Edible

by Ella Frank

  Rachel glared over at the man who was as much her brother as the one currently waiting for his first born to be delivered. “I’m a lady.”

  Shelly scoffed, “Out of the bedroom?”

  “Well, definitely not in it,” Cole added, giving Rachel a wicked smirk.

  Standing, he made his way over to where she was swaying back and forth with Savannah, who had rested her head down on Rachel’s shoulder.

  “Really, Madison? Keep that to yourself, would you?” Josh complained. “She’s practically my little sister.”

  Cole ignored his friend as he reached Rachel and the gorgeous little girl in her arms. Rachel looked up into his eyes, and as he raised a hand to run it over Savannah’s hair, he gave Rachel a smile so warm that she felt it all the way down to her toes.

  “I like how you look right now,” Cole admitted.

  Rachel raised a brow in silent question.

  “With a baby in your arms, you look very—”

  “Very?” she pressed, feeling her heart start to beat a little harder.

  He was about to answer when the waiting room door flung open, and a weary-looking Mason walked toward where they all stood and waited patiently.

  His black hair was all over the place, like he had been running his hands through it several hundred times, and his shirt was buttoned incorrectly.

  When he finally stopped in front of them, Rachel stood frozen, waiting for whatever news he was about to deliver.

  Surely, if it were bad and something had happened to Lena, he would be crying and be unable to come out here.

  What the hell is wrong with me? This is giving birth, not open heart surgery.

  Just as that thought crossed her mind, Mason’s face finally broke into a smile so wide that it looked like it was going to fall right off his face.

  Rachel felt Cole’s arm come around her waist as Mason continued beaming at them.

  “Well, spit it out, Mase,” Shelly finally piped up.

  “He’s speechless. Leave the man alone,” Josh joked as he hugged Shelly in close.

  As Mason looked at them all, he nodded, and Rachel could see tears welling in his blue eyes.

  “Lena and Catherine are both beautiful and perfect.”

  There was silence for a moment, and then—

  “Hell yeah! Another girl in the group!” Rachel hollered with a little wriggle, making Savannah sit up and pay attention.

  Moving in close to her brother, Rachel leaned up and kissed the cheek he offered.

  “I’m so very happy for you, Dad,” she told him with a wink as she pulled away. “Full name?”

  “Catherine Carly Langley.”

  Mason pulled Rachel and the baby in close and hugged them tightly as he kissed her on the head. He whispered, “I’m destined to be surrounded by women, and I’m so happy I can’t even think right now.”

  When he let her go, Rachel took a step back and watched Josh step forward and offer his hand. Mason reached out, shook it, and pulled his best friend in for a hug.

  “Pretty amazing feeling, huh?” Josh asked him.

  As Mason let him go, he turned to Shelly and nodded. “Yep, have to say, you women are pretty damn incredible.”

  Shelly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek. “You better believe it. It helps that we have wonderful men in our lives. We can’t do it all on our own, you know.”

  Mason chuckled as he let her go, and Josh pulled his wife in for a hug and kiss.

  “Thank God for that. Half the fun is in the doing.”

  As they all started to laugh, Mason turned to where Rachel was standing beside Cole.

  Cole held out his hand to him in congratulations, and Mason took it in a strong shake before he tugged him in and hugged him, just as he had with Josh.

  “Congratulations, Mason.”

  As Mason thumped him on the back, Rachel’s heart warmed when she heard her brother reply, “Thanks, brother. I appreciate that.”

  As they parted, Mason pushed his hands into his jeans. “So, how about it? You want to come and say hi to the new woman in my life?”

  Everyone answered, “Of course.”

  As Mason turned and started down the hall, Josh and Shelly followed behind, and Rachel turned to Cole as she hugged Savannah to her.

  “I love you,” she told him, once again finding it incredible that she had almost overlooked him.

  “I love you, too,” he replied. As he glanced at the child in her arms, his eyes took on a look of affection.

  As they made their way down the hall and into Lena’s hospital room, Rachel couldn’t help but remember a moment years ago when Cole had told her that he was exactly what she needed. It was a relief to know that he had known what she couldn’t see, and as she stood in the hospital room, being introduced to her brand-new niece, she knew that this was home.

  There would never be a moment where she would ever feel alone again because the people in this room, each and every one of them, were her family, and she was the luckiest person in the world to be loved so very well and so very much.

  As she handed Savannah back to Shelly, she gave her a quick kiss and whispered, “I have to go and meet another little angel, but I’ll be back.”

  Shelly and Josh smiled at Rachel as she turned and walked around the bed to where Lena was sitting up with baby Catherine in her arms. Mason was on the bed beside them, and when Rachel reached him, she felt tears gathering in her eyes. Stopping beside her brother, she placed a hand on Mason’s shoulder and looked over at the sweet pink bundle in Lena’s arm.

  “Do you want to hold her?” Lena asked, offering her to Rachel. “Aunt Rach.”

  Taking the swaddled baby into her arms, Rachel pulled her in close and looked down into the perfect little face, and somewhere deep inside her, she truly felt that her mother and father were in the room with them.

  Turning to face the man standing in the corner of the room, Rachel rocked the baby as she moved toward him. She kept her eyes on the small bow lips and the black hair that was peeking out from under the pink hat.

  When she reached Cole, she looked up at him with tears falling down her cheeks. “Isn’t she perfect?”

  Cole reached out and brushed a tear from her cheek as he looked down at the tiny baby in her arms. “Yes, she’s absolutely perfect.”

  Rachel blinked watery eyes and whispered, “I want one.”

  Cole grinned and leaned down to kiss her quick. “Me, too.” He lifted his head and reminded her softly, “But you can’t keep that one.”

  With that soft reminder, the entire room began to laugh. Rachel pouted and turned to face Lena and her brother, who were sitting on the bed watching her.

  “Well, I don’t know about all of you, but I think it’s time to pass on a family tradition.”

  Everyone stared at her as Rachel began to hum and then started to sing, “I’ve got sunshine, on a cloudy day—”

  As everyone joined in, singing the ode to girls everywhere, Rachel felt the love in the room grow. That was the moment when she knew she would not have changed one thing on her journey to right now.

  This was her life, this was her truth, and not one person could have ever convinced her how perfect it would all be.

  Planes—Logan was not a fan.

  Although, the warm tight pussy his cock was currently balls deep inside of was a definite improvement to the cool blue leather of seat 1D in business class where he had been sitting by himself about twenty-five minutes ago. Luckily for him, just before the plane had taxied out onto the tarmac, the empty seat, which he had thought would remain empty, had filled.

  And even though it has changed my plan from sleeping to…well—

  “Shh, hon. If you’re going to moan, I’m going to have to shut you up.” Logan brought his right hand up to cup over her parted pink lips.

  Up until around forty-five minutes ago, he’d been under the misguided assumption that this would be the usual boring flight from L.A., back to Chic
ago. He’d settled back with his usual gin and tonic, unbuttoned his suit jacket, and crossed his feet as he waited impatiently for the trip to get underway. He’d figured if he were lucky, he could have several more drinks and sleep through half the trip.

  And what a lucky bastard I am.

  He had been draining his small plastic cup when he’d heard a woman’s voice moving closer and closer to the cabin door as she’d called out, “Wait! Wait! One more!”

  And that was when he’d met—Oh fuck yeah, deeper—Jessica.

  She was a leggy blonde in a tight pink miniskirt, who’d made her way through the door, and essentially, let him right into hers.

  The flight attendant had given her a quick smile. “You’re lucky. We were just about to close the cabin door.”

  A woman had laughed, and that was what had made his dick take notice.

  “Well, I’m glad I ran then.”

  “Let’s get you seated. What’s your seat number?”

  “Looks like 1C.”

  That had been around thirty minutes ago.

  Currently, Jessica’s bare ass was seated on the miniscule sink in the back lavatory of Virgin America, flight 201, and…well, there was absolutely nothing virginal about the way her pink skirt was shoved up around her waist. In fact, Logan would guess that she couldn’t even remember what the word virgin meant, especially considering the way her creamy thighs were spread wide apart and his cock was sliding in and out of her soaking wet heat. And that was just fine by him.

  When she’d first stopped near his seat, he’d let his eyes wander from her black heels up to her smooth long legs. He had made no apologies and offered no excuses for eye-fucking her as he’d sized her up as a potential—or as of right now—fuck buddy.

  She hadn’t seemed to mind though—obviously—because when he’d finally met flirtatious green eyes, the woman had grinned as she indicated the seat beside him.

  “Looks like you’re stuck with me.”

  “Yes, it looks that way,” he’d acknowledged.

  After she’d stowed her bag in the overhead bin, she’d slowly slid down into the seat beside him and turned, holding out her hand.

  The same small hand that is currently gripping my suit lapel right now, Logan mused as he punched his hips forward, sinking as deep inside her as this really rather uncomfortable position would allow.

  “I’m Jessica,” she had told him with a bold and assessing gaze, much like his own.

  Logan had looked at the petite hand tipped with manicured pink nails, and suddenly, he’d found that the flight had just become a whole fuckload more interesting.

  Taking her hand in his, Logan had winked.

  “I’m Logan.”

  “Harder, Logan. Oh, fuck me. Harder.”

  Well, I’m not going to say no to that, was Logan’s only thought as he braced his feet, which was difficult to do when the toes of his shoes were bent up against the plastic vanity taking up the majority of the fucking area he was standing in. But, like a trooper, Logan steadied himself, gripping Jessica’s ass cheek with his left palm and holding the counter with his right, as he started to pound into the woman, just as she had requested. He was pushing them closer to that elusive moment, directing them to that sacred fucking place.

  He’d never really thought about getting off on a plane until it had rumbled down the tarmac and moved out of the holding pattern to line up for takeoff. That had been all he could think about after Jessica had crossed her leg and flashed a lot more, a whole lot more, than her upper thighs.

  “Well, Logan, I have a feeling this trip just got interesting. Thank you for that.”

  He’d given her a smug look that was as sinful as the thoughts he now had running through his head. As the plane shot down the runway with the full force of two jet-propelled engines, Logan had buckled in, preparing himself for the ride. While the front of the plane had angled up, much like his throbbing hard-on, Logan had finally replied, “I try. So, are you going back home to the husband and kids?”

  When Jessica had licked her glossy pink lips, Logan had immediately imagined that tongue performing the same slick move down between his legs.

  “No kids and no husband.”

  With that, Logan had known he would be joining that exclusive club, that had nothing to do with virgins.

  “Yes,” Logan hissed out as his balls tightened and his ass cheeks clenched.

  Wrapped firmly around his waist, Jessica’s leg strained against him, pulling him in closer, as her eyes widened above his palm covering her mouth. Then, her juicy sweet muscles clutched his dick like a fucking vise, and they both found it.

  For the $543.90 admission price, they were inducted into the exclusive mile-high club, and it was worth every fucking penny.

  Monday evening at nine fifteen, and fuck me, I’m still at work.

  Leaning back in his chair, Logan pushed up his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. The office was quiet right now, and he knew he was the only one left on the floor.

  This was the best part of the day. This was his part of the day. It was the time when he could unwind, dropping all titles, proprieties, and appearances, and just be himself.

  Standing, he cracked his neck from side to side as he loosened the blue tie from its perfect knot at the base of his throat. It was time to hit his usual haunt for a quick drink before heading home. Picking up his briefcase, he walked to his office door, switched off the light, and made his way to the elevator. As he waited for it to arrive on his floor at Mitchell & Madison, he glanced around at his place of business.

  He and Cole had really made something of themselves. Huh, who would have thought?

  He certainly hadn’t expected it, especially when he considered the way he had acted out the whole way through college. As far as he was concerned, that was what college was for—to try a little of everything and everyone. And he, of course, hadn’t had any issues getting…well, variety when he’d wanted it.

  Cole constantly told him that his behavior was fine and all back then, but as an adult, he should think about settling down with someone.

  That would probably be a fucking stellar idea, but he wasn’t like Cole, who was well into his third year of wedded bliss. Logan had no desire to bind himself to anyone, woman or man, especially when it was so much fun taking exactly what was offered.

  There were just too many options in a city this large, and honestly, until the moment his cock only got excited for one person, he planned to use it to its full potential.

  When the elevator arrived, Logan got on with a single goal in mind—a drink.

  A gin and tonic, and then life will be pretty much perfect.

  He had a successful job, a downtown condo, and an office located next door to his favorite bar. If he were an arrogant man…well, hell, who am I kidding? I’m one lucky son of a bitch.

  Pushing through the double doors of After Hours, Logan left the cool night air and stepped into the cozy surroundings of his favorite hangout. As the familiar dimly lit interior invited him inside, he was reminded of why he loved coming here.

  It was the perfect place to sit, observe, and—if he wanted to—hunt, and he could accomplish all this without the constant harassment that was typical at a pick-up joint.

  Save those particular spots for the weekends.

  He craved quiet after work, and maybe—

  Oh yeah, he thought as a sexy brunette brushed by him, her breasts grazing his arm. Maybe a piece of that, too.

  The secluded dark booths in the back were calling to him, but at the last minute, he changed his mind and bypassed several suits as he made his way up to the bar where he found a stool at the end. He put his buzzing cell on the bar top and ignored the text from…ahh yes, L.A.-to-Chicago Jessica. After placing his briefcase on the floor, he sat down and moved the case between his feet, securing it there while he waited for the bartender.

  Looking around at a few of the people mingling at the bar, Logan locked eyes with an attractive woman. He w
as guessing she was in her early thirties. She was a petite redhead with intelligent eyes, and she was dressed in a snug black jacket and a skirt that hugged her perky little ass as well as his hands would.

  As she inclined her head in his direction, Logan spied the drink in her hand and decided he would send her a second one as soon as the damn bartender showed up. Afterward, maybe he’d take her up to his office and introduce her face to the top of his desk and her round ass to his cock—

  “And what can I get you to drink tonight?”

  Ahh, finally!

  Logan turned his head toward the deep baritone that had just addressed him, and he was thankful he was seated. The guy staring at him, waiting for an answer from the opposite side of the bar, was fucking hot. Logan cleared his throat, and as he looked the man over, he kept his smile friendly and as close to platonic as he could manage.

  “A gin and tonic, thanks.”

  “Coming right up,” he told Logan before he turned away to make his drink.

  Logan made a quick assessment of the loose brown curls, broad shoulders, trim waist, and speaking of asses—

  Turning back to Logan, the hot bartender slid the glass across the wooden bar top and gave him a wide grin. He then placed his large hands on the surface, leaning in close like he was about to impart a secret. As Logan felt his cock react to the mischief sparking in the guy’s eyes, he found himself inching a little closer, deciding that this option suddenly looked far more interesting than the first.

  That was until the bartender turned his head. “And what about her?”

  Logan glanced in the direction of the redhead who was still looking his way. It was a pity really because, until around five minutes ago, it had been a sure thing he would get laid.

  Staring back across the bar to friendly brown eyes, Logan found he was now thinking about how to get this guy alone and on his knees to suck his cock. That pompous vest and tie would look even better from above while those dress slacks were kneeling on the floor.