Page 19 of Imagine Me and You

Whether he cleaned the bathroom or not, what had just happened would have still just happened.

Because no matter how much control he took over his surroundings, in this situation he had no control at all. And it made him feel like the entire theory for his life wasn’t quite as sound as he’d always believed.

He had to figure out a way to get control. At the moment, a little dog hair was the least of his worries.

Seven

Samantha had scurriedout of the house before he’d gotten out of bed the next morning. And she wasn’t home when he got in from working the next afternoon.

It was so fricking cold outside he felt like his balls had been on ice all day, which, all things considered, was kind of helpful. Especially since he’d spent the whole night trying to ignore the hard-on from hell that seemed to be inextricably linked to a shame wave that threatened to wash him away the minute he wrapped his hand around himself.

He’d been awake most of the night, horny and unable to do anything about it. Because he was hard for Sam, and that was something he was ashamed about. Vicious cycle set on repeat.

Thankfully, punishing physical labor in weather that was pushing the negative numbers on the thermometer was helpful for that state. If he couldn’t tame his nether regions he’d freeze them off.

He poured himself some coffee, needing the warmth in spite of the fact that it was past five in the evening, and added just a little bit of booze. To warm himself up. And to make the image of Samantha’s breasts a little less clear in his mind.

He froze at the kitchen counter, his hand wrapped tight around the hot mug. Perfect, pale breasts with little pink nipples. So hard. So delicious. One taste and he craved more with everything in him.

He craved her flavor. Not just her mouth or her breasts. He wanted to bury his face between her thighs and...

Poppy barked and Jace jumped, sloshing his coffee and alcohol mixture over the edge of his cup.

He turned and looked at the dog. “You can read my mind, can’t you?” he said, his tone hostile. Poppy looked confused by what she’d done to earn his anger, but he had no doubt that she knew. That bark was too well timed.

“I can have fantasies,” he said. “It’s my right as a man.”

Poppy tilted her head to the side. Silently judging.

“Clearly you wouldn’t understand. I guess you’ve never met another mutt who lit your fire. It’s probably better in the end. This is all a lot more trouble than it’s worth.”

The front door slammed shut and Poppy jingled over to the entryway. He looked out the window and saw Sam’s van parked out front, covered in snow. Oh, so that was why she’d been barking. Fair enough.

He stayed at the counter in the kitchen, cursing his own cowardice. He was avoiding her for the next thirty seconds. It seemed the thing to do. And if that made him chicken shit, then fine. He was. He owned it. But he was extending the moment between now and the awkward silence for as long as possible.

Then Sam walked into the kitchen, holding a cake and wearing a huge grin on her face. “Hi! How was your day? Have cheese sandwiches for lunch?”

“Leftover chili,” he said, feeling a little stunned.

“Oh. Well, you know, ’cuz of the nostalgia and whatever.” She laughed, a weird, high-pitched sound, and set the cake on the little table by the window. “I brought cake!”

“You’re going to make me fat. It’s going to go straight to my hips,” he said, his tone dry.

Her cheeks flushed pink. “Ha!” Her fake laugh was as overenthusiastic as her fake smile. “Funny. Jace, that’s...funny. Because you’re a man and things don’t uh...they don’t go to your hips.”

“Yeah, Sam, that was the joke. Thanks for explaining it.”

“I’m going to make dinner.”

“What the hell, Sam?”

“What the hell what?”

“You’re fluttering around here chattering like a deranged chipmunk and trying to pretend everything is okay when you know damn well things aren’t okay. You’re trying so hard to act like everything is normal that you’re acting like a nut job.”

“I...I’m not.” She crossed her arms under her breasts, then fidgeted and cocked her hip out to the side, uncrossing her arms and putting a hand on her hip instead. “I’m...fine.”

“Really?”

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