by Piper Rayne
His hand eases mine away and he clasps it in his at our sides.
“That was no one.”
He’s being forthcoming as usual.
“I’m pretty sure it’s someone. From the look of the Mercedes, she doesn’t do too shabby.” I wish I could swallow back the jealousy trying to crawl up my throat. I want to be back in that place where I still believe Lucas can do no wrong.
He steps back, and my hand falls to my side. He shoves his fingers through his wet hair and I wait for his explanation.
“I’m not Chase, Tahlia.”
Excuse me?
“What?”
He squares his eyes at me and presses his lips together. “I’m not Chase. That’s not some girl I’ve been fucking.” His voice rises an octave.
“I never asked, but I’m fairly sure you’d be asking me who some guy was if I hugged him to my body and kissed his cheek.” I cross my arms over my chest. Screw him if he thinks he’s about to make this all about my failed engagement.
“I don’t need to know every aspect of your life. Did I question you when you were having lunch that day?”
I shake my head as though I care to make sense of where his line of thinking is going. “Yes, you did, and I told you it was business.”
“I asked you if it was business or pleasure, that’s all.”
“Fine. Was she business or pleasure?” I ask, knowing that won’t be enough to calm the fears creeping into my mind, since he’s not giving me a straight answer.
“Business. The only pleasure in my life is you.”
Damn him and his words.
Keep it together. Don’t let him sweet-talk you.
“I don’t kiss my business associates on the cheek nor do I hug them.”
He shakes his head and cocks his jaw to the side. “It’s complicated, but she was here on business.”
My hands go to my hips and I look up to the star-speckled sky, searching for a sign of what to do.
“Promise me,” I request, my eyes tearing because there’s no way I can handle back-to-back betrayals. I might as well adopt those twenty cats because I’ll never trust another guy again. Ever.
He steps forward, his hand dusting my cheek, his thumb prepared to swipe any tears away. My body betrays me and leans into the strength of his hand, the honesty in his eyes.
“Tahlia, I promise, you are the only girl for me. You’re the one I wake up thinking about, the one I want to fall asleep with. You’re it for me, and it really is that simple.” His lips tease a smile and his eyes bore into mine as though wanting to make sure that I see the truth.
“I can’t be kept in the dark,” I whisper.
“I know. How about I bring you up to speed on all my business?” He smiles and I’m not sure if he’s serious or not, but I do need to find out more about this boxing thing and why a girl in a Mercedes would be part of his business.
I nod my head and the smile on his lips gets bigger. “Now, are you going to give me my congratulatory kiss?”
The snap of my fingers would be slower than the speed with which his mood transforms. As much as I’d love to put the issue behind us, I’m scared that I’m on the path to heartbreak once again.
She’s still a mystery. A mystery I intend to solve.
A week later, I’m waiting in line to risk my life with a harness riding up my ass next to, you guessed it, Aaron.
“Then he told me I could be partner by the time I’m thirty. Can you imagine, partner?”
Aaron’s self-inflated ego hasn’t changed in the two weeks since I last saw him at a Single in SF event. I nod, my eyes fixed on Lucas, who’s at the front of the line, making sure everyone has signed the release papers. Something that should’ve been done before we were all geared up, but he was late. It’s easy to see that he’s uneasy with the way he keeps wiping the sweat off his forehead. The bruises and cuts on his face are almost healed, but a few of the people here are commenting as they reach him. Though I’ve noticed he’s distracted because he barely acknowledges the people as they walk through and the guides hook them up on the first zip line.
The night after his win was normal. He took me to his house, we had mind-blowing sex, but those cinnamon rolls didn’t happen again because there was a note on the side of the bed saying he’d be right back. I figured he’d gone to grab some and was bringing them back to his apartment, but an hour later he texted me to say he was going to be longer than expected.
Which left me with the question, when is it too early in a relationship to expect to know the whereabouts of your partner all of the time?
That question has been plaguing me the entire week because yep, Lucas has been quiet. Sure, I get a text every morning and every night, but that’s where our communication starts and finishes. I had a big client in town so I was unavailable on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then he said he had coaching and training keeping him busy on the other days. If it wasn’t for the other night, I could chalk it all up to a scheduling conflict, but that scene unfolds in my mind every night I lie down in my bed alone.
“I told him if he wanted me as partner he’d have to give me an exceptional package.” Aaron continues talking as we step one by one to the front.
“Hi, Aaron.” Cindy waves, stopping briefly.
“Hello, Cindy.” He grants her a small wave. “Then he said I should feel grateful.”
I give Cindy a soft smile, but she walks away when Aaron says nothing else to her.
“Aaron,” I say.
“I told him there are plenty of firms that would love to have me, so if he wants to make sure I stay committed he better be prepared.”
“Aaron.”
“He cowered just like I expected. He thought—”
“AARON!” Lucas screams and every one turns their attention to him.
“What?” Aaron asks, not noticing that he’s at the front of the line and the guide is hooking him up and giving him instructions.
“It’s your turn.” Lucas’ voice lowers and he glances at me from the corner of his eyes. It’s not his usual stolen glance though, but a hesitant one. Almost as if he’s unnerved that I’m here in front of him.
“You don’t have to yell, Lucas,” Aaron says, tossing his hand in the air to the guide rambling instructions about hand placement. “No need. I’ve done this many times.”
Aaron shoots down the zip line and Lucas looks over at the guide. “He’s a gold member. Still searching for his perfect match.”
The nineteen-year-old guide laughs while he hooks me up.
“Tahlia.” Lucas says my name as though he doesn’t know my pussy inside and out.
“Lucas.” I mimic his tone, wondering why he’s suddenly acting like we’re not much more than strangers.
The guide swings his hair out of his face and smiles, assuming I caught all his instructions, but I was too busy studying Lucas to hear any advice.
So when he pushes me off the platform my scream echoes off the hills as I fly down the zip line. The harness makes my panties move up my ass crack and all I can wonder is how terrible that must look to everyone behind me. And where am I supposed to put my hands? Are my feet supposed to start going numb like this from hanging here? I peek down below and realize that was a bad idea, so I whip my head back up and stare straight ahead to the next stop to try to keep the image of plunging to my death from hijacking my mind.
The next teenager catches me, I cling to him like I’m four and he’s my lost teddy bear. He holds me steady, probably enjoying my tits pressed to his chest until my feet hit the wooden plank. He unclicks my loop and I move to the next one right behind Aaron.
“Did I tell you about the promotion?” Aaron asks and I inwardly roll my eyes, wishing I could twitch my nose and fast-forward this date to the end.
“Yes, you did, but I’m not sure you told Cindy.” I swivel him around by his shoulders and have him face Cindy, who just got off the zip line behind me.
Aaron looks back to me and then to Cindy, confused, but once
he finally notices her fluttering eyelashes and welcoming smile, his attention focuses in the direction it should. Finally.
The next guide explains the instructions again and the rules are simple. No upside down, as if. Keep hand on brake, who wouldn’t? No touching equipment, duh—what if something came off in flight?
Once we’re done, the rest of the members move over to the picnic tables where lunch has been spread out for us. Cindy’s laughing at Aaron’s jokes as the two mosey over that way and I genuinely hope he’ll be able to hang up that gold status of his. He might be an annoying gnat, but he’s a gnat who would treat a female pretty great, I bet.
I wait, smiling at each of my fellow members who finish the course. Each one passes by me, with their windblown hair and wide smile. The longer it takes, the more I wonder if I shouldn’t be standing here, but just when I’m about to go to the picnic tables so I don’t appear like some lovesick woman who can’t wait twenty minutes to see her guy, Lucas arrives on the plank.
Not needing any instruction, he unhooks his own harness and belt, pulling the clipboard from the back of his shorts. I wish I didn’t see the exasperated look on his face when he first spots me because tears start to prick my eyes. Maybe I’m to him what Aaron is to me. Am I Lucas’ annoying gnat?
“Tahlia,” he says, walking toward me. No excitement. His hands aren’t reaching out to touch me, his lips aren’t moist and ready to plant on mine. You’d think I’m his colonoscopy doctor from his lack of enthusiasm as he slows his pace. He’s about to bypass me and walk by me, but my hand lands on his arm.
“What’s going on, Lucas?”
He turns on his heels and blows out a breath of air. “Nothing. You know we can’t act like a couple here.”
“Oh, I guess I missed that memo after your tongue was shoved down my throat on the yacht. Or when your hands were planted on my ass while we danced that same night. Did you email the rules to me? Maybe it went in my spam folder.” I pull out my phone from my back pocket to pretend I’m searching for said email.
“I told you I lost control that night.” He glances to the group and then back to me. “Listen.” A smile crosses his lips, but not the one usually reserved for me. Not the one that says, I can’t wait to have you naked underneath me. “I was thinking after this, you come back to my place.”
I nod, and inhale a deep breath. “So, my pussy is good enough, just not my conversation skills.”
The two teenagers walk by, snickering and laughing when they overhear our conversation.
“Mind your own business,” I say and Lucas grabs my hand, leading me away from the group and behind a large tree.
“What is up with you?” he asks.
I shrug out of his hold and wrap my arms around myself from the unexpected chill from his voice. “Nothing.”
He cocks those perfect eyebrows. Why are they always so perfect anyway?
“Do you wax or thread?” I ask.
His eyes crinkle and he shakes his head. “What?”
“Your eyebrows, they’re perfect. What do you do?”
“You want to talk about my eyebrows?” he asks.
“No, but you aren’t going to tell me the truth about what’s really going on anyway, so I might as well get one of the answers I’m looking for before you walk away from me.” I place my hand on the tree trunk behind me, which forces my breasts to push against the fabric of my shirt.
Lucas’ gaze dips and then straightens to my eyes. “I told you I would never lie to you.”
“Actually, you told me to trust you.”
He blows out a breath and he takes his hat off and then puts it right back on. “And you don’t?” My shoulders fall and I stare at him until he speaks. “I know we haven’t seen each other this week, but you’ve been busy.”
“Lucas, please don’t treat me like an idiot.”
He stares over my shoulder instead of directly at me. “Let’s just get through this and I’ll tell you everything.”
“So there is something to tell me.” My heart rate ramps up to what feels like potential heart attack zone. He steps forward, effectively caging me against the tree with both of his arms. His eyes zoom in on the tight t-shirt that accentuates my breasts and I wonder for a second if he only ever wanted me for sex, but I shrug off that thought. I know there are true feelings between us.
“You have nothing to worry about. It’s not about another woman. It’s a family issue and I hope you see it that way.”
He inches closer but I draw back, holding my finger to his lips.
“Pinky-promise me you aren’t seeing anyone else.”
He laughs, brings up his pinky, squeezing it with mine. “Pinky promise.”
“Okay.” I let out the breath of air I was holding and my heart falls back into an even rhythm. I know I can handle anything other than another woman. Family issues, who doesn’t have them?
“Can I kiss you now?” He bends forward.
“I suppose so.”
His lips smash into mine, his tongue urgent and seeking. Just like that our first little tiff is resolved and my hope is renewed. Maybe we really can make this work.
25
“Coffee?” I ask Lucas, procrastinating in the kitchen.
“Come here, Tahl,” he says and there’s something about him shortening my name that’s like being struck by Cupid’s arrow.
I round the corner of my breakfast bar and sit beside him on the couch. He takes my hand and entwines our fingers, gripping them tightly.
“The girl in the Mercedes is my sister.”
The one thing I’ve always loved about Lucas is how he always makes sure he stares me in the eyes when he tells something important. Maybe it’s second nature for me now to look for the telltale signs of lying. I can only hope he’s not a pathological liar who knows exactly what to do to fool me. If only I enjoyed crime movies instead of romantic comedies. The closest thing I’ve watched to a crime movie is The Mexican and I only watched that for Brad Pitt.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, Dr. Audrey Campbell.” He raises his eyebrows.
“The donor of the parting gifts.” I smile, happy to know that the stash of toothbrushes came from his sister, a dentist.
“Actually, they’re just for me. She had them made for October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but they have the wrong phone number on them, so she gave them all to me.”
Well, don’t I feel like the idiot in the room. “Sorry.”
He cups my chin with his free hand and he brings my gaze up to reach his. “I should have told you that day, but I’m weird about my family. I kept thinking you’d Google her name.”
“No. It’s okay. I understand being protective.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not protective of them. Believe me, they can handle themselves against a hungry pack of wolves. I was protective of you.” I squint my eyes, not understanding his full meaning. “Tahl, I broke ties with most of my family five years ago. My mom lives on the East Coast with her new family so she doesn’t really miss me. I talk with Audrey, but my dad and I had a huge falling out when I told him I wanted to pursue boxing. I haven’t seen him since.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, feeling saddened for him, but also a little jealous that he had the courage to stick his heels in the ground and do what he loves.
He shrugs. “Believe me, I’m happier without him.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me? I understand family drama.” I inch closer to him, that small river of distrust between us receding.
“There’s more. The reason Audrey came to see me Saturday night.” He inhales a deep breath and presses his lips together. My stomach knots. I’m assured this is going to be a hammer he’s throwing down.
“What?”
“My dad. He’s sick. Audrey asked me for a few favors because with the business and her family, she doesn’t have the time.” He glances at his lap and then turns his attention back to me. “It’s emotionally draining being with him and I knew if I met u
p with you after seeing him, I’d be an asshole and I couldn’t do that to you.” He reaches out and caresses my cheek. “I’m sorry for this past week. I’ll try to manage between the two.”
I swing my legs over his lap, more than ready to push away the polite distance he’s keeping. “Is there anything I can do?”
He slinks down on my couch, his hands landing on my hips, and the smile that reaches his eyes is genuine. “No. I’ll handle it, but I do want you to know that if I tell you I can’t hang out, don’t push it, okay? I’d rather be away from you than treat you like shit.”
I smile and nod. “Sure.” I lean forward and circle my arms around his neck, hugging him tight. “If you want to talk, I’m here, okay?” I whisper in his ear and I feel his head move up and down in my neck.
“Thanks.”
We stay like that for a few minutes before I pop up and hold my hand out. He accepts the gesture and stands then takes me in his arms immediately.
“Let’s go do something fun,” I say.
“Like?” he asks, his lips traveling up my neck.
“Movies, pier?”
“Hmm.” He licks up the curve of my neck until he sucks my earlobe into his mouth.
“I’m thinking you have other things in mind?” I ask in a breathy voice. He moans and nods his head, his teeth nibbling on my lobe. “Well, I guess that’s fun too.” I act nonchalant but inside I’m gearing up for a massive explosion. A whole week away from Lucas makes my lady parts feel lost in a dark, lonely forest.
My earlobe pops out of his mouth and he grips my ass, urging me up. Who am I to argue? My legs wrap around his waist and his lips mesh with mine all the way into my bedroom.
“This will be our own amusement park. I’ve got one ride in particular in mind. It’s called Bang the Boxer.” He winks and my stomach lifts with a million butterflies because Lucas Cummings always keeps his promises.
Mondays suck.
It’s nothing against Monday. If Tuesday was Monday, Tuesday would suck.