by Jax Hart
“Thanks!”
He left in a hurry. The animals needed me but so did Kells. “Well, crap.”
I texted Gran.
Me: I need Hunter and Char’s numbers.
Gran: Ask your boy toy.
Me: GRAN!!!!!
Gran: Fine. I’ll share my contacts.
Me: You know how to do that?
Gran: Those boys are teaching me a lot of new things. Wait that didn’t sound right.
I texted Hunter first.
Me: Hey it’s Ryan. I have a 911 involving pussies.
Hunter: I’m all over that.
Me: I knew you would be. Here’s the address.
He showed up fifteen minutes later. Freshly shaven wearing khaki shorts with a baby pink golf shirt.
“What is this place?”
I opened the door. “Right this way. The cat section is over there. They need fresh water; each gets one can of wet food. Twice a day.”
“What the f—”
“Hey Ryan, I came straight away! Where are these poor babies!?” Hunter’s head snapped back as Char came in wearing a cute sundress and strappy sandals.
“Oh, I’m in love. Come to Dadda, you queen. Oh yes, baby doll, you are coming home with me tonight!”
Char and I gaped as Hunter and Princess full on made out. He had the white Persian cat lifted above his face, she was kissing and nipping his nose, purring as loud as the vibrator I use on occasion while thinking of Chase.
“Well, okay then. I’ll be back on Monday. Can I trust the two of you? If you can’t commit, I’ll ask my Gran.”
“No, We’re good. Aren’t we Freckles?”
She didn’t quite meet his eye. “I can handle all the dogs in here. Even the two-legged ones.”
“Baby. It’s not what you thought. I told you.”
Char crossed her arms; her jaw was tight. In that moment she was so much just like her twin. “Where are you off to in such a rush anyway?”
I grinned. “Do you really want to know?”
She blushed. “Big mouth over there will talk anyway.”
“My best friend’s wedding… and date number five or is it six with your brother. He counts literally everything as a date.
“So, it’s the big one.”
Hunter walked over with Princess. “He likes to be in control. Don’t let it freak you out.”
“Are you giving her sex tips on my brother?” Char put a hand on her hip.
“I have some for you too, doll.”
“Ugh! I hate you!” She threw her hands in the air, walked over to one of the dog’s cages and took them out.
“What did you do?” I hissed.
“Made her scream my name under the pier.”
“Then what happened?”
“My ex was at Kokomo’s. The beach grill bar a few days ago. She was drunk, cornered me when I left Char to use the men’s. I came back smelling like perfume and heartache. My ex followed me to our table hysterical, talking all kinds of nonsense. Char left, thinks I can’t commit. That she’s just the next in line to get hurt by me.”
“Is she?”
He snorted. “That girl’s been it for me since 2010.”
“Then go get her, big guy. Well, that is if Princess allows it.”
“I’m serious. This baby is coming home with Daddy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Ever had a cat before?”
“Fuck, no. My parents thought pets were filthy furballs. She’s my first.”
“You’ll never forget her then.” Char snapped.
“…and I’m leaving. Here are the keys and the list of instructions Steve always has on hand. Emergency Vet’s number is on it.”
The tension was thick between them. Princess hissed at Char as she brushed past them. I wondered if Hunter’s new cat was going to do the job Chase was so good at—keeping them apart.
“You look… hotter than a gator sunning itself in tar.”
She was right. I’d never felt or looked sexier. My skin was sloughed with a sugar scrub. I didn’t even care three strange women had seen all my lady bits. Kells had told them I was also getting laid for the first time on her wedding night. The women giggled treating me like the second bride. I had my first French mani and pedi. My hoo-ha was waxed bare. It hurt and I was told no sex for a few days. But Kells said to apply coconut oil to speed things up. Chase would be here tomorrow evening giving me plenty of time to pamper Kells while getting to know her husband to be.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you.” Kells leaned in close, glass of her virgin drink in hand. “Sienna and Wade are done. She met the governor’s son at the fancy country club Wade’s family belongs to. Dumped Wade cold the second she had her talons into her new mark.”
“How did you find this out?”
“Rachel’s sister is a waitress there. Member gossip is the talk of the staff.”
“I almost feel bad for Wade.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
I nodded my head. “I’m not wasting another second on my past when my future is my Mr. July.”
“I can’t wait to meet him.”
“He said he can’t wait to meet the women who left candy cocks all over his house.”
“Is he still mad?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Well, once he gets some of your honeypot….”
I blushed a shade darker than the roses sitting in a cut crystal vase. “I’m nervous. When we touch it feels like threads of fire. It was never like that with anyone else.”
“Girlfriend, that’s how I ended up pregnant after dating my man for three months.”
“I have my fur babies and that’s enough for now.”
“Try on your bridesmaid dress.”
I held up the pale lavender silk to my body. It was the perfect contrast to my dark tan. “Your man is going to be knocked for six when he sees how beautiful you are going to look.”
“I hope so.” In my mind, I was counting down the hours until Chase arrived.
The next day my hands shook as I read his text:
Chase: I’m on my way. #Date number 5
I wasn’t sure what to say. We both knew where tonight would end. I’ve never had pre-planned sex before. But I didn’t want to wait either. I went with humor.
Me: If you snore or hog the blankets, it’s over.
Chase: You think we’re going to sleep?
Chase: Get your mind out of the gutter. We’re dancing all night. I can really cut a rug.
Me: Great. I have two left feet.
Chase: Not in my arms. Baby’s gonna fly.
Twenty-Seven
I held her in my arms as we swayed to the notes of a love song floating around us. I’d never much cared for weddings or thought them romantic. But tonight the fireflies were out. The stars twinkled overhead. The venue was a mid-summer night in all its beauty while I held the most beautiful creation of all.
I dipped my head; the silky strands of her hair tickled my nose. She smelled of honeysuckle and roses. The silky gown she wore clung to her curves, her toned, golden skin shone. Sighing, I let one hand fall to caress the skin in the center of her back. I drew lazy circles with my fingertips, groaned when I felt her hardened nipples press against my chest.
The vein in my cheek ticked as I tried to keep my passion reigned in. We couldn’t leave until after the bride and groom did. So, we kept on dancing. I hissed through my teeth as she stumbled. The heel of her pumps caught in the hemline of her dress. The motion making her warm body collide with the part of mine aching for her.
“I don’t think anyone would notice if we slipped upstairs.”
My heart skipped two beats as her head slipped back from mine. The golden streaked strands of her hair caught the light from string lights hanging above our heads. My answer was a kiss. Soft at first. Sweet. Romantic. The way a man kisses his girl to tell her what’s about to happen means more than just sex. A joining of hearts. Of souls. That’s what I had in mind, after I made her scream my name erasi
ng every touch of anyone but me.
She slipped her hand in mine, as we weaved our way around other couples. We stopped by our table where she picked up her bag and I my suit coat. The wedding took place at an old planation outside of Charlestown. Ryan had a room overlooking a side garden. The keycard slipped from her nervous fingers. It was then I noticed her shaking hands matched mine.
Hunter would laugh his ass of if he saw me sweating like this. We both paused as we entered her room. Someone had surprised us. White candles were lit. Rose petals covered the bed. A bottle of champagne sat in an ice bucket. “Did they confuse your room with the bride and groom’s?”
Ryan picked up a pair of fuzzy handcuffs, edible body cream and a bag of gummies that were familiar. “Nope. I know exactly who did this. The card is addressed to you.” I took the white envelope from her hand. On it in loopy cursive was my name:
Chase,
We are very sorry for what happened at the beach house. We honestly were just a group of girls trying to have fun. Ryan didn’t do any of the damage or bring any of the ‘toys’. We hope we can make it up to you.
P.S.
You better rock her world tonight!
Rach, Kells, Jenna & Ciara
“I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. They’re good friends.” She stood awkwardly on the side of the bed. The romantic scene had the opposite effect on the moment. “Hey,” I cupped the side of her face. “Don’t be shy. I’m just glad to be here with you. I’m going to take a shower.” I was hoping some space would help her get comfortable. I entered the bathroom, left the main light off, preferring the coolness of a dimly lit space. I turned on the shower to a lukewarm setting before stripping down. I heard her steps, light and hesitant behind me. My hand tensed on the shower door as I heard the wisp of her dress fall to the floor. Her warm hand gently touched my back. Her lips found my shoulder. This girl kept surprising me.
I opened the door. She followed. I turned. She was unafraid. Not shy, nor should she be. She had the body of a golden goddess. Her tan lines only turned me on more. I reached for her, tangled my hands in her half-wet hair, ground my mouth down on hers. It was a kiss of possession. A taking. Alone at last, I didn’t have to behave or show gentlemanly restraint. This girl was mine and I was about to claim her as such.
“Chase,” she moaned as I soaped her curves.
“Fucking mine,” I breathed, shuddering as my palms ran down her body for the first time. My lips nipped and kissed every square inch. “Are you ready for me?”
She nodded. I wasted no time, shutting the water off, carrying her out, uncaring water dripped from both our bodies. I threw her down on the bed, a deep rumble coming from my chest as I crawled between her spread body. “This is the beginning of forever,” I growled, placing her leg over my hip as I drove home. Nothing felt so good as that moment when I was buried as deep as I could go. My eyes rolled back in my head as my hips pumped in and out.
My hand sought hers, I linked our fingers, our joined hands resting on the pillow by her head. The bed creaked and moaned; the headboard hit the wall. Her hips lifted off the bed. Nerve endings zinged from my toes up my spine and down to the part of me making love to her. It was incredible. She was incredible. My heart tripled in speed, my body trembled as I neared the peak. I already wanted her again and I wasn’t even done from this time yet.
“Chase,” she gasped as I made sure she hit the stars before me.
“I’ve got you baby. Let go.”
True to my word, we didn’t sleep until dawn. I got my revenge on Ms. Ryan Hill. I made her scream my name as her back bowed. Her body was on the precipice when I withdrew the one thing that would help her fall over the edge. The goody bag the girls left for use got some use to. I proved to her I wasn’t some strait-laced hot-shot lawyer. I was a man of law who had the best southern charm, but between the sheets all bets were off. She was beautiful when she came. All wide eyes and dilated pupils. She bit her lip swollen from my kisses, her breath coming out in short gasps. I felt her body coming undone under mine. I lowered my lips to hers as we came together in every way a man and woman should. Then we slept. When we woke up a few hours later we ordered room service, finally popped the champagne. I laughed as we drank it off each other instead of from the crystal-cut glasses.
I’d never felt this way before. Not even for the girl I was in a long-term relationship with two years ago. She was a faded memory. A name I barely recalled. While Ryan Hill was a name I hoped would become Mrs. Chase Carmichael.
Twenty-Eight
I blushed as I entered data into my laptop. My eyes barely scanned the numbers. In my mind, I was naked in Chase’s hot tub. His arms on my hips, while I bobbed up and down his shaft in the moonlight. Much like Hannah had rode the stripper. My hands clutched the wall of the tub, Chase’s mouth was latched to a nipple. It felt so good when he hit so deep. Wade had never put it on me like Chase.
I couldn’t believe I ever settled for the vanilla. To be fair, at the time I thought I was getting strawberry.
After Kell’s wedding weekend, we settled into a nice routine of texting during the workday, followed by a sunset cruise, workout and dinner out or at his place. Somehow, I had a toothbrush and razor in his bathroom. We alternated between his place and mine, bringing Daisy here when I needed to be with the animals.
Hunter and Char still helped. Chase finally told Hunter to get his own place after he almost walked in on us. Hunter grumbled but moved his Princess into a real palace. My mouth gaped when he invited us over. Hunter bought a six thousand square foot, beach front, gated, Spanish-style mansion.
He paid cash.
Char confided Hunter only crashed with Chase because he was lonely. After being raised by a nanny while his parents cruised the world, Hunter had some deep scars that he pretended were healed.
The weeks of July had turned the corner into August. The days filled with hot nights and deep kisses. I was falling hard and fast, not even putting up a hand to stop myself.
I lifted my head as Roscoe bounded in the lab followed by Dr. Winnfield. “Storm’s coming.” She turned on the Marine VHF radio. A tropical storm that was in the Caribbean had become a hurricane. It was rapidly moving northeast as it approached the continental United States. There were three possible storm tracks. Two aimed right at us. “I’ll watch the weather but if this thing gets legs, we’ll move the boat to the Chesapeake Bay out of harms way. The University already spend five million on her. I doubt I’ll get another endowment to replace it. You can sail with us or evacuate.”
“I’ll probably evacuate. I have family inland.”
“And your new boyfriend?”
I blushed.
“He likes dogs. Hard not to fall for a guy built like an NFL quarterback, holding a pudgy Corgi under one arm instead of a football.”
Somehow, I finished the rest of my work. Helped the others move equipment on trucks. Our little lab would never survive a major storm surge and Dr. Winnfield wanted to protect everything she could. Hours later, the news was grim. The storm had become a Cat 4, all forecasters and computer models converged. It was coming this way. A direct hit over the Outer Banks.
“Babe?”
“Hey.”
“Did you see the weather?”
“Yes. We are packing up what we can. Dr. Winnfield is leaving now. She’s taking the research vessel up to Maryland.”
“You aren’t going?”
“I thought I’d evacuate with you.”
“I have to leave now. Shit is going down at work. Do what you need to do but please leave before noon tomorrow. Come straight to my condo. I’ll text you the address.”
“I will. I promise.”
He hesitated as if he wanted to say more. In the end he said, “I’ll miss holding you tonight, love.”
“I’ll miss it, too.”
I hurried home. Steve had ordered some supplies to be delivered from the hardware store. My muscles screamed as I placed heavy sandbags ar
ound the foundation. I boarded up the first-floor windows. Moved all the food on metal shelves. Steve had texted he was in contact with shelters inland and was trying to arrange transport for the animals we had.
I was bone tired when I finally crawled into bed. Morning came bleak and gray. The ocean was angry, frothy swells already crashing against rocks. Boats that were still here, bobbed wildly. Steve had bad news. The shelters were all full. Ours wasn’t the only one who needed help.
My throat was thick with tears. I looked into anxious eyes as I made my morning rounds fed them breakfast, gave them all extra. How could I choose which ones to save? I might be able to pack three in my Jeep.
I crossed the street to Pop’s Mako. Secured everything onboard. But I knew she’d only make it with luck and a prayer.
I knew I’d need both.
Twenty-Nine
“Dammit, Ryan pick up!” Her phone went straight to voicemail. “Are you sure she left?”
Bunny nodded. “She swore it. All she had left to do was secure lines on the boat and pack up.”
“They’re shutting down bridges.”
“What about your house? Did you sandbag it?”
“I hired a landscaper to sandbag it. Hunter was still at the shore. He moved what he could to the second floor and attic space.”
Bunny and I turned back to the live news feed I was playing on my desktop. “Folks we’re back at the Outer Banks where a CAT 4 Hurricane is expected to make landfall sometime after six tonight. The governor has ordered a mandatory evacuation. There are still several storm paths it could take… from this model the eye will pass right over Kills Devil Hills.”
Kills Devil Hills was only twelve miles north of Nags Head. My heart tripled speed. Where was she?
“I’m leaving. It’s only noon. I could get there and back. What if her Jeep broke down?”
“The roads are closed Chase…” Bunny’s face was white. She wanted me to go.
“So? I’ll ram the barricades. I’ll take Hunter’s truck. I know how to get into his penthouse.”