“What happened to you?” He chuckled.
“Nothing.” I grabbed my timecard to punch in with about a minute to spare. My head felt like it just might pop off today. I had already taken more pain medication than recommended, but what would be worse other than my liver falling out? I slid my clipboard from behind the desk to look at everything he had scheduled for me.
Zed dropped a set of keys down. “Mrs. Donahue cracked up her bumper. It doesn’t look too bad, but she asked if you could take a look at it first thing.”
“Again?” Someone needed to take her keys away from her. She was in here every other week lately. “I’ll see what I can do,” I added before I went back inside.
By the time lunch had rolled around, I had finished an oil change on Pat’s Jeep, rotated Charlie Vary’s tires, and was going to start on Mrs. Donahue’s car after I had eaten. My head was still pounding after all the alcohol I had consumed last night, but I had managed to dull the ache with enough Tylenol to kill an elephant. I washed the grease and grime from my hands before I took a swig of my water, only to find Zed grinning at me from the front of the garage stall.
“Got a visitor.” His voice sounded way too light. He sounded weird, and I didn’t like it.
I narrowed my eyes. “Who?” If it were Patrick, which I doubted, he would have told me. He knew I was planning to bring his Jeep back with me tonight so there was no need for him to come by. No one had texted me all morning, and I had zero friends other than my brother, so who the hell would bother me at work?
Zed’s lips turned into a smirk. “Pretty brunette. Dressed in a leotard and pink tights.” He chuckled when I scowled harder at him.
I pushed past my boss to find Jillian standing outside the shop, actually dressed in what he said she was. Her chestnut hair piled on top of her head in that tight bun, a pink leotard, a see-through skirt, and matching fucking tights. Jillian had the lean, wiry physique of the dancer from the years of hard work she had put in, and I instantly wanted to put my hands all over her.
Her face lit up the moment she saw me. “I’m sorry for just dropping by unannounced, but I needed to—” Jillian let out a surprised yelp the moment I wrapped my hand around her arm and yanked her inside.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I grunted, pinning her against the wall. “Didn’t I tell you to leave me alone?”
“Yes, but—”
I bared my teeth. “Then let me repeat the question, Jills. What are you doing here?” I grabbed her hair in the palm of my hand and yanked her head up. Fear sparkled in her green eyes. This was not the version of me she was used to, but it was the one she was getting.
“I needed to talk to you about the other night.” Her voice shook as she spoke. “I couldn’t leave things the way they were. I’m sorry, Hutch, for what Knox said, and if I upset you.” Jillian licked her lips nervously as she stared up at me, but as my eyes slowly descended, I noticed how her nipples poked through her leotard, and how she pressed her thighs together. Was this turning her on? Did she actually like being manhandled by me?
“That’s the reason you’re here? You know you could have texted me.” I released Jillian’s hair, but slowly dragged the pads of my fingers against her face without even realizing it. “I’m not your boyfriend.”
Jillian’s face fell and she seethed, “Fuck you, Hutch.”
I watched as she ran off without looking back, and once again, my heart felt heavy. The man she just saw, that was who I was before. Before I changed into the mute. I dropped my gaze to my feet when I noticed the brown bag that Jillian must have dropped on the ground in her haste to get away from me. I stopped, picked it up, and opened it to find what looked like two egg salad sandwiches, two apples, and two granola bars inside. She had brought me lunch.
Fuck me.
***
The rest of the week went by in a blur. I would work, go home, and drink myself to sleep. Repeat. All week until the weekend rolled around. Normally I worked on Saturday mornings, but since it was the Fourth of July, the shop was closed, and I was stuck at home, alone with my thoughts. I spent most of the day feeling sorry for myself, avoiding the crowds of tourists that had rolled in for the holiday, but found myself at the beach watching the fireworks around nine o’clock or something—I had been doing that since I was a kid.
I stared up at the exploding colors above me on the beach. I should be home, in my bed, but it was too quiet there. I didn’t want to be alone with my own thoughts anymore because Jillian would creep in. She had started to appear now, even with the help of alcohol, and I was hoping that maybe the loud fireworks would drown her out for a while. They had helped with so many other things in the past.
Maybe I could fall asleep on the beach, and the ocean could just take me away. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about anything again. The terrible nightmare that my life had become would no longer make me think about putting a bullet into my head. No one would miss me anyway when I was gone.
“I told you to leave me the hell alone! You cheated on me, remember?”
“Come on, you’re no fun. You just need to relax a little, Jill.”
My back straightened. Did I just hear—?
“We broke up, Knox. I know you slept with Madison while I was gone. Go find her. You two looked super cozy at the carnival anyway.” Yep, that was Jillian’s voice. I would know it anywhere.
I turned, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from before I realized they were only a few feet away from me. Shit, if they walked any closer, they would trip over me if they weren’t careful. I didn’t want Jillian or Knox to think that I was stalking her.
Knox barked out a malicious snicker. “You really like that fucking creep, don’t you? That’s kind of sick if you ask me. He’s messed up in the head, but if that’s what you’re into...”
The sound of Jillian crying out in agony had me on my feet before I could even think about it. “Back off.” Both their heads turned toward the sound of my voice. When Knox didn’t move, I took a step forward. “I said, back the fuck off,” I growled.
“I heard what you said, mute, but I don’t have to listen to you.” Knox had both of Jillian’s arms pinned to her side, and we both knew it wasn’t a fair fight. He had to outweigh her by at least a hundred pounds. She was dressed in a black one-piece bathing suit with a pair of shorts pulled on over it, her brown hair pulled back from her face into a ponytail. They must have come from the party I heard at the house next to the beach because there was no one else around.
Tonight might be my opportunity to rearrange Knox’s face.
“Are you alright?” I asked Jillian, but when she shook her head, I balled my hands into fists at my side.
“Unless you want to spend the rest of the evening picking your teeth out of the sand, I suggest you let her go.” It was probably the most I had ever spoken to Knox, but he had to realize I wasn’t scared of him tonight. Not when it came Jillian Robinson.
“You really think that I’m afraid of you?” Knox grinned at me. “Out of all the people in this town, you’re at the bottom of my list...Fuck! You bitch!” he cried out, and I watched as he dropped to his knees, cupping his dick in his hand.
Jillian kicked sand in his face. “If you touch me again, ever, I will do more than just knee you in the balls, you piece of shit,” she warned him in a deadly tone. Then she took off running down the beach without saying a word to me.
“Jills! Wait!” I took off after her. Even as unsteady on my feet as I was, I was able to catch up to her with my long legs. “I need to talk to you.” I touched her arm, but she whirled around as if she might kick me next. “I surrender!” I held up my hands.
Jillian shook her head. “I have nothing to say to you, Hutch. You made it perfectly clear how you feel about me.” Her nostrils flared slightly as another round of fireworks began to go off above our heads.
“About that...” I pinched the back of neck nervously before I reached down to cup her face with the palms of my hands
. “I was wrong.”
“Wrong?”
I nodded.
“What do you mean wrong? You told me that we weren’t friends, and then the way you acted when I came to visit you at your work...I thought you hated me.” Jillian stared at my mouth as she licked her lips.
I leaned forward so that my face was inches from hers. “Negative,” I whispered before I slammed my mouth over hers. God, she tasted like fucking heaven on earth. Her taste was sweet, soft, and perfect for me. Her soft, plump lips opened slightly as she wrapped her arms around my waist, and I felt her fingers grip my shirt as the kiss grew longer. “Fuck,” I murmured as she let me slide my tongue into the warm concaves of her mouth and swept it around, looking to twirl it around hers. I groaned softly when I made contact, my dick jerking to attention when Jillian’s nails clawed into my skin. I wanted, no, I needed more, but this was already getting out of control. When I pulled away, Jillian’s face was flushed, her eyes wide, but it was the smile on her face that told me I did something right.
“Where did you learn to kiss like that?” she whispered, reaching for my hand, and laced her fingers through mine. “Because that...that was the most amazing kiss I have ever had in my entire life.”
I ran the fingers of my free hand over her lips. “Yeah?” I was sure she was only trying to be nice.
“Jesus Christ, Hutch, yes.” Jillian squeezed my hand. “You kiss all the girls like that?”
“Only the ones I like.” I had kissed two girls in my life. My first girlfriend, Mya, and now, Jillian. “Listen, about the other day—”
Jillian shook her head. “I already forgot,” she assured me. “Why don’t you walk me home, Hutch?” She stood up onto her tiptoes and planted a kiss against my chin. “Then you can kiss me goodnight like that again at the front door.”
Chapter Six
Jillian
Hutch didn’t say much on the walk back to my house. He kept my hand clasped tightly in his as if he was afraid I might disappear or maybe that I might even change my mind, but I liked it. I loved how protective Hutch was, how strong he was, and that even though he was scared, he had finally showed me his true feelings.
Now that the holiday was finally here, the streets of Ocean View were packed with more people, so it took a little longer to get home. We weaved our way through the crowds before we finally started down our street. As our houses came into view, Hutch tugged me closer.
“I know you probably need to get home, but can I show you something?” He sounded nervous, eliciting a smile from me.
“I don’t have to get home anytime soon.” My mother trusted Jo and me now that we had graduated high school. Not to mention she thought I was at Bella’s party. “What did you want to show me?” I squeezed Hutch’s hand as he tried to let go of mine.
“It’s in my apartment.”
“Hutch Kelly, are you trying to have your way with me?” I saw the look of shock on his face and immediately regretted saying that. “You know I’m kidding, right?” I tried to appease him. “It’s called flirting.”
He chewed nervously on his bottom lip before he brought his free hand up to grip the back of his neck. I noticed he tended to do this when he was nervous or upset. “Yes, I know,” Hutch answered.
“So, what did you want to show me?” What happened to the guy on the beach that kissed me until my bathing suit was damp with need. Now it felt like Hutch was disappearing on me again.
Hutch led me across the street to his house, up the stairs to his apartment where he stopped to turn around to face me. “I hope you don’t mind the mess.” He flashed a quick smile before he unlocked the door and stepped inside.
I followed him inside, thinking I was going to find the place in disarray, but I couldn’t find anything out of place. Not a stray piece of clothing, a beer bottle, or an empty dish. Okay, maybe there was a beer can on the counter that shouldn’t be, but that was it. “Mess?” I teased as Hutch toed off his shoes. “You’re such a slob.” I started to walk around, but he stopped.
“Do you, uh, mind taking off your shoes? I worry about sand and stuff getting inside.” He gave me a sheepish look.
I shook my head, removing my flip-flops to leave them by his sneakers. “Hutch, this place is amazing.” I moved around the small studio apartment. “How long have you been living here?” I liked the open concept. The small kitchen, the oversized couch, and the giant television. I let my eyes move over the slate blue walls until they the landed on the king-sized bed in the back of the apartment. “You do know that this place is anything but messy, right?” I turned to find Hutch staring up at the ceiling with his jaw set in stone. “Hutch? Honey, are you alright?” I took a step toward him, thinking he might be having one of his panic attacks only to have him drop his gaze in my direction.
“I shouldn’t have invited you here.”
Shame mingled in my throat. Was I reading him all wrong? “I should get going anyway.” I started to turn around, but not before Hutch was on me and had me pinned against the kitchen counter.
“I don’t want you to leave.” His voice came out utterly raspy with desire. “I’m just...afraid of what might happen if you don’t.” Hutch skated his hand up my arm, over my shoulder, and around my back before he dug his fingers into my skin as he pressed his body against mine.
I felt his body heat seep into mine. “Are you going to hurt me?” My voice shook with fear and desire. I glanced up to find his brown eyes darkened with lust.
“What? No, that’s not what I meant,” Hutch insisted.
I placed the palms of my hands against his chest before I slid them up and behind his neck so I could hook them together. “Then what? What are you afraid of, Hutch?” I whispered.
He swallowed, and I watched the way his Adam’s apple bobbed against his throat. “There are things, things you don’t know about me, Jills, and I would hate for you to think less of me when you found out.” He dropped his forehead against mine, hiding those gorgeous orbs behind his closed lids.
“I could never.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Prove me wrong.”
Hutch gripped my waist as he lifted me up onto the counter. “There are plenty of things I want to tell you, but that isn’t one of them.” His lips were on mine before I could say anything, and I immediately melted.
I wanted this. The kiss, the man, and everything he was doing right now. The way Hutch took control, how he let his tongue roll over my lips before finally slipping it inside my mouth to dance with mine, was oh-so sexy. His hands roamed my hips then made their way up my stomach and over my already hard nipples, where he grazed over them, making me arch my back and moan softly. Wetness beaded between my legs, causing me to wrap them around Hutch’s waist and tug him closer.
“Your mouth tastes like summer on a hot day,” he whispered. I groaned as his fingers pulled at my hard peaks. “Fuck, you make me so hard,” Hutch groaned.
He wasn’t lying. I could feel him jerk against me the longer the kiss went on, so I couldn’t help but slip my hand between us to cup his dick in my hands, only to have him pull away and turn his back to me.
“I’m sorry, I just—” I stopped when Hutch held up his hand. There were so many pieces of the puzzle to Hutch Kelly. So many unanswered questions, but I wanted him to trust me with them. I wanted to take the time to get to know him, and I would wait until he was ready.
Hutch slowly turned back around, making sure to keep his eyes on the floor. “I’ve never...fuck, I’ve never been with a woman before. Not like that.” I watched his ears turn red like they always did when he was embarrassed.
Wait a second. Hutch was a virgin?
I slipped off the counter. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” I assured him. “If you don’t want me to touch you and just want to stick to kissing, we can just do that. You’re really good at it.” Hutch looked up at me shyly, so I touched his hand in comfort.
“You’re sure?” Hutch linked our fingers together.
“Right.” Hutch started to lead me over to his bed and then released my hand so that he could climb up onto the mattress. He stretched out completely and then patted the spot next to him. “You’re going to have to come up here if you want to see it.” He pointed up above him at the ceiling.
I followed after Hutch, and once I looked up, I realized what he was looking at. The giant skylight showed off the brilliant moon and you could see bursts of light from the fireworks that were still going off down on the beach. “Whoa,” I muttered softly, hoisting myself up onto the mattress next to him.
“I built this place myself,” Hutch told me as his hand found mine. “Hey Google, turn off the lights,” he called out and the apartment was suddenly dark. “My parents told me I could live here if I built it, so I spent the summer after I graduated high school making it my own after I got home from the shop. It took a lot work, but I think it turned out pretty good.” He squeezed my fingers lightly.
I turned to look at Hutch’s profile. “Pretty good is putting it lightly,” I teased and noticed the smile that spread across his face. “Are you really a virgin?” He turned to stare at me, the firework lights bouncing off his dark eyes.
“Are you?”
“No.”
Hutch used the knuckles of his free hand to tilt my face further. “I’ve never slept with a girl before,” he whispered, “but things could change if you play your cards right, Jillybean.” Heat flared between my legs. Also that nickname? Totally a keeper. “Will you dance for me sometime?” He ran his thumb against my cheek before he dropped his hand.
Out of the Dark Page 5
