Monday Morning
Hunter
AT SIX FORTY-FIVE the next morning, I was standing outside her door with a single sunflower in hand and a cup hot chocolate in the other. They were her favorites, and I’d planned to use them in my favor.
Bailey was unpleasant-ish in the morning. Sort of.
She was the kind of person that hated everything and everyone until she had a chocolate fix of some kind. It was her sole vice.
Every day, she’d take it the same way with no variation: half of the cup was nothing but marshmallows.
Any other way, and she’d turn her nose up.
Without it, she was the cutest grouch on the planet. And while I loved her either way, for today to go off without a hitch, I needed her complacent and happy. Her gorgeous ass needed to be up and dressed before my sister stirred.
If not, Emily would try and tag along. Try to turn our date into a group outing which would include her boyfriend and his fuckwit of a brother. Brad had been lucky last night that I hadn’t laid his ass out, that we’d been at my parents’ home with a full house.
Both brothers had left before I’d come down. Smart move on their behalf.
However, the week was still young, and I’d see them—Brad—again.
Of that, there was no doubt.
I disliked him as much as Bailey did “Erica.”
Even as teens, she despised Bailey. I knew this. Made excuse after excuse in my head as to why she’d be jealous of a little girl. Went as far as distancing myself to try and keep the peace that last year of our relationship.
But now, son of a bitch, I get it.
Bailey had never been family to me. We’d always had an unbreakable bond.
She’d always been mine; it just wasn’t the right time.
“My beautiful kitten with claws,” I muttered low while transferring her flower to my other hand. With the one that was unoccupied, I wrapped my fingers around the doorknob and turned it.
Fuck knocking, I was impatient.
Desperate to see her. Make sure we were okay.
Our romance was just beginning—two people merged as one soul. Didn’t give a shit if that made me sound like a pussy.
For her, I’d wear the “owned” badge with pride.
Any man who cared more for his ego than his girl didn’t deserve to have her on his arm.
So yeah, I was playing dirty. Didn’t care in the least either.
I was the first to touch her. Make her come. Own her.
The need to be her first everything almost overwhelmed me.
That, and to revisit the conversation of how she took her own virginity. A play by play. I yearned for her to whisper every single dirty step in my ear while I stretched her around my length.
It was nearly impossible to control the hunger she created within me.
The door creaked low as I walked in and then closed it behind me.
It was dark inside, but the soft lighting from the sheer curtain illuminated her small form.
The queen-sized bed dwarfed her. Made her look delicate.
“She’s the living incarnation of perfection.” The closer I walked to the bed, the harder my cock jerked inside my shorts. “So fucking beautiful.”
Bailey shifted and her comforter slipped lower, exposing the entire expanse of her back and the luscious curve of her ass. Motherfuck. She was the living, breathing interpretation of temptation.
Her camisole had ridden up, showing me the satin edge of a minuscule pair of panties—and the two sexy dimples that graced her lower back. More flesh. Soft.
My girl sighed in her sleep, and my mouth watered. I had to swallow hard.
Placing her drink on the nightstand, I put a knee on the bed and leaned over. I brushed her hair aside so I could lay a kiss on her shoulder. “Wake up, sweetheart.”
“Nnnnn.” She burrowed deeper, eyebrows puckering. Adorable. “Why are you waking me up so early?”
I couldn’t help myself and kissed her forehead. “If you get up and dressed for me, we’ll stop and grab breakfast. Pancakes?”
“Too early. Sleepy, babe.” God, that sounded amazing coming from her lips. Loved how sweet the generic term felt.
“I have your favorite hot chocolate with an obscene amount of marshmallows. Largest cup I could find downstairs too.”
Bailey barely stirred, which I found odd. “Come back when you have something stronger.”
“Like what?” Another kiss, this time on her cheek.
She raised her head with one eye open. “Coffee. Lattes. Anything with caffeine—a lot of it—and sweet.”
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those snobs who only drinks it from one of those chain stores and speaks a weird language while ordering?”
“Yup.” Her glare almost made me laugh. “Make fun of me, and you’ll be hanging out by yourself today.”
Sassy little thing.
Sitting on the edge, I brought her cup to my lips and took a sip. “You have twenty minutes to be ready or I’ll carry you out as is.”
Another tidbit about my girl; she hated people drinking from her cup.
At once, Bailey rose up onto her knees and pushed the comforter away. Clumsily, she found her balance while extending a hand out. “Give me.”
“You don’t want this,” I taunted, taking another sip and groaning at the sweet taste.
“Now, Miles.”
“Kiss first.”
“Hand it over.”
“Don’t be a brat, B. Kiss first, and then you’ll get this cavity-inducing drink.” That had been the wrong thing to say. She went from grumpy to a vixen in the blink of an eye. Lip caught between her teeth, she lowered her hands to the mattress and came to me.
Lithe, her body was breathtaking—graceful. Her slow, predatory crawl hid nothing from my view. I enjoyed the sensual curve of her spine and the sway of her ass as it moved from side to side.
I was hard.
Coquettishly, in her small top and barely there underwear, she stopped beside my leg and looked up at me from beneath thick lashes. She rose to her knees with one hand on my thigh and the other on my chest. Bailey leaned closer, so close her perky tits brushed my arm.
My eyes followed the rise and fall of her chest. I was distracted by the pebbling of her nipples and the sudden flush that followed.
“Thank you.”
“What?” I asked, eyes still watching the sweet buds tighten.
“You’re too easy.” She laughed, and the movement caused a small bounce to the area I was cataloging. “Eyes up here, dork.”
That’s when I realized my mistake. The little minx had played me, and the proof was in her hand. With a sweet smile on her face, Bailey brought the cup to her lips and took a large sip.
After a few more drinks, she placed it next to her phone and turned to look at me. “Like I said...” mirth danced across her bright eyes “...too easy.”
“Shut up,” I grumbled, bringing my hand up to cup her cheek. Leaning in, I kissed her on the nose and then proceeded to push her.
Bailey tipped over in a fit of giggles. “Your face!” Her small body writhed over the sheets and caramel-colored hair fanned out like a halo; even while laughing at me, she was exquisite.
“Get dressed, love.”
“Can’t breathe!”
“Two words, baby.” At that, she paused mid-laugh and stared back, wide-eyed. Bailey knew then I meant business. We played this game as kids, much to her chagrin.
Another tidbit about this saucy beauty—she was ticklish. Everywhere.
I’d found out by pure accident, and luck, at the age of thirteen. And since that day, I’d used it to my advantage when necessary.
“Don’t you dare, Hunter.” Rolling over, she sat up on her knees once more. Green eyes blazed with a warning. “I’ll scream.”
“Tickle...” I wiggled my fingers, and she huffed. Threw her hands up in the air once again, causing her breasts to bounce. Almost distracted me.
“Stop.”
Knee on the bed, I moved closer. “Spi—”
“Hate you,” she hissed, backing up to the very edge. “You win. Let me get ready.”
“—ders.” Couldn’t help myself.
My girl climbed down from the bed and stomped across the room to her closet. A few minutes later, she came out with a book bag, tote bag, and her clothes in hand.
“Where are we going again?”
“Couple of places.” Wasn’t going to give it up for free. Woman still hadn’t kissed me. “Dress casual, and in something you aren’t worried about getting dirty in.”
“Got it. Shoes?”
“Flip-flops are fine.” Bailey lived in them.
“Give me twenty to shower and change.”
“Wait.” Frowning, I pointed to the shorts and top in her hand. “You’re missing a bikini?”
“Why would I need it?” That smirk on her lips made me want to bite it. Her. “You said dirty, not wet.”
The mouth on her. Had she always been so full of sass?
“No.”
Hand on her waist, she cocked her head to the side. “No? Then I see no need—”
“We both know that you’re soaking wet for me, and I plan on keeping you that way.” Closing the gap between us, I grasped her hips and pulled her to me. Chest to chest, I bent my knees, bringing my face down to her neck. Inhaled her sweet scent while skimming the shell of her ear. “Every day from here on out, I’ll keep you throbbing. Turn you into my perfect dirty girl.”
“Hunter,” she whimpered at my possessive touch but didn’t remove my hands, nor did she object to my promise. Instead, her head dropped forward and a shiver rocked her small frame.
“Look at me.”
She did. “Yeah?”
That dazed look in her eyes made me feel fifty feet tall. They were hooded and swimming with desire.
“Get that bikini in your bag.”
“What?”
Standing to full height, I reached out and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “I’m going to step out of this room and wait for you at the bottom of the stairs. Twenty minutes, or I drag you out as is.”
“Jerk.” Fuck, I wanted to eat that sweet pussy.
“Whatever you say, babe. That swimsuit better be in your bag.” Walking over to the door, I’d placed my hand on the knob when something caught my eye. There, at the center of her collage of pictures, was one of me. The one I’d left for her that Christmas.
It was from my graduation night and I was dressed to the nines. Bailey had called me handsome, and I’d thought she was adorable.
She’d kept it.
Remorse hit me all at once again, and the hesitancy made sense.
There was a part of Bailey that didn’t trust me.
3 ½ Years Ago
Her name crossed my phone screen with the ever-present chime of a private Facebook message.
I hadn’t expected a reply so soon.
Or one at all.
Swiping my finger across the screen, I opened the app and pressed her name before I could stop myself.
@Bailey Baby: Miles, we need to talk.
That was it. Her grand message. Just a few letters put together that felt more impersonal than had she ignored me altogether.
Sitting up against my headboard, my fingers flew over the keys on my phone. The first three attempts were a bit angry, and I had to delete. If she wanted impersonal, I’d give it to her.
My message would be just as bland.
@Hunter M: Hi, little B.
Bailey Baby is typing...
For five minutes I sat and watched those three dots start, and then stop, only to start again.
@Bailey Baby: I got your present. Why?
@Hunter M: Be more specific, B. Why what?
No sooner had I hit send than my phone rang with a video call. Her face stared back at me. Four rings, and then I received that message telling me I’d missed my chance.
Bailey Baby is typing...
@Hunter M: I’m heading out the door.
Liar.
@Bailey Baby: Pick up. Don’t hide from me.
Seconds after she sent that, she called once again. This time, I answered. Before I could stop it, a smile stretched itself across my face the moment our eyes met. Hit me in the gut just how much I’d missed Bailey.
“Hi.” She gave me a little wave, brow raised. “Nice to see your face, Miles.”
I bit my lip in order not to laugh. “Deserve that.” Running a hand through my hair, I pulled on the longer strands while trying to come up with something to say. Anything to make the awkwardness I felt lessen.
What could I say to break the ice?
“I’m waiting.”
“For?” At my denial, she glared.
“Why, Hunter?” Her pretty face was full of anger toward me, but it was the hurt in her voice that caused my heart to clench.
“Give it to me. I can take it,” I spoke low, calmly. Last thing I wanted to do was upset her more.
That night in the pool changed the way I viewed her no matter how much I tried to deny it. As if reading my mind, she turned toward the screen, green eyes blazing.
“Dammit, Miles...” she sniffed “...why go through all that trouble—avoid me—if you were going to just sneak into my room before leaving to drop off that gift.”
“Because I’m an asshole who misses you.”