God, did she miss him. She missed the light, happy sensation that just talking with him brought. She missed the feeling of companionship and camaraderie. Ben had gotten her like no one else.
A sniffle was the only warning to the tears that sprang unexpectedly to her eyes. Life was just so unfair. She’d found the perfect man only to realize too late that he was unattainable. Even if she could get over the fact that he was like family, Reese always treated her like an innocent, impressionable child. There was no way he would be able to do the things he’d done with her again once he knew she was the face behind the mask. In fact, he would probably be disgusted.
With an angry snarl, she slapped the laptop away from her. A sob bubbled up from her throat, and she pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle the sound. Life just wasn’t fair sometimes.
The happy ping of the computer telling her she had another message finally drew Hayley out of her misery and self-pity. Reaching toward her laptop, she slid the device back toward her to read the next message from Ben.
I need to see you again. Soon.
She gave a laugh full of irony. Oh, he’d already seen her since their sexual encounter. He just didn’t know it. Can’t wait until the weekend?
No.
The answer was so simple and yet, Hayley could sense his urgency. Had this afternoon not ruined things for her, she would have been feeling the exact same way. Sitting back in her seat, she gnawed at her bottom lip.
She knew she had to end things with him, but doing so would be difficult without changing her screen name, email address, and other online information. If she told him she didn’t wish to speak to him anymore, he would want an explanation. Did she dare fill him in on their little mistake or would that make things too awkward between them? I thought you were working midnight shift.
I am. We can meet at Masque tomorrow evening for drinks beforehand.
Is that all I am, a booty call? Her fingers jammed harshly on the keys. How was it that she’d found everything Ben did to be perfect until she realized he was Reese?
I wasn’t looking for sex, just drinks. I want to hear your voice again.
She fought to keep her heart from melting at that comment. He wouldn’t be saying such a thing if he knew who she was. Uncertainty filled her as she thought over her options. If she was going to reveal her identity, it was probably best to do so in person. It felt wrong to do such a thing over the Internet.
Drinks sound good. At that moment, she could go for an entire bottle of Captain Morgan. It had the perfect ingredients to drown out her sorrow.
Then tomorrow at eight o’clock?
Tomorrow at eight o’clock. Tomorrow she would tell him. She just prayed she had the courage to handle the situation and whatever backlash came with it.
Chapter Five
Hayley arrived at Masque early to be certain she would beat Reese to the hourglass clock. She wanted to see him coming, wanted to have as much of an advantage over the situation as possible. Despite all of her planning, she felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her when he approached.
She watched him progress across the room and tried to pinpoint evidence to his true identity. She saw it in his gait, in his mannerisms, and by the all too familiar hair that fell over his forehead. How had she missed it before? The broad shoulders were the same, the blue eyes identical in shade.
“Angel,” he said with a wave and a friendly smile.
She stared at him in astonishment, not wanting to believe her eyes. Everything about him screamed Reese. Yet at the same time, he was all Ben. “Can we go somewhere more private to talk?” Lifting her tequila to her lips, she drained the glass of its contents for an added boost of bravery and tried to ignore how badly her hands were shaking. “Someplace quiet?”
His expression became thoughtful, and then he tentatively said, “My car is parked nearby. We can go there if you like.”
She nodded. “Perfect.” She gave her empty cup a longing look before setting it down on the bar to her left. Then she led the way out of the club into the fresh night air. “This just seems more personable,” she said nervously. “I could barely hear myself think in there.”
Reese held out an arm to her. “I’m not going to complain about getting some quiet time with you.”
She hesitated but then slipped her arm though his. There was no sense seeming standoffish for no reason. He would have plenty of cause to avoid her soon enough. “I think quiet time is exactly what we need.”
As they made their way to a small parking lot across the street from the club, Hayley had to fight to hold back her reaction to the sight of Reese’s truck. She’d known in her heart that Ben and Reese were the same man, but seeing the evidence firsthand was still a shocking blow. Swallowing thickly, she allowed him to open her door and help her into the front seat.
She had only a moment to collect her chaotic thoughts before he was swinging into the driver’s seat. She’d sat in this very truck with him a million times, but never before had it felt so intimate. The air had never been as sexually charged as it was right now.
“I’m really glad you agreed to meet me tonight.” Reese’s now unmistakable voice filled the silence. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”
“Perhaps it’s the sex you can’t stop thinking about,” Hayley said dryly. “It could have nothing to do with me.”
“Hey,” Reese said amiably. “It has everything to do with you. As amazing as the sex was…” He gave a lopsided grin. “You lured me in with your mind long before you bewitched me with your lips.” Cupping her face in his hands, Reese leaned forward and gave her a gentle, relaxed kiss.
Despite her best efforts, a soft sound of contentment forced its way past her lips. When he pulled back, she closed her eyes in an attempt to collect herself. “This is wrong.” Her voice came out a breathy whisper. Even to her own ears it didn’t sound very convincing. When her eyelashes fluttered open, Reese was staring at her with those expressive blue eyes.
Finally, he sighed. “I know putting on masks and meeting in a darkened nightclub is kind of absurd. I just… Listen, all I know is that I want to be with you.” Reaching up, he grabbed the string that held his mask in place. “Masks or no masks, it doesn’t matter. All I know is that I am crazy about you. I want to be with the fantastic, intellectual woman I met in that chat room a few months ago.”
His words were like a dagger straight to the heart. Hayley’s hand shot out to grasp his, stopping him from removing his mask. “Don’t!” She kept his hand in hers, guiding them both to her lap. “Leave it. I don’t…” Her eyes swept over his face. “I don’t want to unmask just yet, not before I try something.”
Taking a deep breath, she took a leap there was no coming back from. Her eyelashes fluttered closed as she crossed the distance between them. An instant later, her mouth was on his. She sank into the sensation of his lips, letting her mind wrap around the idea that this was Reese, that it was his lips that grazed along hers and his body that had pleasured her so thoroughly.
His soft groan of approval shot fire through her loins, warming her entire body. “I shouldn’t want you like this,” she murmured against his lips. Climbing to her knees on the bench seat, she scooted closer to him, leaning over his face to deepen the kiss.
“Don’t fight it,” Reese murmured in encouragement as his hands ran up her back. “There is nothing wrong with two people who care about each other meeting like this.”
Hayley sat back to look at him. Her eyes danced over his face as she realized with surprise that she still wanted him. Despite who he was, she still had feelings for Ben. She had feelings for Reese, Charlie’s Reese. In the face of everything, she still wanted him, all of him.
With a sly smile, she reached down to tiptoe her fingers along the front of his jeans. “I know you didn’t come here for sex, but I just can’t help myself.” She scooted even closer to him, pressing her hand flat against his growing erection. “I can’t resist you…Ben.” She lifted her
eyes to his face, watching as his eyes closed in pleasure when she rubbed his cock under her palm. “I want to do something special for you.”
Feeling unbelievably wicked, she unfastened the button of his jeans and plunged her hand inside. His dick was already hard, pressing persistently against his boxer shorts. Easing the fabric out of the way, she freed his erection and took it carefully in her hands.
His expression of ecstasy was nearly intoxicating, causing a smug smile to spread across her lips. It was so extraordinary to see that expression on Reese’s face. It was something she’d never even considered wanting to see. It felt naughty to watch as her brother’s best friend dropped his head back against the headrest and begged in a whisper for her to keep touching him.
She licked her lips with desire and ran her thumb along the head of his penis. Her eyes stayed glued to his face as her fingertips danced down his shaft. She didn’t want to miss a single second of his reaction. Up and down her hands moved, teasing him with light strokes and feathery caresses.
When she felt she’d tormented him enough, she dipped her head down to flick her tongue along the tip of his erection. As his hips arched up, she took the head of his cock into her mouth, letting her hand stroke the rest of his length.
Reese groaned, and his body relaxed into the seat as if boneless. “You don’t have to do that…”
“I know. That’s why I want to.” While her hand pumped up and down his shaft, her tongue swirled around the top of his erection. Slowly, her lips descended over him. She took him deeper and deeper into her mouth until she had nearly his entire length encased.
His exhale came as a shudder. His hand lowered to the back of her head, and he guided her movements, arching his hips up with every caress of her hand.
His groans spurred her on, driving her to take him deeper, to stroke him harder and faster. She wanted to feel him come while her hand was still wrapped around him. She wanted to taste him. “Finish,” she encouraged, nipping at the tender flesh on the underside of his penis. “Finish now.” Her free hand slid down, and she massaged his balls in tandem to her fist’s movements.
An animalistic growl burst from his lips, and his fingers tightened in her hair, grabbing fistfuls as his hips arched up to meet her thrusting hand. He gave a hoarse cry and suddenly his body tensed.
A moment later, a hot stream of cum shot into her mouth. Hayley swallowed it down, reveling in the grunts and gasps she heard. It was hard to wrap her mind around the knowledge that she’d just given her brother’s best friend a blowjob. She continued to suck at his trembling cock until she was certain he was finished.
When she sat up, she found him leaning back, eyes closed. She continued to stroke his balls, loving the expressive reactions it caused. “Everything about you turns me on,” she confessed.
He gave a grunt that she took as agreement.
“I want to fuck you again.” When his arm wrapped around her waist to pull her to him, she regretfully pushed it away. “Only I want you to see my face the next time we’re together. That’s not going to be tonight.” She took a deep breath of determination. “It will be soon, though.” It would be. She was certain of that with an obstinate single-mindedness. “I won’t be able to wait much longer.” She couldn’t. She needed to be with him, needed to surround herself with his laugh, his humor. It was a shocking revelation, but she couldn’t deny that she was in love with her brother’s best friend. All that was left to do was to make sure he fell in love with her as well.
Chapter Six
Hayley stood in Charlie’s kitchen, shooting narrow-eyed looks of annoyance to Reese. His indifference of her had never been a problem before, but now it was driving her insane. “So,” she drawled in an attempt to get his attention. “Are you reading anything good?”
Reese lowered the newspaper from in front of his face to eye her with mild impatience. “I’m reading the sports page. It’s nothing you’re interested in, just NFL training camp.”
“Hmm,” she said with mild interest. “Football.” She waited a moment for him to say something else, but he merely lifted the paper back up. With a noise of aggravation, she pulled at the corner until she could see him. “It’s a shame you don’t read anything worthwhile. Men could learn a bit from literature.”
“I know how to read,” Reese said with exasperation. “I read plenty. In fact, I just finished Pride and Prejudice a few weeks ago. Isn’t that one you girls tend to like?”
Hayley let go of the paper and sat back with surprise. Had he always been so open about his interest in reading? Had she simply ignored it because she’d never been interested in him? It would be just like her to have Mr. Perfect staring her in the face while she completely ignored all the signs.
Reese gave a sigh and lowered the paper to the table. “What’s up, Hayley? You’re acting…weird.”
Panic seized her heart but she quickly forced it back. She had to handle this smartly. If she was obvious in her actions, she might ruin everything. “Nothing’s up. I’m just bored.” Charlie had run out to pick up a pizza, leaving her and Reese alone for a glorious half hour. If she was going to make a move, now was the time. “Tell me something about yourself.”
He arched an eyebrow at that. “You’ve known me for twenty-two years. What’s there to tell?”
“I don’t know,” she said with a huff of frustration. “Anything! Something I don’t know. Surely you have some secrets.” She snapped her fingers. “Tell me about this girl you met. Is she hot?”
His brows furrowed with bewilderment. “Yeah…yeah, she’s hot.”
“Is she just a booty call?” she asked, trying to hide just how interested she was in the answer to that question. “Or is she like the real deal?”
Reese was looking uncomfortable with the conversation, but he answered. “No, she isn’t just a hook up. I really like her. She’s a sweet girl.” He frowned. “Why are we discussing this?”
“I’m just curious.” A devilish grin touched her lips as she climbed to her feet and made her way to the fridge. “The sex is good though, right? Like really good?”
“I’m not answering that.” His eyes narrowed and he shook his head. “What has gotten into you?”
You. She wanted to answer but didn’t dare. “Nothing. As I said, I’m just bored.” Taking out a pitcher of lemonade, she set in on the counter and then moved to the cabinet where Charlie kept cups. “Would you like a glass?” she asked as she pulled down one for herself.
When he answered in the affirmative, she stood on tiptoes to grab a second glass. Her fingers intentionally stretched out to slyly nudge the glass away from her. “I…just…can’t…reach.” She pretended to struggle, nudging the glass even further away.
“Here. Let me help.” Falling perfectly into her trap, Reese climbed to his feet.
When he reached her, Hayley didn’t move out of the way. Instead, she feigned that she was still attempting to get the glass down from the cupboard. As he stepped up behind her to assist, she purposely leaned forward to stick her backside out. She brushed it along his crotch, making a small sound of effort that came close to a whimper of sexual pleasure.
He froze, and his entire body stiffened up.
Hayley felt his cock stir to life against her backside and grinned. He wasn’t completely ignorant to her sex appeal. That was a good start.
When she didn’t move away, Reese jumped back as if burnt. He clutched the glass in his hand, a panicked expression on his face. He then turned his back on her and began pouring lemonade into the two glasses.
“Thank you, Reese,” she said sweetly. After a moment in which she pretended to be thoughtful, she said, “Reese…Reese…hmmm. That’s such an interesting name.” Leaning casually against the counter, she asked, “Did you ever want a more common name, something simple like John or Bill?”
He barely looked up. “Reese is my middle name. My first name is Ben. You know that.”
Hayley felt as if she’d been punched in the gut. “Wait! Wh
at?” Her foot slipped and she nearly collapsed to the floor. “I never knew that! Since when…well, obviously since always, but how did I not know…” Had she always been this clueless? She supposed Reese’s personal life had never really mattered to her before now.
He reached a hand out to steady her. “My first day of school after moving here, your brother heard my mom use my middle name. He thought it was hilarious. He tormented me that whole morning. Recess came and I gave him a bloody nose. We’ve been best friends ever since. I never realized you didn’t know that story.”
She stared at him in fascination. He wasn’t a liar. She just hadn’t been paying close enough attention. It was just like her brother to still call Reese by his middle name. He’d sarcastically been calling her Angel since they were children, hence her own screen name.
“Ben,” she said softly. “Benjamin Reese. I like it.” Pushing off the counter with a smile, she sauntered toward the doorway that led to the pool. “I feel like taking a swim until Charlie gets back. Feel free to join me if you wish.”
Lifting her shirt over her head, she revealed a skimpy bikini. She did nothing to hide the bruise on her thigh. As she swept confidently out of the room, she smirked in victory as his eyes hungrily followed her every move.
Chapter Seven
Hayley stood frozen under the clock in Masque, watching with baited breath as Reese strode across the room to her.
“Angel,” he greeted. Before she could speak, he cupped her face in his hands with a crooked smile. The kiss he pressed to her lips was passionate and full of unspoken emotions. “I love you,” he confessed when he pulled back. “I wanted you to know that before…” Reaching up, he pulled the mask from his eyes.
She studied his all too familiar face and felt her heart melt. She wanted to weep with relief that Ben truly was Reese. “I love you, too.” Taking a deep breath, she reached for her own mask. She knew it was time he knew her identity.
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