’t real.”
“Of course Jaws was real. In the movie, Jaws was a fake,” Jami said seriously. “But they based it on real life. Somewhere out there, there’s a huge, man-eating shark waiting to rip some poor bastard’s legs off.”
“You are so warped,” Alyson said, stifling another laugh.
“Birds of a feather, babe...”
“And rotten, too!” Alyson pinched his side playfully, making Jami laugh. Rolling away from her, Jami knelt on the edge of the bed, a devious look in his eyes. Alyson raised her hands, bracing herself, and then Jami pounced. He was on her so fast that she had only enough time to close her eyes before he was on her. A squeak burst from her as Jami did the unexpected and flipped her onto her stomach. Possibly even more unexpected was when he didn’t dig his fingers into her sides, but instead shimmied down to the end of the bed. Alyson looked over her shoulder to see what he was doing, and the moment she did, she tried desperately to crawl away. “No, Jami. Stop!”
Grabbing her ankles, Jami bent her legs back at the knee and pinned them against his chest. With one arm wrapped tightly around her calves, he had full access to her bare feet. Alyson twisted and jerked against his restraining arm, but she couldn’t get free. “Prepare to be tortured,” he warned her in a theatrically deep voice. And then his fingers danced across her soles.
Alyson screeched and screamed, kicking and squirming, gripping the edge of the mattress to try to drag herself away. “Jami!” she wheezed, feeling like she would die from the endless pain of being tickled. Jami was a tickler. He did it as often as he could, whenever and wherever the mood struck him, and when they were alone, she had to always be on her guard. It was the single, worst thing she could imagine aside from having her fingernails ripped out, but Jami seemed to know exactly how much she could take, and he always timed it perfectly. Just when Alyson didn’t think she could take another second, her laughter on the verge of crying, Jami dropped her feet and slapped her across the butt.
“That’ll teach you to call me names,” he said with a smile in his voice as he crawled up her back and nuzzled her neck.
“I hate you,” Alyson said breathlessly into the pillows. With what little energy she had left, she twisted around until she was lying on her back, and looked up at him.
“You don’t hate me,” Jami said confidently. His smile slowly vanished as he continued looking her in the eyes. Alyson knew that look well. It was the one he wore whenever he wanted to talk about something serious. She braced herself. “Are you ready to talk?”
“So you were practicing your torture technique,” Alyson joked half-heartedly.
Jami lowered down on top of her and nudged her nose with his. “Be serious for a minute. You’ve been quiet all day. Is something on your mind?”
Alyson looked away. She didn’t want to upset Jami, not so close to his fight. If he knew what happened today, he wouldn’t get on the plane. As much as she didn’t want him to get on that plane, she could never be that selfish. She would never stand in the way of his dream. That’s why she looked him in the eye and said, “It’s nothing really. Just a crappy day at the office.”
Jami’s eyes softened. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” Playing with the strip of exposed skin that she found peeking through at the base of his shirt Alyson cringed. She hadn’t exactly lied. She’d just glossed over the facts. She really didn’t want to talk about it, even though she did. She wanted to tell him everything so he could tell her that it would be okay. She needed to hear that, but she couldn’t tell him. She just… couldn’t. She realized how screwed up that was. If it were Jami, she would want to know. She would be pissed if she found out he was keeping something like this from her. But if it meant him dropping everything he had worked so hard for? What kind of girlfriend would she be if she ruined all of that for him?
“Are you sure?” Jami’s brows furrowed together as he studied her.
Repressing a sigh, Alyson pasted on the best reassuring smile she could muster. Even though she wasn’t sure, she said the only words she could at that moment. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
FIVE
“You can have the couch. It’s old, lumpy, and a little odiferous, but it’s yours for as long as you need it.”
Alyson called Olivia first thing that morning and told her all about Jami leaving town, the leak in her apartment, followed by the offer to stay at Don’s, and the fact that it was the last thing in the world that she wanted to do. She’d sleep in a cardboard box on the curb before she would take charity from that grumpy old turd. She was only sleeping there now because Jami told her she had to, and she knew it wasn’t worth arguing with him about it. As soon as he boarded the plane, though, she was out the door. If Olivia had told her no, then her only other option was a hotel. Good thing they made credit cards with outrageous spending limits.
“Thanks, Liv.” Alyson breathed a sigh of relief. Having her sleeping arrangements all worked out, she moved on to the next big thing. “We should have a girl’s night. We haven’t had one in a long time.”
“Too long,” Olivia agreed. “Not that I’m saying it’s all your fault, because I understand what a distraction it is to have a hot new boy toy to play with, but it’s all your fault. What did you have in mind? Dancing? Drinking? Men?”
Alyson’s head spun. Olivia had a way of cramming a twenty minute conversation into two seconds. She decided to address their time apart first. “I’m sorry. I’ve been a neglectful friend lately, haven’t I?”
“Maybe a little,” Olivia’s voice was more subdued than she’d ever heard it. “But I know how busy you’ve been with your new friends and Jami and all that.”
Alyson grimaced. “Well, my new friends have their own place now, and...” she tacked on, “no one could ever take your place. No matter how busy I am, I can always make time for you.”
“Oh, be quiet.” Olivia laughed uncomfortably, but Alyson heard the slight tremor in her voice and knew the words had hit home. As strong and resilient as Olivia came off, she was really just a sensitive person beneath the snarky exterior. “So they have their own place now, huh? I bet Jami loves that.”
He certainly did. Alyson thought about all the times and all the ways Jami had showed his enthusiasm for them having the space to themselves, and a tiny ribbon of desire wrapped around her. “You could say that,” she said with a chuckle. “So, Friday night. I’m thinking maybe dancing, maybe a drink or two, but since it’s girl’s night, no men. What about nails and hair? I’m overdue for a mani-pedi.”
“Me, too. So, how about this. We can do the pre-teen sleepover crap first, and then the dancing and drinking after. And no guys, because you’re right, they suck, and I am not getting on that train again anytime soon.”
Alyson hadn’t used those exac
t words, but being reminded that her friend was still nursing a broken heart gave her a little ache in her own. “Sounds like a plan, Stan.”
“Good, then I will see you Friday. I’m sooooo excited!” Alyson held the phone away from her ear to save herself the pain of Olivia’s high-pitched squeal of delight.
“See you then.” She hung up with a smile on her face. Even though she was depressed about being away from Jami for a solid week, she had to admit that she was looking forward to a little girl time. It would be like old times again. Just her and Olivia, having fun and sharing laughs. Instead of moping around, Alyson intended to make the best out of a bad situation. She just hoped Jami was going to see it the same way.
“Who was that?” The sound of Jami’s voice startled her. She turned to see him walking through the bedroom door carrying a bottle of water and a can of pop. He held out the can to her.
Alyson cracked it open and took a drink before answering, desperately needing a shot of caffeine to start her day. “That was Liv.”
Setting his unopened water on top of the dresser, Jami crossed the room to the closet. “Yeah, what did she want?” he asked as he searched for something to wear.
Alyson took a moment to appreciate the view. It was early morning, and Jami was still dressed in the pair of gray sweat pants he’d slept in. And nothing else. It gave her a perfect view of his perfect back, shaped in a perfect V with perfect muscles stacked upon more muscles. Her inner vixen sighed longingly. “Actually, I called her,” she confessed. Jami glanced at her as he set out a pair of dark jeans and his standard black T-shirt. Alyson chewed her lip for a moment while she composed her thoughts. “She said I could stay with her while you’re gone.”
Jami stopped in the middle of undressing with his thumbs tucked in his waistband, and stared at her. “I thought we agreed that you were staying here? In my room. In my bed.” He had that possessive, alpha male thing going on again, his dark chocolate eyes intense, and it did wild things to her insides, but Alyson couldn’t let him sway her decision.
“No, you told me you wanted me to stay here. I didn’t agree on anything,” she informed him. “And I’m fine with that… as long as you’re here.”
Jami’s brows drew together. “But you’re not fine staying here if I’m not.”
“No.” She could tell by his expression that he needed clarification. “I’m only here because you want me to be. This isn’t my home, Jami, and I know Don doesn’t want me around. I don’t feel right being in his home where I’m not welcome. With you gone, it would feel too much like squatting. I’d rather be where I know I’m wanted.”
“You’re wanted here,” Jami said firmly. He stared meaningfully at her, until Alyson gave him a nod of acknowledgement. “Look,” Jami said as he rounded the bed. Looping his arms around her waist, he pulled her close. “As much as I would like to have you here, knowing that you’re in my bed every night, waiting for me, I understand, and if you would feel more comfortable being with your friend, then I’m good with that.”
Who was this man and where had he stashed the real Jami? She’d been ready for a fight. The ease with which he agreed stunned her. “Really?” God, Alyson hated how mousy she sounded.
“Really, so long as you make sure you’re back under those sheets when I get home. Naked.”
A grin broke out across Alyson’s face. Lifting onto her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Deal.”
The kiss she planted on him started out innocent enough, but the way Jami’s tongue slid against hers, and the tight press of their bodies, it soon turned into something… not so innocent. They kissed with a frenzy, the need to be close all-consuming. Jami’s fingers knotted in her hair as he forced her head back and kissed her deeper. Alyson moaned into his mouth, her nails digging into his back, and she held on tight to him. She wanted him in the worst way, the need to be as close to him as two people could get growing with each passing second. The knowledge that they would be separated by so much distance turned her passion into an inferno of potent need that could not be ignored.
“I need to be inside you,” Jami murmured against her mouth. Alyson moaned her approval. For once, they were on the same page. He was backing her toward the bed with one of his hands buried beneath her shirt cupping her breast, when a throat cleared.
Jami tore his mouth away from hers and aimed a deadly glare over her shoulder. “What?” he barked.
Alyson’s heart raced as she attempted to peel herself off Jami, but his arms only tightened around her, rooting her in place. She wasn’t going anywhere, and she decided to accept that rather than fight it, because being close to Jami was the best place to be in the world. That, and she wasn’t in the mood to see Don’s scowling face. Relaxing into him, she busied herself tracing the lines of the intricate tattoo capping Jami’s shoulder and running down the length of his bicep as she listened to him talk to Don.
“Do you plan on coming to the gym tonight?”
“I told you,” Jami said, “I’m taking the night off.”
Alyson could feel Don’s stare burning a hole in her back. “Yeah, I heard you, but I also remember telling you that you can’t afford to take time off right now.”
“I hardly think skipping one evening is going to undo everything.” Jami’s words were met with tense silence. “Tonight, I’m spending time with my girl. Why don’t you go hang with your buddies? Play some poker. Drink a few beers. Loosen up. The next few days are going to be brutal. Might as well let off some steam now while we can.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” There was another stretch of silence, and Alyson focused hard on the Celtic design under her fingertips, wishing Don would get the hint and leave already. “Just don’t get carried away. No drinking and get plenty of rest. No sex,” he clarified as his voice held a stern command.
Alyson’s muscles stiffened knowing those words were meant for her. Don had lost the battle, but he intended to win the war. Jami’s chest shook with a humorous laugh. “You know I don’t believe in that.”
“Plenty of guys do, and you know what? They’re damn good fighters,” Don returned.
“Well, so am I, and I intend to fuck myself stupid over the next eight hours.”
Don sighed in resignation. “I think you already reached that goal, but as long as you don’t make yourself blind, then fine, do what you want.” Another pause. “Should I find another place to sleep tonight?”
“Only if you need your beauty sleep.”
“And you know that I do.” Alyson felt Jami nod. “All right, then, you two kids have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow. I meant what I said, keep it clean.”
Heat burned Alyson’s cheeks as Don walked away, and she slapped her hand against Jami’s bare chest. “Jami—”
He kissed the side of her head, chuckling in amusement. “What?”
“I can’t believe you said that.” Her eyes were wide as she tugged out of his arms.
“Said what?”
His voice sounded innocent, but his eyes were filled with playful mischief. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, mister,” she accused, pointing a finger at him. “You told him that we were… were…” The words stopped on the tip of her tongue, a fresh wave of embarrassment staining her cheeks red.
“What? That we were going to have sex?” He took a step toward her. “That I’m going to lay you down on this bed and fuck you. All. Night. Long?”
Alyson swallowed hard, her stomach fluttering in anticipation, as Jami closed the space between them and reached around to grip her butt in both hands. He pulled her against him, and she felt his hardness pressing against her stomach. “You shouldn’t have told him that,” she whispered.
“Why, because it’s not true?” Jami challenged, staring into her eyes. She shook her head. “Or because it is true? Because it is, you know. I plan to have you naked and under me all night. And, Ally, baby,” he said, touching his mouth to hers, “I’m going to fuck you so hard that when I get on that plane tomorrow, I�
��ll be smiling. And do you know why I’ll be smiling?” She shook her head no. “Because every time you take a step, you’re going to feel the ache of me between your legs, and I know you’ll be thinking of me.”
Alyson’s eyes closed as a shiver wracked her. The full heat of Jami’s body seeped through her clothes, and her nipples tightened at the same time her sex clenched. Opening her eyes slowly, she looked into his and said huskily, “Then what are you waiting for?”
SIX
Jami hadn’t lied. She was definitely feeling the ache. When Jami boarded the plane late last night, his smile was full watt. She still laughed thinking about how proud he was of himself when he noticed her walking a little more carefully than normal. He was such a guy, and she loved it. She loved him.
“Are you going to mope around all day, or are you going to get dressed and climb back on that horse?”
Alison looked up from her bowl of Cheerios and sucked up the drop of milk that spilled down her chin. “Uh… well, one, I’m not moping. I’m eating breakfast. Two, I am dressed.” She indicated the black blazer and pants combo with a sweep of her hand. “Three, my horse is in Nevada. I literally cannot climb back on it until sometime next week.”
Liv shrugged, and then shuffled around the kitchen, plugging in the coffee maker and filling it with water. She dumped two hefty scoops of grounds inside and flipped it on. Within seconds, the machine began gurgling and sputtering, and then the rich aroma of Columbian beans filled the air. Only then did Olivia speak. “I’m pulling a double shift tonight, but I want to talk about what we’re going to do this weekend. I need to blow off steam.”
Alyson had just shoved a spoonful of cereal into her mouth, and shifted it to one side to speak. “Bad week?”
Olivia’s eyes rolled. “Try bad month. We got a new manager, and he is such a dick. I’d kill him if he weren’t the one responsible for cutting my paychecks.”
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