Hell (8 page)

Fuck the elevators; I took the stairs two at a time.

There was no valid reason for that son of a bitch to be down there with my girl. I’d picked up his game the day we’d been in his uncle’s office—he wanted her. What was mine. And I was a greedy motherfucker that didn’t share.

Once on the ground level, I pushed the door open and it banged against the wall. Like a gunshot in the silence of the night, its sound reverberated throughout the quiet of the garage. Announced my arrival and displeasure all at once.

Two faces turned to look over at where the sound had come from. Pissed and confused, I marched over to where they stood; my footfalls purposeful. Janelle looked at me with what I could only assume was panic and he, that asshole, looked smug.

“You’re needed upstairs.” No pleasantries needed. They were lucky as it was; I barely contained the snarl that wanted to be released at the sight of him next to her. His hand on the same wrist I had in my hands a few days ago.

“Did you pick where you’d like to go for lunch?” Glen interjected before Janelle could speak, ches
t
puffing out just a bit, as if he could scare me. At six one and 220 pounds I had, at the very least, sixty pounds on the idiot—benched-pressed his weight at the gym as if were nothing.

Dumbass.

Giving him an icy glare, I pulled Janelle from within his grasp and to my right. “The boys ruined the bathroom cabinet, it’s broken beyond repair, and we need you to approve the replacement.” The whole time I spoke, I watched him—dared his ass to speak up again.
Give me a reason.

“How did they—”

He scoffed beside me. “That can wait.” At that moment, the one thing that saved his ass from meeting the concrete floor was Janelle’s touch on my arm. The urge to clock him was almost unbearable.

“Come on,” she urged, pulling me toward the bank of elevators. “We’ll go up…” We? As in they will go up together.

“Fuck this.” I hissed low and a small gasp escaped her lips. The fingers on my arm tightened. That right there showed me all I needed to see. She was still playing games, while I was willing to give this weird thing between us an honest shot. Not caring in the least about what I’d think or…fuck, no. No feelings.

This was why I didn’t do relationships, much less love.

Without tenderness, I pried her fingers off, marched over to the elevator, and pressed the “up” button. Then waited. And pressed again.

Never had I ever felt the need to get away from a woman as much as I did at that moment. Fuck her.

Right behind me she stood a minute later, and I could hear her huffs of annoyance. Could feel her eyes on the back of my head. But not once did she deny that they were leaving together or that it wasn’t a personal appointment. So she could stick that annoyance up her tight little ass.

Another two minutes passed, and now she tapped her high-heeled shoe on the floor. “How’s the wiring coming along?”

“Fine.” One-word replies. Communication between us needed to be halted; if it wasn’t about work, then it wasn’t necessary. The doors opened and I stepped inside, took my place next to the floor panel, and looked ahead. Again, she tried to get close, but I pulled my phone out of my pocket and focused on a few old texts I had yet to answer.

One from Tony. Two from a chick I fucked on the regular back in Reno.

No strings. Just sex. Just what I needed at the moment to remind myself why caring got you in more trouble than it was worth.

“Yoshi, I need—”
None of that, sweetheart.

My cold eyes snapped up and met hers. “Name’s Joshua, Janelle. Not Yoshi. Be a little more respectful and use it, will you?” A look of pure hurt crossed her face and for a second, I felt like a dick. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

He was closer to her now. Almost had her back to his front.

“Have you thought about that weekend away I proposed?” Glen’s eyes never left my face while he spoke, an arrogant smirk on his lips while my fury grew. It’d be so easy; I could fuck him up in ways he’d never expect. The twenty-pound hammer in my pouch would do a great deal of damage alone.

“Joshua, please don’t.”

“Don’t worry; I won’t fuck him up over you. I see no reason to.” What happened between us was nothing more another hook-up for her. Chuckling, I turned to face her and leveled her with a cool look just as the doors opened. “You know what, don’t bother. We’ll figure it out, or wait for Kevin tomorrow. Go enjoy your meal and get the fuck out of my way.”

Making my way past her, I squeezed her hip. Dug my fingers in.

I heard the tiny mewl she released, and I hoped to God he did too. Hope she enjoyed it, because that would be the last time I ever touched her.

HELL

The next day I took off, but the one following I arrived at seven o’clock on the dot.

No extra coffee or bagel in my hand.

After talking to Tony the night before and answering a few texts form Gigi, my go-to girl for a quick fuck back home in Reno, I felt better. At peace with what happened. A small part of me was relieved; I’d dodged a huge bullet and could now go back to living the carefree lifestyle I was accustomed to.

Life was back on track, and this weekend I was going out and finding the one thing I was missing the most. Pussy was pussy—a way to get off without the help of my hand. Sure, you could never compare the one to the other. To have a warm body writhing, coming on your cock, was indescribable.

Tasted better when it came without the emotional bullshit.

With my head back in the game, I got off the truck and walked straight into the office.

“Morning,” I called out before taking another sip from my now warm coffee. Not waiting for them to reply, I made my way past her desk and over to mine. Her sweet floral scent hit me and for a brief second I paused, my goddamned cock twitching at the knowledge that she was near.

Ignoring it…her, I grabbed the clipboard atop my desk and perused the list. Eyeing the task sheet, I made mental notes on how to spread myself out throughout the day. I had to check in with the plumbers and make sure that they checked the possible damaged pipes in the model unit’s bathroom.

Placing the clipboard back down, I turned without another word and walked toward the exit, hand on handle, when she spoke.

“You’re late.” Two words. Two filled with apprehension. Tension mounted inside that small portable, and a small bead of sweat fell down my brow. I had to get the fuck out of this room before I said something hurtful.

No more.

“No,” I huffed, annoyed with her…with myself. “I’m not late. For the first time, I’m right on schedule—seven a.m. to five p.m. as it was stated in my hire packet.” Another sip from my cup. An occupied mouth couldn’t spew anger-filled truths.

“Do you have a minute, Joshua?” Then she sighed, her chair scraping against the cheap linoleum flooring they had used for the office. She was standing up; I could feel the heat of her eyes on me.

A sarcastic laugh bubbled out of me. “Used all my give-a-shit minutes yesterday. Today, I’m all out.” The last sip from my coffee tasted bitter. Tossing the now empty cup in the trash bin by the door, I tilted my head to the side and looked out into the already sweltering morning. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I get paid to work.”

Once I was out the door and a few feet away, I heard Kevin speak.

“What the fuck did you do, Janelle?” Tone angry, I heard the slam of a hand atop a desk and then another bough of silence for a few seconds. “Fucking hardheaded woman.”

Up until that very moment, I’d forgotten he was in the room with us.

HELL

Two excruciating days later where I did my best to avoid her, there was a knock at my door around eight p.m.

A persistent knock.

Surprised, I wrapped the towel I’d been using to dry off my hair around my waist and walked down the hall and to the door. Another knock.

“I’m coming,” I yelled out, but the person on the other side seemed to grow desperate and began to pound on the door. Fucking annoying neighbors. “One minute!”

My money was on it being the chick from across the hallway. Within a week’s time, she had already borrowed sugar, coffee, ketchup, and beer. Who borrows beer?

She eyed me each time. Wore the skimpiest gym clothes she could find at every opportunity and giggled at my every word like an airhead. Not attractive in the least.

But tonight, to get her off my dick, I’d fuck her.

“How can I be of service today?” Silence. Not a word. Unnerved me enough to look up and find the last person I was expecting. “Janelle?” She was the last person I
wanted
to see here.

Liar.

“Fuck me,” she breathed out, a husky undertone to her voice. I had to reach up and hold onto the door with the hand not supporting my weight against the door frame. Blocking her from entering.

Eyes hooded, pouty lips slightly open, she stood there and devoured my naked chest with her unwavering stare.

Even through the slight red haze of anger, I couldn’t deny what the very sight of her did to me. How those first hints of her scent made my chest expand—try to take all of her in.

I couldn’t let that happen again.

“Why are you here?” Gruff, my voice was a low grunt that made her skin break out in goosebumps. “Answer me.”

“I…I came to talk.” Little heaving breaths left her. Her chest, those fucking tits I tasted just a week ago, rose and fell with each deep inhale she pulled. I could easily make out the hardened tips through the thin tank top she wore.

The fingers holding onto the door tightened around the wooden edge. Seeing her taking me in—the way her eyes memorized every hard edge of naked skin she could reach—was fucking with my head.

My cock recognized the sweet heat her body exuded and twitched.

“Look, I think you should leave.” A pain-filled gasp left her, and my eyes snapped up from her chest and met her eyes. How had I missed the sad expression on her face? The small dark circles surrounding her eyes.

My girl looked exhausted.

“Please,” she begged, “let me have a few minutes.” It felt wrong to hear her supplicate that way. When she pled for me, I wanted it to be because I’d driven her past the point of being crazed with lust. Hunger. A yearning so strong it broke down her very wall and made her my perfect little cock whore.

No. Not like this.

With a sigh, I pushed off the door and grabbed her arm. She trembled with my touch, pressed herself closer against my body, and nestled her head against my chest.

“I’m sorry.” Her broken whisper was like a punch to the gut. I’d never wanted this for us.

For as much as I abhorred the idea of love, there was a part of me that with her wanted it all. To fall. To see past the day to day bullshit and know that I came home to someone who cared. Someone who worried if I was running late or was sick. Because, for the time I had my mother alive and well, I do remember my father’s smile.

The few dinners he was on time for and the way she doted on him. The giggling and love they shared. And then she died while I was young but had enough sense to make out the differences between the father I had prior to her departure.

With Janelle, I had been willing to see past my own stubbornness and fear and just…be. Let nature take its course and bring us closer. Live with the knowledge that life was never guaranteed, and that we were the circle of life’s bitches in a sense.

We were born to die.

Nevertheless, for the briefest of seconds, I could live with that fear as long as she gave me back what I was most afraid to give. Me.

“Shhh.” Kissing the top of her head, I wrapped my arms around her and gave what she seemed to need at the moment. My willingness to give her a moment of my time. Was this a mistake on my behalf? More than likely, but I couldn’t find it within me to deny her. “Come on, Janelle. Let’s talk.”

“One more minute,” she sighed against my chest, her arms wrapped tightly around my torso. “Just one more.”

The version of Janelle in front of me I didn’t understand. Where was my “I have bigger balls than you” girl?

What I held in my arms seemed unsure. Emotional.

“Look at me,” I breathed out, but she shook her head no. That wouldn’t do. Tipping her reluctant face up with the tip of my finger, I leaned down and kissed her cheek. Eyes still closed, she shivered as my lips caressed the soft skin. “Please.” Wet lashes fluttered, a single tear fell, and I wiped it away with my lips. “I need to see your eyes, sweetheart.”

A hum of pleasure passed through her lips and those eyes opened. “Call me that again.”

Tilting my head to the side, I raised a brow. “What?”

“Sweetheart. Makes me feel special…like I matter to you.” She gave me a shy smile, and it broke me. Had I not made the way I felt about her blatant? The way I needed more than just her body clear?

“Come with me.” I pulled her completely in and shut the door. With her hand in mine, I walked us past my kitchen and into the living room. Taking a seat on the all-black leather arm chair across from my sofa, I pulled her to stand in front of me. Knees parted, she stood between them with a confused look on her face.

“Joshua, I—”

“Take a seat,” I said, interrupting her from saying something foolish. Janelle tried and failed to set her hand free from my grasp. Her body moved back, but my hold on her wouldn’t let her get far. Two steps back at the most. “Sit.” This time it was a command.

“Listen, Joshua,” she tried once again, but I’m sure it was the hungry look in my eyes that made her stop. That breathy tone was going to get her fucked hard before the timing was right.

“Sit.”

“I can’t if you don’t release my hand.” Fucking crazy woman. “Shit!” she squeaked out at the sudden movement, tumbling forward and onto me. With a small tug, I had her sitting across my lap. Nestled in my arms.

They tightened around her narrow waist, pulled her against my every solid muscle. Hard to soft. Quiet as we breathed in the other’s exhale.

With little to no fight left, Janelle nuzzled her head into the crook of my neck. “Why do you make me this insane? Makes no sense.”

And it didn’t. We were both on the same goddamned sinking ship without even the most remote idea on how to float. Without wanting to learn.

“It’s the same for me.” Pushing back a bit, those warm eyes met mine. They spoke volumes. Confirmed all I needed to know.

Fucked. We’d both had no way to control whatever this was and were fucked.

“I’m lost, Yoshi.” Her tone was despondent, but even full of melancholy, she looked perfect. Beautiful. Mine.

A minuscule part of me wanted to push her off from her perch atop my legs—send her to hell, but I couldn’t. Every single cell of my DNA refused to let her go.

The
‘why’
for this madness I now understood, but voicing it just yet was out of the question. Not happening any time soon.

She’d realize the kind of control she held over me.

“So am I, but I’m willing to give the crazy, sexy, makes-no-goddamned-sense thing between us a chance.” My girl smiled, a real genuine and sweet little lift of her lips that made me almost return the sentiment. “The one thing, though, that I refuse to do is go into this alone.”

Turning in my lap, she straddled me. Slim hips met my own while she pressed herself as close as possible. Felt her heat through the thin layer of close separating us.

Soft hand, her small and delicate fingers reached up and caged my face in. Softly caressed while staring into my eyes. “All or nothing?” she asked, humming before giving my bottom lip a tiny lick. I twitched, became swollen beneath her tempting body, and she felt it. The small mewl of pleasure she released told me as much.

“All or nothing.” Repeating with a nod, I took ahold of her wide hips. Dug my fingers in and held her against me. Right there. Cock to pussy. “I want every fucking annoying thing.”

Nodding, she pulled back just a bit and eyed me saucily. There she was—cheeky and determined, a gleam in those beautiful orbs that excited me.

The woman I wanted, not the weak and unsure girl who’d showed up tonight.

“So when’s our first date?” Fucking cute. Eyes puffed up and nose still a tad bit pink at the tip from shedding a few tears earlier, she was still gorgeous.

Everything I had never thought I’d ever want.

“Tomorrow at five. Be ready for me.” I didn’t ask, and she knew that. This was a demand from the man she’d taken control of his every thought.

HELL

I was outside the company’s portable office at five on the dot the next night. A few cars lingered in the lot—her brother’s pretentious vehicle being one of them.

Tired and dirty, I knocked on the door with a single white lily in my hand. My plan had been to leave early and come back changed and with enough time to pick her up. Ready for her, but the one thing that this trade was, was an unpredictable bitch. What had started out as an easy day turned into a nightmare in the blink of an eye.

Biggest problem: the flooring in the lobby had been ruined by immaturity. The set limestone tiles had been damaged in a way that there was no way of correcting without cutting around the problem area with a grinder and chipping them out one by one. In large pieces if you were lucky, which we were not.

The carpenters had decided to do shit ass-backwards and brought in an old scaffolding unit to stain the already installed crown molding. Why the fuck they didn’t stain before installing beats me. But this could’ve been avoided.

I’d be damned if they made that mistake again.

All it took was one asshole trying to be funny and a spooked man up top for things to become messed up. Shit got rattled.

A gallon of stain fell on the unfinished limestone, and it soaked it up. Almost half the flooring in what would become a sitting area was ruined. Janelle had been furious, and Kevin wanted to deduct this out of our prankster’s check.

I was stuck on clean-up and repair duty for the remainder of the day. Motherfuckers had messed up my plans, and I made them pay in grunt work.

“Hey,” I called out, walking inside with my gift in hand. “You ready to go, sweetheart?”

She looked up at me, a surprised expression on her face. “You’re not canceling on me? I know you’re tired.”

Shaking my head, I let out a small chuckle. “Fuck and no, thank you. Just have to tweak the plans a bit…I’ll be cooking for us tonight.”

“Really?” Her smile was bright at the news, radiant. Alluring. I wanted to bite each lip and savor her unique flavor.

“Yeah.” Rubbing the back of my neck, I looked up at her from beneath my lashes. A small groan left her. “If you want? I’ll need to shower once I get home, but I have a nice bottle of wine you can enjoy while you wait.”

“Tempting.”

“Let me feed you.”

“Please,” she simpered and walked around her desk. “I’m famished.”

A throat cleared behind me. “So,” Kevin began, you could hear the amusement in his tone, “what time should I come over? An hour sound good?”

“I’ll hit you with my car.” That did not come from me. “Try me.”

“But—”

Hand on hip, Janelle leveled her brother with an icy glare. “Go home to your wife, Kev. Back off, or I’ll call and snitch. Tell her you’re avoiding her cooking again.”

His eyes, the same color as hers, widened comically as he let out a small gasp. “You wouldn’t…”

“As I said before…try me.” With that, my girl took ahold of my hand, entwined our fingers together, and marched out of the office, the flower I’d brought for her flopping as she pulled me all the way to where our cars were parked. Her Hummer and my pick-up.

“I’ll follow you. Now hurry up, Yoshi…this girl is hungry.”

“Yes, mistress,” I crooned and handed her the still intact lily. I’d almost forgotten all about it as they argued inside the small portable unit.

But now, seeing her eyes light up as she brought the flower up to her nose, it was worth the guys ragging on me earlier when I dared them to open the fridge I’d kept it in.

With a quick kiss to her lips, I opened her door and helped her get inside the monstrosity. Placed her in the seat and turned the engine on. She watched me with an amused expression as I buckled her in.

Another kiss.

“It’s about a twenty-minute ride. I’ll keep the speed down. Don’t lose me.”

She let out the cutest giggle. “Don’t drive like a grandpa on my account. I like things fast.”

Fuck.

“What about big and hard?” I taunted, while running a single finger down the soft skin of her thigh and leg. They say play with fire and you’ll get burned, and they were right.

“Can you give me that?”

I was going to become a charred motherfucker thanks to her.