by J. S. Cooper
“Nooo,” Danielle squealed. “The adult ones for when you can’t hold it in anymore.”
“I think it’s called incontinence, Lila,” I said as I watched the two of them gossiping. “And as your brother, I want to officially state that I have no interest in hearing about this conversation.”
“Sh, Carter,” Lila and Danielle said in unison and both of them started laughing. They looked at me, and I glared at them, and that got them to giggling. Women! It then struck me that if Lila and I had a girl, I would be surrounded by estrogen. That couldn’t happen. I would die. I really, really hoped we were having a boy.
“Are we having a boy or a girl?” I blurted out looking at Lila, and she just grinned at me.
“Brother dearest, it’s too early to know the gender of the baby.” Danielle just rolled her eyes at me. “He’s so worried that he’s going to be surrounded by women,” she said to Lila. “Poor baby.”
“Shut up, Danielle.” I made a face at her, but then we both laughed. It felt good to be back in Lila’s apartment and having a good time. It seemed like all of our conversations recently had been so serious, and it felt nice to just have a laugh. “And Lila can’t go out with you tonight, she’s staying in with me.”
“I don’t think so, big brother.” Danielle grinned. “I already texted Lila yesterday, and we made plans for tonight.” She looked at her watch then. “Okay, our dinner reservation is in an hour. I’m going to go and shower and start getting ready.”
“Oh, yes, I should shower and get ready as well.” Lila gave me a sheepish grin. “You can stay here if you want.”
“And look after Frosty.” Danielle laughed. “It will be good babysitting practice for you.”
“I already looked after your damn dog for a month by myself,” I said feeling irritated. I wanted to spend the night with Lila. I’d had visions of us going out for a romantic dinner and then coming home and making love. In fact, I was annoyed that Danielle had wanted to even come over tonight period. I’d wanted to rip Lila’s clothes off as soon as we walked through the door. Having to just sit there and keep my hands to myself and wait for my sister to show up had been torture.
“Well, you’ve got another night of it tonight, Daddy dearest.” Danielle started laughing. “Okay, I’m going to head out. Come with me, Carter, I’ll grab Frosty, and you can walk him while I get ready.”
“Wow, is this what my life has come to?” I threw my hands up in the air and just fake-glared at the two women that were totally dictating my life right now. “No one would believe that I was a rock star.” I walked over to Lila and gave her a huge kiss before following Danielle to the front door. “Okay, I’ll be back in about thirty minutes,” I said and blew Lila a kiss as I exited. It felt nice to be here with her, and even though I was upset she was going out, I was happy just to be in her space again. My phone beeped as I closed the door, and I pulled it out to see a message from Harley. “Call me now.” It read and I sighed and pressed his number into the phone.
“What’s up?” I asked as he answered the phone on the first ring.
“Dude, you haven’t sent the contract back. Carlos told me that you said you needed to think about it.”
“I’ve got a lot going on right now, Harley.”
“This doesn’t have to do with big tits again, does it?”
“Dude, if you call her that again. I will knock your teeth out.”
“What’s the fucking hold up, man? The terms of the contract are exactly what we asked for. They are giving us everything we want. They want us badly, dude. We’re so hot right now, we’re going to burn.”
“This might not be the best time for me.” I kept my voice low. I didn’t want Danielle to hear my conversation. I didn’t want her telling Lila what she’d heard. Not after I’d told Lila I hadn’t received the contract as yet. I didn’t want the questions or the guilt she might feel if I decided not to go. I didn’t know what I was going to do yet. I wanted to go, of course, I wanted to go. Music was my life. It had always been my life. This was my dream. We were on the precipice of fame and glory. We were about to make it. Unfortunately, I didn’t know if that was everything I wanted anymore.
“What the fuck, Carter, don’t let some pussy fuck this up for us.” Harley was angry as he shouted in the phone, and I knew he had a right to be angry, but I didn’t appreciate how he talked about Lila. I didn’t appreciate it at all.
“I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow,” I said and then hung up the phone. Everything in my life was upside right now, and I didn’t know if I was coming or going, and I didn’t want anyone to pressure me into making a decision I didn’t want to make. I realized that this was the first time in my thirty years of life that I actually had life-determining decisions to make, and it scared me more than I wanted to admit.
Lila
“In Da Club”
“You’re really going out?” Carter pouted as he stared at me in my tight black dress. “I don’t want you to go out with someone else looking so hot.” His eyes traversed my body, and he gave me such a longing look that I almost canceled my plans then and there.
“What? Why not?” I gave him a look as I applied my new red lipstick. “I’m going with your sister, so it’s not like it’s a date or anything . . .” and then I paused to look at him and frowned. “Not that I can’t go on a date, of course.”
“Of course,” he said, his lips thin and his face suddenly sour. “You can do what you want, but you are carrying my baby now so please remember not to drink.”
“Uh-huh,” I said and tried not to roll my eyes. How convenient for him to remind me just as I was headed out for a night on the town. Like in the last few hours I had suddenly forgotten I was pregnant. “You know I’m not going to drink.”
“I know that . . .” he said and his voice trailed off. He walked over to me then and put his arms around my waist. I felt his hands sliding up to cup my breasts. “I’d just like us to have some time for us tonight. Just the two of us.” He laughed then. “I mean it’s not like you can get pregnant again.”
“Carter.” I bit down on my lower lip and laughed as I looked up at him. “Very funny.”
“We don’t have to bother with a condom anymore.” His eyes devoured me as I gazed at him. I could feel my resolve weakening. I wanted to stay home now. I wanted him to eat me up.
“Well, we didn’t always bother with the condom, did we?” I said while giving him a slight look. Not that I was trying to blame him. I mean, I’d been just as irresponsible. I’d been taught in high school that the pull-wout method was not an effective way to prevent pregnancies, but well, I hadn’t really cared that night. Apparently, neither did Carter since he made no attempt to pull out. I’d just wanted to feel him inside of me so badly. I’d been so hot for him. In fact, I was feeling even hotter for him right now as his fingers gently massaged my breasts and my nipples hardened.
“Wouldn’t you rather spend the night with me?” he asked as he leaned forward to kiss me in that way he knew that I loved; gently at first, but then more insistent.
“We can still have fun when I get back,” I said, feeling too prude to say fuck and too sober to say make love. I mean, the sex was hot, and I definitely had feelings for him, but I didn’t want to scare him off by saying make love.
“I want to fuck you so badly, Lila,” he growled as he slipped one of his hands up my dress and rested it between my legs. He obviously had no inhibitions about using the word. “Come here,” he said, and before I knew what was happening he had turned me around and bent me forward so that my stomach was resting on the chair. I heard his zipper going down as he slid my panties to the side, his finger grazing my clit roughly as he rubbed me. “You’re already wet,” he growled excitedly, and I felt the tip of his cock rubbing against my clit, already hard. “Tell me you want me,” he said as he placed himself at my opening. “Tell me you want me inside of you.”
“Carter,” I moaned as I closed my eyes, my body trembling in sweet anticip
ation. Of course, I wanted him. There hadn’t been a moment since we’d met that I hadn’t wanted him. And during the last week I had missed him more than I’d thought was possible and that had scared me. “We don’t have time for this.”
“Please,” he groaned as his cock rubbed me. I closed my eyes and tried not to fall to the ground. I was so horny and ready for him. “I’ll be fast.”
“Is that meant to be a good thing?” I laughed slightly, and then I backed my ass up against him. “Come on then, big boy,” I said, and my stomach curled as he growled behind me. I felt him sliding himself inside of me, and I cried out in ecstasy as I felt all of him deep inside of me. It was such an amazing feeling.
“Oh, how I’ve missed you, Lila.” He held onto my hips and thrust himself back and forth inside of me, and I gripped onto the chair tightly. I could feel all of his manhood deep in me, and I screamed with pleasure as he started going even faster, and then we heard the doorbell. “Fuck,” Carter groaned as he pulled out of me and zipped his pants up quickly. “My sister literally has the worst timing.”
“I told you we didn’t have enough time.” I moaned as I straightened and looked at his annoyed petulant face. I gave him a quick kiss, and he growled.
“You could always not go.”
“I’m going.” I shook my head.
“Take your panties off.” He lifted my dress up. “I want them.”
“Carter.” I blushed as his hands started to move my panties down.
“Something to keep me warm while you’re gone tonight.” He grinned as he pulled them all the way down, and I stepped out of them. “Coming,” he shouted as the doorbell rang again. He stuffed the panties in his pocket and then hurried to the front door. “Yes?” He almost shouted as he opened the door.
“Hey, bro.” Danielle sailed in, oblivious to the fact that she had just interrupted our lovemaking. “Lila, you look hot.” She whistled as she walked into the room. I stared at her in her glittery silver dress, and I had to say the same. She looked like a supermodel. I’d never seen her with a full face of makeup and high heels before.
“You look beautiful,” I said. “Doesn’t she, Carter?” He just grunted in response as his eyes narrowed. He looked at Danielle, and then he looked at me.
“Where are you guys going tonight?” he asked, his voice suspicious. “And is it just the two of you?”
“We’re going to dinner, and then we’re going dancing in the East Village.” Danielle rolled her eyes. “And in a nightclub, not the street.”
“Aren’t you two a bit old for a nightclub?” he said, and we both glared at him.
“We’re in our twenties, brother dearest. Would you rather us head out to church tonight?”
“I mean if you want to go to a midnight mass or something.” He grinned. “I’d have to suggest you both change though, can’t be slutting it up in church.”
“Carter.” I walked over and hit him in the shoulder. “Are you calling us sluts?”
“Nooooo.” He tried to kiss my cheek, and I ducked.
“Rude.”
“I was just joking.” He made a face, and Danielle laughed.
“Yeah, call him out Lila. He thinks he can be a manwhore and get away with it, but we’re meant to be Virgin Mary’s.” And then she made a face as she realized what she’d said. “Oops, well maybe none of us are exactly virgins.”
“Yeah, not quite.” I laughed, not offended at all. “Shall we go?”
“Yes. I’ll get the Uber.” Danielle pulled out her phone and started playing some music. “You can find me in da club, bottle full of bub,” she rapped along with 50 Cent as she danced around the room. Her excitement was infectious, and I started spinning my head around in time to the music.
“Go, Shorty, it’s your birthday, we’re going to party like it’s your birthday,” I sang and started dancing around as well. I looked at Carter and danced for him, swaying back and forth, my hands moving up and down his chest. He looked at me with dark eyes and a small smile on his lips. “You’re a bad girl.” He mouthed at me and I just winked at him.
“Uber will be here in five minutes,” Danielle said in an excited voice. “I’m going to find me a man tonight.”
“Yeah, girl,” I said and we high-fived, and Carter’s expression changed to one of annoyance again.
“Come with me a second,” he said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the bedroom.
“We don’t have time, Carter,” I said as he closed the door behind me and gave me a deep kiss.
“I know.” He walked over to my drawer and started rifling through my underwear.
“What are you doing?” I frowned as he looked through my panties.
“Wear these.” He pulled out a pair of plain white cotton panties and handed them to me.
“What?” I blinked at him confused.
“No way in hell am I letting you go out to a dance club with no panties on,” he growled at me.
“You’re the one that took my panties,” I complained.
“Yeah and I’m keeping them.” He smirked at me. “Put these on.”
“I’m not wearing those.” I shook my head. “They are so not sexy.”
“You want to wear sexy panties?” He raised an eyebrow as he stared at me. “Why?”
“Carter!” I rolled my eyes at him. “Just give them to me.” I sighed and pulled on the granny panties. “This so ruins the vibe of my dress and heels.”
“When you get home, they’ll be off anyway, so don’t worry about it.” He pulled me toward him, and I felt his tongue in my mouth as he ran his hands down my hair to my back. “You can still cancel.”
“I’m not going to cancel.” I pulled away from him.
“I know.” He looked displeased. “Don’t stay out all night. Don’t flirt. Don’t kiss anyone. Don’t—” He stopped and then gave me a wry smile. “Okay, maybe I am a bit bossy.”
I just smiled at him. It was funny to see him like this. Annoying as hell, but a little bit nice as well.
“I’m coming home to you, Carter.”
“Good.” He kissed me on the nose. “Have fun tonight.”
“Are you going to stay here tonight then? Or are you going to go out?”
“I’ll stay here, watch some TV if you don’t mind. I want to be here when you get back home.”
“I won’t be out all night,” I said and gave him a huge kiss. His face looked so handsome, and I was so happy that he was here. However, a part of me was really sad that he was going to be leaving me to tour Canada. I was sure that the music execs would send him a contract to sign at some point soon. And I knew that as soon as he got the contract, he’d be gone. For two whole months. To Canada and the South. Granted, it wasn’t that far away, but it was still away from me. He’d be gone for two months. Two whole months. That was a really long time to be away from him. I didn’t want him to go, but I didn’t want to tell him that. I didn’t want to stop him from pursuing his dreams. It wasn’t fair.
“Uber’s here.” Danielle knocked on the door.
“Coming.” I walked over to the vanity and grabbed my small black Chanel clutch that I’d purchased with my first big paycheck from the firm. “Bye,” I said to Carter.
“Bye,” he said as I walked through the bedroom door. “Have a great night, girls.”
“Lila.” Dante’s warm voice sounded before I saw him. “What are you doing here?”
I looked around and saw him standing with his two cousins, Blake and Steele, both of whom were just as gorgeous as he was. It was unfair how their family genes were so perfect.
“I’m here with my friend, Danielle.” I introduced Dante to my friend. She was standing next to me with her mouth slightly ajar, and a flirtatious smile on her face. However, she wasn’t staring at Dante. She was staring at his cousin Steele. Interesting.
“Danielle, this is my good friend and workmate, Dante. These are his cousins, Blake and Steele Vanderbilt.” I gave all three of them a quick hug. “We decided to co
me out dancing tonight.”
“And your crazy boyfriend is okay with that?” Dante laughed, and I made a face at him.
“He’s not my boyfriend, and this is his sister.” I pointed at Danielle who just laughed.
“He is crazy. Trust me, I know that already.” She gave the boys her hand, and I noticed that Steele held onto it for slightly longer than was necessary. Interesting.
“So what are you guys up to?” I asked, surprised to see them at a dance club. They didn’t strike me as the sort of men to frequent dance clubs. I looked at them and they all grinned at me.
“We didn’t come to dance, if that’s what you were thinking.” Dante grinned. “We’re thinking about buying this club and some others owned by the same management company, so we wanted to check them out first.”
“Oh, nice, cool,” I said. I’d forgotten that Dante’s family was super rich, even outside of his partnership at the firm. He had to be a millionaire or a billionaire or something. You’d never know it to hang out with him. He didn’t act like a rich jerk, but it was in moments like this that I remembered he was dripping with gold and diamonds.
“Would you ladies like a drink?” Steele asked, but he wasn’t even looking at me.
“Yes, please,” Danielle said, and I just shook my head.
“Not drinking.”
“Oh?” Dante looked surprised. “Sober tonight.”
“And the next nine months.” I smiled at him.
“Nine months?” He looked confused and then it dawned on him and his eyes widened. “No way.” He looked at my stomach. “You’re pregnant.”
“Yup.” I grinned.
“Not by the jerk?” He shuddered in fake horror. At least I thought it was fake, anyways.
“Yes.”
“No way.” He shook his head at me and laughed. “You girls really are crazy.”
“Dante.” I poked him in the chest. “What does that mean?”
“Didn’t you see that Carter was a big player, he didn’t want a relationship, and isn’t he some sort of musician?” His hazel eyes bore into mine. “And let’s not forget how jealous and possessive he is, not a great combination.”
