Chapter 22
22
COLLINS
“Dude, are you okay?” Nic asks, detaching himself from being Claire’s water boy.
“Hmm?”
He gestures to my face. “You look a little pale.”
My attention has been on Penny and Ivan so much that I forgot I’m supposed to be pretending to be unaffected.
“I think it’s just the heat.” It’s not a lie. It is hot out here when not in the shade.
“Why don’t you all get in the pool to cool off while Germain cooks up some burgers and kabobs?” Donna suggests, overhearing our conversation.
Instantly my stomach sinks. The last thing I need is for Penny to be prancing around in a bathing suit while I try to conceal a hard-on. From the creepy look on the Colombian’s face, I doubt I’ll be the only one with the struggle.
I feel volatile.
If Ivan makes a move on Penny, I’ll detach his dick from his body, and he can throat fuck himself with it to get off. I don’t care. But he better stay away from what’s mine.
“The pool sounds fun,” Penny says sweetly.
Of course it does, with a capital F-U.
And let’s face it—I’m fucked.
If her skimpy outfit is any indication of what she chose to bring for swimwear, then I know it’s going to be some type of bikini.
Dammit.
I hope Penny knows who she’s coming home with tonight, because it isn’t going to be Mr. Iced Coffee. I made it clear I don’t share, but if I need to do a refresher course, I will.
“Collins, can I get the keys to your car so I can get my swim bag out?” she asks, holding out her hand in expectation.
“I’ll walk you there.”
“No need.”
“There’s very much a need,” I whisper, my voice gravelly, so only she can hear.
Turning on her heel, she walks across the patio toward the house.
“I’m gonna grab a bag from Collins’s car,” Penny says to Angie in passing, probably trying to draw suspicion away from our closeness.
I usher her up the deck stairs, allowing her to go first.
When we get to the top and out of view of the others, Penny spins around, her eyes alight with anger. “What has gotten into you?”
“I don’t want that asshole flirting with you.”
“Really? Now you’re name-calling? With age doesn’t always come maturity. You are the case in point.”
I sigh, placing both hands on the back of my neck and rubbing them upward to try to ease the building tension. "Penny, make him stop, or I will.”
“What does that mean, Collins?”
“It means that I will get rid of him.”
She shakes her head. “Not that. And stop acting all hitman. You can’t just eliminate every guy that looks at me. What I meant was, how can I make someone stop doing something that I’m not even aware he’s doing? I don’t think Ivan was flirting with me at all. He is being nice.”
“Guys aren’t nice without a purpose. We’re basic like that.”
Her eyes narrow. “And now you are the expert?”
I sigh. “He is fantasizing about taking what’s mine.”
“Now you’re a mind reader?”
“He’s making it obvious, Pen. Wake up.”
“Cut him some slack.”
The only thing I’m going to cut is him into pieces if he steps out of line. “Why?”
“Because he doesn’t know we are bound together by a contract.”
“Quit making accommodations for someone who doesn’t deserve your kindness.”
“He’s my mom’s friend’s son, Collins. Chill. We aren’t going to get naked on the first date.”
“There will be no date,” I snap. I take a few breaths, trying to decide which approach I should use on her to get her to see reason. “Listen. I am jealous of every man in your past and present who has ever seen how beautiful you look when the wind catches your hair. I am jealous of anyone who has smelled how the sunshine warms your strawberry scent from your skin. I am jealous of those who have tasted the sweetness of your lips. Childhood friend or not, I don’t like it.”
“So you’ll scare him away like you did my boyfriend from Soulful Mind?”
Is she still not over that? “Well, I sure as hell won’t stand back and watch someone move in on you. If you don’t want a full-out war in your parents’ backyard, then stop encouraging Ivan’s flirting.”
“In my defense, male attention makes me horny.”
“What the fuck, Penny? Do you want me to lose all my control right here, right now? You do, don’t you?”
“Why Mr. Stone, that’s exactly what I want you to do.”
“Do you want him?”
After a long pause, I look down into the patio area at the group that is still gathered and then back into Penny’s crystal-blue eyes. I can feel the tic in my jaw starting at the mere thought of her pursuing another man while we are in a contractual relationship. There’s no way in hell I am sharing.
Having enough of this conversation, Penny makes her way through the back door to the house, meandering through the living room and working her way through the kitchen.
“Answer me, dammit.”
Watching as she pulls back her shoulders and grinds her teeth, I prepare for the fight it seems she’s ready to start. “The only thing I want is to be chosen. And unfortunately for you, some other guy beat you to the opportunity. It’s like I don’t even exist to you when I’m not in your bed.”
“Why do you provoke me and then expect me not to react?”
Her hands push at my chest, but I don’t budge. “I’m not doing anything to you. Believe it or not, I’m simply enjoying spending some time with my family and friend.”
“Why do you think I don’t choose you?”
“Because I basically had to beg on multiple occasions for you to even consider the possibility of being an us . You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I was simply stating that fact.”
“You knew my reason for hesitating.”
“I did. But sometimes I yearn for a different type of closeness.”
“With Ivan?”
“No, Collins. Ivan works for my dad, and his mom and my momma are friends. Our paths crossed years ago but the timing was wrong. And it’s still wrong.”
My eyes glare down at hers. “But there was an attraction there?”
She shrugs. “He’s tall, dark, and muscular. Of course I don’t find him attractive. Ew. Gross.” Then a giggle escapes. And now she can’t stop them from multiplying.
Great.
Dammit.
But she’s so freaking cute when she’s having fun—even at my expense. I allow her to continue, but the more I think of that kid trying to stake his subtle but obvious claim on her, the angrier I get. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m not laughing.”
“Well, you never laugh, so this really isn’t special.”
“It’s almost like your ass is begging to be spanked. Is that what you want, Penny? You want me to punish you for taunting me—right here, right now—at your parents’ barbecue?” I glance at my watch. “Because for the past eighty-seven minutes, I’ve been dreaming up all sorts of ways I’m going to take out my aggressions on your most sensitive areas.”
Her hands fly to her waist. “You already took out your aggressions when you decided to not give me ample time to get off in your car.”
“You’re still not over that too?”
“Nope. I hold grudges.” But it’s that corner of her lip that lifts and lets me know she is just a little salty.
“If you don’t make it clear to your friend that you are not interested, I’ll hire a tattooist to brand your skin with my damn name and the label ‘property of.’ Is that understood?”
She clicks her tongue. “I hope it’s the wash-off kind, because you’ve made it very clear that this”—she motions with a hand back and forth between us—“is temporary.” Her eyes hood over, and she sticks her tongue out at me.
I take a step closer to her, as she takes a step back. We do this slow dance until her back is pressed against the hallway wall and our bodies are molded to one another’s, as if pieced together like the perfect puzzle.
“Stay away from him, Pen. At least until our contract ends.” It’ll give me time to figure out how to dispose of his body.
“Maybe, just maybe, my choices don’t revolve around you.”
“We have an arrangement.”
“Yeah, one that is supposed to leave me sexually satisfied—not frustrated.” She glances down between us. “And right now, no part of me is feeling the benefits of this?—”
My lips are on her, sucking the next words out of her mouth, as hers vibrate against mine. She’s been taunting me and tempting me since we got into the car to drive here. And when we did get here, I’m challenged with her sassy text messages and flirting. Oh, and let’s not forget about her freaking panty pic.
Taking her hand, I move it to my crotch, allowing her to feel my growing erection.
Pulling away from my assaulting mouth, she lets out a growl. My mouth finds her neck, kissing my way up to her ear. But it’s her eyes I need to see to know that my next message is getting across to her.
“Ever since you walked out of your parents’ house wearing that scrap of an outfit, I’ve been fantasizing about all the ways I’m going to fuck you out of it. So, for the record, I see you. I see every fucking inch of you. I see you bending down to pick up a water balloon. I see how the muscles of your thighs contract when you walk past me for no reason other than to make me want to rail you right in the middle of a family barbecue. I see how your hair glistens in the sun, and how your smile becomes brighter when you’re around your loved ones. I see it all, Penny. So, don’t think I’m not affected by you prancing around in front of me, knowing full well that I’m unable to do to you what I would like. Because if it were up to me, I’d haul you over my shoulder and have you openly displayed and strapped to the first flat surface I can find—just so I know you won’t move or defy me like you’ve done all day.”
“I don’t like him,” she says confidently.
“Feeling’s mutual.”
Penny lets out a laugh. “You are just like my brothers.”
“How so?”
“All three of you basically hate all men sniffing around your women.”
“That’s all men that have a bone in their body other than their dick, Penny. We aren’t special.”
“But the thing is, Collins, we both know this is just temporary. So maybe I’m just planning for the fut?—”
Looping my fingers into the belt loops of her too-tight shorts, I tug her closer for added emphasis, cutting off her last word. “I’m not going to sit back and watch you secure a backup plan, while currently I’m your only plan.” Penny’s not planning a fucking future with that spud. She can do better. “So, let’s enjoy this while we can.”
“I fully intend to.”
“I don’t share.”
“Neither do I.”
“Good.”
Penny pouts out her bottom lip. “I’m just trying to be nice. You need to not read into everything I do.”
“My job is to evaluate situations and make judgments based on what I see and my impeccable instincts. And Ivan already sees you as his. And I don’t like it.”
“Sees me as his? That’s a bit of a stretch, even for your wild and overactive imagination—don’t you think? You’re reading into some friendly conversational exchanges.”
I shake my head. “I know the kid’s intentions, and if he doesn’t ask you out after today’s barbecue, then I will admit I misread every cue he’s giving off.”
Pulling back, she places her hands on her hips. “You do realize that he and I are basically the same age.”
“Moot point.”
“Well, you better enjoy your time with me before it all runs out…or you die from natural causes due to your old age.”
“Funny.”
“Just think, you’re only a year or two away from your whole life’s worth being about how nice your lawn looks or how well you can cook a piece of meat on the grill.”
Okay, now, she has a point there. But I can’t give her any indication that I find her utterly hilarious. Based on the cheesy smile beaming across her face, she knows it too.
“Are you done deflecting?”
She shakes her head no. “Lucky for you, sugar daddies ripen with age.”
I sigh. “This isn’t helping your cause.”
“I know, but it’s fun as fuck teasing you about your age, since you have so eloquently been quick to point out Ivan’s.”
“Well, it’s going to be equally as fun tormenting your sweet pussy by withholding your release until you beg. If anything, it might help teach you to stop teasing me by flirting with other men.”
“Is this what jealousy looks like on you, Collins?”
“You’re mine, Princess.”
“Thought so.”
“ Mine. ”
“Maybe you just need to fuck the memory of you back into my body, so the only man that ever crosses my mind is you.”
“Oh, I plan to.”
Her body slides against mine, as she stands on her tiptoes to whisper, “I can’t wait to show you later the new swimwear I got. And by later, I mean now.” Then she brushes past me, deliberately sliding her tits on my arm. Every touch causes an electric jolt through my system, as if her body is punishing me for not being able to adequately fulfill her needs at a freaking barbecue.
Fucking hell, Penelope Hoffman.
“I should tan your ass for the torment you’re putting me through—in front of your family no less.”
“Too bad you don’t have it in you to make that level of scene.”
“Your independence and resilience are commendable. But don’t deliberately try to defy me, just to test my reaction. You won’t like it. And if you think I wouldn’t dare make a scene out in public—or in front of your entire family—you are wrong.”
I can tell by her eyes that she believes me. “Bye, now.” She wiggles her fingers into the air.
“You are going to be the death of me,” I groan to myself, watching as her pert ass makes its way to the front door and out onto the covered porch. Then I remember why we left the group in the first place. Penny needed her swim bag.
Catching up to her, I unlock the trunk and help her retrieve her belongings. I’m already wearing a pair of navy blue swim trunks that also double as shorts when dry, so I don’t need to change. Whatever Penny is carrying in that bag will most likely raise my blood pressure when she puts it on her body, and I’m dreading the lack of control I have over this entire situation.
“Go get dressed, woman.”
Walking back to the house, she smirks over her shoulder. “Only because you insist.”
Yup. And this is the moment I realize that…
I’m fucked.