by Lauren Wood
My hair flipped in the breeze and the shirt I was wearing was opened all the way down. If nothing else, I surely didn’t miss having to wear a suit. I was never the stiff type and I was much happier dressed like a beach bum. A very well dressed one, but a bum none the less. There was no one to impress and even though it was known I came with money because of what I secured when I got here, no one there knew who I was. I had a new identity now. Bud Sparks. I just felt like it was time to be a Bud.
The plane was out when I got to the small airstrip. It was a small cry from what I was used to back home, but life had changed. I knew it would. It had to and now I was a man that had to wait for a plane that was far smaller than my own to get a ride to one of the big islands. Being here had been a series of adaptations that I was still getting used to.
Charlie came out and assured me that it wasn’t going to be long.
“I didn’t think you got much business here?”
I was already thinking that I was going to have to secure a plane full time if I was going to stay here very long. I still wasn’t sure on the matter, but waiting like I was doing now was convincing me that it had to be done.
“Well this one was an odd ball request from the main islands. Some woman wanted a ride here and Dante went to go pick her up. I don’t know how she convinced him, but Dante did always have a soft heart. I hear that he isn’t even going to charge her.”
I wasn’t really hearing him. It just meant that I was waiting for a soft heart. I’d learned my lesson when it came to matters of the heart. It was better not to have them as far as I was concerned. It didn’t end well for me and I was content to go the rest of my life fighting the urge to ever really care again. It was a mistake that I wouldn’t make again. It was much how I had been the first time she’d picked something else over us.
“Should I come back later?” It was already getting hot.
“No, he just radioed in. They will be here soon. You got somewhere better to be Mack?”
It was a fair question and I guess the answer was a sad no. I didn’t have anywhere better to be. I had no work to do, no art to sell. All I had now was a paradise background that didn’t hold up with no one here with me. Danny had ruined paradise for me and I swore if I ever saw her again, I was going to tell her that.
The small plane I was waiting for was another ten minutes until it arrived. I was already half an hour late from when I was supposed to be able to go. I knew that I didn’t have a meeting to take or a deal to broker, but I still liked to go by the watch on my wrist. Out here, time didn’t matter. It still did to me though. I wasn’t ready to stop measuring my days just yet.
I spotted blonde hair coming out of the plane. It was a mass of tendrils that covered her face, but I didn’t need to see it to know who it was. I’d traveled the world and seen so many people, but never a blonde with that color hair.
“Danny.” I said her name under my breath.
“Danielle, that’s the name I heard.”
I wasn’t listening to Charlie’s prattling again. Danny was getting out of the plane and she was dragging a suitcase behind her. Dante grabbed it for her and I could tell that he was checking her out. Danny was oblivious to it all. She always had been and I started to walk towards her.
For a minute I’d thought that I was seeing things. I wanted her to be here so badly that I wasn’t above the idea that I had made her up. This could all be in my imagination. Was I sure I wasn’t sleeping?
“Mack, I wanted to surprise you.”
She pouted and then smiled.
“You did surprise me. What are you doing here?”
I still wasn’t ready to hope again that she was here to be together. The woman was wishy-washy.
“Your mom said something at the funeral. Your funeral. I can’t believe I was right. I thought you were dead.”
I was leaning in for a kiss and she slapped me hard across the face. It was hard enough that she got the other two men’s attention in the middle of a conversation. Soon it would be the talk of the island.
“You made me believe you were dead.”
“Well technically I was trying to get you to come with me so that we could both be dead together.”
She wasn’t ready to not be mad at me. I had to believe that she wasn’t here to slap me and see if I was alive or not, though I wouldn’t honestly put it past her.
“That’s not funny.”
”It’s a little funny.”
“It’s not. I hated to think that you were gone. It made me realize that if you were still alive, I wanted to be with you. None of the other stuff matters. It’s just a job. It doesn’t make me happy like you do. There is nothing back home that was enough to stay away from you.”
“So are you staying then?”
“Well it’s not paradise without me, right?”
She didn’t know how right she was and I finally pulled her in for a kiss. Danny yielded against me for a moment and a small sound of pleasure came out before she pushed me back.
“I’m still mad at you though.”
I grinned and tugged her back. “Mad enough to tell me no?”
“I didn’t say all that…”
THE END
***
I hope you enjoyed ONE LAST KISS. For more enjoyment, I have included some bonus stories along with sneak peak of my other books.
Also, I’ve included an exclusive full-length, never before published romance: Cowboy.
Please check Table of Contents. Enjoy!!
***
ONE LAST CHANCE: A BAD BOY ROMANCE
Prologue
Today Fancy Cups was closed. Letting the employees get a good vacation. Well, it’s Fran that’s getting a vacation since she has a boyfriend who’ll pay for her vacation. Stephen and I on the other hand plan to go shopping and clubbing for the entire vacation.
It sounded great to me.
Unlike my name, Angela, I was no angel. I love partying, drinking till I’m absolutely wasted, and hooking up with handsome men. I was addicted to this lifestyle and completely contented with the way things have been. I wasn’t planning on settling down nor was I searching for a long term relationship.
But he had to go and change everything.
Ever since he walked into my life I’ve been a complete wreck. I only thought of him and no other. Even other men seemed unattractive to me because I end up comparing them to him.
It was during the first day of my vacation. Stephen and I were walking back to the apartment which I shared with him and Fran, my two best friends. We lived in a complex building, in a three bedroom apartment. We walked in the hallway laughing at how Fran ended up settling down with a boyfriend before Stephen since Fran was the type to stick to fiction men.
We sipped on our slushies but as we turned the corner we noticed the boxes outside of the apartment next to ours. Stephen and I stopped in our tracks as our eyes glistened at the scenario. We had a new neighbor.
“I call dibs!” Stephen called out as he bolted towards the neighbor’s door with me tailing behind him. We both giggled like a bunch of teenagers as we tried peeking through our neighbor’s opened door, but we couldn’t see anybody. Stephen pouted as he took a sip from his drink.
“I wonder if he’s hot.” I voiced out my thoughts. Stephen glared at me as he said “I said I called dibs.” Which I smirked and said “Yeah, but what if he’s straight?”
I started laughing at Stephen’s sad look as he playfully shoved me. I didn’t brace myself as I backed into a box making me fall right over it. My slushy drink spilling all over the place including me.
Stephen being the good friend that he is laughed at me before helping me.
“Hey! Why don’t you watch where you’re playing? You could’ve damaged my stuff.” A smooth velvet but serious voice said. Stephen and I looked over to the person to see a very hot shirtless man standing in the doorway. He looked absolutely breathtaking because he looked different from all the other men I’ve ever been with.
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br /> He had ivory skin and it made him look even more handsome then the men with sun-kissed skin. He was tall and had an athletic body with muscles rippled across his body. He had abs that seemed so delicious it made me want to lick them.
He had midnight black hair that was tied in a ponytail and stopped at his slightly large pecks. He totally pulled off the long haired looks that I think Stephen would be jealous.
His eyes were a piercing silver that stared at me with such coldness, he also had bags under them like he hasn’t been sleeping. And what I found absolutely sexy was his facial piercings. He had one hoop piercing on his lower right lip, and another hoop piercing on his left eyebrow.
Just staring at the piercing on his lip made me want to kiss him and play with it. I wonder if it will add the pleasure in kissing or will it hurt? Or is it just annoying to kiss someone with?
He looked calm and collected, almost like he was sleepy all the time. He had prominent cheekbones, he also had a high-bridge nose. His sharp lips looked soft which were very attractive and captivating. I had the urge to touch them.
I stayed on the ground absolutely slacked jawed from his sudden appearance and I bet Stephen had the same reaction. He clicked his tongue as he gave a mean scowl at me. “You’ve damaged my box.” he said as he pointed to the box I tripped over. The corners of the box looked like it was squished from my weight. Not to mention parts of the box had wet stains from when my slushy spilled.
“Hey man, sorry about that. It was all an accident.” Stephen explained. If you don’t look closely at Stephen then you would never notice that he’s gay. The handsome man who looked like our new neighbor crossed his arms and said “If only you two didn’t act like such children then this wouldn’t have happened.”
This man may have an attitude problem but I couldn’t help but drool over how handsome he is.
“He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.” I accidentally voiced my thoughts which caught the attention of both men in the hallway. Stephen snickered but as our gaze snapped over towards our new neighbor, at first he didn’t have any expression on his face. But then a smirk grew on his face as he leaned towards me where I can feel his breath hitting my skin, it almost seemed erotic.
“You think I’m the most handsome man you’ve ever seen?” he asked. I couldn’t answer him as I took a big gulp of saliva that was watering my mouth. “I wish I could say the same thing but you’re not my type.” When he said that his smirk dropped and was replaced by his cold stare once more. His aura seemed to project around the hallway because I could literally feel his coldness.
Stephen’s eyes widened from his statement. It has been too long since a man has rejected me. The last man who rejected me was Stephen but we all know why he did. I couldn’t help but feel a bit bothered by the rejection.
“Hey, you don’t have to be a dick about it.” Stephen snapped. But Stephan’s cold stare stood no chance against this man’s stare. He seemed like that he could kill someone slowly with his cold stare, I don’t even know if I should be scared or turned on.
“The only dicks around here are two adults acting like whiny kids. So I suggest you get out of my sight before I charge you for property damage.” His bark seemed menacing but I wonder how his bite is.
Stephan helped me up as we walked towards our apartment but before we could get inside Stephen quickly shouted at our new neighbor “Welcome to the neighborhood.” As he slammed the door shut.
That was how I met the man who screwed up my entire life.
How I met the man that I couldn’t get enough, who only left me wanting for more every time.
How I met Jaxon King.
And how I got rejected on the first day meeting him.
Chapter 1
Angela
I sat in front of my mirror staring at my own reflection, wishing I could see my worth but the only things I saw were the things I lack.
I love parting, being the center of attention, and most of all hot men. But most of my personality was only a mask I wear to hide away who I really am. I’m a woman with lots of flaws but stitched with good intentions. Which is why when I’m outside this four-walled room of mine I’m a whole different person.
There’s a reason why I act different, it’s because I was bullied back in high school. It’s a good thing that Fran and Stephen were there for me or else I wouldn’t have survived.
It’s been exactly three days since I met our new neighbor. Ever since I saw him I’ve been having dreams about those piercing eyes of his and how his velvet voice would sound if he spoke my name. I dreamed of him touching me and placing those sharp lips of his all over my neck. Even just the thought of him made me all hot and bothered.
I wanted to know him… Too bad I wasn’t his type. I try not to let those words get to me but they always do.
If only I could know his name then I—
“Oh my god, Jaxon! Right there! Jaxon!”
A woman moaned from the opposite side of the wall which happens to be my neighbor’s apartment. I snapped my head towards the wall and glared at it. I couldn’t help but feel a tad bit bothered that he had a woman or probably a girlfriend. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did.
He’s extremely handsome and super cold towards me, so it could only mean he’s loyal towards his girlfriend or he’s a total dick.
“Fast Jaxon! Faster!”
Suddenly I wish I didn’t know his name. I walked over to the wall that separated me from my neighbor’s apartment and I slammed my fist repeatedly on the wall. I expected them to be quiet but the woman suddenly shrieked a moan as the banging from the other side seemed like he was pounding her against the wall.
I wish Fran were here to go all Habanero on them.
I didn’t want to go to sleep hearing them go at it all night so I stormed out of my apartment wearing nothing but a tank top and short shorts. I walked over to my neighbor’s door and started hitting the doorbell button repeatedly. I stopped once the door slammed open.
“What—Oh, it’s just you.” he said in a bored tone. I smirked and said “Can you please keep it down? It seems like you’re having too much fun.” I suddenly felt my confidence seeping into my body. I also held the urge to throw myself at him just because he’s wearing nothing but boxers. I could even see the V on his body leading to somewhere I’ve been fantasizing about for three days.
“I know.” Was all he said.
“Then it would be right for my good neighbor to tone it down.” I told him. He leaned against the doorframe and said “But what if I’m not the good neighbor?” the question caught me off guard. It’s funny how I can easily flirt with any other guy but when it comes to him I get completely tongue tied.
“I’ll admit that I’m having fun but it’ll be more fun if it was with you.” he seductively said as he slowly walked towards me and entrapped me within his arms with my back against the wall of the hallway.
“We can make our own fun.” he whispered into my ear sending pleasurable shivers down my back. I could feel my whole body tremble in want, holding back the urge to close that agonizing gap between our lips. As I smelt his scent it threw me off guard, he smelt of flowers? I was expecting something manly or shaving cream but instead it was flowers and cigarettes. Maybe it was the woman’s scent.
Even though it was flowers the smell was just enough to make me want to lean in more. I want nothing than to drown in his scent. Nothing’s more attractive than a man who smells absolutely divine. I was speechless within his presence but so many questions and words I wanted to voice but it’s as if my tongue is glued to the roof of my mouth.
“What say you?” he asked as he caressed my lips with his hands. His lips were dangerously near mine. His free hand caressed my exposed skin from the length of my arms to my exposed collarbones. Before I could say or do anything somebody interrupted us.
“Jaxon, what’s taking you so long?” a woman’s voice sounded from the door. The handsome being in front of me, whose name I found out from him
having sex with another woman is Jaxon.
Jaxon glanced over his shoulder with a bold look and said “Oh, I forgot about you.” What! How can he say that to his girlfriend? Does he have no heart?
I looked over to his girlfriend standing at the door wearing nothing but a large shirt, my guess would be that shirt belonged to Jaxon. Not to mention, the woman was drop-dead gorgeous. She looked like she just walked off the cover of a magazine. The woman looked over to me and that’s when I realized the position I was in with Jaxon.
I pushed Jaxon away from me and said “This isn’t what it looks like.” I tried explaining but I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. The woman smirked at me and asked “Oh, is she going to join the fun?” I felt like my whole body froze and I was cracking everywhere.
Jaxon leaned against the wall of the hallway and said casually “Nope, I don’t think she’s interested.” Were they the kind of people who joined other people in their sexual activities?
The woman scoffed and said “Then don’t have too much fun with her tonight. Tonight is my night, remember?” I could literally feel my jaw drop to the ground.
“Yeah, yeah.” Jaxon said as he waved the woman off.
“You and your girlfriend are weird.” my words were finally working. Jaxon smirked at me and said “She’s not my girlfriend. I don’t need one when I can have many.”
I think I’ve found the male version of myself.
“Something we can agree on.” I told him, suddenly acting like talking to him was natural. He smirked and asked “Oh? So you’re like me? Interesting.” Then he once again trapped me within his arms with my back against the wall, not that I’m complaining.
“Then you won’t mind if I do this?” he asked, giving me no room to answer his question. Instead, he smashed his lips upon mine in a fiery hot passionate kiss. I felt every cell in my body burn up from the heated kiss. His hands roamed underneath the cloth of my tank top, leaving a scorching trail as he touched my skin with his own.