Captured Secret (The Captured Series) (26 page)

My groin starts to throb. I can imagine that if he does to my girly parts what he does to my breast, there won’t be much reintroducing. I just won’t last long. Then it hits me and I blurt it out. “So, you will use your mouth on my girly parts but not…not on my lips?” I quietly say, “Why?”

He looks like he knows he should have just let this entire subject lie. Instead, he adjusts his face and matter of fact says, “You’re right. That’s a line I don’t cross. That is very intimate. Just like oral sex is for you…that’s what kissing and being fully naked is for me. It takes sex to another level, a more personal level. Using your word again, it makes it intimate. Every girl has been a fling, a one night stand, casual or whatever you want to call it. Kissing is reserved for lovers, not one night stands or fuck buddies.”
Ouch. Shit, that hurt.

“I understand.” I roll on my back because I don’t want to see his hard face. Just being declared a fuck buddy was not what I wanted out of this conversation. Honestly, I don’t know why in these situations that I’m surprised. I have to admit to myself often that Ty is not a jerk or asshole. He’s been more than upfront with me on his position of relationships. My thick head won’t allow the information to penetrate through.

“I think that was the most dick thing I’ve ever said. I’m sorry, Stella.” The change in position happens again. He’s looking down at me, and I’m looking up at him. Ty’s big hand holds my jaw and turns my face to look at him. His voice is soft. “I’ve broken almost every rule with you, Stella. This has gone on longer with you than any other woman I’ve been with, minus Lacey. I’ve been with you in my bed. You’ve stayed the night a couple times. Honestly, I don’t go down on women much myself. It’s personal, I agree with you whole heartedly. I don’t want my mouth on some unclean woman I don’t know. But, Stella, I’m dying to get my mouth on you and your girly parts.” He smiles and so do I that he used my word. “But I can’t break every rule. If I keep bending with you, then we push this over to a new level. And I’m not willing to go there ever again. Tell me you understand?”

“I do. You’ve been very honest.” I lighten things up with, “But you have to understand how jealous I get that you are basically making out with my boobs and not my lips at times.”

His one eyebrow shoots up. “Oh…so you don’t like my licking and sucking at your breast, huh? Well, I can take that out of our sex life if you want.” His cocky grin is wide because he knows damn well that’s not what I want.

“You better not, Ty. My girls thoroughly enjoy your magic tongue and sweet mouth on them.”

“Well, let’s get back to my place so I can give them the attention that they deserve.”

W
E
PULL
INTO
T
Y
’
S
FLAT
and park the bike. I hesitate un-wrapping my arms around him, but my body is aching with need. The excitement of having him again has all the butterflies up and moving in my belly. He helps me off the bike and I tilt my head for him to pull off my helmet. I don’t even have to look to know my hair is crazy. I giggle as I run my fingers through my unruly locks. Ty helps me by fixing one of the wild strands. “Come on, I have no patience to wait any longer. I want you now, Stella. Let’s go.” He shoots up his eyebrow under seductive eyes and grabs my hand. I’m pulled into the stairwell and I can’t help but laugh at his eager look back at me to make sure I’m following.

I’m right on his heel and say, “What? Was the elevator gonna take too long, boss?”

“Don’t call me boss, Stella, when I’m about to fuck you until you can’t walk.” We exit into the hallway and he fiddles with the key to the front door. He looks me square in the eye and growls, “I prefer you call me Ty or Master, Sir, Oh Mighty One…” He continues to ramble on as he grabs my hand and pushes the door open to the flat.

“I think Master is my favorite,” I say sarcastically. He drops my hand and I run into the back of him as he comes to a dead stop.

Jaxon’s voice is not as light and friendly as usual. “I just tried to text you, man. Me and the girls met, parked in the garage, and walked over.” I take .05 seconds to school my face and come around to face Jaxon, Caroline, and the girl that Jaxon has been sleeping with.

Caroline approaches Ty, pushes up to her tiptoes and is now flush with the front of him. “Do not tell me you forgot, Ty. We just made these plans less than a week ago.” In a not so quiet voice she says, “Especially after what I promised to do to you after.” My stomach drops. I will NOT allow myself a visual of what I think she is talking about.

Jaxon pipes in, “No, he couldn’t forget we made plans with you two lovely ladies. Wine and the Park only comes around one time a year. Ty would never miss it.” I can hear it in Jaxon’s voice that he is reminding Ty where they are going.

I step away from Caroline and Ty’s close proximity. She inserts herself under his arm, wraps herself around his waist, and looks my way. I cringe, as I watch her hand slip under his t-shirt and slide across his stomach. Caroline’s eyes fix on Ty’s face. My eyes are fixed on the movement. Ty’s eyes are fixed on me. Thank God for Jaxon. “Stella, I don’t think I’ve actually introduced you and Joanna.” I peel my eyes off what is making me feel like I’m going to vomit. Making a conscious effort, I move my feet toward Joanna and shake her hand. She actually has a sweet face, unlike Caroline, who likes shooting me ‘go fuck yourself’ looks.

Ty looks uncomfortable with our little situation as he moves away from Caroline and takes over introductions. “Um, I don’t think they’ve met. Joanna this is Stella, she’s…um…my assistant. Stella this is Joanna, she’s with Jax.” I hate that. I hate that, I’m his assistant.
Yeah, Joanna, I’m the assistant that he fucks
.
I’m the assistant that a couple minutes ago, he had plans to fuck until I couldn’t walk
.

Jaxon asks her, “You’ve met Zoey, Pierce’s girlfriend? Stella and Zoey are best friends. That’s how we met Stella. We are all friends, together all the time, and yes, she is Ty’s assistant as well.”

I place a slight smile on my face.
Thank you, Jaxon. I’m not even fucking you and you are on the same page as me. We are in fact friends and I’m not just Ty’s assistant.
Looking directly at them helps me keep my eyes from glowering at Ty as he walks past me. “It’s nice to meet you, Joanna. I know we’ve seen one another before but it’s nice finally to be introduced.” It takes everything I have to get that to come out in a smooth voice.

“Let’s go, sexy boy!” Caroline squeals at Ty as she follows him into the kitchen, then to the living room.

He stops, and halts her from progressing into the apartment any further. “Um, let me change my shirt real quick. Sorry we were late. Stella had car problems.” My heart sinks. I don’t know why this hurts so badly, but it fucking does. I need out of here. It’s crazy how he forgot to mention we had a quiet day alone that felt very much like we were on an day-long date. I turn on my heels, careful to turn opposite Ty.

I grab my purse and keep my eyes from looking up by fumbling around for my keys. To no one in particular I say, “You guys have a great time tonight. It sounds like it’s going to be fun.”

“Tons of food and wine on the downtown streets of Orlando in the evening; what more can you ask for?” Joanna asks, I think to fill the silent space.

I just can’t look up. I want to block out that my guy is going out with another girl. The guy who I just had the most amazing day with. The guy who looked at me today with affection in his eyes. I know what I saw and felt. I did not imagine it. This is becoming more than just sex. And here we stand, me walking out so he can go out with someone else. I meet Caroline’s eyes, and can’t help but think she is not one you would introduce to Linda. Maybe for one second that makes me feel better. I open the door and say quietly, “Bye.” Then I exit the flat.

Pushing open the door to the stairwell, I see Jaxon out of the corner of my eye open the front door and slip out of the flat. I pause at his panicked face. Ty’s front door slowly closes and I hear Caroline say, “She’s such a bitch. I can’t imagine having to work with her.”

Jaxon eyes are filled with regret. He says in a soft voice, “Stella, I’m sorry. If I had known you would be here, I wouldn’t have brought them here. He truly forgot. I could see it in his face. I know you could, too.”

In a barely audible voice, I say over my shoulder, “No worries, Jaxon.” I fly down the stairs and jump in my car. Fear hits me like a Mack truck thinking that my car won’t start and I would have to stay around for more humiliation.
Please start again
.
Please start again
. The tears hit me. You know, the ones you get out of anger? Anger at myself for being a fucking idiot! Did I actually think that he liked me? Did I actually think that…what…having some intense sex made him truly want me?
I cannot believe I let my guard down!
I can’t breathe. I can’t concentrate.
Shit, get it together, Stella
. I try to shove it down, but the bag with all my emotions is full and it spills over. The car starts and I make quick movements to get out of the parking lot. I skirt around Orlando because of the barriers closing off downtown for the wine festival. The same wine festival that Caroline promised Ty something sexual after it’s over.
Ugh!
The tears steadily fall in the silent car. I don’t make a sound because that actually equals crying, and I will not cry over this.

Our condo is a welcome sight and I rush in knowing I’ll be alone. Now I remember that Zoey and Pierce are downtown with the entire city, along with Ty, The Slut, Pierce, Joanna, Max and Ethan. I look at my bed and can envision my body lying there, weeping. I stand stock-still and really don’t know what to do with myself. I’m so damn angry I could just fucking scream. I will not sit and have a lonely pity party.
This is just a reminder, Stella, why you stayed fucking celibate for over a year.

I work constantly, so my room is a disaster along with the ton of dirty laundry. The clothes start flying around as I whirl around the room with tears leaking all over my face. I have to stay busy or I think I truly might be sick. The washer is crammed full and I can’t tell what cycle I hit, I just want them clean.

My phone rings and I pull it out of my back pocket. A picture of Zoey and me, when times were not so complicated, flashes as my incoming caller. I slide my finger and school my voice, “Hey, Friend.”

“Can you tell me why the part of our posse that you were with today showed up here, and you are not with them?”

“I had a ton to do to get ready for next week. I just skipped it.” My voice comes out sounding as if I’m tired. I can tell Zoey has had her share of the wine because she is not in tune with me. She would know something was wrong if she were sober.

“That’s bullshit! Get a cab and get down here! There are hours left to go and the food and wine are delish!”

“I’m good. You all have fun. Eat and drink for me, okay?”

“No, you’re coming!” She squawks at me.

“Stella?” Pierce takes the phone. “Get a cab and get down here. What the hell?” I repeat the same things to him that I had told Zoey.

The phone is passed back to Zoey, “Stella, don’t be a party pooper. Come on, friend, it doesn’t feel the same without you.” She says something I can’t understand to someone near her. Then I hear her yell, “Ty! Ty! Come here!” The phone sounds like its rubbing on her clothes or something.
I am so not in the mood for this.
“Ty, tell her that she needs to come…who...Stella, dumbass! Tell her!”

I hear the phone get passed again and I know what’s coming. So, I brace myself. His voice is flat, “Stella?”

My stomach drops to my feet, “Ty?”

“You should come.”

I will not do this. I don’t have the patience for this tonight. “Just tell Zoey that I said I have shit to do and that I’ll talk to her later. Tell her I hung up, okay? And when she wants to call me back, don’t let her. I hope you get what Caroline promised you.” My voice is laced with anger and I don’t give him time to answer before I hang up. Less than a minute later, my phone rings. I put Zoey to voicemail and flip the switch to silent.

I slide down the wall and watch my laundry swish around in the washer. The swishing motion lets me zone out and question the mechanics of how the washer knows when there is enough water. How does it know when to stop spinning the clothes? I try to ponder these thoughts, but my mind is flooded with the feeling of me lying on my back with Ty’s beautiful face hovering over mine. It was in that moment. It was in that look that I was sure he felt something for me other than me being his fuck buddy, friend and oh so trusty assistant. It was a vulnerable moment. He could not hide his affection from me. I’m learning, Ty. He keeps that perfect face reflecting what he is supposed to feel, which is nothing, and not what he does in fact feel, and that is something…for me! The ton of bricks hits my tummy when I recall my hand being dropped and the carpet ripped out from under me
. He didn’t want them to see us together.
What is it about me that’s so embarrassing to him?

I continue my relentless assault on my room and spread out to the kitchen and living room. I clean while everyone is downtown partying. My mind wanders over to calling Jason. He would be happy to meet me for a late dinner or more, but I can’t do that. Making him feel special and acting like I genuinely want to spend time with him would be doing exactly what Ty is doing to me, and that is just not nice. I lose that thought quickly when ten thirty rolls around and there is absolutely nothing more to clean. The last load is in the dryer and I retreat to my room.