Hit the Spot

by J. Daniels

“Figured that. Just saying. It’s not like I have shit to lose.”

  “Just gonna talk to him,” I repeated.

  Dash turned his head, meeting my eyes when I did the same. “She came to you crying?” he asked.

  I nodded. My jaw flexed.

  “Right,” he uttered, looking away.

  He knew. There was a chance we wouldn’t just be talking.

  “Babe, you ready? Gonna be late if we don’t leave now,” he said, moving to get to Syd.

  She took his warning and gave Tori another hug, whispering with her before pulling away. Then she glanced back at me and shot me a look full of appreciation.

  That should’ve felt good. Under different circumstances, it probably would’ve. But I was still picturing Tori crying. Shaking in my arms. Her tears against my neck.

  Nothing was feeling good right now.

  Dash said something to Tori that had her nodding and smiling softly, then he threw his arm around Syd and called out a “Later” before leading her out of the room.

  The front door closed behind them.

  My eyes sliced to Tori again and I took her in. She was standing there in yellow silk shorts and a shirt too big for her. It hung off one shoulder and hid her shape, but she still looked good. She always looked good. Tori could make anything work for that body.

  Bottom lip caught between her teeth and chest rising and falling slowly, she stared at me.

  “Come here,” I ordered. I wanted to touch her. Kiss her. I needed to make sure she was okay.

  Tori released her lip. Her hand came up and tucked those strands of yellow behind her ear again. “I’m sorry about last night,” she said, keeping her distance.

  I ignored her apology and repeated, “Babe, come here.”

  “I must’ve looked crazy. I don’t typically cry and beg for sex.” She looked down, laughing a little. “I didn’t even put on shoes. What the—”

  “Legs,” I barked.

  Her head snapped up, eyes following and going round.

  “You don’t get over here right now, I’m comin’ to you,” I warned.

  She blinked. Then she started moving toward me, not as quickly as I would’ve liked but she was moving, so I didn’t get on her about it. She stopped in front of me and looked up, staying inches away.

  “You all right?”

  Tori hesitated for a second, then she nodded. “Yeah. Just…a little embarrassed. I can’t believe I came to you like that.”

  “Don’t,” I cautioned.

  Her brow furrowed. “Don’t what?”

  “That’s mine, babe. You’re not takin’ that.”

  Her head tilted. “I’m not taking what?” she questioned.

  “Got upset and needed to go to someone, and out of everyone, babe, you chose me,” I reminded her. “Could’ve gone to your girl, but you didn’t. You came here. Cried in my arms. Let me hold you and you held back. Don’t act like that wasn’t what you wanted. Don’t play that down.”

  “I meant the begging part.”

  “Yeah, that’s another thing.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Bet’s over, babe. I’m done playin’ games with you.”

  She looked from my eyes to my mouth and back up, asking, “You are?”

  “Yep.”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” I echoed.

  “Yes. Why?” Her eyes narrowed. “Because I begged?”

  “’Cause you fuckin’ came to me,” I said, bending to get closer, voice dropping lower and shaking in my throat.

  Tori inhaled through her nose. Her eyes danced between mine. “I came to beg,” she lied, speaking fast. “That’s the only reason I came here.”

  “Nope.”

  “It was, Jamie.”

  “That’s one of the reasons,” I countered. “Ain’t all of them.”

  She rolled up onto her toes. “It’s the only reason,” she shot back, holding tight to her lie.

  Fuck this. I was sick of her shit. My hands shot out, slid around her waist to her back and yanked, hauling her closer until she was flush against me. Then I bent down and took her mouth, pushing my tongue inside.

  I tasted her gasp and her need. I fucking ate them.

  “Admit it,” I said inside our kiss.

  Her fingers pushed through my hair. She tilted her head, kissed me deeper, and then pulled back to suck on my lip.

  Fuck.

  “No,” she breathed.

  I kneaded her ass until she arched up and moaned. “All these lies, babe. I want a truth.”

  “I came to beg.”

  “You came for me.” I kissed my way to her jaw and neck. I licked up to her ear and let her feel my teeth.

  She shuddered and gasped. “Jamie.”

  “You like me. Admit it.”

  I felt the shake of her head and the flutter of her pulse against my tongue.

  “You like me.”

  “I don’t.” She sounded breathless and breakable. She sounded weak.

  I growled, lifting my head and claiming her hot breath and sweet parted lips. One hand pushing through the hair at the base of her neck and holding while the other pressed low to her back.

  She whimpered against my tongue. Then she started sucking on it.

  Tori fought with her words. Not her body. I quit asking and just kissed her.

  And kissed her.

  And kissed her.

  I kissed her until seconds blurred into minutes. I kissed her hard and rowdy and rough.

  She kissed me harder. Sucked harder. Bit harder. Her hands gripped my back and shoulders and pulled. She wanted me close.

  Tori wasn’t just taking. She was giving it back.

  Again.

  Fuck yeah. She liked me. She liked me a whole fucking lot.

  When my lips burned and the bite from her nails stung my scalp and neck, I pulled away, panting. Hands around her waist, I dropped my forehead against hers and held her eyes.

  “Bet’s over,” I said. My voice was hoarse.

  Tori kept her fingers on my jaw. She licked me off her lips, nodding and breathing heavy. “Okay,” she whispered.

  “Gave me somethin’ last night and I’m keepin’ it. You’re not takin’ that.”

  Again, she nodded.

  “Quit fightin’ me,” I growled, putting pressure on her back.

  Tori closed her eyes. Her hands fell between us, pressing against my chest as her throat worked with a noisy swallow. Then she blinked up at me. Her eyes were pale blue.

  “I didn’t just come here to beg,” she admitted, keeping her voice soft and maybe a little scared.

  My mouth twitched. Fuck me, this woman. I could’ve gloated but I didn’t. I didn’t want anything tainting this moment she was giving me.

  Tori might not give it up again.

  “You gotta work today?” I asked her, leaning away but keeping my hands on her. I held her hips.

  “Yeah.”

  “When?”

  “I gotta be there by nine,” she said. “I told Nate I’d help him with the schedule.”

  “Got time to eat then.”

  I directed Tori with a hand to her back toward the kitchen. She went without resistance.

  “You want coffee?” I asked.

  “I don’t drink coffee.”

  “Juice? Water?”

  “Juice would be good.”

  I moved past her and opened the cabinet to get a glass, then I went to the fridge and poured some orange juice.

  “Did you get in the ocean this morning?” she asked from behind me.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “You smell like it.”

  I turned my head and caught Tori staring at me, leaning her hip against the counter and pressing her fingers to her bottom lip.

  “But I guess you always smell like it.” She dropped her hand and shrugged. “Like you were born out there or something.”

  “Been surfing since I was four.”

  “Really?”

  I nodded, looking away to put the bottle of or
ange juice back on the shelf. Then I opened the cabinet where I kept food and grabbed a pack of Pop-Tarts.

  “Soon as I could walk, my parents took me out. My mom surfed,” I replied, going to Tori and handing her the glass. “Started out on body boards. Loved it, so I learned fast. I was out there every day.”

  She took a sip of her juice, watching me over the rim.

  I opened up the pack of Pop-Tarts and held one out. Tori took it, brow furrowing.

  “What?” I asked, biting off a corner.

  She sat her glass down on the counter next to my empty cup, then she turned her hand over, examining the breakfast I was offering. “I don’t think I’ve eaten one of these since I was a little kid,” she said on a laugh.

  “I eat them all the time. They’re good in a pinch.”

  Her eyes came up. She was smiling. “They’re pure sugar, Jamie. Especially this kind with the icing. I’m surprised you still have teeth.”

  I stared at the curve in her lips, stained red from the color she always wore on them. My chest grew tight. I had no fucking idea what she’d just said. Didn’t matter, though. I had something I needed to share.

  “You told me last night you wanted to stop feelin’ him,” I reminded her, lifting my eyes and watching hers flicker wider.

  Tori gazed at me for a beat, then she slowly brought the Pop-Tart to her mouth and took a bite.

  “I don’t got time to take care of that this mornin’,” I said. “I gotta get to work.”

  “Me, too,” she answered, sounding anxious around her mouthful, her hand coming up in front of her lips. “I need to go home and shower, so—”

  “What time you get off?”

  Her eyes went round.

  “From work,” I added, smirking.

  Jesus.

  “Oh.” She swallowed, lowered her hand and licked her lips. “Ten tonight. I’m working a double.”

  “Right.” I jerked my chin. “Be at your house by ten fifteen then.”

  Tori blinked.

  “You won’t be feelin’ him tomorrow,” I promised.

  She blinked again. Her cheeks flushed red and she coughed a little.

  I smiled, liking her reaction. “Eat, Legs. We don’t got all mornin’.”

  Without hesitation, Tori went back to eating. She kept her eyes on me the entire time.

  Her face never paled.

  * * *

  Back pressed against the window of a 2017 Dodge Charger, jaw set tight, arms crossed and muscles tense, I scanned the lot at Asher Automotives while Dash stood beside me.

  He was scanning, too, but doing it looking less inclined to beat someone’s ass.

  I called as soon as the dealership opened and found out Wes was coming in at ten. Hearing that, I pushed my lessons back and took an early lunch.

  It was nine fifty-five.

  “There.” Dash pointed at the cherry red Corvette pulling into the lot.

  My gaze hardened.

  “See he got new tires,” I observed, keeping my position as I watched Wes park near the door in one of the labeled employee parking spots. “Legs wanted to set his ride on fire that night. Kinda wishing I’d let her do it.”

  Dash chuckled next to me.

  “That was some funny shit,” he mumbled. “You remember what they were wearing?”

  I nodded, thinking back to that night I saw Tori going to town on this motherfucker’s car, dressed like a fucking cartoon character and still making my balls ache.

  Wes climbed out, closed the driver’s-side door and straightened fully. He was tall. Lean build. A little scrawny in the arms.

  I wasn’t worried.

  “Wasn’t him who sold me my car,” Dash said. “Good to know I didn’t make that asshole any money.”

  The older guy I worked with a few months back, Dave, stepped out of the office and met Wes halfway up the ramp.

  I spoke to him when I got here, letting him know who we were waiting for and shooting down the impression that I was looking to give a sale to someone other than him.

  He seemed understanding of my issue with Wes. Apparently the shithead stole customers out from under people all the time. Being the owner’s grandson, he had job security, which sucked for everyone else. Dave also shared that the cameras pointed on the lot were on the fritz and set to get worked on next week.

  I thanked him by offering up my business for life.

  Wes looked across the lot after getting word on us waiting for him. The fucker grinned in our direction, most likely thinking he was getting a sale.

  Dick.

  “I’m gonna beat that fuckin’ smile off his face,” I bit out.

  “Thought you were just here to talk?” Dash questioned, turning his head to look at me.

  I met his eyes and then cut away.

  Wes started walking over. He was still wearing that grin.

  “Change of plans,” I said, cracking my neck from side to side.

  “Fuck,” Dash mumbled. He exhaled a tense breath. “Do me a favor and try talking first. I get what you’re feeling but you got a lot to lose, Jamie. You might be able to settle this without risking what you’ve worked hard for.”

  I was hearing Dash, I just wasn’t caring for what he had to say. Still, he was right.

  “Fine,” I said, growing more annoyed.

  “You’re gonna talk?”

  “Yeah. Whatever.”

  Wes stopped in front of us, smiling and giving it to us both. “Gentlemen, Dave says you were asking for me. What can I do you for?”

  Dash stayed quiet. I didn’t say shit.

  Wes looked between us, brow tight when we didn’t answer, then he moved closer and gestured at the car I was leaning on. “Just got this in. It’s a 2017 Do—”

  “Shut the fuck up and listen,” I interrupted.

  Wes blinked, stepping close. He looked at Dash and then back at me. “Excuse me?”

  I wasn’t in the mood to repeat myself so I got straight to the point. “Tori Rivera,” I snapped.

  His eyes slowly narrowed. That was the only tell he gave to let me know he was following me. That was enough.

  “You’re done, asshole. Stay the fuck away from her.”

  Wes laughed under his breath. He mimicked my pose, standing defensively before uttering, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  He was lying. Probably because he was married and didn’t need anyone else knowing he was running around on his wife.

  I kept at him. “Don’t call. Don’t show up. I hear you’re even thinkin’ about her, and we’re gonna have a major fuckin’ problem. You get me?”

  “Dude, seriously, think you got the wrong guy.”

  Now he was just starting to piss me off. I pushed off from the car and got in his face. Dash was at my back, bracing.

  “Held her last night,” I shared, eye to eye with this prick. “All fucking night, had that beauty in my arms.”

  His jaw clenched and his nostrils started flaring.

  “I see that bothers you. Funny, since I got the wrong guy.”

  Wes pushed against me, stepping up. “What I got with her doesn’t concern you.”

  “You got dick, motherfucker. She’s mine.”

  “Yeah?” He leaned closer. “What, was my bitch banging you, too?”

  “What the fuck did you just call her?”

  “Dude, shut the fuck up,” Dash warned, coming to stand on my left so he could face Wes.

  “Stay away from her,” I repeated when I had his eyes. “Not gonna tell you again.”

  He grinned and licked his bottom lip, “You taste her yet? She melts like sugar, doesn’t she?”

  Rage burned like a fire in my veins.

  “You fuckin’ idiot,” Dash uttered a second before I threw a right hook and connected with Wes’s jaw, dropping him. Then I bent down, fisted his shirt, and yanked his whining ass up until we were nose to nose.

  “Next time you see my face, cocksucker, you better run,” I warned, baring my teeth. “I hear
you’re botherin’ my woman again and I will fuckin’ kill you.”

  Wes blinked. He flexed his jaw.

  “You hear me?” I snarled.

  He nodded stiffly, breathing heavily through his nose before ordering, “Get the fuck off me.”

  I released his shirt, dropping him onto the asphalt, where he continued to moan and hold his face. Then I turned and stalked away with Dash keeping strides next to me.

  “Think he’ll go to the cops?” he asked.

  I flexed my hand. “He does, I’ll deal with it.”

  “Probably just raise questions. His wife will want to know why you hit him.”

  Dash was right. I didn’t think Wes was wanting to risk that. He wouldn’t say shit.

  “Surprised you talked,” Dash offered up with humor in his voice.

  “See? That right there.” I fake glared at him. “Where’s the faith, brother?”

  He grinned.

  I gave him one back. Then I looked away, laughing.

  Chapter Eleven

  TORI

  I was showered. Shaved. My skin was moisturized and smelling like warm vanilla sugar. I had a clean face, no makeup, though my cheeks were pink and looking like I was wearing something on them. That was due to a combination of the water temperature I used and my nerves getting to me. My breath was minty and fresh. My hair was down and partially dried, looking extra wavy since I didn’t blow it out. And my fingernails were still a little tacky from the top coat I applied a few minutes ago, doing this because the black and pink polish I had on them was starting to look drab.

  Why I thought my nails had to be on point for what I was about to do, I had no idea. It had to be my nerves. I was overpreparing. I doubt Jamie would notice my shiny polish. And honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted him to.

  If I was standing naked in front of Jamie McCade and the only thing he was focusing on was the upkeep of my manicure, I had bigger problems to worry about.

  We were about to have sex. A lot of it, I was guessing. And although my body was ready for this thanks to the measures I’d just taken, I wasn’t sure about the rest of me.

  My mind was going a mile a minute. My heart was beating so fast I felt like I was on something. I was terrified. I was turned on. I was worried this was a mistake.

  But I knew once we got started, I’d stop thinking and overthinking. Jamie would kiss me and I’d do what I always seemed to do when I felt his lips against mine and his grip on my skin.