Mace’s blue eyes were about the only thing he’d inherited from her.
Paul grimaced.
“Sorry. I meant, your ex-wife.”
“Yeah, she’s always been better about that stuff. But Mace insisted on living with me.”
“It’s because I don’t want you to be lonely, old man.”
Everyone laughed.
“Shall we get going?” Becca asked. She looked outside. “You brought four trucks?”
“I don’t know if I have that much stuff,” I said.
“No big deal if you don’t. We’ll take all four, and if we don’t need them, we won’t use them,” Mace said.
“Okay,” I agreed.
“Where are we going again?” Becca asked.
I gave everyone the address.
“Okay, I’ll ride with Connor. Mace, can you take Eden with you?”
“Sure,” Mace said as if we hadn’t had hours of sex last night.
“Okay, everyone, let’s go,” Becca ordered.
I got into Mace’s truck with him, and we rode in silence for a minute or so.
“Are you okay today?” Mace asked.
“Yes.”
He put his hand on my leg and squeezed. “Are you sore?”
I blushed. “A little.”
“You know, I was mostly joking about hurting you yesterday. But, after we did it in the bedroom, bathroom, dining room, and kitchen, I thought you might actually be in pain today.”
I put my hand on his. “It’s okay. Really. I wasn’t sore last night. But Becca did ask me why I was walking funny when we first got up this morning.”
Mace grinned. “What did you say?”
“I told her it was from moving around all my furniture. I got a lecture about being more careful.”
Mace laughed. “I wish we could have spent the night together.”
“Me, too.”
Mace had needed to go home because his dad was home. I had gone back to Becca’s since I didn’t have anything at my new house but a bed. No toiletries, except half a roll of toilet paper from the last tenants, and no food in the fridge.
“I didn’t know you were coming today.”
“My dad just asked me this morning. He said that Connor needed help with something. I figured it was you, but then I thought it would be more fun to surprise you.”
“Do you know how awkward it is to look your father in the eye?”
“Why?”
“Because I’m having sex with his son. He expects me to take care of you and protect you from predators.” I pointed to myself. “I’m the predator.”
Mace laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“Babe, you are no predator.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Trust me; I can take care of myself. I know that, and my dad knows that. And, if anyone is the predator, it’s me, and you are my prey.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“What if I told you that I’ve wanted you all year?”
“I wouldn’t believe you.”
“I’ve wanted you since the first game of the year when I saw you in the stands.”
“Then, why didn’t you come after me?”
“You weren’t ready. And I was a little mad at you.”
“About the Lena thing?”
“Yeah.”
“I really am sorry.”
“I know, babe.”
“Let’s not talk about that night anymore.”
“Why? Because you don’t want to be reminded of insulting me?”
“No. Thinking about you and Lena … messing around kind of bothers me now.”
“Because you like me?” Mace grinned.
“No, because I don’t want to think about Lena and I having sex with the same person.”
“Nah. It’s because you like me.”
“You wish.”
Mace laughed. “If it helps, Lena was only going to give me head. We’ve never had sex.”
“No, that doesn’t help. You don’t know women well, do you?”
He squeezed my leg. “That’s why I have you. You’re going to teach me all about them.”
“This is your TV?” Connor asked from the middle of my storage unit.
“Yeah. So?”
Mace walked through the maze of stuff until he reached Connor. “How the hell do you watch football games on that? My phone has a bigger screen.”
I put my hands on my hips. “It’s not that small.”
“I’m buying you a big-ass TV for your housewarming gift,” Connor said.
“I’ll pitch in,” Mace said.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not a big deal. Who’s going to be watching football on my TV anyway?”
Connor and Mace stared at me. I turned around. Paul and Russ were staring at me, too. Becca was in the corner, holding her head in her hand.
“I mean, besides me,” I quickly added. “Who’s going to be watching games besides me?”
Connor looked defeated. “You mean, you’re never going to invite us over?”
I threw my hands in the air. “Fine. If you really want to waste money, buy me a new TV.”
Connor and Mace high-fived.
After that, everyone started grabbing boxes and loading them into the trucks.
When Becca and I were the only two left in the unit, she said, “Nice save,” with raised eyebrows.
“I thought so.”
“I was being sarcastic. It really wasn’t.”
“That’s because you know me.”
Becca just laughed, grabbed a box, and walked out.
The group of us spent the morning getting everything loaded into the trucks and bringing it all to my new place. It was actually a good thing that there were four trucks because we got everything in the first trip.
After getting to my house, Mace and Connor unloaded Connor’s truck and then immediately left to go and buy me a TV. I didn’t want to ruin their fun by telling them I hadn’t set up cable.
I was putting away dishes when Becca came back from the grocery store with food for me.
“Thank you. Now, I won’t have to starve.”
“My pleasure. I’d rather go grocery shopping than unpack boxes. How’s everyone else doing? Do I hear the sound of a television?”
“Yep. The guys got the TV mounted on the wall and my antenna hooked up. They’re a little upset by my lack of channels, but I think they’ll live.” I put the last of my plates away. “I should maybe go check on them to see how they’re doing.”
Connor was in the living room, hooking up my DVD player. Paul and Russ were in the spare bedroom, setting up my old bed for when I had company. And Mace was in my bedroom, connecting my old headboard to my new bed.
“How’s it going?” I asked.
He was shirtless and covered in sweat, but he was one of those guys who made sweat look sexy.
“Good. Almost done.” He cranked the screwdriver a few more times and stood.
I sucked in a breath.
He wore thin sweatpants that were now barely resting on the bottom of his hips. His muscles were prominent from their use today, and the V above his hips was begging me for a lick.
“You keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to take you right here, everyone else be damned.”
I looked up into his eyes. “You need to come with a warning.”
“Me? Have you looked at your ass in the mirror?”
I scoffed. “Um, yeah, but I try to avoid it.”
He shook his head. “No way. I love your big booty.”
“Normally, a man would get his ass handed to him for calling a woman’s butt big.”
He took a step toward me and hauled me into his arms. “That’s because you have a warped sense of things. You think big means bad, but I think big means good.”
“And what about my breasts? They’re not big.”
He questioningly eyed me. “I didn’t take you as someone who fished
for compliments.”
“I’m not. I’m just trying to make a point.”
“You like to be right, don’t you?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” I asked. I poked him in the chest. “Now, answer.”
“I’m not going to lie. I like big boobs. But I like yours, too.” He kissed my neck and licked the salty sweat off my skin. He straightened. “Besides, nobody’s perfect.”
“Except you.”
He laughed. “I’m not perfect.”
I gave him a look that said his comment was bullshit.
“What? I’m too tall, my dick’s too big, and my eyes are too blue.”
I scoffed again. “So far, you just listed good traits.”
He grinned. “I know. But, seriously, my nose is crooked from being broken.” He rubbed the slight bump that was there.
I thought it only made him more charming. “It’s barely noticeable. It took me months to even know it was there.”
He stepped back from me. “I have scars all over the place from playing football and other sports since I was little.”
“Nothing major. They only make you look more attractive.”
“I have ugly feet, and my farts stink.”
I laughed and kissed him. “Okay. I guess you’re not perfect.”
“Eden,” Becca’s voice called out to me.
I quickly stepped away from Mace.
“Yeah? In here,” I called back as Mace and I started moving the head of the bed against the wall.
“Hey, I think we’re almost done with the big and important stuff. Connor was thinking we should all go to dinner.”
“What time is it?”
“About three.”
“Okay.” I looked around my room at the boxes there. “I just need to put some clothes away, unpack my bathroom stuff, and shower. Do you think five thirty would be okay?”
“I think that sounds perfect. I’ll let everyone know to get out, so you can get ready.”
“Thanks.”
I walked everyone to the door and said good-bye, thanking them and telling them I’d see them later.
I went to my room and began hanging up my clothes. I had done a pretty good job of keeping all that stuff organized when I packed it up from Becca’s, so it didn’t take me as long as I’d thought it would.
I moved on to the bathroom, putting my stuff away so that I could take a shower and get ready, when there was a knock at my front door.
I cracked open the door and saw it was Mace.
“Hey,” I said. “What’s going on?”
“I thought you might need someone to scrub your back, and I decided I was just the man for the job.”
I pushed the door wide and grinned. “Come in then. I’ll cancel all the other auditions.”
Mace kicked the door closed with his foot and kissed me. “You’d better cancel them. I’m the only one who gets to shower naked with you.”
“Mace, wake up.” I sat down on my bed and shook him.
“I don’t wanna,” he said and rolled away from me. “It’s too early.”
“Tough. You have to get to school.”
He flung himself on his back. “You’re a real Debbie Downer.”
“Because I interrupted your sleeping?”
Mace grabbed me around the waist and pulled me over him and then rolled me onto my back with him hovering over me. “Because you woke me up when I was dreaming about you.”
“Ooh. What was happening in this dream?”
Mace kissed his way down my neck. “You were letting me fuck you without a condom.”
I turned my head away from him, so he had more access to my sensitive skin. “You know, we have been together for almost two months. I’m on the pill. If you can show me you’re disease-free and promise not to have sex with anyone else, we can stop using them.”
Mace stopped kissing me. “Repeat that, please,” he said near my ear.
“I said, if we’re exclusive and clean, we can stop using condoms.”
He lifted his head and looked down at me. I turned my face back to him.
“What if I told you that I’m already clean?”
I narrowed my eyes and smiled. “Prove it.”
He rolled away from me and grabbed for his phone. After a minute of pushing on the screen quite a few times, he turned the screen around. “Here’s my name.” He pointed to the top. “And here’s the date.” It was from two weeks ago. He scrolled down and handed the phone to me. “And you can see all the tests came back negative.”
I sat up in bed and studied each result just to confirm. “How did you know I’d offer?”
“I didn’t. I mean, I hoped, but I didn’t know for sure you’d bring it up.”
“How come you didn’t bring it up?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t know if you were ready.”
I put my hands on his bare chest. “I am.”
The last two months had been a mix of secret hook-ups, hidden kisses, and covert sleepovers. Mace was spending almost every night with me now. Even when his father was in town, he’d often tell his dad he was staying at a friend’s house. But we always drove to school separately and at different times to be extra safe.
But all of it had been worth it to be with Mace. I had never thought I’d be happier than when I was with Adam, but I was. And, because of that, I knew I was ready to have a heart-to-heart with Adam. I just hadn’t had the time.
Mace pulled me down and kissed me. “You know you’re not leaving this room until we have sex, right? You can’t dangle the no-condom carrot in front of a man and then tell him he has to wait all day to have you.”
I kissed Mace and slid up his body. I had already showered and was only wearing my robe. We could squeeze in a short round of sex before we had to leave.
“What about me? Aren’t you worried about my results and if I’m lying about birth control?”
He rolled us, so I was on my back again, and he was over me.
He pushed my robe open and settled himself between my legs. “I trust you; plus, you’re too much of a stickler for the rules to have an STD and not tell me.” He grabbed his dick in his hand and slid it through my wetness. “Fuck. I’m not going to last a minute.”
I laughed and put my arms around his neck. “And what about birth control? How do you know I’m not tricking you to have your baby?”
Mace laughed. “So, that round pink thing of pills in your bathroom is just for decoration?”
“Okay, you got me.”
He pushed into me, and we both moaned. I didn’t understand how it was possible, but sex without protection always felt better.
“Besides, you wouldn’t ever have to trick me to have my baby,” he managed to say between thrusts. “I’d gladly give you my seed.”
I sank my nails into his back. “Holy shit, I think I’m ready to come already. The thought of me getting pregnant should not be a turn-on.”
He was in high school, getting ready for college, and I’d barely started my career. We’d only been together a couple of months. Baby ready we were not.
Mace pulled my thighs over his hips and ground his cock into me. “Some people have an impregnation fantasy. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“It’s embarrassing that you know more about sex than me.”
“Baby,” he said and kissed me, “in the bedroom, I’m the teacher.”
After we finished, I took another quick shower and got ready for work. I kissed Mace good-bye.
“When we get home tonight, we’re doing that again.”
I smiled. “Okay by me.”
He adjusted himself. “Damn, I’m already hard again. School is going to be torture. I’m going to be thinking about you all day. You, naked, spread out on the bed, with my cum leaking out of you.”
My eyes widened, and I blushed. “Jeez, Mace.”
He laughed. “Is that too naughty for my teacher?”
“No. I just wasn’t expecting it.”
He kissed me again. “I lik
e taking you by surprise.”
“I like it, too.” I looked at my phone. “I’d better go. I’ll see you later.”
“Later, babe.”
I walked outside and got in my car. I only had a single-stall garage, so I let Mace use it to hide his truck. We didn’t want to risk anyone recognizing it.
Once I got to school, Becca was waiting outside my classroom for me.
“Hey, what’s up?” I asked.
“What are you doing tonight?”
It was Friday, and Mace and I had planned to go to dinner.
“Nothing. You?”
“Why don’t you come out with Connor and me?”
I walked into the classroom, and Becca followed.
“Thanks, Becca, but you don’t need to include me. You two go. Enjoy some time alone.”
She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
“What?”
“Something is up with you.”
“Me?” For a second, I panicked, but there was no way that Becca knew about Mace and me.
“Yeah. A few months ago, you were hanging out with Connor and me all the time.”
This was true to a point.
“Until you started dating.”
“Okay, yes, we didn’t hang out as much, but we still hung out. You haven’t come out with us in weeks. What if just the two of us did something tonight?”
I thought back to the last time it had been the three of us. It had been a few weeks.
Shit. I was going to have to cancel my plans with Mace.
“You’re right.”
“I am?” Becca said as she dropped her arms and her fighting stance.
“You know you are.”
“Yeah. I just thought you’d put up more of a fight.”
“Well, I’m not.” I sat down behind my desk. “So, where are we going?”
She grinned. “I’m not sure yet, but I’ll let you know. Later.”
“Later.”
As soon as she left, I texted Mace.
Me: Don’t hate me. Becca got on my case about never hanging out with her, and I didn’t have a good excuse to say no.
Mace: You have an excellent excuse. Me. ??
Me: I don’t have an excuse that I can tell her.
Mace: Oh. Right. Okay. I’ll just come over later.
Wicked Chemistry Page 12