Nineteen
Kenzie
I expected my nerves to be shot. I knew what it meant when that door opened. I felt it at the roadhouse. And in the car. I saw it in his eyes. Sensed it in his featherlight touches. All the teasing, the flirting, innuendos had led to this moment. This one pivotal moment that would either make or break us.
And I wasn’t nervous at all.
What was with that?
I was about to sleep with a guy for the first time in almost seven years.
I was ready.
I was more than ready.
I was primed.
Roaring to go.
And, it seemed, so was he.
Jeremy opened the door and stepped inside. I followed and allowed him to take my bag from my hands, where he dropped it to the floor and kicked the door closed, before sliding the chain across the door to lock it. I really needed to get one of those too.
He pinched my chin between his thumb and forefinger, a gesture I was beginning to love, and placed a chaste kiss on my lips. I pouted. That was not the heavy, passionate, mind-blowing kiss I had imagined.
Dropping his hand from my face and taking a step back, he held my gaze and pulled his shirt over his head. Licking my suddenly dry lips, I let my eyes trail over his torso, his pecs, the tattoos, down over his abs, all eight of them, and followed the V that conveniently pointed down into his pants.
His fingers worked his belt loose, while I stripped off my clothes too, throwing them into the growing pile in the middle of the living room floor. There was nothing graceful about it at all. We were both hurried and rushing to shed as many clothes as possible in the shortest amount of time. Kicking his shoes across the living room, he pulled a condom from his wallet and slid his jeans down his legs and discarded them with his shirt, so he was standing before me in nothing but his boxers, and they were soon lost as well.
I reached behind my back and unhooked my bra, pulling it off and throwing it at Jeremy’s face. He caught it with a growl and dropped to his knees in front of me. Hands on my hips, he peppered wet hot kisses along the waistband of my underwear.
My hands combed through his silky locks as his fingers hooked into my underwear and dragged them down my legs. His hands ran up my thighs to my hips, and he pulled me down to him. My arms around his neck, chests pressed together, I crashed my mouth to his. Needing his kisses. Wanting more. Craving everything. Falling hard.
Fallen.
Completely.
His tongue danced with mine as his hands explored my body. I was alight with need, desperate for his touch, his warmth, his everything. Our breaths were heavy, and I wasn’t sure how much I could take. Reaching around blindly on the floor, I found the condom and handed it to him to put on.
Our mouths met with soft, light kisses, my tongue darting out to lick his top lip. With a groan, Jeremy shifted beneath me, angling my hips as he thrust his up into mine. My head fell back, and I moaned. My skin tingled, and I trembled. I lost all control of my body. It was entirely in the hands of Jeremy as he rotated his hips with mine and trailed burning hot kisses along my neck, collarbone, mouth. It was messy, intense, and mind-blowing all at the same time.
And I knew there was no going back from that. There was never really a chance. Not from the moment he called me babe.
We collapsed on the floor in a sweaty, blissed heap.
“Told you I didn’t need a bed.” He laughed, wrapping an arm around my waist and pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
“I might let you tie me to a bed, though,” I teased, tapping my fingers in time with his heartbeat.
Jeremy cursed. “Get dressed. We’re going furniture shopping. Now.”
I laughed. “It’s Sunday in Blackhill. There are no furniture stores open.”
“Dammit. But I’m holding you to that statement. The very first thing I’m doing when I buy a bed is tying you to it.”
“Can’t wait.” I wiggled my eyebrows and pressed a kiss to the center of his chest, right where the rose tattoo was inked into his skin.
“You’re going to be the death of me.”
“But what a way to die, huh?” I rolled on top of him and spread my hands across his chest.
“I wouldn’t complain,” he said and kissed me again.
***
I didn’t have to go to work on Monday, because school was starting back, but it also meant Bailey was back to work as well, since she was a teacher and all. I also didn’t have anyone to look after Cole for the first time in as long as I could remember. Everyone was working or at school.
“Let me take him for the day?” Jeremy offered as he handed me a cup of extra strong black coffee. I was definitely going to need the caffeine after he kept me awake most of the night.
“I don’t know.” I winced.
“You don’t trust me with him?” Jeremy frowned, his eyes dropped, and he paid extra attention to the toast he was buttering.
“Of course, I do. But don’t you have to work?”
“No. I quit on Friday.”
“What? Why?” I took a sip of the scalding liquid, savouring the smooth, velvety taste. Heaven.
“Because I was taking over the roadhouse.” He looked at me like I was an idiot.
“But you didn’t know if Johnny would agree then.”
“Come on, was there ever really a chance he would say no?”
I guessed he was right.
“So, what are you going to do today?”
“Install new locks on your door, so you can bring Cole home, finally. He can help me.”
“Are you sure? It’s a big responsibility.”
“Positive. Got to get in good if I want to keep his Mumma around for a while longer.”
“Just a while?”
“A long while.” He smirked and tore off a piece of toast with his teeth like an animal.
“You really know how to make a girl feel special. Okay, fine, but you call me if there are any problems.”
“Of course.”
I picked up my bag from the floor and pulled Jeremy in for a kiss. “Thank you.”
“That’s what neighbours are for.” He slapped my ass as I walked to the door.
I was looking forward to bringing Cole home, but I had to be sure Chace had left town. Who really knew with him? He was so off the rails, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’d dropped out of uni to come back here and scare the shit out of me.
I sent a quick text to the only person I knew who’d be able to tell me if Chace had gone.
Kenzie: Hey, handsome ;)
Jack: Flattery will get you everywhere, doll face. ’Sup?
Kenzie: Can you keep an eye out for the douche and let me know if he’s back at school?
Jack: Oh, he’s back, all right.
Kenzie: What does that mean?
Jack: He’s my new roomie.
No freaking way.
Kenzie: What? No!
Jack: I could have a lot of fun with the dick. *pun intended*
Kenzie: Just be careful. He’s crazy.
Jack: I know, sweet cheeks. Don’t worry. I’ll be your eyes and ears. Got to go x
Kenzie: Thanks, Jack xo
I was relieved Chace was back at uni and no longer hanging around town. It meant I could bring my baby home. But Jack and Chace being roommates scared me. Chace was unpredictable, and Jack was a sweetheart. I’d hate if Chace did anything to hurt him.
The feeling of relief, knowing Chace was long gone, was a welcome one, even if it didn’t last long. I was walking into my second class for the afternoon after having stopped for more coffee when my phone rang. My heart sank. It could only mean one thing. Something was wrong.
Cole.
My heart stuttered. I told Jeremy not to call unless it was important.
“We have a problem, babe,” Jeremy said the moment I answered the call.
“Cole?”
“He’s fine. Great, actually. That’s not why I’m calling.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I know how Chace saw what we were doing.”
I leaned against the wall and held my breath. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
“Cameras in the vents in the ceiling.”
“What?”
No way. How? When? Why? I had a million questions running through my head, and none of them had a reasonable answer.
“Yep. Me and my little buddy were changing the locks when he got bored and laid on the floor. He was staring up at the ceiling and asked what the little red dot was. I got up there to have a look, and fucker has put cameras in every room of your apartment.”
“Oh. My. God.” My stomach rolled. He’d been watching through cameras. How long had they been there? My hands shook, and I slumped against the wall.
“Police are on their way now.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“No, stay. I’ll handle it. You go and get smart. We’ll see you tonight.”
Who the hell did that?
He was a dead man.
I’d fight tooth and nail for my son and get Chace out of our lives once and for all.