UnLucky in Love_Final

by Hart, Cary

  “That.” I point to her. “You have to stop thinking like that.”

  “What?” Clover glances upward, her mouth pursed but slightly open before she lets out a deep breath. “What am I doing wrong now?”

  “Look at me, Clover.” I reach across and take her face in my hands. “Be confident.”

  “I’m trying.” She tries to move my hands away, but I don’t budge.

  “Kissing is less about technique and more about feeling comfortable in the moment. If you’re comfortable, then you’re confident, and if you’re confident, you won’t worry—”

  “Which means I get out of my own head.”

  “The student is paying attention.” I reach up with my finger and tap her temple. “Gold star for Clover.”

  “Thanks, professor.” She winks.

  “No. Don’t do that.” I shake my head.

  “What? A little too confident?” She begins to back away, and my hands fall to my lap.

  “No, a little too professor-student porn.” I laugh. “Again, this is a delicate situation between me and you. So, approach it as such.”

  “Got it. So, what are the rules exactly?” Clover scoots against the cushions, sitting back on her feet.

  “Okay, no rules really. At least not for you…”

  “Which is it? Do I have rules, or don’t I?”

  “Stop being so antsy. You don’t have rules because I don’t want you to be nervous. I just want you to go with the moment, and if that means you touch my face, chest, or arms, so be it, but don’t let it get in your head if I don’t touch you.”

  “That’s weird.” Clover raises a brow and twists her mouth. “But whatever. Kiss me.”

  I wish she knew how hard this is for me. Kissing isn’t just kissing, and if anyone says it is, they are full of shit. When two people lock lips, it can lead to three things: a relationship, sex, or never seeing them again—aka they suck at it. And I can’t do any of those with Clover. So, I have to figure out a way to shut myself off while I become Clover’s kissing dummy.

  “Okay.” I lean forward, but she’s still too far away.

  “Should I maybe scoot closer?”

  “Here.” I stretch out my leg and place my other one on the floor. “Move in.”

  She does.

  “Austin, what if I…?”

  I can’t help it. If I let her finish, she’ll get into her own head, so I do the only logical thing and crash my mouth down to hers.

  Big mistake.

  She opens her mouth to me—tongues exploring, playing, getting to know each other.

  Her hands fly up to my chest as she moans. It’s my undoing. After all, I’m a man. My growing dick says so.

  I told her I wasn’t going to touch her, but damn if my self-control isn’t disintegrating in…

  Three…

  Two…

  One.

  My hands fly up to cup her cheeks, but they have a mind of their own—the traitors—and decide to wrap around her petite waist instead, holding her to me. I don’t want to make this any more intimate than it already is. Telling my conscience to fuck off, I work my palms up her back and cradle her face as I drink from her like a man dying of thirst.

  I care about her.

  Of course, this is intimate. What the hell was I thinking? I can’t go here. I won’t. It’s Clover…I try not to focus on the fact that my best friend’s lips are the sweetest things I’ve ever tasted.

  She acts all shy and uncertain, but damn this girl can move. Her hands tighten their grip on my shirt as she leans into me.

  I lose my balance, so caught up in this “practice kiss,” and we tumble backward. I ignore the aching where I’m pretty sure I just cracked my skull on the armrest and focus on her body draped over mine.

  Our contact never breaking.

  My hands never leaving her face.

  Stroking her hair.

  Urging her on when I should be fighting her off.

  Just when I’m about to take this past the friend-zone, Clover pulls back, her lips leaving me with a soft popping sound. I stare up at her swollen, red lips and wild eyes in awe as she asks, “How was that?”

  She had to ask? Like the earth didn’t just quake a little. Like the sight of her skin flushed from desire and red from my stubble isn’t the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.

  I did that to her.

  My face.

  My lips.

  My hands.

  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” My smile is tight.

  “Really?” She bounces. “I mean, it felt really good. Like, I could have kept going.” Kept going? Does she really have no clue what she’s saying? There was only one place to go from there. “How was it for you?”

  How was it for me?

  “Clover, the evidence is pretty clear.” I glance down.

  “Oh, wow!” Clover giggles. “That’s good! I mean, not good for you.” She nods to my cock. “Obviously.”

  “It’s just a natural reaction. No need to be alarmed.” I stand, tugging on my shorts. “I’m just going to clean up this mess and maybe hit the sack.”

  “Aw!” Clover whines. “I’m wide awake now. I was hoping we could binge-watch a little TV.”

  How do I tell my best friend I can’t watch TV with her because I have something huge I have to take care of?

  “We can binge-watch that reality show you like.” She folds her hands together and silently begs.

  “Whatever. I’ll get the popcorn and water because you’ve had enough to drink.”

  “Goody.” She jumps up and down before she heads down the hall. “I’m just going to throw on something a little comfier.”

  “Take your time,” I holler after her.

  I have something to take care of.

  CHAPTER 17

  AUSTIN

  I can’t stop thinking about that kiss. Her lips, her skin, the way she felt under my touch…her. Even after we watched episode after episode of horrible TV, I couldn’t shake it. Clover Kelly left her mark on me, and I have no clue how I’m going to erase it.

  Now, here I am, back hurting, leg cramping, and my arm numb from Clover falling asleep on me last night. A good guy would have woken her up. A better man would have carried her to bed. But I’m neither of those. I’m a selfish bastard who wanted to feel what I felt for a little while longer.

  “Austin?” Clover moans. “Kiss me.”

  Hearing those words hit me like a sucker-punch to the chest.

  “Please,” she whispers.

  I can’t do this. I can’t keep up whatever this is. We grew up together. She’s seen me at my worst and cheered me on during my best. I will never let one kiss come between that.

  “Austin…” Clover’s eyes slowly flutter open. “I had the craziest dream.”

  Brushing her hair out of her face, I lower my voice, “The motorboating was real.”

  Clover smiles, her still tired eyes sparkling with amusement. “Oh, I know, but—”

  “Get some rest,” I cut in. “It’s still really early.”

  “Austin?” Clover reaches up, scratching her fingers along my jaw. “It wasn’t a dream, was it?”

  This is my chance to convince her it didn’t happen. To fool us both that these feelings aren’t real. But I don’t.

  Nodding my head yes, I speak the words no.

  Clover leans up. “You’re lying, Austin Montgomery.” She brushes her thumb over my lips as she closes her eyes.

  “I don’t want to be,” I confess as I watch her dream become her reality.

  Slowly opening one eye at a time, a lazy smile stretches across her lips.

  “Why?” She asks the question I’ve asked myself a million times while lying here, sleepless, worrying about what today will bring.

  Could we?

  Can we?

  What if?

  “I don’t want to lose you.” My truth pumps new life into me—one I never knew I wanted.

  Every beat.

  E
very thump.

  It beats for her.

  Clover doesn’t react. She doesn’t say a word. She just pushes off the couch and stands there in her barely-there tank and way-too-cheeky shorts. Tempting me. Taunting me.

  I made a mistake. One I’ll never be able to take back. One that will haunt me for the rest of my life and change our friendship forever.

  “Clo, I’m sorry…” I shake my head, unsure of what to do. “I wish I could take it back.”

  “I don’t,” she says as a blush rises in her cheeks.

  “What are you saying?”

  “This.” Clover places her hands on my shoulders as my hands instinctively wrap around her waist, balancing her as she places a knee on each side of my legs.

  “Clover, we can’t,” I beg her not to do this no matter how much I want this, but my need for it to happen is stronger than my desire to stop it. My words…vanish.

  Her mouth is mere inches from mine as she breathes me in. The neckline of her tank is loose and dangerously low, and with her hair tied up on top, I can’t help but stare at the smooth creamy skin begging to be touched.

  One lick.

  One tease.

  One taste.

  I imagine the trail of kisses from here to there, but for now, I tease us both by dragging the backs of my fingertips from her ticklish spot behind her ear to the valley between her perfect breasts, dipping my finger low, running it along the inside of her bra.

  She shivers.

  “You cold?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

  Clover shakes her head no as she reaches down and slowly pulls her tank above her head, exposing her sheer pink demi bra.

  “Is this new?” I reach down and run my finger under the strap of the bra.

  “I bought it tonight,” Clover confesses, her chin dropping to hide her embarrassment.

  My fingers tug beneath her chin. “Look at me,” I demand, and she does. “Who did you buy it for?”

  “You.”

  “Did you model this for him?” I suddenly feel possessive.

  “Nope.” She shakes her head back and forth. “I had hoped—”

  “You wanted this to happen?”

  “I did.” Her lips curl into a sexy, seductive smile.

  I can’t help myself. My hands roam up her body to tangle in her hair before wrapping the long strands around my palm and pulling her head down, claiming her lips with my own.

  The desire coursing through my veins clouds the part of my brain that’s screaming this will change everything. The remaining doubt crumbles as her hips rock back and forth against mine.

  It’s not enough. It’ll never be enough.

  Now that we’ve crossed the line, there’s no going back.

  I need to be closer.

  I need her.

  Now.

  “Austin!” Her cries of pleasure from grinding on my lap have me rock-hard as she begs for more.

  Lifting her up, I work the thin cotton of her shorts down over her perfectly shaped hips and rest her back against me. There is no time for anything another than pure need.

  “Touch me.” My voice comes out a heavy whisper.

  I need her hands on me as my own hold her tightly to me. Her fingertips slip under my waistband before withdrawing and running up my abs and back down, pulling my boxers away. “Tease.” I lean forward and nip her lips with my own before the kiss deepens as she grinds on me one last time before easing up and positioning herself over my straining cock.

  My hips buck in anticipation, and fuck me if I don’t feel her for the first time as I brush against her soaking wet core. It’s more than I could have ever imagined.

  The heat.

  The wetness.

  The need.

  Her hands grasp my shoulders, nails digging into my skin as the tip slides inside. “Austin.” Her body quakes.

  “You feel so good,” I choke out as I lift my head back up and drink in the sight of Clover riding me. Slow. And. Steady.

  “Austin,” she cries out again, and then again, as I thrust into her wet heat, surrounded by her scent, her voice.

  “Yeah, baby. I’m close too.” I moan, sliding my mouth from hers and down her neck. “Austin!” Her cries get louder, my thrusts deeper, speeding up.

  Just as I’m about to bring us both over the edge, she smacks me on the shoulder—hard.

  Damn! I didn’t know she was into kink.

  “Austin!” She smacks me again. My eyes snap open and fly to meet hers. It takes me a minute to focus and realize Clover is leaning over me…fully dressed.

  What the—?

  “Ewww! Austin! What the heck?” she screeches. “Were you having one of those sex dreams?”

  “What? No!” I defend myself, looking around the room as I struggle to get my breathing under control.

  “Um—I’m pretty sure you are.” She takes her finger and keeps pointing it like it’s a fucking flashing neon sign at my dick. “Or at least you were.” Her lips fight the urge to smile.

  “Well, you’re wrong.” I follow her gaze to my lap, and what do you know? I’m sporting some serious morning wood. Kill me now.

  “Then what is that?” She tries to stifle a laugh.

  “Nothing!” I grab a pillow in an attempt to cover my raging hard-on I just thought was being buried in her. My best friend. If this doesn’t win asshole of the year award, I don’t know what does.

  “Yeah. It doesn’t look like nothing to me.” She laughs and walks to the kitchen, leaving me to my humiliation and thoughts of another cold shower.

  “By the way,” she peeks her head around the corner, “I had a really weird dream last night.”

  Trust me. Nothing can top mine.

  “Oh, really? What about?”

  “That I asked you to teach me to kiss.” She stands there, waiting for me to say something, as if she wants me to confirm it, but I can’t.

  If there is any way to erase what’s happened in the last eight to ten hours, this is it. If I want to save this friendship, I can only respond one way.

  “Wow! That’s crazy.” I shake my head and roll my shoulders. “Why would you do that?”

  “Exactly! Friends don’t kiss,” Clover points out.

  “Nope. They sure don’t,” I agree

  I wish she would have believed that last night.

  CHAPTER 18

  CLOVER

  “Dating sucks.”

  “Seriously?” Mal eyes widen when she sees how serious I am. “That bad, huh?”

  “Really bad.” I slide into the booth next to Mal for our weekly catch up session at Cuppa Joe.

  “That’s why I skip to the good stuff.” CJ’s lips twist into a wicked smirk.

  I throw my hands up in the air. “I thought that’s what I was doing.”

  “Yeah.” CJ shakes her head. “That isn’t how this works.”

  “Totally random, but did you know if you balance a straw on your upper lip, not pursed, but relaxed, it can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles?” Mal then picks up her straw and begins to demonstrate as CJ and I look on.

  “Clover, Google that shit. I’m not buying it.” CJ slides her phone over to me.

  I hold my hands in the air. “Not happening. I’m done with Google. We’ve officially broken up.”

  CJ gasps.

  “I swear, it was in one of the beauty magazines I picked up the other day,” Mal defends.

  “Well, in my magazine, it said blow jobs do the same thing.” She places her hands in the air like she’s weighing her options. “Straw or…getting a guy off?”

  “Straw!” Mal and I say in unison.

  “And this is why you both are single.” A grin tugs at CJ’s lips.

  How did I lose control of this conversation? One minute, we’re talking about how sucky my dating life is, and now Cosmo and Hoover are trading beauty secrets. Lovely.”

  “Speaking of single…” CJ gives me the opening I was looking for. “Three dates and nothing?”

  “Nothing,
” I confirm.

  “Yeah, about that,” Mal gives her two cents. “Why didn’t we hear from you after date two? Sexy Smile Guy?”

  “Yeah, Clover,” CJ teases. “I followed your tweets until they basically put me to sleep.”

  “That’s because I’m pretty sure I even fell asleep.” I fake yawn. “Sexy Smile Guy is actually Really Boring Guy. Apparently, he didn’t have a plan for our date.”

  “I really thought he was going to be a top contender.” Mal lifts her mug to her lips and crinkles her nose. “I think this is yours.” She slides her coffee over and takes mine. “It has Splenda.”

  “Thanks.” I chuckle.

  “Okay, I’ve got it!” CJ jumps in. “You got your coffee?” She points to Mal, who nods. “And you’ve now got yours, so on with the story.”

  Mal and I just stare at her.

  “What?” CJ quickly gives us one of her don’t ask because I’m not telling looks. “Got a problem?”

  “Nope.” I glance at Mal, telepathically telling her to do the same.

  “Yep.” She leans forward, daring CJ. Apparently, my skills need a little work. “Did someone not get any last night?”

  “It’s none of your—”

  “You know what is your business?” I cut CJ off, and finish, “My dates!”

  “Yes!” CJ stands and points to me. “What she said!”

  “Monica!” Mal hollers at our favorite barista. “We need another round.”

  This lightens the mood. CJ sits down, and I finally get to finish how Seth Brooks gave me my most boring date ever.

  “So, let me get this straight, you drove around all night talking?” Mal questions.

  “Yes! But only because he couldn’t make up his mind on where we should go.”

  “How did you not see this on the speed-dating round?” CJ joins in.

  “Think about it, I ask the questions and they answer. There was no way to know he lacks communication skills, the ability to make a decision, and is also a germaphobe.”

  “A germaphobe? Really?” Mal asks.

  “Yes! I tried to reassure him and reached over to touch his hand and…he broke out the hand sanitizer.”

  “Nooo!” they both say in unison.