IT’S ALMOST CLOSING TIME AND the only ones left in the bar besides me, Cale and Sarah is a small group of females that can’t keep their eyes off me or Cale. I recognize one of the girls, because I fucked her in the back a couple months ago. Her eyes haven’t left me once since the crowd died down. It’s starting to get a little on the creepy side.
“Dude, that chick is all up on your shit hardcore.” Cale leans over the bar and starts wiping it down. “Are you sure you’re not down? We can make a great fucking time out of this.”
I look from Cale, over to the tatted up redhead whose eyes are practically fucking me. I’m definitely not down. I just don’t feel the need. “I’m good. They’re all yours, bro.”
All I want to do is get my ass out of here. It’s been a long ass day and I’m exhausted. The last thing I want to do is deal with some horny ass chick trying to get on my cock.
Just when I think the girls are finally going to get up and leave, I hear the door open and the sound of heels pounding on the marble flooring. The first thing I think is that another girl is joining the group of women that have been waiting impatiently for me and Cale to get off.
“We’re closed,” I say without looking up.”
“I’m sorry. I was hoping to get here sooner.”
My heart stops at the sound of her voice and my breath catches in my throat. I feel every muscle in my body tense as I bring my eyes up to see the woman that has been haunting me for the last few weeks. She’s standing there in a little green dress with those sexy strappy heels that I love on her.
Holy shit, she steals my breath away.
She smiles shyly when her eyes lock with mine. She looks nervous. “I can wait outside,” she says while pointing to the door. “It’s not a big deal.”
I get ready to respond, but Cale jumps up from the ground and hops over the bar to stop her before I can. “Holy shit! What are you doing back?”
Aspen looks at me for a second longer before turning her attention to Cale as he reaches in for a hug and shakes her back and forth. “Did you miss me that much,” she asks out of breath as Cale squeezes her half to death and then releases her.
“You know it.” He takes a step back and I can’t help but to watch them. Everything in me wants to jump over that bar and kiss her, but I’m trying my best to hold back. “So, what the hell are you doing here? Are you staying with us again?”
My heart speeds up just at the thought of her being under the same roof as us; a chance for me to show her that I’ve changed; a chance to let her fall for me.
“No,” she says. “I’m actually here because well . . . I moved here.”
Holy fucking shit. It’s suddenly hard to breathe.
“I just couldn’t stay with Jay anymore. As soon as we got back home I told him it was over. I started looking around for a new job and packed up all my shit.” She stops to smile at Cale. “I found a job here in a salon and decided I wanted to be back home. I’ve missed it here and there’s nothing left for me back in Rockford. Riley is moving back in a couple months, anyway.”
Cale looks paler than a fucking ghost, but I ignore his reaction and focus on Aspen. I can’t help the excitement that rushes through me. Every part of me is screaming to fucking kiss her and make her mine while I can. I can’t hold back. I need to do this. If I don’t, someone else will.
Fuck it!
I jump over the bar, grab her face and slam my lips against hers, tasting her with desperation. The feel of her lips give me a fucking rush and I know that after this I won’t be able to go on without having her as mine. I need her and I’m going to show her she needs me too.
When we’re both short of breath, she pulls away and her eyes search mine. She looks scared and lost. The feeling makes my chest ache. I don’t want to do that to her.
She just stares, breathing heavily, with her body trembling. Then without a word, she turns and rushes for the door. “Wait. Don’t fucking run away again.”
I step up behind her and grab her arm right as she’s reaching for the door. She yanks it out of my grip and takes a step back as I take a step forward. It seems to be our little game. “Why? Why should I wait?”
I don’t hesitate to tell her the truth this time and I don’t give a shit that everyone is staring at us as if we’re some kind of fucking soap opera. This time, I’m not letting her get away; I can’t. “Because I love it when you touch me. It makes me feel as if I’m breathing; makes me feel . . . alive.”
Her breathing picks up as I run my lips over her neck and brush her hair over her shoulder. “You make me want to be a better man. I want to take care of you. I want to make you feel wanted like you deserve.” I stop to kiss her neck before gently tugging her hair to the side. “I may not be perfect all the fucking time. I’m far from it, but you make me want to be as close to it as I can be. Give me a chance to make you feel good; feel wanted. I want you to be mine. I want to be the one you snuggle with and watch a movie with at night. I want to be the one you stay home with because you don’t like to go out. I don’t like fucking cats, but I’ll love them because you love them.”