by J. M. Walker
A wicked smirk spread on his handsome face. “Your heart jumped. Do you want my fat cock inside your sweet cunt? Did you think of me when you fucked him?”
Heat spread throughout my body at his vulgar questions.
Roux had never hinted for more. But now…with his rough voice and dark eyes, I knew he wanted me. Even though he denied me the kiss I craved, I could feel the heat coming from his body. With his one hand wrapped around my neck and the other in my hair, I felt owned. Dominated. But truly and utterly safe. It was home. It was where I wanted to be. No, needed to be.
“Answer my question, Aster,” Roux demanded, tightening his hold around my throat.
Suddenly, the playful mood between us became dark and dangerous. Did I think of Roux when Aaron fucked me? Yes. All of the damn time. Aaron was selfish, only pleasing me if he got something in return. Why I never realized that it shouldn’t have been like that in the first place was beyond me.
“Yes,” I whispered.
Roux’s eyes darkened even more. Releasing me, he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back until I hit the side of his car. Shoving my arms above my head, he paused.
“Fuck it,” he snarled, crushing his mouth to mine.
I gasped, arching against him. After all of this time and he was finally kissing me.
His tongue forced its way between my lips, dancing and caressing with mine. It owned, possessed, slithered its way into my soul. Holding my head in his free hand, he took control, leading me through the deepest kiss I had ever felt.
When our hips connected, I let out a soft moan. I pulled my hands from his grip, placed them on his chest and let them roam down the length of his hard torso.
Inching them under the hem of his shirt, his hard abs twitched beneath my touch, making my mouth water even more.
Roux groaned, circling his pelvis against mine. Releasing me with a wet smack, he licked his lips. “I bet you’re nice and soaked. Aren’t you, baby?”
I swallowed hard, nodding slowly.
He grinned, brushing his thumb along my swollen bottom lip. “Just wait until I fuck you. I’ll be so deep inside you, your soul will scream.”
I coughed.
Roux chuckled, placing a soft peck on my lips and grabbed my hands. “I need a drink.”
And I needed him.
When we stepped into the bar, all I could think about was that kiss and his words.
When we sat down at the nearest booth, I ran my hands down my thighs.
Roux’s words mixed with his tongue inside my mouth stirred something dark inside of me. The need to feel owned. The desire to be ravaged and used for someone else’s pleasure. The lack of control I would give up just to spend one night with Roux. But I had a feeling it wouldn’t be just one night. It would be more. So much more. It would be everything I expected from my dark and brooding best friend. The man I trusted with all of me. I knew he would take care of me, using us both for our pleasure alone.
When I sat in the booth, Roux headed to the bar to grab two beers. As he came back toward me, his smirk set my blood on fire. That smile was meant for me. Only me. There were women in the bar glancing his way, their eyes roaming up and down the length of his big, strong body. But he didn’t notice. Or if he did, he didn’t care.
Roux stopped in front of me and placed the beer on the table. Cupping my jaw, his thumb brushed over my bottom lip. “This mouth now belongs to me. Doesn’t it?”
I shivered. “Yes.”
His smirk widened. “Smart girl.” Sitting beside me, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
I let out a shaky breath, picking up my beer and took a long swig. The cold carbonated beverage slid down my throat. God, it tasted good.
“How are you feeling?” Roux asked, taking a swig of his own beer.
“Fine.” I shrugged. “I guess.” Although his kiss and words were now all I could think about. He made me question everything I believed that happened between a man and a woman. The naivety was showing.
“It’ll take time, baby girl.” Roux pulled me against him. “But you’re strong. You will get through this.”
“With your help?” I asked, turning toward him.
He looked down at me. “Do you want my help?”
I scoffed. “You’ve made it very clear that you’ll do anything to get my mind off of Aaron and everything that has happened. But I need to know, what’s in this for you?”
“I want to fuck you, Aster.” His brows narrowed. “Why does it have to be something more?”
My cheeks heated at his honesty. “That’s all you want? Nothing else?”
“I don’t know what I want. I’ve never been good at having relationships, Aster. You know that.” He paused. “But I love sex and I’ll do anything to get a warm pussy wrapped around my dick.”
“Oh…” Clearly the kiss we shared was only because he wanted sex from me. God, I was so stupid. How could I think he wanted more? At least with Aaron, I now knew where he stood. But with Roux…I had no idea.
“What was that for?” Roux asked, brushing his thumb up and down the length of my neck.
“I don’t know,” I snapped. “I just found out that my best friend wants to fuck me and that’s it. My best friend also gave me the best kiss I’ve ever had.”
“Really?” Roux sat up straighter. “Best kiss huh?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. The heaviness that had settled on my heart since Aaron left me lifted some. I had to get over the fact that Roux just wanted sex. It shouldn’t have shocked me. It wasn’t like I was ready to settle down. Aaron and I had been together for three years. I shouldn’t even be thinking about jumping into a relationship. But with Roux, I trusted him completely. I knew he could make me happy. We could make each other happy.
“What are you thinking about?” Roux brushed his nose over the soft spot below my ear.
A flutter of desire heated my lower belly. “You.”
“Hmmm…” he purred, the soft sound rumbling from his chest.
“I’m not ready to jump into a relationship,” I told him, trying to be as serious as I could while he caressed his mouth over my skin. “But…but I want you. One night. I just…”
“What?”
“Don’t hurt me,” I whispered.
“What I do to you will be because you beg for it.” He kissed my cheek. “But it won’t be tonight, Aster.”
“Why not?” I tried hard to ignore the disappointment settling deep in my belly.
“Because you’re not ready for the things I want to do to you.” Roux brought my hand up to his mouth. “You need time to heal.”
“I don’t want time to heal.” I pulled my hand from his and cupped his cheek. “I want you to heal me. I want you to make me feel better.”
“Trust me, baby.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “That’ll happen. But not tonight. You need time. Because as much as I want inside this sweet body of yours, it would kill me if you regretted it the next day.”
“That’ll never happen,” I whispered, my eyes fluttering closed.
“You say that now, but you were with Aaron for years, Aster. We can’t do this until you’ve had some time to process everything.” Roux placed a soft peck on my head. “But I promise you, baby. When the time is right, you’ll know it, and when that happens, I’ll take you out of your head. I’ll make you forget every man who’s been inside your body and I’ll use you to make me forget all of the women I’ve been with. Until then…” He pinched my chin, tilting my head back. “Imagine all of the things I want to do to you.”
Roux
WHILE ASTER POUTED, I wanted to bite her bottom lip and suck it into my mouth until she melted against me. As much as I wanted to take her home and fuck her within an inch of her life, it wouldn’t be tonight. My balls tightened in protest. Fuck.
Instead I distracted her by having beer after beer on a rolling tab. Two hours later and Aster was giggling over nothing.
“You want me,” she hiccupped, her eyes glassing ov
er.
I chuckled. “You, beautiful girl, are drunk.”
“Nah.” She waved her hand in front of her face, almost smacking herself. She laughed harder.
“Yes, you are.” I pinched her chin, smacking a hard kiss on her lips. “I will fuck this pretty mouth of yours.”
“Hmm.” She swayed toward me. “Your kisses make me weak.”
I smirked. “Just wait until I’m inside you.”
“Be inside me now,” she slurred, her pupils dilating. Reaching out for me, she placed her small hand on my crotch.
The unexpected movement made me jump. I grabbed her hand, stopping her before I lost control. “No,” I said, my voice firm. “I don’t fuck drunk women.”
Aster huffed. “Fine. Be a pussy.”
“Pussy?” I laughed. “Oh, little girl, you have no idea who you’re messing with.”
“Words words words. All words. When you speak, I hear blah blah blah.”
In a quick move, I wrapped a hand around her throat, forcing her to look at me.
She gasped.
“I will fuck that sass out of you, Aster. Even if it’s just for one night, I will fuck you so damn hard, you will never forget me. All you will think about is my cock. You will crave it. You will dream about it. You will remember the taste of it on your tongue. My dick will be the only thing that can curb that dark desire inside of you.” I crushed my mouth to hers, swallowing her cry and nipped her bottom lip. “And don’t you fucking forget it.”
***
When Aster finally had too much to drink and her eyes could barely stay open, I tucked her into my car and drove us back to her apartment.
I had found out before Aster became too wasted to carry on a conversation, that Aaron had packed up his stuff while she stayed at her sister’s place the night before their supposed wedding. He was going to have movers gather the rest of his things throughout the next few days but other than that, you would never know that he had lived at the apartment in the first place.
When I carried her over the threshold, a cold draft washed around us.
She shivered, snuggling into me. When her lips found my neck, I jumped, almost dropping her.
“Aster,” I growled. “Stop.”
A husky laugh escaped her. “I’m not that drunk, baby.”
Oh, but she was. Because I wanted her completely sober for every nasty thing I wanted to do to her. “You are.”
She sighed, struggling out of my grip.
I placed her on her feet and walked her to her bedroom. “I’ll grab you a glass of water and some Tylenol.”
“Sure.” She stopped in front of her bed, swaying on her feet. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she blew out a slow breath. “Thank you for loving me when he didn’t.”
My back stiffened. Never once did I tell her that I loved her. Even though it was obvious, those words had never left my lips.
Instead of getting changed, Aster flopped onto her bed. Soft snores left her a moment later, her back rising and falling with each breath.
I sighed.
Once I placed the glass of water and meds that she would definitely need when she woke up in the morning, I kissed her softly on the head.
“I will continue loving you like you deserve, Aster. And I’ll make you fall in love with me just the same.” Kissing her one last time, I pulled away as much as I didn’t want to. I found myself wanting to spend the night with her and many nights after. I wanted to be there to hold her hair in the morning if her stomach decided to backfire on her. I wanted to take care of her and make her feel better.
But instead, I left her apartment in search of Aaron.
It was late, pushing midnight, but not late enough where the fucker would be sleeping. I didn’t know him that well since keeping my distance while he was with Aster, but after doing some research, I found out what his regular hangouts were.
When I pulled up in front of a sketchy bar, I killed the engine and waited. There was no way that I would enter the building to search him out. This was between him and I, although it was none of my business, it didn’t matter. He hurt my best friend. I had a feeling that I already knew the true reason behind him leaving Aster on the morning of her wedding day. But I needed to hear him say it.
A half an hour later and several people were leaving the bar. The establishment was not where you would think Aaron would frequent. But he loved his liquor like he enjoyed his women. Cheap.
If Aster knew the many times I had seen him with another woman on his arm, it would kill her and for that, I could never tell her. Not until I was sure that she would in fact forgive me. It wasn’t my place to tell her but a part of me regretted that I hadn’t. I was just thankful that Aaron got the bright idea not to marry her. Even though a part of me was surprised over that.
When I finally saw him leave the bar, I slid from my truck and walked around to the other side. Leaning against the passenger door, I crossed my arms under my chest and waited.
Aaron walked in my direction, stumbling on his feet. Every so often, he would stop and sway before catching his balance and continue walking to his car no less. Of course, the bastard would get behind the wheel after God only knew how many drinks he had.
But before he could reach his car, I stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
He stopped, hesitated a moment and looked up at me. His eyes were glassed over, a light sheen of sweat matted his hair to his forehead. “R-Roux?” He looked around him. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to discuss Aster with you.” I scratched my jaw. “Care to tell me what that was about? Leaving her on your wedding day and shit?”
His brows narrowed. “Why do you care? You should be happy that she’s now single.”
My blood burned through me. “She’s upset. You broke her heart.” And I would be there to pick up the pieces, but he didn’t need to know that. “Care to tell me what’s going on?” Before I punch your fucking face in.
“It’s none of your business,” he growled, stumbling past me.
I stepped in front of him, blocking his path and fisted the collar of his shirt. Lifting him onto his toes, I leaned toward him. “It is my business when my best friend is hurting because of some bastard who can’t keep his dick out of other women.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he grumbled, trying to shove me off of him.
“No? How about the fact that you fucked her sister and kept fucking her too even after you proposed to Aster? Or your secretary. Or the receptionist at your doctor’s office. I could go on and on, but we don’t have all night.” I pulled him against me. “If I ever catch you within breathing distance of Aster, I will skin you alive and make you regret ever living in the first place.”
“You’re a sick bastard,” Aaron slurred, gripping my hands and ripped me off of him.
I chuckled. “You have no idea, buddy.”
“Have fun with her. She’s a dead lay anyway.”
Before I could stop myself, my fist landed against his jaw.
He cried out, dropping to the ground. “You fucking asshole.”
I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t even hit you that hard. But you ever talk bad about her again, I’ll do worse than just punching you.” Spinning on my heel, I headed back to my truck.
“She’s not worth it,” he called out.
“Oh, but she is,” I yelled over my shoulder. She was more than worth it and by the time I would be through with her, she would be like Aaron who?
Aster
WHAT DID ROUX WANT with me? Why did he feel the need to dominate and control me? And why did I want to succumb to his dark but delicious demands?
He was everything Aaron was not. Although Aaron had a rough side to him, he was more selfish. Taking only from me what he wanted and never giving anything in return unless I gave it to him first. I never knew any different and thought it was normal. I wanted to please him, so I did everything I could to make him happy. It wasn’t right and I knew that now.
With Roux, my best friend for as long as I could remember, I knew it would be a night filled with pleasure and memories that I could never forget. No matter how hard I would try, he would always be at the back of my mind. If we had sex and went our separate ways after or even just remained friends, I would treasure the moments forever. But something told me that it wouldn’t be a one-time thing. When he claimed my mouth as his, I almost whimpered, Yes, Sir.
The tiny hairs on my skin tingled at the memories of that night. That kiss. God, that delicious, mind-blowing kiss. I had no idea Roux was like that. I had only ever heard of dominant men in the romance books I read but I never expected my best friend to be exactly the same. No wonder he had women throwing themselves at him. My stomach twisted. I guess I was one of those women now. But as much as I had wanted him, he was a gentleman. He took care of me. Got me drunk and tucked me safely into my bed later that night. I never wanted him to leave but I couldn’t voice those words as the drunken stupor took over and I passed out shortly after hitting my pillow.
***
It had been a few weeks since that day. The day that had started out horrible with Aaron leaving me only for it to end with laughter and flirting. With another man. God, what did that make me?
Human, Aster. It made you fucking human.
It had felt like years since Roux kissed the hell out of me. Twice. Since he made me smile and laugh and see him in a whole new light. I couldn’t remember much of that night, but I did remember his eyes twinkling every time they looked at me. I finally saw it. He cared for me, which I already knew but a part of me had hoped that it was more. Did he love me? I loved him as a friend, but could it be more? Could it turn into more?
Being the gentleman that I knew Roux didn’t want to be, he dropped me off at my apartment, made sure I was tucked in safe and sound and left. Even though I didn’t remember much of that night after binge drinking several beers, I did recall the look of regret as he backed away from me. The pleading words were still on my lips as he turned me down. I woke up the next morning, thankful, but that ache between my legs only grew stronger as each hour passed without him taking care of it.
