I’m hungry for more than what’s in the bag.
She snatches the sandwich from me and falls back down in the chair. “Asshole.”
I grin.
Step one is complete.
I’m getting closer and closer.
* * *
It’s official.
I’m now the owner of Casey Auto Sales.
I’m on a rollercoaster of emotions. Growing up, I had this planned. Go to college, graduate, and take over the business, but I didn’t think that was in the cards for me any longer. It feels so bittersweet.
I hit Nautica’s name after leaving the attorney’s office and send her a text. I probably look like some obsessive stalker showing up everywhere she is, but I don’t give a shit. I’m going to fight for her like I should’ve done a long time ago. I have years to make up for. I’m not letting another day pass.
“What are your plans for dinner?” I ask.
I think back to our texts when we were sneaking around. Damn, I miss those days.
My phone beeps with a response.
“Who is this?”
I forgot I changed my number. “The man you’re in love with.”
My response is pushing it, but that kiss in her classroom is giving me some extra confidence.
“OMG Channing Tatum?”
“Funny. If I recall correctly, you choose to fuck me over watching him that night. Looks like I win.” A few minutes pass and I don’t get a reply. Yeah, pushing it. “Dinner? You have plans?” I ask again.
“No.”
“My place or yours?”
“What?”
“Do you want to have dinner at my place, yours, or go out?”
“Yours.”
I send her my address along with, “see you tonight at six.”
* * *
I’m renting until I figure out what my game plan is. When I came here for the funeral, I paid for the first place that would let me in on a short notice without a lease. The two-bedroom apartment’s rent is over-priced as hell, but the place is decent and came furnished.
I own a condo back home, but I plan to put it on the market. I also co-own a few dealerships with Jasper, but I’m considering letting him buy me out. They’re up and coming, successful dealerships, but they’re not anything like what my dad’s are. His dealerships have had years in the making and a great reputation that people trust, which is hard to find in the car business.
Nautica sent me a text telling me she’s on her way. I grab a lighter and start lighting the candles I bought at the grocery store earlier. I never thought I’d be a dude who buys candles when a chick comes over, but hey, shit happens.
My gaze keeps going to the door, and I grin when I finally hear the knock. She gives me a small smile when I answer it. I grab her hand and pull her inside.
She looks sexy as hell. Her dark hair is parted down the middle and pulled into a tight ponytail. A pink, button-up blouse is tight around her tits. I lick my lips as my fingertips tingle with the urge to undo each button. My cock aches as I move my gaze down and eye her black skirt, imagining how easy it would be to slide it down to her ankles and slide myself inside of her.
I shake my head in an attempt to stop my fantasies from running wild. I need to be good and keep my hands to myself … for now, at least.
“Wow, this is a nice place,” she says, looking around. I can’t take my eyes off her ass.
“Thanks,” I say, and clap my hands. “Dinner is almost ready. Can I get you a glass of wine?”
“Wine would be great, thanks.”
Her heels click against the floor as she follows me into the kitchen. I pull out a stool for her to sit down before popping open a bottle of red wine. “How does chicken sound?”
Chicken is about the only thing I know how to cook, so it was either that or take-out. I thought it’d look better if I made something.
“Chicken sounds good.” She takes a sip of wine before clearing her throat. “But first, I want to get straight to the point.”
“Go for it.” Please don’t be bad.
“Why did you ask me to come here, Bracken? And why the hell do you keep showing up everywhere I am? At my job, my house, and insisting I forgive you?”
I pour my own glass of wine. I knew I was going to have to start answering her questions sooner or later. “Because I want you to forgive me,” I answer, simply.
She dramatically throws her hands up in the air. “Fine, I forgive you. Happy? Does that honestly make you feel better?”
I shake my head. “Your acceptance doesn’t mean shit if it’s not real and you’re not over it. Right now, when you see me, all you think about is how I hurt you. I fucking hate that. When you see me, I want you to smile. I want your day to brighten. I want you to see me as the man you love, not the one who hurt you.”
“It’s a little too late for that,” she mutters, downing her glass and holding it out for a refill.
“It’s never too late for shit.”
I turn around to check the food, and change the subject when I face her again. I’m waiting until the perfect time before I venture into deep territory.
* * *
Dinner is going by smooth so far. I’ve kept the conversation flowing, avoiding anything serious, and kept our glasses filled. She tells me about her students, and how she started coaching the dance team. I tell her about how we started the dealerships, and she asks me how Jasper is doing.
Everything has been fine, there’s been laughter and smiles, but I have a feeling all of that is about to change. I have to ask. The words have been on the tip of my tongue since I laid eyes on her at the funeral home and noticed the absence of Quinton, and a ring.
“Was it just him?” I ask.
Her eyes meet mine from across the table. She tilts her head to the side as he eyebrows squish together. “What?” she asks.
“Was it just Quinton? Are you done with him? Is there anyone else?” I have to know if someone is standing in my way.
Her jaw flexes. I hit a nerve. “Oh no,” she mutters. “I’m not discussing my love life with you, whatsoever.”
“I need to know.”
My throat goes thick at the thought of another man putting his hands on her – on what’s mine. I have no damn right to be jealous. To be staking a claim. It’s my fault, my own cowardice, for her running into the arms of another man. But I can’t help it. There’s still something between us – a spark that won’t burn out. I can’t move on from her.
She sighs, as if giving up. “Yes, it was only Quinton. We were together for a few years. We broke up five months ago, and I’ve been too busy focusing on myself to worry about a man.” Her face twists in annoyance. “But I’m not going to ask you that question because I’m sure there hasn’t just been one other woman.”
“You’re right.” Her eyes widen at my honesty. “I’m not going to lie to you. I want us to be open and honest with each other.” I slide my plate towards the center of the table and lean in closer. My elbows rest on the table as I lower my voice. “And do you want to know how I felt about all of those nameless women?”
“Not particularly.”
“Nothing. Not shit. I imagined they were you every single damn time. I haven’t had anything like we had. Not a relationship, a date, nothing but one night stands.”
She claps her hands sarcastically. “Bravo, that’s not surprising.” She takes a sip of wine, swallowing it down slowly. “Why are we talking about this? Dinner was going well.”
She doesn’t see my confession like I do. Sure, I’ve given my dick to other women, but I’ve never handed over my heart. That means more to me.
“Do you still love him?”
She jerks back, but doesn’t answer me. A few seconds of silence pass before I can’t take it anymore. I’ve never been a man of patience. Her back straightens when I slide out of my chair.
“Did you even love him?” I ask, stopping directly in front of her. “Or do you feel the same way as I do? That no one can
replace our connection. Our love.”
She scoots her chair back in an attempt to get up and maneuver around me, but I grip her wrist, stopping her.
“I’m leaving,” she snarls. “I agreed to dinner, not a fucking interrogation.”
“No interrogation, just one question,” I growl. Only a few inches separate us. She’s so close I can feel her heavy breaths against my cheek. “Answer it. Answer my question, and I won’t ask you another fucking thing.”
I release her. She takes a step away from me. “No,” she replies.
“Answer my fucking question!”
“No.”
“I’m right, aren’t I? That’s why you’re trying to walk away – because you still have feelings for me.”
Her face burns as she throws her arms out. “Yes, alright. Are you fucking happy now, asshole? Are you happy that you completely ruined love for me? Does it make you sleep better at night that no one else is capable of having my heart because you took it a long damn time ago?”
I can’t help but grin. “Yes, it does.”
She points at me. “I want to smack that smartass smile off your face.”
“I want to kiss that cranky ass look off yours.”
She gapes at me and stumbles back. “That’s …”
“Romantic? Sexy as fuck?”
She lets out a huff. “Rude.”
I chuckle. “How’s this for rude?”
I slip my arm around her waist and jerk her forward. She doesn’t struggle this time as she falls into me. No, she moves in closer, wanting more, and rocks her hips forward. I seethe, hissing in a breath, and push my growing erection into her.
Her skin is hot as I drag my hand up her shirt. My heart pounds harder as I unbutton it. I inch the sleeves down her arms and toss it on the floor. My nerves are spiraling as I take a step back and look at her in question, asking for permission. She nods, a faint smile on her lips, and I slowly ease the skirt down her legs. As bad as I want to rip it off and give it to her hard and rough, I hold back.
I have to take my time. This moment needs to last as long as possible.
My mouth waters as I take in the sight of her hard nipples underneath the white bra. I slowly trace my finger around one.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” she says, but doesn’t move away.
I gently twist her nipple and chuckle, remembering our first time together. Our uncertainty, the apprehension, but we couldn’t resist it. History is repeating itself. I’m not fighting it this time around.
“We should be doing this,” I say, still playing with her tit. “We should because I love you – because I’ve loved you for years, even when I didn’t even fucking know it myself. I loved you then. I love you now. I’ll never stop loving you.”
“What?” she stammers out.
I’ve never uttered those words to anyone other than my parents, but they should’ve been said a long damn time ago. Those three words are the only way I know how to express the feelings I have for her.
“You heard me. I’m in love with you, Nautica. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you since I’ve been back. That’s why I’ve been begging you to forgive me because it’s no fun having the person you love hate you.”
I go still, waiting for her to say something back. Anything. Her lips slam shut and she looks around the room. I’m not sure if I’m going to get a kiss … or a kick in the balls.
I open my mouth to fix this so she won’t leave, but her lips hitting mine stop me from doing shit.
Fuck yes. This is exactly what I’d been hoping for.
“Take me to your bed,” she rasps out against my lips. “Show me. Show me how much you mean what you said.”
I stand there, paralyzed, and run her words back through my mind before kissing her harder as reality kicks in. I taste delectable wine and tangerines as she slides her tongue into my mouth. I breathe in, taking in the sweet scent of flowers shooting up my nostrils.
I wrap my arms around her curvy waist and lift her up. Her legs hook around my hips perfectly as I carry her to my bedroom. I clench my teeth, my dick getting harder, as she grinds her pussy against my roughly. She wants it, and she wants it bad.
I nudge the door open with my knees and carefully set her down onto the bed. I back away, my footsteps heavy, and flip on the light.
I have to see this. I want to savor the moment of her being in my bed again.
“Wow,” is the only word I’m able to get out.
She props herself up on an elbow and signals for me to come closer. I can feel my dick getting harder as I do what I’m told. Her back presses against the mattress, her hair spreading across a pillow, when I join her. A trembling moan escapes her throat and her head falls to the side when I lean down and suck on the warmth of her neck.
“Yes,” she whispers. “That feels so good.”
I move south, and my lips go straight to her nipples as soon as I take off her bra. I suck hard, licking the tiny pebble, and travel my hand up her underneath her panties. Her skin is soft, her breaths shallow, and I grin when I find her clit.
She’s so fucking wet.
I release her nipple and look up at her. She nods once before grinning. Her back arches when I plunge a single finger deep inside of her.
“Shit,” she cries out.
I add another finger, driving them in and out of her until she’s crumbling underneath me. Her pussy soaks my fingers with her juices.
“I want you,” she says, pushing me back and getting up on her knees. She makes a grab for my belt buckle. “I want you right now.”
I lean back and allow her to undress me. She concentrates, clear determination on her face, as she unsnaps my jeans. They fall slack against my knees. Her eyes widen, and she licks her lips when my hard dick springs forth. She strokes me, causing my knees to buckle.
My shirt is the next to go. I shiver as her chilly hand runs down my chest, her fingernails lightly scraping along my skin.
“Holy shit,” she says. I hold in a breath, uncertain if that’s a good holy shit or a bad one. She traces the letters inked into my skin. “Is that my name?”
I nod, my eyes pinned to her hand.
It’s a simple tattoo on the side of my chest. Seven letters in black, wrapped into the world of other tattoos, but it still stands out. I got it a few years back when I was wasted off my ass and feeling the blues about letting the girl I loved go. Jasper tried to stop me, but I told him to shut the fuck up.
She lets out a giggle as a soft blush rises along her cheeks. “I’m actually pretty flattered,” she says. Her front tooth bites into her bottom lip. “As a matter of fact, I’m really flattered.”
I grunt as I’m pushed back onto the bed. Her tight lips wrap around the head of my dick. I curse to the air, my balls aching, as she sucks hard before taking me in her mouth. She keeps a slow and steady pace, killing me.
“I’m about to bust,” I croak out, but she doesn’t hear me. Or she’s ignoring me. I pull on her ponytail roughly. She keeps ignoring me. I pull harder. She doesn’t stop, but her eyes move up, meeting with mine. I gulp hard. “Don’t let me bust in your mouth.” I’m begging. “Don’t let me off that easy. I need to be inside of you.”
She gives my dick one good final dick before pulling away. Her lips build into a slow grin. “Your wish is my command,” she says. “Do you have a condom?”
“In the nightstand,” I say. I try to turn over to reach for it, but she stops me. My mouth waters as her naked body stretches across mine and she opens up the drawer. She rips open the wrapper and carefully slides the condom on my cock.
She slides her panties off. I seethe when she straddles my lap and slowly eases down onto my length. My hands clamp on her hips when she bucks forward.
Fuck. This feels so good.
I missed this. I missed her.
Our motions start out slow, like we’re getting used to each other again, and the old sparks start to flare back up. She picks up her pace, lifting herself up and the
n falling down roughly.
“Fuck yes, baby,” I grunt out. I throw my head back. “You feel so good.” I grip her hips tightly. “Did you miss this?” I ask. She keeps fucking me, trying to avoid my question, but I don’t let her. “Did you miss this?” I repeat.
“Yes. I’ve missed this.” I allow her to start moving again. “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed everything about us.”
She fucks me harder; like that confession has set her on fire. She lifts herself up quickly and then slams back down against my cock. We’re getting sweatier, more worked up, and we both cry out in release.
We’re united again.
My girl is back in my arms, back on my dick, and I couldn’t feel happier. Now, I have to make sure she feels the same way.
chapter thirty
nautica
“Shit! Fuck! Shit!”
I jump out of bed, almost face planting on the carpeted floor, and fumble around the foreign bedroom in search of my clothes.
This is NOT good.
Wine and stupid decisions are my story for last night.
“Good morning, babe,” the sleepy voice behind me says, cheerfully. I cringe, wishing I didn’t wake him up.
I look back at the bed to find Bracken awake with his attention on me. He stretches out his arms and yawns loudly.
I snag my bra from the floor and put it on. I’ll worry about the embarrassment of him seeing me rummaging around his bedroom naked later.
“I’m late,” I answer. “I wasn’t supposed to stay the night.” I especially wasn’t supposed to end up having sex with him. I scoop up my shirt. “I have to be at work.” I look at the alarm clock on the nightstand next to him. “In an hour.”
It’s only a ten minute drive from his place to mine, so that leaves me plenty of time to shower and get ready if I hurry.
“Do you need me to do anything for you?”
I pull up my skirt. “No.”
He nods, but I can see the disappointment on his face. He wanted to save the day. “Don’t start thinking too much today, okay?”
Bad For You: (An Older Brother's Best Friend Romance) Page 15