Page 14 of Worthy Now
“Deep breaths, Nelson. He’s not fucking worth it,” I mutter, forcing myself to believe it. The urge to go after Shane and give him the beating he deserves is strong. Needing an outlet for all that pent-up aggression, I push off the wall and throw my fist into the side of the dumpster hard enough to leave a dent. “Shit.” I shakeout my hand and squeeze my eyes shut, breathing through the pain while I call myself every name under the sun in the privacy of my own head.
“Well. At least we can be sure this particular opponent won’t plant drugs on you.” I whip around, coming face to face with the girl I’m losing my damn mind over. Tessa tilts her head to the side and pins me with a concerned look. “You okay?” She takes a tentative step toward me, like she’s approaching a wild Mustang. When I don’t back away or snap my teeth at her, she reaches for my throbbing hand and gently turns it over in the dim lighting.
“It drives me fucking crazy that he touched you,” I grit out, focusing on the way her long lashes fan her cheeks as she checks each finger for injuries. She gulps before giving me a single, understanding nod.
“Do you think I’m proud of it?” Finally, she looks at me, lifting her chin in a way that tells me she’s done cowering. “Don’t you think I’ve regretted it every day since? I knew he wasn’t a good person, but I ignored the sickening feeling in my gut. He used me to hurt you, and I was gullible enough to let him. How do you think that makes me feel?” Her voice cracks, and suddenly I feel like an asshole for bringing this shit up again. She made a mistake when she was barely old enough to understand herself. Am I really going to continue to punish her for it? God knows I’vemade my fair share of poor choices. I got lucky when I found out I hadn’t cheated on her. But the circumstances that led us there? That’s on me. I release a soft breath, feeling my heart swell for this woman. “I was a fool, and I wish to God I could take it all back.” Then something unexpected happens, and a smile settles on her lips. “I guess we can always find solace in him still being as miserable and vengeful as ever. Only difference is, he now has a dad bod and what appears to be high blood pressure. You, on the other hand, have only improved with age. You’re like a fine whiskey. Shane’s just stale old beer.”
I bark out a laugh as the lingering tension slowly falls away. “Is that so?” I ask, stepping closer to tuck a loose tendril of satiny hair behind her ear. Tessa sighs at the unexpected contact and nuzzles her cheek into the palm of my hand, much like a cat begging for attention. Her teeth dig into her plump bottom lip, and she stares up at me from beneath lowered lashes, unable to hide the longing swimming in her honey-colored eyes. I’m done fighting this, no longer giving a shit whether or not this is going anywhere. I’ll take anything she’s willing to give me and deal with the fallout later. All that matters is that I have to taste her. I’ve been dying to do just that since the moment she first showed up on my porch, demanding a few minutes of my time, and I’m sick of denying myself. Tenderly, like she’s made from fine China, I cup her face and spin us around,walking her backward until her shoulders meet the wall. I take my time mapping her features, drinking her in, and once again marveling at the stunning creature she’s become.
“No more talk of Cooper. I never want to hear his fucking name again.”
“Who?” comes her breathless whisper a split-second before she lifts her chin in invitation. I don’t hesitate. Dipping my head, I capture her lush lips as a tortured groan pours into her waiting mouth.Goddammit, how I’ve missed this mouth.As soon as our lips connect, time ceases to exist, and all I can focus on is the overwhelming need to consume her. Stake my claim and make sure she never forgets who she belongs to ever again. Every sigh, gasp, and whimper spurs me on, and I mentally catalog every tell of her lithe little body. I want to burn this moment into my memory so I’ll forever remember just how perfect she feels in my arms, how a simple kiss from this girl breathes life back into my veins. And when she eventually goes back to the city, and I’m once again forced to live without her, I can draw on the memory to carry me through those sleepless nights ahead. Suddenly, I don’t want to go back inside. I don’t want to resume this senseless bet I’ve started. I want to take her hand, drag her to my car and take her home, where I can spend the remainder of the night worshipping her the way she deserves. I want to run my hands over every inch of her satinyskin. Reacquaint myself with her taste and remind her of just how good we used to be together. But as much as I hate to admit it, I’m too drunk to do any of it.
When I finally take her to my bed after seven years of longing, I don’t want my mind to be hazy. We’ve been dancing around each other for weeks, and tonight isn’t the night to give in to our desires. I may not be as buzzed as I was before Shane’s bullshit sobered me up, but that doesn’t mean I’m clear-headed. I know Tessa’s had quite a few drinks herself, and when I finally claim her, I want there to be zero room for regret. Giving myself a few more minutes to enjoy the feel of her, I push past the seam of her lips and relish in the sound of surrender rising from her delicate throat. Our tongues begin a sensual dance that overpowers my ability to think at all. My girl isn’t shy about what she wants and tries to take over the kiss, tangling her fingers in my hair and rubbing herself against my front.
I’m rock hard. My dick strains against the zipper of my pants, hips jerking forward like a missile seeking its target. Tessa gives my bottom lip a sharp nip, and I hiss, pulling back to stare down at her. Tightening my fist in her hair, I run the tip of my tongue over the abused flesh to soothe the sting. With a devilish grin, I tilt her head sideways to give myself better access before diving back in. God, she tastes delicious. Like coconut and sin, served with a side ofdesperation. I run my hands down her sides, lightly brushing over the swell of her breasts as I go. Her deep moan is an aphrodisiac, driving me wild. Digging my fingers into the supple flesh of her ass, I hike her leg up to wrap it around my waist, so I can grind myself into her. Her mouth parts on a silent gasp when my bulge presses into her heat, causing her to gyrate her hips in a sensual rhythm that threatens to shatter the precarious hold on my control. I want inside of her so bad that my hands shake with need. Pushing her shirt up her toned stomach, I slide my palms under the hem and cup her heavy breasts. I revel in the way she shudders when my thumbs brush over her hardened nipples and greedily drink down the soft moan that escapes her. When she reaches a hand between us, squeezing me through the thick denim of my jeans, I jerk back on a pained hiss. Dropping my forehead to hers, I take a moment to let my breathing even out.
“I hate myself for saying this, but we have to stop before I take you up against the side of a goddamn dumpster. This is not how I pictured this going down.” I feel her huff of frustration against my skin before she drops her leg to the ground and presses a trembling hand to her kiss-swollen lips. I force myself to step back, making sure I retreat far enough to resist the urge to reach for her again. I don’t trust myself around this woman, and she looks like she’s about two seconds away from throwing caution to the windherself. She’s a vision, with her mussed-up hair, flushed cheeks, and that wild glint in her eyes that lets me know our heated exchange was as life-shattering for her as it was for me.
“I guess we’d better get back inside before Carter and Megan send out a search party.”
I nod my agreement and subtly adjust my protesting dick before I swing my arm wide and wait for her to lead the way. I allow myself one last lingering look at her perfect ass as she pushes past me and back into the buzzing bar. The deafening noise pouring out of the building is a welcome wake-up call. It takes an inhuman amount of effort to keep my gaze on the back of her head and not let it drop again. The sway of her hips taunts me and does nothing help with my little situation.
Our friends grin like loons when they take in our disheveled appearance.
“I thought you went after him to calm him down. No offense, but judging by the tent he’s sporting, I don’t think you did a very good job.” Carter’s juvenile commentary is accompanied by a pointed look at my crotch that causes his wife to break into a fit of giggles.
“Hilarious,” I mutter, acting like I’m not at all embarrassed by my body’s natural reaction, but I sidle up to the bar to takeadvantage of the cover it provides, anyway. “Are we going to finish this stupid bet or what?”
“Hey, I was only waiting for you to get your head back in the game, buster. I’d like to get this over with so I can go home and ravage my gorgeous wife. It’s not often we get the house to ourselves.”
“Right,” I say as I wave the bartender over. “Let’s make this quick, then. Wouldn’t want to keep you from your bi-annual fuck fest. Six Bud Lights and six tequila shots, please,” I say when the younger man finally makes his way over to us. I hand him a couple of large bills and tell him to keep the change, which prompts him to fill our order with an extra spring in his step.
“Alright,” Megan pipes up once our beverages line the bar, before stepping aside to give her husband room to work. “You have twelve minutes to either finish these drinks or tap out. Whoever pukes or keels over first loses. Ready. Set. Go!” she shouts, making a big show of starting the timer on her stopwatch. She’s such a drama queen. I grab the first bottle and knock it back without hesitation. Pressing the back of my hand to my mouth to contain a rising burp, I watch Carter guzzle his own, a look of sheer determination taking over. It takes me longer to finish the second, but I manage and immediately go for number three, not giving my bubbling stomach a chance to protest. Carter’s halfway throughhis last beer when his eyes glass over.Almost there, I think to myself while I breathe through my discomfort. I lift my half-empty drink—taunting him—and he flashes me a wobbly smile, clinking his bottle to mine and almost missing it altogether. Driven by his show of weakness, I blow out a breath and tip my head back, pouring the remainder of the pale liquid down my throat.
“Forty-five seconds, honey. You got this.” Carter cringes, visibly struggling now as he wobbles on unsteady feet. I reach out and clamp a hand onto his shoulder, unsure as to whether I’m doing it to steady him or myself at this point. I’m really feeling the effects of the alcohol now. The only thing keeping me going is knowing that Carter is closer to his breaking point. I will not lose this fucking game. I hand my inebriated friend the shot of tequila he doesn’t need and grab one for myself.
“Bottoms up,” I say before quickly knocking all three back. I pause. Close my eyes. Take two slow breaths while I fight my body’s call to expel the contents of my stomach. My eyes pop open when Carter slams his last glass onto the wooden surface and stares at me through squinty, unfocused eyes. We stand, frozen for several moments, sizing each other up, and I’m not sure who’s struggling more. Carter makes a gulping sound and holds on to a nearby barstool to keep himself steady. I’m beginning to think we’ll have to go for another round to determine a winner—and let’s face it;I need another drink like I need a fucking prostate exam—when Carter holds a hand out in front of him and begins shaking his head vigorously.
“That’s it,” he announces, pressing a hand to his stomach and looking slightly green. “You win. I don’t even care if that makes me boring. I can’t possibly stomach another round. I gotta use the head.” He tags on before he makes his way through the crowd, rudely knocking a couple of patrons aside in his haste to get there.
“Yes!” I shout, pumping a fist into the air like a total tool. I quickly dial back my enthusiasm when my stomach sloshes with a mix of booze and half-digested food, but it doesn’t wipe the proud grin off my face.
“Dammit,” Megan groans. “I was really looking forward to that date night.”
“Life’s a bitch, sweetheart,” I slur, winking at my pissed-off friend just to rub it in. “I gotta take a piss, too,” I announce, because I’m classy like that, before I lurch forward on unsteady feet. “Might as well check to see if Carter is okay. I’ll let you know if I need help dragging his sorry ass out of there.” I’d like to tell you I went after my friend out of concern, but we all know that’s a blatant lie. I can be a real prick sometimes, and I’m not above a little gloating. What can I say? Amusing myself at the expense of others never fails to lift my spirits.
Eight
Jake
When I wake the following morning, my cheek is literally glued to my pillow by a thin layer of dried saliva, which is a telltale sign that it’s probably best to skip this day altogether and simply stay in bed for its duration. Cracking an eye open, I mindlessly track the dust particles dancing in the early morning sun before landing on the glossy hardwood floor. My head is pounding like a motherfucker, and my tongue feels like it’s grown a layer of hair overnight. Detaching my face from the pillowcase, I wipe the drool off my skin before I flop on my back with a guttural groan. I attempt to fit the jagged pieces of last night’s events back together while I lie in a helpless heap on my mattress, but it’s a useless task.
I remember laughing when I entered the restroom and found Carter white-knuckling the sink, desperately holding on to thecontents of his stomach and staring at his reflection in a way that suggested he was questioning every single choice he ever made. He painted such a pitiful picture I couldn’t even take pleasure in my win anymore. I remember asking him if he needed me to call his daddy to come pick him up, and I vividly remember him telling me to go to hell. After that, I’m drawing a total blank, something that hasn’t happened to me since my early twenties. Can’t say I’ve missed the feeling.
Fucking Megan and her stupid dares. And damn me for taking the bait every single time. You’d think I’d know better by now. The piercing sound of my cell phone going off as it dances across the bedside table makes me flinch. Desperate for the stabbing sensation in the back of my head to stop, I fumble for the device and snatch it up, croaking out a barely audible, “Hello.”
“Good morning, sunshine. How are we feeling?” Tessa’s cheery voice pours from the speaker, and I pinch the bridge of my nose, squeezing my eyes shut to keep my head from exploding. My low grunt draws an amused chuckle out of her. “You were quite entertaining last night. I almost forgot how much fun you can be.”
