by Bijou Hunter
“Pretty?”
“Stunning.”
“Much better. If my date won’t compliment my good looks, who will?”
Court smiles, but he’s back in his head working out things alone rather than sharing with me who might be the wisest person in the world. I’m not, but he doesn’t know that, and he should give my big brain a chance.
“If you need to vent about Becca or any other whores from your past, I won’t cry or run for the hills,” I say, taking his hand. Leaning closer, I glance around and then focus my gaze on his intense one. “You may not know this, but I love talking shit about people. Mean-spirited gossip is the only kind I do. You keep that in mind if you need to bitch about someone. As long as you’re not talking about me, I should be okay.”
“What about your family?”
“My dad is okay to complain about but not my mom. You can say some things about Poppy and Journey, but it’d be safer not to join in when I attack them. I have been known to turn on a dime and freak out for someone chiming in. They’re my sisters, and I love them very much despite their many horrible flaws.”
Court grins. “I’m glad Tipsy Tony stole your wallet. We might not have met before another guy swept you up.”
“It’s true I am a prize to be fought over.”
Court traps my right hand between both of his. “Men in this town own their women. It’d be more sexist if the women didn’t tend to own the men right back. Still, you should be aware how most men don’t do things half-assed when it comes to dating. They’re crazy into it and then crazy out of it.”
“Is that how you are?”
“No, but I’ve only had one serious relationship. And that was with a woman too horrible to ever fall for. The other women were more like what your dad has with Tina.”
“That whore,” I hiss.
“Her husband died, and she doesn’t want to replace him in her heart.”
“Only in her vagina, huh?”
“You’re very possessive of Jared.”
“Wouldn’t you be?”
“No.”
“Well, you’re a rational man with rational reactions. I’m a woman, dammit. I do what I want, and I refuse to consider the consequences.”
Court leans back and studies me. “You need to remember that down the road with us.”
For the first time, I see past Court’s good looks and relaxed demeanor. Is he dangerous? Should I worry about my safety? How about my sanity? Will he ruin me?
No, no, I have no doubt I can’t be ruined. I’ve been me since I started talking. My first words were “I know,” and I’ve never stopped thinking I have everything in the palm of my hand. Even when nothing works out and I fall flat on my ass, I never doubt myself. Failure is just God’s way of making me better. He knocks me down only to lift me up. I’m awesome, and that’s the end of the discussion.
Despite knowing this fact, I wonder about Court and why he’s testing me at all. Why not just date me and see where things go? When I ask him this question, he shrugs and gives me an odd look again.
I realize Court has no idea why he’s testing me either. He needs to put me through a vigorous screening process, and I can choose to go along with it or walk away.
The choice isn’t hard.
9 Black Sheep
Court
I don’t even know what to do with the outfit Justice is wearing when I pick her up to go fishing. The floppy hat is cute as hell, the knee-high rubber boots are completely unnecessary, and the cut off shorts are distractingly hot. I’ve been second-guessing this relationship stuff since I met Justice. Going fishing is my way to scare her off. Now I’m wondering if Justice is capable of fearing anything.
“Why don’t you go back inside and switch these boots out for tennis shoes or even sandals. The hat is on the big side, but if you’re happy, it’ll work.”
Justice looks down at her rubber boots and then back at me. She has a sexy little move where she stares wide-eyed with her mouth open. The first few times she did this, I thought she was confused. Now I know she’s playing with me.
“Get to it,” I say, giving her ass a pat. “I’ll wait here.”
“Nope, you gotta come inside and endure my sisters.” When I start to complain, she shushes me. “You have your tests, and I have mine. If you can’t handle quality time with Journey and Poppy, I can’t imagine you’ll last long in my life.”
Justice takes my hand and tugs me to the porch. I like the way her flesh feels against mine. She’s softer than any woman I’ve known. Delicate in ways I’m unaccustomed. I imagine her hand touching other parts of me and have to shake off the heat infecting my skin.
“This is him, huh?” Poppy says, sizing me up.
“You already met him,” Justice mumbles and then plops on the floor and yanks at her boot.
When it doesn't budge, I take the heel and pull. We struggle for nearly a minute before the boot pops off. Justice lifts her other foot for me and smiles at the view she’s giving. Seeing her long legs spread seductively, I don’t know if she’s trying to make me hard in front of her sisters. Whatever she intends, I feel all of the blood rush to my crotch.
“That’s my old sister, Journey,” Justice says, standing up once the second boot is off. “She isn’t a man, just in case you were confused.”
I look at Journey and don’t get the man comment. She looks more like Jared than Justice does, but I don’t see anything particularly manly about her. Well, she is sporting decent guns for a chick.
“Don’t let Justice drown,” Journey says, flexing her biceps. “She can’t swim for shit and panics quickly in stressful situations.”
Poppy nods and gives me a dark glare. While Justice disappears into another room, I am left with the frowning sisters.
“You ever kill anyone?” Poppy asks.
“Yes. How about you?”
“All the time.”
“It’s fun, isn’t it?”
Poppy smirks. “Better than crack.”
“Wouldn’t know about that.”
“How about meth?” Journey asks.
I give them a fake smile and tap my teeth. “Too nice for a meth head.”
They nod in unison and then Journey sighs. “Are you a sex freak?”
“No.”
“Would you admit it if you were?”
“No.”
The sisters study me, but I check my phone to let them know I won’t be intimidated. I’ve pulled this move on giant men before, and it always works.
The modular house is a long rectangle with bedrooms on each end and the kitchen, laundry, and family rooms in the middle. With the purple walls and pink throw pillows, the place clearly belongs to a bunch of girls.
Justice appears from a hallway and takes my hand. “Let’s go.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say to Journey, who nods unimpressed.
Justice and I walk outside where I stand next to the Harley. “They’re nice.”
“No, they’re not.”
“You ready?” I ask because she’s bouncing around like she needs to take a piss.
“Yeah. I’m excited to go.”
“Fishing isn’t that much fun. I hope you didn’t get the impression it was.”
“I don’t give a queefing queef about fishing. I’m excited to hang out with you.”
Even smiling, I’m startled by how casually she admits her feelings. Women I’ve dated always play games, though I bet many only do so because they figure I’m playing games.
“You really like that word,” I murmur, reaching out and grazing Justice’s cheek with my fingers.
I feel wrong the entire time I’m touching her. She’s too clean and delicate for my corrupted touch. I know I ought to walk away right now. Jared wants me to do the right thing, but he won’t step in and force my hand. Justice doesn’t know what she’s signing on for, and I’m too damn weak to choose the right path.
“I heard it on South Park and can’t stop saying it. I’m kissing you now,” Just
ice says, grabbing my shirt and pulling me down.
Our lips meet, and I know I should push her away. I should leave right this moment, but I’m too fucking selfish.
Her lips are like candy. I want Justice. I try to do the right thing in my life, but not this time. Not with her.
Cupping her cheeks, I deepen the kiss. A startled Justice moans before relaxing against me. Her grip is tight, and I remind myself she’s strong enough for this town and my life. She might look like a breakable doll, but Justice is so much more.
“We don’t have to go fishing,” I whisper against her lips.
“You wanted this test, and I’m going to ace it.”
“You don’t need to.”
“I don’t care. It’s too late to back out now. I wasted twenty minutes this morning researching fishing. That’s time I’ll never get back, so we have to go now.”
Grinning, I lick her lips and back away. “In that case, let’s go.”
Justice watches me climb on the Harley and waits for me to help her on. She can’t get the hang of balancing, and I nearly laugh when she grabs onto me in a panic.
“Four wheels make more sense,” she says as I start the engine. “Just saying.”
“Cars are fine, but there’s nothing like riding down the road with a beautiful woman wrapped around me.”
Justice leans around my arms and smiles at me. “You can call me beautiful whenever you want. I just wanted you to know that. Oh, and if I fall off, tell my sisters I died feeling superior to them.”
“Will do,” I say, grinning as we pull down the driveway.
The roads from her place to the lake are nearly empty. We ride quietly for twenty minutes while Justice nuzzles her face in my back and grips my waist. She’s glued to me by the time we arrive, and I don’t want her to detach herself.
I imagine us spending the day in a better place where she can hold on tightly while I enjoy her legs wrapped around me. Instead, I’ve managed to con us both into thinking this fishing outing will prove anything except I’m an idiot, and Justice is a willing accomplice in my stupidity.
10 Black Sheep
Justice
The worst part of fishing isn’t the wobbly boat or the gross worms or the sticky heat or even the wobbly boat. It’s the actual fish. They’re ugly and smell. When Court catches one, I sense it judging me.
“You’re so outdoorsy,” I murmur, trying to sound sexy while backing away from the squirming fish.
Wanting to laugh, Court asks, “Do you want to touch it?”
“Don’t take this wrong, but if you make me touch that thing then I’ll never touch any of the things attached to you.”
“Now we can’t have that.”
Court gently lowers the fish back into the water where it swims away, probably still judging me. I think about how tenderly he treats the ugly, bug-eyed creepy bastard. He’s good people that way.
“Here’s some antibacterial gel,” I say after digging through my purse and finding the bottle. “Let’s get those fishy germs off of you.”
Court holds my gaze as I squirt the gel into his hands and rub it over his rough skin. I can’t imagine what he’s thinking, but I assume he’s admiring my beauty.
“I sweat in a sexy way, don’t I?”
Lunging for me, Court nearly tips over the boat. I topple back onto a couple of soft supply bags and stare up at him.
“You keep talking, and I don’t want to shut you up, but I need to do this.”
Court’s lips ravish mine. I have no time to think about where to put my hands or how my breath smells. I’m overwhelmed by the heat of his kiss. His hunger sends a wave of arousal to the wet spot between my legs where the feeling comfortably settles.
I moan when his tongue delves deeper, wanting everything when I’m barely holding on, let alone keeping up.
Court backs off and settles back into his seat. Just like that, he goes from starving sex god to casual observer.
“Sorry,” he says in an oddly distant voice. “Your lips were asking for a little attention.”
Court absently wipes at his mouth while I sit awkwardly across him.
“That was weird.”
“It happens.”
“You kiss people like that a lot?”
“No, but I’ll probably kiss you like that a lot.”
“Only probably?” I ask, regaining my confidence.
Court gives me a slight smile, but his gaze is on the lake.
“Are you playing hard to get?” I ask, leaning forward, so my hands rest on his knees.
He focuses his smoky-brown eyes on me, and I struggle not to squirm. Despite his easy-going demeanor, I sense something dark in this man.
“What do you want out of this?” he asks in a steely voice.
“I want you.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“You don’t know any better.”
“Probably, but stupidity hasn’t kept me from being happy in the past.”
“You don’t know me, Justice. You can’t understand the kind of man I am.”
“Only because you won’t let me understand.”
“I’ll hurt you.”
“I might hurt you right back. Hell, if anyone should be scared, it should be you.”
Leaning back, I cross my arms and smile at him. His dark gaze won't relent, but my confidence is mightier than any harsh truths he dumps on me.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he says after a long pause.
“You don’t hurt Felix, do you?”
“No, but I’m not sure I do right by him either.”
“How do you mean?”
“I want to take him away from Becca, but I’m an ex-con.”
“Can’t you scare her off?”
“Nothing scares Becca.”
“Everyone is scared of something.”
“She’s not right in the head. Whenever she starts to feel fear, it shifts into rage. She never thinks straight. It’s all wild reactions. I can’t intimidate her because she’s willing to burn the world to win and I’m not.”
“Have you considered killing her?”
“Of course. Everyone who’s ever met her has considered it.”
I smile at his honesty. “I want to be sage and share my wisdom with you, but I don’t know anything about kids or crazy ex-girlfriends.”
“Do you really not want kids?”
“With you?” I tease, tapping my foot against his. “Geez, Court, we’ve only just gone fishing. Seems like you’re skipping pretty far ahead.”
“Yeah, well, I’m a reckless guy.”
“Do I want kids?” I say, tilting my head back and forth as if I’m thinking. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen a kid and thought my life needs more poop and drool. Babies barf a lot too, don’t they?”
“I guess. I didn’t see Felix much when he was a baby.”
“Well, my old coworker had a baby who was always spitting up. That’s what she called it, but that stuff looked like barf to me. It was disgusting, and he smelled weird. Not weird, I guess, but he smelled like baby powder, and I don’t like that smell.”
“So you’re saying you don’t want kids.”
“I’m saying I don’t know. I mean, my baby maker has never been tapped by a guy's baby maker before. I'm not sure if I can jump to the part of actually making a baby. I figure I should get plowed a few times before I start thinking that far ahead.”
“Plowed?” he says, grinning. “That doesn’t sound very pleasant.”
“Is sex supposed to be pleasant?”
“Depends on the person, I guess.”
“Do you like it soft and pleasant, Court?” I seductively ask.
Court laughs, but I’m unsure if he’s reacting to my question or sexy voice. When his chuckles die down, he only watches me.
“What?”
“You look nervous,” he says, leaning forward.
“Are you going to tackle me again?”
“Probably.”
/> Court’s mouth presses against mine for only a moment before nipping my lower lip. He stares into my eyes, leaving me anxious.
“What are you thinking?”
“I want to fuck you,” he whispers. “I want to strip you down right here in front of all of God’s creation and fuck you until you can’t speak.”
“So why don't you?” I ask, trembling despite my confident words.
“Because I hate silence and love when you talk.”
“I guess you could fuck me only enough to make me nearly silent and then back off.”
Court smiles slightly. “You think I have that kind of control, do you?”
“I hope you do. I suspect I’ll be an uncontrollable beast when we fuck, so someone has to remain sane.”
Leaning back, Court takes a deep, unsteady breath. “Fishing is a helluva thing.”
“Are we going to make out before you take me home today?”
Court’s smile widens, and I wonder if his dick does too. My body is raging hot right now. More than just the arousal, I’m struck by a need to know Court. I want to see him every minute of the day. I hate not knowing what he’s thinking. I want to be inside his head so I can understand his every thought, dream, and fear.
Court’s hot and cold act doesn’t bother me as much as the unquenchable desire to keep this stranger with me forever. Is this the kind of insanity Christine feels for Jared? If so, her mannequin routine makes a lot more sense now.
11 Black Sheep
Court
Fishing puts Justice in a sexy mood. She grabs hold of my hand when we arrive at a hole in the wall near the lake. I look down at her and find a smile too beautiful to be caused by anything I did. I always figured making a great kid like Felix was a fluke. I wasn’t capable of anything particularly special, but I got lucky with him. Now I’ve hit the jackpot with Justice.
“Your nose is pink,” I say as she snuggles against me in the booth.
“I should have worn more sunscreen. Or kept the floppy hat.”
“It was a fucking brilliant hat.”
Justice stares at me with eyes the color of the clearest sky. I could stare into them forever without feeling I was missing anything. Shaking my head, I need to stay in control, but Justice makes me a fool in love.