by Kim Loraine
I wake in the dark, indescribable pleasure taking over my brain as the warmth of Hazel's mouth engulfs my erect cock. "Fuck," I groan. Her hands slide up my thighs until she's cupping my balls with one and stroking along the base of my dick with the other.
She works me over, bringing me to the brink in seconds. For a virgin, she knows exactly what I need. My balls tighten, tingles build in the base of my spine, my toes curl. Fuck, I'm going to come. I grip her hair and tug slightly, making her moan. "Baby, I want to be inside you."
Hazel doesn't stop. She sucks harder, faster, in earnest. My little virgin wants to make me come, she wants to swallow me down and taste my pleasure. That thought sends me right over the edge and into oblivion. I groan and spill my seed in nearly painful bursts of pleasure. She takes it all, a moan vibrating in the back of her throat that only extends my orgasm.
"Jesus, Hazel," I say as she releases my cock and crawls up my body. "Where did you learn that?"
A soft laugh falls from her. "You can learn a lot on Tumblr."
I chuckle and hold her tight to me. "I can picture it now, my sweet Hazel, scrolling through all the porn."
"Have you ever searched your name on there? I didn't realize how many steamy scenes you've done until I did that."
"Wait. You searched for me? I thought you didn't do social media."
She giggles. "I didn't say I live under a rock. I might not have profiles online, but I know how to use the internet. I mean, you propositioned me after one kiss. I couldn't resist after that."
"And you ran off. You could've had firsthand experience. No Tumblr necessary."
Her shoulders tense, and she rolls off me. "I was scared. I didn't know how to tell you I was a virgin."
"Hey, I'm...I'm sorry. I didn't mean..." I don't know what I should say. I wanted her then, I have her now. "I was kidding. I get it. In all honesty, I was a presumptuous asshole when we first met. You deserve better than that. I'm just glad I got the opportunity because you're amazing."
She stands, refusing to look at me. "I'm going to my room."
Panic snakes around my heart. "What? Why?"
"Because I want more. I want this to be more, and I know it's not. It's better if I keep that in mind. Sleeping in your bed isn't going to make the end of this any easier."
"It doesn't have to end." The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.
"Jameson..."
"No. Hear me out." I grab her hand and pull her back to the bed. "After Kaia goes back to her mom, I'm leaving for LA. I'll be there for three months."
"That sounds promising." Sarcasm drips from her.
"Come with me."
"What?"
"I said, come with me. I want you all the damn time, Hazel. I can't stand the idea of you being gone."
She shakes her head. "No. I can't just uproot my life for you."
"I don't understand. You don't have a job waiting for you. Why can't you come with me?"
"It's the principle of the thing. I can't leave everything for a guy. I promised myself I'd never do that."
My phone vibrates on my nightstand, a 9-1-1 text from Carter, my agent. "Shit, hold that thought."
I check the message and my gut clenches.
Laura sold you out. TMZ broke the news about Kaia. Pictures from the lake. Speculating an affair with ur nanny.
"Goddamn vultures," I grumble.
"What is it?"
"The paparazzi. They broke the story about Kai. Pictures and everything." I click the link and scroll through the article which makes me out to be a deadbeat dad and Laura the poor abandoned mother. I show Hazel and her hands start shaking.
"You said they never bothered you here."
"They haven't, until now. My ex sold this story to them."
"I can't...I can't do this." There's real fear in her voice, but also anger.
"What are you so afraid of?"
Her eyes find mine, tears swimming in their depths. "I don't want this. I don't want to be on gossip sites or part of any of your publicity."
"Publicity? You think I'm using this as publicity?"
She tears her fingers from my grasp and rushes to the door, glancing over her shoulder as she opens it and steps into the hall. "I'm sorry. Goodnight, Jameson."
Chapter 12
Jameson
She's gone. Hazel left me...left us. When I woke up this morning, I went down to make coffee, hoping I'd find her watching the sunrise again, and instead, there was a note.
Jameson and Kaia,
I'm sorry. Something urgent came up and I had to leave. My good friend Posey will be here in the morning. Kai, you'll love her. She's as fun as Mary Poppins, and she loves to read too. Have fun in the city tomorrow. Don't run off. Face the things that scare you.
Love,
Hazel
My chest feels like it's going to explode with anxiety. I can't run after her. Kaia is still sleeping, and I have no clue where to go. Grabbing my phone, I scroll through my contacts until I find her number. I call her. No answer. I call again. Straight to voicemail. "Fuck!" I shout, slamming my hand on the counter.
"Daddy?" Kaia's sleepy voice jolts me out of my own head.
"I'm sorry, honey. Why are you up? It's early."
"I had a bad dream. I couldn't find Hazel."
Shit. Fucking shit. The forlorn expression on her face is killing me. "She had to go, sweetheart. She had something important to do."
"More important than finding the cupcake machine with me?"
"It's...grown-up stuff, kiddo. I can't really explain. But I know you're super important to her."
I pour her a bowl of cereal and start making coffee, but this time I only get out one mug. I don't know how I fucked this up, but she ran from me--again.
"Go find her, Daddy."
I wish I could fix this for her. There's a knock on my door and for a beat, I think it might be her. But Hazel has a key. She'd let herself in if she came back to us. Dread curls in my gut on my way to the foyer. I don't want another woman in this house. Hazel is the only one who belongs here.
A tall woman with a round face and a spray of freckles across her nose smiles as soon as I open the door.
"Hi, I'm Posey." She gives me the once-over. "And from the look on your face, Hazel just fucked everything up, didn't she?"
"That's none of your business." I can't help but get defensive. This is my fault, not Hazel's. I dove in head first and thought I could take her with me, make her see that this was the right choice. Instead, I scared the shit out of her--again. I should have known better.
Posey holds both hands up and a grin quirks up the side of her mouth. "Okay, sorry. I just wanted you to know I'm on your side here. Hazel's always been skittish when it comes to anything to do with relationships."
I gesture for her to come inside, and we walk to the living room. "What do you mean, skittish?"
Posey lets out a long breath. "You know she's not on social media, right?" When I nod, she continues. "It's not because she doesn't like it. It's because she's very private after what happened before she moved here."
"What happened?"
"Hazel dated a guy in college, not for very long, but he became...intense. He started stalking her. It got scary and for a while, he wouldn't stop. She got a restraining order, deleted all her social media profiles, changed her phone number, and eventually moved."
"Did he go away?"
She nods. "He was arrested for breaking and entering. That's when she decided to leave. She doesn't even like to have her picture taken because she's afraid he'll see and come after her."
Cold fear lodges in my gut. Pictures. The fucking pictures.
I drag a hand through my hair and pace in front of the window. "And here I am asking her to run away with me to LA. We'd be prime targets for the press."
She cocks an eyebrow. "You asked her to come with you?"
"I was going to ask her a lot more than that, but she ran."
"Listen, I know Hazel pretty damn we
ll. If you feel like this about her, I doubt it's one-sided. Give her some time, and then go after her."
"I'm not a patient man."
"Well, you might have to change your ways if you want to keep Hazel."
That doesn't sit right with me. How could letting her leave be the right thing for us? Hazel should be here, with me, in my arms. There's no reality where her not being with me makes sense. Instead of responding, I make my way to the kitchen where I see Kaia pouting over her cereal. She looks up when I come into the room, and her gaze locks on the woman behind me.
"Kai, this is Posey. She's going to come with us today."
"I don't want to go." Kaia's voice is wobbly with emotion. It's so different from the obstinate firecracker I usually see.
"I know this isn't what you wanted, but we'll still have fun. I'll take you to find the cupcake machine, we can go to the zoo if you want. I promise, we'll have a great time." I drop a kiss on the top of her head and wrap my arm around her, giving her a squeeze. "Go on and get ready. We have to leave in about an hour."
She crosses her arms over her chest and frowns at me, but doesn't answer. Instead, she gets off her stool and stomps out of the room. I hear her footfalls all the way up the stairs, but at least she's moving and not planting her little butt in place.
I sigh and brace my hands on the counter, hanging my head as I try to keep it together. I know it's ridiculous, but my heart is fucking broken. Hazel left me, Kaia's going to be taken back by her mom, and I'll be right back where I was before I met Hazel--alone.
My phone is in my hand before I can stop myself, and I'm dialing Hazel's number. I can't wait for her to be ready because I've already spent too much time without her.
The phone rings, and rings, and rings, eventually rolling the call to voicemail. "You've got Hazel. Leave me a message."
Her voice sends a mixture of euphoria and pain through me. It's not enough. "Hazel..." My voice cuts out, and I have to start again. "Fuck, Hazel. I'm sorry." I drag a hand through my hair and sigh. "No, you know what? I'm not sorry. I can't control the press, but I can keep you safe. I'll do everything in my power to keep you protected. I want you. You're it for me, and I'm not going away until you can honestly say you don't want me. You can have today, but I get tomorrow. We will talk about this."
I hang up, hands shaking. This is really my last chance to win her. But first--the city.
Chapter 13
Hazel
I heave a sigh of relief when a text comes through from Posey telling me she's at Jameson's house. Guilt follows immediately like a punch to the gut. I left him because the prospect of life in the spotlight terrifies me. He terrifies me. I'm feeling too much too soon. What if Andy comes back? What if he comes after Jameson and Kaia because of me? I can't risk them. But why does it hurt so much to think I'll never see him or Kaia again?
My feet hit the pavement as I start to jog through town--aimless and desperate for distraction despite the ominous purple clouds on the horizon. I'm not a runner, but I can't sit at home wallowing. I turn my music up as I pick up my pace, but Jameson has solidified his place in my thoughts--front and center. I run fast and hard, desperate to hold in the heartache that keeps threatening to send me into tears.
The farther I go, the more certain I am that I made a fatal mistake in leaving. Am I really doing myself any favors by letting fear of Andy terrorize the rest of my life? By being unhappy without the man I've fallen so hard for? No. Andy doesn't have any power over me. He can't control me or my life.
My phone rings and my heart lurches when I see Jameson's name on the screen, but I ignore it and let the call go to voicemail. I can't have this conversation over the phone. I have to get back to my car. Fat raindrops fall from the sky, hitting my cheeks and soaking into my clothes. By the time I get back to my car, my low ponytail is plastered down my back, and I'm sure I look like a drowned rat. But I'm not going home. I won't have time to get home, change, and to Jameson before they leave for the city.
I pull up to the gate and punch in the code. My hands are shaking so bad I miss and end up having to put it in twice. Flashing blue and red lights greet me in the driveway, and, in that moment, my world stops spinning. I don't really see anything around me as I rush out of my car and up the walk to the front door. Bursting into the hall, I'm greeted with a distraught looking Posey who is talking to a police officer, and then there's Jameson. His beautiful face is etched with worry, but his eyes spark with...something when he sees me.
"What happened?" I ask, breathing hard, heart pounding.
"Kaia," he says, his voice breaking. "She ran off. She was supposed to be getting ready to go, but she must've climbed out her window."
"How long has she been gone?"
"Maybe an hour."
I cross the floor and wrap my arms around this man. This man I'm certain I'm in love with. "We'll find her."
He threads his fingers in my hair and takes a shuddering breath. "I tried to call."
I nod, burying my face in his chest. "I know. I didn't want to do this over the phone."
"Don't." His nose nuzzles my neck. "Don't break my heart right now. I can't take it when my daughter is missing."
"I love you, Jameson."
His breath catches before he pulls back to stare at me. "What did you just say?"
"I said, I love you. I realized it before I left. I thought I was doing the right thing. There's a lot I need to tell you."
"I know. Posey told me about the asshole who stalked you. I promise, Hazel, I'll never let him come near you."
"I was trying to keep you safe. But I don't want to go through my life without taking a chance to be yours. Even if you decide my crazy isn't what you want. I'd rather live knowing that for a time, you were mine."
"I will always be yours." God, he makes my knees weak.
"I think I have an idea of where Kaia might be," I say, pulling away from him. "Can we leave the house?"
He looks at the cop, and the woman nods. "Just make sure your phone is on in case we locate her, or she comes back here."
Jameson gives a tight dip of his head and links our fingers. He pulls me to his car, and we both slide inside the vintage Jaguar. Then as the engine purrs, he stares at me expectantly. "Where to?"
"The bookstore."
He frowns, his distinctive brows furrowing. "It's closed."
"Trust me."
His hand links with mine as he backs down the driveway. "Always."
My heart is racing with each second that passes. If I'm wrong, we're wasting precious time. Oh, God, what if I'm wrong? My shoulders ache with tension, and when we turn onto Main Street and the hanging sign for the bookstore, I have to peel my fingers off my knee. I'm sure I'll have bruises from gripping my leg so hard.
I see her before Jameson does, or at least, I react first. "Thank God," I breathe, taking in her little form. She's huddled under the shelter of the awning, dressed in a pair of galaxy leggings and a Star Wars dress. Her arms are wrapped tight around her middle and by the look of her, she's realized she made a big mistake.
"You were right," Jameson says, his tone heavy with relief.
He parks the car and without another word we're both outside, in the rain, running to Kaia. Jameson pulls her to him, his big hand cradling the back of her head as he hugs her tight.
"Don't ever do that again, Kai. I was so scared. Every time you run off, you take a piece of me with you."
My heart can't take much more before I'm nothing but a puddle. I'm falling harder for him with every passing moment. Every soft kiss he presses to the top of her head, stroke of her hair, and the words he's saying are so heart felt...I'm gone for him.
Kaia looks at me over her dad's shoulder, big brown eyes cautious. "You left," she says. Those two words cutting me down quicker than anything else could.
"I'm sorry," I whisper.
Jameson turns and releases Kaia, his blue gaze locking on mine, and there's so much love there I know I can make this right.
/> "Kai," I start, crouching down to her level. "I'm really sorry. I got...well, I got scared."
"But you said to do things that scare me. How can you say that but not do it?"
"You're right. That's why I came back."
"For me?"
I nod, fighting tears. "For you and your dad."
Her smile is bright enough to light up a room. "Really?"
"Yes."
Jameson stares at me with a wide smile to match his daughter's. "Come on. I need to get my girls home."
A thrill runs through me at him calling me his girl. I've confessed my love, opened my heart, now all that's left is for him to tell me how he feels. But I know. I feel it in my bones. Jameson loves me.
He threads our fingers, but Kaia pushes her way between us, fitting her little hands in ours. "Are you guys going to get married now?"
I start to tell her no, but Jameson clears his throat. "Way to steal my thunder, kiddo." My heart leaps, and then his gaze is on me. "Hazel, I knew you were meant for me that night we met at the club. I shouldn't have let you slip through my fingers then, and I'm not going to now. I love you. I want you to be mine in every sense of the word. Be my friend, but be more than that. Be my wife."
Is this really happening? Jameson Donoghue is proposing to me in the pouring rain. My knees wobble, but Kaia squeezes my hand. "You're supposed to say yes."
I laugh and wipe the tears from my eyes. "Yes, Jameson. Absolutely, yes."
Epilogue
Jameson
I stand at the altar, my hands shaking as I wait for the music to start. After three months in LA, Hazel and I are finally getting married. Waking up with her every morning, making her pancakes and watching the sunrise together with our coffee has been exactly what I needed. Hazel is the one woman who can make being in Hollywood bearable.
