Crown's Chance at Love

by Mayra Statham

  I was a little tired, my lady bits were a little achy reminding me of what we had done in my office… on my desk. Shaking my head I couldn’t seem to stop smiling. He brought out something in me that made me smile like an idiot. A lot.

  Looking at myself once more in the mirror I take in the shirt he let me borrow. It was worn and soft, making me feel feminine and comfortable all at the same time. We had messed around earlier and as much as I wanted a repeat or maybe taking things to the next level I knew it wasn’t the best idea. I had to be a good girl and behave. Even as my bad girl was cheering for me to be a total slut I had to behave.

  Opening the bathroom door, leaving my office clothes neatly folded on the corner of his bathroom. I saw him lying in bed. Shirtless. I stood there probably looking like a drooling idiot but I couldn’t look away. He looked too damn good. A lush bright white comforter was covering him from the waist down letting me see a peak at the sexy V of his lower waist. My mouth running dry I really hoped he was wearing something under there. Almost as if he could read my what I was thinking he smiled brightly, making him look boyish and wolfish at the same time.

  “I’m dressed, come over here,” he chuckled, tossing the white comforter to the side and patting the side of the bed next to him.

  My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I can do this. I can sleep next to Mike and keep my hands from wandering. Right? The more I thought about it, the more emotions hit. Two of them being nerves and guilt. Nerves and guilt about sleeping next to another man that wasn’t Sean. That was mixed with more guilt about having been a little bit of a slut with him earlier. Sprinkled with nerves of what it meant that I really wanted to be in his arms.

  Almost as if he could sense the tension radiating from my body as I sat on the empty side of his bed, Mike pulled me in close. My head resting on his bare chest, I could hear his heart beating furiously. He was nervous. Somehow the idea of a man like Mike being nervous about having me in his bed, made me feel better.

  “Is this okay?” he asked and I nodded taking a deep breath. His scent calmed me. His hands caressing my hair, the guilt was simply washed away.

  “If you keep doing that I am going to fall asleep,” I whispered.

  “Isn’t that what we are supposed to be doing? Sleeping?” he asked his voice hoarse, and I couldn’t resist touching him anymore as I wrapped my arm around his waist and he held my hand.

  “Yeah, you are right.”

  We lied in bed for what felt a long time in silence. As much as I tried to shut my brain off I couldn’t. I liked lying next to him. Part of my body wanted to be doing so much more than trying to sleep.

  “Can’t sleep?” he asked. The room was dark and a little chilly. I just shook my head.

  He shifted in bed, so that we were both now facing one another on our sides. His hand came up to stroke my jawline and in the dark I could see he was smiling slightly.

  “I like you being here,” he whispered and I couldn’t help the smile that came across my face.

  “Me too,” I admit.

  “Why can’t you sleep? You must be tired sweetheart.” His eyes showed his concern and I smiled at him to try to ease his concern.

  I didn’t know how to say why I couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t only the fact that I was wondering what else he could do to my body or what we would feel together, but also because I wasn’t used to sleeping next to anyone anymore. Somehow this seemed a lot more intimate to me than what we had done in my office.

  “I don’t know, too much running through my mind I guess.” His hand went to the back of my head, his fingers began running in and out of my hair in a steady rhythm.

  “About me?” he asked, still whispering.

  “Yeah,” I whispered back and I caught him smile.

  “Is that good or bad?”

  “Is it okay if I say a little of both?” I admit and he nods. His pale blue eyes a little surprised, almost as if I had somehow caught him off guard with how honest I answered.

  “I’m sorry I am keeping you up. I can call a cab…” I start to ramble nervously and he just shakes his head.

  “My mind is racing too…” he admitted and I raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Why?”

  His eyes got serious and his jaw slightly twitched, almost as if he was trying to decipher how much to say.

  “I don’t think I ever expected someone like you to walk into my life,” he said and I couldn’t help myself as I tried to lighten the mood

  “I didn’t,” I say and he raises his eyebrow, “I bumped into your life” I say back smiling trying to lighten the mood and he chuckles.

  “Yeah you did, didn’t you,” he says his gaze on me, but he almost seems lost in his own thoughts.

  “Your hair is so incredibly soft,” he whispered, his voice slightly hoarse, almost to himself.

  “Thank you. I like the way you smell,” I told him and we both laughed.

  Once our laughter died down, without thinking I move my hand to his chest. Lightly making lazy circles and doodles with my fingertips, completely enjoying how warm his skin was, how hard and strong he felt beneath my fingertips. He stirred something in me that made me feel completely alive. Something that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

  “Tell me something random about yourself. Something not a lot of people know,” he whispered. Even though we were the only ones in his condo, there was something sweet and intimate about whispering into the dark like little kids fighting their bedtime.

  “In college, I would dye my hair like every week,” I whispered trying to hold back my own laughter.

  “What?” he chuckled.

  “Yeah, I was the girl who had blue hair, you know before it was cool.” I tell him.

  “Really?” his laugh filled the room.

  “Yup. Your turn.”

  “In college, I was a late night college radio DJ.” We laughed and his fingertips stayed in my hair, as soothing strokes start to make my eyes a little heavy, yet I couldn’t seem to shut off my mind enough to find sleep.

  “What was Sean like?” he asked and I looked at him and gave him a half smile.

  “He was a great dad. The kids were always so excited to see him at the end of a work day. He was always a great guy, but after we had Mark something in him grew. It was like he was made to be a dad. He had this endless patience with them, never losing his cool, even when he was tired or they were just wearing on his nerves. He would let them help make breakfast every Sunday morning, which usually just ended up as a mess in the kitchen. But the kids just loved spending time with him…” I whispered.

  “What about with you?” he asked still whispering and I could tell he was a little nervous about asking.

  “He was my best friend. Don’t get me wrong, it was in no way perfect. We definitely had our ups and downs, and we fought, but somehow we always worked through it…” My voice began catching in my throat. Talking about Sean was never easy for me, especially with people who didn’t know him.

  He nodded and we just stared at one another. I knew I shouldn’t but I couldn’t resist. I leaned in and kissed him. I had meant to only give him a small kiss, but somehow it got hot fast. His mouth tasted a little like mint from when he had brushed his teeth and of just him. My tongue licked his lower lip and I couldn’t help but take a small nip at it. In which he groaned. His lips crashing into mine, made me smile at the fact that he liked when I bit him. He shifted us to where I was on my back and he was half on me. He pulled away and I immediately missed his mouth. He opened his eyes, looking at me as if searching for something in me.

  “What was that for?” he asked catching his breath a little. My nipples beaded hard under his cotton shirt and goosebumps covering my quickly heating skin at the sound of his voice, hoarse and hungry for more.

  “Thank you.” I whispered, as I tried to catch my breath, underneath him, a need pooling at my core, for something more.

  “”For?” he asked slightly frowning.

  “For
asking about him. For not making it be some weird off limits subject. I’m not saying I want to talk about him all the time, but… just thank you… I don’t know if I am making sense…” I start to ramble as my nerves start to take over. God I am an idiot. Almost as if he could read my thoughts, one of his hands came to my jawline. Softly caressing the sensitive skin there.

  “You are the most incredible woman I have ever met…” he whispered leaning down, kissing me sweetly and slowly. His lips were lightly grazing and licking mine. He shifted his body to where we were in the same position side by side, facing one another, our fingers laced; he pulled away and kissed my nose.

  “Tell me another random thing about you,” I whispered.

  “I don’t like chocolate.” We smile at one another .

  “How can you not like chocolate?” I asked incredulously. He shrugged at me smiling boyishly.

  “Your turn sweetheart.”

  “Hmm… I like when you call me sweetheart.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind… I’ve always wanted to drive cross country…”

  “Like a road trip?” I ask softly and he nods, “That sounds fun… would you be one of those people who took pictures in front of things like the World’s Largest Ball of Yarn?” he laughs and nods again. His pale blue eyes are warm and dancing.

  “I’m addicted to romance novels.”

  He chuckles leaning in to kiss my nose.

  “I like your eyes…” I whisper again, staring into his eyes.

  “I like yours… but I’m sure you know that.”

  “How would I know that?” I ask softly.

  “The way I can’t seem to stop looking away from you,” he says and something inside of me clenches. From any other man I would have thought this was a cheesy statement, but the way he said it, the honesty in his eyes shining through, I knew he was telling me the truth.

  I smile, knowing I am blushing furiously.

  We shared random little tidbits about ourselves until we couldn’t keep our eyes open anymore. Falling asleep facing one another our fingers interlaced together.

  That night I slept better than I had in the over three years.

  ***

  Mike

  Morning came by too fast. Being spring, mornings seemed to start earlier and earlier and light started to stream into my room. I opened my eyes slowly and saw her sleeping right next to me.

  Talking to her until we both fell asleep had been one of the best things I had ever done in my almost forty years. She was so sweet and surprisingly funny. We had told things to one another that not many knew of the other. I wanted her to get to know me. To know the type of man I am, so that when I told her the truth, she’d know more than just the fact of who I shared blood with. So that when she knew the truth she would know more than how I had affected her life that one October morning that I hated myself over.

  I watch her sleep. Her dark black eyelashes are framing her eyes, her creamy skin is soft and flawless. When she had stepped out of the bathroom, without makeup in just my shirt, my heart had been infested with butterflies. She had looked stunning.

  Next to me right now her mouth slightly open, I want to kiss her pretty little pink mouth so bad, but I dont want to risk waking her up. Glancing over at the clock, I take in that we still have an hour and a half until we have to wake up, so I snuggle up close to her. Instinctively, she wraps her leg over mine, and I close my eyes. Easily drifting back to sleep with my fingers tangled in her hair.

  ***

  Her body is warm, soft and comfortable, so much so I seriously didn’t want to open my eyes, but I could feel her trying to lightly nudge me awake.

  “Mike…” she whispered in a tone I could tell that she had a smile on her face,. I tried to fake sleep so that I wouldn’t lose her next to me but she leaned in, her lips lightly kissing mine. I couldn’t pretend sleep after that. Taking her in my arms, rolling us over so that her soft warm body would be beneath mine, I opened my eyes and smiled at her.

  “Good morning beautiful,” I whisper as I move forward, kissing her and she kisses me back. I take control of the kiss, making sure it was soft and sweet, making sure things didn’t get out of hand.

  “Good morning, “ she said smiling brightly when I broke the kiss. “How did you sleep?”

  “Well once this little minx stopped talking to me,” I said playfully and she laughed. God I loved her laugh and how it made my heart flipp. “Best fucking sleep I have had in years honey. You?”

  “Wonderfully. I liked sleeping next to you,” she said her hands cupping my face, sweetly. Everytime she did that it tugged at something in me.

  “Good, me too.” I tell her.

  We stayed that way for a bit, just staring at one another, enjoying the silence of the morning. Somehow ignoring the lust flowing through us, my hard erection poking her belly, the heat radiating off her skin and the way her nipples had beaded up do tightly I could feel them against my chest, through the t-shirt she wore.

  “Is it horrible I don’t want to get out of bed?” she asked softly, her fingers still caressing my face.

  “I know baby… but we have to. Come on. You shower, and I’ll make us breakfast.” I suggest because there was no way I could be in my room, knowing she would be completely naked in my shower only a couple feet away from where I was.

  ***

  He walked into his office a little after ten. He couldn’t seem to shake the permanent grin he had plastered on his face and the sheer feeling of contentment he had in his chest. Sabrina was something he really hadn’t been counting on. He emailed his assistant, Robin, and asked her to cancel any other pre-scheduled dates he might have made. He couldn’t risk a repeat of the Montecito dinner happening again. He knew he should stay away from her or atleast try to, but the pull to her was too great. He would just have to be careful. He closed his eyes and smiled.

  He thought about how she had felt in his arms. How they had whispered into the darkness, telling one another things that not many knew of them. He liked the idea of getting to know her, of her getting to know him. He liked how it had felt having her in his space, in his home. She fit there. They had an undeniable chemistry that they had given into in her office, but he was proud of himself for not having taken it to another level.

  Checking his messages, his heart sank as he heard Patrick’s attorney on the other line. Attorney’s telling him that Patrick was still insistent on talking to Sabrina. Running his fingers through his hair he sighed as he looked out towards the city. He would have to figure out how to calm his little brother. He couldn’t risk her finding out who he was. Not yet at least.

  He wanted her to know who he was before she found out. In doing so, maybe Sabrina would find something in him that she liked enough that it would make it difficult for her to walk away from him.

  Sabrina

  Stretching my back, I look around my kitchen, thinking I should probably add a coat of paint in here, maybe something yellow to brighten it up.

  Finishing my work day early, I had been able to pick up the kids from school. Now the four of us were in the kitchen working on various things. Penny and Mark are at the kitchen table doing homework, each of them with earbuds in their ears, listening to their music blaring out from their ipods. Watching them, I wonder if I should ask them to lower the volume, worrying about the long term effect of the blaring music. Smiling, my eyes land on Chris sitting at the breakfast counter pretending to read, as he glances towards the living room where he had left the NFL channel playing. All of this is happening around me as I work on cooking dinner.

  A month had passed since my impromptu sleepover at Mike’s condo. A month that had flown by in a blur. Between weddings and a charity event at the kids’ school, mixed in with Mike having to fly back East because of a big deal his best friend, John Davenport, and him were working on, I had only seen him once.

  Once in a whole month.

  But even with everything going on with our schedules we had somehow managed to talk t
o one another every day. Every day and night, with silly and sweet text messages in between calls.

  The one time we had seen one another we had gone to dinner and gone to see the new Pixar movie with the kids. Mike had held my hand the whole time, which had made me feel at ease and had rushed a flurry of butterflies in my stomach. I would catch glimpses of the kids looking at us and they would just smile. Even Chris had seemed to have been charmed by Mike. At the end of the night he drove us back home. Once the kids were in bed upstairs, Mike and I had sat on the couch drinking coffee and talking. He had kissed me, chastely and sweet, making sure not to push things too far. But with every touch, every kiss, every caress, my skin had quickly started to feel warm and tingly. Almost as if he could hear the naughty thoughts in my head, he had chuckled telling me he couldn’t take things further with the kids upstairs.

  Instead of it being a reminder of how complicated the situation might be, it had made me want him more.

  Mike had been a complete gentleman. This big, strong, sexy, sweet man being chivalrous because I knew exactly how tempted he had been. He had been completely aroused, long, thick and hard, but he had never pushed for more. If the obvious hadn’t been enough of a clue, I could tell by his touch, how it almost felt like he was claiming me as his with how closely he had held me. Then before midnight, he left.

  I had seen something in his eyes that I knew showed in mine…he hadn’t wanted to leave. I hadn’t wanted him to leave either. I had wanted to be next to him all night long again but I couldn’t get myself to ask for what I wanted. Especially with the kids home. It was way too soon to even go there yet.