“All of it. I didn’t at first, though. But now, I remember the entire night.”
He stands. “If I had known you were a virgin that night, I wouldn’t have taken your virginity. We were drinking, and since then I’ve remained your only partner. We’ve had rough sex. I’ve spanked you, a lot—”
“Which I absolutely enjoy!” I interrupt him to keep him from wandering down that path of negative thoughts. “We’ve also had slow and romantic sex, which I’ve enjoyed as well. I like everything we’ve shared together.”
He stops his pacing.
“It’s only been me?” he asks, though it’s a question he already knows the answer to.
“Only you.”
He looks at me with intensity in his eyes, one side of his mouth curls up, and his tongue reaches out to run along his lower lip and then across the bottom of his top teeth.
“I want to spank your ass for withholding important information from me.”
I inhale a sharp breath.
“I want to fuck you so hard that you feel my cock in your throat, that you feel me for days.”
My heart pounds harder with each word he says.
He comes to stand in front of me, kneels down in between my legs and places his hands on top of my thighs.
I sit still and wait for his next comment, noticing that his words get progressively dirtier with each sentence he says. I feel like my heart is beating out of my chest in anticipation. He’s silent, but he’s watching my body, my breathing and I feel like he’s waiting for me to say something. I don’t wait any longer. I’m eager to know what else he wants to do.
“Anything else?” I breathe out.
A smirk forms on his face. He knows he has me wanting whatever he will give. His knuckles brush against my cheek lightly.
“There isn’t a single thing that I don’t want to do to you, but I think we need to take a step back,” he says quietly. I’m sure fear showed on my face as his eyes widen and he changes his posture. “Not from our relationship. I want to teach you all the things that we can do. I want to give you the slow and romantic and then give you the fast and hard.”
“You realize we’ve been having sex regularly for a few weeks now, right?” I say with a laugh.
“That was before; this is now.” he says with a firm tone.
“So then, is something about us changing?” I ask, concerned that he’s having second thoughts.
“No, but I think I need to date you properly, to give you the full experience. Our schedules don’t always make it easy, but I’m going to try. I don’t want you to look back and think that your first boyfriend was never around.”
He called himself my boyfriend.
“But as much as I want to do all these things to you now, my head fucking hurts and I just want to be low-key right now. Is it okay that I’m not already doing as I promised?” he asks, rubbing the back of his neck.
“That’s part of relationshipping. We hang out.” I shrug.
He kisses my hand and smiles.
“Just know, you’re in for a lot. I’m going to romance you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jacks
Shocked.
Shocked is one way to put how I felt when I learned Cam had never been in a relationship prior to me.
Fucking shocked was how I felt when she disclosed that she had been a virgin prior to Mal and Beck’s wedding night when we drunkenly hooked up.
Fucking devastated was how I felt when I learned she didn’t trust me enough to tell me these things from the start of when we decided that we were going to start a relationship.
And now, I can only rectify the situation by romancing her, treating her like the queen she deserves to be treated as, not going straight into the dominant personality every time that I tend to be in the bedroom. She’s right when she says that we aren’t always so rough and hard in the bedroom. We’ve had plenty of soft and sweet moments as well. Now that I am aware of her experience, or lack thereof, I want to give her all the sweet moments that I can, all that she deserves. I know that she enjoys rough sex, so I’m not holding out on her, besides I need that too.
I want that to start right away, but my face fucking hurts and I don’t want to half-ass it.
She’s right though and hanging out is what people in relationships do and I intend to give her all facets of what a relationship can be. It’s not like I’m an expert on being in relationships since I haven’t had a real one in years. This is the first actual relationship I’ve had since moving to the States, so some of this shit I’m making up as I go along.
We hang out and watch television, she snuggles against my shoulder as we talk during the commercial breaks. Eventually, we stop watching television, sit facing one another and talk. We discuss everything from life back home, to growing up, to likes and dislikes, and even the present.
We learn a lot about one another without the distraction of sex. As much as I want to act on satisfying both of our carnal appetites, the pounding in my head is deafening. I sleep in the bedroom with several pillows lifting me up so I’m not lying completely flat. Cam snuggles by my side, snoring lightly through the night.
I sleep, but it isn’t a sound night of sleep. By dawn, my body tells me to get up and to start my day. But, since the doctor ordered me to not work out for the next few weeks or do any other strenuous activity, I’m unsure what I’m supposed to do with myself.
I have a meeting at the club that I need to be at later this afternoon to discuss changes I mentioned to Mal and Beck but, until then, I want to spend more time with Cam.
I am busy at the stove flipping the Texas toast in the pan, when she entered the room noisily. I turn my body in time to observe her loud yawn and see her shirt slide up as she stretches. She is wearing a t-shirt with a pair of baggy sweat shorts. She scratches her side and then finally looks in my direction.
“What’s that smell? Is it…” —she sniffs the air— “vanilla?”
“It could be. I’m not sure if I’ve botched this up or not,” I admit.
“What are you making, chef?” she asks, padding across the kitchen space.
“French toast. I found some easy recipe online, so here’s hoping.” I hold up the spatula with a smile.
“I have to work today. Sorry. I couldn’t take the day off,” she says as she hitches herself up onto the counter.
My free hand goes to rest on her thigh as the other flips the bread.
“I’ll be at the club this afternoon. I may or may not stay for some of the night, depending on Kendra.”
“Don’t feel like you need to rush home. I won’t be home until midnight.”
“I’m not sure I like that you work such odd hours. Being out so late and all.”
“Are you getting protective?” she scrunches up her face.
“I’m just thinking of your safety.”
“But you aren’t even home until three or four, so what’s the difference? I would just be hanging out here alone and there’s just as much potential for something to happen to me here as there. Plus, if I was going to go out with friends, I would be out late too. What’s with the all of a sudden worry about my schedule?” she asks.
“It’s not all of a sudden. I mean, I guess I never gave it any real thought. Sorry, just ignore me. Can you grab some plates?” I ask.
She gives me a weird look before hopping off the counter and getting plates for our breakfast.
“Is this relationshipping? You being worried?” She quirks an eyebrow as she hands me a plate.
“I guess so. Sorry, if I’m fucking it all up.”
“I don’t think it’s fucking up. I think it’s cute, the concern that you have. I’ve never had that before from anyone other than my family.”
We move over to the dining table and sit side by side.
“How’s the nose?” she asks.
“Tolerable.”
“That’s good. It will probably get better a little bit each day. But I’m no doctor; you could be
really jacked up.” She laughs with a shorts. “Jacked, get it. You’re Jacks and you could be jacked.” She takes a bite and then immediately moans in satisfaction as she chews. She points to her plate. “It’s like magic is happening in my mouth. So fuckin’ good.”
I smile and we eat our breakfast in as she rambles on and on about anything that seems to come to her mind. I pay attention to her mannerisms and how her voice hitches with every other sentence. I note that she doesn’t speak when there is food in her mouth and, after every other bite, she wipes her mouth as if she was thinking something is there. When she finishes her food, she turns to me fully and just stares at me. Feeling a little uncomfortable, I start to fidget with the napkin that I left bunched next to my plate.
“Do you think that you and I would have ever acted on our attraction to one another if it hadn’t been for the alcohol?” she finally asks.
I wait a beat before replying.
Would we have?
“I’d like to think that possibly in time, yes. But there’s no saying what would or wouldn’t have happened. We hooked up at that wedding and I think it opened up a whole new direction for our lives to go. Our choice that night to get horizontal changed the paths that our lives had been going,” I say.
“And how, pray tell, was your life going before I crashed drunkenly into it?” she smirks.
“You know how it was when you first started staying here?”
“You being at work all night and sleeping during the day, avoiding me?”
“Yeah, kind of like that. I occupied my time, but now I like to think I was trying to stay busy during my hours in between work and sleep to fill a void that I wasn’t quite aware of, until you drunkenly crashed into me.”
“Aw, that’s kind of sweet.” She leans her hand on her chin.
“You?”
“I’m not sure. I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that I’ve always crushed on you because growing up, you were just my brother’s friend. I think I really noticed you when I saw photos online of you and Mal when you guys opened your club. But now, I’m kind of wishing I came to one of your shows when you were still dancing.”
“Then you would have seen your brother too. We performed in all the same shows,” I tease.
“Well, shit. Gross. That would have been traumatizing.” She shudders.
“I gave you a lap dance that one night.”
“Yeah, you did. But I think it would have been interesting to see the whole show. Not saying that I didn’t really like that dance, because I really did. But you know, part of the experience is being in the club, feeling the energy of the crowd, seeing the sets and costumes.”
“You can come with me to one of the rehearsals once I’m cleared by the doctor?”
Her eyes light up and she sits up straight. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
I look at my watch and curse. “I’ve got to head to the club.
I stay late at the club, almost as late as I used to. Kendra has caught on quickly to the closing duties while I’ve been out the past few nights and I couldn’t be happier. Our meetings earlier this afternoon were successful and everyone was in agreement. Trina came to the all-staff meeting on crutches and made a big deal over my bandaged nose. After being told several times by Kendra and Janae to go home, I eventually left shortly after the final show of the night started.
I quietly let myself into the house, assuming that Cam would be asleep already. Instead I find several people talking in the kitchen with beers in their hands. Curious, I go in search of Cam, who was sitting on the couch with a man and a woman, all talking excitedly. She doesn’t notice me until I’m standing by her side. Her eyes start at my knees and then traveled up my body. Her mouth goes from an angry grimace to a pleasant smile when she notices that it’s me.
“Hey, you!” she slurs. Her eyes are were glassy.
I look over at the two people sitting with her and give them a half-smile, then kneel down in front of Cam.
“Hey, love. What’s happening here?” I ask, keeping my voice low and sincere.
“I got fired today, so I’m drowning my sorrows in alcohol and friendly faces.”
“These are all your friends?” I ask.
“Some are. I think some are friends of friends. Anyhow, hi!” She throws her arms around my neck and leans in to kiss my cheek. I look over her shoulder at the people she’d been sitting with and tell them to get lost with a jerk of my head.
“Love, are you okay?”
“Have I ever told you that I like it when you call me love? I mean, I know it’s a common thing, but coming from you to me, it feels really, really, really special.” She hiccups.
“Do you mind if I ask your guests to leave?” I ask her.
“I’ll do it,” she says confidently as she stands. She wobbles a little and I hold her elbow to steady her. She clears her throat loudly.
“Hey!” she bellows. I wasn’t aware that her voice could get so loud. “Oi! All yous need to leave! I’m going to get naked with my boyfriend and I think it would be best not to have an audience for that activity.”
Moans and grumbles erupt from the small crowd, and I get a few appreciative glances from a few of the females.
“Do you need me to call any cabs?” I ask, putting my arm around Cam’s waist.
“Uber, dude. Get with the times. How old is that guy?” some guy says to his friend as they head to the front door.
Several minutes later, Cam has said all her goodbyes and we’ve seen everyone out of my townhome. I sit her on the couch, grab her a water from the kitchen, and go back to sit beside her.
“Even with two black eyes and a bandage over your nose, you’re still the most handsomest. Has anyone ever told you that?” She leans her head on my shoulder.
“No, love, you’re the first.” I smile.
“The handsomest. And I mean there are a lot of contenders back home. It’s almost like there’s some magical potion that is put in the food and water. Aussies breed some handsome folks. But you, you’re the most handsomest,” she breathes out.
“Thank you,” I reply.
“I lost my job tonight, Jacks. What am I going to do?”
“What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know,” she says quietly.
“We’ll figure something out, love. Don’t worry.”
Chapter Fourteen
Cam
Whoever said that drinking away your sorrows is a good idea is very, very misinformed. While it may seem like a good idea at the time, it’s not like it takes away any of the reality that your sorrows bring with them.
I’m still unemployed.
And to make matters worse, I have a nasty hangover.
Thankfully, I don’t have a job to go to while being hungover today. I guess that’s one perk of unemployment. But other than that, it sucks. Plus, the reason that I got so stupidly rotten last night is still looming over my head.
And now, I’ve got no job.
I didn’t do anything wrong at work to get fired. Management just decided that since I was the last person hired, I was fireable when two of the other girls wanted more hours. It was bad luck and not at all a reflection on my performance. I could look into some recourse to find a way to go get my job back, but I’m not sure I really want to put all that effort into it.
I could easily go to another hotels in Vegas and put in an application. I have a degree in hospitality, I have more than six months of experience here in the States, plus many more from working summers back home to fill my resume. But do I really want to work in a hotel? Is that my end goal?
I slowly roll over to a sleeping Jacks. His chest rises and falls with each breath he takes.
With a groan, I lie back down and push myself deeper into the pillow.
“Hungover?” he asks, a slight laugh to his voice.
“A little. What happened last night? When did you come home?” I ask quietly.
“I got home around two-thirty, and you announced that we we
re going to get freaky in order to get everyone out of the house.”
“Oh my god. I didn’t?” I pull the covers over my face.
“You did. Most of your guests were amused.”
“I’m sorry.” I gulp in some fresh air and then cover my face again with the covers. “I know we never mentioned about if I could have people over, I was just really bummed and needed—”
“Hey no, you don’t need to apologize for having an impromptu party. You live here. You can have people over. Just next time, let me know so I know what I’m walking into. And especially talk to me if something like losing your job happens. That’s big stuff, the kind of stuff you tell your boyfriend as soon as you can. I wouldn’t have stayed at the club so late if I’d known. I would have been here for you.”
“I’m sorry, Jacks,” I say, my head still under the comforter.
“How do you feel?” he asks as he pulls the covers down. He’s up on his elbow and leaning towards me.
“Like drinking didn’t solve my problems.” I close my eyes.
“It usually doesn’t. It only seems to in the moment. I’ll grab you some toast and water. I’ve got my doctor appointment this morning and then I have the afternoon free, but I’m going to resume my nights at the club starting today. I don’t have to right away, if you don’t want. I can ask Kendra to close.”
“No, I don’t want you to be inconvenienced because I’m jobless.”
“It’s not an inconvenience, love.”
“No, get back into the swing of things with work. I need to figure out my next move without your hunky ass walking around here and distracting me.”
“Hunky ass?” The corners of his mouth perk up as he looks down at me.
“I thought you were getting me toast and water?” I change the subject.
He laughs and kicks the covers off. He’s in navy blue boxer briefs that hug his body perfectly and he’s shirtless.
I blush.
If he could be shirtless all the time, I wouldn’t complain.
Jacks returns a moment later with water and a bottle of aspirin, puts the contents down on the bedside table and then retreats again. I watch his ass move out of my sight and smile.
The Night Moves Boxset: (Stripped, The Hook-up, The Night Manager) Page 23