Chapter 9
Walker
I'm playing a dangerous game with Jolene, risking my heart on a woman who's not ready, as evidenced by how many times she’s ignored my calls and given one- or two-word responses to my texts. Busy and I can’t aren’t the most encouraging replies.
Plus, I still haven't talked to Jeremy. No easy way to bring up... Hey, I’ve felt something for your sister ever since I saw that picture of her.
Then I got really turned on when she ended up tangled in the reins…
long story. Anyway, I obsessed over restraining her and fucking her senseless, so I bought her at a sex auction and did just that. Now we're friends with benefits.
Yeah, not something you tell your best friend.
And since I haven't received any irate calls from him, I'm guessing she didn't tell him.
Our phone number exchange at the Aubergine Affair replays in my mind…
After she tormented me by playfully implying she has other friends with benefits, I asked for her number.
When I dialed it so she'd have mine too, I teased her, asking what she was going to list it under since she didn't know my name. It was supposed to give us a playful way for me to tell her without it being weird but she said she'd list me as Him.
I would have been happy about a lot of nicknames but that didn't excite me. In fact, the more I thought about it, the worse it seemed.
I should have just told her. If she put two and two together, that Walker who works at the reindeer ranch must be her half-brother's friend Walker who owns the reindeer ranch, then so be it.
But I desperately wanted more time with her. No interference from anyone else like a protective older brother.
Except as I spent even more time trying to figure out how to tell Jeremy, it occurred to me that Jolene might have already figured out who I was.
That might have been her motivation behind avoiding my name.
Maybe she wants the same thing, more time before we have to admit our relationship would cross a line for her brother.
And all of the dismissed calls and clipped texts truly are just her getting used to taking on a kid.
Enough's enough. Before I confess to Jeremy that I banged his sister, I have to make my feelings crystal clear to her. If she rejects me, we bury the secret forever. But if she'll accept my commitment to her, I'll handle the fallout with her brother.
With a plan in place, and not wanting to let Christmas pass without confessing, I grab my phone.
I type a text, then delete it. I need her voice, and I need to see her as soon as possible.
I dial her number, grumbling that it's going to come up as a call from Him. It sounds more like a codeword to know not to answer than a nickname.
To my surprise, she picks up. I shouldn't have gotten in my head about her feelings for me. "You busy?"
"Actually, I'm free." She sounds super relaxed. "Jeremy took Jane to her family's Christmas Eve party."
"That was nice of him." I should probably feel guilty for taking advantage of his kindness, but I don't.
"I offered to go, but he insisted I take a break."
"Are you home alone?" Aside from Jane being gone, I'm not sure if her stepbrother knows she has friends with benefits.
"I am. Do you want me to invite you over?"
"It'll be easier to give you an orgasm if I can put my hands on you instead of this phone."
"Hmmm… I've heard phone sex can be pretty hot. Want to know what I'm wearing?"
"I want your address."
"You are no fun." She laughs then rattles it off.
Slipping the ring box into my jacket pocket, I consider whether I'll give it to her before or after sex. Definitely after. The ring is just a symbol to show my commitment to her, not an official engagement ring because I'm trying like hell to respect her request for time.
Then I grab the bigger gift, her very own set of leather restraints, and head out.