Jesus, I’d probably hand over the keys to my car right before I blew my load, that’s how clouded my judgment could be. Which was why I had to face the possibility that maybe our actions—while hot as all fuck—might not have made her feel good.
Which was why I needed an excuse to go to Diablo. Her insistence that we go “hang” somewhere else, taking the opportunity I might have had through the night.
I did what I said I was going to do, dropped Elena home and then walked to Presley’s club. It was still early for the public, the big black front doors still locked when I yanked on one.
“Look at you coming through the front door like a good boy.” Bennett grinned as he opened up for me. “We just need you to sit and roll over and you’ll be all trained up.”
I flipped him off, not really in the mood for his shit. “You gaining a little weight there, B? Looking a little rounder in the middle. Maybe add some cardio to the lifts, dude. Also, might want to skip the birth control pills, I hear they cause water retention.”
He laughed, stepping aside so I could come in. “Your boy is at the bar, clearly no wiser you’re doing his sister. And Presley is in her office. You going to tell him tonight? I spent the afternoon with my mother at the pediatrist, could use some comedic relief.”
“No one is saying shit,” I warned, not even joking. “I’m serious, Bennett, this is mine and Presley’s decision and I won’t have you fucking shit up because you’re bored.”
He rolled his eyes, not giving me the satisfaction of a comeback. “Go see her, I’ll keep him busy. You have five minutes though. That’s the limit of my small talk, and I’m not making exceptions, even for you two.”
It was more than I’d hoped for, the big guy coming through for me in a way I hadn’t expected. And while I was under no delusions he was doing it for me—his loyalty to Presley—I was grateful for the chance.
Tibbs was at the bar talking to Hank with his back to the door. Even though he was on the other side of the club, without a wall of bodies, there was a good chance he’d see me sneak in. But the wall of bodies wasn’t necessary when you had a three-hundred-pound giant blocking the view, enabling me to stroll past and get out of Tibbs’ sightline before he’d even noticed I was there.
I wasn’t expecting Presley’s door unlocked, the fancy block of wood that separated her from the rest of the club left ajar when I reached it. I didn’t bother knocking, not giving her the opportunity to blow me off.
“Hey,” I walked into her office, my voice making her spin around, “I’ve only got four minutes, Bennett is entertaining Tibbs. But I needed to know you were okay.”
I didn’t ask permission, moving toward her and taking her into my arms. She didn’t hesitate, letting me hold her as I kissed her forehead gently. “Presley, if what we did made you feel uncomfortable in some way, I need to know. And I get how it might have looked, but I’ve never had a girl in my room let alone did anything like that. I respect you, Presley. You’re not just a piece of ass.”
She blinked back in surprise, her eyes searching my face. “You’ve never had a girl in your room?”
“I mean, like a girlfriend. My sisters, my mom, like family and shit have obviously been in there, but not like that. I didn’t want you to think I was—”
“I was the first?” She cut me off, not letting me finish.
Not sure if that was excitement or horror in her voice, and not sure which was the better option. “Well, yeah. But it doesn’t matter. I get how weird it was, especially after and having to go downstairs and eat dinner. So, if that’s why you didn’t want us here tonight—”
“I love you.”
She’d cut me off again, but this time around it was me who was confused. Because either my hearing was fucked or she’d just told me she loved me.
“You saying that because you’re the first girl I had in my room or because you can see us being long term, Presley? Because this is the one thing I won’t joke about. Not even with you, Baby.”
I’d never said those words to a girlfriend.
Never even been tempted.
To me those words were sacred and there hadn’t been a woman I’d been with who came close to earning them. So rather than be an asshole, and say them because it might get a woman into bed quicker or something else equally as shady, I chose to not go down that road.
But, Presley.
Fuck.
I hadn’t only been tempted to say those words to her, but actively had to stop myself. It was supposed to be just sex, but if I was honest, it hadn’t ever been like that. Even if I’d been trying to convince myself that it was the whole time. I’d almost fooled myself into thinking it was just about her body, but deep down I knew it was more.
“I mean it. I’m not joking, Jared. I’m in love with you. Me acting weird at dinner wasn’t about what we did in the bedroom. It was about what I’d realized after you left. About how much I love you. This isn’t just sex for me. And the timing is horrible because I’m trying to—”
It was my turn to cut her off, stopping whatever bullshit excuse that didn’t matter, as I pressed my mouth against hers. She moaned, returning my kiss as she fisted my T-shirt. And whatever she was going to say was forgotten, opening her mouth and letting me inside to explore like I wanted.
She nibbled at my lips, my own teeth fighting back as we kissed, sucked and bit. It was hot and deep, and probably not romantic enough considering what she’d just said but I didn’t care. It was us.
“I love you, Presley.” I pulled away from her mouth so I could say the words and leave no doubt. “In love with you. Love you. I don’t know the best way to put it, but I know that these feelings are bigger than anything I’ve ever had. And the thought of being without you makes me fucking crazy.”
“Wow, that’s a relief. I was so worried you were going to say thanks but no thanks. I told you I wouldn’t make things more, and here we are. To be fair, you did warn me, and I did get attached.” She laughed.
“Just as well, because the feeling is mutual. You want to go out there and tell Tibbs? I think we should celebrate this loving feeling by stopping the sneaking around. I don’t want to lie to him anymore, Presley. And I want to be able to kiss you whenever I want without worrying about who is going to see it.”
It had been on my mind since I’d left the house, disappointed that she’d been with my family, but they hadn’t known she was actually with me. My mother would have lost her goddamn mind, been on the phone to Angela Tibbs and planning the fucking wedding. And while the idea had originally scared the hell out of me, I no longer gave a shit. I didn’t see a future without Presley in it, and if picking wedding cakes made our mothers happy, then who the hell cared?
“Can you give me a few days?” She winced, her hand on my chest slipping right across my heart. “My dad just left for Chicago for business, and I want to tell them all together. I know he’s your best friend, but I need to tell my parents first. After everything I put them through with Lewis, I think they deserve to know I’ve finally found a good one.”
Hearing the asshole’s name jacked up rage in me that wasn’t healthy. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he was going to pay, and if Shapiro couldn’t find him, we’d track him down some other way. But none of it was ever going to land on her, Presley’s days of dealing with cocksuckers over.