by Vicki Green
Days pass and I’ve gotten into a new routine. HT and I are alternating spending the nights at each other’s place. Only, the first night he tried to spend the night at mine, Willy wouldn’t allow us to have sex. Jealous mutt. He’d growl, whine, whimper, and even tried to bite HT’s foot when he climbed into bed. Then, the first night I tried to stay with HT at his place, we could hear Willy crying through the wall! I couldn’t even have sex! I was so upset. By our third try, this time at my place, HT moved Willy’s castle into the living room in the corner and brought him a big rawhide bone, and lo and behold, Willy settled into his castle and chewed – all night! Well, until he finally fell asleep with a happy tummy. HT surprised me and Willy both by buying another castle, only bigger and better, for his house. And he also got him a dog house for outside at his place too! Bowls, toys – he totally went all out trying to win him over.
And the sex? Oh. My. God! I’m deliciously sore so often now that I’m used to it. I walk into the shop every morning with a smile on my face, a little bit of a limp, and raised eyebrows from my staff. Thing is, I’ve noticed Addie and Jax talking more and more yet when I approach them, you know to clean or – something, they’d quit talking. Odd. I really like Addie and feel like we’re more than just employer/employee. And I love how my friends like Jax. It makes me feel good. But something’s just off between them, and I can’t figure out what. It’s frustrating!
“Good grief, Rylie. You’re being paranoid.” After a couple of weeks, I told Molly what I was feeling about Addie and Jax, after continuously finding them talking, or laughing, or just shutting up mid-sentence when I would come close. It’s making me crazy! “I swear! It’s all those romance books! You have a way too overactive imagination and they don’t help.”
She’s right, of course, but they’re my world. Okay, my shop is first, the second in my world. Oh. My. God! Jax! I can’t believe that my beloved romance books have now moved down my priority list to third place. Gasp! Make that fourth place after my friends. Gasps, again! I wonder if I can put them at the same priority as my friends. Suddenly, everything makes sense! Just like in the books I love, there’s always some jealousy, angst, and things that try to cause trouble between the female and male character, trying to break them apart. Wow! Why didn’t I think about this before? There’s always something that causes either character to make things worse by imagining the worst about someone or something that they see. It always ends up that it’s nothing, so I should treat it like that as well. “Molly!” I stand, kiss the top of her head, and start to walk out of the kitchen and into the shop. “You are a genius!” I smile as I hear her quietly say she knows.
Chapter 16
We’re a month away from the signing, and I’m growing more and more anxious and nervous every day. To think I’ll get to meet some of my favorite authors – talk to them, take pictures with them, and finally find out if J. Stearns is male or female. Seriously, I don’t know why it matters so much, but it does. I might be a little too giddy, which is causing time to stand still. I need it to move forward fast, in the worst way.
But today – today we go back to the cabin!
It’s been a month since we’ve taken the drive, so there are no nerves but the trees leaves have turned to vibrant reds, burnt orange and yellow. Beautiful! I’ve been snapping pictures on my iPhone as we speed by. Now, I’m just sitting back and enjoying it. I scan the inside of his SUV, black interior, built in GPS, satellite radio, and a ton of buttons built into the steering wheel.
“Would you like to drive?” My eyes snap up to his. Damn that dimple! I let out a snort, in fact, I keep laughing. “What?” He smiles and there goes my dry panties! I stop and think. I’m not sure I brought enough with me this time.
“I don’t have a driver’s license.” I snort, again.
His mouth lifts into a smile. “We can go get you one when we get back.”
Shaking my head, I laugh harder. “No – we can’t.”
He tilts his head in confusion. “Why not?”
“I don’t know how to drive.” Oh my! I haven’t laughed this hard in a while.
His brows lower as he tries to keep his eyes on the road and me. “You’re serious?”
“Serious as a heartbeat.” I hold up a pinky. He shakes his head then laughs. “What? You don’t know about pinky promises?” He laughs harder still shaking his head. “Oh, my God! You dare to say men can like chick-flicks and romance novels, but you don’t know what a pinky promise is?” This has been the funniest car ride to the cabin yet. I’m totally yankin’ his chain. I would be a little terrified if he knew about pinky promises. After all, he is – all man, with a soft side. “Hold up your hand.” He releases the wheel with his right hand and holds it up between us. I reach over and wrap my pinky finger around his. “See. Pinky promise. This is like solemnly swearing but even more powerful. This cannot be broken or something horrible will happen.” My face scrunches as I tell him. I’m totally serious when I say this. I mean, I’m klutzy enough but to break a pinky promise – someone would probably die. By accident.
“You should know how to drive.” So bossy. I kinda like that. “I mean, you’re what – twenty?” God, I love him!
I sit up straight with my chin up. “I turned twenty-one a few months ago. But thank you for the compliment.”
He shakes his head, again. “How do you get to the grocery store?”
“Walk. It’s only a few blocks away.”
“What if you needed to go to the doctor?”
“Only a couple blocks over.”
“Okay. What if you had an emergency and needed to go to the hospital?” He nods, thinking he’s got me. I wink.
“If it was an emergency, I’d call for an ambulance.” I give him a teasing smirk. He lets out a long breath.
“It’s just weird that you don’t know how to drive and it seems like you don’t even want to learn. Everyone should learn how to drive.” He’s really bent out of shape over this. This is fun! “Okay.” Here we go, again. “How are you going to get to the Ridgemont Author Event you’re so excited about? That’s clearly a half an hour drive. You can’t walk there.” He smirks back, playfully. I think.
“We’ll take a cab. No biggie.” I beam.
His grip on the wheel tightens, and he looks frustrated. I don’t get why this is such a big deal to him. I’ve gone all my life without needing to drive, why would I need to start now?
“I’ll teach you.”
“No, thank you.”
“Why?”
Is he kidding? I turn as much as I can with the seatbelt inhibiting me. “Look. That’s like a BIG accident waiting to happen. Trust me on this. Please?” He shakes his head, not giving up. Stubborn! “Jax. Do you not remember trying to teach me how to fish? The hook! I’d probably kill someone.”
We pull up to the cabin, and he shuts off the engine and unbuckles his belt, then turns to me. Taking my hand, he smiles at me. “I could teach you out here. No one will be around.” With my free hand, I unbuckle my belt and turn more toward him. He reaches over and tucks some of my long hair behind my ear. Tucks my hair behind my ear! Just like in the books I read! Oh, my God! “Everyone will be safe and you can learn to drive. Please? Let me do this for you.”
I suck in the inside of my mouth then tilt my head. “Why is it so important to you?”
He leans in and kisses me quickly then moves back but only enough so that we can look into each other’s eyes. “Because even though you’re a strong, independent woman, some day you might need to drive somewhere. You’re smart, loving and beyond beautiful.” Damn. I really need those dry panties. He’s killing me here. “I have no doubt you will be an amazing driver and will learn quickly.” Well shit. How can I say no to that?
I suck in my cheek again and shrug. “Okay. But one favor?”
“Anything.”
Oh my!
“First, can we wait until tomorrow? I’d like one day being alone with you before we start.” He nods, grinning. “Second, can you make sure to wear an extra seatbelt or something? I don’t want to kill you.” He laughs, but I’m totally serious. I reach up and rub my finger over the faint scar on his cheek. “You were teaching me how to fish and this happened. Imagine what I could do with a car.” His laughter grows as he pulls me into him, holding me tightly. I’m really not kidding.
By the time we unloaded his car and took it all inside, I was ready for something to eat. We’d gotten a late start today as I’d gone into the shop to help Molly and Addie with getting the place ready to open. It’s the least I could do. Along with promises of me and Jax helping to move Molly into her condo next weekend if she took care of Willy for me. Jax wanted to bring him but I don’t think I’m ready for that. I don’t even think Willy’s ready for that. He grumbles at the slightest change in his life as it is. Maybe next time. We’ll see.
“If you want, you can put some of your things in these two drawers. Leave them here, if you’d like.” He gave me drawers! “And there’s hangers on one side of the closet. Consider that your side.” My shirts will be hanging in his closet with his! He walks over to me as I empty my duffle bag on the bed and grasps my arm, turning me to face him. “I kinda....” He swallows hard, and I’m transfixed on his Adam’s apple moving down then up. “Well, I….” Okay, something is wrong. It’s not like him to stutter. That’s my job! “I just want you to feel comfortable here.” Now I swallow hard, his words so touching as his hand rubs my arm, soothingly, making my skin tingle. “Is it weird that I feel this way so quickly?” he asks and laughs. Okay, I don’t think this is really the time to laugh. He leans down and kisses my forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment. Then he moves back to the position he was in before. “Sorry. I was thinking about some of the chick-flicks, how the girl and guy hook up so fast and everyone around rolls their eyes saying – I hate insta love.” Did he say (gulp) love? “I mean, I don’t even know if you believe in such a thing.” He stares into my eyes. “There’s so much I don’t know about you, so much I want to learn.” Wow! He grows serious again. “I don’t want to scare you off but….” I’d feel like we’re having a stare out, but his eyes keep searching mine. I just don’t know what he’s searching for. “I’m falling hard and fast for you, Coffee Girl.”
I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I’m so full of emotions. To think that he’s falling for me as fast as I’m falling for him, makes me….
I throw myself at him, my mouth covering his. I can’t get close enough, feel him enough. Reaching down, I grab the hem of his shirt, both of us tilting our heads every which way, kissing hard, while I try to pull his shirt off. Problem is, he’s trying to get my bra unclasped from underneath my shirt, and his arms are restricting mine. “Let me, just….” I tug and tug but can’t budge his shirt.
“Wait! Your bra is more important!” He’s so totally a boob man.
His mouth is back on mine, and I try a different tactic. Pushing my hands against his chest, I get them under his arms and breathe a sigh of relief in his mouth as I fist his shirt from the back and start pulling it up. Our kissing continues, and he’s still fumbling with my bra. I finally get his shirt over his head and feel like I’ve accomplished something, only it goes over both our heads, and now it’s stuck there.
“Fuck this,” he growls.
I gasp as he tears my bra, freeing my ladies – who are extremely overjoyed. He breaks our kiss long enough to pull my shirt over my head and grab his shirt that our heads are cocooned in, pulling them off together, then his mouth is back on mine. “I’ll buy you a new one.” Then we’re back to kissing and sucking, hands tugging and clothes flying. By the time we’re naked, he lifts me into his arms and practically throws me onto the bed. I bounce. My ladies bounce. And his eyes widen and darken as they watch them bounce. Leaning down, he grabs a condom from his jeans. Does he always have them in there? He throws it at me and then jumps on me in between my legs, like a panther pouncing on his prey. His lips quickly suck on a nipple. Licking. Nipping. God! He feels so good!
For being in such a rush, he sure is taking his time with that one breast. Then he kisses the skin through the valley of my breasts and gives the other one the same attention. My hands find his hair, and I can’t help but tug as the butterflies in my stomach start fluttering. He releases my breast with a “pop”, then starts kissing down my ribs, my stomach, and – oh! His mouth covers my aching clit, then sucks, and his tongue – and…. Oh, my God, his tongue! “Fuck you’re drenched.” He has no idea! I’m panting. My hips are bucking, pushing against his mouth harder, his tongue deeper, and those butterflies are about to take flight. He continues but quickens his sensual torture, his hands digging into my hips to hold them down.
“JAX!” I yell as the light dims around me, my orgasm running through my system faster than the speed of light, temporarily blinding me. I’m soaring, flying high, and feeling so desired, so loved that it’s almost overwhelming.
He pushes inside me, the feel of his hardened cock filling me keeps my orgasm lingering. He’s relentless, pulling out until only the tip is inside then ramming into me. God! I love it! I grab his large biceps, his skin slick with sweat. Another orgasm begins to build quickly as he reaches down and starts rubbing my clit along with his movements. It’s too much. It’s amazing. It’s….
“RYLIE!” he screams my name the same time my orgasm hits me.
“Coffee Girl?”
I feel drained. Every bone in my body is mush. I can’t move. I don’t even have the strength to open my eyes. Maybe I’m dead. Death by orgasm. God, what a way to go.
“Here. Drink this.” I open my mouth, and that took a lot for me to do, and feel cool water trickle down my throat. That tastes so good! “More?” I barely nod and he delivers. Finally, I open my eyes, slowly, and see his face full of concern. “Better?”
“Yes.” My voice cracks. “Thank you.”
He leans down and kisses my cheek then stands. “Be right back.”
I watch him walk out of the room and look down, noticing I’m in one of his t-shirts with the covers pulled up over me. Tilting my head down more, I take a deep breath, filling my nose with his amazing scent from his shirt.
“Did you just smell my shirt?”
He walks in carrying a tray and sets it down on the nightstand. I smile. “Maybe?” That makes him laugh. I feel so relaxed, like I just exercised at a gym or had a great massage. Moving my legs as he pulls up a chair, still shirtless and only in boxers – I just want to mention that I can feel the soreness between them, and I don’t think where I’m sore I can get that from a gym or spa.
“What’s so funny?” He reaches for something on the tray and holds a green grape against my mouth. Did I snort out loud? I suck the grape into my mouth and close my eyes at the delicious taste. “You’re adorable.” I open my eyes, blinking rapidly. “And beautiful.” He feeds me another grape. “And I’m hoping – you’re all mine.” I start coughing, the grape lodged at the back of my throat. He stands, grabbing my upper arms and pulling me up, patting my back.
The grape finally makes its way down, and I look up at him, letting out a cough or two. “What did you say?”
He sits on the edge of the mattress and takes my hand. “I know it’s probably too soon, but….” He looks down then back up into my eyes. “Will you be mine?”
My mouth lifts into a smile. I feel giddy. Okay, who really says giddy? “I heard you the first time but wanted to hear it again.”
He tackles me, not caring that I almost choked to death, and starts tickling me. “You!” I start laughing and can’t catch my breath as he continues his tickle torture. I’m trying to push away his hands, legs flailing everywhere, when suddenly….
“Oomph! Fuck!”
; He stills then curls up into a fetal position, his hands covering his…. Oh, shit!
“Oh, my God! I’m so sorry!” I jump up on the mattress and get on my knees, hovering over him. “What can I do? What can I get?” Not his Hot Tamale!
“Ice,” he says through gritted teeth.
Hopping off the bed, I race down the hall to the kitchen and grab the dish towel hanging on a cabinet handle, open the freezer and fill the towel with ice. I run back, falling onto a knee as I trip in the hall, then back into the bedroom. I sit down next to him and push away his hands, tenderly placing the ice there. I rub my left knee and continue to hold the ice when he looks up at me. His eyes move to my knee. “What happened? Are you okay?” He’s hurt and worried about me. Again.
“Oh this? It’s nothing,” I say, waving my hand in the air.
I’m going to end up maiming him or worse, kill him. I fear for his life. “Stop.” I look into his eyes. He reaches up and cups the side of my face. “I like you. I like everything about you, even your klutziness.” I open my mouth but he stops me by placing a finger over my lips. “Don’t worry. I’m tough. I can take it. I’ll take anything you give me.” Tears fill my eyes. That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me. “What’s wrong, Coffee Girl?” He removes his fingers and brushes some hair behind my ear.
“I love you.”
Chapter 17
You know when you send an email and you click send only to shout at your computer screen “Nooooo!” when you figure out you shouldn’t have said what you did and now you can’t take it back? Yeah, this was kinda like that only, I meant it. Every girl doesn’t want to say those words first, and every guy doesn’t want to say them first either. It’s like a tug of war. The guy might try to cover his tracks, and the girl might plead that she’s on her period, or say she’s insane with hormones. Yet as soon as I said them, I didn’t want to take them back, but I was scared of what his reaction would be. I mean, we’ve only known each other a few months but here he’s wanting me to have my things in his cabin. Two drawers. A side of a closet. Then he said he wanted me to be his. Open invitation, right? To a girl, period or no period, she’s gonna think the guy really likes her. Like really, really likes her. Right? Maybe even love? Oh, my God! What if he only likes me and doesn’t feel the same as I do, and I just destroyed everything by saying how I felt? What if I moved too fast and….?
