JACK: Las Vegas Bad Boys(39)
He reaches for his jeans and fishes out a condom.
“Really?” I ask. “You put a condom in your pocket this morning after I told you we were running from a biker gang?”
“Listen,” he says, smiling as he unrolls it on himself. “I am nothing if not prepared.”
“I’m glad you are. Prepared, I mean. You’re taking care of me in a way no one else ever has.”
He laughs, not letting the mood become overly sentimental. “Well, damn, girl, you’re taking care of me in a way no one else ever has, either.”
And then I slide on top of him, my core filled with his hardness, and I ride him until we come. I ride him until we collapse.
Later, we get up and shower. My thighs are shaky from the best kind of exertion, and a smile is on my face. It’s only been a few hours, but I feel so far from Vegas that the only reason I remember that city exists is because my phone starts buzzing with notifications.
Throwing on one of my new tee shirts, I dig out my phone from my purse.
“Have you spoken to any of our friends?” I call to Jack, who is upstairs in the loft looking through his dresser drawers for some socks.
“Just Ace. I told him about the security. He’s got his eyes on things.”
“Okay. Emmy just texted wanting to make sure I was okay.”
Jack snorts. “And what did you say?”
“I told her I lost my mind,” I tell him. “I said that Jack just fucked me silly.”
“You did not.” He climbs down the ladder, jeans slung low on his hips and his hair damp. Damn, he looks amazing. I’m still confused about how this is me, here with him.
I twist my wet hair into a bun on the top of my head, and then rip open the pack of underwear. Holding them up, I tell Jack to look.
“You are not wearing those,” he says.
“Yes, I am. It’s my only underwear.” I slide them on. “And I’m not going to meet your parents commando.”
“Nice shirt, by the way,” he says, laughing.
“Just so you know, I love this shirt,” I tell him with mock seriousness. “I’ve always had this unbridled passion for the great outdoors.”
“And now you have a shirt with a bald eagle on it. So not only are you into nature, but you’re also proud of the US of A.”
“Exactly. Your parents are going to be impressed that you’ve brought home such an All-American gal.”
“Gal, is that what I’m calling you now?”
Sure. You can tell your parents I’m your gal.”
“Not my fuck-buddy?” Jack grabs my waist from behind, nuzzles his mouth against my ear.
“Nope.” I encourage him by leaning back into him.
“Not my hook-up?”
“Not me.”
“You’re my gal, then, is that it?”
“I think so.”
“It’s kinda cute,” he says, nibbling on my ear. “A throwback.”
“You better stop what you’re starting,” I tell him.
“What, calling you my gal is too intense?” he asks, kissing my neck.
I shake my head softly, realizing how he’s misunderstood me. “No, I like that. I meant, this kissing business. You are going to make me all horny again and I’ll soak my brand new panties.”
He smacks my ass. “You buy any pants?”
“Overalls.”
Jack shakes his head, cracking up as I pull them on.
I have to roll them up three times because they’re so long. All I have for my feet is a pair of TOMS, so I slide those on, too.
“Gal, those are some fine looking bibs.” He opens the studio door. “Now let’s go introduce you to my fancy parents.”
Chapter Seventeen
JACK
Walking into the kitchen, I immediately wish Tess and I had talked out a few more things. Like, sure, we joked about her being my gal, but what are we really?
Defining our relationship after just a week of spending time together feels intense, but so are the feelings rushing between us. When Tess and I are together, the world feels small in a way that’s comforting, in a way that feels like ours.
“Jack, what in the world?” Mom steps away from the stovetop and pulls me into her arms. “What are you doing here? Benny, come in here; Jack’s here, with a....” She gives Tess an appraising look. “A friend.”
“This is Tess, Mom,” I tell her, taking Tess’s hand and pulling her into the kitchen. “And Tess, this is my mom, Judy.”
“So nice to meet you, Mrs. Harris.” Tess smiles tensely. Clearly she’s nervous, but with no reason. My parents will love her. How could they not?
“Oh, shush with the Mrs., dear. I’m just Judy.” Mom pauses, looking at Tess more closely, but then pulls her into an embrace as well, and it is just as I predicted. Comfortable. “Now, tell me, what in God’s name brought you here without even a phone call?”