Uncharted (Unexpected Book 3) (27 page)

Touch me
. I bite those words back when I open the door and find Jacob behind it. The combination of his aftershave and musky natural scent surrounds me. But the anger etched into his beautiful features cool down my entire body.

“What happened?”

“I hate children.” He storms into the house, and I follow right behind after closing the door. “They’re small and evil.”

“What happened now, Jacob?” He doesn’t turn around. Instead, he takes off his hair tie and I can’t help but laugh at the unevenly cut strands on his hair. “You changed stylists?”

“The children.” He spins around, pinning me with his blues, while rubbing his scruffy chin. “Don’t you dare laugh at my misery.”

I purse my lips, biting my cheeks, while laughter vibrates through my rib cage. With a fake professional poise, I approach him and assess the damage. Then I grab his arm and take him to the main bathroom where I have my barber scissors.

“How did this happen?”

I push him down so he sits on the edge of the bathtub, grab all my supplies, and find a towel to place around his T-shirt.

“It’s your fault. After your little scene at my office, I walked across the street to the school.” His shoulders slump as I spray water on top of his head. “Best way to tame my big friend is by being with those spawns. They suck any desire to mate with a female right out of me. My dear sister was doing her arts and crafts class for preschoolers and dragged me with her. Some cuties tried to play with my hair and I let them braid it. Next thing I know there’re chunks of my hair on the floor.”

He clenches his jaw so tight I can hear his teeth grind. I’m suffocating from holding back the laugh that wants to break free, but my body shakes as I picture the scary musician with big hair and tattoos playing with the little girls.

“Don’t laugh, Pria Walker. My hair… what’s going to happen with my hair?”

“Karma, and my best friend—AJ—made sure you paid for delivering that fire speech.” I claim some victory from earlier. “Just because I’m a good person, I’ll fix it and leave you looking even better than you did before, with some long strands on the front. Unless you piss me off. Then I’ll take the clippers and give you a buzz cut in your sleep.”

Mom taught me how to cut hair, as Mae couldn’t go to a salon for a haircut—there were germs. We have everything: clips, clippers, scissors, combs, and professional hair driers. Before I start, I set another towel on the floor, as well as inside the tub, where the hair can gather freely.

I move around him while trying to work with the mess those little girls made. I decide to do some layering in the back, leaving long strands that almost touch the nape of his neck. In the front, I cut a few inches, leaving them right where his strong jawline ends. I check that both sides are even before finishing up with a blow dry.

In the meantime, I think about this man and how many layers he uses to hide himself from the world. Time and again he says that working with children is a nightmare, and yet, when his mood is about to get the best out of him, he goes and teaches a child how to play guitar, or the piano. The loss of his girlfriend—and I bet his future plans—buried the amazing guy I met long ago.

Satisfied with my crafty work, I run my hands through his thick hair a few times. I’m soon remembering what it’s like to pull these strands while making love to this man. My body begging for more, my mouth screaming his name, as he pushed himself inside me. That male scent torments my nose. My nipples tighten as I continue massaging his scalp. A soft moan escapes through my sealed lips. Jacob’s big hands encircle my wrists and stop me.

“Stop touching my hair like that.” His intense eyes ignite and I take a step backward. “Go change. We’re going out to eat. I’ll wait outside the house.”

I open my mouth, ready to taunt him. He shakes his head while standing up and dusting the hair off his clothes.

“We talked about playing with fire earlier, Pria. Don’t test me.”

I don’t want to test you, I want to taste you.

I come down from the high that his closeness created as I recall his orders. Days like this one make me debate which thing it is that I hate most; his little domineering attitude or my secret desire to relinquish some of the power he wants to snatch. Only a little…not much.

“But I want to drive by myself.” Because in fact, I’ll never give him any power whatsoever and will fight him until he gives up. “There’s nothing wrong with a woman driving at night by herself.”

“More accidents happen at night,” he barks in that possessive way he sometimes uses. “For one day, do as I say. One fucking day is all I ask.”

“Do you know that men think about sex every two seconds?” Jacob presses my body against his while whispering in my ear. This scouting for musicians gig isn’t working well for me. For the past hour, I’ve been standing in front of him while he sweet talks me into being his booty call. “All because they’re walking around with a hard-on due to a hottie who’s a professional cock blocker.”

“Are those your own statistics, Jacob?” His lips move up and down the base of my neck and I take that as a yes. “If I accept, are we going to be exclusive?”

“Of course. I’ll become your sex slave.” I laugh because this guy perspires dominance. “Your plan worked.”

“Plan?” I turn slightly, tilting my head to meet his gaze. “Enlighten me. What plan?”

“To have me all to yourself.” I release a giant laugh as he says the most stupid thing I’ve heard all night. “Do I hear a
yes
,
Jace, take me please
?” The soft girly voice he uses to imitate me releases another round of chuckles.

I crook my finger and his head lowers enough so my lips are at equal distance from his ear. I approach it closely enough for him to shiver and I give him the answer. “N-e-v-e-r.”

He roars in my ear, and at that precise moment, the band finish their last song. As everyone claps, Jacob circles one arm around my waist and drags me through the crowd. That clues me in that he liked either the band or one of the musicians. Jacob has a gift in finding the right talent to form new bands or create solo acts. His ability has offered individuals the opportunity to become famous, which means he has broken at least six bands-slash-friendships since we started working together.

As predicted, he only chooses one person from the four—the drummer, who happens to be a girl. They exchange greetings, he hands over his card, and tells her to think about calling him. He has the perfect gig for her. Without another word, he drags me out of the Silver Moon and into the rainy night.

“My house or yours?” He ushers me inside his truck, takes my seatbelt, and runs his index finger across my body while buckling it. My knees press against each other as my lower body reacts with need to his touch. “Pria, stop fighting it. You want me as much as I want you. My balls are bursting. Sex is like breathing to me and you’re choking me.”

The asphyxiation must be contagious because I’m gasping for air.

“What happened to the cheesy guy,” I whisper, so turned on I have almost lost my voice. Ten years ago he’d have talked about his heart, or offered me the moon in exchange for a kiss. Not that I’m requesting either, but there’s a huge change in his MO. “Balls bursting isn’t as catchy as ‘you’re my eternal light,’ just so you know.”

“I’m only offering sex, Pria. That kid you hung out with died years ago.” His eyes close for a second and a serious, stern expression takes over his playful face. “There’s a catch if we do this. No promises, no expectations, no kisses, no overnight stays, and no tender words.”

I freeze. Disappointment pounds my heart. This is Jace, I want more than what he’s offering. He put a shitty dilemma on my plate. I want him. Do I want him enough to accept sex without strings? My heart doesn’t have an answer because my lust is screaming for me to accept this offer.

“Promises and expectations fall into the same category,” I say, after he starts the car and heads toward an unknown destination. Mouth, brain, and hormones working together while blocking my heart, the one that wouldn’t let something so shallow and cold happen. My heart wants more with him—everything. Kisses, cuddles, promises and for him to be mine again. That’s not how it will happen and… Why not? I haven’t had sex since Robbie, and for now I don’t have much time to start dating. “Those are feasible. No kisses or tender words…which is kind of strange, but acceptable as they can lead to the ‘expectations’ category. I do require overnight stays and cuddles after having sex, though.”

“Thank fuck for that. Finally. Cuddling it is then.” His satisfied voice resonates through the cabin. “We’ll seal the deal at my place. Tomorrow we’ll head to your house to pick up some clothes.”

“You can no longer pay me when we stay at each other’s place… That would be like paying me for sex.”

“You haven’t billed me for that time since your Dad was admitted at Sunny Hills,” he reminds me. “Any other issues?”

“Don’t make me regret this.”

“Sex with me is like visiting Disneyland, Twinkle.” He runs his hand between my thighs and stops right before he touches my heat. “You’ll never want to leave.”

Yet,
you’ll
be able to leave
me
. Again.
Don’t think like that. It’s a no-strings agreement, Pria, you can do it.

Lightening my mood, I change the subject. “I’ve never been to Disneyland.”

“Then I’ll take you there.” He winks. “We’re going to a movie premiere in a couple of weeks with the fam. It’s in Cali. We’ll take a week off, drive down there, and have sex during pit stops, in motels, everywhere we find. You won’t regret it.”

It’s all fun and games until things get real. Jacob used his masterful hand during the short car ride. Each time I was close to exploding, he’d stop and find another spot where he could tease me. Mindless. I never took the time to think about the consequences.

Now, as my back is pressed against his mattress, my body naked, my heart jolts in fear, excitement, and maybe regret. How can I not expect anything when I expected so much so long ago? After all, it’s Jacob. My Jace. The man who took my virginity, but then left me hanging for what felt like an eternity. If I don’t protect myself, this will end in sudden death—I’ll be the victim. But he’s also the same man I’ve fantasized about since that morning ten years ago when promises were made and we said goodbye.

The snapping sound stops every thought I’m trying to convey, “Twinkle, stop,” Jacob orders. “We have rules. Stay with me. When we’re about to create magic; nothing else matters. Okay? Think how good you’re going to feel once my tongue gets reacquainted with that beautiful pussy of yours.”

My pussy is ready, my heart isn’t. God, is this right? He didn’t say it in so many words, but I just agreed to be his booty call. No kissing. That withers my soul. His kisses were the best, or at least I remember them being loving, tender. If only… there’s still time to say no, Pria.

“You still have it,” his surprised voice brings me out of yet another deep discussion with myself. His lips caress my old tattoo. “Did your mother ever find out about it?”

“No.” I push myself up and grab his arm. I’ve seen his tattoo peek out from his shirt, but never the entire star. Or my name. But it’s there, inside Pria. “When did you add that?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Pain flickers in his eyes as I trace the words ‘My Twinkle’ that are under my name. He pushes me gently back into the mattress. “You still in? Sex. I need it. This is what I need right now, Twink. We agreed. We can’t talk about that stuff. It’ll complicate this.”

“No dirty talk?” I swallow the questions and accusations clogged in my throat. I need to know more, I want more. Why can’t I have more? You were mine. Mine. Why did I lose you? But I quiet my mind and decide to take what I can get. “Then show me what new tricks you’ve learned since the last time.”

At that he playfully narrows his eyes at me, and I am relieved that we’re back on familiar playing ground. “Oh, Twink, you’ve no idea all the things we’re going to do.” His lips land on my collar bone, his tongue takes charge, swirling down my body. Suddenly he stops. His eyes meet mine in a decadent stare. And it becomes overwhelming the moment his mouth nips the pink tip of my breast. Licking and sucking it, my hips pushing against his body, searching for some kind of prompt release. Suddenly, he stops. “Fine, I’ll do it your way or I’m never going to enjoy your body the way I want.”

“My way?” I arch an eyebrow waiting for him to explain.

“Yes, you’re dying to have my mouth on your pussy.” My stomach clenches in anticipation at the sound of his words. “How about my fingers, can they play inside you while my mouth pleases you? They love to slide in and out. Make you scream.”

A desperate moan escapes my throat.

“Yes. Please,” I beg. He runs his tongue over my slit at the same moment he thrusts two fingers inside me. I whimper, wanting him to do it again. But he stops.

“I will. Only if you promise not to doubt this arrangement ever again.” His eyes meet mine. How the hell did he know? “I can read you. Just as I promised that I won’t sleep with another woman, you have to promise that you won’t second guess what we have.”

“I’m still leaving when Dad…” my words trail off. I don’t want to bring my problems into this.

“But for now, you’re mine and I’m yours.”

The words almost break my heart. He sounds like my Jace, but he’s not and I have to remember that.

“I promise.” My voice sounds happy while my heart shatters. Because I know the fantasy is gone and this is the most I’ll ever be able to get of him. I close my eyes for a second to compose myself. “We’ll do this for as long as I’m around.”

He nods, lowering his head between my thighs. His tongue drags slowly over my clit, his fingers pushing deeper. My earlier thoughts evaporate as he continues building these blissful moments. I can do this. Losing him once didn’t kill me, and back then I was in love. This time, I’ll guard my heart and only give him my body. When I depart, only the memories of the orgasms I collect will follow me wherever I go.