by Jill Sanders
“Blaine’s problem,” he said as he pulled on a pair of shorts. As he made his way towards his bedroom door, he stubbed his toe on the edge of his dresser and sent a slew of curse words into the darkness. He thought he heard a soft chuckle come from his bed, which instantly cheered him up and make him forget his pain.
“What the hell is going on?” he asked Karla as she pounded on Blaine’s bedroom door. He’d believed the woman had left town earlier. After all, he’d helped her carry all her luggage down to the taxi himself.
“Where is he?” Karla turned on him.
“How the hell should I know,” he replied, crossing his arms over his chest. If Blaine was home and hiding in his room to avoid Karla, this was a new trick.
Then Karla held up a sexy pair of black boy short underwear. Ones he’d peeled off Emily a few hours ago.
“Who’s are these?” Karla almost screamed out. “He’s in there with someone…”
He reached over and took the underwear from her fingers. “If you don’t mind.” He glanced towards his own door. “I’m sure you’re not making a good impression on my friend,” he almost growled out. “Blaine isn’t here.”
“Then why is his door locked?” she retorted.
“Because it is.” He shrugged. Blaine often locked his room when he left. It was another sure sign that his friend wasn’t home. “I thought you’d left,” he said, leaning against the wall.
The woman’s eyes returned to him. “I moved into the Four Seasons.” She shrugged.
“Even with all your money problems?” That remark earned him a glare.
“My life is none of your business.” She turned away from Blaine’s door and started to walk past him.
“Take Blaine’s offer,” he said after her. “He’s moved on. You should as well.”
“Fuck off.” He’d never expected the foul words out of her mouth. She’d only ever shown him her refined side. Now, however, he realized it had all been an act.
“Classy,” he said as she slammed the front door behind her.
“Want to tell me who that was?” Emily said from behind him.
“Just one of Blaine’s past mistakes,” he joked, walking over to wrap his arms around her. She’d pulled on one of his T-shirts and he found it sexy as hell. “How about some breakfast?” he asked after his stomach growled loudly.
She leaned up on her toes and kissed him. “I’ll cook.” His eyebrows shot up as she skirted past him.
“Can you?” he asked, watching her pick up their discarded clothes from earlier. He saw a sexy black bra hanging from the lamp by the sofa and smiled.
“Of course,” she said, tucking her clothes into a ball and setting them on the sofa. Then she moved into his kitchen and looked in the fridge. He knew what was in there: probably a carton of eggs, some bread, maybe a slice or two of cheese, and cartons of take-out leftovers.
When she glanced over her shoulder at him, he shrugged. “Don’t judge me. It was Blaine’s month to shop.”
“Right.” She shook her head and pulled out the eggs and bread.
He sat down at the bar and watched her try and piece together some French toast in nothing but an oversized shirt.
When they were sitting at the table eating what she’d made, Blaine and Jamie came stumbling in. They looked like they were still partying and hadn’t yet gone to bed, which put Rafe on edge.
“You just missed Karla,” he said dryly as he took a bite of his food.
“Then I guess we have good timing,” Blaine said with a laugh. Jamie giggled and almost toppled over as she tried to reach for a bite of Emily’s food. Emily slapped her friend’s hand away.
Turning to Emily, he smiled. “This is really good. Thanks for cooking.”
“Look!” Jamie said loudly and almost fell over Emily’s shoulder. “She’s in his T-shirt… They had sex!”
Rafe stood up and grabbed his plate and Emily’s. “And on that note, let’s go back into my room.” He motioned towards the hallway.
“Noooo, don’t go.” Jamie frowned as Emily followed him down the hallway. “We just got here. Let’s party.”
“Night,” she called out as she shut his door.
“That was fun,” he said sarcastically as he set their plates on his nightstand.
“Jamie can be…”
“Yeah,” he said when she didn’t finish. “So can Blaine.” He sat down on the bed and picked up his plate to start eating.
“The funny thing is, I think they’re perfect for one another. If they don’t get each other killed.” She sat next to him, balancing her plate on her knees.
“Blaine is normally really responsible, but he’s been having problems…”
“With that woman?” she asked, before taking a bite.
“I don’t know if Blaine was ever really emotionally invested in Karla.” He thought about it. “I think he liked her enough, but honestly, I think he just enjoyed the attention she was giving him and the low rent on the apartment.” He took another bite. “We both did.”
“From what I heard, she sounded pretty emotionally invested in him,” Emily replied.
“No, I think it’s the attention she’s going to miss,” he answered honestly. “She admitted to me once that she has several other… lovers, as she put it, in New York. That she was only using Blaine to fill a void.” He shrugged.
“Women will say anything to protect their hearts,” she admitted.
His eyebrows shot up. “You think…” He thought about how Karla had acted in the hallway. “Well, damn.” He leaned back against the headboard in defeat. “Shit, now I need to tell Blaine.”
“Don’t you dare.” Emily shook her head. “It’s not for you. It’s for her to make the next move. If he’s really moved on, then she should as well. No amount of guilt can make someone love another.”
“You don’t think people can change their minds about ending relationships?”
“Do you think she has a chance of winning him back?” she retorted.
He thought about it as he finished off his food. He knew how Blaine felt towards Jamie. Hell, it didn’t take a genius to figure out he was infatuated with Emily’s roommate. “No,” he answered honestly.
Chapter 9
Emily could hear Jamie and Blaine laughing in the next room as she drifted off to sleep. It wasn’t the first time her roommate had tried to keep her awake. But it was the first that Emily had been with a man. Her two-year, five-month, six-day sexual hiatus was finally over. Thank god.
“What really happened the last time I was in here?” she said, glancing at him.
She felt his chuckle rumble his chest rather than hearing it.
“Nothing,” he finally said softly. His hands were running over her bare shoulder.
“You already said that. But we both know I ended up practically naked. How?” she asked, her eyes narrowing. She could see that the sun was coming up outside but knew she would need at least another full hour of sleep if she was going to be able to function that day. “I drove the three of us to our place. Blaine ended up in the bathroom while you… got naked, then passed out.” He shrugged.
“I got naked?” She waited.
“You were singing and you… stripped.” He smiled. “You could easily make some extra cash on the side if you wanted to.” He joked.
She slapped at him and relaxed. “But how did you get in bed with us?”
He chuckled again. “I’d gone to bed while you two were hanging out and then Blaine disappeared into the bathroom. You gave me a show and then crawled in my bed and passed out and Blaine followed shortly after.”
She sat up again and looked at him. “Seriously?” She tried to remember anything more about that night but came up with a blank.
“Yup.” He nudged her until she was lying back against him. “Go to sleep so we can get up in a few hours and do something fun.”
She shut her eyes and listened to his breathing. “I need my red shoe back,” she said before drifting off.
When she woke this time, it was to the sound of the shower.
“There she is.” Rafe smiled down at her. Then he surprised her by lifting her in his arms. “Let’s shower.”
“I wake up slowly.” She groaned and tried to push him away from her only to have him hold her tighter as he carried her into the bathroom laughing.
“You can do that in the shower.” He kissed her and her body woke faster than normal.
By the time the warm water hit her, she was fully awake, thanks to his touching and kissing. Her body came alive fast and ready for him.
Still, he gently touched her until she begged him once more. As he slid into her, she held on to him as if he was the only lifeline keeping her grounded. His body was hard, wet, and just what she needed.
She felt the desire building in her and knew that if he kissed her once more, she’d fall over the edge and be lost forever.
How had she let him creep into her heart like this so quickly? Sure, she’d known him for a few years, had dreamed of him touching her like this from the first moment she’d laid eyes on him.
Now, she wondered why she didn’t burn up at his touch. He was everything she’d dreamed of having in life. Not only was he kind, smart, and smoking hot, he knew just where to touch her, what to say to her to make her body convulse for him.
“Give me everything,” he whispered into her ear. She cursed her body as it obeyed his command.
His shower was twice the size of hers and thankfully included a bench, which she slid down to sit on after he’d rocked her world once again.
She couldn’t help it; her knees had gone completely weak. “Damn you,” she said under her breath.
“Me?” Rafe chuckled and reached for a bottle of shampoo. “What did I do?”
“No.” She shook her head and closed her eyes. “Not you, my body.”
“I rather like it.” His eyes met hers. “Why are you cursing your body?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her as he ran his soapy hands over his chest and arms.
“I’m mad at it because it obeys your wishes,” she replied, as he started lathering the soap in her long hair. He gently rubbed the suds into her hair, and her body relaxed even more. “See?” She sighed and relaxed into his arms as he lifted her up to stand next to him. “It’s yours to command.”
“I like the sound of that.” He ran a fingertip over the peak of her breast and her nipple rose to meet his touch.
She noticed his own body responding to her touch as she ran her hands down his sides.
“It does work both ways,” he said against her lips. “Of course, if we’re going to continue… I’m going to need some nourishment soon.”
She heard his stomach growl and her own responded in kind.
“Okay, food first,” she agreed.
“I was thinking we could take a short trip today,” he said, rinsing the suds off.
“Oh?” She allowed him to turn her body as he ran the warm water over her hair and body to rinse the soap off her.
“Of course, we’ll need to stop by your place so you can change into something better suited for a ride.”
“On your bike?”
“That was the plan.” He chuckled and turned off the water, then stepped out and handed her a towel.
She thought about the short ride from the club to his apartment last night. She’d been a little tipsy, which had helped with her nerves.
He walked over to her, a towel wrapped low around his hips, and took her in his arms. “Hey, there’s nothing to fear. I’m a safe driver. We’ll head out of the city and take a nice slow ride down the coast.” He leaned in and kissed her. “It’ll be fun.”
She nodded, not trusting her voice, mainly because he was causing her body to heat again.
He dressed quickly, leaving her to try and pull herself together with nothing but a comb and a tube of lip gloss from her purse.
She pulled on the skirt and blouse she’d worn last night, but somehow felt dirty wearing the club attire that early in the morning.
When she stepped out into his room, the red shoe sitting in the middle of the bed caught her eye. Smiling, she picked it up and hugged it to her chest. Then she stuffed it in her oversized purse and stepped out into the living room.
Blaine and Rafe were talking in low voices in the kitchen. Both men stopped and turned to her when she stepped out.
“What?” She frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Rafe smiled. “We were just… discussing what happened last night. Or rather this morning.” He rolled his eyes.
She relaxed. “Where is Jamie?” She glanced around. It appeared that Blaine had slept on the sofa, which totally shocked Emily.
Jamie wasn’t the kind of person who didn’t take pleasure when it was so obviously offered. It was undeniable, the attraction Blaine had towards Jamie. As obvious as her attraction towards Rafe had probably been over the past few years.
“I had her take my room,” Blaine said, glancing towards the door at the end of the hallway.
Emily thought about checking in on her friend but assumed Blaine would as soon as they left. The guy looked like he’d only gotten a few hours’ sleep and was chugging coffee from a tall metal cup.
“I have to head out in a few hours,” Blaine said. “I’ll make sure she’s okay,” he replied to her unspoken concern.
“So, you two…” Rafe started to ask, only to be silenced with an elbow to the ribs. “Okay, we get the hint.” He laughed and walked over to pour Emily a cup of coffee. “We’re heading out anyway.”
It appeared that Blaine and Rafe had a few more things they wanted to talk about, but since she was standing in the kitchen with them sipping a cup of hot coffee, they talked about work instead.
By the time they walked out into the heat of the day, Blaine had disappeared into his room to check up on Jamie.
“You and Jamie seem like complete opposites,” Rafe said, handing her the helmet she’d worn last night. This time, she easily slid it over her head and buckled it herself. “How did you become friends?”
“We met in class. She asked to borrow a pencil.” She shrugged remembering the day. “I laughed at her since she had two of them sticking out of her hair. I guess we are opposites,” she said after thinking about it. “We do have a lot in common, but…” She shrugged.
“Like what?” he asked, securing his own helmet.
He climbed onto the bike. “Like school. We’re both only children, and we both love shoes and… scary movies.” She realized it was a weak list.
He helped her get on the bike behind him and nudged her closer, taking her hands and wrapping them around his waist. She was thankful she could strap her purse on her back so that she could plaster her body against his.
“Remember, hold on,” he said quickly before starting the bike. As with last night, the machine rumbled beneath her, causing her entire body to vibrate.
“We’ll head to your place so you can change before finding a place to eat,” he called back to her.
“Sounds good,” she said into his ear.
Unlike last night, once he hit the open road, he gassed it, and the bike flew down the street. She had to admit the breeze felt good as he sped towards her apartment.
By the time he parked in her parking lot, she had a bead of sweat rolling between her shoulder blades.
“It’s going to be a hot one,” he said as he killed the motorcycle. “Even though you’re probably tempted to slip on a pair of shorts, you’ll need to wear jeans,” he said, removing his helmet.
“Got it.” She set her helmet next to his. “Do you want to come on up while I change?” She didn’t know why she was suddenly nervous. Maybe it was because he was going to be in her own space for the first time?
After she unlocked the front door, she tossed her bag down, then remembered the shoe and picked it back up.
“I’ll be quick. Make yourself at home.” She made her way back to her room.
After changing into a pair of jean
s and a cream-colored T-shirt, she took a moment to braid her hair and apply a little makeup.
She set Jamie’s shoe with its mate in her closet. She figured she would return them later that evening.
Double-checking her reflection one last time, she grabbed her backpack purse and walked out to find Rafe sitting on the sofa reading a book she’d left on the coffee table.
“Have you finished this yet?” he asked, waving it.
“No.” She sighed. “I told myself I’d read a book a week while classes were out.”
He smiled. “How many have you read so far?”
“Counting that one?” She laughed. “None.”
He shook his head and took her hand as they walked out of her apartment. “You have to learn to make more time for yourself.”
She laughed. “Says the man with three jobs.”
“Hey, I’ve still found the time to read six books in the last month.”
She stopped dead on the bottom stair and looked down at him. “You have?” He nodded quickly. “When did you find the time?”
“Breaks, lunches, and up until now”—he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her— “I’ve had free time on my nights off.”
“Until now?” she asked.
“I think I found a new way to fill that time,” he said just before kissing her.
The hour-long ride down the coast on the back of his bike was more exciting than the trips she’d made before. With the sun beating down on them, dressed as she was, she was thankful for the wind, which cooled her off.
By the time they stopped at a little restaurant for lunch, she felt very comfortable sitting behind him on the bike.
“How long have you been riding?” she asked as she ate her fish taco. They were sitting at a picnic table in a little garden area with a small fountain in the middle and flowers surrounding them. It was very peaceful, and she wondered how many times he’d been to the place before. She wouldn’t have known it was a restaurant if she’d driven by it.
“Since I was seventeen. It was one of the only things I could do to rebel against my mother without breaking her heart.”
“Are you close?” Emily asked, thinking of her own relationship with her dad.
