by Rye Hart
But then, a familiar voice rumbled at my side.
“Well, if it isn’t Chanel Mathews.”
My eyes fluttered open, and I saw him sitting there. Luke Thomas, the king of all nerds from our grade. I’d had several classes with him back in high school, Chemistry and Calculus, plus the physical education courses I’d taken. He’d even joined the swim team once, and we swam together for an entire year, taking our team to nationals and kicking ass in the relay races.
“Luke?” I asked. “Is that you?”
“It is,” he said as he knelt beside me. “At first, I didn’t think it was you. Until I saw your beautiful face peeking out from underneath your hat.”
“How have you been?” I asked.
I moved to sit up, but he placed his hand on my back. He eased me back down on the lounger I was lying on, but his hand lingered much longer than I thought it would. He sat down by my face and rubbed my back, smoothing more oil into my skin. “You missed a spot with the oil,” he said before quickly removing his hand.
“Thanks.”
“Anyway, life’s been much kinder than high school,” Luke said. “But you have seen a great deal of success. I loved your articles in The New York Times.”
“You read those?” I asked.
“Every single one,” he said.
He was still goofy and awkward after all these years, but I couldn’t be mean to him and tell him to get lost or something. We had established a sort-of friendship in high school.
It didn’t occur to me that he would’ve been someone who would’ve cared to know what I was doing after the fact.
“Will you be at the dinner tonight?” Luke asked.
“I think Ana and I are going, yes. We stopped by the brunch this morning, but not many people were there,” I said.
“Oh. Ana’s here?” he asked.
“She’s lying right next to me,” I said with a giggle.
“I don’t see anyone,” he said.
I looked over to where Ana was supposed to be tanning but found the lounger empty. I lifted myself up and looked around and then reached for my body wrap. Where the hell had this woman gone now? I stood and picked up my camera to go find her, but I felt a pressure come down on my arm.
“Where you headed to?” Luke asked.
“Sorry. I’ve got to go find Ana. I told her I would be her buddy for the cruise, and now she’s gone,” I said.
“Oh, I’m sure she’s having fun. Relax. I’ll get you a drink,” he said.
“You’ll be at the dinner tonight, right?”
“I will be.”
“Then I’ll see you tonight. We’ll talk then, okay? I’m sorry, but I’ve really got to find Ana.”
I pulled away from his grasp, and I could feel his eyes on me as I left. I had no intentions of tracking her down. She had probably found someone else to sleep with for the afternoon. I went back to my room and took a shower, settling in on the balcony with a snack until dinner. I wasn’t looking forward to it at all, especially after my encounter with Rhett. I was trying so hard not to get sucked back into him, but I just couldn’t seem to help myself.
Ana came stumbling in as I was getting ready for the dinner. She smelled like sex and was giggling like a schoolgirl. She patted my shoulder as I snickered at her, stifling my chuckles. I was glad she was having fun, even though her definition of fun was very different from mine.
“We going to this dinner?” Ana asked.
“We are. And I expect you to come with me and stay for at least an hour before you mosey off with someone else,” I said.
“Man, what’s with all the rules, Mom?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Keep your panties on for a bit at least. I fell asleep sun tanning and woke up to you gone. Not a cool move,” I said.
“Well, Tommy came by, and I just couldn’t resist.”
“Tommy came by?” I asked.
“Yep. And before you ask, no, Rhett was not with him.”
“I wasn’t going to ask,” I said.
“You’re a shit liar. Now come on. I’m starving.”
“Worked up an appetite, I see.”
“Stop being a dick and grab your camera. You wouldn’t want to miss any candid drunken pictures of our graduating class.”
“Heaven forbid,” I said, giggling.
The two of us walked into the dining hall and grabbed some more drinks. We made our way to a table that was closer to the middle of the room. I had a better vantage point for snapping pictures this way, but my eyes were scanning the floor. I wanted to see if Tommy and Rhett would show up for dinner.
I needed to know if Rhett was okay.
“Do the two of you know what you would like to eat?”
I jumped at the waiter’s voice as Ana rattled off her order.
“Um, I’ll have the quail. That sounds delicious,” I said.
“It does. I’ll have what this beautiful lady is having.”
I tried to stifle a groan as his voice hit my ears. I whipped my gaze up toward him, taking in Luke’s shining eyes. He pulled out the chair next to me and sat down without even asking permission, and Ana was already giving him the stink eye.
“Ana,” Luke said. “You look wonderful tonight.”
“Luke,” she said. “You look like you could use a refresher course in manners.”
My eyes darted over toward the door, and I saw Rhett come in with Tommy. His eyes were scanning the floor like mine had been only moments before, but now I hoped he didn’t see me. Now, I cursed the fact that we were sitting in the middle of the floor. Everyone saw that Luke Thomas was sitting next to me, leaning a little too close and smiling a little too broadly.
My eyes connected with Rhett’s as I watched his expression fall.
This was not good. Between that note and this circumstance, I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking there was something brewing between Luke and me for the night, and that was not the case. I tried to scoot my chair away from Luke a bit as I pleaded with my eyes for Rhett to come over, but instead, he led Tommy away to a different table.
Shit. This wasn’t good.
“Isn’t that the douchebag that broke your heart?”
I whipped my head back around to Luke as I watched him follow my line of sight.
“Rhett something, right?” he asked.
“Don’t worry. She’s got plenty of douchebag sitting right next to her,” Ana said.
“Yes, that’s Rhett, the guy I dated in high school,” I said.
“Didn’t he, like, cheat on you or something?” Luke asked.
I darted my eyes over to him as I scooted my chair further away from him.
“I don’t really want to talk about it,” I said. “Let’s just have some dinner.”
“Whatever you want. You look beautiful tonight, by the way,” he said.
“Thanks,” I said.
We got our food, and I ate it as fast as I could. Ana was trying to diffuse the tension growing at the table, but Luke was determined to make this a spectacle. Every time Rhett looked over, Luke tried to put a move on me, pulling my chair closer to his and trying to kiss my cheek. I finally had to get up and tell him I wasn’t feeling well to put some distance between us. He offered to escort me back to my room, but Ana interjected and told him she could escort me back and that his services wouldn’t be needed.
Then, she shot him a nasty look.
“What the fuck’s his problem?” Ana asked.
“He’s just Luke; nerdy awkward Luke. What can we get into tonight?” I asked.
“How do you feel about the casino?” she asked. “We could play the penny slots or something.”
“Sounds good to me. Anything to get me away from that damn dinner,” I said.
“Come on. I’ll show you where the casino is.”
We made our way to the elevator and took it up to the casino floor. There were card games and slot machines, dice being rolled, and roulette being played. There were flashing lights, the music was cranked up and membe
rs of staff walking around in tuxedos and brightly-colored costumes.
But when I turned a corner to explore the place, Luke was standing at the other end of it, staring back at me.
“Ana,” I said as I backtracked. “Ana, where are you?”
I looked around, trying to find my best friend.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Where did you go?” I asked.
“I’m right here. Don’t get your panties in a—”
Her eyes fluttered over my shoulder, and I chanced a look behind me.
“Is that motherfucker following us?” Ana asked.
“I don’t know. I really don’t,” I said.
“Come on. Let’s weave through some aisles and then dip into the elevator,” she said.
Ana took my arm, and I went wherever she led. We bobbed and weaved, getting completely lost in the maze of lights and sounds. We timed it right and stepped into the elevator just as Luke came out of the casino.
He turned and looked at me as the elevator doors closed.
“Fucking creep,” Ana said.
“Ana,” I said, giving her a look. “Stop, he’s totally harmless.”
But then, the elevator doors shot back open. Luke smiled and stepped in, allowing the doors to close without pressing a button. I could feel the irritation coming off of Ana in waves and I was silently willing her not to say anything.
“I’m not feeling very well,” I said.
“You wanna go back to the room?” Ana asked.
“Yeah. I think this is a room service and rest kind of night,” I said.
“Allow me to escort you back. I want to make sure you’re okay,” Luke said.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I said as I looked behind me.
“Really. If something happened to you or something, I’d want to be there to help,” Luke said.
“Look, creep. She’s got it. Okay? Just go away and stop following us,” Ana said.
I shot a look toward Ana, but she shot me one right back. The elevator door opened on the fourth floor, and Ana dragged me off and down the hallway.
“What are we—?”
“Shut up and keep walking, okay?” she asked.
The elevator doors shut behind us, and I turned around. No one was there, not even Luke. And I sighed with relief as Ana dragged me over to the stairs.
“The last thing we needed was for that asshole to know what floor we were staying on. Now come on. We’re walking the last two flights.”
“You could’ve been a little nicer, you know,” I said. “Luke was just trying to be a gentleman.”
“He was being creepy,” Ana said. “Anyway, did you really want to go back to the room?”
I thought about it for a minute, suddenly tired. “Yeah, actually, I do. Once I said room service and a movie, it sounded pretty good. You don’t have to stay with me though, you can go find some fun to get into.”
“And leave my bestie to wallow in whatever you find to wallow in? Not a damn chance,” she said.
I sighed as we reached our room, but I was silently glad that she would be staying. Lord knows I couldn’t be trusted to be alone with Rhett right next door.
End of Sneak Peek. Would you like to know how this continues?
Click Here: One More Time: A Second Chance Romance
ROCK HARD NEIGHBOR
PROLOGUE
His eyes were hungry, and I knew exactly what they were craving.
He picked me up gently, and I sighed into his neck. He turned his lips to my skin, and I could’ve sworn I felt their warmth. My skin puckered and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I pulled back to take in his eyes once more, giving myself one last chance to revel in their beauty.
Then, without a word, he kissed me.
It was hesitant at first. Light and non-committal. His lips were pillow soft, and his beard tickled my cheeks. His hands slid down my back before they cupped my ass, and immediately I found my nipples tightening to sharp peaks. His tongue swiped lightly at my lips, asking for entrance.
I fisted his shirt and pulled him even closer, and it unleashed the madman inside.
Picking me up off the floor, he settled me on the counter. Its rickety form creaked underneath my body weight, but he held me steady and close to him. His kisses trickled down my neck, sending shivers up my spine as his mouth cupped my clothed breasts.
My hands were twirling into the tresses of his hair as he traveled down my body.
His hands were everywhere. Cupping my tits and running down my side. They made quick work of my pants, pulling the heated material from my body. The cool mountain air streaming in from the open kitchen window hit my soft molds, causing me to shiver as his eyes looked down upon me.
They were hungry, and I knew exactly what they were craving.
He grabbed a chair from the other side of the island and sat down. His hands pressed my legs open, folding them back up to me as he eyed my dripping folds. I was exposed to him, shivering on top of the creaking countertop as I looked down at him.
His eyes hooked on mine one last time before his lips descended to my folds.
He kissed them repeatedly, making me jump and whimper. His beard tickled the insides of my thighs as I slowly wrapped my legs around his head. My fingers ran through his hair as his tongue pierced my folds, sliding right into my entrance. I arched into him as my nails raked across his scalp, and his hands wrapped around my thighs so he could pull me closer to him.
His tongue felt like fire as he teased electricity up and down my legs. His tongue licked thick stripes up my slit, then swallowed down my juices as he hummed into me. His voice rattled my ribcage, and his hands held me down, pinning my movements to the countertop as his tongue worked my clit.
I could feel myself dripping. I could feel my legs trembling against his back. His lips wrapped around my clit and pulled it into his mouth, his tongue flicking at lightning speed. I was breathless and at his mercy as my eyes watered with want. I gripped onto his hair as I tried to buck into him, wanting to chase my high on the tip of his tongue.
But his hands held me down as he teased me generously, turning me into a moaning mess.
“Please. Oh, please. I can’t. I can’t wait. You’re driving me crazy.”
I felt him smile into me as my back arched again. I wanted to be so close to him. I wanted to come at the ministrations of his tongue. If he would let me come, I could give him what he wanted. If he could release me, my name would tumble from his lips.
If he could just send me over the edge, I would give him something in return.
Finally, his hands gave way. They slid down my thighs and parted my knees once again. I rocked into him as much as I could as he pinned my knees toward my chest. His entire body was hovering over me as his eyes hooked onto my face. I could feel sweat gathering at the nape of my neck. I could feel my body flushing with orgasmic delight. His tongue flattened out over my clit as juices dripped down my crack.
I was so close I could taste it.
CHAPTER 1
AMANDA
Shit!
Get it together Amanda.
It was a cold winter day in New York and I stood barefoot on the distressed hardwood floors of my apartment. My hands trembled as I held the crisp white letter addressed to me. It was from my grandmother’s estate attorney.
My grandmother passed away from a long battle with pneumonia and left me her home. Months had passed since her funeral, and I was still dealing with the loss of the one person I’d loved most in the world. I referred to her as my sweet Gigi. While she relentlessly encouraged me to follow my dreams, I still felt guilty for moving hundreds of miles away for art school and the pursuit of an art career.
No amount of accomplishments compared to her unconditional love, or her famous Sunday morning buttery biscuits. God, those biscuits were pure heaven. Gigi must have packed them with crack or something wicked - they were that good.
The thought of owning the house I’d grown up in overwhelmed me
with nostalgia and a longing to get back to the place I called home – beautiful North Carolina.
Maybe everything did happen for a reason.
Maybe my life had hit rock bottom because there was something better waiting for me. Could it be that Gigi wanted me to return to my roots?
Perhaps I was supposed to have a horrible relationship with the man I once called the one – so I could take a step back and grow into my own skin.
Or, maybe I was bat shit crazy!
There was only one way to find out – and I was convinced that North Carolina was that way. I had to at least give it go. I owed Gigi that much.
When my parents split, my mother relied heavily on her to help care for me. My father cheated on my mother multiple times, and then she fell into drugs and alcohol to cope with her troubles. To say that part of my childhood was a complete shit show would have been an understatement.
Gigi was my rock, my support, and my sole source of encouragement my entire teenage life. She even supported me through art school in New York City. She fought for my dreams, harder than anyone ever had. She was my guardian angel.
I missed her so damn much it hurt. Now, I knew she was watching over me from a distance.
I just prayed I wouldn’t let her down.
***
So, you’re just going to leave without a word?
Groaning at the text message from my ex, Daryl, I tossed my phone onto the airplane tray in front of me. I was on my flight to North Carolina, and he wouldn’t stop messaging me. Leave without a word? I broke up with him over a month ago.
Daryl was demeaning and cynical throughout our entire relationship – except of course the honey-moon period that lasted for just a few months after we met. He assumed he knew everything there was to know about the art world. He constantly told me to find something practical to do with my art degree; like teach or give lessons. Not once believing I could showcase my artwork in galleries – even though I proved him wrong a few times.