Chapter 21 – Philip #2
“Good. I’ve been so preoccupied with everything that’s going on I haven’t had time to appreciate the fact that we’re essentially living together.” Her smile widens. “We finally have privacy.”
She presses her lips to mine and nudges my mouth open. The tip of her tongue darts into my mouth, and immediately, my dick hardens.
Privacy—the one thing we’ve lacked in our dating relationship thus far, and now we have it in spades. I get where she’s going with this, but I’m afraid now’s not the right time for us to take our relationship to a new level. “Haley.”
“Hmm?”
“You’ve got a lot on your plate right now, and with the added stress of knowing you have a stalker, I don’t think this is the right time for us to, um, move forward in our relationship.”
She pulls back, her smile instantly vanishing. “Why not?”
“You’re under a lot of strain right now, and I don’t think this is a good time— ”
“We have a whole house to ourselves, Philip. After Charlie and Mateo return to the security apartment for the night, there’s no one to interrupt us. There’s no one who’ll know—or care—what we do behind closed doors.”
She slides one hand up to the back of my head and gently massages the nape of my neck. My nerve endings blow up, sending shivers down my spine, straight down to my balls. My dick is swelling more each second, and I know she can feel that. She’s sitting on my lap.
“But you’re under a lot of pressure right now, and I don’t want to add to that.”
“Don’t you think you should let me be the judge of what I can handle?” She pulls back to study my expression. “You don’t want to have sex.”
“It’s not that!” I wrap my arms around her hips and pull her closer. “There’s nothing I want more than to be with you.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’ve told you—I’m a big guy. All over.” I pin my gaze on hers to make my point. “You’re a virgin, Hale. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’ve had the whole virginity talk already with my mom. I know it might be uncomfortable the first time.”
“There’s no might about it.”
“Okay, then it will be uncomfortable the first time, but that’s normal. Once my cherry is popped—”
I wince at her phrasing.
“I mean,” she says, changing her approach, “once we get past the first time, it’ll be fine. I’m just saying, I’m educated on the topic, I know what to expect, and I’m not worried about it.”
I blow out a heavy breath. I’m trying to protect her, and she’s not making it easy.
Her eyes narrow. “Have you had bad experiences before? I mean, with virgins? Or with any girls for that matter?”
Now this is a conversation I do not want to have with her. It’s never a good idea to talk about past sexual experiences with your girlfriend.
When I don’t answer, she presses me. “Philip?”
“Maybe.” Yes.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, I definitely don’t want to talk about my past sexual experiences with you.”
She shifts position so that she’s straddling my lap.
When she reaches between us and presses her hand to the length of my growing erection, I moan.
That’s the one thing I crave more than anything—Haley touching me.
Putting her hands on any part of me. I think when we finally get there, I’ll lose my freaking mind.
She leans close, her mouth near my ear, and whispers, “I want this. I’m ready for this. And now, finally, we have a place all to ourselves. This evening, after Charlie and Mateo turn in—”
“I hope you guys are okay with fettucine Alfredo and garlic bread,” Charlie says as she walks down the hall toward Haley’s bedroom. She’s talking loud enough that we can clearly hear her through the closed door.
Real subtle, Charlie.
Haley scrambles off my lap and nervously brushes back her hair. “That sounds great, Charlie!”
Charlie knocks on the door. “Permission to enter?”
I laugh as Haley says, “Come on in.”
Charlie opens the door and pops her head in.
Her astute gaze goes from Haley’s flushed cheeks to me as I’m covering the bulge in my jeans with my hands.
“Hmph,” she says. But then she turns to Haley.
“I thought the four of us could eat dinner while we go over the security protocol for this place. You know, the rules of conduct.”
As a senior security analyst, Charlie outranks both me and Mateo. She’s in charge of this operation. And the look she’s giving me right now tells me she’s not stupid and that I’d better behave myself.
Charlie continues addressing her comments to Haley. “After dinner, Mateo and I will make ourselves scarce so you can do your homework.”
“Thanks,” Haley says. “That would be perfect.”
Charlie turns to leave. “Dinner’s ready, so if you two can tear yourselves away from each other for five seconds, come downstairs and experience my prowess in the kitchen.” And then she leaves.
“You go ahead,” I tell Haley. I glance down at my erection pressing against my jeans. “I need a few minutes.”
Grinning, Haley kisses me before she disappears from sight.
When I’m finally able to join them, I head for the back staircase. I can hear their voices filtering up through the stairwell, chattering like old friends.
As I join them, I see Haley standing at the stove next to Charlie, who’s showing her something to do with tonight’s dinner. Mateo is setting the table.
For a moment, before anyone notices me, I have a chance to simply observe Haley and marvel at her. She’s amazing—beautiful, loving, and so damn smart. I don’t deserve her. She could literally have anyone she wanted, and for some reason, she wants me.
“There you are,” Charlie says as she drains a pot of pasta into a colander in the sink. “Food’s ready. Why don’t you grab some drinks, Philip?”
I open the fridge and stare at the variety of beverages inside—everything from bottled water to fruit juices to soft drinks, bottled teas and those fruit-flavored sparkling waters. There’s no alcohol in here, which is fine. Haley isn’t old enough to drink, and the rest of us are on the job.
Charlie dishes the fettucine Alfredo onto plates, and Haley carries them to the table.
“What do you guys want to drink?” I ask.
“Coke for me,” Mateo says.
“Sparkling water,” Charlie says.
Standing beside me, Haley peers into the fridge. “Ooh, I’ll have one of those.” She reaches for a bottle of strawberry-flavored sparkling water.
Finally, we’re all seated at the table, digging into the food.
“This is so good, Charlie,” Haley says as she tastes the pasta. “Like really good. Renaldo’s good. I’m talking five stars.”
Charlie grins as she reaches for a piece of garlic bread. “Where do you think I got the recipe? From Gabrielle Hunter. She was a sous-chef at Renaldo’s before Hannah McIntyre lured her out to Colorado to take over the restaurant at the lodge.”
We eat and chat. Charlie asks Haley about her classes. Fortunately, she doesn’t bring up the stalker. I want Haley to be able to relax and eat her dinner without being reminded that someone’s making her life hell.
After we’re done eating, the four of us clean up the kitchen. Then Charlie and Mateo say goodnight.
“We’ll be right outside in the security… building?” Charlie says. “Security apartment? Station?”
“How about we call it a shack?” Mateo suggests with a chuckle as he winks at Charlie. “I’ll happily shack up with you.”
Charlie rolls her eyes at him. “Fine. We’ll be out in the security shack keeping an eye on the property, so you”—she points at Haley—“can do your homework and get a good night’s sleep.”
After Charlie and Mateo let themselves out the back door, I lock it and turn on the security system.
“You have homework?” I ask Haley.
She nods. “I guess I’ll do it upstairs in my room.”
“Good idea. I’ll try not to disturb you.”
She smiles. “Well, don’t try too hard. I wouldn’t mind a little distraction.”