Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TEXAS
E ven though I’d wanted to go to Talon and tell him it was a mistake to let Maya go, I didn’t. What she’d said to her brother that day, about needing this time away, had me keeping my mouth shut and my fear to myself. But fuck, did I miss her. I was used to knowing she was at home where I could drop in whenever I wanted to see her.
I picked up my phone and scrolled through our texts.
The morning she left, I sent her a message telling her to have fun but stay safe.
She’d shot back an eye-roll emoji, saying that she would. I’d then wanted to leave her alone, let her have her time away without any of the men in her life hounding her.
I’d lasted until that afternoon.
Me: How was the flight? I’d already known she’d landed safely from her Snapchat stories.
Maya: Good. We’re relaxing by the pool right now since it’s still warm for us Victorians at 5pm. Along with words, she’d sent a photo of her legs. I had gripped my phone to a point of it near cracking when I’d wondered who else was there seeing those damn stunning, smooth limbs.
Me: You should get a blanket in case it gets cold.
There’d been a long pause after I’d sent it.
Maya: We’ll be heading in soon before it gets too dark.
I winced and didn’t bother replying in case I went all caveman on her and demanded to know who was around or what she was wearing on the top half.
The texts became a ritual. What surprised me more was when my phone buzzed and it was Maya. It had almost been a week since she’d been gone, but for once, she reached out to me first.
I smiled even before reading the text. Not even giving a shit that I loved she was thinking about me.
Maya: Is it hard to believe I actually miss home?
Me: Not at all. I hate the heat over there.
Maya: I think that’s what I’m feeling. I’m used to the cold winters. Still, I’m having fun. We went to a theme park today. Swan and I discovered we don’t like rollercoasters.
Me: Did anyone puke?
Maya: No, thank God. How’s work?
Me: Busy. I got to ink this today. I followed up with a picture of Gojo, an anime character off Jujutsu Kaisen .
I grinned at Maya’s instant reply. OMG that is epic. Seriously, Texas, I love it. One day I’m dropping into your work and checking out more designs.
Me: Deal. I’ll look forward to it.
Maya: I’m still looking at the picture. It’s amazing. But what I don’t understand is why you chose to live in Ballarat over Melbourne. You’d have more business in the city, wouldn’t you?
My heart skipped a beat over the truth of it.
Was it crazy and stalkerish that I’d moved to Ballarat for her… without her even knowing?
Fuck. Probably. And it wasn’t like she was ready to hear the truth. Shit, maybe I could never tell her the real reason or else she’d think I was a creep.
Me: I’ve always enjoyed coming to Ballarat, the quietness of it. Melbourne’s too cramped. Too chaotic. The country’s always appealed to me.
Maya: I can completely understand that. But don’t you miss it even a little? Miss your family being close?
Me: Not at all with the city. And I see the family enough and they’re not far away.
Maya: True. Anyway, what are you going to do for your Saturday night?
Me: What I’m doing now. Sitting in my living room drawing, and watching Die Hard.
Maya: Bruce Willis is a legend. But I thought you’d be heading to the clubhouse at least.
Me: Nah, not feeling it. You going out drinking?
She threw back at me: Nah, not feeling it , followed immediately by another text. Swan and I are sitting by the pool for a while and then we’re thinking of going to the movies. Sounds lame, I know.
Me: Not at all. Hell, I’m home on my own.
Maya: LOL. I’m surprised you don’t have anyone there with you.
She still thought I was after someone to just warm my bed.
Me: Not interested.
Maya: Um, okay? Anyway, we’re about to go. TTYL.
Me: Later.
After that, the days seemed to drag, though it was lucky that work was always entertaining. But I still couldn’t wait for the night. For when we’d text more. We talked about random things, work, life, music, and movies. What I liked most about her texts was knowing that I was on her mind.
Only there was a small problem with us being in contact all the time. Well, not small. But when Maya was constantly on my mind, my dick was hard half the time.
I placed my phone on the couch and glanced down to see the tent in my grey tracksuit pants. Palming my hard-on, I squeezed. A thrill shot through me.
Fuck.
Clenching my jaw, I scooted my arse down a little and tugged the front of my pants down, gripping my hardness. Closing my eyes, I pumped my hand over my dick and brought up an image of Maya sitting close to me on the couch but not touching. However, her eyes were drinking me in as I jerked off.
For her, I’d run my warm, tattooed hand up and down my cock at a fast pace, like I was doing on my own, with the tip already leaking. In my imagination, Maya’s breathing would accelerate, pushing her tits up and down, and slowly, she’d run her hands over them, teasing me with a pinch to her nipples.
Christ.
I wished she was here. Wished she was watching. I wanted to see the desire in her eyes, the way she wouldn’t be able to control herself by sliding a hand into her panties to touch—
“Shit,” I hissed as my cum erupted and landed on my bare chest.
Panting, I looked down at the mess I’d made while thinking, hoping I didn’t embarrass myself when I did have the chance to have Maya in front of me in that way.