by Kylie Walker
Meghan gave her a sly grin. “I wondered why you guys seemed so giddy last night.”
Abigail chuckled. “Did we seem giddy?”
“Maybe a little,” Meghan shrugged.
“Anyway, I feel like we should have a celebratory drink because I conquered my fears and laid the bully to rest.”
“You know I’m not one to give up an invitation to have a drink,” Meghan beamed and stood up. “I think I have a bottle of merlot already opened on the counter.”
“Perfect,” Abigail smiled, and they walked to the kitchen together.
“So, you still haven’t told me yet,” Meghan said and reached up to retrieve to red wine glasses from the cabinet.
“Told you what?” Abigail leaned over the bar and propped her elbows up on the counter.
“About Lucas,” Meghan said and grinned. “What is going on with you too?”
“Nothing,” Abigail said and flickered her gaze away from the burning stare that Meghan was giving her. She felt a little uncomfortable being scrutinized like that and felt her ears grow hot.
“Oh, come on,” Meghan said. “I can smell that lie a mile away.”
Abigail laughed and took the wine glass from Meghan. “Go ahead and filler’ up,” she instructed of Meghan. “Tonight, we drink in celebration of Jaime’s defeat of power.”
Meghan chuckled. “Here, here!”
Abigail took a long sip of the glorious merlot. It was smooth and silky and went down nicely. She instantly felt warmed and relaxed from the inside out. “That’s good stuff,” she said and smacked her lips.
“I love this brand,” Meghan mentioned.
“To new beginnings,” Abigail said and raised her glass for a toast, even though she had already sipped the wine. It didn’t matter. She felt like her luck was in the bag now.
“To new beginnings,” Meghan chanted back with a zesty smile that warmed Abigail’s heart.
“Are you really not going to tell me any of the juicy details involving Lucas?” Meghan asked and leaned over the counter to stare at Abigail expectantly.
Abigail chuckled. “There is nothing really to tell.” She took another sip of her victory drink.
“He sure is smolderingly sexy,” Meghan said with a dreamy smile.
“Easy there, tiger,” Abigail teased.
“I am hands off,” Meghan laughed. “I mean, I am just saying, that if I had scored such a hot creature such as Lucas, I would be shouting it from the rooftops.”
Abigail laughed. “I appreciate your enthusiasm. I just don’t want to get my hopes up. He’s in a band and all...”
“Maybe he will surprise you and turn out to be The One,” Meghan offered.
“He is nice so far; I just don’t know how long that will last,” Abigail said. “I don’t want to scare him off either by being too clingy.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Meghan said with a reflective look on her face. “I’m still excited to be invited to a celebrity party.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Abigail said.
Her heart beat a little faster when she suddenly remembered that she would be seeing Lucas again soon. She had been so focused on making Jaime crash and burn that the party that he had invited them to had slipped her mind.
“So, that’s two things to celebrate today,” Meghan said in a cheery voice. “One, that you got back at the heartless woman chastising you at work, and two, that we can end the week with an epic party thrown by literal rock stars.”
Abigail was practically beaming. It was her time to shine. She wholeheartedly agreed with her best friend and roommate. Things were looking up. Promise, much like the alcohol in her system, ran through her veins and gave her a boost of energy that was hard to deny.
Chapter Eleven
MEGHAN GAVE ABIGAIL a sneaky look as they rode the train together on their way to Lucas’.
“So, are you going to spill the deets?” Meghan asked with an expectant raise of her brows.
“Deets about what?”
The lights from the street lamps created fluorescent, flashing and jagged lights that cut in and out of the shadows in their train car.
“Seriously...” Meghan trailed off, but she was smiling precariously.
“What?” Abigail leaned closer to her friend, slightly annoyed by the questioning. “Just spit it out.”
“Fine,” Abigail sighed. “You and Lucas. Are you guys like, seriously dating now?”
“Oh, no. We aren’t even really dating at all,” Abigail said, brushing it off.
The truth was she wasn’t really sure how to define her budding relationship with Lucas. One thing she knew for certain, she was having a blast with him and loved every second of the time they had together. She just didn’t know how to classify them.
“So, you guys are just friends?” Meghan smirked as if she didn’t believe that to be the case in slightest.
“I...uh...” Abigail stumbled, feeling her cheeks grow hot. “Yeah.”
“Oh, come on Ab,” Meghan said and spiritedly swatted at Abigail’s thigh. “I’m your best friend and your roommate. I think you owe it to me to let me know if you and your friend are going to be having crazy sex in our apartment so I can leave... and then get the details later.”
Abigail gave Meghan a coy look and shook her head. “You’re really bad, you know.”
“Why won’t you just admit that you are spending a lot of time with him?” Meghan was nothing if not persistent.
“I don’t know.” Abigail absentmindedly scratched at her elbow and stared at her shoes. The train driver announced through the loudspeaker in a garbled voice that their stop was coming up next. “It’s just really new, and I don’t know what to expect.”
“I think you're too cautious.”
“I just want to take things slow and see where they go first,” Abigail admitted. “I don’t want to get my hopes up, but at the same time, I want to hope for the best if that makes sense.”
“It makes perfect sense,” Meghan agreed with a nod.
Abigail sighed. In the private corners of her mind, she knew that against her own better judgment, she was falling hard for Lucas. She had to constantly remind herself to take everything with him one step at a time. The last thing she wanted to do was appear too needy or make him feel boxed in. Besides, she wasn’t even sure what she was looking to get out of their fling. Everything was happening so fast. Was she ready for a real relationship when she had so much going on between work, school, and the internship?
She could take care of herself emotionally in the event that things fizzled out between them, but secretly, she was hoping that against the odds, the flame of their chemistry would continue to burn stronger the more time they spent together.
Twenty minutes later, they were being buzzed into Lucas’ building. Her heart raced with each step as they headed toward the elevator for Lucas’ flat. She’d never been here without him before. She wasn’t exactly sure how it worked. It felt a little awkward and intimidating. What if someone stopped them, accused them of not belonging there?
Megan stopped and made an impressed face. “This is his private elevator?”
“Yeah. It goes right up to his penthouse.”
“Are you sure we’re supposed to take it?” Meghan eyed Abigail warily. At least they both felt a little cautious about having all this to themselves.
“He gave me the code,” Abigail shrugged. “So, I guess that’s a yes. It’s a party. I’m sure he gave to code to all his guests?”
“Unless there’s another elevator?”
Come to think of it, no one else was here, waiting to go up and attend the party. Maybe there was another entrance and he’d just given her the code for his private one. Warmth spread through her at the possibility.
“Maybe we’re supposed to wait for one of his servants to come get us.” Meghan’s voice sounded apprehensive.
Abigail chuckled. “He doesn’t have servants. He’s totally down to earth.”
“Okay,” Meghan
said and exhaled a puff of air. “If you say so...”
Abigail punched the numbers to activate the code for the private elevator, and away they went. A few seconds later, they were spilled out into the hallway leading to his penthouse.
The bass from a stereo system pumped through Abigail’s veins and spiked her adrenaline as they walked closer to the door. Abigail tried the knob. It was unlocked. She let them in and paused, shocked. There must have been fifty people in Lucas modern apartment.
Some of them were dancing; some were drinking from cocktail glasses as they held conversation in clusters. Abigail instantly felt out of place. Her heart drummed nervously in her chest. She knew no one outside of Lucas. Maybe it was a mistake that she’d come here. She was an intern; she was going to stick out like a sore thumb.
The look on Meghan’s face mirrored Abigail’s feelings.
“What do we do now?” Meghan whispered as they wandered further into the penthouse apartment.
“I don’t know,” Abigail said and pointed towards a bar where a bartender was making drink after drink for thirsty partygoers. A line had formed next to it, and Abigail stepped into it. “I do know that the bar is a great place to start.”
“I agree,” Meghan said as she glanced around, sizing up the space. “This place is incredible,” she whispered under her breath.
“I know, right?” Abigail nodded.
“All the people look so...beautiful.” Meghan made a peculiar face as if she didn’t feel like she fit in with the attendees either.
Abigail was getting ready to respond to Meghan’s inferiority complex when Lucas breezed right over to them. He placed his hands on her shoulders and planted a kiss on the side of her neck.
Abigail grinned in automatic response. “Hey, you,” she said. It was impossible to suppress an enthusiastic grin, even if she was floored that he’d shown so much affection for her in front of his guests.
“Hi,” Lucas said and gave her a charismatic smile in return. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I just came for the bar,” Abigail joked.
Lucas grinned with a heavy helping of sexual heat in his eyes. As if he had been waiting for her to scoop her off to some private room where they could fuck like mad. She cleared her throat to slow the race of need coursing through her. “You remember Meghan?” Abigail said and pointed to her friend, who was watching them both with acute fascination.
“Yes,” Lucas gave Meghan a polite smile, then cut in front of all the people in the line to go behind the bar. He then proceeded to pour two cocktails, one for Abigail and one for Meghan. He came back a few seconds later with a boyish grin.
“Wow, thanks.” Abigail appreciated how attentive he was being.
She took a sip of the drink and instantly felt like she would have a hard buzz by the time she finished the glass. The liquid soothed her anxiety. She was ready to relax and unwind and have a great time. All her cares melted away after the first few sips, and her focus turned almost completely to the sexy man beside her and the rising heat between them. She was going to have a hard time keeping her hands to herself.
Who knew, maybe she would make some friends along the way tonight. It would be smart to make some connections while she was here, especially if she wanted to stay in the industry after she graduated college. First, she had to get her head out of sexual fantasy land.
“Are you having a good time?” He asked her as she leaned up against the wall and gazed into his eyes.
She loved his five o’clock shadow. His eyes caught hers and left no question as to what was playing out in his mind. Meghan excused herself to find a bathroom. Abigail had a pang of regret that her hyper-focus on Lucas had driven her friend off. She’d make it up to her.
In a minute.
“Yes.” She moved into him, placing a palm on his chest. She felt his heart beating rapidly and let out a contented sigh. The bass thrummed through her ears and reverberated through her body. His cobalt eyes were glazed over with lust. His lips curled into a handsome grin that heat rush between her legs.
“What are you thinking about right now?” She whispered.
He took her head between his hands and leaned in until his lips nearly touched her ear. “How much I would love to take you into the bathroom and have you get down on your knees. How much I want your pretty lips wrapped around my cock.”
“Mmm...” she purred and pressed herself up against his masculine chest. She gazed fondly up into his eyes. “I think that could be arranged.”
He took her hand and squeezed it affectionately as he led her down the hallway and into a bathroom. It had sleek gray tile on the floor and a walk in, encased shower. A couple of modern style prints with colorful shapes in the frame were hung on the wall.
Lucas closed and locked the door, and as soon as they were in private, he swooped in and wrapped his hands around the back of her head. He ran his fingers through her hair. He groaned as she nibbled on his bottom lip and pressed him against the wall. She was just as ravenous for him as he was for her. It felt as if it had been a month since she’d had him inside her.
With trembling hands, she unhooked his belt loop. She hoped that Meghan would be okay faring for herself for a few. Lusty thoughts soon overtook her guilt at ditching her friend as Lucas’ jeans fell to his ankles. He tossed them off with a flick. She eyed his thick erection, a flutter of excitement working through her middle. God, she missed this.
Without hesitation, she got down on her knees, eager to take him into her mouth. She worked her lips around the plump head, withdrew and wet her lips before sucking him in again. His nostrils flared as he watched her lick and suck his tip. She gazed up at him seductively. He was beaming, grinning from ear to ear as if he couldn’t wait for her to swallow him up. He cupped his hands gently on her shoulder as she eased in, open wide for him.
She wanted to tease him. She wanted to drive him crazy as she sucked him off. She took her tongue and slowly grazed it up and down his rock-hard shaft. He groaned in response, a light tremble going through him. With teasing slowness, she worked her mouth down his shaft, opening wider to take him all the way in. The head of his cock hit the back of her throat. She relaxed her muscles and swallowed him down until she had him to the hilt.
“Holy fuck,” Lucas ground out. His hands fisted into her hair.
Her insides were tingling. She bobbed her head up and down on him until he tensed up and his groaning became more urgent. The more she worked him over, the more excited she became. Lucas fisted a few stands full of her hair and began to lightly tug on them. She could tell that he was getting closer. The buzz from her cocktail enhanced her senses. She felt electrified as she licked and sucked on his swollen cock.
He ground hips and made gentle thrusts as she devoured his shaft. Lucas grabbed the back of her head and tenderly pushed her further between his legs. His inner thighs began to quiver. He groaned and tensed, clamping his fingers around her head.
With one geyser of an eruption, his hot cum filled Abigail’s mouth and flooded down her throat. She swallowed him down. He relaxed, his hands going slack on her head. He leaned up against the wall and panted. He ran a hand through his hair and gazed down at her, completely lust-struck.
“That was good.”
The compliment made her smile. Dabbing her mouth with a square of toilet tissue, she tossed it in the trash and gave a saucy grin. “Thanks.”
His eyes wouldn’t let her go. Something was brewing there, something besides lust and want. It was deeper, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. It seemed like a lot passed between them just then. He tensed as if he was fighting whatever this was. As if he were resisting it. They didn’t need words to explain how attracted they were to each other. Abigail understood that now. But that didn’t make it less frightening. What she was feeling for him was becoming so strong, that hopefully, the fear would lessen soon. They’d have a choice to make eventually, one that couldn’t be driven by their mutual fear.
His face rela
xed as he reached for her and wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Let’s go find your friend.”
“She’s probably wondering where the hell I am.”
Lucas ran a hand through his hair. “She saw how I was looking at you. I’m sure she figured it out.”
She should be mortified by that, but she wasn’t. He opened the bathroom door and placed his hand on the small of her back as he gently coaxed her out into the hallway. She knew she needed to find Meghan, but part of her wanted to cuddle up with Lucas for the rest of the night and blow off the party. And, the rest of the world.
A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER the party, Abigail walked into her apartment, tired, sore and ready to crash on the couch. She had been going strong all day. She had even gone for a run after work. She closed the apartment door behind her and placed two grocery bags on the counter in the kitchen with a sigh.
“Well that’s it,” she called out loud. “I’m going to be a hermit for the rest of the evening.”
Her voice filled the space with no response coming from her roommate. Then a soft sound filled the air. Abigail frowned and moved away from the groceries. A soft sniffle came from the other room.
“Meghan?” Abigail called. The living room was hidden in shadows because all the blinds were drawn, and the ending stages of dusk had begun to settle in over the city.
Abigail switched on the light next to the kitchen wall, splashing a cozy yellow glow of light into the room. She saw Meghan hunched over on the edge of the couch. Meghan’s hands were cradling her head, shielding her face. She appeared to be silently crying. She rocked her body back and forth a few times.
“Meghan?” Abigail asked again in a softer voice. “Is everything alright?” She sank into the couch cushion next to where Meghan was sitting. She tenderly placed a hand on Meghan’s back. “Tell me what’s the matter.”
“I can’t,” Meghan said in a choked up voice. She sniffed again and refused to look at Meghan.
“Why not?” Abigail’s heart raced.
A million dreadful scenarios rushed through her brain all at once and gave her mind a drowning sensation.
