Seal Next Door

by Brooke Noelle

  “You did,” Jake said, and he ruffled Darren’s hair with a strained grin. “You both caught me by surprise. Let’s get out of this shed.”

  Jake held the shed door open for me. I stepped out after collecting the nerf bullets from the ground. My legs quivered when I looked over at Jake as he slung his Nerf gun over his shoulder. He didn’t meet my eyes again.

  “How about some lunch in the city?” Jake asked.

  “Can Chloe come with us?” Darren asked immediately.

  I caught the hesitant look on Jake’s face. I shook my head at Darren. “Next time,” I said, ruffling his hair playfully. “I have some things that I need to get done.”

  Darren pouted at that, but he thankfully let it rest. He darted back into the house to clean up when Jake asked him to leave us alone for a minute.

  “I’m sorry,” Jake said abruptly. He looked troubled when he caught my eyes. “I-I don’t know what came over me.”

  I shrugged my shoulders, because I had no idea either. The fact that I’d gotten so turned on by just a simple kiss alarmed me. I couldn’t afford to get close to him.

  “Don’t worry about it,” I said, though I knew we both would. “Let’s just forget about it. It won’t happen again.”

  “Right,” Jake said shortly, back to his cool demeanor. “I’ll see you Monday evening then.”

  I handed him the Nerf gun. “Monday evening it is.”

  I felt Jake’s eyes burning holes in my back as I walked quickly to the front. I hopped over the fence. I had no idea what exactly had just happened, but I knew Jake had kissed me because he’d wanted too. And I had kissed him back because I’d wanted too.

  Chapter Eight

  Jake

  That kiss replayed in the back of my mind for the next few days. It had been far too easy to give in. It had been pure impulse and lust at that moment when I had finally caved into the need to feel Chloe’s lips against mine. It hadn’t helped that I had awoken from a particularly arousing dream the night before Chloe had joined us in the Nerf gun battle.

  I needed to do something about this situation. I couldn’t afford to get caught up in another woman’s charms, especially after Sidney. Just thinking of her in Florida in the house I had paid for cooled the heat and hardness growing between my legs.

  I logged out of my email right as Nicholas walked into my office. He brandished an envelope at me.

  “Vacation check, Mason,” he said, tossing it onto the keyboard. “I hope you plan to use it for something good.”

  “Maybe,” I said. “I’ll probably just buy Darren a new Xbox and a few games.”

  “Or go somewhere besides work,” Nicholas said, shaking his head. “You’re one of the best detectives here, but it’s not so healthy to be such a prick all the time.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure that’s why I’ve solved more cases than the other detectives here.”

  “You need a break,” Nicholas said. “I’m telling you to take the next week off to spend time with Darren. Take him to the zoo. Take him to the water park. Just do something other than work for a bit.”

  He walked out of my office before I could reply. I stared down at the white envelope on my keyboard. A headache pounded in my temples. Maybe a bit of time away would be a good idea. I couldn’t even think straight anymore without Chloe tantalizing my every thought.

  I spent the next few hours planning a week away at the hot springs before arriving back at the house right as the morning sunshine warmed it. Chloe, as usual, was pouring me a cup of coffee when I walked in. My eyes went to those long and tanned curvy legs that were visible because of those ripped jean shorts. My fingers itched to reach out and grab at the exposed flesh just to feel her. A week away would get rid of this temptation.

  “I’m going to be gone with Darren starting tonight,” I said.

  Chloe looked up with surprise glimmering in her eyes. “You are? Where are you going?”

  “Vacation,” I said, and I pulled out my checkbook from my back pocket. “I’ll still pay you for next week.”

  “How long will you be gone?” Chloe asked.

  “For about a week,” I replied, tearing the check-out to hand it over. “I’m sure I’ll find another babysitter during that time, too, so you won’t have to keep coming over here.”

  “I want too though.”

  I tensed at that statement. The check between us fluttered in the summer breeze from the cracked window in the kitchen.

  “I don’t know what I’ve done to make you so angry,” Chloe said, her voice a soft murmur in the kitchen, “but I really like watching Darren. It’s not an inconvenience for me if it’s not for you. I honestly can’t find any other work that helps pay for my bills.”

  “It’s not an inconvenience,” I said. “I just thought you might want to do something else besides coming over here.”

  Chloe’s eyes caught mine. “I like coming over here. It’s not a big deal for me to help out around here if you need it.”

  “I’ll pull the ad then,” I said, grabbing my coffee mug from the kitchen island. “We’ll be back Sunday night, so the following Monday evening I’ll need you to come back.”

  I started in the direction of the stairs, but a soft hand on my elbow stopped me. Fingers tugged on the crook of my elbow. I swallowed thickly as I turned around to take in Chloe standing directly behind me. Her long strands of hair were clipped up in a bun on top of her head. I could count the summer freckles peppering her cheekbones. Something clenched hard in my chest. That impulse to lean forward and kiss her lips was there again.

  “I never had the chance to apologize for what happened over the weekend,” she said, tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear shyly. “I-I didn’t mean to kiss you back. It was just the heat of the moment.”

  “I kissed you,” I said, shaking my head at her. “I should be apologizing. Why do you apologize for things that aren’t even your fault?”

  The question caused Chloe’s eyes to darken. She looked away hastily before turning on her bare heel to grab the check from the kitchen island. “Forget it. I’ll see you boys in a week. Give Darren a hug for me.”

  The front door clicked softly shut. I watched Chloe disappear through the front door of her house before heading upstairs. The guest bathroom was still steamy when I passed by it. The smell of Chloe’s shampoo, fresh and sweet, filled my nose. I hardened just thinking about Chloe’s naked form.

  “Fuck,” I whispered, treading softly down the hallway to not stir Darren in the process.

  I needed to do something to get this tension out of me, or else I would find myself working my way through Chloe’s legs. There was no doubt in my head that we were falling into each other more than we were comfortable with. I couldn’t take it any longer. I didn’t want to do it, but I had to do something.

  I closed my bedroom door softly before sitting on the edge of my bed, my erection thick and aching. I took a deep breath before unbuttoning the top portion of my jeans. The first brush of my fingers over the head of my cock brought instant pleasure and relief. I allowed the thought of Chloe, naked and bared to me, sink fully into my brain. Paired with how soft her lips felt beneath mine, it was enough to have me yearning for more.

  A summer breeze flowed over me, causing me to shiver. Sweat gathered at the base of my neck as I wrapped my hand around my shaft and pulled up slowly, pleasure dragging me in deep. The soft sound of my panting left my heart racing, my mind filling with carnality. I glanced up to find the bedroom window wide open. Shit. I’d forgotten to close it? A flash of movement stilled my hand before a daring thought consumed me—too daring to refuse. What if she was there…watching? It was the perfect time to play innocent, though I was anything but.

  Closing my eyes, I pressed my free hand against my thigh and pulled on my cock, groaning loudly as desire consumed me. I could see her in my mind’s eye, on her knees with her beautiful smile and her pretty pink tongue. Fire started in the center of my stomach and spread out
like wicked tendrils of desire, consuming me as I let my imagination go wild. The possibilities were endless, and each was more delicious than the last.

  I continued until the coil in my stomach gave out and my orgasm slammed into me. I let out a low moan of relief as I worked myself through the high. My jeans were covered in my pleasure, as was my shirt and fingers. I reached up with my clean hand to brush away the sweat that clung to my forehead before rising from the bed with my pants loose about my hips. I headed to the shower, my blood pumping through my veins so damn fast that I felt dizzy. I needed a shower, but I had to know. I paused and glanced back, sneaking a glance out the window to find exactly what I had suspected.

  Chloe had been watching the entire time. She wasn’t so sweet and innocent after all. Good.

  Chapter Nine

  Chloe

  The smell of bleach filtered through the smell of freshly cut grass. I tossed one of the rags I had cleaned the all counters with into the washer. Everything smelt fresh and clean. It was all neatly organized too. The wood floors were swept, polished, and smelt of pine. I had spent the entire week from sunup to sundown cleaning every inch of the house.

  My mother would be impressed. Pride filled me before shame came slamming back. I had only cleaned to distract myself from those sinful images.

  They replayed teasingly in the back of my head. No matter how hard I had tried to tell myself to look away from that window, I hadn’t been able to. My eyes had been rooted to the pleasure contorting Jake’s face as his hand had pumped up and down his—

  Knock. Knock.

  I jumped at the unexpected sound. Fanning my flushed cheeks with a hand, I left the laundry room to peer cautiously through the peephole on the front door. I let out a relieved breath the second I recognized Erika’s trim figure on the other side.

  “Sorry to come over unannounced,” she said, beaming. “I just thought you might like your mail. The postman gets the mail mixed up sometimes.”

  I grabbed the few envelopes from her hand. “Thanks,” I said. I half expected Erika to hurry back down to her house to take care of Julie, but she lingered pointedly on the front porch. “Is there something else that you need?”

  “Not particularly,” Erika said. “I just wanted to know how babysitting Darren has gone for you over the past few weeks.”

  “It’s going fine.”

  That clearly didn’t satisfy the curiosity blazing in Erika’s eyes. “Right,” she said. She leaned in to whisper, “I hope that Jake hasn’t been too much of an ass to deal with. He can be such a prick sometimes!”

  I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face at that. “He can be. It’s honestly going fine. Darren is the sweetest little boy.”

  “I wish I could say he got that from his parents.” Erika shook her head with a sigh. “Neither one of them are the friendliest people in the world.”

  Curiosity took a hold of me then.

  “His mom isn’t either?” I asked.

  “Oh, heaven’s no,” Erika exclaimed. “You know there are women out there in the world who are not the most pleasant of people.” Her nose wrinkled. “Well, Sidney, from what I understood, was one of them. I heard horrible things from one of the other moms who is friends with the principal of the school.”

  “They must be divorced then,” I said. “I never see any pictures of her anywhere in the house. Jake never mentions her.”

  “He wouldn’t. He went broke just to get custody of Darren from her.”

  I glanced at the house next door. They had arrived back home yesterday, a day early, but Darren had been the only one to wave, promising to show me pictures of the zoo later. Jake hadn’t even spare me a glance. And for some irrational reason, that stung considering the situation. Though what exactly that situation was, I had no idea.

  “How are you handling everything here?” Erika asked kindly. She smiled at me when I looked over at her. “All is well?”

  “Everything’s fine,” I said, shrugging. “I’m just cleaning up the house is all. Never-ending projects, it seems like.”

  “Usually.” She reached out to grasp my forearm. I watched as her fingertips gently covered the marks Luke had left. They were stubborn. They didn’t want to leave. “I don’t mean to put you on the defense, Chloe, but I want to tell you that I’ve been where you are right now.” A darkness briefly clouded the warmness in her eyes. “I know how hard it is to trust people afterward. It took me a good couple of years to trust my current husband, but not every person you meet is going to be like him.” Her fingers squeezed. “Keep that in mind, okay?”

  Tears pricked the back of my eyes. I opened my mouth to reply, but the sound of Darren’s voice calling out my name spared me.

  “Chloe!” he yelled, waving at me from the front step. “Come over. We’re barbecuing hot dogs. Come look at my pictures.”

  “You better go,” Erika said. She started down the front porch step. “You better show me those pictures too, Darren. I know Julie would love to see them. She’s jealous.”

  I closed the front door uneasily. I had no idea how Jake would react to me coming over unannounced, but Darren continued to wave his arm impatiently. He motioned for me to follow him down the hallway and through the sliding glass door. The smell of charcoal and igniter fluid filled my nose when I stepped out onto the hot patio behind Darren.

  Jake stood in front of a small charcoal grill, scraping the grate. My eyes landed on the strong chords of his neck where a small cross tattoo was. He froze when he turned around to find me there. Heat threatened to sear through my stomach when those images replayed again. I wanted to see his head tilting back in pleasure because of me, not because of his own hand.

  Does he know that I watched? His eyes skimmed over me, completely emotionless. I couldn’t even gauge his reaction to seeing me besides surprise.

  “Darren wanted me to come over,” I said, resting a hand on Darren’s hot shoulder. “He wanted me to see the pictures he took.”

  “He could’ve shown you on Monday,” he said, a frigid quality to his voice that had even Darren tensing. “I didn’t even know you went out of the house, Darren. You know you are not supposed to do that.”

  “I just saw Chloe on the front porch with Julie’s mom,” Darren said defensively. He jutted out his jaw at Jake. “I wanted Chloe to see my pictures now.”

  “Another time, Darren. We’re about to eat lunch.”

  “But—”

  “I said no,” Jake snapped. “That’s that. I am not going to repeat myself.”

  Darren and I flinched back. His tiny shoulder quivered beneath my fingers before he let out a small cry. Jerking away from me, he darted into the house with surprising speed and grace. The sliding glass door bounced shut.

  “Damn it,” Jake muttered, rubbing a hand over his face in visible distress. “Look, I didn’t mean—”

  Anger rushed through me so fast that my heart couldn’t keep up. The patio boards were hot under my bare feet as I walked around the small glass table to jam a finger into Jake’s chest.

  “You look,” I said as coldly as possible. “That is your son. You can talk to me that way and act like a prick, but don’t turn your son into a version of yourself.”

  Jake’s eyes narrowed at that. “A version of myself?” he repeated dubiously. He grabbed the finger I had buried in the strong muscles of his chest. “I’m doing the best I can, given what I’m going through. You’re not a parent, so don’t lecture me on how to raise my child.”

  “You don’t have to be a parent to realize that your words affect people,” I said. “If you have a problem with me coming around, then why do you have me come over here at night to watch your kid?”

  I had him, and he knew it. The frustration boiled in Jake’s face as he let go of my finger and took a step back to put space between us.

  “Because I don’t trust you,” he said. “I don’t trust you at all just like you don’t trust me, but damn it to hell, I want you. That’s all I fucking kno
w.”

  Those words washed over me in a crushing wave. He wanted me. Jake Mason wanted me. Sweat gathered in the palms of my hands. The logical part of my brain cautioned that none of this was smart. The last time I had gotten involved with an emotionally cold man, I’d ended up fleeing across the country with only what I could grab in thirty minutes.

  Still, that searing heat in my stomach roared to life. I wanted him too. I wanted to feel the weight of that muscular body pressing up against mine. I felt torn between wanting to run away and wanting to stay rooted right there as Jake rubbed at his eyes with a helpless hand. He didn’t even bother hiding the desire there now.

  “I want you too,” I whispered, and he stiffened visibly at that. “Maybe we could—”

  “No,” Jake said, shaking his head vehemently. “You don’t want to even start getting involved with a man like me. You’ve already been roughed up. I’ll do it to you too, just not the physical part.”

  I winced at that. “How do you know I was roughed up?”

  “I’m not blind or ignorant,” he said, and he gave me a sad smile. “I see it more than you think. I’ve seen it too much that it has made me cold.”

  I crossed my arms to fend off the sudden chill I felt seeping through my skin. This was the last thing I wanted to discuss with Jake. I just wanted things to go forward regardless of the past. Frustrated, I glanced up at Darren’s bedroom window, where I saw his little face dart out of view the moment I looked up.

  “It wouldn’t hurt us to get it out of our system,” I said. I wanted it out of my system—the sheer temptation of wondering what it was like. I wanted to claw it right out of my skin.

  “You’re so young,” Jake said, a whimsical tone to his voice. “You think sleeping with me will make everything better in your world?”

  “It’d help me sleep at night. It’d help you too.”

  He looked away at the comment. “Maybe,” he said, picking up the lid of the grill. Gray smoke came billowing out. “It can’t happen, Chloe. It won’t solve anything for either one of us. I’m not going to take advantage of you. I’m not that big of a prick.”