by Jamie Knight
It was not too long before I came in real life, leaned up against the bathroom wall, biting my lip to keep from screaming in pleasure.
Back at my desk, I kept watching Aden throughout the day. After making several coffee runs to his cubicle, he seemed to have forgiven me for my indiscretion. The real breakthrough came at lunch, though.
Ryan sent me to the local deli to get lunch for them all. I went around the office, asking everyone what they wanted. All but two. I already knew both Cooper and Aden so well I didn’t even have to ask anymore.
Cooper was unimpressed but said thanks anyway when I handed him the bag with his club sandwich. Aden, on the other hand, seemed properly stunned when I turned up at his cubicle with a bag containing a Philly cheesesteak sandwich and fries. I was sure he was about to ask how I knew, but I just winked and sashayed away, letting the mystery hang. I wasn’t worried. He had years to work on his freeze-out skills. Denying the feelings we both knew were there, that would just take some time for me to melt away.
Chapter Three
Aden
Discipline was really quite a wonderful thing. Mine was hard-won and not generally pleasant to apply but always useful. My particular disposition came from being in the army. It was as much a surprise to my family as anyone else when I joined up. It was a few years after 9/11, and I was young and a bit too gung-ho, though that wasn’t all of it, or even most of it if I was honest with myself.
Aside from all the fireworks and the patriotism, the real truth was that my girlfriend at the time enlisted, so I did too because I wanted to be with her. The more romantic part of my psyche was thrilled by the idea of us together fighting the enemy, hand in hand like two action heroes.
As the fates would have it, after basic, we were stationed at different bases, and she dropped me like a sauna rock. Apparently, our love hadn’t been as immortal as she had implied in the poem she had dropped in my locker. No, I didn’t learn anything from Starship Troopers.
I got over it pretty fast though, focusing all my attention on the task at hand, which primarily concerned following orders, which I turned out to be pretty damn good at. I made it through nearly ten years before going through a nasty bout of burn out that made me have to leave and find something new to do with my life.
I had always been pretty good at drawing and was able to use the military scholarship plan to take a degree in digital design. So, a career in graphic design seemed pretty obvious when it came time to look for a job for the first time in my life at the age of twenty-nine.
I was surprised how my meticulous military discipline came in handy in my new career. The detailed focus required for graphic design was higher than most people realized. Particularly if you did hand-drawn drafts before turning the image digital like I did. I was old-fashioned that way.
But my focus had been truly rocked by my best friend’s little sister’s hand on my dick. It shocked me when I was confronted with the shameless flirting on the part of Camilla. She was so forward. I really didn’t know what had gotten into her, except for maybe that she never got over the crush that she used to have on me. Not that I was one to judge, as I felt very much the same about her.
I eased into my assigned spot at my apartment building. One of the newer, half condo complexes, with open floor plans and balconies, which was a nice plus. Emerging from the deep dark dungeon of the parking garage, I noticed a U-Haul truck parked near the main doors of the building. Shaking it off, I headed to my unit, seeing a rather obvious pile of boxes near an open door down the hall. Whoever it was seemed to be doing it all by themselves, so I decided to see if I could help.
Imagine my shock when I discovered my new neighbor was Camilla. It was genuinely odd how things worked out sometimes.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, leaning into the door frame.
“What do you mean?” Camilla asked in all innocence.
She turned around, holding a cardboard box in her arms. It was clearly marked panties. The very idea of what was inside made my dick twitch, which I tried to ignore, and keep up my annoyance.
“You moved into my building.”
She giggled. “Still legal last I checked,” she said with a shrug and a wink.
“Don’t be a smart ass. You did it on purpose.”
I ran my fingers through my hair, suddenly feeling hot. It was like the apartment building had turned on the heater in the hallways out of season. Not that we ever really needed it.
Camilla looked a bit flushed too, probably from moving. There was a little bit of glisten up by her forehead. She set down the box, allowing me to see the way her tight t-shirt clung to the shape of her breasts.
Oh God, is she not wearing a bra?
I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“Don’t be silly.” She flipped her long, deep brown ponytail over her shoulder. “I had no idea you lived here. Are you feeling okay?”
“Don’t try and bullshit me.” I found myself stuttering and whipping my forehead. “I’ve known you far too long. You knew that I lived here and moved in on purpose. I don’t even know how you can afford a place here.”
Camilla shifted her weight to one side, bring my attention to the short shorts she was wearing. Her long, perfectly shaped legs looked lickable.
“Ryan is very generous.”
I didn’t know that, but it didn’t surprise me too much. He basically had his net worth stitched into the front of his bespoke Italian suit.
I sighed. “Why aren’t you living with Cooper?”
“I have a steady job now and need my independence. I can’t have Cooper bursting in with a bucket of ice water whenever I bring anyone home. I’m a grown-up now, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
She flipped around and strolled towards the kitchen, giving me a clear view of her heart-shaped behind. It was barely contained in the jeans material of her shorts. Little hints of butt cheek kept flashing at me as she walked — perfectly round, squeezable butt cheek.
“Oh, I noticed,” I snapped, feeling flustered. “Though, just a tip, ‘grown-ups’ tend to use the term ‘adult.’”
As though on cue, Cooper came up with another load of boxes to add to the existing pile.
“Hey, man,” Coop said, putting down the boxes.
“Hey,” I practically gasped. My best friend’s prescience should have been a bucket of ice water on my burning body, but it wasn’t. Camilla had me too wound up. I needed to calm down fast.
“Glad you are here.” He nodded towards the door. “Help me out with the rest of this?” Cooper asked.
“Sure.” How could I refuse?
I followed him back down to the garage, taking deep breaths every step of the way. We started to haul up Camilla’s bed, which I did my best not to think about. Apparently, Cooper was thinking along similar lines.
“I have a favor to ask.” He eyed me as we waited, cramped into the elevator with the mattress.
“Okay,” I said, not wanting to turn him down before I knew what it was.
“Would you keep an eye on Camilla for me? I mean, your neighbors now so it should be pretty simple. Just make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble or attract the wrong guy.”
A pretty tall order considering that, according to him, every guy was the wrong guy when it came to Camilla.
“Sure,” I said, unable to find a polite way to say no.
He slapped me on the shoulder. “Thanks, man. You’re basically a big brother to her, too. I mean, you’ve been around since she was a kid.”
“I guess,” I said, feeling pale.
I honestly didn’t like thinking about that. Yeah, I’d known Camilla for over two decades, but she had grown up since then, at least physically, and I didn’t feel brotherly toward her at all. My feelings were of a much different sort.
The unloading of the moving truck went pretty fast. Which wasn’t too surprising considering the burden was now being shared. Two were usually better than one. Especially when one of those involved was
a trained physical specimen who’s body was a lethal weapon. Cooper was in pretty good shape, too.
“My heroes,” Camilla said, putting on her best damsel voice and clasping her hands together.
“All in a day’s work, ma’am,” I said, channeling Golden Age Superman.
“I’ll order a pizza,” Camilla said, dialing her phone as she headed for her bedroom.
I wanted to leave, but Coop slumped down onto the couch and offered me a beer. Apparently, we were hanging out now. The pizza was ordered, all I had to do was act natural.
Little did I know I was in for another test. Camilla emerged from her bedroom, wearing a crop top and a pair of tight yoga pants that barely came up over her hips, giving me a very generous view of lacy panties. Not to mention some good looks at her sexy belly. Mercifully, the pizza came fast, and I managed to inhale thee slices so it wouldn’t look rude when I fled in an attempt to escape the sweet, siren call of temptation.
With Camilla this close, I was in a lot of trouble.
Chapter Four
Camilla
Sunsets are a cultural phenomenon. Painting, photographs, and metaphors abound surrounding the lowering of the sun on the horizon, casting pink across the sky on a good day. However, sunrises, in my humble opinion, didn’t get nearly enough respect. It could partly be because most people aren’t awake to see them. Or, if they are, it tends to be under less than pleasant circumstances.
I had always been an early riser. I’m not sure why. My internal clock must have been set differently. No matter what else happened, I always woke up to see the sunrise, happy and refreshed. I was one of those mythical “morning people” one hears so much about. As such, I could run almost any model of coffeemaker with my eyes closed.
The machine set, I started on a full breakfast fry up with a fresh fruit accompaniment. Most of it was done before the coffeemaker clicked itself off, leaving a pot of lovely, black happiness. Setting out plates and silverware on a tray like an old-world Duchess, I served up two plates of breakfast and two mugs of Colombian. Everything set just so, I hoisted up the serving tray and headed down the hall.
Knocking loudly on his front door, I waited for Aden to rouse from his slumber. Ten minutes later, he appeared. Even groggy with his green eyes bloodshot and a wicked case of bed head, he still looked dashing. An impression only amplified by the fact that he was only wearing a pair of cargo shorts. It showed off his toned soldier bod, which hadn’t softened a bit since he retired.
“Good morning!” I sang, holding the tray up before me.
“The fuck do you want?” he growled, playing all mean again, repressing his true emotions.
He was so cute when he was in denial.
“I brought you breakfast,” I said, ducking under Aden’s arm into the apartment.
“You don’t say,” he said, backing away from me and rubbing his big hand over his face.
My eyes fixated on the bright tattoo on his shoulder, the one he got in the army representing his unit. There was another across his hard, defined left pec, a twisting Celtic knot that he had done right after high school. My eyes wanted to drift lower, but first, I had to continue on with my plan.
“Indeed!” I said brightly, putting the tray down on the dining room table, after pushing papers to the side.
“I don’t have to go to work for a couple of hours,” Aden grumbled, heading back towards the bedroom. “Leave.”
“I’ll join you,” I said.
Quick as you please, he turned on a dime and detoured back to the dining room, mumbling something I never quite got. Slumping into a chair, he crossed his big arms over his chest and looked at me with heavy lids. I put his plate before him, telling that the smell was already bringing around his grumpy mood.
“You really don’t need to do this,” he said, cutting into the French toast.
The first bite seemed to change his mind as he then gobbled down the rest in two minutes flat.
“Like it?” I asked, unable to repress a giggle.
“It’s pretty good,” Aden admitted.
I looked down at my plate and carefully cut my toast. “I’m happy to do it again. Every day if you like. Maybe we could do dinner, too. It only makes sense to share. We are only an apartment away after all and such good friends.”
“Drop it.”
I looked up to see his bright green eyes glaring into me. Every line of Aden’s body was ridged.
“Drop what?” I asked, slowly putting a bite of French toast into my mouth. A little dab of syrup dripped down my chin. I didn’t bother to use my napkin, licking it up by extending my tongue.
“The bullshit. I know what you really want.” Aden pushed back his chair. He was trying to act mad, but his gaze was on my lips.
“I’ve never made a secret of what I want,” I pointed out.
I ate my bowl of strawberries in as sexy a way as I could manage. When they were gone, I reached for a banana, practically giving it head as I ate it, sucking and licking shamelessly to show Aden what I could do.
Aden groaned and rolled his eyes. Not quite the reaction I was going for.
“I have to take a shower,” he said, heading down the hall toward the bathroom.
“Great!” I said, jumping up.
“Alone,” he snapped, not turning around.
I sat back down and started gathering up the dishes, unable to keep from smiling as I heard the bathroom door lock. Apparently, Aden though I might burst in there and ravage him. I was more than happy to accept the first win in this battle and headed home to do the dishes.
Putting on my sexiest outfit that could still pass as office appropriate, I drove down to the parking garage, leaving my VW Bug in the deepest, darkest corner of the massive, concrete building. It really was an interesting idea when you thought about it. A structure that looked like a building but was basically a stack of parking lots.
Carefully getting out of the driver’s seat so I didn’t accidentally flash the security cameras, I made my way up to the human world and then over to the building. Keeping a sway in my hips the entire time. The short walk still gave me lots of time to practice my sexy sashay.
No sooner did my ass hit my chair than the new guy, Carlos, hired the other day to do storyboards for a new campaign, also visible from my desk, seemed to go into something of a panic.
“What’s up, Carlos?” I asked, inching into his cubicle to see if I could help.
He looked up at me wide-eyed. “I can’t find the tag-sheet,” he gasped. The guy was a little high strung.
“The what?” I asked, keeping my voice down.
“The outline that the copywriters did up listing the most important beats of the new campaign, I had it when I left this morning. Or at least I thought I did.”
He was going through the papers on his desk in such a crazy way I figured he was making them more unorganized than they were before. Not finding anything there, Carlos turned to another stack, almost knocking over his coffee mug into the first pile.
I grabbed it before a drop could spill.
“You don’t have it on your computer?”
Erratically, he shook his head. “I asked for a hard copy so I could mark on it, codes and stuff.”
“Oh.”
“I’m so screwed!”
“Not necessarily,” I said, with a flash of inspiration.
Just then, Cooper walked by, giving both of us the stink-eye, like he had caught us fucking on the desk or something. My big brother was such a buzzkill sometimes. I ignored him.
“How is that?” Carlos asked, looking up at me like I was an angel.
“I get forwarded everything,” I told him, inching towards the door to his cubical.
“Oh, that makes sense,” Carlos said, seeming to relax, and finally, take a deep breath.
“Give me ten minutes.”
I hurried back over to the desk and searched for the message that I was sure I’d seen. Locating it, I quickly printed off a hardcopy, knowing that’s what he p
referred and got it over to Carlos, who was so happy he gave me a grateful kiss on the cheek. It was nothing, really. Just a little peck to show his appreciation. Not super appropriate for the office setting, but he had been in distress, so it was understandable — at least to those of a rational mindset.
Sadly, this did not apply to my big brother. Just as Carlos was giving me that innocent kiss of thanks, Coop just so happened by again and cleared his throat quite aggressively. Carlos didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he didn’t care and returned to his desk to keep working on the storyboards.
“Breakroom,” I snapped, glaring at my brother.
“What?”
“Now!”
“What’s going—”
I grabbed his arm and pulled him with me.
“How old am I?” I asked, slamming the door behind us.
Cooper rolled his eyes. “I don’t see—”
“Just fucking answer me!”
“Twenty-nine. You’re twenty-nine, okay?”
“Yes, it is quite okay. I love being the age that I am. What is not okay is for you to keep treating me like I’m a stupid kid.”
“He was kissing you!” Coop grunted and swung his arms in a broad gesture.
“On the cheek—” I pointed— “because I just got done helping him out of a jam.”
“Oh.” His face fell.
“Fuckin’ right ‘oh’. I’m not interested in Carlos. Even if I was, it wouldn’t be any of your damn business.”
“I’ll never stop protecting you,” he said, being his usual stubborn self, doubling down even when he was wrong.
“Protect me from what? Sex?”
He flinched, uncomfortable with me even saying the word.
“I know you have trouble committing to things. I just wish it extended to your determination to keep me celibate the rest of my life.”
“Virgin. You mean keep you a virgin for the rest of your life.”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that,” I snapped, storming out of the breakroom. I could have slapped him.