Chapter 16

Two days later, Jalen had just finished another day at the Horner property. The guest house was really coming along well. It was about 6 PM and Jalen and Heidi were wrapping up another round of sex in the guest house. They were both completely naked except for Heidi’s nude-colored So Kate heels.

Jalen had Heidi pressed against the wall and her legs were wrapped around him, with her heels pressing against his butt. Jalen thrusted deep into her with Heidi moaning audibly, arms around his neck with one hand clutching the back of his head. She pulled him into a hungry sloppy tongue kiss as she felt her climax imminent. After several more powerful thrusts, Heidi’s orgasm ripped through her, and she moaned loudly into Jalen’s mouth. Jalen kept up his strokes until his body tensed up, and he released his warm thick cum inside of her, spraying her walls. Heidi’s head fell back against the wall, her lips parting in pleasure as she held onto him, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist with her heels pressing into his lower back. Soon, Heidi’s vagina began to drip with Jalen’s cum.

Heidi opened her eyes and then they widened in horror. She saw her father walking back out to the guest house even though he had just been out there about 25 minutes ago.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, sheer horror washing over her face.

Jalen barely had time to register her expression before she shoved at his chest. “My dad! He’s coming back out here!” she hissed.

Jalen’s blood ran cold. Shit. There was no time. No time for Heidi to put her clothes back on. No time for anything. Jalen pulled out of her, reluctantly stepping back as she scrambled to grab her blouse, skirt, bra, and panties, clutching them to her chest as she darted behind a pile of boxes in the corner of the half-finished guest house.

Jalen, heart pounding, yanked his pants up, struggling to zip them with still-trembling hands. He barely managed to shove his arms through his shirt, completely unbuttoned, but at least on his body, as he heard the heavy footsteps of Tim Horner approaching the door.

Heidi was still naked, crouched behind the boxes, breathing rapidly. Jalen took one deep breath. “Calm. Be calm.” He thought.

The door swung open. Tim stepped in, his eyes scanning the space, immediately landing on Jalen.

“Hey Jalen,” Tim started, his deep voice filling the room. “I came back out because I had a thought about these countertops. I wanted to ask how you’re planning to match them with the cabinets.”

Jalen fought to steady his breathing, nodding as if nothing was amiss.

“Oh, yeah, the countertops,” he said, forcing his voice to sound natural. Not like he had just been buried inside Tim’s daughter less than a minute ago.

“I was actually thinking a polished quartz finish, light gray with some marbling to complement the cabinetry.”

Tim scratched his chin, considering. “Quartz, huh?”

Jalen nodded, folding his arms over his unbuttoned shirt, strategically covering the sweat still glistening on his chest.

Tim took a step forward. Too close. His eyes scanned the space, his gaze lingering on the scattered tools, the unfinished walls, and ... the boxes. Jalen’s pulse hammered in his ears. He didn’t dare glance toward where Heidi was hiding.

Tim shifted his weight, oblivious. “Yeah, quartz might work. As long as it don’t clash with the floors.” He eyed Jalen, squinting slightly. “You alright, son? You look a little ... flustered.”

Jalen forced a casual shrug, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just a long day. A lot of physical labor, you know?”

Tim grunted, seemingly accepting the excuse. He let out a breath, taking one last glance around. “Alright, well, I won’t keep you much longer. Just wanted to ask about that before I forgot.”

Jalen nodded, silently willing Tim to leave.

“Right,” Tim said. “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” He gave Jalen a parting nod, turned on his heel, and walked out the door.

Five seconds after the door clicked shut, Heidi burst out from behind the boxes, sucking in sharp breaths.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” she whispered, eyes still wide with lingering panic. “We almost died.”

Jalen let out a long exhale, rubbing his face. “Jesus Christ, Heidi.”

Heidi started laughing hysterically. “Did you see me? I was naked behind these fucking boxes.”

Jalen ran a hand down his face, finally letting his own breathy chuckle escape. “You’re insane.”

“You love it.”

He sighed, looking her up and down, still completely bare, her clothes clutched in her hands, her heels still on her feet.

“Maybe we should chill out with fucking on your parents’ property, baby.” Jalen said.

Heidi, still catching her breath, gave him a playful pout. “But where’s the fun in that?” she teased.

Jalen shook his head, running a hand down his face. “Baby, we just dodged a damn bullet. Your dad was two seconds away from finding you ass-naked behind those boxes. I’m not trying to die over this.”

Heidi smiled, stepping closer, placing a hand on his bare chest. “You wouldn’t die, Jalen. My dad wouldn’t kill you, just shoot you in your legs so you couldn’t walk again.”

Jalen stared at her. Deadpan. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

Heidi giggled, finally stepping back and actually putting her clothes on this time. “Fine, fine. We’ll chill, but don’t act like you don’t love the thrill of it.” She winked at him as she buttoned up her blouse.

Jalen exhaled, shaking his head, but he couldn’t deny it. Heidi was wild, fearless, and utterly intoxicating. Still, he wasn’t about to push his luck again.

“At least until the guest house is finished,” he muttered.

Heidi grinned as she smoothed down her skirt. “That’s fair, but after that? All bets are off.”

“Should we talk about what your plan is after you tell your parents about our baby?” Jalen asked.

“I’ve thought about that,” Heidi responded, “I’m going to get a teaching assistant position, which will help me have enough money to get my own apartment on top of my part-time job as a legal aid at the law firm that I work at. Once I have that situated, I’ll move into my apartment, before I actually tell them. That way I’ll already have a place to go before they can potentially disown me.”

Jalen nodded, impressed with her foresight. “That’s a solid plan,” he said. “You’re making sure you have your own independence before dropping the news on them. Smart.”

Heidi sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Yeah, I’m trying to be, but it still scares the hell out of me, Jalen. My dad ... he’s going to lose his mind. I don’t even know how my mom will react. She might actually cry more than yell.”

Jalen reached out, squeezing her hand. “Hey, you won’t be alone in this. No matter how they react, you got me.”

Heidi looked up at him, her green eyes softening. “I know, and that’s what keeps me sane about all this.”

Jalen studied her, knowing she was stronger than she gave herself credit for. “If it gets too bad, you always have a place with me,” he said firmly.

Heidi smiled, her fingers tightening around his. “I appreciate that, but I need to do this on my own. At least at first. I need to prove to myself that I can handle my own life without my parents controlling it.”

Jalen nodded, respecting her resolve. “I get that. Just know I’m always in your corner.”

Heidi exhaled deeply. “Thanks, Jalen. Really.”

She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips before pulling back. “Now, let’s get out of here before my dad gets another sudden urge to check on things.”

Jalen chuckled. “Yeah, I’d rather not have to jump out a window or some shit.”

Heidi laughed as they gathered their things. The road ahead wasn’t going to be easy, but at least she wasn’t facing it alone.

The following Sunday, a beautiful young woman of Brazilian descent named Chrysti Oliveira was driving down Peachtree Road in Brookhaven, Georgia just outside of Atlanta in her blue Jeep Wrangler.

Chrysti tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, bobbing her head slightly to the reggaeton track playing through her Jeep’s speakers. It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, the kind of day that made Atlanta feel alive. The sun was shining, a slight breeze rustling the trees, people out and about. She had just left a brunch spot with some friends and was heading toward the gym to get a quick workout in before settling in for the evening.

As she approached an intersection, she flicked on her turn signal to make a left. Just as she began her turn, a truck from the opposite side suddenly swung into a U-turn, cutting directly into her path. Chrysti slammed on her brakes, but it was too late.

CRASH

The impact wasn’t massive, but it was enough to jolt her forward, the seat belt digging into her chest. Her heart raced, and for a split second, she just sat there, stunned.

Then the rage hit.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” Chrysti shouted, ripping off her seatbelt. She threw the door open and stormed out, her ponytail swinging behind her. She could already see the dent on the front of her Jeep, and the frustration boiled over instantly.

“Hey, asshole! Did you not see me turning?!” she snapped, her Brazilian accent sharpening her words as she stormed toward the other vehicle.

The door to the black Ford F-150 swung open. A man stepped out. Chrysti came to an abrupt halt.

“Damn.” She couldn’t help but think.

The guy was tall, broad-shouldered, and well built. His skin was a smooth, warm brown, and he had a sharp jawline, full lips, and deep-set eyes that gave him an air of quiet confidence. His haircut was fresh, his beard cleanly shaped, and the way his white T-shirt clung to his chest and arms made it painfully obvious that he worked out regularly.

For a moment, she forgot she was supposed to be furious. Then he spoke.

“Are you okay?” His voice was deep, genuine concern lacing his tone as his eyes scanned her for injuries rather than assessing the damage to their vehicles.

Chrysti blinked. She had been fully prepared for a defensive, arrogant asshole who would blame her for the accident. Instead, he was checking to see if she was hurt. Still, she wasn’t about to let him off easy.

“I’m fine,” she said, crossing her arms, though the adrenaline still made her pulse race. “But my Jeep isn’t! What the hell were you thinking making a U-turn like that?!”

The man exhaled and ran a hand over his short fade, looking at the damage on both vehicles.

“Yeah, that was on me,” he admitted without hesitation. “I thought I had more space before you turned. That’s my fault.”

Chrysti narrowed her eyes. Wait. Did he just ... take accountability? No excuses? No blaming her? That threw her off. She had two immediate instincts. One was to keep yelling at him because, goddammit, he hit her car, but the other, far more annoying instinct, was to acknowledge that this guy was actually decent so far.

Still, her pride wouldn’t let her let up just yet. “You better have insurance,” she huffed, placing a hand on her hip.

He smiled slightly, as if amused by her fire, but nodded. “I do, and I’ll take care of it. Whatever needs to be fixed.”

Chrysti glanced back at the damage. Her Jeep had a noticeable dent on the left side of her front bumper, and it was hanging off slightly. His truck had a noticeable dent and scrape, but nothing that would keep either of them from driving away.

“What’s your name?” she asked, pulling out her phone.

“Jalen,” he replied. “Jalen Moss.”

She typed it into her notes. “License and registration?”

Jalen pulled out his wallet and handed over his license, letting her snap a picture of it. “Mind if I get yours too?”

Chrysti sighed. Fair. She handed him hers, watching as he snapped a picture as well.

“Look, I really am sorry,” Jalen said after a beat, looking her in the eye. “I wasn’t trying to be reckless, but I should’ve been more careful.”

Chrysti blew out a breath, some of her anger cooling now that the situation was being handled like actual adults.

“ ... Well, you’re lucky I’m not a crazy person who’s gonna try and sue you or something,” she muttered, slipping her phone back in her pocket.

Jalen chuckled. “Yeah? What kind of person are you then?”

Chrysti opened her mouth to respond, then paused. Why did his voice sound so ... teasing? Her dark brown eyes met his, and she realized he was enjoying this, and worse, a tiny part of her was enjoying it too.

Jalen had felt it. That same warm pull deep in his gut, the one he had felt six times before.

“No way.” He had thought.

Not when he had just literally crashed into this woman’s life, literally, but there it was, undeniable. The moment he had stepped out of his truck and laid eyes on her, the connection had sparked. He had tried to ignore it, but now it was screaming at him.

This woman. She was one of the eight.

As if this whole situation wasn’t already crazy enough, Chrysti was yet another gorgeous looking woman. She had an athletic and vibrant appearance with long, dark brown hair, which was back into a ponytail. Her facial features were striking, with well-defined cheekbones, full lips, and expressive dark brown eyes that gave her a naturally beautiful and engaging look. Physically, she had a fit and toned physique, giving the impression that fitness and wellness were a core part of her life. Her skin had a warm, sun-kissed complexion.

Jalen cleared his throat, shaking off the realization of who she was to him for now. First things first, they had to handle the accident.

“We should call the cops,” he said. “Get a report on file.”

Chrysti nodded, still watching him with sharp, analyzing eyes. She pulled out her phone and started dialing.

While she talked to dispatch, Jalen stepped aside and grabbed his own phone, texting his insurance agent and letting them know the situation. Once Chrysti finished giving the police their location, they both moved their vehicles to the side of the road so they wouldn’t block traffic. Now, all there was left to do was wait.

Jalen glanced over at Chrysti, who was leaning against her Jeep, arms crossed, looking annoyed but noticeably calmer than before.

“You okay?” he asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“Yeah. Just pissed.”

“Understandable.”

She sighed, shifting her weight. “I had plans today, you know, and now I’m stuck here because of you.”

Jalen smiled slightly. “Could be worse. You could be in a ditch somewhere.”