Second Rate Chances

by S. C. Stephens

  He bit his lip as she took her top off. Not an ounce of self consciousness was with her as she exposed all of her many curves to him. She knew men preferred a little meat on a woman’s bones anyways, and besides, it was a well known fact that women were far more critical about their bodies than men. Men were just happy to be invited to the party, or so Neil had told her once.

  Her fingers unfastening her skirt, she seductively let them slide down her thighs. Luckily, her underwear matched her bra today, that wasn’t usually the case. Once she was standing before him in just her slinky undergarments, Chance ran a hand down his face. “Makayla…” he whispered, his voice strained, “I don’t think we should…”

  Makayla silenced him with her lips on his. Grabbing his hand, since he still seemed reluctant, she placed his fingers on her bottom. He squeezed immediately. Desire flooded Makayla as she deepened their kiss. She wanted to share herself with him so badly. She wasn’t quite sure how she’d feel in the morning, but for now, she didn’t really care about the morning. She cared about him. She cared about his body. She cared about his body slipping inside of hers. She cared about satisfying him this time.

  Her fingers unbuttoned his jeans. His breath picked up as he heatedly kissed her back. When she had them undone, Chance shoved them down his hips, stepping out of them as they stumbled towards his bed. Free of his jeans, he tore off his shirt. His eyes finally seemed convinced that they could do this. His body was convinced too, and Makayla gasped as his hardness pressed against her.

  She wrapped her arms around his bare chest, craving the smooth, hard skin under her fingertips. “I’m here for you, Chance,” she murmured, not sure what she meant by it. His breath hitched and he paused in kissing her. Keeping their gazes locked, Makayla ran her hands along the band of his underwear. She slowly slid them down his toned body. Chance closed his eyes, desire clear in his face. Makayla’s hand went down, to feel the length of his exposed body. He throbbed in her fingers.

  Chance groaned and pressed against her. He was so ready. She was so ready. Nothing could stop this now. Dropping to her knees, Makayla decided to share herself first. Her lips wrapped around him and she heard him gasp. Feeling the smoothness of him with her tongue, Makayla relaxed as much as she could. This was definitely not something she’d planned on doing tonight, but was love ever planned? Closing her eyes, enjoying the noises he made, Makayla wondered if she did love him. Could a person fall so fast? But all she felt was the desire to please him, to make him happy, to make that boyish grin light up his face. She wanted to take all of his pain, and let him only be filled with light. That was love…right?

  Moaning, she lost herself in her work. His hand came down to tighten in her hair. “Makayla…” he groaned. Makayla wondered if he was close. Just as she was mentally preparing herself for him to finish, he grasped her head and pulled her away. He was panting as he stared down at her.

  Makayla felt tears of rejection sting her eyes. Had she done something wrong? It had been a while since she’d done…this…maybe she wasn’t as good at it as she remembered. “What’s wrong?” she whispered, mortified.

  He closed his eyes, then sank down on his knees to join her. “Nothing, nothing’s wrong. That,” he swallowed, “that was perfect…” He smiled crookedly. “Really perfect.

  Makayla felt herself relaxing, then shook her head. “I don’t understand…why did you stop me?”

  Chance smoothed her hair back, kissed her forehead. “I just…I feel like we’re rushing this.” He sighed and looked over her face. “I don’t want to rush anything with you.”

  His eyes were so sincere as they swept over her features, it made her heart melt. “You just want to…cuddle, then?”

  Smiling, Chance nodded. Slipping his underwear back on, he pulled back his covers. Smiling herself, Makayla slid inside. His warm body collided with hers. Inhaling deep, Makayla buried her head into his chest. God, she could get used to this. Wondering how she was back in bed with him, after just telling him the other day that they could only date causally, Makayla rubbed a circle into his chest. Oh well, she’d figure it out in the morning.

  It was still pitch-black when Makayla’s eyes opened. Her heart was racing. She’d been having a dream, no, nightmare really. That man from Chance’s driveway had been in it, she was sure. She still couldn’t really recall his face, but the air of menace around him had been real. She hadn’t imagined that, or him.

  Sitting up on an elbow, Makayla made herself release the dream and accept reality. Then she frowned, remembering her reality. Against her own wishes, she’d wound up in bed with Chance again. There was something about him that pushed at her resolve until she crumbled. But surprisingly, they hadn’t gone all the way. Chance had said no. Makayla was almost more shocked by that then the man who’d surprised her in the driveway. Why on earth would a man say no? Especially when it was…already started?

  Makayla looked over at Chance in bed. Her eyes had adjusted enough that she could easily make him out. He was sprawled out under the covers, his face away from her as he slept. Sitting up a little higher, Makayla placed a hand on his chest. He stirred, his head twisting back to her direction; he was smiling.

  Well, it was a good thing Chance had stopped it. It was way too soon…she hadn’t even known him a week yet. And Makayla wasn’t one to jump in bed with a boy she hardly knew, even if technically she’d already jumped in bed with him twice now. She’d just have to work on controlling her body better. Dousing the fire. Didn’t guys think about mundane stuff when they needed to calm down…maybe she could try that. Problem was, when he was touching her, barely caressing her, she tended to fantasize about him plunging deep inside of her, both of them moaning and groaning…screaming in passion. Made it kind of hard to think about anything else.

  Shaking her head, Makayla looked down at her scantily covered body. Well, she’d have to try. She wasn’t cheap, and throwing herself on him felt sort of cheap. Will power. If she could have it with donuts, she could have it with Chance.

  Smirking to herself, Makayla leaned over and kissed Chance’s forehead. He sighed. Slipping out of his bed, Makayla decided that they’d cuddled enough for one evening. She should go home. Finding her clothes in the dark, Makayla put everything she’d been wearing back on. Chance’s bedroom had a bathroom attached to it, and Makayla slipped in and turned the light on. She sighed at the snarly mess that her super-straight hair had become. She just couldn’t keep it tame and in control for nearly as long as she’d like. It sort of reminded her of herself…at least around Chance.

  Mentally chastising herself for slipping last night, Makayla’s eyes swept the room. Chance was pretty neat for a guy. Nothing was on his countertops except for his toothbrush. He even put his dirty clothes inside the hamper, instead of right next to it. Definitely a bonus. Looking at the hamper more closely, Makayla noticed something that immediately got her attention. Walking over to the hamper, she sifted past the muddy clothes that he’d been wearing when he took a spill in his driveway. Oddly, she thought they faintly smelled of cigarette smoke. Ignoring those clothes to get to the clothes of real interest to her, Makayla found the pair of jeans with a dark spot of red on them. She lifted them up closer, so she could see for sure. Not much escaped Makayla’s eye, and what she was looking at was unmistakable. Blood. The knee of Chance’s jeans was stained with blood.

  Makayla bit her lip, trying not to overreact. People got blood on their clothes every day, it didn’t automatically make someone an ax murderer. Falling back on her deduction and reasoning skills, Makayla examined the blood stains. There was a large pool, smears, and spray. There were no holes in the fabric. Unless Chance had used his knee to plug up a bloody nose, the odds were good that the blood was not his.

  Makayla straightened and dropped the jeans. Her offhand thought sparked a memory that had been eluding her. The man in the driveway…his nose had been just slightly bent, like it had recently been broken. Makayla’s eyes flashed back to Chance’s room. He’d
broken that man’s nose, she was sure. That meant he knew him. That meant he probably had seen him last night. That meant he’d lied to her…

  Eyes narrowing, Makayla slunk back into the bedroom. She had no proof of this, of course, but her gut told her it was true. But why would he lie, and why was he getting into fights? Her stomach tightened. Was he in danger? A moment of pure, concerned panic washed through her and she forced herself to exhale in a slow, controlled way. She couldn’t worry about that yet, she had to know what he was hiding.

  Seeing that he was still asleep on the bed, his hand stretched over to where her body had been, Makayla studied his room. She couldn’t exactly ransack the place with him just a few feet away. Her eyes looked for anything that screamed “I hide things here!” Nothing jumped out at her. Biting her lip, Makayla felt a moment of foolishness pass over her. She’d nearly slept with him last night…and she didn’t really know anything about him. Just his painful past…

  Pushing aside the empathy in her chest, Makayla’s eyes locked onto his jeans on the floor. The jeans he’d been wearing last night. She could see the bulge of his wallet in the back pocket. Maybe…maybe he kept something in there? Fingers shaking, Makayla walked over to the pile of clothes left behind from their passionate moment. Keeping her eyes on Chance, she plucked the wallet out of his pocket. Not sure if she wanted to find something in it or not, Makayla flipped it open. Her mouth dropped when she did.

  All he had was a driver’s license, a credit card…and a wad of cash. She didn’t take the time to count, but he seemed to have over a grand in his wallet. Who walked around with that much cash? And more importantly, how had he gotten it? Makayla sat back on her heels, not sure what to think. Strange men on his doorstep, blood on his jeans, a wad of money in his wallet…

  She looked back up at his still form. What are you up to, Chance? Drugs? Gambling? Prostitutes? Makayla sighed and put the wallet back. Whatever it was…it was nothing she could be involved in. She had to walk away now. Tears stinging her eyes, Makayla stood, and prepared to leave him.

  Just as she was in the doorframe, she heard a sleepy voice ask, “Where are you going?”

  Makayla closed her eyes, then looked back at Chance on the bed. He was sitting up on his elbows, blinking at her. He was adorably confused. “I’m leaving…this was a mistake. Bye, Chance.”

  She turned and walked through the door, her tears brimming and releasing. She heard Chance scramble out of bed and sighed. Of course he wouldn’t just let her walk out. His hand grabbed her elbow in the hallway. “Wait, what was a mistake? Last night…or us?”

  His warm brown eyes searched hers and Makayla felt more tears slide down her cheeks. “Us,” she whispered, and turned back around.

  Chance moved around in front of her. Squatting, he looked her in the eye. His moistened as he watched her tears fall. There was pain in his voice when he spoke again. “Why? I thought…I thought we were closer. I thought last night…meant something.”

  Makayla swallowed and closed her eyes. It had meant something. They had been closer. But he’d lied…she was sure of that. “I can’t, Chance. I can’t do this,” she whispered.

  His hands cupped her cheeks, brushed her tears away. When she opened her eyes, his were glossy, his voice shook. “Why? What did I do?” His eyes searched hers, panic clear in them. “Tell me…please? Makayla…?”

  Seeing his panic, seeing his pain, Makayla felt her heart crack. He did care about her, that much she could tell. But…it wasn’t enough. Makayla put her fingers on his bare chest and pushed him back. Or tried to push him back…he wouldn’t budge. “Please, just let me go, Chance.”

  He shook his head, his jaw tightening. “No, not until you tell me why…please?”

  Deciding that she had nothing to lose, since she’d already lost everything, Makayla lifted her chin. Tears dripping off her trembling jaw, she crisply told him, “You know that I saw someone in your driveway last night. Even worse, you know who he is. And you lied about not seeing him…” a puzzle piece locking into place, she added, “I smelled the cigarette smoke on your clothes.”

  Chance’s eyes widened and he didn’t say anything. Her heart dropping, she shook her head. “You broke his nose at some point…I don’t know when or why.” Chance’s eyes widened further and his mouth opened a little. She’d thrown that out mainly to gauge his reaction, but from his reaction, it was clear that she was completely right.

  Sighing, she muttered, “And you’re sitting on over a grand in your wallet…people only pack that much cash around if they obtained it illegally.” She shrugged. “My money’s on drugs, but that’s just one theory.”

  Chance still looked shocked, and still didn’t say anything. Hearing a confession in his silence, Makayla stepped around him. So that was that, he was a crook…a current one, not a reformed one…and she’d been the stupid, gullible girlfriend who’d believed every lie he’d spouted. And just when the term girlfriend had started to sound really nice to her, too.

  She was on the staircase when Chance finally broke out of his stupor. “Wait, Makayla.” He rushed down the steps to stand in front of her again. A couple places higher than him, Makayla towered above him. He looked up at her, begging clear in his features. “Please, I can explain…everything.”

  She took in the goose bumps along his exposed skin, wondering if he was cold, or nervous…probably a combination of both. “Just let me go, Chance.”

  He shook his head, his hands coming up to clench her arms. “Just let me explain…it’s not what you think.”

  More tears dropping, Makayla could only shrug and look away. Chance stepped up to the stair just below hers. His fingers brushed her cheek, wiping more tears. “Okay, yes, I lied. I did…I did see the man in my driveway. I do know who he is.” Makayla’s eyes snapped back to his, fury in them. Chance swallowed and shook his head. “I’m sorry, I just…didn’t want you to get involved in this.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “In what? What exactly are you up to?”

  Chance shook his head. “Not me…I’m not involved in anything, Makayla…I promise.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Makayla felt fire starting to burn in her belly. She did not like being lied to, no matter the reason. Running a hand down his face, Chance swallowed again, his eyes searching her face. “He’s…dangerous, Makayla…I didn’t want you anywhere near him.”

  Feeling the fire burning up her throat, she shook her head. “If he’s so dangerous, why is he near you?”

  Chance looked down, seemingly torn. When he peeked up at her, pain and conflict were so clear in his face, it softened the supernova in her belly. “He works for my brother,” he whispered.

  A name instantly popped into Makayla’s head. A name she’d heard while teetering on the edge of consciousness. She hadn’t been sure she’d even really heard the name…until now. “Garrett?”

  Chance blinked at her, then nodded. “Yeah…”

  Makayla put her hands on her hips. “I thought you said your brother died?” She bit her lip after saying it. She’d sort of spat it at him, and it had to be a painful subject, even after all these years.

  Chance immediately looked down. “He’s my older brother. I am…I was…the middle child.”

  He swallowed and sniffed and Makayla stepped down, to stand on the same stair with him. Remorse and sympathy washing through her, Makayla placed a hand on his cheek and peeked up into his face. “I’m sorry.” The current moment swept back into her and she dropped her hand from his cheek.

  Chance sighed as he looked over at her. “My brother is into some…questionable stuff. Reggie is sort of his…enforcer, if you will.”

  Makayla frowned. “So thievery runs in your family.”

  Chance shook his head, his eyes wide. “No, Makayla…my brother is nothing like me. My brother is…psychotic…” His voice drifted off and he stared at the floor. “You’re right, I broke Reggie’s nose.” He peeked up at her. “I had to…he was going to kill me.”

 
; Makayla’s heart leapt into her throat…he was in danger, and by his own family. Her hand flashed to his neck, feeling the life pounding in his veins. Her eyes flashed over his body, looking for any sort of injury on him. God, what was he mixed up in?

  “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” She searched his face. “What can I do? Do we need to call the cops? Get you…protection?”

  Chance sighed and shook his head. “There’s nothing to do, Makayla.” He looked down. “I’m really sorry you had to be dragged into this…I never wanted that…”

  He frowned, his eyes contemplative. Makayla gave him a soft kiss, her worry overriding her earlier anger. He looked back over at her, then slung an arm around her waist. He leaned in for another kiss and she pulled back. “Why would your brother want you killed?”

  Chance bit his lip. “Okay, you may not like this part.”

  Makayla narrowed her eyes, that fire starting to rekindle itself. Chance sighed as he looked over her face. “And what part is that?” she said slowly, each word enunciated.

  Searching her face, he muttered, “I took something of his…and pawned it. That’s why I have so much money in my wallet.”