I Know Better (By Your Side Series Book 1)

by A. P. Watson

  “Yeah, I’m good, but I’m not that good. If you combust, there ain’t no bringing you back, darlin’.” I slapped his ass, stepping around him as I headed to the closet. “Don’t worry though. I’ll be sure to administer the appropriate treatment, so something like that doesn’t happen.” I grabbed a fresh shirt and shrugged it on over my head. Then, I pulled on the red lace panties I wore over here last night. Jacks tugged on a pair of gym shorts, and we both headed out to the living room.

  It was late afternoon before we took a break from watching the X-Files. Like with any good show, we got sucked into the drama. Netflix can be a wonderful yet dangerous thing. You start out thinking you’re only going to watch one episode, and then eight hours later, you’re shocked how much time has passed. That’s exactly what happened to Jacks and me.

  We sat on opposite ends of the couch with our legs spread out. Jacks had my foot in his lap, his thumb rubbing along the inside of my ankle.

  “Are your feet ticklish?” he questioned.

  “Nope. I’ve never had ticklish feet, but I do have three toes that don’t have any feeling.”

  “How did that happen?”

  “It’s from dancing in heels for so many hours on end.”

  “Damn.”

  “It doesn’t hurt or anything. I don’t really notice it much to tell you the truth.”

  His thumb moved upward, now focusing on my calf. “What is the highest pair of heels you have?”

  “Nine inches.”

  “Nine?” he asked, surprised.

  “Yeah. They’re a pair of thigh-high leather boots. I went through a phase where I danced to a lot of Marilyn Manson. And the boots fit the music.”

  “I’d like to see them.”

  “I’ll bring them over the next time I go back to the apartment.”

  “When I watched you dance at the studio, I was completely enthralled by you. But I also kept thinking some of the moves you were doing looked really fucking hard. I mean, I’m strong, but there is no way I could do that.”

  “It just takes practice. And it’s a lot of core work.”

  “Have you ever gotten any other injuries from it?” Now, both of his hands were on my leg, massaging each side of my knee.

  “I’ve had a couple dislocated ribs and some skin rip off, but that’s about it. I haven’t had any other major injuries or anything.”

  “Dislocated ribs sound pretty painful.”

  “Actually, it wasn’t too bad,” I added, shrugging.

  “You’re tougher than I am,” he replied. “Dislocated ribs are too hardcore for my taste, but since you’re brave enough to do it, then I’m perfectly content to sit and watch you dance.”

  “Speaking of watching me dance, would you like to come to the fundraiser show?”

  He flashed me a wicked smile as he continued massaging my leg. “I already bought a ticket.”

  My eyes widened in surprise. “You did? How?”

  “I called the studio and talked to Sasha.”

  “Honestly, I don’t know why I’m surprised. You’re freaking crafty as hell.” He laughed, switching to my right leg so he could show it the same amount of attention. “You bought a pole, had it installed, picked out proper poling clothes, and managed to buy a pair of heels in the right shoe size—all in a matter of days. I mean, how did you even know what to buy?”

  “I asked Sasha about the pole. The clothes and shoes I picked out myself.”

  “Dress size is fairly easy to estimate, but shoe size?”

  “I noticed you seemed to have an affinity for shoes, so I looked at a pair of your heels to see what size you wore. I thought it might come in handy if I ever bought you a pair of shoes.”

  “You’re ridiculous,” I stated with a laugh.

  “What? I want to do nice things for you.”

  “You rebuilt a car for me! I think your nice things quota is filled for like the next six years.”

  “Hardly.”

  My eyes rolled to the ceiling as I shook my head in disbelief. “Absolutely ridiculous.”

  His mouth met the skin on my leg, slowly creating a trail up to my thigh. “I simply happen to believe you deserve nice things.”

  “You keep saying I’m too good to be true, but have you ever considered I feel the same way about you?”

  He grabbed my hips, jerking me until my back was flush with the couch cushions. I watched as he crawled over me, his face hovering just above mine. “Do you feel the same way about me?” he questioned.

  “Do you really need to ask?”

  “Maybe.”

  “And here I thought I made it so obvious.”

  “I guess you need to try harder,” he teased.

  “Oh, is that so?”

  “It’s what I said.”

  I smirked at him, pushing my hands against his chest. The pressure caused him to move backward until he was sitting on the couch. I stood, taking a few steps toward the coffee table.

  “Just remember, you asked for this.” Turning around, I grabbed the edge of my panties. My fingers slid the garment over my ass and thighs as I folded my body in half. When the panties finished traveling all the way down my legs to the floor, I slowly rolled my spine till I was upright again.

  Desire practically hummed through his flesh as he watched the show I was putting on. Buttons popped open just underneath the collar of his shirt that I was wearing as I jerked on the soft fabric. My hips swayed from side to side, the movement ebbing like the ocean’s tide. He leaned forward as if tugged by an invisible tether. This kind of seduction was my area of expertise, and doing it for a man I loved made the whole thing even more exciting.

  Stripping off your clothes is a form of art most people tend to neglect. It’s all about the tease, the anticipation of what is to come. The shirt I still wore hung to my midthighs, and I enticed Jacks with glimpses of my flesh. My thighs, the side of my hip, my back, and my shoulders each made their debut in my impromptu peep show. The expectation of seeing more kept his eyes glued to my every movement. Displaying the most innocent parts of the body could be incredibly erotic if you made your audience feel like they were privy to your most intimate secrets. And that’s exactly what I did with Jacks. I let him in, serving as his guide to the visual exploration of my entire being.

  Moving closer to him, I undid three more buttons on his shirt. With each step I took, he leaned further forward, wringing his hands together, and I could tell he longed to touch me. After another tug, the final buttons on his shirt came undone, and I dropped it to the floor. I gave him time to appraise me, relishing the way his eyes slid over the curves of my body. Then, I sat on top of his lap and leaned into his touch. His hands were on my waist as soon as our skin met. Whipping my hair in a slow circle while grinding against his lap caused a rapid decline in his composure. His hand touched the base of my throat, his palm running all the way down my front toward my navel. The curve of my spine arched in response.

  “Take off your shorts,” I ordered seductively.

  At my command, Jacks stood and tugged off his shorts in a single motion. Still holding onto me, he sat down and placed me on top of his lap. I pushed up to my knees while continuing to straddle him. My proximity proved too much for him to resist and his lips attached to the side of my neck, working their way down to my chest. I reached between my legs, my hand closing around him. Then, just as he did yesterday, I slowly joined our bodies. As I finished sliding all the way on top of him, a groan escaped his lips.

  My hands found his abs and skated over the smooth skin. I used his muscles to stabilize myself as I rocked back and forth, finding a steady rhythm. The motion was indescribable, and I never wanted it to stop. His grip dropped to my hips, the tips of his fingers digging into my flesh. Our bodies moved in perfect harmony as we pushed into each other at the same time. Shifting my hands to the back of the couch, I leaned forward, pressing my breasts against him. His lips barely grazed the side of my neck, causing me to sigh.

  In this second, no
thing else mattered—it didn’t need to. The only thing I cared about was the feeling of him beneath me. As I continued to sway, he clutched my chin, joining our lips. We kissed with so much fervor, so much need, it elicited a flurry of chills to caress the length of my spine. My mouth opened to his as he massaged my tongue with his own. When I opened my eyes, Jacks was staring at me. Lust, passion, and infatuation radiated from his gaze, mirroring the thoughts occupying my mind. The pressure of him inside me was so intense. I feared my body would split in half each time he thrust his hips upward to meet mine.

  “Fuck.” The word sounded like pure bliss when he whispered it into my ear. “Wren, I’m about to . . . ”

  “Go ahead. I’m right behind you.”

  My reply was the only encouragement he needed. He thrust a final time upward, his muscles tensing as he came. Watching him was the most sensual thing I’d ever experienced. I could still feel him throbbing inside me, his body savoring its release. Pure elation swelled within my veins, every inch of my flesh tingling as the sensation multiplied exponentially. I never knew sex could be this powerful. If this were to be my final act upon this earth, my only regret would be not being able to do it again. Whatever was happening between us, I’d never experienced anything like it before. And now that it had happened, I didn’t want it to end. Pressure and pleasure swirled inside me and built with each breath I took. Then, just when I thought it couldn’t feel any better, euphoria overpowered everything, pushing me over the edge as my orgasm took hold.

  For a long time, we simply stared at one another, gasping for breath. Jacks played with my hair, twisting the locks around his fingers.

  “How is it possible a man hasn’t professed his undying love for you yet?”

  “How do you know a man hasn’t yet?” His eyebrows rose, a silent demand for more details. “I have men profess their love for me all the time. They ask me to run away with them and everything. Granted, they are like eighty years old though.”

  “Good to know I’ve got a little edge on the competition,” he joked.

  I laughed, wrapping my arms around his neck as I leaned in. “The man who manages to settle down with me will certainly have his hands full.”

  His responding kiss made me think such a fate would be something to look forward to.

  chapter twenty

  just like sugar

  EXHAUSTION CREPT UP WHEN Jacks and I least expected it. Sometime after the show, I put on, I passed out on the couch. Only when I woke up in his bed the next morning did I even recall all the events of the night before.

  I eased out of bed, careful not to wake Jacks, and headed to the bathroom. Once I was finished in there, I tugged on the sweater dress I wore on Friday night and retrieved my heels. Jacks didn’t want me to leave his apartment, but there were certain necessities a girl simply couldn’t live without. After leaving a quick note on the kitchen counter, I grabbed my keys and purse, closing the door to Jacks’s apartment behind me.

  The drive to my place seemed to fly by, and before I knew it, I was marching up the stone steps to the townhouse. I opened the door carefully. It was only noon, but if Ter and Ryan were sleeping in, I didn’t want to wake them.

  My first order of business was to take a shower and brush my teeth. I was in and out in less than twenty minutes. I threw my hair up in a towel and wrapped the second one around my chest. Grabbing my toothbrush and razor, I tossed them both into a bag and started applying my makeup. All my favorite products got thrown in the bag along with my other toiletries. Then, I carried everything to my room and set it on my bed. Starting Tuesday, I would be working three nights in a row. I removed a large duffel bag from underneath my bed and began filling it with assorted clothes. Jeans, skirts, sweaters, scrubs, and some lace undergarments ended up in the bag. I added my makeup and a pair of work sneakers and considered it done.

  When my packing was finished, I dried and curled my hair before pulling it up into a high ponytail. My phone began to ring as I searched my closet for an outfit to wear tonight. I rushed over to my cell phone, answering it on the third ring.

  “Hey.”

  “I thought I told you that you weren’t allowed to leave.” The tone of Jacks’s voice was playful, and I knew without a doubt he was donning his signature mischievous grin.

  “I’m coming back! There are things I needed to get before staying another night.”

  “What kinds of things?”

  “Makeup, clothes, my toothbrush, you know, things like that.” I pulled out a green lace bra and panty set, pulling on both while I held the phone with my shoulder.

  “You’re beautiful without makeup, you never need to wear clothes at my apartment, and I have an extra toothbrush in my bathroom.”

  I laughed at him. “You’re impossible,” I said as I chose a suede miniskirt and a teal sweater.

  “I’m simply speaking the truth.”

  “Whatever.”

  “In the note you left, you said there were a few things you needed from the grocery store. If you tell me what you need, I’ll go get it.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I need you to pick up heavy whipping cream, chicken stock, and peas.”

  “What the hell are you making?”

  “Chicken pot pie.”

  “I was wondering when you were going to fulfill your promise of making it for me.”

  “Baby, my chicken pot pie is well worth the wait.”

  “I’m sure it is because I know you were,” he breathed. My heart practically melted into a puddle inside my chest. “Well, I’ll let you go so you can finish up. I’ll see you when you get back.”

  “What if I get back to your apartment before you?”

  “Use your key,” he answered in a matter of fact tone.

  “I don’t have a key.”

  “Have you not noticed there is an extra key on the car keys for Harlow?”

  I racked my brain, trying to remember if I’d noticed a new key on my key ring. “Umm . . . no.”

  “I thought you had an eye for details.”

  “I do! But when I look at my keys, I’m always distracted by the one I use for Harlow.”

  His laughter emanated from the phone. “Well, there is a key to my apartment on your key ring.”

  “Bye, Jacks. Thank you for the key.”

  “Bye, chipmunk.”

  I hung up my phone, racing through the apartment in search of my regular purse. I found the metallic-gold handbag in the kitchen and dashed back to my room, switching the contents of my black clutch to my purse. A quick inspection of my duffel bag informed me that my packing was done. My last order of business was to select a pair of shoes. I settled on a pair of knee-high riding boots. The chestnut color complimented my skirt perfectly.

  In less than two hours, I was done with everything I needed to do at the apartment and couldn’t wait to hop in Harlow to make the drive back to Jacks’s place.

  When I reached his door, I pulled out my keys and flipped to the one Jacks mentioned. It slid into the lock perfectly. After hearing a click, I twisted the knob, letting myself into Jacks’s apartment.

  It seemed I beat him back, so I decided to put my stuff in his room. Now that I thought about it, we always did stay with one another. It was kind of odd he didn’t leave a few of his things at my house and vice versa. I set my bag on the floor next to his bed. While I was gone, he fixed the duvet covering his mattress, tucking all the blankets in tight. Jacks kept his room spotless, unlike me. My closet was so full of clothes, shoes, and pole heels, it looked like an explosion was waiting to happen.

  I barely managed to set my toiletry bag on the marble sink in the bathroom when I heard the door to the apartment close.

  “Wren?”

  “I’m here!” I made my way down the hall, my boots echoing on the wooden floor.

  “What time are Terayn and Ryan coming over?” When I stepped into the kitchen, Jacks was setting two bottles of wine on the counter.r />
  “Six,” I answered.

  “Okay, good. Do you need any help making dinner?”

  “If you want to help, I’m not going to turn you down.”

  “Just tell me what you need me to do once we get started.”

  “I will. What did you say the dress code was for your work party?”

  “It’s a black-tie event.”

  I sighed heavily. “Of course, it is.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Do you think I keep a secret stash of ball gowns and fancy evening wear in the back of my closet or something?”

  He frowned slightly. “You’re right. I should’ve gotten you a dress.”

  “Dear Lord! I can get my own dress. I’ll go to Audege tomorrow and find one.”

  “That’s a good plan.” He reached into his back pocket, pulling out a money clip. He slid a credit card across the counter, pushing it toward me.

  “What the hell is that for?”

  “For you to buy a dress.”

  “I don’t want your money.” I slid the card back to him.

  “The kind of gown you need will be expensive. Let me buy it for you.”

  “Maybe you’ve had an aneurysm since the last time I talked to you, but you bought me a car for my birthday, so you really don’t need to buy this too,” I stated sarcastically.

  “But I want to.”

  “You’re insane. You shouldn’t spend all your hard-earned money on me.”

  He moved away from the counter and stopped in front of me. Taking my hand in his, he pressed a light kiss to my skin. “You never ask for anything, so let me do this one thing for you,” he pleaded.

  I thought over his offer. David’s words rang true. I never asked Jacks for anything, and because of it, Jacks felt no qualms about spending his money on me. “Fine, but I have one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “For the next month, I get to pay for all our meals every time we eat out.”

  “A month?”

  “That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”

  He considered my offer for a few seconds before answering. “Deal.” He picked up his credit card, handing it over to me. I smiled victoriously, turning on my heel to sit on the couch. “Wait a second. I’m going to check the buying history on my card tomorrow. If there isn’t a charge from Audege, our deal is off.”