Must Be Fate: (Cody and Clover) (A Jetty Beach Romance Book 3) (14 page)

I reply.
Yes. We’re at the café. About to go in.

Good. I was worried. I can’t leave here until later, but we’ll make sure you have a ride home. I’ll see you tonight.

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep tears from welling up in my eyes. I have to pull myself together before I go in.

Hunter smiles at me. “Okay, we’re all set. Let’s go get you started at your new job.” His voice is downright cheerful.

I take a shaky breath, pushing down my swelling emotions. “Thank you so much for all of this.”

He shrugs. “Sure, it’s no problem. We’ll get you all taken care of. Don’t worry.”

I
am
worried. Not about my car, or my new job. I’m worried about the feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’m so grateful to Cody and his family, but it scares me. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay these people. I don’t know how to thank them.

I don’t want to screw this up.

My orientation at work goes well. Natalie is just as pleasant as she was the first time we met. The café is pretty standard. I’m not supposed to be working, officially, but I jump in and make coffee when a line forms at the front counter. Hunter has lunch while he waits for me, and Ryan joins him.

Natalie shows me around and introduces me to Harold, one of the cooks. I fill out the employment forms, then she sends me on my way with my schedule for the coming week. It isn’t quite full-time hours, but she says she’ll be able to work me up to it. She has me working early mornings, which suits me well. I like being done with my workday in the early afternoon, so I have my evenings to myself.

Hunter drops me off at Cody’s, insisting he and Ryan will handle my car. I hate the idea of them spending their free time dealing with my problem, but they’re so easygoing about it—and they don’t listen to my arguments, taking me to Cody’s place despite my protests. There isn’t much I can do. A couple hours later, they pull my car into Cody’s driveway. Hunter’s face is triumphant when he tells me he fixed the problem. He won’t even let me pay for the part he bought, telling me with a wink that I can just give him my employee discount when he comes into the café.

My plan to cook Cody dinner went down the drain, but he brings takeout and we curl up on the couch together with dinner and a movie. My head is still reeling from everything his family did for me, but he acts like it’s nothing. I’m filled with gratitude, but I hate feeling indebted to them—and to Cody.

I have to work early the next morning, but Cody’s still worried about my car, so he gets up and drives me. Natalie shows me the opening routine. The first several hours go by in a blur as I help her prep the shop, then wait on customers when we open.

I take a break about halfway through my shift, and check my messages. I have a voicemail about the cottage. She’s happy to rent it to me, and since it’s vacant I can move in anytime.

I’m so relieved. I don’t want to keep depending on Cody for everything. It isn’t like me.

Cody picks me up from work. The news bursts from my lips as soon as I sit down in his passenger’s seat.

“I found a place to live,” I say.

“Already?” he asks. “Wow, that’s … obviously, that’s great.”

“I know,” I say. “It’s completely perfect. It isn’t even an apartment, it’s this cute little cottage, and it already has furniture. Even if I don’t get full-time hours at the café, I won’t have any trouble affording it.”

Cody pulls out onto the street and turns toward his house. “Great news.”

“Isn’t it?”

But something about his voice tells me Cody isn’t so sure it’s
great
, despite having used that word twice.

“Aw, are you going to miss me?” I ask. I mean it as a playful tease, but when he looks at me his eyes are intense.

“Yes, I am.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so we spend the rest of the drive back in silence.

My car seems to be running fine, so I drive over to my new place the next day. Cody helps me bring in my stuff—it’s not like there’s a lot of it. Moving is pretty easy when you barely own anything. Cody’s mom comes by with groceries. I thank her profusely, trying to hide my bewilderment. Are these people for real?

Cody stays for a while, but eventually says he should get home. We both have to work early the next morning. He kisses me goodbye, his mouth lingering against mine as he stands in the doorway. I think about asking him to stay, but it seems like it’s time for me to be on my own again.

I shut the door behind him and lean against it, breathing out a long breath. This is good. My new place is adorable. It has a little kitchen at the back that’s open to the rest of the house, with a small dining table that separates it from the living room. There’s a wood fireplace—I’ve never had a fireplace in my life—and a comfortable couch next to an oversize chair. I don’t have a TV, but I can watch stuff on my laptop, and the room doesn’t have much space for anything else. Down a small hallway are two bedrooms, and a bathroom with pink tile.

I haul the new bedding I bought down to one of the bedrooms and make the bed. When I finish, I stand back and look at my handiwork. The comforter is light gray with a white paisley pattern—a nice balance of soothing and girly. It’s a lovely bedroom. I’ll be very happy here.

I take a shower and shave my legs. There’s nothing quite like new sheets against freshly shaved legs. I open the dresser, looking for a tank top to wear to bed—and the drawer is full of Cody’s t-shirts.

Oh my god.

He must have put them there when I was busy bringing stuff in from my car. I grab one and hold it to my nose, breathing him in. I slip it on and climb into bed.

I lie there for a long while, unable to sleep. It’s eerily quiet. Crickets and frogs sing their evening songs outside my window, but no cars drive by. No sounds of neighbors stomping, or fighting, or having sex carry through the walls.

It’s going to take some time to get used to this.

After a while, I groan and turn over. I’m bored. My body is tired from working, but my mind won’t relax.

And I miss Cody.

God, that’s stupid. Nine days, I’ve known him. Not even two weeks. Usually my first night in a new place is filled with excitement, but I’m not awake because I’m thrilled with my new digs. I’ve only had a taste of Cody, and I want more. My body wants more.

I think about his strong chest, his muscular arms, those ridiculous abs, his adorable dimples. The way he takes what he wants, tells me what to do. My hand slides down my belly, beneath my panties, and I press my fingers against my clit. I let my eyes flutter closed as I swirl my fingers around and imagine Cody’s swollen cock, plunging in, stretching me. He feels so good. I haven’t slept with every guy I’ve dated, but I’ve been with my share, and no one has ever filled me the way Cody does.

I pull my hand away, frustrated. Buttering my own muffin is not going to cut it tonight. I’m keyed up, but I don’t just need a quick release. I need Cody.

I glance at the clock on my phone, wondering if he’s still awake. It’s just before eleven, but we both have to get up early. I definitely shouldn’t wake him. It would be silly to get up.

I just moved into my new place, I should at least spend the first night in my own bed.

Maybe I’ll just text him.

Hey, are you still awake?

His reply comes only seconds later.
Yes, is everything okay?

I smile and lick my lips.
I’m fine. Miss you.

Baby, I miss you too.

I sigh. This is so crazy. But fuck it.

I get up and throw on a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt. I get my purse and keys and open the front door. The cold night air hits me, raising goosebumps on my arms. I stop. I shouldn’t do this. It’s not like we aren’t going to see each other soon. I can hang out with him tomorrow. I can certainly wait a day.

I glance down at my keys and draw my eyebrows together. There’s my new house key, and the big black key to my car. But there’s a third key there. One I didn’t put on my keychain.

It’s Cody’s.

Holy shit, he put his house key on my keychain. I smile and hurry out the door. If that isn’t fate telling me to go to him, I don’t know what is.

I pull up to his house, my heart racing. His last text came mere minutes ago. My cottage is less than a mile from his house, and it took no time to get here. I creep up to the door, feeling like a kid sneaking around, and slide the key into the lock. It turns, and I go inside.

The lights are off. I take off my shoes and walk up the stairs, taking quiet steps. A sliver of light filters onto the landing from his bedroom. I lean close to the door, putting my mouth near the edge.

“Cody?”

The floor creaks and the door opens.

His mouth is on mine, his hands pulling off my clothes. I stumble in, dropping my purse to the floor, yanking off my sweatshirt. Cody’s hands are firm, dragging my leggings off. He rips off his shirt, kissing me again as soon as the fabric goes over his head.

He leads me into his room, his mouth never leaving mine, until his legs hit the bed. I break the kiss and work my way down his neck, to his chest. I run my tongue down the ripples of his abs, my hands on his hips.

I wrap my hand around his thick cock and take the tip into my mouth. Cody groans, running his hands through my hair. I move my tongue around, sliding it across his swollen flesh. I open wider, pulling in the crown, and suck hard.

Cody shudders. “Holy shit.”

I stroke up and down with my hand while I suck on the top, drawing as much into my mouth as I can take. Cody’s hands on my head are gentle, guiding me up and down. I raise my gaze to look up at him. He meets my eyes and he moans again. I smile at him, curling my lips around his cock.

“You have got to be kidding me,” he says, breathing hard. “You are the hottest woman on the fucking planet.”

I move faster, stroking him with a firm grip, plunging him into my mouth. His eyes close and he leans his head back.

His dick pulses, and I can tell he’s close. I’d let him come in my mouth if he wants to, but he touches his fingers to my chin and draws me up.

“Come here.”

I stand and he nudges me onto the bed. He grabs my hips and pulls me so my ass is right at the edge. His teeth graze my inner thighs and I shiver.

“Mm,” he says. “I want to taste you.”

I’m throbbing for him, my pussy positively aching. He works his way up with his tongue and his teeth, nipping at my skin, driving me insane. His tongue reaches my center, and he finds my clit almost instantly.

I moan. “Holy shit, Cody, you make me crazy.”

His tongue works up and down, literally making my toes curl. I grab the sheets and move my hips with his rhythm, panting as he devours me. He sucks on my clit and I shriek. It feels so fucking good.

He stops with a suddenness that takes my breath away. I lift my head and he grins at me, his dimples showing beneath his stubble.

“What do you want, baby?”

“I want that cock in me.”

“I want to hear you beg,” he says, still smiling.

“Please,” I say, my voice breathy.

He pulls my hips slightly off the bed, his hands holding my ass, and presses his cock close. He reaches over, grabs a condom, and slips it on.

“Tell me again,” he says.

“Please, baby.”

“I love it when you beg me,” he says.

“Take me,” I say, meeting his eyes. “You can have all of me.”

He pushes his cock in, and I moan loudly. Standing beside the bed, his hands on my hips, he pounds me hard. I wrap my legs around him and let him set the pace. It doesn’t matter what he does. Short of him pulling out and walking away, I’m coming. Soon.

“God, Cody, you’re so good,” I say.

He keeps thrusting, every move bringing me closer to the edge. He’s thick and hot and powerful. I love seeing his cock move in and out of me, the cuts of his sleek muscles rippling as he fucks me. He’s so damn sexy.

He stops, holding tight against me, his cock deep inside. His chest moves fast with his breath, his abs tight.

“Turn over,” he says.

He pulls out and I’m quick to obey. I get on my knees and look back at him over my shoulder.

He climbs up on the bed behind me and grabs my hips, sliding his cock in. “Keep your hips up, but put your chest down.”

I bend at the waist, lowering my upper body to the bed, and keep my ass in the air. He pulls halfway out and pushes in again. Oh my god, this angle. He thrusts in and out, and it’s like magic.

“Fuck, yes,” I say, panting.

“Do you want it harder?” he asks.

“As hard as you want,” I say. “Fuck, Cody, this is good.”

“God, Clover, I love the way you feel,” he says between thrusts. “You’re perfect.”

He pounds me harder, and my thoughts flee. I can’t think of anything but this man and his cock moving in and out of me. He works me into a frenzy, my body on fire.

His cock pulses and I let out a low moan.

“Make me come,” I say. I’m desperate, aching for release, every thrust driving me crazy. “Please, baby.”

Cody pulls out and I gasp. He flips me onto my back and wastes no time climbing on top of me and plunging in again.