There's Trouble: A Friends to Lovers Romance

by Nadine Hudson

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, you want there to be something wrong with him so you have a reason to swoop in and play knight in shining armor.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” My question comes out more defensive than I intended it to.

  “Conner, every time someone has shown interest in that woman you find some reason that they just aren’t good enough. No matter how small you manage to dig up whatever skeletons they may have lurking in their closet and use it as an excuse to keep them away from her. Why do you think that is?” He pauses for a moment before starting again, “And has it even occurred to you that maybe Ian really is a nice guy and maybe he doesn’t have any skeletons in his closet for you to dig up?”

  I mull over this idea and twist the ball around in my hands again. I hadn’t noticed it until now but Gabe was kind of right. I have always been able to find something wrong with pretty much every guy who was interested in her. But they were all tools or sleazeballs. I won’t apologize for keeping them at bay. She would have regretted dating them anyway. And as for Ian not having any skeletons in his closet. Shit. Everyone has skeletons...That’s it! I turn to Gabe and smile brightly.

  “Ah, shit. What are you thinking now?” Gabe asks, looking worried.

  “I’m thinking we should take a road trip to New York City after our shift.” I grin at him and he immediately starts shaking his head “no.”

  “Gabe, if we left right at twelve we could be there by two-thirty at the latest. We could talk to a couple of the guys for an hour or so and be back on the road and home in time for dinner.”

  “No way! It’s not gonna happen, Conner. I’m not doing it!”

  “C’mon Gabe. You said it yourself, no matter how small I’ve always managed to dig up whatever skeletons they’ve had in their closets. Maybe I’m right and there really is something off about this douchebag but I’ll never know unless I do a little digging.”

  “So go. Drive to NYC. Ask your questions. I don’t need to get onboard your crazy train,” he answers.

  I can’t stop grinning at my plan. If there is any dirt he is hiding I am going to find it. I pull out my phone and start researching the company he transferred from. I glance over the list of firefighters within the company and I don’t recognize any of them. Shit. I doubt they’re just going to give up dirt on a fellow firefighter to a complete stranger. I glance back over at Gabe. Sliding my phone across the table to him I ask, “You know any of these guys?”

  He shakes his head and looks over the list on the screen. “Mark Douglas,” he replies reluctantly. “He and I were in training together and have kept in touch over the years. He’s an old friend.”

  “Perfect,” I smile at him.

  “You’re insane. You know that, don’t you?” Gabe asks, an obvious look of disapproval on his face.

  My smile broadens. “You mean we’re insane, don’t you?”

  ****

  Brooke

  I step out of the shower and wrap myself in a towel. Clearing the steam from the mirror, I look at my reflection. This is it. I take a deep breath in and close my eyes. I practice visualizing Ian. His face. His body. But I find it to be more difficult than I had originally thought. I know Conner’s body in detail after seeing it for so long. I have each ripple of his muscles memorized. Each facial expression logged to memory. After fantasizing about him for so long it was easy to picture him. It came as second nature to me now.

  But tonight I need to be able to picture Ian in detail as well. Just in case I close my eyes or the lights are turned out. I want to take every precaution necessary to keep Conner’s image from creeping into my mind and be able to focus on Ian. He has been so kind and sweet to me. He deserves to be the only one on my mind tonight.

  I close my eyes tightly again and I can see Ian’s face clearly but the rest of him is still a bit foggy. This will have to do. If Conner tries to invade my thoughts I’ll just refocus on Ian’s face. How pathetic am I that I have to practice something like this? I shake my head at my reflection in disgust.

  “You seriously have issues,” I criticize myself. I roll my eyes and start down the hallway to my bedroom. Digging through my closet I pull out a mint green sundress. Perfect. I smile at my selection. I head over to my dresser and pull out a lacy thong and slide it up my legs. Luckily the dress I picked doesn’t require me to wear a bra. I slip the dress over my head and pull out my hair that got stuck in the straps. Reaching behind me I pull up the zipper and feel the dress hug tightly to my body.

  I twist from side to side to see it from all angles before going back into my closet and pulling out a pair of light brown strappy sandals. Not too dressy. Not too casual. Easy to take off. I smile to myself. “Tonight is about me and Ian,” I remind myself and nod at my reflection in the mirror. I flip my head over and throw some mousse in my hair. I scrunch it with my hands and watch the curls form quickly between grips. I flip my head back over and shake my hand through my hair.

  “Okay. Here goes,” I breath.

  ****

  “Can I get you something to drink?” Ian asks, pulling out my chair at his kitchen table. What a gentleman. I smile at the thought.

  “Sure. What do you have?”

  “Ummm…” He disappears behind the refrigerator door. “I’ve got wine, beer, milk, orange juice...”

  “I’ll have a beer, thanks.”

  “Beer it is,” he says, pulling a bottle from the fridge and twisting the top off. He hands it to me and smiles.

  “What?”

  “Nothing, it’s just that not many women I’ve dated have drank beer that’s all.”

  “You’ve dated many women, huh?” I tease and smirk at him.

  “No, I mean. That’s not what I meant.”

  I laugh.

  “I’m just kidding. Relax. I don’t expect a man who looks like you not to have a relationship history.”

  For a moment I wonder what the women he had dated before me were like. I picture them in my head as gorgeous beauty queens and swimsuit models and suddenly feel a little out of place in my casual sundress.

  “Well I expected a woman who looks like you to have a much longer relationship history,” he grins at me and I blush. I forgot I had told him that I haven’t really dated anyone in a while.

  He takes my chin in his hand. “Don’t be embarrassed. I really like that you haven’t dated many men. It makes me feel like I’ve got you all to myself.” Oh God. He plants a soft kiss on my lips and as awkward as it feels I intentionally keep my eyes open through the kiss.

  He pulls away from me and turns back to the stove. I take this opportunity to admire the view and start getting to know his body as well as I know Conner’s. My eyes trace his outline from top to bottom. His hair is a bit longer than Conner’s and his shoulders aren’t quite as broad but Ian looks to be an inch or so taller than Conner. His biceps are bigger but not quite as defined. My eyes continue traveling downward. His butt stands out more than Conner’s. I can see it’s outline through the dark blue jeans he’s wearing. It’s nice. Wait! Why am I comparing him to Conner? Ugh!

  I start over from the top and make new mental notes as I redo my critique. He has soft sexy hair that I want to wrap my hands in. His biceps are huge and sexy. I want to grab his plump ass. There, that’s better. Just as I finish building my mental depiction, Ian turns around and brings me a bowl full of a creamy soup.

  “Lobster bisque. It’s my speciality.” He flashes me a smile that makes my heart beat faster.

  He takes a seat beside me and we make small talk for a bit as we each finish our meals. Things with Ian are perfect. He’s perfect. He’s sexy, considerate, sweet, and accomplished. He’s everything I need to be happy. So far I am succeeding at keeping thoughts of Conner far from my mind.

  “You ready for dessert?” Ian asks as a devilish grin grows across his face. My core clenches in response. This is it. I can do this.

  “I thought you’d never ask.” I smile back at hi
m. He wastes no time as he takes my hand and quickly leads me away from the table and back a dark hallway. Turning into the last room on the right he pulls me into his bedroom. Then into his arms. His mouth quickly finds mine and his tongue aggressively explores my mouth. He moans into my mouth and his hands grope and squeeze their way around my body. His hands feel so good on me. This feels so right.

  I let my hands wrap themselves through his hair just as I imagined as I pull him deeper into a kiss and press my body tightly against his. I close my eyes but my mind immediately flashes to Conner. Damn it! I open them quickly. Focus on Ian. I feel like I can’t get close enough to him. I drop my hands from Ian’s hair and slide them up his shirt pulling it over his head. That’s better. I run my hands over his magnificent body all tight, and toned, and sexy as hell. My breathing starts to accelerate as his hands find my zipper and tug it down. Our bodies separate only long enough for him to slide the straps off my arms and pull the dress down to my waist.

  I press my naked breasts against his warm bare chest. His skin feels so good pressed against mine. He wraps his arms tightly around me and falls back onto his bed pulling me down on top of him. I come up on my knees with my legs straddling him. I can feel the bulge of his hard cock beneath my warmth. His hands travel up my stomach to my breasts. He grasps and massages them firmly before sitting up and taking my nipple in his mouth. I moan at the pleasure now pulsating directly toward my vagina. Tilting my head back I let my eyes fall closed once more to absorb the pleasure. Suddenly, it’s Conner’s mouth on me and my eyes shoot open again. What the fuck? I refocus again. I wrap my arms around his neck and hold his mouth firmly against my breast. I want more. I need more. He flicks his tongue against my nipple and it extends in response. He moves to the other and slows his pace. He sucks it slowly into his mouth and massages it with his tongue. It feels amazing but I still need more. I need more intensity to block Conner out.

  With his free hand he continues rubbing and caressing my other breast. “You always taste so good, Brooke,” he whispers against my skin. That’s sweet Ian, but I need you now! I take his face in my hands and tilt it up to mine and plunge my tongue into his mouth. He moans and wraps his arms tightly around me as he falls back down onto the bed. I lift my hips off of his lap and reach down to the button on his jeans. I make short work of opening it and he helps pull down his zipper and remove his pants.

  “Hold on,” he breathes between kisses. He takes my hips in his hands and lifts me off of him as he rolls toward his nightstand. He pulls out a condom and slides his boxers down, releasing his massive erection. It’s big but not quite as big as Conner’s. Fuck! No, Brooke, don’t go there! I shake the thought from my head immediately. As soon as Ian has the condom on I dive back into his arms. I need to completely immerse myself in him. I need to drown out Conner’s entire existence from my mind.

  His lips find mine and he rolls so we’re side by side facing each other on his bed. His hand slips down my body and grabs my inner thigh. He pushes my legs open and rubs his hand against my wetness. “I love that you’re always so fucking wet for me, Brooke.” With his free hand he grabs a fist full of my hair and forces my head down on the bed holding me in place. It’s intense. Rough. And sexy as hell. Yes! This is what I need! With his other hand he rubs the length of my pussy. He presses firmly against my clit with his palm then moves further down, sliding his fingers inside me before pulling them out again and repeating. All the while his mouth is tormenting my body. Kissing and sucking down my neck to my breasts and back up again. Please, just fuck me.

  “You are so ready, baby,” he whispers into my ear.

  “Ah, please! Fuck me. Please!” I beg, this time out loud.

  He sits up and moves between my legs. I instantly lift my hips off the bed toward his cock. He slams into me with the weight of his body, pushing mine down into his mattress and I cry out with relief. He thrusts his length into me in a smooth rhythm. I wrap my arms around his torso reaching his back. I dig my fingernails into him and he groans with pleasure. I reach down and squeeze his tight ass, pushing him deeper into my wanting pussy.

  He’s so hot. He picks up his pace as he starts to pant. I try rolling my hips to meet his rhythm but he’s thrusting too quickly for me to keep up. I spread my legs wider and bend my knees allowing him to sink even further into me with every entry. “Oh my God!” I moan loudly, careful not to use any names.

  “You’re close aren’t you, baby? C’mon, come for me Brooke.” He says as his pace picks up even faster. He feels so good inside me and I feel my body start to build. His breathing grows rapid and he keeps pumping. “Are you gonna come for me?” he shouts, sounding a little panicked. Wait. Is he about to...

  “AAhhhhh, FUCK!” he calls out as his body tenses and pulsates through his orgasm. He collapses onto my chest, breathing heavily against me.

  You have got to be fucking kidding me.

  He rises to his elbows and pulls out of me. He slips off the condom and tosses it in the trash can beside his bed. Leaning over he kisses my lips softly.

  “That was great,” he says, smiling, still trying to catch his breath.

  “Mhm,” is all I can manage to get out.

  “You okay?” he asks. His eyes narrow and he seems genuinely concerned. I consider telling him that I didn’t get off, but I don’t want things to be weird. Besides, what am I even supposed to say? Yeah it was great but you didn’t get me off so it wasn’t that great. I feel my face redden and I can’t figure out if it’s because I’m too embarrassed to answer his question or because I’m now sexually frustrated on top of everything else.

  “Yeah, I’m good.” I reply quietly. Luckily his room is dark. Otherwise he would be able to see the pouty expression on my face and know that I wasn’t good. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me against his chest then kisses my forehead. I hear him yawn.

  “That felt so fucking good,” he whispers sleepily. “Completely worth the wait.”

  I roll my eyes at his comment and then close them and try to fall asleep.

  Seven

  Conner

  “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” Gabe says, shaking his head as he looks out the passenger side window of my truck. To be honest, I can’t believe he let me talk him into it either. I smile back at him gratefully.

  “C’mon Gabe. Mark Douglas is your buddy. This is probably the only way we’re going to get any information on Ian.”

  “If there’s any information to get,” Gabe challenges.

  “Right,” I agree, just to ease the tension. I know he’s not happy about me dragging him with. But I would never be able to get the information without him. As it turns out Mark isn’t even at the station today. If Gabe hadn’t called him and made plans to meet for drinks this afternoon I wouldn’t have known where to even start to find him.

  “Thanks for doing this for me, Gabe,” I say, trying to be appreciative.

  Gabe rolls his eyes and huffs, “Shut up and drive, Conner.”

  I grin at his response and step on the gas.

  ****

  We get to the city a short time later and I’m immediately reminded of why I hate it so much. There’s traffic everywhere. Cars flying around from lane to lane. Taxi’s beeping all over the place. And there’s never anywhere to park. Gabe talks me through the directions to the bar that Mark had sent to him before we left.

  “Did he say anything about where to park?” I ask, getting annoyed.

  “Uh, he said there’s a parking garage a block up, past the bar.”

  “Great. So I get to pay fifty bucks to park for two hours.”

  Gabe laughs at my snideness. “You’re the one who was hellbent on going on this little adventure. It’s not too late yano? You can still turn back and save yourself the fifty.”

  I narrow my eyes at him and whip my truck into the parking garage.

  We walk from the garage to the bar and as we approach it I can’t help but think it looks more like a hotel or fancy res
taurant or something. Regardless, it doesn’t look like any bar I’ve ever been to. I take hold of the large brass handles and pull the obnoxiously large glass door open.

  Once inside we are greeted by a hostess, “Hi there. How many are in your party?”

  “It’s the two of us and we’re meeting a friend here, Mark Douglas.”

  “Douglas party of three,” she repeats back to him as her eyes scan the sheet of paper in front of her.

  “Ah! Yes, he’s already here. Right this way gentleman.”

  I notice the hostess’s eyes linger on me and she offers a smirk. I flash her a large grin back. Maybe I could get used to the city afterall. She leads us to a table where a man who looked similar to Gabe is sitting alone looking over a menu. He is short and round like Gabe, but his beard is shorter. Otherwise, I would swear they were related.

  “Hey, Mark. How are ya?” Gabe asks loudly.

  “Hey, Gabe!” Mark stands and gives Gabe a brotherly hug, patting him hard on the back. “I’m good. I’m good. How about you, though, old man?” he asks laughing.

  “Ah, yano. The joints don’t work quite like they used to but I’m getting by.” I watch the two of them banter back and forth for a bit as they catch up. I smile at their interactions. They seem like two grumpy old men and the thought makes me laugh to myself.

  “And who’s your friend here, Gabe?” Mark asks, looking at me.

  “Conner Smoak,” I answer, extending my hand to him. “Pleasure to meet you, Sir.”

  Mark’s expression grows serious and almost angry. “Sir? Listen here boy. My grandfather was Sir. Gabe here is allowed to call me old but we don’t know each other like that.” He stares back dead in my eye.

  “Uh...I didn’t...I mean...I’m so sor…” I felt my face burn hot with embarrassment as I stammer over my words. Suddenly they both start howling with laughter. I laugh too, but uneasily as I look to Mark then to Gabe. Ah, old man jokes. I shake my head as I exhale and take a seat at the table. I let the two of them catch up for a bit before bringing up the reason we came.

  “Yeah, we just got assigned a new Captain at our company,” Gabe says, looking to me indicating it was my opening to ask my questions.