Dazed

DAZED Em Torrey Copyright © 2023 Em Torrey All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in book reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in, or encourage, the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacey “I don’t blame Lucas one bit for wanting to do a couples bachelor and bachelorette party. I wouldn’t trust Josie with a stray hot dog…let alone a whole week by herself in Cabo.” I say placing my suitcase on the weight table at Sea-Tac. The flight receptionist clears her throat at my comment, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment for me. “But your mom is coming too, right?” Slade says as he repeats my process with his own suitcase. “Yep, I don’t think that would have been a deterrent for her though.” “Who knows? Marriage changes people.” Slade says with a smile. My insides melt from the smile he’s giving me. It’s been two glorious months since I decided to give this relationship a chance and claim what I wanted out of life and I’ve never been happier. “You’re right. People do change, but Josie isn’t human, she’s a purple people eater.” I snort. “I don’t care about what Josie’s doing, I just want to see you in that white bikini.” He pulls me close to him as we walk to the security line of the airport. He stands behind me as we wait in line and I use the opportunity to rub my ass against the front of his jeans inconspicuously. The sharp intake of his breath earns a slow smile from me. “Don’t start something you can’t finish.” He growls into my ear and a shiver runs across my body. “I can finish, but can you?” I whisper back. “Do not threaten me with a good time.” He says giving my legging clad butt a quick squeeze. “Titus is going to miss us.” I say, thinking of the black lab puppy we left at home. I guess he isn’t such a pup anymore, he’s getting bigger everyday. “He’ll be fine, Katelyn is probably half way through his bag of treats.” Slade chuckles to himself as we take our spots on either side of the conveyor belt. I remove my shoes and place them in the bucket to be ran through the scanner along with my purse and small carry-on. Slade removes his belt and boots and places them in the bucket as well. I walk through the body scanner and a dark haired woman with a metal detector wand runs the device across my arms and chest. The underwire to my bra sends a screeching sound through the device and the woman looks at me with a knowing look on her face. She nods to the big guy behind the computer screen letting him know that I’m clear. “Thank you, the big titty brigadehas to stick together right?” I wink at her and she rolls her eyes at me but as I’m walking towards the bucket of my things I hear her laugh lightly. I grab my shoes out of the bucket along with my purse and carry on, Slade smiles wide at me as he finishes pushing the leather belt through the loops of his jeans. “What?” I ask, a smile pulling at my lips too. “I love..” he stops and clears his throat, “that you say whatever’s on your mind.” I purse my lips together, we’ve been tiptoeing around this “L” word for a few weeks now and for someone who appreciates my bluntness as much as he says he does, he sure doesn’t follow the same ideals. I know I know, I could say it first, easily, but I don’t and he knows it. This will be the first Valentine’s Day I’ve had with a real boyfriend and if he doesn’t say he loves me by Valentine’s Day, I’ll say it, but I won’t be happy about it. “How long is the flight again?” Slade asks as we enter the lounge. “Five hours give or take.” I answer, taking a seat at the bar. “Perfect, just enough time to get a good nap in.” He smiles, his arms lifting over his head with a long stretch. The movement causes his shirt to lift and a sliver of his tanned skin to peak out. My brain misfires at the sight and if we weren’t in public right now I would maul him like a lioness taking down a gazelle on Animal Planet, violently with no remorse. “Don’t look at me like that.” He says, narrowing his eyes. “Jesus, you’re insatiable. We had sex this morning, twice.” “It’s not my fault, big girls gotta eat.” I shrug nonchalantly. “Let me replenish the tank before you siphon anymore outta me.” He drops down into the seat beside me and my hand finds his thigh, giving it a light squeeze. “Slade McKenzie, are you getting-“ I clutch my chest theatrically with my other palm, drawing the attention of the bartender and other patrons, “old on me.” “I’m not old,” he scoffs with a playful eye roll, “you’re a freaking bunny, I don’t know how either one of us ever get anything else done.” “Listen,” I say, slapping the table with my open palm, “God gave you a fantastic dick, it’s basically magic and I’m going to shake