Just the Tip of the Iceberg: Mile High Matched Books 1-3

by Christina Hovland

  Then he was inside her. And it was amazing, her body wrapped around him.

  And screw it all…trying was fucking fun.

  15

  Chapter Fifteen

  Heather burrowed under the covers of Jase’s bed, his thigh between her legs, his arm draped across her belly. They’d spent the day together, and the night, and now Monday had arrived. She had to get home, showered, and to the shop before it opened.

  She started to roll away from Jase, but his arm tightened.

  “Stay.” The word was muffled by his pillow.

  “Work,” she replied, brushing the hair from his forehead.

  “Stay.” His thigh began to rub against her core, the sparks between them burning bright. “Please,” he muttered before turning his body along the length of hers.

  “Cookies don’t bake themselves.” She pecked a kiss against his lips. “And I’ve got to meet with the retirement-home director in a few hours about prom logistics.”

  “You want to talk about prom decorations?” His hand trailed over her belly, and, oh, screw it. Talking about prom was basically like going to work while staying in bed.

  She led his hand lower past the waistband of her panties. “Sure.”

  That was basically work, anyway. They could multitask.

  He smiled and proceeded to move his fingers to the spot that would definitely have her calling in for a personal day. “I was thinking about our garden theme. Drew some sketches of what I’m thinking for the event.”

  He withdrew his hand to grab a sketch pad from the crate nightstand.

  The drawing was a basic sketch with the general layout of the room she’d provided. He’d marked where he’d put trellises and pillars and a crap load of flowers.

  The idea was really good, but not the Jungle Safari theme she’d built up in her head. She did her best to let that go. “I like it.”

  He studied her, then the drawing. “What’s wrong with it?”

  “I said I like it.”

  “See, you said that, but your whole body tensed when you looked. And you got all distant.”

  “I did not. I said I like it, and I do.” She did.

  He rolled and raised himself over her, his forearms on either side of her shoulders. “Tell the truth. You hate the idea?”

  “No.” She didn’t hate it. “I just had the jungle theme in my head. I need to adjust. That’s all.”

  “Where’d the jungle theme idea come from, anyway?” he asked.

  She lifted her head to kiss him. “It’s not important. I like your idea. Let’s do it.”

  Heather let out a moan as his mouth met hers, and his hand moved to where he’d had it before, and seriously, shouldn’t every day start with a solid finger bang?

  She whimpered in response, riding his hand as he took her higher, pausing and starting over, making it last. Drawing it out.

  He kissed along the line of her lips, across her cheek, down the column of her throat, stopping to give attention to her breasts before moving down her belly. He moved his thumb, pulled her panties to her thighs, and dropped his mouth to her. Sucking, licking, and basically giving her the best morning she’d ever had.

  He stopped for a moment. “Where’d the theme come from, Heather?”

  What? “Jase?”

  “The jungle theme, where’d it come from?”

  “Are you holding my orgasm hostage until I tell you?”

  He lowered his mouth in reply, bringing her just to the edge before stopping again. “Where’d the idea come from?” he asked again.

  “This is torture, you know that, right?” She glared at him.

  “Where’d the idea come from?”

  Now it was a game. A game she absolutely didn’t mind playing.

  He started again. This time he took her closer, bringing her nearly to the edge before stopping. Again.

  “High school.” There, she’d said it. “That was the theme of the prom I didn’t get to go to.”

  She swore he dropped an f-bomb, but then it didn’t matter because he was doing his thing again. He made a come-here motion with the two fingers inside her and that was that. The orgasm took her. Noises were made. She pressed her head against the pillow, but his hand didn’t stop, his mouth continued, until she rode the wave back down.

  Jase made waking up the kind of experience a girl could really appreciate.

  He reached for the box on the nightstand, but she got there first, grabbing a plastic-wrapped condom and tearing it open. She pulled her panties off and neither of them spoke. Jase, on his knees, his erection ready and waiting for her. She rolled the condom over his solid length, watching as his eyes dropped closed. He sucked in a breath. She squeezed the root and met him chest to chest, her hand still gripping him.

  “Jase?” She kissed him, his mouth meeting hers, hungry.

  “Hmm.” He didn’t stop the kiss, continued it as her hand stroked him over the latex.

  “We don’t have to keep doing it this way. We’re exclusive. I’m clean. I’m on the pill,” she said against the side of his mouth.

  Something changed in his eyes when she mentioned the pill—she’d swear it was fear. But that wasn’t right. This was Jase.

  “As long as you’re clean and all that,” she continued.

  He pulled back, his hands framing her face. “Yeah, I’m clean.”

  And then it didn’t matter because he was kissing her again, rolling to his back so she could ride him like the cowgirl she was not.

  Knees on both sides of his hips, he filled her, and she took him. Hard. Hard because he pushed her to. Head tossed back, she let him have everything. She pressed down, he pressed up. It was like all weekend he’d treated her like she was made of glass. But now? Maybe he realized she wasn’t so fragile.

  She brought herself to the edge, the orgasm tightening, ready to spring. Hands gripping her ass, he moved with her. Gripped her hard.

  A groan fell from her as the coil inside cinched.

  Midthrust, he sat up, still inside her, and shifted her to her back, him to his knees, never stopping. This was some kind of challenge. She scraped her fingernails over his chest, across his nipples. This time, he groaned, and she released.

  Ankles around his shoulders, she arched her back as the orgasm started. He didn’t pause as she clenched around him, the biggest orgasm she’d ever had consuming her as he continued pushing them both forward and over together.

  This wasn’t the gentle guy she’d been having sex with all weekend. This was a morning fuck, pure and simple.

  And she loved it. Her body responded in a way she’d never thought possible, clenching and pulsing around his erection.

  Then he pressed inside her, stilled, and… Jase was a gorgeous man, but when he came? He wasn’t just gorgeous, he was transcendent. She couldn’t pull her gaze from him.

  Yeah, being a partner to that was pretty exhilarating.

  Both of them breathing hard, he dropped his forehead to hers. She kissed him and trailed her palms up the sides of his chest.

  He’d just given her one of the best orgasms of her life.

  “Catch up for dinner?” she asked.

  “I can’t.” He brushed her hair behind her ear and pushed up off of her. Not even a kiss.

  “How about tomorrow?”

  He headed for the bathroom. “Tomorrow’s out, too.”

  Her heart fell to her stomach.

  “Ohh-kay,” she said to the empty room, her voice shaky. It hit her what had just happened. He’d said what he needed to say to have a sex-filled weekend, and now it was time for him to scrap her from his life.

  She pushed up and off the bed in an incredibly ungraceful dismount, digging through the sheets for her underwear.

  “Tonight, the guys are coming to hang drywall,” he said to her back. “I promised pizza.”

  Right. Drywall.

  “We’re behind schedule, and Eli’s on my ass to get in his new kitchen,” Jase continued.

  He said it, but so
mething was off. He was pulling away. Which made sense. This was Jase. She’d let herself forget this was Jase. He gave her the goodbye fuck and he’d send her on her way. This was the game.

  “Okay,” she repeated. “I have to catch up at the shop, anyway. I get it. Maybe the day after tomorrow?”

  She didn’t get it. But she’d opened up, she’d spent a weekend in bed with him, and now it was Monday and he’d just said goodbye in the only way he knew how.

  “I’m working on the renovation tomorrow, too,” he continued.

  Of course he was. Dammit, she knew better than to get involved like this. She. Knew. Better.

  “Heather.”

  Where the hell were her underwear? She swallowed hard, willing her heart to stop beating so fast. She didn’t need to be red-faced and embarrassed. There was nothing to be embarrassed about.

  This was how it was meant to be.

  Calm as she could, naked and post-amazing-orgasm, she dug through his bed. Seriously? It wasn’t that big.

  Screw it. She’d go commando.

  Finger-combing her hair, she strode across the room to where she’d tossed her jeans. Bare-bottomed, she sat on the edge of his bed and pulled them on.

  “Heather,” he said again.

  She couldn’t do this. Not the actual goodbye. Maybe the note Logan had left made way more sense than she’d given him credit for. She’d never had to look at him, never had to turn red and cry when he told her it was over. She’d done all of that alone.

  Not that she’d cry over Jase. It was a weekend fling. He hadn’t earned her tears.

  “Heather.”

  “Yeah?” she clipped, pulling her shirt over her head. She braced herself for what was coming. How he’d deliver the blow.

  She glanced to him; he was totally naked in the doorway of his bedroom, his arms crossed across his chest, studying her.

  His eyes absolutely soft.

  She immediately regretted her tone.

  “Tonight. Come over after I’m done downstairs?” he asked gently. “And lunch tomorrow? My brother’s coming into town, so the family is doing a big dinner with him or I’d hang with you.”

  Oh.

  He moved toward the bed, pulling back the blankets and handing her the panties she couldn’t find before.

  She took them. Stared at them.

  He sat beside her on the bed, totally not caring that he didn’t have a stitch of clothes on. He tilted her chin so she looked at him, treating her like she was as breakable as she felt in that moment.

  “The pill thing. You really want that?” he asked.

  “I do.” She bit at her bottom lip.

  He leaned forward and brushed a kiss over her lips. “Okay.”

  “Jase?” She pushed into him, her face pressed against his pec.

  “Hmm?” he asked, his hand stroking the back of her hair.

  “I’m all kinds of messed up.”

  “No, sugar. You’re not.” He pulled her tighter, held her against him.

  He felt so good. Her breaths came easier. He didn’t let her go. That wasn’t breakup sex.

  This was going to be all right. She hadn’t made a mistake of epic proportions. No, things were okay. And Jase wasn’t the man she’d convinced herself he was.

  God, she hoped he wasn’t the man she’d convinced herself he was.

  16

  Chapter Sixteen

  Senior “Senior” Prom Countdown: 18 Days

  “Well, hello there, boss lady.” Candy’s gaze traveled up and then down Heather’s two-day-old clothes. She’d seen Heather wear them at the bar and leave with Jase in them. “I guess you decided the no-men thing isn’t worth it, huh?”

  “I don’t…” Know. Heather didn’t finish the thought. She shook her head and plopped onto a chair in the kitchen while Candy worked on a batch of race-car cookies.

  “Did you have breakfast?” Candy asked.

  Heather glanced up and caught the flash of concern in Candy’s eyes. They’d been there for each other through every relationship and every breakup. Candy knew better than even Velma and Claire how hard Heather had taken the last hit.

  “I’m gonna head up and shower and grab something.” Still, Heather didn’t move.

  Candy set down the icing bag. “You wanna talk about it?” she asked gently.

  Did she? “I slept with Jase.”

  Candy nodded. “Yeah, I got that much.”

  “And we’re semiserious.” Mostly. She was pretty sure. That’s what they’d decided. “Exclusive” meant “semiserious.” They couldn’t really be serious if he wasn’t going to tell his family they were together.

  “Okay…” Candy splayed her hands on the table. “What does that mean?”

  “We’re not seeing other people. But he doesn’t want to tell his family.” Heather stood. “I kind of get it. You’ve met his family. But how can we be really together if we’re half hiding?”

  Candy raised her eyebrows. “Uh…”

  “It’s fine. Because, you know, I know that they can really test him. But I don’t want to keep the fact that we’re together now a secret. And I’m torn, but I don’t want to do something that will upset him. I mean, things are still new and weird and…really awesome. Like amazingly awesome.” Case in point: that morning, before she’d made everything weird. “I’m so conflicted. But Jase and I are together now, and that’s what matters, right?” Heather could really use a bit of confirmation on this.

  Candy cleared her throat and pointed over Heather’s shoulder.

  “Who’s standing behind me?” she asked, turning her head. Son of a bitch, Babushka stood in the doorway of the kitchen. Heather’s heart dropped straight to the sealed concrete floor.

  Jase was not going to be happy about this.

  Babushka’s eye’s misted. “This is the best news.”

  Oh no. No. Shit. Damn. Fuck.

  Babushka shuffled toward Heather, folding her into a Fels-Naptha-scented hug.

  “Oh my God. He’s going to kill me,” Heather said to no one in particular. Their semi-relationship was over before it had even semi-started.

  “No, he is good boy. I tell you this already. He makes good choice.” Babushka patted Heather’s cheek with her soft palm. “Now, I vill move in with Morty. You two can be private.”

  Oh no.

  The air went solid and caught in Heather’s chest. “Really, that’s not what we want. You should stay with me or move back home… Moving in with your boyfriend so quickly? I don’t think—”

  “Hush. Ve vill make it vork.”

  “I thought you said you two weren’t serious?” Because moving in together was pretty serious.

  “Oh, ve are not. But you need space for Jason,” Babushka insisted.

  No, Jase definitely didn’t want his grandmother moving in with Morty. It was an epically bad idea. “What if you didn’t move in with Morty? I mean, you should have your own space. I help out up at the assisted-living center just a block away. They have really nice apartments.” They were more like rooms, but they were lovely. “And then you and Morty can still see each other.” With the chaperones. “But you’ll have your own space.”

  Babushka stared at her, her eyebrows drawn together.

  “Then you can still just walk over here or to Jase’s whenever you want.”

  The wheels were obviously turning in the old woman’s mind.

  “And they take care of your meals. And they have a lady there who will do your hair, whenever you want. It’s all included.”

  “You’re overselling,” Candy whispered.

  “This place? It’s close?” Babushka asked.

  “I help out there sometimes, and it’s just a block away. An easy walk.” And it didn’t involve moving in with a boyfriend.

  “This apartment. Ve vill go look. I vill consider this choice,” Babushka said firmly before she continued her shuffle to the back stairs that lead up to Heather’s apartment.

  “She hasn’t been here all weekend, either.
Has she?” Heather asked.

  Candy shook her head. “Don’t think so.”

  So Heather wasn’t the only one walking the walk of shame that morning. She hated calling it that; there was literally nothing to be ashamed of.

  Heather dropped her face to her palms. How the hell was she going to tell Jase that his whole family would know about them in approximately five seconds? And, the cherry on top? She’d just convinced his grandmother to move into the assisted-living facility for the elderly.

  Heather sucked in a lungful of oxygen. It’d be fine. Totally fine. Jase was a good guy. He’d handle this okay.

  17

  Chapter Seventeen

  Senior “Senior” Prom Countdown: 18 Days

  He was an asshole of epic proportions.

  It’s not that he needed Heather around—he just felt human again when she was nearby. He had no idea what that was all about, but he had spent years numb inside while still acting fine on the outside. It beat the hell out of the guilt that took over whenever he started to feel. But with Heather, he wasn’t numb. He also wasn’t guilty. For the first time since everything had gone to shit, he felt like himself. An older, more tired version of himself, but he wasn’t the shell of a man who’d lost his crew and then his wife.

  Jase shoved a vase of freesias in the cooler beside the cash register and stalked to the back of the shop. Usually, he worked right up front. He had a table there because early on he’d realized how much customers loved to watch the finished product being created. And he liked it. He liked talking to them and being in the middle of it all.

  Not today. Today he worked in the back. Today his staff didn’t need a memo to steer clear of him. Today he was an asshole.

  He’d screwed Heather senseless and got skittish with all the relationship-pill-long-term talk. And she knew it. She fucking knew he was questioning things. That’s the kind of jerk he was.

  He couldn’t bring himself to let Heather go that morning, and a woman like her deserved happy. Happy he would fuck up. The crinkling was the sound of his balls shriveling at the thought of her lips against anyone’s but his own. Nope, he wouldn’t play along with that.