Asking For A Friend

by Parker, Ali

  If someone had to try the hot sauce you weren’t sure was going to blow your head off or enhance your food, I was the girl who would try it and find out. I didn’t always take the same route home and I even drove in a street race once.

  The depths beneath the water had never held much appeal to me, until now. It felt like there was this whole other world I didn’t know anything about and it was high time to fix it. The aquarium had something they called a ‘Bubble Makers’ course which you could go on from any age, as long as you could swim.

  Annie and I decided to try it out when summer came. Layton popped into my head and I wondered if he’d be interested in doing it with us. Strangely, although it was another bonding activity Annie and I could do together, I found myself really hoping Layton would come.

  “Are you tired, or do you want to do something else before we head home?” I asked Annie once our check was paid. “I had one more activity for us in mind, unless you’re too tired.”

  The aquarium was overwhelming, but Annie chewed on her bottom lip and excitement lit her eyes up once more. “I’m not too tired yet. Where are we going now?”

  “It’s a surprise.” Annie and I passed by the Build-A-Bear Workshop fairly regularly and whenever we did, she would gaze into the shop with longing in her eyes.

  Today, I finally planned on building one of those toys with her. When we arrived at the workshop, her grin was as wide as it was when I told her we were going to the aquarium, but the joy behind it was breathtaking. “Are we really going to build a bear?”

  I nodded and laughed as she practically dragged me into the shop. We took our time in selecting every part of our bear until we emerged with a grey bunny with a red heart sewed onto her chest.

  Annie named her Tricia and held her close all the way home. Our day had been perfect, but for one small detail. I couldn’t forget the sadness in her eyes earlier when she had been telling me about her friend’s dad earlier.

  Annie had never really asked me too many questions about her father. It came up from time to time, but it was like she could see how much it pained me to talk about him and eventually she stopped asking.

  Since Layton had gone to see Brice, I had been wondering whether it was time to tell Annie about him. Somewhere in a box in the back of my cupboard I still had some pictures of him and of us together. I kept them specifically so I could show her one day, but that day just hadn’t arrived yet. Maybe it had now.

  We trudged into the house and I made some hot cocoa, taking a seat next to Annie in the living room. “Do you feel like you want or are missing a dad in your life, sweetheart?”

  Annie looked about as surprised to hear the question as I was to be asking it. She thought about it before shaking her head. “No. All I need in my life is you.”

  After a beat, she added, “And maybe Layton.”

  I wasn’t surprised she brought him into the conversation. She was very fond of him, adored him even. But though we had talked about him a lot, I’d never straight up asked her how she felt about him. “Do you like Layton, baby?”

  She shifted on the couch to face me, frowning. “No Mommy, I don’t like him.”

  “You don’t?” Well that was unexpected.

  My heart started to sink before she added, “I don’t like him. I love him.”

  “Me too,” I said, then realized what I’d just admitted to. The words were out before I could stop them, but once I said it, I realized they were absolutely, one hundred percent true.

  I wasn’t sure exactly when it happened, but somewhere along the line, I had fallen in love with Layton. Holy freaking crap.

  I really, really loved him. What on earth was I supposed to do with that?

  Chapter 61

  Layton

  Somehow, I managed to get through the day on Friday actually being productive. After Craig left my office, I popped in my earphones and got into the zone, finalizing a few designs that had been sitting for a while.

  I attributed it to the feeling that had still been lingering after my day out with the girls on the Freedom Trail. The feeling inspired me and helped me to finish and tweak designs I was now excited to finally be able to show my clients.

  Before I went home for the weekend, I sent all the designs off for finishing touches on the 3D disks to be prepared for the clients, and planned the model for the biggest one. All in all, it was a good day’s work.

  It didn’t hurt that I had my date with Marissa to look forward to, which was what I was getting ready for as I stood in my closet and grabbed a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and a belt. There was a black leather jacket that hung at the back of my closet. I hadn’t worn it since college, but my lips curled into a smile as I tried to imagine what Marissa’s reaction would be to seeing me in it.

  Which made up my mind. Zipping up the jacket, I grabbed my keys and headed to their place. Traffic was a little heavier than usual, since there was an accident on the freeway, and I glanced at the clock on my center console. I couldn’t be late.

  Marissa would think I wasn’t going to show up again, and that was the last way I wanted our evening to begin. It had been too long since we’d had some time alone together. While I adored spending time with Annie too, I missed Marissa. I missed her touches and her flirty smile. I missed her unguarded jokes and waking up next to her.

  And, okay, fuck. I missed sinking all the way into her and feeling her clench deliciously around me when I did. It had been almost a week since the last time I was inside her and I was feeling it. Whenever she was in a room with me, I was semi-hard and a thought away from being ready to go.

  Of course, I toned that all the way down when Annie was around, but my body missed Marissa’s and I wouldn’t even pretend it didn’t. Though I had no guarantee our evening would end in bed, I sure as shit hoped it did.

  When I was in the shower earlier, I let my thoughts drift to finally being alone with Marissa again. That line of thinking landed my mind solidly in the gutter and within minutes, I had my fist around a throbbing hard on with the warm water pelting onto my back and shoulders.

  I stroked myself a few times, my free hand clenched in a fist against the stone of my shower’s wall. I imagined bringing Marissa back to my place after dinner, sucking one of her nipples into my mouth. I heard echoes of her low moans and whimpers as I sank my fingers into her and brought my mouth to her aching clit.

  Only seconds away from exploding, I realized I didn’t want my release that way, alone in the shower when I was going to be with her in less than an hour. My cock twitched in frustration when I let it go, but I didn’t touch it again.

  Instead I stayed in the shower for ten minutes longer than necessary and turned the water temperature to freezing. Icicles blasted onto my skin and goosebumps lifted it, but my dick took its time in surrendering its insistent need.

  Fuck, just thinking about Marissa and the shower had my jeans getting tight around the crotch as I got off the freeway and navigated back roads to Marissa’s house. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down before I got there.

  Baseball stats. Clubbing baby seals. Sweaty armpits. I repeated the unsexy thoughts over and over again in my head until I felt I had myself under control again.

  And then Marissa opened her door and every unsexy thought in the world wouldn’t have been enough from turning my blood so hot it was fucking mercurial. I sucked in a sharp breath when my mouth dropped open. “You look incredible.”

  “A leather jacket?” Her mouth quirked into a smirk. “I like it. You don’t look so bad yourself, handsome. Want to come in? I’m just about ready to go.”

  Marissa stepped back to let me into the house and I followed, somehow managing to keep myself from stumbling because of my suddenly unsteady knees, and from taking her right there on her doorstep. Neither move was easy to keep from doing.

  She was wearing a floor length black dress that looked to be made out of the same material as my t-shirt. It wrapped around her body, hugging and clinging to every one of
her delicious curves. It dipped low over her chest, showing off a fucking spectacular cleavage.

  It was fitted over her hips and ass, flowing loosely from there. If there had ever been any doubt in my mind, I was a tits and ass guy. Not a tits or ass guy, a both guy. There was no way I could choose, not when the body belonged to Marissa.

  Her hair fell in soft curls down to her waist, framing her gorgeous face and graceful neck. Charcoal lined her eyes, making the blue seem somehow deeper and brighter all at the same time. There was something shiny on her lips, drawing my attention to them in a way I couldn’t resist.

  Catching her wrist as she turned to go back to her bedroom, I spun her into my arms and kissed her deeply. She smelled like flowers and vanilla, and tasted like minty toothpaste.

  Without missing a beat, her hands slipped into my hair and her lips parted for me. I swept my tongue in and sought out hers, finding it soft and insistent as she kissed me back.

  I caught myself just before I ground my hips into her. If I did that, we weren’t getting out of here tonight. On a low groan, I lifted my head and broke the kiss. “You’d better go finish getting ready so we can leave.”

  Her cheeks were flushed, her pupils dilated. No doubt I looked the same. Smiling, she nodded. “Sure. Want to come keep me company? I just have to put on some jewelry then I’ll be ready to go. I’ve already taken it out.”

  “Is it in your bedroom?” I asked, taking deep breaths in an attempt to compose myself.

  Shooting me a questioning look with narrowed eyes, Marissa’s head bounced up and down. “Of course it’s in my bedroom. Why?”

  I gave my head a quick shake and moved to her kitchen. “There is no way I should be near you and a bed at the same time right now, unless you’re not hungry and are happy with staying in said bed all night. I’m going to get some water, take your time.”

  She giggled softly, then sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. No bed around us for now is probably a good thing, because I am hungry. Starving actually.”

  “Then get that gorgeous ass in gear and go finish up so we can go.” I pointed her in the direction of her bedroom and went to swig down two glasses of ice cold water, the sound of Marissa’s laughter over my comment ringing in my ears.

  In true Marissa style, she had shaken her behind at me a little before hurrying to her room to get her jewelry. She was back less than five minutes later with a cherry red coat slung over her arm. “You ready? It looked like you needed to cool down for a minute.”

  Her tone was airy and teasing, prompting me to walk up to her and wind my fingers into her hair. Looking right into her eyes, I lowered my voice. “Do you mean to tell me I was the only one who had to cool down? That if I lifted that fucking tempting dress right now I wouldn’t find you soaked and hot?”

  Blood rushed to her cheeks, her lips parting as she gasped quietly. But Marissa wasn’t one to back down. She reached out and brushed my lingering erection with the back of her hand. I hissed, making her smirk. “If you want to know what’s going on underneath this fucking tempting and, incidentally, new dress, you’re going to have to go down there and find out for yourself. But it doesn’t look like you cooled down much yet, do you need more time?”

  She batted her eyelashes innocently, a coy smile on her lips. I bent down and planted a chaste kiss on them. “Touché, Ms. Hughes. Let’s get going before I take you up on that offer to go exploring.”

  Her hand rested at the front of my jeans, I took it and held it at my side as I led her out the door and into my waiting car. The restaurant I’d booked us at was a nice place, but not overly fancy.

  Low hanging chandeliers provided hundreds of dots of dimmed light. The pocked hardwood tables only had runners with no tablecloths and antique looking silver cutlery was already laid out. It had an old world feel to it that I loved. There were no airs or graces here, only reliably good food, good service and sufficient privacy provided by the various alcoves in the back of the dining room.

  Marissa and I were at one of those tables in an alcove, the low light shining on her hair making it seem like it had a golden glow to it. She was radiantly beautiful, even as she just sat there examining her meal options.

  We got a bottle of wine and one of water, ordered appetizers and main entrees in one go and then sat back to enjoy each other’s company. She told me about her day off with Annie, mentioning that she would love to go diving in the summer.

  “I’ve never done it,” I told her. “But I’m game to give it a try with you two.”

  It could be fun, I reckoned. Anything with the two of them would be. I also liked that the invitation implied she thought we would still be together by July, which was months away. I certainly thought we would be, but up until that minute I hadn’t known where she stood on the matter.

  I told her about my own Friday, mentioning all the designs I got caught up on and telling her about the new projects I was working on. A shadow crossed her face when I said I had to catch up on some stuff I missed while I was in New York.

  “What now?” I asked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “I just—” she trailed off, dropping her eyes to her hands in her lap. “I still can’t believe you went there for me, that you confronted Brice. For me.”

  “There are precious few things in this world I wouldn’t do for you, Marissa,” I told her honestly, reaching for her hand and brushing her knuckles with my thumb. “Besides, I’m not afraid of Brice. I never have been and never will be. I don’t know what he did to you, but I want to make him pay. You deserve the best and from what I can tell, he gave you the absolute worst.”

  She nodded silently, tears forming in her eyes. “It was awful.”

  I squeezed her hand, holding her gaze with mine. “In that case, he was a complete fucking idiot. For what he did and for losing you. Letting you go was the biggest mistake he’s ever made. If you’ll have me, I’ll never repeat his mistake. I swear it.”

  Fresh tears appeared in her eyes, but this time there was happiness shining behind them. Then she said three words that made my heart melt and soar at the same time, because I knew they meant she trusted me, despite letting her down that weekend. “I believe you.”

  “Good,” I said, my eye catching the waiter’s as he moved toward us with our food. “Those mussels you’re about to have are going to change your life. Let’s dig in and forget anything sad has ever happened to either of us.”

  “Done.” She smiled. “But thanks for saying all that. You have no idea how much it means to me.”

  I thought I did, but I guess I couldn’t really. Not until I knew what Brice had done to her. I didn’t want to bring it up again now, though. Marissa had launched back into her story, telling me about the aquarium and what it felt like to hold a starfish in your hand.

  Relaxing into our conversation, I put Brice out of my mind for the rest of the night. Marissa and I polished off our dinner, and talked for hours until the waiter brought us our check because he was knocking off for the night.

  When we got back to her house, I walked her to the door. “Thank you for coming to dinner with me tonight.”

  “Thank you for asking me,” she said, unlocking her door. She moved the key to the inside, but didn’t close the door behind her or say goodbye as stepped inside. She disappeared around the corner, calling out over her shoulder. “Are you coming in? Or are you going to stay out there and freeze.”

  “Definitely coming in,” I said, as I stepped in after her and locked the door behind me, my eyes struggling to adjust to the darkness. Just then, a light at the end of the hallway went on. A soft, orangey light that was too dim to be a main light. I assumed it was a bedside lamp and since I’d never been in Marissa’s bedroom before, I assumed that meant Marissa was in her bedroom.

  I followed the light and pushed open the door, which was hanging ajar. As I stepped into the room, Marissa’s dress hit the floor and she turned slightly, looking at me over her shoulder. “It’s about time you showed u
p, I was just about to get started without you.”

  Chapter 62

  Marissa

  I wasn’t a shy woman by any means, but holy shit I’d never been so bold before in my life. One look at the way Layton’s eyes darkened and grew hungry, and I knew my risk had paid off.

  His gaze zeroed in on me, his demeanor changing from the easygoing guy I just had dinner with, to the slightly dominant, very horny guy who had been in my kitchen earlier.

  I loved both sides of him, all sides of him actually, as I’d recently learned. But this was exactly the side of him I needed right now.

  He got me all hot and bothered earlier, leaving me aching. But now it was finally time for him to undo some of those knots that had started pulling tighter in my stomach and dropping lower all night. Moving toward me with slow, purposeful strides, he shrugged out of his jacket and hung it over my dresser.

  I stood there in my bra and panties, not quite knowing what to do with my hands. They were twitching at my sides, wanting to help him get undressed. But he had me pinned where I stood with those amazing green eyes of his.

  The bra and panty set was new too, lacy with cute little pink bows I could see him honing in on. He brought his hands to the nape of his neck and pulled his long sleeved t-shirt straight off, revealing his washboard abs and perfectly bulging arms.

  His muscles flexed and rippled as he moved, sending little shockwaves of lust in the exact motion of those ripples straight to my very core. If I left these panties on much longer, they were going to be soaked by the time he got to me.

  Layton was kicking off his shoes and very intently removing his belt when I hooked my thumbs into the elastic waistband of my new panties. He saw what I was doing and growled, “Stop. Let me.”

  I did as he asked, letting my hands find my hips instead as I watched him seductively removing his jeans, then pushing his briefs to the floor after them. His erection sprang free, a curved shaft that now ran along the path of dark hairs below his navel.