Never Got Over You

“If you think this is who I’ve always wanted to be, then you never knew me at all.”

“That’s probably true, too.” I swallowed. “The James I knew would’ve never left me waiting for months without any communication.”

“He gave you plenty of communication. You chose to stop waiting.”

Silence.

We were still shaking hands, still touching—the feel of him still too familiar to let go.

“I’m glad we could have this conversation, Miss Kennedy,” he said, finally—his tone bone dry. “I trust that we’ll be able to work together and leave the past in the past moving forward?”

“Yeah.” I let his hand go. “That’s exactly where it belongs.”

…

Kate

~ November 14, 2008 ~

HOW THE HELL DID I forget to get his phone number?

Thoughts of James’s kiss had been running through my mind for two weeks, and I’d touched myself at night—wishing I’d invited him inside and let him take things further. Dreamed about feeling his mouth all over my body, feeling his lips press kisses lower and lower. Feeling his tongue caress the tip of my clit as he brought me to the edge, again and again.

“Kate!” A deep voice interrupted my thoughts. “Kate, stop leaning against the window. I just got this thing detailed this morning.”

I opened my eyes and held back a groan. Reality had struck again.

I was sitting in the passenger seat of a red-coated Maserati, and there was a glittering “Miss Edgewood” crown in my lap. The man sitting behind the wheel was Grant Harrison, one of the biggest assholes I’d ever known.

“What were you thinking about?” he asked. “How excited are you to watch me judge the swimsuit competition? I’m awarding extra points to whoever has the best ass and tits.”

“I can promise you that I wasn’t thinking about that at all.”

“Well, you should be.” He looked over at me. “Now that you have to give your crown away to the next girl, you should be interested in who is taking your place. Hopefully, the new Miss Edgewood will be down to fuck, unlike you. Then again, I’ve enjoyed sleeping with some of the runners up in the past.”

I rolled my eyes and looked ahead, tuning out his words. We still had five more miles before we got to The Salted Shores Fair, and I could only deal with him in doses.

Born wealthy to the other “royal” Edgewood family, he was gorgeous with striking blue eyes that could take any woman’s breath away. With chiseled abs and the cocky smile to match, he was the type of man who was well aware that the universe had blessed him with a winning hand of cards. A hand he often played to his advantage.

We’d been forced playmates since the age of five, and although we knew each other well, our connection was far too strained for me to consider him a friend. Especially now that he was only a year away from inheriting his part of his family’s eight-hundred-million-dollar estate, and he’d evolved into even more of a jerk.

The sea blue Ferris Wheel finally came into view ahead, and I let out a breath.

Just turn in your crown, say “Good luck tonight, ladies,” and ride the Ferris Wheel until it’s time to leave…

“Are you planning to leave the fair with me tonight, Kate?” Grant asked, as he swerved in front of an eighteen-wheeler.

“Probably,” I said. “Don’t worry. I’ll be more than ready to leave whenever you are.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about at all. I’m more worried about how much you’ve been taking advantage of me lately.”

“What?”

“I feel like you don’t appreciate all the free rides I give to you. You never say anything when I pick you up.”

“Okay, well…” I gave him my best sincere face. “Thank you, Grant. I truly appreciate all the rides.”

“I’m sure you do.” He smiled and switched lanes. “I was thinking you could show me that appreciation, though. Actions speak louder than words, you know?”

“Okay…Do you want me to start giving you gas money?”

“No,” he said. “I want you to start giving my cock a little oral appreciation whenever I pick you up. Treat me to some road head whenever I’m driving, so I can relax behind the wheel.”

What the fuck? “Please tell me you’re joking right now.”

“Do you see me laughing? Everyone probably thinks we’re fucking anyway, so it wouldn’t be a big deal. Besides, I’m sure you’ll be begging me to be your boyfriend someday, so I’ll need to get a sample of your mouth before I consider committing to you.”

“I’m going to pretend like you didn’t just say that to me.”

“Why? I’m more than willing to repeat it.”

“Pull the car over. Now.”

“Really?” He smiled, slowing the car to a crawl. “If talking to you like that turns you on, I have even more where that came from.” He pulled the car to the emergency lane and unbuckled his pants within seconds. “Take it all the way down your pretty little throat and watch your teeth.”