What. The. Fuck?
Taking the next right turn, I drove down a long stretch of beach that was filled to the brim with tourist. I rolled the windows down, and took the salty freshness into my lungs all the while ignoring the loony woman beside me.
She huffed, but I ignored it.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Her manicured nails were knocking on the window and playing an obnoxious rendition of the song on the radio. “Quit it.”
“Quit what?” Another turn two blocks down and my home came into view, adead end where no one trespassed.“Be more specific, Beau.”
“Ignoring me.” Running an agitated hand down her face, she breathed in deeply and let it out slow. Part of me understood the creep factor; I took her from the apartment in the middle of the night without her permission. I wouldeven give her the shock of being disoriented with no clue as to where she was, but I also won’t deny that it stung a bit that she automatically thought the worst of me.“Ignore my rant, but you have to understand that it’s areal fear. Too many documentaries show that the people you trust are the most likely to hurt you. What was I supposed to think? You took me without consent to God knows where and…where are we? Are we even in the U.S.?”
“Uh huh.”
“Answer me.” At my non-committal hum, she took off her seat belt and leaned over the center console. Her lips skimmed my jaw before taking a quick nip.“What did you do?”
That small jolt of pain sent a shiver that settled on the tip of my cock. No matter what, she made me hard. Always.
At the gate of my home, I punched in the security code. The gates opened, and I drove straight through without answering her. Again, she huffed and sat back, all the while taking in the house. My private sanctuary.
“Welcome to my home in the Keys.” But before she could start another barrage of questions, I put the car in park and got out, went around to her side, and helped her. She slid down the front of my body; her toes helping her gain height in order to reach my chin.
Sometimes, I forgot just how short she was. Standing flat on her feet, she reached my chest.
That sinful little pair of sleep shorts had risen high on her way down—the tip of her ass cheek out for my viewing pleasure.
She was a petite little doll with more curves than what should be allowed on a woman of her size.
“What did you say? Your home?” One of her fingers poked me in the chest,and I took a step back.“Why are we here?”
Question after question—she threw them at me much too fast to answer.
So, instead, I picked her up with those thick thighs around my hips and carried her inside, up the four steps, and onto the first floor’s wrap-around porch. Her eyes took in every detail.
The extensive gardening: palm trees, citrus plants, and gardenias I’d planted throughout the home’s front lawn. They not only shielded the house from the high afternoon sun, but at night gave a soft floral scent that was soothing.
Inside, I walked down a step and into the sunken living room, placing her on the grey leather couch before taking my place beside her. For a few minutes, I let her take it all in.
The pictures on the wall.
The splashes of color throughout.
The warmth my penthouse lacked.
“Finished yet,” I teased the moment a hint of a smile peeked through that mock-annoyed expression.
“It’s…yeah. It’s.”
At her loss of words, I laughed, and hard. I pulled her to me, so she could rest her head on my shoulder.“It’s me, Beau. My home, and I brought you here to relax. Enjoy a day or two of just fun in the sun and maybe a barbeque with some friends?”
The smile on her face dropped.“Work,then?”
“No, you brat. My best friend and his girlfriend.”
“Oh.” I had no clue if it was a good or bad, oh, but I’d take it.“Why don’tI give you the tour, and then we have some breakfast? I make a mean bowl of Coco Puffs.”
“Deal.” Beau turned and kissed my cheek before flicking my bottom lip.“Now hurry up.I’m hungry.”
The house was well over three thousand square feet, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It had an open floor plan with pocket doors that let the outside become one with the living room and kitchen area. My perfect place to come and relax.
Each room had been decorated with a nautical theme in mind: shades of blue, green, and sandy colors throughout with dark, hardwood floors to finish it off. A two-car garage housed my jet skis, while a large deck led you directly to the beach and pool.
The house sat on a nice stretch of beach that was private.
I could fuck her outside in the open, and no one would see.
“Love this place,” she sighed the moment we stepped onto the master bedroom’s balcony. Beau took the ocean air into her lungs with awide smile on her face.“So peaceful. Quiet.”
“Glad you approve, nymph.” Wrapping my arm around her tiny waist, I brought the small giftbox I carried since last night, out and presented it to her.“Hope you love this just as much. You earned it.”
The light blue box made it more than obvious as to what my surprise entailed.
“Earned it?” she whispered, her hand shaking.
“Enjoy it, sweetheart.” Making no move to take the gift, I unwrapped it for her. Maybe she was shocked that I’d be prudent enough to buy her something without a hint, without her asking.“No need to be shy, Beau. Want my help?”
A noise I’d never heard before escaped her, and I took that as a good sign. With her front pressed against the veranda, and my cock nestled between her luscious ass, I opened the box and presented her with a pendant that I found to be fitting.
A small gold envelope—reminded me of our emails and very first interactions. How I pursued, and how she tried to deny me. Forced me to play the game her way.
Not that I would ever tell her that. Nor would she ever know that my initials were engraved on the bottom of the charm. Hell, no.
She didn’t need to know that I was marking her. Claiming that which was only meant to be mine for a short amount of time.
Pushing her hair aside, I placed the chain around her neck. Kissed the back where the clasp lay, and turned her around in my arms. There were tears in her eyes, which caught me off guard.
“Did you not like—”
“I need a few minutes alone, Hendrix. Please.” Her smile was forced, pained.
Did she not like the gift? Was it too simple for her taste?
For sure I’d thought she’d appreciate the simplistic design. Maybe I was wrong.
“Of course, but before I go, can I ask you a question?”
“Yeah.” Low, her voice no higher than a whisper.
“Do I need to change the necklace for something more…flashy?”
Beau’s expression was one of horror.“No! Never.”
“Then why are you upset?” Because her reaction made no sense; nothing like I would expect of a sugar baby.
“If you have to ask me that, then you are beyond clueless.” With that she turned, walked straight into the master bath, and closed the door.
Shut me out.
For the next three hours she stayed locked away, and it bothered me. Made me pause and consider that I’d offended her somehow.
So, without a clue or enough patience to deal with a moody woman, I did the only thing I could.
Pulling out my phone, I dialed the number of the sole person in this world I could count on to give me shit or help when needed. He answered on the third ring, laughing at something a female voice said in the distance.
“Yolo!”
“Jax, I need help,” I sighed, rubbing at my temple with my free hand. Upstairs a door opened, then closed, her feet padding on the wooden floors following.“Going to need you here today instead.”
Silence came through the line, and for a second I thought our call had disconnected.
“What did you do?” Why did the ass think it was me?
I did nothing wrong here;Beau’s being m
oody. Must be PMSing and is embarrassed by it. “Just get your ass over here,and quick.”
“Punk,” he muttered, then yelled Crystal’s name and said something to her that came across muffled before coming back to me.“Give me three hours, and you better have beer. A lot of it.”
TWENTY-TWO
Beau
“…and then, he had the nerve to tackle the rival team’s mascotinto the coaching staff. Expelled on the spot, but Hendrix was a legend within the halls of our High School.” Everyone laughed at Jax’s embarrassing story of Hendrix, everyone, but the man himself.
He stood beside his friend in a defiant pose, hands crossed over his bare chest. A bare torso, I was fighting like hell not to look at. Tried to ignore the thick cords of taut muscle—the deep V of his waist, and how low those godforsaken black board shorts sat.
So, while Jax carried on with the fifth installment of his miniseries aptly called let’s make the asshole suffer, I sat stone still. Kept my thighs closed tightly and begged my body to cooperate.
To not squirm at the sight before me. To stay still and play it cool.
“He came out from the visiting side of the fieldlooking like a drowned rat. Gatorade had been thrown all over him. Cocky grin in place, the bastard thought he was God’s gift to women.” Jax winked at me, and a tiny giggle escaped. At the sound, Hendrix looked at me and those hazel orbs narrowed in mock anger. I didn’tmiss the way his eyes strayed to the bikini top with fringe I’d put on, or how he licked his lips while he watched the tips of my nipples harden from his perusal.
He was being cheeky in his blatant eye-fuck, and for a miniscule moment, it felt as though we were a normal couple entertaining people in our home, sharing embarrassing stories about my significant other while I got to know his best friend.
Jax and Crystal were a riot.
He was an overgrown frat boy—she brought to the table her poise and a great rack. He made crude jokes—she rolled her eyes and pretended that he wasn’t hysterical.
Our introductions were easygoing and pleasant. His first words were: I’m a Sugar Daddy, sweet thing. Want to ditch the brooding snore fest and come live in sugary bliss with us? All the while Crystal, his girlfriend, stood next to him, nodding with a smile.
If looks could kill, he’d be dead. That vein in Hendrix’s forehead throbbed, while I bit my lip hard in order not to laugh. A snort still escaped, and my pain-in-the-ass Daddy softened a bit.
They made me feel at ease.
Were a godsend for the dark madness looming over me.
Those “words” you earned it were like a bucket of acid being poured over my head. It exposed my flesh and tore at my muscles. Burned a hole in my heart.
Just when I thought we were making progress—when he brought me home and showed me another side of him…made me feel a tiny bit important—he said those words.
You earned it. I couldn’t get them out of my head. I felt cheap.
Pathetic for thinking this was anything other than what it was.
A contract.
My name on a dotted line where it said in invisible ink that I could be treated like a whore, in exchange for a chance to graduate college and pursue my dreams. However, I think that the final price I’d pay would be too steep.
“Laugh it up, asshole. Don’t forget that I still own copies of your dark ages.”
Jax’s laughter ceased, his face holdingshock.“I’ll cut up your Bugatti,” he threatened, which only served to make Hendrix smile. Not scared in the least.
Crystal sat forward and batted her lashes.“Do share with the class, Mr. Parker.”
For some reason,his hazel eyes looked toward me as he spoke.“Two words…” Jax stood, and Hendrix backed away with a beer in hand, eyes still on mine. Searching, but I had no clue what he was looking for.
I made sure to keep my expression neutral.
“Cut it out, jackass.”
“Jerry—”
“Last warning.” Jax took his boat shoes off and tossed his shirt aside. I won’t deny that he was an impressive man. Very hot for a forty-year-old, and he knew it. Typical all-American hottie, and still, he could not compare to the man who held my attention no matter how much I wanted to kill him.
Make him feel one tenth of what I did.
“Hey, Crystal?” Hendrix called out from across the deck, his foot on the small staircase that led to the shore.
“Yeah?”
“Curl. Jerry curl.” Moreover, with a final glance in my direction, he took off with an angry Jax hot on his trail. There was something about the way he looked at me that made my insides flutter. Caused me to almost forget the emotion of being beneath he evoked.
“So, what did he do? Tell me, so I can have Jax kick his ass for you.” Crystal’s words brought me back to the present and away from my thoughts. Her face showed concern, genuine care, and I had to swallow hard past the lump in my throat.“That bad, huh?”
“Not so much the action, but the words he used when presenting me with a gift I never asked for.”
“Receiving gifts is part of the deal, babe. They like to lavish—”
“He said, and I quote ‘you earned it,’as if I were some cheap tramp.” Once again, my eyes watered and I had to look away, take in a deep breath or two to calm down.“When I came into this lifestyle, all I wanted was help with my schooling…nothing else. I never expected gifts or lavish weekends away, just help with tuition.” Crystal opened her mouth to interject, but I held a hand up.“And while I understand that it’s the norm to receive presents and let them take care of our every need,don’t make me feel less than while doing it. Don’t judge, or act like you are without reproach when you followed me—stalked me—while on the same site. He signed up for the same reasons I did. He needed me to be his crutch for the next few months,and I accepted. Not once, have I called him or insinuated he’s pathetic for doing so.”
“Men are idiots, Beau. Tragically moronic when it comes to the women they care about.” She sighed, and for a moment, I suspected she was talking about more than just my problem.“When I met Jax, he was an asshole who had been burned by his ex-wife. Bitter. Uncaring. He compared anything with a set of tits to the bitch who made him miserable.”
“Then why did you stay?”
“For the same reasons you are…we care.” Crystal looked past me and toward the shore where the guys were talking. Jax was waving his hands in the air like a madman, while my Hendrix, looked on with an annoyed expression.“It took me nearly leaving for Jax to see the damage he was inflicting on me. How I was paying the price for the dishes his ex-wife had broken. His change wasn’t overnight, but he made moves in the right direction, and I gifted him my patience.”
“It’s not the same for me and Hendrix, though,” I mumbled just as the men walked up the stairs and back in our direction.“I’ll be replaced in a few shortmonths.”
Crystal laughed.“Mutual attraction turned into affection which morphed into love. Give him time. Hendrix is just a sadman that needs guidance.”
“Not that easy. He’s going to break me.”
“His story isn’tall rainbows, sweetie. There’s a reason he’s the way he is.”
Before I could ask just what she meant by that, Hendrix walked straight to me and pulled me out of my chair, hugging me to him while kissing the top of my head. The act was symbolic—a silent apology, or so I hoped.
Did he understand the why now?
Did it matter that he hurt me?
“Break it up,you two, I’m hungry,” Jax interrupted, a second before a smack was heard; I turned my head in his direction. He was rubbing the back of his head while Crystal raised a brow, giving him the I dare you to say something stupid again look.
I loved her.
Buryinghis nose in my hair, Hendrix exhaled.“I’m guessing it’s time to cook, huh? I can’t kick them out?”
“Yes, and nope.” I laughed and pulled out of his embrace. Gave him a shy smile, just something to take the somber look out of his ey
es. We weren’ta hundred percent okay, but I would drop it for now. I’d talk to him after they left.
It took every bit of my strength to get him over the entryways threshold and toward the kitchen. Our guests laughed, didn’t lift a single finger to help.
He was heavy. All muscle.
“Quit it, before you hurt yourself, nymph.”
“Then feed me.” Giving him a cheeky grin, I batted my lashes. “I’m in the mood for meat.”
“Motherfucking dangerous woman,” he growled almost too low for me to hear, but I did, and fought hard to contain the flutter in my womb. That wasn’t meant to be heard by me, and it brought me back to what Crystal said into focus.
I needed to be patient. He cared, or would in the future.
Just hoped that my heart wouldn’t be destroyed in the process.
The moment they were gone, I found myself overwhelmed and in the need to get away. Sure, Hendrix was being nice, some would even venture to say sweet, but with the yo-yoing he dished out daily, I was confused.
One minute, I wanted to hug him.
Then the next, toss him from a cliff.
So, after saying goodbye, I retreated into the bathroom and took the fastest shower known to man. Didn’t give him a second of my time, or he’d try to invite himself along.
Ten minutes of waiting him out—I combed my hair and put on lotion— while the man was slamming drawers on the other side of the door. By the fifteen-minute mark, he called out that he’d shower in the guest bathroom down the hall before stomping out in haste.
I could hear the annoyance in his tone, and it made me smile.
“Thank you, Christ,” I breathed while poking my head out the door. The coast was clear.“Now to get dressed before he comes back.”
In a past life, I must’ve been a ninja of some sort, because I was dressed in a tiny pair of sleep shorts and tank within the span of four minutes. Sans panties, but I was covered, and ready to head into my hiding spot for the night.
His shower was still running when I made my way down to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water.
Craving Sugar Page 15