Most likely, he knew me too well.
We walked hand and hand across the park, toward his car, where the man with the keys stood in front of the Aston Martin, protecting it. The whole scene was absolutely absurd, but Jett protected his cars like he protected his girls, guess I couldn’t blame him for that.
The keys were tossed to Jett, who caught them in the air and then held them out to me. I looked down at his palm in shock and then back up at him. He was smiling brightly at me, as if he was offering me the world.
Oh, fuck my heart, he was slowly killing me, one smile at a time.
“You’re serious?” I asked.
“Of course, I would let you do anything, Goldie.”
“My, my, my, you would do just about anything to get in my pants.”
Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulled me in tight and said, “No, actually, I would do just about anything to get into that beautiful heart of yours.”
Like second nature, I ran my hand up his chest and gripped the lapels of his shirt. I brought him closer and spoke softly.
“You’re in there already, Jett. You just need to take up a permanent residence now.”
“That’s my goal.”
Lightly, he kissed my forehead and helped me into the driver’s seat. The smooth leather welcomed me as I checked out the polished steering wheel. I really couldn’t believe Jett was going to let me drive his precious car, but hell if I was going to miss out on this opportunity.
Jett got into the passenger side and started giving me instructions, but once I started the car and felt the rumble of the engine underneath me, I blocked out what Jett was saying and took off, letting the wind whip through my hair and the man next to me grip onto the handles for dear life.
26
“I Bet My Life”
Jett
I sat in my car, staring out the windshield, trying to recollect the last ten minutes that just flew by me as Goldie whipped around New Orleans, cutting in and out of one way streets and traffic from the festival. Pretty sure I lost a few years on my life from her “driving.”
“Oh, my God, that was so much fun,” Goldie cooed, as she put the car in park and turned to face me. “I know why you love driving this car so much. You barely have to press down on the gas pedal. Did you see me zip through those streets? It was like we were in some kind of super speed time machine thing. You know what I mean? It seemed like you enjoyed yourself, you weren’t even saying anything, just taking in the sights. Hey, are you okay? You look a little strange,” she asked, as she pressed her hand against my cheek. “You’re all clammy; are you going to be sick?”
I shook my head no and gulped as I looked over at her. “No offense, but you’re an awful driver.”
Insult crossed her face as she took in my words. “I am not! I’m a damn fine driver. If I was a bad driver, I would have hit somebody.”
“We almost took out a street performer, they jumped out of the way before they could be taken out by your absurd driving.”
“Jett Colby!” she practically shouted. “I’m not a bad driver.”
Nodding my head, I got out of the car, but not before I pulled the keys out of the ignition and pocketed them. I didn’t have to turn around to hear her stomping behind me and slamming the driver’s side door shut. I lit the fire and I was about to be burned.
“I’m not a bad driver,” she repeated herself. “I have just as good of driving skills as fucking Jeff Gordon, maybe even better. Hey, I’m talking to you,” she stomped behind me.
Her little finger poked my back as I opened the back door to Diego’s apartment for her. She didn’t proceed inside. Instead, she continued to poke me.
“Say it, say I’m a good driver.”
“Goldie, you’re a terrible driver.”
“How can you say that?” she said in complete outrage.
“You drove on the sidewalk!”
She opened her mouth to retort, but then stopped herself while she thought of what to say. She crossed her arms over her chest and held her chin high as she said, “It was a low sidewalk, and was hard to see. Anyone could have made the same mistake.”
“Okay,” I shook my head and grabbed her hand, pulling her into Diego’s place and leading her up to her room.
I could hear the slight beat of music playing in the main hall, letting me know Diego must be practicing one of his acts, something I very much wanted to watch at some point, not just because it interested me, but because he worked really hard at his club, and I’m sure he’d like to show off his hard work.
Goldie kicked and argued all the way up to her room, and once we were confined in the small area, she turned on her heels in a fit of rage.
“You can’t just manhandle me because you’re bigger than me.”
“Are you done?” I asked, waiting for her to explode even more.
“Am I done? Are you kidding me right now? No, I am not done. I want you to tell me why you think I’m a bad driver.”
“I told you why. You drove on a sidewalk, you almost hit a person, and you, by far, surpassed every speed limit in the French Quarter.”
“So?” she asked, looking adorably frustrated.
“So, you’re a bad driver, but that’s okay, because you still looked fucking hot driving my car.”
Bam, just like that the crease that was forming in her forehead vanished and her eyes lit up from my compliment. It wasn’t a lie; she looked hot as hell in her little green dress with her hair blowing in the breeze as she cornered my car around the narrow streets of New Orleans. It was a shame I was too terrified out of my mind to enjoy it.
“Well, I guess I can accept that,” she smiled.
“Good, now go get ready for bed. I’m going to go talk to Diego.”
“Alright, but don’t be long.”
I raised an eyebrow at her and asked, “Do you have something special planned? Maybe you’re wearing something a little revealing tonight?”
“You wish,” she laughed at me. “I’m going to bed in a turtleneck and corduroys.”
“Have I told you how much a woman in corduroys at night turns me on? Might want to reconsider.”
“I’ll take my chances,” she laughed. “Now, hurry up.”
“Remember, Little One, with great patience, comes great reward.”
“Fuck your patience,” she stated with a chasing smile as she walked toward the bathroom.
“Maneater,” I mumbled to myself, as I pulled away from the gorgeous honey-haired woman who’d stolen my heart.
Needing to make things right with Diego, I left Goldie to herself, hoping she really wouldn’t be sporting a turtleneck when I got back, and found my way around Diego’s club. The man had impeccable design taste, and given the outside appearance of the club, you would never know it was so posh and sophisticated inside. I was quite proud of Diego for coming so far.
As the music grew heavier and vibrated against the narrow hallway I was walking down, light started to peek through, casting a red glow in the club, making it look almost sinister. The lights were set to coincide with the music, so with every pulse of the deep beat, a darker red light would flash, making it almost seem like the walls were bleeding. I was instantly fascinated.
The moment I turned the corner, I was presented with a view of Blane and Diego, bare-chested and wearing tight leather pants with top hats and ropes in their hands as they hovered around a girl who was comfortably hanging from the ceiling.
The scene in front of me was wildly erotic and something I didn’t want Goldie seeing, because I didn’t want her getting any ideas from being near these overly sexual men. Easily, they could steal her away from me, no doubt in my mind they had the potential to swipe my girl, a worry I faced every day.
I watched as Diego’s body moved smoothly with the music, while the red lights beat off his mocha skin. The man was fluid with his movements, gliding around the floor while twisting and turning with each switch of the music. I could see how successful the club could be, gi
ven the ringmaster in charge.
Diego spun on his heel and turned in my direction, where he stopped immediately once he saw me standing in the hallway watching him. As if I was an unwanted guest in his club, an intruder, Diego grabbed a remote from his back pocket, turned off the music, and turned on the lights.
“Dude,” Blane complained while covering his eyes. “You have to worn a guy before you blast the lights. My fucking pupils need a second to adjust.”
Without looking at Blane, Diego said, “Take down Marissa and help her lotion her wrists. Practice is over for tonight.”
Blane looked my way and quickly understood the instant tension that filled the room from my presence. Quietly, Blane undid Marissa and escorted her out of the room, leaving me alone with Diego. Not once did Diego’s eyes falter from mine while we waited for Blane to leave, a tactic I taught him when I first took him under my wing. Never back down; never show weakness.
“Why are you here, Jett? Care to blame me for some more of your problems?”
The urge to run my hands through my hair was overpowering, but I held back from showing the nervous tick that I resorted to when I was in a stressful situation. Instead, I held my composure and walked closer to Diego, so we weren’t speaking loudly across the room to each other.
“Would you mind taking a moment to talk to me?”
“I have all the time in the world, talk,” Diego gestured.
Fucker wasn’t going to make it easy, and I didn’t expect him to. I would be disappointed in him if he let me off easily, because that would mean everything I taught him about being a strong confident man was a waste of time.
“May we sit?” I asked, as I gestured to one of the tables that sat around the center stage.
“I would rather stand,” Diego responded stubbornly.
Not trying to exhale in frustration, since this wasn’t going to be easy, I took a deep breath and said, “Diego, I want to apologize for what I said to you about Goldie. I was out of line and in pain. I decided to take my problems out on you when, in fact, you were just being a good friend to Goldie, something I should have been appreciative of.”
Diego tried to hide the shocked look on his face at my apology, but I caught it before he could put on his mask.
Instead of letting him speak, I continued, “I want to thank you for taking Goldie in and being a pillar in her life when I was too much of an idiot to be one. I want to thank you for being respectful enough to not try anything with her, even when Goldie and I haven’t been on the best of terms, and I want to thank you for taking care of her when I couldn’t. I’m very grateful for the friendship you’ve given me, even in times when I didn’t deserve it.”
Silence fell through the room as Diego soaked in everything I said. I wasn’t nervous that he would tell me to fuck off, because from his body language, I could tell he wasn’t mad anymore. I was just anxious to get this conversation over with so I could get back to Goldie.
It felt like minutes ticked by before Diego finally opened his mouth.
“Didn’t ever expect to see Jett Colby thanking me for something in my lifetime, given the amount of generosity you’ve bestowed upon me, but I’m not going to lie, I kind of enjoyed it,” Diego responded, as a smirk crossed his face.
Dickhead.
“I see, so you just wanted to see me grovel.”
“Pretty much,” Diego laughed, while he came toward me and held out his hand, which I shook in relief. “If you want me to pull my pants down so you can kiss my black ass, I would be okay with that too.”
“Don’t push your luck,” I warned.
“Fair enough,” Diego chuckled, but then grew serious for a second. “I won’t lie, I flirted with the girl often, don’t think I was a gentleman while you were apart. You found a good one, a rarity in this city, and if your dumb ass was stupid enough to fuck it up, then I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass me by.”
My lips twitched with his confession, and I tried to take a deep breath before I reached over and choked him.
A loud laugh escaped Diego as he gripped his stomach with one hand and pointed at me with the other.
“Oh, damn, the look on your face is worth the ass beating I’m most likely about to get.”
“You think it’s funny, flirting with my girl?”
“Yeah, I do, and I wasn’t the only one. Blane found a liking for her as well. And, you know what? Fair game, man. You fuck up and it’s fair game.”
“Well, lay the fuck off now,” I warned, making Diego laugh some more.
“No need to warn us, dude. Goldie wanted nothing to do with us. For some foolish reason, she seems to have some kind of feelings for you. No worries about her loyalty, but fuck is it satisfying goading you. I don’t think it will ever get old.”
Needing to lighten up a bit, I let the knot that was forming in my chest loosen just a little as I realized that even the men who threatened me in my thoughts were turned down by Goldie. There was something to be said for trust, and I owed Goldie all of my trust, something I wasn’t able to give her before, something I’ve been working on trying to hand over now.
“Glad I can amuse you,” I replied, while relaxing the tension in my shoulders.
Slapping me on the shoulder, Diego said, “Always a pleasure with you, Jett Colby. I’m assuming the little hellion is waiting for you in her room?”
“Yes, but not in the way you’re thinking. We’re taking things slow.”
Diego shot me a pointed look that said he didn’t believe me one bit, but I didn’t have to convince him.
“Okay,” Diego replied skeptically.
Not wanting to get into a debate about where I stood with Goldie, I smiled at Diego and asked, “Are we good, man?”
“We’re good,” Diego replied easily.
“Thanks,” I said sincerely before shaking his hand one last time and heading back down the hallway. “Glad I could make up with my honorary Jett Girl.”
Diego flipped me off and called out, “Don’t fuck it up this time, Colby.”
Little did he know, I had no intention of ever letting Goldie out of my life. She would soon be a permanent fixture in my life if I had any say in it.
I quickly walked back down the long hallway and up the short staircase to Goldie’s room. With excitement building up in the pit of my stomach, I lightly tapped on Goldie’s door to let her know I was coming in, and then opened the door.
The soft glow from the light on her nightstand greeted me as I walked in her room and saw her sitting cross-legged on the bed, wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top that clung to her every curve. Her hair was tied up in a high bun on the top of her head and her face was free of all make up. She looked absolutely beautiful.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she said, pointing her finger at me.
I shut the door and walked toward her, reminding myself to keep my hands from getting too frisky with her.
“Like what?”
“You know, like you’re thinking about all the different ways you can bend me over and fuck me till morning.”
“Actually, I was thinking how beautiful you are, but now I’m thinking about what you said,” I said casually, as I started to untuck my shirt from my pants and unbutton it.
“Hey now,” she said, while backing up on her bed. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“You don’t expect me to sleep in my street clothes, do you?”
“You don’t expect to sleep naked, do you?” she countered.
“No, just in my boxer briefs,” I said casually, as I undid the last button of my shirt and let it fly open as I started to undo my belt. As if she hadn’t seen a man’s physique in years, she ate me up with her eyes in a matter of seconds, making this night that much harder on me.
“Can’t you borrow pajamas from Diego or Blane?” she asked while she gulped.
“I’m a grown man, Goldie. I’m not about to ask Blane and Diego if I could borrow pajamas, something they probably don’t possess anyw
ay. You lost the bet, now you have to deal with the consequences, and honestly, I think you’re getting the better end of the deal.”
“Is that right?” she asked, while crossing her arms over her chest. “And how is that?”
I took off my pants and shirt and folded them as I spoke to her. “You’ll see. May I use your bathroom?”
Confused, she nodded her head as I went to the bathroom to quickly brush my teeth with my finger, of course…anything is better than nothing, and then use the toilet. Once I was ready for bed, I turned off the bathroom light and walked toward her. She was leaning against her wall while sitting on her bed waiting for me. I was one lucky son of a bitch who she’d stuck through everything with. I still had a way to go, but she was still here, and that was all that mattered.
I rounded her bed and casually slipped under the sheets. Holding them up for her to crawl in, I said, “Why don’t you join me, Little One?”
“I don’t trust that you’re not going to get all handsy with me.”
“You have my word; I just want to hold you, nothing more.”
“When have you ever wanted to just hold me?” she asked, as she crawled up the bed and under the covers with me. She rested her head next to mine on her pillow and curled up into a ball while staring me in the eyes.
Sincerely, I moved a stray wisp of hair out of her face and let my fingers caress her soft cheek as I said, “Since the minute you walked into my life; I’ve just been too damn afraid to admit it.”
Carefully, I placed my hand on her hip and pulled her in a little closer, forcing her to unfold her legs and stretch them out so she couldn’t use them as a barrier between us. The quick intake of air from her made me realize she wasn’t quite expecting my intimate touch, but she wasn’t protesting either.
“Is this okay?” I asked, making sure she was comfortable.
“I guess so,” she responded, while trying to study me. “Do you really mean the things you say? Or are you just trying to win me back so you can go all dominant on me again?”