Chapter Two
Johnny
I stepped outside, a cold gust of wind slamming into me. Fuck, I was harder than damn steel. I adjusted my cock, which was digging into my fly, not giving two shits if anyone saw. I turned and glanced back into Rickie’s. I couldn’t help but stare at Flora, at the way her clothes molded to her curves, at the fact her ass was popping in those skintight pants. Shit, I might be a virgin—a proud one at that—but the dirty things I thought about concerning Flora and me would put any porno to shame.
Her spread out on my bed, naked, bared for me in every possible way. Her legs would be open wide, her pussy on display. She’d be so wet for me, her arousal glistening, showing me that she was good and primed for my cock.
Shit, I felt like my dick was about to explode. My balls were drawn up so tight if I adjusted myself again I feared I might actually come. I glanced at her once more, hoping she would take me up on my offer, although she’d seemed a bit dazed when I’d said I’d like to catch up. I’d meant it. Fuck, I’d meant that and so much more. In fact, I was tired of being weak about it all, sick of my own bullshit and not being honest with her. I wanted to. I would. And if she didn’t call me up and make plans, fucking hell, I would take the initiative and do it for her. I was tired of running from how I felt. I was tired of living a life that was empty, lonely. Ever since that one monumental, if not brief encounter all those years ago, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her, hadn’t been able to stop wanting her. I loved her, dammit, and it was because of her that I’d stayed a virgin. I wanted to give all of myself to her, wanted her to do the same.
I wanted her as mine.
It was during her year back in town that I’d forced myself to stay away, although that had been one of the hardest fucking things I’d ever done. She’d been so close, yet so far away. With her acclimating to her internship, getting the hang of it all, I hadn’t wanted to rush her, hadn’t wanted to pressure her into anything. Hell, a part of me had been afraid to tell her how I felt, not knowing if I’d cross boundaries with her and ruin everything.
So I’d stayed away, let her do her thing, get comfortable in her position. But I couldn’t wait anymore. I couldn’t stay away from Flora.
Too many years had passed. Too many damn opportunities where I could have just opened up and not been alone. She didn’t have a boyfriend, not one that I saw her with or heard through the fucking Rockbridge rumor mill, anyway. I didn’t even know if she’d have me, but I wouldn’t know unless I actually talked to her.
I fished my car keys out of my front pocket and headed across the street to my truck. I’d probably take a hot shower when I got home, jerking off as I thought about Flora and the things I would do to her.
Truth was I’d jerked off plenty of times thinking about her over the years. Maybe it was a dirty thing to do, made me a bastard, but when no women interested me, when Flora was the only one I wanted in my bed and in my life, my hand was my only option.
I glanced up when I heard the front door of Rickie’s open. Flora came out, her bag of takeout in her hand, her focus on the ground. She was so damn beautiful, with her long hair blowing behind her from the breeze, this small smile on her face...one that I hoped I’d put there. God, I just wanted to haul ass across the street, take her into my arms, and kiss her senseless. I wanted to tell her that she was mine.
She is mine.
She made her way toward the edge of the sidewalk, about to cross the street, when I saw a flash of headlights to my right. I snapped my head in that direction and saw a car turning the corner, music blasting, loud voices coming from the open windows. It was like everything happened in slow motion.
I glanced from the car to Flora and then to the car again. I ran across the street just as she was about to step off the curb, possibly getting hit by the vehicle. I didn’t know for sure if she would have seen them in time, and I wasn’t taking a fucking chance.
Just as the car sped by I reached out and wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her against me. The air rushed out of her when her back met my chest, the impact substantial. Her bag of food dropped to the ground, spilling across the concrete. The car raced by, the driver and passenger screaming out the window.
Rage boiled inside of me.
I stared off in the direction the car had gone, disappearing in the horizon. I felt my hands tighten around Flora at the very thought that she could’ve been struck, could’ve been taken from me. I slowly turned her around, my heart beating so hard it was painful. Everything in my body was on alert, adrenaline pumping through my veins, and the need to hunt down those motherfuckers riding me hard.
“Are you okay?” My voice was strained. I realized I was breathing hard. She nodded slowly, her eyes wide from fear. It was clear she was shaken. “I should go after them, find them.” I couldn’t keep the anger out of my voice. I wanted to fucking beat their asses for putting that look of fear on my woman’s face.
She slowly shook her head, blinked a few times, then exhaled. “I’m fine, and going after them won’t solve anything.” She glanced down at the ground, where her soup was spilled. “Like bring back my French onion soup.” She looked in the direction that the car had gone. “I’ve been wanting that soup all damn day. Bastards.”
I chuckled softly and looked over my shoulder at Rickie’s. The lights were already off. Shit. I realized I was still holding onto Flora, and that she was doing the same in return. I didn’t want to let her go. I wanted to hold on to her, to keep her close, make sure she was protected. I wanted that more than anything now after she’d almost gotten hit.
But I reluctantly let her go. She cleared her throat, and I noticed her hands shook as she bent down to pick up her sandwich, which was still wrapped securely. “I really wanted that soup,” she joked.
“Maybe I should take you—”
“I don’t need a doctor. I’m fine.” She stood, her sandwich in hand.
When Flora looked at me my heart stopped. Fuck, I wanted to bring her in close, cup the back of her head, and kiss her until she was breathless. And because I was an asshole, more sexually explicit thoughts came to mind. Ones that had me envisioning pressing her up against the side of Rickie’s Diner, wrapping my hand in her hair, pulling her head back, and devouring her. I was already starting to get hard again, my cock pressing to my zipper, demanding to be free, to be buried deep in her body.
I wanted to claim her, to mark her like an animal, a predator landing his prey. Flora was my prey. Flora was mine.
“Thank you again, Johnny.” She sighed softly, and my heart broke. God, I didn’t want to see her like this, didn’t want her to go home to an empty house. Hell, I didn’t even know if it was an empty house. Maybe she had someone. Maybe she could be with him, have him comfort her.
Anger built in me, raw possessiveness, and a dose of obsession claimed me. She went to turn, to head to her car, but I found myself reaching out and taking her hand in mine. It was like I was running on pure instinct. Her hand was warm in mine, and her eyes were wide as she looked up at me.
“I don’t like the fact you’re going home...alone.”
I was testing the waters, seeing if she’d tell me she had someone, that she wouldn’t be alone. It wouldn’t have surprised me if she were taken. Flora was beautiful, smart, everything that I wanted.
“I don’t want to go home alone either,” she said on a sigh.
I felt the tightness in my body dissipate. “How about you come to my place, hang out, and we can watch a movie, or just talk?” I didn’t want to make her feel like I wanted more than she was willing to give. We could be friends, and I’d pray to God that something more happened, because Lord knew I couldn’t walk away from her, not now.