Hyde and Seek

by Layla Frost

  That seems to be happening with them a lot. I wonder if they get together to practice synchronized screeching?

  “No fuckin’ way. Having Jake fuckin’ Hyde spend the night is like hitting jackpot. Honestly, if the hype is true, it’s way better. It’d be like hitting the jackpot every time, all night long,” Marcy said.

  “Nothing really happened. We kissed a little and then went to sleep. He only spent the night because he’d been drinking.”

  Ray held up her cell. “I texted Edge to ask if he’s ever heard of Jake spending the night. Of course, he asked why I wanted to know. He said if I get sucked into the whole sexy, smart, and successful thing Jake has going that means no more free drinks for us. But, according to Edge, Jake rarely has sex with the same girl more than once. He hasn’t heard of him staying the night since his last serious girlfriend and she was eight years ago. I think he must be into you.”

  “I don’t know what the deal is. Hell, I don’t think he even knows if he likes me half the time. He can be a serious asshole. It doesn’t matter now anyway, it’s done.”

  “What happened that made it done?” Lily asked.

  I looked around and saw the three of them were on the edge of their seats.

  It seems when I decide to do something out of the ordinary, I really go for it.

  “He just said he wasn’t into it and that was that. I haven’t heard from him in almost two weeks.”

  “There wasn’t more to it?” Marcy pressed.

  “Not really. There’s just a… barrier between us.”

  Ha. Barrier.

  “What was tonight about then?” Ray asked.

  “I think he feels bad. We had a… tiff before and he ended up coming over late at night to apologize. That’s when he crashed with me. He was being nice.”

  “Jake Hyde is not nice. He’s an asshole. And, if you asked him, he’d unrepentantly say he was much worse than that. He can be great. He’s loyal as hell, smart, and somehow a good guy. But he’s still an asshole. There’s no way he’d go out of his way twice to try to clear up any ‘tiffs’.”

  I was beyond ready to be off this topic. My mind was already muddled, and the conversation wasn't helping. Neither was the booze. “Well, it doesn’t matter. The barrier between us isn’t just going to disappear anytime soon. Well, maybe. I mean I really hope it does.”

  Okay, the puzzled faces mean I’m not making any sense. Moving on!

  “By that time, though, it’ll be too late. I’m not mad. I like him and will probably see him around. Maybe he just doesn’t want things to be weird if we run into each other?”

  “Jake isn’t the type to care if things are weird. He definitely isn’t the jealous type. I’ve seen girls he’s slept with make it really obvious they’re with someone new. I’m talking going at it with another guy against a wall. It’s not even a blip on his radar. You moving on with Rhys shouldn’t faze him one bit. But from what I caught in the hallway, he was plenty fazed.”

  “There’s more to it. More to him. He’s hot—”

  “Hell yeah, he is,” Lily muttered.

  “Well, obviously in that way. But I mean he runs hot and cold. One minute he looks ticked at me. Then he looks bored. All of a sudden he’s so sweet that I swear I’m never going to stop smiling. But then he’s back to being an ass. It’s like he has male PMS that comes every twenty minutes instead of once a month.”

  “Maybe it would be better if you started at the beginning,” Ray urged gently.

  With some liquid courage courtesy of vodka, I began what was supposed to be a quick sum-up of what had been happening. I hadn’t planned on sharing much, but once I started talking, I couldn’t seem to stop. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed to get it out, or how awesome it would feel to finally unload.

  Because my virginity was personal to me, I still didn’t get into the specifics of why things ended with Jake. But I did share everything else, including what had gone down tonight with both Rhys and Jake.

  “Edge said this is all unheard of,” Ray declared as she looked up from her phone. “Jake even hinting at wanting to talk again is major. Edge also said Rhys left with a big smile on his face. Rhys doesn’t do weekends, repeats, anything more than a ‘wham, bam, thank you, now get the fuck outta my face’. All of that normally takes place in a backroom at Rye.”

  “That sounds… unpleasant,” I murmured, scrunching up my nose. I liked Rhys. I didn’t like that he was that kind of guy, though.

  “If the lore is to be believed, it’s far from unpleasant. Chicks know what they’re getting. After the way he spends those few hours, though, most want more.”

  From what I felt on the dance floor, I can definitely believe it.

  “Wait, you’re still texting Edge?” I asked, needing to get my mind out of Rhys’ backroom. “He’s a room away, go tell him in person.”

  “And miss these bombs you’re dropping? Anyway, back to what he’s saying. This is all unheard of territory. Both men, both of them owning successful businesses, they’re obviously smart. They know they’re getting someone they can have and leave with no second thought when they hook up with some club hopper or biker bitch. They’re both honest about it, though, and upfront from the beginning. If a woman moves forward with stars, or more likely money signs, in her eyes, thinking she’ll be able to fuck a commitment out of them, that’s on her.”

  I looked longingly at my glass and wished it were full for the truth bombs Ray was dropping.

  “Even with all that, I genuinely like them both. They have their reasons for holding back. I don’t know all the details, and even if I did, it isn’t my place to share. But either one of them decides to settle down and focus that energy, loyalty, and badass hotness on one woman? I love Edge. Absolutely, to the bottom of my soul and back. He's my very own hot, loyal badass. So I know from experience whoever gets one of them is in for a life of beauty.”

  “It’s not that I don’t agree, but—”

  “No excuses, Piper,” Ray interrupted, holding up her enviously full drink. “Just listen. See what Jake has to say. Don’t dismiss him as being nice, though, ‘cause that just isn’t him. He doesn’t say shit he doesn’t mean. If he wanted to talk just so things weren’t awkward, he’d have said that. More likely he’d just let it go. If you wanted to make a scene, that’d be on you. So, just listen.”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  Cluck, cluck, chicken.

  “Okay, too much heavy. Piper looks like she needs a drink, and as her doctor, I’m saying she gets one, stat,” Lily said.

  “You aren’t a doctor,” Marcy pointed out the obvious.

  “No, but I have a naughty nurse outfit, and that’s basically the same thing. Now, booze, stat!”

  I might not have many, but the few friends I had were the best.

  *******

  It was well after two in the morning when the taxi pulled in front of my house to drop me off first. I didn’t even need to grammatically calculate my level of intoxication.

  Tipsy was a memory.

  I was drunk.

  “Night, honey!” Ray whisper-yelled out of the window.

  “Don’t forget to figure out what scent you’re putting out and bottle it for me! I need men like that all over me!” Marcy yelled as the taxi pulled away.

  If I wasn’t so drunk, I’d have been mortified. Instead, I laughed as I carefully climbed the stairs.

  “Sweetness,” I heard from the side, startling me and making me drop my keys.

  “Holy hell!” I looked over to see Jake lounging in one of my porch chairs, like it wasn’t the middle of the night. “You’re lucky I’m all out of whoop-ass. You scared the bejeezus out of me. What’re you doing here?”

  Jake ignored my question as he stood and walked towards me. Gracefully dipping as he moved, he grabbed my keys before standing with his body way in my space. “The scent you put out? It’s your sweetness. Your looks might catch their attention but it’s the soft, sweetness that keeps them hooked.” />
  His words reminded me of Rhys. Rhys’ words reminded me of Jake.

  These dudes are confusing.

  “Good to know. Now I can start the process of extracting and bottling it for Marcy.” I tried to keep from falling over. Being drunk was one thing. Being wasted with Jake in my space was another.

  “Have fun tonight?”

  “Why, yes, yes I did. I danced so much. And drank. Just a little,” I lied, giggling up at him.

  “Yeah, just a little,” he said with a chuckle, putting his hand on my cheek. “I miss you, sweets. Have you missed me?”

  “I really have. I’m not just saying that because I’m very slightly drunk. You could’ve asked me earlier and I’d have said the same thing. I don’t play games, Jake. And I don’t like people that do.”

  “I’m learnin’ that.”

  “So, why are you lurking on my porch?”

  “I wanted to see you again, make sure you got home okay.”

  “How did you know I was coming home?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “How did you know I was coming home alone?”

  “I didn’t.” His fists clenched and released. “I thought about that, wonderin’ how I’d handle it. I can tell you now, for fuckin’ sure, it wouldn’t have been good. Now, let’s get you to bed. Yeah?” He reached around me to unlock the door and push it open.

  I heard Jake throw the lock back into place as I started towards my room. When I went into the bathroom, he stopped in the hall outside the door.

  “Don’t stand out there!” I ordered.

  Or giggled.

  Most likely giggled.

  “Why?”

  “I have to do something and I don’t want you to hear.”

  I heard Jake’s deep laughter. “You gotta pee?”

  “Nooooooo!” I vehemently denied. “Now go away!”

  “Alright, but only ‘cause I can’t resist you when you’re bossy. I’ll be in your room.”

  “Okay, baby,” I mumbled.

  After taking care of my nightly routine, I walked back into the bedroom, still in my clothes and heels.

  “These shoes might do wonders for my legs and ass, but my feet freakin’ hurt. I need comfy,” I muttered to myself, opening up a dresser drawer. I pushed aside nighties and pajamas but couldn’t find what I wanted.

  Jake cleared his throat next to me. “Colorful.”

  “Shh. They’re my rebellion,” I whispered

  “Panties are your rebellion?” Jake’s head tilted to the side. The angle drew my attention to his strong jaw.

  With no impulse control in my drunken state, I reached my hand up. My eyes followed the motion as I ran my fingertips lightly along his jaw.

  So soft and so hard, much like another part of him that I wanna touch.

  I giggled and then sighed as I dropped my hand to continue my search for pajamas.

  “Remember that awful black dress I wore when I was with James?”

  “Yeah,” Jake clipped, sitting on the edge of my bed.

  “That’s what my mother likes me to wear. Conservative, tasteful, and most definitely covering. A lot of neutrals and muted colors. When I was around fifteen, Anna, our… a friend of our family, introduced me to the wide variety of lace, satin, and silk. It’s all I’ve worn ever since. I might have on a dull beige dress but I’m Technicolor underneath. It’s my rebellion. Well, that and my hair.”

  “Your hair?”

  “Mother says ladies wear their hair up. I say ladies need to let their hair down. They need to get wild. They need to live. You know what I mean?” I didn’t give him a chance to answer before going on. “I’m too tired for all this nonsense.” I closed the drawer.

  With no thought to the fact that I had an audience, I pulled my shirt off and removed my bra before pulling my top back on. I slid my skirt down my legs and stepped out of it, kicking it in the general direction of the hamper.

  When I turned towards the bed and caught Jake’s gaze, I belatedly realized what I’d done. There was no mistaking the heat in his hooded eyes.

  I was drunk, but it wasn’t the booze that was making me feel brave. It was the way he was looking at me.

  Like I was sexy.

  Desirable.

  Perfect.

  I took in all that was Jake, every inch of him gorgeous. That someone like him would look at me the way he was? I realized I wasn’t feeling brave.

  I was fearless.

  Walking to where he sat, I stood in front of him and slowly lifted my left foot to the bed next to him. I undid my sandal and returned my foot to the floor, repeating the process with my other one.

  I pushed Jake’s shoulders, relieved when he leaned back on his elbows. I put my knees to the bed and straddled his legs, letting my shoes fall to the ground before I moved.

  “Baby, what’re you doin’ to me?” he whispered hoarsely as I crawled up his body.

  “Feeling you.” I felt every hard inch of him pressed against my ass. I leaned down and lightly pressed my lips to his throat, jaw, and lips.

  “I wanna feel you, too. But not like this, when you’ve been drinkin’. And not ‘til we talk about shit, yeah?”

  “Yeah, I know.” I let my lips trail across his jaw again.

  “Fuck, you’re killin’ me,” he whispered hoarsely. “Call me when you wake up.”

  “Okay,” I agreed with a yawn, letting myself fall to the side off of him. I curled up on my bed, my eyes getting so heavy that moving to get under the blanket seemed like way too much work.

  Further proving he could read my mind, Jake got up and pulled the blankets out before covering me with them. The bed dipped as he positioned himself behind me with the long length of his body pressed to mine.

  Mmm, hot guy cocoon.

  Wrapping his arm around my stomach, he pulled me closer to him and pressed a kiss behind my ear. “Night, sweets.”

  “Mmm, hot guy cocoon,” I murmured as I fell asleep.

  Chapter Five

  Creeper on a Creeper

  I woke up the next morning with clarity.

  Unfortunately, that clarity was that I really freakin’ needed coffee.

  Other than that, I was still confused.

  It was a safe bet that Jake wasn’t just worried about there being drama. No one waited on someone’s porch in the middle of the night on the off chance of awkwardness.

  That didn’t necessarily mean I wanted to pick back up where we’d left off. There was a big difference between things evolving naturally and making the conscious decision to explore whatever it was that we had.

  It was a risk, and one I wasn’t sure I was willing to take.

  I knew I wanted to at least talk, otherwise the ‘what ifs’ would drive me crazy.

  After I did my bathroom stuff, I put on white shorts and a pink flowing tank top. I grabbed my pink wedge sandals before heading to find my phone.

  I was startled when I turned the corner into the living room and saw Jake.

  Sleeping shirtless, his arms were under his head, making the definition of his chest and abs more pronounced. His height and muscular build dwarfed what I’d considered to be my massive couch, his feet even hanging off the end. The button on his jeans was undone, and a trail of light hair disappeared into what I could only assume was heaven.

  I should go get the cereal and milk, and eat breakfast out of the vee of his pelvic muscles.

  The sun’s rays came in through the big window behind the couch, streaming directly to him as if Mother Nature herself wanted a touch. If a heavenly chorus suddenly rang out, I don’t think I’d be surprised.

  His tanned skin glowed in the light, making him look like a god.

  A tattooed sex god, but still.

  I tiptoed quietly into the kitchen to start coffee, wondering about the presence of the half-naked sex god in my living room. I’d woken at some point in the very early morning alone in bed. I’d assumed Jake had taken off.

  I hadn’t guessed that my couch was as far
as he’d gone.

  Zoned out in my thoughts, I jumped when Jake wrapped his arms around me from behind. “Jake, sheesh!”

  “First, Jacoby. Second, I wasn’t even being quiet.”

  “Uh huh. Want some coffee?” I stretched up to grab a mug.

  “Yeah, but not that cup. The other, bigger one further back.”

  I stood on my toes to reach into the cupboard. “This one?” I turned my head when there was no answer and saw his eyes on my ass. “Ha ha. Very funny.”

  Jake raised his gaze to mine but his smile was gone as he pulled me closer. “I thought so, too. Now I’m not laughin’. How’re you?”

  “Good.”

  “Hangover?”

  “Nope, never.”

  “Must be nice. Do you have work to do right away?”

  I shook my head. “I rearranged things when I knew I was going out with the girls last night. I just have to start stuff this afternoon to stay on schedule.”

  “Do you want breakfast? I could run out for something or we could go out.”

  “Breakfast here would be fine.”

  “Anythin’ you don’t like?” he asked as we walked through the living room.

  “No, not really.”

  Jake opened the door and turned back to me. Bringing his hand up to cup my face, his thumb stroked my cheek. His eyes followed the movement, a thoughtful expression on his face.

  “Jake,” I began before his mouth opened. “Jacoby, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothin’.”

  Before I could call him on his lie, he kissed my nose and then my mouth. He turned and headed down to his bike without giving me the chance to react.

  I stood in the open doorway after he’d gone, thinking about everything and nothing at once. The kiss had been a surprise, but not an unpleasant one.

  “It was barely a peck,” I whispered to myself. “Totally didn’t even affect me.”

  It wasn’t until I turned to go back inside that I realized I was holding my fingertips to my smiling lips.

  I sighed as I closed the door, unsure of what to think. I didn’t get how someone could go from not talking to me to… whatever this was. A kiss goodbye before he left to get us breakfast didn’t seem like a peace offering.