Chapter 50
50
Twelve days later
Friday, August 1st
C had is cleaning us out tonight.
I comb my hands through my hair, exhaling as he flops down a straight on his dining room table in his backwoods cabin.
We all shake our heads, and he drags the pot of chips toward him.
“You aren’t supposed to win in your own house,” Chris grumbles, tossing his cards down.
“You stacking the deck?” I joke.
“I feel like I’m the only one concentrating on the game,” Chad says, sipping his beer.
He isn’t wrong.
Nicholas keeps turning his wedding band on his finger.
I wonder if he’s told the other guys yet.
Chris is downing beer like it’ll drown out his separation, and I …
I’m thinking about Claire.
I know she wanted space.
I told myself I’d respect that.
But all night, my mind’s been looping back to her.
To the way she looked at me in the grocery store.
The way she didn’t tell me to fuck off when I invited her over.
The way she reacted when I mentioned the mission.
Should I just give up on the idea of us?
I don’t want to.
I’ve given her space, but maybe too much.
Maybe I should be bold, do something?—
My phone buzzes on the table.
Claire Moore
I would like another mission.
I blink.
That can’t be real.
Swiping open my phone, my lips curve into a smirk.
My pulse kicks up, my whole body reacting to this, to her.
I stand, needing a minute alone.
“Taking a piss,” I mutter, heading to the bathroom.
A mission.
What would be just enough to thaw the ice but not too much?
Does she still have the toy?
I still have the app.
Should I call her?
Would that be too much?
Or would it be exactly what we both need?
She texted.
We’ll text.
Jake Schmidt
When it’s in, I’ll give you directives.
I hope she didn’t throw away the toy.
Claire Moore
In.
Fuck.
I rub my forehead, exhaling slowly.
Her keeping the toy is giving me too much hope right now.
I bite my lip, considering what I should say.
Jake Schmidt
Touch your body.
Think about the way I touch you.
I’ll turn the toy on soon.
I imagine her doing exactly that.
I wish I could be there next to her.
Exhaling sharply, I push my phone back in my pocket.
Rejoining the guys, I clap Chad on the shoulder.
“Thanks for taking all my money. I’m calling it a night.”
“Come on, it’s early,” Chris pouts.
Nicholas holds my gaze for a moment, then a playful smile breaks across his face.
“Have fun.”
I shake my head but don’t respond.
I turn toward the door before anyone can start asking questions.
Sitting in my truck, I stare at the app, considering what I should do.
The eight-minute drive home is going to feel like an eternity, but I can’t sit in Chad’s driveway all night.
I hit the lowest pulse setting, then text Claire.
Jake Schmidt
Call me to continue the mission.
Down the country road, my phone stays dark.
Nothing.
Maybe she just wants it to be sex.
Maybe a call is too personal.
Maybe she isn’t ready, and I was getting my hopes up for nothing.
Disappointment takes hold until the screen lights up the cab.
I don’t even hesitate, tapping the answer button.
“Hey,” I probably sound winded.
My heart is nearly beating through my chest because I’ve missed her.
“Hi,” she says softly, and fuck, I’ve missed her voice.
Silence hangs between us.
I remind myself she isn’t calling to catch up.
“Do you want a quick mission or a long one?” I ask, wanting to keep her on this call as long as possible though.
“Depends.”
“On?”
“If … I mean … whatever you think I deserve for being an ass.”
I shake my head, smirking.
“You’re not an ass.”
A small pause.
“I am.”
I put my phone on speaker, quickly reopening the app and increase the intensity.
She breathes, ragged.
“Tonight’s mission will be a little different.”
“Yeah?” she pants.
I think she’s looking for a punishment.
“You’re not going to come until I tell you to. No matter how good it feels or how long I play with you.”
“Okay,” she pants.
“You’ll have to suffer through this intensity until I get home. It will be a few more minutes.”
She hums.
I fucking want to go to her place.
To hold her.
To kiss her.
Don’t push too fast.
Hearing her breathe, I smile.
“Deeper inhales, baby.”
“I’ve missed you,” she whispers.
My heart pounds hearing that.
“I’ve missed you too.”
I rub my eyes, fighting back happy tears.
Our story isn’t over.
I swipe back into the app and change the intensity back to its lowest setting.
“Why did you text me tonight?”
“It’s August.”
I knit my brows together, not understanding.
It’s silent until she says, “The calendar.”
I chuckle, having almost forgotten about the department calendar.
“Are you looking at it?”
“Yes,” she breathes.
Fuck it.
I’m driving to her house.
We’ll complete the mission over the phone, and then maybe I can give her a kiss goodnight.
I would love nothing more than to kiss her tonight.
“What do you like about it?”
“The firefighter.”
“What about him?”
“How he’s annoyingly perfect.”
I toggle to the app, approaching her place and turn on a different pulse setting.
“What else do you like about him?”
“How he puts up with my shit.”
I shake my head, considering everything and refocus on the mission at hand.
“What do you like about the picture?”
“This guy is pretty hot.” She giggles.
“Blond hair, blue eyes, so strong.”
“What do you wish he was doing to you?”
“Kissing me. Telling me he’s going to make me come.”
My chest rumbles.
“One of these days the mission will be eight, and you will have to give me eight.”
“I’ll do my best, but?—”
“The next time I tell you eight. It’s eight.”
“I’ll do what I’m told,” she breathes, and I hear how close she is.
“Good … will you do what you’re told right now?”
“Yes.”
“You need to come outside and give me a kiss goodnight.”
“What?”
Smirking, I hang up.
Let’s see if she does this.
Doubt creeps in as the seconds pass, but this was the right move.
This is how we’re going to get back on track.
Her front light turns on, and I immediately step out of my truck.
“Claire,” I exhale, seeing her in her doorway.
She looks as beautiful as ever with her messy bun, sweatpants and a T-shirt.
I pull her in by the back of her neck and kiss her deep.
She wraps her arms around my neck, pressing her body into mine.
I have missed every single thing about her.
Running my hands down her back, I kiss her with more need.
I squeeze her ass, lifting her for a moment, excited about what’s next for us.
Breaking our kiss, I hold her face in my hands.
Staring at her, I take in everything, her blue eyes, freckles, red hair.
“I love you, Claire,” I blurt out.
Her eyes widen.
“If this is all you’re ready for, I will do this every fucking night with a smile on my face.”
She starts to cry, and I probably shouldn’t have said I loved her, but I couldn’t hold it back any longer.
“Baby,” I softly say, brushing the tears away.
“I hate when you cry.”
“Happy tears,” she whispers, deeply inhaling.
I rest my hand on her heart, and she sets hers on mine.
Without words, we begin breathing together.
Inhaling and exhaling.
Smiling and connecting.
After a few breaths, Claire says, “I’m ready to take you up on dinner and cookies.”
“With Gabby?”
She nods.
I cup her face in my hands, kissing her deep.
This is huge for us.
She wants us.
“Tell me when.”