You're Mine: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance

by Lauren Wood

  Lizzie didn’t need any more prompting. She didn’t bother with her usual disguise. She didn’t even bother changing out of her pajamas or throwing on make-up. She raced across the room and flung open the door.

  And ran straight into a hard body.

  “Whoa.” Charlie’s hands shot out to steady her. “Are you okay?”

  “You’re here,” she stuttered as she looked up. He was clearly dressed for work. His dark grey suit was cut close to his figure, and she wanted nothing more than to slide her fingers between the buttons of his crisp white shirt.

  “I am here,” he said awkwardly. “I did this thing yesterday, and I thought you might get in touch with me. And when you didn’t, I thought you might be mad at me. So I came over so you could yell at me.”

  “You came over so I could yell at you?” she repeated stupidly. She was getting lost in those blue eyes.

  “Yes. Are you going to yell at me?”

  “What?” She shook her head as she tried to regain her composure. “No. I’m not going to yell at you. I just got the article. Literally. I tend to avoid everything these days. Lizzie brought it over.”

  “Thanks for the exposure,” Lizzie called from inside the apartment.

  His shoulders straightened, and he smiled. “Well, you don’t want to yell at me. So what do you want to do?” he murmured.

  “Did you mean it? What you said? Or were you just trying to be nice?”

  “I meant every word.”

  Gemma took a deep breath. “I felt something that night, Charlie. And I’d like to see where it goes. But I don’t think it’s going to be easy. We both attract way too much attention.”

  “I don’t need it to be easy, Gemma,” he said softly. “I just need you to be on board with me.”

  “I’m on board,” she said as she smiled. She thought her heart would burst from excitement. He bent down to kiss her, and it felt right. As she wrapped her arms around him, she knew that this was only the beginning. They could forge something truly beautiful together.

  She’d started the week broke, depressed, and in the arms of the most notorious rake in the city. And now she was about to give him her heart, and she knew that she’d never look back.

  THE END

  HE OWNS ME

  Colin Wilcox woke up to that screaming brat next door again. “Oh what the fuck, can’t she keep that little kid quiet?” He seethed.

  It had been another late night at the club for him and it was now only. “What the hell, 7 in the morning? This has got to stop.” He muttered.

  Throwing the pillow over his head he tried to go back to sleep. But each time he was on the verge of sleep the kid would yell out again. Finally having enough of it, he jumped out of bed and threw on his sweatshirt.

  Stomping to the apartment next door he pounded on it. He heard the kid scream inside, and heard a voice call out. “Just hold on please.”

  By the time she opened the door he was angry and ready to fight. Looking down he saw a 5’ 5” girl. She looked nerdy with those glasses on; all they were missing was the tape in the middle of them. Colin lost what he had been going to say.

  “Can I help you?” She asked. On her hip was the source of the noise. The little boy was not happy, he looked cranky and tired. “I’m sorry did we wake you up? Little John has a bad fever.” She apologized.

  All of his anger evaporated quickly. “No it’s okay. How old is he?” Colin asked.

  He studied her more she had this brown hair that was silky looking, it held down past her shoulder. Looking behind her he saw it went about half way down her back. He’d always loved girls with long hair. The geeky look of this girl made him want to sweep her off her feet.

  “He’s only 3 years old.” She answered.

  “Wow you seem kind of young to have a 3-year old.” He commented.

  “No he’s not mine; he’s my nephew his parents died last year.” She said.

  “Oh I’m so sorry. Where are my manner’s my name is Colin, I just moved in next door.” He held out his hand.

  She moved trying to situate the wiggling body of John who she was still holding. “My name is Judith, nice to meet you. I’d invite you in, but he’s not in the mood for company.” She shrugged her shoulders and began to close the door.

  “Sure I understand.” Colin watched as she closed the door and went inside. He would have been willing to go in and sit with her. If only to stare at her beauty! Or that body! He laughed as he thought the words.

  Going back to his apartment he thought how lucky he was that he had a neighbor that looked like her. She had to stand around 5’ 5” tall he was just a bit shorter than his 5’ 8” frame. She was pert, her long brown hair framing her face and upper body.

  “Maybe this move was a good one after all!” He smiled as he thought about this woman with the huge 44DD breasts! Sure the whole package was great, but he’d always been a breast man. So the first thing he had noticed around little John’s body was her chest.

  Colin smiled that she had so many things that he honestly found attractive in a woman. “All except the kid!” He thought with a grimace.

  Little John had woken her up early, his body was warm. Unfortunately, she knew that he was teething, and that meant crying and screaming for a few days. Judith could only hope that the tooth would break through quickly.

  In between his screaming she had heard something it sounded like her doorbell or knocking. “Hold on a minute.” She yelled out and head for the door.

  She opened it to find some odd guy standing there. He was scruffy looking. His medium length hair all messed up, like he just woke up. His eyes were still puffy from sleep. “I’m so sorry did we wake you? Little John has been up for a few hours he has a fever.”

  Judith felt bad about keeping anyone else awake. She was already delirious from her own lack of sleep. Putting someone else through it just seemed stupid.

  He had told it was okay. The last guy who used to live next door would have called the cops and reported her for child abuse. Judith was relived it hadn’t been him at the door.

  “I’m Colin your new neighbor.” He introduced himself to her. Oh so the other guy moved, she thought.

  “I’m Judith.” She had told him her name.

  He asked about Little John and she had kept the story short. It was a horrible story and one that she often had nightmares about. So she was thankful he hadn’t asked how Little John’s parents had died. With her lack of sleep and the way her emotions ached, she was liable to break down crying in front of him.

  “It was nice to meet you.” She said as she closed her door. Judith felt bad for not being neighborly. But the fact that she had thought about her aunt and uncle and their death was enough. Unfortunately, he had the usual reaction when she introduced any guy to Little John.

  They wanted to know if it was here’s and if so, how young had she been when she had him. People were usually shocked to hear that she was actually 27 years old. There had been a few times that the guy at the local liquor store had cared her.

  Sighing she thought that was a lifetime ago. Last month her life had changed in one night.

  It had been 2 in the morning. Her phone had rang, and she had a bad feeling. “Hello.”

  “Hello is this Judith Sims?” The voice on the other side of the line had asked.

  “Yes it is. Who is this?” She had asked cautiously.

  “It’s the Portland police department; we need to have you come down to the Hospital.” He had said.

  “Why what’s wrong?” Her heart had beat rapidly.

  “Ma’am we can send someone to pick you up if you are unable to drive.” The man had said.

  The next thing she remembered was hearing the doorbell. Her mind had flashed through the only events she could think of at that second. What would prompt a call like this?

  “Ma’am we need you to come with his.” She had been looking up into the face of a Portland police officer.

  “Please tell me what happened.” Sh
e had requested.

  “I’m sorry but I can’t you’ll have to wait until we get to the hospital.” He had told her.

  Judith found out too soon that it had to do with the only family she had left in the world. Her Uncle John and Aunt Sally had died. Their little son, 2 –year old John Jr. was still alive but just barely.

  Judith had cried for hours sitting beside his bed and praying for him to be saved. She sat by his bed off and on for most of the two weeks. Judith didn’t want him to see a stranger when he first woke up. At least if he saw Judith he would feel a little safer.

  She didn’t know if he was aware that his mom and dad hadn’t made it or not. The paramedics said he had been awake for a few seconds at the crash site. But what he might know they really couldn’t tell her.

  At two-years old he had just barely begun to talk. He could say ‘love ya’ and ‘mama’ and a few other words.

  He work up crying out “mama.” Sally’s heart had broken at the news she might have to tell him.

  “Little John I don’t know if you’ll even understand me or not. But mama and papa will not be coming back. I’m sorry, but you have me now. I’ll raise you for them. I’ll keep their memory alive in your heart and mind.” She had told him.

  She really tried the best she could to keep it all together for them both. But she knew that she was going to have to take off work again. They had given her a tough time the last month. “Judith you’ve called off too many times. You’ve used all your sick days. If you call off anymore we won’t be able to pay you. We may have to fire you and find someone who will work.” Her manager had told her.

  Even when she tried to explain her new responsibilities he hadn’t listened. Instead he had rolled his eyes and looked at her and said. “That’s not my problem.” He had said.

  “What happened to the days of compassion?” She had said as she walked out the door.

  Colin wasn’t able to get back to sleep when he went home. He kept thinking about Judith next door and how attracted he had been to her. It had felt like an electrical current ran between them. He had been taken aback at first.

  But now that she was over there and he was her, he wanted to go back and visit her. She had made it clear that it was not a day she would accept visitors.

  “She’s so geeky though. And I’m not the age to take on a baby.” Colin plopped down on the couch and turned on the television.

  He wanted to get his mind off of her and this feeling of strong attraction he had. Maybe some good old bike racing will help cure that! He turned on ESPN and hoped they would be running a good program.

  After several minutes it was obvious that none of the channels kept the thoughts of Judith out of his mind. “Hell with this I’ll go for a ride!” He went and put on his leather jacket and boots.

  Going out the door with the thoughts of the wind hitting his face he felt better. He always loved getting out on the highway and just opening up a bit. A nice long ride might be a good idea today.

  Colin opened the throttle and worked his way smoothly through the traffic. He had to concentrate, one thought that was off, and he would be under a car. But soon enough he was through all of it and on his way to the open road.

  He smiled as he opened the throttle all the way and his bike took off. As long as there were no pigs hiding out he would be good. His mind would be perfectly clear when he decided to stop.

  Colin loved the air as it pummeled his face and body. At 24 years old he still felt like he was just out of college. Well that was if he had gone to college.

  He had attended a few classes, but found that studying just wasn’t for him. He would much rather spend his time in the biker bar and fighting. Too many times he had carried the hangover he’d gotten the night before to his class room.

  It didn’t take long for Colin to get kicked out of the college. He might have been able to talk his folks into another college. But he decided it wasn’t worth it. The same things would happen at any other school.

  Instead he had searched out the biker gangs in the area and visited them. He liked the Portland Pistols. The name sounded a little gay at first, but they had been the best fit for him right away. Colin had found the leader one who would listen to new ideas. He had plenty of them on how to make this club the best one in the area.

  “All it takes is dealing in the right goods.” Colin had told Dave one night. “Take it from me if we get the right things to sell, the demand will come.”

  He knew they handled weapons and drugs at times. At least that is what he learned from watching television. He’d also heard a few of the bikers he met tell some great stories. They may have been adding to the tales they wove. But Colin really thought that his ideas would be able to get the Pistols the power they need to run Portland.

  Judith moved back and forth as she tried to comfort Little John just a bit more. He had almost been back to sleep when he must have felt intense pain. She had watched as his face had gone from serene and both eyes just closing. Now he was a little boy who was howling out in pain.

  “I might have to get you something for that pain.” She stated. The baby orajel just wasn’t working as well as she had hoped.

  The last thing she really felt like was doing was taking the screaming Little John to the store though. She already knew the looks she would get from them all. “People are so condescending anymore.” She stated to Little John.

  He looked up a moment without pain and then wailed out again. “Oh Shh, Little John, I’ll get you something else.”

  Packing up a diaper bag, she hoped that she had something that would at least help him while they went out. But looking around she saw there was nothing. The baby aspirin was all out. “Maybe that with the Orajel will work for him?”

  Judith was wondering if she might have to take him to the doctor. “I hope not Little John I don’t think they’ll be happy with me if I have to call off.”

  Remembering again how her boss had been so mean about it last time. “Did he think I made this happen? If it was up to me they would still be alive and taking care of you right now.” She stated to Little John.

  Walking out she ran into Colin, almost running him over in the hall. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” She had been looking in the diaper bag for the Orajel to put some more on Little John’s gums.

  “Going out?” He asked curious.

  “I have to go and get baby aspirin for Little John. It may help him get some sleep.” She told him.

  “Tell me what to get and I’ll go pick it up. I don’t think he’s too interested in going outside!” Colin chuckled.

  Judith laughed at his joke. “No neither of us really feel like going out. If you could do it for me I would appreciate it so much!” She smiled.

  “Sure tell me what you need.”

  She told him and gave him the money for the item.

  “Right, I’ll be back in a jiffy!” Colin took off.

  Colin went back out to his bike. He had run into Judith on the way out. She was carrying cranky Little John with her. He knew that she needed help. Most times Colin would have just ignored anyone else. But for some reason looking at her it pulled his chains.

  “But why am I reacting this way to her?” He asked no one. Colin finally figured it had to do with the fact he hadn’t been laid in sometime. It’s just those good old juices working themselves up into frenzy about any hot woman I see!

  He went to the store and picked up the baby aspirin Judith had told him to get. Going up to the cash register he put it on the counter.

  “Oh you have a sick little one?” The old lady behind the register asked.

  “It’s for a friend, but yeah he’s been crying a lot.” Colin stated, thinking back to being woke up that very morning.

  “Poor little one, how old do you know?” She asked.

  “I think she said he was 3 or 4.” Colin tried to remember. He hadn’t really been paying much attention to the words coming from her mouth. He had instead being stu
dying the way it might look around his member.

  “Oh that’s a tough age; he’s probably counting some teeth still.” The lady commented.

  Colin shook his head and paid for the aspirin and left. He didn’t know a thing about babies, and really didn’t want to know more. The idea of being tied down with a kid at any age, especially his? No thank you. He thought as hopped back on his bike to take the aspirin to Judith.

  He wondered along the way if she would at least invite him in now. Why did it matter? He just felt like he wanted to get to know her more. But his mind was scampering to the dark places of his mind.

  If he was thinking he was in love that would just be bullshit. “I’m not the type who would fall so easily for anyone. I have to get to know them before I develop feelings of any kind. Right now it’s just lust.” He said to himself. It sounded as if he was trying to convince himself of something.

  Getting back he knocked on her door and waited for her answer. It had actually been quiet when he’d come in, he was shocked.

  She didn’t come to the door right away and he was getting worried. Finally she opened the door; she had that just woke up look.

  “I’m sorry I feel asleep when Little John passed out.” She yawned. “Did I give you enough money for it?” She asked, as she grabbed the bag from him.

  “Yeah there’s change in the bag too.” He watched as the door began to close.

  “Thanks so much.” She said as shut the door.

  Colin would swear her eyes were already half closed as she was falling back to sleep. He was upset for a minute, then thought how selfish of him. She’d stated she was up almost all night with Little John. Colin knew she needed the sleep.

  “Plus it’s a good thing you didn’t go in; you would only grow more attached to her!” His mind chuckled.

  Colin was not pleased with the thoughts he had. But he needed to get some more rest too. So he took this opportunity to catch up on his own sleep. Little did he know his dreams would be plagued by Judith?