Chapter 39 #2
He says, “For you it will be. For your sister, not so sure. That girl’s her own worst enemy. Don’t know what’s broken in her but it was broken the minute she was born.”
He’s not wrong about that.
Me, Sherry, and Gwen are their biological kids, Taylor raised by them since she was eight. My folks are good parents. They raised us right, didn’t spoil any of us, treated all three girls as equals. And one of them has, straight up, just always been rotten to the fucking core.
***
It’s gonna be a long, hard day staying away from Bailey.
And it’s all part of the plan. Wow her with thoughtful dates, put zero pressure on her for intimacy while still showing her closeness like she’d get if we’d just started dating.
And hopefully, leaving her wanting more.
More contact. More connection. More of me.
And signs are good – she’s been warming up to me.
Not seeing me today might mean good things tomorrow.
I earned brownie points last night with the Sixteen Candles gesture with Graydon’s car and the movies, not to mention that carnival. When I told her I was sorry for falling asleep, she gave me a sweet look that I’ll never forget. Is that how she used to look at me?
And I won’t ever forget the look on her face when she stepped out of the library.
Graydon laughed when I explained why I needed to borrow his car and told me his mate and daughter love their movie marathons, that I’d earn big points taking her to a drive-in, because she loves them and will go bananas over it being a marathon of some of her favorites with me acting out the ending of one of them.
The idea hit me earlier when I was mulling over how she stared at the TV when the guy showed up at the end of that movie that first night I slept in her room. She got a glazed-over dreamy look that reminded me of the way I used to catch her staring at me.
While she watched that teenager get her happy ending, Bailey forgot for a few minutes that she was upset with me.
And it was like it was meant to be when I searched the internet to see about buying a copy of the movie, which I was going to set up on the side of the town hall barn with the projector.
And there was the notice other movies in that genre were playing at this drive-in, which worked out better because nobody knew us there.
Finding a carnival that was on the way to the drive-in was the icing on the cake.
I thought I blew the night when I took her on the Ferris wheel, but then she relaxed into me. It felt like a huge win when I got to hold her.
She expected me to try to get a kiss. Though it felt like another win when I took her obvious disappointment in at the news I wouldn’t see her until tomorrow.
I’m fascinated by her. I dig planning these dates, seeing how she’ll react to things I’m trying out.
I won’t stop trying to surprise and date her anytime soon.
If I get my way, she’ll feel like she’s being dated by me for many years to come.
Even though we’ll be living under the same roof, sharing a bed.
I can’t fuckin’ wait for that.
Next time I take her out, I’ll move in for a kiss. If I can survive the day without seeking her out, that is.
Holding back isn’t easy. It’s the hardest game I’ve ever played, particularly considering I’ve had zero training for winning over a female.
Though, if I’m honest, that spell that zapped me was a bit like training. Teaching me I have no choice but to compete with a handicap – the inability to get physical. I’m determined to win this. My opponent on this challenge isn’t Bailey. It’s myself. And Bailey is the prize.
At least I’ve got shit to keep me busy today, something to wrap my mind around beyond thinking about the next minute I’ll get to be with her, smell her, and plan the next thing I’ll do to show her how much making her happy matters to me.
I can’t believe I sound like the sort of guy I’d tease the shit out of.
Since I’ve been out of commission the past week, today I’m doing something productive. Might as well put this excess testosterone and frustration to work that’ll benefit the business and lighten the load for Grey when I’m out of commission again when I finally win Bailey over.
Today’s plan is to go to town, grab some building materials, and jump on that apartment that needs gutting. The tenant lived there thirty years and just went into a nursing home. The place needs a new kitchen and bathroom along with flooring and painting done.
Have sledgehammer, will demolish.
***
With the amount of materials Grey ordered that I need to pick up today, my first stop is the house so I can put Bailey’s books upstairs.
But when I step inside, my nose tells me Bailey was recently here.
I find my bed made and it wasn’t when I came over the other day for clothes.
What was she doing here? Sleeping? And I missed it?
There’s a damp towel and wet washcloth hanging in the bathroom. After pulling in her scent from them, I go to the kitchen and see a coffee mug and a spoon in the dish rack.
I call her.
“Hello?” she answers breathlessly.
“Hey,” I greet. “How are you?”
“I’m… I’m okay. I… actually um… stayed at your house last night.”
“I’m here now. I can tell.”
“I should’ve asked first. Sorry.”
“Why do you sound so out of breath?” I ask. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m… moving books around.”
“Breathe, baby.”
A beat later she says, “Yeah, sorry I didn’t ask.”
“You don’t have to be sorry. It’s your house now too, Bay.”
“Um… it’s just… well… when you dropped me off last night, Mom and Dad were being uh…loud.”
It takes a second for me to realize what she’s referring to. I bark out a laugh.
There’s humor in her voice when she replies. “Mimi Young fixed the issue with Mom’s scent and I listened to it against my will all night the night before and couldn’t take any more of it. I figured since you were at Ty’s cabin… uh… I hoped you wouldn’t mind.”
“Move in today,” I say instantly.
There’s silence for a beat before she whispers, “Jase.”
Fuck, hearing her voice soft like that, I press my forehead to the wall. I need her to whisper my name just like this when I’m finally inside her.
“Hear me out. Move in. Tell me when you’re ready for me to move back in. I’ll stay at the cabin until then. No pressure. Move in, Bay. Sleep here tonight. I’ll bring all your stuff over when you’re ready.”
“It’s not a terrible idea to give Mom and Dad their privacy,” she says. “They’re like honeymooners.”
“Glad to hear that after what they just went through.”
“Yeah,” she whispers, sounding emotional.
“At least somebody’s getting lucky,” I mutter without measuring my words. I wince. “Forget I just said that. We’re going at your pace. I take that back. No pressure. I’m sorry.”
“I get it,” she whispers. “Have you… um… been taking anything to help with your… urges?”
My cock fucking aches at this question from her.
“Like Brody, I mean?” she unnecessarily explains. “He’s taking something Erica made to make it a little easier.”
“Not so far,” I reply.
“Um… sorry about that.”
“You’ve got the ability to fix it, you know…”
She’s quiet a second and I’m about to backtrack when she says, “Or… you could go get whatever Brody’s taking.”
Shit. What happened to no pressure?
“Just teasin’ you like I’ve always done, you know?” I say quickly. “Maybe we’ll eventually get to a point where you won’t take it as an insult.”
“We’ll see, I guess,” she says softly.
“Gonna get goin’ to town for some work that needs doin’. Just got to the house to drop your books off since I need the space for materials for one of our units. You gonna come back after work?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?”
Is that disappointment I hear? I won’t push my luck.
“Yeah. I’ll pick you up at five and we’ll go out. I have an idea. Not sure how it’ll shake out but… is that cool?”
I want to take her somewhere there’s live music, something we can dance to. She’s only ever had one dance, with me, and it’s time she got to do more of it.
“Okay,” she answers.
“Later, Bay.”
“Later.”
I put my phone down and race upstairs to the bedroom.
Staring at the bed, I reach for my fly and undo it before I grab the pillow she slept on. I inhale her scent, pulling it in deep. The idea that this is where she’ll sleep from now on feels really fucking good.
One of my shirts is under the bottom pillow.
This is the shirt I wore last night. I figured it must have blown away when I ran back for my clothes.
A smile stretches my face to its’ limits because this means she grabbed my shirt from her driveway and brought it here. Slept with it. Wanted my scent close.
I pull my aching cock out with a hiss. I squeeze, holding the pillow she slept on to my nose with my free hand. Fuck. I need more. I need her so damn much.
I lay on the bed with my jeans around my hips, jacking off to the image in my head of Bailey here in this bed, using one of my shirts like a security blanket.
I can’t wait to have her. But, I’ll make myself wait. I just hope it doesn’t take much longer.
Her here, in this house, settling in… it should help. It’s a start.
My back arches as I groan out my climax, spilling the mess all over my belly.
Instead of reaching for a towel or a Kleenex to wipe it away, I roll to my belly and grin as I catch my breath, hoping she’ll sleep right here tonight.