by Aria Ford
I shrugged. “Just missed you.”
I moved forward to kiss her, but she stepped back, glancing around nervously. There wasn’t anyone in the room except a sleeping Golden Retriever. He was lying on the exam table with his eyes closed, breathing slowly.
“Not here,” Jacqueline said, clearing her throat. “I’m working and …”
“And?” I asked, stepping closer to her with a mischievous grin on my face.
“I’m serious,” she snapped. “Here, come help me with him.”
“What’s he here for?” I asked, walking over to the exam table.
Jacqueline bent down and ran her hands over his fur, her eyes narrowed in concentration. I loved to see her like this, in her zone. Being a veterinarian seemed to fit her well. I had to admit, I was shocked when I first found out this was her career, but it made sense.
“He’s just here for a routine checkup,” she said. “But he gets a little nervous and freaks out every time I come near him. We have to put him out before we can examine him.”
I laughed. “Wow. Seems like a lot of work for a dog.”
“Nah,” she said, smiling. “He’s worth it. They all are.”
I smiled as I watched her check his mouth and paws. She listened to his heartbeat and bent each of his legs. He remained perfectly still throughout her examination, and I was able to watch her without interruption.
In the two weeks since we started seeing each other, my attraction for her had only grown. The more we got to know each other, the more I wanted to be around her. Her personality, her body. Everything about her drew me in. I often felt ridiculous for staring at her without shame, but I couldn’t help it. When she was near me, my eyes were glued to her face like magnets.
“You’re doing it again,” she muttered.
“Doing what?” I asked, clearing my throat.
“Staring,” she said.
“Can you blame me?” I asked softly.
She smiled, and I walked over to stand behind her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and leaned my head down to kiss the back of her neck. She sighed and leaned against me, lifting one arm up to touch the back of my head. My hand caressed her stomach while I kissed my way around to the front of her throat. She wiggled against me, moaning softly.
“We can’t do this here,” she whispered without moving.
“I know,” I groaned. “But I want you.”
Jacqueline exhaled sharply and stepped away from me. She turned around to face me with a conflicted expression. When I frowned, she just shook her head and turned to pick up the dog.
“I need to take him to the back,” she explained. “His owners won’t pick him up until later this afternoon.”
I nodded. “Okay, I’ll come with you.”
“No,” she said firmly. “Wait here.”
I opened the door for her, and she winked on her way out. There was something mischievous about her grin that made my dick harden. I wondered if, maybe, I was becoming a bad influence on her. After all, this was her clinic, the place where she worked. I understood completely why we couldn’t do anything here, but that didn’t stop me from wanting it.
“We don’t have much time,” she breathed when she stepped back into the room.
She closed the door behind her and locked it, turning to me with a hungry look in her eyes. I lunged forward, grabbing her around the waist and kissing her fiercely. I lifted her onto the exam table and frantically searched for the button of her pants. Jacqueline’s hands roamed over my back, digging her nails into me.
“You’re insane,” I groaned when I finally unbuttoned her pants.
She lifted her hips so I could slide them and her panties down to her ankles.
“Where do you think I learned it?” she teased.
“Come here.” I kissed her again, my fingers slipping easily between her legs. She moaned and kissed me harder.
Her hands flew to my jeans and quickly pulled my cock out, moving her hips forward. I didn’t need any further encouragement. I leaned her back, grabbing her hips and pulling them to me. She supported herself with her hands while I slid gently inside of her.
Our eyes were locked on each other, never once looking away. This was just one reason I loved being with Jacqueline. Our sexual chemistry was insanely amazing, but also extremely satisfying. I felt more connected to her than I ever had to anyone. When I was fully inside of her, she closed her eyes and opened her mouth with pleasure.
“Harder,” she begged.
We didn’t have much time, and she didn’t need to tell me twice. I slammed into her with powerful thrusts, throwing my hips forward and back as fast as possible.
Jacqueline bit her lip to keep from crying out. I knew how loud she could be during sex, and I longed to hear her enticing moans. Instead, I pulled her to me and kissed her with passion. Our tongues mingled together while I continued to take her hard and fast. She was panting against my mouth, but my kiss was enough to keep her quiet.
“Oh god,” she whispered, licking my lips softly. “Holy shit.”
I moved harder, wanting to feel her orgasm before my own. When she came, she clenched her teeth together and buried her face in my shoulder. Her nails dug deep into my back, and her breathing quickened. My own pleasure followed soon after, taking me by surprise. I shot forward, holding onto Jacqueline for support. She wrapped her arms tightly around me and held me there, still inside of her, until she was finally able to breathe normally.
We pulled apart and quickly pulled our pants back up. Jacqueline smoothed out her clothes, and I adjusted my belt, making sure no one would be able to tell what we just did.
“I can’t believe I just did that,” Jacqueline said with a soft laugh.
“That was hot,” I said with earnest.
“It was,” she admitted. “But now I need to get back to work.”
I checked my watch and frowned.
“Isn’t it almost time for your lunch break?” I asked.
She nodded. “Almost. But I need to finish up some paperwork first.”
“I’ll wait,” I said. “We can go to lunch when you’re done.”
“Okay.” She grinned and kissed me softly.
We walked back to her office together, and I sat silently while she worked. I looked around her office, taking in the bookshelves and pictures hanging on the walls. It was still strange to see how professional Jacqueline was now, but it fit her so well. The more I got to know her, the less I could imagine her doing anything else with her life.
“Okay,” she said, clapping her hands together. “Ready?”
“Yup.” I smiled, jumping up and following her out of the office.
We walked out the back door, stepping into the alley between her clinic and the building next to it. As we walked toward the street, I reached for her hand but never got the chance to grab it. Bradley stepped in front of us, making me jump and quickly drop my hand back to my side. My eyes went wide, and I coughed nervously while Jacqueline plastered a fake smile on her face and flew forward.
“Hey!” she squealed, throwing her arms around her brother’s neck. “What are you doing here?”
“Just came to see you,” he said, looking at me with a frown. “What’s up?”
“I just came by to take Jacqueline to lunch,” I said quickly, glancing at Jacqueline nervously.
She raised her eyebrows at me behind Bradley’s back, clearly terrified that he might realize something was going on between us.
“Great!” Bradley said, smiling. “We can all go. I’m starving.”
“Sure,” Jacqueline said with a grin. “There’s a place not too far from here. We can walk.”
I nodded. “Cool.”
Together, the three of us walked up the street toward a small deli. Jacqueline and I had eaten there a few times already, but this time was different. Just walking with Bradley beside us felt odd, uncomfortable. I hated that he didn’t know about us yet. It felt like I was constantly lying to him, but I didn’t know what else to
do. I didn’t even want to think about what he might do if he found out I’d been sleeping with his little sister.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Jacqueline
We ordered our sandwiches and took a seat at a table near the front. Ryan and Bradley both dug in right away, but I picked at my sandwich nervously. My life with Ryan felt completely separate from everything else, until now. Before, we existed in our little Richmond bubble where no one could bother us, but that all changed the second Bradley arrived outside my clinic.
When I saw him standing there, I felt certain he would sense something between Ryan and me. I worried our attraction would be obvious, that Bradley would see through us right away.
“So,” Bradley said once he finished his sandwich. “How’s work going, Ash?”
“Great,” I said with an enthusiastic nod. “I’ve gotten a few new patients, including Bob.”
Ryan and I laughed and exchanged a look that made Bradley frown. He looked between us for a few seconds until Ryan explained.
“I adopted a cat,” Ryan admitted. “His name is Bob, and he’s a huge pain in the ass.”
“He’s adorable,” I argued. “He just doesn’t like you.”
“He will,” Ryan said with confidence. “I’m wearing him down.”
“You adopted a cat?” Bradley asked in disbelief. “Why?”
“I don’t know,” Ryan said, shrugging. “I just got lonely in that apartment. I need another living creature around. If I’d known how much that stupid cat would hate me, I never would have gotten him, though.”
“Give him more time,” I said encouragingly. “He’ll come around.”
Ever since we started dating, Bob had been a running joke between us. He was constantly running away from Ryan, but cuddling up to me whenever I was there. Bob loved to sit in my lap and let me scratch his head. Whenever Ryan came anywhere near him though, he would sprint away and hide in the closet. It drove Ryan nuts.
“I still can’t believe you have a cat,” Bradley said, grinning. “You hate animals.”
“I don’t hate animals,” Ryan corrected. “I just never had the time for them before. Now I do.”
“Ryan’s changed a lot,” Bradley said, turning his attention to me. “He’s not the same guy he was when you knew him.”
“Oh?” I asked, feigning interest. I already knew how much Ryan had changed, probably better than anyone. Still, I could tell Bradley was eager to fill me in on their time together in the SEALs. His excitement shone on his face.
“Did I tell you he saved my life?” Bradley asked.
“No,” I said, glancing at Ryan. I wondered why he never mentioned this to me. “When was this?”
“Our very last mission,” Bradley said. He fell easily into storytelling mode. Bradley had always been a kind, charismatic person. He loved to tell stories that made people laugh. As a kid, he was the most empathetic person in our family. If I cried, he cried with me. It was why we were so close.
“What happened?” I asked.
“We don’t need to talk about this,” Ryan said shyly. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Are you kidding?” Bradley scoffed. “I would be dead if it weren’t for you.”
“So, what happened?” I asked impatiently. “I want to hear the story.”
“Well,” Bradley said, clearing his throat. “We were on this mission. Can’t really say what is was, but it was a success up until the end. As we were pulling out, heading to the trees for cover, this insurgent appears behind me. I had no idea he was there until Ryan grabbed my collar and yanked me to the ground. His gun was in the air before I could blink and then boom! The fucker was dead, lying on the ground in his own blood.”
“Wow,” I said, looking at Ryan carefully. While Bradley spoke, Ryan’s face grew more and more serious. There was something about Bradley’s story that upset him. “That’s really … that’s amazing.”
Ryan shrugged. “It was nothing. Just doing my job.”
“Yeah,” I said, still watching his face closely. Thankfully, Bradley didn’t notice how much I was staring at Ryan. He was too busy finishing off the part of my sandwich I didn’t eat.
“Yup,” Bradley said through a mouthful of bread and turkey. “Ryan’s a damn hero, Jacqueline. He’s definitely not that same troublemaking kid he was back in the day. Can you believe it?”
“I can,” I said softly, still focused on Ryan’s face. He finally looked at me. Our eyes met, and I knew he was upset, so I smiled. He smiled back weakly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “He’s a hero, all right.”
“I’m not,” Ryan said, shaking his head. “Just lucky, I guess.”
“Nah,” I said, shaking my head firmly. “You saved my brother’s life. You’re a hero.”
“Thanks,” he whispered.
“He’s modest,” Bradley said. “Another thing that’s changed. Remember how cocky he used to be?”
“I’m still a cocky ass,” Ryan joked, coming back to himself a little bit. “I just hide it better now.”
“I can attest to that,” I said. “I’ve only been hanging out with him for a couple weeks, but still, that arrogance is as strong as ever.”
“Hey!” Ryan exclaimed, feigning offense.
We all laughed and then launched into a discussion about Bradley’s life back home. He seemed to be adjusting to civilian life easily. His job was going well, and he’d already met a girl. From everything he said, he was happy.
It was nice to sit and talk with both Ryan and Bradley. It had been so long since the three of us were together. In a lot of ways, it felt like old times. Only now, they didn’t tease me torturously like they did before.
“So, listen,” Bradley said just as we were about to leave. “When I told Mom and Dad I was coming here today, they had an idea.”
“An idea?” I asked suspiciously. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“It is,” Bradley assured me. “They want us all to go over there for dinner Saturday night.”
At his words, Ryan and I both froze. I stared at Bradley like he was insane before turning my attention to Ryan. His expression was similar to mine, somewhere between shock and disgust.
“Well,” Ryan said. “You two have fun.”
“Ry, they want you there too,” Bradley said kindly. “Come on, it’s time.”
“It’s not,” Ryan argued.
“You’re ready for this,” Bradley insisted. “I know you don’t think so, but you are. You’re stronger now. Stronger than you’ve ever been. I know you can handle this.”
“But I don’t want to,” Ryan said.
I looked between Ryan and my brother while they argued. Ryan’s face was set, determined. Bradley only wanted to smooth things out between the family, and I didn’t blame him. Still, he was asking a lot from Ryan.
After they kicked him out, Ryan disowned our parents without a second thought. I wanted to be mad at him for it, but I couldn’t. Our parents broke his heart. They took him in, let him be a part of our family, then they just dismissed him. Ryan’s pain was too great for him to forgive them.
“Maybe it’ll be good for you,” I said gently.
“What do you mean?” Ryan asked, turning to me with a flash of anger in his eyes. He expected me to be on his side.
“You’ve been carrying around all this pain for so long,” I explained. “And don’t say you haven’t, because we all know you have. They hurt you. They kicked you out, and it broke your heart.”
Ryan didn’t say anything. He just watched me with narrowed eyes while I continued to speak.
“I understand,” I continued. “I get it. I really do, but you have to find a way to move forward. If you don’t, you’ll just spend the rest of your life living with this pain. That’s not good for you. It’s been eating away at you for nine years. Do you really want to keep it buried inside any longer?”
Ryan’s face softened while I spoke. I knew he was still hesitant, but something in my words made sense. I was able to reach him i
n a way that Bradley never could.
“Okay,” Ryan said softly. “Fine. I’ll go.”
“Really?” Bradley asked, looking between Ryan and me with confusion. “You listen to her and not me?”
Ryan shrugged. “What she said makes sense.”
“Don’t question it,” I told Bradley, just as he was about to speak again. “He’s coming, isn’t he? That’s all that matters.”
Bradley nodded. “You’re right. This is a good thing.”
“I hope so,” Ryan said softly.
Even I was surprised by how quickly Ryan agreed with me. I knew Bradley had been trying to convince him to see our parents for years, but it never worked. With just one conversation, I had him agreeing to spend an entire evening at their house.
When Ryan’s eyes fell on mine again, he smiled nervously. He was terrified to face them again, but I would be right there the entire time. I would help him get through it.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ryan
I went to bed early Friday night. It was barely dusk, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to stay up any longer. My body felt weak, but I wasn’t tired. My exhaustion was purely emotional. After I agreed to dinner at the Keeton’s, I immediately regretted it. No matter how much Jacqueline tried to reassure me, it didn’t help. I was terrified to face them again after all these years. What would they say? How would they act? Would they finally apologize for how they treated me? Or would they expect me to apologize to them?
These questions and more whirled through my mind as I stared at my ceiling. My eyes roamed over the cracks in the paint, but I barely saw them. I couldn’t think of anything but dinner the following night. Over the past two days, I went through a million possibilities. I pictured them greeting me with joy, then with anger. I imagined them hugging me, then slamming the door in my face. I didn’t know what to expect, but that didn’t stop my brain from working on overdrive.
No matter what happened at dinner, I was sure it would be a mistake to go. When Bradley first mentioned it, I was prepared to argue all day if I had to. I refused to go. He could bug me about it for hours, but I wouldn’t give in. Then Jacqueline spoke.
