by Eden O'Neill
“My place?”
“Yes, I can squat there until he leaves. I’m sure he won’t wait long.” The fact that Sinclair was putting out this much effort to even talk to me blew my mind. He honestly never put much effort into our relationship when it’d been good, so yes, this now was surprising.
I guess when you lose something…
Chewing my lip, I felt Niko slow the car, and I thought he might ignore my request. But suddenly, his hand was on my head, cradling and pushing me further to lean down. He came to a stop, and when he rolled the window down, I thought I might vomit.
I saw him grin above.
“What’s up, bro?” he asked, placing on that Niko charm. He dropped an arm on the wheel. “You looking for Billie?”
“Yeah. Have you seen her?” Sinclair’s voice sounded way too close, my heart about to explode through my chest.
Covering my arms, I didn’t mean to shake, but seriously, this guy definitely wasn’t who I’d thought he was. It was one thing to call someone after a breakup, but to keep showing up out of the blue like he had the first time? It all honestly freaked me out and was warranted.
I hugged my body tight, shaking, and Niko immediately noticed.
Suddenly, his hand on my head went to my back. He tapped just lightly, as if to calm me, and definitely wasn’t smiling anymore. He lifted his chin. “I haven’t. But I’ll let her know you were here. That you were looking for her?”
A clear warning was in Niko’s voice, one I didn’t understand, and being under his hand now felt way safer than going out there and speaking to my ex.
“Okay,” Sinclair said, his voice sounding farther away. “I think I’ll wait for her. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”
I internally groaned, closing my eyes, and I noticed Niko’s hand grip the wheel a little.
A quick nod, and he was rolling up his windows and before I knew it, he zoomed forward. The trip was quick, and when he pressed a button on the sun visor, I heard the garage door open up.
Niko slowed to a stop inside, and I let out a breath when he turned off the car, then closed the garage door.
I sat up. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” he said his smile returning as he unstrapped himself.
He came around the car, letting me out, and together, we went back inside the house that had left me mortified the last time I’d been there. He had entry through the garage, thank God, and I tried to erase my earlier visions of the place as I stepped inside.
The last time I’d been here, I’d been covered in beer and had to fight with people to make my way through. Now, the place glistened with the most beautiful sounds of quiet, the house truly lovely from both its modern decor to the masculine furnishings. The boys’ rental had a lair-like quality to it but only in the most handsome way, dark undertones with umber sconces and crystal chandeliers all throughout. Whatever these guys had their hands dipped in financially was obviously doing well for them, the place almost lavish to the extreme. I didn’t know about Niko’s year in school, but LJ was only a junior. Not many undergrads could even afford to live in such luxury.
I took a seat on the boys’ black leather couch, playing with my phone. Once Niko deposited his keys, he asked if I wanted a drink, and when I told him water, he came back with a bottle and had changed. He was out of his suit now and into a pair of sweatpants that hugged his muscular thighs and cuffed at his ankles, his feet bare and a tank stretching across his gargantuan chest. He really looked like LJ’s bodyguard, a demigod incarnate, and not only did he have the bottle for me, but some bedding he handed out underneath it. Taken aback, I lifted my hands. “I’m not staying.”
“The hell you aren’t. Not with stalker douche across the street.”
“He’s not stalking me. He’s just…” Seriously overstepping his boundaries and was now blowing up my phone. I had several texts asking where I was and when I was coming back and after silencing the thread, Niko smirked at me.
He ran his fingers through his ultra dark hair. “You’re staying. At least for the night. You’re not going back over there with that guy there. Jay would literally crucify my ass.”
“Right. Because he cares so much about me.” He’d said something similar before, and I lifted my eyes now like I had then.
Niko smirked. “Right. Anyway, you need anything else?”
Since I didn’t, I said no, but imagine my surprise when Niko plopped his gargantuan ass on the couch beside me. Getting the remote, he tossed an arm back behind the couch, hugging up on me real good when he turned on the TV. I frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Watching TV.”
“I see that, but why are you doing so down here?” They probably had like five TVs and I recalled one being in his room that night we walked in on the orgy.
“It’s my house, isn’t it?” he stated, dancing his eyebrows at me. After settling for reruns of Ninja Warrior, he relaxed back, cozying up to me like we were besties at a pajama party. “After all, I gotta make sure you don’t go crawling back to that house and the douche canoe.”
“Douche canoe? Really?”
“Really.” He eyed me like this conversation was very serious. “He cheated on you, didn’t he? Very openly, I might add. The whole party heard about that shit. The guy is a douche canoe. Look it up in the dictionary, and you’ll see his mug.”
I mean, he wasn’t wrong, and I had assumed people heard about what happened. I’d basically been screaming at him that night as he chased after me.
He lowered the remote. “Where I’m from that’s what that guy is. Sorry, but real talk.”
I didn’t know where he was from, but since that logic was the same from where I was from too, I sat back. Niko smelled nice so that made it easy. He’d also saved me tonight, and I guessed I could be around worse company.
And less attractive.
Jesus, he was gorgeous, almost as good-looking as LJ with his chiseled jaw and grin for days. Niko had eyes as dark and fine as a buck’s fur and noticing me staring, he danced his eyebrows again. “Stare any longer, Queenie, and I’ll be charging for the peepshow.”
Rolling my eyes, I snatched the remote from him, changing the channel to a movie on Showtime. It was one of those rom-coms, but Niko didn’t complain. I settled into the couch. “Where are you from anyway?”
“Chicago. South Side,” he said, then smiled. “Very different from here.”
“In what ways?”
“Well, for starters, it’s not as easy to come up as it is here.” He lifted his hand to the digs, letting me know he obviously didn’t always have such luxury around him.
I couldn’t assume anything, but rumors said drugs were involved and LJ basically confirmed that at the party.
Niko frowned. “But honestly, outside of that, I would have liked to have stuck around. Been closer to my mom.” He snagged a pillow, strong-arming it between his thick arms. “She’s sick. Breast cancer.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say really, probably the wrong thing.
Niko lifted a hand. “She’s doing okay with her treatments. Doesn’t want me to worry much, but I do wish I was closer. I plan on coming right back home after I finish school, and I send everything I can her and my sister’s way. The least I could do.”
Enjoying what I’d learned about him, I brought my legs up on the couch. “And here I thought you were just some meathead with a loaded wallet.”
“Oh, my wallet is very much loaded.” His arm dropped around me, those dark eyebrows waggling. “And though I’m not as smart as Jay, I’m far from a meathead. Grades back home got me a partial scholarship, but Jay…” He whistled. “Full ride. Guy’s a fucking tank. I call him a genius, but he said it’s just hard work.”
Seeing his most recent efforts in school, I saw a glimmer of that genius. As far as hard work or lack thereof, I’d seen that too. “Well, he could stand to try a little in my class.”
“Yeah?” He lounged back, hands tucked behind his
head. “I guess I’m not surprised. You drive him crazy, Queenie. Frankly, I’m blown away he has any type of average at all with you around.”
“Well, he drives me crazy.” Taking the pillow, I tossed it at him. He fought me a bit with it before a barked throat clear made us both shift on the couch.
LJ, his tie loosened, had his jacket over his arm. He’d looked fucking sexy before, but now, his dark shirt labored at the seams, his shoulders thick and his golden chest exposed. He had the top button of his dress shirt popped open and basically smoldered before me.
I wet my lips despite myself and pretty much eased off Niko’s lap since we’d been wrestling.
At least, I tried to.
Niko pulled me right back, dropping an arm around me when he grinned up at his friend. “Sup, bro?”
LJ twitched like Niko flashed him, his eyes cold. Tossing his jacket on the couch, he moved fingers through his perfect hair. “What the fuck is this? A hot tub party? You said you were just taking her home.”
I angled a look over at Niko. He shrugged. “I texted him while I was upstairs changing. That I was getting you home—”
“And nowhere in that text did you include her ass basically all over you.” Jaw clenched, LJ crossed the distance, and Niko lifted a hand.
“Give me a break, Jay. Her boyfriend’s over at her house being a stalker—”
“Ex-boyfriend,” I raised a finger, but even still, LJ’s eyes flashed wildly for some reason. Before I knew it, he was striding in the opposite direction.
“Where the fuck is the fucker?” he charged, exiting the room completely. “I’m going to fry his ass.”
I pushed Niko. “Shouldn’t we go stop him?”
LJ looked pissed, and he might just kill Sinclair. Though I had no idea why. I started to get up, but Niko tugged me back.
“Like to see you try,” he stated, chuckling. “Anyway, wait it out. I checked earlier and your guy is gone.”
“So why am I still here—” Again, I moved to get up, but again, I was pulled back down. I pouted.
“Because he might come back?” he stated the fact like it was obvious, and I jumped at a door slam. LJ had obviously left, and at this point, Niko chuckled, then pointed a finger at me. “Now, how about a real drink? Might be a long night with Jay all up in his feelings. Goes better with alcohol.”
He started to get up, and palming my face, I nodded. “You got wine?”
“Sure thing.”
A quick exit, and he eventually came back, a glass of dark wine in his hand. His arrival also happened to coincide with LJ, who entered the room with his shirt basically open, the guy amped the hell up like fucking Hulk. LJ’s shoulders laboring with breath, Niko cut in front of him.
He handed him off a beer.
“No luck?” he asked, grinning at him before returning to the couch.
LJ frowned. “How did you know?”
“Just quick is all.” Niko clearly tried to sound casual about it, but so obviously knew something when he plopped down beside me. He popped a cap off his own beer, being super flirty when he threw his arm around me again.
This didn’t seem to particularly help the situation with LJ, but he did allow it before taking my other side. He didn’t sit completely on top of me, but as big as he was, there was no way our thighs weren’t rubbing the other. His extended limbs stamped out, my bare thigh touching his pant leg since I was still wearing a skirt.
He noticed, his gaze chasing up my legs before opening his beer and taking a long swallow. He forced it down hard. “Douche canoe’s gone. Hopefully, with some protection because if he comes back here I’ll shoot his dick off and feed it to him.”
Niko eyed me before clinking my glass. “What did I say? Douche canoe.”
He’d said a lot of things, a few about his friend, but LJ was so hot and cold I had no idea what to make of him. Instead, I took the remote back, changing the channel again. The guys groaned when I found Titanic, but they were going to deal. It was my favorite movie.
And I needed a fucking break tonight.
LJ
The girl was hugged all up on Niko like he was her favorite toy, a drink in her hand while the two of them went on and on about some bullshit show for teens. Riverdale, I think she’d called it? Anyway, whatever it was had Niko all up in his feelings, hugging his beer bottle and Billie while he looked confused as fuck about whatever was going on in the show. All this followed the Titanic-fest since I guessed we only caught the tail end of it. Billie quickly acquired the remote again and now, was making us suffer through whatever this crap was on my flat screen.
Niko threw a hand out. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Why would the show’s creators even pen this Betty and Veronica back and forth bullshit?” He lounged back, settling a hand on Billie’s hip. “I mean, no contest here. Betty doesn’t stand a chance, and if she thinks she does with my boy Archie, she’s lost her damn mind. Veronica clearly reigns supreme here.”
“I mean, I don’t know.” Billie rocked her little shoulders, still in that silvery little outfit that hugged her body right. In fact, every time she leaned against Niko’s chest, I got a flash of her ass cheeks, the only reason I was entertaining him holding her at all, I think. She shrugged. “I’d do her.”
I had to have gotten damn whiplash with as quick as I jutted my neck in her direction, and Niko, goddamn Niko, actually choked on his beer. Billie, on the other hand, gave her innocent little chuckle, smiling before taking a sip of her wine. Clearly, the Merlot had made her more cavalier than her usual perfectly put-together self.
She slid her basically empty wine glass on my coffee table, my eyes gifted with another flash of ass. I needed to get myself in check when it came to this girl. But I said nothing when she came back to Niko’s chest.
He cradled her way too tight, my own hand about to crush glass at the situation presented. I wanted to whip her off him, take her to my room, and show her what the fuck was up. I wanted to do what I really wanted at the club tonight instead of forcing her away. But as the evening went on and the banter continued, I was well aware of my rights. I had no claim on this girl.
No logical claim anyway.
Instead, I chose to shake my head, wetting the top of my bottle before taking a drink. It went down in a tasteless lump, and I sniffed, passing off what Billie just said. “Sure, beauty queen.”
“Sure?” She looked at me like I had nothing but audacity for what I’d said, her hands on her hips. “You don’t think I’d do Betty?”
“Oh, I think you’d do her,” I said, listening to myself. My dick suddenly awake, I lounged back in my seat, passing my discomfort off with a smirk. “But don’t lie. Veronica does it for you too.”
Both chicks were fucking hot, and I wouldn’t lie, Betty did it more for me too. There was just something about a blonde as I smirked again, and Niko, well, Niko chuckled.
Putting down his beer, he threw his hands behind his head. He flicked his eyebrows at Billie. “Yeah, you’d do her. But come on, Queen B. You know brunettes do it for you. Take your stalker-ass boyfriend outside.”
The very mention of the prick clearly with his own sexual frustration ran my vision hot, the same with Billie judging by the way her expression cut at Niko. Before I knew it, she was doing the craziest thing. She grabbed my buddy Niko’s shirt…
Then kissed him right on the lips.
It was a forced kissed and surprised the ever-loving fuck out of Niko, his eyes wide and stiff in her hands. The whole thing happened so fast I was stuck in place, wondering what the hell was her deal, and by the time, I even got my head right to do anything about it, the whole thing was over. Billie had her mouth off my friend and Niko had his eyes closed, stunned the fuck in his seat.
Billie touched her mouth. “I think I need a comparison. Blond versus brunette?” she said, and then I found her sight on me. She stared directly into my eyes, so much intent, and I dared her. I fucking dared her to come to me.
On her knees, she did, he
r hands smoothing up my chest, and I passed the whole thing off as I looked at her. I wouldn’t let her see the desire, the flames coursing through me like fucking lava. I wouldn’t let her see how much I wanted to grab her too, toss her on her back and make a home between her legs. I did all that, it was over. I did all that…
Her arms settled around my neck, wanting me to come the rest of the way. Even still, I was stubborn. I wouldn’t let her win, and she knew that.
“You want something from me, beauty queen?” I asked her, my voice heated and fucking aroused. I didn’t want to be, couldn’t help it. My throat moved. “Want me to do something for you?”
The rise of her supple chest told me what she wanted, that heat creeping up the side of her neck and flushing across the tops of her breasts. She wanted a kiss, maybe even more than me, but that taste might be the death of us. It’d take everything off the table, precisely why I held back now.
I honest to God thought she’d take her hands off me in the end, take that challenge back but with little effort she was closing the distance. And me?
I fucking gave in when she was only two-thirds of the way there.
I brought up that other third, groaning as I sealed our lips, and gripped into that sequence. Pulling Billie onto my lap, I tasted her tongue and went in for more before she could pull back. My lips fucking burned, tongue surging with the taste of Merlot and beauty queen.
Our lips parted before I was ready, all her and definitely not me. Looking dizzied, Billie touched her mouth like she’d done after she kissed Niko. And the girl basically looked drunk after maybe only having a glass and a half of wine.
She huffed. “Maybe I need another kiss,” she said, looking at Niko who had a fucking grin on his face. He’d watched the whole thing, the fucker smiling only too wide. She smiled back. “I think I might need to compare.”
She acted like she wanted to reach for him then…
And fuck that.
My hand at the back of her neck, I forced her to me, claiming her mouth and squeezing her shoulders. She moaned beneath me, settling on my lap and rubbing that hot pussy up against me.
