Breakaway: A friends to lovers romance

by Heather M. Orgeron

  “Colton!” Her foot connected with my shin. “Stop staring,” she gritted out, glancing around for onlookers. “It’s just a bathing suit.”

  “Oh, don’t ‘It’s just a bathing suit’ me. You’ve got those boobs on display for a reason...and it better be me,” I warned playfully as I reached out, pinching the nipple that was straining against the flimsy material.

  “You son of a—” she screamed, cupping her tits in her hands.

  “There you guys are,” Blex called as he and Finn walked up, drinks in hand. “Thought you could hide from us?” He harrumphed, frowning at the dense landscaping helping to seclude us from the rest of the party.

  “Need some help holdin’ them titties up, Alex?” Finn offered, waggling his brows.

  Allie’s hands dropped to her sides, and her angry eyes settled on mine. “I hate you so much right now.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic, Al.” I gripped her tiny waist in both hands, bringing her to my lap and nuzzling my nose into the bend of her neck.

  Finley snapped his fingers a couple times, drawing our attention. “I’m not gonna stand here all night waiting for your answer, Alex. I’m sure I can find someone around here in need of my services.”

  Dude was a fucking idiot.

  “Candy was looking a little trashed when we met up with her a few minutes ago,” Allie offered. “Maybe you could go help her out.”

  Finn’s face fell. “Bro code, Alex.”

  “Huh?”

  “Don’t go fishin’ where your brother’s been dickin’.” He pumped his fist in front of his mouth, rubbing his tongue along the inside of his cheek to fully paint the picture for her.

  Allie’s jaw started to tremble. I made a cut it out gesture to Finn. But it was either too dark for him to see or he was too stupid to listen because his mouth just kept running, mistaking Allie’s silence for confusion.

  “She’s Colton’s chick.”

  Blex got ahold of Finn before I could. “Learn when to shut the fuck up, Finn.” His head dipped toward Allie, who practically had smoke coming from her ears.

  It was that exact moment when Lyla decided to make her presence known. Of course it was. “Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” she teased, walking over to where I sat with Alex in my lap and planting a kiss on my cheek. “Alex, right?” she questioned, knowing damn well she knew her name. “Good seein’ ya again.” Her comment dripped sarcasm. “I see you’re still making it your life’s mission to suppress Colton’s cock.”

  Alex shifted in my lap, turning to face our unwelcome guest, and I braced myself for the impending explosion. “You know...I feel really, really sorry for you, Lyla.” Allie’s voice was eerily calm.

  Lyla’s lip curled into a snarl. “What for?”

  “Didn’t your momma ever teach you not to chase a man?” she asked with a sympathetic smile. “It’s just...Well, it makes you look kinda desperate.” She whispered the last word, patting the top of Lyla’s hand, which was resting on the table in front of us.

  Lyla’s head tipped back and she cackled. It wasn’t attractive at all. “You feel sorry for me?” Her hand went to her chest. “You’re like Colton’s fag-hag...and he’s not even gay.”

  Holy fuck. I tried to speak up to put an end to this before it got out of hand, but as soon as Allie felt my movement, I was shushed. I looked to Blex and Finn for help, but they both just stood there with their arms crossed, watching the show.

  “Lyla, honey. You can be friends with a guy and not suck his dick...” Alex was killing her with kindness, and for some reason, it was really turning me on.

  Lyla narrowed her eyes. “Oh, I heard what happened when you walked in on Candy sucking him off. Don’t even try to pretend you aren’t jealous, little miss high and mighty.”

  Alex tensed in my arms. “You and Candy are friends?” She didn’t even try to hide the judgment in her tone.

  Lyla shrugged.

  Allie’s mouth hung in the air for a minute. “Wow,” she said, shaking her head. “Y’all must just do things differently around here. Go deep throat a cactus, Lyla. This dick’s going through a suppression.” She winked, making a shooing motion with her hand. Then she turned to Blex and Finn, who were still standing there, mouths agape. “Apparently, y’all need to teach these bitches some sister code.”

  “Alex,” I groaned, shaking with laughter as Lyla stormed off.

  ALEXIS

  THAT LITTLE ENCOUNTER WITH Lyla had me all on edge. The b.j. twins were friends? If that’s what having girlfriends was about, I was happy I didn’t really have any. Thank you very much. Imagining the two of them swapping stories about Colton was making me sick to my stomach.

  “Grab me another drink, Finn?” I asked when he walked off to replenish his beer.

  A crowd had assembled in the open area behind our table, turning it into a dance floor, and that’s where we’d been for the past couple of hours.

  “Allie, I think maybe you should slow down,” Colt suggested, pulling me into his chest. “You’re going to make yourself sick.”

  Nope. No way. I was not going to survive this night without lots of liquor. “You’re so sweet,” I slurred, running my hands over his shoulders. “I’m fine, Colt, really,” I insisted, trying to look very, very sober.

  Colton rolled his eyes and huffed in frustration. God, he was so cute. “Will you at least eat something?” he begged.

  I always did love the way he looked out for me. “Okay,” I agreed. “Feed me.”

  A slow smile moved across his face. “All right. I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”

  I must’ve been drunker than I thought because it seemed like almost no time had passed before I felt Colton grinding his body against mine. And did he ever come back recharged. The way he was moving felt almost indecent, but I was too turned on to care.

  “Goddamnit, Alexis,” Blex growled, stalking off.

  What the hell? I followed his movement with my eyes and could have sworn I saw Colton tear through the back door into the house. But, how could he, if he was—

  “We move well together,” Stephan said, spinning me in his arms.

  My heart started to beat like a bass drum. Loud. Hard.

  The air left my lungs. Oh, Colton.

  “Something wrong?” That no good motherfucker.

  I shoved at Stephan’s chest as tears poured down my face. “Why? Why would you do that?” My hands were on my chest. I felt like everyone was watching me. Laughing at me. Like they were all in cahoots with the universe to spoil any chance I had of finding happiness.

  “Come on, Lexi,” Finn said, shielding me in his arms. “You’ll get yours later, asshole,” he shot at Stephan before guiding me around the pool, through the house, and into the back seat of Colton’s car.

  Colton’s anguished eyes met mine in the rearview, revealing his every emotion, and it cut me like a knife. I mouthed the words “I’m sorry,” but he just turned away, twisted the key into the ignition, and headed for home.

  Finn kept whispering that it was okay. That everything would be okay, but how could it? The car was deathly quiet, apart from the sound of my cries and the occasional pounding of Colton’s fist into the steering wheel.

  When we arrived at the house, he had barely taken the time to throw the car into park before he was slamming the driver side door and storming off into the house.

  “I didn’t know,” I cried to both Blex and Finn. I could feel them judging me. “I th-thought it was h-him.”

  “Give him a few minutes to calm down, Alex,” Blex suggested, his face softening.

  Walking into the house was like stepping into a war zone. It sounded like bombs were going off upstairs with all of the banging.

  “Don’t go up there right now, Lexi,” Finn warned as I began making my way toward the stairs. “I’ve never seen him like this.”

  Nausea churned in my stomach as I continued the twisty climb. “I’ll be f-fine, Finley. Colt would n-never hurt me.” Not physic
ally anyway, I thought.

  “Let me go talk to him first to try to explain, Alexis.” Blex was approaching the steps when I shooed him away.

  “You guys, he’s not going to do anything. Ch-chill.”

  When I got to the room, I hesitated for a minute, afraid of what I would find when I opened that door. Slowly, I twisted the knob, peering my head inside. He was right there, standing so close, I would have hit him had I swung it all the way. His hands were fisted at his sides. His breathing labored. His nostrils flared as he stood there staring back at me, unmoving.

  “C-Colt,” I whimpered. Squeezing inside, I shut the door, and on shaky legs, took a few steps to stand before him. I wanted to reach out and hold him but was too afraid of being rejected. A river of regret streamed down my cheeks. “I th-thought he was you,” I explained. The back of my throat burned as I continued. “I swear. I never would have—I’m sorry,” I cried. “I’m so sorry, Colton.”

  He swallowed. Every line of his face was hard.

  “I want to touch you,” I whispered, taking a step closer. Looking up into his pained eyes, I waited for permission. Just when I was about to give up and walk away, his hand lifted to cup my cheek, and I started to tremble with relief. Colton’s thumb swiped across my lips. I thought that I might die from feeling so much. He gripped the back of my head, pulling me into his chest. He’d never held me so tight.

  Colton’s chin rested on the top of my head. “I can’t lose you again, Al.” I felt his body shake as the anger began to dissipate. “Not again,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to my temple.

  The fear in his voice was breaking my already shattered heart. I wanted to give him everything—all of me. To show him how much I loved him in the only way I never could. “Make love to me, Colton.” I sounded weak and needy but was too drunk and emotional to care at that moment.

  He stared at me in a stupor. Like he wasn’t sure if he’d heard me correctly. I was filled with enough pent up sexual tension and liquid courage that I was desperate enough to beg for it. “Please, Colt. I need you.” My hands twisted into the front of his shirt.

  All of the hard lines of his face softened. His eyes glistened, and his head shook. “No.”

  No? No? Did he just say no?

  “Not that I don’t want to,” he groaned. “I want to.” His head hung as he blew out a frustrated breath. With a sad smile, he continued, “More than you know. Just, not tonight, babe. You’ve been drinking, and we’re...emotional. It wouldn’t be right.”

  “I’m not even drunk anymore,” I insisted.

  He quirked a brow. “I’m pretty sure you out drank most of the guys, Alex.”

  I frowned. That fag-hag comment from earlier was at the forefront of my mind, taunting me. Why was he so quick to drop his pants for those bitches but kept telling me no? Didn’t he want me? Feeling desperate for his attention, I fell to my knees and began fooling with the buckle of his belt. I was going to show him that I could suck a dick as good as any of his blond Hoovers.

  Colton’s hips jerked, and suddenly his hands were fighting with mine, trying to stop me. Why was he always stopping me? “Allie, what are you doing?” he groaned. “Please get up.”

  “What’s it look like?” I forced a giggle to keep from crying at the sting of being rejected by him yet again. “I’m saying when.”

  The next thing I knew, Colt had me cradled in his arms, and we were halfway to the bed. His chest vibrated as he released a resigned laugh. “Alexis Mack, what am I going to do with you?”

  I kept quiet because I couldn’t have made it any clearer what I wanted him to do with me, and apparently, he wasn’t interested.

  Colt deposited me on the center of the bed. He removed his T-shirt before climbing in beside me. “Here, put this over that bathing suit so I’ll remember to control myself.”

  I touched a hand to his bare chest, sliding it over the dips and ridges that lined his muscles. I bit my trembling lip, looking into his eyes, his shirt still balled in my hand. “What if I don’t want you to control yourself?” I asked in a broken whisper. “I’m not made of glass, Colton...I won’t break.”

  “Listen to me, Alex,” he said, his voice low and full of emotion. “I have spent years dreaming of being inside of you.” His hand lifted to his chest, covering mine in his warmth. “This isn’t me not wanting you. I want you so bad that I can hardly see straight, but I love you enough to wait until it’s right.” He squeezed my hand then kissed the tears from my cheeks. “This isn’t right, Al.”

  His words were beautiful. But, God, I wanted him beyond reason. “When,” I cried, pounding my little fists into his chest. “When, when, when,” I repeated as he grabbed my arms and held me down beneath him. I lifted my hips, wrapping my legs around his waist. Feeling his hard length right where I needed him. “Touch me. You’re killing me, Colt.”

  His jaw was clamped shut. He looked so defeated but held on to his damn moral compass, clinging to it like a lifeline. With a deep sigh, he rested his forehead on mine. “Show me, Allie.”

  Finally. If this was an audition, I was going to give him the best damn blowjob of his life. Reaching between our bodies, I started to dip my hand into his boxers, and again he stopped me. What the fuck?

  His head shook. “No.” Colton cleared his throat. “Show me how you like it. I want to watch you fall apart.”

  “Colt?” I called out with hesitation when I awoke to an empty bed.

  The bathroom door opened and I could hear the water running. “In here, Al. Brushing my teeth,” he garbled through a mouthful of toothpaste.

  Flashes of the night before flooded my mind. A lot of which I hoped was only a dream. Did I? No. I wouldn’t.

  I rolled out of bed and went to join him in the bathroom, taking a seat on the lid of the toilet.

  “Here,” he said, holding out my pink toothbrush with a thick blob of toothpaste on top.

  We stood side by side, just like when we were kids. I kept my face turned down, unable to meet his eyes in the mirror. After rinsing his mouth out, Colt sat on the counter, staring with an almost giddy smile. I knew without a doubt what that look meant. I was a whore.

  The tips of my ears radiated as I rinsed out the sink, looking anywhere but at that infuriatingly sexy man.

  “How are you feeling this morning?”

  Finally, I worked up the nerve to turn his way. “Like I want to die.”

  He frowned. “I’m sorry. I told you not to drink so much. You wouldn’t listen.”

  My hands crossed over my chest, and I glared at him. “Not because of that, idiot,” I shot back. “I can’t believe you made me do that.”

  A shit-eating grin spread clear across his face. “Do what?” he teased.

  “Show me,” I answered in a mocking tone, making air quotes. The heat spread from my ears to my cheeks and neck.

  Colton’s eyes became hooded. “That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

  “You took advantage of my drunkenness.”

  He coughed. “Took advantage? No, babe. Taking advantage would have been me having sex with you in that state. Taking advantage would have been me allowing you to try to prove yourself by shoving my dick in your mouth.”

  I gasped.

  “You needed a release. You got one, and it was sexy as fuck.” His eyes bore right into mine. “You shouldn’t be ashamed of that.”

  “Well, I am!” I shouted, damn near hyperventilating. Then I got an idea. It was the only way. “Your turn,” I said, moving to stand between his parted legs.

  “Huh?”

  “You heard me.” I snapped my fingers. “Get krankin’,” I ordered, eyeing his crotch.

  Colt bit his bottom lip, staring at me for a moment to determine whether or not I was serious. “Take it out,” he ordered.

  Gulp. “Huh?”

  “Touch me, Alexis, and then I will.”

  I shook my head. “That’s not fair. You didn’t touch me.”

  A cocky shrug. “You we
re drunk. I’m not. Baby steps,” he hissed as I lowered the band of his boxers and his dick sprang free. With his hands braced on the counter, he lifted his bottom into the air, allowing me to slide the material off.

  I was in a trancelike state as his hand fisted around his semi-hard cock and slowly began moving up and down. His eyes were fixed on my face as he stroked himself repeatedly, and I got it. Suddenly, I understood. My mouth salivated with how badly I wanted to wrap my lips around that beautiful appendage. It was textbook perfect.

  “Colton,” I whimpered, resting my palms on his thighs as I grew weak in the knees.

  “Allie,” he grunted, his fist pumping faster as he grew impossibly larger.

  Before I realized what was happening, my hand had joined his. Almost instantly, his cock spasmed and warm cum shot out, landing on his lower stomach. With my thumb, I wiped what had leaked down his length and smoothed it over the head. Then I let go, and suddenly I didn’t know how to act.

  “Th-thank you,” I muttered with a hard swallow.

  Colt’s breathing was labored. “No, Allie, thank you.”

  “Let’s get out of here,” Colt suggested, plopping down on his stomach beside me on the bed. He was fresh out of the shower, and the scent of his soap and shampoo was strong and doing delicious things to my insides.

  “Where do you wanna go?” I asked, not looking up from the novel I was using to hide behind. The events of the past twelve hours had me all flustered.

  The book was snatched out of my hand. “I was thinking of taking you to Santa Monica for the weekend.” His eyes browsed over the page I’d been reading, and I fought not to laugh when his jaw dropped and the book snapped shut. Let’s just say that I was at a really juicy part.

  “What’s in Santa Monica?” I sat up in the bed, crossing my legs Indian style and folding my hands in my lap, eager for his answer. A weekend getaway sounded amazing—so couple-y. I had no clue where this thing with Colton would lead. I was both anxious and afraid to find out.

  “Well, there’s the beach and then Santa Monica pier with the big Ferris wheel on the water.” His wide grin made him look so boyish. “Shopping...”