For once, I wasn’t jealous of the protective instincts Kace had over Goldie because at this moment, I was glad that I wasn’t alone when fighting for the one person that could bring me to my knees. I was glad to have someone in my corner.
***
Sleep eluded me as visions of Goldie being hurt ran through my head over and over again. It wasn’t until three in the morning that Kace got back to the club. He sent me a quick text that he was just scraped, had a couple of stitches and is bandaged up. I met him down at the entrance of the club and helped him into his room even though he said he didn’t need it. The idiot shouldn’t have been driving in the first place but trying to control him was like trying to calm a raging bull. He did whatever the hell he wanted.
Because of the pain Kace was going through, we didn’t get to talk much about what happened but what he said to me still resonated through my head. It was now four in the morning and all I could hear was Kace saying, “Don’t be stupid and let your emotions get the best of you.”
How could I not? In a short amount of time, Goldie has wiggled her way into my heart and has planted herself there. A numb feeling crawled through my body, turning my heart cold and my mind black as I continued to keep my distance from Goldie, knowing damn well that she was hurt.
This time, my dad went too far and what I feared the most was that after Lot 17 was acquired, would this all be over? If he didn’t get Lot 17 it sure as fuck wasn’t going to be over, not after what my dad displayed today.
I pulled on a pair of casual sweatpants as I slipped out of bed. Sleep was no use, I couldn’t even begin to fall asleep with so many thoughts running through my head so instead, I paced my room. I pulled on my hair, the back of my neck, I punched my wall a couple of times and finally I couldn’t take it anymore. I tossed a T-shirt over my head, grabbed my keys and headed for the passageway that led to the streets of the Garden District without being detected. At least I hoped. If my dad knew about the passageway and informed his minions of it, I was going to be fucked.
Within seconds, I was looking out the window to the underground passageway for any idling cars or anything out of the ordinary. I didn’t see anything that seemed concerning so I squeezed out of the small opening and took off toward St. Charles Ave where I had a taxi waiting for me.
I was going against everything I should for the mere protection of Goldie but I couldn’t stay away, I had to be near her and I had to see if she was okay with my own eyes.
Chapter Thirty Three
“Walk Off the Earth”
Lo
Warm arms circled around my body as my head pounded to extreme levels. I’ve been in and out of it but the click of my door and not so smooth footsteps up to my bed woke me up. I stiffened from a man’s touch and tried to scoot away in the dazed-like fog I was trying to see through.
“Don’t,” I mumbled. “I only want Jett.”
“Little one, it’s me.” His warm southern voice caressed the side of my face.
“No, you can’t be here,” I said while trying to squirm away but his grip was too tight on me.
“I can do whatever the hell I want and if that means coming here to make sure you’re okay, then I will.”
I turned in his arms and came face to face with the most beautiful man ever. His hair was pulled in all different directions, like he’s been stressing over something, his face had a delightful five o’clock shadow caressing his jaw and his eyes carried a lot of worry in them.
My fingers reached out and ran the line along his jaw. His eyes closed from my touch and the grip of his hand on my waist grew tighter.
“You’re here,” I whispered, almost as if I couldn’t believe it.
“Of course I am. I couldn’t stay away.”
“What happened?” I asked while holding my head. “All I can remember is dry humping Francy’s legs, wearing some kind of hat and drinking way too much.”
His hands grabbed mine and kissed the back of them. “That seems about right when it comes to you and drinking.” A small smile spread across his face but was quickly gone when he searched my eyes. His body leaned over me and clicked on the light that was on my nightstand. Light spread through the small room and lit up the disturbed look on Jett’s face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
His hand reached out and caressed my right eye which made me wince with a shot of pain coursing through my face.
“Ahh, fuck,” I exclaimed while pulling away.
“Don’t move,” he said softly as he climbed above me and straddled my body. His head hovered right above mine as he examined my eye. Pain was flowing through his features as he took his time looking over my apparent injury.
“Let me guess, this isn’t from a random person?”
He shook his head no and lowered his lips so they were only a whisper above my eye. He kissed me lightly and gripped the side of my head with his hands as his lips tried to heal my eye.
When he pulled back, I saw the fear that washed over him, the fear of me being hurt, the fear of losing me. My heart wept for him, for the sadness that this stupid and idiotic situation has brought over us.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered before pulling back and sitting at the edge of my bed with his head in his hands. “This is all my fucking fault and I just don’t know what to do.”
“What do you mean?” I asked as I tucked myself next to him, both of our legs dangling off the bed.
“What the fuck am I supposed to do? No matter what, you’re going to get hurt.”
Fear started to trickle down my spine as I felt his body start to retreat, his mood darkened and I could see that he was visibly uncomfortable with what he was about to say so I stopped him.
“I swear to God if you try to break this off with me because you want to ‘save’ me, I will cut your dick off so fast you will think there was a drive by machete man that just attacked you,” I threatened using air quotes.
His face quirked with an eyebrow raised as he looked at me. I was dead fucking serious and he got that when he eyed me up and down. A small smile ticked at the corner of his mouth as he shook his head.
“It’s crazy how much I know that’s true, that you would really chop my dick right off.”
I gripped his arm and rested my head on his. “Don’t forget it. Do not give up on me because of a little set back.”
His hand ran through his hair as he said, “It’s not a little set back. You were hurt on purpose, Kace was shot—”
“What?!” My heart rate picked up as the words, “Kace was shot” ran through my head.
I got up and started looking around for my clothes but was hit by the pounding of my head. I fell to the ground and sat there, with my head in my hands and the threat of tears welling in my eyes.
Jett’s strong arms came up from behind me and picked me up. He brought me to the bed and sat down, with me in his lap.
“What the fuck is going on?” I said into my hands, trying to hold back the tears. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine, he just got grazed. He’s stitched up and back at the club sleeping it off.”
“Sleeping it off? As if he is getting over a hangover? He got fucking shot! Shot, Jett!”
“I’m well aware of what happened,” Jett gritted out.
Sensing his anger, I calmed my racing heart and said, “I just don’t understand what’s going on. What the fuck is Lot 17 and why is it such a big deal? Who is this dickhead who wants to control your life? And why was Kace shot at?”
Taking a deep breath, Jett said, “You and Kace are the closest things to me and the prick who is doing all this knows that. I’m trying to make it seem like that’s not the case but I’m apparently not doing a good enough job. I can’t go into detail about everything because I truly don’t want to get you involved…”
“Well, too fucking late for that,” I yelled while holding my head and getting off Jett. “Just tell me already what this is all about.”
He grabbed my hand but I pulled a
way. His shoulders sank in defeat, an act I never thought to see come from Jett. He was such a stoic man that to see him slouch, to show some vulnerability was such a foreign thing to me.
“You trust me, right?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then please, Goldie, please let me take care of this. It is killing me inside that I can’t take care of you, that…that I’m not man enough to give you what you need.”
Our previous conversation about his ex came to the forefront of my mind and I gritted down on my teeth as I thought about the bitch who made Jett so insecure. I wanted to know what was going on because being kept in the dark wasn’t working for me anymore but I also wanted to give Jett the opportunity to be the person he wanted to be, the person to protect me so I swallowed my pride and grabbed his hands.
“I want you to know that I have never in my life felt so protected, so cherished and so lusted after in my entire life. You make me feel things I didn’t even think were possible so please don’t for one moment think that you aren’t taking care of me, or that you’re not man enough for me, because you are.” I kissed him on the cheek and said, “It’s just hard right now. I want to help and I get that you don’t want to involve me but just understand that this is frustrating for me too, okay?”
Nodding his head, he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and said, “I understand, little one.” He kissed right above my bad eye and shook his head. “God, I can’t…” His words caught in his throat and his lips nuzzled into my hair as he continued to speak, “I’m losing myself in you. When Kace said something happened to you, I thought the ground fell out from under me. You’re more than just another Jett Girl to me, Goldie. You’re a bright spot in the dull life that I’ve been living, you make me feel like I’m not alone anymore and your laugh, your smile, they’re so goddamn infectious that I find myself losing every last wall I’ve built while I’m around you. You’re a challenge, you’re a little spitfire with a mouth that could bring a sailor to his knees and the best thing about all of this is that for some godforsaken reason, you chose me. You chose to stick through all the bullshit I’ve thrown at you and you’ve forgiven me for my insecurities and immature ways of handling things.” He gripped my head with both hands as tears fell from my eyes. “I’m falling for you, Goldie, so fucking hard and fast that I can’t even catch my breath, find my footing and all want to do is spend my days with you in my arms but I have to deal with this bullshit first. I have some things I need to think about but please know that no matter what, my heart rests in those beautiful hands of yours. You’re the keeper, little one.”
I was floored. Jett could be an eloquent man of words but what he just said to me, what he just confessed was his way of saying those three little words that I craved to hear from him, that I craved to say to him. He was telling me, in his own Jett Colby kind of way that he loved me and for the love of all dicks and vaginas, I was in love with the man too. From head to toe, there was nothing that I didn’t love about the man. He was perfect. From his perfectly styled hair, to the southern voice that rang from his lips, to his insecurities and the stoicism he felt was so important to display.
I may spar with Kace more, I may joke around with Diego but when it came to Jett, he took the cake. His soul was married to mine the minute he asked for a bourbon at Kitten’s Castle. We were brought together for a reason and I wasn’t going to let that go.
I kissed his lips and let his arms wander up my back, under my shirt and relished in the feel of skin-to-skin, one of his favorite things to feel. I grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head.
“Goldie, this might not be the best time—”
“Shh.” I put my finger over his lips. “I want to feel you.”
I pushed him back on my bed and then took off my shirt and bra that was already unclasped, I chose to ignore the thought that popped up in my mind as to why my bra was undone. Jett’s eyes lit with passion and eagerness. He wasn’t about to maul me but I knew if I asked, if I encouraged him, he would have me submitting to him in two seconds flat.
Hovering right above him, I pressed my lips to his lips and then pressed my breasts against his bare chest. The feeling was erotic but comforting. My nipples danced across his skin as I positioned myself so I was more on his side and resting my head on his shoulder. His hand that was wrapped around me, caressed my back lightly and his lips found the top of my head. My fingers danced across his chest as we laid in silence, just holding each other, taking a moment out of time to just feel each other and experience.
I nuzzled his chest and said, “Thank you, Jett, for being everything to me. For making me feel again and for making me realize that there really is something to live for.”
His only response was a hitch in his breath and a kiss to my head. I knew I caught him in a vulnerable moment so I wasn’t going to push him, instead, I fell sleep to the tracing of his fingers against my bare back. All thoughts of the night before vanished and images of Jett and I together clouded my mind as I drifted off into a darkness that encompassed my mind and body.
When I woke up that morning, I was alone to my disappointment but I understood given the situation. I stretched my body and winced when my head throbbed and my muscles ached but not in a good way. I looked over to the side of the bed that Jett was sleeping on and saw that he left his T-shirt that he came in. It was folded on the pillow he was using and I smiled to myself as I grabbed it and threw it over my head.
The smell of sweet and charming Jett Colby washed over me as I hugged my pillow. It was the little gestures that I appreciated, that kept me moving forward. I went to grab my phone to thank him when I saw there was a note on my nightstand along with a bag from Café du Monde. That could only mean one thing. I took a quick look inside and moaned from the sight of three beignets waiting for my consumption. The man was a god.
I grabbed the card that was next to the bag and tore it open. In typical Jett fashion, his chicken scratch was scrolled across crisp white paper in green marker.
Faith, I just needed to have faith.
Little one,
I need you to know that in a matter of a couple of months, you have flipped my world upside down. You’re the reason why my heart is set on striving for more because you make me want to be a better man, to give people what they deserve. Your smile, your bright eyes and your quirky mouth bring me so much damn joy every day that at times, I wonder how I became so lucky to have stumbled across you at the cemetery.
These next couple of days are going to be hard. You’re going to see and hear things that you’re not going to like but I want you to know that it means nothing because in my heart, you’re the one who lies there, who has buried herself so far deep in there that I know if you ever left me, it would no longer beat. You’re my pulse, Goldie.
Have faith in me and in us.
-J
Chapter Thirty Four
“Freak”
Jett
My knee bounced up and down as I took a sip of the lousy excuse for champagne that rested in my hand. Never did I ever picture myself at an expensive boutique, sitting on an uncomfortable chair while waiting for some girl to try on dresses but here I was, waiting for a private fashion show from Keylee.
It was the night before the Mayor’s Ball and instead of spending it with Goldie in my arms, I was dealing with a stressed out Keylee because I kept canceling our “dates” to pick out a dress. I was hoping that she caught the hint that I really didn’t want to go, especially after everything that happened with Goldie and Kace, I just couldn’t see myself going out in public and being fake unless it truly mattered, like at the Mayor’s Ball but Keylee wouldn’t drop it. So that was why I found myself surrounded by cooing women and Keylee’s touchy hands.
“Oh I don’t know about this one, it seems a little revealing,” Keylee announced loud enough that I could hear her through the dressing room. Great, revealing, just what I fucking needed.
I ran my hand over my mouth as I sat back in
my seat, might as well get comfortable since it seemed like I was going to be here for a while.
“I think it looks so sexy on you,” said the saleslady who was helping Keylee. I was sure she did think it looked good on Keylee. Keylee was about to drop a chunk of change in the shop and the lady would most likely do anything to have that commission.
“I don’t know,” Keylee said hesitantly. She was a good actress, I didn’t buy her shy act one bit. I knew who she was and what she’s done in the past. She’s a spoiled elite-ess with the ability to make anyone feel for her at the drop of a hat. I was annoyed already and I had to spend the next night with her hanging all over me just to put on a front.
“Let’s just show him.”
“Okay.”
The curtain to the dressing room flew open and Keylee stood in front of me wearing a purple dress made of some kind of shiny fabric. There was a slit on the right that went to mid-thigh which was all right but it was the low cut of the dress that went to her naval that had me adjusting in my seat, not because I was attracted to her but because her chest was popping out so much that I didn’t know what to tell her.
“He’s speechless!” the annoying saleslady said. I looked at her name tag and cringed. Of course her name was Meghan. Goldie and I talked about meanings of names one day and she introduced me to Urban Dictionary that has a meaning for every name. Meghan came up as a skanky ass ho which pleased Goldie because apparently there was a Meghan at Kitten’s Castle that fit the description perfectly and so did this girl.
The memory of looking up names with Goldie one night brought a smile to my face that Keylee misinterpreted.
“You do like it,” she said while sauntering over to me.
Fuck, wrong time to think about Goldie.