Page 44 of Drunk on You (Hope Town 4)

I nod, my heart breaking for him and the pain he's faced in his life, but understanding the whys a whole lot clearer now. "Thank you for telling me."

"One day at a time, cherie. I can't make those promises right now, but who knows what will happen. Just give me some time."

"Yeah, I think I like that plan."

"Come on. Let's rest and then you've got a call to make."

My eyes widen. "You were serious?" I gasp.

"Belle, I'm always serious."

"But Shane! I can't just quit. I need a job."

"Are you happy there?" he questions.

"Well, no."

"Can you leave the job where you're unhappy at, the one that treats you unfairly, and be okay until you find something else?"

"Probably. As long as I don't have to wait until the end of the school year, I could get by."

"And if you can't get another teaching job right away? Would you be open to something else until you could?"

"Like what?"

He shrugs. "I don't know, Nikki. Anything that didn't sound like you're being paid to get abused by some bitch."

I roll to my back and look up at my ceiling. I could work anywhere and be happier than where I am, sure. I love my students, but he's right; I'm getting a paycheck to basically be abused by those in power at Rosefield. I turn my head and find him studying me.

"Yes, Shane. I could be okay with that."

"Then do it. Jump off the cliff, pull the parachute, and see where you land. Don't let that woman dictate your life. You did nothing wrong and shouldn't be made to feel like you did. Defending yourself is a sign of a strong character and nothing to be ashamed of."

"What about my students?"

His face gets soft, and he pulls me into his body, his arms wrapping around me tight. He places a kiss on my temple, and I curl into his body more, taking comfort in his arms.

"Just the fact you asked that says everything, Nikki. They'll be fine. They'll miss you, I have no doubt, but the beauty of a child is they bounce back quickly. You can't stay somewhere toxic just for them."

He's right. I know he is. Heck, I've been thinking about leaving for months, but I haven't given it serious thought until now. "Ember asked me to help her with the baby so she could get more painting done. I turned her down at the time, but I can ask her if the offer is still there. It wouldn't be a hardship to get to spend time with my two favorite girls and still pay my bills."

"Good, cherie. That's good."

"I could always apply at Dirty," I joke. He gets stiff under me, and I lift my head to look at him. "What?"

"You've been there, Nikki. You say you aren't jealous, but I don't know any woman who could handle seeing that night after night without it doing damage to a relationship. Let's not rock the boat before we can set sail."

I laugh, and he scowls, only making me laugh harder. "Oh, Shane Kingston, when will you realize I'm not like any other woman around?"

He just tightens his hold on me, and we settle into a comfortable silence. I start thinking about ways to prove to this stubborn man that I'm not the jealous type. He's in for a rude awakening if he thinks his job will push me away from wanting to be with him. No way. Seeing him move has always been the biggest turn-on, and that was before he was mine. For years, I craved him just like everyone else. I never felt jealous of the other women who wanted him. Not once. Now, though, seeing him move and knowing I'm the one who has what the other women crave is a power trip, and I haven't even been back to Dirty since that night. He has no idea what challenge he just threw down.

Oh, this will be fun.

Shane left shortly after we woke up from our two-hour nap. I could tell he wanted to stay, but he had to work later tonight, and I had, apparently, a job to quit. I didn't give myself time to back out either; I called and left my resignation on Mrs. Worthington's voicemail, thankful I didn't have to hear her voice again. I followed that up by emailing my formal letter of resignation to not only her but also her secretary and the whole board. I left out my opinions on their hate-filled ruling of that school and wished them the best with finding a replacement. I also stressed that I expected all my paid vacation hours to be on my final check. They know they pushed me out, and I have a feeling they would rather pay me than keep me on staff. If they didn't, oh well, at least I tried. There wasn't anything of value that I cared to keep from there, and if I was being honest, there wasn't anything in the world worth having to face her again to go back and claim it.

T

hen I put part two of my plan in action and called Ember.

"Hey," she answered, out of breath.

"Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"No, Nate just left."

"Ah, say no more."

She giggles. "So Shane must be gone too."

"Yes, nosy nelly. He left an hour ago to get ready to go in tonight."

"I'm surprised he left at all," she jokes.

"Yeah, yeah. Are you going to stop trying to get me to tell you about our sex life long enough to hear why I called?"

"I'm all ears, girlfriend."

"How about a night out? I feel like Dirty is calling our names," I tell her, smiling at my reflection in the mirror.

"What are you up to?" Ember laughs.

"Oh, nothing," I say in a sugary sweet voice. "Just looking to enjoy some eye candy."

"I'm so sure." She snickers. "Let me see if my parents are up for a Quinnie style sleepover, and I'll call you back. If they say no, I'll call Izzy, and we know she won't say no. Actually, it's not Izzy who will demand baby time, it's Axel."

"Sounds good, Em. I'm going to jump in the shower and take catalogue of all my deliciously sore bits and handprints."

I hang up as her gasp and demand that I explain echo through the line. That girl, you never would have thought she was such a little pervert just by looking at her.

The steam from my shower fills my small bathroom. I pull up Spotify on my phone and put on one of my favorite shower time playlists, but before I step in, I look down at my deliciously used body. I can see the faint bruising on my hips from where Shane held me tight. I know my backside is still sore, but when I turn and look in the mirror, I'm disappointed that his handprints aren't there. That man, the things he does in bed should be lethal, hands down.

And ... he's all mine, no fake to it. How lucky am I?

"GIRLFRIEND, HOW LUCKY ARE WE!" Ember yells over the pounding beats of "Yeah!" by Usher.

I didn't remember loving this song quite as much in the past as I do at this moment, watching Shane as his body comes alive with the music. Sure, I've been lusting after him for years, but it's almost as if I'm seeing him in a whole new light now that he's mine. I know what the body can do when it's naked on top of me. I know what the man can do when that honey tone takes over his deep voice and he hypnotizes me with passion. The way I see him now, it's a whole new level of wow with the intimate knowledge that I carry. I have no doubt that the women screaming up at him while he comes to life on the bar top are all wondering if he can move just as good between the sheets too. I did. Now, I know I was wrong. He can move even better.

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