Rough Edges (4 page)

When he heard someone banging on his door, he walked to it and pulled it open.

Frowning, he stared at the woman on his doorstep. Her over-bleached blonde hair with dark roots hung in wet, scraggly strands around her life-worn face.

“Are you just going to stand there and let your mother get soaked or are you going to let me in?” she demanded.

He hesitated and thought about it. If he left her there, would she go away? No, she would stand out there and raise hell until he let her in or someone called the cops. Been there, done that. So he stepped aside without a word.

21

Ashlynn Pearce

“Well, hello to you too, Son,” she said as she walked in and sat on his black leather couch.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared at her and waited.
Tell me what you want
and get the fuck out.

“I thought you might want to hear this in person. Your daddy’s out.”

“And why do I care?” He figured it was about time his old man was released from prison.

“You should. He’s your daddy.” Her bright red lips pursed in a thin line. “You should show a little respect for your elders.”

Her tone grated on his stretched nerves. “I do. To those who deserve it.” Evidently she had been working. She was wearing a skirt that almost let her secret out. And just the thought of being born of that, made him want to puke. “If that’s all you had to say, then get out.”

“I need some money,” she said.

“Whore for it.” He was tired of giving her money for her booze and drugs and whatever else she did with it.

The sneer on her face said it all. “Oh, yeah. You are such a great son, the way you take care of your mother. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have to whore for it!” She stood and pointed her finger at him. “It’s all your fault he left. Ungrateful bastard. I should have—”

“Aborted me? Yeah, I get it. So get the hell out of my house,” he said with surprising calm. His fingernails cut into his palms to keep from lashing out at her. He wouldn’t let her get to him. Wouldn’t let her see the pain she caused with each word.

“Are you really not going to give me any money? My rent is up.”

He ground his teeth, walked to a side table, grabbed his wallet and pulled out a couple of hundreds. Gripping her arm, he wadded the cash into her hand and immediately released her. “Now leave.”

She nodded and stared at the money greedily. “Yeah, I’ll leave. But I know your daddy will want to see you soon,” she said and glanced back up at him.

“Tell him I said fuck off.”

“That’s no way to talk to your flesh and blood!”

“Get. Out.” Jake shook with anger and it was all he could do not to bodily throw her out.

“I wouldn’t want to stay here anyway.” She banged out the door into the rain.

Rage boiled inside and his head pounded with the race of his heart. He paced the length of his living room trying to slow his breathing, but memories flooded him. They always did after an encounter with either his mom or dad.

His dad’s face contorted with fury and Jake covered his head as fists pummeled him. Hitting
his arms, face, legs. Nothing was left unmarred. All because his old man was drunk and mad.

22

Rough Edges

Later, his mom yelled at him, telling him it was his fault his dad was so angry, while blood
dripped from his split lip.

Jake sat on his couch and put his head in his hands. He was twenty-six. None of this shit should bother him anymore. He was an adult.

Responsible. Had a job. Paid his bills.

It didn’t matter what his old man or his mom thought. He had done something with his life.

You’ll always be a fucking loser.

How many times had they told him that? He got up, grabbed a beer out of the fridge and walked to his garage. It was time to let off some steam.

* * * * *

It wasn’t long before Jake was dripping with sweat. He opened his garage door to let air in, but it was so muggy it didn’t do any good. Hands on his hips and breathing hard, he stared out into the rain that fell in straight sheets. The sky was a dull gray with a few angry black clouds. Matched his mood perfectly.

When his cell rang and vibrated on his workbench he walked over and grabbed it.

He didn’t want to talk to anyone right now, but the screen said “blocked number”.

Becca’s number was blocked.

“Hello,” he said, hoping it was her.

“Hi. Um, I’m so sorry Summer called you. I had no idea. I hope you’re not mad.”

He relaxed at the sound of her light voice. “Hey, don’t worry about it. She’s obviously worried about you.”

“Yeah, but she’s also extremely nosy.”

“Most friends are.” He sat on the barstool he kept in his garage and glanced at his motorcycles. “You doing all right?”

“Yeah. I’m okay. You sure you’re okay with Summer calling you? I just couldn’t believe it. I was so pissed at her.”

“Seriously, Becca. It’s cool.” He wondered why he had to reassure her so much. Did it have anything to do with her ex? “So, did she Google me?” he asked trying to lighten her mood.

“Of course. That girl, I swear. She wanted to make sure you were who you said you were.”

“And?”

“Well, you know what we found. Jake Korte, lives in Bixby, Oklahoma, twenty-six years old.”

“Anything else?”

23

Ashlynn Pearce

“Just a couple of arrests, but it didn’t say what they were for. But you knew we would find that didn’t you?”

“Yup. I’d told you I’d been arrested.” When she turned quiet, he said, “Don’t worry, it was all done when I was young and dumb.”

Her light laughter made him smile.

“So what are you doing?”

“Beating the piss out of my punching bag. I had an unexpected and unwanted visitor.”

“Let me guess, your mom. Is this a bad time?” Her voice was hesitant.

“Yup, it was. And no, I’m glad you called.” And he was. She was exactly what he needed. It was no different when they chatted online. She could calm him down, no matter how mad he would be at the time. But actually hearing her voice was like a soothing balm. No one had been able to do that for him. Tony’s mom, Maria, had reached him but not on the level Becca did. Tension released from within, without having to force it.

“Good,” she said.

“Did you find out any other juicy details about me?”

“No. Was I supposed to? Although, I did think you lived in Tulsa.”

“Tulsa, Bixby—so close you can’t even tell them apart. And I have no clue what you would find. I never had the need to search myself.”

This time she laughed loudly. “I could search ya.”

“And I’d let ya.” He twirled a screwdriver absently in his hand and grinned. Oh, yeah. He would let her search him. All over.

“Mmm. That’s a pleasant thought. How would you like me to search you?”

He got up, hit the garage door button, walked into his house and sat on his couch.

“Any way you want.” He grabbed the remote and pushed a button so Seether played low in the background. He didn’t bother turning on a light, preferring the darkness.

“I could start with your chest. I know you don’t have a shirt on, do you?”

“No. Too hot,” he said.

“Are you?” Becca’s voice was low and sexy, which forced him to adjust his suddenly too tight shorts.

“98 degrees with 100 percent humidity. So, yeah, I’m hot.”

“I like a man who’s a bit steamy.”

“Then I’m your man,” he replied.

“I would run my hands over your shoulders, chest and across your stomach. Maybe tug at your shorts.”

His abs tightened and he grabbed his cock through his shorts. “How about I pull at those nipples I know are hard.” He grinned when she gasped. “Just how wet are you, Becca? Check for me, babe.”

24

Rough Edges

“Umm, real wet,” she murmured.

“Now, slide two fingers in and hold them still. Don’t move them.” Stroking himself, he could just imagine the pretty picture she made with her fingers buried deep in her pussy. “You’re not moving them are you?”

“No. But, please,” she asked, a slight pleading in her voice.

He tightened the grip on his cock. “Don’t move them until I say. Hold the phone between your head and your shoulder and shove up your shirt. Imagine my hand sliding up, cupping one breast. It’s heavy and full in my hands.”

“Oh, yes,” she said.

“My teeth tugging, biting at your nipple. Pull it, babe. Feel it.”

“Please. I want to move.” She was begging now, her breath hard in his ear.

Tension coiled and his balls tightened. “Move. Now.”

“Ah,” she panted.

His hand slid easily up and down his dick as she groaned. “Move them. Feel the walls around them quiver. Press your thumb on your clit.”

“I am,” she gasped.

“How do you feel?”

“I want you. Here.”

Her words stopped him briefly, but he realized he wanted to be there as well. And not for just a nice fuck. “I’m there, Becca. Beside you. Inside you.”

“I want to—”

“Come,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Oh, God! I am…” Her scream was music to his ears and had him coming hard.

Only she had been able to bring him to this level of insanity. He didn’t understand this hunger he had for her. She was like a chat drug. But the intensity was ratcheted up now that he could hear her voice.

“Mmm,” she said softly. “You are hot.”

“I aim to please.” He got up on shaky legs, grabbed a towel and cleaned himself up.

Zipping his shorts, he didn’t bother with the top button and fell back on the couch.

“And you please so well.” Her words were purely feminine and held a hint of satisfaction.

“I enjoy pleasing you.” And Jake was surprised at how much he meant the statement. Yeah, he always pleased his sexual partners, but with Becca there was something more. And he wasn’t at all sure he liked the thought. And although he came, something was missing.

I want to hold her.

Where the hell had that thought come from?

“If you were here in Virginia, we just might explore the possibility.”

25

Ashlynn Pearce

His thoughts screeched to a halt. Had she read his mind?

“I mean,” she stuttered. “But you’re not here. So no. I mean…shit.”

“You’re in Virginia?”

“Uh-huh. But I didn’t mean—I know it’s impossible, and even if you were here.”

She blew out a breath. “Anyway, I can at least tell you where I live. Especially, after the stunt Summer pulled.”

“How ironic,” he said mostly to himself, realizing she hadn’t meant to say what she did. A thought crept up on him, how much did she mean those words?

“Why do you say that?”

“I’m going to be at Virginia Beach next weekend. Tony’s sister, Amber is getting married. Her fiancé is from there.” He paused for a moment, debating whether or not he should. He knew what he wanted, was she sure about what she wanted? “I don’t know how close you are, but do you want to meet?”

Becca could barely breathe. What was she doing? Just because some strange guy got her off didn’t mean she wanted him to please her in real life. Did she? What if he was some psycho? But she couldn’t help but want…really want to feel Jake touching her.

Not in chat and not on the phone. For real.

“Yes. Sure. When?” she heard herself say. Was she out of her mind?

“If you don’t feel comfortable with it, that’s cool. Hell, I understand.”

“No,” she said abruptly. The thought of him backtracking sent her almost into a panic. “I want to. It just caught me off guard. When will you have time? I live in Richmond, about an hour’s drive from there.” Her heart thumped in her chest at the thought of seeing him. What was he really like in person?

“The wedding is Saturday, July eighteenth. I think I should be free by five. Amber and Maria planned the whole thing.”

Smiling, Becca said, “And you’re ordered to be there.”

“You got it. If Maria says you have to be there, then you damn well better be there.

Wants us all there looking presentable,” Jake replied sounding disgusted by it. “I think I have to wear a tux.”

“I’m sure you’ll look handsome.”

“Yeah, right. If the damn thing doesn’t choke me first.”

“You’ll survive,” she said. “How about we meet at the Rockfish Boardwalk Bar and Sea Grill? It’s right on the beach and easy to find.”

“Sounds good to me. What time?”

“How about six?”

“Sure. I’ll have Tony with me, so if you want to bring one of your overprotective friends that’s cool.”

26

Rough Edges

Becca breathed a sigh of relief. At least she didn’t have to meet him alone. “I know Summer will want to come.”

Jake’s deep chuckle swept down her spine. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”

“She is a little crazy sometimes, but she’s a good friend.”

“Your ex hasn’t bothered you has he?” he asked.

It reminded her of the bruise on her face and she touched it tentatively. “No. And I have no idea if he made bail or not.”

“He probably did so be careful. Guys like that usually cause more trouble. So don’t make the mistake and think you’ve heard the last from him.” There was a threat underlining his voice and it made her feel safe, even though he wasn’t here.

“I won’t.”

He was quiet now and she knew he was thinking of his dad. His dad had beaten him and his mom. They were stories he had told her on chat and they sounded more like nightmares to her. Although she had no idea what it was like to be hit as a kid, she did know what it was like to live in fear. Nick had become a person she feared. Not only did he think he had the right to backhand her every once in a while, he had controlled everything she did and every move she had made, except when it came to her job. That she had stood up for even though he had objected to it. It didn’t fit into what he thought his wife should be doing. It wasn’t prestigious enough. She didn’t care what he thought. She loved her job, just like she loved her new, bright yellow Jeep.

“Dammit Bec, I don’t like it that I can’t stop him from hurting you,” he said, frustration lacing his words.