by Mia Moon
“Ah, I can’t, sorry.”
“Damn. Next one, then. I play best when I’ve got a pretty girl cheering for me,” he teased.
“Yeah, when you’re not too stiff,” Josh nearly shouted.
I blushed and fiddled with my keys as Alex headed to Josh’s SUV. Josh tossed me a playful salute. “Later, Violet.”
“Later,” I said with a wave.
They climbed into their car as I unlocked mine. Ken slid into the passenger side, and I rubbed my hands together as my Jeep warmed up. “Your friends are really cool.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “They’re more like brothers. We do everything together.”
I envied that sort of connection. “So where am I heading?”
Ken’s house was hidden in a dark neighborhood. It was on the outskirts of the city, which I appreciated for its privacy and quiet. My apartment was near a busy intersection downtown. If traffic didn’t keep me awake, it was my upstairs neighbors and their two crazy dogs that sounded more like elephants.
I pulled into his driveway and he led us to the door around the side. I couldn’t tell how big the house was, but the living room was large, yet cozy. Nothing like what I’d expect from some rich pro athletes. The furniture was clearly expensive, but the vibe was down to earth and casual. I liked it immediately.
“Wow. If you weren’t playing in the games, I guess this is where you could all hang out and watch them on TV.” I pointed to the massive flat-screen.
“It happens, yeah. Did you want something to drink? Water? Beer?”
I slung my coat over the back to the sofa and followed him into the kitchen. “I thought you weren’t supposed to be drinking.”
“I’m not. I just know there are exactly two beers in the back of the fridge. If you drink them, you’’’ be saving me from temptation.”
I leaned back against his counter and debated. I’d avoided drinking at the restaurant since I knew I’d be driving, and I was already a ball of nerves. Being in the warmth of his living room made me relaxed now. A beer over the course of a movie sounded like an excellent idea.
“I’ll take the beer then. For your sake, of course. Taking one for the team.”
“The team thanks you.” He leaned into the fridge and pulled out a dark bottle. Handing it to me, he looked into my eyes and my breath caught at the intensity of his blue-eyed stare. “I’m really glad we’re doing this. I missed you.”
“Oh.” I took the beer and shifted on my feet, unsure how to take his serious expression.
“I always thought you were one of my best friends.”
“Really? We didn’t… I mean, it’s not like we hung out back then,” I twisted the top off my bottle.
He shrugged. “We should have. But it’s easier now, right?”
“I guess.”
“Yeah. Now that there are no teachers keeping us apart.” He opened the cabinet door near my head. “Popcorn?”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
He pulled a flat package out and walked to the microwave. As he stuck the bag in and punched the keypad, he shook his head. “I can’t remember his name. Calc. Mr… Crackle? Crueller?”
“Mr. Crawley?” I asked.
“Yeah. He made a big deal of us hanging out outside of tutoring. He said it was inappropriate. At the time I didn’t know his deal. I think he assumed I was taking advantage of you somehow. He thought I was cheating and using you to do it.”
“What? I never knew that.” This came as a total shock. “You didn’t cheat. We just worked hard, and you were amazing. The only reason you even needed a tutor was because he sucked at teaching!”
Ken nodded. "Yeah. That guy was nuts. Always on my case though, and had everyone watching my every move like I was a predator."
I cupped my beer in both hands and sifted through my memories. I couldn’t believe that Ken had wanted to be my friend. Was he serious?
“Why didn’t you say something?”
He frowned and turned to the microwave. “Dunno. Who knows why we did half the things we did back then.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. School was weird. Honestly, I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch.”
“Well, you made it to my graduation. That was sweet.”
He grinned and started to say something, but the corn started popping. He waited until the noise died down. “Yeah. And now here we are.”
I sipped my beer and grinned. “Yeah. Here we are.”
He licked his lips and the smell of popcorn permeated the air. “Do you like superhero movies?”
Chapter Three
“What did you think?” Ken asked.
As the credits rolled, I smiled.
“Yeah, that was awesome.” I wasn’t lying. In the past few years I could count the number of movies I’d watched on one hand, and now I wondered what was wrong with me. I seemed to spend my entire life behind a computer screen. “Now I guess I should go watch the three that came before it.”
“I’d watch them with you. It’s an impressive set.”
He leaned over and sipped his water. The movie had been good, but half the time I was paranoid about our position on the couch. Sharing popcorn meant sitting close. Sitting close meant I could smell his spicy-citrusy cologne and feel the heat coming from his body.
Ken’s muscular form took up a lot of space, and after he’d grabbed the second beer for me halfway through the movie, he’d half-snuggled against me, draping his arm across the back of the sofa. While I watched the heroes take out the villains I’d wondered what to do with my hand, which was wedged between us against my thigh.
During the romantic side plot, I noticed that his weight made the couch dip and over time I slid against him further, as if the furniture intended to roll me easily into his lap.
If I thought this would go anywhere, I’d be tossing caution to the wind. But he’d said we were friends, and I was okay with that. All signs pointed to Ken being a flirt. His friends were the same way.
Be cool, Violet.
I stood, arching my back. It was officially time to go, wasn’t it? I didn’t want to overstay my welcome and he said he couldn’t stay up late.
He took my hand, which made me glance down at him. His expression was unreadable in the dim room. Only the light of the TV danced around us, and it didn’t reveal much.
He tugged my hand and I let the motion bring me down, his swift motions maneuvering me onto his lap. Before I could say a word, his hand was tangled in my hair and his lips were brushing over mine.
“Violet,” he breathed.
This was a shocking development, and a little gasp escaped my lips. “Ye-yes?”
“I’ve been wanting to do this forever.”
Was I dreaming? Was I hearing things? Hallucinating, maybe?
His tongue parted my lips and drew me into a kiss I must have fantasized about a million times before. My rambling thoughts stilled. My body moved on autopilot, melting against him, grabbing his shirt to yank him closer.
He tasted like salt and lust and I couldn’t get enough. Even if I’d imagined this moment before, I wasn’t prepared. It was infinitely better than my imagination. No kiss I’d experienced before had ever set me aflame like this, like I needed to rip off my clothing this instant.
I pulled back to catch my breath. He moved to my neck, licking and sucking and nibbling. He made a little groaning noise that tugged at something deep inside me. God, he was sensuous in every way.
“Ken, I—” I what? I didn’t know how to finish the sentence. What was I about to say? My mind went blank when I inhaled his scent. It reminded me of snow and ice, of crisp winter air and intensity.
He bit my neck, making me gasp. He whispered into my ear in a low growl. “Yes?”
“Hell if I know,” I murmured and turned to feast on his mouth.
His hands stroked up and down my back, each touch spreading sparks and need. One hand slipped under my sweater then and drew circles on the
bare skin of my back. As much as I wanted to push it further, I couldn’t.
This wasn’t like me. Not that I was a stranger to sex, but I liked to know where the relationship sat before speeding forward. I’d had a few one-night stands in California and hated them.
Ken and I weren’t a couple. We hadn’t even had an official date. I didn’t want this to be a one-and-done scenario — or to ruin our fragile friendship.
Then his arm fingers hit my bare skin, underneath my breast. My mind short-circuited.
His other hand slid to my front and cupped my breast, his thumb rubbing my nipple through the fabric. I couldn’t contain my moan, but my mind raced.
I didn’t want to be a friend with benefits. And I didn’t want to sleep with him while I had a pending date with one of his best friends.
Nathan. Crap.
“Wait,” I gasped.
Ken’s hands froze, but his hot lips brushed over my jaw. “Something wrong?”
“We can’t… not tonight…” My words refused to form a complete sentence, but I leaned back and looked into his eyes. I squirmed a little, feeling wet between my legs.
He took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah. It’s okay.”
I started to slide off his lap, but he caught me.
“No, I mean, hang on.” He tucked my wild hair back behind my ears. “I guess we’re on different levels, huh?”
“I kind of thought we were just friends.”
“Is that all you want?” he asked seriously.
“I thought it’s what we were,” I repeated.
“I’d rather be whatever allows me to kiss you and snuggle the fuck out of you,” he said, his eyes glittering. “And maybe more, if and when you’re comfortable.”
Oh. My. Waves of heat washed over me. “I think I’d like that too, but that doesn’t mean we should… do more tonight. Maybe we should wait.”
“I get that. I’ve waited years for this. I can wait a little longer.”
I traced his smile with my fingertips, reeling with disbelief. “Maybe we need to have a talk or something, because you’re coming way out of left field. This is such a surprise.”
“Ah. A sports reference. I guess you’ve popped a blood vessel,” he teased.
My head fell back, and I rolled my eyes.
“Spend the night?”
“I just said—”
“After practice tomorrow we’ve got our game, then tomorrow we fly out… it’ll be three days, if not more, before I can see you again.”
“Oh.” Three days did seem like a long time. I bit the inside of my cheek.
“You can have my bed. No mischief, I promise.” He held up his pinkie. “I swear.”
It seemed reckless, but truthfully, I was feeling too edgy e to drive. My apartment was clear across town. I curved my pinkie around his, and sure enough, I was shaking. Too much excitement for one night.
“But I’d rather stay on the couch,” I reasoned.
“It gets cold out here, and I’ve got a code of honor that requires that I never let a woman sleep on my couch when there’s a bed available.”
“Fair enough.” I stood, and he took me by the hand and led me to his room, the first door off the living room. I stared in awe at the massive king-sized bed. I could curl up in a corner and probably still have room to do a snow angel. Whereas Ken would have to fold himself in half to sleep on the couch, then wake for practice in the morning and his game.
After kicking my boots off, I climbed into the middle of the bed and crooked a finger at him.
“No mischief, but we can share the bed. I wouldn’t want you to play with a messed-up neck or something from sleeping on that couch. Your team would kill me.”
He grinned and yanked off his shirt, revealing the killer muscles and six-pack that until this moment had been my fantasy. The faintest trail of dark hair disappeared into the waistband of his sweatpants, and I drank in the V of muscles that framed his lower abs.
I gawked. Openly. “That’s not fair,” I whispered, not meaning to say it aloud.
He laughed and flipped the light switch. As my eyes adjusted I felt the mattress bounce and he tackled me to a pillow.
“Maybe just a goodnight kiss before I leave you alone?” he growled.
I giggled softly and pulled him into my body. Ken was an excellent kisser, and as he slowly nipped at my bottom lip, I shivered.
“Cold?” he murmured.
“Far from it.” I licked his bottom lip. “You’re quite tempting, you know that?”
“As are you.” He kissed me again, then pulled back. We were lying side-by-side and he smoothed my messy hair away from my face. “I sense your hesitation, though. And I don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. So, come here.”
He drew me close to his chest and firmly wrapped his arm around me. Within moments, he was breathing deep, and I realized that he must be physically exhausted from practice.
As I lay in the dark in his arms, I drifted off, feeling protected.
I could get used to this.
Chapter Four
I woke to the sound of rustling, and for a split-second forgot where I was, sitting up with a start and a gasp.
This was probably the strangest night I’d ever spent with a guy, because even though I wanted to fuck Ken, we hadn’t done anything but cuddle and sleep in each other’s arms.
And that made me like him and want him even more. Still, something held me back. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
I glanced toward the sound of the rustling. Ken was in the corner of the big room, digging through his dresser and looked back at me.
“Morning, beautiful.”
“Hey.” I combed my fingers through my hair, wondering how wild I looked this morning. Pulling the blanket to my neck, I searched the floor. At some point during the night I’d yanked my bra off because I couldn’t get comfortable, and now the morning chill in the air was obvious because my nipples poked through my T-shirt.
“I’m gonna take a shower. Help yourself to the kitchen. Coffee’s on, and whatever breakfast foods you like, they’re somewhere in there.”
I nodded, and just as I crawled out of bed my stomach growled. I still didn’t see my bra anywhere, but I didn’t want to ask him about it. Crossing my arms, I glanced at the closed door of the room. “Bathroom?”
“Right across the hallway. I pulled out a new toothbrush for you—you officially own the purple one.”
I hid my grin as I scampered to the bathroom and quickly made myself less scary.
“All yours,” I called, heading to the kitchen and following the aroma of coffee.
The coffee pot was full, and I poured myself a cup and leaned against the counter, stifling a yawn. I searched the countertop and fridge for sugar and creamer, and eventually found both.
Satisfied with my extra sweet morning necessity, I climbed onto a barstool facing the kitchen island. Now that I was no longer distracted by Ken and being alone with him, I took in my surroundings. The kitchen was nicer than I’d expect for a bachelor.
I loved to cook, but most guys I met preferred fast food to a dinner that required patience. Glancing around, I imagined what it would be like to cook for Ken. During the season he did his best to eat clean—wings aside—and healthy food was my specialty.
I could work miracles with a chicken breast and brown rice.
Footsteps down the hall made me turn. “That was quick.”
“Huh?” Josh asked, walking past me to the coffeepot. He wore a thin white t-shirt and baggy grey pajama pants.
“Oh!” I looked down the hallway again. “I thought you were Ken.”
“Nope. He’s still hogging the shower, as is Alex.” He sighed and poured himself a mug of coffee. “You sleep one minute over, and you miss the hot water.”
“Uh…”
“Good morning, by the way. Didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” he said with a grin.
I gawked at him with big eyes. "You guys liv
e together?"
Why hadn’t Ken said anything?
“Yep.”
“Is that really normal?” I blurted out. “I mean, this is a big house and everything, but you guys can afford your own places, I assume.”
Josh chuckled and ruffled a hand through his short auburn hair. His meadow green eyes twinkled as he shook his head at me. “No. It’s not quite normal. But we’re traveling so much during the season, having one house saves us money and time.”
“I didn’t think men wanted to share space after college,” I mused.
He shrugged. “We don’t crowd each other. Besides. These guys are like my brothers.” He shifted his stance and my eyes drifted to the front of his sweatpants, drawn to the subtle outline of his cock pressed against the thin fabric.
Blinking and pretending to focus on the swirly pattern of the tile floor, I subtly pinched my arm to see if I was dreaming. I wasn’t. Questions overwhelmed me about the concept of a house full of sexy bachelors, but I didn’t want to seem nosy.
Besides, I couldn’t control my eyes, and the last thing I needed was for Josh to catch me checking out his package. Clearly, I’d gone too long between boyfriends. Maybe I should’ve slept with Ken last night.
I finished my coffee and hopped from the stool. Josh’s eyes trailed over me and I remembered that I was broadcasting how cold I was. My nipples weren’t just pebbled, they were stone peaks through my shirt. Awesome, I groaned internally. I rinsed my mug and set it in the sink, but I froze in my steps.
Alex appeared in the kitchen. His damp brown curls were sticking to his temples and his bare, muscular chest still had beads of water clinging to it. I shivered just looking at him, and he noticed, giving me a mischievous grin.
“Hey,” I said softly.
"Hey, beautiful. I didn't realize we had company." He gave Josh a look and leaned against the island. "Glad to see we didn't scare you off last night."
I tried to stay calm and not reveal how my heart was pounding. If they could be calm and chill, so could I, though I was surprised they hadn’t made any comments about me spending the night.
Wasn’t that something guys did? I expected high fives. I expected to have to defend my honor and insist that nothing had happened. But if they weren’t going to inquire, I wouldn’t go down that path.
