Page 15 of Tangled Desires

“Hey,” Lyric says with a finger wave. I watch as she walks out of the house in another summer dress, this one light blue with white flowers, tank top style, tight in the chest and waist before flaring out. The last thing I thought I’d be doing today is contending with my cock being so hard it’s trying to burst the zipper open. Sure, a semi is still noticeable, but nothing like I am right now. My eyes will be glued to her ass and tits. The thought of her bending over and giving me a view from behind or the front is going to have me ready to come unglued.

“Hey, Lili.” I meet her halfway. My hands move to her shapely hips, my head dips, and I skate my lips across hers. She doesn’t reply. Instead, I feel her fingers graze along thedips of my stomach, slowly inching upwards until her palms are flat against my chest. A soft sigh escapes her, and I can either pull her into my arms or step back. I’ve got half a mind to pick her up, walk us inside, slam the door, and take her against the nearest wall.

“Wow.” She takes the decision out of my hands.

“Yeah, that about sums it up. You want to show me what all we need to move inside?” I ask, clearing my throat.

“All of the boxes in the truck. The big box in the living room needs to be put together, but I can do that.” Her hands drop to her dress, clasping the fabric in her fists. I can see the nervousness setting in. It makes me smirk to know I get to her as much as she gets to me.

“I’ll put it together, though it’ll cost you.” I made the call to Dean Johnson the day after I found Shadow. He handed the phone to Tully immediately when I said a cat wandered up to my house. Of course, he made it clear that their funny farm was closed and they would not be driving down to Florida to cart an animal home when his wife does that enough. I knew the man was lying through his teeth. He can’t say no to Tully, and I did mention if his wife really wanted my cat, they could always bring it home when they come down for the birth of Lennie and Asher’s baby. He grunted his response and left it at that.

Tully told me what all I should get faster than I could write it down. Then she said never mind, that she would text me the list, especially the brand of cat food I should feed her. She then proceeded to say the vet appointment could wait a bit but to at least deworm her, adding the best place to get it to the list that became more like a paragraph. I’ve since gottenthe cute furball food, treats, toys, catnip, a scratching post, a litter box, cat litter, and she’s been dewormed. The cat bed I bought for her has sat vacant from what I could tell. I always find her curled in a ball on top my clothes or, like the other night when I scooped her up to lie with me on the couch, she ended up sleeping on the pillow I’d been resting my head on.

“Is it worse than putting furniture together? Because if so, no thanks. I’ll take my chances.” Yeah, I can tell she won’t be putting shit together.

“It’s not nearly as bad,” I reply.

“Okay, fine, I’ll do it.” She smiles, and I’m lost for a moment in time. Jesus, I’m worse than Johnny. I could have found her a fuck of a long time ago. Maybe not right out of high school, but by the time Jude started his business, it would have been easy. Hell, even Trent could have looked her up in his database if she had a record of some kind. I’d been hardheaded, too damn stubborn for my own good. That shit stops right fucking now.

“You’re not going to ask what it is first?” I tease. It seems a lot of things never change. She’s still easy to pull one over on, and now I’m wondering if she’s still easy to rile up.

“Fine, what is said barter?” She relaxes, leaning her shoulder against the porch post, propping herself up, and my eyes zero in on when she crosses her arms over her chest. Except it’s more beneath, pushing her tits up and showing even more cleavage. My tongue slides along my upper lip. Lyric’s eyes zero in on the movement, and my own locks on hers. She’s breathing heavier, tits rising and falling, nipples puckered into tight tips. I’d love nothing more than to wrapmy lips around them, sucking on each one until she’s writhing in pleasure, trying to use my body to ease the ache between her pretty thighs. I’d have one heck of a time keeping my hands to myself.

The dress she’s wearing would make it mighty easy to be pulled up, and now I’m wondering what she’s got going on beneath. Is she bare, slick with desire, or is she wearing panties, and if so, what kind? Cotton, lace, thong, bikini? Not like it matters, but damn, it’s making my thoughts run rampant and my dick harder than it’s ever been before.

My nostrils flare, my breathing takes on a life of its own, and now I’m thinking about what she’d do if I dropped to my knees right in this very spot. The need to bury my head beneath her dress, to breathe in her scent, to taste her, whether she’s naked or it’s through the fabric of her underwear; I give not one single fuck, and I’d demand her to play with her pretty tits while I’m at it.

“Jagger.” Lyric’s voice breaks me out of my daydream, making me realize what I want can’t happen now, especially not here. My parents are within seeing and hearing distance. Then there are the other neighbors who live close. A place like this would be impossible to get her out of her head and make her come on my tongue. At my place, though, it’d be a different story entirely. There’s not a single house or person for acres, and when things go my way, I’ll be doing exactly what we both want.

“You say my name like that again, nothing will get done today.” I take a step closer. She doesn’t back up. In fact, Lyric seems to like that idea. Too bad a horn honking interruptsher craving until it slowly fades away. I could curse whatever person drove by.

“What were you saying?” I watch as she blinks once, twice, and a third time. Yep, she is out of the same haze I was in.

“The barter,” I say. Maybe she’s still thinking about me, too. Her eyes trail the length of my body, which is answer enough.

“Oh, that’s right. Are you going to tell me what it is or keep me guessing?” I shake my head with a chuckle.

“I put your furniture together, you take my cat to the vet for me.” The appointment I made for next week is slap in the middle of the day. It’s hard as hell to get away from work once I’m at a project, to head home, grab the furball, go to the appointment, go back home, drop her off, and then get back on the road. I may as well take a full day off.

“You have a cat?” She looks surprised about that.

“She’s newly acquired. Someone dumped her, and there’s no way I’ll drop her off at a shelter. You know what happens there if they don’t get adopted.” Her shoulders drop, teeth worrying her bottom lip, because she’s well aware of what I’m talking about. The animals either stay there forever, or they’ll be what they call humanely euthanized, and I’d rather not even think about that prospect.

“I’ll take her. Just send me the details. I’m not working right now, and the applications I’ve put in, I haven’t heard a peep from.” Jude told me her parents set her up financially, and I figured she’d wait till the house was completed before getting out there. Apparently, I was wrong to assume so.

“You’ve got yourself a deal.” Shaking hands is out of thequestion. I do something a whole lot better, moving into the soft curves of her body. My hand cups her cheek, the other grabs her hip, and I graze my lips across hers. At her sharp inhale and her nails digging into my sides, I finally allow myself a small taste. I glide my tongue along the seam of her lips, feeling hers slide against mine with a teasing touch, and goddamn, drawing back is near impossible. Yet I do it. The next time I have my mouth on hers, neither of us will have any fucking doubts that this is happening.

12

LYRIC

“Oh my god, what the hell? How?” I look from the opened box to Jagger. We’re sitting on the floor of my new bedroom, a rug beneath us, which sits on top of gleaming honey-golden wood floors. The walls are a gentle creamy beige that I’ve picked out for the whole house. It was a part of the estimate, and if I wanted extra colors, it would be an added expense. I figured I could do that on my own later on, you know, once I figured out my own style. For the time being, I’ll use rich colors in the way of furniture, bedding, and décor.

The brass headboard and footboard were easy to put together. The mattress, on the other hand, came in one of those vacuum-sealed bags, and when we let the air out, well, it almost took both of us out. We laughed, we talked about our week, we didn’t touch the past, and it felt like old times.

It also confirmed the fact that this man was always meant to be mine. The few times I’d go out and about, meet a guy,and find the relief without worrying about one of my parents is nothing like what I had with Jagger. One day soon, we’re going to have to talk about the past, and it seems right now is the time, whether we like it or not.

“What?” He’s taking my plethora of notebooks I’ve accumulated through the years out of a different box. What he doesn’t know is in between the oldest notebook I have are pressed lilies, the one’s Jagger gave to me; it’s also partly where he got the name only he uses for me. The heavy package Jagger lifted with ease held a wooden hope chest I’ll be storing what he’s taking out in until the rest of the house is finished. That was also the second piece of furniture we had to put together, and the last. The dresser and nightstands came already assembled. There was no way I’d trust myself with that task. I’d have gladly paid all the money in the world. As for the hope chest, well, winging it would have been the name of the game. It would have probably come out wrong, and I’d have to put a blanket or something on top to hide the imperfections I’d no doubt create on my own.

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