Chapter 25
Jamie
The oven beeps, and Arnie takes the fish slice he’s holding, plating up the moussaka.
“I can’t believe he had been following us this whole time.” I’m kneeling on my cushion next to Arnie’s dining chair as I wait for him to bring the meal over.
“Apparently, the police had been called a few times and alerted to a man in all black wandering around the campus,” Arnie says as he slides into his seat, his fingers immediately running through my curls.
I shiver as I think of Jed, hiding, watching, waiting for his chance to confront me. I’m still not clear on what his endgame was for throwing a brick with no note, but for now, I’m happy to push all thoughts of the man out of my mind in favour of spending time with my boyfriend.
I’ll be eternally grateful for what Simmons and Arnie did for me. They made sure I was safe. Even better is that they both believed that what happened to me at the hands of Jed was real. There had been zero doubt. My mom didn’t even believe me, even when I couldn’t attend dance practices for worry over how I got the bruises or cuts.
After Jed had fled from throwing the brick, Arnie filed a police report. Since the police were already looking for him, they were not only helpful but had put out warning that there was a wanted criminal in the area.
We eat in silence, Arnie feeding me little bits, offering me some sips of his wine even though he poured me a glass that’s now sitting untouched on the table.
I hum, content with my eyes closed. My head somehow making its way to Arnie’s thick thigh and is now resting against it. I let my fingers play with the seam of his work trousers.
“Blondie. How about a bath, then a movie?”
I blink my eyes open and realise I had fallen asleep on him. Pushing away to stand up, Arnie grabs my chin and brings my face up to meet his.
He pulls my hair slightly to tip my head back, then covers my mouth with his in a deep, unhurried kiss.
Blood flows straight to my cock, and I melt into his mouth more, my hands coming up to caress his thighs. He groans and repositions us, so I’m directly between his legs, still kneeling.
My mind swirls with possibilities of where the night might lead.
He bites my lower lip, garnering a pornographic moan from me as my hands travel further towards the one place I’ve yet to explore.
It’s hard to believe that I’ve scened twice with Arnie now. Kissed him, slept in his sheets, and yet I’ve not seen him naked. Sex has not been a topic of conversation.
I break the kiss, both of us panting, and I can see the lust in Arnie’s eyes. There’s no doubt that he wants me the same way I want him.
“Can I... Is it okay if... I touch you?” I manage to get out before my bravery bolts.
“You don’t have to, blondie, I know you’ve been through a lot today,” he tries to explain as he traces my ear and cups my cheek.
“No, please. I need this. I want it. If...you want it to?”
“God, yes. Let’s get in the bath and I’ll make us both feel good. How does that sound?” I groan softly at the thought of finallyseeing this man in all his glory. To find out if what I’ve been fantasising about is true.
Instead of using the bathroom designated to me, Arnie pulls me by the hand into his bedroom, depositing me on the bed before heading into his ensuite to run the water.
“Hey, that’s my job,” he says, slapping my hands away as I try to undress myself. I giggle, allowing myself to just be in the moment with him. To let myself enjoy what is happening between us.
He tugs off my clothes at an impressive rate before leading me into his ensuite, fingers laced together. I’m giddy at the sight of his sunken bathtub; the warmth from the hot water still running swirls around us. The room is so unlike what I thought Arnie’s taste would be. The peach tiling is ceiling-high; dimmed overhead lights pour down on us, making the room sexy and intimate. I can smell lavender, which is in small bunches, thrown into the bath, floating alongside some sort of oil and dried flowers. Twisting around to look at Arnie, he’s observing me, like he’s worried I won’t like it.
“You are not what I thought you’d be like,” I say as I finger-walk up his torso, where he’s now shirtless. His skin is slightly sweaty from the heat of the room, his heart beating about as hard as mine, it would seem.
“And Jamie, tell me. What did you think I’d be like?” He breathes against me, nudging me with his nose as I look up to match his gaze.
“I thought you lived in an all-black house, with cobwebs and taxidermy or something,” I say, a little embarrassed at how that sounds now that I’ve admitted it out loud. Arnie throws his head back to laugh. It’s deep and natural. Sexy too.
“Well, what’s that phrase about judging a book? I like the light as much as the dark,” he mumbles against my mouth as he stealsa quick kiss. I step back, aching to slip into this bath with him. To lean against his bare skin, relax and feel secure. Loved.
We are still holding hands, so I don’t get far before he’s trying to tug me back.
