Love You Now (Book Two: Love Hurts Duet)

by M. Robinson

  “Stop it! I will in a second.”

  “Now!”

  Before I knew what was happenin’, he was steppin’ up onto the bed of Trigger’s truck where Shiloh and her lost puppy were goin’ at it.

  “Shy, get in my truck!” Trigger ordered, openin’ the door for her.

  “Stop calling me that! My name is Shiloh! Not Shy! Not baby! Not sweetheart, or any other stupid name you say to me!”

  “Shy. Get. In. My. Truck. ’Cuz trust me, sweetheart, you won’t like me when I’m angry.”

  “I don’t like you right now!”

  “Get that sexy little ass in my truck, or I’ll take matters into my own hands. But either way, baby, you’re gettin’ in.”

  “Ugh!” She stomped her foot. “I’m only getting in because Jackson is holding Harley hostage. I don’t like you, I don’t want to talk to you, and I don’t want to go home with you. Understood, you arrogant asshole?”

  “Wooowhee, hearin’ you cuss is doin’ all sorts of things to my cock, Shy. I should get you angry more often.”

  “Is there anything that doesn’t get your dick hard?”

  “Not when it’s near you, baby.”

  “You’re so gross. This is exactly why it would never work between us. You’re a caveman and I’m a lady.”

  “Shiloh, get in my fuckin’ truck before I show you how much of a caveman I really am.”

  “Ugh! I hate you, Jackson!” With that she tried to step in, and he slapped her ass.

  “You pig—”

  “Shy, after seein’ ya ridin’ that bike, it’s only a matter of time before you’re ridin’ my cock that way too.”

  He didn’t allow her to respond, carryin’ her up into his truck like I told her he would earlier before shuttin’ the door in her face.

  Great. Now we were with two cocky bastards.

  I blinked, and I was straddlin’ Jackson’s waist. His back was against the front cab of the truck.

  Within seconds, the engine rumbled to life. Vibratin’ hard under our bodies. Unintentionally causin’ my legs to tighten around his core.

  “Baby girl likes that, huh?”

  “You wish, jackass.” Trigger drove off, and I asked, “What do you think you’re doin’?”

  “Saving your ass like I always do.”

  “Oh, please ... when have you ever saved me?”

  “When have I not?”

  “Can you for once just answer my question instead of askin’ me another?”

  “Where would the fun be in that, Gremlin?”

  “Exactly,” I nodded. “That’s all I am to you. One big piece of entertainment.”

  “And don’t forget ... a pain in my fuckin’ ass.”

  “Why do you do this? You know I want nothin’ to do with you, but you insist on gettin’ your way.”

  “It’s really plain and simple, Harley. Like I said back there to that piece of shit, you belong to me.”

  “I’ve never been yours.”

  “Really? ’Cuz whose cock you sitting on, baby girl?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re makin’ me sit here. Just like you make me do everythin’ I don’t wanna do.”

  “Harley, the girl I saw tonight ... riding that bike didn’t look like a girl who gets forced into anything. She looked like the girl I grew up with. The one who never turned down a dare, who never said no, who didn’t stop until she could do everything I could.”

  “Better than you could.”

  He scoffed out a chuckle, grinnin’. “Did you know I’d be here?”

  “Of course you’d think that. You’re so self-absorbed. I

  didn’t do shit for you. I had no idea you’d even be here.”

  “So who were you putting on a show for?”

  “No one! Shiloh and I wanted to have some fun for my birthday, so we did.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yes, that’s right. Did you know it was me?”

  “Not at first.”

  “What gave me away?”

  “The cross stunt. Still can’t believe you nailed it.”

  I smiled, feelin’ all proud of myself again. The sense of accomplishment only intensified with knowin’ Jackson was impressed.

  Why did I care what he thought?

  “It was reckless, Harley. You could have been hurt. Really hurt.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I know what I’m doin’. I’ve been ridin’ bikes and pullin’ stunts since I could walk. I’m a Jameson. We know how to ride. Anythin’.”

  “Anything, huh?”

  I didn’t miss a beat. “Yes. Anythin’. Just ask those guys who let us borrow their bikes.”

  “Gremlin...”

  “It didn’t take much to have them wrapped around our fingers. I’ve always had a thing for older men you know, they have much more experience than you do.”

  “The fuck you know about that?”

  “More than I’ll ever show you.”

  “Harley, you’ve never even had a boyfriend.”

  “I don’t need a boyfriend to know what it feels like—” I looked down at his lap, smilin’ “—to have a real man between my legs.”

  He gripped onto my ass hard, and a whimper almost escaped my lips. Except, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

  Not now.

  Not ever.

  “’Cuz,” I repeated his words, “it’s really plain and simple, Jackson. I fuckin’ hate you.”

  “Don’t get it twisted, baby girl. All that motherfucker wanted to do was fuck you.”

  I didn’t hesitate. “No shit, baby boy,” I taunted. Aware it would infuriate him that I was callin’ him anythin’ other than a man. “All I wanted from him was to fuck me.”

  His jaw clenched so hard I’m surprised it didn’t snap right off. And his firm grip on my ass tightened to the point of pain.

  In one swift motion, he leaned in close to my lips. Raspin’, “The only man that’s gonna fuck you ... is me.”

  Before I could say a word, his mouth crashed onto mine, assaultin’ my lips in a way I’d never forget. Swiftly pinnin’ me down on the bed of the truck, he kissed me like his life depended on it.

  My senses amplified, takin’ in the scent of his cologne and minty breath as he dove his wet tongue past my lips. Completely layin’ on top of me. I felt him all over. His hard dick pressin’ into my core for the first time ever.

  The only thing placed in between us was the silk of my panties and the zipper of his jeans. All the fight in me was suddenly gone as if it was never there to begin with.

  His lips were rough but smooth. My heart drummed so fast, so intense, so needy for him. My body going weak the longer his tongue sought out mine. It was the most overwhelmin’, staggerin’, yet consumin’ feelin’ I’d ever felt in my entire life.

  As if readin’ my mind, he pulled me closer to him. Takin’ control entirely and I let him.

  I liked it.

  A lot.

  No words could come close to describin’ what was happenin’ in that moment between us. The sensations he stirred. The response he aroused from deep within my heart matched my emotions with each stroke of his tongue.

  I didn’t think this was possible to experience.

  With him.

  A soft moan escaped my mouth as he pecked my lips one last time, gradually pullin’ away from me. Leavin’ me breathless, pantin’, wantin’ more.

  Incoherent thoughts ran rapidly in my mind.

  Nothin’ made sense.

  Not one damn thing.

  I hated him.

  But in that second, I realized you could hate and love someone at the same time.

  My eyes fluttered open, findin’ him grinnin’ down at me in that Jackson Pierce sort of way.

  I swallowed hard, unable to move, to say anythin’. Not when the expression on his face made me wet and alive.

  Starin’ deep into my eyes, he groaned, “You have no idea what you do to me...”

  His lips moved to my neck, and he softly bega
n kissin’ my collarbone. “You looked so goddamn sexy on that bike, Harley. It’s like overnight you went from this baby girl, who I never wanted near me, to this girl I want by my side. The same girl I don’t even recognize anymore, and it scares the absolute fuck out of me. You want to know why?”

  I couldn’t nod fast enough, dyin’ to hear what he had to say next.

  Peerin’ straight into my eyes, he professed, “’Cuz I don’t know if it’s from you growin’ up right in front of my eyes, or if it’s ’cuz I’m losin’ my goddamn mind right in front of yours.”

  I grimaced, my eyes wellin’ up with fresh tears. “Jackson, just read the results. Please...”

  “Do you know what they are?”

  I shook my head no. It was the truth, I didn’t.

  “I couldn’t bring myself to open them.”

  “Then how do you expect me to?”

  I slightly gasped as he made his way down my chest, kissin’ the top of my breasts.

  “As soon as I realized it was you on that bike, I wanted to kill every guy who was starin’ at you like they had a right to.”

  Inch by inch his lips started peckin’ their way inside my bra.

  “Jackson,” I panted. “What are you doin’?”

  “Showin’ you the effect you have on me. The effect you’ve always had on me.”

  “You have a shitty way of showin’ it.”

  “I make one mistake and now I have to watch you shake your ass for all these two-bit fuckers who don’t give a shit about who you are? Other than a warm hole to stick their cock in?”

  “No one said you had to watch.”

  That made his eyes snap back up to mine. “So tell me, Harley. Do I have a right to?”

  What the hell do I say to that?

  Yes.

  No.

  Maybe?

  “I know you don’t hate me. You’ve never hated me. I know ’cuz I’ve never hated you.”

  “What are you sayin’?”

  “I’m sayin’ what I’ve known all my life. You’re mine, Harley Jameson. End. Of. Story.”

  “What about Willow?”

  “What about her? She means nothing to me. She’s no one.”

  I didn’t hold back, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. Right now, I needed to know the truth once and for all.

  “When was the last time you slept with her?”

  He jerked back, breakin’ the trance-like state he had me in.

  “Baby girl, I don’t even kiss her. I’ve never kissed anyone but you.”

  I shut my eyes, I had to. I didn’t want him to see the pain I was experiencin’ from the blatant sincerity of his response.

  I knew it ... I fuckin’ knew it.

  Harley, you’re such an idiot to fall for his bullshit again.

  “So what, Jackson?” I opened my eyes, findin’ the strength from somewhere deep inside of me to throw his words back in his face. “Willow’s just a warm hole to stick your cock in?”

  “No, a warm hole isn’t a problem for me. But if I sleep with someone else, it’s just more reason for you to be mad at me.”

  “Oh. My. God.”

  “Gremlin—”

  “Get off me!”

  “Baby girl—”

  “Do you wanna know why I hate you, Jackson? I know I’ve told you the many reasons hundreds of times, but do you wanna know the biggest reason why I hate you?”

  “Harley—”

  “’Cuz you’re a selfish fuckin’ asshole! God’s gift to the world. Everythin’ is always about you! What you want! What you need! In your mind, I belong to you, yeah? That’s what you keep claimin’, thinkin’ it’s what I wanna hear, right? Never do you think about anythin’ other than yourself! The only reason you want me is ’cuz I don’t want you. It’s the chase that gets you off, am I right? Gettin’ warmer? Heaven forbid, no one turns down the quarterback, Jackson ‘Asshole’ Pierce. You think you’re the shit, when you’re nothin’ but a piece of shit! Do you get it now? You seein’ clearly? I’m a fuckin’ game to you! End. Of. Story.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “Fuck you! Get off me!”

  “You wanna know the truth? I’ll tell you the fuckin’ truth! I fuck Willow ’cuz I can’t fall in love with her.”

  I sucked in a breath, my lips tremblin’, my body shakin’.

  “I may be a piece of shit, I’ll own that, but try for one fuckin’ second to live in my shadow. ’Cuz sometimes it feels like I’m just an outsider looking in. Waiting to end up like my mother. Alone. Lost. Forgotten. I’m not talking about her, I mean the people she left behind. Me. Her son. Who didn’t even say goodbye ’cuz he didn’t want to remember her that way. All I’m doing is saving you from that. Do you get it now? You seeing clearly? You’re not a game to me ’cuz I refuse to play with you. Not when I might forget you.”

  Two tears slid down the sides of my face in perfect symmetrical lines. Hurting for the boy I hated then...

  But loved so much right now.

  Chapter 10

  <>Harley<>

  Now: Twenty-four-years-old

  Two strong, muscular arms wrapped around my waist from behind. Pullin’ me onto his lap, nuzzlin’ my heated neck with his nose and lips. His raspy voice mutterin’, “Feels damn fuckin’ good to finally hold you in my arms, baby girl.”

  Jackson.

  I smiled. I had to, all eyes were on us.

  Our whole family was at Memaw’s restaurant, celebratin’ the anniversary of her and Papa’s marriage. As much as I loved bein’ around our families, witnessin’ everyone’s dynamic.

  Their relationships.

  Their happily ever after’s.

  Their honest and pure love I always looked up to.

  It never ceased to make me feel like a fraud.

  “Gremlin, don’t,” Jackson uttered, precisely aware of what I was experiencin’ at the hands of our loved one’s bliss.

  Completely in tune with my emotions.

  From the corner of my eye, I caught the vision of Shiloh and her man dancin’. Smilin’ big and wide as he twirled his wife around, tuggin’ her back to him with a look of utter contentment. Remindin’ me of the night all those years ago at a similar celebration for Jackson’s dad and new mom, Camila.

  It was the beginnin’ of the end of us.

  Now we were an illusion.

  An act.

  A charade.

  Nothin’ about our marriage was real. We were Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Pierce on paper for our baby girl, Bailey. For the pure sake of my financial freedom...

  But like anythin’ in life, it came at a cost.

  Day after day.

  Week after week.

  Month after month.

  Year after year.

  We were livin’ a lie, slowly eatin’ away at my entire bein’. Fuckin’ destroyin’ me inside.

  From the moment I got pregnant, we became somethin’ I never wanted.

  Not like this.

  Never like this.

  “Momma!” Bailey exclaimed, jumpin’ into my lap.

  Suffocatin’ me further into the dark thoughts wreakin’ havoc on my heart. The room began closin’ in on me, holdin’ me hostage against my will. Sweat formed at my temples, my hands began to shake, and my heart started beatin’ so profusely through my chest.

  I couldn’t breathe.

  All I wanted was to breathe. Just for one second, one moment, one hour in time.

  Tick...

  “Dada wuves Momma so, so, so, much!”

  Tick...

  “Bay, you and Momma are all I ever wanted.”

  Boom.

  I stood up, placin’ Bailey into his lap. Ignorin’ the knowin’ expression takin’ ahold of Jackson’s face.

  “Harley—”

  I didn’t allow him to finish, quickly walkin’ away. A phony, hiding behind a smile, an imposter. Facin’ what was in front of me and behind me was just too much to bear.

  With one foot in front of the other, I went outside. Goi
n’ to the first place I knew he wouldn’t follow me to.

  The soles of my feet burned against the soft, crisp sand. I was a woman possessed, crossin’ the imaginary line that had always been placed in between us. I moved on autopilot, never once lookin’ back.

  In a way, I was possessed.

  Needin’ to escape, to think, to run...

  And I did just that.

  I ran.

  Faster and faster.

  Desperately tryin’ to leave the past behind, but I was bound to my memories.

  To my afflictions.

  It was my cross to bear.

  For all the lies in our past that were killin’ every last part of me.

  Four steps.

  Three steps.

  Two steps.

  One.

  I stopped right under the pier that held us captive since day one. Finally bein’ able to breathe in the salty air surroundin’ me. Trust me, the irony was not lost on me. I was riveted by the splittin’ pain in my chest and agonizin’ demons on my shoulders. Seein’ my whole life flash before my eyes in the darkness of the night sky.

  All that mattered was I was away from pryin’ eyes. Away from Jackson’s soul which always seemed to be connected to mine. There I stood, watchin’ the waves crash on the shoreline for I didn’t know how long, lettin’ my mind wander all over the board. Thinkin’ about how much my world had changed.

  I was a trophy wife.

  A young mom.

  Daughter of The Prez.

  Treadin’ down a destructive path brought on by my own hands.

  Closin’ my eyes, I waited for the unknown and the inevitable spark to be lit behind my lids. There was no escapin’ our past no matter how much I wanted to.

  Tears spilled out past my lashes, my heart broken beyond repair, experiencin’ a strong sense of déjà vu. Even the waves couldn’t wash away all this pain.

  These sins.

  Suddenly feelin’ overwhelmed, I shook off the sentiment. Realizin’ I just sought refuge in the same spot from the last time I felt my world crumblin’ down on me. With none other than the man...

  I was runnin’ away from.

  <>Jackson<>

  Now: Twenty-five years old

  I found her standing with her feet in the water. Not giving a shit that the bottom of her dress she designed solely for tonight was getting soaking wet. Nothing had changed about the little girl who always looked like she got dressed in the dark.