“Fuck.” He had no idea what had just happened and was too damned hard to think straight.
He banged his head against the closed door and took a few calming breaths.
Didn’t help.
They had connected; they were attracted to each other. What the hell had gone wrong?
Chapter Twelve
Casey
“So, I blew it.”
“You blew him? Casey.”
She couldn’t make herself smile. Not even at Jessa’s crude jokes.
“I knocked over a beer bottle and then just took off.” Casey curled up tighter on her bed, breathed in the warm scent of Jason’s t-shirt.
“Oh, honey.”
“Don’t, Jess. I can’t let myself go back to that. I’m away from him now.”
“I know. I’m sorry. What did Jason say?”
“When I left? He said fuck a lot. But I imagine it was because he thought he was going to get laid.”
“Or he was worried about you?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. It doesn’t really matter.”
Jessa sighed. “I’m coming over.”
“No. I mean thank you. But it would take you three hours to fly here. And I have to be up early tomorrow, anyway, so I couldn’t pick you up from the airport.”
“Casey. Go back over there. Tell him the truth,” Jessa said.
“Why? That story is just going to confirm to him how stupid I really am. How naïve. He already thinks I’m crazy. I don’t need to make it worse.”
Casey jumped at the sound of a knock on her bedroom wall. “Jessa. I’m going to let you go.”
The knock again. It shouldn’t have, but it made her smile.
She sat up on her knees and tapped back.
He didn’t knock back, so she figured he was just messing with her. But then the knock came from the front door.
She ran over to open it and smiled when Jason stood there, still shirtless, still in those tight jeans that showed off his amazing dick.
“Hi.”
Jason smiled back at her. “Sorry to bother you. It’s just that I couldn’t sleep without the usual sound of a Porn Place orgy. It’s like my lullaby now.”
Casey laughed. “Shut up.”
“May I come in?”
“I’m not wearing pants.”
“You don’t seem to wear them often, huh?”
“No.”
“I’ll behave. I just wanted to check on you. You took off pretty fast there, and I was worried I said or did something to upset you.”
Casey leaned against the door. “Are you real?”
He flexed his pecs and winked at her. “Touch me.”
“Why?”
“To prove to yourself I’m real.”
She reached out with a shaky hand and set it over his heart, felt the warmth of his skin, the heat.
“Let me in, Case. I just want to sit with you. I’m worried.”
“I’m fine.”
“Ah. Fine is never a good thing, right?” He pushed his way into the apartment and sat down on the couch. Patted the cushion beside him.
“Do you want anything?” she asked. “I have beer too, but it’s the cheap stuff.”
“I want you to sit with me.”
She nodded and came over, sat on the edge of her seat. “I was going to return your shirt.”
“Don’t. You look incredible in it.”
She looked down, a little surprised at how much of her breasts were revealed, and laughed.
He reached over and set his large hand on her knee. It was warm and soft and made her feel safe.
“I’m not crazy.” She said the words but didn’t believe them.
“I agree, beautiful. Would you mind telling me what upset you?”
“I moved here, to this apartment complex, to get away from a bad situation.”
He swore under his breath, again. “Tell me who hurt you and I’ll kick his ass. A boyfriend? Husband?”
“Roommate.”
“A chick?”
She shook her head. “My roommate was a man. He was extremely aggressive and was always complaining about my things. He yelled a lot. He was just an asshole, but about a month ago, he kind of snapped and backhanded me. Broke my glasses, gave me a black eye. I wore his fingerprints on my arm for a few weeks.”
Casey reached up to adjust her new glasses, still feeling like everyone could see the evidence of the abuse.
His caress on her thigh was hypnotic. “I’m glad you moved here.”
“Thank you.”
“Not just for my sake. I’m happy that you’re safe.”
“I don’t always feel safe.”
“Give me your phone. Whatever happens or doesn’t happen with us, Casey, I will always have your back. So will my club. Call me if you need anything.”
“I don’t want to be an inconvenience.”
He rubbed his thumb over her skin and then grabbed a pen, wrote his number on the back of a Chinese food menu. “I’m serious, Casey. I can’t stand little bitches like your former roommate.”
She smiled. “Thank you. But Greg Jefferies is not little.”
“Just a bitch, then.” It wasn’t a question, just facts. “Should we order some Chinese, watch some porn? I’m not tired.”
She rolled her eyes. “I have leftovers in the fridge.”
“Even better. Let me, okay?”
Casey nodded, a little surprised at how natural it felt to have a man in the apartment. She didn’t miss Greg at all, but company in a city this large was nice, especially with her best friend all the way back in Kansas.
“I think we’re compatible, Case. You order almost exactly what I do.”
“Really?”
“No, but hey, it made you smile.”
She laughed at that. “You’re a sweet guy.”
“You sound surprised.”
“You’re tattooed from head to toe. You swear a lot. You look tough. And you’re in a motorcycle club.”
“True, but my mom raised me right.”
“I didn’t mean to judge.”
“Casey. If you want a bad boy, I can be that for you. Just know, I wouldn’t hurt you like that asshole roommate of yours, okay?”
She nodded. Believed him.
“Why did you have a roommate, anyway?”
“Rent. I was broke when I moved to LA. Even this place is a little over my budget, but it’s safe, so…”
“It’s next to me. It’s very safe.” He winked at her. “The food has another three minutes. I’m just going to go grab a t-shirt, okay?”
“Oh, okay.”
He walked over to her, set his hand on her hip, and leaned in to press a kiss to her mouth. It was far too quick, and by the time she opened her eyes, he was out the door.
She pressed her fingers to her lips and smiled. This man was something far too special.
Chapter
Thirteen
Jason
He had probably made himself sound a little better than he was, but Jason, for as much of a player as he had been, was not an abuser.