A J. S. Cooper Box Set: Three Standalone Romances

by J. S. Cooper

  After that, things had gotten even tenser between the two of us. We’d never really been friendly and resentment had set in as we both kept the secret of what had nearly happened that night. Though that wasn’t why we now hated each other.

  I hadn’t planned on seducing Brad. I’d just wanted to test him to make sure he was going to be faithful to Natasha. I knew that the best place to find that out would be at the bachelor party.

  It was easy to sneak into the party and pretend that I was one of the dancers. I wore a long, raven wig and a mask over my face. I didn’t go straight up to Brad. That would have been too easy. I danced around the room, giving his friends lap dances, and kept my mouth shut as their fingers grabbed my breasts and butt.

  I was wearing a thong bikini and a small top, so I knew I was attracting a lot of attention. I noticed a few of the other dancers staring at me as I danced, but I ignored them. I knew the less I said, the better.

  To be fair to Brad, I didn’t see him getting many dances. He laughed and brushed the girls away as he drank his beers. I pulled one of his friends to the side and told him that I wanted to give the bachelor a private dance as was customary for bachelor parties. I told him to get Brad to sit down in one of the soft leather chairs and to dim the lights. Of course, the guy was happy to oblige.

  The lights dimmed within minutes and the music went up. I watched as Brad sat down in the chair and grinned. This was it, then. This was the test. I wanted to see how far he’d go. I wasn’t going to push it. I just wanted to make sure he was trustworthy.

  I danced over to Brad and wiggled my ass in front of him. He shook his head as I wiggled my ass on his lap, but he stopped as his friends started groaning.

  “You have to have one dance, Brad.”

  They grinned and laughed, and I watched as he shrugged and danced. He gave me a quick smile, and I started dancing again. I hadn’t seen any recognition in his eyes, so I knew that he didn’t know who I was.

  I started the dance pretty conservatively, but soon I was writhing around in his lap to the beat of the music. I peeled my bikini top off and threw it into the crowd. Some of the guys were clapping, and I grinned at them before grabbing Brad’s hands and placing them on my breasts. He was hesitant at first, but soon, he seemed to be enjoying himself, and his fingers squeezed my breasts and pinched my nipples eagerly.

  I was disappointed that he was getting so into it, but I knew that I had to continue to see how far he would go. I tried to ignore the part of me that was excited to see what would happen. I didn’t want to admit to myself that I was enjoying the dance as much as he was. I continued gyrating on him, and I moaned as I felt his hardness against my ass. It was almost time to see if he would stop me if I went to squeeze his cock. However, before I had time to reach behind me, I felt his hand between my legs and his fingers squeezing inside my thong.

  “Oh.” I froze for a second as I felt his fingers gently rubbing my clit.

  “I know who you are,” he whispered into my ear as his fingers played with me.

  I turned around to look at him, and his eyes burned into mine.

  “I don’t know what game you’re playing, Saskia,” he whispered into my ear again, and I felt one of his fingers enter me. “I don’t know why you’re doing this to me.”

  “What are you doing?” I moaned, not wanting to stop the charade.

  “I’ve thought about this ever since that night in Vermont,” he said, groaning as he fingered me.

  “Brad.” I shook my head and got off of his lap. He grabbed my thong and pulled it down my legs.

  “I think you need to finish your dance.” He sat back in the chair and stared at me for a few seconds with hazy eyes.

  And I had. I’m ashamed to admit it. I think we’ve both blacked out that memory. I fucked him on the chair in front of his friends and they all cheered us on. They all cheered on as if it were fine. When we’d both come, I’d gotten up and left and that had been it. We’d never spoken about that night.

  I was ashamed of myself and disgusted with him. I knew that, if Natasha ever found out, it would break her heart.

  I started laughing again then, loud and sad laughter. This moment with Dominic and Aiden was payback. Payback for sleeping with my best friend’s husband.

  “What’s so funny?” Tom walked out of the bathroom, dripping wet, a towel hanging loosely around his waist.

  “Why did you take a shower?” I shook my head in confusion. “You just got here a few hours ago.”

  “I wanted to be clean when I met your friends.”

  “What friends?”

  “Exactly.” He plopped down on the bed next to me, drops of water flying from his body onto mine. “None of them are your friends.”

  “What’s your point, Tom?”

  “Why are we here?” He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. “Let me take you home.”

  “Tom,” I groaned, worried that he was going to attempt to make a move on me. Not a “making love” move either, but an “I love you, so let’s try and make this work” move.

  “I don’t understand why you—”

  “No.” I grabbed his arm. “Please, Tom. Not now.” I sighed and rubbed my forehead. “I don’t need this right now.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” I sighed. “I just called Natasha.”

  “Oh?”

  “I spoke to Brad.”

  “Oh.” Tom made a face. “Awkward still?”

  “Yeah.” I sighed. “It’s still awkward.”

  “Don’t let it bum you out.” He shrugged.

  “I feel like I’m a horrible friend and that everything that’s happened this weekend is what I deserve.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Tom’s hand crept up to my breast. “You can’t help it if you’re a sexual creature.”

  “That’s not what this is about,” I snapped and pushed his hand away.

  I stared at him as if I didn’t know him. Tom had always been the guy I called to comfort me, but now I was starting to wonder if he’d ever really provided comfort. Yes, he provided sex, but maybe sex wasn’t the way to make me feel better about everything. As I thought back to that night with Brad, I felt my stomach churning with guilt and pleasure.

  “Don’t tell me to stop,” Tom hissed back at me, and I froze.

  “Excuse me?” I stared at him in surprise.

  “You think you’re going to give it up to everyone else but me?”

  “Tom!” My voice was shrill, and he sighed.

  “Sorry.” He jumped up and the towel fell to the bed. “This is just getting old.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that if you want me to stick around, you’re going to have to show me.”

  “What, do you want a blow job?” I snapped. “Is that it?”

  “Oh no.” He turned around and smiled at me. “I want a whole lot more than that.”

  “Tom, it might have been a mistake bringing you here.” I looked at him sadly. “I don’t think this is going to work out.”

  “Oh?” He looked at me with sad eyes.

  “You’ve been my best friend for years, but I don’t know if this is what I want anymore. I think you need to leave.”

  “Are you sure about that?” His voice was harsh.

  I knew that our relationship had come to the end of its road. I didn’t trust Tom anymore. Not that I was the most trustworthy, but I didn’t feel like he had my best interests at heart.

  “Yeah, I’m sure.” I nodded and got up. “I’m going into the shower. I expect you to be gone by the time I’m out.”

  “Okay.” He ran his hands through his hair and paused. “I’m sorry, Saskia.”

  “Sorry about what?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” His eyes looked sad. “Just that I’m sorry.”

  I walked into the bathroom then, not knowing what to say. I turned on the bath and poured some Epsom salts into the tub. I was about to step into the tub when I remembered that I
had some lavender oil in my handbag. I opened the door to the bedroom and paused as I heard Tom talking.

  “I’m leaving now.” His voice sounded devoid of all emotion. “Yes, she seemed angry. No, I don’t know. She didn’t tell me. Look, don’t call me again, and I expect to see the money in my account tomorrow. I did what you asked.” He paused then, and I peeked into the room to see who he was talking to. I realized he was on the phone, and I quickly pulled my head back into the bathroom. “She was never mine,” he said sadly and then laughed. “And contrary to what you think, she’ll never be yours either.” The room went silent then, and I heard the door close a few minutes later.

  I peeked into the bedroom again and saw that he was gone. I wanted to run after him and ask him who he’d been talking to, but I didn’t. I knew that he wouldn’t tell me. He’d betrayed me and my friendship, all for some money.

  I sat on the bed in shock and wondered who had contacted him and what they had wanted to know. Who wanted me that badly? It had to be Aiden or Dominic, but I didn’t know which one. I didn’t even know how they knew about Tom. I froze as I realized my world was unraveling around me. Everything I thought I knew, everything I’d been so certain of, was coming apart.

  This is the point where you wonder who it was Tom had been speaking to. I can’t tell you. Not yet. Not until you hear about everything else. You see, Tom was wrong about one thing. He’d told the person on the phone that I’d never be his. I did become his. I am his. However, becoming his wasn’t the happily ever after most of you are hoping I found.

  Chapter 21

  The knock on the door made me freeze. I didn’t want to see Aiden or Dominic, and I sure didn’t want Tom to show back up again. I needed time to think about what I’d heard. Who had told Tom to leave? There was another knock on the door, but I ignored it.

  “We need to talk,” she said in a shrill voice as she opened the door and entered the room.

  I almost groaned when I saw Jessie. She was the last person I wanted to see.

  “What do you want?” I asked her none too politely. I had no reason to hide my dislike of her.

  “How dare you think that it’s okay to come here and sleep with a married man?”

  “Excuse me?” I stared at her with a smile on my face. “Is that any of your business?”

  “I’ll tell his wife.” Her eyes narrowed. “And that will be the end of you.”

  “I don’t think you will.” My voice was tight as I walked toward her. “You wouldn’t want to do a bitchy thing like that, would you?”

  “What you’re doing is not right.”

  “But it was okay for you?” I tilted my head and stared at her, wondering if I had the energy to give her a slap and possibly get into a catfight.

  “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Her eyes looked at me with a dark look.

  “Does Dom—I mean Evan—know?” I smiled.

  “What do you care?” It was Jessie’s turn to smile at me. “I satisfy every inch of him as well.” She grinned and casually lifted up her left hand. I saw a gigantic diamond ring on her finger and froze. “And now he’s proposed.” She smiled evilly. “So now that I‘m a part of the family, I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist that you stop fucking my future mother-in-law’s husband.”

  “That’s your job, right?”

  “You have no idea, bitch.” She took a step toward me, and I was pretty sure she was about to hit me when Dominic came into the room.

  “Jessie, what are you doing in here?”

  “I wanted to show Sluttier my ring.” She giggled and walked back to Dominic.

  “My name’s Saskia.” I glared at her and waited for Dominic to say something to her.

  “Oops. Sorry. What did I say?” She smiled up at Dominic, and I watched as he kissed her forehead.

  “Jessie, give me a moment with Saskia, please.”

  “Sure, honey.” She reached up, gave him a long kiss, and then waved at me. “Remember what I said,” she whispered before leaving the room.

  Dominic closed the door behind her, and I watched as he pulled a key out of his pocket and locked it.

  “It’s nice to know there are locks on the doors.” I rolled my eyes as he walked to me.

  “You should leave.” He stopped right in front of me and frowned.

  “Why? So you and your fiancée can feel better about yourselves?”

  “I didn’t want the weekend to go like this.” He sighed.

  “You wanted something else?”

  “You know I wanted it to be me and you.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I would have canceled my plans.”

  “Yet, instead, you bring your girlfriend and propose.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “It never is.”

  “My parents really like her. They want to see us married. It’s my dad who introduced us.” His voice was pained, and I wanted to laugh.

  Did he really have no clue? Was it possible that he hadn’t realized that Jessie had been with his dad before him?

  “I don’t know what to say.” I looked away from him.

  “We’ve both made mistakes here, Saskia. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “What do you want us to do?”

  I don’t even know why I asked that question. I didn’t care what he wanted us to do. I wanted him to drop Jessie and tell me that he wanted to start again. That he wanted to start anew.

  I told you that something must have happened to my brain. Never before in my life would I even have considered wanting to be with someone, let alone someone who had basically lied to me and cheated on me.

  “I don’t know.” He made a face and reached his hand out to touch my cheek. “Right now I just want to fuck you.”

  “Did you just sleep with Jessie?” I asked him softly. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he had.

  Now, I’m not trying to be a bitch or a hypocrite, but I wasn’t interested in being sloppy seconds, especially to someone like Jessie. Most women know what I’m talking about when I say that there are some women who just annoy the shit out of you so much that you can’t understand how or why they have friends or a man. It makes no sense.

  And it burned—I’m not going to lie. It burned because I wanted Dominic. And I’d imagined him changing my life. In a way that I’d never thought I wanted, but I didn’t want him like this. It was different with Aiden. I’d known he was married when I’d met him and I’d never hoped for or wanted anything else.

  “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

  “She’s a good girl.” He shrugged. “I think you’d like her.”

  “Are you serious right now?” My voice rose. Did he really think that Jessie was someone I’d ever like?

  “Don’t go acting like a jealous bitch, Saskia. It doesn’t suit you, and frankly, it’s a butt of a joke.” His tone sounded arrogant and condescending, and I looked at him with hurt eyes. I couldn’t believe he was talking to me like this.

  “Please leave.”

  “But—"

  He looked annoyed, and I turned away from him and waited for him to exit the room before sitting on the edge of the bed. I rested my head on my lap and just sat there for a few minutes, trying to ignore the feelings of pain thrashing around in my belly.

  Then I had an idea. An idea so wicked and devious that I wondered if I could really go ahead with it.

  It only took me five seconds to decide that I was definitely going ahead with it. It’s funny the decisions you can make in the heat of the moment. You never think about what a domino effect one rash decision could have. My plan was to be Jessie’s undoing, only it really turned out to equal mine.

  The Master Plan For Jessie’s Undoing

  You ever have an idea that you think is so brilliant, but really it’s only brilliant because you haven’t thought it all the way through? I wanted Jessie out of Aiden’s and Dominic’s lives. My end goal was simple. I wanted Dominic to realize that Jessie was a wh
ore (and yes, I know how ironic that sounds). I wanted him to dump and banish her. Then I would dump Aiden and threaten to tell his wife about me and Jessie if he tried to break me and Dominic up. I was ready to be done with Aiden. He wasn’t the only one who could support me, and he wasn’t the one I wanted.

  I had it all planned out in my head. The absolute master plan, but there was one person I needed to make it all work out. That person was Tom.

  I wasn’t going to tell him the plan. I knew he wouldn’t go through with it if he knew what I wanted him to do. Not because he wouldn’t enjoy it, but because he didn’t want to help me get Dominic. I knew that, once he figured out what was going on, he would never talk to me again or at least for a very long time, but I was willing to risk it.

  That was mistake number one in my plan. I didn’t realize how important of a friend he was going to be until later on. Using Tom created the beginning of the end and the beginning of a new beginning for me.

  I texted Tom a very short and simple text message:

  Me: Meet me at the Marriott tonight at 7 pm. The lights will be out and I’ll be waiting in the bed for you. Don’t talk, just come and take me. I need to feel you inside of me. I miss you. I’ll be in the penthouse suite.

  He texted me back in two minutes with a smiley face. I laughed to myself. That had been way too easy.

  Next was the hard part. I found a piece of paper and a pen and wrote: “Jessie, I’ve planned a romantic getaway at the Marriott tonight. In the penthouse! Arrive at 6:30 p.m. Put on the blindfold at the side of the bed and make sure all the lights are turned out. Take your clothes off and wait for me, naked. Also, spray yourself a few times with the perfume I bought for you. Don’t talk when I enter the room. I want us to just enjoy the feelings and emotions without talking. I’ll have a special present waiting for you afterward. XOXO, me.”

  I decided not to put Aiden or Dominic’s name in the hopes that she would just assume it was from whichever one she wanted to be with most. I folded the letter quickly and then left my room. I needed to make sure she saw the note and read it soon. But I also needed to make sure that no one else saw it. If Dominic saw the letter, everything would be ruined.