by Liv Morris
“Hi, Slade. My name is Samantha Hall. I’m so sorry to be calling you this late…early. Your brother, Micah, said you could help me.”
Fuck.
I don’t reply, but I don’t hang up. I wait for her to continue as she takes in a deep breath.
“I’m looking for my boyfriend, Jackson Reynolds. He sent me a text earlier saying he was heading to your party after the bar, but I’ve tried calling him several times with no answer. It’s been hours since I last heard from him, and I’m worried that maybe he left to come home, but something has happened to him.”
She spoke quickly, like she was nervous. To be honest, once I heard the word boyfriend I stopped listening. I don’t want to get involved in that shit. Especially after what had happened earlier tonight between the dumb blonde and her wannabe biker boyfriend.
But…
I do feel sorry for her. She actually sounds worried about him. The least I could do is help her. She knows Micah, and he obviously thinks enough of her to give her my number. After a little thought, and because Jessica has pissed me off, I decide to help her, although I don’t know how much help I will be. I don’t remember a Jake.
“Slade, come back to bed. I want you,” whines Jessica. She attempts to get my attention as she rolls around under my sheets.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean… I didn’t think….well, I’m sorry for bothering you. Thank you anyway.”
“No, you’re fine, Samantha.” I turn to Jessica and just stare at her. How many times do I have to tell her to shut the fuck up? She makes a not so lady-like noise then pulls the covers over her head.
“No, I shouldn’t have called this late and bothered you.”
“No, no. Really, it’s okay.” I have no idea why, but I do not want to hang up. I’m more interested in the girl on the other end of my phone than Jessica.
“Are you sure? I can just try his phone again,” she says quietly.
“Samantha, I promise, its fine. No worries, but I don’t recall a Jake.” I think back to the evening at the bar. Punching that idiot, meeting Jessica, then inviting everyone to come back to my house for a party. We were only there for a couple of hours.
“Jackson,” she corrects me.
“I don’t recall a Jackson, either.” What is that noise? Snoring! I pull the phone away from my ear to use my screen as a light. Sure enough, Jessica is already passed out under the covers. Just fucking great. I don’t want her staying here. I reach down, pick up my t-shirt from the floor, and start to put it on as Samantha speaks.
“He sometimes goes by Jax.” She sounds hopeful which makes my stomach clench.
I was introduced to a very drunk guy named Jax. I remember him because that’s the guy who was making out with Bridgette Winters, the girl who fucks around just as much as I do. Did they come back to my house?
“Yes, I remember hearing that name. Let me go check to see if he is still here.” I give Jessica one last look. I’ll wake her ass up when I get back so that we can pick up where we left off, then she can leave. I pull on my jeans and quietly leave the room, shutting the door behind me.
“Thank you,” she replies sweetly.
She stays silent as I walk down the long hallway, passing my media room and office. I come up to the kitchen and living room. The living room has bodies of women passed out everywhere with only a few guys, and there are beer bottles and shot glasses scattered throughout.
I walk into the kitchen and see Josh standing behind my big kitchen island. I don’t know if he will be much help, though. His dusty brown hair is hanging in his eyes which are red and puffy from all the alcohol we were drinking earlier. He has that surfer boy look, and girls are always asking him if he is from California, but right now he looks like he’s from the gutter.
I pull the phone away from my ear, and put the phone on mute before I ask him about Jax. I have a feeling no matter where this guy is, he is not alone.
“Have you seen a guy named Jax?”
Before he answers, he takes a shot. How he’s still drinking at this time is beyond me. “Um, the skinny guy with blonde hair?” he slurs as he puts his shot glass down. He squints as if he’s looking at me and seeing double. After all the alcohol he consumed tonight, he probably is.
“I don’t remember what the fuck he looks like. I just know he was with Bridgette at the bar earlier,” I say as I wave my phone in the air with both hands clenched over it.
“Oh yeah,” he growls. He obviously does not like this man. “I saw Bridgette leading him down stairs as soon as they walked in.” He starts to refill the shot glass with a look of disgust on his face.
Shit!
I take the phone off mute and raise it back up to my ear. “Yes, he was here. I was told he passed out in one of my spare rooms. Let me go check real quick,” I say into the phone as I start down the stairs to the lower level.
“Thanks. I’m so sorry to be putting you through all this trouble. I’m just worried about him. He always comes home after going out...”
I hear her yawn. The poor girl sounds exhausted. Maybe she is lying in bed already. Naked. Fuck, what the hell am I thinking? The girl has a boyfriend who I’m trying to find. Maybe I could invite her over now. I mean her boyfriend is here. Wait, that’s a bad idea. If Josh is right, he’s here with another woman. And I already fought with one boyfriend tonight. And this woman doesn’t sound stupid enough to fuck around on her boyfriend while he’s in the same house.
I’ve transformed my basement into a huge game room, consisting of a pool table, a 72” TV mounted on the wall, a dart board hanging on the far wall, and a mini bar in the far right corner. At the back of the room, there used to be an office, but I turned it into an extra bedroom. I prefer to have my office upstairs, right next the master bedroom. When I reach the bedroom, I decide the best point of action is to just knock on the closed door.
No response.
I put my ear up to the door and hear nothing. That’s good, right? Maybe he’s in there passed out alone. I try the door. It’s unlocked.
My thought of him being alone is short lived. As I stand in the doorway, I can see Jax on his back with Bridgette’s right arm draped over his chest. The rest is covered by blankets. Thank, God! I start to think maybe they passed out before they actually fucked, but then my eyes fell to the open condom wrapper on the floor.
Shit.
I run a hand through my hair. What to do, what to do. I can’t tell Samantha this. I’m going to lie. Fuck! I don’t want in the middle of this mess, but what other option do I have? I don’t want her to come over, beating my door down.
“Samantha, he’s here, asleep.” I close the door quietly behind me and head back up the stairs. I don’t know why I didn’t tell her what I saw. It’s not my place, right? I mean, I don’t know what kind of relationship they have. I’ve had friends who have very open relationships. Maybe she even knew he was out with Bridgette. You never know. Or maybe they are broken up, and she’s one of those crazy bitches who thinks they are still together, which would guarantee a scene if she found out he was here with another woman.
“Oh thank God!” she breathes into my ear, sounding like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She sounds like she had been worried about him all night.
“Slade?” She says it so breathless that my body comes to a stop at the top of the stairs, frozen in place. It’s like a caress of pure seduction. I can feel it down deep in my balls. I can see her lips move when she whispers my name. While her legs are wrapped around my waist, I’m bending down to taste each breast, my cock moving in and out of her. It’s like she’s pulled me into a dream. A dream I have no control over.
What the fuck is wrong with me? I don’t even know this woman, but I want to, and that thought alone makes me conflicted. I’ve never wanted a woman like this. I take a shaky breath. “Yes?” It’s all I can manage, still standing at the top of the stairs like an idiot.
Josh walks by with a cute brunette under his arm. He whispers in h
er ear then swats her ass as she walks off down the hall, heading to one of my back bedrooms. He turns to me and stares as he takes a drink from the bottle in his hand. What is he doing?
“Thank you so much for your help, and I’m really sorry for bothering you. I promise it won’t happen again.” She hangs up before I can say anything to her.
I stand there for a few more seconds, finding myself, hoping that she calls me again. I look up to Josh as he finally speaks.
“I’m guessing that was Sam, since you were looking for Jax?” he slurs.
“Yes.” I croak out.
He shakes his head. “She’s a nice girl. Jax is such an ass.” He shakes his head again before walking off.
How does he know her? I stop him before he gets too far down the hallway. “How did he get invited back here? I don’t know the guy.”
“You invited him.” He leans on the wall, needing the support to stay standing.
“What? Why would I invite him?”
“Actually, you invited Bridgette back to join you and Jessica.” He nods his head in agreement with himself. “She ended up inviting Jax here for herself. Good night. See you in the morning.” He drags himself to my back spare bedroom to get his dick sucked.
I look around and notice I still haven’t moved from the spot above the stairs. I finally find my legs and proceed to walk towards my room.
When I enter, Jessica is still lying there. I wish I wouldn’t have let her fall asleep. I don’t like women spending the night. I prefer to fuck them, then say goodbye. I’m in no mood to have to explain shit to her in the morning. Sighing, I turn around and walk out of my bedroom, closing the door behind me.
I walk down the hall to my office and take a seat behind my desk. Leaning back in my chair, I run a hand over my face, tired and somewhat confused. I can’t get Samantha out of my head. God, that voice. So sweet and gentle, it had taken my breath away when she spoke my name. I have never experienced anything like it before. What made me react that way? Was it because Jessica already had me all worked up?
I shake my head. That’s not it. I know that Jessica had nothing to do with it. Hell, I could have gone back to bed, woke Jessica and fucked her. I didn’t, though because I no longer want her. Does that mean I want Samantha now?
What the fuck? What am I thinking? What is wrong with me? She is just another woman. No reason to get this worked up over her.
I sit up and pull a few papers out of my desk. I can go over the ones regarding a client. Yeah, that will get my mind back on track. I pick up the papers, stand up from my chair and walk around, feeling the need for some movement.
My eyes scan the material that covers my clients’ information. I don’t make it halfway through his last name when I throw them down on my desk, unable to think about work right now. All I want to do is think about Samantha, not fuck with work.
Placing my palms on top of the desk, I lean on it for support and hang my head as my mind continues to have thoughts about Samantha. I wonder what she looks like? It’s not that I’m picky. I don’t have a certain type. I’m just curious.
“Slade?”
I close my eyes and sigh heavily before I turn to face Jessica. She’s standing in the doorway, naked. “Go back to bed, Jessica.” Wow! Did I just say that? Who turns down a naked woman? I sure as hell never have.
“Come with me.” She takes a few steps into my office.
I shake my head. “I have work to do.” Why am I coming up with an excuse? I don’t have work to do. I just no longer want her.
“It didn’t seem like you were working.” She stops a few feet in front of me, and I swallow, trying not to look at her naked body so close to me. Close enough for me to reach out and touch her. I could pull her into me and take her right here in my office. I could imagine that she is the face to the sweet voice that continues to play through in my head.
“Well, I was,” I argue, trying to reassure myself. My dick is playing tricks on me. Getting hard and wanting to fuck her. It’s not really her that I want, though.
“Slade,” she huffs.
The way she says my name pisses me off. It sounds nothing like that wonderful sweet voice and it makes me tense. Unlike Samantha.
“I said I’m working.” I turn around and sit back down in my chair. I gather up my papers and put them into a neat pile in front of me.
“Well, you weren’t too busy working before that girl called you,” she spits out.
I look up at her, my mouth in a hard line. “That’s none of your fucking business,” I growl.
“I won’t allow you to talk to me like that,” she says, trying to sound strong but failing.
“Then go home,” I say carelessly. This is why I never do anything more than a one night stand, and why they never spend the night. I don’t feel the need to explain any aspect of my life to any female. A questionable woman is an annoying woman.
“I’m working,” I say again, raising my voice when I see her still standing there.
She narrows her hazel eyes at me and leans up against my desk. “When will you be done?”
I look up at the clock behind her on the wall. It reads a quarter past five. “Fuck!” I run a hand through my hair. My plane leaves at ten. Thank God for the time change, and the fact that court is later in the day tomorrow. The only sleep I’ll get will be whatever I manage to take on the plane.
I pick up my papers and shove them into my bag. Standing up, I walk out of my office, leaving Jessica behind. I’m hoping she will get the fucking hint and leave. I enter my bedroom, place my bag on the floor, then head into the bathroom and turn on the shower.
“Are we taking a shower?” she asks, happily entering behind me.
When is she going to get the hint that I’m done with her? I take a deep breath. I’ve tried to be nice, but the bitch is getting on my nerves.
“No. I’m taking a shower.” I grab a towel out of the cabinet. “Alone.”
She continues to stand there. “Well, what am I supposed to do? Want me to go wait in bed for you?”
“No. I have to be at the airport in a few hours. I told you, I have work to do before I have to be in court. I’m going to shower, get ready, then do some work before I leave. So you can show yourself out.” I rush to get out of my clothes.
I open the shower door to step in, but she holds the door open before I can close it. “So, I’m to leave? That’s what you want me to do?”
“Didn’t I already tell you that?” I turn my back to her and grab my shampoo. I flinch as she slams the shower door shut. Thank God she’s finally leaving. I am in no mood to put up with a pissed off woman. I shouldn’t have gone out last night. I should have told Josh no.
I rinse off the shampoo and reach for my body wash, when a thought hits me. If I had not gone out last night, the call from Samantha would not have happened. I can’t get her sweet voice out of my head. Having to endure a day in court with no sleep is going to make for a very long and frustrating day.
Placing one hand on the wall in front of me, I grab my cock with the other and jerk off as I think of her sweet voice screaming my name.
I roll over and notice Jax still isn’t home. I look at my clock on the night stand. 8:30 AM. Last night I was worried, terrified even, that something had happened to him. When Slade said he was asleep there at his house, I was relieved, knowing he was somewhere safe. That relief, however, only lasted a few minutes. As soon as I hung up with Slade, my emotions went crazy, bouncing around like a pinball machine until they finally landed on furious; furious that he had no respect to call me and inform me he was going to stay. How could he not think that I wouldn’t be worried about him? Maybe he knew I would, but just didn’t care.
With a heavy sigh, I get out of bed and head to the bathroom. I need some therapy. Retail therapy. The mall doesn’t open until ten, but I need to get out of this house. I take a quick shower, throw my hair in a messy ponytail, and put on just a tad of makeup. Top it off with a tank top, pair of capris and a cute
pair of heels and I’m out the door within twenty minutes.
I stop off at Starbucks first to grab a black cup of coffee. The tanning salon is right next door to Starbucks, so I sit in my car and drink my coffee while waiting for it to open.
After the coffee and tanning, I feel more awake, even though I only got four hours of sleep last night.
I wasn’t at the mall fifteen minutes when Holly calls me. “Hey, what’s up, Holls?” I ask as I walk into Buckle.
“Not much, girl. What are you up to? Did you ever get a hold of Jax last night?”
“Yeah, Slade found him passed out in one of his rooms.” I try to sound like it is no big deal so she will drop it. My voice sounds like it doesn’t bother me, but inside there is a storm building. Thankfully she gets the hint.
“That’s good. Glad he is okay.” Is that sarcasm? “So, Micah wants to take me out for dinner tonight. I was able to put together a cute outfit from my closet, but I was wondering if I could borrow a pair of red heels?”
“Of course. I’m at the mall right now. When do you want to come over?” I ask as I examine a cute pair of Miss Me jeans.
“Well how long will you be at the mall?” I can practically hear her biting on her nails.
“I can leave now if you need me to. I’m just looking around.” I walk out of Buckle as I check my watch. It is a little past ten and I still haven’t heard from Jax.
“That would be awesome. Thanks, Sam. You’re the best. I’ll head your way.” I can hear her keys rattling as she shuts her front door which makes me laugh.
“Okay, I’m on my way as well. Bye.”
I go to put my phone in my purse, I notice I have a new text message. I walk through the glass doors to the outside parking lot and open it up. It’s from Jax.
Finally.
Jax: Where you at?
Really? He couldn’t say, hi! I’m alive. Sorry I missed all your calls and text last night, I passed out. How courteous of him to wonder where I’m at. Not!