Cocktails & Dreams

by Autumn Markus

  What the hell?

  Jena was shorter than Nicholas, but the guy dwarfed her as he picked her up and swung her around. Very tall and muscular, with nearly waist length, glossy honey-colored hair and deeply tanned skin, he looked like he just stepped off the cover of a freaking romance novel, especially as he was currently shirtless and wearing hip-hugging clamdiggers.

  Jena kissed his lips with a smack, and Nick felt sharp stab of jealousy.

  “Come get a beer, Nick.” Travis was at Nick’s elbow, guiding him toward the kitchen. He looked at Nicholas and smirked. “Or maybe you’d prefer a shot.”

  Nick glanced back. “I thought the bar was over there.”

  Travis shrugged. “Yeah, if you want fruity chick drinks. The good stuff is in here.” Pulling a bottle of Jack Daniel’s from the cupboard, he poured each of them a shot, followed quickly by a second when he noticed Nick glaring at Jena and the Giant as they swayed to Bob Marley, her head snuggled right about where her dance partner’s heart would be, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist.

  “What the hell’s going on out here?” Nicholas jumped as a voice came from behind him, and he turned to find Conor tucking in his shirt and straightening his hair. “I was just about to seal the deal with some chick and another girl busted in and said we had to get out here to see something. What am I missing?”

  Travis pointed toward the Jena and her friend, and the three of them watched as the song ended and they headed toward the bar. Within a couple of minutes, Fabio was holding court with most of the women in the room in attendance. Fabio murmured something, and the circle around him burst into high-pitched laughter.

  Conor grunted, scratching the back of his freckled neck. “Who’s the suave motherfucker?”

  Travis chuckled. “Jena’s high school friend. Leisa got him here from Hawaii for this luau from hell, which, come to think of it, is probably in his honor. Name’s Luke.”

  “‘Friend’?” Conor grinned at Nicholas. “You better hope that’s all he is, Nicky, ’cause there’s no way you can compete with that.” Nick thought he must have had a shitty look on his face, because Conor laughed aloud. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know about him.”

  “Fuck you, Conor,” Nick snapped. “Of course Jena told me about her friend, Luke, but I pictured a skinny, funny-looking kid, not…that.” He gestured toward the living room with a grimace, and both Travis and Conor cracked up.

  Nick lunged at Conor just as Jena entered the room with shining eyes, tugging Fabio behind her.

  “Luke, I’d like you to meet some friends of mine,” she said, clutching his arm and smiling.

  Nick felt his gut clench. “Friend,” he muttered, and was immediately ashamed of himself when Jena’s happy smile dimmed.

  Leisa popped up on Luke’s other side, wrapping her arm around his waist. “This is Conor.” She pointed to Nick’s roommate, who tipped a cautious salute. Nicholas was sure Con was deciding he could take the larger man. “This angel is my boyfriend, Travis,” Leisa continued, slipping under Travis’s arm. She kissed her man on the neck and then gestured toward Nicholas. “This Neanderthal is Jena’s almost-boyfriend. The name he grunts is Nicholas.”

  Luke’s lips curved into a lazy smile as he ran his hand over Jena’s shoulder. “‘Almost’? That’s just a fraction from ‘not at all.’ Better watch out.”

  Nicholas instantly saw red. “You watch out, mother—”

  Leisa hurriedly pulled Nick toward the living room as Jena stared at him in shock. “Don’t be an ass, Nicholas. Luke is just kidding around. Believe me, Jena is uber-safe with him.”

  Just as Nicholas was about to state his opinion that Leisa was so full of shit she should squish when she walked, Jena burst into the room. “What the hell was that, Nicholas? I haven’t seen Luke since he moved to Hawaii five years ago, and granted, I could definitely skip the embarrassment of this stupid party, but I’m really glad to see him anyway. Then you get all stupid and…Gaahh.” Angry tears began to fill her eyes, and she dashed them away.

  “Nicholas is jealous,” Leisa said in a too-calm voice, her eyes sparkling with laughter.

  Jena stared at her, startled, and then started to giggle. “No. Really?” She turned toward Nick and took his hand. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m not his type at all.”

  “No, but Nicholas is.” Leisa burst into loud laughter. “I saw him checking out your ass when he was walking over, Hot Bod. Good thing Travis was partially hidden by Conor. Luke would take one look at that fine ass in those perfect jeans and go nuts. And if he spotted the package before he knew it belonged to me…” She was practically doubled over, laughing, when Travis walked in the room, a questioning smile on his face.

  “What’s so funny, sweet love?”

  Leisa bellowed out another loud laugh, and Jena joined her. “Your package,” Leisa finally gasped out.

  Travis looked stunned. “What the fuck?”

  Nicholas grinned, tugging a giggling Jena toward the door as Leisa finally collapsed, slapping the floor next to her hip convulsively as tears streamed down her face. “It’s not as bad as it sounds, Travis. Leisa will explain as soon as she cleans up her puddle of pee.”

  That sent Leisa off on another gale of laughter, and Nick saw her pull Travis down with her.

  Still smiling, Nicholas approached Luke as he talked football with Conor, and stuck out his hand. “I’m a complete ass, and I’m sorry. I’m glad to meet someone who means so much to Jena.”

  Luke smiled slyly and shook Nick’s hand. “Told him, huh?” Jena nodded. “Jena, why you gotta ruin all my fun? I love making straight guys nervous. Nice to meet you, Nicholas.” He leaned closer to Nick and muttered, “Who’s this guy with?”

  Nick pointed toward Conor’s latest Amazon as she held court amongst the slavering fools at the bar.

  “Sweet.” Luke punched Conor in the arm and said in a louder voice, “Hey, let’s grab a drink. I see a hot chick over at the bar I’d like to get better acquainted with.” He winked at Jena and Nick and headed for tiki hell, Conor happily in tow.

  A slow song began, and Nicholas led Jena to the small patch of floor that was cleared for dancing. He folded her in his arms, burying his face in her hair as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “That wasn’t very nice, Nicholas. They’ll probably get in a fight,” Jena said.

  “Probably,” Nicholas agreed, unconcerned. “Conor could do with a beating.”

  She chuckled, closing her eyes and resting her head against his chest. Nick’s heart stuttered and then began to thunder madly when her fingers slipped under the hem of his shirt and started tracing lazy circles at the base of his spine, occasionally dipping just below the waistband of his jeans.

  “I really missed that,” he said, pressing her even closer and kissing her forehead.

  She smiled. “It’s been a long week, hasn’t it?”

  Nicholas took a deep breath. “It has been a long week, but I was talking about months. You haven’t done exactly that since the shower in Frisco.”

  Jena stopped dead, flashing a startled look at Nick’s face. Her mouth opened and closed like she had something to say a couple of times, and then she buried her face in his shirt. Nicholas slowly started dancing again, running his hands soothingly up and down her back.

  “I can’t talk about this.” Jena’s voice was muffled by Nick’s shirtfront. “This is so humiliating.”

  “Why? I told you, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. I—look, will you come somewhere with me so we can talk?”

  She shook her head. Nicholas lifted her face from his shirt, trying to catch her eye. “Jena, I’ve spent nearly every night for the last eight months dreaming about you.” He searched for the right words. “Please come with me. Please. We need to talk about this.”

  Nick realized that they were standing still on the dance floor again, curious couples steering around them, but he wouldn’t move until Jena made her decision. After a long minute, she slowly n
odded.

  “Okay. Yes,” she whispered. “Let’s go.” Without another word, she took Nick’s hand and pulled him toward the door.

  “Where are you going, birthday girl? You haven’t even opened presents yet.” Leisa barred the door, laughing.

  “Please, Leisa…” Jena murmured. “I can do that tomorrow, okay? We need a quiet place to talk, and there are no quiet places in this nuthouse.”

  Leisa looked around, and cringed at the crash of glass and the loud guffaw of laughter that followed. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I assume this is that talk?” Nick nodded once. “Well, thank God. It’s about time.” Leisa kissed Jena on the cheek and handed her a pair of shoes. “You’ll need these in the parking lot. And don’t go to Nicholas’s apartment. Conor and Luke got in a fight over something at the bar, and I think Conor was headed to his place for triumphant caveman sex.” Leisa sighed. “If Conor only knew Luke is probably wishing he was the one going back to that apartment…” She pushed them outside and shut the door, cutting off her chortle.

  Nicholas heard jingling keys and turned to see Jena smiling at him. “If Conor’s gone, so’s his truck. Come on, I have my car.” Jena grabbed Nick’s arm and leaned over to slip on her shoes, and he had to look away as her breasts threatened to escape the confines of her bikini top.

  No touching before talking…no touching before talking…

  Jena stopped beside a fairly new Jeep Liberty, unlocking the doors so they could swing inside. After she put the keys in the ignition, she turned and looked at Nick. “So…where are we going? Do you want to go to a restaurant, or…”

  Nick smiled wryly at himself; he hadn’t even considered going anywhere but Jena’s apartment. “Anywhere you’re comfortable is fine with me.”

  She started the engine and pulled onto the street, glancing at Nicholas occasionally as she steered through the quiet neighborhood. She rubbed her palm on her thigh briskly, and he wondered if that was a sign Jena was as nervous as he felt. She threw him a sideways glance.

  “I think I’d feel most comfortable at my apartment, to tell you the truth. Is that okay with you?”

  Oh, yes! Nick’s hormones screamed, pumping their tiny fists in the air and doing a happy dance. He quickly shoved the little bastards in a cage so they couldn’t ruin this for him before it even happened.

  “Sure,” he answered mildly, turning his head to look out the side window before his grin could give him away.

  A few minutes later, Jena led the way up the stairs to her apartment and Nick could look at her openly. Now he really did feel like a perv, but he couldn’t keep his eyes off of the nearly naked sweep of skin from her shoulders to her waist. Memories of running his hands slowly up her back, feeling both the weight of her hair and the softness of her skin, flooded his mind, and he was struck stupid. He must have made some sound, because Jena looked around from unlocking the door with a questioning smile, and Nick reminded himself again that they were there to talk, damn it. Anything else had to be on Jena’s terms, and she might throw him out after he admitted that her name and face hadn’t stuck in his mind, but her body had. Even Nick had to admit that made him sound like a pig.

  Jena tossed her keys in the bowl on the end table and slipped off her shoes. “Um…do you mind if I change? This was Leisa’s idea.” She gestured to her outfit and looked down, chewing her lower lip.

  “It was a damn good idea,” Nick assured her, smiling. “Get comfortable, Jena. I can wait.”

  She headed for the doorway of her bedroom, hands already loosening the knot on her sarong. “Okay. So…there are drinks in the fridge if you’d like one. Make yourself at home.”

  Her door shut softly, and Nick put his hands on the kitchen counter, letting his head sag down between his shoulders. No touching before talking…no touching before talking…you can do this, he chanted to himself again, but this time he wasn’t convinced. How was that going to happen when even now he was imagining that sarong floating to the floor, with Jena’s top joining it, as she whispered, “Come to bed, Nicholas…”

  “Fuck,” Nicholas muttered as he felt the sudden pressure in his jeans. That was going to look great: he asks the girl to just talk to him, and when she comes back from changing her clothes she finds Captain Tripod lying in wait.

  Nicholas heard Jena’s doorknob turn and quickly opened the refrigerator, staring into it like it held the secrets of life eternal so he’d have an excuse to have his back turned when she finally entered the kitchen. Untucking his shirt, Nick started making deals with his dick as he searched the shelves for a drink. No matter what Jena is wearing, or not wearing, if you will behave yourself for just a little while, I promise you can have whatever you want. If Jena agrees.

  It agreed to try.

  Nick heard Jena pad into the room barefoot, and asked, “Beer or Coke?” In the second she considered, the trouser monster subsided enough that he could turn around without embarrassment. Nick felt a funny twist in his gut when he saw that Jena was wearing the rowing shirt he’d loaned her the morning after the incredible non-sex night, and soft shorts. He liked seeing that, but had to stop thinking about it or he’d be making more deals with Spike.

  “Coke, I think. I had a couple drinks already, and I probably shouldn’t have any more right now.” Jena looked nervous, but she caught the can Nicholas tossed her and they settled at opposite ends of the couch. She took a sip and set the drink down carefully, pulling her feet up on the cushion and wrapping her arms around her folded legs. She rested her cheek on her knees and sighed.

  Nick took a deep breath and let it whoosh out. “So…New Year’s.” He cleared his throat and tried to remember what he had planned to say. He got nothing. Winging it, then. “Can we stop pretending it didn’t happen?” Encouraged by her slow nod, he went on. “I want to apologize to you. I can’t excuse myself for not remembering you were the same girl from New Year’s Eve right away, but there is a stupid, half-assed explanation. Conor and I had been party hopping, and I got into a groove of ordering Jäger everywhere we went. I don’t think I’ll do that again.” His lips lifted in a twisted smile. “Apparently, Jäger fucks with my mind mightily, but still allows me to function.”

  “I didn’t know you were so messed up,” Jena said softly, resting her chin on her knees. “Though, to be fair, I’d had a lot to drink myself. Probably not a great idea.” She put her forehead on her knees and continued. “So what you’re saying is that it was all a big mistake, right? Too much alcohol and a warm body at the right time.”

  “Jena, no.” Nicholas scooted across the couch until he was right next to her and could lay a gentle hand on her leg. “I don’t go off with whoever’s available, no matter how much I’ve had to drink. I wasn’t lying to you about how much I wanted you in college, and I think we’re lucky to have found each other again, even if it was like that.” He put his hands on her cheeks and raised her face. “I wasn’t lying about the dreams, either. I’ve been replaying that night for months now. I remembered everything about being with my angel. Every room. Every inch of her skin.” Nick stroked Jena’s forearm with his fingertips, and she shivered. “How she tasted and how she smelled.” He raised her chin with a finger and leaned in to run his lips along the side of her neck. Jena let out a shuddery sigh and grasped Nick’s wrist with a soft whimper when he nibbled at her ear.

  Nicholas closed his eyes and smiled. “And that. You drive me crazy with those little moans and sighs and…Come here.” He stood up, bringing Jena with him, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead. “I’ve had you in my head, Jena, and I want you. No one else. You’re my angel.”

  Jena stopped breathing for a minute and then gasped and wound her fingers in Nick’s hair, pulling his face down to kiss him with hungry intensity.

  He groaned and folded her closer, knowing she could feel how her kiss affected him and not giving a damn. Threading the fingers of one hand in her hair to cradle her head, his other hand stroked slowly down her back until he could cup
her ass and gently squeeze.

  Jena’s hands were shaking as she fumbled with the buttons of his shirt until she could press soft kisses on his skin. “Nicholas, I want you so badly,” she whispered, fingers stroking the springy hair on his chest. Her hands slid down, still unbuttoning, until she could lay them flat on his bare stomach. “I’ve had some dreams of my own…”

  Nicholas backed her toward the bedroom, taking the kisses she freely offered. Stopping in the doorway, he finally remembered his vow to let her take the lead. “Jena, do you want this? Do you want to sleep with me tonight? I need to know now, because this is where I stop if you don’t.”

  Jena laughed and stroked his cheek. “God, you talk a lot. Would you just take me to bed, already?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he whispered, dropping his head to catch her lower lip in his mouth, sucking it in and nipping around the edges of her lips as he backed her into the room and lowered her onto the bed. She grasped the front of his shirt, pulling him down on top of her before sliding his shirt off his shoulders. Nick shrugged it the rest of the way off and tossed it on the floor. He held up a finger for her to wait, then pulled his wallet out of his back pocket.

  “That predictable?” Jena winced.

  “That hopeful.” Nick laughed at himself as he tossed a foil wrapped package on the nightstand. “There’s no handy gift shop around here, right?”

  Jena covered her face with her hands and peeked through her fingers briefly. “I forgot about that.”

  “I wish I was that lucky. I went down there the next morning to buy aspirin and had to face the owner.”

  Jena laughed wildly. “Poor baby. Was I worth it?”

  “Definitely.” Nick smiled and adjusted his position until his hands were to either side of Jena and he could lean down to kiss her all over her face.

  He didn’t stay playful for long. As soon as he reached her lips, Jena’s hand slid into his hair and anchored him in place until they needed to come up for air.

  “I love feeling you all over me, Nicholas,” Jena murmured, her breath coming hot and quick against his skin. Her hand slid down between them to press against his crotch. “This especially. I like feeling you hard against me. It’s fucking sexy.”