The Best Friend Bargain (Kisses in the Sand)

by Robin Bielman

  With eyes on one another, Liv slowly brought him inside her. Her hand immediately fell away when her interior muscles gripped him, taking him inside her body like he belonged there. The intensity in his gaze told her maybe he felt the same way. And then he started to move and she was lost. Gone in a sea of sensations that felt so good she never wanted him to stop.

  He sank into her again and again, setting a steady rhythm that matched her own desire. She ran her fingers through his hair, loving the soft texture, the way his gaze went heavy lidded. He moved in a particularly intoxicating way, and holy shit did it arouse her. She rushed up and sank her teeth into his shoulder. “God, Danny. Just like that.” She soothed the bite mark by passing her tongue over the blemish.

  She continued to meet him thrust for thrust, getting deliciously close to a second orgasm. He hooked his arm under her thigh, rocked in that perfect way of his, and she felt him even deeper.

  Tucked beneath him, feeling everything, she tossed her head back and gasped his name as she climaxed.

  Danny’s breathing grew ragged, his body constricted, and he followed her over the edge, “Olivia” on his lips. She loved the sound of his husky voice. When finished, he kept them together as one, his handsome face inches from hers. She was too blissed out to speak, but oh, how she wanted to hear what was going on in his head.

  He’d rocked her world, and she hoped she had done the same to him. Because she wanted to do this again. Like maybe in an hour. She stared up into the brilliant rings of brown and green around his pupils and smiled.

  A sunrise over the bluest water and whitest sand on the planet had nothing on the potency of the smile he gave back. He pulled out of her and rolled onto his back.

  She missed the physical contact immediately. When he put his arm around her and brought her against his side, her heart squeezed. She snuggled against him, her arm across his middle, her leg hooked over his. “So…” she said.

  “So,” he mimicked.

  Okay, so they probably needed some time to digest what had just happened before they talked about it. There was no going back now. No rewinding to platonic Liv and Danny. Lying with her cheek pressed against his chest, the past fifteen years of their friendship played through her mind. He’d always held the title best. She didn’t make good friends easily, especially not with the same sex, for some reason. There were a few girls she could count on to meet for coffee or dinner, a couple from her work life and college. And, most recently, Sienna. Sienna had been the shoulder Liv cried on before she left London. Sienna also worked with Will.

  “So…” She pushed up onto her elbow. “I’m thinking the pancakes will taste awful now, but I can whip up some new ones.”

  “How about I whip them up and you stay right here?”

  “In your bed?” Her pulse did a tap dance.

  He twirled a piece of her hair around his finger. “That is right here.” He sounded so calm. So cool. So sexy. Would he mind if she asked him to chain her to his bed?

  “Okay,” she said, a little breathless.

  “Okay,” he parroted again before kissing her on the mouth and standing. He made a quick stop in the bathroom before heading downstairs. Naked. Her tongue might have rolled out of her mouth as she watched him go. His butt should win awards.

  Liv had only been inside Danny’s bedroom a few times and all had been brief, so with a request to stay put, and her sexy as sin best friend busy for the next fifteen minutes or so, she slipped her shirt back on and took a good look around.

  Of course there wasn’t a thing out of place among the sparse furnishings. And not a speck of dust on his big, manly cherry wood dresser. She stepped toward shelves built into an alcove in the wall beside a high-back chair. Hard covered sporting books, paperback novels, and sports memorabilia took up most of the space, but centered on the second shelf sat a framed picture that drew her closer.

  She remembered that day with perfect clarity. The photo of her and Danny outside their favorite seafood restaurant had been taken by a passerby the day before he started grad school at UCLA. She’d wanted to treat him to his last good meal before classes and studying became his life and he lived off eggs and pasta—the two things he knew how to cook. She’d worn her favorite black cardigan over a form-fitting white T-shirt with jeans.

  Just before the photo was taken, Danny had bent to whisper in her ear and she’d hunched her shoulder in response, his warm breath tickling her neck. “Thanks for making me look like the luckiest guy in there tonight,” he’d said.

  She’d been so stunned and pleased by his compliment that she’d gone totally still and mute, flummoxed by happiness.

  Lifting the photo off the shelf, she studied the expression on her face and wondered if Danny saw the same thing she did when he looked at the picture. A couple.

  Funny how she’d thought nothing of the sort back then. Only that Danny had noticed she’d taken care to look her best that night. But now she couldn’t stop wondering if maybe there had always been some underlying attraction neither of them had been willing to acknowledge.

  She put the picture back and walked to the window. The sun had yet to break through the marine layer, dew clung to the leaves on the tree a few feet away. Down below, the garden bloomed fall flowers, and verdant foliage needed a trim. Next month she and Danny would be married standing on a patch of grass near the far fence.

  Married.

  To her best friend.

  And now her lover.

  Quivers competed with tingles in a race down her back and arms. She hurried to the bed, pulled back the comforter, and slid in between the sheets. She lifted the covers over her face, feeling like she needed to hide. From the delight making her cheeks warm. From the thrill of making love for the first time to a man she adored. From the fact that Danny had seen her naked!

  He’d liked what he saw.

  She was pretty sure he’d liked it a lot.

  “I hope you’re not asleep under there because these are my best pancakes yet.”

  His voice had her grinning into the soft cotton blend before she whipped the sheets down to her shoulders and peeked at him. She suddenly felt shy—until she saw what he had on, and she burst into laughter.

  Tears leaked out of her eyes as she pushed up into a sitting position. She wrapped her arms around her stomach, giggled harder.

  Danny put the food tray on the bed, his hands on his hips. “What?” he asked with a mischievous smile.

  He was too cute.

  He wore a blue apron over his naked body. That alone would be a fun sight, but this apron had words on it along with a big red lip stain. Kiss the Cock.

  “Typos happen,” he said with a shrug. “Especially when your friends are drunk off their ass when they order it online.”

  “You sure it’s a typo?” Liv managed to ask. She’d been with Zane and Bryce when they’d ordered the gag gift and yes, beer had been involved, but they knew exactly what they’d ordered.

  Danny narrowed his eyes. “This is on purpose?”

  Liv nodded.

  Danny cracked up. “Of course those boneheads meant to do this.” He sat on the bed and handed her a plate. Their fingers brushed, and the simple touch sent sweet pressure building between her hips again. Maybe they could stay in bed all day. “So?” he said.

  “So?”

  “After breakfast, do you want to kiss my—”

  “Yes. I do. I really do.”

  The wicked gleam in his eyes, combined with his dimples, guaranteed they weren’t close to being done with each other. “Looks like we better eat up then. We’re going to need our strength.” He took off the apron before grabbing his plate and joining her under the covers, their backs against the headboard, legs straight out in front of them.

  “These look amazing,” she said, cutting into a fluffy pancake with her fork.

  “I added a new ingredient. Let me know what you think.”

  Danny watched her as she put the bite in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “That.
Was. The most delicious bite of pancake ever.” She turned to kiss his cheek. “You put honey in them.”

  “I did.”

  “Best Sunday morning ever.” She quickly took another bite. Not only because she was hungry, but because it really was the best morning ever and she didn’t want her emotions showing all over her face. No guy had ever made her feel the way Danny did. Like she mattered more than anything else. Will, she realized, had never made her breakfast in bed or asked what her favorite cookie was or rubbed her feet. Not that he didn’t do nice things. But they were the kind of things she imagined he did for any female, like open the door or pull out her chair.

  Blinking away thoughts of Will, she bumped Danny’s shoulder. “Thanks for cooking these.”

  “My pleasure.”

  She imagined it truly was. Danny liked taking care of others. That was the main reason he was so adamant about forgoing a family and children. Once his eyesight failed, he hated the idea of not being able to dote on those he loved. She forced the thought away. They were talking years from now. His feelings would change now that they were together.

  They ate in comfortable silence until Liv licked her fork clean. Danny took their empty plates and put them on the tray. “Be right back,” he said, and she inwardly smiled. No doubt Mr. Neat didn’t like the idea of dirty dishes in his bedroom.

  When he walked—no stalked—back through the doorway with a predatory gleam in his eye, all sorts of dirty ideas flitted through her imagination. “You look like a man with something on his mind,” she said.

  He marched to her side of the bed. “I do. And it starts with getting you naked again.” He took hold of the bottom of her shirt. She lifted her arms up, and the T-shirt hit the floor a second later. “Step two involves the shower.”

  Liv took his outstretched hand and slipped out of bed. “I love the shower.”

  The heated look he gave her over his shoulder on the way to the bathroom made her pulse speed up. “You’re going to love it more after today.”

  “You think?”

  “I know.”

  “I guess you’ll have to prove it to me then.”

  “Plan to.” He let go of her hand to turn on the water. The clear glass enclosure had plenty of room for two.

  “Before you do anything, I believe I promised you some kisses in a key area.” He could stand or sit on the tiled bench under the sprays of water. She didn’t care which as long as she got to have him in her mouth.

  He palmed her cheek, his thumb lightly brushing across her lips, a look of pure affection sparkling in his eyes. “Far be it for me to stand in the way of your promise.”

  She took his wrist and little by little sucked his thumb into her mouth until it was all the way in. He groaned.

  Pulling his hand away, he tugged her into the shower and shut the door. The warm water felt so good against her sensitized skin. With Danny’s hard body pressed against her soft one, it felt even better. “I promise to make you come at least three more times today,” he murmured into her ear before sealing the vow with a kiss that made her toes curl.

  He kept his word and then some.

  Chapter Ten

  “What’s on your mind, Maybug?”

  The fact that he knew her eyes had been open and that she’d been thinking about something caused a slow smile to bloom across her face. She rolled over and buried her nose in his nape, breathing him in. He smelled like man, soap, and sex. Her new favorite morning scents.

  He wrapped his arm around her, tucking her close. She smoothed her hand down his chest and abs and discovered he wasn’t just awake, he was up. Her smile grew bigger. “I was thinking about chemistry,” she said against his neck. “How that was my worst subject in high school.”

  “Good to know a night of hot sex inspires such deep, meaningful thoughts the morning after.”

  “Buuuttt. That with you it’s my best subject.”

  “Ahh. That’s better. No arguments there.”

  Liv lifted up onto her elbow, the sheet slipping down her back as she gazed into a face that was sometimes hard to look at. God, he was handsome. “I think we might have broken the composition, or would that be properties, of sexual attraction last night.”

  Danny laughed. “Dork.”

  “Your dork?” she asked, needing some reassurance that last night wasn’t a one-time thing.

  The air between them grew thick. Danny palmed her cheek. “How about I keep an ion you for as long as you…” he faltered, his joke turning into something else right before her eyes. “For as long as I can.”

  “Danny.” She kissed him softly before pulling back to let him see how much he meant to her. She hoped it showed on her face because she couldn’t find the words. His promise confused her as much as it heartened her.

  Was he saying things would end between them when he lost his sight? It wasn’t fair to look into the future like that and make decisions for them both. But she didn’t want to argue with him. Not now, when he’d stayed in bed with her this Monday morning rather than leave for work.

  One step at a time, she told herself.

  “Your mind’s at work again,” he said, right before he flipped her onto her back and covered her with his warm, naked body. One body part in particular made itself known. She wiggled her hips in response. “Don’t think so hard, Maybug.”

  “I’m not.”

  “You are.”

  “One of us has to.” She ran her hands down his back.

  “What do you need to know right now?” He brushed the hair off her forehead and rubbed the strands through his fingers.

  “Are we going to keep doing this?”

  He cocked one eyebrow. “By this I assume you mean me putting my proton in your neutron?”

  She giggled. “Among other things.”

  “We are going to do lots of this.” He moved down her body, kissing her neck, her breast. “And all those other things you like so much.” He nudged her legs wider, moved his lips lovingly over her belly.

  Her clit swelled in anticipation of that magic tongue of his.

  “So this is real now?”

  “It was always real, Maybug.”

  She cupped the back of his head to still his progression. He looked up. “We’re going to be okay, right? This just makes our friendship stronger. Our marriage more significant?”

  Something Liv couldn’t pinpoint flashed in his eyes, but the second he blinked it was gone. “Yes.”

  “But?” Uncertainty sounded in that one small word.

  “No buts.”

  “Danny.”

  “We’re good but I can’t…”

  Make promises I’m still not sure I can keep.

  Liv let go of him. “It’s okay. Carry on with one of those things I like so much,” she said lightly, waving her hand in the direction of her lower body. Bed wasn’t the place to talk about serious stuff.

  He hung on to her gaze for a second longer before he ducked his head and made her forget about everything but their bodies.

  For now.

  …

  “Your phone,” Danny said, his excellent hearing alerting Liv to a call.

  She hurried out of the kitchen and into the living room to pick up her cell. It didn’t ring very often so she quickly pulled it out of her purse, glancing at the screen before answering. “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hello, Olivia.” By the stern sound of her mother’s voice Liv knew this wasn’t an emergency—or friendly check-in.

  “How are you?” Liv asked, looking over her shoulder to see if Danny had abandoned the chili on the stovetop and followed her.

  “I’m confused is how I am.”

  “O-kay.”

  “I ran into Mary.”

  Liv swallowed. She assumed her mom meant Mary, as in Danny’s mother. A few moments of awkward silence passed.

  “She didn’t know you were pregnant or that you and Danny were getting married.”

  “Oh.” Liv plopped down on the couch, her legs shaking. “Um, I do
n’t know why Danny hasn’t told his parents yet.”

  “What’s going on Olivia?” The accusatory sound of her mom’s voice, combined with the fact that Danny had kept her a secret from Mary and Russ, stung. Her eyes filled with tears.

  Which was ridiculous. It wasn’t like this was a real marriage. Or that Danny was excited about marrying her. And the baby wasn’t his. Liv had a feeling Danny’s integrity had kept him silent on the matter, and she couldn’t fault him that.

  It still hurt, though.

  Did it hurt Mary and Russ? The fact was she and Danny were getting married and he hadn’t shared the news. Liv hated the idea of causing a rift between Danny and his parents. In her haste to fix her problem, she’d neglected to think about all the other people who would be affected.

  “What do you mean?” Liv asked, wiping the corner of her eye.

  “I wasn’t born yesterday, young lady. You and Danny have been friends for a long time. You go to Europe with barely a good-bye and then you’re back and suddenly in love with him and having a baby? Something isn’t right.”

  “Nothing is ever right with you,” she said defensively, hating herself for it. In this case, it was fair of her mom to have doubts. Why couldn’t Liv just come out with the truth? It was on the tip of her tongue, but her lips stayed sealed.

  “Because you continue to make one mistake after another. At least Danny is owning up to his, and this baby won’t be brought into the world the same way you were.”

  Anger, grief, and shame all clawed at the back of Liv’s throat. Liv had thought—prayed—she’d gain her mom’s forgiveness when she married Jim, but it hadn’t happened. Joy Lincoln Marshall still believed that her pregnancy pushed Liv’s birth father away and she hated Liv for it because deep down she hadn’t wanted to be a mother. She’d wanted to be married without children.

  “Are you saying Danny being with me is a mistake? Am I that unworthy, Mom?”

  “Don’t put words in my mouth, Olivia.”

  “We might not…” she was about to say “love each other” but that wasn’t true. They did. In a best friend way. “We might not have everything planned”—total truth—“but we’re committed to each other.”