Page 6 of His Reward
One of a monarch butterfly clinging to a flower, the second is a shot of a bicycle leaning against a railing on a cobblestone street, and the third an overused inspirational quote in tall thin letters:WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER OPENS.
Nicole told me this used to be June’s room, but there’s none of her personality here.The girl I remember sang along to Selena Gomez songs and loved bright colours in everything.The latter the reason why I nicknamed herJujube.
I stand in front of the mirror, dressed and ready to leave.I imagine myself as one of the guys in my unit as I deliver orders.
Bowen, you’re going to keep your eyes on the fucking prize at that party.You’re going to find an available and appropriate woman and flirt your fucking ass off.You’re going to take her somewhere and fuck her brains out, and yours too.Then you can stop thinking about shit you shouldn’t be thinking about.
“Yes, sir,” I say to the mirror.
A solid plan of attack in mind, I shove my keys into my pocket and head downstairs with confidence.But I come to a dead stop when I find June perched on one of the armchairs in the living room.
“I told your dad he didn’t have to wait,” I say.
“He didn’t.I stayed back because I wasn’t sure you knew where the party was being held.”
Damn, she’s right.I would’ve gotten into my truck and realized I didn’t know where I was supposed to go.
I smile.“Good instinct.I would’ve texted Paul for the location, though.”
“Well, I also wanted to hang out with you some more before I head back to Toronto tomorrow.”
You wouldn’t if you knew the things I’ve thought about you.
She stands and comes closer, a shy smile on her lips.
“You look nice.The suit fits you.”
“It’s a bit tight around my shoulders.”And it’s getting tight in my pants too as I’m looking at her.“You’re the one who looks nice, Jujube.You’re beautiful.”
That’s an understatement.She looks fucking amazing in her peach dress.My gaze lingers on the tantalizing glimpse of the tops of her breasts, then slides lower.
The material hugs her waist and flares out into a ruffled skirt.She’s wearing open-toed black heels, and I suddenly have an intense urge to suck on her pretty little red-painted toes.After that, I would kiss and lick my way up her smooth, flawless legs to the golden prize between them.
I drag my gaze up June’s perfect body to her beautiful face, that dark hunger inside me growing stronger the more I inhale her sweet scent.Tension hangs between us, the silence and our solitude more noticeable with each passing second.
There’s no denying it now.
I want her.
She’s only a few feet away.It would be so easy to pull her close and kiss her.Lift her against the wall and slide into her.Bend her over the armchair she was sitting on and pound her.Drag her down to the carpet and make her cryuncle.Though I won’t stop until she’s breathless and about to pass out from all the times I’ve made her come.
I clench my hands at my sides, steeped in self-loathing as the myriad ways I can fuck my best friend’s daughter in his living room assault my mind.Maybe June senses my wrong feelings because she drops her gaze and turns away.
“We should leave now or we’ll be pretty late for the party.”
Thank fuck.
An escape from temptation.
4
June
“Can you believe this?”
Daphne shows me her phone, a text message chain with Mom on the screen.
Daphne: I met Auntie Erica as she was leaving Sephora.She said to tell you hello.
