I chuckled to myself. He might have become an asshole to build a blockade, but all he’d done was create a challenge.
He looked so dangerous, and every single female wanted to be the first to tame him.
I almost felt sorry for them, because they’d be waiting a while.
And I knew all about waiting for Jupiter Reeves.
Waiting brought me here; to New York; to this bench.
And I still hadn’t been ready.
I should have known it was inevitable the second I’d discovered he was at The Lions. I should have protected myself better, but it hit me before I’d had a chance. It took hold of me, just like he had.
I was in love with Jupiter Reeves, again, for real. And he loved me back.
But it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why I didn’t feel good about it – or why I hadn’t been sleeping.
Because when I’d broached the subject of our breakup again, he brushed it off just like he’d done before.
Because what if I opened my eyes and he wasn’t there? Just like last time.
Because when I closed my eyes I was sixteen again, my heart bleeding and beaten.
And blindsided.
I didn’t see it coming the first time, but the second… that I needed to prepare for.
Chapter 79
Fourteen years ago – June
If Emerson was trying to win the Biggest Pain in My Ass award, she was running a good campaign. It was becoming harder to concentrate on Marnie’s pillowy lipswrapped round my cock when Emerson’s shrill voice was shouting up at me from the yard.
Not ideal at all…
Even when Marnie did that thing with her tongue – the one I swear sent a memo straight to my balls telling them to get ready for explosion – I could only picture Emerson, which made it all too fucking weird.
The message wasn’t getting through; connection lost.
“JUPE!! JUUUUP…IIII…TER…”
My jaw clenched.
Opening my eyes, I looked down at Marnie’s perfect face, her long lashes fluttering against her cheekbones as she took me deeper. I was so fucking proud of her; it had taken a few tries, but she could now almost get the full length of my dick in her mouth. Sex with Marnie – discovering what she liked, learning what it meant when she madethatnoise, or when her head lolled to the left instead of the right, and how the gentlest brushof my thumb under her boob really got her wet – had become my favorite lesson.
My favorite ones to study for.
My balls were tightening again, and I brushed my hand over her cheek. “Fuck, Marn, you’re so good at this. Don’t stop.”
“JUPE. JUPE. JUPE. I KNOW YOU’RE THERE!”
My dick shriveled again.
I’m going to kill her.
Marnie pulled off me with a wet pop, and a bead of saliva strung out from the tip of my dick. I ran my thumb over her lip, and wiped it off.
“Babe, let’s pick this up later,” she sighed, leaning back on her haunches and staring at my rapidly deflating dick.
