Chapter 5 Hope #2
I placed the wine bottle on my bedside table, and rolled onto my stomach, contemplating what I wanted to do with this new information.
Everyday Hope would send a nice text like, ‘Hey! This is my number in case you need me.’
But I was tipsy Hope. And tipsy Hope had a bee in her bonnet about the status of my life.
My thumbs hovered over my screen as I contemplated my message.
Earlier I’d dismissed Gran’s comments about Justice, but her words had been playing on a loop for the last few hours.
Even if he hadn’t had a crush on me, he’d still been one of the nicest people in my life. In the past, he’d made me daisy crowns and picked me flowers, he’d shared his last bite of pie, or saved me from strangers wanting to pet my beaver.
Maybe he doesn’t love me, but… what if there’s something there?
Sucking in a breath, I typed out a message.
Hope
What are you doing tonight?
I watched the three little dots appear.
Justice
Who is this?
Hope
It’s Hope.
Justice
How do I know this is actually Hope?
I frowned.
Hope
You used to sneak Harley in through my bedroom window after a wild night out.
Justice
Anyone might know that. Try again.
Hope
When my dad died, you left daisies on my bed after the funeral.
Justice
How do you know that was me?
Hope
Are you denying it?
Justice
No. Just interested to know how you knew it was me.
Hope
Only one boy has ever given me flowers.
Justice
That can’t be correct.
Hope
Fine. Only one boy to whom I am not related.
Justice
Well, that sucks. You deserve to have flowers every day.
I melted at his text, desperately wishing I could return with something just as smooth and flirty but knowing I’d fail—epically.
Justice
And to answer your question, I am home lying on a bed in my childhood room reading one of your romance novels.
I sat bolt upright, staring at the screen.
“Oh crap,” I muttered, my heart pounding against my rib cage. “Oh crap.”
Hope
I’m surprised you gave them a go.
Justice
They’re good. Funny and sexy. But, babe. This is what you’re into?
He sent me a photo of the pages of one of the books.
Hope
I see you’ve found the sex scenes.
Justice
Scenes? Over half the book is sex.
Hope
It is not.
Justice
Fine. Like 49%
I grinned.
Hope
Maybe I like that about them.
The three little dots appeared then disappeared then appeared again before finally his text slipped through.
Justice
I’m going to regret asking this but what in particular do you like?
My breath whooshed out of my chest, and I collapsed back on my bed to clutch my phone close to my heart.
There were so many things I wanted to tell him about why I wrote so many nasty, filthy scenes.
Why I wanted to write confident women and fiercely protective men.
Why I needed every book to have a happily ever after.
Hope
From a book perspective I love being lost in the story. From a romance perspective I want the happily ever after. I want the sweeping gestures and the trials that make them stronger.
I hesitated, wondering if I was brave enough to take the plunge.
What have you got to lose?
Summoning all my courage, I added a final line to my text and hit send.
Hope
I also love the sexy scenes. They’re the kind of situations I wish I could experience. I consider them research for my future partner.
I tossed away my phone and snatched a pillow, holding it over my head while I let out a scream.
Yep, it’s official. I’ve regressed to my teenage years.
My phone beeped.
Justice
Research?
Hope
You wouldn’t count them as inspiration?
Justice
Babe, some of the acrobatics described in this book are physically impossible. That aside, they are making me hot under the collar.
I sucked in a breath, forcing my thumbs to send the text.
Hope
How hot?
Justice
What are you asking?
I forced myself to type out my response.
Hope
I’ve used my vibrator more than once while reading.
Justice
Jesus, Hope. You can’t tell a man this kind of thing and not expect him to react to it.
Hope
Maybe I want you to react to it…
I bit my lip, frustrated as hell with the time it took for him to respond.
Justice
What are you saying exactly?
Hope
Do you find me attractive? No judgment if not, I’ve just always been curious about your type. I have to assume it’s more slutty pussy than full beaver costume.
Justice
Slutty pussy?
Hope
The woman at the Halloween party.
Justice
You mean Jacie? I think she was meant to be a mouse. And no, she’s not my type. And I’m not hers either. Jacie is into women and submissive men.
I blinked, my memories of the last time readjusting. The mouse girl wasn’t his type.
Justice
And for the record—you’re beautiful in a sexy librarian way. And, I know I’m going to regret saying this, but you’re my type.
I blinked at my phone, reading and rereading his text as a million emotions ratcheted through my body. How the hell did one process that the guy you were fake dating had a type and that type is you?
Hope
If that is true, why have you never tried anything?
Justice
You’re the sister to one of my oldest friends. Not to mention being a friend yourself. And I have too few friends in the world to screw with you—figurative or literally.
Hope
But what if I want to? Screw I mean.
There was a long pause following my text and I began to panic that I’d pushed him too far.
Justice
Fuck, Hope. I can’t say I’m not tempted. Being back here, seeing you… You make me want things I have no business wanting.
I tried not to swallow my tongue as I stared at his response.
Hope
In that case, should we push this a little further?
Justice
What did you have in mind?
I shifted on my bed, pressing my thighs together as a deep ache started in my belly.
Hope
We could try sexting.
Justice
I could do that. And what else?
I paused, shocked he hadn’t brushed me off.
Hope
Kissing.
Justice
Just kissing?
My fingers hovered over the screen of my phone, my boldness rapidly deserting me.
Hope
If I admit to wanting more, would you judge me?
Justice
Depends on what you’re after. If you said you wanted to spray-paint Mr. Cabot’s barn, yes. If you’re talking about me kissing my way down your body until I get to your breasts, no. If you’re talking about me tugging your prim little skirt off and worshipping you with my mouth, then fuck no.
And just like that, my body burst into liquid flame.
Hope
I didn’t expect you to launch right in.
Justice
Babe, that’s barely foreplay. What kind of men have you been dating?
Hope
None worth mentioning. Well, actually there was one worth mentioning but more in a “Ha! I can’t believe how bad this date was” kind of way.
Justice
So, we’re no longer sexting?
Hope
Oh! Please continue.
Justice
Where are you right now?
I glanced around at the bubbled wallpaper and faded curtains of the ancient room.
Hope
Can I pretend?
Justice
This is your fantasy. You can have anything you want, gorgeous.
I closed my eyes, undone by his endearment.
Hope
I’m in your bed and I want to be praised.
Justice
Go on….
I hesitated.
Hope
Wait. Where are you in this fantasy?
He sent me a photo of him on the guest bed in Asher’s house. The photo captured him lying on the bed, his shirt off and only the top of his grey sweatpants showing.
Justice
In my bed beside you.
Dear god, what was I doing sexting with a specimen this fine? I had no business even having his number.
But you do, a little voice whispered. So why not see where this might lead?
Hope
I like your tattoos.
Justice
Thanks, but I want to hear more about your praise kink.
Hope
Is it a kink?
Justice
Depends on how you react to being called a good girl.
Just seeing the words typed out had me reaching for my vibrator.
I may live with my grandmother, but I was a healthy, vibrant woman who wrote sexy scenes for a living. My vibrators had their own lock box.
Hope
I like it. A lot.
Justice
How much? Show me.
I stared at his request, wondering if I had it in me to be bold and send him a picture.
Drawing on all my courage, I reached down to touch myself, groaning as my fingers danced through the wet heat between my thighs.
As if he knew what I was doing, a text popped up a beat later.
Justice
That much, huh? Naughty girl.
Sucking in a breath, I withdrew my hand and quickly snapped a picture of the moisture glistening on my fingers. I hit send then dropped the phone to the bed, grabbing a pillow to smother another squeal.
“What am I doing?” I asked as my skin became one giant blush. “Seriously, Hope. That’s not sexy that’s—”
My phone chimed with a text.
Hesitating, I slowly reached for it, cringing and half-wondering if I should run off to Australia before speaking to Justice ever again.
Justice
Fuck that’s hot. You’re such a good girl, Hope. You got a vibrator over there?
Desire flamed, burning my embarrassment to ash.
Hope
Yes.
Justice
Good. Grab it for me. I want a picture.
I did as instructed.
Justice
A sweet little pink one, hey? Take off your clothes, pretty girl. I want you naked for this next part.
My hands began to unbutton my cardigan before I’d even decided to reach for my top. Without pause, I began to strip until the cool night air was the only thing covering me.
Hope
Go on.
Justice
Good girl. Now turn that vibrator on. Place it at your collarbone and slowly, real slowly, Hope, move it down to your left breast.
I followed his directions, gasping as the vibe rolled over my nipple.
Justice
How does that feel?
I struggled to hold the vibrator on my breast and text, but goddamn, I managed it.
Hope
Like I wish you were here to see me.
Justice
Fuck
Justice
Don’t tempt me.
I hesitated, dropping the vibrator to the mattress.
Hope
What if I’m not joking?
Those three little dots appeared then disappeared then appeared again. I waited with bated breath for him to respond.
Justice
This is a really bad fucking idea.
Hope
Is it?
Justice
Open your goddamned window.