Chronicles of a Hot Mess

by S. E. Rose

  “I need a drink,” Nate groaned as he leaned his head against the headrest behind him.

  “One drink, coming up,” Ward said. He drove them back to their house and then turned and said, “Go get your bathing suits. We’re going to my place,” he said.

  “I don’t know. It’s already almost nine,” Lyla said.

  “We’ll take my car. Then if you need to get home, it’s not a problem,” Amery said.

  She agreed, and they were over at Ward’s by 9:30 p.m. Ward’s home wasn’t quite as lavish as Kent’s but it was close. It too had a pool and hot tub and a beautifully landscaped yard complete with beach volleyball and a small pool house that had a bar and bathroom. The main house was somewhere between Amery’s and Kent’s in size. She was ninety-nine percent sure that Ward and Amery only had houses out here because they wanted to be near Kent. The three of them were kind of like the three amigos, and she loved that about them. They all jumped in the heated pool and Ward served them cocktails. By 10:00 p.m., they had all ended up in the hot tub, playing a ridiculous game of truth or dare.

  “Truth or dare?” Ward asked Lyla.

  “Truth,” she said slowly.

  “Have you ever had sex in public?” Ward asked.

  “Nope,” she answered.

  “Your turn, have you ever had public sex?” Nate asked Ward.

  “Girl, are you kidding? Of course, I have. Shit, remember that bar we all met at. I’ve had sex in the bathroom there,” Ward said laughing.

  “Uh, Ward, the bathroom isn’t public,” Lyla said.

  “Sweetie, the bathroom has five stalls and six urinals, it’s public. Geez, if you want me to get graphic, I’ve also done it at the movies,” he said, rolling his eyes.

  “OK, then. Nate, truth or dare?” Amery asked.

  “Dare,” Nate said.

  Amery smirked. “I dare you to call the ice rink and complain about a naked man that was there earlier,” he said.

  Nate groaned. “Seriously?”

  Amery laughed and nodded his head.

  Nate grabbed his phone and dialed. “Uh, hi. Hello. My son and I were ice-skating earlier and I wanted to call and complain that there was a man who dropped his pants. Uh huh. I see. Very good. Thanks. You too.” Nate’s face went relaxed. “Well, I guess the video monitors over that way didn’t catch my face, but they are on the lookout for someone matching my description, and they won’t let him back in.”

  Nate stuck his tongue out at Lyla. She giggled and shrugged. “Sorry, not sorry,” she said.

  “No, you’re not, you brat. You are definitely not sorry,” he said.

  “A little?” she said.

  He rolled his eyes. “Amery, truth or dare?” Nate asked.

  Amery

  Amery contemplated it for a moment.

  Lyla’s phone buzzed, and they all looked over at it. She read and rolled her eyes. “Guess I’m back to the New York thing on Thursday.”

  “Dare,” Amery said, looking at Nate.

  “I dare you to pop Lyla’s public sex cherry,” Nate said.

  “Now?” Amery asked, his eyes widened slightly.

  “Ew, no! Not now. Plus, Ward and I don’t count as the ‘public,’” Nate answered.

  “I mean, I’m not opposed. I’m all for a little live action,” Ward said with a smirk.

  “Fuck no, she’s like my sister. That’s firmly in the not-OK category,” Nate said to Ward, slapping him on the arm. Ward grabbed Nate’s arm and held it.

  “What about us? Up for display of public affection?” Ward asked Nate. Nate looked nervously at Lyla and Amery.

  “Maybe not with present company,” Nate said, but clearly his look told Ward he’d be down for action later.

  “OK, well, on that note, Amery, can you give me a ride home? I need to get stuff done before Gran Mill comes home tomorrow,” Lyla said.

  “Yep, let’s go,” Amery agreed, and they quickly got out of the pool. “Nate, you want a ride?”

  “Nate’s good. I’ll get him home,” Ward said.

  “Great, see you two later. Thanks for drinks, Ward,” Lyla said as she dried off and threw on some clothes. They practically sprinted through the house and to Amery’s car.

  “Wow, those two...” Amery trailed off as he started the car.

  “Yeah, I felt like they were going to rip off their swim trunks and go at it right in front of us,” she said.

  “Do you really have to go home?” Amery asked.

  “Yes, I really do,” Lyla answered.

  “Fine, but I’ll come over to help you tomorrow night,” he said. “Then I have to be in Newark on Wednesday. Oh, and you’ll be gone Thursday...”

  “Yep, probably till Friday,” she added.

  He pulled up to her house and walked her to the door. “Take care of Onyx,” she said as she unlocked the door.

  Amery surveyed the inside of the house. “I don’t like the idea of you staying here alone,” he said as he walked past her into the house.

  “Seriously? Amery, stand down, alpha male, I am completely capable of staying home alone,” she said, rolling her eyes and shutting the door. “In fact, sometimes they even let me wipe my own ass,” she added sarcastically.

  Amery grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. “It’s not that. I know you’re a grown-ass woman, who can take care of herself. I just...I’d feel better if I stayed here with you,” he said, stumbling over the words.

  She raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh really?” she asked.

  “Yes, really,” he answered, staring down at her and trying to not make it seem sexual because it wasn’t.

  “What about Onyx?” she questioned.

  “He has automatic food and water. He’ll be fine,” Amery said.

  “And what if he destroys your house? Sets it on fire and burns it to the ground?” she asked with a smirk.

  “Well, then I’ll rebuild,” he answered as he stepped closer to her.

  “I do actually need to sleep,” she said, but she didn’t tell him to leave and that made him smile. He wanted to spend every waking second with her and that was both exhilarating and completely terrifying.

  “Fine, we’ll sleep,” he said as he gave her a quick kiss. “Come on, let’s go,” he added as he ushered her to the stairs.

  They did sleep, naked, after sex, but they did sleep.

  Chapter 25

  Lyla

  She rolled over and into Amery’s side. He was ridiculously warm, like his heat could keep a small village warm during a long, cold winter.

  “How are you so warm?” she mumbled.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” he said, and she knew he was smirking even without looking at him.

  “Morning,” she muttered and got up and went into the bathroom.

  Only she wasn’t alone in the bathroom, Nate and Ward were most definitely in the bathroom and she could not un-see what was happening.

  “Jesus, a little warning would be nice!” she yelled and slammed the door.

  “Sorry!” Nate yelled. “We just got back.”

  “I’m not sorry. Want to come back in here and watch,” Ward teased.

  “Fuck off, Ward!” she yelled back. “And fuck no! Seriously, next time shut the damn door!”

  “My bad! I didn’t think you two were up yet,” Nate explained.

  “I swear to God! You guys need to have sex in a place that is private! P-R-I-V-A-T-E! Comprendé?” she hollered as she walked downstairs with Amery on her heels.

  “You just walked in on them again?” he asked.

  “Please don’t bring this up. I have never witnessed so much sex in all my life. My family needs to work on their public sex issues,” she said as they walked into the small three-quarters bathroom on the first floor. She hated it, but it was far away from Nate and Ward, and right now she needed her distance, a shower, and a cup of coffee. “When did they even get home?”

  “They came in about an hour ago. Nate was muttering about needing to be around to help with G
ran Mill, and then I heard some murmuring. I figured out Ward had come in too. You were passed the fuck out though, so I didn’t wake you,” he said.

  “Great, well, let’s shower, so I can get everything ready for later,” she said as she tossed off her t-shirt and shorts.

  Amery’s eyes wandered over her body as he dropped his drawers, and she noted he was ready to play.

  “Amery, I’m not really...I...” She trailed off, unsure how to say she wasn’t in the mood.

  “It’s just morning wood, angel. Plus, I woke up to your super, sexy body all over mine,” he explained. “Come on, we might both fit in that little shower,” he added as he turned on the water.

  They both did fit, although it was a tight fit. Amery grabbed the body wash.

  “Allow me,” he said as she reached for it. He squirted some on his palms and then began to soap her body. It wasn’t sexual, just cleansing, but somehow, the strong strokes of his hands along her naked skin lit her up, and she suddenly wanted to feel him everywhere. She grabbed some soap and began caressing his skin as well. Their cleansing swipes became erotic touches until both their hands found where the other wanted them to be.

  The water had all but washed away the soap, and Lyla lost control as she dropped to her knees and took Amery in her mouth. He groaned, and his hand hit the shower door to steady himself as he moved past her lips, in and out, in slow, sensual movements. He was so close, and he started to pull away, but she held his ass and kept him buried between her lips. He groaned and came, his seed running down her throat. Just as she was about to pull away there was a jiggle of the bathroom door handle and then the door flew open as Lyla pulled back, so his erection was no longer in her mouth.

  And there in the doorway stood Gran Mill, well, she stood with one of those scooter things that you put your injured leg on.

  “Holy fuck!” she cried. “Jesus, you kids nearly scared the living daylights out of me! You can’t just be sneaking around the house like that, I might have a heart attack or something.”

  Lyla quickly rose, and Amery stepped in front of her with his back to Gran Mill, essentially shielding her from her grandmother.

  “Y-you’re back early!” Lyla stammered as she gripped Amery’s forearms to keep herself balanced.

  “Yep, you weren’t answering your phone and the doc said I was set to leave, so I called Roger and he came and picked me up. I couldn’t stand being there a second longer,” she explained, still looking at them as if they weren’t butt-ass naked.

  “Uh, Gran...I’m really glad you’re home, and we’ll be out in a moment to assist you, but, uh, can you give us a little privacy here,” Lyla said.

  “Oh, ha, yep. Sorry, kids, didn’t mean to break up the party. Glad you’re finally getting some, Lyla, and by some, I mean that fine piece of ass. No offense, Amery, but you have a nice ass, sweetie,” she said with a wink and then shut the door.

  Lyla leaned her head on Amery’s chest. “Can I just die now? If there is a God, he will just take me now, for sure. I can’t stand any more embarrassment. Like for real, I’ve hit the lifetime quota,” she groaned against his chest, which vibrated with contained laughter.

  Amery rubbed her arms. “It could have been worse. At least you weren’t actively going down on me when she came in,” he said with a chuckle. “Plus, she likes my ass, so we’re all good.”

  She swatted his chest as she pulled her head away and glared at him. “My grandmother just walked in on us and ‘it’s all good’? Seriously? That’s all you got?” she asked.

  He leaned forward and kissed her, and she lost track of her thoughts. Damn it, he was very good at the art of kissing distraction. His hand slid between her legs and his fingers began to work her as his tongue mirrored his efforts. She leaned against the shower wall and let him help her forgot her momentary mortification because damn it, it felt so good. He lifted her with one arm and she wrapped her legs around him. He reached behind her, and his fingers found their way back inside.

  His fingers were way more magical than any dildo or vibrator had ever been. He knew just how to move them, just the right amount of pressure to apply and she burst into a million pieces as he used his other arm to keep her supported. He held her there as she relaxed into him and he peppered her neck and shoulder with wet kisses.

  “Better?” he asked.

  She nodded as she let her forehead relax against his lips. They dried off and went to get Gran Mill situated before Lyla said she needed to head into the office. Fortunately, Gran Mill made no further comments about what she had or hadn’t seen. Nate and Ward came down and helped settle things as well, and even Roger had stayed and said he’d hang out for the day. A nurse arrived shortly after that and then Amery drove Lyla to her office before he headed to work as well.

  Amery

  “Lyla is a sweetheart,” Derek said as Amery walked into the main lobby of their office suite.

  “Yeah, she’s great,” Amery agreed.

  “You got your game face on for tomorrow?” Derek asked. “I think this kid has real potential.”

  “Yep, going to see. I hope he lives up to the hype,” Amery said.

  “Well, keep me posted. I’m going to be busy this week, so we’ll have to debrief on Monday,” Derek said.

  “Sure thing, Derek,” Amery answered as he went into his office and opened his laptop.

  “Oh, and, Amery?” Derek asked.

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t fuck it up with Lyla. She’s not a woman to mess around with, she’s the one you keep,” he said with a serious look on his face.

  Amery swallowed because he knew just how true that statement was. “Yes, I know,” he managed with a nod. Derek nodded and left.

  He tried to focus all day but just kept thinking about Lyla. At four in the afternoon, he gave up and called her.

  “Hey,” he said when she answered.

  “Hey, everything alright?” she asked.

  “Yep, just thinking about you,” he said honestly.

  “Oh really?” she said, and he could hear her smile over the phone.

  “Yes, really,” he admitted. He was pretty sure he had just thrown away his man card, permanently. “When do you finish up? I’ll give you a ride back home.”

  “Give me about an hour,” she said.

  “OK, I’m going to see if I can find Kent, maybe get a drink,” he said.

  “Alright, I’ll text you when I’m done,” she said, and they hung up.

  He texted Kent and the two of them met at a little bar downtown near Lyla’s office. They walked in and sat down, but not before a familiar voice said hello. They turned to find B-Ray sitting at the bar. Amery barely recognized him as he was not dressed in his normal trannie clothes but wore pants and a button-down shirt.

  “Hey, B-Ray,” Amery said, holding out a hand to him. B-Ray shook it and grinned.

  “You should see your face,” he said laughing. Amery was a little embarrassed. B-Ray tossed a hand at him. “Don’t worry, I’m dressed to visit with my brother. I try to keep it more mainstream when I see him.”

  “Oh,” Amery and Kent both said. The three launched into a deep discussion on a new local restaurant they all wanted to try and by the time Lyla texted, they were making plans to get a group together the following week and check it out.

  “I gotta get Lyla. I’ll see you two later,” Amery said.

  “Later,” Kent said with a wave.

  “Catch you around, Amery,” B-Ray said.

  Amery was walking down the sidewalk when he saw Lyla leaning against the wall of her office building talking excitedly into her phone.

  He slowed his walk and stopped in front of her and she grinned up at him and put a finger to her lips. He nodded and took the spot on the wall next to her.

  “Yes. I’d love to meet. Sure. Well, I have to be in New York on Thursday and Friday, but how about next week?” she asked. “Great. I’ll talk to you then. Thanks!”

  She hung up and looked at him with total j
oy and excitement in her eyes.

  “What was that about?” he asked.

  “That was Framers and Marks PR and they are interested in my blog!” she said, practically jumping up and down. “They said they really wanted to speak with me about it.”

  “Wow, that’s great news,” he said sweeping her into a hug. She jumped up, and he twirled her around in a circle. She laughed and kissed him.

  “We should celebrate,” he added.

  “But you just had a drink,” she said with a pouty face that he found adorable.

  “Yep, and I ran into B-Ray,” he said with a smirk.

  “Oh? That’s cool. How’s B-Ray? We haven’t spoken since last weekend,” she said.

  “He’s good. We’re going to try and get reservations at that new Cuban place next week,” he said. “Let me drive you home, and I’ll pick up dinner for everyone on the way.”

  “Sounds good,” she agreed, and they walked hand in hand back to his car.

  Lyla

  She was quiet on the drive back, deep in thought. She was excited at the possibility of selling her blog. She was excited about working with such a prestigious PR company. She just didn’t know if that was the direction she wanted her career to go. She was just starting to make headway at the magazine, thanks to Kevin helping her out.

  Amery let her stew in her thoughts as he drove them, only occasionally glancing over at her. He stopped and picked up Indian food on the way home, and they made a meal in the living room, so Gran Mill could partake with them. Nate and Ward came in halfway through it and joined them. Nate regaled everyone with his normal crazy work stories.

  “You ready to go to New York?” he asked.

  “Sure,” she replied as they finished eating. “It should be fun. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you two the most exciting part of my day,” she added slapping her forehead. “I got a call from Framers and Marks, they want to talk about my blog.”

  “Really? That’s great, Ly!” Nate squealed and launched himself at her for a big bear hug. She laughed.

  “Thanks, Nate,” she said with a grin.

  Gran Mill motioned to the liquor cabinet, and Nate hopped up and poured a round of vodka shots.