by Sandi Lynn
“Good morning,” I said.
“Morning.” She turned around and flashed me a smile before popping in a k-cup into the Keurig.
“How did you sleep?” I asked.
“Great.” She grinned as she took her coffee and went to her bedroom.
I sighed as I got up from my seat and took a shower. When I finished, I got dressed and noted how quiet the apartment seemed. Walking out into the living area, I called Sara’s name. No answer. So I knocked on the door to her bedroom and waited. When she didn’t answer, I slowly opened the door and looked inside. She wasn’t in there.
After meeting two of my buddies from the station for lunch, I ran some errands and headed back to the apartment. Sara still wasn’t home. It was five o’clock, and we needed to be at my mother’s house at six. Pulling out my phone, I sent her a text message.
“Family dinner is at six o’clock.”
“I know. I’ll be there by six.”
I stared at her message in confusion because I thought we were going together, but I guess she had other plans.
“Hello, darling.” My mother smiled as I stepped into the kitchen.
“Hey, Mom.” I kissed her on the cheek.
“Where’s Sara?”
“She’s on her way.”
“You two didn’t come together?”
“No. She was out all day.”
I walked into the living room where I saw Elijah holding Mila and talking to Tommy.
“Hey, Tommy.” I shook his hand. “Good to see you again.”
“You too, Mason.” A smile crossed his face. “If you boys will excuse me, I’m going to see if your mother needs any help in the kitchen.”
“Hey, pretty girl.” I held out my arms to Mila. “It’s good to see Tommy back in the picture.”
“Yeah. What a difference. Mom was in the best mood today. It was kind of weird.”
“Speaking of weird, did you know Mom invited Sara to dinner?”
“Yeah. She told me. I don’t think it’s weird. She is your roommate.” He turned and poured himself another scotch. “Scotch?”
“No thanks. She’s not family, bro.”
“Apparently, Mom thinks she is since the two of you are living together.”
“Where’s Aspen?” I asked as I set Mila down.
“She’s on her way. She got tied up with a client.”
“And Nathan?”
“I’m right here, douchebag.” He slapped me on the back of the head.
“Bro, knock it off.” I punched his arm.
“Boys, dinner is ready,” my mother spoke from the foyer.
“Where’s Sara?” Nathan whispered in my ear. “Did she change her mind?”
“No. She said she’ll meet me here.”
Just as I said that, there was a knock at the door. When I opened it, Sara stood there holding a white box.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” She smiled as she stepped inside. “I brought a pie.”
“My mother will love that.” I took the box from her. “Thanks.”
“Sara, darling. I’m so happy you could make it,” my mother spoke as she gave her a light hug.
“Thanks for inviting me, Caitlin.”
“Dinner is ready so everyone take your seats in the dining room.”
I escorted Sara to the table, and she took the empty seat next to mine while my mother and Tommy both stood at the head of the table.
“I’ve brought all of you here tonight—”
“I’m so sorry I’m late. I got tied up with a client,” Aspen spoke as she dashed into the dining room, kissed Mila on the head, Elijah on the cheek, and took her seat next to him.
“It’s okay, darling. Now that everyone in my beautiful family is here, Tommy and I have an announcement to make,” she spoke as she took his hand. “We’re getting married.”
The room buzzed with excitement as we all stood up from our seats and congratulated them.
“When?” I asked.
“Next weekend in Las Vegas, and you’re all coming with us. It worked out best because all of you are off work, including you, Sara. I’ve already booked the private jet and made the reservations for the rooms. Mason, you and Sara will share a two-bedroom suite since you’re already roommates.”
I glanced at Sara, who looked at me as she bit down on her bottom lip.
“Now, let’s eat,” my mother said as she and Tommy took their seats.
After we ate, I walked into the living room and poured myself a scotch.
“You are so screwed,” Nathan whispered in my ear as he hooked his arm around me.
“What are you talking about?”
“Mom royally screwed you with the room situation in Vegas. How the hell are you supposed to bring hot chicks back to the room with Sara there?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I walked away.
It was bad enough I felt like I couldn’t bring anyone back to the apartment, and now she had to ruin Vegas for me.
“What’s wrong, little brother?” Elijah asked as he walked up to me.
“Mom. That’s what’s wrong. Why the hell would she invite Sara to Vegas? Or better yet, why would she stick us in the same suite?”
“Um, bro?” Nathan spoke.
When I looked over, I saw Sara standing there with a look of hurt on her face. She quickly turned away and walked out the door.
“Shit!”
“Bro, you better go after her,” Nathan said. “Because if you don’t, there will be a hell of a lot of tension at home tonight and tomorrow, and probably for the rest of the time you’re living together.”
“Nathan’s right, Mason. You hurt her and you need to fix it.”
After I said goodbye to my mom and Tommy, I left.
Chapter 19
Sara
I flew out the front door and hastily walked down the street and around the corner. It was obvious he didn’t want me going to Vegas with them, just like it was obvious he didn’t want me at dinner. The hurt and humiliation I felt was out of control.
I hailed a cab to Central Park, took a seat on the bench and watched as the joggers ran by. Thousands of scenarios went through my head about how he would try and explain himself when I got home, but I didn’t owe it to him to listen. In fact, I didn’t owe him anything at all. I heard what I heard and the irritated tone he said it in. I was a strong woman who had endured so much bullshit in life, and I wasn’t about to let a man named Mason Wolfe bring me down. He had his life, and I had mine and it was best we kept our lives separate.
After sitting in Central Park for a couple hours, darkness had settled in and I headed home. When I walked through the door, I saw Mason sitting on the couch scrolling through his phone.
“Where were you?” he asked in an irritated tone.
“Out.”
I headed to my bedroom, and as I went to shut the door, he stopped it with his hand.
“Excuse me?” I turned and shot him a look.
“We need to talk.”
“Okay. I’ll do the talking and then this conversation will be over. You don’t have to worry about me going to Vegas with you and your family, because I’m not. You don’t have to worry about me infringing on your little get-togethers anymore, because I won’t. There, discussion over. Now leave.”
I went to shut the door, and he stopped it, again.
“Nah, sweetheart, it’s not over. Not until I apologize.”
“Oh. You mean lie?” My brow arched. “I heard what you said and the way you said it. You can’t apologize for something you truly mean. Just fucking admit it, Mason. You don’t want me hanging around with you and your family. It’s completely fine. I didn’t ask to. Your mother is the one who asked me, and I can see it bothers you, so I’m out.”
“Do you want to know why?” he asked.
“Frankly, I don’t care.” I pushed past him and went to the kitchen.
“You don’t feel it, Sara?” he shouted as he gripped my arm and spun me around.
“Feel what?” I spoke through gritted teeth.
“The sexual tension between us? My god, it’s all I can think about. And every time you’re around it gets worse. It’s frustrating the fuck out of me. It’s bad enough I have to see you here and then my mom goes and invites you to our family dinner and now Vegas!”
“Then let me set things straight with her. I will call her and tell her I can’t go because you’re too sexually frustrated.” I narrowed my eye at him when all I wanted to do was smash my mouth into his.
“You wouldn’t dare.” His grip on my arm tightened.
“Try me,” I spoke with my narrowed eye.
Before I knew it, his mouth was on mine. I should have fought and pushed him away, but I couldn’t. The feel of his silky lips on mine felt too good as did the fire that erupted down below. His tongue met mine, and I was done for. He abruptly stopped and stared into my eyes.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“Yes, you should have.” I gripped the bottom of my shirt and lifted it over my head.
He placed his hands on each side of my face and smashed his mouth into mine once again.
“My room or yours?” he asked as he broke our kiss long enough to take off his shirt.
“Yours is closer.” I smiled.
He picked me up, and I wrapped my legs tightly around him as he carried me to his room. We both fell onto the bed as our lips locked in a passionate kiss, and my hands explored his chiseled chest. His fingers unbuttoned my pants and his hands pulled them from my hips as his tongue traveled down my torso. The heat that erupted inside me was unbearable as my skin trembled at his touch. As I watched him take down his pants, I swallowed hard at the large bulge and impatiently waited as he took down his underwear, releasing his hard cock that stood tall and thick. Reaching into his nightstand, he pulled out a condom and threw it on the bed before hovering over me and planting his lips on mine. With one hand, he reached behind me and unclasped my bra with finesse. Taking it from me, he threw it over the side of the bed and deftly ran the back of his hand around my breast before taking my hardened peak in his mouth. Letting out a moan, I could feel the wetness emerge from me.
Chapter 20
Mason
She had the perfect body, and I wanted to explore every inch of her. My hand slid down her torso and down the front of her pink lace panties. Her freshly shaved pussy was wet as fuck. As much as I loved tasting her lips, I had other areas to taste. Making my way down to her sweet spot, I circled her clit with my tongue, taking in the sweet taste that turned me on even more. Her hands combed through my hair as light moans escaped her lips. She arched her back, begging for me to go deeper. I obliged and before long, she orgasmed. It was incredibly sexy, and I needed to be inside her.
Reaching over and grabbing the condom, I tore the package, rolled it over my cock and slowly thrust inside her as we both let out pleasurable moans. She welcomed every inch of me and soon, I was buried deep inside her. Holding her arms above her head, I thrust in and out as our lips entwined, and my heart rapidly beat as I felt the pressure building up. Not only for me, but for her as well. Several moans escaped us as I let go of her wrists and felt the tips of her nails dig into the flesh of my back as we moved together effortlessly. Slowing my thrust, I buried myself deep inside her as my cock exploded with pleasure. Dropping my body on hers, I could feel the warmth of her bated breath against my neck.
Once my heart rate slowed, I climbed off her and rolled on my back, taking the condom off and throwing it in the trash can next to the bed.
“As amazing as that was, we don’t need to talk about it, right?” she asked as she glanced over at me.
“No. Not if you don’t want to.”
“Okay. I’m going to my room now.”
“You’re welcome to stay here tonight. I promise we won’t talk about it.” I smirked.
“Thanks, but I think it’s best that I sleep in my own bed.”
“Okay. If you change your mind, I’ll be here.”
She gave me a small smile and a nod, climbed out of bed and grabbed her clothes. Placing my hands behind my head, I watched as her perfectly naked body walked out of my room. Damn. I was still hard, which was unusual for me. She didn’t want to talk about what happened between us, but at some point, we’d have to. We couldn’t live together and pretend it never happened. I closed my eyes to try to get some sleep, but I couldn’t pause the replay that was happening in my head.
The next morning, I got up at the crack of dawn and met my brothers at the gym. By the time I got there, Nathan and Elijah were already warming up by the weight bench, so I grabbed a twenty-five-pound plate and joined them.
“Good morning. You look like shit.” Elijah smirked.
“Thanks. I love you too, bro.”
“How did it go last night with Sara?” Nathan asked. “You still in the doghouse?”
“I never was in the doghouse, douchebag. We aren’t together.”
“Then let me rephrase that. Are you still in the friendship doghouse?”
“No. She came home last night, and we talked.” I looked away as I finished warming up.
Elijah narrowed his eye at me as he took a seat on the bench.
“What?”
“You slept with her.”
“No—Well—”
“I knew it!” Nathan pointed at me. “Pay up, bro.” He held his hand out to Elijah.
Elijah shook his head, reached in his pocket, pulled out a fifty-dollar bill and handed it to Nathan.
“What the fuck!” I said. “You two had a bet?”
“I told Elijah your fight would lead to sex, and he disagreed, so we made a little wager.” Nathan grinned.
“So now what?” Elijah asked.
“Nothing,” Nathan chimed in. “He got what he wanted and now he’ll move on. Right, bro?” He hooked his arm around me. “But now you’ve gone and made things awkward because the two of you have to see each other every day.”
“It’s not awkward. We fucked, she went to her bed, I stayed in mine and that’s it.”
“What did you do, kick her out of your bed after doing the dirty deed?” Nathan asked.
“No. She wanted to go. I’m done talking about this.”
“Sounds to me like she regretted it,” Elijah said as he lifted his weights.
“Do you?” Nathan asked.
“No. Shit happens. We fucked, got it out of the way, and now we can move on.”
“Good luck with that,” Nathan said. “She’s not your typical one-night stand, bro. Have you forgotten the TWO of you live together?”
“Both of you drop it. I’m heading over to the cable pull machine.”
Chapter 21
Sara
I’d barely slept all night as I stumbled out of bed and went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
“Good. He was still asleep.” I thought to myself.
I didn’t have to be at work until one and hiding in my room until then was the plan. How could I face him after what happened last night? My body still tingled at the sensation every time I thought about it. It was an incredible experience and exactly what I’d needed. We had rules, and we broke them. As I was pondering my thoughts, the door opened, and Mason walked in. Shit.
“Hey. Good morning.” He smiled as he set a white bag down on the island.
“Morning.” I gripped my coffee cup tightly between my hands.
“I bought us some bagels. I wasn’t sure if you worked or not today.”
“I don’t go in until one.”
“Great. Then sit down and have one,” he said as he grabbed the cream cheese from the fridge.
He was acting like last night was no big deal. Maybe for him it wasn’t, but for me it was. Typical guy.
“That’s okay. Maybe I’ll have one later,” I said as I began to walk away.
“Sara.”
“Yeah.” I turned around.
“Sit down now,” his authoritative voice spoke. “
You love bagels and I know you want one.”
I sighed as I walked over to the island and took a seat.
“Listen,” he said as he took a bagel out of the bag and began spreading it with cream cheese. “We have to talk about last night. There’s no getting around it. To be honest, I think you’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.” He smiled as he set my bagel in front of me. “We had sex. Big deal. Have you never had a one-night stand before?”
“Of course, I have!”
“Then how is what happened between us any different? Come on, we both knew it was inevitable, and you can’t say otherwise.”
He was right. It was inevitable, and in the back of my mind I knew it.
“You’re right. It just feels different because we live together and see each other all the time.”
He shrugged.
“It will only be awkward if we let it be. But we’re both mature adults who just see it as casual sex and no big deal. We’re friends, and I’m sorry I hurt your feelings last night. It’s not that I don’t want you hanging with my family, I do. They love you and that makes me happy. I was just frustrated about our situation.”
“And now you’re not?” I arched my brow.
“No. I’m not.”
“Okay. Good. Then today is a new day and we’ll just move forward. You’re right. No big deal. It was just amazing casual sex.” I smiled.
“Yeah. It was amazing.” He smiled back.
As busy as I was at the hospital, it didn’t stop my mind from thinking about Mason and the sex we’d had. It was invigorating and beyond the best sex I’d ever had in my life. I thought a lot about things I shouldn’t have. Things that would ultimately lead me down a path of destruction, but only if I let it. I was strong, and I was a fighter. I’d spent so many years in medical school, taking care of myself and taking care of my mom, that it was time to put me first. I wasn’t looking for a relationship because I still didn’t trust men. Would I ever? Who the hell knew? But one thing was certain, I enjoyed our evening together; he wasn’t looking for anything, and I craved more.
