by Carter Ashby
“Coffee,” Kellen said, at the same time as Jayce said, “Do you have marshmallows?”
Jayce then cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “I mean coffee. Black. Extra strong.”
Maya giggled and Zoey didn’t think she was mistaken when she saw his cheeks flush.
Zoey took a tray with four mugs on it into the living room. Hot chocolate and marshmallows for Jayce and Maya. Coffee for herself and Kellen.
They sat around her living room simultaneously exhausted and wound-up. Jayce and Maya sat on the sofa and Kellen sat next to Zoey on the love seat. Zoey had put all the kids’ toys down in her basement so they could play as loud as they wanted and not worry about the clutter. After finishing their cereal, they ran down the stairs, talking about a superhero game they wanted to play.
As they disappeared down the stairs, the last thing Zoey heard was Sophie saying, “I don’t wanna be Black Widow. I wanna be Spider Man.”
Mattie replied, “You can’t be Spider Man. You’re not a man.”
Sophie said, “I’m not a spider, either, so what?”
Zoey caught Jayce’s expression. He was nodding. “Kid’s smart,” he said.
The little voices gone, Zoey said, “Thank you guys. Both of you.”
Jayce cleared his throat, making Maya flinch. She was hugging the end of the sofa like she was trying to keep as much distance as possible between her and the big, scary man. “Damon,” Jayce said, “He had a protection order against him, right? This’ll put him in jail?”
“For up to a year,” Kellen answered. “I talked to the sheriff. Damon’s under arrest for criminal contempt, so they’ll hold him until his trial for violating the protection order.”
Jayce blew out a breath and turned his head to look at Maya. “Is there anything I can do, Maya?” he asked.
She shrugged and glanced nervously at him, not holding eye contact. “I’ll be looking for work soon. I don’t suppose you’re hiring?”
Jayce shook his head. “I wouldn’t hire you.”
Maya didn’t have time to react because Zoey was on it. “What kind of an asshole thing is that to say? She asks you for a job and this is how you respond? Like she’s not good enough to wait tables in your shitty bar?”
He pointed his finger at her. “I’ve about had it with your attitude. You jump to conclusions and start shrieking at people. Fuck you, Zoey!”
“Fuck you, Jayce!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Kellen said. “Children are playing downstairs. Let’s settle down.”
Jayce glared at Zoey for a moment before turning to Maya. “I didn’t mean that how it sounded. I just think with all of us looking, we can find you a better job than serving drinks in my shitty bar.”
Maya smiled and lowered her head. She nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”
Jayce and Zoey flipped each other off. But then he sipped his cocoa, got marshmallow foam on his upper lip, and drained Zoey of her ire. She laughed.
“What?” Jayce asked, feigning innocence. He sipped again.
Maya even grinned.
Kellen leaned back and slipped his arm over Zoey’s shoulders. Which was when Jayce and Maya froze, both of them with marshmallow cream on their lips in a comic tableau of shock.
Jayce didn’t say anything, though his countenance darkened.
“Zoey?” Maya asked, dragging the name out slowly. “What’s going on?”
Zoey felt suddenly exhausted. She sat her coffee mug on the end table and then leaned into Kellen, who took the hint and did the talking. “We’ve decided to start dating,” he said.
Dating. It sounded so long term. Zoey smiled and nuzzled into his chest.
Jayce licked the marshmallow off his lip and leaned back, his expression going blank while his eyes observed all.
Maya shook her head. “I don’t understand. Zoey, you don’t even like Kellen.”
“I do now.”
“This is a bad idea. Such a bad idea. Kellen, you’re smarter than this.”
“Fuck you, Maya,” Zoey said, responding to the hurt that Maya’s doubt was causing.
Maya gasped.
“Easy,” Jayce said.
“No, you take it easy!” Zoey was sitting up now, her face heating with rage. “God, some friend you are Maya. Thanks for being so damned supportive.”
“I can’t believe you expect me to support you while you hurt the most important man in my life! Kellen is my brother, Zoey. You don’t get to treat him like he’s just some guy you picked up.”
“Nice! Thanks for just assuming that’s what I’m gonna do.”
“Oh, please. You use men, Zoey. You don’t even think of them as humans…they’re just sex objects to you, so don’t act all offended—“
“Oh, my God, really?” They were both on their feet, now. “I made an effort with Terry—“
“Bullshit!”
“Whoa.” Jayce stood and put his hand on Maya’s shoulder. She flinched and he quickly withdrew his hand. “Let’s just calm down.”
“Fuck you, Jayce!” And since this came from Maya, everyone was stunned into silence. The generally stoic Jayce stood there with his mouth open in shock. Maya pressed her hands to her mouth. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
Jayce laughed. And then Kellen laughed. Zoey smiled down at her feet.
“Jayce, I didn’t mean it.”
“Maya, you can curse at me anytime you want,” he said.
“I won’t. I’m so sorry. Zoey, God, this is getting out of hand.”
“Then apologize to me,” Zoey said. “You apologize to Jayce, but you just said way worse things to me.”
“Was any of it untrue?”
“Yes!” she shrieked. Kellen’s hands rested on her shoulders. “I do not treat men like that, Maya! I’m just really honest and if they can’t take it then how is that my fault?”
“That is not what I’m talking about and you know it.”
“Alright, that’s enough,” Kellen said. “Maya, I love you, sweetheart. Thank you for caring about me, but this is what I want. Okay?”
Maya huffed and folded her arms around her middle. “I just need you right now,” she said, softly.
This made more sense to Zoey. She didn’t understand her best friend attacking her. But she did understand Maya not wanting to lose Kellen to another woman. And now she could step back and perch on the edge of the loveseat, because this was about Kellen and Maya, and had little to do with Zoey.
Kellen took Maya into his arms and sat on the sofa next to her, holding her to him while she cried softly. Zoey felt a hint of jealousy. She caught Jayce’s expression as he sat on the far end of the sofa and leaned his elbows on his knees. He was feeling a little jealous, too.
“I don’t want you to think this is a romantic thing,” Maya said to Kellen through her tears. “I don’t have those kinds of feelings for you. But you’ve been my brother all this time and she’s gonna mess you up and you won’t come here and I need you. You’re so strong and I can’t do this on my own.”
Jayce got up and went into the kitchen. Kellen gently rocked Maya and murmured to her. “I’m never going to stop being there for you. You know that, Maya. You’re tired. You’re healing. You’re on medication. I’ve got you, okay? And so does Zoey.”
Maya was nodding along and crying.
Zoey got up and joined Jayce in the kitchen. He’d found her liquor cabinet. “What say we booze up this hot chocolate?” he said with his back to her.
“A little early in the morning, don’t you think?”
He arched a brow at her. “No such thing.”
She sighed and poured herself a mug of hot chocolate, handing it to him. “Do your worst.”
He pulled out vanilla vodka and Bailey’s and poured generous amounts of liquor into each mug. They stirred, clinked their mugs together, and sipped. “Good luck with Kellen,” Jayce said.
Zoey paused, her drink midair. “Thank you,” she said softly.
He nodded.
“Good lu
ck with—“
“Don’t say it,” he said.
Zoey smiled.
He shook his head. “Don’t even say it.”
“Well good luck anyway.”
He nodded and drank. A few minutes later, Maya stumbled in and threw her arms around Zoey’s neck. She sobbed her apologies while Jayce and Kellen stood uncomfortably by.
At last Maya stepped back and dashed her hands across her eyes. “I can’t wait until I’m not crying so much. Seems like all I do is cry.”
“Don’t think of it,” Zoey said. “Just heal, okay?” She stroked her friend’s hair and then nudged her back into the living room.
Jayce said, “Well, I’m going home.”
Kellen cleared his throat. “Actually, could you hang out?”
Zoey turned in time to see Jayce’s eyes go wide.
Kellen continued, “I thought maybe you could keep an eye on Maya and the kids while I spend some time with Zoey.”
Jayce went pale. “Kids?”
Zoey stood. “I’m not comfortable leaving them. We can hang out here.”
“No,” Kellen said. “I’m taking you out. Jayce, you good?”
“Uh—“ Jayce stammered.
“I’m not good,” Maya said. “I don’t need a babysitter, Kellen. I’m fine for a few hours.”
“You can’t lift anything,” Zoey said. “What if one of the kids gets hurt? You can’t get up and down those stairs or carry them.”
“I can stay,” Jayce said, hesitantly.
“Great,” Kellen said.
“It’s not necessary,” Zoey said. “Because I’m not leaving—“
“We’re going on a date. Right now, Zoey. So get dressed, grab your purse, and let’s go.”
She gaped at him, once again turned on by his attempt to boss her around. In that moment, she wasn’t sure whether to put him in his place or obey. Her past boyfriends had all shattered when she’d pushed them and, until this moment, she’d always assumed that was their fault for not being tough enough. But maybe she’d never given them enough credit. Maybe this was her chance to try meeting a guy halfway.
She grinned. “Okay.” She walked past him, trailing her fingertips across his abs, and went to her room to change.
Kellen turned to Jayce. “You’re good, right?”
Jayce just looked at him.
“Kellen, I’m not comfortable with this,” Maya said.
“With what, honey?” Kellen asked.
“With being alone with….” She stopped and cast a quick glance at Jayce.
Jayce laughed without mirth. “Great,” he muttered. He turned to Kellen. “I could sit outside the front door so she doesn’t feel threatened by my presence.”
Kellen moved to the sofa and sat next to Maya. He knew the meds were messing with her emotions, but this was ridiculous. “You’ve known him as long as you’ve known me. He’s my best friend. I feel safe knowing he’s here with you and the kids. Is that good enough?”
She chewed her bottom lip. “I guess.”
Jayce laughed again and shoved his hand through his hair, squeezing his hand into a fist. “You know, we went on a date once, Maya. You weren’t afraid of me, then. Do you remember that at all?”
Her face turned pink. She shook her head. “I don’t remember.”
Jayce’s arms dropped to his sides and his shoulders fell. “You…you’re serious?”
Kellen couldn’t watch this. He stood and went to his friend whose heart was taking yet another kick-in-the-ass by a woman who barely knew he existed. “Maybe you can hang out in Zoey’s room,” he said. “She’s got a television. Just listen for if Maya needs you and around lunch time, if we’re not back, help her make something for the kids.”
Jayce was still staring in horror at Maya who had moved on and was now channel surfing. He swung his gaze to Kellen.
“I know,” Kellen said, giving Jayce’s shoulder a squeeze.
Jayce’s jaw muscles twitched.
“I’m sorry, man. I know it hurts,” Kellen said quietly.
Jayce slumped back on the counter and shook his head.
“You just gotta give her some time.”
Jayce stared ahead and nodded, but Kellen could tell his words had meant nothing.
Zoey came out in jeans and a pretty, green sweater. “Ready?” she asked.
Kellen placed his hand on the small of her back and led her out the front door, smiling with pride as the door swung open and clicked shut flawlessly.
He helped her into his truck and started driving.
“Now, it’s almost lunchtime,” she said. “I feel the need to tell you that lunch dates are no more romantic than breakfast dates.”
He smiled, keeping his eyes on the road as they left town and headed down a curvy, back highway.
“Kellen, where are we going?”
“Home.”
She laughed. “This is a booty call?”
“Don’t cheapen it, Zoey. You want this just as bad as I do.” He reached over and rested his hand on her thigh. She made no effort to reject him.
“I thought we were going to date?”
“We are. But tomorrow is gingerbread decorating day. Tuesday is Christmas Eve. Wednesday is Christmas. I need some alone time with you.”
“You mean sex.”
“Doesn’t have to be sex. Probably will be…but doesn’t have to be.”
She chuckled and put her hand over his on her leg.
He pulled down the dirt driveway to his cabin and listened to her gasp. “What?” he asked.
“I thought you lived in some one-room, log cabin or something. This is really nice.”
He climbed out of the truck and went to open the door for her. He held her hand and led her inside. The cabin was two stories with a loft, so the entryway ceiling was high and full of light and air. She seemed to want time to look around, but he dragged her straight up the stairs to his loft bedroom.
She laughed when she saw where they were going. “Kind of feels like you brought me here to, I don’t know, establish dominance or something,” she said.
“I did.” He turned and pulled her hard against him, taking her mouth with his. “I feel like you don’t fully grasp how much my girl you are.”
She chuckled against his mouth, her hands pawing at his chest and shoulders.
He covered her with kisses and slid his hands beneath her sweater to her back. “Last night you kept pushing me away,” he said.
“Mmm.”
“No more, Zoey. I want you. I wanna take care of you.”
She let out a breath when his hand moved to cup her breast. Her own hand had wandered down to the front of his pants. He’d never been with a woman this aggressive. He’d never been this aggressive with a woman.
“So what are you gonna do next time I try to stand by you?” He shoved her sweater up and over her head. She jerked at his t-shirt, and he helped her peel it off.
She pressed her lips to his chest and his blood sang in his ears.
“Answer me.”
She slid her hand down his jeans, taking his length before he had a chance to react. He forced through the blinding urge to fuck her and grabbed her by the wrist. He spun her to face the bed and pressed against her back, bending her over the bed. God, he’d never done this. It felt freaking great. He unclasped her bra and shoved it off her shoulders, tossing it aside. He grabbed her hips and ground his erection against her ass. “Fuck,” he murmured. “Next time I offer to help you or hold you, Zoey, what are you going to do?”
“Let you,” she answered.
He was pleased with the answer. He pulled her upright with her back against him, and took her breasts into his hands. Blood surged from his brain and he groaned.
She pushed back, turned, fell to her knees, and ran her teeth over his dick through his jeans. “Holy fuck,” he gasped.
The triumphant grin she gave him was a challenge. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to her feet. She cried out and then moaned when his b
are chest pressed against her bare breasts. He massaged his fingers into her scalp. With his free hand, he dipped into her pants and massaged her clit. She cried out.
“I need one more thing, Zoey,” he said.
“Don’t push your luck.” She grabbed him by the balls. “We both know I’m the one in control.”
“Wrong answer.” He spun her again, this time capturing her wrists behind her back. He held them in one hand and then pinched her nipple with his free hand. “I want you to ask me nicely to fuck you.”
She threw her head back and laughed.
“And say please,” he added.
She fought to free her arms, but he held her tightly. He reached down and unfastened her jeans. He shoved them down with her panties and she kicked them off. “Like you’re not going to fuck me anyway?”
He didn’t argue with her. He bent her back over the bed, her arms still pinned to her back. Ah, the sweet view he had. He cupped and caressed her ass.
She laughed and then, when he slid his hand up her slit from behind, she moaned. He drew his wet fingers away and fumbled with his jeans, getting them pushed down just enough to free himself. He took himself in hand and pressed his tip against her opening. Then he leaned over and nibbled at her ear. “Zoey, you’re so beautiful.”
“Fuck me!” she cried through gritted teeth.
“I love the way you make me feel, Zoey. Not when you’re yelling at me or pushing me away or making unreasonable demands. But when we’re talking, laughing, kissing. Like now. I love the way I feel with you now.”
A frustrated sob escaped her lips.
“Just say please, Zoey. I want you so bad. I hate waiting like this. Your ass pressed against my dick like this is driving me crazy.” He moved a hand beneath her and cupped one of her breasts. “God, you’re fucking perfect.”
“Kellen, just do it!” She fought, trying to free her hands. Her hips arched up and back, inviting him, begging him.
He broke into a sweat. He rested his forehead against her spine and groaned. “I won’t give in to you,” he said. “This is where you have to meet me.”
“Fuck!” she cried. “Please! Please, God, Kellen, fuck me already!”
He stood up, released her hands, and reached in his nightstand for a condom. She arched her back and rocked her hips toward him. He grabbed her hips and slammed into her. They both cried out.
