Chapter 18
Ainsley
I snap a picture of my reflection in the mirror, and send it to Ivori.
Me
Mark this on your calendar. I’m actually wearing makeup.
Ivori
Damn, girl. You look hot!
Me
Thanks. Wanna meet me for a drink?
Ivori
I’m already in bed
Just send me your location before you go home with anyone
Me
Always
With Travis off my roster, I need to find someone new and quick.
Landon’s shirtless body has been replaying through my mind for days, and I’m about to pour bleach into my eyes in an attempt to erase it. Instead, I’m hoping to fuck the thought of him right out of my memory tonight.
My little black dress is form-fitting and stops mid-thigh, with as much cleavage as I could muster up from my itty bitties, held up by thin straps.
Sexy, yet classy. I spent time on my hair and it falls in a silky dark curtain over my bare shoulders.
My lined lids and curled lashes make my eyes pop, and a sheer gloss tints my lips.
I’m always in sweats and sneakers, which I prefer. But sometimes, a girl needs to feel desired. This outfit should do the trick.
Swiping my clutch off my dresser, I head downstairs and lock up the house behind me.
Just outside of town, there’s a sports bar I like to hang at where I can be sure I won’t run into parents from school.
I can be someone else for a night. Forget about my life, about the shitty plumbing, and just enjoy mindless physical pleasure with a handsome stranger.
And if I don’t see anyone I like, at least I can watch a game of some sort and have a couple of beers.
“Hi there,” the bartender says, leaning forward to place a napkin down on the bar in front of me. “What can I start you off with?”
“Corona with a lime please.” I point to the closest TV overhead. “Can you get the fight on this one?”
“Absolutely.”
While I wait, I scan the bar to assess my options.
Wedding ring.
Too old.
Too young.
Not my type.
Finally, at the far end of the bar, I spot potential.
The man is sitting between two of his buddies in a blue collared shirt that fits snug around his burly physique. Early forties at most. His arms are thick, and he looks like the kind of guy who could throw me around. A shiver slides through me at the thought.
When the bartender returns with my beer, I gesture to the attractive man. “What’s he drinking? The one in blue.”
“Whiskey.”
I scrunch my nose, and the bartender laughs. “Send him a refill on me, would you?”
“You got it.”
Squeezing the lime into my beer, I sit back and take a sip while I watch the MMA fight. After another minute goes by, the stool beside me drags against the floor and Mr. Blue shirt sits down.
“Thanks for the drink, gorgeous.”
I turn my head to face him and smile. “Anytime. I’ll let it slide that you’re drinking whiskey.”
He chuckles, deep and raspy. “Says the woman drinking Corona.”
I hike a shoulder. “I’m a simple girl, what can I say?”
Holding his glass, he lifts an index finger toward the TV. “You know, I asked the bartender twice to put the fight on, and he said no.”
“Maybe you didn’t ask nicely.”
He licks his bottom lip as he appraises me. “You don’t strike me as the type to ask nicely.”
I laugh. “I can be nice when I want something.”
“And what is it you want tonight?” His blue eyes sparkle with mischief. They’re almost the same color as his shirt. He’s good-looking, and he knows it. Which means he’ll be bold, and hopefully worth my while in bed.
Before I can answer his question, I’m met with a pair of brown eyes in the mirror behind the bar. My back goes rigid.
What the fuck?
Several feet away from me, Landon sits in a booth in the corner of the room by the window. He lifts his beer and smiles at me like a happy idiot.
“You have to be fucking kidding me,” I mutter.
The man I’m sitting with leans back. “I’m sorry...?”
I shake my head as if I can shake Landon out of it. “Sorry, I saw someone I know.” I let out a sardonic laugh. “Apparently I didn’t get far enough from town.”
The man grimaces. “Ex-boyfriend?”
“Just someone I used to go to high school with.”
He smiles like he’s relieved. “My name is Jack, by the way.”
“Ainsley.” I slip my hand into his, and he lifts it to his lips for a kiss. I try not to cringe.
On instinct, my eyes flick to the mirror. Landon is chuckling to himself as if he can read my mind.
Fucker.
He’s in an olive-green thermal shirt that clings to his muscles and accentuates his dark features. And now I know exactly what’s underneath that shirt. My skin heats at the reminder.
I brush my hair over my shoulder and turn back to the man beside me. “So, Jack. What do you do?”
“I own a gym. What about you?”
“I’m a teacher.”
His eyebrows jump. “A hot teacher. Nice.”
Double cringe. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Next up will probably be, I’d never have been able to concentrate if my teachers looked like you.
That’s basically the worst thing you can say to a teacher. It’s so off-putting.
Jack continues talking about how he started his business, but I can’t truly focus on anything he’s saying. Nerves crawl up the back of my neck. Restlessness settles in my legs. I shift in my seat like a kid with too much energy.
I can feel Landon across the room. Watching me. Mocking me in his head.
“Will you excuse me, Jack?” I slide off the stool. “I just need to go to the restroom.”
He winks. “I’ll be right here.”
I walk around the bar and push through the bathroom door. A growl crawls up my throat as I yank my phone out of my purse and fire off a text to Landon.
Me
Are you stalking me? Go find another bar to lurk in.
Landon
I was here first. Not my fault you were too self-absorbed to notice.
Me
I come here all the time. I claim this bar.
Landon
Your date looks lonely. Hurry back.
Me
Not until you go away.
Landon
Seemed like you were having a riveting conversation. Was he telling you about his favorite protein powder flavors?
Me
Jealous he has bigger muscles than you?
Landon
You didn’t seem to mind when you were staring the other day
Me
It was YOU who was staring
Landon
You’ve got me staring again. Nice dress.
Me
Why don’t you come back here so I can pluck your eyeballs out of your head?
Landon
I’m already here.
Excitement spikes in my veins. I whip open the bathroom door.
There’s nothing but an empty hallway.
My phone buzzes in my hand with another text.
Landon
You got excited, didn’t you?
Me
Fuck. Off.
I shove my phone back in my purse and square my shoulders as I strut out of the bathroom.
I won’t let this asshole get in my way tonight.
There’s nothing wrong with Jack, and I’m going to have another beer and then go home with him for a fun-filled night.
My heels scrape against the floor when my gaze lands on Jack, now sitting at a table with his friends and several girls. He lifts his whiskey glass and winks as I walk by.
Fine. Whatever. I’m sure I can find someone else here tonight.
But when I get back to my stool, Landon is sitting in Jack’s abandoned seat.
Nope. No way. I’m going home.
I slap a twenty-dollar bill on the bar, and stick my middle finger in Landon’s face.
“You shouldn’t leave your drink unattended.” He clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “I expected better out of you.”
“I was going to order another when I got back.” I prop my hand on my hip. “Why are you here?”
“Same reason as you.” He gestures to the TV. “Sit. This is a good fight.”
The bartender stops in front of me. “Another Corona?”
I could go home, but I spent so much time doing my hair and makeup that I might as well stay out a little longer.
“Sure.” I jerk my thumb in Landon’s direction. “Put it on his tab.”
If he’s going to ruin my night, he might as well pay for my drinks.
“You’re way out of that guy’s league,” Landon says, keeping his attention on the TV.
“How would you know what league I’m in?”
“Because I know you.” He turns his head and locks eyes with me. “Which is why you went to the bathroom to text me instead of staying and talking with him. He couldn’t hold your interest.”
I roll my eyes and thank the bartender as he drops down a fresh beer. I’m not letting Landon bait me into whatever obnoxious conversation he thinks we’re about to have. Squeezing my lime into the neck of the bottle, I sit back and watch the fight.
“Who do you think will win?” Landon asks.
“O’Connor looks good.”
“Wanna make it interesting?”
I arch a brow. “Aren’t you tired of losing to me?”
He grins. “Always so cocky.”
“Confident. There’s a difference.”
Landon hikes a shoulder. “Three-hundred says Jones wins.”
I hold out my hand and Landon grips it for a shake.
For the next hour, we’re locked into the fight. We order burgers and two more rounds of drinks.
And I completely forget why I came out to this bar in the first place.
Yet I don’t seem to care.
The fight is pretty even, but in the last round, Jones knocks out O’Connor with a solid right hook to the jaw.
I gasp, throwing up my hands. “Holy shit!”
Landon claps. “Your man is out cold. Pay up, baby.”
With a groan, I pull out my phone and send him three-hundred bucks.
His phone lights up, and he laughs when he opens his cash app. “Seriously?”
I wrote, For your herpes cream in the notes.
I push out of the chair and stand. “Well, I’d say thanks for the drinks but I just covered everything.”
“Sucks to suck.” Landon stands with me, digging into his wallet to pay the tab. “Wanna share a Lyft? My treat.”
I hesitate, staring up at him. Long dark lashes frame his big brown puppy dog eyes. A dark shadow of scruff peppers along his jaw, surrounding full pouty lips. He’s usually clean-shaven, but tonight he has an edge to him.
Landon looks good.
I’d love to blame it on the alcohol, but I’m barely buzzed.
He sees me staring at him, it’s obvious, but he doesn’t say a word or give me shit for it. He lets his own eyes feast on me instead.
“You never wear your hair down,” he murmurs, reaching out and toying with the ends of my strands.
“Never have a reason to.”
He pushes my hair over my shoulder, his fingertips grazing my skin and sending goosebumps down my arms. “It’s the perfect length.”
For what? I want to ask, but he wraps it around his fist and gives it a light tug, and the question dies on my tongue.
Heat simmers low in my gut. “Too bad no one gets to enjoy it tonight.”
Landon’s tongue darts out and wets his lips. “Such a shame.”
I lean closer, just enough to challenge him. “Guess I’ll be taking care of myself tonight.”
“Guess we both will.” His voice sounds raspy, rich with desire.
My thighs clench at the thought of his hand wrapped around himself, pumping in long, harsh strokes.
One corner of his mouth curves up in a wicked smirk. “What will you think about, hmm? What’ll be getting you off tonight?”
“Wouldn’t you love to know...” I won’t dare admit it, but he reads me like an open book. He sees it in my eyes, knows what I’m thinking about right now.
Who I’m thinking about.
We’re silent on the ride to my house. I can barely breathe with him sitting so close in the back seat of the small car, his right leg pressed up against my left. My skin vibrates, sparking like a live wire.
I shouldn’t feel this way.
Yet I’m not surprised that I do.
Hate and love. Disdain and desire. On opposite sides of the rope, they’re still bound by passion. It’s always been there between us. A craving. Something drawing us in.
What would happen if we gave into it for a night?
The car rolls to a stop in front of my house.
My heart races.
I glance at Landon.
His eyes drop to my mouth for a brief moment. “Goodnight, Ainsley.”
I swallow. “Night.” Then I slide out of the car and walk up my driveway.
Once I’m inside, I lean on the door with my eyes closed.
What the hell was that? What am I doing?
Maybe I’m drunker than I thought.
I yank off my heels and trudge upstairs to scrub off this makeup. Finally, I get into my pajamas and slip under the covers in bed. If I force myself to go to sleep, I can forget about this strange night and start a new day tomorrow.
But my mind won’t let me rest. I keep replaying my conversation with Landon, and imagining what would’ve happened if the night ended differently. With us together. My body yearns for a release, but I refuse to give in, like I’m punishing myself for fantasizing about Landon.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand. I reach over and tilt it until I see Landon’s name lighting up the screen.
I swipe my thumb across it to accept the call, and lift it to my ear. “Hey, everything okay?”
At first, I don’t hear anything.
“Landon, are you there?”
Then his deep groan floats through the speaker, and my body ignites.
Oh.
“Are you touching yourself yet?” he asks. His voice is low and desperate, and it sends a rush of heat over my skin.
Oh, my god. Is he...?
“Fuck,” he drags out. “Ainsley.”
The sound of my name coming out of his mouth while he pumps himself on the other side of the phone has my panties soaked within seconds. I’m too stunned to move, too shocked to utter a word.
All I can do is listen.
He grunts as he continues pleasuring himself, and my eyes flutter closed, picturing him in his bed, thrusting his hips into his hand. Eyes closed. Lips parted. Picturing all the things he wants to do to me.
There is nothing sexier than the sound of a man moaning when you know he’s thinking of you.
“I’m gonna come, Ainsley. Fuck, this feels too good.”
“Yes,” I finally whisper. “Come for me.”
He groans louder, and as he releases, he chants my name like a prayer, over and over again.
My pussy throbs and my nipples tighten, my entire body pulsing with need. A vision of him spilling his load onto his stomach flashes in my mind, his head thrown back in pleasure, his muscles tense and straining as he finds his release.
I remain on the phone, listening to the way his moans turn to ragged breaths as he comes down.
And then he ends the call.