Cocky Notes: A Hero Club Novel

by Leesa Bow

  I sit up in bed, remembering my dream of Reef making love to me. My heart pounds, and no longer under a ridiculous spell. I shower and head out to the kitchen ready to make breakfast for my father.

  “You were home early.” He glances up from reading the paper. It’s two days old since I bring home a newspaper from the restaurant for him each day. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes, and how did you know? You were snoring when I checked in on you.”

  “Heard voices and music coming from your room and realised you were watching a movie.”

  “Sorry, did I disturb you?” I rest an arm on his shoulder and look at his empty bowl with yoghurt smeared on the edges. I smile, knowing he’s trying to become healthy, and his eyesight has improved with the new medication.

  “What disturbs me is you coming home early unnecessarily. I thought you were having a fun night out?”

  I shrug. “I wanted to come home.”

  “You know I’m never going to tell you not to come home because you belong here as much as me. But I am telling you not to come home for me. Pretty girl like you needs to be out having fun on a Saturday night.”

  “Dad, please don’t start with the I-need-to-meet-some-nice-guy because guys aren’t like you. Many are not nice. I’m happy. Okay?” I give him a pointed look and focus on his damp hair. He’s up, showered, and eaten breakfast before me. “Why are you so chirpy this morning?”

  “I forgot what’s it like to wake up feeling refreshed. Change of diet. No beer. A bit of exercise. I’m already feeling like a new man.”

  I giggle at the wink he sends me. “I could say I told you so, but I won’t.”

  “Yet, you did.” He chuckles. “Any chance us going to the pool, and I’ll do some exercises?”

  “Absolutely,” I say with a mouthful of banana. “We can head there after our morning tea.”

  I’m nearly asleep when I hear my phone ting. I added alerts to Instagram, so I didn’t miss any of Reef’s messages.

  Have any plans Tuesday night? Boys are heading out.

  There it is. The booty call I’m waiting for. Why would I believe it’s anything else?

  Sure. What time?

  Why do I expect him to message niceties when I’m the one who put him straight?

  Monday morning, I head into work wearing a little more makeup than usual.

  Oliver hails Ava and me into the office. “There was an incident with some homeless people over the weekend,” he says. “One was taken to the hospital when a brawl broke out, and he was injured.” He raises his arms after reading my expression. “It wasn’t your friend,” he adds quickly. “But we need to be aware and not allow anyone entry late if they’re intoxicated. You’re not rostered on the late shifts, but I’m sending out a staff email. I wanted to reassure you it wasn’t—”

  “Harry?”

  “Right. This week I’m running an ad on the radio station. Everyone who mentions the ad gets free cake with a coffee. As you can imagine, Dominic is having kittens.”

  Ava and I chuckle. Simultaneously, pans crash, and we turn to see him flapping about in the sink.

  “I can give him a hand out here.”

  “Awesome. I’ll allocate Ava the majority of the tables, so you can help out. I can also assist her.”

  Two hours later, I enter the dining room to help Ava with the mid-morning rush.

  The moment my gaze links with Reef’s, heat zaps through me, straight to my core. I’m flooded with memories of Saturday night, desire escalating, and it unnerves me, especially the way Oliver is frowning at me.

  “Everything okay?” Oliver asks.

  “Yep. Dominic has seven cakes planned. One for each day of the week. He’s panicking on how many to cook.”

  “Today will be a guide, and I asked him not to get in a flap.”

  I sigh. “He doesn’t think it’s enough.”

  Oliver shakes his head, and I laugh.

  “You should speak to him,” I say. I glance around the restaurant as though assessing tables, and deliberately avoid Reef’s flirty stare. Butterflies flutter in my stomach as though I’m playing a stupid game and trying not to get caught.

  I lose because the moment I sneak a peek, my knees buckle. His eyes tell me a story. We’re both gaping as though lust is the only vapour we breathe. I give him a curt nod. He waves me over. The other players now interested in what’s going down.

  I take a few steps and stop at the table where Ava is serving. “Table 11 requires assistance when you have a moment.”

  She frowns, and I know she’s thinking I should attend to the request. Her expression switches to realisation. “Table 11? Sure. I won’t be a moment.”

  I head out back to collect more cake platters to restock the display fridge.

  My chest is tight.

  I stack the dishwasher and tidy up Dominic’s bench and endeavour to deny what I feel. We haven’t even had sex. Lust. It must be crazy in lust.

  An hour later, Ava walks out back and whispers for me to head out as he’s waiting for me.

  I spy him standing near the front door, waiting as though it’s no trouble. His friends have gone. Every step closer, my heartbeat picks up a notch. He oozes sex appeal in jeans and a black T-shirt, both hiding ripped muscles I’ve had the pleasure of licking. I focus on his chest, not his face until his arms fold over his pecs, and I look up.

  Stupid mistake. He’s grinning, knowing I’m checking him out.

  “Mace,” he says, and I want to crumble in a heap the way my name sounds on his tongue. “You look good.”

  “Thanks.”

  He leans in close to my ear. “Good enough to eat.”

  “You can’t say that to me here.”

  He chuckles. “Why not?”

  “Because I have to get through the day, and I can’t if I’m only thinking about you.” His eyebrows rise, and so do mine. “I mean—”

  He places a finger on my lips and moves it to reach into his pocket. “I wanted to make sure only you saw this.” He hands me a folded napkin.

  I start to unfold it, and his hand stops me. “Read it later.”

  I ignore him and open it.

  You’re on my mind when I close my eyes.

  I’m not complaining because I like to see you.

  In the dark you brighten my room.

  A time where I imagine all the ways I want to fuck you.

  I want to hear you scream my name when you ride my cock.

  I’m looking forward to Tuesday.

  R.

  I refold the napkin. He’s right. I’m glad this didn’t fall into anyone other than my hands. “So, this is what you have planned for Tuesday night?” I ask seriously.

  His tanned neck slightly darkens enough for me to notice.

  “You don’t need to sign it. I don’t receive dirty notes from anyone but you.” I hand it back to him. “Fine words, R, but not poetry.”

  He gapes at me, and his expression turns mellow. “I’m sorry, I thought I—”

  “Don’t be. See you Tuesday.” I place the note in his hand and swivel on my heel and head out to the kitchen, ignoring the ache in my chest. I know what I am and stupid to think I could be anything more.

  “You okay?”

  I didn’t even notice Ava standing beside me at the sink.

  “Yep.” I force a smile. “You know the feeling when you’ve swum too far out in the ocean and get caught in a rip and struggle to keep your head above water?”

  Ava nods. “All too well, and it’s scary as shit, babe. But don’t give up. Let the rip take you deeper. Or you can swim sideways to be free. The choice is yours.”

  I had already made my choice.

  After work, I take Dad to the pool, and I swim laps. My style has strengthened. I relish the water pooling around my ears blocking out sound and the rest of the world to clear my thoughts.

  I need to prepare for Tuesday night, shutting down the emotion choking me because it’s only sex. Nothing else. I’ve experienced enough
hook-ups to know better.

  Within twenty-four hours of focus, my walls are up.

  “I have one of those work meetings,” I say to Dad. I hate lying to him, but the truth is worse. “I’ll be home in a couple of hours.” I place the old flip phone on the armrest of the couch. He knows what to press to contact me. “If you need anything, call me. There’s no problem in my leaving early.”

  “I’m fine, love. I’ll watch a bit of news and probably head to bed. All this fitness is wearing me out.”

  I chuckle. “Right.” I head out the door, the smile leaving my face, ignoring the sick lurch of nerves in my gut.

  Chapter Thirteen

  MACY

  Screams of laughter come from the ocean. Daylight savings brings longer hours to play under the sun in the surf. Walking the esplanade path, the sun is low, reminding me of a giant ball ready to be swallowed up by the ocean.

  Two hours is all I paid for parking, and it’s a five-minute walk from Reef’s penthouse block. The esplanade’s a five-minute distraction.

  Preparing myself to meet the elevator gatekeeper, I stall when I enter the lobby near long, tanned legs in a chair. Legs I recognise.

  Reef glances up from his phone and stands. His expression serious, business-like. It doesn’t suit him. Blond hair styled as though by the surf, blue eyes with flecks of yellow sparkle. It’s what first attracted me all those months ago. Months where we’d smile and share an occasional comment about the weather when he came to Lombardi’s. Months before I called him and his friends Losers.

  I smile first. “Hi.”

  In a few long strides, he reaches me.

  “Oh,” I stutter when his arms wrap around me and squeeze as though I’m a long-lost friend.

  “I didn’t think you’d come,” he whispers in my ear. “I was sending you a message.”

  “I didn’t think I was late?”

  He takes my hand and leads me past the gatekeeper’s desk to the elevator. “You’re not.” He presses the button several times. “You look beautiful.”

  My hand rises to my hair. No ponytail. It’s straight, hanging over my shoulders. “Thanks. And you look… edible as always.”

  He chuckles. Fetches a note from his shorts pocket. “I wrote this for you to make up for the last one.”

  I unfold the note on entering the elevator.

  A poem.

  I lift my gaze to meet his.

  He pushes his hands in his short pockets. “My mum has a thing for poetry. Thinking I’d make her happy, I attempted to create some in high school, mainly about summer, surfing or the ocean. It’s my first to a girl.”

  I finish reading it in a few seconds as it’s only three lines. “I think I understand it.”

  He chuckles as the doors open. “It’s a Haiku poem.”

  “It’s different, I guess.”

  He unlocks the door and holds it wide for me to pass into a dimly lit room. “I hoped so after your reaction to my last one. I needed to up my game.”

  “So now you’re going to leave me poems at work?”

  “If it makes you smile like you are now, then yes.” He locks the door and comes to me. “You need to smile more, Mace. It lights up your whole face.”

  Butterflies take off in my stomach, and I lose my train of thought. Compliments are not easy to accept.

  “As long as you don’t expect any fancy words from me. What you see is what you get.”

  “I know,” he says and smiles. “I worked it out on the first day I saw you at Lombardi’s. The day you hung shit on Bluey.” He pours me cold water, and we take a seat on his long, white leather lounge.

  “I don’t remember.” I lift my legs and drape them over his thighs.

  “I remember everything,” he says.

  My phone vibrates with a call. I answer it fearing it’s Dad, always hoping it’s not. “Sorry, I need to check.” I reach for my phone on the tiles near the lounge. It’s not Dad. An unknown number, so I don’t answer.

  “May I?” Reef holds out his hand.

  “What?”

  “We’re exchanging deets.”

  I hesitate before handing him my phone. He holds it up to my face, and I sigh. “You know that’s too damn easy for you to hack my phone.”

  Even if I delete his number to resist the urge ever to call, he still has mine. Calling is such a big step to messaging, and I don’t understand why we can’t stick to Instagram messaging.

  He types in his digits and listens. I don’t hear his phone and unlike me with mine always close by, I have no clue where his phone is. Satisfied, he keeps tapping. When finished, he hands it to me, grinning.

  “What?” I open up calls and the last person listed.

  Reef

  Sexy AF

  I giggle. “You must receive some odd looks with a surname Sexy as Fuck?” I delete it. “First names are adequate.” I’m thankful he’s made light humour of a big step for me.

  “Then I won’t tell you what I’m adding for you.” Reef’s eyes meet mine, and I inhale a sharp breath at his intense gaze. Without a doubt, I know what thoughts whirl behind those baby blues. Lifting my leg, he drops it behind him, moves like a cat, slow and light, and then he’s leaning over me. My back on the couch and Reef settling between my thighs leaning close to my face.

  “A perfect fit,” he says, settling over me, his face close to mine. “But it’s no surprise.”

  “That you fit between my legs?” I giggle once. “Have you noticed the size of my hips?”

  His mouth is on mine, kissing me hard. “Every day I notice you,” he says into my mouth. “Fantasise about you.”

  “About this?” I smack my rump. “It’s not hard to miss.”

  “You have an amazing arse. I can’t wait to watch it as I pound into you from behind.”

  I hold his gaze for a moment, and then we’re tearing at each other’s clothes, getting naked fast. My top is yanked over my head and tossed beside his T-shirt on the white tiles. My bra is lost as quickly. My nipples peak at the attention his mouth and tongue give to each equally. Hands. Fingertips. Mouth and lips. The caressing is sending sparks through my core until little groans escape my lips.

  “I want you so fucking bad, Mace.” He tugs at my leggings. “I need these off.”

  He clambers off, and I get a good view of his erection pushing the band of his shorts begging to be freed. I reach to touch him, only he grabs my forearm and pulls me off the lounge. “Come to my bed.”

  Keeping hold of my hand, he leads me to the first room off the main living area. He opens the door to a king-size mattress with a black quilt. He tosses the covers back and sits on the bed. Pulls me close so he can slide my leggings down my thighs.

  “Lights.”

  He gives me a look. “Hey, Google. Turn the lights to low.”

  I step out of each side with a jiggle and allow him to take his fill, while his gaze roams over my bare body. He runs his hands along my waist to my curves. “I don’t know what part of you I want to take first?”

  I decide for him and yank down his shorts. “Do you have a condom?”

  “Are you taking anything?” he asks.

  “The pill.”

  “I’m clean,” he says.

  “Same.”

  “Move to the centre of the bed and open your legs.”

  I do what he asks, liking his bossier side. He moves to my side and kisses me first, nails tickling my arms and stomach. His fingers toy with my clit and trail my sex. I’m wet thinking about what he’s going to do to me if his kiss is anything to go by. When thick fingers plunge inside, he stills as I inhale a sharp breath. Moving my hips in sync with his fingers, I ride his hand, his long fingers curling into my G-spot until I come hard and fast like the last time I was with him.

  “Reef,” I gasp, catching my breath and bucking against him.

  “Rollover,” he says, grabbing my thighs to guide me. He hoists me up onto my knees—doggie style and perfect—sinks in, stops for a moment as though he�
��s allowing me time to stretch to his size. Looking over my shoulder at Reef, I wiggle my hips not wanting him to go dangerously slow. He rides me hard, the smacking of skin louder when his rhythm increases. I come again, and again, colours blinding, and my thighs weak. I slide down to my stomach until he’s straddled over my rear, slowing his action.

  He leans in and kisses my ear. “I need to watch you come for me.”

  “I have. Several times.”

  “With me.”

  He pulls out, and when I roll over, I take hold of his thick cock—wet and covered in me. I guide him in, and he lowers himself taking one breast then the other as he pumps into me.

  His mouth lands on mine, kissing me between laboured breaths before he raises himself with straight arms. His expression is serious.

  Lifting my hips slightly, I ride him home, his gaze locks with mine until he frowns, no longer holding back.

  “Mace,” he moans, groaning louder as he comes, pumping twice more before collapsing onto my breasts.

  I give him a gentle squeeze with my knees wishing I could keep him there longer. Now it’s happened, I’m unsure if it will happen again. He’s scored with me. It’s what he wanted. And the way my heart’s beating a quick rhythm to the flutters in my stomach, I can’t risk him breaking down my walls further.

  One night.

  I can give myself one night.

  Lying side by side in each other’s arms, I indulge in being sated while Reef is breathing in a relaxed dozed state.

  Then I hear noises in the lounge. A girl giggles. A man speaks in a hushed tone.

  “Reef.” I give a nudge to stir him. “Someone’s here.”

  “What?” He half ignores me until there’s a knock on his door.

  I reach for the covers and pull them up to my chin.

  “Mate, have you been sky diving?”

  I frown at him, then realise what the guy behind the door is saying.

  “Fuck.” Reef jumps up, steps into his boardies, and points to the ensuite bathroom before making sure the door closes behind him.