Never Enough: A New Adult Romance (6 page)

“No.”

“Is it a migraine?”

He shot me a look of annoyance. “What’s with the fifth degree?”

“Look, you’re super hard to read and I’m just wondering if I can help. My mom used to get really bad headaches and I know that they’re usually from stress. Are you stressed?”

He didn’t reply which I took as a yes.

“How can I help?”

“You can’t,” he bit out.

“How do you know?”

“Because you’re the reason for them,” he finally spat.

Now I was starting to get angry. “Why are you blaming me for your headaches?”

“Because they started ever since you moved in.”

I placed my hands on my hips and stared at him. “So it’s my fault?”

“Yeah, it’s your fault.”

I poked my finger into his side. “Well, I’m not going anywhere so you’re just going to have to deal.”

“I liked you better when you were timid and didn’t talk.”

“I’m sure you did. It was easy for you. You barely knew I was alive.”

His eyes met mine and he shook his head in exasperation. “I knew you were alive.”

“Yeah,” I nearly snorted. “Sure.”

His eyes snapped up to meet mine and I watched as his jaw clenched. “How could anyone not notice you?”

I shrugged. “Happens all the time. I manage to make it through most of my day unnoticed.”

“Bullshit,” he said grumpily before murmuring, “If that were the case I wouldn’t be so fucking miserable all day long.”

“Excuse me?” I asked, my mood taking a nosedive.

He shook his head and pinched his nose once more, his eyes closing slowly. “Look
Temperance, just let me by.”

“
No way. I’m fixing this,” I said, grabbing his arm before he could walk past me. I don’t know why I was being so insistent, but it pissed me off that he blamed me for his headaches. That was just an illogical train of thought. Unless I had some kind of super power, there was no way I was responsible for them, but I could at least help ease the pain.

“Come on,” I insisted, pulling him toward the stairs.

“Where are we going?” He seemed anxious and I felt that unfamiliar power swell up within me. It excited me that I could make someone like Damien nervous.

“My room. Apparently I’m the cause of your headaches and since I don’t plan on moving out anytime soon, I’m going to just have to rectify the situation somehow.”

His breath hitched. “How?”

“You’ll see,” I said with a teasing tone. He didn’t seem to think it was funny because he stopped in the hallway and wrenched his arm away from me.

“Tell me.”

I sighed heavily, my previous good mood slowly ebbing away. “A massage. I’m going to give you a massage.”

His whole body seemed to tense and I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. “I’m just here to help. Like I said, my mom used to get bad migraines, so I know the pressure points and I’m not too bad. I promise.”

That seemed to appease him because when I opened my bedroom door and led him to my desk chair, he went without much of a fight.

“Remember I just got a tattoo so…”

“I’ll avoid it. Don’t worry,” I said, standing behind him. His shoulders were nearly up to his ears and I pressed them down with my hands.
“You need to relax.”

“It’s damn hard when you’re touching me,” he muttered and I wondered if that was a compliment or an insult.

“Stop complaining,” I said, dismissing his comment entirely. “If you didn’t want it, you’d have left by now.”

He didn’t reply which told me he wasn’t planning on getting up anytime soon.

I ran my hands lightly up his neck and watched as his skin broke out in goose bumps. “Do you like it hard?” I asked.

He made a choking noise in his throat. “Yeah.”

“Good,” I said as I began to dig my thumbs into his muscles. “Man, you’re coiled tight. You always like this?” I asked before remembering what he’d said earlier. “That’s right, you’ve only been this way since I moved in. Why is that again?”

He turned his neck, his eyes meeting mine. “You know why,” he replied. His eyes slipped down to my lips and I licked them nervously.

“I’m sure you’ve found ways to cope,” I replied, clenching my thighs together at the sudden image of him touching himself. I suddenly felt that incredible urge to say something outright dirty just like I had in his truck. I don’t know what it was about Damien, but he made me bold. “I sure have,” I nearly whispered, my fingers pressing into a knot in his shoulder.

“Jesus Christ,” he wheezed. 

I bit back a smile as I rubbed my hands across his tightly wound muscles, careful to avoid his tattoo. The feeling of my skin against his made my breath come in short desperate pants, and the air in the room suddenly became thick. I could tell he was struggling too because his chest was rising and falling in labored movements. I knew he wanted more than a massage. I knew it. I could almost feel the anticipation rolling off of him. His hands were curled in tight fists and he seemed coiled and ready to lose control any second.

I should have stopped
, but I didn’t want to. Ever since he kissed me, I had wanted to finish what we started. I wanted him in a bad, bad way. I traced my fingers along his collarbone before moving up his neck. I could feel his pulse pounding beneath my fingers as I slid up his skin.

“I like this,” I said softly as
I outlined the hickey I had given him.

He drew in a ragged breath and his eyes fluttered closed. I didn’t say anything more.
I just slid my hands along his jaw and up toward his temples before slipping back down to his shoulders. I dipped my hands below his shirt and daringly ran them over his nipples. He hissed and leaned his head back as I massaged my way up the front of his neck. I did this a few more times, until he was panting. And when I ran my fingers over his lips the last time, he grabbed my hand and held it in place.

“What the hell are you doing to me?” he asked.

I didn’t have a chance to reply. Slowly, he sucked my finger into his mouth and I groaned. The simplest things with him nearly made me come unhinged. His tongue traced small circles around my forefinger before moving to seduce the rest of them. By the time he had gotten to my thumb, I stopped massaging him and nearly had my hand down my pants.

And then his phone rang.
He froze, my thumb still in his mouth. I closed my eyes in absolute frustration.

“You don’t have to get that,” I breathed.

But he popped my finger from his mouth and reached into his back pocket. He swiped at Jonathan’s name, which was flashing across the screen and answered it. “Yeah?” he bit out.

I heard Jonathan’s muffled voice on the other end and Damien moved to stand up. I couldn’t help but notice the bulge in his pants as he made his way to my door. When he hung up, he turned to face me. I couldn’t help but show him the absolute disappointment that I was feeling.

“Sorry. Shit. I have to go,” he said, frustration seeping into his words.

I couldn’t even speak.

“Thanks for the…massage,” he said without meeting my gaze.

He turned to leave and my head fell into my open palms. I was really going to need to get laid in the next few days or I was going to explode.

***

“What do I do?” I said into the phone.

“Buy a vibrator?” Maggie said, as she crunched down on something that sounded like chips.

“You’re not helping. I need good advice.”

I had called Maggie in a desperate attempt to rectify this terrible situation. Something was welling up within me, making me desperate for relief and the one person I could actually open up to and talk to about it was Maggie. She also was the queen of sex.

“Fine. Fine. Let me think. So you want to do him?”

“Ugh, yes. You already know that.”

“Then do him. I don’t see what the problem is.”

“He doesn’t stick around long enough for us to get to that part!”

“Sounds like he’s a little reluctant.”

“Tell me about it,” I groaned. “Give me something to work with.”

“You need to make your move fast. None of this weird foreplay you seem to like to
o much.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, when you see him next rip off his pants, get on your knees and blow him.”

I choked on the water I was sipping. “Jesus, Mags. You don’t mince words.”

“I’m telling you. If you give him a reason to pull away he’ll take it. Seems like he has some hidden issues you are going to need to work through eventually. Normally if you’re making out with a guy, they’d finish what they started.”

“So you’re saying I just need to take him by surprise?”

“Yeah. When he least expects it.”

I flopped back on my bed and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know if I can do that.
It’s one thing to talk dirty, Mags, but to actually do it. Holy shit. It’s scary.”

“
Well, I believe in you. You’ve done so much the past few months. I’m so proud of you. First the piercing, then the hair and now the tattoo. You’re taking what you want, Tempie. Why not take a little something from Damien while you’re at it.”

“What if it ends badly?”

“Anything you take a chance on can. I’d say go for it. At least you can look back and say you tried.”

“You’re right. I’d regret it if I didn’t do it.”

“Then get on your knees girl and make him beg.”

I giggled
nervously. “I think that’s a little too dramatic for me.”

Maggie sighed into the phone. “Whatever get’s you off.
Maybe you could say some more of that dirty stuff you and him seem to like so much.”

“Oh God,” I nearly groaned, regretting that I’d ever told her about that.

“You know what? When you work with him again, talk dirty to him when he least expects it. See if that gets him nice and ready.”

I pondered that for a moment. “That’s kind of scandalous.”

“So is letting him suck on your fingers while you’re giving him a massage,” Maggie replied.

“Jesus, you’re right. I’m turning into a slut.”

“No way, you’re figuring out what you like and making him lose control is obviously what turns you on. So do it and do it often,” she said before pausing a moment. “Look, I need to run. I have a date.”

“A date? You never go on dates.”

“Well, what you call a one night stand I call a date. I’m cool like that.”

I sighed into the phone. “One day Maggie you’re going to meet a guy you want to be with for real.”

“Yeah, keep praying.”

“Okay, well be safe and I’ll keep you updated.”

“Righto. See ya.”

And with that she hung up. I tossed my phone onto the bed and
seriously began to consider the ramifications to what I was most likely going to do.

Chapter Five

Damien

I strode into work in a foul mood. I had been hard as a rock since leaving Temperance’s bedroom and the headache, which I now knew was all her fault, was pounding behind my eyes. And I was beating myself up for giving into temptation. I knew what was going to happen when she led me to her room and I’d still gone. I felt like a total shithead and yet I didn’t want to stop putting myself in temptation’s way. The feel of her hands sliding against my skin, those long, sweet fingers in my mouth, that dirty little mouth uttering sexy words was seared into my mind. She was potent. Like a drug that I’d do anything to have.

I hated that I was so weak, t
hat I couldn’t keep it in my pants, but there was something about her that drew me to her. If I wanted to remain faithful to my promise, I’d have to stay away, which was damn hard considering we lived and worked together. The problem was I didn’t want to stay away from her.

And to top it off I was jealous as hell. Any guy who talked to her that wasn’t me, made me want to smash my fist through a wall. I was acting like a drug addict, except my drug was her. I hadn’t felt
this out of control in over a year and it was making me like a crazy person all over again.

The laughter was what made the throbbing in my head explode. I winced as I glanced across the room and saw Temperance touching
our coworker, Caden’s shoulder and smiling widely at him. I swear steam came out of my ears. I took a deep breath and reminded myself to think rationally. Caden was a nice guy. Probably one of the nicest people I’d ever known. For Christ’s sake, he was practically raising his ten-year-old sister. What twenty one year old guy did that? I kept on reminding myself of these facts, but it was hard to do when all I could see were those fingers I had sucked on last night grasping another guy’s arm and that mouth smiling at someone else.

Damn it all to hell. This was going to be the longest workday ever.

I strode to the backroom and shrugged out of my jacket, making sure the collar on my shirt covered up the hickey. What really pissed me off was Temperance didn’t even acknowledge me as I walked by. She was too busy staring into Caden’s big brown eyes.

I threw my coat into the locker and grabbed the Advil from the top shelf. Not even bothering to grab water, I swallowed four pills before making my way out to the main room.

“Get to work,” I barked at the two of them who both jumped when I approached.

“Hey, Damien,” Caden said with a friendly smile. I wanted to wipe it off his face.

Instead I forced a sneer on my lips and pointed to the secondary coffee machine. “You clean this yet?”

“Yep. Done
and done,” Caden replied.

I couldn’t even look at Temperance. Ignoring her was the best option for now.

“Alright. I need someone to do inventory before I place my order. You want to do it?”

I directed my question to Caden, but Temperance replied instead. “Sure. I’ll do it.
I like doing it.”

My eyes flicked over to her and I quickly moved my gaze away.
Had I heard her right? I glanced at Caden and he didn’t seem to have noticed anything weird. Holy shit. I was losing my fucking mind. Sex was everywhere now. I turned my gaze away from her. I couldn’t stand to look at her. She looked so hot today. So fucking hot. She was wearing skintight pants, and a shirt that showed off way too much cleavage. Not to mention those come fuck me boots. Holy hell. How was I supposed to make it through the entire workday with her?

“Fine,” I said, my eyes not meeting hers. “Go ahead and do that.”

Then I turned to look at Caden. “You have two more hours?”

He nodded, confused by my abruptness. Hell, I was confused too. If he asked me to explain
, I wouldn’t be able to. Instead of inviting questions, I turned to help a customer who had approached the counter.

Two hours. I had two hours before it was just
the two of us. Alone.

***

The evening had passed relatively slowly. I managed to keep it together until Caden left. Just knowing that Temperance and I would be working alone for the rest of the evening made everything worse. And to top it off, I’d been hearing her say some dirty shit to me that made me harder than a rock. So hard in fact that I couldn’t go out from behind the counter or else everyone would have gotten a show.

I was already hanging by a thread of self control and then
the rain outside had gotten so bad the power had gone out, forcing us to ask customers to leave the building when it didn’t come back on after twenty minutes.

Leaving me alone with Temperance in a dark shop.
It was a nightmare and dream come true at the same time.

“So do we wait or go home?” Temperance’s sweet voice broke through my nervous thoughts and I turned to face her.

“Wait. Peter wants us to wait,” I said between clenched teeth. If only Peter had known my inner battles, then he would have been merciful and sent us both on our merry way. Instead I was stuck here and starting to sweat.

And she didn’t look much better. She looked anxious, like she couldn’t wait to leave. Maybe she had a date with that Nik guy? Or she
was meeting up someone else. The thought had me grasping the rag I was holding so tightly I was pretty sure I ripped it.

“Why? Do you have plans?” I couldn’t help but ask and I regretted my decision immediately. I didn’t want to know if she did.
Ignorance really is bliss.

“No. I don’t have plans. I was just curious,” she said softly.

I closed my eyes against the pounding in my skull.

“Why don’t you sit down,” she suggested. “I’ll lock up.”

I nodded and lowered myself in a chair as the lock slid home. Now I was officially stuck with her. There was no way out. I heard her footsteps approaching before they stopped before me. Peeling my eyelids open, I glared up at her. She was much too close. I pushed myself up and walked as far as I could, which was only a few yards to the backroom.

I was alone for only a minute, my head pressed up against the coolness of my locker
. I was trying to keep it together so I wouldn’t push her up against a wall and take her like I’d dreamed of doing for days when I heard her come to a stop behind me. Her breathing came in unsteady waves and I felt my own heartbeat pick up. Holy hell.

And then her hands were on my lower back, sliding toward my stomach and I stopped breathing. I couldn’t find the damn air.
Her hands were so quick. When her fingers undid the button to my jeans, I exhaled loudly. And when her hand reach in and cupped my hard cock, I knew I was going to lose control in five…four…three…two…

One.

I turned around slowly and nearly came right then and there. She was on her knees in front of me, her hands pulling my pants down and I was powerless to stop it. All I wanted was this. It was all I needed.

When my cock finally sprang free, I meant to tell her she should get up. That we could do this right. But her mouth was on me before I could even catch my breath and then I couldn’t even see straight.
I seriously think I went cross-eyed. Hell, I could barely stand up. I leaned against the locker, my hands tangled in her hair as she took me so fucking deep.

All I could do was groan like an animal and thrust my hips. I was out of control. It had been too long and she was the girl I had been fantasizing about for months. It was all too much.

“Shit,” I managed to say, knowing I was close. So close, and I meant to pull out, but she was determined. Her hot little mouth pulled and sucked until I was emptying myself into her.

And then all I could do to keep from falling onto the floor was lean over and grasp my knees.

“What…the…hell,” I breathed as Temperance stood up and wiped her sexy little mouth. She was looking at me, all wide-eyed and innocent and if I weren’t so drained I would have taken her right then and there.

“Where did you learn to do that?” I finally managed to ask, reaching down and pulling my pants up
with shaking hands.

“I’ve never done that befo
re,” she said shyly. Holy hell. Was this the same girl who had just sucked me off in the backroom? She was the weirdest dichotomy of sweet and innocent and wild and sexy. It couldn’t get any better than that and it scared the shit out of me.

“Well
, you could’ve fooled me,” I muttered, pushing away from the locker on unsteady legs. Miraculously my headache was gone and I could think semi-straight, which meant I wasn’t thinking with my dick any longer. It had been a while since that had happened. And that meant I felt guilty and scared and a whole other plethora of emotions I couldn’t even begin to name.

“Why’d you do that?” I asked after we stared at each other in silence for a few minutes.

“I wanted to,” she replied, pulling nervously on the ends of the purple strands in her hair.

“
Shit,” I muttered. She was any guy’s dream. I’d be jacking off to thoughts about this moment for years to come.

“Why are you saying ‘shit’? Was it bad?” she asked, causing my mouth to nearly drop open. Hadn’t she seen me? I’d been out of control, like some barbarian. It was that amazing.

“You’re joking, right?” I asked and she merely shook her head. But before I could reassure her, a loud banging at the front of the store had the two of us walking quickly toward the noise.

Outside in the rain were Caden
with his younger sister, who was donned in only a leotard and a tutu. I had met Carly a few times when she had come with Caden to work. She was a quiet girl with the same blonde hair and brown eyes as her brother. Caden was practically raising her because, from what he’d told me, their mom preferred pills and cheap tequila to the two of them.

Caden
squinted through the glass door and smiled widely when he saw the two of us approaching. I couldn’t believe that mere hours ago I had wanted to punch that face of his. I really had been out of my mind.

Temperance unlocked the door and Caden and Carly stepped inside.

“Dang, the powers out?” Caden asked, glancing around at the empty store. I suddenly wondered if he could tell what Temperance and I had just done. How would I explain that one? He didn’t seem notice though, which made me breathe a little easier.

“Hey Carly,” Temperance said, bending down to greet her. Carly grinned up at her and waved awkwardly.

“Hey, Tempie. You look pretty. I like your hair,” Carly said, causing Tempie to bestow that wide smile on her.

“I’m glad. I like it too.”

“I wish Caden would let me do that, but he says I’m not old enough yet,” Carly said with a pout, causing Caden to merely shake his head.

“She’s way too old for her own good,” he told us before looking down at his younger sister. “When you get older, I promise to take you to get your hair dyed.”

“And I can choose any color I want?”

Caden hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, any color.

This seemed to appease her because she walked over to the small kiosk and began picking up some unused sugar packets and placed them back in their proper place.

Caden merely shrugged and turned toward us. “Sorry guys. Forgot my iPad. Need that like I need air,” he said as he brushed past us and made his way into the backroom. Tempie glanced at me, her big green eyes assessing me. I had acted like a total dick back there and I could tell she was starting to feel insecure about it. I wanted to reassure her, but I could see Carly eyeing the two of us. I felt like she could sense something was off between the two of us. I shoved my hands through my hair, feeling like a total sinner.

Caden reappeared
, waving his iPad. “I’m really glad you guys were here. How long are you supposed to stay?”

“Until Peter tells us we can go home,” I said, following
Caden and Carly to the door.

“Well, good luck. Carly and I are off to her dance rehearsal.”

Temperance bent down once more and wished Carly good luck. I could tell the girl was smitten with her. I wished I were less awkward with kids. I didn’t have the natural ability to meet them on their level like Temperance obviously did.

Before Caden stepped outside, he turned toward
Temperance and asked, “See you tomorrow?”

She nodded
with a grin and my stomach churned. “I can’t wait.”

I forced a smile on my face so I didn’t scare Carly as she
followed Caden outside, but once they were gone, I turned toward Temperance and all cordiality was gone.

“What are you doing tomorrow with Caden?”
I couldn’t hide the trace of anger in my voice.

She arched her eyebrow at me and shook her head. “How’s it any of your business?”

“Because you were just on your knees back there. I think it warrants me knowing if you’re going out with another guy,” I nearly yelled and she winced.

I felt like a jerk, but there was no stopping me
. I was livid and jealous and a whole slew of emotions that had gotten me into this mess in the first place. If only I didn’t feel so deeply about her. If only I could not care. But I did and it was messing with my mind.