13. Jones

CHAPTER 13

Jones

M y phone blows up on the nightstand beside my bed. But I honestly couldn't give a shit who's trying to reach me and for what reason. Because I'm in heaven right now with a sleeping Mia tucked in my arms. So help the fucker who interrupts this.

Last night with Mia was better than it's ever been before. I try to block out the intrusive thoughts that it's probably because she's more experienced than she was before. Just the thought of another guy putting his hands on her body, seeing her naked, sliding his cock into her pussy, causes the veins to pop at my temples and my blood to boil.

And yet, I know it's impossible that she didn't have a single relationship since we broke up. God knows I've had my fair share. More than my fair share. I think I occupied more than half of the men in Maple Ridge's fair share too. We'll probably need to have that conversation, but the first time we're together after all these years didn't feel like the right time.

Mia stirs and releases a satisfied moan. My dick stands at attention at just the sound, already whipped like I used to be. Anxiety creeps in. I swore if Mia ever came back to Maple Ridge, I'd never be pussy-whipped again.

But her tongue darts out and licks her lips and I'm caught in the Mia-trance. With her eyes still closed, I press a kiss to her wet lips. She smiles and moans again, this time in a softer way. I drag the tip of my nose down her face.

"Do you know how many times I dreamed about waking up like this?" I say, and then I want to take the words right back. What is happening? What is Mia doing to me? I want to punch myself in the balls for being so vulnerable.

Her eyes flutter open. "Probably not as many times as me."

Her words ease my anxiety slightly. She curls into me further and peers up at me.

"I can't remember the last time I slept that good."

I chuckle, but this time I don't agree with her. Even if I can. "I don't know how that's possible. I think it was after five a.m. by the time we fell asleep."

"Oh shit." Mia untangles herself from my embrace and springs out of bed, searching for her phone. "Shit, shit, shit."

"What is it?" I sit up and lean against the headboard.

"What time is it? I was supposed to open Base Camp today."

Daylight is already streaming through the cracks between the blinds. I have the sinking feeling she's already late. "My phone is on the nightstand."

She picks it up and shrieks. "We open in ten minutes. Where is my phone?" She searches around the bed and on the floor by the bed. "And my underwear?"

I chuckle and she shoots a glare at me. "You're enjoying this?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help it. I'm enjoying the view."

It's now she realizes she's dressed in only one of my white tank tops. She's giving me quite the show while she's been scrambling around.

"Ugh, Jones," she whines. "Would you please help me look?"

I sigh and crawl out of bed. "I will help you look for your phone, but I can't make any promises about your underwear."

"Ahh, here it is," she says, after finding her phone under the bed.

When I fold back the covers, I find the red fabric in between the sheets and hold it up in the air. She swipes at them but I pull them out of reach.

She glares. "Jones," her tone is threatening. "I have to go."

"When will I see you again?"

"I don't know."

"We're supposed to be working on Bike and Beers."

"Right, okay. I'll meet you there."

I release her underwear and she steps into them. She plants a kiss on my mouth before she gathers the rest of her clothes and hurries down the stairs, getting dressed in the process.

There's a pit in my stomach. Our goodbye was rushed and a little awkward. It almost felt like a one-night stand. Though I've never been the one on the other end. I've always been the one doing the leaving.

I hate the way I feel right now.

Cammie

I'm not gonna tell you this is a bad idea. But I will ask if you think this is a good idea?

I just worry about you.

Maverick

Attaboy!

Rosie

It's about time my girl got laid. Just too bad it had to be by you. What a disappointment.

That last text has my brain spinning. How long has it been since Mia had sex? And who was it with?

I'd be an idiot to think I was her last. I'd be even more of an idiot to wish it.

If Mia told Cammie and Rosie that we hooked up, it probably means that at least she doesn't regret it. It's the only thing consoling my bruised ego after the way she rushed out of my apartment this morning.

It's late afternoon and my shift doesn't begin until 6 p.m. so I go against my better judgment and decide to pick up coffee and take it to Mia at work. Since I never finished putting my truck back together last night, I shuffle down Main Street toward Brew Box and avoid the Martin's Hardware on the way.

And it's not Dad I'm avoiding.

Cammie's maternal instincts have kicked in now that Mia is back in town. Even though she has been close with Mia since we were all kids, I'm blood and she'll always have my back. But it seems like ever since Mom passed away, Cammie has tried to mother me.

This time, I don't need it. Mia and I are adults. We gotta figure this shit out on our own.

Tugging the brim of my hat down, I enter Brew Box and head straight for the counter. My shoulder slams into someone and I reach out to brace them so I don't accidentally send them flying to the ground.

"Oh, hey, Jones," Nico says, holding onto my forearm too before giving me a few pats on the back.

"Hey, sorry, man."

We end our awkward run-in with a manly fist-bump.

Relief fills me that it's Rosie's boyfriend I've bumped into instead of Rosie. After a quick glance around the coffee shop, I don't spot her. Don't get me wrong, I love Rosie. But now, hours after Mia and hooked up is not the time I want to see her. She'll give me shit and I don't really have anything to give her shit back about right now.

"How are you?" Nico asks, heading behind the counter.

"I'm good. You?"

"I oughtta kick your ass for gettin' me in trouble," he says in a playful tone.

"I guess you shouldn't have been loyal to me and should've told your girlfriend my secret. I don't recall even asking you to keep it."

He waves me off. "Nah, wasn't my place to tell."

As much as I don't want to admit it to Rosie, Nico is a good man.

"Guess not. Thanks."

"Y'all owe me."

"Next beer is on me."

He tips his cowboy hat at me. "You're on. Hey, listen, I gotta meet Rosie out at the cabin. A lil' afternoon delight, if ya know what I mean?" He waggles his eyebrows and I chuckle.

Everyone inside Brew Box knows what he means.

"I'll catch you later. Hopin' to meet your lady friend soon." Heading toward the door, Nico calls to the barista. "Give Jones whatever he wants." And then he's out the door.

Holding a cup of coffee in each hand, I go inside Base Camp Sports, and my stupid heart is beating too fast. I search around the store and when my gaze falls on Mia behind the counter, my entire body tingles. My imagination takes off like a bullet, a flashback of everything we did the night before monopolizing my brain. If it wasn't before, the image of her naked body is permanently seared into my memory.

She glances up and we make eye contact. My heart stalls in my chest as I anticipate her reaction. After what feels like forever, a smile pulls at her lips and my stiff shoulders relax. She whispers to the cashier next to her before moving around the counter and rushing toward me.

"Thought you might be tired, so I brought you coffee. A nonfat cinnamon dolce latte?"

Blush creeps into her cheeks. "Perfect. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She takes the cup and snatches my hand, dragging me through the store. We reach the door to the stock room, and she pushes me inside. This room is almost as familiar as the rest of this shop. We spent many make-out sessions in here trying to hide from her parents. I think she gave me my first hand-job in here.

And I swear my dick goes hard at just the memory.

Mia takes a sip of the coffee. "You remembered."

"Of course, I remember. How many times did we drive into Denver just so you could order that shit at one of those fancy-ass cafes?"

"Right," she mumbles with a nod. "Listen," she begins, setting her coffee down on a counter before placing her palms against my chest, her fingers curling into my muscles. "I hated how we left things this morning."

I stroke my thumb across her cheek and gaze down at her. "We?"

She smiles. "Okay, you're right. Me."

"As long as we got that straight."

She sucks her lip in between her teeth.

I give her forehead a light kiss before saying, "What's going on in that beautiful head of yours?"

"I'm scared," she finally whispers.

And my gut tightens. "'bout what?"

"Getting wrapped up with you again, it's dangerous." Her lashes sweep up as she peers into my eyes finally.

And she's so fucking adorable I'm almost afraid I'll say anything to convince her to be with me. To never leave me again.

"Peaches, I'd get wrapped up with you again and again."

She snorts a laugh and gives me a swat on my chest. "I'm serious, Jones."

I snatch her hand in mine. "So am I."

"What are we even doing?" her words rush out in a whisper before she continues. "Because I can't promise you more than this summer. I have a life back in Connecticut."

I don't know if it's the reminder, or if it's the terror of losing her again, but my pulse races. And it has me worried as hell I won't be strong enough to let her go again.

But it's a risk I'm willing to take. She's here now. And I need her like I need fucking air in my lungs.

"We're taking advantage of a bad situation. You came back because of your dad's stroke. And here we are, caught back up in our love affair. So if that's all it can be, a summer spent fucking you every chance I get, I'll take it."

"You sure?" She bites her lower lip again and I tug it free with my thumb.

"I'll take you any way I can have you, Peaches."

With that, I lift her up and set her on the counter. She's so tempting in this little black skirt and cowboy boots that go to her knees. I can't help myself. With one hand on each of her thighs, I shove her legs open. Her green eyes go wide and I'm unable to fight back the smile pulling at my lips.

I slide a hand to her center, the pad of my thumb skidding across the silky fabric covering her pussy. Her intake of breath is audible at my touch. I take a few seconds to tease her like this, over the top of her underwear before I grow impatient and need to feel her.

My fingers are as greedy as my dick. I slip them inside her underwear and saliva pools in my mouth when I find her already wet for me. My thumb rubs in circles over her clit, and she squirms.

"Jones," she hisses. "What are you doing?"

"You left in such a hurry this morning."

She grips my shoulders, and whispers, "What if someone comes in? Like my mom?"

She's so cute when she's all flustered like this.

"Well, she'll just have to get in line," I chuckle.

I'm prepared for the swat to my shoulder and tense up.

"You're disgusting."

"You and I both know you love it when I'm disgusting." I waggle my brows and drag my thumb over her center, and she simply rolls her eyes in reply.

Mia likes it when I dip my finger into her pussy only slightly but pay extra attention to her clit. It's so sensitive so I have to take my time, or she'll come in a matter of seconds. But she deserves me to take my time.

I tug her to the edge of the counter and shove her knee up before lowering my mouth to her. Tugging her underwear down with my teeth, I'm given a close-up of her pretty pink bud. And I don't know how I've gotten so damn lucky.

My tongue darts out and sweeps up the length of her, licking her like she's the sweetest lollipop. Only she tastes better. So much so, I can't get enough. I could bend down, with my head up her dress, lapping her up all fucking day long.

Except she won't last that long.

"Jones," she mumbles. This time it's less in warning and more out of pleasure.

The sound of my name from her lips has me so hard, that the restraint is nearly torturous.

"That's it, take it. Take what you need." The pressure builds on my tongue, and I slide it upwards from her entrance all the way up past her clit and she thrusts against my mouth.

"I need this…I need you…" she pants.

I work my fingers over her, taking a moment to glance up at her and revel in how beautiful she looks right now. With her hands bracing the edge of the counter, she lets her head fall back, and her legs are spread wide. I'm the luckiest asshole this side of the Rockies.

Her head flies up and our eyes meet.

"What are you doing? Don't stop now," she commands.

A delicious smile pulls at my lips.

"Making you squirm is so much fun."

"Jones," she whines, dragging out my name.

I chuckle before lowering my mouth back to her. My tongue flicks against her clit and she moans.

In a matter of seconds, she's writhing against my mouth and humming my name over and over. And I swear I could live and die this way and be the happiest guy in the world. When she finally stills, I lift my head and find her flushed and grinning.

But her smile is painfully beautiful. It's a reminder that I don't get to live and die this way. I've only been given the summer.

I tug her underwear back up her legs and help her hop off the counter. "I better let you get back to work."

She adjusts her skirt. "Are we still on for the bike ride?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

She smiles wide and my heart nearly lurches out of my chest. Are we capable of having a summer fling? Am I? Because at this moment, I want her for the rest of my life.