“Go,” he said when I went flat-footed and nodded toward my door.
Normally, his bossiness would’ve made me balk but I only remarked, “Okay. ‘Night,” and went inside, giving him a shy smile as I kept looking at him, moving my head with the door as I slowly closed it then locked it.
I walked to my room with what was probably a goofy smile and plopped down on my bed, my head hitting the pillow as I let out a dreamy sigh.
Loch Powers was the sexiest man I’d ever seen. Holy hell, I could so easily fall for him. Goofy smile number two flashed across my face as I thought about how sweet he was.
It wasn’t when I got up and put on my pjs, brushed my teeth, made my way back to my room and with another winsome sigh landed on my bed thinking that falling for someone was always the best part of a relationship that I got my head straight. Nope, it was just as I closed my eyes that I realized I’d totally blown Triple C and the end game of telling Loch we were over.
My eyes flew open and I cringed.
Shit.
Confession Number Six
As I lay there berating myself, my phone buzzed but when I saw it was Loch I grinned like a flippin’ schoolgirl.
What was wrong with me?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:39 a.m.
Assface: I miss your lips…
But, oh, my God, how sweet was that? I immediately went about changing his name in my phone because “Assface” just wasn’t appropriate anymore. Then my brain started making rationalizations about the whole situation. We were attracted to each other. People who were attracted to each other did things together all the time. What harm would it be if I saw him again?
Okay. New decision. I’d go out with him one more time then I’d break things off with him. I could handle that, right? So feeling all giddy inside at this new resolution, I proceeded to answer him.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:39 a.m.
Me: Would it help if I told you I feel the same?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:40 a.m.
Loch: Helps but doesn’t solve anything ;)
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:40 a.m.
Me: lol true
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:40 a.m.
Loch: So, tomorrow…
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:40 a.m.
Me: Yes?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:41 a.m.
Loch: How about Movie Night at my place?
Another thrill ran through my body making me shiver at the thought of seeing him again. The dip in my womb let me know that I couldn’t wait to have his lips on mine again. Oh man. I was in serious trouble.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:41 a.m.
Me: I’d like that a lot : )
Can you tell I was so concerned about the trouble I was in?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:41 a.m.
Loch: Pick you up at 9:30?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:42 a.m.
Me: If you give me directions to your place, I can just drive there after work
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:42 a.m.
Loch: I can do that, baby
And him calling me baby? Holy crap. That was so hot too!
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:42 a.m.
Me: Okay : )
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:42 a.m.
Loch: Can I ask you something?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:42 a.m.
Me: Sure
I sat up quickly waiting to see what he’d text, my stomach in knots knowing that when he’d gotten home Ryker had probably told him he knew who I was. Shit!
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:43 a.m.
Loch: What’re you wearing?
The mother of all exhalations left my body and I fell back onto my bed. Frack!
How did spies and double agents do this crap, being all duplicitous and stuff because I seriously sucked at it. I breathed more easily as I replied, relieved that Ryker hadn’t spilled the beans but still feeling bad about the dilemma I was in.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:43 a.m.
Me: Guys are such visual creatures… or is perv the word I’m looking for?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:43 a.m.
Loch: Baby, you can call me whatever you want, I just wanna know what you’ve got on
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:43 a.m.
Me: Why?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:43 a.m.
Loch: So when I jack off to thoughts of you here in a minute it’ll help me see you better
Oh, my damn! Another womb dip slammed me as my breath caught.
Holy gah!
Well, obviously I wasn’t feeling too bad about the way the evening had turned out. Man, I was one sick and twisted woman.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:44 a.m.
Me: Loch…
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:44 a.m.
Loch: Babe… tell me
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:44 a.m.
Me: A UDub t-shirt that was my brother’s
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:44 a.m.
Loch: Panties?
Yikes!
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:45 a.m.
Me: Yes…
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:45 a.m.
Loch: Color?
Holy crap. The man really needed a visual. And was I really going to give him spank bank material? Yes. Yes, I was. Ack!
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:45 a.m.
Me: Um… it’s kind of embarrassing
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:45 a.m.
Loch: Tell me
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:45 a.m.
Me: They’re kind of funny
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:46 a.m.
Loch: Babe, now
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:46 a.m.
Me: Wow, bossy much?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:46 a.m.
Loch: Tell me
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:46 a.m.
Me: It’s embarrassing
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:46 a.m.
Loch: NOW
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:46 a.m.
Me: Persistent, aren’t you? What’re YOU wearing? HUH?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:47 a.m.
Loch: Nothing
Holy jeez! Now that was a visual!
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:47 a.m.
Loch: Tell me or I’m coming over to see for myself
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:47 a.m.
Me: No!
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:47 a.m.
Loch: On my way
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:47 a.m.
Me: Okay, jeez! They’re Victoria’s Secret tiger striped ones that say “Roar” on the butt. Happy now?
I winced as I covered my face with my hand. Boy, a little peer pressure and I told all.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:48 a.m.
Loch: Extremely happy. Now, was that so bad?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:48 a.m.
Me: No but it was embarrassing
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:48 a.m.
Loch: Babe. Gotta learn to be open with me. I wanna get to know you better. I wanna know everything about you
If he only knew how little time he had.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:48 a.m.
Me: Okay. Will you tell me about The Little Prince tattoo?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:49 a.m.
Loch: Gotta promise not to get mad, yeah?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:49 a.m.
Me: Yeah…
I thought about his tattoo. I was too young to know how to love her. Was he still in love with someone from his past? Great.
Text Message—
Sat, Aug. 16, 12:49 a.m.
Loch: There was this girl
Yep. Here we went.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:49 a.m.
Loch: We grew up together. She was beautiful. She was also my best friend. And then she wasn’t.
Wait. What?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:50 a.m.
Loch: I have to tell you, I was a real asshole when I was younger and I was mean to her
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:50 a.m.
Me: Mean how?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:50 a.m.
Loch: I just did stupid shit like ignore her because I thought I was so fucking cool. One of the last times I talked to her, I was really rude
Oh, my God. My chest got tight and I wanted to think he was talking about me but I didn’t know if that was just my ego talking. Marcy had said he’d been mean to a lot of girls.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:51 a.m.
Loch: She moved before I could apologize. I can still see the look on her face. Told myself if I ever saw her again I’d set shit right but doubt I’ll ever get the chance. She probably fucking hates me anyway. I was pretty mean. Got the tattoo to remind me of her… and not to be a dick.
Damn! Why hadn’t I just told him who I was?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:51 a.m.
Loch: Not that I’m in love with her or anything but I’d like to tell her I’m sorry. But she’s probably some psycho bitch now who’s gonna hunt me down and make me pay for humiliating her or some shit lol
Uh.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:51 a.m.
Me: Well…
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:51 a.m.
Loch: You think it’s dumb
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:51 a.m.
Me: No, I don’t!
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:52 a.m.
Loch: So that’s the story behind it. Make sense?
It did. But then a thought came to me. What if he was talking about Samantha Hays? He’d embarrassed her about getting a free lunch when her dad had been laid off and then she’d moved to another school. And she’d been beautiful and I knew I hadn’t been anywhere close to beautiful when I was that age. I was hit with a wave of depression knowing he was probably talking about her and not me.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:52 a.m.
Me: Yes, it does
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:52 a.m.
Loch: You good?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:52 a.m.
Me: I’m good.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:52 a.m.
Loch: Tomorrow night, okay?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:53 a.m.
Me: Okay
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:53 a.m.
Loch: I’ll text you my address, yeah?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:53 a.m.
Me: Yeah
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:53 a.m.
Loch: Look, I like you a lot. You’re beautiful, intelligent, sweet, funny, hot… I didn’t mean to embarrass you earlier. You’re safe with me, you know
And there it was. He was being sweet again.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:53 a.m.
Me: Okay, Loch
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:54 a.m.
Loch: Talk to you tomorrow?
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:54 a.m.
Me: Okay
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:54 a.m.
Loch: Have sweet dreams
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:54 a.m.
Me: You too
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:54 a.m.
Loch: I will… especially knowing what you’ve got on… fuckin’ hot, babe ;)
I face-palmed myself again. How in the world had I gotten in this mess? I felt horrible flirting with him because of the big fat lie I’d spun and now knowing that he was pining for Samantha Hays I felt like a fool. Just brilliant.
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:54 a.m.
Me: Night, Loch
Text Message—Sat, Aug. 16, 12:55 a.m.
Loch: Night, baby xx
I set my phone on my nightstand angry that I hadn’t come clean with him from the beginning. Why hadn’t I just told him who I was and what a prick he’d been when we were younger and maybe he would’ve apologized and we could’ve started over. But nooooo, I had to keep things under wraps then weave this stupid web of lies that I’d never get out of unscathed.
Turning on my side I put my hand under my pillow and curled my knees up in my typical falling to sleep position. And just as I was drifting off, I hoped that he hadn’t been talking about Samantha and wanting to find her. I also hoped that when I told him I couldn’t see him anymore, he’d understand.
But I doubted he would.
~*~*~*~
“So how’d it go last night?” Marcy asked when I emerged from my room around nine the next morning.
Cripes. I hadn’t expected her to be home that early and my stumbling over my own feet proved it. I’d only gotten up early for a Saturday because we all know a guilty conscience won’t let you sleep and wasn’t I the lucky one.
“Uh…” I offered.
She spooned her cereal into her mouth and accused, “You didn’t do it, did you?”
I pulled the Pop-Tarts box from the cabinet proceeding to open the package then the wrapper and put them in the toaster, a bit annoyed at my failure to perform Triple C last night. Really, I think I was just annoyed at Triple C itself. But as I stood watching the toaster taking its sweet time, I found I was actually annoyed at everything. Turning to get the milk out of the fridge I poured myself a glass and stated grumpily to Marcy, “I told you I wasn’t going to do it.”
I took a drink and over the top of my glass saw her shrug indifferently which made me even grouchier because she was the one who’d come up with the plan in the first place. A plan I hadn’t wanted to execute from the start. Jeez. So afraid I’d say something rude, I turned back to the toaster and waited for my pastries to pop up. Eight billion years later, they were done and I placed them on a paper towel then went to sit at the table.
We sat in silence for a while before I shared quietly, “I really like him, Marce.”
I watched as she leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes and sighing. She then opened her eyes and canted her head to the side to look at me. “Has he really changed?”
I shrugged now. “I think he has. He was so nice to me last night. He was nice to everyone. And he’s a really, really good kisser.” I took a bite of the deliciousness that was frosted Pop-Tarts, barely holding back a groan.
I saw a smirk appear on her face as she watched at me. “Of course he is. He’s a Powers. They’re supposedly all sex gods.” She wasn’t lying with that statement but I snorted when she rolled her eyes after saying it.
“I’m, um, supposed to go to his place tonight to watch movies.”
She sat up and pushed her bowl to the side, clasping her hands on the table and leaning on her forearms raising her eyebrows at me. “I guess that means you’re gonna get laid then, huh?”
“Marcy!” I snapped. “I don’t even know him!”
“So?”
“So? So I don’t sleep with guys I don’t know!” Kissed their face off and practically humped their leg, but sex? No!
Jesus, I was ridiculous.
“You’ve never had a one-night stand?”
“No.” I narrowed my eyes at her. She knew this about me but I could see she was holding back. “Why’re you grinning? What! You’ve had one?”
She nodded. “Jeff Marshall. Senior year.”
“Shut up! He was, like, the second hottest guy in class next to Loch!”
“At Tad Dillard’s party right before graduation. Knew I didn’t want a relationship with him because he’s at Flori
da playing football now and the whole long-distance shit wasn’t for me. But, yep, I nailed him.”
“Holy cow,” I muttered kind of in awe of my best friend.
“He called for three weeks straight. Tried walking me to class for two. But I told him it wouldn’t work. And holy crap, he was such an alpha, so pushy and bossy, which was great during the sex, and I almost gave in and dated him since he wouldn’t take no for an answer but figured it wouldn’t go anywhere so I stuck to my guns.” I thought I saw some regret in her face. Hm. “I dated a guy, Anthony, from UDub last year who was like that. Straight alpha. Bossy. Pushy. Amazing at sex. Best six months of my life.”
I wanted to laugh at the faraway look she got but then I realized something.
“Loch’s like that,” I relayed, my eyes big thinking about how he’d been bossy last night.
She came out of her fog then said with a chuckle, “I thought he would be.”
“That’s part of the reason I didn’t get to tell him. It was like he knew how he wanted everything to go and then made it happen. Come to think of it, he kind of railroaded me into seeing him tonight.”
“Better watch out then ‘cause before you know it, you’ll be under the covers with him and you’ll have no idea how you got there. But you’ll love it.” She got that wistful look in her eyes again.
What she said made me think. Could I be comfortable sleeping with Loch tonight even though we didn’t really know each other? No, I don’t think I could.
“I know it sounds old-fashioned, but I think you have to know the person, care about them, to give your body to them.” She raised an eyebrow. “Don’t get me wrong! One-night stands have their place. I get it if that’s all you want. I’m just saying I’d want more with Loch, that’s all. Is that weird?”
“Not weird at all. I understand.”
“But, man, I’d love to bang him.” This made her crack up. I smiled too. “It’s been a long time since I got laid. Jared and I broke up last April and since we hadn’t been together for a month before that,” I counted on my fingers, “I’m going on six months of no sex, and Loch had me so hot and bothered last night that I don’t know if I can keep from jumping his bones if I go tonight.” Crap.
“So you told him who you really are then?”
My hand stopped in midair as I was leading the Pop-Tart to my mouth to give myself another mouth-gasm and I grimaced when I looked at her. “Uh, not yet.”
That got her attention and she bit off, “What?”
Loch (The Powers That Be Book 3) Page 6
