Chapter 113 | Past Tense and a Parent Problem

Jordan stared at Chloe’s ceiling, his chest still rising and falling rapidly as the last waves of pleasure faded. The dark blue Victoria’s Secret set she’d surprised him with lay scattered across her bedroom floor—bra hanging off her desk lamp, panties somewhere near the door, one of her thigh-high stockings dangling from her closet handle.

"Holy shit," he panted. "That was..."

"Mmm." Chloe curled against his side, her naked body warm and sticky against his. Her hair spilled across his chest, the blue streak vivid against his skin. "Was what? Finish your sentence, boyfriend."

"Fucking incredible." Jordan brushed his fingers through her hair, still amazed he was allowed to touch her like this. "You’re incredible."

Chloe made a pleased sound, almost like a purr, and nuzzled closer. "You weren’t so bad yourself."

"Weren’t so bad? I made you cum twice."

"Two and a half."

"How do you half cum?"

"When you start to get there but it’s more like a really good plateau than a full..." She waved her hand vaguely. "You know."

"No, I don’t know. Show me."

Chloe laughed and pinched his side. "Later. I need recovery time after what you just did to me."

Jordan couldn’t help the smugness that bloomed in his chest. Just two weeks ago, he’d been a virgin losing his mind over Eliza Hartwell. Now he was in bed with Chloe Kim, the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen, who’d just spent all night making noises he’d definitely save in his mental highlight reel for later.

"What are you smirking about?" Chloe asked, propping herself up on one elbow.

"Just thinking about how good I am at sex now."

"Oh my god." Chloe rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. "Two successful rounds and you think you’re a sex god?"

"If the shoe fits." Jordan flexed his abs, still slick with sweat. "Or should I say, if the condom fits?"

"You’re the worst." Chloe collapsed back against him, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest. "And for the record, the condom barely fit. That’s... a lot happening down there."

"Genetics."

"Uhuh. Sure." Chloe reached for her phone on the nightstand. "Mind if I scroll a bit? I need to cool down before round three."

"Bold of you to assume there’s gonna be a round three."

"Please. You’ve been hard again for like five minutes."

She wasn’t wrong. His body had already recovered, ready for more of her at a moment’s notice. The Ceaseless Discharge trait combined with his newfound stamina meant he could probably go all night if she wanted.

Chloe settled against him, her phone held above them so they could both see. She opened TikTok and began scrolling through her For You page, which seemed to consist mostly of cooking videos, dance trends, and Korean street fashion.

Jordan wrapped his arm around her shoulders, marveling at how perfectly she fit against him. Her skin was soft under his fingertips, and she smelled like vanilla and sex.

"Oh, look at this one." Chloe stopped on a video of someone cooking army stew. "I should learn to make that."

"What is it?"

"Budae-jjigae. It’s spam, sausage, ramen, and kimchi all simmered together. Comfort food."

"Sounds... interesting."

"It’s amazing. My dad used to make it every Sunday."

There it was again. Past tense when she talked about her father.

"Chloe..." Jordan hesitated, unsure if he should ask.

"Hmm?"

"Your dad. Is he...?"

Chloe went very still against him. "Dead? Yeah." Her voice was flat, matter-of-fact. "Almost a year ago. Cancer."

"Shit. I’m sorry."

"It’s fine. I mean, it’s not fine, but..." She shrugged, her shoulder moving against his chest. "It happened. He got sick really fast. Four months from diagnosis to funeral."

Jordan tightened his arm around her, pulling her closer. "That’s rough."

"Yeah." Chloe continued scrolling, but Jordan could tell she wasn’t really seeing the videos anymore. "He was the best. Worked sixteen-hour days at the dry cleaners, but always made time to help with my homework. Taught me to drive. Came to every school thing."

Jordan swallowed, thinking of his own father. David McKnight worked hard too, but their relationship had always been strained. More boss and employee than father and son.

"Is that why you do the OnlyFans stuff? To help your mom?"

Chloe nodded. "Medical bills were insane. Even with insurance. And then we had to pay for the funeral, and the business started struggling because Dad was gone..." She took a shaky breath. "Mom tried to hide it, but I saw the bills. So I started making content. Just photos at first. Then more."

Jordan pressed his lips to the top of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo. "You’re amazing. Taking care of your family like that."

"It’s not amazing. It’s necessary." Chloe’s voice hardened. "Besides, I’m quitting now. Going to focus on streaming."

"Because of me?"

"Partly. But also because... I’m tired of feeling like two different people."

They lay in comfortable silence for a moment, the only sound their breathing and the muted audio from TikTok videos. Jordan stroked her hair, marveling at how silky it felt between his fingers.

Chloe stopped on a video of someone getting ready for dinner with their boyfriend’s parents. "Oh god. Tomorrow."

"What’s tomorrow?" Jordan asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Your parents. Dinner. Giuliano’s." Chloe groaned and buried her face in his chest. "Agghhh."

"It’ll be fine."

"No it won’t!" Her voice was muffled against his skin. "Your mom already thinks I’m a skank because of how fast we got together!"

"She does not think you’re a skank."

"You said she asked if I was ’that girl from your building’ in a weird tone."

"That’s just how my mom talks about all my girlfriends."

"All your girlfriends? How many have there been?"

Shit. Jordan backpedaled quickly. "I mean, theoretically. If I had multiple girlfriends. Which I haven’t. You’re basically my first serious one."

Chloe lifted her head, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Basically?"

"You are my first serious girlfriend. Eliza doesn’t count."