Obsession (15 page)

My hand flew from my stomach to my
hips. “It’s called dancing. Sorry you couldn’t handle it.” I hissed
in frustration.

Mitch stood to his feet,
staring intently down at me. “Stop fighting this. We could be so
good together, Jamie.” He grabbed my arm, slowly pulling me from my
chair and to his chest. “The way our bodies moved together…I know
you felt it too.” His nose brushed my ear, and that same
suffocating feeling pulsed through my veins. I shoved him
forcefully, grabbing my neck again. “No, you’
re
delusional
. Go back to the blonde you were
with last night, or that poor girl you brought to
dinner.”

Mitch rolled his eyes.
“
Jesus,
Jamie, t
hose women mean nothing to me.
They’
re just
re
treads.”

“What the hell is a
retread?”

A slight grin came across his face.
“Girls I’ve already been with and can call for a good time. Like a
tire track, a road I’ve traveled on before.”

I groaned in disgust as I shoved his
chest, making him drop his arms from my waist. “You’re such a
pig.”

“It’d be different with you, Jamie.”
He coaxed, moving closer to me. I couldn’t take his proximity when
I was so furious with him. The urge to deck him and hump him
blurred together obnoxiously.

“You don’t even know what I
like.”

His hand moved a strand of hair from
my shoulder. “Let me find out.”

“No, not when you’re so willing to go
and screw some other woman the second I turn you down!”

“I don
’t do that,” he said
defensively.

“You sure went to that blonde fast
after I left your ass last night,” I snarled.

Mitch
’s scowl formed on his face
again. “What did you expect? The sexiest woman there got me all
worked up. I needed someone to take care of it.”

“That’s what your hand is for,
asshole.”

Mitch
’s eyebrow rose. “So you’re
jealous?”

“You wish.”

I turned on my heels, my hair whipping
him in the face as I headed to the elevator. I didn’t even care
about the onlookers who were staring while Mitch and I argued. They
didn’t seem to faze him either as he casually followed behind
me.

“Come on, one date. That’s
all I’m asking for,” Mitch murmured
behind me.
The
elevator dinged open before I told him no. “I
won’
t stop
asking.
”

“And I won’t stop saying no.” I
huffed, crossing my arms and leaning backward against the mirrors
that covered the inside of the elevator.

“
I’ll walk you to your
hotel.”

A devious smile spread
across my face. “I’m staying with your brother.”
Ha! That’d knock the smug grin from his
lips.

Instead, it got even bigger. “Great, I
live in the same building.”

Fuck my life.

Chapter Eleven

Jamie, Age 17.

My palms were sweaty as I
gripped the steering wheel. I’
d driven forty
-five
minutes in the pouring rain to a mall where I wouldn’t see anyone I
knew. Thankfully, Landon had to work at the country club this
weekend so I could take the car.

Rod wanted to pick me up,
but I was terrified my parents would somehow find out, so
I’d
lied
, telling them I was going out
with a friend from school. They were surprised at first,
considering I didn’t have many friends, but were happy I was going
out. I’d never given them a reason in the past to not trust
me.

I was also a touch frightened by the
last time I’d driven with him to the beach. He turned cold and
angry, and I wanted to have my own way out if need be.

Pounding on my window startled me. Rod
was standing in the rain, his hood hanging low on his forehead. His
eyes were bright blue as they stared at me through the
window.

“You scared me.” I laughed as I opened
the door.

He took my arm and quickly pulled me
to the mall entrance. “Wouldn’t have been startled if we could have
ridden together,” he grumbled.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, pulling
my hood over my head. “We both could get into huge trouble if
anyone saw us together outside of the department.”

Rod shoved the door open with his
shoulder, then pulled me to his chest once we were inside. “I think
it’s time I tell you we can’t get in trouble.” His grin was wicked
as he stared down at me. “My grandfather is the Chief of
Operations.”

I blinked up at him, causing his grin
to become wider. “He’s in charge of multiple city departments,
including Canal Point. I do no wrong in my grandfather’s
eyes.”

I looked at him questioningly. “But I
thought my dad—”

Rod moved his thumb to
cover my lips before I could continue talking. His gentle caress
was enough to make me lose my train of thought. “Sorry, sweetheart,
but my grandfather trumps us all. He could catch you sucking my
cock in the office and I’
d still have my job.
”

My eyes grew wide as I searched around
us, fearful other mall goers would hear Rod talk about me going
down on him. He laughed at my reaction.

“You’re so innocent, yet so
naughty.”

I narrowed my eyes at him.
I didn’t like when he referred to me as being young. “I’m
not
that
innocent.”

The heat in his eyes made my breath
catch. “Trust me, I know. I can’t wait to get you alone tonight. I
want to see just how naughty you’ll be when no one’s pounding on a
door to interrupt us. Speaking of which… I want to get you a few
new outfits. That tight little ass needs some new panties,” he
growled as his hands moved lower, slipping into the backs of my
jean’s pockets.

“Rod,” I squirmed, trying to maneuver
his hands out of my pockets. “Can you not?”

His arms became firm as he squeezed my
butt harder.

“Jamie, this is my ass and I’ll touch
it whenever I want.”

“Well, I don
’t want you touching
me in public like this.”

Rod studied me, his scrutinizing stare
almost caused my lip to tremble. He moved his hands from my pockets
to my lower back. “You’ll change your mind.” The coldness in his
stare turned mischievous. “Let’s go shopping.”

“Rod, I can’t afford these
clothes,” I whispered as he tugged me into the depths of
Victoria’
s
Secret.
Walmart was more in my price
range.

Ignoring me, he scanned the racks, the
blue of his eyes lightening the more he observed. “That’s the one
you need.” He nodded in the direction of a very lacy, white see
through teddy that didn’t leave a whole lot to the
imagination.

My head dipped low, embarrassed by the
few other customers in the store. “I’m not sure.” My thumb traced
the intermingled lace and satin, it felt smooth and elegant,
everything I secretly wanted so desperately to become. But that
wasn’t my lifestyle, and it most likely would never be.

“Let’s get one in white and black,” he
said huskily, searching for my size. My arms were wrapped around my
waist self-consciously. The way he moved about this store without
hesitation was odd.

“Rod, I told you I don’t have enough
money for these.”

After grabbing both garments, he
turned to me. “I’ll get them. Don’t worry about money,
sweetheart.”

Not that I wanted to hurt his ego, but
he was only a cadet. My father was the sheriff and wasn’t exactly
rolling in the cash, so I couldn’t imagine his pockets would be
that deep.

He licked his lips then whispered in
my ear, “Go pick something out. I want a surprise
tonight.”

***

“Order whatever you’d like,” Rod
requested as I opened the menu. It had been a long day and I wasn’t
sure how I felt about all the clothing he’d purchased for me. I
wasn’t sure how I was going to explain where they came from to my
parents. My mother was busy raising me and my siblings, but she’d
notice the expensive clothing in the wash.

“
Thank you again for
today,” I said shyly as I peeked at him over my menu.

His lip quirked in satisfaction. “You
can thank me later.” His voice was deep and filled with a need that
made my blood pump faster. I only had one problem.

“About that…”

A thin line formed on his face as he
patiently waited for me to continue talking.

“I have a curfew. I have to be home by
eleven on the weekends.”

He blinked at me. “Can’t you just tell
them you’re staying at your friend's house?”

I shifted in my seat. “I’m not sure
they’d believe me.” My eyes fell to my lap in embarrassment. What
kind of seventeen-year-old girl doesn’t have friends?

“Try it,” he encouraged.

My face twisted.
“
Rod, I
don
’t really have any…
friends.”

“I thought you told your parents you
were with a friend today?”

I sighed.
“I did, but they were
shocked. I’ve never hung out with other girls my age. I think a
sleepover would sound weird and they’d know something was going
on.”

Rods demeanor turned cold as he rested
his hands under his chin. “Pick up your phone and ask them.” His
tone was tight and made me shrivel.

Gulping, I reached for my pocket with
a shaky hand, finding my phone. My fingers twitched as they tapped
the screen. I didn’t want to call.

“Do it,” he said slowly, coaxing
me.

“I’m not good at lying,” I
whispered.

He sighed heavily while leaning his
back against the booth. His stare wasn’t as intense as before. “You
really are innocent, aren’t you?”

I blushed. Being the young, naive girl
wasn’t something I wanted.

Shaking his head, a smile finally
emerged. “Just tell yourself over and over again that you’re going
to your friend’s house to spend the night. I’m your friend,
right?”

“Yeah, but—”

“But what? It’s not a total lie.
Besides, will they really ask questions? They’ll probably be
thrilled their darling daughter is making friends.” His smile was
sinful and made me turn into complete mush.

“Okay,” I conceded.

His hand reached across the table to
grab the phone from me and set it to the side, then stood to join
me in the booth. I wasn’t prepared for his proximity and felt the
air leave my chest as he wrapped an arm around me. “Call them after
we eat dinner. You’ll be more relaxed.” His free hand found my knee
as his lips found the bottom of my ear. “Stop worrying so much.
Fabricating a story will take you places in life. The less you say,
the more you get away with.”

“Spoken like a true criminal,” I said
under my breath, grinning as I believed every statement he murmured
my way.

***

“Did you forget I needed the car to go
to work today?” Landon barked into the phone.

“I’m so sorry, but I overslept. What
time do you have to be in?” I jumped from the bed, untangling
myself from the sheets and a passed out Rod.

“Two hours ago. Don’t worry, I found a
ride.”

I took a breath, sitting back down on
the bed. “I didn’t mean to forget. You can have the car the next
two weekends.”

“Where are you anyway?” Landon’s voice
was skeptical.

“I’m at Bethany’s house.” I didn’t
tell him where I really was because he wouldn’t approve.

“That’s a load of shit, Jamie.”
Silence passed over the phone. “Are you being careful?” Landon
whispered, his voice laced with concern.

“Of course I am.”

“So you are with that guy!”

I covered the phone, looking toward
Rod, worried Landon was loud enough for Rod to hear. “Landon, you
stayed over at that Melony girl’s house a few months ago. Don’t
treat me differently just because I have boobs.”

“That’s different, no one knows where
you are. What if he kidnapped you? Or hurt you? How do you not
realize this is dangerous?”

My eyes found Rod as
Landon’s words ricochet from my conscious. My hand brushed back his
blond locks from his forehead. He was sweet last night, gentle and
caring. He whispered I love you over and over, kissing me, touching
me with a delicateness he’d never used before. Nothing like what
happened at the beach. “He won’
t hurt me,
” I
whispered, wanting to throw the phone to the side and snuggle next
to Rod.

“Jamie
…” Landon’s tone was
scolding. “I get you like him a lot or whatever, but at least tell
me where you are, so if something’s wrong I’ll know where to find
you, okay?”