Page 56 of Unexpected Love

Chapter Seventeen

Joe

Chloe sleeps soundly next me, but I’ve been up for a while just watching her sleep like a creeper, but I can’t help myself. She’s just so fucking beautiful, and last night after the disaster that was Chris’s party, we watched a movie until I couldn’t stand it anymore and needed to be inside her.

She ended up riding me on the couch until she came hard, and then with my dick still buried inside her, I fucked her hard against the wall until I came so hard that I almost dropped her and blacked out. Round two happened in bed with her on her hands and knees and me with a tight grip on her hips. My poor baby passed right out after that.

I reach out and stroke her cheek, and she snuggles further into me. I want her to move in with me. Wow, I seriously want us to live together. Would she really move away from her family, though? They’re all extremely close, but I’m close to my family, too. Would I consider moving to Atlanta? I like working in a smaller police force. It’s pretty sweet working with my brother-in-law, and it sounds like eventually Care Bear’s husband will be working with us, too.

No, I’d have to consider it, moving. It would be extremely selfish of me to just expect her to move and not even consider doing it myself. I lean forward and kiss her softly on the lips before I slide slowly out of bed and throw on a pair of basketball shorts. I head out into the bathroom first, using it and brushing my teeth. Then in the kitchen, I make coffee and look through my cupboards.

I find some pancake mix and whip up a batch. While I’ve got them cooking, I slice up some strawberries. I’m flipping the first pancakes when I feel arms wrap around my middle. I rest my hand on top of hers. “Morning, baby. I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.”

“I woke up, and you weren’t there. Do you want some coffee?” I nod, and she grabs two mugs, filling them both and then handing me mine. She gets out the butter and syrup for the pancakes and grabs a couple sliced strawberries, popping one in her mouth before sticking one between my lips. I bend down and kiss her, and the sweet taste of the strawberries bursts on my tongue.

I plate our pancakes and carry them to the table. Chloe puts butter on hers, sprinkles sliced strawberries on top, and then drizzles syrup on them. “I’m probably going to head home before lunch time. I’ve got laundry to do, and I’ve got to get started on your sister’s necklace.” She looks down at her plate and then back up at me. “I don’t want to go.”

“I don’t want you to go, either.” I take a deep breath. “What if I said I wanted us to live together?”

Chloe doesn’t say anything at first, and I’m wondering if maybe she hates the idea. “Really? Would we live here or Atlanta?”

“I don’t know. I guess I figured if it was something that we both wanted that we could talk about it.”

“Can I have some time to think about it?”

“Of course. I don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you into anything. Take all the time you need.”

She gets up from her seat and comes around, climbing into my lap. “I really like the idea of waking up with you every day.”

It’s not long after breakfast that she packs her bag up, and I walk her out to her car to head home.

I open her door for her, kiss her, and then hug her before letting her get in. “Call me when you get home. Be careful, and I love you.”

“I will, and I love you too.” She gives me a wave as she pulls out of the parking lot of my complex. I watch as her car disappears from sight and feel a knot form in my chest. Did I jump too soon when I asked her about living together? Fuck, I hope not, because that’s the last thing I want to do. Scaring her off is not what I want.

I head back inside and clean up the breakfast dishes before going back to bed.

***

Chloe

My phone rings, and I don’t need to pick it up to know who it is. I know this past week I’ve kept conversations short or I’ve avoided answering his calls at all. It happened on my way home from staying with him last weekend.

Yes, Saturday night started out great and then went a little bad, but then it got really, really good. The day I went home, I had been shocked when Joe had asked me about living together, but I’d also been sublimely happy.

It was when I’d been halfway home that the fear had taken over. I’d pulled over at a gas station as I sat in my car hyperventilating. I’m not sure what triggered it, because I honestly want to live with him. Maybe it was because the only other man I had ever lived with had been Trevor, and he’d betrayed me over and over again.

I don’t think Joe would betray me, but what if he wanted someone his own age after a while? I’d be devastated, because the feelings I have for him are so much stronger than any I had for Trevor. Joe’s hot, and by the looks of his dad, he’s only going to get better looking with age. I’m going to age before he does. He won’t want that, right?

By the time I had gotten home, I had convinced myself that maybe I just needed to keep this casual. I tried to convince myself that I could turn off the feelings I had for him. Instead of calling him like he asked, I sent him a quick text that I was home. I then lied and said I was lying down for a nap so he wouldn’t call me.

I focused solely on my job, even avoiding my parents and my brother. They’d all suspect something was going on and would badger me until I finally told them, and then they would tell me I was stupid and I’d agree with them. At the jewelry store, I’ve been insanely busy since Hailey is still gone. I haven’t heard how she’s doing, but for her sake, I hope treatment is working.

Again, my phone rings and brings me out of my thoughts. I take a deep breath and pick it up. “Hey, you.”

“Why are you avoiding me?” He sounds upset. “Don’t tell me you’re not, because I’ve hardly talked to you. Did I scare you?”

“Maybe this is something we should talk about in person,” I tell him.

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