12. Jessica
JESSICA
“Why the hell have you lost so much weight?”
“What?” Stalker much? He’d left me in the walk-in closet that was bigger than mine, which was saying a lot. Prissy Playboy. I ought to torch all his shit.
Anyway, he’d left to give me space, but for some reason slipped back in when I was half naked. “Is it because of him?” What the hell were we talking about again?
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“That fool you just broke up with. Is he the reason you’ve lost so much weight? Answer me, damn you!”
Well, he’s just nuts. I pulled and scratched at the hand he wrapped around my throat.
“I can’t talk with your hand around my neck, cave dweller.”
“I asked you a question. Why have you lost so much weight?” I’ve been busy burning the midnight oil in my plot for total destruction of the enemy. Who has time to eat?
“First of all, how would you know if I lost weight or not? We don’t know each other like that.”
He leaned down and put his lips close to my ear. “I know everything about you.” Why did that sound so ominous? What would he know? We haven’t seen each other in more than a year. I’d made sure of it.
“Can you leave so I can get dressed?”
“Answer me first.”
“I’ve just been too busy to eat, no other reason.”
“Fine! Since you don’t know how to take care of yourself, you can stay here where I can take care of you.” He stormed out of the room after making that asinine statement. What the hell is he so mad about?
I found one of his shirts and pulled it on over the ratty tee I had on just to spite him.
He was waiting just outside the door with his phone to his ear, probably harassing some other innocent soul.
He hung up as soon as he saw me, took one look at my shirt under his, and, still with that sour look on his face, pulled me towards him.
“Stubborn, huh!” He pulled his shirt off over my head and tore mine before throwing the scraps to the floor. He was a little rough when pulling his shirt back around my shoulders, mumbling under his breath about insane women, as if I’d invited his ass to bother me. “Behave!”
He took my hand and dragged me from the room, and again I let him get away with it.
After all, his parents weren’t responsible, so there was no reason to make them suffer my wrath along with him.
Besides, other than my family’s chefs, theirs is pretty top-tier.
Might as well get a good meal out of this after being dragged around like a rag doll.
“Would you unhand me? I’ve been walking pretty well on my own since the age of one.
” He tightened his grip. I dug my nails into his hand just as we reached the entryway to the dining room, where his family was waiting.
I planted the biggest and brightest smile on my face while he bitched and whined about my sharp nails.
I guess his family is a bit nuts, too, because no one batted an eye when this one threatened to toss me out the window. “Hey, you invited trouble; I didn’t come looking for you. Let’s eat. Smells wonderful.” For some reason, the women were beaming at me, but the men looked kinda sick.
I didn’t quite understand the pitying looks between him and his father and brother, nor did I care. If he keeps messing with me, I’ll show him what years of resentment look like.
I think he took classes in annoyance because he excels at it. He kept putting shit on my plate from his as if what I took for myself wasn’t enough. I ignored him and spoke to his mom and sister-in-law, whom I’ve always gotten along with.
That seemed to piss him off for some reason, and he started stabbing his steak like it had robbed him. “You doing okay there, buddy? Did that cow gore you in a past life or something?” I plopped a big piece of steak between my teeth and bit down, while threatening him with my eyes.
“I’ll gore you later if you don’t behave.” At least he had the decency to speak barely above a whisper. I didn’t have an answer, but was thankfully saved by his Mom.
“So, how have you been doing? It’s been a while since we’ve seen you.” How did a woman so genteel bear such an ingrate?
“I’ve been fine, busy, but I like it.”
“Any new romance we should know about?”
“Nah, I’m done with that stuff. Men are pigs. Most present company excluded.” I looked him dead in the eyes as I said it. His brother, the troublemaker, laughed so hard he almost fell off his chair.
I tried to make a run for it immediately after the meal was over, thinking that with his family there, he’d not act out, but I was so wrong. After saying my goodbyes to the others and thanking his parents for dinner, I turned to him with a half-smile while he eyed me suspiciously.
“Thanks for the meal, it was awesome, I’ll be going now.” I headed for the door, intent on getting an Uber to take me back home, but he caught me on the top step. Dammit, I almost made a clean escape.
“Where are you going? Didn’t your parents teach you that it’s not polite to eat and run?”
“What the hell else do you want from me?” I folded my arms and tapped my foot on the ground.
“How were you planning to get home? Didn’t I bring you here?”
“Welcome to the twenty-first century, where a car ride is right at your fingertips. Now get out of my way, I have things to do.”
“I already told you. You’re not going anywhere until I’m sure you can take better care of yourself.” He’d barely stopped speaking when my baby brother came down the driveway. I’d know that death trap he drives anywhere, but what was he doing here?
“What the hell is he doing here?” It was made very obvious what the traitor was up to when he stepped out of his car, reached in the back, and pulled out a suitcase that looked very familiar.
“Hi sis! You owe me one brother-in-law.”
“What the…?” He dropped my suitcase at my feet and high-tailed it back to the car, only to speed off, leaving me there.
“What did you do?”
“I called your father and told him you’d be staying here for a few days.”
“And he agreed?”
“Why wouldn’t he?” He actually seemed to think that was a valid question.
“Did you fall and hit your head?”
“You’d think. Trust me, no one knows better than I that I must’ve lost my mind messing around with you.” There he goes gritting his teeth again.
“Your dentist must love the hell outta you.”
He didn’t answer, just picked up my suitcase and pulled me back inside. I kicked his leg, no response, bit the hand that was holding mine, and all I got was a glare. When I was strategizing my next point of attack, he lifted me over his shoulder and headed up the stairs.
If I were into him, I’d find this kinda sexy, but since it was him, I was only slightly moved. Who knew the cold fish had such smooth moves? As soon as my feet touched the floor, I headed for his bedroom door. This fiend tackled me.
“I still have to go home, I don’t have my laptop, and I need to work.” Yes, you are interrupting my plans for mayhem. I’ve only just begun dealing with Dale and his side chick, neither of which are too bright.
I’ve all but emptied Dale’s bank account to make up for all the money I spent when we were together; it’s only fair.
He’d have to run home to Mommy for an allowance if he wants to keep his little girlfriend.
Since all she’s interested in is money or a stepping stone to better days, I don’t see them lasting too long.
As to that, my catfish game has her on the hook already, and we haven’t even met. She thinks I’m some hotshot CEO in another state, but it’s just an AI-generated person who sounds like a dream. She’s been gushing all over my damn computer screen for the past few days.
If I stay here tonight, which I don’t plan to, then I won’t get to torment those two as I have been for the past week. “I told your brother to pack everything you need. I’m sure it’s in there.” Got an answer for everything, do you!
He pulled me back into the room and closed and locked the door. “The shower is right through there.” He pointed in the direction while I wondered what the hell had happened in the last few hours. First, he attacked me by the pool, and now this.
As if reading my mind, he walked over and stood in front of me, just staring down at me without uttering a word. “What are you staring at?” And why the hell is my heart racing so fast? He didn’t answer, just stood there staring down at me like he’d never seen me before.
“Your mouth. I’m wondering how something so small can do so much damage.” What the hell is he talking about now? “Maybe it was just a fluke; let’s see.” He pulled me in close and lifted me with his arm around my waist until our parts met. H.O.L.Y…
Before I could say anything, I found myself drowning in another one of his mind-numbing kisses.
He makes me feel like I’ve never truly been kissed before.
The way his lips just overpower mine, that feeling of being consumed by him, and that pain in my chest that feels as if I’m about to draw my last breath.
“Breathe, Jess!” He took little nibbles of my lips, and I realized I hadn’t been breathing as I was too invested in what he would do next.
That feeling of losing myself persisted.
It’s not a feeling I’m used to. For one, I’ve never let anyone take me over before; I’ve always remained in control and somewhat detached when it came to lovemaking.
So how did the enemy sneak in under my guard?
“What are you really doing?” I asked when he started licking my bottom lip in a way that seemed very erotic.
Okay, I’m not the most experienced person when it comes to sex, so I might be way off course here.
But how was he able to make me feel when I can’t stand him?
“What’s going through your head now? Whatever it is, you can forget it. You’re not getting away from me, so don’t even try.”
“When did we become this? What’s going on?”
“You know very well what’s going on. Don’t play coy.”