And these were the questions that could make any man hightail it to somewhere safe, like under a rock. I pulled her into my lap and kissed her cheek. Thank goodness she wasn’t angry enough to storm off…yet. “Listen here, little lady. All this talk about you going back to El Paso…it’s no fun. The bottom line is I’ll respect your decision, whatever you do, but I’ll be mighty glad if you stayed.”
She rested her head on my shoulder. “Thanks for understanding.”
Phew. That was close. “Of course. Okay, I’ll clear the table. All I can think of doing right now it spreading you out right here for dessert.” She moaned like she thought it was a good idea. “Is that a yes? I’m sure you can feel how excited I am about it already.”
“Mmmm,” she moaned into my ear, then got to her feet and hiked up her skirt. She returned to my lap and sat facing me, straddling me and the chair. “Sometimes you have the best ideas, cornerback.”
All except one. That was what I wanted to say, but I held my tongue. I had five more days to figure out how to make her want to stay. I wasn’t going to waste a second.
Grinding her hips for more contact with my shaft, she added, “By the way, right now I think I’d like to go right to having you deep inside me.”
Jo was about to ride me right here in my chair. I was not going to let idle chit chat get in the way of that. Running my hands up the sides of her thighs, I pulled her heat tight onto my groin, gripping her ass and growling from my need to bury my cock deep inside of her until she admitted her pussy was mine and mine alone. Sadly, the promise of hot as hell dining room sex wasn’t meant to be tonight. All my condoms were upstairs in the bedroom, and by the time I raced up there and came back, she was almost finished clearing the table, and had reminded me I needed to get my ass in front of my coursework if I wanted any tonight.
That was the day I started storing rubbers in my pockets at all times and in every room in the house.
After a few hours of hitting the books, I went back downstairs to check on Jo. She had her apron on, and just as I stepped into the living room she turned the easel to hide what she was working on.
“You really don’t want me to see your art, do you?”
She grinned from across the room, setting down the paintbrush she was still holding. “Nope. Not until it’s done.”
“Not even one? Come on.”
She wiped her hands off on her apron and came over to me, lacing her hands around my waist. “Uh-uh,” she said, staring up at me. “You’ll have to wait.”
“You know you’re leaving in less than a week, right? Will you be done before that? Actually maybe you should take your time. You know? Stick around until you finish one.”
“Nice try.”
“What can I say? I don’t want you rushing off.”
“And you’re persistent.”
“That I am. While we’re on the subject, I want to ask you something.”
She pulled away and folded her arms. “Go on, but after this, we’re not discussing it again. Deal?”
“’I can’t promise you that, but I’ll try.”
19
Chris
“What’s the question?” Jo asked, already getting impatient.
“It’s a few questions…just to be sure you’ve thought it all through for the move.”
“Like what?”
“Here’s an easy one. Where are you planning to live?”
“I’ll find something when I get there.”
“What about the first few days?”
“Motel…or maybe my waitress friend’s place.”
“What about work?”
“I’ll try the Ribeye first, and if they’re not hiring I’ll look for something else.”
“How exactly are you going to get around El Paso to find work?”
“Well, there’s public transit to start. Look, I’ll manage fine. Stop trying to stress me out.”
“That’s not what I’m trying to do.”
“What, then?”
“What’s so wrong if I worry a bit about you?”
“You don’t need to worry.”
“So who’ll have your back out there?”
“I’ll have my own back.”
“You know that’s not logical, right? You can’t watch your own back. Try it.”
She lightly slapped my arm. “Stop kidding around.”
“I’m serious,” I told her, though the wide smile on my face told something different as I reached out and pulled her close to me again. “Wait, what about Thanksgiving? Who will you spend it with?”
“Chris. Read my lips. You are not responsible for me.”
“If you’re really going back, then you’re staying at my parents’ place for Thanksgiving.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You’re sure as hell not going to spend it alone.”
“I don’t even know your parents.”
“They didn’t know Tre or Pat, either. That didn’t stop the guys from coming out last year. Look, just don’t fight me on this, okay? You want to go back to El Paso? I don’t like it, but fine, I accept it. You’re at least staying with me a few days so you can find a decent place and not be alone for the holidays.”
“But I—”
“No more buts. It’s settled. Let’s talk about these paintings. When am I going to see one?”
“I’ve got a few done already, but I can’t show it to you yet.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a surprise.”
My hands roamed down her back and over her ass. “You mean for me?”
“Of course. Who else?”
“Awww. That’s sweet. So let’s see it.”
“I just said it’s a surprise.”
“Maybe I just need a little peek.”
Jo rolled her eyes. “Okay. You have a seat over there on the sofa and I’ll get it.” She went over to the wall beside the easel where she’d stacked the framed pictures. There were a couple more than the few she had originally brought.
“How long do these take you to finish?” I asked, settling on the sofa to wait.
“It depends, I guess… I haven’t been working for two weeks, so I finished two more. If there are more details or faces in the image, it takes longer too. Yours took me almost three months. Well, not all that time, but I was still working and at my sister’s, so I did bits and pieces.” She stepped up in front of me with the painting facing her. “So, ready?”
“I sure am.” My phone rang just then in my back pocket. “Uh, one second.” I leaned to one side to drag it out and checked the number. It was my mother. “Hang on and let me take this, okay? Actually you should say hi.” I hit the call answer button on the screen and turned on the speakerphone. “Hi Ma.”
“Hi Chris. Is this a good time, honey?”
“Sure. How’s things? I have you on speakerphone by the way, so try not to embarrass me.”
She chuckled. “I’ll do my best. Who’s there with you?”
“A friend from El Paso. Oh by the way, remember how you used to tell me not to pick up strays at the side of the road?” Jo’s eyes widened and I silently mouthed the words, “I’m just kidding”. She shook her head, lips pursed tightly to hide her smile. “Well, this is my friend Jo. Say hi to my mom, Jo.”
Jo put the painting down and came to sit beside me, still shaking her head. “Hi Mrs. James. This is Jo speaking.”
“Hello Jo. Nice to meet you. You’re from El Paso?”
“Yes, ma’am. And heading back there in a few days.”
“That’s good to hear. I hope I’ll get to meet you in person sometime.”
I piped up then. “Actually Ma, I told her she can stay with us for Thanksgiving. That’s okay right?” Jo slapped my arm and shook her head to stop me, but I shifted to the side and continued. “Her only family is down in New Orleans.”
“Of course she can, honey. The two guest rooms haven’t been used since your friends came by last year. Jo, you’re more than welcome.”
“Thanks Mrs. James. It’s only for a few days.”
“No problem at all. Chris, I was just calling to make sure you were going to be here like you promised. Sounds like you will.”
“Yes, Ma. I’ll be there.”
“What about Tre and Pat? They can come too.”
“I haven’t talked to them yet. Let’s leave it open for them.”
“All right. I should go. Chandler’s napping but the twins have Connor and me running ragged. See you next week. Nice speaking to you, Jo.”
“You too, Mrs. James.”
“Bye Ma.” I hung up. “See? We’re all set.”
“Way to put a girl on the spot, Chris…and that comment about strays, you’re crazy, if not a mean bastard.”
I smiled. “Relax. I was just messing with you, sweet thing. And don’t think I forgot about the painting.”
“Right. Let’s do this.” She jumped off the sofa and picked up the frame again, getting into position in front of me. Running a hand through her hair, she tucked a few stray hands behind her ear. “This is kind of my first unveiling, sort of. I’m kinda nervous.”
“I’m sure it’s awesome. Let’s see it.”
“Okay.”
She slowly turned the painting around, and when it came into view, I think my jaw just about dropped. It was a portrait done in her intricate photorealist style using the family photo I kept in my wallet. To say it was awesome was an understatement.
“Holy…how did you…” I stammered out, unable to take my eyes off of it. “Wow, Jo…it’s amazing.”
“So you like it?”
“Hell yeah.” I finally tore away to look up at her face. Her eyes were lit up and excited. “How can I not? It looks exactly like the original. How did you get this photo? Don’t tell me you did that from memory.”
“No. I didn’t. I’m not that good. I sort of took it from your wallet and snapped a photo of it on my phone…uh, back in Beaumont…hope you don’t mind.”
The recollection of Jo standing over the motel room night table came back to me. “So you were snooping around my wallet. Sneaky…”
“Takes one to know one, bud. So you really like it?”
“I do. It’s stunning work.” I suddenly had a thought. “Hey…would you be upset if I take this home for my mom? This is her favorite picture of all of us, and she’d be so floored to see it.”
“Hmmm. Sure, why not.”
“Are you sure? She’s sure to put it somewhere special in the house.”
She nodded, smiling. “Positive.”
“Thanks for doing this for me, Jo. It’s beautiful…and very thoughtful of you.”
“It’s the least I can do for all your help. Plus I love that picture. Y’all are so happy in it…it was a real treat to paint.” Her eyes glossed over a bit, then she put the painting down and headed to the kitchen. “Are you thirsty or anything? I feel like a beer.”
I followed her into the kitchen. “Sure, I’ll have one too.” Before she opened the fridge, I turned her around to face me. “You’re a real special lady, you know that, Jo?”
“Naw. There ain’t anything special about me. I’m glad you like the painting.”
I backed her up to the spot beside the fridge, lifting her up onto the counter.
“You don’t give yourself any credit.”
“And you give me too much of it.”
“I highly doubt that, Miss Josephine Odette Celia Quinn. See, even your name is special.”
“If by special you mean convoluted and outdated, then sure…but still, don’t ever call me that again,” she warned.
I parted her legs and stood between them, looking down into her eyes. “We’ll see.” I ran my hands up her legs, letting one come to rest at the top of her hips. Her eyes fluttered closed, and that moan she let out made me hard as granite. I slipped two fingers below the line of her panties, sliding them over her warm fleshy folds. “Fuck, you’re so wet, Jo. I want inside you right now,” I growled.
She groaned out a sigh and inched her legs wider, rolling her hips to get my fingers inside. Tugging the strap of her top down her arm to reveal her breasts, I hungrily took one into my mouth, tugging her nipple between my teeth. Jo reached down to my sweatpants and pushed the fabric down with my boxers to free my cock. She pushed my hand away and wrapped her legs around my waist, positioning me then rocking forward to ease my dick inside. I was halfway in when it hit me I wasn’t wearing a condom. I lifted off her breast to grab the condom I’d left in my back pocket and she stopped me.
“I’m on the pill,” she whispered. “And I haven’t slept with anyone but you in the last six months.”
I pulled back slightly. This sex kitten had only been with me all this time? I hadn’t expected that she would have been with anyone else since we met, but that was only the last three months. It was kind of surprising. Personally, I couldn’t say the same thing for the months before meeting her.
“God, if only you knew how much I want to take you like this,” I groaned. “I can’t lie to you, Jo. I haven’t been with anyone since we met back in El Paso, but there’s been others before you.” She nodded absently and said it was fine so I pulled out and slipped on the condom before entering her again. “Just you wait until mid-Winter, you wild woman.” Then I remembered. “Well shit. You won’t even be here for me to roam free, babe.”
“It’s okay,” she growled out, gripping my biceps and rocking into my dick. “Maybe when you visit for spring break… Forget about that for now, baby. I’m so wet for you.”
I paused her movements, thinking some sexual manipulation could work right about now. “Tell me you’ll stay and I’ll give you what you want,” I muttered, gripping her ass to remind her what she was going to miss out on.
“Don’t say that,” she whimpered.
“I mean it. Tell me you’ll stay a while.”
“Shut up and fuck me, Chris,” she hissed impatiently.
I did.
What can I say? I was weak. I couldn’t carry out another second of sexual manipulation when my dick wanted her as much as she wanted me. Still, that little factoid about her not being around was a real wake-up call. It stayed on my mind long after I rocked her world, and well into the night when we finally went to bed.
20
Josephine
I was all packed and ready for the trip back to El Paso with Chris. Then at the last minute, just as we were getting ready to load up the car, I found out Pat and Tre were coming too. Chris wasn’t too excited about it, so I knew for sure this wasn’t a ploy to somehow get me to stay. This was all Pat’s idea. Apparently, his father was in Las Vegas for a meeting of some sort, which Pat called a sit-down, probably to make it sound glamorous. Their plan was to stay one night at Chris’s place, then Pat and Tre would meet up with Pat’s father. Tre was going along for the trip because it was Vegas. He couldn’t pass up the plethora of strip clubs the place has on every other street corner.
That was the thing, though. Vegas is over ten hours from El Paso, and almost a full twenty-four hours’ drive from Baton Rouge. It made no sense that we were all going to drive in Chris’s car. When I pointed that out, he explained that we weren’t actually driving at all.
“If we’re not driving, how the hell are we getting there?” I asked, a little stressed, and maybe a bit peeved too, as he had to have known about this for at least a few hours.
“We’re flying,” he informed me with eyebrows raised.
“What? Why?”
“Because it’ll give us all more downtime than driving all that distance each way. It’s a long weekend, but Tre and I have practice and classes on Monday.”
“All right.” I looked at the front entry way with my stuff, then back at him. “Geez, I didn’t pack these things for a flight. Driving’s different. Crap. Chris, please tell me there’ll be room for all that.”
He wiggled his eyebrows playfully and rubbed his chin with the back of his hand. I already knew what he was going to say.
“Hmmm. Maybe not. I don’t think so, doll. I think you’ve got to take everything but a few clothes and the portrait back where they were.” My hands shot up to my hips and he added, “Relax, little miss sunshine. There’s room.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Pat’s dad is sending him out there on a private charter plane. When he gets here we can find out about how they’ll package it up.”
“Okay. You have some interesting friends.”
“No, Tre has one interesting friend who happens to be living in a dream world where he’s the son of a mafia boss. Sure he’s wealthy, but that’s about the only thing we know for sure about Pat.”
“So why didn’t you tell me about the flight before now?”
He shrugged. “Plans change. Pat only suggested it a couple of hours ago. I’m not a fan of flying but I can’t argue with convenience this time around. And by the way, you’re great at rolling with the punches.”
“God, you’re insufferable,” I groaned, heading to the trunk of the car.
He took my arm and stopped me from moving off. I stepped into his arms. “You love that about me, don’t ya?”
I did, but I couldn’t admit it now that I was leaving. My eyes narrowed. “Naw.”
“Come on, admit it. You love it, and you’ll miss me like crazy when you go.”
“I may miss you a little, but that’s all I’m saying about it. Now let go of me so we can get out of here. Wait, are we taking your car to the airport?”
“No. Pat’s on his way over.”
“Let me guess. He’s flying out there with his ladies.”
“Awww, hell no. My parents don’t have room for that, plus they ain’t tolerating that crazy shit he and Tre are into. Not in their house.”
“So does that mean that you and I…that we’re not gonna be able to sneak in a little playtime when we’re there?”
“We can try. I can’t promise you anything, though. There are so many kids running around all the time, we’ll be lucky to have five minutes alone.” I pouted at that. “You’ll be in one of the guest rooms, but maybe I’ll get lost on my way to the bathroom in the middle of the night and end up in your bed.”
Hook Up (A Bad Boy Sports Romance) Page 11