The Cliff

by Gucker, Christie A. C.

  “When will you be ready?”

  “Don’t push me or I won’t ever be ready!” Silence. Nothing. “Dane, I’m getting off the phone now. I’ll call you when I’m ready. Oh, and our parents are coming on Wednesday.” I hung up. Grant let out a huge, frustrated breath.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, you were wonderful. If you wanted to talk to him though, you didn’t have to do that on my account. You could have talked. I would have left the room.”

  “I meant what I said. I’m not ready to talk to him. I need to get my head around this whole drugging thing you and Chels think happened. Around the whole night.”

  “Wait, Chelsie thinks it, too?” Then the phone rang again. I got a nice little ache between my legs and realized I was already a Pavlov’s dog. Phone ring equals sex with Grant. However he wasn’t thinking the same thing.

  I watched in slow motion as he reached for the phone and shouted into it, “She doesn’t want to talk to you!” And then, “No, Sam. She’s not mad at you. Yes, I’m sure she’ll talk to you. Yes, yes, I’m still here. No, I have no plans of leaving, ever. Things are more than fine, but I’ll let her give you all the sweet details.” The smile returned to his face as he held the phone out for me. I let out a sigh of relief and then gave a little squeal as I grabbed the phone to let my girls know things were going to be more than okay between Grant and I.

  “Samantha!”

  “Um, so I am going to assume Dane called?”

  “Yes. He made his presence known. But that was about it.”

  “And how did Grant do with that?”

  “Yeah, I didn’t let it go there.”

  “That might be best. Where did you let things go?”

  “Nowhere with Dane. But anywhere Grant wanted.” And the conversation went to a better place. Samantha and I girlie-gabbed for a bit and then Grant’s stomached growled loudly, which made me giggle.

  “Sam, I haven’t fed this guy any actual food, which I need to do before he has no strength left for dessert, if you know what I mean.”

  “Yes, Lanie, I know what you mean,” she giggled. We said our goodbyes and hung up.

  Grant and I proceeded to eat and cuddle and make love for the rest of the evening. We finally settled down on the couch in each other’s arms and watched a movie. It seemed so natural. It felt so domestic. It felt perfect and right.

  * * *

  We spent the next few days rushing around, getting things ready for the arrival of our parents. We shopped, cleaned and got things in order for the business. The business ran smoothly, so that was the easiest thing we had done.

  Grant and I had basically been playing house back and forth between his place and mine. At the moment, I was running around his place, trying to make sure none of my undergarments were hanging from lamps or stuffed between the couch cushions. Playing house with Grant had been the most alive I had felt in years.

  I knew there were a few other things to take care of before they arrived. I had tried my best to keep Grant and Dane from having any contact with each other. Our parents would all be here tomorrow and I had planned on going over to speak with Dane later on today. I would see if that led to the possibility of the two of them speaking but still didn’t think Grant could be trusted to just talk. Anytime I mentioned Dane, he would tense up immediately and begin swearing under his breath about what he planned to do to him, and it wasn’t talking.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather just leave things where they are? It might be fun trying to explain why your panties were under my kitchen table.”

  “Oh, I’m sure my dad would love to hear that one.” I winked and threw them in his direction. He caught them in his hand and brought them up to his face, inhaling deeply.

  “Please tell me you didn’t just smell my panties.”

  “Sorry, I can’t do that. They smell absolutely delicious. Why don’t you come over here and let me get a taste of the real thing?” He reached over, pulled me onto his lap and dove his face into mine.

  “Grant, don’t get me started.” I tangled my fingers into his hair and kissed the back of his neck.

  “Oh, but it’s so easy. And I miss you.”

  “We’ve been with each other non-stop for the past few days. How could you possibly miss me? I’m right here.”

  “Yes, but you’re not right here.” He moved me so I was straddling him.

  “This is where I’ve been most of the time.” I smiled and ruffled his hair again while gyrating into him. He groaned softly and pulled me closer, nuzzling his face between my breasts. He grabbed my hips and pushed against me.

  “I have to go talk to Dane. I’m going to go over today.” He stopped. I knew he wouldn’t like it, but it was weighing on me.

  “I know it’s something you feel you have to do. However, there is no way you’re going to his house alone. I would prefer you meet him here. When I’m around.”

  “Oh, Grant, Honey. There’s no way I’m going to be able to do any talking with you two giving each other the evil eye while wishing death on each other. I’m sure it’d be better if we met alone.”

  “Lanie.”

  “Grant, are you afraid something might happen between us? Because nothing will, I promise,” I said with my right hand raised and a smile.

  “I trust you. I do. It’s him I don’t trust. I don’t want him anywhere near you alone, or in public, for that matter.”

  “I understand, really, I do. But this needs to be done. You and I both know it. And I’m pretty much out of time, with tomorrow being parental arrival day.”

  “I can hide in the closet. He’ll never know I’m here. I’ll feel much better if I’m close by if you need me.”

  “That’s very sweet, but I have it covered. I’ll call you if I need help.” He looked away from me and then tried to slowly lift me off his lap. I braced myself so he couldn’t move me and placed my hands on his shoulders and gave him a soft kiss on his lips.

  “Nothing is going to happen to make me ruin anything we have here.” I gestured. “I would never let anything or anyone come between us. Do you understand me?”

  “I know. I just wouldn’t forgive myself if he did anything to you and can’t stand the thought of him touching you.”

  “That’s not going to happen. It’s not.”

  “Fine. But you have half an hour. Anything more than that and I’m going to assume the worst and come over.”

  “You’re not putting time frames on this. I’ll talk to him until things are settled. Got it?”

  “Fine. And I suppose you want to do this now?”

  “No better time than the present.” He grabbed me suddenly, kissed me deeply and held me tightly. He kept me there for a few minutes and I loved every second of it. He ran his tongue up and down my neck and across my jaw. He ran his hands over my breasts and then down into my pleasure center.

  “Are you marking me?”

  “Yes. You belong to me. Every part of you, and I’m not letting you go until I have kissed and touched every inch of you.”

  “As wonderful as that sounds, I think you’re just keeping me from going.”

  “Yes.”

  “Honey, the sooner I leave, the sooner I get back, and the sooner you can do anything you desire to me, wherever you want.” I winked and pulled myself away from him.

  He looked like a puppy whose owner was leaving, his eyes looking sad and defeated. I needed to reassure him that everything would be fine; that I was coming back to him, to his arms, his kisses, his bed and his future.

  “Baby, I love you more than I have ever loved anyone, and more than I ever will. You have nothing to be worried about.”

  “Lanie, I have your safety to worry about. I don’t trust him. I don’t even want his eyes on you.”

  “You’re going to have to do this for me, Babe. You have to let me go.”

  “Fine. But I’m not happy about it.”

  “And you don’t have to be. But you do have to eventually have your own talk
with him. And you’re going to have to do it today.”

  I grabbed the phone and dialed Dane. It rang a few times, and he sounded winded when he finally answered.

  “Lanie.”

  “Hey, Dane. I think I’m ready to talk now.”

  “Then come over.”

  “No, you come here. We can sit on the terrace and talk.” I knew that Grant had a perfect view of my terrace from his house and if he really wanted to, he could watch us. I thought maybe if he had that, it might calm any concerns about what was going on and knew he understood because he gave me a smile, mouthed “I love you” and headed for the door.

  “I’ll be over in a few minutes,” Dane said, and he hung up.

  I was nervous and had no idea what things would be like with Dane. I missed Grant already and was sorry I didn’t let him hide in the closet. About ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. I slowly went to answer, feeling a pit in my stomach develop along with a cold sweat as I opened the door.

  “Dane. Hey.”

  The door wasn’t even completely open and Dane was rushing toward me with his arms outstretched. He threw his arms around me and pulled me into a tight embrace. I tried to pull away but he held me there.

  “Lanie, I’m …

  Chapter 15

  Best Fiends Forever?

  “… so sorry about everything. I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m so glad to hear you say that. Um, you can let me go now.” Reluctantly, he released me and pushed past me into the house. I could imagine Grant cringing and on his way over, having seen Dane touch me. I looked out the door to make sure he wasn’t. Nothing.

  “Are you thirsty? Hungry?”

  “No, I just want to get everything out into the open. Talk things through.”

  “Me too,” I said as I headed to the terrace. Dane followed. I positioned myself so I faced Grant’s. I knew if he actually were watching, he would be relieved to be able to see me. Dane shot a glance towards Grant’s house and then sat down to face me. I wondered if he knew why I chose the terrace.

  The ocean breeze was calm and it relaxed me as much as it could for this conversation. Dane and I had known each other our whole lives. He had never hurt Grant or I before. There had to be more to this story. I felt badly because I didn’t want to hurt Dane, nor did I want to think badly of him. He must have truly believed I was making love to him. I knew he didn’t understand. But neither did I. I didn’t understand how he could be okay with Lori and why he couldn’t believe Grant wanted to be with me. I didn’t want to believe he might have drugged me.

  “Listen, I want to know what happened the other night, all of it. So let’s start from the beginning.” I was ready to have an open mind about everything. I wanted things to be better between us all. I wanted to know the truth.

  “Fine. Grant called Lori and told her to come over.”

  “Don’t lie to me, Dane. That’s not the way to start this conversation. I know Grant didn’t call Lori. I know he didn’t, because he told me so.” I could see the direction this conversation was going to take and was already getting heated.

  “He’s lying. He called her.” I could feel my face flush and really was pissed about him calling Grant a liar. I trusted Grant. He never liked Lori, not even as a friend so there was no way he started things with me only to jump to her the next night.

  “You know he called for sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Because you answered the phone? You heard him ask for Lori?” I needed him to say it out loud so he could clarify it all.

  “Well, no. But—”

  “But what? Lori is such a reliable source?” I was speaking to him like an enemy. Right now he was. He knew it. He shifted uneasily in his seat.

  “I want to know what the hell is going on here, Dane. And don’t try to bullshit me,” I spat at him.

  “Fine. When we all had dinner the other night, Lori and I realized we were more like BFFs.” I rolled my eyes. Lori never just decided things. Lori used people and always had a plan. Shame, I actually hoped Lori had changed and that Dane could be happy with her, for Dane’s sake. “Well, no. More like beer, food, and fucking buddies. She’s always had a thing for Grant and they were getting so cozy on the couch.”

  “No, they weren’t, they were just talking. Seriously? She was with you and then after one night you both decide you’re with the wrong person after months of being together? Are you blind?”

  “Couldn’t you see it? We coupled off the way it should be. Lori with Grant, you and I.”

  “Dane, what the hell are you talking about? That’s ridiculous. We were all just hanging out.”

  “No, Lanie. It was more than that. You and I, we were so connected the other night, and then you made love to me.”

  “No! Dane, it wasn’t like that.” It broke my heart to say it like that because I knew it would hurt him deeply. “You’re my friend. You’re like a brother to me. We have always been connected that way.”

  “Yes, it was, Lanie. You pulled me down to you. You let me undress you. You said you missed me. You called me Baby and said you wanted it.”

  “I’m so sorry about that. I drank too much or something. I thought you were Grant. I didn’t intend for that to happen.” I felt so badly. He really did believe I wanted him. Waiting for his response, I already knew it would probably be full of hurt or anger.

  “No. You were looking right at me. You can’t tell me you didn’t feel something. You can’t tell me that. I know you have feelings for me. You knew exactly what you were doing.” That was not the reaction I expected. He was delusional.

  He jumped out of his seat and his lips were on my mine. He shoved his tongue inside my mouth while he held my head. I tried to push him off and he continued his assault. I pushed him back again and punched him as hard as I could. He smiled and rubbed his jaw. “I guess you owed me that. I really didn’t mean to hit you the other night. It was just a reaction to your scratching me. I’m sorry. But you can’t tell me you didn’t feel something just now.”

  My hand was throbbing for the little damage I had done to Dane. I rubbed my fingers and shot him an incredulous look. I needed to take a few karate classes. Apparently my punch was like a feather hitting a brick wall.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “Lanie, we were meant to be together. Don’t you see it? It’s fate.”

  “Dane, you listen to me and you listen good. I am in love with Grant. I love him. I love you too, but not the same way. You’re my brother.”

  “I don’t believe you, Lanie. I know you. You don’t just go around having sex with people, even if it’s sex to get back at someone else. You made love to me. You love me. You just got jealous of Lori. You came back from traveling and everything had changed. That’s why you think you love Grant. It’s rebound feelings. You needed to feel like someone loved you. “

  “I can’t believe you’re saying that. Who the hell are you, lately? You’re not the guy I grew up with. Are you hearing anything I’m saying?” I was fuming.

  “You’re just confused. You just feel dirty because you had sex with him. You feel bad. I felt how much you wanted me. I know you love me.”

  I was exasperated and couldn’t believe he couldn’t see things for what they were. I couldn’t believe he couldn’t see that he had done exactly what Tom had done to me. And more than that, I couldn’t believe he just insinuated that I felt dirty having sex with Grant. I mean, we got dirty, but not like that.

  “Dirty? I felt dirty because I made love to Grant? So I made love to you instead? That doesn’t even make sense!”

  “It’s the truth. And you didn’t make love to him. It was just sex.”

  “I see. So I just suddenly realized you were the man for me, right after finding my boyfriend with your girlfriend naked in his room. Do you honestly think that having sex with you would make everything better? Does that really sound like something I would do? You said so yourself, that’s not like me. I don’t just go around sleeping
with people.”

  “Because you realized you and I were meant to be together. Because you wanted me and you love me. We made love. You’re just having a hard time because you don’t want to hurt anyone. But Grant will understand, because it was just sex for him. You saw him with Lori.”

  “Let me get this straight. You think you and I should be together and that the other night was romantic love making. That Grant was only using me and that he really wanted Lori? That you’re fine with Lori and Grant being together? I thought you had feelings for her. Do I have that all correct?” Now I wanted Grant to punch him.