“No,” he replies, sliding his hands up her arms and enveloping her in a hug. “Not as long as you’re not under my roof. I don’t know why you couldn’t just stay at home and live with us.”
“Leave the girl be, Michael,” Mia says, yanking on his tank top, trying to pry him off Lily. “Stop trying to guilt-trip her for wanting to grow up. Let her live a little.”
“Not too much livin’,” he says into her hair, smelling her like she’s a newborn in his arms.
I don’t stop what I’m doing, unpacking a box of dishes in the kitchen with a direct line of sight to the front door.
“Behave,” Gigi says across from me, grabbing her purse off the counter. “Or, you know…don’t.”
“I’m not…”
She leans over, holding her purse in her hands, staring right at me. “Save it for someone who doesn’t know you, Jett. You’re crazy about that girl. But I’m telling you now.” She drops her head and her voice. “If you don’t act fast, you’re going to lose out on the best thing you’ll ever have in your life.”
“Where am I losing her to?” I ask, unwrapping a dish before placing it on the counter with the others.
“A girl like Lily doesn’t stay single for long, especially around here. The sharks are circling, my friend, and if you wait any longer and keep acting like a fool, they’re going to be eating her instead of you.” Gigi laughs at the funny she made, always so easily amused by herself.
I roll my eyes. “I like her, Gigi. I’ll admit it, but I don’t know if I’m the right type of guy for her. She’s just so…”
“Sweet?”
I nod.
“Innocent?”
I nod.
“Pure?”
I nod.
“She’s dying for someone to take those titles away from her, Jett.”
I jerk my head back and almost drop the plate in my hand. “You’re talking out of your ass.”
Gigi stands up straight, lifting her hands. “Fine,” she says, glancing toward Lily. “Don’t believe me. But trust me, you’re going to be kicking yourself in the dick if you don’t do something.”
“That’s physically impossible.”
“You’re still an asshole,” she adds, laughing at me.
“I’ve dropped some hints, and I get nothing back from her. I don’t think she likes me, babe. Not like that anyway.”
Gigi moves her hand to her face, covering her eyes. “Why are men so fucking stupid?”
By men, I know she’s talking about me, and I take offense. “I’m not fucking stupid.”
“You’ve never had trouble reading women before. Why is it so hard for you to read her?”
“I don’t know many women like her. She’s uncharted territory.”
There’s no one like Lily. In all my years away, all the women I’ve met, no one else compares. She doesn’t understand her beauty or the pull she has over a man. She could wreck me with a single glance, and that scares the hell out of me.
“You have to make the first move with her, Jett, or shit will never happen. Men like you are foreign to her. Remember the guy from high school?”
I groan, thinking of that nerd with his cardigan sweater and khaki pants, always correcting everyone’s grammar in class like he was the smartest shit on the planet. “Who can forget that asshole?” He was a few years younger than me, in Lily’s grade, but everyone at our small high school knew him.
“That was Lily’s first boyfriend.”
I gag, pretending to vomit. “Don’t tell me shit like that.”
“William went after her and didn’t wait for her to catch his hints.”
I dig my palms into my eyes, trying to wipe away the vision of William and Lily together. “Stop. I can’t.”
“They only kissed,” she says, like somehow that makes shit better. “But at least he had the balls to tell her how he felt.”
I drop my hands, glaring at Gigi. “Stop calling me a pussy. I’ve never been scared around a woman.”
“Uh-huh. Keep lying to yourself. You’re scared shitless of telling Lily you want her.”
“Am not,” I argue like a child.
“Fine.” She crosses her arms over her chest, tilting her head as she stares at me across the kitchen island. “We’ll see.” She smirks. “Lily tells me everything.”
“Everything?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Yep. I’m now fully acquainted with your dick even though I’ve never seen it.”
“She talked about my junk?”
Gigi smirks. “She seemed pretty impressed by it.”
I rub the back of my neck as my face heats. “Well, I…”
“Darlin’, we goin’?” Pike yells from the door, standing with Tamara and Mammoth. “We got shit to do.”
“Coming!” Gigi yells without looking at them and then drops her voice again. “And I hope Lily does soon too.”
I grab a piece of balled-up newspaper and throw it at her head but miss. “I’m out of commission. Remember?” I glance down, pointing at my dick.
“Doesn’t mean she’s broken, though,” she tells me as she backs away from the counter, winking.
“Fuck my life,” I grumble.
Her entire family is gone ten minutes later, and the house is quiet. The only sounds are Lily’s light footsteps above me as she unpacks her suitcases, settling into her new room.
“Are you hungry?” I yell up the stairs, realizing we never ate anything the entire afternoon.
The sound of her footsteps grows louder until I see a pair of legs. Sexy legs, smooth, and tanned at the top of the staircase. “Yes. Want me to whip us up something?”
“I’ll make it,” I tell her, trying to ignore the shimmer of the light coming off her skin. “I’ll let you know when it’s ready.”
“Okay.” She rubs her leg with her hand, and I’m entranced, unable to take my eyes off the movement. “I’m going to jump in the shower. I feel sticky.”
I bite my lip, wishing I could test her statement. I will not get a hard-on. I will not get a hard-on. I repeat the words, reminding myself how much pain I’ll be in if I allow myself to think about her naked and wet. “Good idea,” I tell her, dropping my gaze to break the spell.
“Be down in five!” she yells down the stairs as I move back toward the kitchen.
“Take your time!” I yell back, rubbing my neck and cursing myself for thinking any of this was a good idea.
On the one hand, I want to make Lily dirty, and on the other, I want to soak in her sweetness forever and protect her from other assholes like me. How does a man deal with the difference?
The only way I figure is I have to step up to the plate and take the reins. Although I’ve never been in a relationship, maybe Lily’s the one who can change my ways. Maybe she’s the girl I’ve been waiting for my entire life.
I’m bipolar when it comes to her, unable to make a decision. Stuck in the friend zone but wanting nothing more than to call her mine.
It’s odd, really.
I’ve never felt this way about any woman.
The need to protect her and claim her all at once is so overwhelming, I can barely resist the urge to run up the stairs and make everything the new reality. But then I remember I can’t. Not because I don’t want to, but because my dick’s still out of commission.
The ramen and salad are on the table when Lily strolls into the kitchen, a pair of black leggings and a thin-strapped tank top her only clothing.
“Hi,” she says, smiling at me as I almost choke on my tongue.
Her nipples are hard and clearly visible through the thin material covering her breasts. “Hi,” I squeak, sounding like a high school kid in the full throes of puberty.
“This looks so good.”
“Completely delicious,” I mumble, but I’m not talking about the food.
She pulls out a chair, sitting down, pulling one knee up to her chest, thankfully covering one breast. “You going to sit?” she asks when I don’t move because I’m too busy
staring at her body.
“Sorry.” I smile, trying to be cool but burning inside. “Shower good?” I ask, peering down at my food instead of her damp skin as I settle into the chair across from her.
“Hot and perfect.”
I peer up at her, taking in her beauty and knowing, as soon as I can, I’m going to make her mine. “I agree,” I whisper.
10
Lily
“How’s it going?” Gigi asks.
I have her on speakerphone as I do my makeup, not quite willing to leave my bedroom without something on my face. When I lived with my college roommate, I never cared how I looked. But then again, her opinion wasn’t important to me.
“Okay, I think. Awkward.”
“That’s your middle name, Lily.”
“It is not.” I sigh, opening my eyes wider and getting closer to the mirror so I don’t end up with mascara in all the wrong places. “I just want to look my best for him. I’ve never been like this with anyone before.”
“You’ve always liked him. Always. I can’t remember a time when you’ve ever liked anyone more.”
I wave my hands in front of my eyes, trying to get my mascara to dry quicker. “I know, but I never thought I’d be living with the man. What in the hell was I thinking?”
“Well, I think you saw his dick, and whatever crush you had turned into something more.”
“This isn’t about his penis, Gigi.” I roll my eyes, feeling my eyelashes touch my skin, and instantly groan. “Fuck, I suck at makeup. How come I can’t put on mascara without getting it everywhere?”
“Because you’re so pretty, your face doesn’t want to be covered up.”
I stare at the phone, even if she can’t see me, and throw her all types of attitude. “You’re so full of it.”
“Let’s get back to his ‘penis,’ as you say. Have you seen it again?”
“It’s bad, Gigi. I never really saw the aftermath of a piercing. It’s like someone took a hammer to the poor thing.” I blanch, remembering how it looked when he showed it to me before we went to the party. The damn thing looked so angry.
“Maybe you should kiss it and make it better.” She giggles. “I’m sure Jett would be happy to let you.”
I lean over the counter, wetting my fingertip before trying to clean the mascara off the skin near my eyebrow. “Don’t be ridiculous. Jett doesn’t like me that way.”
“Are you blind?”
“No,” I snap.
“I always thought you were the bright one in the group, but clearly, I was mistaken. Jett likes you that way. He likes you every way.”
“I keep thinking he’s going to kiss me, but nothing happens.”
“Did you talk to him about it?”
“Of course not.”
“Dumb,” she mutters.
“I’m not going to force myself on him.” I straighten, staring at myself in the mirror, finally having my makeup just right. “Anyway, I have to go. I promised Jett I’d run a few errands with him to get some things for the house.”
“Already like an old married couple.”
“We are not,” I tell her, taking offense at the comment. “He said he was going to buy a few things and swing by ALFA today to talk to Uncle James and Thomas about a job.”
“ALFA?” she gasps. “They do some dangerous, boneheaded shit, Lily.”
I grab my phone off the counter, carrying Gigi back into the bedroom to grab my shoes. “I know, but it’s what he wants.”
“Talk him out of it. I’m sure there’s something else he can do.”
I giggle, imagining me talking Jett out of anything, especially putting himself in danger. “As if it were that easy.”
“Damn. It’s a shame the man can’t draw anything more than stick figures or else I’d ask him to work at Inked.”
I slide my feet into my sandals, checking myself in the full-length mirror next to the door. “Stick figures?”
“He literally has the artistic ability of a five-year-old. It’s sad, really.”
“It’s not like I’m Picasso or anything,” I snort.
“Babe, I’ve seen your drawings, and you could give Pablo a run for his money with the fucked-up shit you can put on paper.”
“Lily!” Jett yells from downstairs. “You ready to go?”
“Coming!” I yell back.
“I hope you are,” Gigi says, giggling like an idiot. “You could really use the stress relief.”
I shake my head, wishing she’d stop telling me to hook up with Jett. It’s not that easy, even if she thinks it is. “Shut up. I’ll call you later.”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“And what would that be?” I ask, leaning into the mirror, making one final check of my makeup. “I’m pretty sure there’s nothing left on the list.”
“Anal.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Well, at least you have some limits,” I tease, while she laughs. “I wasn’t sure you had any left.”
“Shut your face. Text me later.”
“Byeeeee,” I say, drawing out the word until I tap the end button, quieting her laughter.
Jett’s at the bottom of the stairs, twirling his car keys around the end of his finger. When the steps creak, he looks up. His eyes travel the length of me, taking in my knee-length shorts and tank top. He doesn’t say anything as he closes his fingers, curling the keys in his palm. His silence is almost deafening as he stares at me.
“What’s wrong?” I gaze down at my outfit. “Should I change?”
He shakes his head, his eyes still on me. “No,” he says in a husky tone. “Don’t change. You look…”
I stop moving halfway down the staircase, wondering how I look in his eyes. “I thought I’d go with something more casual for our day out, but maybe I should…” I take a step back, ready to run to my room and put on my khakis.
He blinks, looking lost for words, which I never thought would be possible for Jett. “You look absolutely beautiful, Lily,” he finally says when I retreat one stair more.
His words wash over me, bathing me in warmth, and I can’t stop the stupid smile from spreading across my lips. “Thank you.” Somehow the words come out casual, but inside, my belly does this weird dip and flip thing like it does when I’m riding a roller coaster. “Where to first?”
“Let’s hit ALFA first. I told James I’d stop by around noon. Then we’ll have the rest of the day to do whatever we want.”
I walk by Jett, feeling his eyes still on me as I step outside. “Are you sure about ALFA? It can be a dangerous place to work. I mean, you could get a job somewhere that doesn’t involve you getting shot.”
When he doesn’t say anything, I turn around, catching him staring at my ass. His hungry, surprised gaze snaps to my face. “I’m sure, babe. I need work, and I don’t have a ton of skills. With no college degree, finding anything worth shit isn’t easy. Plus, I’ve known all the guys since I was little, and I’m well aware of what they do. I think I can handle it.”
“Think or know?” I ask, tugging on the hem of my tank top, suddenly feeling half naked. I should’ve worn a polo and khakis, not letting Tamara get inside my head about my clothes.
He pulls the door closed and pushes it back, testing to make sure it’s locked. “I know I can handle it. I’ve had my ass kicked before, and I’m pretty damn good with a gun.”
I walk quickly, trying to get my ass literally out of his view. When I make it to the car, my hand on the door, waiting for him to disengage the lock, I ask, “Do you even own a gun?”
He shakes his head, standing on the other side of the car from me. “No, but I’m going to get one.”
“You can use mine.”
His eyes widen. “You seriously own a gun?” he whispers. “I thought you were joking.”
I smile, always loving it when people find the fact that I have a gun and know how to use it shocking. “I really do, and I’m a pretty good shot too.”
“Huh,” he mutters, smiling. “You
’re full of surprises, babe. Full of surprises.”
“I can teach you to shoot if you don’t know how.”
He laughs, shaking his head slightly. “Military, sweetheart. I know how to shoot.”
I snort, knowing the Navy isn’t all about marksmanship. “Maybe we can go to the range sometime,” I say, sliding into the passenger seat of his brand-new pickup truck.
“You want to make it interesting?” he asks, staring at me from the driver’s seat, wrist resting on the steering wheel.
I twist my fingers together as he gazes at me, looking like he’s about to pounce. Do I want him to? Hell yes, but I know the aftermath of making out with Jett would be certain disaster.
I’ve loved the man since the moment my hormones kicked in, dreaming about him and me together, living happily ever after. But the reality? We’d never work. He’s too Jett, cocky, carefree, and wild. We’re total opposites in every way, but I’m so not the type to back away from a bet, especially one I know I can win.
I raise an eyebrow, gazing into his blue eyes. “What do you have in mind?”
“If my shot is better, we go on a date. Not a fake one either. I want you in a dress, some high heels.”
I swallow, wondering if I want to go down this path. But then, I know. I know there’s no way he’s going to beat me at the range. My father had snuck me there since I was tall enough to see over the counter. “And if I win?”
He shrugs, pushing the ignition button. “You name it. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
“I need time to think of something,” I say, looking away from him and out the windshield. I have two choices. I can pick something lame or go big. What’s bigger than going on a date with Jett? I wouldn’t wager my V-card, no matter how badly I’m ready to lose it. I could also throw the match, but I’ve never been one to lose just to make a guy feel good about himself. My dad taught me never to let a man feel superior by downplaying my ability.
“You can have as much time as you want. Doesn’t matter to me. Think big because I know at the end of it, you’re going to be sitting in that seat in a dress and heels, going on a date with me.”
“So cocky,” I whisper.
Blaze: Men of Inked Heatwave #4 Page 9
