But before I can say no, he’s sliding his arms around my back, drawing me close to him. “Say yes, Lily. Say you want to kiss me.” He smells so good. So masculine. His skin is hot, heated by the midday sun. The muscles in his chest and on his arms are hard and soft all at the same time.
I open my mouth and quickly snap it shut, staring into his blue eyes. Holy shit. Is this really happening? I’ve dreamed about this moment hundreds of times, wishing it would happen. I’ve wondered about how he tastes, the softness of his lips, and the smoothness of his tongue.
My legs wobble as my heart pounds in my chest, beating erratically and making me feel light-headed. “We can’t,” I tell him, pushing against his chest until he releases me. “We can’t do this.”
He drops his hands to his sides, tilting his head like I’m an oddity and he’s trying to figure out what’s going on in my head. “We can’t?”
I shake my head, rocking back on my heels. “No. We’re barely even friends yet, Jett. Kissing will ruin everything. I’m awkward enough around you, and if we kiss—” I brush my fingers across my lips, wondering if his are as soft as mine “—it’ll change everything. So, add no kissing to your list of rules. Must wear clothes and absolutely no mouth-to-mouth action.”
There’s a low rumble coming from his throat as I step back, putting more space between us. “That’s not what I meant when I said we needed rules,” he groans.
“They’re good rules.” I square my shoulders and point at him. “Obviously, you need boundaries.”
“I thought we’d talk about things like no leaving dirty dishes in the sink or putting our shoes away.”
“Put those on the list too,” I say, reaching down and scooping up my book off the floor.
I need to get out of here. Need to get away from him before I change my mind and hurl myself into his arms. Nothing good can come from Jett and me kissing. I could never kiss him and then go back to the same awkwardness I’ve always had around him. I couldn’t kiss him and then see him with other women, knowing how he tastes.
“Lily, we haven’t finished talking,” he says, lifting his arm like he’s about to touch me.
I can’t let it happen, though. When he touches me, I forget the reality, thinking he really likes me and, somehow, I’m special. But this is Jett, and I’m sure every woman he touches feels the same way, only to be left heartbroken.
“We talked,” I tell him and grab the glass of water I’ve been sipping, trying to keep myself cool while reading the steamy novel. “I’m late for work, so I have to run.”
“Come on. Just five more minutes.” He steps forward, following me toward the door to the patio.
“I can’t be late. I’ll get fired,” I say over my shoulder, forgetting we both know it isn’t true. My dad’s not going to fire me, but it sounded good and was the only thing I could think of in the heat of the moment.
My heart’s in my throat as I grab the handle to the patio door, putting more space between us. I don’t turn around as I run down the stairs and seal myself in my bedroom.
I almost kissed Jett Michaels.
I plaster my back to the door, pressing the book to my chest, and gasp for air.
Jesus.
That was close.
The last thing I need is to kiss a boy, a man, I’ve fantasized about for years. My heart couldn’t take the pain of seeing him every day, knowing I could never be his.
12
Jett
“Hey, stranger,” Charlene, a girl I slept with over five years ago, says as she slides her arm around me. “Lookin’ better than ever.”
I dipped my stick in that well once, and I sure as hell wasn’t going back for more. I learned my lesson the last time, after the crazy bitch told everyone we were “a thing.”
“Hey, Char,” I mumble into my glass, not even looking at her.
“You lonely?” she asks against my ear, reeking of liquor and old cigarettes.
“Nope.”
She touches my cheek with her long, thin fingernail, scraping through the stubble on my face. “You look lonely.”
I tilt my head away from her touch. “While I appreciate your offer, I’m going to have to pass.”
“I can make you feel good,” she says, sliding her other hand across my thigh.
“Beat it, Char. He said no,” Gigi says, coming out of nowhere. I hadn’t even seen her walk in, too busy downing whiskey.
“Bitch,” Char hisses as her hands fall away from me. “When you’re looking for a real woman, Jett, you know where to find me.”
Gigi slides onto the stool next to me, scooting closer until our elbows are touching. “What are you doing?”
“Drinking,” I mutter, lifting up my glass in case she missed it.
“Drinking or getting drunk?” she asks, motioning for the bartender as he walks by. “I’ll have what he’s having.”
I stare at the wall behind the bar, ignoring my oldest and dearest friend in the world. I can’t explain to her what’s going on in my head. She’ll think I’m crazier than she usually does.
“Does this have anything to do with Lily?” she asks.
I can feel her eyes on me, but I don’t look at her. “No.”
“Liar.” She nudges me with her elbow. “You know I’ve always been able to read you. What’s happened with Lily?”
“Nothing,” I grumble. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Ah. I figured that’s why you called me to meet you.”
“Yeah. Ugh,” I groan, lifting the glass to my lips, drowning my bullshit in whiskey.
“Lily’s no Charlene.”
“Ain’t that shit the truth.”
Gigi shrugs, but she’s smiling. “Listen.” She slides her drink in front of her as soon as the bartender sets it down. “You scare Lily, so be prepared to take it slow.”
I lift my eyebrows, looking at Gigi funny. “I scare her? Me?”
Gigi nods, her blue eyes twinkling. “You’re intimidating for most women, especially someone as innocent as Lily.” She squeezes my arm with one hand and takes a sip of her whiskey with the other. “Do you really want to start something that might kill whatever friendship you two are developing as roommates?”
“The last thing I’m trying to do is intimidate her. She told me today I need to wear a shirt around the house, even when I’m sunbathing.”
Gigi snorts, covering her mouth as soon as I glare at her. “Come on. That’s funny and totally Lily.”
“How am I supposed to get a tan with clothes on?”
Gigi keeps on laughing, loving my misery. “She’s a different one. You have to remember she hasn’t been around a lot of men in her life.”
“Um, your entire family is filled with big, muscular guys.”
“I’m talking about people she’s not related to and someone she’s definitely attracted to.”
“Couldn’t tell by the way she acted.” God, I sound like a whiny asshole, and I suddenly hate myself. I move my gaze back to the wall behind the bar, pretending to study the bottles.
“How did she act?”
I sigh, twisting the glass of whiskey in my hands. “I told her I was going to kiss her, and she couldn’t run away fast enough.”
“You told her what?” Gigi gasps.
I down the rest of the whiskey in my glass, motioning for the bartender to bring me another. “I thought she wanted me to. She was looking at me like she wanted me to, at least.”
“Jett,” Gigi whispers, grazing my arm with her hand. “You’ve got to move slower, man. Men are so dumb sometimes.”
I turn my head, giving her my eyes again. “I’m not dumb, babe. All the signals were there.”
“What’s up?” Pike says, giving me a chin lift as he comes to stand off to Gigi’s side.
“Hey, man,” I reply, giving him the same bullshit chin lift he gave me.
“What’s wrong?” Pike asks Gigi and not me.
“Jett tried to kiss Lily, and it didn’t go over so well.”
Pike tenses as his eyes narrow and fists clench. “He what?”
Gigi grabs his hands, swiping her fingers across his inked skin. “Calm down, baby. Lily likes him, and Jett didn’t do anything. He asked her, and she ran away like the scared little bird she is sometimes.”
I rub the back of my neck, hating that I’m basically crying into my drink about Lily Gallo.
“What did we tell you?” he asks, and I know he’s talking to me about the little talk he and Mammoth gave me at the party.
I hold his gaze, not showing an ounce of fear or regret about what happened. “I didn’t do anything. I read a situation. I asked a question. She shot me down, ran away. End of story.”
The two of them can threaten me all they want. It won’t stop me from acting on something I feel is right. They could fuck right off with that macho bravado like they are her keeper.
“Baby,” Gigi says softly, brushing her hand along his face. “Lily likes him. She’s just scared.”
“She likes him?” he asks, as if it’s the craziest fucking thing in the world.
“Yes.”
“And she moved in with him as friends because…?”
Gigi shrugs. “She likes to torture herself.”
“Leave the bottle,” I tell the bartender as he sets a new drink in front of me.
He just nods, sliding the bottle in front of me before leaving us be.
“Gonna be one of those nights, huh?” Gigi asks me, but I ignore her as I down the entire contents of the glass in one swallow. “It’s probably for the best that she shot you down, Jett. Your dick’s in a bad way right now, and the last thing you need is to be kissing on her.”
I slam the glass back on the bar and reach for the bottle, but Gigi’s faster and snatches it away from me.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Do I have a fucking choice?” I grumble, trying to pull the bottle in a low-key tug-of-war.
Gigi slaps my arm, getting my full attention. “Stop being a freaking baby, and man the fuck up.”
“For real?”
“What do you like most about Lily, Jett? And don’t say her tits.”
“I love her quirkiness. I never know what’s going to come out of her mouth. Then there’s the blush that crosses her face after she says something ridiculously cute and crazy.” I smile, thinking about her beautiful face, hidden behind her fallen hair.
Gigi’s studying me, smiling like a loon. “Aww. I think someone’s smitten with my girl.”
“I’m not smitten,” I growl, hating the word. “I’m a grown man, Gigi.”
“Dude,” Pike speaks up, entering the conversation again even though I didn’t ask for his opinion—or hers, for that matter. “Just admit you have it bad for her. There’s no shame in saying how you feel, but you need to make sure she knows it too. Don’t hide that shit, let it build up inside, and project your misery on everyone else because she has no freaking clue. Lily doesn’t understand guys like us.”
“Us?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Men who are used to going after what we want and getting it.”
Gigi slaps him with the back of her hand. “You’re a pain in my ass, but when you go all caveman…” She hums, fluttering her eyes.
I blanch, ready to gag. I love Gigi. She’s beautiful, but thinking about her and Pike having sex makes me ill. She’s like a little sister to me, and if I had been here when they’d met, we would’ve had words.
“Do you know how long it took Lily’s last boyfriend to kiss her?”
I shake my head, knowing very little about Lily’s sexual past besides the agonizing fact that she’s a virgin.
“Three freaking months.”
I shake my head. “He wasn’t a real man.”
“He wore a pocket protector,” Gigi adds, as if that somehow has any bearing even though it’s dumb as hell. “Total nerd. I think he brushed his teeth and flossed before they kissed and again after. He had some weird germ thing.”
“Again,” I add, “he wasn’t a real man.”
“But think about it. She’s used to slow men and definitely not an alpha like you. So, you have to take it slow and woo her.”
“Woo?” I crinkle my forehead. “Like buy her flowers and shit?”
“Do you really want to know?” she asks me, grabbing the bottle away from my loosened grip and refilling her glass. “I’ll tell you how to win her over. But I swear to God, Jett, if you break her heart, I will end your life.”
“I’m pretty sure your man and Mike would get me first.” I smile, but I’m dead serious.
“If Lily doesn’t get you first,” Gigi says, holding the bottle out to me, giving me back the liquor I’m paying for.
I take the bottle, filling my glass all the way to the top. “Lily’s a cream puff.”
Gigi snorts, sounding so much like her cousin. “Trust me, Uncle Mike made sure she can kick the ass of any man, even one twice her size. Don’t take her sweetness for weakness. That girl will make you hurt something fierce.”
I jerk my head back, never remembering Lily as a tough girl. “Lily?” I blink, knowing she’s pulling my leg. “Lily Gallo?”
Gigi nods, smirking. “She has a black belt. Did you know that?”
I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry, thinking about her kicking some ass. “That’s hot.”
“Yeah, well, don’t piss her off, or you won’t think it’s so hot when she puts you on your ass.”
“Maybe I like that.” I wink, earning me an eye roll.
Pike laughs, shaking his head. “You want my opinion on how to handle her?”
I shrug, figuring right now I could use all the inside information I can get, even if he’s basically a stranger. “Sure, man. Are you going to tell me to woo her too?”
Pike runs his hand across his beard, smiling. “Fuck no. Chicks say they dig that shit, but we know the truth. And even if Lily is a sweet, innocent little thing, she still wants to be manhandled.”
Gigi’s eyes widen as she snaps her head to the side, glaring at her man. “You did not just say that.”
“Darlin’.” Pike lifts his hand to her face, grabbing her chin, searching her eyes. “You want it soft and sweet?”
“Well, I…” Her voice drifts off, and his smirk grows.
“Didn’t think so.” He turns his gaze toward me, still holding her chin with his fingers. “If you want Lily, you need to make your intentions known. If she turns you away, you know where you stand. If she’s interested, you be the man—but be respectful when doing it. Lily’s a Gallo. She’s used to strong men, and until one comes along and stakes his claim, she’s gonna keep hidin’.”
Pike talks in riddles, but I understand what he’s saying. Fuck me. Maybe because I’m a guy and I’ve spent most of my life around the Gallos. The women are not meek and mild, but the men are overbearing, protective, and dominant. Lily’s pocket-protector boyfriends of the past didn’t cut it. That much is for sure. But I don’t know if she could handle a man like me and survive.
“Got it,” I tell him, my eyes drifting to Gigi as she gazes at him like he’s everything. “You two done?”
Gigi smiles, moving her chin out of his grip. “He’s partially right,” she says, tipping her head toward Pike. “Not completely, but there’s truth to his words. Lily needs to know how much you want her. And when she says she wants you too, do not let her get away.”
“Sounds kind of rapey, Gigi,” I mutter, lifting my whiskey to my lips. “I’m not that kind of man.”
She shakes her head, punching my shoulder. “It’s not rapey, asshole. I’m not saying force yourself on her. Lily’s scared of everything, but she needs to learn to live, love, and enjoy life a little bit. I think you’re just what she needs right now.”
“Because I’ll…”
“Spank her ass?” Gigi asks, raising an eyebrow and laughing. “’Cause, Jett, that shit is hot.”
I blanch, trying to wipe away the image of Gigi being spanked by Pike. “Stop talking,” I
tell her before downing the rest of the whiskey. “You’ve already shared too much. I’m a friend, but that doesn’t mean I want to know everything about you.”
“Shiiiit. You should hear about Tamara.” She smiles, leaning against Pike’s chest as he toys with her hair. “Now, that girl’s a freak.”
“There’s a perfect example,” Pike adds. “The wildest one of the bunch is now the tamest.”
“Tame?” I lift an eyebrow, jerking my head back. “Tamara can never be tamed.”
“She kneels at that man’s feet.”
My mouth falls open as his words work their way through my brain. “No shit?” I whisper.
“Not shitting you. She kneels,” he repeats before laughing. “Never thought I’d see the fuckin’ day, but there she is. The Gallo girls don’t want weak men, and from the little I know about you, you may have what it takes to bring Lily out of her shell.”
I reach into my back pocket and grab my wallet. “I’m out. I got a girl waiting on me,” I tell them, dipping my chin their way.
But they’re not even paying attention to me anymore. Gigi waves, her mouth attached to Pike’s as if he’s her life support.
I don’t say another word, leaving them at the bar, and head home to the one girl I can’t seem to get out of my head.
It’s an hour later when I walk through the door, covered in sweat. I left my car in the parking lot, not wanting to drink and drive, and decided to walk home. I needed time to think. Time to process everything Gigi and Pike said as well as everything I know about Lily Gallo.
I know I don’t deserve her. What man does? She’s perfect, and I’m…well, not. I never have been. I’ve done shit things. I’ve cheated. I’ve drunk too much. Partied too hard. And only thought about myself.
But being around Lily, around her sweetness, makes me want something more.
Something greater.
No woman has ever had my head spinning the way she does. No one has ever confused and intrigued me the way she does every moment I’m around her.
Blaze: Men of Inked Heatwave #4 Page 11