Chapter 15 #2
“I think it’d taste even better on my skin. Should I pour it here and see?” I ask innocently, slowly sliding my strap off my shoulder.
He shakes his head as he grabs the bartender’s attention, but I see the amusement in his eyes. I watch as the bartender pours Fisher his water and makes my shot.
Fisher hands it to me, and before I take it, we lock eyes. His throat flexes as he watches me shoot it down. His hand grips his glass so tight, I wouldn’t be surprised if it imploded and shattered everywhere.
“Mm. That was good. Wanna taste?” I trace my top lip with my tongue.
Tempting him is dangerous, but since he’s admitted how much he wants me, all I can focus on is breaking him.
Before he can reject me, Magnolia pummels between us, gasping for air. “Can I have some of that?” she asks Fisher, her eyes lasering in on his water.
Silently, he hands it over, and she gulps it down.
She releases a satisfied moan once she’s chugged half of it. “Thanks. Derik invited me back to his place, so we’re headin’ out.”
“You think that’s a good idea?” Fisher asks before I can.
“Yeah, Mags. You just met him. He could be a serial killer, for all you know. Or has a murder kink.”
“That’s hilarious comin’ from the moral police duo.” She snorts, glancing back and forth between Fisher and me.
“At least share your location with me,” I tell her. “Make it easy for me to find your body.”
“Yes, Mother.” She takes out her phone and does what I asked. “Now call me a train because I’m about to get railed,” she singsongs and then mimics a train whistle. “Love you, bye.” When she hugs me, I remind her to be careful. Then she takes Derik’s hand and leaves.
“She’s...somethin’ else.” Fisher scratches his scruffy cheek as if he’s still confused about what just happened.
“At least someone’s gettin’ their pussy licked tonight,” I mutter.
He grabs my hip and pulls me into his chest, and I suck in a breath at the quick, unexpected movement. My hand squeezes his arm to stabilize myself. People crowd the bar around us, so it wouldn’t take much to fall on my ass.
“That night in the food truck with your cunt in my face plays on repeat in my head. Your scent and taste are still ingrained in my mind, so don’t confuse me denyin’ you with not wanting you. But if I get close enough to tongue-fuck you again, I won’t be able to stop.”
Then, as if on cue, his cock jerks and pushes into me. I arch a brow and smirk at his failed attempt to look unaffected.
“And why would we have to stop?”
“Because being together could hurt people. Before you decide you want this, you should know what you’re gettin’ into first.”
My head spins with how the discovery of our relationship would hurt him more than me, yet he’s asking me to decide.
“The risk is higher for you. Shouldn’t I be askin’ you to decide?”
His finger traces my jawline as he studies my features. He brushes over my cheekbone, then goes down between my eyebrows and over the arch of my nose before he rounds my other cheek and ends at my chin.
“The decision was made for me the moment we met. I didn’t know who you were or why I was hell-bent on watchin’ you in the crowd, but the second my heart decided, there was no goin’ back for me.
Even though I try like hell to ignore these feelings, the pull to be near you is too strong to ignore.
If you wanna stay just friends, then I’ll respect that and keep my hands off you.
But if you want more, I’m all in to give this a shot. ”
My heart flips as butterflies invade my stomach. His touch is soft but tender, and I can’t help leaning into his embrace. He’s willing to take this leap with me, knowing it could blow up his life, and that has me concerned.
“Just promise you won’t resent me if this goes wrong.” More specifically, he loses his son forever, and I’d be to blame for that.
“I have a lot of regrets in my life, Noah. Lovin’ you would never be on that list. I wanna know you beyond our physical attraction.”
Goose bumps cover my skin as a shiver rolls through me. His past is still somewhat of a mystery, and exploring the deeper parts of a relationship will make me fall even harder for him.
“So you wanna be hands-off while we get to know each other?”
His fingers dig into my skin as if he’s fighting with his thoughts. “I want us to go…slow.”
I blow out a breath because I’ll take whatever I can get as long as we’re on the same page.
“Alright, so we stay on the DL for now and figure out the rest as we go.”
“If that means not goin’ public, then yes.”
I laugh because we’re very much in public right now and were basically dry humping on the dance floor.
“Then you better keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Underwood.” I motion with my eyes to remind him we’re not alone.
“Fuck. We better go, then, because if I have to watch another man grind his dick all over you, I’ll break it in half.”
“Ouch.” I snort. “I’ll let my brothers know you’re takin’ me home.”
“I’ll go with you,” he says, following before I can argue it’s a bad idea. One look at Fisher’s tented slacks and they’re going to suspect something’s up besides his boner.
“You’re not very good at this discreet thing.”
“I’m not lettin’ you out of my sight in here.”
“Worried someone’s gonna kidnap me and make me come in seven seconds?” I tease as we make our way to the pool table area.
He curses under his breath, and I chuckle. When we find them, Wilder’s leaning over the table with his pool stick. Guess they found him.
“Don’t miss!” I shout just as he takes his shot.
“Goddammit, Noah!” He shoves me, which pushes me into Fisher. He wasn’t lying about not leaving my side.
“Shit, sorry,” Wilder says to Fisher.
“What ’bout me, jerk?”
“You made me miss, so no.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re too drunk to play anyway.”
“Then why am I winnin’, huh?” He leans his smug face closer to mine. “I’m up a hundred bucks.”
“Wow, they must be takin’ pity on you,” I taunt.
“You wanna play me next and see?”
“Nah, I just came to tell y’all we’re headin’ out. Y’all have rides?”
Tripp comes over, and his eyes scan above my head to Fisher standing suspiciously close to me. “I’m drivin’. I stopped drinkin’ a couple hours ago.”
“Where’s your truck?” Landen asks me.
“At the restaurant. Figured we didn’t need to both drive when we’re goin’ to the same place.” I shrug, hoping they don’t ask any more questions. It was awkward enough having to explain why I was going to a fancy restaurant with my ex and his dad in the first place.
“You never told us how dinner went with your two dates...” Waylon muses as if Fisher isn’t here.
“Oh, because that’s none of your damn business.” I cross my arms, hoping they get the hint to shut the hell up.
Wilder chuckles. “Because your ex is dryer than a loaf of expired bread.”
“Dude!” I smack his shoulder. “Don’t be rude.”
“Yeah, Wilder...manners,” Landen singsongs in a mocking high-pitched tone meant to mimic our mother. If anyone’s getting yelled at by our mother, it’s always Wilder.
“Alright, I’m leavin’. Y’all being assholes.”
“Fisher, you sober?” Tripp shoves his hands in his pockets and watches him.
“I had one drink at the restaurant hours ago and have had only water since then.”
Tripp nods with approval and then asks, “Where’s Magnolia?”
“Went to some dude named Derik’s house.”
Tripp’s jaw sets as his lips tighten, and he shifts between his feet.
And because I want to see his reaction, I add, “He was hot, too. She was halfway to gettin’ knocked up on the dance floor before they finally left.”
Tripp turns and walks around the pool table, then grabs a pool stick. I halfway wait for him to snap it in two.
A part of me feels bad, but if he has a problem with Magnolia hooking up with guys, then he needs to finally admit he likes her.
“Ready?” Fisher asks me.
“God, yes.” I wave goodbye and follow him to the exit.
“Tripp didn’t look happy,” he says, placing his hand on my lower back as we walk to my truck.
“I knew that’d piss him off, but he deserved it.”
“So if she likes him and he seemingly likes her, why aren’t they datin’?” He opens my door and helps me hop inside.
“That’s the question of the century.”
Once he gets into the driver’s side and starts it, he takes me by surprise when he leans over.
He cups my jaw, tilting up my face until our eyes meet.
It’s dark inside the cab, with minimal lighting from the parking lot, but his hold on me is firm and serious.
“I wanna make sure I’m clear about one thing.
Just because we’re takin’ things slow and not tellin’ anyone, doesn’t mean you aren’t mine.
” Then he brushes the pad of his thumb and leans in.