Because of Him Page 7

  When I’d decided to ask her out, it wasn’t for a quick fuck. She was different in a way I didn’t totally understand. I just wanted to get to know her.

  A breeze blew her hair away from her face, giving me an unobstructed view.

  “I want to trust you.”

  To prove to her that I meant what I said, I kissed the corner of her mouth before ghosting my lips over hers. I pulled back, waiting for her approval. She leaned in and I went in for a real kiss after her mouth curved. She opened for me and tasted like fruit and sweetness.

  Her simple kiss caused an ache in my balls so deep I had to pull away and get to my feet. “If it wasn’t January, I would suggest a swim.”

  18

  REAGAN

  His behavior toward me messed with my head. A big, powerful guy like that had kissed me with so much gentleness. When he moved away, it was obvious he was rock hard. Yet he hadn’t pushed for more.

  He disappeared somewhere in the back of the boat. Finally, I mustered the courage to find him. The water was still and the boat was steady.

  I stopped at the top of the stairs, spotting him with a bottle in one hand and a carton in the other. He had this oddly innocent expression on his face. Though there was nothing innocent about Tade, his disarming expression made me think for one second I could trust him.

  “What do you have there?” I asked.

  As he glanced up, the sun highlighted strands of copper in his hair and green eyes. His mouth curved into a glorious smile, reminding me what it felt like when he kissed me. My stomach did flips again.

  His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. His sexy scruff had me doing the same.

  “I—uh—forgot about the champagne I brought. My mother likes to drink this Mimosa concoction she claims all women like. I thought…”

  Not in my wildest dreams had I thought a guy like him would be flustered. Something in me cheered as he stumbled over his explanation. This beautiful man was at a loss for words.

  “I thought you might want one,” he finished.

  I shook my head. I’d had more than my quota for alcohol the last few times I’d been out and it had made me do stupid things. The last thing I needed was for Mom’s wild prophecy to come true with me getting drunk and doing anything stupid, including hurling on his boat.

  He disappeared into the shadows before coming up empty handed.

  “I’m all tapped out. I’m not used to this dating thing,” he admitted.

  Shrugging, I added, “Me either. I’ve actually never been on a date until you.”

  Uncertainty clouded my admission when he stared at me stupefied.

  “I was homeschooled,” I blurted.

  His eyes widened. “Are you a freshman? I probably should have asked that.”

  “No, I’m a senior. I just haven’t dated anyone until you.”

  A sexy grin bloomed on his face.

  “That makes me your first.”

  He stalked forward.

  “Yours too by your own admission.”

  “Then we should celebrate.”

  His sly smile should have scared me. But I felt anything but.

  “How?”

  He tipped up my chin and leaned down to take liberties I’d extended to no man before him.

  Butterflies took flight in my chest. A thrill zigged through me as if I’d plunged over the first hill on a roller coaster.

  His arms coiled around my back to hold there in the middle. When he didn’t grab my ass or anything like that, I melted against him. Our kiss continued until my mouth was bruised and my hormones were on hyper drive.

  Electric pulses sparked over my skin in beat with my heart. I felt him long and hard, pressed against me. In that moment, I wanted his hands to explore me, though they remained where they were.

  I hadn’t ever thought about sex this way with any guy until now. How could he turn my life upside down in a few weeks? As he lingered for a second longer before we separated, I allowed myself to feel happy.

  Too bad storm clouds rolled in.

  “We should head back,” he announced, moving to stand by the wheel. “Can you hold this steady here while I pull up the anchor?”

  “Sure.” My voice came out small.

  Despite my fear, I moved to it and he stood behind me, and pushed a button.

  I grinned, glancing over my shoulder. “That was it.”

  He shrugged before placing a kiss at the top of my head.

  “Do you hear that?” There was a faint rattle. “That means it’s working.”

  I laughed. “Why did you need me?”

  “Oh, I needed a reason to stand behind you and do this.” He nuzzled my neck as his hands wrapped around my waist.

  “This was fun,” I admitted.

  Even now, his teasing kisses didn’t feel like he was pressuring me for more.

  “I had fun too. Can we do this again soon?” he asked.

  My lack of dating skills had me leaning on the side of honesty.

  “I have a lot of work to do this weekend, but Monday night maybe?”

  He nipped around my ear and neck. “I’m not sure I can hold out that long.”

  I couldn’t stop the giggle. “Sure you can. I know it will be hard.”

  He stopped and I thought maybe my joke had been a bad one.

  He angled my head to face him, all serious like. “Yes, it will be hard.” A smirk sprouted on his face. “But for you, I’ll wait.”

  My stomach did backflips as I marveled at the new feeling inside me.

  Once the anchor was secure and he announced the readings were good, he helped me navigate the boat in a wide U-turn. I nearly passed out when he left me to ensure the sails were positioned and secure.

  As we neared the dock back at campus, I asked, “Is this where you keep your boat?”

  “No.” I followed his glance up to the dark clouds that had met us halfway. “But it looks like a downpour is coming. I don’t want you to have to walk in that.”

  “I don’t mind. I want to help.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I nodded and gratefully, he took over. He steered the boat to head farther up the coastline. I’d enjoyed too much standing so close to him, mixing our body heat and stirring his arousal.

  After we pulled into the boat slip, I went to fold the blanket while he secured the lines and sails. I also cleaned up what little mess was left from our breakfast. Just as we stepped onto the dock, the skies let loose.

  We ran for a nearby boat shed and stood beneath the overhang. Although I shivered, I was delighted beyond measure. I’d conquered my fears of the water. On top of that, nothing bad had happened. Smiling, he snuck a finger under my chin to angle my head so he could kiss me until I heard the telltale sound of a camera clicking.

  19

  PAST

  I stood still as he took my picture. He’d warned me to stay still and look pretty.

  So far, I’d done everything without question. He’d left me a dress to wear and I’d put it on. At one time I would have cheered the idea of wearing a dress that made me feel older. I only cringed inside now. A woman had come by to fix my hair and apply some makeup. Since there was no mirror in my prison, I had no idea what I looked like.

  I had chanced asking for help, but got no sympathy from the unnamed woman. She’d warned me not to ask again or she would tell the Sirs I was trying to escape.

  Sir had warned he’d ram a fist inside me if I ever tried to leave. So I’d clamped my lips shut, silently dying on the inside.

  As I sat and waited for my turn to be sold, I wondered if there was a possibility of dying from a paper cut, because that was the only weapon I had. And whatever I did had to be successful. The other thing I learned in my time here was that he kept his word. So if I didn’t die, I’d find out if he could truly put a fist inside me.

  The door opened.

  “You’re up, pet. Like I said, do like I taught you and you stand a chance to end up with one of the better sick fucks.”


  My eyes widened, but I dared not ask. How could he separate himself from them, like he was any better? The question may have rattled in my head, but my feet were the only things to make sound as I walked into the waiting hands of the devil.

  20

  TADE

  It had taken all my control not to pummel the guy with the camera. I strode over where he stood under the overhang of the boathouse and grabbed him so fast he didn’t have time to escape.

  Holding him by the shirt collar, I said, “Biscuit, go.”

  I’d purposefully called her that. No way was I giving the guy her name—even just a first name—to do some digging on. It only took a silent glance between us before she took off.

  “Hey man, this is assault or something,” the little weasel said, trying to get free from my grip.

  “Who are you working for?”

  He ran a hand through slick hair.

  “I—uh—” I tightened my grip. “I can’t tell you that,” he added.

  As much as I wanted to punch the asshole, Dad had taught me how not to use my fist. I relaxed my hold a little. I couldn’t have him running away.

  “How much for you to delete the pictures?”

  Although I wanted to know what his objective was, the main thing was making sure none of the pictures were used.

  “I don’t know. My boss is expecting me to come up with something. If I have nothing, I could lose my job.”

  With my free hand, I got my wallet.

  “I’m going to let you go. If you stay, I’ll make it worth your while.”

  I freed him from my grip. When he stayed, I took out all the cash from my wallet. I didn’t often go to an ATM, so the wad was quite large. Several hundred, if not a thousand. I didn’t bother to count.

  “This—” I held up the cash, “—is for you deleting the pictures, and I want to watch you do it.”

  His eyes bugged out and he brought up the camera and started thumbing through the photos. He had some good shots of us. I almost wanted to ask for a copy. But then there would be a copy on his end through email.

  When I was satisfied that all the pictures had been trashed, I handed over the money.

  “There’s more if you tell me who your boss is and what he wanted you to do.”

  He shook his head. “Can’t.” His easy grin had me wondering if I’d made a mistake. As a man of my word, I let him go.

  Though I had no idea how I would explain the situation, I called Reagan. When she didn’t answer, I left a quick message for her to call me back.

  Sunday came and went without a response. She’d said she would be busy, so I tried not to think the camera incident had spooked her. I also hoped she hadn’t looked me up and found out who I really was. She didn’t seem like she’d be impressed by either my dad or my father. She looked more like she’d run from the spotlight.

  Monday, I was walking across campus to another class when a girl caught up with me.

  “Tade, right?”

  I’d seen her around. Though she was cute, I’d never spoken with her, and had no desire to now. I wasn’t sure where things were headed with Reagan and me, but I didn’t want to fuck up whatever it was.

  “Yeah, I have to get to class.”

  “Tade Astor, right?”

  When I stopped and faced her, she added, “Or is it Tade Waters?”

  Shit! I did my damndest to school my features and not betray the fact that I was surprised she knew who my father was.

  “You have me confused,” I tried.

  “I don’t think so. That reporter down at the docks was asking questions and he sure knew a lot about you.”

  I cut to the chase. “What do you want?”

  Her features shifted as if she thought she were sexy. She was wrong, but continued to close the distance between us.

  “I thought—” she began and placed a hand on my chest, “—you could take me to dinner and we could talk about it.”

  I moved her hand away and impulsively said, “I have a girlfriend.”

  Shit, when did I start thinking of Biscuit as mine?

  She laughed. “Now, that’s funny, considering your reputation.”

  Grinding my teeth together, I held back my anger. I’d done my level best not to get a reputation. Sure I’d bang a few girls here and there, but it wasn’t like I did it every week. Why did women gossip?

  “What is it that you want?” I asked again.

  “Like I said, dinner. I think that’s not a lot to ask for, considering you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”

  Though I still hadn’t heard from Biscuit, she’d said we would meet up tonight.

  “Tomorrow.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think this can wait. Tonight, seven. Pick me up.” She gave me the name of her dorm before striding off.

  Roughly, I ran my hands over my head, stopping at the top. My palms dug in the side of my head while I figured a way around this.

  I reached for my phone and then sent Biscuit a text. Just as I was pocketing the thing, Gavin strode over looking a little worse for wear.

  “Hey,” he said, moving on his feet like he couldn’t stay still.

  “Is everything okay? You haven’t been around much.”

  He glanced about before meeting my eye. “I’ve been around. You’ve been too busy banging that chick to notice.”

  “It’s not like that.”

  I hadn’t been around because of practice and making sure I didn’t flunk out my final year. My parents expected me to maintain my grades for early acceptance into law school.

  “Yeah, whatever. Look, can you do me a solid?”

  “What’s that?”

  “I need you to come with me tonight.”

  Gavin was way too twitchy. Something serious was up.

  “When?”

  “Eight-ish,” he said, sniffing while rubbing a finger across his nose.

  “Can’t. Got plans.”

  “Damn man, can you get your head out of her ass? When have you ever chased pussy?”

  “I don’t. Besides, it’s not with her. Someone else.”

  His brows lifted. “Well.” He drew out the word. “So you decided since she wasn’t giving up the gravy, you’d go find another biscuit.”

  There was only one Biscuit and I didn’t remember calling her that to him. So it took me a second to respond.

  “No. I’m not…It’s not like that. Just business.”

  “Whatever you want to call it. Still, if it’s not Reagan, why can’t you change your plans?”

  Besides the fact I hadn’t gotten the chick’s number, I wasn’t ready to explain my shit, not even to Gavin.

  “I can’t. But give me till nine and I’ll try to be there.”

  “Okay, nine, but no later.” He held up his fist and I knocked mine against his.

  “Later.”

  If he was in deep with shit like that gambling joint we’d been to the other night, we would talk. It might be time for me to tell him about my past.

  21

  REAGAN

  The cursor on my screen blinked on an empty page. I’d been distracted by a text from Tade.

  Though I’d searched the web every day since the camera guy had snapped shots of us, I’d found no pictures posted of the two of us.

  I hadn’t yet answered, not knowing what to say.

  “Do you know Tade’s last name?” I asked Megan.

  She sat with her legs folded on my bed and her tablet in her lap. She was watching some show that made her laugh.

  “No. You don’t?”

  It had never come up, as weird as my reply sounded. “No.”

  I’d been in a great mood this morning. Even Kevin and Scott had commented on it.

  Kevin had said, “Are you happy about our grade on the project or something else?”

  I’d asked if I couldn’t be happy. His response had been that he’d never seen me smile so much. The sudden change in my expression was why I felt the frown on my face as I star
ed at my phone.

  “What does it mean when a guy breaks your date?” I asked.

  Had he been pissed I hadn’t returned his text? I’d been so busy scouring the web; I hadn’t seen it until later. Then I wasn’t sure what to say and Megan hadn’t been around. I hadn’t wanted to do the wrong thing. By the time I saw her, it seemed like it would be weird for me to respond and he hadn’t sent another one.

  “Have you guys got down and dirty?”

  “Does it have to be about sex?”

  “Well, if you have and you got that message, it means he’s a total douche. If you haven’t, well, it could mean nothing.”

  “We haven’t. It’s just…I didn’t respond to his text the other day and now this.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  I explained the whole situation.

  “And you’re just telling me this now?” She glared at me, totally put out.

  I shrugged. “I’m not sure where this thing is going between us.” I didn’t know where I wanted it to go.

  “So you haven’t discussed if you guys are a couple?”

  Shaking my head, I turned my attention to my nails.

  “Do you want to be a couple?”

  Did I? Would he want to have sex? Was I ready for that?

  I lifted my shoulders in defeat.

  “You seriously act like a newbie. Why not admit you’re a virgin? It isn’t a bad thing. I was, once.”

  When I glared at her, she raised her hands.

  “Fine. But…if you are this worried, it probably means you want to be a couple. Otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Here’s what you should do.”

  Her plan was interrupted by a call from my father. That sent an ice bucket of water into my veins. Mom was usually the one to call.

  “Dad, is everything okay?”

  Twenty minutes later I sat in a booth at one of the many restaurants in town not too far from school, across from my parents. I’d hastily pulled my hair back in a carefully created bun with Megan’s help to hide my pink highlights.