Page 45 of Crave

“Jesus.” I rub my face with both hands, exasperated by this entire fucking day.

“Move your car from her driveway and come inside. You look like you can use a drink.”

CHAPTER 12

SANDY

"Come up here, Tash" I yell when I hear my front door open. I add some eye makeup as I wait for her to make her way upstairs to my bedroom. I look at my shiny hair, a result of hours in the salon and consider adding just a bit of curl.

"I'm so glad you talked me into getting this dress. Girl, it's killer," I yell again. "And what took you so long? I wanted you to do my makeup for me. Anyway, I'm done now. Are you ready to see how fabulous your little sister looks? You want to see how she’s going to slay this uninspiring Saturday night?" I ask. I look at myself in the long mirror in the bathroom and admire the fitted black mini dress with a V neckline. I have a silver necklace that rests right between my breasts.

"Why are you so quiet, Tash? Get ready because I’m about to make my grand entrance? David won’t know what hit him," I say with false enthusiasm about this date. I put on my black stilettos and step out of the bathroom, walking slowly down the stairs and into the living room.

I expect to see Tash waiting for me, but it’s not my sister who is standing in my living room.

"You are so beautiful, but not because of that dress," Jacob says as his eyes roam my body. He takes his time working his way up. When our eyes finally meet, all I see is lust. He takes a predatory step towards me, and I instinctively step back, afraid of the power he has over my body.

"What are you doing in my house, Jacob? I thought we had agreed that we were done?" I turn towards the closet to grab my coat, quickly putting it on, shielding my body from his eyes.

"Youagreed we were done. I didn't agree to any such fucking thing."

"If that's how you want to play it, then. I have zero interest in being with someone who is unavailable. I have no interest in being with someone who thinks so little of me that he thinks it’s his right to pass me off to another man. Please, leave." I point to the door, but he only takes another step closer to me. I step back until my back is against the wall.

"Unavailable? I'm standing right in front of you. How much more available can I make myself, Sandy?"

"You know what I mean. Don't play games. I’m not stupid, Jacob. I know whatever’s going on in that head of yours has something to do with your brother’s wife. Do you think I want to get caught up in that drama you three have going on? You think I want to be in a relationship with someone where I come second?" He takes another step, and I have nowhere else to go. He's got me cornered, but I'm not one to ever admit defeat. I place both hands on his chest and shove as hard as I can, but he doesn't budge. I shove him again, and he simply continues to stand there, waiting to see what I'm going to do next.

"There's no one here but us. It’s not what you think, Dee."

"I’ve stopped caring. It doesn’t matter. Please move. I don't want to be late." I shove him again, to no avail. Instead, he grabs onto my hands the minute I place them on his chest and holds them in place.

His warm, honey brown eyes roam my body again, making my pulse quicken. I will my mind to think of every situation where he acted poorly. Flashbacks of our first meeting and him leaving me in the middle of a conversation to start a fight, his ambiguous answer when I asked him if he was ever in love with Tracy. Making me think we have a date only to try and fix me up with JD.

"Move," I say as I shove him with all my strength. He doesn’t move an inch.

“Make me move.”

We stand there looking at each other, neither one of us wanting to speak. His eyes peruse my body again, leaving me exposed.

“You’re in all black tonight. Where’s your signature pink? I assumed you’d never leave the house without wearing something pink.” Leave it to him to notice such a detail.

“I never do,” I say eyeing him, willing him to get my meaning.

He suddenly pulls my coat open. In my attempts to snatch the lapels from him, I manage to maneuver myself away from the wall, but I only end up hitting the back of my couch. He crowds me as his hands travel up my legs, lifting the short dress and exposing the tiny pink thongs. There is a quick inhale of breath before he moves his face barely an inch from mine. His hand continues to travel up my dress until he reaches the apex of my thighs.

“Stop it,” I manage to grit out, out of breath and heart beating erratically.

He rests his face against the side of my neck before he pulls the V-neck to the side to display the matching pink bra.

“This is what you want to do, Sandy? You want to go out with this David? You want to walk away?”

“At least he’s available,” I manage to pant.

“I’m right fucking here,” he practically growls.

“That doesn’t make you available.”

He closes his eyes briefly before he abruptly lets me go, walking away from me.

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