Chapter 6
Chapter Six
June
Opening the door with my chin up and my chest out, I pad barefoot towards the bed.
Journey glances up from his spot on the floor, and his eyes flare. Slowly, his heated gaze sweeps over one bare shoulder, where the tee hangs loose, and lingers where the hem rests on my upper thighs.
I can feel my cheeks heating. I probably should have put more thought into the pajamas I grabbed, but in my defense, I’m not used to having men here.
Okay, that’s a lie. I totally adjusted the shoulder before I came out.
Sue me. I want him to think I’m sexy, and don’t lie to yourself.
You know you’d be doing the same thing. He’s Johnny Wright for crying out loud.
Every woman in Odin with a heartbeat and working lady parts knows his reputation.
Fully committed to the game I’m playing here, I step over him, and put a knee to the bed.
Journey groans, and I feel my cheeks get even warmer. “Warn a man next time, princess.”
“What?” I ask innocently, immediately pulling the covers up to my neck like I’m in some 1950s sitcom. Don’t judge me. I know the game I’m playing, but it doesn’t mean I actually have experience.
“You’re wearing a thong.”
My face goes hot. “Sorry, I’m not used to having men in my apartment.”
I close my eyes, feeling like an idiot. Seriously? Why did I tell him that? Way to be a loser, June.
He chuckles, and the sound rumbles through the quiet room. “Good to know.”
I frown at the ceiling. What does that mean? Why is that good to know? Is there some sort of hidden meaning there? Is he making fun of me?
“Go to sleep, June,” he says, his voice softer now. “It’s been a long day.”
I’m not sure what I was hoping to achieve, but him telling me to go to sleep like a child wasn’t it.
Cheeks flaming, I reach over and cut off the light.
I feel so silly. I don’t know a thing about seducing men. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Sighing, I stare up at the ceiling and think about all the crap that’s happened in the last ten hours.
The messages, all my pretty things destroyed, the Kings stomping in and taking over, all my pretty things destroyed, Journey lying on my floor, and ALL my pretty things destroyed.
I know, I know! I sound like a broken record, but who can blame me?
It’s just stuff. That’s what they always say, right?
It’s just stuff. It can be replaced.
And I know they’re right, whoever “they” are, but it was MY stuff.
My heart sinks.
And now it’s all gone.
Rolling onto my side, the first tear falls. It took years to build my collections and now I have to start all over again. A small sob spills past my lips, and I press my hand over my mouth, desperate to hold it all in, but it’s pointless. The sadness flows out.
The bed dips behind me, and an arm wraps around my waist. “Shhhh. It’s okay, princess.” Journey’s voice rumbles against my ear as he pulls me against him.
I shake my head, the tears coming faster now. “It’s not okay.”
He pulls me tighter against his chest, his skin warm against my back through the thin cotton of my shirt. “No, it’s not,” he sighs. “But it will be.”
I twist around in the circle of his arm. “How do you know?”
He licks his lips and my eyes are drawn to the movement. God, he’s beautiful.
“Because I’ll make it so it’s okay,” he promises, his voice rough.
“Oh.” My breathing picks up.
His arm flexes, and the air between us goes static.
“June,” he growls.
Drawn in like a moth to a flame, I touch my lips against his.
Journey’s body goes ramrod straight, and I freeze.
I peek up through my lashes, and my breath catches at the storm building in his eyes. Then, suddenly, a deep rumble rolls up his chest, and his lips crash against mine.
My breath catches, and my lips part in surprise. He seizes the opening and slips his tongue into my mouth. The kiss is everything I’ve ever dreamed about—slow, wet, and so, so hot.
He fists my hair in one hand as the other slides over my bottom and squeezes the flesh.
God, yes! I moan into his mouth, my body wound tight, burning for more.
His hand slides up my hip and under my shirt, calloused fingers skimming across my skin. I arch into his touch as his palm covers my breast, thumb brushing across my nipple.
“Oh,” I gasp, breaking the kiss. That feels amazing.
His mouth trails down my neck, nipping and sucking, and I thread my fingers through his hair, holding him to me.
“Please,” I beg, desperate for more.
His hand slides lower across my belly, fingers slipping beneath the elastic of my thong. My heart is pounding so hard I’m sure he can hear it.
Then suddenly, his hand stills and he lifts his head.
“What?” I ask, breathless and confused. “Why’d you stop?”
BAM. BAM. BAM.
The sound of someone pounding on my door makes me jump.
“Fuck,” Journey growls, rolling off me. “Are you expecting company?”
“No.” I sit up, pulling my shirt down. “Who would—”
“JUNE ANN!” My mother’s voice cuts through the door. “I know you’re in there!”
My blood runs cold. No. No, no, no. Not now. Not with him here.
“Jesus Christ,” Journey mutters, dragging a hand through his hair. He looks at me. “Is that your mom?”
I nod, mortification washing over me in waves.
“JUNE ANN!”
“Coming!” I call, my voice cracking.
Journey’s already on his feet, stalking toward the door. I notice he’s not bothering to put on a shirt, and I’m suddenly very aware of how this must look.
“Wait—” I start, but it’s too late. He’s already yanking the door open.
My mother stands there, one hand raised to knock again, the other clutching her purse. She looks Journey up and down, and her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline.
“Well, well, well,” she drawls. “I didn’t realize you were entertaining.”
“Mrs. Calloway,” Journey says, his voice surprisingly polite. “It’s late.”
She looks past him to me. “June Ann, aren’t you going to introduce me to your... friend?” The way she says “friend” makes my skin crawl.
I tug my shirt down as far as it will go. “Mom, this is,” I stall for a second, not sure what to call him. Then I decide fuck it, and give her the name everyone else calls him, “Journey. Journey, my mom, Virginia.”
My mother’s gaze slides over Journey’s bare chest appreciatively before shifting to me, her expression immediately hardening. “I’ve been calling you all day.”
“I know,” I say, wrapping my arms around myself. “I’ve been busy.”
She pushes past Journey into the apartment, then stops short when she sees the state of things. “What the hell happened in here?” She kicks at the garbage bag next to the door. “Did you have a tantrum?”
I clench my jaw. “Someone broke in.”
She hums, and doesn’t even bother to ask if I’m okay.
Journey crosses his arms over his chest, his expression darkening. I can feel the tension rolling off him in waves.
Mom opens her purse, pulling out a cigarette. “Got a light?”
“You can’t smoke in here, Mom.”
She rolls her eyes but puts the cigarette away. “Fine. I need to talk to you.” She looks pointedly at Journey. “Alone.”
To Journey’s credit, he doesn’t budge.
“It’s okay,” I tell him, though everything in me screams for him to stay. “We’ll just be a minute.”
Journey’s jaw clenches, but he nods. “I’ll be right outside.”
The second the door closes behind him, my mother rounds on me. “So, that’s how you’re making money now?” she hisses. “Spreading your legs for bikers?”
My face burns. “What? No! It’s not like that.”
“Don’t lie to me, June Ann. I know what I saw.” She looks around at the destruction. “Did he do this?”
“Mom, stop.” I press the heels of my hands against my eyes. “Someone broke into my apartment. Journey’s here to make sure I’m safe.”
She throws her arm out. “From what? There’s nothing left to come back for.”
That hits its mark, and I flinch.
“Why are you here?” I ask, desperate to get her out of here.
She taps her foot. “I need the rent money.”
I stare at her in disbelief. “Rent money? Mom, look around! Someone destroyed everything I own! I can’t give you any money now.”
Her eyes narrow to slits. “What do you mean you can’t give it to me now? You told me you would. I need that money, June. After everything I’ve done for you—”
“Done for me?” I cut her off, my voice rising. “What exactly have you done for me, Mom? Besides blame me for Dad leaving? Besides make me feel unwanted my entire life?”
“Boo-fucking-who,” she spits. “You didn’t have it that bad, June Ann.”
Didn’t have it that bad? I had to beg the neighbors for food and tampons. Most of my clothes came from the lost and found at school.
“It’s no wonder your father left. You were always such a burden.”
“That’s enough.”
We both turn to see Journey standing in the doorway, his expression thunderous. I didn’t even hear him come back in.
My mother’s eyebrows shoot up. “Excuse me?”
“I said that’s enough.” Journey steps into the apartment, positioning himself between me and my egg donor. “You need to leave.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” she sputters.
Journey’s voice drops low. “I’m the man who’s telling you to get the fuck out.”
Virginia’s face goes red. “June Ann, are you going to let him speak to me like that?”
I stare at the floor, unable to meet her eyes. “Maybe you should go, Mom.”
“Fine,” she snaps, grabbing her purse. “Don’t come crying to me when he uses you up and throws you away like the rest of them do.” She storms to the door, pausing to look back at me. “Like father, like daughter.”
The door slams behind her, and Journey flips the lock.
I wrap my arms around myself, mortification washing over me in waves. I can’t believe Journey had to witness that, I can’t believe I was kissing him moments before she showed up. I can’t believe any of this is happening.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, still staring at the floor.
“Don’t,” Journey says, his voice rough. “Don’t apologize for her.”
I look up to find him watching me, his expression unreadable.
“She’s wrong, you know,” he says, stepping closer. “That woman doesn’t know shit about you.”
Something inside me breaks open and walls come crumbling down in the face of his quiet certainty.
“How do you know?” My voice cracks on the question.
He reaches up, brushing a tear from my cheek. “Because I’ve seen you. The real you.” His thumb traces my bottom lip. “And you’re magnificent.”
My breath hitches and before I can second-guess myself, I rise up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his.
This time, he doesn’t hesitate. His arms wrap around me, pulling me flush against him as his mouth moves over mine.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard.
“Let’s get some sleep, baby,” he murmurs against my temple.
To my surprise, he leads me back to the bed, pulls back the covers, and climbs in. He opens his arms, and I slide in against his chest, resting my head over his heart.
“Journey?” I whisper, tipping my head up.
“Hmm?”
“Thanks.”
His arms tighten around me, and he presses a kiss to my forehead. “Go to sleep, princess.”