by Ava Alise
“Okay. Shoot. Do I need to kick someone’s ass?” he asks, only halfway joking.
She laughs. "No. It’s just an ex that I need to deal with. I finally decided to meet with him." Her eyes slide to mine. "Get it over with."
"Oh," he says.
"I think it's starting to sink in that I'm not going to give him another chance, so he's been panicking and blowing my phone up."
"This guy sounds like a pussy," he says.
I take the final bite of my chili before I speak up. “He deserves every ounce of pain he's going through, but I don't think there's anything wrong with a man fighting for a woman," I say.
"He's going about it the wrong way. If I had gotten myself so wrapped up in a girl that I felt the need to call her half dozen times a day, I'd just show up and remind her why we should be together."
"Aw." I smile, reaching for my drink. "Has my little brother been in love?" I tease.
"Nah, I'm not saying that; I just know that walking around with your dick tucked between your legs is never an option."
"Well, that cheating pussy better not show up here, if he knows what's best for him," Renee huffs.
Cam regards her for a moment before he speaks again. "I'm sorry, Renee...I hate that, that happened to you, but you’re right—he better not show up here," he says. "Cheating dicks like him make it harder on everyone. If I'm going to fuck a girl, it doesn't matter if it's one or one hundred times, she's going to know my intentions. A guy should never have to drag someone along to get pussy." Cam shakes his head and stands, grabbing his bowl from the counter.
"It wasn't pussy he was after," Renee says, which causes Cam to stop in his tracks. I'm shocked she told him, but I guess it shows she's starting to heal from the situation. It takes a second for understanding to resonate with Cam. He looks at her with a furrowed brow, and moments later, his hazel eyes take on a new light.
"Oh, fuck," he says.
"Yeah." Renee breaks eyes contact with him and looks down at her bowl.
Cam is still staring at the top of her head. "How in the fuck could he want anything after having you?"
Her eyes snap to his, and a moment passes between them that I'm not too comfortable with. She doesn't say anything, and he shakes his head and walks into the kitchen.
Not long after, we clear the counter and head off to our rooms. After my shower, I slide into my bed feeling totally exhausted. Tomorrow will be a busy day preparing for the powwow meeting Shane and I will have with Amber on Wednesday about the Paris client. I'm pretty excited to show her what I came up with. As I'm reaching to turn my lamp off, I notice the unopened envelope Mila gave me a few weeks ago. I know it's a reminder for her wedding this weekend, but I open it anyway.
It's a beautiful card, with a flowery script and the same engagement photo from the invitations she sent out earlier this year.
Kelsa Preston,
Thank you joining us for the celebration of our pending nuptials.
December 16th
We can’t wait to see you there.
Best regards
Rick Costello and Mila Davis
I smile as I read over the time and address at the bottom, totally overjoyed for my friend. She and Rick have been together for a few years, and I'm so happy they are officially tying the knot. As I'm sliding the card back into the envelop, I notice a handwritten note at the bottom.
Kelsa,
Just a few more weeks and I'll officially be Mrs. Costello. Eeee! I can't wait to see who you bring as your date.
Mila
Placing the note back in the envelope, I slide it into my nightstand and turn off the lamp. I had completely forgotten about my plus one, but I have to bring someone since she's already paid for the guest.
Shit.
What if Drex brings a date? He shouldn't have to spend the night alone because we can't go together. It isn't fair. There was no reason for him to choose to go alone back when we had to RSVP; it was way before this... thing started between us. I fall back onto my pillow with a sigh and suffer through a restless night’s sleep.
The next day moves by in a blur. I’m in and out of nonstop conferences with Amber and Shane as we prepare to present our ideas to the team on Friday. I'm beat and all, but counting down the days for weekend. Mila’s wedding will be a nice change of pace, and I'm looking forward to celebrating her big day.
"You okay in there?" Drex calls from the hallway.
I'm standing in the bathroom in his apartment, staring at myself in the mirror.
"I'm good; I just... lost my contact," I lie.
What I'm really doing is trying to figure out what the hell is happening to me and if I like it. I still haven't brought up the wedding date issue. I mean, what am I supposed to say? Hey, don't bring a date because I'm totally selfish and unreasonable?
Ugh, I don't even know what this is. Drex is fucking amazing. He's as sweet as he is filthy, and I can't get enough. We just got back from dinner about an hour ago and stopped by his place to hang out a bit. We end up here most nights we go out, but the crazy thing is, I'm totally fine with it and I'm not supposed to be totally fine with it.
My hookups usually consist of a date of some sort, and if the sex is good, we may put it on repeat a few times. Usually by now though, the song would’ve gotten boring and the playlist would’ve been changed. Not that I give my flings a time limit, but there is always a natural moment where the heat dies down. Drex and I are pushing on month two, and that may not be a long time to some people, but it's a lifetime for me.
Don't get me wrong, sex with the same person for two months isn't the problem. The problem is, with every day that we are in this, instead of the natural fizzle I'm used to, the intensity is actually growing, not lessening. These feelings or whatever... like the stupid tingles I get from his daily 'Good Morning, gorgeous' text, hell, or even right now, the way he's worried about me with any other guy, I would have felt annoyed or crowded. Instead, it makes me smile. Warm gushiness fills my chest every time, and it's scaring the fuck out of me.
I take a deep breath and turn the faucet on to wash my hands. My eyes fall back to the mirror; hazel eyes, blonde hair, fair skin, and full lips all look the same, but something huge is changing. Even though I'm terrified to continue this with him, I'm even more terrified to walk away from it.
Opening the door just a crack, I peer around the corner for Lucy, Drex's American Bulldog. I'm not exactly scared of Lucy, she's really sweet, but she's a lot bigger that I expected. She's also a jumper, and I don't trust that she isn't going to tackle me to the floor from behind. I was completely caught off guard by Lucy's size the day I met her. Back at home, the bulldog is the well-known and beloved mascot of the University of Georgia. When he told me he had a bulldog, I was expecting it to look like the little pie face, curly tailed mascot I was used to seeing plastered all over school. Lucy, on the other hand, looks like she might have eaten the school's mascot, all of them.
I step out of the bathroom and walk down the hall toward the living room. Drex's apartment is about double the size of our flat, and it only has one bedroom. His decorations are decent, minimum at most, and exactly what I'd expect from a bachelor pad. Everything is either gray or blue and one look will tell you he bought his décor as a set. The kitchen curtains are the same as those in his living room, and the wall décor has a pattern. The place alone is nice, though; it has a rustic charm, with tall ceilings, wooden beams, and walls with exposed brick.
"There you are," Drex says, looking up at me from the couch. Lucy, who's sitting at his feet, wags her tail when she sees me enter the room.
"Yeah. I'm sorry about that." I smirk and take a seat next to him, keeping a side eye on Lucy.
"I was beginning to worry the food made you sick," he says.
"Oh no." I brush a loose strain of hair behind my ear. "I'm okay."
He nods.
I lie back and snuggle under his arm, unable to ignore the way being this close makes my heart feel.
"So, Mila's wed
ding this weekend..." He starts, and my eyes widen. "Are you bringing a date?"
"I... uh, are you?" I ask, so obviously deflecting.
He chuckles. "Well, it seems mean bringing another girl as my date."
I move to face him and am greeted by his Cheshire grin. "I can understand awkward, but why would it be mean?" I ask.
"Because I know I'll just end up with you in my bed, especially if you wear that little black dress."
"What?" My brows knit. "How do you know what I'm wearing?"
"I may have peeked at your phone when you were showing it to Mila at lunch today."
"You jerk." I laugh and hit him with a pillow.
"It's sexy."
"Mmmhmm. You're going to love it, makes my ass look perfect."
Light dances in his eyes. "You mean this ass?" he says, crawling toward me. I lean back on the couch, and he slides a hand around my hip and squeezes my ass.
I moan when his mouth falls to the sensitive nook of my neck. "Yeah," I whisper. He stays there, nibbling on my neck, grabbing my ass, and pressing against me.
When I speak again, my voice is breathy and full of lust. “My boobs look even better?” He pulls away from my neck, and the look in his eyes is dark and dancing with mischief. "Oh. You mean these?" He kisses down my neckline.
My hands grip his shirt as I pull in a sharp breath. His lips find their way over the soft mounds of my cleavage. I'm still wearing the blouse I wore to work, so he's unable to gain full access to the goods. It doesn't matter, though; it never takes much from him to drive me crazy. The hand he was using to grab my ass moments ago is now cupping my breast as his thumb caresses my nipple. That sensation along with the way his lips tease me has my head swimming with desire. I moan, and my body turns hot as I slide a hand up his back and through his hair.
He kisses his way up, across my collarbone and toward my mouth. Our lips crash together as he wraps one of my legs around his waist, causing my skirt to ride up my hips.
The pulse between my legs grows as I ache with the need to feel more of him. Our slow, passionate kisses turn needy and desperate as we become lost in each other. He's hard as steel, and the feel of him rubbing against me causes my breath to hitch.
Fuck.
This guy.
"Your little pussy is soaked," he says in a throaty tone. "Is there something you need from me, gorgeous?"
I answer him with a moan.
"Take this off." He slides a hand around my hip to the thick bunched up skirt around my waist, giving it tug. Sitting forward, he pulls his shirt over his head and I quickly slide out of my skirt and panties. We’re kissing again when my hands find his belt buckle. I undo it quickly and pull his heavy cock into my hands. He groans as I wrap my hands around his length and stroke him slowly. He pulls a condom from his wallet, but I stop him before he opens it and gently push him back onto the couch and climb between his legs.
I slide the head of his throbbing cock into my mouth, and he groans as his hands tighten on my shoulders. I work him over like the best damn thing I've ever tasted, loving the feel of him sliding against my tongue and hitting the back of my throat. I moan as I pull him in and out of my mouth, losing myself in the feeling and the sounds he's making. It isn't long before deep shudders roll through his body and his control begins to falter.
"Damnit, gorgeous," he says through gritted teeth. "Get up here, or I won't be able to stop myself from fucking your mouth until I fill it."
I drag my tongue over his length one final time before I slide the condom down his shaft and straddle his lap.
We both curse when I sink down on him, pushing him inside me fully. Our kisses turn sloppy, and my moans turn to screams as I ride him like my body craves. And there on his couch, we groan and suck and fuck each other wildly, giving his poor dog the dirtiest show of her life.
Work is steady as the hours pass by on Wednesday morning. I’ve been preparing to show Amber and Shane the idea I’ve been working on. Our client, Headley’s Home Décor, hopes to sign a two-year contract with a popular designer in Paris, and I have put together a campaign push that I hope everyone likes. I’m a little nervous because I’ve put a lot of time and effort into this idea. Headley’s is a ‘big deal’ client, and if my ideas are used to help advertising, it would be a great notch in my professional belt.
With shaky hands, I stand in front of Amber and present my idea. My goal is to showcase the quality and appeal of products made in Paris, so my campaign is wrapped around the idea of placing a special showcase on Headley's site to bring more eyes and hopefully more customers. The idea goes over well, and I leave the meeting feeling on top of the world. As I'm heading back to my office, Shane rushes up behind me and taps my shoulder.
"Hey." I smile as we take the final steps toward my door. "What's up?"
"So... it's Wednesday," he says, raising a perfectly arched brow.
I stare at him blankly until understanding sinks in.
"Aw, thanks, but no. You guys have fun; I'm going to pass again. Too much work to do."
Every Wednesday evening, the assistants on the junior team meet at a nearby bar for drinks. Someone dubbed it 'the meeting of the flunkies', and Shane has invited me every week. Each time, I've turn him down.
“Come on, Kelsa, you should come. It’s a great mid-week stress reliever, plus it will give you a chance to get to know the other members of our team," he persuades. "Trust me, it's good to get in with everyone, you are too antisocial."
Shit... and now I have to go. The last thing I want is for my partner to think I'm being closed off.
He smirks and bats his lashes, sensing my resolve shifting.
"Okay…" I sigh "...but just one drink."
The sound of chatter and clinking glasses float through the air of the bar. Drex and I find Shane and the others pretty quickly at the bar. Apparently, Drex has never gone out for drinks with the group either, so it's a first for both of us. With Shane, are Jessica Phillips and Matthew Ross, who work together, and two other guys I've only spoken to a few times. Jessica and Matthew's offices are right next to mine, and we have gotten acquainted over the last few weeks.
“Hey, look who showed up.” Matthew smiles, looking in our direction. The other four turn to look at us, including Shane, who smiles brightly, but then his eyes float from me to Drex and back again. On the outside, I’m poised as I drape my coat on the back of my chair, offering a warm smile and greeting everyone. On the inside, I’m freaking the hell out, reminding myself to breath and that we didn’t totally just give ourselves away by walking in together. It’s no big deal that we showed up at the same time, hell or even that we came together. No one knows we are late because he had me bent over the table in the empty conference room twenty minutes ago.
I figure, the quickest way to get caught is to act guilty, right? Go out of the way to be obviously separated. It’s not unheard of for two people coming from the same place and going to the same place to arrive at the same time. Plus, it's no secret that we are friends, or associates at the very least; everyone here knows we both came from Martin’s.
I'm still a little leery, but Shane doesn’t blink as he jumps back into the conversation they were having.
“Kevin, you are out of your mind,” Shane says, turning his attention to the man sitting on his left.
“You guys can say what you want, but Marsh’s tapping that and you know it,” Kevin says. "Paula is too damn happy to be at work every day."
A few people laugh, and Drex and I take our seats at the end of the bar. I smile inwardly because I know Kevin isn't far off and that it's actually Jackson who Paula is sleeping with. A busty bartender with ruby red lips and a horrible dye job waltzes over to Drex and me to take our orders. I don’t miss how she leans over the counter to give Drex a peak down her low-cut top, or how she smiles and runs a finger across his knuckles as she speaks. I have to clinch my jaw to stop the natural reaction telling me to shoot her a death glare. Drex smiles and slowly pulls his hand away as
he orders. It doesn't stop her, though; she continues to flirt with him, totally missing the signal.
By the time it's my turn to order, I feel as if I've grounded my back molars to dust. She pauses in front of me with a blank expression, and I have to clear my throat to bring the moisture back. My mouth falls open, but as I'm about to order, Shane speaks up.
"Being that it's my partner’s first time out with us, it's only right I buy her first drink; something good. Right?" he says to the group, and everyone agrees. His brows crease as he looks at me curiously and then a smile creeps across his face. "Give her a Patsy's tea."
The bartender looks bored as she pops her gum and looks from me to Shane. She shrugs then turns to fill the orders. I smile and thank Shane, and we all clink glasses when she delivers our drinks.
Apparently, Patsy's Tea is a version of a Long Island ice tea that's stronger than hell.
What makes matters worse, I'm not much of a liquor drinker, and it goes straight to my head. I'll take a tall glass of wine over a shot any day. The tea though, it tastes amazing so I make a mental note to sip it slowly, so I don’t get too buzzed and embarrass myself.
The conversation moves to our team meeting on Friday, and everyone starts talking about life as assistants for the company’s well-known executives. Drex seems to have hit the jackpot with Ronald Fullerman. He's insanely talented and known to be laid back and easy going. The two of them spend a ton of time outside of the office, working from home or golfing. The rest of us, on the other hand, are usually swamped with work. After about an hour, one by one, the members of our little group begin to leave until only Shane, Jessica, Drexel and myself are left. We flag dye job over and begin closing our tabs. I still have more than half my glass left, so not to waste it, I drink it quickly.
"Want to share an Uber? You're uptown, right?" Jessica asks me as I'm sliding into my coat.
"Yep. Good idea."
Sliding a hand into my purse, I reach for my phone, and when I don't find it I reach a little deeper, still turning up empty-handed.
