Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
JAKE
I wipe the sweat from my brow and glance at my phone again. She’s still sleeping peacefully. I stare at the screen like I’ve been doing since the moment I woke up. She’s even more beautiful in her natural state.
The sun is streaming through a window, giving her an angelic glow. I watch her lips part as her breath comes out in even little sounds. Long dark lashes frame her cheeks before fluttering and finally opening. Bourbon-colored eyes focus on me, and I feel my heart thud loudly against my chest.
“You weren’t kidding when you said you wanted to watch me sleep,” she says in a sleepy voice before brushing back her hair.
“I couldn’t help myself. You’re beautiful when you sleep.”
A blush creeps up her cheeks, and damn if that doesn’t make me feel some type of way.
“What time is it?”
“Almost ten.” I get a water bottle from the garage fridge and take a long drink.
“Ten?” She says, sitting up quickly, which is a big mistake because the sheet falls down, exposing her breasts to me .
My throat goes dry even though I just took a drink of water. She’s even more perfect out of her bra than I imagined. I lick my lips, and she must see the desire in my eyes. She quickly turns beet red and frantically pulls a t-shirt over her head.
“T00 late, little hummingbird,” I softly chuckle. “I already mentally took a picture so that I will forever remember what your gorgeous tits look like,” I grin and adjust my ball cap backward. I don’t miss the longing in her eyes as they roam over me.
Dripping with sweat and shirtless, I just finished a workout in our home gym that my brothers and I set up in the garage. I let her look, enjoying how it feels to have her eyes on me.
“Why do you call me hummingbird?” She tilts her head to the side and finally meets my gaze.
“You remind me of one,” I smile. “They love sugary treats like you do. They are flighty and ready to fly away at a moment’s notice, trusting no one. With patience, though, if you are lucky, you can slowly earn their trust enough for them to finally feel safe enough to land.”
“And if the hummingbird never lands?”
“Then I spend the rest of my days wanting something I can never have. It will be a sad, sad life for me.” I give her my best broken-hearted face, causing her to giggle.
“Such a dramatic guy,” she rolls her eyes.
“Such a stubborn little bird,” I say back, grinning as I walk into the house.
“I should get ready. I can’t remember the last time I slept until ten. It’s my first day, too. My boss is going to fire me,” she pulls the cover back and quickly gets out of bed.
“I think the last thing your boss will do is fire you. I heard he’s a great guy.”
“Yeah, I’m beginning to think that, too,” she smiles.
“I’ll let you get ready. See you in an hour?”
She nods her head. “I’ll see you soon. ”
I end the call and take a quick shower before attacking a store-bought muffin.
I bet Lyla’s are better.
I grin to myself as I finish off the last bite and grab the keys to my truck. It’s time to bring my hummingbird back to where she belongs…here with me.
Half an hour later, I’m pulling into the worst part of town. Old buildings are broken down, and people are littering the streets, high on whatever they can get their hands on. I finally pull into the apartment building and stare at the chipped bricks and broken windows fixed with boards and nails.
This can’t be right. I open up our text messages and double-check the address. Shit . I’m definitely in the right place. I get out of the truck and walk down the cracked and uneven sidewalk to the front door. Of course, the knob is broken, and the door is already ajar.
Grimacing, I step inside and cringe at the peeling paint and dark, narrow hallway leading to the few apartments on this floor. I take the stairs and pray they hold my weight until I reach the second level. I notice she’s the only one with a welcome mat and a light working outside her place. I knock softly and hear several chains and locks before the door opens.
She has her hair down today, and it’s the first time I’ve seen it this way. Soft brunette waves fall down her back, and my fingers itch to sink into it. She’s wearing faded jeans and a white tank top, giving me a glimpse of what I saw this morning.
“Hi,” she smiles shyly, opening the door wider for me to come in. She seems nervous as I walk into her tiny living room. I can tell she did her best to brighten up the place. I see a couple of plants on the windowsill and colorful rugs on the floor hiding the worn-out tiles. The kitchen is open to the living room, and there is barely enough space for two people in it at the same time. My size and height make me feel out of place in such a confined area.
I struggle with my emotions as I picture how unfair it is that she’s been living here in these conditions. The air is thick with heat, and besides a little fan in the corner, I don’t even feel air conditioning, which is unbearable to go without in Florida. If I hadn’t already asked her to stay with me, I sure as hell would be now. I would never be able to sleep knowing she was here by herself.
I finally meet her eyes and fake a smile. “Hi, you all packed up?” I don’t want her to spend another minute in this place than she needs to.
“I know it sucks,” she nervously runs a hand through her hair. “But it’s not all bad. The neighbors haven’t given me any problems, and I knew it was only temporary until I could save up and find a better place, so I liked that it was month to month,” she rambles on as I stand there, unsure of what to say.
“I don’t want your pity, Jake, so stop looking at me like that. This place might not be as nice as yours, but it’s mine. I feel more at home here than I ever did anywhere else because no one is sucking the life out of me. I don’t feel trapped. It’s my life now that I get to live.” She crosses her arms over her chest, and the fire in her eyes tells me I need to tread very carefully with my words.
“I don’t pity you,” I sigh, running a hand over my face as I try to keep my emotions in check. “I’m fucking angry for you. You don’t deserve any of this that’s been dumped on you.”
“Take it from someone who spent years being angry…you have to find a way to let it go. Grief, anger, hate, even love when it’s not reciprocated back…it’s all the same. It will eat at you until there no longer is a you . Just ask my mom.” She turns and walks into what I assume is her bedroom.
I follow her and watch her stuff the rest of her clothes into a duffle bag. The bedroom is smaller than the living room, if that is even possible. The twin-size bed takes up most of the room. A small nightstand is beside it, and a single dresser sits against the wall. I don’t see a door for a closet.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” I say quietly. “I care about you, Lyla, so it’s hard for me not to feel some type of emotion toward your situation. I’ll do my best not to let it get to me. Besides, this place is starting to grow on me. The yellow walls kind of brighten up the place.” I watch her lips quirk as I try to get a smile out of her.
“I’m pretty sure they are supposed to be white.”
I study the walls and notice some spots are indeed white. “I think you’re right.” I turn to her, and we both bust out laughing.
“This place really is awful,” she laughs, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I don’t think I’m going to leave a review when I leave,” she manages to get out.
“I’m pretty sure this place isn’t run on reviews,” I grin, enjoying the sound of her laughter.
“No, I don’t suppose it does.” Our laughter finally dies down, and she wipes the last of her tears away. “First, you made me feel happy last night, and today, you gave me laughter,” she says, searching my eyes in amazement. “What emotion are you going to pull out of me next?” She asks, baffled.
“I can think of several I want to give you. I guess you will have to stick around and find out.” I step closer and invade her space. My fingers play with the ends of her hair, feeling the silky strands slide through my fingers.
“For the first time in my life, I want to land,” she whispers as I skim up her slender neck and cup the back of her head.
“When you do, for the first time in my life, I don’t want to let go.” I brush my thumb over her bottom lip and watch them part with a sigh. “Now I think it's me who's getting some emotions pulled out,” I breathe inches from her lips .
I wait for her to make the first move, so when I watch her eyes slowly close and her head tilts slightly to the side, I don’t hesitate to close the distance. My lips are on hers in seconds as I seek her taste again.
I still hold back, letting her get used to the feeling of us. Now that I know more about her past, I want to be very careful not to scare her off. I’m used to taking the lead, but I want her to feel in control whenever we are together. She needs to fully trust me before giving me permission to go all in.
When her tongue touches mine, I deepen the kiss, bringing our bodies flush together. Her moan invades my senses as I grip her head tighter, and my fingers weave further into her hair. I feel her hands skim up under my t-shirt before making contact with my skin. When I feel her nails dig into my back, I groan against the sensation.
I fight to bring myself back to my surroundings and finally pull away. My breaths are jagged as I press my forehead against hers.
“I need to stop before I change my mind,” I breathe heavily. “I want to take my time with you, and we don’t have that now. We need to get you settled in before I have to go to work.” I kiss her briefly on the lips one last time before taking the duffle bag from the bed and slinging it over my shoulder.
She nods her head in a daze before looking around. “I think I have everything I want from here. I’m leaving the furniture. It’s all secondhand, and I’m sure the person moving in could use it more than me.”
I follow her as she walks back out into the living room. “Same in here…everything stays. I know there are dishes I can use at the pool house, so I’ll keep everything in the kitchen I bought for the next person. All I have is the duffle bag and those two boxes,” she points to the ones sitting by the window.
“That’s it?” I ask, surprised .
“I came on a bus, remember?” She softly laughs. “I took what I wanted…the rest can burn for all I care.”
“Okay then. You made this way easier than I thought it was going to be. I didn’t even get to show off my muscles hauling big pieces of furniture for you.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” she chuckles.
“If you want to take the duffle bag, I’ll grab the two boxes, and we can do this in one run.” She takes the duffle bag as I stack the boxes and lift them up. I watch her take the two plants from the windowsill.
“It’s basil and mint,” she smiles. “I like to use fresh herbs. Don’t laugh, but I also give them names and talk to them.”
“I wouldn’t dare laugh.” My lip turns up, and I suppress my smile. “What are their names?”
“Benny Basil and Micky Mint,” she says, her eyes lighting up with laughter.
“Nice to meet you, Benny and Micky. I would shake your leaf, but my hands are tied up at the moment.” I hold my arms up with the boxes.
“Shake your leaf?” Her body shakes with laughter. “There’s never a dull moment with you.”
“Nor will there ever be,” I grin and follow her out the door, glad to have this place in her past where it belongs. If I have my way, she will never want for anything again.