by Piper Rayne
Turning the water to cold, I step under the spray. When my cock softens, I climb out, dry off, and change into jeans and a black Henley. Jumping on the sofa, I watch Supernatural. Dozing off, I wake a few hours later with a kink in my neck from the awkward position I fell asleep in.
Walking into the kitchen, I groan when I see I’m out of coffee. “Fuck my life,” I mumble to myself.
Grabbing my car keys, I jump into my Jeep and head to the diner for a coffee and late lunch. Parking my truck, I climb out and walk in. The diner smell hits me in the face and I moan. Walking to the counter, I order a coffee and burger to go.
Stepping back, I bump into someone. “Shit, I’m so sorry,” I say, as I turn around and when I see who I’ve bumped into, I smile. “Hi,” I say, still staring at her. She looks beautiful today in a black long-sleeved sweater and denim jeans.
Reese hesitantly smiles back at me. “Hi,” she shyly offers, brushing a tendril of hair behind her ear.
“Hi,” I reply back, internally scolding myself because I already said that.
The air around us is crackling as we continue to stare at one another. The moment is interrupted when the waitress yells, “Order for Reese and Jesse.”
“That’s us,” I say, turning back to the counter. I pick up one of the coffees and hand it to Reese, our fingers brush when I pass it to her and a spark jolts between us.
“Do you, umm, wanna take a walk down to the jetty?” I ask, still staring at her.
She nods. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
Grabbing my coffee and burger, we silently exit the diner and turn toward the jetty. Neither of us speaks as we walk side by side along the boardwalk. In unison, we walk toward an empty bench just near the jetty and sit down. Staring out at the water lapping at the shore.
“It’s so peaceful here,” she says, breaking the silence.
“My favorite spot is out at the end of the jetty just at dusk. The way the water shimmers in the afternoon light is gorgeous.”
“I’ve never been down here at dusk. Only at sunrise. Maybe—” She stops.
“Maybe what?” I probe, leaning into her.
“Maybe we can stay and watch it at dusk together?”
“I’d like that,” I pause, “and maybe we can get dinner afterward?”
She looks to me and smiles. “I’d very much like that.”
“It’s a date,” I say, trying to hold back the grin wanting to break free and from the look on her face, she too is excited for our date. We go back to silently drinking our coffees, staring out at the water.
“Can I ask you a question?” I ask, breaking the silence.
She turns her head toward me and nods. “Go for it.”
“Why do you hate me?”
My question takes her aback. She begins to shake her head. “I don’t hate you. You just piss me off.”
“How so?”
“You’ve taunted me since the tenth grade.”
For a smart chick, she really is clueless when it comes to the opposite sex. “Don’t you know what they say about boys who tease girls?”
“What’s that?”
“That they like them?”
“You like me?” she asks, her voice laced with shock.
Nodding my head, I reach over and take her hand in mine. “Yeah, Reese, I do.”
“But you’re a jackass to me most of the time.”
“Well, you’re a bitch to me most of the time, Short Stack.”
“Yeah, I’m a bitch ‘cause you’re a jackass. I treat people how they treat me. You’re a big meanie head most of the time,” she pauses, “and stop calling me Short Stack.
“A meanie head, really, Short Stack?” She shrugs her shoulders at me. “Well, I apologize for being a meanie head, but I’m not stopping calling you Short Stack. It’s an affectionate term.”
The air around us begins to sizzle as our relationship takes a happy turn.
“Really?”
“Yes, really and I’m sorry for everything I’ve ever done to piss you off.”
She grins and it warms my heart seeing her like this. “And I’m sorry for being a bitch.”
“But you're my bitch, Short Stack.” My eyes widen when I realize what I just said. “I don’t mean you’re mine, I just—”
She reaches over and presses her finger to my lips. “Stop, I know what you meant. Jesse, I’m your Short Stack bitch and you’re my jackass.”
We both laugh and I love that she feels like she’s mine. We fall into easy conversation, our hands clasped tightly together as she tells me all about life here since she returned from college, and I tell her about my travels and studying in California. Before we know it, the sun is starting to set.
“We better head down the jetty if we’re going to see the sunset.”
She nods. “Okay, let's go.”
We stand up and walk down the jetty. My heart is racing with nerves. The afternoon with Reese has been amazing, unexpected but amazing. I think we’ve turned a corner in our friendship, or whatever we are now.
Reaching the end of the jetty, I turn around and lean against the railing. Reese does the same and we both stare up at the sky. Tonight’s sunset is on point. The sky is a mixture of colors going from red to orange and into a warm mixture of purples and indigo. “Wow,” she says. “It’s beautiful.”
“It sure is.” But my eyes are locked on her.
She looks over at me.
We stare at one another.
Something takes over my body and I step toward her. Gripping her cheeks in my palms, I lean down and press my lips to hers. She places her hands on top of mine and deepens the kiss.
As the sun dips below the horizon and the sky turns dark, Reese and I kiss, confirming this is the turning point for us but like everything else, it’s a sharp, stilted turn.
15
Reese
The next morning there’s a really loud banging coming from my front door. “UGH!” I moan. Opening my eyes, I squint at the brightness, rolling to my side and my stomach lurches. “Why did I drink so much last night?” I whisper to myself, as the knocking aka really fucking loud banging continues. “Coming,” I shout, wincing at the shrillness of my voice slicing through my brain.
Staggering from the couch, where I clearly passed out last night, I walk over to the front entrance and swing open the door. “Jesse,” I say with shock. “What are you doing here?” My head throbs as I stare at the man before me; he’s the last person I expected to see on the other side when I swung it open.
“You invited me over last night?”
My eyes bug wide open, “Whaat? When did I do that?”
“When you drunk dialed me at about 2:00 a.m.” He smiles at me and brushes a tendril of hair behind my ear. He cups my cheek and stares intently at me. His gaze heats my skin and brings my body alive. “You’re cute when you’re drunk…and very truthful.”
My mind is blank right now, I have no recollection of calling Jesse last night…or of anything I might have said to him. “Ohh God, what did I say?”
“How about you let me in? You can eat this,” he lifts a greasy brown paper bag from the diner up, “and I can catch you up on the events of last night.”
He doesn’t seem angry so I guess I didn’t make too much of a fool of myself. “Okay, yep. Sure. Sounds good.” I step aside and allow him in. The smell of the food causes my stomach to roll and I think I’m going to vomit. “Shit,” I scoff.
Pushing Jesse out of the way, I race to the bathroom and empty my stomach into the toilet. I only just make it. Resting my arms on the seat rim, I continue to vomit and purge my stomach contents. Regurgitated rum balls do not taste great.
Suddenly, there’s a cool washcloth on the back of my neck. I rear up in shock and the back of my head collides with Jesse’s balls. “Fuuuuck,” he groans, doubling over in pain. He clenches his nuts in his hands. This is now the second time I’ve hit him in that area.
“Shitballs,” I say, “I’m so sorry.” Without
thinking, I push his hand aside and gently rub his balls better. When my brain finally catches up with what I’m doing, my eyes widen and I quickly pull my hand back. “What the fuck is wrong with me?” I mumble to myself.
“There’s nothing wrong with you, Reese. Feel free to keep rubbing the boys better, they and I, really don’t mind at all.”
Shaking my head, I flick my hand to hit him in the leg at the crassness of his statement but me and my shitty aim, we hit him in the nuts, again. “Fuck me,” he says, groaning with pain.
“Shit, Jesse, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. This is the most action the boys have gotten in a while. I just wish you weren’t so rough with them. I never picked you as a rough lover.”
“Oh my God,” I say, burrowing my face in my hands in embarrassment.
Jesse leaves me to grab an icepack for his nuts. Standing up, I brush my teeth and freshen up. I look like death warmed up. I’m never drinking rum again. Once I look semi-decent, I walk into the kitchen to find Jesse tidying up the mess I left. “What the hell happened last night?”
He turns to face me and holds up an empty rum bottle. “Seems the chef got into the ingredients while baking.”
Looking around the kitchen, I shake my head as the events slowly come back to me…
* * *
…Jesse and I kiss as the sun sets. It’s beautiful and romantic. It’s just like a scene from the romance novels I read. He breaks the connection, pulls back and stares down at me. “Reese, I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
My heart plummets at his words. I should have known he’d be a jackass. “Right. Gotcha,” I snarl through clenched teeth. I start walking backward, internally scolding myself for falling for the jackass’ words. Shaking my head, I turn around and race away from him. Tears welling in my eyes. My heart hurting from being used.
Jumping into Betty, I drive home with tears pouring down my cheeks. Opening my front door, I step inside and throw myself down on the sofa and cry. When I’m upset, I bake, so I decide that’s what I’m going to do. Standing up, I walk into the kitchen, slip my apron over my head, and tie it up. Once it's tied, I get out everything for my rum balls and I get to it.
My head’s a mess and I keep dropping everything. There’s coconut and cocoa powder all over the counter. Picking up the bottle of rum, I measure out two tablespoons and then bring the bottle to my mouth and swig. I shudder at the sharpness of the rum but I don't care. I finish making the mixture and pop it in the fridge to set a little before I roll the balls. Setting a timer on my phone, I pick up the bottle and bring it to my lips again. Turning around, I slide down the wall and continue to drink.
The timer goes off, I crawl over to the fridge and grab the bowl. Sitting on the floor, I continue to drink and eat the rum ball mixture. Before I know it, I’m two sheets to the wind drunk. I keep thinking about Jesse and how much of a jackass he was earlier.
Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I dial his number. “Hello?” he sleepily answers.
“You’red a jackdass.”
“Reese?”
“Yep, it’d me.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Just peachy jackdass.”
“What?”
“You’red a jackdass.”
“I know, I’m your jackass, and you’re my Short Stack.”
“No, you’red bigd bigd jackdass.”
“Are you drunk?”
“A smidgicall,” I giggle.
“Alotical I would say.”
“It’s you’red fault.”
“How is it my fault?”
“’Cause you’red a sexy jackdass who confussdes me an youd knowd what? It’s a secret.”
“What’s your secret Drunky McDrunkerson?”
“I’ve had a wee little crush on you all these years, but you’d always looked throud me as if I wasdent thered.”
“I’ve always noticed you, Reese. A blind man would.”
My eyes widen at his words, if he feels like this, why did he regret kissing me earlier? “You’red a sweet jackdass sometimesd. I wanna do dirty dhings wid youd.”
“What dirty things?”
“I want to kiss youd like we did earlier, and then I want youd to spankd me before ducking me.”
“You really are drunk, aren’t you?”
“Yepd…why don’t youd comed dover and I showd you?””
“What?”
“Comed over and I canned yelled youd and kissd you and duck youd.”
“You can yelled me?”
“Yeppers…and bringd mored rum, Id nearly out.”
“I don’t think you need more rum.”
“Youd don’t know what’d I needded.”
“I know you’re drunk as a skunk right now.”
“Amd not.”
“Case in point. Why don’t you sleep it off and I’ll see you in the morning?”
“Me’d like that sexy jacdkass.”
“Goodnight, Short Stack.”
* * *
…“Oh my God,” I say, as it all comes crashing back to me. “Jesse, I’m so sorry I did that.”
“It’s okay, but why were you so angry with me?”
“You kissed me and then immediately apologized for it happening. I thought…I don’t know what I thought, but it hurt when you pushed me away.” My confession shocks me. I didn’t realize how much I actually liked him until he pushed me away.
“I don’t regret kissing you, Reese.”
“But why did you apologize? Why didn’t you run after me? Yell for me to stop, you just let me go.”
“I don’t know. It wasn’t my plan to kiss you but the moment was perfect, so I went for it,” he pauses and runs his fingers through his hair in frustration, “I was worried you didn’t want it so I apologized.”
“Jesse,” I say, stepping over to him to cup his cheek in my palm. “That was single-handedly the best kiss of my life. It was a kiss out of the books I read.”
“Really?” he asks, his voice laced with shock at my revelation.
Nodding my head, I smile. “Yes, really.”
“I really want to kiss you right now…and maybe do some of the things you offered last night too.”
“Oh my God,” I cry, leaning my head against his chest. He wraps his arms around me, “I’m never going to live that down am I?”
“Probably not.”
“Jackass.”
“We’ve established that I’m your Jackass.” He places his finger under my chin and lifts my head so I’m staring up at him. “Now kiss me.”
“I want that so much, Jesse, but I still taste vomit and I don’t want to ruin this…again.”
“You couldn’t ruin it if you tried, Reese.”
“You are too sweet, Jesse Thornton.”
“As are you, my sexy Short Stack.” That’s the first time he’s called me Short Stack and it hasn’t pissed me off.
“I don’t feel very sexy right now. I feel like death warmed up.”
“How about I run you a bath and while you chillax, I’ll reheat the greasy food I brought to soak up the last of the rum, and we can figure out where to go from here?”
“I’d very much like that.”
We stare at one another and a feeling of calm washes over me and I know everything will be fine between us.
16
Jesse
After leaving Reese in her bathroom, I head into her kitchen but before I get on to reheating the food, I clean up the kitchen. She’s quite a messy cook, but it could also just be because she was drunk last night. Pulling out my phone, I bring up Spotify and smile when “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by WHAM! comes on.
Placing what I can into the dishwasher, I fill the sink and start scrubbing the pots and bowls that won’t fit in the machine. I’ve just wiped down the counter and cupboards when I feel a presence behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I see Reese standing there in a satin robe, her hair is on top of her head in a messy bun, and even though she has
no makeup on and is majorly hungover, she still looks stunning. “You are gorgeous, Reese.”
“You need your eyes tested.”
“Nope, 20/20 vision here.”
“I think you need a second opinion.” Her eyes looks around the kitchen and widen. “You didn’t have to clean up.”
“Well, in order for us to eat, I needed to. You’re quite the messy cook.”
“Can I blame the rum?” she shyly asks.
“I like you when you’ve had rum. You’re quite truthful.”
“Can we maybe forget last night?”
“No fucking way,” I tease, “I’m hoping what you offered comes true.”
“Remind me again what I offered?” she asks, as she jumps up onto the counter, her robe falling to the side, exposing her sexy as fuck legs. My eyes drop down and I take her in. Fuck me, she’s gorgeous.
Lifting my gaze from her legs to her face, I see her staring at me. “So what exactly did I say last night?” she asks, biting on her bottom lip. “I have a vague idea but I want you to confirm what I said.”
“I’ll tell you if you drop the robe.” I’m hoping she’s naked under her robe.
She stares at me and nods. Lifting her hands she undoes the tie at her waist, as my eyes intently follow her movements. When it's undone, she spins the tie in her hand and giggles. Dropping the sash, she slides her hands up her sides and grabs the material at her breasts and slowly spreads it open. All I see is creamy skin and then more satin. She slides the robe down her shoulders, revealing a black silk cami and matching panties. My cock twitches as I take her in.
“Fuck me, Reese, you’re a vision.” Her cheeks darken at my words. She rests her palms on the counter behind her and leans back. I swallow thickly, “Short Stack, what do you want right now?”
“I want your lips on me.”
“Where?” I ask, as I step toward her.
“Everywhere.” she breathlessly says.
Coming to a stop between her legs, I lean down and kiss across the top of her breasts. “Yes,” she moans, as I kiss and nibble up her neck toward her ear. Taking her earlobe into my mouth I gently bite. She lifts a hand, running her fingers through the hair at the base of my neck. “Kiss me, Jesse,” she purrs. Kissing along her jawline to her chin I make my way up to her lips. Pulling back, I hover ever so closely to her lips and stare into her eyes. Time stands still as we admire one another, her tongue darts out to wet her bottom lip and touches mine. It sparks something inside of me and I slam my lips to hers. Her tongue presses against my lips and I open, she slips it into my mouth. Our tongues dance and caress one another.
