Stuck in Between (Bound by Your Love)

by Bennett, Blakely

  “I don’t think Bond would’ve liked to see Red holding your hand and pulling you through the house. That was a first.”

  “I’m done worrying about what he thinks. He certainly doesn’t care what I think.”

  “Truly? That would be wonderful, but I find that hard to believe. How many years have you been going back and forth?”

  I knew I should chase the lemonade with some water, but the loosening effects of the alcohol felt great. Though with my tiny frame, it didn’t take much. I took another draw from the bottle and said, “Eight, but I’ve long since given up hope. We are great as best friends and nothing more. I thought maybe we could have sex on occasion, but I don’t think he can handle it.”

  “Him?” Cat said, laughing.

  “Yes, him!” I said indignantly.

  “Whatever you tell yourself to get through the day.” She patted my shoulder like I was delusional.

  “Why is every single person working my last nerve today? For your information—you know what? Never mind. I don’t want to talk about Bond, or Red, or Samantha. I’m going to get another drink.”

  For a second, I wished I hadn’t consumed any alcohol so I could’ve driven home and crawled into my own bed. Since that wasn’t an option, I drank a full glass of water, hoping to avoid a hangover, and then opened another lemonade. I wondered if I could sneak past the people outside and hide in Red’s boat. Exiting the kitchen on the far side led me into the dining room, a room I had never entered, but I only found windows and no doors to the back. Instead I went around to the front of the house and tried to walk carefully around the side, through the landscaping to the back. Some soil migrated into my sandals so I held onto the corner wall and shook them out.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Red’s deep booming voice startled me.

  “Avoiding you. I was trying to make my way, unnoticed, to your boat.”

  “It’s technically a yacht and why are you hiding from me?”

  “That woman, is she the one you fucked today while sailing?”

  “I didn’t have sex with…” He clutched my upper arm, peered around the corner, and pulled me along with him.

  “Let go of me! Stop dragging me around everywhere.”

  “Whatever you say,” he said, scooping me up in his arms and carrying me the rest of the way to the edge of the dock.

  “Put me down you brute!” I said, kicking my legs.

  “Shh,” he said, I could hear the laughter in his voice.

  “Just because I’m smaller than you—”

  “Much smaller—”

  “Doesn’t mean you can keep manhandling me!”

  “Oh, I have definite plans to manhandle you,” he said, desire filling every word.

  He placed me down on the edge of the dock, in front of his yacht. With a sweeping motion of his arm, he indicated I should go ahead of him. Heading straight into the belly of Adjustable Bend, I sat on the couch to the right and placed my drink on the table in front of me. His cruising vessel belied the elegance of the house. Although very high-end, it read bachelor pad. On a raised platform at the bow of the boat was a circular bed piled with an assortment of pillows in beiges and browns.

  “Cat’s already wondering what’s up with us, Red. Who was that woman?”

  “A friend of a friend,” he said, still standing by the stairs.

  “And have you slept with her?”

  “I didn’t have sex with anyone today and I don’t have sex with people I’ve just met.”

  “What, wait a minute! You and Bond pick up women all the time. You’re telling me you don’t sleep with them?”

  “Not on the first date and frequently there’s no second.”

  “Who the hell are you? And what has happened…” I flipped my hand, palm up, toward him and back to me. “…between us?”

  “That’s two separate questions, the first takes time and the second is far more complicated.”

  “Give it a shot.”

  “I think our major problem is that both of our loyalties lie with Bond and not each other.”

  “That doesn’t tell me anything other than stating the obvious. Up until a few hours ago I thought you hated my guts. Bond seems to think otherwise.”

  “That’s because we fought about you this morning.”

  “After I left?”

  “On the phone before I got there.” He took two long steps and sat down on the couch next to me. “I was furious with both of you, with myself too. I waited too long. I knew nothing had happened between you two for months, and I actually thought you might have gotten over him, but I’m not sure that’ll ever happen.”

  “I’m not either, but I’m not waiting any longer for him to change. What do you want from me?”

  “A chance.”

  “And Bond?”

  “I’d like to see if there is anything here for us before we talk to him.”

  “I don’t think he’ll care,” I said, shaking my head.

  “You are very wrong about that.”

  “Then why do it? Why risk your friendship?”

  He maneuvered closer to me, lifting me onto his lap and said, “I couldn’t sit back and watch the way he treats you for another second. Had our fight happened in person, I probably would have decked him. When he told me you’d spent the night—”

  “I didn’t know—”

  “I had to keep you mad at me.”

  “Why?”

  “It was my only form of self-protection.” He moved my hair away from my face and held it in one fist. “I love your petite, lovely neck,” he said, nuzzling in close.

  I laughed out loud.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I’ve been fascinated by your thick neck. It’s almost as wide as your head. You and I … we’re an illustration in contrast.”

  He smiled and said, “Yes and it drives me crazy.”

  “I thought you liked tall women.”

  “I like you.”

  “Oh.” Without thinking, the liquor fueling me on, I blurted out, “Are you going to make love to me?”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “I’d like you to get tested first. I know you’re not very sexually active, but Bond is.”

  “Oh … okay.” I wasn’t sure what to think.

  “Are you on birth control?”

  “Yes, of course,” I said and then had another thought. “Will you get tested too?”

  “I have current tests.”

  “From when?”

  “Around six months ago.”

  “You haven’t had—”

  “No.”

  “Oh.” Wow, I thought.

  Tilting his head down, he swept me up in his kiss. He conquered my mouth, pulling me into his world and showing me what it could be like. I wanted more.

  As if hearing my thoughts, he easily moved us over to the bed, laying me down beside him. His legs hung off the end.

  “This bed doesn’t fit you,” I said.

  “No, but you do.” He rolled me on top of him and enveloped me in his embrace. His hard contours felt wonderful pressed against me.

  “Have you ever dated someone my size?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “The Neanderthal and the pixie.”

  He laughed, rocking us both.

  “I still hate you, you know,” I said, smiling.

  “I’m well aware of that, but at the very least you can use me to get back at Bond.”

  “That’s what I was thinking.”

  Red pushed my hair away from my face, looping it behind my ears. “Seriously Jacqs, please think about it.”

  “Which part?”

  “You and me.”

  “You might have to give me awhile to wrap my head around this new you.”

  “We’ll take this slow, but I’ll leave you some incentive.” Holding my head gently in his big hands, he used his full lips to coax me into considering. He flipped me onto my back, looming over me. Running his tongue along t
he edge of mine, he encouraged me to joust with him. I complied, dancing my tongue around his. As the intensity grew, the kiss deepened.

  His hand flowed down to my hip and he used the leverage to grind his pelvis against mine.

  “Ohhh,” I moaned against his mouth, feeling his erection between us.

  “See what you do to me,” he said, taking my hand and placing it on the front of his pants.

  I felt dizzy with desire as I ran my fingers along the outline of his cock. Through the pants, his felt much thicker than Bond’s. “Oh lord,” I groaned, “this doesn’t feel slow.”

  “I’ve waited a long time, too long.” Nuzzling my neck, he sighed and said, “You smell better than I imagined.”

  “Why did you wait so long?”

  Gazing into my eyes, he said, “For obvious reasons.”

  “So why now?”

  “Life’s too short to wait forever for what you really want.”

  “You really want me?” I said, tracing the bulge in his pants.

  “Like nothing else I’ve ever wanted.”

  “Little ole’ me?”

  He answered with his body. Rolling me back on top of his chest, he held his head up to kiss me and grasped my buttocks in his hands, gyrating his hips beneath me.

  I felt so turned on, wet, and sure if he kept rubbing the ridge of his cock against my mound, one of us was bound to explode.

  “Whoa,” he said as he lay me down beside him again. Both of our chests rapidly rose and fell. “We need to stop now and should get back to the party.”

  “Do you know what time Bond will be here?”

  “Soon.”

  Sitting up, I said, “He’ll notice something has changed.”

  “I’ll tell him we came to a truce.”

  “That’s not too far from the truth.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Lesson Learned

  by Alicia Keys (ft. John Mayer)

  After adjusting my clothing and fluffing out my hair, I asked, “Should we go back to the party one at a time?”

  “No, that will look more suspicious,” Red said. He swept me up in one last kiss, handed me my drink and we both climbed out of the vessel.

  “Where were you guys?” Kev asked when we walked into the back of the house.

  “I … we…” I said, stumbling around for a plausible response.

  “Jacqs just needed a break from the party,” Red said. “Her sister’s boyfriend really shook her up at the pub. Literally. I thought I was going to have to punch him out.”

  “You didn’t tell me that part, Jacqs. I’m so sorry,” Cat said, giving me a warm hug.

  I peered up over her shoulder and Red winked at me. “I’m okay. The three drinks have helped, but I think I’d better eat something.”

  Cat looped her arm over my shoulder and she and I strode into the kitchen with Kev following behind. Truthfully, I didn’t know if I could eat. I knew I should, but butterflies fluttered around my stomach making me jittery.

  “What do you want?” Cat asked.

  At home, I would have opted for a bowl of cereal. There were chips and nuts readily available around the house, however, I hadn’t eaten anything since the late breakfast Lainie and I had shared.

  “Let me make you a turkey sandwich,” Red said. “I want one myself.”

  “Count me in,” Bond said, making me jump.

  I wished I had stayed well hidden in the boat and had sent Red on his way alone. All the tension made me feel sick to my stomach. I didn’t acknowledge Bond, still plenty pissed off at him. Instead, I poured myself a glass of water and hopped up on the counter near the sink, watching the scene play out before me.

  “Neither of you texted to let me know you were okay,” Bond said to Red and me.

  “Oh shit,” I said, pulling my cell phone from my pocket. I had six texts waiting for me. Scrolling through, I read Lainie’s first.

  Lainie: Date went well, heading home (alone). Sounds like you had another crazy evening. Are we still on for tomorrow? Can we make it a bit later?

  Lainie: Home now and going to crash. Let’s do lunch instead of breakfast. I want to sleep in. See you at 12?

  I texted her back:

  Me: 12 works for me too. I’m going to crash here and then head home. Your place or mine?

  Bond’s texts read:

  Bond: I told Red to tell Cat, but he said he’d head over.

  Bond: Is he there yet? Stay near the bartender and avoid making eye contact with anyone.

  Bond: Please let me know when you get back to the house. We need to talk later.

  Bond: I’m off work and on my way to Red’s.

  “As you can see, I’m perfectly fine,” I said. “Nothing a few drinks couldn’t handle. Speaking of which, I could use another.”

  “Food first,” Red said.

  I glared in his direction. “Will you ever stop being so bossy?”

  “Doubtful,” he said, but I could see the smile playing at his lips.

  A tall, voluptuous blonde entered the kitchen and slipped her hand into Bond’s. Everyone in the kitchen, besides Blondie, turned to take in my reaction.

  “What?” I said, throwing my hands up in exasperation.

  “Just checking,” Cat said, holding her palms out in an effort to calm me down.

  “I’m not going to crumble to the ground every time Bond has a new fling. No offense, new person. Besides, I’m interested in someone new.”

  The expression on Red’s and Bond’s faces were beyond priceless. I wished I’d had a camera to capture the moment.

  “You are?” Bond and Cat asked simultaneously.

  Red, who stood behind the group, shook his head, shooting me a look of warning.

  “Yes, and I’m not prepared to share any details until I know where it’s heading.”

  “Since last night?” Bond practically shouted.

  “None of your fucking business,” I shouted back.

  Frank and Charlie walked into the entrance of the kitchen but immediately turned around.

  “There’s beer out back in the cooler to the right of the doors,” Red called out to them.

  “We need to talk,” Bond said, dropping the hand of his latest conquest and stepping toward me.

  “We don’t, and frankly, I have no interest in doing so. What I plan to do is eat my sandwich, have another drink if I can sneak another past Red, and maybe go skinny-dipping in the pool. This is a big house Bond, take your girl and fuck off, or fuck her. Either way, leave me alone.”

  “What has come over you? Too much alcohol, clearly.” Bond folded his arms across his chest and took a step closer.

  “Because I don’t want what you’re selling anymore?” I said, pointing my finger toward him. “Maybe the alcohol is just making me more honest.” I hopped off the counter and said to Bond’s date, “I’m sure you’re a lovely woman and sorry for the drama.” I strutted over to Red, grateful for not tripping over my own feet, and picked up half of the sandwich that sat on the cutting board. “Yum,” I said, staring up at Red.

  His neck reddened and his expression told me I’d better tread carefully.

  I moved to the other side of him, opened the refrigerator and grabbed another Mike’s Hard Lemonade. After I had popped the cap, I stood there and downed a third of the bottle.

  “Let’s go,” Bond said to his date.

  I breathed out a deep exhalation and lowered my shoulders. “That was fun,” I said.

  “What the hell has gotten into you?” Cat asked.

  I couldn’t tell if her tone was that of awe or condemnation. Maybe both? “I’ve had a hell of a day.”

  “Apparently,” Kev said. “Try not to alienate the rest of the party, will ya?”

  I laughed out loud and said, “I’ll keep that in mind.” I finished my sandwich and my drink.

  Kev and Cat wandered off leaving Red and me alone in the kitchen.

  “You are in rare form,” he said to me.

  “Am I?”

&nbs
p; “You seemed to be having fun pushing Bond’s buttons.” He took a bite of his sandwich and added, “This is a new side to you. You’ve always just gone along.”

  “And then went home to cry. I don’t feel like crying now, and I have you to thank for that.”

  “How is that?” Red said and chewed the last bite.

  “You’re going to make a mighty fine distraction, I think.” I touched his arm and smiled up at him.

  “Let’s see what you think in the morning when you’re straight instead of liquored up. Have I ever seen you this tipsy?”

  “No, I don’t usually have more than one drink.”

  “Should I cut you off?”

  “You should kiss me instead.”

  I saw the desire flare on his face and he said, “You need to behave, Jacqs—”

  “She needs to behave?” Bond asked, strolling over to us. “Is my sandwich ready?”

  “Yes, I’ve cut her off.”

  “That’s a good idea. I’ve never seen you like this.” Bond narrowed his eyes at me.

  I stood up as tall as I could and held onto the counter to steady myself. “It’s the new me, so I suggest you get used to it.”

  “Plan to stay the night, Jacqs. I won’t let you drive home in this condition,” Bond said. “You know how I feel about drinking and driving.”

  “I have no plans to. Red said I could sleep in his bed … on his boat that is.” I giggled at myself and neither Bond nor Red looked pleased. “Where’s Blondie?”

  “She took off,” Bond said.

  “Oops, sorry,” I said. “I really didn’t mean to run her off.”

  “I think you did, but I’m the one who asked her to leave.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t have and definitely not on my account.” I shook my head.

  “We need to talk,” Bond said.

  “I’ll leave you two alone,” Red said.

  “I’d rather you stay, Red. I think Bond and I’ve talked more than enough and I, for one, want to go for a swim. It’s beautiful out.”

  I collected the empty bottles on the counter and put them in the recycle bin. Then I took out my phone and left it on the counter that led into the living room. I scooted past a group of people playing Cards Against Humanity and out the French doors. Finding the trunk that held the towels, I grabbed one, stripped down to my panties and jumped into the pool.