“Slide to the middle and buckle up.” She was entirely too far away. I wanted, no, I needed, to feel her body pressed to mine.
After she did as I asked, I relinked my hands with hers and brought them to my lips, kissing hers. I noticed the look she was giving, one of curiosity, and I knew, though I’d been trying my best to hide my mood, I’d failed.
“Are you okay?”
I shook my head, feeling guilty for being a distant ass.
“Are you gonna tell me what’s wrong or do I have to figure it out on my own?” She leaned forward so she could get a better look at my face, and I had no choice but to look at her. “Because you should know I’m terrible at mystery games or anything puzzle solving. So you could save us both the headache and just tell me.”
Half-tempted to pull over and pull her into my lap, I knew I needed to tell her. I didn’t want to start our weekend like this, but I also knew if I didn’t say something, the entire time away would be ruined.
“We have this rookie at the station.” My stomach soured even more as Nolan’s face filled my thoughts. “He’s a decent guy, but to be honest, I don’t know him that well. I’ve been assigned by the chief to allow him to shadow me, show him the ins and outs, make sure he sees action but stays safe when we’re called out.” Which was real hard to do when all you wanted to do was punch the guy. “But I’m having a real hard time with that.”
“Why?” Again I looked at her and saw those amazing blue eyes staring back at me. Her fucking eyes got me every single time; they were so beautiful. “Why are you having a difficult time with it?”
Seeing a gas station ahead, I turned on my signal and began to slow down. As I slowed to a stop next to the pump, I put the truck in park and stared at the gas gauge on the dash.
“Landon?”
“Because the guy’s name is Nolan Ricky.” Finally, I looked in her direction just in time to see her eyes had widened a small fraction. “And yesterday I learned that you and he have a history I could have gone without knowing about.”
Worrying her lip, she kept her gaze locked on mine.
“Now every time I see him, all I want to do is knock him on his ass.” Chloe pressed her lips tight, fighting off a smile. “Not funny, Kitten.” I felt my aggravation intensify. “Now all the guys at the station know that the Rookie was my girl’s first.”
“It was a long time ago.” She slid her hand up my thigh, undid her belt, and moved in closer. “Lots and lots of years ago, and just so you know, it was quick, sloppy, and I barely remember it. Actually something I would rather forget.”
“Not helping,” I pouted, and she laughed, moving her body in so that she could crawl over my lap and straddle me.
“Why do you care anyway?”
“No guy ever wants to hear about the girl he cares about being with anyone else. A first time is a big thing for a girl.”
“I can assure you,” Chloe placed on hand on either side of my face and forced me to look directly at her, “it was nothing special. Us, though, our time together, now that is something great. Amazing, even, and it’s all I care about.”
I was being a fucking punk; I knew this.
Reaching around her, I gripped her ass and pulled her forward, lifting my own hips to create friction in the process. Her lips parted when she felt I was hard beneath her. “You are all mine.” She nodded in agreement. “This weekend I’m taking you away to a place where you and I can drown in one another without any interruption. I need that—call me selfish, hell, call me a caveman, but I have to have this.” Again she nodded like she understood exactly what this meant to me and why. “This shit is crazy, Chloe, but I felt murderous the second I knew he’d had his hands on you at one point. I’ve never cared about that stuff before, not until you.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chloe
Landon and I spent the last twenty minutes of our drive in silence, the confession he’d made sitting heavy between us. Truth was I knew exactly what he was talking about because the idea of him and Holly made me sick.
I knew they’d not gone as far as Nolan and I had, but when I said it was nothing, it really was nothing. Two very inexperienced kids, fumbling around and nervous. It was over in the blink of an eye, and after that, well, things got weird between him and me. He moved on to Stephanie McClure, and I decided that boys were not worth it. Every day since then, I’d wished that I’d saved myself for someone more, someone I cared about. Someone like Landon.
I was just about to tell him those very things when I saw a sign up ahead. Squinting, I read the words, and excitement rushed through me in one huge wave.
Forrest Hills Mountain Resort.
“I thought what better way to get some time alone than to take you to a hidden cabin in the woods.” Landon shrugged, turning off onto the access road toward the resort.
“You rented a cabin?”
“Yeah.” The idea of him being jealous, I would admit, did give my ego a huge boost. Landon Layne, worried about my past with Nolan or any guy. I would quietly enjoy the satisfaction that gave me.
“That sounds amazing,
