Our Chance

by Natasha Preston

I took off my coat and threw it on the chair by the door. "Good."

  "Coffee?"

  "I'll make it. Why don't you go change into something more comfortable?"

  She narrowed those pretty green eyes. "Meaning get naked, Nell?"

  "I'm not apposed to that idea but I thought you'd be more up for this," I replied, pulling my t-shirt over my head and handing it to her. "But if you want to let it all hang out..."

  She bit her bottom lip. "I will if you will."

  I lifted an eyebrow. "Game on, Nell."

  My hands went to my jeans before she could move. I wasn't at all worried about her not following through because I knew she would. Nell was body-confident and it was sexy as fuck. She also wasn't shy around me. Whether that was just who she was or because she felt comfortable around me I wasn't sure, but I'd take either if it meant I got to view her naked form as much as possible.

  Giggling, Nell followed suit and removed her clothes. I watched with hooded eyes as she stared at me and dropped her underwear. I'd never seen anything so perfect as her bare body.

  "Nell," I said breathlessly. It hurt to look and not touch.

  My body ached to be against hers, hands longed to caress every inch of her soft skin.

  "Are you making that coffee or not?" Her voice was too sweet, too innocent. I knew what she was up to.

  "You don't play fair."

  Lifting one shoulder in a lazy shrug, she replied, "I don't know what you're talking about."

  "Like fuck you don't." She was challenging me to sit there and sip coffee while trying not to jump her. My dick was already as hard as steel and my balls felt like they were going to explode. I wanted her and I didn't want to wait or play games. But I also didn't want her to win.

  I locked my muscles and forced myself to smile. "Sit down and I'll bring it through."

  Smirking, she nodded and turned around. Her walk to the sofa was slow and seductive. I watched the delicate lines of her form, the curve of her arse and hips, and the soft tips of her hair brushing against her lower back.

  Groaning inwardly, I turned to go into the kitchen and took deep breaths. My plan for tonight was pounce; I wasn't mentally prepared for abstaining for any length of time. I filled the kettle, flicked it on and tried to think about anything other than Nell naked.

  Nell's naked, Nell's naked, Nell's naked!

  I wanted my hands and mouth on her and only take her after she begged me to. I was supposed to drop to my knees the second her clothes were off. She'd turned my plans upside down and ended up being the one that was playing with me.

  I was pissed.

  Slamming two mugs down on the worktop, I filled each with instant coffee and got the milk out. "You okay?" She called in that sickly sweet voice.

  Fucking woman.

  I cleared my throat. "I'm fine. Why don't you find something to watch?"

  "Already am," she replied, "I really fancy a chilled evening in front of the TV."

  Another dig at me, telling me she was absolutely fine to not have sex. I knew different of course, but she wouldn't ever acknowledge that - it wasn't part of the game.

  I made the coffee; stirring so fast, I periodically spilled it over the worktop, and threw the spoon in the sink. She could wipe the coffee stains off the wooden counter; it was her fault they were there in the first place.

  "Here," I said, placing one mug in front of her. She leant forwards from where she was sitting to pick up the cup and her mouth was perfectly lined up with my cock.

  Jesus Christ.

  If I didn't want to win I would've slammed my drink down and guided her mouth to where I really wanted it. She sat back before I could give in and smiled up at me. Nell had perfected her 'innocent' eyes look but I wasn't buying it.

  Taking a deep breath, I put my drink down and sat beside her. Her breasts, not so subtly, pressed against my side as she shifted on the sofa, tucking her legs under herself.

  "We play the most pathetic games, Nell."

  "Oh, are we playing?"

  I glared. "Don't act cute."

  Laughing, she returned her mug to the coffee table and straddled my hips.

  "Uh uh, no way are you claiming a win if I take you now! You can't sit on me and expect me to keep my hands off you."

  Her smiled stretched and she wrapped her arms around my neck. "I don't expect anything from you, Damon, other than you supplying me with a lot of orgasms."

  "Well, I think I can handle that."

  Unexpectedly, because she never usually backed down, she covered my mouth with her own and manoeuvred her hips, making me slowly sink inside her.

  I win.

  An hour and a half later, Nell was lying between my legs, sprawled over my chest as we watched Son's of Anarchy. I loved the post sex part just as much as the sex itself. She was usually sated and cuddly, unless she wasn't done with me and then she'd just tease and do things to me that made my eyes roll back into my head.

  And post all-clear test results meant that she was back to doing all the good stuff. The herpes test of Hades was worth it.

  She sighed. "The things I'd do to Charlie Hunnam."

  "Are they the same things you do to me?"

  "Hmm, yes but I might give him a little extra."

  "Whoa, whoa, back up. That's harsh, Nell. Come on, I'm way better looking than that guy. Look at his hair, look how disgusting that is." Honestly, I couldn't give a fuck about what was on the man's head but there was no way I was happy that he'd get special treatment.

  "I like it, something to grip hold of."

  "What's wrong with my shoulders?"

  She laughed and it stirred something inside. Usually when we get to the crashing in the last position and watching TV that was the end of the sex marathon for the evening. There was definitely going to be more if she kept moving around on top of me, no matter how minute that movement was.

  "There is nothing wrong with your shoulders, besides the scratches."

  "I happen to like those scratches."

  She giggled. "So do I."

  "Are you going to tell me what extras Charlie gets?"

  "He'd get a threesome. But I haven't chosen the other guy yet."

  Well, there was absolutely no fucking way I was having a threesome with her. "I'm glad you've reserved that for him."

  "You wouldn't?"

  "I don't like to share."

  She lifted her head off my chest and narrowed her eyes. "How is that not what you're doing?"

  I didn't want to think about that. Nell was single and had every right to see whoever she wanted, whenever she wanted. I had no idea if she did that or how many men she'd slept with since we started seeing each other and I had no desire to ever find out. In my head it was zero. For my own sanity I needed to believe she wasn't getting anything else from another man. I would beat the tosser to a pulp.

  "It's not," I replied and turned away. She sensed that a conversation about who else we may or may not have shared bodily fluids with was not going to happen, and followed my lead by watching Charlie ride a bike.

  The first spark of erection number three of the evening had well and truly fizzled out. Thinking of her with another man was almost enough to make the pissing thing fall off altogether. I tried to shove it from my mind but I couldn't help it. Thoughts of another man being that close to her ate away at me. It wasn't even the sex that bothered me the most, it was the possibility that she could be laying with them the way she was with me. I didn't want anyone else to be this close to her. Ever.

  I suddenly found myself royally fucked off. Nell wasn't mine so I couldn't get angry about something like that. Shit, I'd slept with someone on holiday so I was being a complete hypocrite. Nell didn't get moody with me for that so what right did I have? I didn't even know if she'd done anything. This was wholly unreasonable.

  She pushed herself up. Both slender arms were either side of my face. Her hair fanned around us creating a glossy black curtain of privacy. "I'm hungry again, you want something?"

&
nbsp; "Are you going to cook for me?"

  She grinned a full, toothy smile. "Well, I'll cook for me but you can have some too."

  "Whatever you're making is good."

  Getting off the sofa, she looked at me over her shoulder while putting on my t-shirt that'd been tossed on the floor. Hot girl in a white t-shirt was just about the best thing. She blew me a kiss. "Don't get dressed, I'll want some after eating."

  "Not gonna argue with that."

  The very second she was out of the room I texted Chloe. It was a bunny boiler question and not one I even wanted the answer to but it was driving me insane and I knew it would eat away at me constantly. I sent: 'Is Nell seeing anyone else?'

  Her reply came just minutes later: 'Just you. Why?'

  The why was obvious. Chloe was fully aware of how my feelings for Nell had changed and evolved. She was the one telling me to tread carefully but to go for it. I wanted to, we'd be great together, we already were, but she was so unapproachable on the subject. If I ever dropped so much as a hint of a hint about relationships in general she would close up and tell me how lucky we were to 'not have to deal with that serious bullshit'.

  The more time I spent with her the more I wanted in on the 'serious bullshit'. I wasn't looking for wedding bells or anything like that but exclusive sounded good. Really good.

  I replied: 'Just needed to know.'

  Chloe let it go and didn't message back but that must have been very hard for her. Or Logan had confiscated her phone so she couldn't grill me further. My money was on the latter.

  "Damon, I have nothing in!" Nell shouted from the kitchen.

  "What do you have?" I asked.

  She appeared at the door holding a sorry looking apple and jar of Nutella. "What am I supposed to do with these?"

  "Eat the apple then spread the chocolate over your body and come back to the sofa."

  Glaring, she replied, "I'm ordering Dominos and it's on you."

  See, we were pretty much in a relationship already. There would be very little that actually changed if we gave ourselves a title. Without it she was safe and unthreatened. When I found out what that was all about, I was going to squash it.

  Nell ordered a pizza for us to share since we'd both already eaten and we lounged around, eating and touching. She'd made me get dressed to answer the door and then remove my clothes the second it was shut again.

  "No one thinks this," she said, gesturing between us, "will work. Apparently, casual never stays casual." We'd just finished eating. Nell was back lying down on the sofa, this time with her legs over my lap.

  "By no one you mean Chloe?" I asked. Where was this coming from? Had Chloe texted her after speaking to me?

  Nell scoffed. "Yeah, my sucky best friend."

  "She's just trying to look out for you."

  "I know that. God, I never realised how annoying it was to have someone look out for you. Bet she was pissed off at me when I was trying to get her to stop caring what people thought of her being with Logan."

  "You know she did. Now are you climbing back aboard or what?"

  Her dark eyebrow rose. "Maybe I don't want to."

  "So you made me remove my clothes again for no reason?" I was hard, again, and I need her mouth frantically attacking mine while I fucked her into the sofa.

  "No, I made you remove them to screw."

  "You're such a romantic, Nell."

  "Damon Masters wants romance?"

  "That depends."

  "On what?"

  I grinned. "If it'll lead to me getting at least a blowie."

  "Wow, you're so charming and so smooth."

  "I'm honest."

  "Yes, you definitely are that."

  Neither of us were ready for anything heavy like proposals or moving in but I did want more than what we had. I, at the very least, wanted to know for certain that Nell was only sleeping with me. The rest could come later.

  The only issue with that was Nell. I wasn't sure if she wanted a relationship at all. The thought was terrifying because that could only end in disaster. We couldn't keep doing this if the fundamental parts of our relationship changed.

  "Seriously though, Nell, don't let it bother you. We're good and we're not hurting anyone."

  "That's what I think too."

  "Good. So, are you climbing on...?"

  Laughing, she launched herself up and landed in my lap. I groaned, immediately taking her mouth and pulling her body flush with mine.

  Damon

  After a full week at work and spending most nights with Nell I was ready for the weekend. She'd been extra demanding, which I loved, but it also left me with some serious withdrawals. This weekend I was visiting family and would have to go two nights cold turkey.

  I'd started to rely on seeing her though and that was dangerous territory. We were supposed to make each other's world pleasurable not be each other's world.

  The drive was mostly motorways so I was able to open the car up a bit and just focus on the road. This weekend was going to be chilled and although I didn't really want it to be, it was exactly what I needed.

  I always loved going back to my parents' place. It was just over two hours away so I didn't get to do it often. I'd missed my family and friends back home. Moving away from the small town was the best decision but it was good to go back. Plus my mum would do my washing.

  "Damon!" Mum cried, hurtling towards my car. I'd just pulled up and opened the door when she ran out like a maniac.

  I leapt out in time to be tackled into a huge, unnecessary hug.

  "Hey, Mum."

  "I've missed you. Don't you dare leave it so long again!"

  It'd been five weeks.

  "I won't. I missed you too. If you let go we can get inside and properly catch up."

  "Ah yes, Stephanie is here."

  "Alright..."

  Steph was a friend from back in high school. We went on a few dates and tried the more than friends' thing but it didn't work out. I wasn't feeling it and I'm pretty sure she wasn't either. She didn't seem that upset when I broke things off so she couldn't have been too cut up.

  "She's still single you know."

  I slung my arm over her shoulder and locked my car. "Thanks for the heads up but that's not going to happen."

  "Oh? Because of Nell?"

  I'd made a monumental mistake of mentioning Nell to my mother a few months ago and now she was all over it, wanting to meet her and get to know her. But because nothing was happening she was getting impatient. I had no idea why she was so desperate to marry me off. I didn't even live with her anymore.

  "Mum..."

  "Don't 'Mum' me. You can't mention a girl and that be the end of it."

  "Yes, I can," I said, closing the front door behind us. "Right now Nell's just a friend and I don't know if it will go anywhere. When I know I'll tell you."

  She signed and nodded towards the conservatory. "Everyone's in there, I'm just going to put another pot of tea on."

  "Alright," I replied, heading out the back.

  Sure enough Steph had planted herself right between my dad and grandparents. Her mum was here too. We'd known her family for years and my mum and hers had grown close after the death of Steph's dad when she was seven. I'd always known that deep down Mum would love for me to be with Steph but she'd never force it.

  I also knew that the second she meets Nell she'd understand why Steph wasn't an option for me.

  "Hey," I said, moving further into the room.

  Dad was up first, followed by my sister, Cara, and then Steph and her mum, Greta.

  "Hi, son, how was the drive?" Dad asked.

  I gave him a quick hug. "It was fine. Hey, Cara, how's school?"

  "I hate it," she replied, barely looking up at me from her phone. Cara was eighteen and addicted to her mobile phone. She was studying for her A levels and planning on attending university in September.

  "Hey, I'm so glad we could make it over the same weekend you're home," Steph said, leaning in for a h
ug.

  "Yeah, me too, it's been a while, huh?" I took a step back. "We should hit the bar tonight and see who's about."

  "Sounds good but your mum has this big meal planned."

  Great. "Beers here then."

  "Absolutely." Steph's blonde hair was considerably shorter now and quite choppy. It used to be long but now it was above her shoulders. It suited her. Her eyes were pale green, the opposite of Nell's striking colour.

  Jesus, I had to stop thinking about Nell. She drove me crazy even when she wasn't around. Something was going to end badly there. Every day I thought about her more and more.

  We settled down with the first of many mugs of tea my mother would make. I think she genuinely believed the hot drink could solve all. I stayed with Steph, catching up on what I'd missed from the last eight months, or however long it'd been since I saw her last.

  "So, you're loving your job? Your mum mentioned you have the chance at co-running the place."

  "I love it but I'm a little way off buying into the business. I'm not sure if that's the direction I want to go in yet. I might get more experience and go it alone a few years down the road."

  "Wow, that's exciting."

  "You'd know. How is the new line?"

  Steph had always been into fashion and made all of her own clothes from the age of fourteen. She had some of her designs in local independent shops and boutiques as well as selling on her website.

  "It's going fantastic! Next week I'm meeting with a rep from ASOS. I love every second of it."

  I made an appropriately surprised and impressed face. What the fuck is ASOS?

  "I'm sure they'll love your designs."

  She bit the side of her lip. "I really hope so. Enough about me, how're things with you?" That felt like an 'are you single?' question.

  "Things are going good. I move into a new place next month. Now I'm working full-time I can afford somewhere nicer and closer to work."

  "That's good. It's my plan too, but Mum has a huge house and I need a lot of space for stock and dressmaking. Hopefully things will really take off and I'll be able to afford to buy my own place."

  "It'll happen."

  She nodded. "So do you keep in touch with anyone from school?"

  "Not really. I keep up with everyone on Facebook but you're about the only person I properly talk to still." I kept more in touch with the people I'd met at university than high school.

  "Yeah, me too. We should make more of an effort to catch up more often. It's been far too long."

  "I know but living two hours away makes it hard. We'll try harder, though," I said. Me, Steph and my brother Lance played out a lot together since we were the only kids on our street.