Chapter 8: Josie

Chapter Eight

JOSIE

F or the first time in days, I feel myself relax. A sense of safety I haven't felt in forever flows over me, and I know it has everything to do with Mick and not only because I left the city. It’s all him. He gives me a sense of security and safety that no one else ever has.

I try to keep my attention on the computer so that my eyes don’t stalk Mick’s every move. It’s much harder than you can imagine. Before he left for Vegas, he already had some muscle on him, but now there is more. It’s not a bulky muscle either; it fits his body just right. He even moves differently. There is almost a gracefulness to it. He’s quick on his feet.

Mick has truly transformed from a boy to a man, and my body is liking what it sees and taking in every detail. I shift in the chair. A dull ache is forming between my thighs. There is no way with Mick being here that I will be able to take care of myself to help take the edge off.

“How was the flight?”

“You mean first class?” I give him a pointed stare. It was kind of badass. I felt fancy but a bit out of place. Still, the flight had dragged on. I had a mixture of emotions about seeing Mick again. There is still this weird tension between us, or maybe it’s only one-sided.

“I had the points.” He shrugs. I can only shake my head at him. There is no use fighting about it now. Even if I do enjoy our banter.

I don’t think Mick is aware he left himself logged in. I know I shouldn’t be clicking through the chats, but here I am. He’d gone off on a few people on my behalf. I should probably tell him to knock it off, but I clear them out instead. I can't bring myself to scold him for trying to stick up for me. It’s nice to have someone that cares in my corner. It's been a while since I felt that. The problem is I can't let myself get used to it. I have to keep reminding myself that this is all temporary.

“You cleared your history, right? I don't need to see your porn searches," I tease him.

I peek out of the corner of my eye, thinking I’m going to see a panicked expression on his face, but he’s only shaking his head at me.

“You’ll be disappointed.”

“Why, because you're vanilla?” I wiggle my brows at him.

“And what are you?” he tosses back at me. I turn my attention back to the screen so I’m not facing him. I don’t want him to see the pink that has crept into my cheeks.

“I don’t kiss and tell.” Not a lie; there just isn’t anything to tell. Mick slams the refrigerator door, making me jump. “You okay?”

“I’m going to take a quick shower before the food gets here.” He practically stomps off.

What the fuck was that? Is he pissed at me? Mick and I had never joked about sex before, but that was back in high school, when neither of us had dated. Was he annoyed by the thought of me kissing someone else?

No way it’s jealousy. Mick has never made any kind of move on me. There have been instances in which I have shamelessly bent over in front of him or leaned over close to him to make my breast rub against his arm. I never got a reaction. This must be some big brother complex.

I follow him into his bedroom, not wanting him to be angry with me. Usually, it's me who gets annoyed with him, not the other way around. I don't like it.

“Mick, I’m–” I cut off when I see he is as naked as he could be. More than that, his cock is hard and pointed upward. I swear I hear myself swallow, and my mouth suddenly feels like a damn desert. I guess Mick is big all over. “I’m sorry.” I finally find my words. Heat rushes to my face. I quickly cover my face with my hands.

“Shit,” he mutters. When I try to flee, I turn around and run into a wall. With my hands blocking my line of sight, I totally misjudged which way to go. “Josie.” Mick rushes over to me. “Are you okay?” His big hands cup my face to look me over.

“I’m okay,” I try to reassure him.

My mind screams at me to not look down, but of course I do. Mick’s cock is pressed against my stomach. That throb between my legs grows.

“Mick.” I whisper his name, but neither of us move. Even his hands stay cupping my face. His eyes drop to my mouth. I swear time stands still. Unable to handle what might happen next, I let my eyes fall closed. I can't face him rejecting me, but I'm not sure what a kiss will do to me either. Not knowing what I’m missing would probably be best. But I have to admit that I really want to know what it feels like to have his mouth on mine.

Warm breath tickles my lips before a loud bang has me jumping back. Mick’s hands fall away. It’s followed by another.

“Probably the food.”

“Right.” I step back. “I’ll get it.” I turn and rush out of the bedroom.

“Don’t answer the door!” he calls after me. I stop right before I’m about to flip the lock. “Did you even look through the peephole?” Mick scolds, coming out of the bedroom with only a pair of gym shorts on.

"I, ah—" I'm too flustered to get a full response out. Instead, I move away from the door and back to the computer. Mick answers the door himself. It is in fact our food.

“I hope you're hungry.” He sets the bags down and pulls out some plates.

“Starving,” I respond. If I thought things were awkward before, they are even more awkward now.

Was he thinking about kissing me, or did he feel bad that I closed my eyes and he believed he had to so I didn’t make a fool of myself? I can’t find the will to ask. Instead, I shove my mouth full of food, eating more than I have in weeks.

Exhaustion starts to take over. With the travel, my emotions all over the place, a full stomach, and my lack of sleep, it all catches up to me at once.

“Hey,” I mutter when Mick lifts me into his arms, carrying me to bed. I’m barely awake. Hell, I might be dreaming.

“Sleep.” He lays me down and then pulls the blanket over me. When he turns to leave, I snag his hand.

“Lie down with me.”

“Jojo, I’m not sure–”

“Please,” I whisper. “I feel safe when you’re with me.”

With that, he slips into the bed next to me. In my sleepy daze, I let my body do what it wants, turning so I’m closer to him. I lay my head on his bare chest, my arm falling across his stomach. Sleep quickly pulls me fully under.