Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Zion
There I said it.
Finally.
Those three words I’d been wanting to say for years.
I love you.
I’ve loved her for as long as I could remember. From the time when I knew what love was, hell probably before that.
Moving away changed nothing. I thought it would. It wasn’t the only reason I moved, wanting to learn a trade and settle into a lucrative career, but it was a big part of the reason.
Yet I still loved her. No matter what I did, what I changed, who I tried to be.
I loved my little sister’s best friend, Renata Shaffer. And I was tired of hiding it.
Applying for the job here, sure I knew what I was doing. I knew I’d see her. I knew I’d have to face it. But this time, I was ready. The first hurdle- making sure my sister, April, was cool with it.
“What do you mean you’re in love with her?” April’s eyes widened and she sat back in her chair while crossing her arms.
I came over for coffee this morning, our second visit since I’d arrived in town. I hadn’t found a place to rent yet, but I scored the rentals daily hoping something would pop up.
“Renata? My Renata?” She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
“Yes, your Renata. Can you blame me?”
“I mean, no. Yes. No. Yes. Ugh, what the fuck Z? It better not get awkward or I’ll hurt you.” Her eyebrows knitted together, and she pierced me with her gaze. “You’re supposed to look out for us.”
“I know and I will. Don’t you trust me more than some rando?”
April nodded. “But if you hurt her, I’ll never forgive you for it.”
“I get it, sis. I wouldn’t.”
“How do you even know she likes you?” One eyebrow raised, her snotty judgy look coming out in all its wonderful glory. The very one I’d seen since we were kids.
“I don’t, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“You won’t get hurt?”
“Of course. But I can’t be mad at her for that. What can I do if she genuinely doesn’t like me?”
“I care a lot about you both. Be careful, okay?”
“I will sis.”
Knowing Renata would be working her holiday gig as usual, I booked her soonest open spot and here I was, hoping to make some holiday memories with her.
Yet so far, she seemed anything but receptive. I officially had freaked her out.
“I’m sorry. That was a lot all at once.”
“Is this some kind of joke?” Renata asked, her expression serious. “Because it’s not funny, Z.”
“No, of course it isn’t. I booked the shoot so I could come here and tell you how I felt. I’m tired of hiding my feelings for you. Not even moving away helped.” I stood up from the chair and walked over to her once more. “I already spoke to April about it.”
Renata gasped. “What? You did?”
“Yes. She was fine with it.”
“Are you sure? Or?”
I moved closer. “Or what? I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“I know you wouldn’t. But you don’t even know if I feel the same.”
“You’re right, and I told April that.”
“Does she know you’re here right now?”
“No.” I stood next to her camera, took her arm and pulled her away from it so she was now standing directly in front of me.
“I don’t tell her everything.” I raised my hand and ran a single finger down her cheek, my hand cupping the side of her face.
Her skin so soft and supple, her lips plump and red, my dick hardening by the second.
“Fuck, Ren. I’m afraid if I kiss you, I won’t ever be able to stop.”
A moan escaped her throat, and she bit on her bottom lip. My dick pushed on my pants, unforgiving and relentless, threatening to break open the fly of my jeans.
Knock knock!
The sound echoed through the room, and we sprang apart, chests heaving. I quickly spun around and tried to adjust myself, my hard dick throbbing.
Ren gasped as she hastily smoothed down her clothes and hurried towards the door. “Yes?”
“Renata? I’m leaving now. I just wanted to say goodbye.”
She opened the door in a hurry, and there stood Dottie, curiously glancing between the two of us. A knowing look crossed over her face. Oh shit, she knew. “Sorry about that, Dottie. Guess we got lost in taking the pictures.” Renata choked out, and I held my laugh back, knowing her excuse was lame.
“Lost in taking pictures, hmm? I guess it happens. Goodnight you two,” Dottie teased, a smile playing on her pink lips.
“Night Dottie.” Renata said shyly before closing the door quickly and slamming her back against it. “Oh, my God. That was not good.” Renata flipped the lock and walked back over to me. “Dottie likes to talk.”
“Guess she’ll have a full story now.”
“Ugh, no, that’s exactly what I don’t want.”
“She saw nothing because nothing happened.”
“That’s true.”
“Though I very much want something to happen. That is, if you do.”
Renata stood in front of me, closing the space between us. Yet she said nothing.
“If you tell me you feel nothing, then that’s it. Nothing changes. I promised April it wouldn’t. You can’t help what you do or don’t feel, Ren. But if I had to guess…” I let my words trail off as my eyes dropped down her curvy, sexy body, one I’d pictured naked more times than I could ever count.
She was my endless teenage wet dream, the source of all my jerk off material, and even now, my dick begged to be let free and take over. She was the only one for me.
Her breath hitched in her throat. “What?” She whispered.
“I’d say I think you feel the same.”
“How can you tell?”
“Maybe because every time we’re this close together, goosebumps spread all over your body, your chest rises and falls like you can’t catch your breath, and moans escape your throat. If that isn’t liking someone, then I don’t think I know what is.”
Renata shook her head, but her eyes said differently. Her gaze dropped to my mouth and back up again. I wanted to grab her head and kiss the shit out of her.
Do it. Kiss her already. Then maybe she’ll finally admit what she truly feels.
Without another thought, I grabbed her head and covered her mouth with mine, losing myself in her.
She tasted better than I ever could’ve imagined. Like the chocolate she loved, so sweet and so sinfully addicting.
I wanted to make her mine.
All mine.