Jack Hammer

by Tabatha Vargo

  My eyes flittered around the massive room. Old shelves lined the walls full of books covered in dust. Old statues stared down at us, and cobwebs danced in the air coming in through the cracked walls. The place looked haunted and long forgotten, but even I knew a chain on the door meant stay out.

  She moved closer to me, looking up at me from under thick, dark lashes, and breathing became difficult.

  “What do you think about?”

  I shrugged. “Different things.”

  I shoved my hands in my pockets and lifted my shoulders. I wasn’t used to talking about personal things with anyone—not even my parents. They loved me and they wanted the best for me, but I don’t think they thought I was capable of taking anything seriously.

  I could feel Chelsey watching me out of the corner of my eye, and I was curious as hell to know what she was thinking. I wanted to know what she saw when she looked at me. I never wanted to mean something to someone so badly in my life. Her opinion of me mattered.

  I couldn’t explain it, but she was different—she was wise beyond our years. The way she looked at me made me feel like she could see the part of me I never let anyone else see.

  “Didn’t your mother tell you it’s not polite to stare?” I grinned over at her, and her eyes moved away from my face like she wasn’t staring at me.

  She nervously worried her bottom lip making me want to lick where her teeth were digging. Then she turned back to me and lifted her brow with a smirk.

  “Didn’t your mom tell you it’s illegal to break and enter?” she countered.

  Perfection.

  That’s what she was. I’d never met anyone like her. So smart. So sweet.

  The urge to pull her to me and kiss her was taking over. I moved closer and reached out for her hand. She didn’t pull away as I softly plucked at each of her fingers.

  “Chelsey,” I whispered her name into the glowing space around us.

  She swallowed her nerves, her throat working up and down and begging to be kissed. “Yeah?”

  “I want to kiss you again.”

  Again, she nibbled her bottom lip and I had to hold back the growl that was working its way up my throat.

  “You do?” she asked.

  I nodded and moved even closer. “But I figured I should probably ask first this time considering your reaction that last time.”

  I watched her expression hoping she wanted to kiss me again, too. She looked up at me through her thick lashes and her big, brown eyes gave me my answer, but I needed to hear her say it.

  “Was that you asking?” she asked.

  “No, this is me asking.”

  I moved in closer, my chest brushing hers. She took a step back, pressing herself into the wall of books behind her. I leaned into her, closing my eyes and leaning my forehead against hers. Her heartbeat banged against my own chest, and her sweet breath rushed against my lips.

  “Can I kiss you, Chelsey?”

  She leaned back and swallowed hard before she nodded her answer.

  “I need to hear you say yes, Little Doe.”

  She surprised me when she whispered, “Kiss me, Blaine.”

  I wasn’t about to wait for her to change her mind. I cupped her flushed cheeks, lifting her head until my lips found hers.

  She sighed, melting against me, and the soft growl that formed in the back of my throat moved past my lips. The second our lips touched I knew it wasn’t going to be enough. It would never be enough. I was always going to want more. More of her lips, more of her sighs—more of her.

  I let myself explore further, and my tongue traced the seam of her lips. I felt the shift in her body, and I took advantage of her tiny gasp. Moving my tongue into her parted lips, I tasted her. Her flavor rolled across my tongue, and I moaned at the sweetness of her. She met my tongue, her inexperience showing and driving me completely insane with want.

  I was the first, and I wanted to be all her firsts.

  I pressed against her firmly, needing to feel her body against mine from top to bottom. My cock hardened, and I knew if I didn’t put space between us she’d feel it against her. The last thing I wanted to do was scare her off.

  “What the—? How the hell did you kids get in here?”

  The angry growl and the bright light of a flashlight suddenly shining in our faces was unexpected. I pulled away from Chelsey in time to see a pissed off police officer charging toward us.

  Instinct took over and before I could think about the right and wrong ways to handle the situation, I was grabbing Chelsey’s hand and pulling her with me.

  The cop was quick, but we were quicker, and I managed to keep some distance between him and us. My only concern was getting Chelsey out of the building so she could get away.

  “Stop!” the officer yelled behind us, and I looked back to see how far behind he was.

  “Blaine!” Chelsey’s terrified scream sucked the air from my body.

  She came to a halt, yanking my hand with her as we came face to face with a second police officer.

  There was no other chance of escaping. We were fucked.

  7

  BLAINE

  I FELT LIKE A PIECE OF SHIT.

  There was no other way for me to feel as I watched the douchebag cop place the handcuffs around Chelsey’s delicate wrists. Anger swelled up inside my chest as he roughly shoved her into the back of the cop car next to me.

  Not that she’d care at that point, but I was fucking proud of her for not crying. Especially since it looked like that was all she wanted to do. She didn’t say a word, nor did she look at me, as the cop walked away and left us alone in the back of the car.

  “I’m so sorry, Chelsey. I never should’ve brought you here.”

  She didn’t say anything at first, and then she lifted her head and looked out the window.

  “I’m a big girl, Blaine. I knew the consequences if we got caught. It’s not your fault.”

  “Look at me and say that.”

  I needed to see her eyes and sweet smile. I needed her to look at me and then I could breathe. She took a deep breath and looked over at me. Our eyes found each other in the dark, and just like that, she made the earth spin again.

  “I promise I’m not mad at you,” she said.

  Part of me wanted her to be angry. I knew in the back of my mind I deserved her anger, but then again, I was angry enough for the both of us.

  “Don’t worry. I’m pissed enough at myself,” I muttered. And then another thought came to me. “Shit! This’ll go on your record.”

  “No it won’t.” She was talking to the window, her breath leaving a warm print on the cool glass.

  “What do you mean?”

  “That officer.” She pointed out the window. “His name is David Jennings. He’s a friend of my father’s.”

  “Fuck,” I hissed.

  There was no getting around her parents finding out now.

  “Yep.” She let out a deep breath. “My thoughts exactly.”

  “I’ll tell them I forced you to do it.”

  Her head snapped around, her eyes narrowing. “No you won’t, Blaine. I chose to come with you, and that’s exactly what I’m going to tell them. I told you, I’m a big girl. I don’t need you to protect me.”

  “Maybe not, but you definitely need someone to protect you from me.”

  Her face puckered and her brows dipped in confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Before I could respond, the doors opened and the two officers slid into the front seat of the car. The driver started up the engine and then turned to look back at us.

  “I called your parents, Chelsey.” He spoke to only her. “They’re going to meet us at the police station to take you home.”

  “What about Blaine?” she asked.

  If she had any fear that her parents were going to be there waiting for us, she didn’t show any.

  He cleared his throat and frowned. “Well, this isn’t Mr. Wesley’s first time breaking and entering. Is it Mr. W
esley?”

  Instead of answering, I turned and looked at the window as the old Library building disappeared behind us.

  “So, what does that mean?” she rushed on as if she was afraid I was about to tell him to fuck off.

  “He might do some actual time—maybe some probation or community service. House arrest might be good for him. And he’s looking at a brand new adult criminal record.”

  “You can’t see me, but I’m flipping you off,” I said with a cynical grin.

  “Blaine,” Chelsey hissed in warning.

  “I’d listen to your girlfriend, Mr. Wesley. You’re on thin ice.”

  “I’m not his girlfriend.” Chelsey was quick to correct him.

  I don’t know why, but it bugged me that she corrected him. I couldn’t blame her for wanting them to think we weren’t together. I guess technically we weren’t, and it was obvious anything happening between Chelsey and I wasn’t a great idea. It had only been one night with me and already she was sitting in the back of a cop car and being hauled off in handcuffs.

  The ride back to the police station was long. I watched Chelsey like a hawk, but not once did I expect her to break down in a fit over everything that happened. She already proved she was tougher than I gave her credit for.

  I admired the fact that Chelsey seemed to have it all figured out. She knew what she wanted for her future and she was hell bent on getting it. I, on the other hand, had no fucking clue what I was doing with my life.

  When we took a sharp turn, I was pushed into Chelsey. Our bodies aligned side by side and her body heat warmed me through my clothes.

  “Am I squishing you?” I whispered.

  Between the non-stop chatter over the police radio and loud conversation between officer douchebag one and officer douchebag two, I knew they weren’t paying us any attention.

  “Only a little,” she responded.

  I hated that I couldn’t push her hair back to see her face.

  “I could move over, but I kind of don’t want to.”

  “You’re enjoying this way more than you should be,” she scolded.

  “The ride to the police station, not so much. But being this close to you? Hell yeah I’m enjoying it.”

  Her elbow connected with my side softly, but despite her veil of hair, I knew I’d made her smile. I looked up and did a double take when I realized we were driving through a residential area.

  “What the hell?” I said for only Chelsey to hear.

  “What?” She looked up alarmed.

  Her eyes widened, and whether she realized it or not, her body moved into mine like she was searching for shelter from whatever seemed to put her on edge.

  “This isn’t the way to the police station,” I said.

  “That’s because we’re not going to the police station,” she murmured.

  “What?” I frowned in confusion. “How do you know that?”

  “Because that’s my house.” She swallowed. “And there’s my mother.” She groaned when the car pulled up to one of the biggest houses I’d ever seen.

  The house had columns like the fucking White House. I’m talking presidential shit. I was waiting for a helicopter to circle overhead and the secret service to usher Chelsey into the house. The car went around the circled driveway, which was perfectly manicured. Box-shaped bushes hedged the drive, and flowerbeds of purple flowers lined the large front porch.

  A lady dressed in a silk robe was standing on the front porch glaring at the car as it parked. My eyes moved around taking in the richness of Chelsey’s life—the expensive cars parked in the drive, and the massive pineapple fountain in the center of her landscaped yard.

  I figured Chelsey and her family had money, but I didn’t realize exactly how much. Suddenly, I didn’t feel good enough to even be sitting next to her, let alone going out with her. My shitty life and crappy, brick house didn’t even belong in the same state as Chelsey’s life and home.

  “You’re really slumming it with me aren’t you?” I shook my head as I looked out the window at a life I’d never be able to achieve. “Trying to piss your parents off by going out with me, Little Doe?”

  Her head snapped in my direction and she looked at me like I just slapped her.

  “What?”

  “I’m not exactly in your social circle. When rich chicks like you are looking to piss off Daddy it’s usually with fuck-ups like me.”

  She pinched her lips together, and for the first time since we were caught, tears shined in her eyes. I felt like the true asshole I was.

  “You’re a jerk, Blaine Wesley.” She turned away, pushing herself into the door as much as she could.

  Because I was indeed what she said I was, I didn’t bother to move away from her or try to correct her.

  “And don’t you forget it,” I said into the silence of the car.

  Neither of us noticed the officer beside her door, so when he opened it Chelsey nearly fell out.

  “Change of plans, princess,” he said to Chelsey as he un-cuffed her. “This is where you two lovebirds part ways.”

  There was a look of fear in Chelsey’s brown eyes that hadn’t been there earlier, and I realized as he pulled her from the car that the fear she had was for me and not herself. As quickly as the fear appeared, it was gone. She turned away and a strange feeling I didn’t understand expanded in my chest making me feel as if I was suffocating.

  She rubbed her wrists as he took her arm and moved her around the car and up the stairs to where her mother waited. I kept my eyes on her the entire way, silently wishing she’d look at me, but she never did.

  Her mother’s glare cut to me and I waited for the window to shatter under her gaze. She looked at me with pure disgust in her eyes while the expression on her face managed to show nothing at all. Only those who saw that look before would recognize and understand it.

  I was nothing to her.

  Nothing.

  Chelsey walked up the concrete stairs and stood in front of the prim and proper woman. Her eyes left mine and settled on her daughter.

  “What have you gotten yourself into, Chelsey?” I heard her mother say through the small opening in the front window of the car. “What the hell were you thinking? Sneaking out? Breaking and entering with that trashy boy?” She motioned toward the car I was sitting in. “You’re better than that. You’re better than him, Chelsey Ford. Did he force you to go?”

  Chelsey stiffened at the harsh words being said about me, and as much as I told myself I didn’t give two fucks what her mother said, I knew there was a small part of me that did.

  “His name’s Blaine Wesley, Mother, and he isn’t trash. I wasn’t forced into anything. I went because I wanted to.” Then her eyes flickered toward the car and I knew she was worried I could hear their conversation. “Can we please finish this inside?”

  There was no life in Chelsey voice as she spoke to her mother. She seemed defeated and deflated. I wanted to kick my own ass for being the one to do that to her.

  “I refuse to believe that,” her mother went on, ignoring her request. “You’ve always been a good girl. This isn’t you, Chelsey. Your father would be devastated.”

  I thought I saw Chelsey flinch, but I couldn’t be sure. She probably hated disappointing her parents.

  “Where is he?” Chelsey’s voice broke.

  “He had to stay in Atlanta tonight and it’s good thing, too. You’re never to see that boy again, do you hear me?”

  She pinched Chelsey’s cheeks between her perfectly painted fingers, forcing her to look at her. Anger shot through my body, and I moved closer to the door. I wanted to get out. I wanted to rip her hands from Chelsey’s soft skin.

  “Do we really have to stand out here to have this conversation, Mother? What will the neighbors think?” I heard the sarcasm in her voice, and by the look on her mother’s face, so did she.

  “Thank you, Officer Jennings.” Her mother turned an icy smile toward the cop.

  “Of course, Mrs. Ford. I’m
just glad I was the one to be there tonight.”

  “As am I. And I can assure you this will never happen again.”

  They said their goodbyes, and then we were pulling off. Chelsey was wrapped in her mother’s arms as she moved toward the front door. I could only imagine the fucked up shit her mother was probably saying to her.

  I silently begged Chelsey to turn around and look at me, but she never did. I couldn’t blame her. After all, she was so much better than me.

  I must’ve been out of my fucking mind to think I could fit into Chelsey’s world. It was more than the fact that she was too good for me. She deserved better than me. She worked hard and wanted more for her life than I could ever give her.

  She had plans, a goal, a future, and I sure as hell wouldn’t be the one to take any of that away from her. I’d do what I should’ve done from the beginning. I’d stop ignoring who I was and who she was, and I’d leave her the fuck alone.

  8

  CHELSEY

  I COULDN’T SLEEP.

  I tried. I counted sheep, and said the alphabet backward in my head over and over again, but it was no use.

  I told myself it was a combination of the adrenaline, fear, and excitement from the events of my night out with Blaine. Although, I was partly in denial over the excitement I felt from our night together. Honestly, I couldn’t sleep because I kept running Blaine’s harsh words through my mind. His words hurt, and that made me angry.

  I wanted to slap him again. I wanted to feel his cheek sting my palm, and hear his shocked gasp. Had I not been handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser, I would’ve slapped him.

  How dare he accuse me of slumming it!

  I didn’t slum. Hell, I didn’t even know what it meant to slum. I wasn’t slumming it, nor was I using him to piss anyone off. My parents were strict. Very strict. But that was because they wanted the best for me. Even if we didn’t always agree on what was best for me, in the end, we had the same goal.

  Columbia.

  Turning on my side, I jerked at my blankets in annoyance, untucking them from the bottom of the bed. Our maid, Shirley, always tucked them so damn tight, and in my mind pulling them loose was my way of defying our rich lifestyle.