Restore Me (Book 2.5 Kin Series) (3 page)

She laughed. “Or when they’re goin’ right.”

“That’s wrong.” I put a cup away and laughed.

“Boy, don’t even act like you’re a saint. I do your laundry, remember? I see what you leave in your socks and pockets. I would have thought that after all these years you’d learn to throw the wrappers away, instead of puttin’ them back in your pockets.”

“Stop lookin’. You realize I’m a grown man, right? I can do what I want without you’re judgment.” I wasn’t being defensive, but simply proving a point.

“I will always have the authority to look after my sons. I don’t care if you’re sixty years old. You’ll always be my responsibility, you hear?”

“Yeah, momma. I hear you. I just know that there are some things you don’t want to know. Sometimes it’s best to not look for answers.”

She turned and faced me again. “This is why you need your own place. You want privacy, don’t ya?”

I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’ll look into it. Thanks for dinner.”

It was easier to walk away tha
n hear her go on and on about me settling down. It wasn’t going to happen and there was nothing she could threaten me with to make me change my mind.

Chapter 3

After making a couple of calls, I’d found the location where the place was for rent, without having to call my cousin. If I would have mentioned that I was interested, he would have done whatever he could to keep me away.

My mom drove her car, but I insisted on meeting her there, on account of driving my motorcycle to work. She hated the idea of me having the thing, but I liked the power between my legs, especially when I had a chick on the back.

The place was perfect for what I wanted. The kitchen was a bit narrow, but had plenty of counter space for me to work, while the bathroom and bedrooms offered plenty of room for all my shit.

Knowing how much my mother was itching for me to get out on my own, so she said, I gave the landlord the first month’s rent and he handed me the keys right then and there. It didn’t hurt that I told him I was related to the tenants next to me. We filled out a temporary lease until he could get one official
ly drawn up.

Since the place was technically
mine, we spent the next hour cleaning up from what the last tenants had left when they vacated. Thankfully, they’d left plenty of trash bags and cleaning supplies.

My mother took out the last bag of trash and came in to say she was leaving. “Before you go, I think it’s a good idea to tell your cousin you’re movin’ in. I’m real proud of you, son.”

I hugged her. “Thanks. What happens if I have a bad dream?” I pretended to act like a child.

“You get a roommate or a girlfriend. Figure it out.”

She left shortly after that, leaving me there alone. I looked around the apartment and found that the bedroom had started to be painted, but was never finished. I grabbed the can and roller and got to work, eager to move my things in. During a smoke break, I caught a glimpse of someone familiar through the window at my cousin’s place. I didn’t see Shayne’s car, and didn’t think he’d be around, since he and Ford were having some kind of problem with each other.

It was my chance to put a name to the face and let my cousin know that we were going to be neighbors.

I took a couple breaths before barging right in, tossing my keys down and wedging my body against the sexy blonde on the couch. “Thanks for the invite, cuz.”

“I didn’t invite you, Joey!” From the look on my cousin’s face, I could tell he was wondering why the hell I was in his house.

I figured that coming out and telling him I was moving in would be too forward. I needed to warm up to him first, so the shock of the truth would be worth my while. “Mom told me to stop by and see if you needed any furniture. She said she’s gettin’ rid of some shit and wanted you to have first dibs.”

I looked back at the blonde and brushed her cheek with the back of my hand. Her skin was smooth and she smelled the way I remembered. “So where were we?”

“We weren’t anywhere!” She got
all defensive, as I expected her to act. It was cute and her voice was sexy too.

I was going to like playing with this one.
“Not yet!”

Ford
warned me as he walked into the kitchen. “Leave it be, Joey. She doesn’t want what you’re offerin’.”

I kept staring at the chick, making sure she knew I was fucking her with my eyes.
“I think we should let her make that decision.”

Her eyes were blue and unlike the last time I’d seen her
with a ponytail, she had her hair half pulled back. In her ear was a nice pair of diamond studs that were small enough to make me think they were real. Her fingernails were perfectly manicured, letting me know that she pampered herself often. Even though I wasn’t getting a smile, I had noticed her perfect white teeth, like she’d had braces or just been born that lucky.

Sky got up off the couch.
“Ignore your cousin. He’s being a terrible host. Would you like a beer?”

My eyes stayed fixed on the girl.
“Yeah.”

She folded her arms over her
chest. “Staring isn’t going to get you anywhere near my underwear.”

While noticing that my cousin and his lady were still in the kitchen, I took advantage of being alone.
“You can keep your panties in your dresser. There’s no reason to wear them around me.”

Her eyes got humongous and then she actually laughed
. “Are you serious? That’s the best you can do?”

Ford walked into the room with two bottles, handing us both one. “Give up, Joey. Lacey ain’t interested. She just broke up with Shayne.”

I stared at my cousin for a few seconds. Her name was Lacey. I liked that name and how it was going to roll off my tongue when I got her into my bed. “Shayne? Your cousin on your mom’s side?” I had to play stupid or else she might know that I’d been at the diner. “You were with that player?”

“Unfortunately!”
She looked away, like being with him wasn’t what she thought it would be.

I couldn’t help myself. This was my opportunity to let her know where we stood.
“Shit, you let me know when you want to experience what a real man can do to you. I don’t need to wear a pair of red lifeguard shorts to get pussy, that’s for sure.” She wasn’t amused by me thinking that I was able to bang anyone I wanted, including her, even if she didn’t know it yet.

Sky came back in and sat down
. “Be nice, Joey. She cared about Shayne.”

“Aunt Viv could have called me. Why are you really here?”
Ford was already tired of me and he didn’t know we were going to be neighbors. I couldn’t wait to see his face.

“Your dad mentioned the place next door is for rent. I was thinkin’ about gettin’ my own place. In fact, I just came from checkin’ it out and meetin’ with the landlord. I just stopped by to meet my new neighbors.”
I looked at Lacey and winked. “And their sexy ass friends.”

Fo
rd reached over and punched me in the arm. “Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me? You’re movin’ in next door?”

I laughed and could tell he was more excited than he’d ever admit.
“As early as tomorrow. You goin’ to sit around mopin’ or help me move my shit in?”

“Are you two even friends?”
Lacey asked.

I looked to Ford and shrugged.

“We’re famil
y!” Ford’s description made me crack up.

I had to clear the air so she didn’t think I was the black sheep of the family.
“We like to compete, but we’re cool.”

Sky grabbed the remote and turned down the volume. “I think it will be fun.”

Ford just shook his head. He leaned back on the couch and held his beer out to tap it against mine. “Welcome to the neighborhood, bro!”

“That’
s what I’m talkin’ about!” I was cool drinking to that and knowing that Shayne had fucked up with Lacey. I had free reign and planned on taking advantage of the situation. “Hey Sky, so do all your friends look like this one?”

She didn’t like my comment, but I enjoyed getting her
rowed up.

“You’re not going to give up are you?” Sky was
the only person besides me that was amused.

Lacey was getting defensive, even in the way she held her body.
“I’m not a fucking trophy, you know!”

“Yeah you are. You just don’t know it yet.”
I couldn’t help but lean close to her ear. She smelled so good that I let my skin barely touch hers. “Give me one night.”

She tightened her face
. “Get a life!”

“Your loss!”

I finished my beer before deciding to leave so I didn’t push her buttons too much. I wanted her worked up, but not enough to blow my chance. This one was going to be a challenge and I was going to enjoy every moment of it. “Stay away from that one. You think Shayne’s bad, well, he’s worse!”

When I walked out the door, I stood there, leaning my head on it to hear what they were saying. I couldn’t help but laugh when I heard my cousin warning her.

“Don’t worry about that. There’s no way I’d ever be with someone like him.”

She was wrong about that. I’d have her begging soon enough and when I was done, she wouldn’t even remember Shayne, or what any kind of relationship with him could ever offer her.

Since I still had a bunch to do, I went back into the apartment, cleaning up the paint and bagging the rest of the trash up. The entire time I was focused on Lacey and the way she smelled. Her tits were so perky and I couldn’t wait to see them. I knew her nipples would be a treat to suck on.

My dick started to get hard and I knew I need
ed another smoke break. Time had passed, but it felt like I’d just left the apartment. I grabbed the bag of trash and headed outside.

There she was, walking out toward her car. It was cold and she wasn’t wearing a jacket. “You leavin’ already?”

“I’m getting my bag, if you must know.” Her immediate annoyance was apparent, but it only fueled my fire.

As she
was reaching her car, I walked up beside her. She grabbed her bag quickly, probably trying to get away from me. I couldn’t have that, so I knew I had to say something to get her attention. “I knew your ass was goin’ to be sexy.”

She turned around, looking even more pissed off. “Will you please stop? Sky is my best friend and I like coming to see her. I really don’t feel like having to go through this bullshit every time I come for a visit.”

“I don’t bullshit. I tell it like it is. Always have and always will. Soon enough, you’ll know why.” Hell, I would have taken her in my apartment, if it had furniture. She was too pretty to be fucked on the floor. This chick needed to be pampered by a real man.

After tossing my smoke out on the road, I walked toward her. She kept backing up, seemingly afraid to turn around like I was going to attack her. “You’re ridiculous! It’s not going to happen.”

I attempted to grab her arm, but she pushed me away. “Don’t touch me! I don’t know where your hands have been.”

I folded my arms over my chest and laughed at her. “It don’t matter where they’ve been. All that matters is where they will be. Just give it some time to sink in. I guarantee I’ll have you screamin’ my name. They always do.”

“You are gross. I’m not some whore that will just jump into bed with a stranger. I have morals and can promise you that,” She flipped her arms all around between us, “We will never happen.”

It was rude of me to keep laughing, but she didn’t have a clue. “I don’t fuck, whores. I fuck beautiful women cause they ask me to fuck them. Keep playing hard to get. I love the challenge.”

When she huffed back into the apartment, I stood outside, still amused by our confrontation. Even if she was pissed, she’d still be picturing me while lying alone in that bed.

It was a perfect start.

Chapter 4

It was late and I was tired. Knowing I had time after work the next day, I decided to head home. I started my bike and put on my helmet while it was warming up. Pretty soon, I wouldn’t be able to ride it, on account of it being too cold. It was a shame because I saved a hell of a lot of money on gas.

As I began to pull out of the driveway, I spotted a petite blonde trying her best to hide from me. I didn’t know why she was outside again and had to wonder if she’d come looking for me already.

I turned off the engine and approached her. “What are you doin’ outside this late? Did you come out here to find me?”

She stood there, shocked that I’d gotten off of my motorcycle. The closer I got to her the more I wanted to touch her and be close enough to smell her intoxicating fragrance. I pinned her up against the house.

She tried to squirm away. “Please leave me alone. I didn’t come out here for you!”

“Why then? It’s nearly midnight.”