She shrugs. “I didn’t know what was going on at first. I came out here, saw him, and figured asking him to leave would be easier than involving the police and having every town bigmouth talking about it tomorrow.”
“Roger, you need to call someone to pick you up,” I demand. I want him gone, but he’s too drunk to drive anywhere.
“Fuck you, dude,” he spits. “Go back home. You have nothing to do with this. Don’t you hate her now?”
“I’ll call one of my friends and ask them to pick you up then.” I grab my phone. “You can keep your girlfriend company.”
He lets out a cruel laugh. “At least my girlfriend doesn’t keep secrets from me.”
I freeze up at his words.
I can’t help but laugh at myself for my stupidity.
I pull out my phone and call the station while making my way up to Chloe’s porch. Douchebag can’t say or do anything. Dude is dumb but not dumb enough to fuck with a police officer.
The police cruiser pulls up five minutes later, and they arrest him for public intoxication and disturbing the peace. Chances are, he’ll be out tomorrow if he makes bail.
“Thank you,” Chloe says when Cliff and Pete leave, Roger in the back of their cop car.
Standing on her porch, I nod in response. I should walk away and go back to my house, but for unexplained reasons, I can’t. The need to make sure she’s okay, not shaken up, is there … and so is the need to be near her.
I’m so fucking conflicted, and I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t miss her.
Fuck, do I miss her.
I miss our mornings, both before and after we started a relationship, our arguing, our sex, the conversations that somehow convinced her to open up to me.
I miss Chloe Fieldgain, but I fucking hate her at the same time.
The porch light shines over us as she leans back against the front door, and I take in the fluffy pink slippers on her feet.
“Are you ready to let me explain myself?” she asks, letting out a breath. “I gave you that chance.”
I slip her a glare. “You did, after a goddamn decade, so I’ll call you when that time comes.”
She grimaces. “Grow up, Kyle, and let’s act like adults about this, okay? We’ve both made mistakes.”
“What’s there to explain?” I snap back. “It’s clear as motherfucking day. I pissed you off in high school, so you got your revenge by blackmailing my family.”
She advances a step from the door into my space. “You think that’s why I cashed the checks he offered us? Over teenage heartbreak?”
A chill hits my core. “I want you to be honest with me.”
“Always,” she says with no hesitation.
Liar.
I decide against calling her out for it. “Were you ever going to tell me?”
“I don’t know. The more I trusted you, I think, yes, I would’ve eventually.” She peeks up at me with a sad face. “Thank you for controlling Roger.”
“I did it for the kids,” I halfway lie.
“I’m sorry for all this, you know. I never wanted to hurt you or your family. That was never my intention. My feelings for you have been pure from the very beginning. It’s going to kill me to watch you walk away from me.”
She stands up on her tiptoes and presses her face into my neck. I can’t stop myself from cupping her ass and shifting her close. Her teeth tug at my earlobe, and I don’t hesitate to follow her when she leads me into the house to her bedroom.
23
Chloe
I have no idea what I’m doing.
I don’t seduce men.
I mean, I didn’t until now.
A lamp shines in the corner of the room next to my bed, giving me a good view of him. I place my hand over Kyle’s mouth as soon as he shuts the door behind us and push him against it. I’ll prove to him in every way possible that our feelings are real and not to walk away.
He removes my hand. “You’re the screamer, babe. I’ll be the one forcing you to be quiet.”
Facts.
I smile in return. He doesn’t do the same. The stare on his face is packed with pain and desire. He wants me but doesn’t. He believes me but doesn’t. He wants to work this out but doesn’t.
Everything I’m reading on Kyle is confliction.
Let me prove it to you.
I sink to my knees, hastily undo his pants, and lick the length of his cock the moment it springs free. A deep groan leaves his mouth before he catches himself and bites into his lower lip, masking the sounds of his pleasure. It’s a shame. I want to hear every word and moan leaving him, but the kids can’t hear us. I capture him in my mouth, sucking hard, and hope to erase the hate he has for me. He’s smooth as I attempt to use his dick to deep-throat my way back into his heart, as pathetic as it sounds. He won my forgiveness by orgasm; maybe I can do the same with him.
He grows harder with every stroke from my mouth. I get lost in the act and don’t tear myself away until he speaks. “Stop, Chloe. This isn’t going to finish with my cock in your mouth.”
When I stare up at him, he’s taking me in with cold eyes and a guarded look. That’s when I realize he hasn’t touched me. His hands aren’t in my hair. This is the first time he’s never touched me. Instead, he’s made this impersonal, as if I were a random chick he was about to fuck in the restroom of a bar.
I need to give him more.
I rise up on my knees, gripping his thighs, and kiss up his chest—over his tee, his neck, his jaw, moving my way toward his lips. He subtly turns his face away from me.
“Kiss me, Kyle,” I embarrassingly plead. “Touch me.” Forgive me. “Fuck me.”
My last two words do the trick. He grips my waist and kisses my hair before crashing his lips to mine. He breaks away to remove his shirt and then palms my breast over my robe.
“Is this what you want?” he whispers into my mouth.
“More than anything,” I reply.
He wastes no time before pushing me back toward my bed. My shoulders tighten as he takes me in, and I lose a breath when he harshly tugs the ties of my robe, releasing it, and then tosses it across the room. My panties are torn and flung in the opposite direction.
He twists me around, my back facing him, his broad chest pushing up against me. My knees hit the bed, and I shiver when he reaches out and tucks my hair behind my shoulder.
“You always seem to get what you want, don’t you, Chloe?” he hisses in my ear before running his tongue along the lobe.
I gasp when he grips my waist and rubs his hard cock against my ass. I press against him at the same time he guides us up my bed. He lifts himself on all fours while I stay on my stomach, and he lightly feathers a finger down my spine.
“Chloe, how you’ve ruined me,” he says, his finger still skimming my skin.
My hips are raised, and with no warning, he slams inside me before lowering me so that I’m flat on my stomach again. Our legs tangle together, and I’m already close to getting off as he balances himself over me. Our bodies rub against each other’s with every stroke, and I don’t have the power to move. He carries our weight as he slams into me.
I shove my face into my pillow to mask my moans. I’ve never had sex like this before. It’s angry. It’s raw. It’s rough. This is a pure hate fuck.
I move my head to the side and bite into his arm as I grow closer, and his hands grab mine, squeezing them as he nears his release.
“Yes, fucking mark me,” he grinds out.
He grips harder, and I bite deeper with every push and pull from him.
My pussy constricts against his cock as waves of pleasure hit me, and then I shudder out my orgasm while his hips continue to slam into me until it’s his turn to come. When it’s time, he pulls out and releases on my back, like I’m some random whore he only wants to come all over.
He falls to the side of me as we fight to catch our breaths, and I already miss the heat and sweat of his body when he rolls off the bed. I start to tu
rn around to see him but jump when he slaps my ass.
“Thanks for the fuck, neighbor,” he comments. “I’ve needed some release.”
I jump up to my knees. “Excuse me?”
He grabs his shirt from the floor and then his pants.
“You’re not spending the night?”
He throws his shirt over his head without glancing in my direction. “I’ll pass. Like I said, I appreciate the fuck. This was fun. Next time you want a quick, meaningless fuck, you know where to find me.”
“You’re an asshole,” I hiss.
“You thought I was an asshole then? Just wait.” He leans onto my bed with his palms on each side of me. “You know what’s funny? You’re exactly like him. A manipulative liar.”
With that, he turns around and leaves.
I stomp into my office with fury in my eyes. Fury in my sleepy eyes. I was up all night, pissed about Kyle.
“Whoa, killer. Who’s on the murder list today?” Melanie asks.
“Kyle motherfucking Lane,” I grit out. “I hate him!”
She holds her hand up to stop me and narrows her eyes at me in confusion. “Hold up. Last time we talked, you said you wanted him, and he hated you. Now, you hate him, too? What happened?” She leans back in her chair. “This is getting very interesting.”
“He came over last night, and we had sex,” I confess.
She tilts her head to the side. “Isn’t that what you wanted?” She stops to study me for a moment, as if she’s missing something. “Was it bad sex or something? Did he leave before getting you off? Start some kinky shit you weren’t okay with?”
“No! It was amazing sex!”
“Good boy,” she comments with a pleased smile. “So, what’s the problem then?”
“The problem is, after we finished, he slapped my ass, said thank you, and then left!” I throw my hands up in the air and throw my bag onto the floor. “Who the fuck does that?”
“I told you, hate sex is the best sex,” she replies. “Nothing beats pent-up frustration like rough sex that ends with someone telling the other to fuck off.” She chews on the pen in her hand as if this isn’t a big deal.
I grab my bag from the floor while still looking at her. “Remind me why I talk to you about my problems. Hate sex might be the best sex, but the after-party of hate sex fucking sucks.”
She shrugs. “Look on the bright side; you guys are making progress in the shitshow that is Kyle and Chloe’s relationship. Yesterday morning, he wanted nothing to do with you. Now, he’s jamming his cock into your vagina. Things are looking up, my friend.”
“No. Things are looking more along the lines of homicide. Be prepared to finally get a new job because I’ll be in prison.”
She laughs before her face turns soft. “Give him time, Chloe. Was it a dick move? Absolutely. The man is pissed, and his ego is bruised.”
“I’m not giving him shit, except sliced tires, so do you have any better advice?”
“At the moment, no, but let me drink some coffee, answer some emails, and take a two-hour lunch break, and then I’ll get back to you.”
“I’m screwed,” I mutter before walking into my office.
24
Chloe
Claudia Calling.
I hit Ignore.
It’s her fifth call in a row.
I don’t have time for her bullshit games today.
My phone beeps with a text.
Claudia: Quit ignoring my calls!
They released her from jail days ago. Surprisingly, the judge had granted her bail. Also surprisingly, Roger had paid it. She hasn’t seen the kids or picked them up from my house, but the weekend is over. Claudia always waits until the weekend ends to threaten me with seeing them if I don’t give her money.
An hour later, Claudia comes storming into my office with Melanie on her trail.
“I tried to stop her,” Melanie says, shooting Claudia a scowl before looking at me. “But I figured you’d frown upon me tackling your sister to the ground.”
A smile twitches at my lips. Right now, probably not.
“I appreciate that.”
Melanie isn’t a Claudia fan, and this isn’t the first time my sister has barged into my office, barking out demands.
Melanie throws Claudia another dirty look before leaving and makes sure to shut the door behind her. Claudia tends to get loud during her visits.
Claudia plops down on the chair in front of my desk. She’s sporting the hungover look, complete with dark circles under her blue eyes and last night’s makeup smudged across her face.
“Your secretary is a bitch,” she snarls.
I fold my hands together, set them on my desk, and lean forward. “No, she isn’t. Now, what’s so important that you felt the need to visit me at my work, which I’ve asked you numerous times not to? This is a public office, not a place for me to handle my family issues.”
Claudia has never taken my job seriously. Oftentimes, it seems like she wants me to lose it.
She rolls her eyes. “I need money.”
I cut her off before she can elaborate. “No.”
She winces. “But—”
I interrupt her again. “I said, no.”
“You’re a goddamn bitch,” she seethes. “I hate you.”
The feeling is mutual.
I shrug. “If that’s how you feel, then that’s how you feel.”
She bows her head. “I’m in trouble, and Michael still isn’t answering my calls.”
“That’s nothing new, Claudia. You’re always in trouble, and your reasoning for needing money is never-ending, dramatic, Shakespearian bullshit. If Michael isn’t giving you money, go back to the job you quit.”
She lifts her chin and glares at me while I’m fighting with myself not to cave in. I’m a habitual pushover when it comes to Claudia. Eventually, I grow tired of her pleading and give in. That’s not happening today.
She lowers her voice. “Roger and I owe some men money.” She continues before I get the chance to confirm she won’t receive a cent from me. “Roger borrowed additional money on top of our debt to pay my bail!”
“How precious of him,” I mutter. “He lives in your home, rent-free. He should help you.”
“They’re dangerous, Chloe. They can hurt me!”
“You are adults and capable of paying your own debts. I’m done bailing you out of your messes. Last time, when I said it was the last time, I wasn’t lying.” I push my hands forward before doing a scraping them clean motion. “No more.”
“What about the kids then, huh? Are you not concerned with their safety?”
“They are safe at my house.”
“Please, Chloe.” She’s close to tears, and I’m close to caving. It happens every single time. She knows what works on me. “Please.”
Don’t do it. Don’t do it.
“I’ve given you thousands of dollars to help you, and you’ve done nothing but blow it on booze and taking care of your deadbeat boyfriends. No more. Nothing.”
“My kids need to eat,” she grits out before pushing her fingers through her greasy hair.
“Then, I will buy them food.”
“They need heat and electricity.”
“I have both at my house. They can stay with me.”
“What about me, huh? Do you not care if I’m cold and hungry?”
“If you need to sleep in my spare bedroom, you can, but you’ll be pulling your shit together. No drugs. No Roger. There will be rules.” I shut my eyes in dread. Babysitting Claudia is harder than babysitting both Trey and Gloria.
“I don’t want to live with you,” she snaps.
I fix my stare on her. “That wasn’t a friendly invite. It was a desperate offer.”
She jumps up from the chair and wags her finger in my direction. “Fuck you, Chloe! Fuck you! Expect not to see the kids this week or ever!”
My blood pressure rises with every second we’re speaking. “Don’t make the children suffer out of spite and
deprive them of a life we wanted when we were children.”
Her hand splays across her chest. “Are you saying you’d be a better mother for them?”
I rub my forehead. “I’m not trying to be their mother. I’m trying to give them a better life—whether it’s as their aunt or even their friend. They are my number one priority, and they will always be my number one priority. Period.”
Her lipstick-messy lip curls up as she releases a hard laugh. “God, you’re so desperate for children that you’d even take someone else’s.”
I slam my hand down on my desk and stand. “Now, it’s my turn to say fuck you.” I jerk my finger toward the door. “Leave my office.”
She scrambles back, and regret flashes across her face. It takes her a few moments to plaster on a fake smile. “Sorry, that was wrong of me to say.”
I shake my head and keep my finger pointed. “Save your apology. You meant it. You’ve meant it every time you’ve said it. Shove that apology up your ass.”
She uses both hands to flip me off, dropping one momentarily to open the door, and then puts them back in the position as she walks backward out of my office, and from the sound of Melanie’s laughter, I’m assuming she’s doing the same to her.
I’m still standing when Melanie wanders into my office minutes later.
“You should’ve let me tackle her, babe,” she says before circling around the desk to droop her arm over my shoulders. “You are one strong-as-hell woman, and I’m so fucking proud of you for not letting her walk all over you.” She squeezes my shoulder before stepping back. “If you need help with the kids, I’m here.” Her head tilts to the side. “None of them are in diapers, right?”
“One hundred percent potty-trained.”
“Perfect. If you need help with the kids, you let me know.”
I smile. “Your bad humor is always what I need on stressful days.”
“I’m here all day, folks.” She stops to correct herself. “Or at least until five.”
She scurries away at the sound of the front desk phone ringing, and I snatch up my phone to text Trey. It’s his lunch hour, so hopefully, he has his phone.
Vote Then Read: Volume III Page 41