Clean Slate (New Mafia Trilogy #2) (7 page)

LOS
ANGELES

NATALIE

The weekend after I slept
with Jason, Chelsea and I went to the beach. Derek and Jason were determined to
make surfers out of us.
 
Jason’s eyes
popped when he saw me take off the shorts and t-shirt I wore over my bikini. It
was an unusually warm day for December and it felt like summer. I opted to not
wear a wet suit, especially since I wasn’t going into deep water. Plus, now
that the scar was out in the open, I didn’t need to conceal it anymore.

           
“I hope those strings are secure, otherwise you’ll lose
your suit in the ocean,” Jason advised as he slathered sunscreen on my back.

           
“Wishful thinking?”

           
“And have all these guys looking at you? I don’t think
so.”

I laughed at him and
gave him a light kiss on his cheek. We were considering ourselves friends with
benefits, but he let this adorable little jealous streak show every once in a
while.

           
“I’m serious, especially Collin over there. He likes to
watch you at work. I trust him the least,” Jason said narrowing his eyes at our
co-worker from Dirty.

           
“Well, do you want to test these strings yourself and
make sure they’re tight enough?” I looked up through my eyelashes at him and
twirled my ponytail.

           
“You’re a horrible tease, woman!” He spun me around and
smacked my ass, sending me off in the direction of my borrowed surfboard. I
chuckled as I made my way towards the water with the foam board under my arm. I
didn’t have a rash guard and sand chafed against my bare side, a sensation I
was getting used to, just as I was getting used to surfing. I’d graduated to
actually standing up on the board in waist deep water. I hadn’t caught my first
wave yet, but Jason was impressed with my progress and anticipated I was close.
Chelsea on the other hand, well, she looked as graceful as an elephant on a
balance beam. Derek had the patience of a saint though and continually
encouraged her to keep trying.

The sun was dipping low
in the sky and I was a little chilled when I left the water. I was pulling a
sweatshirt over my head when Collin appeared beside me, shaking his wet air all
over me. I shrieked and backed away laughing. “You’re a bastard,” I said and
playfully kicked sand at him. He smiled, displaying even white teeth against
tan skin.

           
“So, are you and Jason still just friends?” he asked,
getting serious.

           
“Um.” I glanced out at the shoreline and saw Jason
emerging, making his way towards us. Water dripped down his bare chest,
distracting me. “We’re friends, but…” I chewed on my bottom lip, trying to come
up with a better way to define our relationship without appearing available or sounding
like a slut.

           
“I got it, it’s cool. I’m interested, so you know.” He
flashed another grin at me and took off. “See you at work!” He called over his
shoulder.

           
“What was that all about?” Jason asked.

           
“Your impressions about Collin were spot on. He’s curious
about our relationship and if I had a dance card, he’d be trying to write his
name all over it.”

           
“Oh.” Jason swallowed and looked at me. His eyes seemed
extraordinarily bright blue. “I’m taking things slow, Natalie. I know you need
that freedom, but you say the word and I’m yours.” He turned and grabbed his
board before making his way to the parking lot, leaving me behind to digest his
declaration.

I’d been in California for
two months. My gunshot wound had healed, but I didn’t know if I was emotionally
ready to give Jason more. I thought of Dominic constantly. Certain smells and
sounds reminded me of him. I missed him but knew, realistically, that I didn’t
have a future with him. The time we did have together was fraught with danger
and pain. Jason really was the healthier option. He deferred law school for a
year, but was going back to study environmental law, not entertainment law like
his father. Dom was part of a criminal organization. I really couldn’t have
found more polar opposites.

My thoughts were heavy
with the decision I knew I’d have to make soon and this kept me from getting
road rage with the traffic on the way home. After showering, I got dressed in
my uniform: black shorts and a tight black t-shirt with “Dirty” emblazoned
across the front in silver then left for work.

Jason was already there
setting up the bar. His blond hair stood out against the black t-shirt, the
ends curling around his collar looked almost white. The muscles in his arms
rippled as he moved a new keg into place. I watched him from afar before
walking over.

           
“Hey,” I said, leaning against the bar. “You got a
minute?”

           
“For you? Sure!” He smiled and I told him to meet me in
the alley. I went to the break room, tucked my purse in one of the employee
cubbies then went through the kitchen and out the back door that led to the
alley, also known as the smoking area for employees. Fortunately nobody else
was out there and I leaned against the cinderblock wall waiting for Jason. He
appeared a few moments later.

           
“What’s up? Is everything okay?” he asked.

           
“Yes. I just want to thank you for everything. I don’t
know what I did to deserve you.” I moved closer to him and reached for his
hand. “You’re more than a friend, I hope you know that.”

Jason looked at me and
opened his mouth to respond, but I sealed it shut with mine. He responded
instantly, pulling me against him with a moan. I opened my lips further and his
tongue dipped in, slowly, almost tentatively. I deepened the kiss, encouraging
him. His hand moved from my waist to the back of my neck, drawing me even
closer.

Suddenly the back door
slammed open and we jumped apart. Heat scalded my cheeks as I ducked behind
Jason and away from the open stare of one of the cooks who came out for a smoke.

           
“How ya doing, dude?” Jason asked as we crept past him.
My head was buried in Jason’s shoulder blades and he reached back for my hand,
squeezing once before leading us inside.

           
“Apparently not as good as you,” the cook muttered around
the cigarette hanging out of his mouth. I started laughing and Jason joined me.
Once under control, I gave him a quick kiss before getting to work, mentally
steeling myself for a busy Saturday night.

After the bar closed
and we had cleaned up, Jason followed me back to Chelsea’s apartment. She was
spending the weekend at Derek’s and it was nice to have the place to myself.

I stepped in the front
door and switched on the hallway light, then made my way over to the lamp in
the living room. Jason came up from behind and pulled me against him. I leaned
my head back and looked up to find him smiling down at me.

           
“I’ve been thinking about the alley all night. Want to
finish what we started?” It was so quiet in the apartment, the low hum of the
freeway outside just background noise, that I could detect the faint beat of
Jason’s heart. It was soothing, just like his very presence was calming to me.
I spun around, keeping myself encircled in his arms. He lowered his mouth to
mine and my lips parted, letting him in. We moved closer to each other, my
breasts pressed against his chest, my nipples hardening upon contact. Breathing
turned into desperate pants as I worked at the zipper on his jeans. Finally, we
broke apart and quickly stripped before joining back together. Jason lifted me
and I wrapped my legs around his waist, feeling his arousal pressing against me
triggered a moan and I sought out his lips with more urgency. He moved so my
back was pressed against the wall, his arms underneath my bare ass supporting
my body weight. He teased my opening and I cried out, every nerve ending in my
body was wide awake.

He gently kissed me
before lowering to one of my breasts. I gasped and arched my back as he teased
the nipple with his tongue before drawing it into his mouth. Hearing him suck
was more erotic than I could have imagined. I was hovering on the edge and
rolled my hips against his erection, seeking release.

He pulled away and was
panting too. “Condom,” he whispered and carefully lowered me to my feet. I
leaned against the wall, my legs unable to support me. I was a quivering,
flushed mess and Jason’s absence only amplified my longing. Moments later he
was back in the living room and mustering enough strength, I backed him up to
the futon, making him sit down. Reaching for the foil packet, I quickly tore it
open and rolled the condom on. Jason cupped my breasts as I guided myself down
over him, inch by inch. We groaned at the same time when with a thrust he filled
me even more.

           
“You’re so beautiful,” he said before pulling me down and
latching onto a nipple. He nipped at the tip, sending me over the edge. I rode
him hard and fast after that and felt his release in between my own tremors.

We basically melted
onto the futon. Jason lay behind me, our legs tangled together. He nuzzled and
kissed my ear, sending shivers down the length of my body. Before we drifted
off, we got up to get ready for bed. After folding the futon down, we climbed
in. With Jason’s arm draped over my side, I felt safe and content. This was my
final thought before falling asleep.

I stretched out in bed,
careful not to wake Jason so I could observe him while he slept. A light
dusting of blonde stubble covered his jawline, standing out against his tan
skin. Jason was lean and muscular, not bulky like Dominic, but still strong and
he didn’t have an ounce of body fat on him. The sheet barely covered his lower
half, his defined hip muscles and abs called to me and I was tempted to remove
the sheet completely.

           
“Are you checking me out?” Jason asked without opening
his eyes and I jumped.

           
“Nope.”

           
“Liar.” He opened his startling blue eyes and in one
swift move, wrapped his arm around my waist pulling me against him. We were
both naked and the close contact made my breath hitch. I laughed and pretended
to push away, but he rolled over so he was on top, his face inches from mine.

           
“You’re not going anywhere,” he whispered before kissing
me. The kiss led to me stroking Jason while his fingers explored my body,
inside and out. Before we knew it, another condom had been used and we laid
next to each other on the futon, panting. We were quickly blurring the friends
with benefits line, but the more I thought about it, I didn’t mind. With Jason,
I didn’t have to worry about drive by shootings or him running off on a late
night mission for Uncle Marco and not making it back.

           
“What are you thinking?” Jason asked, playing with the
ends of my hair.

           
“This – us - I like it.” I looked up at him and he
smiled.

           
“Me too.”

           
“Also, I’m hungry. You don’t know how to cook by chance?”
I asked remembering the delicious meals Dominic made.

           
“God no. I wish I did. We always had a chef on staff at
the house growing up so I never learned.”

           
“Really? And you thought I was a trust fund baby!” I
teased and rolled out of bed. Jason followed me into the kitchen where we made
coffee and toasted bagels. I’d never eaten naked before, let alone in front of
a guy, but it wasn’t uncomfortable or embarrassing. Jason leaned over and
licked a spot of cream cheese off my lip. It was so sensual and sweet that it
made me want him again. He glanced down at my hardening nipples and flashed a
knowing grin.

Needless to say, our
plans to meet Chelsea and Derek at the beach were pushed back an hour.

After a brief surf
lesson, I left the water to catch some sun and on the way back to my towel,
passed a little boy digging in the sand. He was by himself making a sandcastle.
I briefly stopped to watch as he shaped a turret with his hands. Noticing my
shadow, the boy peered up at me. “Do you need help with that?” I asked, feeling
inspired to sculpt something. Distrust flashed across his face and he turned to
look further up the beach at two women sitting in chairs talking. “I’ll go introduce
myself to your mom, which one is she?”

The boy shrugged and
pointed to the woman in a red sweatshirt and jean shorts, her face half covered
by large framed sunglasses. I left my board by the boy and walked up to his
mom. The women stopped talking and watched me approach. “Hi!” I smiled and
waved. “I studied sculpture at college and I was wondering… do you mind if I
build a sandcastle with your son?” The women just stared at me and my
confidence waned. “I know it’s a strange request.”

           
“Who are you?”

           
“Oh, sorry, my name’s Natalie Ross.” I held out my hand
to the boy’s mother first. “And you are?”

           
“Sandy, that’s my son, Tyler. I guess it’s okay as long
as you stay in my line of sight.”

           
“Of course! Thank you.”

Pleased it went well, I
made my way back to Tyler, who was digging a moat around his partially built
castle. I knelt down on the cool, damp sand and introduced myself.

           
“Okay, Tyler, we’re going to start a serious construction
project here. Are you ready?” He nodded, still unsure about the whole stranger
thing, but once I started sculpting the sand and had him assist, he hung on my
every word.

Chelsea came out of the
water and dropping her board next to mine, sat on top of it to watch. “This
totally reminds me of LBI,” she said. I sat back on my heels and smiled at her,
remembering the sea grass covered dunes of our favorite Jersey shore, not the
crowded, noisy boardwalk of Ocean City.

           
“You’re right, me playing in the sand while you sit on
your butt.”

Chelsea stuck her
tongue out at me and I went back to work, sending Tyler down to the water to
get a bucket of really wet sand.

           
“Do you remember that summer; I think it was right before
we started our freshman year in high school, when you built this amazing
sculpture of a sea turtle?” Chelsea asked. I nodded, remembering with her.
“Then my brother and his friends came along and stepped on its head, completely
ruining it.”

           
“Wasn’t that a lame attempt at flirting with me?”

           
“Lame is right,” Chelsea huffed. I laughed and shook my
head, thinking about the weeks I spent on Long Beach Island at the Jersey shore
with Chelsea and her family. They always rented a house for a week each summer
and since my mom couldn’t afford our own family vacation, the Reeds packed me
up and took me along. That summer before we started high school was memorable.
We snuck out and hung out with Chelsea’s oldest brother and his friends, we sat
around a raging bonfire and I tried beer for the first time. Those days
stretched out endless before us and I cherished those moments away from home.

Chelsea chattered away
while Tyler and I worked. An hour later, Jason emerged from the surf and found
us. “Wow!” he said when he took in the scale model of Cinderella’s castle that
we had built. Using shells, sticks, two plastic shovels, a bucket and our
hands, we had created a masterpiece. People had been stopping by, some even
filming the progress with their phones. Towards the end, his mom and her friend
had moved their chairs down to watch. Tyler was grinning from ear to ear with
the compliments and attention. Using a stick and a small piece of fabric, Tyler
made a flag and as the finishing touch. He carefully stuck it on the roof of
one of the turrets; not one grain of sand fell loose.

           
“Nice job, Tyler!” I held my hand up and he high fived
me. He beamed and ran over to his mom.

           
“Do you see that mom? I helped build that!” He wrapped
his arms around her neck and kissed her cheek. She laughed and hugged him back.

Jason put his arm
around my waist and kissed the top of my head. “You’ve got serious talent, Nat.
That kid adores you too.”

           
“Thanks, I needed this creative burst. I haven’t made a
sandcastle in years and forgot how relaxing it can be.”

Chelsea went to fetch
Derek from the sea. I said goodbye to Tyler and his mom then walked hand in
hand with Jason back to our towels. We both had to work later so Jason dropped
me off at the apartment, leaving my lips tingling after a long, searing kiss.
It was a perfect day.

Unfortunately, the
night was disastrous.