His Pickle Her Jam (Cherry On Top Tales #4)

Chapter Eighteen-Jan

Day 9 of Block Party Prepping (1 to go) and possibly the worst day of my life

“Let go,” I begged.

“No. Turn around.”

He used the same tone when we were in bed together. It was the one I couldn’t help but listen to.

His breath warmed my neck, and I wanted to shy away from it. The idea he’d been kissing her. Touching her. Made me want to vomit.

But my own body betrayed me, craving his command. I turned around, still trapped inside his embrace.

“Just let me go,” I pleaded, embarrassed and more hurt than I cared to admit.

“No, Jan Baby, I won’t let you go,” he growled, and he looked furious. “When we started this thing, I asked if you were mine if I could have you and you said yes.”

“What are you talking about?” I replied, pushing against his chest.

But the fucker was too strong.

“It was all just sex to you. Let me go!” I repeated.

“No, Pretty Girl. It was never just sex. You had your chance to tell me no, but you said yes.”

“Fine,” I shouted. “I said yes, but I didn’t think I was one in a long line of fuck buddies!”

“You are not one in a long line of anything, and I don’t have fuck buddies,” he growled, his anger palpable now.

Buck’s eyes darkened as he walked us forward until my back was pressed up against my car door. The summer evening breeze flowed around us, but it was still hot, and with his body on mine, it felt damn near sweltering.

“You and me are the real deal, Jan. Don’t you get it?”

“No. You're confusing things,” I told him, turning my head so I didn’t have to look into his eyes anymore.

“Look at me, Jan,” he commanded and weakling that I was, I did.

“I'm not the one who's confused. I can see we have a few misunderstandings between us?—”

“Oh, I don’t think the half-naked woman who answered your door is a misunderstanding, Buck.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“What?”

“You call me David. Not Buck.”

“I called you David when I thought what we had was special,” I whispered, embarrassed by my own needy sentimentality.

“What we have is special, Pretty Girl. Just let me clear up a few things for you,” he begged and giving in, I nodded.

“Fine. Start with why that woman answered your door like that!”

I knew I was being belligerent, but I had to remind myself why I was angry. It was all too easy to forget when he was holding me, and his delicious spicy aroma was filling my nostrils.

“One, I don't know what you think you saw, but I have a good guess. So, let me start by explaining the woman in my house answered the door half naked because she's a slob and always has been since were kids.”

“Kids?” I asked, my gaze snapping to his.

“Yeah kids, Jan Baby. That woman is Mel. Or Melanie. She’s my cousin. My first cousin, in case you get ideas about that,” he said, eyes narrowed.

“Uh. I see.”

“Uh huh, now you see, don’t you? Two, I don't know what you think about our time together, Jan Baby, but this isn't casual to me. It’s not just sex. You said you were mine,” he repeated.

“I did,” I whispered, my gut twisting with guilt, lingering hurt, and something else. Maybe hope.

“Good, because you are mine and I mean to keep to you.”

“Keep me? I'm not a stray kitten you found outside your doorstep,” I scoffed, trying to ignore the fact tears still rolled down my cheeks.

“No, you're no kitten. You're a goddamn tiger with claws, aren't you, Jan Baby? A ferocious queen and I love every inch of you. Your sassy attitude, your quick wit, your charm, your humor, but what I love even more is the way you give it your all when we’re together. And when it's me and you alone, I'm the one in charge, right, Pretty Girl?”

“Y-yes,” I replied, my heart pounding.

I wasn’t sure, but I thought I heard him say he loved me.

It was crazy. Too soon. But was it possible?

“Good Girl,” he said, praising me like I needed him to. “Now, as the one in charge I think I should probably tell you that me and you aren't over. We're never gonna be over because, in case you didn’t hear me clearly, I love you.”

“You love me?” I whispered, afraid to believe it.

But I wanted to. I really did.

“That’s right. I have a for a while now. Maybe since day one, I'm not sure. But I do. I love you. It's true. And it's real. And I'm sure you're gonna fight it. Hell, I wouldn't expect anything less from you,” he said, flashing me a grin designed to melt my panties.

Swoon.