CHAPTER 9
JOSS
I’ve never looked forward to a shoot ending more than I have been all day today.
It’s not because it’s any more annoying than it normally is.
Even though I’ve been working with Vallie today, she’s not more clingy or persistent than normal.
Is it annoying? Of course, but I find it’s not quite as bad as it normally is.
Maybe it’s because I have more purpose now and it’s all because of Syndal. Sure, I’m still trying to dig myself out of the hole my ex put me in, but now it’s not just about me. It’s about my woman too. I’m determined to be the man she needs.
“You’ve been so quiet today,” Vallie coos at me.
She thinks she’s being sexy and coy, but it’s not working for me. It never did, but now it’s even worse. Thankfully, she doesn’t reach out and try to touch me. The cameras aren’t on us right now and I don’t think I’d be able to be nice about telling her to back off.
Well, I doubt I could ever really be nice about it.
I’m so damn glad that I went over to my woman’s house last night. She needed me and I didn’t even know it.
Hearing what her coworker said to her pissed me off and I thought about tracking the woman down and giving her a piece of my mind. It wouldn’t help anything, though, and I know it. But still, Syndal hurting in any capacity fucking guts me.
I know the words said to her landed. The haunted look of pain in her eyes was something I couldn’t ignore.
There was no way that I was going to allow her to stew in those words and let them burrow deeper. The only way was to show her just how much I want her. Everything in me wanted to whisper my love for her.
And yes, I love her.
I’ve known it since I met her and every moment that I’ve spent with her has simply been me falling deeper in love with her.
She’s rooted herself deep in my soul without realizing it or even trying to do it.
Fuck, everything I’ve learned about her has made me want to know more.
When she let me in on her dreams for her own shop, I wasn’t surprised.
I just wish I could give it all to her now.
But I can’t.
Not yet at least.
What I won’t be telling Vallie is that the desire to make my woman’s dreams come true is the reason I’ve been quiet.
I figured it would be better than being growly and prickly.
Doing this model thing might not be what I thought I’d be doing, but it’s not a bad gig and the extra money is going to come in handy.
“Just wanting to get the job done,” I tell Vallie, my voice neutral.
She steps closer, too close, and I retreat a step. Thankfully, she takes the hint, but putting distance between us doesn’t fully deter her.
“Can I talk you into going out for a drink with me tonight?” She arches an eyebrow, the challenge clear in her voice as she asks.
“No can do,” I tell her, trying not to let my annoyance and frustration show.
How many times do I need to turn her down before she gets the hint? It’s kind of embarrassing. If I really thought she wanted to be friends, that this was some kind of buddy-buddy model thing, then I’d be fine with it. But I know it’s not what is going on here. Not even a little bit.
Vallie pouts and lets out a long-suffering sigh, “I figured that would be your answer, but I’d feel badly if I didn’t ask.”
Of course she would.
I give her a small smile and grab my phone, wanting to hear Syndal’s voice and hoping I’m not calling at a bad time, like when she’s elbow deep in chocolate. Since I wasn’t sure how long the shoot would go, we didn’t make definitive plans, and I said I’d call her.
Now I can’t wait any longer. Even if I can’t see her today, hearing her voice will be enough. Maybe.
Or I’ll just find myself back on her doorstep as soon as I get out of here.
“Hi, Joss,” her sweet voice filters through the phone when she answers and something settles in my chest. “Is the shoot done already?”
“Yeah,” I rasp, my voice warm but with an edge of need I have a feeling will always be there when it comes to my woman, no matter how many times I sink into her tight, wet heat. “We’re just finishing up now. It took less time than I thought it would.”
She makes a humming sound, and I have no doubt she’s splitting her attention between me and whatever it is she’s making. The good thing is that she has downtime when things have to set or as she’s getting the ingredients together for whatever she’s making next.
Fuck, how focused she is and determined to do something with her dream, even if she can’t open a shop yet, is sexy as hell.
“I miss you,” the words slip past my lips without me needing to think about them.
Fuck, I do miss her.
Leaving her this morning was not easy, but I had to run by my place, take a shower, and get changed before the shoot. Next time I’ll pack a bag to make sure I get to spend as much time as possible with my woman.
Before she can say anything, Vallie’s arm snakes around my shoulder and she purrs, “Come on, you know you want to get a drink with me, baby.”
My entire body jerks and I dislodge her hand. Fury like I’ve never felt before has me glaring at Vallie. The sound of my heart pounding in my chest and blood rushing through my veins almost drowns out Syndal’s weak voice murmuring, “It sounds like you’re busy, and I need to go.”
“Wait!” I shout the word and Vallie startles, but Syndal is already gone.
When I look at the woman who thinks far too highly of herself, the satisfied smile on her face has me seeing red. She’s not at all bothered; she simply flips her hair over her shoulder without a care in the world.
“Listen closely,” I growl, “I’m not interested in you. If you were the last woman on the planet, I still wouldn’t touch you.”
She pales slightly, but years of feeling superior has her scoffing, “You can’t be serious.”
I lean closer to her, my voice taking on a menacing edge, “I’m deadly fucking serious.
Now, I’m going to go and see my woman. I’ll be telling any photographer I work with that I no longer want to shoot with you.
If you’re there, I’ll leave. I might need the money, but not enough to risk losing my woman. Nothing is worth that.”
Something shifts in her eyes and her shoulders drop. “She’s a lucky woman,” she whispers.
There’s a vulnerability in her gaze and I see past her mask for a moment. It gives me pause, but not enough for me to keep this conversation going or change my mind when it comes to being in the same room with her.
It takes me far too long to get to the other side of the city, but eventually I’m banging on my woman’s door. Every second I’m waiting for her to open it feels like a fucking eternity.
When she does, her eyes are wary as she looks me over. It’s not like I can blame her, but it kind of pisses me off as well. I haven’t given her a reason to distrust me, but I understand she’s been hurt in the past.
My hands shoot out to grab her and haul her against my chest. “I don’t know what the fuck that bitch was trying to do, but I’m not going to let her get away with it,” I growl the words while my body vibrates with barely contained rage and pure fucking fear.
“Who was she?” I hate the way her voice wobbles.
“It was the model I was doing the shoot with. She had already asked me to have a drink, and I had already turned her down. Then I couldn’t wait any longer and needed to call you. She only said something to start some drama.”
Her green eyes race between mine, looking, searching. I know she’s looking to see if I’m telling her the truth, but I’m not worried. I know. But I let her search all the same. I’ll wait.
When she blows out a breath and her body sags, I’m right there to hold her up. “I’m sorry,” her apology comes out broken.
I press my lips to her forehead and breathe her in. “It’s okay,” I murmur against her skin even though it’s not entirely okay.
“No, it’s not,” she insists. “You haven’t given me any reason to distrust you. You’ve been upfront and honest with me. My insecurities aren’t your fault, but you keep having to pay for them.”
“That’s how this works between us, Sugar,” I insist. “We hold each other up, we help each other heal, we keep showing up and we keep loving each other.”
Syn freezes in my arms for a heartbeat and then she jerks back so hard I’m not able to hold onto her. “What?” Her voice is high and filled with surprise and disbelief. “Did you just,” she starts and shakes her head before trying again, “what are you saying?”
I smile slowly and close the distance between us until my lips are hovering over hers, “You heard me, Syndal. We keep loving each other,” I repeat and her eyes widen.
I could get lost in those green depths so damn easily.
“I love you. I knew the moment I saw you that you were going to change my life and give me purpose when I’ve been floundering for so long.
I’ve been working to get myself out of the hole I was put in, but it wasn’t like I was moving toward a dream. ”
“She stole from you,” she sneers the words since I shared with her what my ex did. “She should be rotting in a jail cell somewhere.”
My hold tightens on my bloodthirsty woman. “I love that you’re willing to defend me, no matter what. I love how soft you are and how much passion you have for your treats. I love how strong you are, and how brave you are.”
Her eyebrows pull together and she shakes her head. “I’m not brave.”
“Even though being social and extroverted isn’t you at all, you still do these events as often as you can to build your business. You push yourself out of your comfort zone because you want to make your dream into a reality. Now, your dream is my dream too.”
Syndal melts into me and my heart fucking sings. “I love you so damn much. You’ve given me purpose and a reason to keep going.”
She sucks in a breath, and her eyes go glassy with unshed tears. “I love you too, Joss. I don’t understand it and it scares the hell out of me, but I love you so much.”
And then there doesn’t need to be any more words between us. My lips slam down on hers and I take her mouth in a brutal kiss. Her taste, sweet with a hint of chocolate, explodes on my tongue and I become ravenous.
Our clothing becomes a flurry of tossed fabric without a care about where anything lands. There’s no way I’ll make it to the bedroom. Not today. Not with her words of love echoing around me. Fuck, I barely make it to the couch.
But then we’re there and I pull her onto my lap, my cock hard and weeping pre-cum between us. I help her lift up her hips just enough for the crown to find her entrance and then I pull her down onto me, filling her with one motion.
Her head falls back on her shoulders while wisps of hair, which have come out of her messy bun, float around her face. “Fucking goddess,” I grunt and think of anything I can to stop myself from coming inside of her far too soon.
My grip on her hips tightens as I move her up and down my length. She moans every time she takes all of me inside of her. The walls of her pussy are warm and tight. She squeezes around me and I can tell she’s close already.
When I suck her hard nipple into my mouth, I swirl my tongue around it before biting down. Her nails dig into my shoulders, grounding me while also pushing me closer to the edge. It’s too much.
And not nearly enough.
“Fucking love you so much, Syndal,” I grit out the words through my teeth as her pussy flutters around my cock.
“Love you,” she moans breathily.
My fingers tighten on her hips and I’m sure I’ll leave little bruises behind. I’m looking forward to seeing the evidence of our passion on the sexy as fuck curves of her body.
“Please,” she mewls and it is my undoing.
I pump my hips upward and pull her down harder on me. Only a few more thrusts and we’re both moaning as we come together. Every rope of cum painting her walls has me growling in pleasure. Her pretty little pussy sucks up all my cum as her body goes boneless and her forehead rests on my shoulder.
“Woah,” she sighs as my arms tighten around her while air saws in and out of my lungs.
“Yeah, Sugar, woah.”
I kiss her temple and soak in the warmth of her body against mine. This feels good. It feels right.
“I’m never letting you go,” I promise her and she makes a sound of pure contentment as she snuggles against my chest.
I know she needs to get more work done today, but for just this moment, the only thing that matters is us. I’m so damn glad I found this woman; I need her sweetness.
I always will.