Reaching between us, he pushed my panties to the side and entered me swiftly, filling me completely and making me cry out in pleasure.
He took me hard and fast, nibbling and biting the side of my neck as his fingers dug into my hips and pulled me onto him. My shoulders pressed into the wall, and my head rolled from side to side as the pleasure bloomed in my lower stomach.
He pushed me harder and harder, and I went higher and higher, until I was digging my nails into his back and breathlessly begging him for more. And then I came hard and long, screaming out Blaine’s name and pressing my hips into his like a wild woman.
Not long after, Blaine came, too. He was loud as he bit into my shoulder and growled my name.
Pulling away from me, he let my weak legs drop to the floor. Thankfully, the wall kept me from falling. He pressed his forehead to mine with closed eyes and kissed the tip of my nose.
“You’re mine, Chelsey. It doesn’t matter what your answer is. You’re mine and I’m yours.” He opened his eyes and looked into mine, taking my breath away.
Four tiny words danced on my lips, but I couldn’t let them free. Not now. Not when I wasn’t sure where things were going. The one thing I was sure of, was I was done fighting this thing with Blaine. It was pointless anyway. I’d always been Blaine’s and I’d hoped he’d always been mine.
Sure, I still had terrible memories, but I was getting better. At least I felt like I was. I could give this thing with him a try. It’s what I wanted. I wanted Blaine and he wanted me.
Cupping his cheeks, I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
“Okay,” I said, earning myself a gorgeous smile from Blaine and another mind blowing kiss.
39
BLAINE
LIFE WAS GOOD for the first time in a long time. I could breathe easier knowing I was slowly beginning to pick up the pieces of my life.
Even Grandma noticed the difference in me. I came home from working with Chris on lawns, and began dancing around the living room with Maddie to some cheesy kid’s song. Maddie loved it, and I loved making Maddie happy, so it all worked out.
I was busy as hell over the next week. Between working my day job, spending time with Chelsey, and working at the club, I barely had time to think, but sometimes not thinking was a good thing. I smiled again, and I laughed again, and it was all because of Chelsey.
I’d talked to Tommy about only dancing on stage and doing an occasional private dance. I made sure he understood everything else would stop. I couldn’t do it anymore. I was a taken man, and the only woman who was getting any of my cock was Chelsey.
Which she did often. Every chance she got she was climbing on it. She was insatiable and I was loving every second of it. We couldn’t get enough of each other. We did it in my car. In her bathroom. In her bedroom. Any place we could and it was amazing every time.
She was amazing.
I smiled just thinking about her as I trimmed the bushes outside one of the buildings at Columbia. Just knowing she was on campus made working easier. The sun was on my shoulders and my heart was light with love. The day couldn’t have gotten much better.
Then suddenly my day went to shit. I looked up and my eyes locked on Rosie, one of my regular fucks at the club. She smiled at me as she came my way, her heels clicking on the sidewalk.
She looked completely different. Her hair was tamed, and her professional pantsuit seemed out of place on her. She was a hardcore shit-talker who liked getting fucked and called dirty names, yet there she was, holding a briefcase and wearing a fucking pantsuit.
“Jack,” she said, a grin creeping across her face. “Long time no see.”
“Yeah, I’ve been a little busy,” I said as I nervously rubbed the back of my neck.
“I bet you have.” Her eyes moved over my body, taking in my sweat-soaked shirt and dirty pants. “You look fucking sexy right now,” she said bluntly.
I didn’t know how to respond. She obviously worked at the school. Why was she openly flirting with me in front of the students? Why couldn’t she have just walked by me and smiled like a normal person would’ve.
“Thanks,” I said.
Her smile dropped and confusion moved across her face. “I missed you at the club. Have you missed me?”
Again, I rubbed at the back of my neck. The sun suddenly felt too hot and the cool breeze was gone.
“Rosie, I—” I lost my words. “I won’t be seeing you at the club anymore.”
She pouted. “Did you quit?”
“No. I still dance there. I just… I don’t use the back rooms anymore.”
She stood there, staring back at me. And then realization set in. “You’ve met someone?” Just thinking of Chelsey made me smile. “You have.” She smiled. “Well, whoever she is, she’s one lucky girl.” She moved closer to me. Leaning up on her toes, she pressed a kiss on my cheek and whispered in my ear, “If you keep her as happy as you kept me, you’ll have no problems.”
And then she walked away, leaving me standing there with a fucked up smile on my face and a naked Chelsey in my brain.
I turned to get back to work, but then my eyes moved across the lawn, and I saw Chelsey standing there staring back at me. Her eyes were wounded and her lips were pinched.
She turned to walk away from me, but I dropped my pruning shears and went after her.
“Chelsey,” I said, reaching out to stop her. She shook her arm from mine, and kept walking. “Chelsey, just listen to me,” I pleaded.
She stopped and spun around on me, her nostrils flared in anger and her eyes watered with angry tears. “Did you fuck her, too?” she asked loudly.
“Chelsey, just listen.”
“No,” she cut me off. “Did you? She’s a professor here, you know? She’s one of my professors to be exact.” She blew out a hard breath and closed her eyes. “Yes or no, Blaine. Did you fuck her?”
I couldn’t lie. I’d been fucking Rosie when Chelsey walked in that time. I was surprised she didn’t recognize Rosie then. But then again, Rosie had been face down in the couch at the time.
“Yes,” I blurted. “She was one of my regulars.”
I decided honesty was the best way to go.
Chelsey’s face paled, and her eyes went from angry to hurt.
“But I’m not doing that anymore, baby. I promised you I wouldn’t, and I mean to keep that promise.”
She ran her hands roughly down her face. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know if I can do this, Blaine.”
My heart dropped and my ability to breathe became harder. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I don’t know if I can be with you knowing you go to that place. Knowing there are women there who you’ve fucked. I trust you, I think. I just don’t know if I can stand it. I can’t be with a man who does what you do. I’m sorry.”
She turned to walk away from me and I panicked. Reaching out, I grabbed her arm and pulled her to me.
“I’ll quit,” I said without thinking it over. “I quit right now. I won’t ever go back to the club.”
I had no idea how I was going to survive without the club. I had bills to pay and mouths to feed, but I knew if Chelsey left me again I’d shut down. I couldn’t let that happen because if I shut down I’d really be useless to Grandma and Maddie.
“What?” she said, confusion thick in her voice.
“I said, I quit. Right now. No more stripping. No more Golden Banana. Nothing,” I said adamantly. “I want you more than I want that job.”
“Are you sure about this?” Her eyes searched mine for the answer.
“I’m positive. I want to make this work this time. I love you, Chelsey. I can’t handle losing you again.”
Tears sprang to her eyes and her bottom lip trembled. “I love you, too, Blaine.”
And that’s all that mattered to me. I leaned over her and pressed a kiss to her soft lips. Happiness and nervousness moved through me. Life was about to get a lot harder for me, but at least I had Chelse
y to help me through. As long as I had her, I could make it through anything.
**********
I MADE A PROMISE, and I meant I was going to stick by it, but finding a well-paying job with nothing but a high school diploma was a lot harder than it sounded.
I applied everywhere when I wasn’t working. And when I wasn’t applying for jobs or working, I was spending time with Chelsey or my family. Grandma kept asking me to bring her over for dinner, but I was afraid someone would spill the beans and tell Chelsey about my parents. I wasn’t ready for that yet.
The job with Chris was barely covering Grandma’s prescriptions and food, much less paying the bills and things were getting tighter and tighter as the month went on. The guys at the club kept asking me to come back, and it was tempting, but I couldn’t do it. No matter how easy it would make life for me, I couldn’t give up.
“What about school?” Marshall asked.
We’d started hanging out outside of the club now that he and Lynn were dating. I was shocked to find out he was a college boy himself. I had no idea he was going to Julliard until Chelsey told me.
“What about it?” I asked.
“Well, maybe you could go and get a degree or something.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t help me now.”
“It would if you get some student loans,” he countered.
“Yeah. Maybe.”
I hadn’t thought about school since before I left Georgia. It wasn’t a possibility for me anymore, but maybe Marshall was right, maybe I could look into getting student loans to get me through. That’s if I still qualified for grants from the state.
“So, you coming to the going away party?”
I’d been informed that Tommy and the guys were throwing me a going away party. It was nice. I had to admit, I missed the boys and their crazy ways sometimes.
“Yeah, man. I’ll be there.”
“Bring, Chelsey.” He nudged me with his shoulder. “Lynn’s going to be there, too.”
“I will.”
I spent the next few days applying to school and for grants and loans. Thankfully, the process was a fast one since it was mid-semester. It didn’t take long to get with an advisor and find out everything was possible. I qualified for grants and loans, and I’d be starting at the technical college when the next semester started.
I couldn’t wait to tell Chelsey. I could already imagine the happy smile she’d have for me when I told her.
40
CHELSEY
HE LOVED ME.
He’d said it before and I believed him, but I couldn’t let that stop me. I loved Blaine. I always had, and I wanted to make it work with him. Evidently, he did, too, since he was quitting the club for me.
I hated to be that girl, but I couldn’t stand it anymore. Going to school and focusing on my assignments became hard because all I could do was think about what Blaine was doing at the club.
Was he taking women in the back? Was he fucking them or just dancing for them?
It became too much. I couldn’t be with him while he was working there. I had to be able to focus. I couldn’t believe he’d given up the club for me. It showed how serious he was about making things work with us, and if he was serious, then I would be, too.
Things were moving along nicely with us, but I could tell there was something still bothering Blaine. He didn’t mention anything, but whatever it was it was simmering just beneath his surface. He seemed stiff and worried at times, but every time I’d ask him if he was okay, he’d blow it off.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You know you can tell me if something’s bothering you, right?” I asked.
We were lying in bed watching a movie and wrapped around each other. I loved how comfortable we were with each other.
“Babe, I’m fine. Just relax and watch the movie. Don’t worry about me. I’m good to go.”
I laid my head against him and listened to his beating heart. I didn’t want to push him, but I was also super curious about what was going on in his head.
The next day, after classes, I went home, got a shower, and slipped into my pajamas to do some studying. Blaine was going to come by later, and I wanted to at least get a few chapters in before he got there.
I was surprised when he showed up at my door two hours early, wearing a huge grin.
“Get dressed,” he said, patting me on the ass as I shut the door behind me.
“Why? Where are we going?” I asked.
I’d told Lynn, who basically moved in with me, I’d be home all night. She didn’t have a key yet, and I hated leaving one under the mat for her.
“We’re going to dinner. I have news and I want to celebrate with you.”
I smiled. “Okay. How am I dressing? Jeans and a T-shirt or a dress?”
“Baby, you look great in everything. Wear whatever you want. I’ll adjust the plans to you.”
I kissed him before I left to go get dressed. I wondered to myself what we had to celebrate. Whatever it was, I didn’t care. I just loved seeing Blaine happy and smiling. I hated to think that something was stressing him out or bothering him.
An hour later, we pulled up at a local bar and grill. Blaine made me wait in the car so he could open the door for me, and when I got out, I kissed him for being so freaking cute.
We held hands as we entered the place and the hostess sat us at a quiet booth in the corner. We ordered drinks and an appetizer, and once the waitress was gone, I went in for the kill.
“So, what are we celebrating?” I asked.
His smile lit up his face, and he reached across the table to take my hand.
“I’m going back to school,” he said. “I start the technical college next semester.”
Excitement filled me and I squeezed his hand in mine. “That’s fantastic. I’m so freaking proud of you, Blaine.”
He smiled sheepishly and my heart melted for him all over again.
“I mean, I know it’s no Columbia, but it’s a step in the right direction.” He chuckled to himself. “I mean, I was really starting to freak out about the bills and stuff, but now I feel hopeful that things will work out. Grandma can get her medicine and everything once the grants clear and my student loans come in.”
My smile disappeared from my face, and guilt sank in. “What are you talking about? I didn’t know you were having money problems.”
His face cleared as if he’d just realized how much he’d said.
“It’s cool. I have it all under control.”
“But, Blaine, I didn’t know. I feel so selfish. Your grandma, you said she needed medicines? I didn’t even know you lived with your grandmother.”
It was slowly sinking in that I didn’t know much about Blaine’s life now. I had so many questions, but every time I asked, he’d shut me out. It got to the point where I quit asking because I hated it when he shut me out.
“Like I said, it’s fine, babe. I have it under control. Anyway, let’s celebrate. No more frowns, okay? You’re entirely too beautiful when you smile.”
I tried to smile, but it was forced. Obviously, I didn’t know the half of it, and there I’d been making him quit his job without regard to who he might be taking care of.
“Blaine, where are your parents?” I asked.
I remembered him telling me before how close he was with his mom and dad, but since we’d started talking again he hadn’t mentioned them once.
Was there a falling out? And if so, why was Maddie staying with him and his grandma instead of his parents? Things were slowly coming together. Things I hadn’t thought about before.
Blaine’s smile dropped, his skin turning pale and his eyes dropping to the table in front of him.
“Not tonight, Chelsey. Let’s just enjoy this night, okay?”
I reached out and took his hand in mine, prompting him to look up at me with sad tear-filled eyes.
“Blaine, please tell me.”
He reached for his drink and took a big gulp before clearing his throat and tuggin
g at the collar of his shirt like it was too tight.
“They died in a car accident,” he said.
His voice broke like it caused him physical pain to push the words out, and pain ripped through my heart, making me gasp loudly.
“Oh my God, Blaine. I’m so sorry.” I stood from my side of the booth and slipped in next to him. I snuggled into his side and held him. “When?”
“It happened the night I saw you with Josh. I’d found out I was accepted into college. I couldn’t wait to tell you, and I almost called, but I wanted to wait until we were together in your room. My parents were so happy and proud, and we went to dinner as a family and had an amazing night.” I rubbed his arm and prompted him to continue. He relaxed into my arms, but I could feel his heart beating really hard and fast. “It was a drunk driver.”
He continued his story. He squeezed my hand when he told me about his father’s dead eyes and his mother’s last breaths, and I held him close as he told me about waking up in the hospital and being with Maddie.
His eyes were watered with emotion the entire time, and I knew it was taking everything he had not to cry in public. I was having a hard time keeping it together myself, but when he told me about how badly he needed me, I broke. I cried when he told me about coming to my house and seeing me with Josh.
Everything was coming together. Everything made sense. He was hurt. He was scared, and he’d just lost his family. His reaction to seeing me with Josh made more sense now that I understood what he’d gone through.
Guilt slammed deep into my chest and hatred for Josh that I hadn’t felt since that night bloomed deep in my stomach.
“I’m so sorry, Blaine. I had no idea.”
And I didn’t.
We ended up getting our food to go, and going back to my apartment. We ate at my kitchen table, and afterward I held Blaine in bed while he clutched on to me like his life depended on it.
I couldn’t believe the truths that were revealed or how much time we’d lost out on because of simple misunderstandings. I was still angry with him for leaving me when I needed the most, but hearing his story lessened the blow a bit.
Jack Hammer Page 27
