Changing His Game (13 page)

Chapter Seven

I've almost drifted off to sleep when I hear the door next to me being opened. I turn my head to the door and watch as Jared crawls into the back seat. He has a towel wrapped around the back of his neck and he's dressed in the white ribbed tank and gray lounge pants.

His eyes are burning into mine, and I can't help but flinch and close my eyes as he moves to sit directly next to me. I can smell the sex dripping out of his pores. He reeks of it.

He could have at least showered before getting back in the car.

"Why'd you leave, Billy?"

I keep my eyes closed as I say the first lie I can think of. "Migraine."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I just need to sleep it off."

His hands come up to gently massage my temples. The feeling of his fingertips on my skin is soothing.

"My mom used to get really bad migraines when I was a kid. We’ll put a cold compress behind your neck and a cool rag on your forehead when we get back home. That should help you relax and hopefully fall asleep."

He's being so attentive and sweet. I never had this with Brock. Brock never took care of me or was concerned when I was sick. I almost feel bad that I've lied to Jared about having a migraine. I quickly get over the small feeling of guilt when I remember that he just fucked another woman in front of me, after getting hard from looking at me.

He turns his body so his back and head are leaning against his door, and he pulls me into the opening of his legs, my back to his chest.

"Lean your head back." I do my best to ignore the smell of sex on him and do as he says. I don't want him to know that his performance inside the warehouse bothers me.

He brings his hands back up and continues to rub my temples the entire way home, massaging them in circles and applying just the right amount of pressure. I’m sure if I actually had a migraine, this would probably help relieve the pain.

We get back to his house and Jared insists on carrying me in. I put my feet down, literally, and walk myself into his large home before he tries to force me to let him carry me.

"Go up to my room and lay down on the bed. I’ll bring the compress up in a minute."

I don't feel like arguing with him because I know he'll end up winning. I drag my feet all the way to his room and lay down in the bed on top of the covers. I let my head hit the pillow and I'm instantly engulfed in Jared's delicious scent. The scent I love on him, not the scent of sex he's currently sporting.

I turn my head into the pillow and inhale deeply. I can't get enough of him.

"What are you doing?" Jared asks curiously, as he makes his way to the bed with a cold compress and rag.

"Huh?" I decide to play dumb.

Jared shakes his head, "Never mind. I'm going to take a shower and you need to get more comfortable. Throw on a pair of my boxers and a t-shirt, and then get under the covers. The compress goes behind your neck and the cool rag goes on your forehead. Hopefully it will give you some relief."

"Thanks," I whisper.

"Don't thank me unless it works. It used to work on my mom so hopefully it’s a universal remedy."

He leans down and kisses me tenderly on the forehead before moving and going into the adjoining bathroom.

I change quickly into his t-shirt and boxers and hop back into bed. I apply the compress to the back of my neck and place the cool rag on my forehead. I'm hoping to fall asleep before Jared leaves the bathroom. I can't handle much more today.

I really want to get up and call my sister, or even my aunt, and get their advice. I also have the urge to flee and go home. It's the first time since I’ve been here that I actually want to leave.

These thoughts begin to make a home in my head when I hear the bathroom door open and Jared walks out in just a towel. He goes to his dresser and pulls out boxers for himself. Either he doesn't realize I'm up or he doesn't care because he drops the towel, giving me a perfect view of his firm ass.

He slips the boxers on and turns around to face the bed. I'm stunned and my body refuses to make even the slightest movement. It's early in the afternoon. Why is he hopping in bed with me?

Jared pulls back the comforter and slips inside, scooting his body close to mine. He drapes a hand against the top of my pillow as his other hand sweeps aside the hair that’s fallen on my cheek. He caresses my skin softly while making a soft cooing sound from the back of his throat.

"Try to sleep, babe," he whispers, continuing the soothing movement of his hand on my cheek.

I want to protest, but I can't. He's showered and all I can do is be consumed by the smell of him. I'm convinced that this must be what heaven smells like because it's the most wonderful smell in the world. I continue to take in slow, deep breaths while Jared's hands move over me and I eventually drift off to sleep.

★★★

I wake up in a familiar position, cocooned in Jared's arms. The warmth radiating from his skin, combined with the comforter over us is making me feel hot. Too hot, but I don't want to move. Being in his arms feels too perfect.

The room is still lit by the sun, but it's not as bright. I start to wonder how long we've been sleeping when I feel Jared start to stir next to me. His arms tighten around me, squeezing me closer to his firm body. Then his arms are suddenly gone and his eyes are wide open.

"Hi..."

"Hi," he responds huskily. "Are you feeling better?"

Oh, right, I was supposed to have a migraine.

"Yes, actually I am. My headache's gone so I guess you knew what you were talking about."

"I always do," he says confidentially. "What do you say if we order in and just relax tonight? I just got the entire first season of Dexter on DVD. We can watch that and order in some Chinese food or pizza. Actually, let's do Pizza because there's MSG in Chinese food and that is known as a possible trigger for migraines."

I squint my eyes at him humorously and can't help the smile that comes to my face. "You can be so surprising. I would've never expected you to be so knowledgeable."

"Why, because I'm a porn star?"

"No. No, because you're a male. The men I know aren't as attentive as you are."

His hand comes up and he playfully messes up my hair.

"You've been hanging out with the wrong guys. Thank fuck I'm here to fix that."

"Yeah, you've been a great friend to me," I giggle.

"And I'm going to continue to be," he adds.

Jared goes to the bathroom in search for his lounge pants and grabs his cell phone out of the front pocket. I watch as he dials and orders a pizza for us. His confidence is always present, even in a phone call. He stands straight with his broad shoulders and muscular back facing me, and talks to the person on the other end of the phone with authority. It's extremely sexy.

"Pizza should be here in thirty. I’m going to go downstairs and grab Dexter and some beer."

When Jared leaves the room I get up in search of my purse. I find it on the floor and dig through the bag in search for my cell phone. I need to text my sister.

Me: Can you talk tomorrow?

I don't expect to get a response right away, so I'm startled when my phone chimes almost immediately with an incoming text.

Winnie: Sure. I can talk now 2 if u want.

Me: Can't now I'm busy.

Winnie: Did u find a job? R u working right now?

Me: I did, it's a long story, but I'm at the house right now.

Winnie: ? So y can't u talk?

Me: Pizza and Dexter marathon with Jared.

Winnie: Just u 2?

Me: Yes.

Winnie: SQUEEEEE!!!!!! What does that mean? R u fucking him?

I can't believe she asked me that. I'm not some kind of whore who just hops into bed with someone I've known for only a week. Oh wait, I would have if he had a condom last night. Shit!

Me: No I'm not fucking him. We're friends, good friends. He's been here for me.

Winnie: Listen 2 me!!! Do not get in the friend zone. It will ruin any chances u have of hooking up with him. Trust me u want to hook up with him. His dick is so thick and huge. I'd probably come on contact.

Me: Jeez Winnie, he's not a piece of meat. He's a person and has feelings.

Me: Plus, I’m not interested in him like that. He’s my boss.

Winnie: U work 4 him?

Dammit. I wasn't paying attention when I texted her and didn't realize I gave out information I haven't told her yet.

Me: I didn't tell you? I'm his assistant.

Winnie: Being his assistant means u have 2 go 2 work with him so u must have seen the dick God blessed him with.

I've done more than see it; I've touched it. I've imagined sucking and licking it until he comes down the back of my throat... and I'd take all of it.

Me: Yes I've seen it. It's no big deal.

Winnie: NO BIG DEAL??? U R crazy.

As I'm reading the last text from her, Jared walks in with the pizza, a six-pack of beer, and the Dexter DVDs. I must have been texting my sister longer than I thought if the pizza is already here.

"Ready to start?" He asks me, eyeing the phone in my hand.

"Yep, just hold on a sec. I've got to send out one more text."

Me: Gotta go. Pizza's here.

I hit send and turn off my phone. I know Winnie will not be satisfied with that text and I'll probably wake up to five or so texts from her when I turn back on my phone.

We get comfortable on the bed after Jared sets up the DVD and hits play on the first episode. He opens the box of cheese pizza and we eat straight out of the box. I would normally never do this, but Jared seems to be more comfortable eating this way.

We make small talk about what's happening on the show and giggle at some of the parts that are over the top, but for the most part I really love this show. By the time we finish the third episode, the pizza's gone and so is the beer.

Our backs are against the silver headboard of Jared's bed and our legs are stretched out in front of us. My stomach feels like it might explode from all the food and beer I consumed. I would be more self-conscious about it, but Jared seems to enjoy my appetite.

"You're the only woman in this town who knows how to enjoy a good meal," he had said to me when I was eating my third piece of pizza.

Now I'm debating if all that pizza was a good move.

"Who were you texting earlier?" Jared asks, turning his head to look at me.

I turn to face him since he's paused the DVD at the beginning of the fourth episode.

"My sister. I'm going to call her tomorrow?"

"Do you miss her?"

"Yeah, I do. We're really close so she's one of the few people I actually do miss."

"So you don't want to go back to Michigan?" He looks almost worried. I'm not sure if he's worried I'll say yes or no.

"I guess I am imposing on your life by living here." I want him to know that I realize how great he is being by letting me stay here.

Jared nudges my shoulder to bring my attention back to him. "I'm going to say this one last time, and then you better not mention it again. I want you here, if I didn’t I would have kicked you out already."

I smile and nudge him back, "Thanks, Jared."

"I bet she's not too happy about you staying and living with a complete stranger."

"Are you kidding me? I'm surprised I haven't found her on your doorstep yet. She's a huge fan of yours. The whole time I was living this naive, innocent life in Michigan, my sister and aunt were huge Brandon Boner fans."

"Yeah, but I'm not Brandon, I'm Jared." For the first time since I met him I feel like he almost regrets his Brandon Boner persona.

"I know that. I've never called you Brandon unless we're in a professional setting. I think of you as Jared, this sweet, loveable guy who's let me stay with him while I'm trying to put the pieces of my life back together."

"I'm loveable, huh?"

"You know what I mean," I say, grabbing the pillow from behind me and whacking him across the chest.

"You want to play dirty," he mumbles, grabbing the pillow his back was resting on and preparing to hit me with it. "I'll play dirty."

I pull my pillow back to hit him again, but before I can he's charging at me on the bed, and I fall backwards on the mattress. That's when he swats me with the pillow. He's being easy on me because I know he could hit me a lot harder. When he pulls back for a second swing, my hands go out to his sides and I start to tickle him, unsure if it will work. I get lucky because Jared is unbelievably ticklish. He starts laughing and drops the pillow almost as soon as my hands hit his ripped stomach.