I’m speaking from experience. Jason and I managed to develop a great working relationship after months of doing photoshoots for Hectic where I'm the editor-in-chief. I always tried to keep it professional but my eye may or may not have wandered to his junk a few times during that underwear shoot we did back in May. I mean—he’s hot. With his thick, wavy, dark hair, his sharp, angular cheekbones and those damn lips he’s always touching—no red-blooded woman can simply look the other way. But I was dating someone at the time and cheating on Rick was never an option for me so I kept my attraction under wraps. Still, Jason and I grew to become friends. We'd laugh together, we'd grab a drink after a shoot ran late or we'd have breakfast to review editorial ideas. I was always careful to keep him at arm's length.
But Rick and I hit a very ugly rough patch a few months ago. He told me that we’d never work out and he went back to his ex-wife. One night, I was feeling particularly vulnerable. And Jason was smelling particularly masculine. And his big, strong arm was wrapped around my shoulder as he handed me tissues, one after the other, to dab my teary eyes. And in a moment of not-thinking-ness...I kissed him.
He kissed me back.
I let him take off my clothes and kiss the entire length of my body. Spread out on a hard wooden worktable in a cold photography studio, the man devoured me like I was a feast he'd been waiting for all year long. And then, he climbed over me, wrapped my legs around his back and fucked me until I was convinced I was having an out of body experience. Nothing has every felt so good.
And yeah, yeah, yeah—when it was over, we agreed that it was a mistake, we promised each other that it would never happen again. All that cliche jazz. But it did happen, again and again and again.
Night-long sex sessions. Breakfast on the run the next morning. Sexy text messages all day. Ripping each other's clothes off at the door in the evening.
That period of time only lasted a few weeks but for a little slice of time, it felt like it might have been love...At least, that’s what it felt like for me.
The bubble of delusion burst when he got booked on a gig in Paris and almost immediately, pictures of him and some blonde model started popping up on the gossip sites. Jason swore they were just friends and that the tabloids were blowing things out of proportion but my insecurity wouldn’t allow me to believe him. By then, Rick had come back, groveling, and although, I didn't really have a compelling urge to take him back, I needed a way to get Jason out of my head.
On paper, Rick was the kind of man I thought I needed. He's my age. He's got his businesses. He has stability. He's the exact opposite of the charming pretty boy that has women swooning left, right and center.
That's what I need. I'm pushing 40, for crying out loud. I need to be thinking about the future.
Rick, I can handle. Jason makes me feel like I'm drowning.
So, I chose Rick. Correction—my head chose Rick. And my heart has been trying to catch up ever since.
I tried really hard to love Rick. For months, I gave it my all but I was frankly relieved when a few days ago, he left me for his wife yet again. This time, I changed the locks and left his belongings in a paper bag on the front stoop. I'm over Rick.
But as I stand here looking into Jason's dark stormy eyes, it's evident that I'm not over him. I never got over him.
He offers me a bottle of water as I settle into a swivelling barber chair. I down a long gulp and my eyes move around the shop. "Really nice place..." I'm stalling.
"Yeah thanks," he says hastily, implicitly urging me to get to the point.
"I like the leather detailing. Nice, personalized feel," I say as I run my fingers along the smooth fabric of the armrest.
I know it's lame but I need a minute to catch my bearings. This man leaves me feeling disoriented. I need to remind myself of my reason for traveling all the way out here to this little backwoods town. Business, not pleasure and definitely not love.
He leans against the counter by the mirror and folds his arms over his chest while crossing his legs at the ankles. His eyes narrow with impatience. "Siobahn, why are you here?"
I sigh roughly. "I'm here to find out why you turned down Hectic's latest project."
The light in his eyes snaps off and a shadow of disappointment creeps across his gorgeous features. "You're here on business..." His gaze drops away from my face. He pushes his thick fingers through his dark hair and I'm aching to do the same.
Damn—this guy is so good at setting a woman off-kilter. I have a really hard time thinking logically when he gets all broody like this. Because even though I know better, I really just want to bathe in the illusion that he wishes I were here to be with him.
I hold my shoulders back and lift my chin, determined to not let him see how affected I am by his presence. "Yes, Jason. You and Hectic have an excellent working relationship. We make magic together. I just don't understand why you'd walk away from that."
His eyes bounce back to mine, his attention hitting me hard in the stomach. "You and I make magic too, Siobahn. How could you walk away?"
My gut tightens. "What are you talking about?" I whisper as I become aware that I'm suddenly breathless.
He moves so quickly, closing the space between us and dropping to his knees in front of me. "Why the fuck are you shutting me out? Why are you pretending that we don't matter? What we had was special and you know it." His hands fall to my knees and his fingers clench as they slide up the length of my thighs.
I claim no responsibility for the hard throb that immediately rings out at my core. As usual, he touches me and my body responds on a chemical level. Cause and effect.
But I'm not an animal. I have self-control. So I make a valiant attempt to temper my response. "I'm trying to keep things professional, Jason. Please."
He shakes his head vigorously. "You're moving to Europe with that asshole, S. I don't want that to happen."
"You don't want that to happen?" A snort escapes my nostrils and there goes my attempt to come across as classy and composed.
Both of his perfect eyebrows rise up on his perfect face. "No," he says resolutely. "No, I don't want you to move to Europe with him. You don't love him. I want you to stay here with me."
My ears ring when he says that. I really wish his words were true. "What is this game you're playing? I don't want to be part of it!" My blood rushes through my veins. Too fast. Too hot.
His brow furrows with irritation. "I'm not playing around, S. I want you. I need you. Life has been hell since you ended things—"
"We both know that what we were doing was just for fun. It wasn't serious. It was just for fun."
"You're the only one who kept saying that, who kept making excuses. Saying that I was too young, that I had too many women hanging around me, that you needed someone more stable. If you'd give me the chance, you'd see that none of that matters."
“Jason, you’re 28—”
“My age doesn’t matter.”
“You have so many options ahead of you—”
“You’re the only option for me.”
“It would never work between us—”
“I’m willing to risk everything to make sure that it does…I want you, Siobahn. I’ll be whatever you need me to be.”
I can't work out how to respond. My heart thumps against my ribs. Even as my lips are spreading apart, I'm not sure what I'm about to say.
Thankfully, the front door pitches open right then and a snow-speckled red face covered in overgrown hair pokes inside. "Hey man, do you think I can get a haircut tonig—"
Jason and I both pivot our attention in that direction and bark in unison. "WE'RE CLOSED!"
The man's eyes go wide and he slowly backs out with both hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay! Jeesh!"
When we turn back to each other, neither of us can keep it in. We burst out laughing. The sound of hysteria rolls on between us and damn—it sort of feels like old times.
Jason's hand comes up and cups my face, enveloping my skin in warmth. "I
adore you, Siobahn. I should have made that clear sooner but I absolutely adore you and I don't want to lose you for good…Don't choose Rick this time. Choose me."
My heart does something indescribable when he utters the plea. The look of desperation in his eyes tears me apart while the idea that he wants me makes me giddy with excitement.
"What about all the other women?" I ask tentatively. My tongue darts out and I drag it nervously along the seam of my lips.
"There are no other women. I swear. There's only you." I watch his gaze as it follows the path of my tongue. That hunger in his eyes—my heart rate accelerates at the sight of it. "Toss Rick to the curb. I want you to myself."
"Rick is out of the picture," I tell him quietly. "He left me..."
Jason's lips twitch with a suppressed smile. "Well, lucky me. Because I was fucking prepared to fight him for you."
I feel myself smiling, too. Leaning forward, my hands brace his shoulders and I'm confronted by the broad expanse of his chest and the musky heat radiating off of him. My mouth goes dry from wanting so badly to taste him.
But he pulls away…
He rises to his feet and walks over to the door. Finally, he twists the lock, trapping us together inside. Then, he closes the blinds on the snowstorm outside and turns back to me.
My pulse accelerates with each one of his steps. His eyes on me has me burning from their intensity. He sets a hand on each armrest, caging me in. Not that I mind being his prey. I crave his eyes and hands and teeth all over me. I ache to be impaled by his thick, long cock.
He comes and hovers over me and my heart beats fast enough to crack my ribcage. One big hand settles on the crown of my skull and coaxes my head back. I moan as his lips settle on the column of my throat. "You deserve so much more, baby. You deserve to be spread out on a bed of roses and licked all over but this is the best we've got right this minute and I can't hold back much longer."
"Take me," I whisper without hesitation as his lips come up over my jawline.
I feel the brush of his stubble on my skin as he smiles to himself. "Your wish is my command."
His mouth covers mine and my brain blows a fuse. It feels so good. Thoughts don't matter. Actually, they only get in the way. I reach up and pull on his collar, dragging him closer. The angle is awkward but we won't let something as trivial as the risk of osteoskeletal injury keep us apart. We grope each other and flick our tongues together like the fate of our species depends on it.
He slips his arms around my body and scoops me up against him. He never breaks our kiss. All I know is that he's carrying me across the room and he's shoving me into the wall and he's draping my legs around his waist.
"Oh Jason," is all I manage to mutter as he kisses down my neck and slides his hand underneath my skirt. (Yes, I wore a skirt in the middle of a blizzard. Only the fashion gods can judge me.)
He cradles my pussy in his hand, his fingers sliding through the crease of my ass. "God—I'm so glad to get my hands on you," he grunts. "I'm going to mark you, Siobahn. You're mine. Do you understand that?"
He slides the soaked fabric of my thong aside and the heel of his hand rocks against my buzzing clit. Perfect pressure. Skin on skin. Fuck!
I barely have the coherence to nod my head. "I'm yours."
I find myself licking his neck, nibbling on his earlobe, digging my nails into his back as the hard, circular motion of his fingers drives me toward the edge. He whispers in my ear, his words a medley of sweet adoration and vulgar promises. I reach my breaking point when he presses a finger into the soft nerves of my G-spot while flicking his thumb back and forth on my clit.
"Oh, fuck! I'm coming, Jason! I'm coming!"
My limbs seize. My eyes pinch shut. I let go of all control as I spiral into the orgasm. Jason soothes me through it, kissing my cheeks and jaw and temples. And as soon as I regain my motor abilities, I head straight for his belt, freeing his long, rigid shaft of the constraints of his pants. I lick my lips at the sight of it as I stroke it tenderly.
Oh, how I've missed you, bay-bay!
Jason groans deep in his throat as he carries me to a small lounge room at the back of the shop and sets me down on a couch. He rummages around in a cupboard and snatches a condom before crawling over top of me. "Watching you walk away from me was the hardest thing I've ever done, Siobahn." After sheathing his cock in the latex, he trails his fingers across my skin and parts my thighs. My spine arches instinctively, pushing my breasts up toward him. "I won't let you do it again. I love you."
His mouth brushes my nipples through the fabric of my clothes and I groan. "You'll never have to. I'm yours...I love you, too." I mean those words with all of my heart. Locking a hand around the back of his neck, I pull his face closer to mine. Our lips latch together as he eases himself into me and he begins to thrust his hips, slow and langorous.
I rock my pelvis, meeting each drive of his hips with one of my own. Our eyes stay locked on each other in this dark room. I'm not a particularly spiritual person but this connection is undeniable. It's penetrating all the way to my soul. In this moment, a stunning realization dawns on me—this man is my soul mate. He's the one I'm going to be with from this point forward and I wouldn't have it any other way.
The thought alone ignites something in the depths of me. It sparks a fuse in each of my extremities. I feel the orgasm traveling up my limbs. I clench my thighs against his waist, curve my back up off the couch and scream his name as the orgasm detonates like dynamite in my core. Immediately, he's shaking, his beautiful face is contorting, he's whispering the announcement that he's coming. And we thrash about in the wave together.
Chapter Three
Cruz
Siobahn pulls the blanket tightly around her as I set the cup of hot tea into her hands and sit next to her, the cushions sinking under my weight. "You still cold?" I whisper into her messy hair as I wrap my arms around her.
On the low coffee table in front of her, I've set out a few chocolate cupcakes that I stole from Vivian's bakery next door. Clinton might be pissed when he finds out that I used his spare key to break into his fiancee's cupcake shop but Viv is a romantic at heart so long as Siobahn is happy, I'm sure that the baker will let my episode of breaking and entering slide.
Siobahn's eyelashes flutter and she smiles into the teacup. "I’m not cold. The temperature is perfect now that you're holding me." Her words come out as a low purr.
My chest swells with contentment as I draw my arms tighter. Damn, this is what I was needing all along.
"So, when are we heading back to Philadelphia?" I whisper.
Her head snaps in my direction. "Philadelphia?"
"For the Hectic photoshoot." I grin.
"You'll do the photoshoot?"
I huff. "Oh course, I'll do the photoshoot. For you, I'd do anything."
"Oh my god! Yes! Yes! Yes!" She wiggles about excitedly and lukewarm tea spills into my lap.
"Hey! Hey! No scalding the family jewels." I grab the cup from her and set it down on the coffee table.
She strokes my crotch affectionately. "Sorry. I didn't mean to damage your instrument of pleasure."
I poke her in the ribs. "It's your instrument of pleasure now, S."
"Oh, yeah? I like the sound of that!" she moans as she drapes her arms around me and kisses my lips. "Okay, let's be serious for a minute. How about we go to Philadelphia on the weekend for the photoshoot?"
"Sounds good? And where to after that?" As things stand, she was planning on moving to Europe and I know that she and Rick are done but I don't know if the cross-continent move is still on the table.
A pensive look crosses her face and then she says. "I think that after Philadelphia, we can come back here to Copper Heights and lay low for a while. I mean, I can work from anywhere in the world really. I don't need to be in the office. Plus, my best friend Lily lives in Reyfield, about half an hour from here, and she and I are in desperate need of some girl time."
Ding, ding, ding! Right answer!
I'm too excited to put it into words, so I just kiss her. I press her against the back of the couch and I kiss her because this moment is beyond my wildest dreams.
She's out of breath when we finally pull apart. She looks at me and giggles. "Your hair is poking up in all directions, pretty boy."
I make a half-hearted attempt to pat it back into place. "Ugh! I don't even care." I brush my lips up and down her long neck.
"Don't worry. You're still very, very pretty," she teases.
I wink at her and drape the blanket around the both of us. "It takes a beauty to know a beauty, and you, my love, are a fucking goddess."
Her eyes flicker on a long, wistful “Awwwwww....” and she kisses me with near-desperate passion. We're all tied up together, twisted in the blanket. It's a trap I never want to get out of. "I'm never going to leave your side, Jason. Never again." She buries her nose in my hair.
"You belong with me, baby. And I'll love you every day for the rest of my life so that you never forget it."
THE END.
Thanks for reading Pretty Boy. I hope that you enjoyed this quick, little Dirty Suburbs x Blue Collar Bachelor Novella.
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