“That’s because you’re always taking your shirt off and flirting with every female that walked in. Monica always got mad when I looked at another woman.”
“I still won.”
I shook my head. “I demand a recount.”
A shudder rippled through me right before Hope arrived at our table with our pizza in hand.
“She’ll settle this.” I pointed to her, shocking her enough to look up at me.
Her fucking doe eyes were a gut punch. I imagined them looking up at me with her mouth around my cock.
Dex shook his head. “Yeah, she’s not a good judge.”
“What?”
“Huh?” Her brow scrunched up, lost to the conversation I’d thrust her into.
Mmm, thrust.
My hips flexed, and I fought the incredible urge to touch her, to lean forward and lick her skin. Losing my inhibitions with her around was a bad combination.
Dex turned to her. “We’re having a debate on who’s hotter, but I already know who you’ll say.”
Her brow scrunched, and a clarity I hadn’t seen moved through her. “What does that mean?”
“Are you going to tell me you’d say me after the eye-humping that’s been going on between you two?”
Her mouth and eyes popped open as she stared at him. I wanted to give him shit for calling us out, but I’d become transfixed by her parted lips. The image of running my cock head against them before pushing into her hot mouth was squashed when she turned to me with an angry pout and attempted glare, then walked away.
“Thanks, man.”
He dished out a piece of pizza, grinning as he eyed it. “Truth is tough sometimes. Just seeing if your little obsession can handle it.”
I looked in the direction she went and sighed. “I don’t know if she can handle me.”
“There is that. You’re gonna have to fuck her before you can get to know her.”
I pulled a piece onto my plate and tossed some crushed red peppers on top. I sighed. “This didn’t turn out to be the relaxing night I’d hoped for.”
He tipped his head back and laughed. “That’s ’cause your dick isn’t being touched by that girl of yours.”
My brow furrowed. “She’s not mine.”
“Yet.” His smile fell, and he let out a hard breath. “In all seriousness, the chemistry is obvious. I wasn’t kidding about you fucking her before seeing if there’s something more permanent than the lust that’s pouring out of you.” He pulled the last beer out of the bucket and popped the top. “And instead of being the third bad thing to happen to you in such a short time, she could be the one good thing.”
Two questions went through my mind with his comments. Was he right about a good thing, and was I capable of handling all of that?
A half hour later, I patted my overly stuffed stomach and had a nice buzz going on. I texted Cassie to pick me up in about thirty minutes. There was no way I was going to attempt to drive. I knew my limit, and I hit it two beers and four pieces of deep-dish pizza ago.
Hope remained scarce while we ate, and refused to even look at us when she dropped off the check. I blamed Dex for embarrassing her.
When she reached for my credit card, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward me to whisper in her ear. “I’ll be back for you.”
A blush spread on her face as she looked at me. She licked her lips as she pulled away.
I continued to stare at her, my body buzzing. “I am so fucked.”
Chapter 4
The morning after seeing Hope at Union Jack’s, I awoke just after eight with a small hangover and dried jizz all over my skin and clothes. The memory of masturbating while thinking about her was clear, but I must have fallen right to sleep after I came.
After a shower, I headed downstairs. Cassie and Mom were playing cards on the dining room table. I smiled, happy to see Mom looking perkier than she had over the last few days.
“Morning.” Cassie smirked at me.
The devious tone in her voice set me on edge, and I narrowed my gaze at her before grunting in return. I poured a cup of coffee and grabbed a protein bar, then headed in to join the girls. Mom looked up at me, and I kissed her head as I walked around the table, making sure to ruffle up Cassie’s hair as I moved to take a seat.
Cassie slapped at my hand, scowling up at me. “Be nice. I left my warm, comfy bed to come pick your drunk ass up last night.”
“It wasn’t that late.” I peeked at the scorecard. The cards told me 500 Rummy, and the paper told me Mom was winning.
Go, Mom.
“No, but I was snuggled in bed with my husband.”
“Oh, you were gettin’ it on.”
She shook her head while Mom’s chuckle danced around the room. “So, you going to tell me about this girl?”
My brow scrunched up. “What girl?”
She rolled her eyes and set down a row of cards before discarding. “I had the unfortunate sight of a bulge in your pants when you got in the car.” She made a yacking sound.
“Hmm, that. Well…it’s complicated.”
“Good to know your equipment still works.” Mom didn’t even look up from her cards as she muttered under her breath.
Cassie and I turned to her with what had to be matching looks of horror on our faces.
“Eww!”
“I…I don’t know what to say to that, Mom. What the hell?”
She shrugged and laid down some cards, ending the hand. “Well, with what happened with Monica, I wondered if she might’ve given you something that made your wiener fall off.”
Cassie howled with laughter, banging her hand on the table and giving no care to the fact that she’d just lost their game. I couldn’t stop staring at my mother, who smiled as she tallied up their scores.
“And on that note, I’m outta here.” Cassie slid her chair back and stood. She leaned over and punched my shoulder. “Tag.”
I nodded and took a sip of my coffee. “Thanks, Cass.”
She mussed up my hair, getting me back for earlier. I glared up at her. She was lucky I hadn’t done anything with it yet.
“Later, cranky.” She hugged Mom and kissed her cheek. “Darren and I will be over for dinner tomorrow night.”
“All right.”
She waved goodbye, and silence filled the room. Mom looked around the room for something to do.
“You up for another game?” I motioned to the cards.
She smiled and began shuffling. Guess I had my answer.
--oOo--
Thirty-six hours after seeing her, I still had Hope on the brain. It was accentuated by the three-mile trek back to the parking lot to get my truck. Luckily, Dex checked for me, and it was still there and not towed.
I spent the entire day before with Mom, and completely forgot to have Cassie drop me off on her way to work. After all, her store was a block down Broad Ripple Avenue from Union Jack’s.
My attempt at running the distance was squashed by my hard dick trying to bounce around in my shorts. I should have put on some compression shorts instead of the boxer-briefs I wore. Hindsight was supposed to be twenty-twenty, but all I saw was Hope. I couldn’t stop—thinking about her, wanting her, needing her, and desiring her. It was too much. I knew where to find her, and I planned to see her again.
As I passed my sister’s shop, I banged on the window and stuck my tongue out at her, scaring some of her customers and their furry companions. She screamed “hoodlum” at me, but I pretended not to hear as I continued on.
I thought about going straight to my truck and getting to the gym, but I wanted to see her. When I stepped into Union Jack’s, the hostess perked up, staring a little too hard at me. Her appreciation of me could be used to my advantage.