by Layla Frost
I inhaled deeply, trying to relax as he went to his side.
He got in and started the car. “Do you like Mexican food?”
“Love it.”
“We’ll go eat.” My stomach sank when he looked over and continued. “Then we’ll go back to my place and talk.”
“Yippee,” I muttered, lacking all enthusiasm.
“Or we can just go straight to my place.”
“No, no.” I shook my head. “Dinner sounds great.”
I’m in giant flippin’ trouble.
*******
“Are those phone booth buttons?”
“It’s a Tardis,” I said.
Kase’s brows went together and he shook his head as he drank his beer.
I explained further. “It’s from a British TV show.”
“About a phone booth?”
“It’s kind of a time machine.” At his confused look, I just grinned. “Trust me, it’s awesome.”
“We’ll watch it sometime,” he said.
His quick agreement to check it out made me feel warm and fuzzy, although the tequila was probably helping.
“That’d be cool.”
“What do you do at the station?” he asked, adding to the distinct this-is-totally-a-real-date feel of the night.
Finishing my margarita, I wiped the salt from my lips. “Get coffee and food, run lots errands. Help lug around and set up equipment. I’ve recently taken over stalking social media for stories. Oh, plus hours of fact checking, which, as you can imagine, is incredibly titillating.” I leaned back and stuck my nose in the air, taking on a pretentious tone. “It’s all very exciting and glamorous.”
“That sounds… well, pretty fucking shitty.”
I nodded. “There are times that it sucks. But there are so many things that make it worth it. I don’t think people realize how competitive the news really is. Every station might report the same story, but it’s the first one to break it that gets the glory. When we receive a tip, it gets chaotic.”
I stopped talking as the waitress dropped off my margarita, almost tipping it over in her attempt to not stare at Kase.
Don’t bother. It’s impossible to not get sucked into the view.
Especially the way his light blue tee sets off his eyes. And the way it stretches across his broad chest and thick arms.
Or how thick other parts…
Where was I supposed to be going with this?
“Chaos is good?” Kase asked after I took a much needed drink.
“Very. We can’t just take a tip and run with it. Everyone gets hyper focused, and there’s this huge rush of energy that shoots through the place as we work to piece together the full story. Once that happens, we go live. Like when the ex-senator decided to spread his patriotism all over the state.”
Realizing how much I was talking, I stopped and took another sip, giving Kase the chance to change the subject.
He put his elbows on the table and leaned in, showing his genuine interest. “What about him?”
“Our first tip wasn’t credible. When I vetted her, the senator had a previous restraining order against her. Breaking a story first gets you glory. Breaking a false story gets you fired. But, Mistress Paula, and yes, that is her legal name, got in touch with other former lovers that had plenty of proof. After that, it was sorting it out, authenticating it, and rolling with the clear and concise story.”
“See, that part doesn’t sound too bad.”
“It’s fun, in a manic and high pressure kind of way.”
“Think our definition of fun is very different.” Reaching across the table, his thumb stroked the back of my hand. “Is that why you put up with all of the gofer shit? To be the lead one day?”
“I like the investigating, but I don’t want to do that.”
“You aiming for anchor?”
I shook my head. “You know those fluff pieces? Like, a brave kitten making it across the state or some fundraiser happening at a school?” At Kase’s nod, I shrugged and smiled a little. “That’s what I want to do.”
“Really?”
“I know, my boss thinks I’m settling because I’m afraid to go for the more in demand positions. But it’s what I’ve always wanted. The world is a shitty place. Sick, twisted, fucked up stuff happens day after day, and the news has to cover that. On the flipside, there’s good in the world. And I think people need that daily reminder.”
“That’s—”
Suddenly feeling self-conscious, I laughed nervously. “Anyway, that’s about all I do.”
My change of subject wasn’t subtle, but Kase didn’t push it.
After paying the check, he grabbed my hand, keeping hold of it as we walked to the car.
Nervously, I bit the inside of my cheek.
In all the times we’d hung out, there was a heavy intimacy running between us, though very little happened physically. We hadn’t even kissed. It was easy for my mind to try to twist it, to warp things, but I knew he was attracted to me. I’d felt the evidence of it.
Oh, and what a lovely memory it is.
Still, I wondered, impatiently and often, when he was going to kiss me.
I dragged my thoughts away from his lips as he started driving. “What’ve you been doing at work?”
“A lot of everything. But my recent projects have been mostly airbrush and paint work.”
“Like naked lady titties on the side of a cargo van?”
“With a sick ass dragon and some wizard bolts?” He threw up the horns with his pinky and index finger. “Fuck yeah.”
“You’re kidding… Right?”
“I’ve done it. People go nuts for that shit, conventions and everything. But I do a lot of regular painting and detailing.”
“I didn’t know you were artistic like that.” It was impressive. I couldn’t draw a straight line if I had a ruler and someone started it for me.
“I used to want to be a tattoo artist.”
“Really?”
Stretching his arm out to me, he turned it over. “See the shark?”
Looking closer, I realized that what I’d thought was a random spiky design actually pieced together to become a shark and water. “Yeah.”
“I did that one.”
“Like, you tattooed it on yourself?”
“And a couple on my leg.”
“You actually took a needle to yourself and were able to make that? I can’t even pluck my own eyebrows! As soon as it starts to hurt, I stop.”
Turning his arm back around, he rested it on my thigh. “Mind over matter, baby.”
I felt clammy and woozy at just the mention of needles. “Yeah, it doesn’t matter ‘cause you’re outta your mind.”
His lips tipped up. “There’s that.”
I glanced down at his knuckles where the word ‘make’ was spelled out, one letter on each finger. “Let me see your other hand.”
He switched his driving hand, reaching the other one out so I could see the word ‘nipo’ on those knuckles.
“What do your fingers say?” I asked.
“Well, I haven’t talked to them lately, but usually—”
“The tattoo. What’s it mean?”
“Love.”
“Your hands say ‘make love’?”
“My hands, my brain, my—”
I rolled my eyes. “I mean your tattoos.”
“Make is Hawaiian for death.”
“Oh. That’s pretty badass.” Glancing out the window, I recognized the houses. “We’re almost to my place.”
“Yeah.”
“Cool. I, uhh, didn’t realize the restaurant was that close.” My overactive brain went crazy, trying to analyze everything I’d done and said at dinner that could’ve put him off.
As much as I didn’t want to share, I hadn’t spent the night dreading our talk. Mostly because I hadn’t thought about it. When I was with Kase, everything else faded away.
I forgot.
Somehow knowing what I was thinking, Kase sq
ueezed my leg. “You’re not ready to talk, and I’m not gonna force you. I’ll wait.”
“What if I’m never ready?”
Pulling into my driveway, Kase put the car into park. “I’m a patient man, Harlow.” Before I could respond, he got out and walked around to my side.
He’ll wait.
When he opened the door, I got out, but didn’t start walking. “I had fun tonight.”
“Me too. Free tomorrow night?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, still not moving.
“Good,” he whispered back.
“You’ll wait?” At his nod, I looked him in the eyes. “Why?”
His body pressed in close to mine, pinning me against the car. “I’m done fighting this, and I’m sure as hell not gonna fuck it up by rushing it.”
Not thinking, I went up on my toes and pressed my mouth to his.
After a frozen moment, Kase took over. With one hand on my ass, the other cupping my head, he deepened the kiss.
All thought, all fear, all reason flew from my brain. All I knew was what I felt.
Truly carefree and happy.
I’d wanted Kase for longer than I cared to admit, and was finally letting myself go for it.
Biting his lip, I sucked it in quickly before twirling my tongue with his.
His hand on my ass tightened in response, holding me closer.
At the feel of his hard cock, I moaned into the kiss. Sliding my hand down his back, I lifted his shirt, needing to feel skin against skin.
Before I could, Kase broke the kiss and grabbed my wrist. “You touch me, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
I tried to move my hand again. “I don’t mind.”
“You will if I end up fucking you in my car in your driveway.”
My nipples hardened further, and I lost my breath.
As much as I wanted him, though, he was right.
“Good point,” I agreed, my voice soft and airy. “Especially since we’re likely to shift the car into neutral and roll through the garage door.”
Kase backed away, but his heated expression made it clear it was the last thing he wanted to do. “Go inside, Harlow,” he ordered, his voice a low growl.
Lifting up, I pressed my lips to his again. His beard was scratchy on my face, which I found strangely hot. “Bye.”
“Good night, ipo.”
Oh, it was definitely that.
*******
Kase
Lime, salt, tequila, and her.
Nothing in my life ever tasted so good.
She shocked the fuck out of me when she kissed me, and not just ‘cause initiating the first kiss wasn’t a move chicks normally made.
No, it was ‘cause it was her doing it. The same chick that could be halfway around the world from someone and still need more space.
As I listened to her talk at dinner, her face flushed with excitement, I’d wanted to see how else I could get her to look like that. But when she’d started telling me about what she wanted to do, the difference she wanted to make, I knew I needed to back off.
‘Til she trusted me, ‘til she could tell me why it was so important to her to talk about the good things in the world, I’d wait.
And the dick hardening, sexy as fuck kiss was just one of the many reasons why Harlow was worth it.
Chapter Eight
Bacon and Hurried Orgasms
Harlow
“I’ve gotta get home,” I whispered before kissing Kase again.
“No.” Leaning against his car, he spread his legs a little. With a smile, he hooked a finger into my belt loop and yanked me closer. “Come with me.”
“I can’t, I’ve got a paper to finish.”
“So do it at my place.”
“I don’t have it with me.” When he opened his mouth, I kept talking, already knowing his next idea. “And by the time we drive and get it, I’ll be too tired to even work. We learned that last week.”
For a week straight, we saw each other almost every night. We usually went to dinner, except once when I’d crashed at his place after staying late at the station.
Other than PG rated kissing, nothing else had happened.
It was a new kind of torture.
“You know, we wouldn’t have to do this if you’d just move in with me.”
Cue record scratch!
My eyes bugged out, my jaw dropping. “Uhh, what?”
“Move in with me.”
“I think we’re still a couple steps away from that.”
Or, you know, The Great Wall Of China’s distance.
Kase shrugged. “So we jump ahead a month.”
I sputtered again. “A month?”
How about a year?
His expression softened as he gave me his charming smile. “Don’t you want more than a couple hours here and there?”
“Yeah. But not having time to see each other isn’t reason enough to move in together.”
“It’s exactly the right reason.” Kase weaved his fingers into my hair, tugging it so I was looking up. “Miss you, ipo.”
I melted into him. “I miss you, too.”
“Between your work and mine, we’d still barely see each other, but it’d be easier to find time.”
I realized I’d officially lost my mind somewhere along the way because I was actually tempted. It was reckless and way too fast, but also really flippin’ appealing.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from blurting anything out.
Choking on all the words I want to say.
When I stayed silent, Kase dropped his forehead to mine. “Waiting. Right.”
With too many thoughts running through my head, the main one being how much I wanted to move in with him, I didn’t say anything. Instead, I pressed my lips to his.
Too soon after, he dropped me off at my house.
Again.
*******
“Wake up, ipo.”
Grabbing the blanket, I rolled over. “No ipo.”
“Zuul?”
“No Zuul.”
“It can’t possibly be Harlow this early in the morning.”
“No Harlow. Shh. You’ll blow my cover. Ha, get it? Cover.”
Kase chuckled as he sat, his weight shifting me closer to him. “What’re you talking about?”
“The bed has accepted me as one of its own. If I leave now, I’ll break its trust.” Grabbing the pillow, I blindly swung it at Kase as he pulled the blanket off.
“Uh huh. And does the bed know about you and the couch last night?”
Not learning my lesson the first time, I’d stupidly tried to work on a research paper while sitting on Kase’s incredibly comfy couch. Since statistical analysis wasn’t a particularly engaging topic, it wasn’t long before resting my eyes turned into snoring.
“That was a one-time thing. It meant nothing.”
Before I could say anything else, his mouth trailed across my shoulders. His beard was scratchy, his lips soft and hot.
He moved up my neck, his tongue darting out and teasing as he went. Reaching my ear, he whispered the single sexiest thing I’d heard in my life. “I went out and got coffees.”
I lifted my head and looked over my shoulder at him. “Plural?”
“I wasn’t sure which you wanted, so I got hot and iced.”
Morning breath be damned.
Rolling over, I grabbed him and pulled him down to me. Putting everything I had into it, I kissed him.
Pulling away slightly, Kase jerked his head toward the door. “Coffee—”
“Forget about it.”
“No, I mean I got the coffee early so you could sleep more. You gotta leave for school.”
“Fuck school.” I tugged him back to me and hooked a leg around his, wanting to feel him.
His face softened, but his eyes stayed heated. “Ipo—”
“I miss you. And I hate not seeing you.”
Dropping down, he brushed his lips over mine. “Miss you, too. And we’ll figure it out. I
’ll wait, right?”
“Right.”
As he rolled off the bed, I realized something important.
He might have been willing to wait, but I wasn’t.
*******
I’m in trouble.
When Kase texted me to come to his place after classes, I’d been surprised. Usually he just showed up and we took his car, leaving me without a way to escape. Although I often joked about how stalkery it was, I kind of liked it.
Okay, I really liked it.
I thought the text was a sign that he finally believed I wasn’t running away anymore.
As I pulled into his driveway and saw him leaning on the doorframe, I realized I might have been wrong. His dreads were pulled back from work still, his jeans and undershirt smudged with grease. He looked hot.
He also looked pissed.
Maybe he didn’t see me. I can totally just drive off, right?
Somehow sensing my urge to run, Kase crooked his finger at me.
Nu uh. No way. Who does he think he is? I’m just gonna sit here for one, maybe two minutes.
“Now Harlow!” he called out, crossing his arms.
Okay, fifteen seconds was probably long enough to make my point.
Getting out of the car, I grabbed my purse and closed the door behind me. “I’m coming, sheesh. What’s got your junk twisted?”
When I reached him, Kase stared down at me, his jaw clenched.
“Inside,” he growled, moving just enough for me to slide past. Once I was in, he slammed the door.
“Okay, all jokes aside, you’re starting to freak me out. What’s going on?”
“So I’m supposed to talk to you?”
“Uh, yeah…” I said, confused by his attitude.
“See, I wasn’t sure if that violated the rules.”
“What rules?”
“All the fucked up ones in your head.” He rubbed the back of his neck, slowly shaking his head. “Are we even allowed to talk, or does me knowing anything about your life go against them?”
Moving to the door, I reached out to grab the handle. “I don’t know what your deal is. Why don’t I just—”