Packing Up Love Read online

  Jason seemed amazing, yet I didn’t know him very well yet. Even though every single thing about him felt right, he was a complete stranger in some ways. At least when I started going out with Kyle, we had some mutual friends. I knew more about the details of his life.

  But then I realized I truly needed to stop comparing my ex-boyfriend and my new… Whatever he was.

  I also had to be honest with myself, even if I couldn’t quite be open with him yet. My feelings for Jason were too intense to process. I was scared. If I let myself go and truly gave him my heart, that was it. I didn’t know if I was ready for that.

  I knew I shouldn’t listen to gossip, and the so-called ‘experts’ dealing out crazy relationship advice, but it didn’t seem to make sense that anyone would find their true love so quickly.

  In the morning, the shop owner Rita made a huge deal about the new shelves. She was so proud of me, as if I’d done it myself. She said that I should make up a gift basket for Jason, but I was ashamed to realize that I didn’t even have his address. And I certainly couldn’t call him for a while.

  Trying to lose myself in work, I got ahead of most of our orders, then got back to organizing the workroom. When my phone rang, I instantly grinned, hoping it was Jason. I couldn’t help it.

  Then I saw that it was Kyle and my blood ran cold.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey Claire, it’s Kyle. Listen, I don’t like the way you ended things, and I think we should talk.”

  “No.” I could hear my voice quaver with just one word.

  “I thought you might say that. I found some photos in the back of the bookshelf. It looks like they were your grandmother’s. I’ll throw them out if you don’t meet me tonight.”

  I gasped. “You wouldn’t dare.” I was positive that I’d packed up all of the photos, but I hadn’t unpacked those boxes yet. And I was a tearful mess on moving day, so I may have missed something.

  Was Kyle reaching out to me out of guilt? Did he actually realize he’d been an ass to me?

  “What’s that cafe near your work?” he asked. “Sunrise?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Be there at six.”

  I hesitated. Kyle wouldn’t yell at me in a public place, would he? I’d just be careful to stay inside after he left, until he was long gone. Then I thought of Jason. I adored how overprotective he was. Maybe I could call him to come with me.

  “Be there at six,” Kyle repeated, then he hung up.

  My hands were shaking as I typed out a message immediately.

  Jason, I’m so sorry to bother you, but are you around? No worries if you’re busy. I just wanted to ask you something.

  I almost didn’t send the text. Then I thought of how hurt Jason would be if I didn’t give him the option of helping me. I was still trying to figure out how he worked.

  He didn’t respond, so I went alone, leaving a bit early so that I’d be inside at a table in the front window with a coffee by five forty-five. I figured if Kyle couldn’t get me alone, he might behave himself.

  I tried to stay calm, unable to meet his eyes as I saw his ill-fitting dark gray suit sit down in the chair across from mine.

  “Thank you for bringing my photos,” I said softly, trying to start on a positive note.

  Glancing up, he was absolutely sneering at me. “Jesus, you’re stupid. You took all of the photos, and also some other stuff that wasn’t yours. Like some of my sci-fi movies.”

  “Those were mine. I bought them, and you know it.”

  He reached out and grabbed my wrist, digging his thumb into the bone so hard I squealed. “How long have you been fucking that guy?”

  “I never cheated on you,” I whispered.

  “Yeah? That thug in our apartment certainly looked like he wanted a piece of you.”

  “You met him at the same time I did,” I said, trying to keep my voice low and calm. I was shaking from head to toe. I’d never handled stress well, and he was scaring me to pieces.

  “I can’t believe after all I’ve done for you, you took off without even saying goodbye. I thought you were better than that.”

  “What do you want, Kyle?” I asked softly.

  “You’re going to come back to our apartment and we’re going to discuss this rationally.”

  “You know I can’t do that. We are over. It’s finished. And to be honest, it was over months ago. I was just too scared to tell you.”

  He gave my arm a shake, digging his thumb in harder while I tried not to yelp.

  “You’re coming with me until I talk some sense into you,” he nearly growled. Before I even realized what was happening, he was hauling me to my feet, grabbing my arm roughly and practically dragging me out the door.

  I tried to grasp at the door frame, but he twisted me away.

  “Knock it off, bitch. You know we need to have a serious talk, and that’s the end of it. And we’re going to discuss your slutty behavior with the big guy.”

  My heart sank as I realized I wasn’t strong enough to fight him. And if he got me out of sight, he might really hurt me this time.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  * Jason *

  I knew that Claire needed some space, and going to pick her up at work was likely the worst thing I could do right now, but I couldn’t stop my feet from heading to her shop. I didn’t even know what I was going to say, or what my excuse was.

  As I turned the corner, I saw a couple in the doorway of a coffee shop. When I saw Claire’s face illuminated under the streetlight, I instantly felt a wave of joy flow through me. Then my heart fell out when I saw she was in the arms of another man. It genuinely felt like a kick to the guts. But the entire world turned to blind rage when I saw that it was Kyle. He was dragging her to the sidewalk, while she was trying to fight him.

  “I saw the way he looked at you,” Kyle was saying, yanking Claire roughly by the arm. “I bet you wrapped those thick thighs around him the second the door was shut behind me.”

  I heard a tiny whimper as he dug his fingers into her, then all the three of us heard was the air leaving his lungs after I’d thrown him flat on his back. Unfortunately, it was hard-packed dirt in front of the flower garden, not concrete, so it didn’t knock him out.

  I placed my boot over his throat. “Silence,” I growled, and Kyle froze, knowing I could snap his neck in a heartbeat.

  “Claire,” I said softly, turning to her. “Are you alright?” She nodded, trembling. “Could you please go inside and turn away from the windows for a moment?” She nodded again, scurrying away.

  I waited until the door closed behind her, then roughly scraped my boot across Kyle’s throat as if I were cleaning mud from it. Then I picked him up by the lapels, dragging him to the back of the building where I slammed him against the wall.

  He looked dazed, but his eyes still narrowed. “This is assault. I could–”

  “I could make you disappear,” I said, hearing pure ice creep into my voice. “I have friends who don’t ask questions. I have your home address. I have your license plate number.” I rattled off it off, along with his work address, and the name and private number of his boss.

  Kyle’s mouth fell open, and he actually began to quake.

  “I don’t want to be like this,” I said flatly. “I really don’t. I want you to fuck off and never speak to Claire again. Never contact her in any way. I told you this once, and you didn’t listen. I’m only giving you a second chance out of respect for her. You know you don’t deserve a woman like that.”

  He started to say something, and I slapped him so hard he’d have my hand-print clear across his face tomorrow. I thought that might look charming at his office. “You don’t get to speak. I’ll allow you to nod. Do you agree to stay away from her forever?”

  Kyle swallowed hard, then nodded solemnly.

  “You understand the depth and precision of what might happen if I need to deal with you again?” His eyes were so huge it was almost comical. He nodded again.

  “Run,”
I growled, and he took off like a shot down the street. I’m sure it didn’t speak well of me that I hoped he’d break an ankle or snap a knee on the way.

  Taking a deep breath to clear the rage from my system, I went into the coffee shop, where Claire was leaning against the wall near the washrooms. I held out my hand. “May I walk you home?”

  Her bottom lip trembled, and I hated how nervous she was. “You aren’t mad at me?”

  “No, honey. Not mad. Concerned. Confused. But I could never be angry with you.”

  She took my hand and I led her outside, then wrapped an arm around her as we began to walk. “Shh, it’s okay now,” I murmured, feeling her tense shoulders. “It’s all over. He’s never going to come near you again.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “Why were you with him?” I asked as gently as possible. She cringed, and I stopped, turning to face her. “Take your time. It’s okay, really.”

  “I’m sorry.” She was trembling like a terrified little sparrow. “He said he had some of my grandmother’s photos, and that I had to get them.”

  Her bottom lip was quivering and I realized that no matter what I said, I might make her cry. I couldn’t stand that. But I had no choice. I took a few deep breaths, trying to clear out the frustration.

  “Why didn’t you call me? Or text me to tell me what was happening?” I asked softly. “You know I would have come with you.”

  “You didn’t answer my text. Then I didn’t want to bother you.”

  I shook my head, feeling like I’d failed her. “I’m so sorry, baby. I was writing an exam today. My phone was at the bottom of my knapsack. I’ll always keep it on me now, okay? And I’ll get one of those battery packs tomorrow so that I’ll always have it charged.”

  Claire looked up at me strangely. “Why didn’t you tell me you were in university?”

  I shrugged. “It didn’t come up yet. I wouldn’t keep anything from you. Ask me anything.”

  She hesitated. “Who is Lindsay?”

  Her eyes widened in shock as I burst out laughing. “Sorry, honey. She’s a girl I went out with for about a month. She was flighty. Ditzy. And mean – I couldn’t believe the things she’d say about people. I broke up with her as soon as I heard her speak like that.”

  Reaching out my hand, I was relieved and hopeful when she took it. “Claire, it kills me that Kyle was cruel to you. You deserve so much better. Look at you – you’re enchanting. You’re a dream. I can’t stop thinking about you. I was on my way to your work to beg you to come to dinner with me. I was going to try to be friends with you until you were ready to date again.”

  “Wow,” she breathed. “You’d really do that for me?”

  Pulling her hand gently, I slid us closer together. “I would, if I have to. But Claire, I know that you feel what we have. What we are. You’re scared, and I understand that. I’m trying to think of a compromise.”

  Her face crumbled, and I could see the tears starting to well up in her eyes.

  Falling to my knees in front of her, I held her hands in mine. “Please baby, I don’t ever want to be the reason you cry. There must be a way. Just think with me. What do you need right now?”

  She nodded, taking shaky breaths. “I need... some space. I need to figure out what I need. I’ve never lived alone before, and everyone says that’s supposed to be really good for you. It helps you find yourself and all that.”

  “Okay.” I nodded, thinking. “What if we only saw each other Saturday nights? And maybe one check-in text every day? You need to discover your new neighborhood, get used to a different life, decorate your new apartment. And you need some girlfriends. Maybe a book club, or something.”

  Claire’s hand squeezed mine. “You’d be okay with that?”

  “For a few months, sure. I’m going to be really busy with school, and work. We could focus on ourselves, but still keep this connection.”

  She nodded slowly. “I think that sounds really healthy.”

  “Now,” I gave her hands a shake. “If you’re on board with that, I just have two little requests.”

  “Okay.”

  “You never speak to Kyle. Ever. Trust me, he will never contact you again. But if he does, you don’t answer. Tell me immediately and I’ll take care of it.”

  Claire nodded emphatically. “No problem. I promise.”

  “And honey,” I said, bringing my hand up to run my thumb along her cheekbone. “If you need me for anything, please call. Sometimes I might take a few hours to get back to you, but I’ll always come running. Please never think of it as bothering me. Okay?”

  She nodded, then leaned in to kiss me, and I realized I wasn’t just on my knees physically. This girl had me on my knees for her for life. Even though I couldn’t tell her yet, and wouldn’t dare scare her any more right now, I was going to marry her someday.

  When she finally stepped back, she was smiling. “Claire, can I take you home?” She nodded eagerly.

  Twenty minutes later we were falling into her bed, tearing our clothing off, moaning into each other’s lips. I realized that after the scare of seeing her with another man, and the terror of having her almost tell me she wouldn’t be with me, I wasn’t sure if I could be gentle this time.

  Her dreamy hazel eyes lit up as I tossed her onto her back in the middle of the bed, naked. She was so curvy and pale and delicate that I just stared at her for a moment, barely realizing that I was gently stroking myself. “You have no idea what you do to me,” I murmured.

  She looked up at me shyly. “I think I have some idea,” she whispered. “Even if I can’t believe it.”

  Settling between her legs, my shoulders opened her thighs as my tongue immediately began lapping straight through her center. She gasped, clutching my hair. “Oh, Jason,” she breathed, and my name on her lips sent another fresh burst of desire singing through my veins.

  Very gently I slipped two fingers inside her, delighted that she was already wet. Swirling my tongue around her hot little clit, I loved the feeling of her hips wriggling under my mouth. Her soaking tunnel gripped my fingers, and I could feel how close she was already.

  “Yes, Jason, yes,” she moaned so sweetly, her pretty eyes wide but hazy as she stared down at me.

  I dug in, licking firmly and quickly, watching her gasp as her shoulders tensed and her body curled forward. A long rattling breath shuddered through her. Then she squealed, her fingertips digging into my skull as she shook. Feeling her dripping passage pulsing against my fingers nearly did me in.

  The second she stopped quivering, I was on top of her, kissing her hard, almost roughly. “I need you, baby,” I groaned, my thick shaft already nestled between her open folds.

  “I need you,” she choked, looking up at me. I could see the love in her eyes, even if she was too scared to say it. I could see everything she felt for me.

  Gliding into her sweet softness, her legs wrapped around me, her hands around my shoulders, pulling me into her with everything she had.

  I couldn’t stop myself from plunging deeper, deeper, until her eyes flashed open in surprise.

  “Is that too much, baby?” I asked quickly.

  She shook her head, flashing me a delicious naughty grin. “More,” she demanded.

  My hands slid to her incredible breasts, fingers and lips wandering over her skin while she moaned so sweetly for me. I couldn’t slow down, couldn’t stop, thrusting quick and deep into her luscious softness.

  Checking her eyes, I wondered if I was being too rough with her, but her head fell back as she trembled under me. “Yes,” she murmured, “Take me. Harder.”

  I couldn’t believe she’d just said that, as every instinct surged, driving me into her sweet little pussy. Biting her nipple gently, she quivered against me, her hips tipping up against mine.

  Grinding against her, I watched as her eyes grew wide, felt her as she started to tense around me. My hand slid behind her shoulders to tangle in the back of her hair, pulling her lips to min
e. I swallowed her gasping moans as she shrieked, every muscle tightening as she squeezed me desperately.

  “Come for me, Claire,” I murmured into her lips.

  “Oh my… Jason…” she shrieked, every part of her body gripping mine as she shook.

  Feeling her losing herself with me pushed me over the edge, as I pounded her fast and deep, my rigid shaft clamped inside her tight, wet pussy. She was so perfect, so precious, and knowing that she was truly mine now filled me with words it was far too soon to say.

  Looking deeply into her beautiful eyes, I hoped that she could see that I was claiming her as mine forever as I groaned, exploding inside her with a blast of wet heat.

  She shuddered again, her little fingers digging into my skin as she rocked under me. “You feel so perfect,” she moaned.

  “You are perfect,” I whispered, kissing her hungrily until we finally stopped moving together.

  Our kiss didn’t end as I rolled to the side, pulling her against me. As she looked up at me, I swear there were stars in her eyes.

  “Jason,” she said softly, then she paused.

  “Shh, I know, baby. It’s okay. Don’t say it yet. I promise, I’m going to give you the time and space you need.” Giving her round ass a saucy squeeze, I forced a chuckle. “I’ll be your once a week boyfriend. Isn’t there an old country song about a part-time lover?”

  Then she laughed. A real, unselfconscious belly laugh, so gorgeous as her eyes sparkled, her cheeks slightly flushed.

  “There’s my girl,” I said softly. “We’ll say everything we need to say in a few months. Okay?”

  She nodded. “Thank you for understanding.”

  “Thank you for letting me be pushy.”

  Pulling her close as she giggled, a wave of relief washed over me. I had my girl, and I knew she loved me. Everything else was going to fall into the right places as soon as she had her mental space arranged.