by E. M. Abel
I smiled at her as I took it. “Natalie. Nice to finally meet you. Your house is beautiful. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Of course. Any friend of Nick’s is a friend of mine.” She turned toward Marcus. “And this is my fiancé, Marcus,” she said, giving him a coy smile.
He extended his hand toward me, and I shook it.
“Hey, how’s it goin’?” he asked.
I tried to keep my blushing to a minimum, but it was hard to do while hearing his deep voice as his big hand held mine.
“I’m good, thanks,” I muttered. I withdrew my hand from his and tucked my hair behind my ear.
The last thing I needed was for Asia to think I wanted her man.
“Drinks are over there in the cooler, and the burgers are almost done,” Asia told Nick.
He was scanning the group of people by the pool. It seemed like he was looking for someone in particular. “Can we crash in a spare room if we get wasted?” he asked, looking back at Asia with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
Asia laughed. “Of course.”
“Good. Then, where’s the tequila?”
I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I laughed at my cousin. It was Sunday, for heaven’s sake. I was just about to remind him of that fact when something caught my eye. In the middle of the railing surrounding the deck, I saw a small wooden gate swing open, and then a surfboard pushed through it. Holding the surfboard was Mr. Green Eyes.
Shaun.
My breath stopped, and my heart started thumping in my chest. He was soaking wet, and just like Marcus, he was wearing only a pair of loose-fitting boardshorts. His were white though, which only accentuated his incredibly tanned and flawless skin. His brown hair was hanging down around his face, and pieces of it were falling over his eyes as he focused on closing the gate behind him. He had a giant Celtic cross tattoo covering his entire back, and the muscles under it flexed as he moved.
Oh good Lord.
Still standing beside me, Nick elbowed me in the ribs, and I hastily averted my gaze to the pool, refusing to acknowledge Nick’s or Mr. Green Eye’s existence. I could hear Nick laughing, but luckily, no one seemed to be paying attention to us.
“I’m going to the cooler to get a drink. You want one?” I asked Nick without looking at him.
“Sure.”
I quickly walked to the other side of the pool toward the big white cooler like it was the light at the end of a long dark tunnel.
The surf was pretty good today, but I was starving. That doughnut I’d had for breakfast wasn’t nearly enough to prepare me for an afternoon in the ocean. My stomach growled as I smelled the burgers on the grill while I made my way toward the corner of Asia and Marcus’s back deck. After leaning my board against it, I tried to dust the wet sand off my hands, but it was pointless. I would just have to wait until I dried off.
Marcus came over to me with an extra beer in his hand. “There’s a good break today.” He lifted his chin toward the waves and handed me a Corona.
“Yeah, but I’m fuckin’ starving. When will those burgers be done?”
“I think they’re done now.” He looked over his shoulder toward the grill.
Dre and Slim were there, manning the burgers and hot dogs.
“Have you met Nick’s cousin?” Marcus asked.
I took a swig from my beer. His eyebrow was raised, and he was smirking at me. I narrowed my eyes. I knew that look. He’s definitely up to something.
“No, I don’t think so. Why?”
At least, I hoped I hadn’t. The last thing I needed was some chick from my past coming to haunt me when I was trying to relax and have a good time.
Marcus shrugged and cocked his head to the side, motioning behind him. “She’s over there by the cooler.”
I looked over his shoulder, and that was when I saw her—again. Her long auburn hair was covering her face as she bent over, searching for a drink in the cooler, but I knew it was her. Her sexy legs were glistening in the sun. Her ass sticking up in the air, wrapped tight in little black shorts, had me turned-on in seconds.
Damn, she’s hot.
“No, we haven’t met…yet,” I told Marcus as I continued staring at the woman’s ass.
Marcus chuckled beside me, obviously recognizing my hungry stare.
I glanced at him with a grin. “What are you laughin’ at?” I took another swig from my beer.
“I thought this shit was gettin’ old.” He cocked his eyebrow at me.
“Yeah, well, you know how I love a challenge.”
After finally deciding on Coronas for Nick and me, I stood up, eager to go inside and search for a lime. Okay, well, I was eager to go inside to get away from Shaun, but the lime would make for a good excuse. When I straightened and turned toward the house, however, my path was blocked by a tan, toned, and amazingly sexy chest.
Shit.
“Are you following me?”
My eyes narrowed as they shot up to meet green ones. Cocky bastard. Maybe staying away from Mr. Green Eyes— I meant Shaun, would be easier than I’d thought. His arrogance was a little ridiculous and annoying.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I shot back as I tried to step around him and toward the house.
He got in my way, and I glared at him.
“Don’t pretend you don’t want me to fuck you. I can see it in those beautiful eyes of yours. You’ve wondered what it would be like, haven’t you?” he asked with a devious grin. Then, he leaned in closer and whispered, “Trust me, baby, you’d love it.”
Is this guy serious?
I was frustrated—not only because this guy had to be the biggest, most arrogant asshole of the century, but also because my fucking body was reacting to him in ways I didn’t want it to. He was already taking my control, and I didn’t like it.
I knew the best way to get men to leave me alone, especially men who thought they were God’s gift to women. I just had to attack their precious egos.
“No! I don’t know how many times I have to say it! I will not have sex with you!” I shouted loud enough for everyone around the pool to hear.
All conversation stopped, and I felt people’s eyes on us. I glanced over Shaun’s shoulder to see Asia and Marcus cracking up while Nick was shaking his head at me.
Leaning in toward Shaun’s ear I whispered, “No thanks, baby.”
When I looked back at him, he was smiling.
Hold on. What?
Yep, he was smiling at me. So, I smiled back with a big, fake how-do-you-like-that smile before I brushed past him and walked toward the glass doors leading into the house.
Asia was still laughing.
Marcus stopped chuckling long enough to warn me, “You know he just wants you more now, right?”
I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I handed Nick his Corona before going into the house.
That bitch is hot. There was something about her, and it was more than just the fact that she was playing hard to get. Her eyes were crazy gorgeous, and her body…goddamn, her body is fuckin’ stacked. She had curves for days and a perfectly round ass. It was nice to finally meet a woman who could keep me on my toes. She was holdin’ her own and throwin’ my shit right back in my face, and I fuckin’ loved it.
When I finally stopped staring at her ass, I realized all my friends were watching me. Marcus was over by the glass doors, laughing his ass off.
“What are you motherfuckers lookin’ at?” I asked the people standing around me.
No one answered. They just turned away and tried to pretend like they weren’t just staring—well, except for Asia and Marcus.
I made my way over to the grill to get a burger.
“What the fuck was that about?” Dre asked me as he stood in front of the grill with a lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth and a spatula in his hand.
I shrugged. “Who knows?” I muttered before taking another swig of my beer.
Slim came to stand next to me as he chimed in, “Who was that?”
“That
was Nick’s cousin, Natalie.”
We all turned our heads to see Asia standing there with a smug grin.
Natalie.
“Well, shit. If she ain’t givin’ it up for Shaun, I guess that means I’ll have to step in,” Dre announced as he flipped a burger.
“Back the fuck up, Dre,” I growled. I finished off my Corona and tossed the bottle into the trash.
Slim snorted, and I could see Asia smiling next to me. Dre just grinned and took a drag from his cigarette.
“Who’s the douche bag now?” Slim asked Asia, nudging her with his elbow.
My eyes shot to his, and I glared at him. He stopped laughing and backed away slowly before turning around. I could still hear Asia snickering next to me, but I chose to ignore her.
This Natalie chick was already making me look like an ass, and I’d just met her. The funny thing was, I didn’t really give a shit what I looked like. I wanted to know what she looked like—naked and under me. I wanted to know what her lips tasted like. I wanted to know what it felt like to be inside her, how her face looked when she came.
Fuck. I needed to think of something else before I ended up looking even more like a douche bag. That girl had me gettin’ hard from just thinking about her.
When I found some lime wedges on the kitchen counter, I stuck one into the top of my Corona bottle before taking a big gulp. That man had done something to me I didn’t like. He had thrown me off, made me nervous, and brought all of my naughty parts to full attention. That was not a good combination. I was all for living an exciting and adventurous life, but I knew when things were bordering on dangerous, and Shaun was dangerous.
I would like to say all my apprehension around men and relationships revolved around the fear of getting my heart broken, but it wasn’t just that. I liked control because, honestly, I didn’t trust anyone enough to let them have it.
My childhood hadn’t always been easy. I’d been hurt in the past, but that didn’t mean I carried that baggage around with me. I’d learned from my mistakes, and I wouldn’t bury myself in them. Growing up, I had been the responsible one. If Lili had needed help, I had taken care of her. If she’d needed money for clothes or food, I’d made sure she had it. I could take care of myself, too. I’d been doing it for most of my life.
Most of the men I’d been with couldn’t handle being with a woman who didn’t need them, a woman who wouldn’t beg them to stay. If a man wanted to be with me, he would have to add something positive to my life, not give me someone else to take care of. The truth was, I wanted a man to take care of me. For once, I wanted to be protected and looked after. The only problem was that I would have to give up control, and in order for that to happen, I had to know that a man could handle the responsibility. Unfortunately, I’d found that most men couldn’t, and I’d given up hope on finding love a long time ago.
“What was that about?” Nick asked as he walked into the huge kitchen I was standing in.
I shrugged.
Nick studied my eyes for a few seconds before leaning against the counter, facing me. “Look, I’m the last person who should be giving you advice. I mean, I’m with Luke, but I still have days where I question all of it. But if you’re looking for a good time, sex with no drama or strings, I think you just rejected the perfect guy for the job. That’s kinda Shaun’s thing.”
Nick took a sip from his beer as he watched me for a reaction. I rubbed my lips together, trying to decide what to say.
Then, he kept talking, “Unless you want more than just sex with Shaun.”
I scoffed, “I’m not that stupid. That man doesn’t exactly scream boyfriend material. I just think we’re too much alike. It wouldn’t go well. He obviously likes to call the shots, and that’s my job,” I said, grinning, before taking another pull from my beer.
Nick smirked before turning to grab two shot glasses out of the cabinet behind him. As he poured some Patrón into our glasses, he said, “Well, good luck convincing Shaun of that. After what you just did outside, it’s game on. Shaun never goes down without a fight.”
“So, tell me again. Why can’t we have strippers at your bachelor party?” I asked Marcus as I tossed my empty bottle into the trash.
“Hold up. No strippers?” Dank interrupted before chewing on his hot dog. “What the hell kinda bachelor party doesn’t have strippers?”
We both looked at Marcus as I muttered, “My thoughts exactly.”
Marcus smirked and shook his head. “I just want to have a good time with the guys, something low-key.”
“Asia won’t care if we have strippers there,” I argued.
“I never said she would.”
“Well then, why the fuck are you trying to ruin our good time? You might not want strippers, but we sure as hell do,” I said.
All the guys around us nodded in agreement, and I knew Marcus would cave. He had to. I was his best man. If I wanted strippers at his bachelor party, there would be strippers, and he knew it.
“Whatever. You asked me what I wanted, and I told you. The rest is up to you.” Marcus shrugged before taking a swig from his beer.
“That’s all I needed to hear,” I said, grinning.
When I turned to the other guys in our circle, I noticed Slim and Dre looking at something over my shoulder. I craned my neck to glance behind me, and I saw Ashley. A blonde with big tits, she had an oral fixation that I never grew tired of. She and I had been fuck buddies on and off for the past year. It was nothing serious, just a booty call here and there.
When our eyes met, Ashley winked at me before leaning over and saying something to one of her friends who was also staring. I lifted my chin and gave them both a wink before turning back to my friends.
“You still hittin’ that?” Dre took a swig of his beer.
I shrugged. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I’d fucked her, but it hadn’t been too long, maybe a few weeks.
“Her friend, Lacy, told me she’s catchin’ feelings, dude. You’d better watch out before you end up bein’ a baby daddy.” Dank chuckled into his beer.
I shook my head. “Nah, it’s not like that. She knows that I don’t see her as anything more than a good fuck. Shit, she’s the one callin’ me at one in the morning, begging me for my cock,” I informed him as I cupped my junk in my hand through my shorts.
We all laughed.
Dre shook his head. “Booty calls have a time limit, Shaun. Trust me. They all start catchin’ feelings eventually. You better move on to the next one.”
As if on cue, I spotted Natalie coming out of the house with Asia, Nick, and Hailey. I couldn’t stop staring. I watched as she walked to the cooler where she stopped and laughed at something Hailey had said before reaching in for another Corona. My eyes slid to her ass and traveled down her long legs stopping at her sexy shoes. My dick twitched as I pictured those legs wrapped around me.
When she straightened, I let my gaze travel back up her body before stopping on her face. Our eyes met for a few seconds, and I grinned at her until she turned away and focused on my sister. Natalie smiled and nodded as she pretended to listen, but I knew damn well that she wasn’t. I knew because I wasn’t listening to anything the guys around me were saying either.
Just as I was about to turn my attention back to the conversation, I felt a small hand with long nails slide down my back, stopping right above my ass.
“Hi,” Ashley murmured near my shoulder.
Looking down, I saw her standing next to me. I lifted my chin. “What’s up?”
She gave me her sexy smile and bit her bottom lip as she let her eyes glide down my chest and stomach before landing on my cock.
“Nothing much. What’s up with you?” she asked as she peered up at me.
Usually, I would be hard from just anticipating what she could do to me with that mouth, but now that I’d heard the rumor that she had feelings for me, I felt nothing. That was always how it happened. They would get feelings, and I’d lose interest. Despite what everyon
e thought, I didn’t like leading girls on. It wasn’t as fun for me if I knew when I was done, they would be riding me about when I’d be back, who I’d be with, or what I’d be doing. I did what I wanted, and I didn’t like answering to anyone. I didn’t care if they had a pussy or not.
I shrugged. “Just chillin’ with the boys.” I tilted my head toward the guys in front of me.
She looked at them, smiling. “Hey, boys,” she said, obviously looking for attention.
Some of them smiled, others lifted their chins, and all of them stared at her tits.
She placed her hand on my shoulder and moved to her toes to whisper in my ear, “You wanna come to my place when you’re done here?”
I straightened my back to get some distance, which was easy since she was only about five-five, and I was six-two.
I smirked, so what I was about to say wouldn’t seem so harsh. “Nah, not tonight.”
Apparently, the smirk hadn’t helped much because her eyes hardened, and her body went rigid.
“Why not?” she snapped.
And that was when I knew Dank had been right. Fuck.
“Do I need a reason?” I asked, turning to face her head-on.
From experience, I knew it was better to just get this shit over with. The more I tried to let someone down easy, the longer it dragged on.
“Well, yeah. You’ve never had a problem with coming over before,” she told me as she put a hand on her bare hip.
Fighting with a Chick 101: When the bitch puts her hand on her hip, she’s getting ready to throw down.
I leaned in closer because I didn’t want to embarrass her, but I needed to get my point across. “I don’t answer to you. And the fact that you’re starting to act like I do tells me we should take a step back.”
I saw a muscle tic in her jaw as her glare turned into a scowl.
“Fuck you,” she hissed before stalking off toward the house.
After I watched her disappear inside, my eyes swept back across the pool where I saw Natalie smirking at me. Obviously my female drama problems were amusing her.
