Chapter 18
LILA
A cold nose on my cheek is my morning wake up call.
Dusty whines as soon as he sees my eyes open.
“Okay,” I mumble. “I’m awake.” The soreness between my legs makes itself known as I sit up and run my fingers through my hair.
My body aches as well. He really bent me every which way once he had me in his room. Damn, it was so good.
The decision felt a little impulsive and I’ll admit it was made partly out of frustration and anger. But I meant what I said. I always play things safe. I’m sick of it. I’m going to be working a lot and why shouldn’t I be able to come home to some mind blowing orgasms?
Sutton might drive me crazy sometimes but he’s sexy and amazing in bed. More importantly, he only wants the same thing that I do—sex with no strings attached. As long as Amos doesn’t find out, what’s the harm? Sneaking around might add to the fun.
Dusty’s bark gets me on my feet. He’s still young and has trouble holding his bladder. That bark means it’s urgent. I jerk on some shorts, clip the leash to his collar and take him outside. It’s early, but a few neighbors are out enjoying the cool Saturday morning.
Across the street, Donna hoses off her front porch while her husband cleans out their car. “Good morning!” I call.
“Not over here. Drunk idiot puked everywhere last night.” The drunk idiot in question spares me an annoyed glance before going back to scrubbing out his floorboard.
Holly laughs, walking over to join me while I wait for Dusty to pick the perfect spot to do his business. “Hey.”
“Hey girl. How was the date?” I saw that she made it back safely last night but we haven’t talked.
“Not as good as yours, apparently,” she teases.
Her gaze is on my neck. Damn it all. Sutton did suck on my neck like a hungry vampire last night.
I didn’t even glance in a mirror before I came out here.
I’m sure I look like a mess with my unbrushed hair and everything but that doesn’t bother me. My neighbors have seen worse.
“Is there a big mark?” I ask, running my fingers over my neck.
She grins at me with her eyebrows raised. “It isn’t small. I have a good concealer if you need some.”
“I might take you up on that.” I rarely wear makeup. I just can’t be bothered most of the time.
“Are you going to make me ask who it was?”
Before I can answer, Sutton comes out the door. Dressed in his usual jeans, t-shirt, and work boots, he walks over to us and pets Dusty. “Good morning.”
“Morning. Working on a Saturday?” Holly says.
“No, I’m having a septic tank installed at my place.” His eyes land on my neck and he doesn’t hide his self-satisfied smile. “See you later.”
Holly waits until he gets to his truck before giving me a look.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Really,” she chuckles. “Because I think you’re giving it to him.”
“I didn’t give it to him…I threw it at him.”
She covers her smile with her hand. “Was it good?”
I look her in the eye, blowing a breath out through my lips and both of us crack up.
“I thought you didn’t like him.”
“I don’t. It’s just sex. And temporary. I had a rough day yesterday and…” I shrug. “I wanted to. But it’s nothing serious and I don’t want Amos to know.”
“I understand. Is everything okay?”
We chat for a few minutes while I fill her in on getting fired and how things are going with Planet Playland.
Without power today, there’s not much I can get done.
I could really use an afternoon with my friends.
“Do you want to grab some coffee and maybe go thrifting this afternoon? I’ll see if the others want to go too. ”
“Sure, sounds great.” As she heads back to her place, she calls over her shoulder. “I’ll bring you that concealer.”
Before I hop into the shower to get ready for the day, I send a text to Sutton.
Me
My neck looks nasty.
Sutton
Not sorry.
A moment later, he texts again.
Sutton
I’m going to do it again tonight. In more discreet spots.
A little devil emoji follows and damned if it doesn’t turn me on to think about what spots he has in mind.
“You made it a week. I’m impressed,” Maren teases, after I confess that I slept with Sutton again. We’re sitting around a table on the outdoor patio of our favorite local restaurant.
“Shut up. It’s not like he’s irresistible. I just wanted sex. He’s…convenient.”
“And sexy as hell,” Cara adds. “Don’t forget that.”
“He’s funny too,” Holly says. “Those are the ones that get you.”
I hold up my palm. “He hasn’t got me. It’s a situation that’s beneficial for both of us. He needs to get rid of leftover sperm.”
Cara chokes on her drink and all eyes are on me. “What?”
“Leftover sperm? Are you trying to get pregnant?” Holly asks.
“God no. I have an IUD. And we use condoms. He recently had a vasectomy. He has to come a certain number of times before he goes back for testing to make sure the procedure took.”
The table remains quiet for a moment until Cara dies laughing. “That’s a new one. I don’t like him. I’m just helping him get rid of those last few pesky swimmers.”
It does sound ridiculous. The rest of them join in the laughter as I throw my napkin at Cara. “Fine. I’m stressed out and then I come home to him lounging around the house in nothing but shorts with those damn muscles and tattoos showing. And he eats pussy like a starving man at a buffet.”
“But you don’t like him?” Maren clarifies.
Sighing, I sit back and think about it. “No, but I don’t dislike him like I used to, I guess.”
“You mean when you warned me he and Amos are losers who can’t hold a job or take care of themselves?” Holly says.
“I might’ve misjudged him. He seems to have grown up at least. He has a job, cooks, cleans up after himself, pays bills and stuff. I know he was a terrible influence on Amos when they were younger but maybe they’ve both grown up.”
“Does Amos still have his job?” Cara asks.
“He does. And a new girlfriend. He works nights and he’s hardly ever at home.”
“While you’re getting ravaged by his best friend?” Maren teases.
Sutton definitely delivers when it comes to that. “It’s really not a big deal. I won’t be living there much longer. It’s some temporary fun.”
Holly lets her head fall back with a groan. “I need a good ravaging. This new guy is so sweet and respectful but sometimes a girl just wants to get rammed like a shopping cart in a parking lot.”
Cara grins at her. “Row has some friends I can set you up with.” She types in her phone then hands it to Holly.
“Is this his Lonely Hands profile?”
“Yes. I can send you a link. You can check out his performance for yourself.”
Holly considers it for a moment. “Send it. I’m not interested in starring in any videos but he’s hot.”
Their conversation fades to the background as I watch a guy painting a mural on the building across the street. His style is amazing. The plants and flowers seem to leap off the brick to be noticed. It’s gorgeous.
“Maybe she isn’t infatuated with Sutton. She’s already got her eye on a new one.” Maren’s words and their giggles make me realize I wasn’t paying attention.
“Hmm? No, I’m not checking him out.” Not that he isn’t worthy of it. He’s tall with a punk look, black jeans and dark hair to his shoulders. “Look at his work. I need an artist to do the walls in Planet Playland. I’ll be right back.”
I jog across the street and he notices me before I can say anything. “Hey, do you have a second?” I call out to him, and he nods, climbing down his ladder. “This is beautiful.”
A slight smile tilts his lips as his gaze runs over me. “Thank you. So are you.” Why do all men think I’m hitting on them? “I’m Julian.”
“Lila,” I reply, nodding at him. “I’m going to be opening an indoor playground in town and I’m looking for someone to do the art for the walls.”
His whole demeanor changes and becomes more professional. “Absolutely. What do you have in mind? Cartoon characters? Animals?”
“An outer space theme. Dark night sky, stars, planets, maybe a rocket ship. It’s a large space with multiple rooms and high ceilings.”
He nods to a nearby work truck with J&J’s House Painting scrawled on the side.
“Nothing is too big. I do residential and industrial painting. The murals are sort of a side business.” We talk for a few minutes about his usual rates and what different styles he can do.
He reaches into his pocket, pulls out a business card and writes on the back of it.
“Here’s my cell number. Why don’t you give me a call when I can come and see the place? I can give you a same day estimate.”
“Sounds great.”
When I turn around to head back, I do a double take.
Sutton is sitting in my seat, flipping through the stack of romance books I just bought.
Where did all the traffic suddenly come from?
It’s like every person in town has decided to drive by at this particular time to keep me from crossing the street.
All I can do is watch Sutton perusing another book while my friends laugh at something he says.
Finally, I get a clear path across. “What are you doing?”
A smile lights up his face as he holds up a book. “Learning a lot about you. Very kinky, Delilah, I’m impressed.”
I snatch the book out of his hand. “I mean what are you doing here?”
“Waiting on my takeout order. It’s lunchtime.”
Sometimes, I hate living in a small town. He slides my books back into the bag and stands up. “Excuse us,” he says to the others, grabbing my wrist to pull me away. “Just a little roommate discussion. No reason to be alarmed or suspicious.”
“What do you want that can’t wait until tonight?” I sigh, annoyed.
Dark eyes land on mine. “You took that guy’s number.”
“What?”
“Dollar Store Van Gogh over there. Don’t tell me you fell for the whole tortured artist thing. That would be embarrassing.”
Is he jealous? You’ve got to be kidding me. “Why would that be any of your business?”
He crosses his arms, his biceps bulging as his eyes narrow. “Because if we’re doing this, I don’t want you fucking other guys.”
The way he’s acting about it pisses me off but I’m not against the idea of being exclusive. I’d rather not catch something from whoever else he might be hooking up with. “Does that go both ways?”
“Of course.”
“So you want, what? Secret fuck buddy exclusivity?”
He leans down and drops his voice. “I want to know my face is the only one you’re coming on and my cock is the only one making you scream.”
The way my body wakes up at the sound of those words. Why am I reacting to him this way? I’m so sick of my shit lately. I’ve really had it up to here with me. “I got his business card to get an estimate for painting Planet Playland. Not to sleep with him.”
His posture relaxes while my muscles tighten. Maybe this isn’t going to be a good idea if he’s going to act like a possessive caveman after a couple of orgasms. He glances back at the table where all my friends are watching us. “Secret, huh? Are you going to tell me they don’t know?”
“They won’t say anything to Amos or make a big deal out of it.” I shrug. “It’s not like we don’t all have some temporary hook ups.”
A smirk appears on his face. “It’s okay. It was so good you couldn’t wait to tell your friends, I get it.”
“Don’t make me murder you out here in public.”
His phone buzzes, and he glances at the screen. “My order is ready. See you at home.”
He strides away and the urge to plant my foot in the center of his ass is almost overwhelming. Instead, I stalk back to the table where my friends are all smiles. “I take it back. I still dislike him.”
Their laughter rumbles over me, and Maren grins at Cara. “I’m thinking a spring wedding. How about you?”
“Summer at the latest,” Cara agrees.