Love Me Like I Love You

by Willow Winters

  My other phone rings, and I snatch it off the nightstand. I haven’t heard back from Jax, and I’m starting to worry. When I see Beth’s number and not Jax’s, the worry intensifies. Not wanting to talk to her, I let the call go to voicemail. She leaves a message, and my heart is in my throat when I push play.

  “Chase, baby,” she starts and I can tell right away she’s drunk. Beth is usually drunk. “Where the fuck are you? I haven’t had a decent lay since the last time we were together. Fucking hell, I miss your cock. You better not be dead.”

  There was a time when her dirty-talk was a turn on in an I-know-I’m-getting-some sense. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed sex with Beth, as well as with the previous women I dated or hooked up with. Compared to what I have with Sierra…it’s all nothing. Am I finally seeing the difference between fucking and making love? I always thought the latter would be lame, tender, boring sex, but it couldn’t be further from the truth with Sierra. I’m fucking her, that’s for sure, but it’s more than physical.

  I put the phone back down and get situated under the covers. After half an hour of lying in bed wide awake, I get up and go into the main living area. The cabinets in the kitchen are dated, with the oak stained a dusty-colored brown. The wallpaper in lieu of a backsplash is ugly and peeling, and the original hardwood floors are in need of some major TLC before they have to be replaced completely.

  Dark paneling has been put up along one wall, covering the brick. It’s dark, cheap, and makes this place feel like a time capsule back to the early 80s. It makes me cringe every time I see it, and the smell of musk clings to the compressed wood. If I’m going to make this place mine, I need to make some changes.

  “Wow,” Sierra says, stepping over a pile of broken paneling. “You’re making good progress.”

  I rip another piece of paneling off the wall and toss it with the rest. I was up until four am last night tearing shit apart and picked up where I left off when I got up.

  “The brick is in good shape,” I note, moving to the last section to tear off. “I was a little worried there was a reason it was covered up.”

  Sierra comes closer and touches the wall. I know her well enough now to know exactly what’s running through her mind. These walls have seen so much over the decades. I remove the last piece of paneling and toss it into the pile. Despite the air conditioner being on, the sunlight has warmed up this space and I’m sweating from the physical labor. I wipe sweat from my face and chest, and Sierra goes to the fridge, getting me a glass of ice water.

  “Thanks,” I tell her and drink it all.

  “Seeing you all hot, sweaty, and shirtless is turning me on,” she tells me, biting her lip and running her fingers over her stomach, which is exposed from the crop top she’s wearing. “Just add a hardhat and a tool belt and I’d feel like I just walked onto a porn set.”

  “I can roll with that,” I say and grab her by the waist. Sierra hooks her arms around me, widening her legs and pressing her hips into mine. “Well, ma’am, I’ve just finished the renovations on your apartment and need to collect my payment.”

  “Oh no,” she says, shaking her head. “I don’t have any money. Is there any other way I can pay you?”

  She’s naked and on top of me in a matter of seconds, and we end up on the floor between the couch and the large window. We’re both sweaty when we’re done and get in the shower together.

  “What time do you have to go to the bar tonight?” Sierra asks me as we get dressed.

  “Around nine. Earlier if it’s busy.”

  Sierra makes a face. “It might be busy. There’s a town meeting tonight about the Fourth of July Fest at seven. They usually last an hour or so and everyone needs a drink after.”

  I laugh as I pull on boxers and sit on the bed. Sierra skips her bra and puts her shirt back on. The faint outline of her nipples is visible, making me want to fuck her all over again. “Do you go to those meetings?”

  “I have before. Lisa and I had the bright idea to be on the town council a few years ago. They take that shit seriously. We got off it as fast as we could.”

  “What’s the deal with the Fourth of July Fest? I heard people talking about it at the bar last night.”

  “The town shuts pretty much down for the day. There’s a parade in the morning, a cookout, drinking, and dancing during the day, and then fireworks at night. Last year Josh hosted the after-party in the bar’s parking lot. It was a lot of fun. Since the babies are due close to the holiday, someone else is doing it this year. Speaking of babies, have you heard from him at all?”

  “The last I heard Melissa got her epidural and was getting ready to push.” I make a face at the thought, and Sierra mirrors it.

  “That’s exciting! But I can’t imagine pushing two babies in a row like that. Do you know what names they picked out?”

  “They had a few picked out but weren’t choosing until they met the boys. We can go visit them tomorrow if you want.”

  “Are they at Mercy?”

  “Yeah.”

  Sierra’s face pales. “I don’t think…the last time…” Her eyes flutter closed and she takes a breath before looking at me. “The last time I was at Mercy, I held Jake’s hand as he died. I…I don’t think I can go back yet. I’m sorry.”

  Her words bring hurt to my heart. Both at her loss—I didn’t know she watched him die, that she saw him take his final breath—and that what we have isn’t enough. It’s stupid, and probably immature to think I could love her enough to erase the pain of the past. But that’s what she’s doing to me.

  “I understand and don’t be sorry. We can see them at home.”

  “You should go,” she says. “I can tell you want to, and I think it’s sexy you want to see your nephews.”

  “I’ll make sure to send you pictures of myself holding the babies then.”

  Sierra gives me a coy smile. “Make sure you do.”

  I grab a shirt from the closet and put it on. “You said you like to decorate, right?”

  “I love to.”

  “Once I get this place updated, want to help me decorate?”

  Sierra’s eyes light up. “Um, yes!” I don’t have to say it for Sierra to understand, which solidifies how right we are for each other. I don’t say it, but she knows.

  I want this place to be home.

  Sierra was right. After the town council meeting let out, everyone came here. I don’t quite understand why a town of roughly three thousand needs this many fucking people on the council, either. For a solid two hours, we’re nonstop busy.

  Almost everyone asks me about Josh, Melissa, and the babies. And they all seen disappointed I don’t have any updates. And a handful of them eye me apprehensively, tensing when I come to their table or bring them a drink, similar to the women last night.

  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this town is fucking weird.

  It’s going on eleven when I get time for a break. I hurry up the stairs to Sierra, who’s been busy mapping out exactly how she wants to decorate this place. She went home to take care of her cats and get overnight stuff and brought along her computer and several interior decorating magazines to flip through, keeping busy while I worked downstairs.

  She’s on the couch, wearing sleeper shorts and a tank top, with a blanket draped over her shoulders. The blanket is light pink and has a big rainbow-colored unicorn in the middle. She brought it over as a joke since I don’t have throw blankets for the couch. But once we decorate, she’ll get a stylish one, she promised.

  “Hey, babe,” she says, looking up from her computer. “Sounds busy down there.”

  “It is. Those council members are an interesting crowd.”

  She laughs and sets her computer on the coffee table. “That’s a nice way to put it. Your phone was ringing. Someone called a few times.”

  I reach into my pocket for my phone, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, the other phone.”

  “Yeah, the other one. It’s probably an old girlfriend begging you
to come back to her, isn’t it?”

  My arms fasten around Sierra’s waist. I don’t think I’m going to make it back to the bar. “Probably. But she’s got nothing on my new girlfriend.”

  Sierra’s eyes light up and she smiles before kissing me. We haven’t talked about titles or exclusivity. I think it went unsaid. Though saying the title out loud is fucking nice.

  “No,” Sierra whispers. “She doesn’t.”

  We kiss again and then Sierra tells me what she has planned. Time goes too fast, and I have to go back to the bar. I grab my phone on my way out and see it was Jax who called. Three times. I step outside by the river and call him back.

  “Jesus fucking Christ,” he answers on the second ring. “Chase Henson lives.”

  “Shut the fuck up,” I say back, grinning. “What kind of shit are you in now?”

  “Remember the set of Lambos we took back in Chicago?”

  “That’s kind of hard to forget.”

  “Right? That’s the problem. The guys we took them from want them back.”

  I run my hand through my hair. “Of fucking course. But we don’t have them.”

  “I tried to tell them that. Tried to say why we took them in the first place, and it only made things worse. It was, what, six…seven months ago? Those assholes must have made a couple good deals since then and are putting a cash prize on my head.”

  “Fucking hell. Did you talk to Jefferson?”

  “He’s on vacation. In fucking Europe. For three weeks. Who the fuck goes to Europe for three weeks?”

  “We did. I think we were there longer.”

  “Shit. Right. I need to lay low until he’s back and can get those assholes properly dealt with. Where the hell are you?” he asks.

  “Summer Hill, Mississippi.”

  “Still? Beth said you went to deal with family shit. What the fuck is taking so long?”

  “My dad died.”

  “Fuck. I’m sorry, Chase.”

  “Thanks, but it’s fine. I was never close to him.”

  “Yeah,” Jax goes on. “But he’s your fucking father. So, what are you still doing there?”

  “Helping my brother. His wife is in labor with twins as we speak. Where are you?”

  “Indianapolis. I’m making my way to Miami to wait out the remainder of the three weeks on a fuck-cation with Jackie Sullivan.”

  “That chick you recovered the necklaces for?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Isn’t she like fifty?”

  “Don’t talk shit about her.”

  I laugh. “Easy tiger.”

  “Only problem is her husband is home for a few more days before going on a business trip. Mind if I stop by for a day or two?”

  “No. It’ll be good to see you.” I give him the address, and before we hang up, Jax asks me one more question.

  “What the fuck is really going on? You fall off the grid then pop up in the middle of nowhere in the south. Are you being held against your will by your inbred relatives?”

  “Fuck you, and goodnight. See ya later.”

  I met Jax when I took a job in Reno. Our line of work is solitary, dangerous, and makes it hard to trust anyone. Jax helped me out of a bind, and I returned the favor. We realized how well we work together, and how we could actually get more money by taking on more jobs as a team. He’s the only person besides Josh and Sierra I consider a friend. I’d be lying to say a part of me didn’t miss him.

  But an even bigger part thinks having him come here is a bad fucking idea.

  Chapter 21

  Sierra

  “Stay here.”

  “What?” I mumble, confused why Chase is telling me to stay in bed. Like I had any intention of getting out. The sun is just starting to rise and we left the window cracked so we could better hear the river. I could stay in bed all day and it wouldn’t be long enough.

  “I’m going to see who it is. Just stay here.”

  “Who what is?” I reach for Chase as he gets out of bed. My fingers grace the warm flesh of his naked ass. Having him next to me was one of the best things. I pull the blanket up over my shoulder, missing him already yet not awake enough to realize what’s going on.

  Chase pulls on pants and opens the bedroom door. Then I hear it, and nerves shoot through me. Knocking. Someone is knocking on the front door. A beat passes and a deep male voice bellows, “Chase, are you alive in there?”

  By that time, Chase is out the door, and I sit up, dressed in panties and Chase’s T-shirt, and strain in the dark to listen. Chase greets whoever is at the door happily. Like he knows him.

  I push my messy hair out of my face and pad my way to the bedroom door, peering out.

  “How the fuck did you get here so fast?” Chase asks. “You said you were in Indy.”

  “I was,” the guy answers. I can’t see his face yet.

  “That’s a ten-hour drive.”

  “I flew.”

  “You hate flying,” Chase tells him.

  “I hate dying even more,” he says and both he and Chase laugh.

  “Come in,” Chase says. “And be quiet.”

  “Why?” the guy asks, stepping into the living room. Early morning sun illuminates his face. He’s almost as tall as Chase, and just as built. His dark hair is cut short and he has a fresh bruise on his cheek. I step out of the doorway and into the hall.

  “Chase?”

  “Oh,” the guy says, eyeballing me. “Fuck you, Henson. If this is your inbred cousin, I’m jealous.”

  Chase rolls his eyes. “This is my girlfriend, Sierra. Sierra, this is Jax, an old friend. He’s going to stay for a few days until he gets something settled.”

  I’m by Chase’s side now, and he puts his arm around me. I stare at Jax for a few seconds, trying my hardest not to stereotype. He shares few characteristics with Chase apart from being tall and muscular. Where Chase is good-looking, Jax is harsh. Weathered. Chase’s hazel eyes soften when we speak and are full of emotions. Jax’s are dark, and void of anything you could mistake as a feeling. He has a look about him that makes me not want to trust him, that makes me think he’s trouble. A criminal.

  “Why are you here so early?” I ask.

  “I’d love to know the same,” Chase echoes, holding me closer to him, like he doesn’t want Jax to go near me.

  “It wasn’t as long of a drive from the airport to here as I expected,” Jax tells us and sets his suitcase down. He takes a minute to size up the apartment, then goes to the fridge. Aware that Jax has stared at my breasts more than once in the minute we’ve met, I go into the bedroom to put on a bra. Chase follows me, closing the door behind him.

  “Sorry,” he says. “I didn’t think he’d be here now. He called last night and said he was on his way to Miami and was going to stop by. I assumed he was driving and wouldn’t be anywhere near here until much later. I meant to talk to you about it today.”

  “It’s okay. He’s your friend. You don’t have to explain it to me.”

  “I feel bad about it.”

  “Don’t.” I yawn and stick my bra inside my top, sliding the straps up over my arms.

  “Go back to bed,” Chase tells me. “You have to get up for work in a few hours. I’ll rub your back to help you fall back asleep.”

  “I’m not tired right now.” I check the time on my phone. “We could go out for breakfast soon. Just let me shower and get dressed.”

  “If that’s what you want.”

  “Yeah. You know I like breakfast, and I’m sure Jax is hungry if he came in from the airport.”

  Chase looks at me for a second before smiling, but his eyes don’t convey the happiness. He takes me in his arms, muscles tense. I hook my arms around him and he relaxes, resting his head against mine.

  Then he suddenly kisses me, hard, fast, and desperate.

  “I want you to know,” he whispers, pulling back just enough so he can talk. His forehead rests against mine. “How happy you’ve made me.”

  His words sound
like a goodbye as if he’s preparing to go off into battle and we might not meet again.

  “You make me happy too,” I say and then it hits me. Hard. So hard I’m gripping Chase as if my life depends on it. I close my eyes, bracing for the familiar sinking feeling. I’ve grown so used to the sinking below the surface, the air on my skin sends a shock through my system as it hits me.

  I’m no longer drowning.

  Chase has been my life preserver, and so much more than that. He brought me back. Lifted me from the murky depths of the darkest water and breathed life back into me. Tears spring to my eyes and I need to kiss Chase again.

  Not want, but need.

  “I honestly didn’t think I’d feel happy again,” I confess, voice hardly a whisper. “And I am.”

  “I always hoped you’d get a happy ending,” he replies. His words don’t make sense, but I’m not going to overthink it. Not now. We kiss again and fall back onto the bed, with Chase between my legs. His cock starts to harden against me and everything wells up inside. All the emotion. All the pain. It’s too much. If we don’t find an outlet we’re both going to explode.

  Chase pulls my shorts off and I yank down the waistband of his boxers. His dick is against me, wet tip rubbing over my clit. I shudder with pleasure and feel even more desperate to have him inside me. His eyes meet mine, conveying everything I’m feeling, as he pushes inside, driving that big cock deep.

  I let out a moan then bring my hand to my face, muffling any sounds coming from my lips. We’re not alone, and the fact that we both had the sudden uncontrollable urge to fuck turns me on even more.

  And makes me realize just how far I’ve fallen for Chase.

  He thrusts in and out with unrelenting strength, and the bed frame hits the brick wall behind it. Neither of us do anything to quiet it because that would mean stopping and if Chase stops, if he takes his cock out of me before I come, there’s a good chance I’ll spontaneously combust and die.

  I wrap my legs around him, holding him tight, and angle my hips up. Chase’s breathing quickens and I know he’s close to coming. He suddenly flips us over so I’m on top, and once situated, I start rocking my hips, pushing him farther and farther into me. He grabs my hips then slides one hand down, thumb finding my clit.