by Leigh, Ember
He held the main door open for her, the dark sky sending a thrill through him. A night out with Lila. They were heading to a swanky place, the producer Carlos’s pad. Carlos regularly worked on high-grossing documentaries and movies and had so much money he could wipe his ass with twenties. Being so close with the guys at Holt Body Fitness, he’d offered up his house in a heartbeat when Travis mentioned throwing a release party. Lex was just happy to be able to have Lila at his side…show her a small slice of his life now. Rollin’ with the rich guys, the successful people, now. Big difference from before.
He led her to his two-door sports car, grinning over at her. “Remember this car?”
She squinted at it. “Um…should I?”
He laughed. “I drove you home in it the other night. Clearly you were tanked.”
“It’s lovely…maybe I already told you, though.” She slid on the leather seat just as he did, their doors shutting at exactly the same time. They both laughed.
“Can’t wait for you to see Carlos’s house,” Lex said as he started the car, revving the engine a little bit. Just for show. “But first I have to make one stop.”
She lifted a perfectly shaped brow. “Where?”
“I forgot something at my place.” He feigned a grimace as he sped out of the parking lot and onto the road. “But it’s on the way. It’ll be quick.” It was a ruse, really. He wanted her to see his life now. Show her all the ways he’d improved.
Show her it wasn’t just one or two things but a whole freakin’ list.
Downtempo electronic music pulsed from the speakers as he drove. He could feel Lila’s eyes on him while he shifted gears. She’d always thought stick shift was hot, so he played it up as much as he could.
She cleared her throat, shifting in her seat. A waft of her sweet perfume reached him, made him dizzy for a moment.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“A little. But not really.” She examined her nails. “I actually can’t believe I’m going out on a Friday after work. I usually can’t do it. But I feel good today.”
He caught himself as he reached over to grab her knee, instead moved his hand to adjust the volume knob. “Probably just because you’re excited to see me.”
She cast him a sly grin. “I’m excited for the premier.”
“Sure, sure.” He pulled onto the freeway, easily joining the fast flow of traffic. “Now that you’re part of the gym, you gotta stay in the loop. I get it.”
She chuckled. “You’re so bad at this.”
“At what?”
“Being platonic.”
He tutted, shaking his head as he pulled onto the exit ramp, downshifting as he neared the stoplight at the end. The car rumbled as they slowed to a stop. “I am being platonic. You just think everything I do is flirting.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, propping her temple against two fingers as she watched him. “You’re an incorrigible flirt.”
He burst out laughing. “Just with you, doll.”
Lex didn’t live far from her, and without traffic, the trip only took about fifteen minutes. Once he pulled into a parking spot at his complex, a slightly-upscale building with a doorman and amenities, he looked over at her.
“You wanna come in?” Please say yes.
She studied the building. He could sense the questions swirling inside her. After a moment, she nodded. “Sure.”
He shut the car off. His heart pounded as he led her up the cement steps to the main door. The doorman nodded, holding the door open for them. Simple white tiles contrasted nicely with the gray walls. Lila looked around, her heels clicking against the floor.
“How long have you been at this place?”
He pushed the elevator button, even though he’d normally sprint up the stairs. “About six months.”
She nodded as the doors slid open. Inside, he pushed the button for floor three and watched her as the doors whooshed closed. Was she thinking what he was? The last time they’d ridden in an elevator together, at age 22, he fingerfucked her into an orgasm that nearly broke the car apart. They had a habit of having sex everywhere and anywhere. It had been something of their specialty.
“You don’t have to worry,” he said, cracking a grin. “I can be platonic in an elevator, too.”
Her cheeks were pink as she looked away. “I’d hope so, by now.”
The doors opened, and he jerked his head toward the right. “My place is over here.” He fished the keys out of his pocket in front of the simple black door that led to his apartment. Pushing the door open, he gestured for her to go inside first. He watched her carefully, eager to witness her reaction.
Showing her his place was more than just a moment of pride for him—it was like finishing up the final chapters to a book that they’d started writing together years ago. Here’s how the story ends. Lex gets better. Lila is successful. And then they live happily ever after…together.
But that last part wouldn’t come so easily. He shut the door quietly, watching as she looked around, her face lighting up.
“Wow, Lex.” Her gaze skated between the living area, flanked with big, black couches, and the kitchen, where everything was organized and clean. He’d made it that way especially for her, partly to show her that her anal-retentive self could coexist with Messy Lex again. He’d put his dirty underwear in the correct place and stop leaving the scissors in the bathroom, or any number of things that used to drive her up the wall. Just for her.
Stairs at the far wall climbed up to the loft area, where his bed sat. She couldn’t see it, but it was a low-to-the-ground king bed, insanely comfortable and perfect for any time she wanted to spend a night in his arms. He bit back a grin, heading for the kitchen. Yeah, let her take it all in. See how mature he’d become.
“You’ve only been here six months?” She dragged a hand over the back of a couch, looked around, her skirt swooshing as she walked. “I feel like six months in, I’d still be unpacking.”
“No, you’d be unpacked,” he pointed out. “You’d just be stressing over where the final resting place is for every tiny thing.”
A burst of air escaped her, her lips half grimace, half grin. “Yeah. You might be right.”
“Anyway, I had a vision.” He leaned against the kitchen counter, dropping his keys.
“Clearly.” She smiled, squinting at some pictures on the far wall. Shots of him taken during a fight at the gym—artsy things a friend had made for him, all silhouettes and power poses.
“Where were you before here?”
“Living with an ex.”
Her face tightened. “Oh, wow.”
“What?” He liked the way her energy spiked at that admission, like maybe she’d gotten a little jealous. Not that she’d ever admit it to him.
She shrugged. “You lived with someone else—that’s a pretty big step.” She hefted with a laugh. “I haven’t lived with anyone else except you.”
He nodded. “Yeah, well…it was a bad idea. I knew it was a bad idea. But I did it anyway.”
A couple moments of silence stretched between them. Her gaze found his, hesitantly. Like maybe she had questions. Ask me. I’ll tell you everything.
“What did you need to get?”
He paused, struggling to think of an answer. “Uh…actually, nothing.” He laughed. “I just wanted you to see my place.”
A grin broke out on her face and she shook her head. “Smooth move. You roped me in.”
“Come on, let’s go to Carlos’s.”
* * *
Lila sipped at her wine. She felt fancy as fuck tonight, her twelve-hour stint at the ER already a distant memory, practically a lifetime ago. Thank God she’d decided to come to this party. Pure Hollywood Hills living at its finest—track lights illuminating immaculate tiled floors, angular furniture that definitely had not come from Ikea, wall-to-wall windows overlooking the goddamn Hollywood sign.
And with Lex, Travis, Amara and the rest of the gym crew here, she felt oddly at home. Less of an ou
tsider looking in than she might have imagined.
Carlos whooped, maybe the fifth time he’d done it since they’d arrived fifteen minutes ago. “Goddamn, you people are beautiful! Are we ready to screen?”
Murmurs swelled into shouts of approval. The whole production crew was here too. Over thirty of them all together—with room to spare in Carlos’s apartment—everyone sleek and trendy, well-coiffed, immaculately maintained. Lila didn’t normally hang with a crowd like this, where the cost of everyone’s shoes alone might break six figures.
Lex nodded toward the big living room. Couches crowded around an enormous television on the wall. Black squares lined the walls in the living room—speakers, built-in. He guided her forward, his hand hot at her lower back.
“Let’s sit down.” Guests swarmed the available spots, and Lex sat down at the far edge of a plush brown leather couch. Lila looked around, calculating seat-to-ass ratio. Not everyone would have a spot on couches or chairs.
Lex must have been reading her mind. “Sit on my lap.”
He slid his hand over the curve of her hip, his dark eyes swirling with desire. Blast his Puerto-Rican–Israeli heritage…it made him irresistible. She acquiesced before she even realized it, turned and sat squarely on top of him, his heat burning through her.
Amara’s brother Eddie scooted in next to her, and then Travis and Amara at the far end of the same couch, sitting much the same as she and Lex. Amara cast her a sly grin from over there, her eyes twinkling. Amara hadn’t said much about them showing up together, but she knew girl talk was overdue.
Carlos went over to the TV, fiddling with various remotes as he set up the show. It had aired earlier that day, somewhere around four p.m.—but nobody could party at four p.m. on a Friday with jobs and obligations.
She relaxed into him, settling into place, wondering if he imagined the rhythm of their former lovemaking as much as she was. His cock was right there, beneath only a couple layers of fabric. Practically pulsating between her legs. A homing beacon.
Lex’s hand smoothed over her right hip, leaving a hot trail. His hand wandered over her upper thigh briefly; her breath shriveled in her throat. His touch feels too good. You have to sit somewhere else.
But she couldn’t. No way in hell she’d deprive herself of this treat. She rocked forward a little, imagining his cock again. Maybe he was hard already. Carlos whooped again, and the television screen came to life. Everyone cheered as he queued up the first episode. Turning to the assembled party, he opened his arms.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you…Regular People Fighting UFC Champs.” More cheering. Lex squeezed her hip, digging her fingertips into the flesh above her ass. She inhaled sharply, rocking forward again, pretending to adjust her position. Her pussy clenched. Please Lex, I need it. I need you. Why do I want you so much?
The screen flashed, and gritty rock music filled the room. Raw shots of Travis and Lex filled the screen, catching them in powerful poses—arms crossed, balling their fists, looking as tough and mean as they could get. Their names appeared at the bottom of the screen during their highlight reels. Both looked like sculpted warriors—the idealized Greek gods of war, oozing sex appeal and dominance, striking down anyone in their path. At the end of the intro, the title flashed across the screen in bold letters, and then it cut to light, lilting music, the face of a regular person filling the screen.
Cheers erupted. Lila gasped—she hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath that whole time—and looked back at Lex. He grinned shyly, meeting her gaze briefly. He looked like a total badass on the screen—not that he wasn’t in real life, too—and her heart swelled as she watched. Enamored more each second.
The first episode featured Travis. He rotated his torso as they interviewed him, perfecting the cocky, disinterested part. Nothing like the real Travis, really. These guys had their fighting personas down pat, which was both hilarious and enchanting. Guys had to play the hyper masculine part as much as girls who dressed up like divas on the weekend.
Their first “regular” participant was an overeager office worker who had been a longtime fan of Travis since seeing him in Playgirl. The lady was early forties, overweight, and had infectious laughter and shockingly red hair. The room roared with laughter during her interview. Lila watched the whole thing with a grin on her face, unable to rip her eyes from the screen.
The guys were on to something. This series wasn’t just well-done, it was addictive. Or maybe that’s just because you’re biased toward one of the fighters. She rocked forward again, loving the way Lex’s hand smoothed over her thigh again, sending prickles through her shoulders. She cleared her throat, pretending to be interested in adjusting her skirt, dragging her hand through the folds of fabric, searching out the line of his leg.
He tensed beneath her when her hand traced the outline of his thigh beneath hers. She looked back at him, caught the glint of his eyes in the darkness.
His other hand met the curve of her hip. He held her in place on top of him while he shifted beneath her. The heat of him pressed up against her back.
In her ear, he whispered, “Hey, now. Keep it platonic.”
The grin threatened to split her face, but she didn’t look back at him or else she’d burst into giggles. Caught red-handed. Surely Lex didn’t mind, either.
Travis and the red-headed fan sparred a bit on the screen, laughter mingling with the surround-sound punches and grunts as the two “fought.” Lex’s hands gripped her hips, practically leaving burn marks. She flexed on top of him, barely—just enough to hint at it, to make him wonder if she really was provoking him—and knew her panties were wet, almost worried she’d leave a stain on his jeans when she stood up.
The episode wrapped up and credits rolled. Everyone cheered, and Carlos flicked the lights on.
“Damn, dude. That was incredible.” Travis raised his beer and toasted Carlos as he returned to his seat.
“Thanks to you guys for adding one more hit to my company,” Carlos retorted, cackling.
“Hey, this was all my sister’s idea,” Eddie interjected, pointing at Travis and Amara. “Which means I’m probably due some royalties ‘cause I’m related.”
Travis threw his head back, laughing. “Dang, Eddie. Anything for a buck.”
Conversation swelled in the room, and Lila raised her glass to clink against Eddie’s, Lex’s, Travis’s, and Amara’s. Music sprang to life again, and the crowd dispersed a bit, spreading out around the house.
Lila didn’t move, just looked back at Lex with a twinkle in her eye.
“What did you think?” His voice came out edged with something; probably the same thing that made his eyes so dark and tempting.
“Amazing.” She shifted on top of him so she could face him better. She propped her legs up on the couch in the space Eddie left when he stood up. “This show is incredible, Lex. I had no idea it would be so…professional.”
“Yeah, I’ll look pretty good knocking Mason’s lights out in a few weeks, huh?”
She bit back a grin. He knew how to be smooth. All the time, being smooth. “Yeah, I guess you will.”
They shared a private glance, and Lex smoothed his hand over the top of her thigh, skimming over the fabric of her skirt. Enough people had moved to other areas that they could have a private conversation.
“You want another drink?” He nodded toward her empty wine glass.
“Yeah, I could use one.”
Lex leaned his head back on the couch and furrowed his brow as he called out. “’Ey, Eddie!” He waited a few moments, but Eddie didn’t show up.
“Oh, stop it. Don’t make him get me a drink.” She giggled.
“He’s got to, because I am not moving.” His gaze scorched over her waist and up to her breasts, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “Sorry, doll. You sat down, but you’re not getting up.”
She giggled, leaning into him. “What if I have to use the bathroom?”
“Can’t get up. You’re mine.” He
wetted his lower lip, grinning a little as he looked her up and down. She caught herself before she reminded him about the platonic clause—that seemed totally out the window now. And how little time it had lasted—less than a handful of hours in each other’s presence. You knew this would happen.
She feigned sternness, crossing her arms. The heat of his big hands on her thighs prompted a slow pulse between her legs. “Look, the whole party is moving. We should get up.”
He looked around and then sighed. “Fine.”
She swiveled around to hop off him. When her feet touched the ground, Lex’s hand slid over her ass cheek, sending heat streaking through her. She stood, glancing back at him.
“Sorry,” he offered.
“You’re not sorry,” she said, pulling him to his feet.
“You’re right.” He slid his hand over the dip of her waist, but she turned away. There had to be some limits. For now, at least. Until she couldn’t avoid it any longer.
“Let’s go get another drink.” That, at least, would help her dissolve the last rational barrier to him putting his mouth everywhere on her skin.
Lex followed her, taking long pulls at his beer. The all-white kitchen was bright and clamorous, pockets of guests gathered around veggie plates and hummus arrays scattered on white marble countertops. Lila went to the table tucked into the corner where a sampling of red wine bottles sat. She reached for the merlot, filling her glass again.
Lex stood off to the side, smiling across the room at someone. She went up to him, handing him her drink. “Hold this for a second? I’m gonna go to the bathroom.”
He received her glass with a nod, and she scurried away from him and into the bathroom, the memory of his heat beneath her legs already turning into fantasy. She sat pensive on the toilet as she peed, both admiring the gleaming, tiled bathroom and lost in her own thoughts.
Her heels clicked over the distressed wood flooring in the living room on her way back to the kitchen. When she crossed the threshold, a hand grabbed her wrist. She gasped, spinning to face whoever grabbed her. Lex grinned at her, bringing her hard against his body.
