Convince Me (Tidal Collection Book 1)

by Chelsea McDonald

  “No way.”

  “Way.”

  “How’s that possible? You do not seem like the cheerleading type, no offense.”

  “None taken.

  “I still don’t know if I believe you, I would’ve noticed you.” We’re taking our time as we wander back to the car. I don’t think either of us are really ready to end the night.

  Stopping at the car, Hayden makes no move to actually get in.

  “I don’t want this date to ever end,” he whispers while taking a step closer. Pulling my jacket tighter around my waist, I reciprocate, closing the gap between us by another foot. We’re chest to chest, his heat seeping through the lining of my jacket, our breath turning the cold air misty.

  On my tiptoes, I press my lips to his. The kiss is soft at first, both of us just drinking in the moment. I part my lips and let my tongue trace his bottom lip. This elicits a groan from Hayden before he pulls away.

  If I wasn’t already confident that he liked me, I’d be seriously questioning that movement.

  “Do you wanna take a walk?”

  “Or we could head back to your place?”

  “Oh god, yes.” His relief brings a smile to my lips. His lips press to mine once more before reaching out and opening the passenger side door.

  I chew on the inside of my cheek as Hayden straps himself in. The excitement in the air is thick, palpable, but it has nothing on the anticipation that twists in my belly.

  8

  Hayden

  Veronica’s back rests against the side of the house, as I simultaneously kiss down the column of her neck and search for my keys. My dick strains against my jeans as I press my hips against hers. This is far too distracting.

  “Fuck.” I pull away to get the key in the lock and shove at the front door.

  We’re in the exact same scenario as we have been the last three nights. So impatient to get to the bedroom that everything else flies right out the window.

  This week has been utter perfection. We’ve been on three dates and have ended back up at my place after every one.

  Yesterday, I finally told Veronica to just pack a bag. It would be a time saver.

  I kick the door shut behind us and two steps into the house, Veronica is in my arms, legs hooked around my waist. I make the blind trek through to my bedroom and take a seat on the bed.

  Veronica stays seated on my lap, her legs spreading wider to accommodate my body. Her dress, while short, still has too much material for my liking. I pull away from the kiss to whip the dress over her head.

  Left in nothing but her underwear, I grunt at the sight of the hot pink lace. Oh, baby girl treats me good.

  My lips retrace the column of her neck, all the way down to her chest, which heaves as I pull the cups of her bra down. I watch, almost in pain, as she leans back with her hands on my knees.

  It’s like she’s offering herself up for my taking. I delve in and take it all, everything I can get. Every little moan, every roll of her hips against mine - I want it all.

  Sucking on one nipple and rolling the other between my fingers, I revel in the feel of her heat pressed against my jeans. Her hips move against mine; I meet her every thrust until a soft mewl escapes her mouth.

  Small hands reach towards me, pushing her tits together for me, as they delve to the belt of my jeans. The belt is tossed aside, the top button popped open, and the zip begins the glide downwards. I groan in relief as Veronica adjusts my cock - now free from constraints.

  I just know there’ll be a zipper impression on my sensitive flesh.

  We’re both gasping for air as we pull apart.

  After ripping my shirt over my head, I flip Veronica on the bed, climbing on top of her. I push my jeans to the ground to free my hips and rid us of the final layers that are keeping us apart. Her hair fans out around her as I press my body into hers.

  We kiss as if it’s the first and the last one we’ll ever have. With passion and fire.

  Honestly, it might as well have been. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and Veronica said that she was spending it with her family - it was a tradition. I wanted to beg and plead that I wanted to be her family.

  I want to be whatever she needs; I want to be her everything.

  But I thought better of my words. Although I feel them - to my core, I know that she might not be ready to hear them just yet. So instead, we agreed that we’d go for breakfast on Christmas morning.

  I hate that our plans are unclear beyond that, which is why I’m going to make the most of the time we’ve got left.

  Eleven hours and counting...

  “I wish we could stay here forever,” Veronica whispers into the darkness, almost as if reading my mind.

  “Something to talk about after Christmas…” I want her here with me, all the damn time.

  She moans as I kiss a trail down her stomach. Anticipation and hunger rip through me as I slide her panties down her legs.

  “Ah ahh.”

  I groan in response, pause, and tilt my head in her direction.

  “I can’t wait,” Veronica begs. “Please.”

  Who am I to argue?

  I pull back, fist my cock in my hand and take a good long look over her. She’s completely naked and waiting impatiently for me to fuck her, good and hard, just like I know she likes.

  Every time we’re in this position I think next time will be the time I go slow and take my time cherishing her. It hasn’t happened yet.

  My need for her is just too strong.

  Sex has never been like this before - it’s never been a primal hunger that only one person can fill. As I run the head of my throbbing dick through her swollen lips, a shiver runs the length of her body as I pass over her clit.

  I position myself at her soaked entrance and thrust home. We both grunt and I fall forward onto my hands to keep from crushing her beneath me.

  Between us, her chest rises and falls rapidly from the bed, her tweaked nipples grazing me with every movement.

  My blood pulses in my veins, my muscles strain to hold myself up - the heat of her walls as she clenches around me… It’s almost too much for me to stand.

  I’m so close to the edge that I have to move, taking long painfully slow strokes, pumping myself in and out of her wet channel. “God, baby. You get tighter every time.”

  I pick up the pace and begin lazily circling her clit with my finger. Her moans grow louder, her leg starts to tremble as I pull back and hook my arms beneath her knees. I piston in and out faster, taking full advantage of the deeper angle.

  It’s a hard, rough fuck that makes Veronica shout out my name as her walls spasm around me. Only when I know she’s spent, do I follow her lead. Filling her to my hilt, I shudder and release, letting go of the rope and free falling.

  Collapsing to the side of her, I pull her onto her side facing me. My forehead rests against hers as I place a gentle kiss to her lips.

  That was fucking amazing. I already want to go another round.

  “I miss being inside of you, already.”

  “We’ve got all night. Take your time, big boy.”

  I growl, forcing her on her back to kiss her properly.

  It’s official, she’s my kryptonite. The only thing in the world to break me and bring me to my knees. A place I’ll gladly spend eternity as long as I’m stationed between her open thighs.

  “Babe, your phone’s going off.” Again.

  I’m tempted to answer it myself and tell the caller to get the fuck lost, but I don’t because I care for Veronica and I won’t chance doing anything to ruin what we have going.

  “Again? Who is it?” Veronica calls from the bathroom.

  With her permission, I glance at the screen. When I see the name flashing, I wish I had thrown the damn thing out the window in the first place.

  “It’s loverboy.”

  “Who?” Veronica appears in the bathroom doorway, looking just as confused as she sounded. She’s now fully clothed, towel drying her wet hair. I curse my dad
for arranging lunch today. Maybe it wasn’t too late to cancel.

  “Lane.”

  “Lane is loverboy?”

  I stand from the bed and meet her with open arms. “Babe, when are you going to cut him loose?”

  “Excuse me?” she rears back, her lips pursed and her eyebrows arched high. Obviously, not the reaction I want, but at the same time, I wonder why she’s so defensive. I can almost see her hackles rise.

  “You can’t string him along, he’s in love with you. Or are you keeping him on the line in case things don’t work out with us?” The wind is knocked out of me as I realize my true fear, Veronica changing her mind and running off with someone else. Lane, of all people, would just be an extra kick in the nuts.

  “Are you serious, right now? Lane is a close friend; I’m not going to drop him just because you say so.” The towel is thrown in my face as she buzzes around the room to collect her things. I watch with wide eyes and what will no doubt be a case of whiplash tomorrow.

  She’s packing up, leaving me. Fuck!

  How did things go south so quickly?

  Nicky fucking Lane.

  He was always a cocky asshole, but now he’s actually managed to slither his way between me and my sweet Veronica.

  “You can’t just leave, Veronica.”

  “Watch me,”

  “I picked you up. At least let me drive you home.”

  “I’d rather be stranded in the middle of the ocean than be anywhere near you right now.” Now adorned with her handbag, coat, and shoes, she turns to face me head-on. “Don’t follow me.”

  The door slams, probably internationally, behind her. It echoes through the empty house and through my mind as I crumble.

  Fuck.

  It’s Christmas Eve, for fuck’s sake. My eyes unconsciously wander to the bedside drawer where I’d stashed her present. We hadn’t been together long, but I’d bought that present right after she agreed to let me take her on a date.

  It had been hell having to keep it hidden. I was anxious to see her wear it.

  9

  Veronica

  “I don’t know what to do,” I wail pathetically down the phone.

  I stormed out of Hayden’s house less than a minute ago. I don’t know why. It was an impulsive decision fueled by a somewhat irrational anger. Of course, after the fact, everything tends to look clearer.

  “What? Who is this?”

  “Who the hell do you think it is? It’s Veronica.” Who the hell doesn’t check caller ID?

  “Veronica, what’s wrong?” Immediately her tone softens.

  “I lied to you.”

  I hear her intake of breath, “About what?”

  “Can I come over?”

  “Of course.”

  It’s not too far to walk. It actually only takes me about fifteen minutes, but it doesn’t matter because, by the time I get there, I’m a wreck. It could’ve been fifteen minutes or five, I still would’ve shown up in the same state.

  As I knock on her door, I suddenly hope that she hasn’t got company. I can’t deal with people right now, nor do I want to embarrass myself even further. Walking down the street and blubbering so hard that you trip and skin your knee is embarrassing enough.

  For fuck’s sake. I only just met the man!

  Sometimes you just need an ugly meltdown in peace.

  Katie swings the door open, her freshly dyed red hair glistening under the sunshine.

  “Oh, my god! Come in,” she ushers me inside.

  “I don’t even know why I’m so emotional, I only met the guy a week ago.”

  “Catch me up, what guy?”

  In her empty living room, I throw myself down onto the couch and groan. “The one I lied to you about.”

  I peek an eye open to see she’s still looking confused. Oh right, because we don’t and never have lied to each other.

  “At the Christmas party last week, I met someone. I went home with him that night. It was such an un-me-like thing to do that I knew you’d start worrying and thinking that I’m going through some great depression - and that’s why I lied.”

  “Tell me about him.”

  “His name is Hayden...Carmichael. He grew up in Naperville with his mom, dad, and three brothers. His mom died in a car accident while he was in high school. He’s a lawyer, he worked at some swanky law firm in Chicago for a while but moved back here about a year ago. He’s utterly gorgeous and I can tell you for a fact he’s the best sex I will ever have.” I huff out a breath, I may have gotten caught up in my own mind while talking. I look to Katie to see a weird look masking her face. “What’s with the face?”

  “How long did you say you’ve known this guy?”

  “About a week.”

  “Aww,” she coos while taking the seat next to me on the couch. “Someone’s in looooooove.”

  She goes to pinch my cheeks, but I slap away her hands. What the hell?

  “Katie, you can’t fall in love in a week.”

  “And yet, there’s such a thing as love at first sight. Explain that?”

  “It-” Her question stumps me. She has a point there that I can’t argue. Katie says that her Evan swears it was love at first sight, at least for him. But it’s different for me, there has to be a reasonable explanation. There always is.

  “I… I’ve never been in love before.” Maybe this wasn’t love, maybe it was simply lust. It’s said that it’s easy to confuse the two.

  “What is love? Like… how do you know if you’re in love?”

  “Aww, sweetie. You know what love is. It’s that warm feeling inside your heart every time you’re around them. It’s when all rationality flies out the window - forever. It makes you crazy, but it’s also the reason you stay with him.”

  She sighs dreamily once again. I know she’s thinking about Evan as she speaks but hearing her words, they make her lovesick puppy persona not as annoying as usual. She shrugs, “That’s just my take, I’m sure everyone will have their own.”

  I push myself deeper into the couch, needing a minute to collect my thoughts.

  I’ve never understood how it can be so hard to read your own body - your mind and heart - but reading words on a screen is a cakewalk.

  We must sit there in silence for five minutes, maybe more, before I turn to her. “What do I do?”

  “Sorry, I can’t tell you that. Hell, I don’t even know what happened, but all I can say is, listen to your heart...”

  Oh, right. We hadn’t even got to that part of the story.

  “And you let me know if I need to kick anyone’s ass.” She’s dead serious, but I wouldn’t have expected anything less from my fiery redheaded cousin.

  I stand to leave knowing, if nothing else, that this situation will need time.

  Pausing at the doorway, I can’t help myself as I swing back around. “Be honest. Do you think Lane has feelings for me?”

  “What?” Her eyes widen with surprise, “where is this coming from?”

  “It appears that Hayden is the jealous type.”

  “Oh. Now I’m starting to put some pieces together. Honestly? I’d never considered it before; he was always just kind of your on-again-off-again best friend. Now that you’ve mentioned it, I suppose it’s possible.”

  “That’s what I was afraid of hearing.”

  “Sorry, babe. But also, you won’t know the truth until you hear it from him.”

  ...And that’s just what I plan to do.

  10

  Veronica

  “Merry Christmas, darling.”

  “Merry Christmas, Mom. Where’s Dad?”

  “Still asleep, of course. I expect him to be hungover this morning, he and your uncle had a few too many last night.”

  “My God. How long were you over at Uncle Tim’s?”

  “Not long.” Mom tsks in disapproval while I giggle.

  “It’s Christmas, what are you gonna do?” I pour myself a cup of coffee, wanting to quickly get out of Mom’s way. The kitchen bench tops
are full; she’s got a lot to do for Christmas dinner.

  “Do you want any help?” I ask the question as if I don’t already know that she’ll refuse.

  “No, your aunt’s coming over soon with Katie. You should go get dressed though.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Coffee in hand, I hustle my ass upstairs. I walk into my childhood bedroom to find my outfit laid on the chair, all nice and neat, just how I left it last night. I put my cup on the bedside table and click my phone on.

  After I left Katie’s yesterday, I came straight home and switched the mocking device off. I didn’t want to deal with the outside world, I also didn’t want to chance any calls or messages from… well, anyone.

  Sure enough, there’s a few missed calls from Katie last night, and a couple of text messages from this morning. Instead of responding, I replace my phone on the table and begin getting ready.

  After pulling on my clothes, I consider changing my outfit altogether. Apparently, the last month of emotional eating has not done me any good. Quite the opposite, my pants are tighter than feels comfortable.

  It doesn’t worry me too much; my figure can handle the extra few pounds.

  “Veronica, stop fluffing your hair and get down here.” I laugh at the sound of Aunt Mae’s voice traveling up the stairs. I slip on my shoes before rushing downstairs. My aunt waits for me at the bottom of the staircase with open arms. “You’re just more gorgeous every time I see you.”

  Katie giggles and huffs under her breath, “I wish.”

  I roll my eyes and give in to my Aunt’s embrace. “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas, sweetie.”

  “God, I’ve missed your hugs,” I say it every time, but I like the way it makes my aunt smile.

  I’ve only seen her and my uncle once since being home, which has been my fault. We’re a close-knit little family and I can honestly say that I missed everyone dearly when I was on the West Coast. I should really make more of an effort to see them as often as possible.