Chapter 12
Chassie
“Is everything okay, girl?” Miranda steps up to my side as I vigorously scrub the inside of the breakroom sink.
“Yeah, why?”
“Because you’ve cleaned this place from top to bottom. Even the light switches are sparkling.”
I stop my scrubbing and look over on the wall. I even cleaned the doorstoppers, but I’m not going to point out how shiny those are too.
“Everything’s fine,” I lie, turning back to the sink.
I should’ve known better than to get involved with Preacher. All talk and charm to get me into his bed, but as soon as he got what he wanted, he was done. I knew that’s how this was going to end up, and yet, I gave in. And I let my heart fall right into the trap.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” She looks down at the gleaming stainless sink that’s reflecting the look on my face.
It’s mirroring my feelings. Maybe I should put down the sponge now.
I’m starting to look like a crazy person.
I drop the thing and wash my hands off. They smell like cleaning solution. All of me does.
“I’ll be fine. Just couldn’t sleep last night.” I tossed and turned all night wondering why he never called. Why he didn’t come by or even text. He was asleep when I went to work yesterday, and when I got home, he was gone. No note. No text. Nothing.
“Why don’t you head home early so you can take a nap? I don’t think there’s anything left for you to clean.”
I nod. “Thanks, Miranda.”
But when I get home, there isn’t a single hope of me falling asleep.
I get to work on scrubbing my bathroom. And then my shower. Then I scrub myself. But nothing washes away this awful feeling. Nothing stops the pain from forming in my stomach.
Not washing my hair.
Not giving myself a full blowout with my straightener or even putting on some makeup.
Not cleaning my room.
Not putting on comfy clothes.
And not eating a bag of M&M’s.
Nothing does the trick.
“Honey, I’m home!”
I nearly spill my bag of candy as I lunge from the couch and rush to the door.
He’s here.
And he brought suitcases.
“Are you going on a trip?” I ask, wondering if he stopped by to tell me he was leaving town for a while.
“What? I don’t get a hello?” He yanks me to him. “I missed you, babe. Now, give me those lips.”
He presses his lips to mine and the last twenty-four hours melt away with every second of his smooth tongue wrapping around mine, making me warm and tingly. All my worrying is erased with the sounds of his groans.
“Mmm… you taste like chocolate.” He kisses me deeper. I swear every time he kisses me my toes curl. My whole body curls. “Brought you dinner, babe.”
“And bags,” I state, still wondering where he’s going.
“I’m moving in.”
I jerk back.
“You’re what?”
“Now that Payton’s moving in with Cage, there’s no one here to keep you company. There’s no one to protect you from all those pesky cops that come knocking on your door.”
He moves back in to kiss me again, but I turn my head, blocking his advance.
“Don’t you think we’re missing a few steps here? Jumping from winning a bet to living together? Doesn’t there have to be some dating in between?”
“I’m not trying to rush things, babe, or put the pressure on. We can take things slow. I’ll even sleep in my own room until you’re ready for more.”
I cock my brow. This man does not seem the type who won’t try to get into my pants every chance he gets. Sleep in his own bed? Yeah right.
“I don’t buy that for a second.”
“Want to bet?”
That lip curves up into a crooked little bend and I can barely formulate a response.
“Do you really think you can keep your hands to yourself?”
“Is that what you really want?”
No. “Yes.” That’s the right answer. Even though it doesn’t feel that way.
A relationship needs to be based on more than just sex.
It needs to be based on friendship, respect, and…
love. Sex can muddy the water. Especially amazing sex.
This man hypnotizes me with his orgasms and then I don’t think clearly.
“I think we should get to know each other better.”
“I agree, baby.” He leans in, his nose skimming across my skin, forcing a shiver through my entire body.
“But I can’t promise I won’t try to steal more kisses from you.
” His tongue slips between my lips, and a gasping whimper emanates from my throat.
“I can’t guarantee I won’t try to cop a feel.
” His hands slide over my chest, giving my breasts a squeeze.
Every circle of his thumb over my nipple causes my stomach to tighten. “I might need to rub this a bit, too.”
His hand travels lower. And lower. Teasing along the waistband of my flannel pants, only dipping low enough to drive me crazy.
“How far do I get to go without losing the bet, babe?”
“Lower,” I breathe into him.
I can feel that crooked smirk against my lips. It’s like a bow, shooting off its arrow and hooking me right in the heart.
“I think you want me to lose the bet.” His fingers slide over my panties, and I cling to his shoulders.
“Touching is okay.” I gasp for air as he rubs over my clit, just like he did my nipples. Around and around his thumb circles. Every rotation has my stomach clenching tighter.
“So, I’m allowed to get to second base?” His fingers slide into my panties, and my fingers claw into his leather cut as the heat strikes.
“What about third, baby?” He starts working me over with two fingers, rubbing up and down, a steady cadence building me up with every stroke.
“Am I allowed wrap my lips around this swollen little button?” He rubs it faster, applying more pressure, creating more tension, building and building.
“Am I allowed to slide my tongue inside and lick at that special little spot?”
“Preacher!”
“It’s Jordyn, baby. You’re the only one who gets to scream my name.”
Oh God. The pressure is building so fast, I’m almost there.
“No mouth.” Otherwise, I’ll be riding that tongue every chance I get. “But making out is okay.”
“I’ll take what I can get,” he groans. “Now, come for me, baby. I want to hear you scream my name.”
“Jordyn!” I cling to him as my body gets hit with the pulsing current. Fire runs through my nerves. My knees are shaking. My pulse is racing. I don’t understand how it’s always so intense with him. The kisses… the orgasms… I feel them all the way in my soul. An explosion of all my senses.
“That’s my good girl. Now, let’s go inside and discuss the terms of the bet over dinner.”
He scoops me up one-handed, picking up the takeout bag with his other, and he takes us into the living room, placing me on the sofa.
“Got you your favorite.” He reaches into the bag and pulls out a white take-out box. “Sweet and sour chicken with fried rice.”
“Oh, I love you.”
Oops. My hand flies over my mouth and I can feel the embarrassment creeping into my cheeks.
“No need to be alarmed, babe. I knew what you meant. But hearing those words from your lips one day is what I’m aiming for.
Which brings me to the terms of our bet.
If I keep my dick out of your hungry pussy’s reach”—he winks—“you’re mine.
We move forward. No rules. No resistance.
No walls keeping me out.” Oh God, I want him to win.
I want him to win more than anything. “Now, do we have a deal?”
“What do I get if I win?” I don’t want anything other than him. I’m realizing it more and more with every moment I spend with him. I want him to be the one.
“It’s not going to happen, but go ahead, state your stakes.”
“You take me on an all-expenses-paid two-week European vacation.”
“Deal.” He smirks like he would do that anyway. “Now, eat up so you can straddle my waist and rub one out on me.”
I nearly choke on my saliva, trying to swallow as my body gets all flustered again. “We’re supposed to be using this time wisely.” I point him with a look.
“We absolutely will. You can tell me all about what you want our future to look like while you’re dry fucking the hell out of me.”
I can’t even swallow, let alone eat my dinner. I want to put my chopsticks down and climb onto him now. It’s impossible to be around him and not think about sex.
“Tell me something no one knows about you,” I state, desperate for a distraction.
“Hmm…” He takes a bite, thinking on his response.
When he gives me an answer, I know I’m in love with him.
“My mother loved kittens.” He smirks. Every time he talks about her, his face lights up.
“She used to rescue them from the streets and nurse them back to health before finding them their perfect home. But during her cancer treatment, my father was worried about germs and didn’t want any pets in the house.
So, every day when he’d go to the church, I’d sneak a kitten in for my mom to cuddle with.
I think those hours of laughter and cuddles kept her with us for longer than she was supposed to be. She was so happy.”
He is such a loving man.
“You’re a good man, Jordyn. I hope you know that.”
Those amber eyes shift, the orange flecks burning soft and low, like the low flames of a fire. Warmth spreads from the look he’s giving me, melting my insides. I am definitely in love with him. But this love feels different than the kind of love I had with Dusty. It feels deeper. So much deeper.
“Hope you know I’m winning this bet.” He grins. “You’re going to be mine, baby. There ain’t a question about it.”
There is no question. I already am his.