Chapter Seventeen

Tasha

“You said it’s her mom’s boyfriend?” Jeremy asks, entering the bedroom after just brushing his teeth in the bathroom.

I look up to answer and I swear my brain short circuits. He’s completely bare from the waist up. I watch every ripple of his abdominal muscles as he walks toward the bed. The way the pajama bottoms sit low on his hips, showing off that V-cut causes me to run my tongue along my lower lip.

“LaTasha, focus,” he demands, but I hear the laughter in his voice.

“How am I supposed to focus with you looking like that?!” I wave my hand, gesturing up and down his body.

“Easy.” He grins and my pussy muscles instantly clench at that mischievous look. “If you focus right now, I’ll reward you later on,” he says before he leans down and takes my mouth with his. He reaches underneath me to grab a handful of my ass.

“Mmm…Promise?” I groan when he pulls back.

“Have I ever lied to you?”

“No.” I shake my head. “No, you never have.” That admission warms my chest just as much as his lips on mine. Blowing out a breath, I sit back against the headboard as he climbs into bed. “What was I saying? Oh yeah! I think it’s her mother’s boyfriend. I doubt they’re married.” I had opened up to Jeremy about my misgivings concerning Trudy’s home life. I don’t know why I’d brought it up at dinner, but it had been on my mind since I’d left the community center earlier today.

“And you don’t like him? Has he said anything to you?”

I smirk at the hard look Jeremy gives me at that question. I know if I say yes, Jeremy wouldn’t hesitate to find this guy. “No, he’s never said anything to me besides a few passing words. But it’s not what he says to me. It’s not even his rudeness with Trudy. It’s this look he gives her. I…” I pause. I know that look, but I don’t want to tell Jeremy how I know it. I’m not ready to share that part of my story yet.

Being as perceptive as he is, Jeremy sits up, examining me. Sometimes, like right now, I hate how exposed I feel with this man. “A look?”

“Yes. I know it sounds stupid.”

“No, it doesn’t. It’s called instincts. We all have them, but some of us are just more attuned to them than others. And whatever you’ve been through that you still refuse to share with me has helped hone your instincts.”

See, what I mean? He has absolutely no qualms about calling me out when I hold back. He’s not shaming or guilt tripping me for not opening up. He’s just calling it what it is.

“How can you be so sure of that?”

The faint lines around his eyes deepen as his eyes crinkle from his smile. “I’m a marine.”

I throw my head back and laugh.

“No, but seriously, my service and even my life before joining the marines honed my instincts. Living in five foster homes in a year and a half will teach you about who you can and cannot trust real quick. I’m betting it’s similar to the way your instincts were honed.” He pauses as if waiting for me to interject, either confirm or deny his suspicions. I remain silent, again not ready to go into the full detail of my history.

He continues. “If a look this guy is giving off bothers you, I don’t trust him either. Watch out for him. I can have a guy I know look into him if you want.”

I wave him off. “No, that’s not necessary. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Don’t be so sure. Promise me you’ll never be alone with this guy and if anything happens, you’ll let me know first.” His fingers grip my chin, so I‘m forced to look directly in his eyes. I realize that he won’t let this go until I’ve said what he wants.

“I promise,” I finally say, thinking it wouldn’t ever come to that. I’m sure I’m overreacting.

“Good. Now, how’s the writing going?”

I grin at the swift change in subject matter. I moan. “I’ve entered the editing stage. This is that part of the writing phase where I rethink my entire career as an author and think that maybe going into something like… I don’t know. Maybe real estate would be a better option.”

Jeremy’s chest expands as he lets out a laugh. “Real estate, doll?”

I quickly nod. “Yeah. I mean, who doesn’t like real estate. Everyone needs a place to live or run their business, right?” I joke.

“I know a thing or two about real estate.”

“Oh right. I forgot I was talking to the hotel magnet.”

“Apparently,” he quips. “Trust me. You don’t want any parts of this business. Besides, I need to know what happens to Danica, and you’re the only person who can tell me. And considering where we’re headed in a few days, you’re pretty good at this writing thing.”

I groan. Just when I’d forgotten for a little while, he brings it up. The Awards dinner is in three days.

“Speaking of that, I don’t know why you want to leave so early. The ceremony isn’t for another three days.” Although the dinner is still three days away Jeremy has us scheduled to leave tomorrow.

“Because, doll. We’re not going to New York first.”

That surprises me. “Where’re we going then?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“I don’t like surprises.”

“Oh no?”

I don’t even get the chance to register his questions before I’m squealing as I’m flipped over onto my belly and my waist is being pulled up. Then a pillow is placed under me.

“Mmm…” I moan as his fingers make contact with my bare pussy.

“It seems your pussy likes surprises.” He merely laughs when I wiggle, kick my leg, back, but miss him. “Now, now, doll. I was just about to reward you for focusing earlier, but I can make this into a punishment if you want,” he warns.

I squeeze my eyes shut against the feeling of his fingers still massaging my labia and the memory of his last punishment. I was forced to wear those damn Ben-Wa balls all day as I ran errands. That night I was so wet I swore I could’ve cum from just one look, but he fucked me until I could hardly walk, refusing to let me cum. I refused to talk to him for half of the next day. It was all because I had forgotten to eat lunch and dinner the day before. It’s not my fault I was in the writing zone.

“Ah, so you do remember your last punishment,” he says against my whimpers. “No punishment tonight,” he growls as he slowly pushes his way into me. I feel the usual sensations of ecstasy of having him inside me. The pleasure short circuits my brain and the previous conversation is all but forgotten as he takes me to the skies.