“Are you going to fuck me out here where anyone can see?”
“No,” he says, removing his hand from my jeans and sliding it up my shirt. “We’ll go inside for that. Why are you in such a rush? You have somewhere to be?”
“No, just curious,” I murmur, leaning back just enough for his hand to meet my left breast. “Mmm…”
“Yeah, I agree.”
I reach up and run my fingers through his thick hair. Ford studies my face while I caress his. We’re relaxed and I imagine myself truly caring for this man. The moment I begin to feel in control, he tweaks my nipple and I turn to mush.
“You’re like a virgin,” he whispers.
“Are you making fun of me?” I mutter.
“No,” he says, removing his hand from my shirt. “I’m looking forward to making you worship me.”
I frown at him, but he only smiles and pats my butt.
“It’s getting cold,” he says. “Let’s go inside where I can stretch out and see what kind of noises you make when excited.”
Without moving, I stare at him. He doesn’t seem like the Ford I feel comfortable with, but the guy who easily replaced me five minutes after I said I wasn’t ready.
“Stop thinking,” he mutters, nudging me so I’ll stand up.
Once I’m standing, he takes my hand and guides me into the house. Pax and his gal pal are quieter now, but I hear music coming from downstairs.
Down a hallway and past a small bathroom, we arrive in his bedroom. Ford walks inside and sets the beer bottles on a side table. As he grabs a tee from the bed and tosses it on the dresser, I stare at where we’ll soon be. I imagine him on top of me which makes me happy. Then I imagine him tossing me aside in the morning. How many women want to be with him again? Maggie from the bar sure did, but he dismissed her. Soon, he’ll dismiss me and it’ll hurt. I can’t imagine feeling so close to someone then losing it.
Panicking, I step back. “I changed my mind. I need to leave.”
I turn around and start for the hallway, but Ford is behind me instantly. He doesn’t grab me. More like steadies me with a hand pressed against my stomach. I pause as he stands close behind me and leans down to my ear. I expect anger in his voice, but he’s calm and his tone soothing.
“If you want me to take you home, I will. It’s your choice, but you need to understand something. If you leave, I’m done. I know you’re young, Shay, but I’m not. I won’t play these games. It’s not in me to chase you. Maybe that shit flies with the teenage losers you’ve fucked before, but it won’t with me. So you need to decide carefully.”
I struggle against tears. I want Ford more than I’ve ever wanted anything, but I’m afraid of the pain of being discarded. Ford makes me feel special then soon he’ll tear away the feeling. Wouldn’t it be better to avoid the pleasure if I know it’ll end in pain?
13
Ford
Mine
Shay doesn’t call my bluff. Instead of asking to go home, she slowly relaxes back against me. With one hand flat on her stomach, I use my free one to caress her shoulder. Feels fragile against me, she’s trembling slightly. Even fearing to give up control, she won’t leave. That’s all I need to know.
“When I was a kid,” I whisper, my lips teasing her throat, “I liked fishing, but I never caught anything. I tried every technique and bait. I tried everything, but I never caught a single damn thing.”
Shay’s head relaxes against my shoulder as I suck at her pulse. She’s putty in my hands. A lesser man would have her spread eagle already, so he could satisfy his need. I plan to take my time. Tomorrow, Shay might run again. For tonight, she’s mine.
“Pax always caught something. He didn’t even care. He never put any effort, but it just happened for him. I got so pissed at how fucking unfair it was. Now I realize life doesn’t give a shit about effort or fairness. It’ll do what it’s going to do and you can either stress or enjoy the ride.”
I gently turn Shay around to look at me. Her gaze is wet and frightened, but she’s also relaxing. I cup her delicate face in my hands and smile.
“It’s time for you to let go and enjoy the ride, Shay.”
I kiss her soft, tasting what I’ve craved since she first showed up at Suede. Shay’s hands reach for me and I feel her waking under my touch.
My fingers slide her flannel shirt off her shoulders and it drops to the ground. She looks smaller now, younger too. I suddenly wonder if she’s really twenty. Am I about to nail jailbait? Is that why Lucky acts so weird about Shay?
“What year did you finish high school?”
“Why?” she murmurs.