Friday Night Brides

by Samantha Chase

  She glared at him briefly before turning back to George. “So George, do you live here in Charlotte?”

  He reached out and snagged Hailey’s drink from the bartender and handed it to her. “No, no, no…I’m back in Raleigh. But I’ve never been to one of the shows and Logan’s always telling me how great they are, so I decided to tag along with him.”

  “Oh,” she said, keeping her smile in place. “That’s nice of you.”

  Her mind was rioting. Something seemed…off. She couldn’t quite comprehend why one of Logan’s buddies would give up a Friday night to come to a bridal show—especially one that was three hours from home. Friends didn’t normally do that sort of thing. The only time she knew of people doing that was when they were…

  Oh.

  Slowly, she looked over at Jack and saw what almost looked like an apologetic smile on his face—as if he realized that it was finally hitting her.

  Oh.

  Taking a larger drink of her wine than she should have, Hailey carefully put the glass back on the bar. Without being too obvious, she put some distance between her and Logan—and backed right into Jack. His large hand rested low on her hip and combined with his entire body behind her, Hailey felt the need to sag against him for support.

  And later she’d have to examine the fact that she was really enjoying the feel of him, the heat of him, the…everything of him.

  “George and I have been living together for about a year,” Logan said as Hailey realized she hadn’t been paying attention. “He normally works on the weekends but I convinced him to come with me this time.” The two smiled at each other before facing Hailey again.

  “That…that’s great!” she said cheerily and when she saw Logan’s arm go around George’s waist she felt…relieved.

  Wait…what??

  It hit her that she honestly felt relief. For so long she had been pining after the Logan that she had created in her mind and when she started to see him for who he really was, Hailey felt that maybe she was hanging on for the wrong reasons.

  Like she didn’t want to admit she’d been wrong.

  That was something she was going to think about later too. For now, she kept a smile on her face and listened to George talk about his work as…go figure…a lawyer. Great. It was completely unfair that Logan was the one who got to date a lawyer.

  “I think the day is finally catching up with me,” she said a few minutes later. “I think I’m going to head up to my room.” Leaning in, she hugged George, Jim and Logan goodbye and did her best to keep her back to Jack. There was no way she could look him in the eye right now. “Thanks for the drink! I’ll see you next Friday!” she said with a wave as she maneuvered around Jack and quickly walked out of the bar.

  Fearful she was going to trip if she ran in her stilettos, Hailey quickly pulled them off and ran for the elevator, hoping to jump in one before anyone saw her.

  With a sigh of relief, the doors opened just as she was approaching and she stepped in, hit the ten button and sagged against the side of the elevator. The doors were just starting to close when all of a sudden Jack stepped in.

  She wanted to cry.

  To his credit, Jack didn’t say a word. When the elevator doors slid closed, he kept his gaze focused straight ahead, as if Hailey wasn’t standing two feet away. She noticed how he didn’t hit a button, but to question it would require her to speak to him, and right now, she just wasn’t sure she could do that.

  Finding out Logan was gay wasn’t an issue. It didn’t change the fact that she thought he was a great guy; it just meant she could now focus on how he was a great friend. Her real issue was that Jack had called it weeks ago and then he had stood there and witnessed her finding it out for herself.

  He did warn her.

  More than once.

  It was her own fault she chose to ignore the warnings.

  Quietly, she took her key from her purse and kept her gaze trained on the floor until the doors opened. When they did, she stepped around Jack and finally released the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

  Hailey made it only a few steps when Jack came up beside her, took her hand in his and began to walk.

  “Hey! What are you…?” They stopped at the room across from hers and she realized Jack was opening the door. “Jack? What in the world…?”

  As soon as they were in the room, Jack spun her around until her back was against the closed door. There was a fierce look in his eyes that made Hailey’s go wide..

  No one had ever looked at Hailey this way. His eyes were such a deep green that she couldn’t make herself look away. She kept waiting—waiting for him to say something, to do something—but he didn’t. He stood close enough that they were almost touching—she could feel the heat of him again—but he made no move to really touch her.

  It was maddening.

  Her breathing was slightly ragged and for the life of her, she couldn’t say why. Hailey wasn’t afraid of Jack. Not really. He was the first man who didn’t treat her like she was fragile and this little detour into his room had her feeling a little manhandled.

  And she actually liked it.

  Taking a steadying breath, she let it out and slowly licked her lips. Jack’s gaze narrowed in on that movement, but still he said nothing.

  Frustration and…arousal…were battling within Hailey. This was getting ridiculous! Why had he even brought her here if he wasn’t going to do anything? The least he could do was tell her why! He owed her that much! Then she stopped that train of thought because really, she didn’t want to talk.

  She wanted Jack to kiss her.

  And if she was reading the situation correctly, it would seem as if he wanted that too. Maybe she should just tell him it was okay, that he could kiss her, that she wanted him to.

  Damn.

  Hailey knew immediately what she wanted to do. Hell, she had been preparing herself all day to make a move on Logan. She figured she’d flirt, have a drink with him and they’d go back to her room where they’d make love. It was going to be sweet and perfect and…boring. It wouldn’t be that way with Jack. She had a feeling it would be wild and frantic and anything but sweet and boring.

  With her mind made up, she dropped her shoes and purse, closed the distance between them, cupped her hand around his neck and brought his head down as she went up on her toes and kissed him. And then…

  Holy. Hell.

  If Hailey thought she was in control, she was sadly mistaken. Jack’s arms banded around her as he lifted her. Hailey’s legs wrapped around his middle. And it was everything she thought it would be—wild and frantic. It was all teeth and tongues and…good Lord, the man was hard everywhere.

  Jack lifted his head abruptly and looked at her and Hailey was certain she looked dazed. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to do that?”

  Her eyes went wide.

  “Yeah,” he said gruffly. “I’ve had to stand back and watch you chase after Logan and it just about killed me.”

  She swallowed hard. “Why…why didn’t you say anything?”

  “Seriously? You barely tolerated me when I tried talking to you about anything.” He rubbed up against her and Hailey couldn’t help but moan. “God you feel so good in my arms.” And then he was kissing her again. Slowly he walked them over the bed and gently placed her down on the mattress before straightening and looking at her.

  Hailey wanted to squirm under his appraisal. Her dress was bunched up practically to her waist, she knew her hair was a complete mess and yet he was looking at her like she was the sexiest thing in the world.

  “Damn, Hailey,” he hissed, reaching out and stroking a hand up her leg. “You certainly dress to impress.”

  Remembering how she had agonized over what to wear tonight—for Logan—she blushed and tried to fix her skirt. Jack’s hand stopped her.

  “Don’t,” he said firmly, his voice like a growl.

  “I…I just feel a little foolish…”

  “Yeah…I’
m not gonna lie. I hate knowing you dressed like this for somebody else. But you’re here with me now.” He paused, his expression serious and a little vulnerable. “Do you want to be here with me, Hailey?” Slowly his hand began to slide over her leg—skimming her calf, her knee and finally her thigh.

  She couldn’t speak even if she wanted to. Slowly, she nodded.

  A slow smile crossed Jack’s face. “I need to hear you say the word.” His hand was now tracing a lazy pattern on her thigh. “I need for you to tell me you want to be here with me.”

  Swallowing hard, Hailey licked her lips and met his gaze. “Yes.”

  “Thank God,” he sighed right before he crawled over her and began kissing her again.

  She was on sensory overload—that was the only way to describe it. Jack simply overwhelmed her—his size, his strength and his obvious desire for her. And as much as she was enjoying the way his hands were sensuously moving all over her, her own hands began to twitch with the need to touch him.

  Normally, Hailey was very reserved in bed. Sex was always…nice. But when Jack’s tongue began to trail down between her breasts, she almost bucked off of the bed. Reaching out, she tugged at the dark polo shirt he was wearing—pulling it up until Jack sat up and quickly pulled it off. Her eyes went wide at the sight of him.

  Muscles.

  And more muscles.

  And then the tattoos.

  Hailey swallowed hard because in all of her life she had never seen anything sexier than Jackson. Slowly, she raised her hand and touched him. Her palm rested lightly on his abs and when she looked up and met his gaze, she simply couldn’t breathe. There was so much heat and need in those jade green depths that it almost scared her.

  As much as she didn’t want to look away, Hailey couldn’t help but let her eyes wander all over his body. She had never understood the fascination that people had with six-pack abs or tattoos. But right now, she totally did. Tearing her gaze from his, Hailey looked at his body art.

  There was some sort of tribal design on his right shoulder that trailed down onto his bicep. On his chest was a dark phoenix rising from the ashes and beside it was an ornate cross with the phrase “time waits for no man.” The designs flowed together and across his chest to his other shoulder with a slightly less intense tribal design. Her fingers traced it all before looking up at Jackson’s face.

  “They’re beautiful,” she whispered.

  A small smile played at his lips. “I didn’t think you were into them.”

  “I had no idea they’d be so…sexy.”

  A husky chuckle came out as Jack’s hands began to lift her dress up over her hips. “I like you in white lace, Hailey.” One finger played with the pink bow at her hip bone. “It’s both sweet and sexy as hell.” He toyed with the bow before hooking his finger around it and pulling her panties off. When Hailey went to take her dress off completely, he stopped her. “Let me.”

  He lifted the fabric slowly as if savoring every inch of her that was being revealed. And as much as Hailey was enjoying all of Jack’s attention, her body was craving more. Gently pushing his hands aside, she whipped the dress up and over her head and quickly removed the white lace bra too. Scooting up onto her knees so they were chest to chest, she gave him a sexy grin.

  Jack’s breath was a little ragged as he looked his fill. “I was trying to go slow here, Hailey, and be gentle.”

  “Somehow I get the feeling that’s not how you really are.” She leaned forward and kissed his chest. “And I don’t want slow and gentle.” She looked up at him.

  “What do you want?” he asked, his voice a near growl.

  “Everything.”

  In the blink of an eye she was on her back with Jackson sprawled over her as he kissed her. Her hands found their way up into his hair and she marveled at how thick it was and wondered why she thought he should cut it. It was a little thrilling to sink her fingers in and hold on.

  When she said she wanted everything, Jack was clearly ready to deliver. He quickly stripped and was back to letting his lips and tongue kiss and discover every inch of her until she was crying out his name in pleasure.

  And then he stopped.

  “What?” she asked breathlessly. “What’s the matter?”

  “Condom,” he said and then cursed. “I…shit!” Climbing off the bed, he spun around and stalked over to his overnight bag and began rummaging through it frantically.

  “Jack?”

  “Gimme a minute,” he snapped.

  “Ja-ack,” she sang.

  “I know I should have one in here.” He cursed again

  “Jackson,” she sang out sweetly and when he turned around in frustration, she waved playfully at him, holding one of the condoms she had put in her purse.

  His grin was slow and slightly predatory as he walked back over to the bed. Snatching the condom from her hand, he slowly crawled back up her body and took her hands and braced them on the pillow behind her head. “Brace yourself, Princess,” he growled.

  There was something incredibly exciting about his warning, Hailey thought, and rather than scare her, it made her want to be bold. Wrapping her legs around his waist she whispered, “Bring it.”

  And that unleashed everything. Foreplay was over, Jack shifted and slid right into her as Hailey gasped his name. Jack looked down into her face as he filled her over and over and she loved the play of emotion she saw there. But for as much as she did, she needed more—more of a connection to him as she felt herself climbing toward another release. Her hands were being held down by one of his so she couldn’t simply pull him down toward her.

  Panting his name, begging him for more, she finally said, “Kiss me, damn you!” and he did. And then he kept on kissing her until they both found their release.

  When Jack rolled beside her and tucked her in at his side, Hailey knew her world was never going to be the same.

  And for the first time since she walked into Jack’s room, she was afraid.

  ****

  Ella was sound asleep in the next bed and Angie was wide awake in hers. She and Sean had been texting back and forth for an hour—mainly because she didn’t want to keep Ella awake by talking on the phone.

  So far they’d covered all of the usual topics and Angie was fine with that. It was safe—the weather, food, sports—she would be fine just as long as they didn’t get into anything personal. She told him about her rough week at work and how she was growing tired of working for someone else.

  And yes, in her mind, work was still a safe and neutral topic.

  Sean hadn’t responded in a few minutes and she took the time to get up and grab a bottle of water before crawling back into bed. Her phone beeped a minute later with his reply.

  Sean:

  I’m coming over tomorrow and taking you to dinner

  Angie:

  What?

  Sean:

  I was going to surprise you, but I didn’t want to risk missing you

  Angie:

  How did we go from talking about work to this?

  Sean:

  I thought you could tell me more about it in person

  Angie:

  What if I already have plans?

  Sean:

  Change them

  If it weren’t for the fact that she would certainly wake up Ella, she would have called him and given him a piece of her mind. She didn’t like being told what to do and she certainly didn’t like being manipulated. Glancing across the room, she almost considered risking it, but quickly changed her mind.

  Sean:

  You still there?

  Angie:

  Unfair

  Sean:

  Why? Were you hiding? Lol

  Angie:

  I feel like you’re taking advantage of the fact that I can’t freak out over text

  Sean:

  Sure you can. There are plenty of angry emojis you can use

  Angie:

  Smart ass

  Sean:

  Ok…you’re
kind of right

  Angie:

  At least you’re being honest

  Sean:

  Told you. I’m not messing around any more

  Angie:

  I don’t know what to say to that

  Sean:

  Say yes

  Angie:

  I don’t know…

  Sean:

  We’ll go for some big-ass steaks. I know they’re your favorite

  Angie:

  Lol

  Angie:

  It doesn’t make me sound very girly

  Sean:

  You’re perfect exactly the way you are

  Well that was a new one. No one had ever called her perfect. Angie knew her faults—and normally, so did everyone else. The fact that she was really being difficult with Sean and he was still working hard to win her over made her feel…hell…she wasn’t exactly sure. For the first time in her life, she felt special.

  Like she was good enough.

  As much as she and the girls tended to cheer one another on no matter what the situation, there were still times when it didn’t really make things better. After all, they were friends. Best friends. But as such, they were supposed to love each other—even when one of them was being unlovable. The simple fact that Sean not only accepted her bitchy attitude but still wanted to be around her told her that maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe he was done messing around.

  And maybe—just maybe—she really was good enough.

  Sean:

  Ang? You still there?

  Angie:

  Yeah. I’m still here

  Sean:

  If you don’t want me to come, I won’t

  Angie:

  I want you to come over. I want to go to dinner with you

  Sean:

  Are you sure?

  Angie:

  Yes