The Guy Next Door (Forbidden Love Book 1)

by Kelly Myers

  Dinner tasted like nothing because it wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted my mouth on Crystal. The smile she gave me redirected my blood flow straight to my cock. I hadn’t felt a need that hot and demanding in years. Not since the last time I had been with her.

  I was ready to throw the table aside and toss her over my shoulder. I made pen-signing motions to the waitress.

  “Are you okay? You stopped eating,” Crystal pointed out.

  “I’m saving room for dessert,” I said, draining my wine glass.

  The waitress handed me the black folder with the bill. “Is this the same kitchen the hotel uses for room service?” I asked.

  “Yes, it is,” she answered with a smile. “Did you want to arrange a meal being sent to your room?”

  “I’d like dessert to be sent up.” I glanced at Crystal. “Two chocolate tortes and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon.” I finished the order and signed the revised slip.

  “Are we in a hurry?” Crystal chuckled.

  “I want to be able to leave the second you say go.” I felt like a caged beast, waiting to be set free. Crystal was my freedom.

  She delicately placed her fork to the side of her plate. “Then I guess, pretending we are having a polite conversation when we both want something else is foolish.”

  My chair fell over with a crash. Crystal had a bemused smile on her face as she waited for me to set right the offending piece of furniture and help her with her chair.

  She placed her soft hand on my arm, and I thought I would fall apart then and there. Other than the toppling chair, I pulled myself together as I guided her through the hotel lobby and to the elevators. I was a perfect gentleman until the doors slid closed and we were alone.

  With my hand on her back, I swung her in a dance-like move until I could wrap my arms around her and crush her to me. I could drown in her softness and beg for more.

  Her lips were soft and pliable under mine. I didn’t need to demand because she kissed me with even more fervor and want. Her soft moan undid me. I pressed her against the mirrored wall, not caring cameras were monitoring us.

  She dug at my shirttails, pulling them from my slacks. Her hands slid up my sides and against the skin on my back. The warmth and contact of her hands held me in place. I didn’t want to move. I could have stayed like that for days, her lips on mine, her hands holding me close.

  The elevator doors slid open. I would have completely missed it if the woman waiting to get on the elevator hadn’t let out a surprised gasp.

  I pulled away from Crystal’s sweet kisses long enough to recognize this was my floor. I waggled my eyebrows at the woman as I grabbed Crystal’s hand and dragged her from the elevator.

  “Zack.” She tugged me to a stop about halfway to my door. “Are we sure about this?”

  I stepped up to her and slid my hand along the side of her waist. “I haven’t been more sure of anything. I’ve missed you. Tell me you’ve missed me, that you’ve missed us.”

  She sighed against my body and kissed me again. I needed her naked in my bed. I pulled away with a regret that felt like a punch in the gut.

  “Come on.” This time I didn’t drag her along like the barbarian I felt like. We walked arm in arm to my room.

  She sat on the edge of the made bed and I kicked the door closed behind me.

  “This is a nice room,” she said.

  I shrugged. I normally stayed in more budget-oriented hotels, ones where room service was pizza delivery. I hadn’t planned on staying as long as I had. Thinking Rolly was going to play games with the sale, I had Lisa book me into a nicer place.

  “It has a well-stocked minibar.” I gestured at the mini-fridge and booze selection. “If you want anything.”

  “I’ll wait for the wine you ordered.” She fidgeted with her fingers.

  I suppressed another moan as she began that undulating squirm that had always driven me mad. I ripped my suit jacket off and threw it. I was vaguely aware of a chair in that direction. If there wasn’t one for my suit, I didn’t care. I stalked to Crystal, placing a knee on the bed next to her.

  She pressed a hand to my chest. Closing my eyes, I covered her hand with my own and pressed it to me. She was here and touching me.

  “Condom.” That one word broke the emotion that threatened to overtake me.

  “Right.” I pointed to the minibar. “You look over there. I’ll check the bathroom.”

  Fuck me. There weren’t any hotel-supplied condoms. I tore through my bathroom kit. There in the bottom, a strip of three black and gold foil packs. Relief rushed from my lungs with a heavy breath.

  “Success,” I declared holding up my findings between two fingers pinched together.

  A tap on the door caught my attention. Snorting in annoyance, I yanked the door open.

  “Room service,” the server announced.

  Stepping back, I pulled the door open. “Just put it anywhere,” I said.

  Quickly I dug a tip from my wallet, careful not to accidentally slip the condoms over as my tip.

  Crystal crossed the room and peaked at the dessert. “Oh, this looks good.”

  “You look better,” I said once the door was closed.

  This time when I approached her, she reached for me, pulling me in close.

  I lowered myself to her and pressed into her lush curves. I didn’t have enough hands to touch and caress and fondle all the parts of her that deserved my attention.

  She fumbled with my buttons while I kicked my shoes off and shoved my slacks away. I knelt naked in front of her. She ran her fingers in light ticklish caresses over my abs.

  I pressed my hips forward as she wrapped a hand around my length. I needed her touch. This was what had been missing from my life. I about swallowed my tongue when her warm wet mouth took my cock into its depths. I dug my fingers into her hair and braced the other against the wall. She made the sexiest little humming sounds as she slid her lips and tongue over and around me. I wasn’t going to last long if she kept that up.

  “Fuck me,” I moaned.

  Finding my balance, I reached for her and tugged at the hem of her dress. I couldn’t figure out how it worked. There was no zipper. It seemed to tie, but I couldn’t find the fucking knot.

  “Get out of this.” I gasped as she released me and sat back.

  She undid the tie and the dress unrolled around her. She wore a basic skin tone bra. It was the sexiest lingerie I had ever seen because underneath was Crystal.

  She crawled out of the bed to finish disrobing. I flopped onto my back, watching her the entire time. I drank her in.

  “What are you looking at?” she asked with a giggle.

  “You are so beautiful. You haven’t changed one bit.”

  “I’ve had a baby, Zack. Things have changed and shifted.” She held a hand out to me and I pulled her close.

  “I can’t tell, you are as perfect to me as always. Maybe more so knowing that you grew my child in your belly. Come here. I want to look at you.” I kept pulling her hand so that she had to either flop across my chest, or toss a leg over and straddle me.

  “I’ll break you,” she said as she straddled my hips.

  “Please, break me. If I die, I’ll die happy.”

  From her perch over my hips she began exploring my abs and chest with her fingers. I pressed my chest into her touch, wanting, needing. With delicate soft touches she caressed my face, and scratched with her nails along my jaw, playing with the shaggy facial hair I had been too lazy to shave off.

  She leaned over, and brought her lips to my skin. Satisfaction and desire escaped from me with a loud sigh. I hissed in a breath when her tongue found a nipple. She was killing me, and I loved every second of it.

  My hands skimmed over her skin. Her round ass and thigh thighs were so soft, I had to resist sinking my grip into her, marking her with small bruises. My hips pressed up and I slid against her slick entrance. That’s where I wanted to be. I lifted my hips and rocked, sliding my cock between the groove of h
er folds.

  “So wet. Don’t make me beg, Crystal,” I murmured.

  I fished around for the strip of condoms and ripped one off.

  Pressing against my shoulder she lifted back to her knees. She plucked the condom from my hand and tore it open. It was the most astounding torture as she rolled it on. She lifted her hips up, shifted, and positioned her opening directly above my tip. I could feel her heat, and I wanted to be lost in her.

  With a swallow, she bit her lip and sank onto me. I couldn’t help the sounds I made. Relief, desire, longing, home. Her body was my refuge, and I had been lost for too long.

  I couldn’t help myself. My intention was to let her control the evening since she had started it off with my cock in her mouth. But I wanted her surrounding me. I thrust up into her, needing to be in deeper. She whimpered one of those noises she made that set me off, made me crazy. When she rocked her hips against mine I realized that if I died, I was already in heaven.

  From the first second she welcomed me into her body I felt like I was on the verge of cumming. Each thrust felt as if I would explode on the very next stroke. I dug my fingers into the flesh of her ample hips and drove into her like some crazed pile driver. She braced her hands against my shoulders, her breasts brushed against my chest. I dipped my head to capture a nipple into my mouth. She cried out and I thrust harder, faster. The rocking of her hips stopped, but the keening sounds she made grew higher until she was gasping for air. I felt her entire body quiver, and her internal muscles clenched and milked my cock. She was undone in her orgasm. All she could manage was to clutch at me while I drove into her wetness and buried my face against her breasts.

  I rolled her onto her back. Her eyes were heavily lidded, and a satisfied smile crossed her face. She looked satiated and content. But I wasn’t done yet. I couldn’t take my eyes from her as I continued to pound my way into her. My balls squeezed tight, and I couldn’t move fast enough to meet the frenetic pace my body suddenly demanded of me. It didn’t take much more before I seized with my orgasm. It felt as if my entire being was pulled through a singularity, only to burst back into bright dazzling existence. And at the end of it was Crystal’s beautiful face smiling at me.

  After taking care of the condom and returning to bed, I pulled her into my embrace and wrapped around her. I wasn’t done with her by any means. This felt like a teaser, a mere appetizer to all the making love I had plans for. I may have been limited in some aspect with only two more condoms, but there were so many more options to explore, and I wanted them all at once.

  “I need to go,” she whispered.

  “Stay.” I tried to trap her under my arm.

  “There was once a time you ignored me every time I asked you to stay,” she said.

  I rolled onto my back and flung my arm over my eyes. “I know. I was full of ego and stupidity. I regret so much of how I treated you. Stay, let me make it up to you.”

  She gave me a level stare. I read a million thoughts into that expression: could she trust me; had she made a mistake sleeping with me tonight; I would only let her down again.

  She climbed from the bed. I shut my eyes not wanting to face the grief of watching her get dressed and leave. I opened them when I heard her whispering into her phone. The bed dipped and she slid her air-cooled skin against me.

  “I have to be home before Adam wakes up, but I can stay.”

  30

  Crystal

  The apartment was dark and quiet when I opened the door. I turned, pressed my finger to my lips, and indicated Zack should wait in the living room. He closed the door quietly.

  Depositing my bag and coat, I walked quietly into the back.

  Charline and Adam were curled up together in the bed. I smiled, they were both sound asleep. Leaving them I returned to the front half of the apartment.

  “Still out cold,” I said in an almost whisper.

  Zack was in the kitchen, putting together a pot of coffee. “I figure we owe Charline breakfast at the very least. I can make pancakes.”

  “That sounds good.”

  I curled into the corner of the couch while Zack bustled about in my small kitchen. He wore slacks with a button-down. I couldn’t help but remember how his clothes had looked after I dropped my lunch on him the other day.

  “You want an apron?” I asked. I pointed to the drawer where I stored clean aprons.

  There was something sexy about him, dressed in business clothes with the sleeves rolled up, wearing a canvas apron with the ties wrapped around his middle like that. Maybe it was just that Zack was hot and he looked good wearing anything.

  “Thanks,” he nodded and returned to mixing batter.

  Charline stumbled out from the bedroom with a big yawn. Her hair was the definition of bed head, with strands reaching out like tendrils in all directions. “Do I smell coffee?”

  She stopped and stared when Zack handed her a cup. He returned to his cooking, but she stood there and continued to stare as she sipped the coffee.

  “Am I mad at him, mad at you, or am I going to ignore this and pretend everything is happy fun times?” she grumbled.

  Zack turned and leaned a hip against the counter. We all looked at each other in awkward silence.

  “Oh for pity’s sake, I slept with Zack last night,” I confessed.

  A slow cocky smirk spread across his face.

  “Yeah, I figured that out,” Charline said, finally sitting in the only available chair.

  “As far as I’m concerned it’s all happy fun times,” Zack said.

  I gave him a pointed look.

  “But we have a whole lot more talking to do. I don’t even know what comes next,” he said.

  “You’re not going to go back to work and pretend this didn’t happen, only to return to your old habits are you?” Charline asked.

  Zack and I looked at each other for a long time.

  “I’m never hiding her again,” he said in a low whisper.

  I couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t want to hide you either.”

  “Mommy,” a sleepy Adam ground a fist into his eyes and dragged his favorite dinosaur stuffy behind him. “Waked up,” he announced in a sad voice.

  I was off the couch and picking him up in a blink. “Morning baby, did you wake up?” I kissed his blanket-warmed face. “Do you remember your friend Zack?”

  Adam kept the not-happy-to-be-awake frown on his face, but his eyes widened and he nodded.

  “Hey big guy,” Zack said as he slid an arm around my waist. He ruffled Adam’s hair with his other hand.

  Adam leaned hard into Zack.

  “If he does that, he expects you to kiss him,” Charline said.

  I couldn’t take my eyes from the two of them, Zack as he kissed Adam for the first time, and Adam being kissed. Zack closed his eyes. It was as if he were imprinting this moment into his memory forever. Adam simply expected everyone he liked to love on him and kiss him.

  A hard lump formed in my throat, and I blinked back tears.

  “Y’all are disgusting, being all lovey-dovey happy family and shit over there. Feed me already. I need to get home and change before I go to work. You are not coming in are you?” She looked at me and then at Zack.

  “I don’t know, are we?” Zack asked as he returned to pancake making.

  I pressed another kiss to Adam’s cheek. “Let me think about it while I get this guy ready.”

  I took Adam to the back for morning potty and getting dressed. How would he react if I suddenly announced Zack was his father? Daddy was not a concept Adam ever seemed to be worried about. He never once asked about having one, or who his was. And if I told him Zack was his father, and then Zack left, how would that make Adam feel?

  Charline was giving Zack a death glare when we reentered the front of my apartment.

  “Do I need to be concerned?” I asked.

  “Not at all,” Zack chuckled. “Charline was informing me that I am her prime target should you have your heart broken again.”<
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  She sat with her arms crossed. “I’m not going to apologize. I said what I said.”

  “I am so glad Crystal has a friend like you,” he continued to laugh. “I fully deserve to be rung out over everything. And I will do my best to not repeat said offending actions.”

  “Okay,” I said, slightly confused. “I was thinking that maybe taking a day off work to get us figured out might not be a bad idea. Do you think that’s something you could do?”

  Zack pulled his phone from his pocket and spoke to it. “Call Rolly Rollins.”

  “Dialing Rolly Rollins,” a computerized voice responded.

  “Good morning, Rolly. Do you think we could put off paperwork for a day? I wanted to poke around town a bit on my own.” He paused. “Not exactly on my own, right. That’s right. And Crystal Pond won’t be coming in today either. She’s volunteered to be my tour guide.” He laughed. “Exactly, I need to get my insider trading intel from somewhere. Yes, sir, I’ll have her back at her desk tomorrow.”

  He ended the call and looked up. “Done. Rolly said he’d tell your manager you’d be out for the day.”

  “Well damn,” Charline stood with a stretch. “Be good today, kids. I expect a full report. I’ve got to get going.”

  She kissed Adam and left me staring open-mouthed at Zack.

  He smiled at me and placed a small plate of pancakes in front of Adam’s place before lifting our son into his booster seat.

  “Pahcake!” Adam tried to shove an entire one into his mouth.

  “Now what?” Zack asked.

  “First cut up his pancakes so he doesn’t choke. After that, I guess I should get dressed and tell them at the daycare Adam isn’t coming in today.

  This time when I re emerged from the back, I had on fresh clothes. Zack and Adam were making a mess eating pieces of pancakes and giggling. My heart squeezed, and I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. Was it possible to be any happier?

  “Should we go to the park?” I asked.

  I knew Adam would be thrilled. He could run around and climb and play, and Zack and I would be able to talk without little ears hearing everything, and constantly asking ‘what’s that,’ or ‘why?’