Rush: I’m sorry about Woods. 5 page

“Rush? What’s wrong?” I asked when he didn’t say anything.

“Woods is here,” he replied.

“Last time I checked he was a friend of yours.”

Rush shook his head and his eyes quickly scanned my body. “No. He isn’t here for me. He came for someone else.”

I crossed my arms under my breasts and took the same defensive pose. “Maybe he is. Do you have a problem with your friends being interested in me?”

“He isn’t good enough. He’s a sorry ass fucker. He shouldn’t get to touch you,” Rush said in a hard angry tone.

Maybe he was those things. I doubted it but maybe he was. It didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to let Woods touch me. His nearness didn’t make my stomach do flips and the ache between my legs start up.

“I’m not interested in Woods that way. He is my boss and possibly a friend. That’s all.”

Rush ran his hand over his head and the silver flat ring on his thumb caught my eye. I hadn’t seen him wear it before. Who had given it to him?

“I can’t sleep while people are going up and down the stairs. It keeps me up. Instead of sitting in my room alone wondering who you’re upstairs screwing tonight, I thought I’d talk to Woods out on the beach. Have a conversation with someone. I need friends.”

Rush flinched like I’d hit him. “I don’t want you outside with Woods talking.”

This was ridiculous. “Well, maybe I don’t want you screwing some girl but you will.”

Rush pushed off from the door and came toward me backing me into my small room until we were both inside. One more inch and I would be falling back onto my bed. “I don’t want to fuck anyone tonight,” he paused then smirked, “that isn’t exactly true. Let me clarify, I don’t want to fuck anyone outside of this room. Stay here and talk to me. I’ll talk. I said we could be friends. You don’t need Woods as a friend.”

I put both my hands on his chest to push him back but I couldn’t make myself do it once I had my hands on him. “You never talk to me. I ask the wrong question and you stalk away.”

Rush shook his head. “Not now. We’re friends. I’ll talk and I won’t leave. Just please, stay in here with me.”

I looked around the small rectangle that barely had room for my bed. “There isn’t a lot of room in here,” I said, glancing back at him and forcing my hands to stay flat on his chest and not fist his snug fitting shirt into my hands and pull him closer.

“We can sit on the bed. We won’t touch. Just talk. Like friends,” he assured me.

I let out a sigh and nodded. I wasn’t going to be able to turn him down. Besides, there was so much I wanted to know about him.

I sank down onto the bed against the headboard and leaned back. I crossed my legs underneath me.

“Then we’ll talk.” I said with a smile.

Rush sat down onto the bed and leaned back against the wall. A deep chuckle came from his chest and I watched as a real smile broke out on his face. “I can’t believe I just begged a female to sit and talk to me.”

In all honesty, I couldn’t either.

“What are we going to talk about?” I asked, wanting him to start this. I didn’t want him to feel as if this was the Spanish Inquisition. I had so many questions whirling around in my head that I knew I could overwhelm him with my curiosity.

“How about how the hell you’re still a virgin at nineteen?” he said, turning his silver pools toward me.

I’d never told him I was a virgin. He had called me innocent the other night. Was it that obvious? “Who said I’m a virgin?” I asked in the most annoyed tone I could muster.

Rush smirked, “I know a virgin when I kiss one.”

I didn’t even want to argue about this. It would only make the fact I was a virgin all the more obvious.

“I was in love. His name is Cain. He was my first boyfriend, my first kiss, my first makeout session, however tame it may have been. He said he loved me and claimed I was the only one for him. Then my mom got sick. I no longer had time to go on dates and spend time with Cain on the weekends. He needed out. He needed freedom to get that kind of relationship from someone else. So, I let him go. After Cain I didn’t have time to date anyone else.”

Rush frowned. “He didn’t stick by you when your mom was sick?”

I didn’t like this conversation. If someone else pointed out what I already knew it would be hard not to have angry feelings about Cain. I’d forgiven him a long time ago. I’d accepted it. I didn’t need bitterness toward him to creep in now. What good would that do?

“We were young. He didn’t love me. He just thought he did. Simple as that.”

Rush sighed, “You’re still young.”

I wasn’t sure I liked the tone in his voice when he said that. “I’m nineteen, Rush. I’ve taken care of my mother for three years and buried her without any help from my father. Trust me, I feel forty most days.”

Rush reached his hand across the bed and covered mine with his. “You shouldn’t have had to do that alone.”

No, I shouldn’t but I didn’t have any other options. I loved my mom. She deserved so much more than she got. The only thing that eased the ache was reminding myself that Mom and Valerie were together now. They had each other. I didn’t want to talk about my story anymore. I wanted to know something about Rush.

“Do you have a job?” I asked.

Rush chuckled and squeezed my hand but didn’t let go. “Do you believe everyone must have a job once out of college?”

I shrugged. I had always thought people worked at something. He had to have some purpose. Even if he didn’t need the money.

“When I graduated college I had enough money in the bank to live the rest of my life without a job, thanks to my dad.” He looked over at me with those sexy eyes hooded by thick black lashes. “After a few weeks of doing nothing but partying I realized I needed a life. So I began playing around with the stock market. Turns out, I’m pretty damn good at it. Numbers were always my thing. I also donate financial support for Habitat for Humanity. A couple months out of the year I’m more hands-on and I go work on site. Summers I take off from everything that I can and come here and relax.”

I hadn’t been expecting that.

“The surprise on your face is a little insulting,” Rush said with a teasing lilt to his voice.

“I just didn’t expect that answer,” I replied honestly.

Rush shrugged and moved his hand back to his side of the bed. I wanted to reach over and grab it and hold onto it but I didn’t. He was done touching me.

“How old are you?” I asked

Rush grinned, “Too old to be in this room with you and way too damn old for the thoughts I have of you.”

He was in his early twenties. He had to be. He didn’t look any older. “I will remind you that I am nineteen. I’ll be twenty in six months. I’m not a baby.”

“No sweet Blaire, you are definitely not a baby. I’m twenty-four and jaded. My life hasn’t been normal and because of it I have some serious screwed up shit. I’ve told you there are things you don’t know. Allowing myself to touch you would be wrong.”

He was only five years older than me. That wasn’t so bad. He gave money to Habitat for Humanity and even did onsite labor? How bad could he be? He had a heart. He had let me live here when he had wanted nothing more than to send me packing.

“I think you underestimate yourself. What I see in you is special.”

Rush pressed his lips together tightly then shook his head. “You don’t see the real me. You don’t know what all I’ve done.”

“Maybe,” I replied, leaning forward. “But what little I have seen isn’t all bad. I am beginning to think there might just be another layer to you.”

Rush lifted his eyes to meet mine. I wanted to curl up in his lap and just stare at those eyes for hours. He opened his mouth to say something then closed it… but not before I saw the silver in his mouth.

I pulled my knees under me and moved closer to him. “What is in your mouth?” I asked, studying his lips and waiting on him to open up again.

Rush opened his mouth and slowly stuck out his tongue. It was pierced with a silver barbell.

“Does it hurt?” I asked, studying his tongue closely. I’d never seen anyone with a pierced tongue before.

He pulled his tongue back in his mouth and grinned. “No.”

I remembered the tattoos on his back from the night he’d been having sex with the girl. “What are the tattoos on your back?”

“An eagle on my lower back with his wings spread and the emblem for Slacker Demon. When I was seventeen my dad took me to a concert in L.A. and afterwards he took me to get my first tat. He wanted his band branded on my body. Every member of Slacker Demon has one in the exact same place. Right behind their left shoulder. Dad was high as a kite that night but it was still a really good memory. I didn’t get a chance to spend a lot of time with him growing up. But every time I saw him he either added another tat or piercing to my body.”

He had more piercings? I studied his face and then let my eyes fall to his chest. A low chuckle startled me and I realized I’d been caught looking.

“No piercings there, sweet Blaire. The others are in my ears. I put a halt to the piercings and tats when I turned nineteen.”

His dad was covered in tats and piercings just like the rest of Slacker Demon. Was it something that Rush hadn’t wanted to do? Had his dad forced him?

“What did I say to make you frown?” he asked, slipping a finger under my chin and tilting my head up so that I was looking at him.

I didn’t want to answer this truthfully. I was enjoying our time together. I knew if I delved too deep too soon he’d take off running. “When you kissed me last night I didn’t feel the silver barbell thingy.”

Rush’s eyelids lowered and he leaned forward. “Because I wasn’t wearing it.”

He was now.

“When you, uh, kiss someone with it in can they feel it?”

Rush sucked in a sharp breath and his mouth came even closer to mine. “Blaire, tell me to leave. Please.”

If he was about to kiss me then I wasn’t telling him anything of the like. I wanted him here. I also wanted to kiss him with that thing in his mouth.

“You would have felt it. Everywhere I want to kiss you, you would feel it. And you would enjoy it,” he whispered in my ear before pressing a kiss to my shoulder and taking a deep breath. Was he smelling me?

“Are you… are you going to kiss me again?” I asked breathlessly as he pressed his nose to my neck and inhaled.

“I want to. I want to so fucking bad but I’m trying to be good,” he murmured against my skin.

“Could you not be good for just one kiss? Please?” I asked, scooting closer to him. I would be in his lap soon.

“Sweet Blaire, so incredibly sweet,” he said as his lips touched the curve of my neck and shoulder. If he kept this up I would start begging.

His tongue came out and took a quick swipe at the tender skin on my neck then he trailed kisses along my jawline until his mouth hovered over mine. I started to plead again but he pressed one soft kiss to my lips and it stopped me. Then he pulled back but only an inch. His warm breath still bathed my lips.

“Blaire, I’m not a romantic guy. I don’t kiss and cuddle. It’s all about the sex for me. You deserve someone who kisses and cuddles. Not me. I just fuck, baby. You aren’t meant for someone like me. I’ve never denied myself something I want. But you’re too sweet. This time I have to tell myself no.”

As his words sunk in I whimpered from the erotic sound of those naughty words rolling off his tongue. It wasn’t until he stood up and grabbed the doorknob that I realized he was going to walk away from me. Again. Leaving me like this.

“I can’t talk anymore. Not tonight. Not alone in here with you.” The sadness in his tone made my heart hurt a little. Then he was gone and closing the door behind him.

I leaned back against the headboard and groaned in frustration. Why had I let him in here? This hot and cold game he was playing was out of my league. I wondered where he would go now. There were plenty of females out there he would kiss. Ones he had no problem kissing if they begged.

The stomping of people going up stairs rattled above my head. I wasn’t getting any sleep for a while. I didn’t want to stay in here and Woods was expecting me. There was no reason to stand him up. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to him but I could at least tell him that I wasn’t up for a beach chat.

I walked into the kitchen. Grant’s back was to me and he had some girl pressed up against the counter. Her hands were tangled in his wild brown curls. They seemed very preoccupied. I quietly exited out the backdoor hoping I didn’t walk up on any other makeout sessions.

“I didn’t think you were going to show,” Woods’ voice came from the darkness.

I turned to see him leaning against the railing watching me. I felt guilty for not coming out here first and letting him know I wasn’t going to meet him. I couldn’t manage to make wise decisions where Rush was involved.

“I’m sorry. I got sidetracked.” I didn’t want to explain.

“I saw Rush exit the little cubby hole he has you in back there,” he replied.

I bit my lip and nodded. I was busted. Might as well fess up.

“He didn’t stay long. Was it a friendly visit or was he kicking you out?”

It was… it was a nice visit. We did talk. Up until I asked him to kiss me again it had been fun. I’d enjoyed his company. “Just a friendly chat,” I explained.

Woods let out a hard laugh and shook his head. “Why don’t I believe that?”

Because he was smart. I shrugged.

“We still on for our walk down to the beach?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m tired. I came out here to get a breath of fresh air and hopefully find you to explain.”

Woods gave me a disappointed smile and pushed away from the railing. “Well, all right then. I’m not gonna beg.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” I replied.

He walked back toward the doors and I waited until he was back inside before breathing a sigh of relief. That hadn’t been so bad. Maybe now he would back off some. Until I figured out what to do with this attraction I had for Rush I didn’t need anyone else confusing me more.

I gave it a few minutes then turned and followed him inside. Grant was no longer at the bar with the girl. They’d gone for a more secluded spot apparently. I started toward the pantry door when Rush walked into the kitchen followed by a giggling brunette. She was hanging on his arm and acting like she couldn’t walk steadily. Either it was from alcohol or the six-inch heels she was bobbling on.

“But you said,” she slurred and kissed the arm that she was clinging to. Yep she was drunk.

Rush’s eyes met mine. He’d be kissing her tonight. She wouldn’t even have to beg. She’d also taste like beer. Was that a turn on for him?

“I’ll take off my panties down here if you will,” she said, not even taking note that they weren’t alone.

“Babs, I’ve already told you no. I’m not interested,” he replied without looking away from me. He was turning her down. And he wanted me to know.

“It’ll be naughty,” she said loudly then burst into another fit of laughter.

“No, it will be annoying. You’re drunk and your cackling is giving me a headache,” he replied. His eyes still hadn’t left mine.

I dropped my eyes from his and started for the door to the pantry when Babs finally noticed me. “Hey, that girl is going to steal your food,” she whispered loudly.

My face flushed. Dangit. Why did that embarrass me? I was being stupid. She was drunk off her ass. Who cared what she thought?

“She lives here; she can have whatever she wants,” Rush replied.

My head snapped back up and his eyes hadn’t left me.

“She lives here?” the girl asked.

Rush didn’t say anything else. I frowned at him and decided the one witness we had wouldn’t remember this in the morning. “Don’t let him lie to you. I’m the unwelcomed guest living under his stairs. I’ve wanted a few things and he keeps telling me no.”

I didn’t wait for his response. I opened the door and stepped inside. Score one for me.

Chapter Eleven

I finished the last of my peanut butter sandwich and dusted off the crumbs in my lap then stood up. I was going to need to go to the grocery store and buy new food soon. Peanut butter sandwiches were getting old.

I was off work today and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I’d lain in bed thinking about Rush and how stupid I was most of the night. What did the guy have to do to convince me he just wanted to be friends? He’d stated this more than once. I needed to stop trying to get him to see me as something more. I’d made that jab at him last night. I shouldn’t have done that. He didn’t want to kiss me. I couldn’t believe I’d begged him to.

I opened the pantry door and stepped into the kitchen. The smell of bacon met my nose and if Rush hadn’t been standing at the stove with nothing but a pair of pajama pants on then I’d have been completely wrapped up in the delicious smell. The view of Rush’s bare back took away from the bacon.

He glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “Good morning. Must be your day off.”

I nodded and stood there wondering what a friend would say. I didn’t want to break the rules anymore with him. I was going to play by his rules. I’d be moving out soon enough anyway.

“Smells good,” I replied

“Get out two plates. I make some killer bacon.”

I wished I hadn’t eaten the peanut butter sandwich now. “I’ve already eaten, but thank you.”

Rush put his fork down and turned to face me. “How have you already eaten? You just woke up.”
“I keep peanut butter and bread in my room. I had some before I came out.”

Rush’s forehead wrinkled as he studied me. “Why do you keep peanut butter and bread in your room?”

Because I don’t want his endless stream of friends to eat my food. I couldn’t exactly say that though. “This isn’t my kitchen. I keep all my things in my room.”

Rush tensed and I wondered what I’d said to make him mad. “Are you telling me that you only eat peanut butter and bread when you’re here? That’s it? You buy it and keep it in your room and that is all you eat?”

I nodded, unsure why this was a big deal.

Rush slammed his hand down on the counter top and turned back around to face his bacon while muttering a curse.

“Go get your stuff and move up stairs. Take any room on the left side of the hall you want. Throw that damn peanut butter away and eat whatever the hell you want in this kitchen.”

I didn’t move. I wasn’t sure where this reaction had come from.

“If you want to stay here, Blaire then move your ass upstairs now. Then come down here and eat something out of my motherfucking fridge while I watch.”

He was angry. At me?

“Why do you want me to move upstairs?” I asked cautiously.

Rush dropped the last piece of bacon onto a paper towel and turned off the gas stove top before looking back at me.

“Because I want you to. I hate going to bed at night and thinking about you asleep under my stairs. Now I have the image of you eating those damn peanut butter sandwiches all alone in there and it’s a little more than I can deal with.”

Okay. So, he does care about me in some capacity.

I didn’t argue. I went back into my room under the stairs and pulled my suitcase out from under the bed. My peanut butter was inside. I unzipped it and pulled out the almost empty jar and the bag with four slices of bread left. I’d leave this in the kitchen and then go find a room. My heart was pounding in my chest. This had become my safe place. Being upstairs took away my seclusion. I wasn’t alone up there.

Stepping back out of the pantry I walked over and put the peanut butter and bread down on the counter. I headed for the hallway without making eye contact with Rush. He was standing at the bar gripping the edges tightly as if he was trying to keep from hitting something. Was he considering throwing me back into the pantry? I didn’t mind staying in there.

“I don’t have to move upstairs. I like that room,” I explained and watched his grip only tighten more.

“You belong in one of the rooms upstairs. You don’t belong under the stairs. You never did.”

He wanted me upstairs. I just didn’t understand his sudden change of heart.

“Would you at least tell me which room to take? I don’t feel right picking one out. This isn’t my house.”

Rush finally let go of the death grip he had on the counter and turned his eyes to meet mine. “The rooms on the left are all guest rooms. There are three of them. I think you’ll enjoy the view from the last one. It looks out over the ocean. The middle room is all white with pale pink accents. It reminds me of you. So, you go choose. Whichever one you want. Take it then come down here and eat.”

He was back to wanting me to eat again.

“But I’m not hungry. I just ate—“

“If you tell me you ate that damn peanut butter again I am going to throw it through a wall.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Please, Blaire. Come eat something for me.”

Like any woman on the planet would be able to turn that down. I nodded and headed for the stairs. I had a room to pick out.

The first room wasn’t appealing. It had dark colors and the view was on the front yard. Not to mention it was closest to the stairs and the noise level from the parties would be hard to overlook. I went to the next room and the king size bed was covered in white ruffles and pretty pink pillows. A pink chandelier hung from the ceiling. It was very sweet. Not something I expected to find in Rush’s house. Then again his mother lived here most of the time.

I opened the last door on the left. There were large windows that went from the floor to the ceiling and overlooked the ocean. It was gorgeous. The pale blue and green color scheme was accented with a king size bed that looked like it was made from driftwood. At least the headboard and footboard did. It had a very coastal feel. I liked it. No, scratch that. I loved it. I put my suitcase down and walked over to the door that led into a private bathroom. Large white fluffy towels and expensive soaps decorated the white marble. Splashes of blue and green were in the room but for the most part it was white.

The tub was a large round one with jets in it. Although I’d never seen one before I knew this was a Jacuzzi. Maybe I had come into the wrong room. Surely this one wasn’t a guest bedroom. I’d want this room if I lived here.

Nevertheless, it was on the left side of the hallway. It had to be one of the rooms he’d mentioned. I walked back out of the bathroom. I’d go tell him I’d picked this room and if this one was wrong he’d tell me. I left my suitcase against the wall right inside the door and then headed back downstairs.

Rush was sitting at the table with a plate of bacon and some scrambled eggs when I walked back into the kitchen. His eyes immediately lifted to meet mine.

“Did you choose a room?” he asked.

I nodded and walked over to stand on the other side of the table. “Yes. I believe so. The one you said had a great view is it… green and blue?”

Rush smiled. “Yes it is.”

“And you’re okay with me staying in that room? It is really nice. I’d want that room if this were my house.”

Rush’s smile widened. “You haven’t seen my room yet.”

His must be even nicer. “Is your room on the same floor?”

Rush picked up a piece of bacon. “No, mine takes up the entire top floor.”

“You mean all those windows? That’s all one big room?” The top floor looked like it was made of glass from the outside. I always wondered if it was an illusion or if it was several rooms.

Rush nodded, “Yep.”

I wanted to see his room. He wasn’t offering so I didn’t ask.

“Did you already put your things away?” he asked, then took a bite of his bacon.

“No, I wanted to check with you before I unpacked. I should probably just keep everything in the suitcase. By the end of this next week I’ll be ready to move out. My tips at the club are good and I’ve saved most all of it.”

Rush stopped chewing and his eyes turned hard as he glared at something outside. I followed his gaze; I saw nothing but the empty beach.

“You can stay as long as you want to, Blaire.”

Since when? He’d told me I had a month. I didn’t reply.

“Sit beside me and eat some of this bacon.” He pulled out the chair beside his and I sat down without arguing. The bacon did smell good and I was ready for something other than peanut butter.

Rush moved his plate over to me. “Eat.”

I picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite. It was crispy and greasy just the way I liked it. I finished the piece off and Rush nudged the plate at me again. “Eat another.”

I fought back a giggle at his sudden need to feed me. What was wrong with him? I took another piece of bacon and ate it enjoying the taste.

“What are your plans for today?” Rush asked once I swallowed.

I shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I thought I’d look for an apartment maybe.”

Rush’s jaw ticked and his body tensed up again. “Stop talking about moving out, okay? I don’t want you moving until our parents get home. You need to talk to your dad before you run off and start living alone. It isn’t exactly safe. You’re too young.”

This time I did laugh. He was being ridiculous. “I am not too young. What is it with you and my age? I am nineteen. I’m a big girl. I can live on my own safely. Besides, I can hit a moving target better than most police officers. My skills with a gun are pretty impressive. Stop with the unsafe and too young thing.”

Rush cocked an eyebrow. “So you really do have a gun?”

I nodded.

“I thought Grant was just being funny. His sense of humor sucks sometimes.”

“Nope. I pulled it on him when he surprised me my first night here.”

Rush chuckled and leaned back in his chair crossing his arms over his broad chest. I forced myself to keep my eyes at his face and not look down.

“I’d have loved to have seen that.”

I didn’t respond. It had been a bad night for me. Rehashing it wasn’t something I was up for today.

“I don’t want you to stay here just because you’re young. I get that you can take care of yourself or you at least think you can. I want you here because… I like having you here. Don’t leave. Wait until your dad gets back. It sounds like you two are way overdue for a visit. Then you can decide what you want to do. For now, how about you go upstairs and unpack? Think of all the money you can save living here. When you do move out then you’ll have a nice padded bank account.”

He wanted me here. The silly smile that tugged at my lips couldn’t be helped. I’d stay and he was right I could save money. Once Dad got back I’d talk to him and then move. There was no reason to go if Rush wanted me here.

“Okay. If you really mean that then thank you.”

Rush nodded and leaned forward to put his elbows on the table. His silver stare was leveled on me. “I mean it. But that also means that the friend thing with us needs to remain in full effect.”

He was right, of course. Us living together and getting involved in any way would be difficult. Besides, once this summer was over he’d move off to another house somewhere. I didn’t need that kind of heartache.

“Agreed,” I replied. His shoulders didn’t ease and his body remained strung tight.

“Also, you are going to start eating the food in this house when you’re here.”

I shook my head. No I wasn’t. I was not a mooch.

“Blaire, this isn’t up for argument. I mean it. Eat my damn food.”

I pushed my chair back and stood up. “No. I will buy food and eat it. I am not… I’m not like my father.”

Rush muttered something and he pushed back his chair and stood up. “You think I don’t know that by now? You’ve been sleeping in a damn broom closet without complaint. You clean up after me. You don’t eat properly. I am aware that you’re nothing like your dad. But you are a guest in my home and I want you eating in my kitchen and treating like it’s yours.”

This was going to be an issue. “I’ll put my food in your kitchen and eat it in here. Will that be better?”

“If all you intend to buy is peanut butter and bread then no. I want you eating properly.”

I started to shake my head when he reached out and grabbed my hands in his. “Blaire, it will make me happy to know you’re eating. Henrietta buys the groceries once a week and stocks this place expecting me to have a lot of company. There is more than enough. Please. Eat. My. Food.”

I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing at his pleading look.

“Are you laughing at me?” he asked with a small grin tugging at his lips.

“Yeah. A little,” I admitted.

“Does this mean you’re gonna eat my food?”

I sighed, “Only if you let me pay you weekly.”

He started to shake his head no and I pulled my hands from his and started to walk away.

“Where are you going?” he asked from behind me.

“I’m done arguing with you. I will eat your food if I pay for my part. That’s the only deal I will agree to. So take it or leave it.”

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 361