California Nights (Rich Boys of California Duet 1)

All I knew was that nothing was going to put out the fire in my gut except fucking her. For like, a month. Straight.

No. A year.

I reached for the half empty bottle of bourbon and took a sip. Hair of the dog would fix me up right. A cup of coffee would be good, too. A cup of coffee with a splash of bourbon would be even better.

Slowly I stood and stripped off my clothes. I was pretty sure I had a swimsuit in here. If not I could call up to the house for it. When I asked for coffee.

I found a pair of trunks that looked like mine and pulled them on. The fabric skimmed my boner uncomfortably. Fuck, why didn’t I finish her off again?

Oh right, because I have a heart.

Because she would have regretted it.

Because she would have woken up hating me and never spoken to me again.

Normally, I wouldn’t have cared but with Nev it was different. If she stopped talking to me – I would miss her. A lot.

Like, a lot a lot.

And if she hated me I didn’t know what I would do.

Man, I was not happy about realizing that.

She’d come to be the one person I could be honest with. And who was honest with me. I could always count on Nev for a sincere reaction. That was a scary fucking thought. It was way more major than the overwhelming attraction I felt for her.

Well, almost.

I used the phone in the pool house to call the kitchen. Then I walked outside and slowly slid my poor, aching dick into the pool. I was too hungover for laps just yet so I just floated.

I had plans to make.

Plans on how to devirginize one uptight little hottie. My mind swam with images of her underneath me, on top of me, on a chair, my desk, the bed, the floor. Oh yes, I had lots of plans to make.

I knew I could get her into bed.

I just had to make sure she stayed there afterwards.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Nevada

“You okay, sweetie?”

I looked up at my mom from where I lay in bed. I was reading, or pretending to. Inwardly though, I was freaking the fuck out.

“Uh huh.”

She leaned on the doorway, raising her eyebrow.

“Out with it.”

I sighed and rolled over. I’d been thinking about Clay, of course. And trying to control my raging hormones.

I was basically afraid to go outside because if I saw him right now, I would throw myself at him. Literally jump his bones like a wild woman. In broad daylight.

And I wasn’t sure how he’d react.

“Boy troubles.”

“Ah. I have some experience with that. Who is it?”

My mom sat on the edge of the bed and smiled at me. I hated lying to her. I hated it. But I had to.

No way I could tell her I was falling for her boss’s son.

My eyes closed, unwilling to look at her while I lied to her face.

“No one you know.”

“You like him?”

I nodded.

“Does he like you?”

I bit my lip.

“I think so. I mean, he wants to… you know.”

“And you don’t.”

I looked at her for the first time.

“That’s the problem. I do. But I don’t–”

“You don’t want to want him.”

I nodded.

“He’s used to getting what he wants. Everything he wants. But I know he’ll lose interest once he gets it.”

Mom’s hand stroked my hair.

“You are wise beyond your years, butterfly.”

I looked up at her, saying nothing. Just grateful for her soothing hand against my hair. Of course, I still would have preferred someone else’s hands on me.

Not just my hair either.

Everywhere.

Ugh, Nev you are turning into a pervert.

“Nevada, I don’t need to give you the talk about being careful, do I?”

“No – but do you think I should go on the pill?”

Her hand froze for a moment. Then she started petting me again.

“Alright sweetie I’ll set it up. This boy… is he someone special?”

“He’s amazing. Brilliant. Good at everything. But he’s sad a lot, too. I think he had a hard time growing up. It hides it well, but it’s there.”

“It sounds like you know him well.”

“I think I do. I… care about him, you know?”

She smiled and stood up.

“Maybe he’ll surprise you, Nevvie. You never know. But guard your heart until you do.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Clay

Finally.

I’d been laying in wait. Keeping a low profile to try and lure her out. It finally paid off when I saw her out there. Nev was right where I wanted her. Like a gazelle at the watering hole. My prey was innocently swimming in the pool.

And I was hiding in the tall grass, ready to pounce.

It had been three days since the party by the lake. I hadn’t seen Nev once, other than at the club, where she’d ignored me completely.

Well, not tonight.

It was just past dusk and only the landscaping and pool lights were on. If I hadn’t been looking for her I would never have even noticed that someone was down there. But I was onto her sneaky ways.