Page 12 of Almost Had You

“That Clover got something she wanted,” I fire back. “That Mercer is the king that conquered the Ice Queen? I don’t care what they say.” In this moment, I really don’t care. I’d take the backlash if it meant feeling Mercer inside me. Finally losing my virginity to a man who knows exactly how to work my body. His experience is a sure bet.

“You want it?” he asks, thrusting his hips so he rubs against my core.

Closing my eyes, I fantasize about the scenarios that could take place. “More than I thought was possible.” He kisses me again.

Against my lips, he says, “Good.”

My heart rate ratchets up and the familiar Lynyrd Skynyrd song vibrates against the thin wall. We both smile. “Here’s the thing, I care what people say, Clover.” He leans back, looking down at me, shaking his head. “I could fuck you right now and prove everyone right. Or, I could show you the real side of me and you can let the real side of you come out and we could really have something together.”

“Why does that make me want sex even more?”

He laughs, his smile makes me wetter than I was a second before. He mumbles the lyrics to the song we’ve both heard a billion times. This time they mean a little more than they used to. “Sweet Home Alabama,” he whispers softly, resting his forehead on mine.

“I’ll take the second option tonight. But that first option better be on the menu eventually.”

He shakes his head. “Killer, I’ll let you order whatever you want when your requests don’t smell like tequila.”

Chapter Five

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Clover

“THANK GOD YOUdon’t have a job,” I say, sitting in the passenger side of Bentley’s work truck. We dropped him off at the main office for desk duty and Mercer just returned to the cab with a pink shopping bag. “Right now, I mean. You don’t really have a job right now.”

“I have a job, I’m on leave. You’re lucky I like shopping for ladies on my downtime.” He hands me the familiar boutique bag and I peek inside. I’d take anything at this point. I’m wearing Jimmy’s hunting jacket over my bra and panties. My hair is tied up into a top knot and my face is bare of makeup. I. Am. Scandalous. I. Am. Free. “I saw a few dresses that had Clover written all over them, but I bought you something a little more appropriate for what I have planned for us today.” It’s a pair of jeans, cowboy boots, socks, and a tank top. We went over my sizes before he entered one of my favorite stores. We also went over what to say to the ladies who work there if they asked who the clothes were for.

I smell like a dead animal mated with a bottle of Old Spice and it makes me want to vomit. I couldn’t stroll into the rental car place wearing Mercer’s shirt. Nor could I enter my parents’ property looking like I’d been ridden hard and hung up wet. “What are we doing today?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder to make sure no one is around before shimmying off Jimmy’s jacket to don my new clothing.

Mercer clears his throat and rests a hand on his mouth. “Before you were nearly naked, I thought we could go four-wheeling out in the East Woods.” He pauses, gaze picking parts of my body to study. I’d be self-conscious if I didn’t know exactly how much Mercer likes my body. He must have told me a thousand different ways last night, maybe even in a foreign language once or twice. “Now that you’re almost naked, I’d like to kiss every single inch of your body.”

“Both plans sound acceptable,” I say, pulling on the jeans. “Drop me off at the rental car place and I’ll meet you at your house at two.” I tell him he should spend some time with his parents since he missed church and I need time to deal with the damages from last night. My phone buzzes from my purse. It’s Tannie. “I have to take this. I’m sorry.”

“Back to reality, huh?” he jokes, but my stomach sinks. It’s accurate. I have so much to deal with before I can truly be free with him for three weeks of untethered madness. I slide the tank over my head and answer the call.

“I’m fine. I’m alive.”

“Are you still intact? That’s the only important factor here. Did the master of mack show you his ways?”

I meet Mercer’s gaze, and he looks like he’s floating on a cloud as he takes in my new outfit. I mouth the words,thank you, as I slide my hands down the jeans that fit like a glove. He nods, a dreamy smile on a pair of lips I want to kiss more than anything else right now.

“Since when was it appropriate for you to talk like a dirty, drunk male? A lady never kisses and tells, and for your information, everything is still intact, including your bitty varmint personality.”

Tannie huffs. “I’m sorry. Seriously though?”

I stare out of the windshield. It gives me a better idea than a rental car. “Listen, Tannie. I’m coming over. I need to borrow your old BMW for a few days.” I pause. “I’ll tell you everything about last night.”

I hear her clap. “Of course. Did he deflower you in your car? Is it defiled? Does it need to be detailed because of the mess it made? Oh, I knew it was going to be dirty. I’m so jealous you got a taste of that.”

I swallow hard. Letting her believe her own lie will be less harmful than telling her the truth. Even if it makes my stomach hurt. I’ve protected my integrity for nearly thirty years, and it’ll be gone to the Greenton gossip mill in a matter of seconds after I hang up this call.Sherlock.I meet Mercer’s eyes. I’ll lose it to him eventually. Maybe even today. “You know me so well,” I tell Tannie, choking on the last word. “It was amazing.”

Mercer’s eyes widen. I shake my head. Tannie squeals like a piglet. “I’ll tell you everything when I get there. Thanks for letting me borrow Sara-Beth. I owe you.” I hang up the phone.

“It was amazing, huh?” Mercer says, pressing his lips together in a smirk. “To Tannie’s then? You sure that lie was a good idea?”

“The man at the rental car place would ask too many questions. I made a snap judgment call. She will tell the town we had sex, but at least I’ll control the narrative. I really want to take care of my car situation without my parents finding out. It’s best for my cause.” He pulls out of the parking lot. “If I tell them about moving out and getting a job at Goldie’s, at least I’ll have something to stand on without their help.” Mercer is chuckling. I remind him where Tannie lives.

“Thanks for the clothes again. You did a great job picking stuff out. You’ve done it a lot, I’m guessing. Girlfriends in the past or whatnot.”

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