I backed out for a whole five seconds. She doesn’t need this letter, Chris told me not to share it, but those eyes. Jenzy isn’t someone you lie to because her eyes alone pull the truth out.
“No,” I came closer, “but we need to talk first.”
CHLOE
I was curled up with my Martha Sweeney coloring book and my dog when the knock came. I looked up at my door with suspicion considering no one buzzed to come up.
Goliath left me on my bed to go to the door and sniff around at the underside. He pawed at the floor and his tail wagged so I got up and tiptoed over to check my appearance before opening the door. I’m in a short, white sundress, it’s laundry day, I’m in my white sneakers and my hair is up is a messy ponytail that looks more like a bouquet of gold curls. Oh well, is what it is.
I opened the door to Moses, leaned against the doorframe with half open eyes and hands in the pockets of his sweatpants. He has on a light blue, sleeveless tank and an expression the same color.
“Hey you,” I smiled even if it hurt a little, “need to borrow boxes or something? Shouldn’t you be-?”
“I’ve told you so many times to check the peephole.” He sounded half asleep but looked good and awake. “What if I was a creeper?”
I laughed, “all you need is a hoodie and you’d fit the part. You have a key, why didn’t you just come in?”
He sighed and looked me over, which I found weird because Moses’ eyes usually don’t make it lower than my neck, unless my t-shirt has a logo.
Even when I hit puberty and finally developed boobs, Moses was probably the last to notice.
Even when I got him alone in his room and showed him the nearly A cup bra I was so proud of. I think his exact words were, “think we could sling water balloons in it like with Mom’s?”
Now back to the present.
He made his way back up to my eyes and said, “last time I used my key you had a talent scout on your face.”
I laughed, “oh yeah…well he isn’t here. Wanna come in?”
He hovered in my doorway lifelessly and just watched me, “I’m not moving a girl into my house.”
I leaned on the wall because apparently we aren’t leaving my doorway. “Why? Where’s Jenzy now?”
“I have a pretty strong inkling she and her husband are making up for lost time.”
I cringed, “she cheated?”
“Uh, no…no…I’m also fairly sure I caused the reunion.”
“So no one is moving?”
He pursed his lips and nodded with wide eyes, “well, she’s moving back with her husband, and I’m moving into the friend zone, so I wouldn’t say that. I think…we’re all moving pretty damn good.”
I fought a laugh at his cryptic situation, “friend zone? Ouch.”
He nodded, “I’m like…the mayor of that shitty little place.”
“Get over it,” I shoved his shoulder, “you look like you won a modeling gig at a Woman’s Toy’s R Us. You collect numbers from the gym like M&M’s and you bro-zone more chics than a gay guy. You’re picky, and I get it but if you’re mayor of the friend zone, it’s only because you chose to be there.”
He doesn’t look like he heard a single thing I said. He’s still staring at me like…like…I don’t know but it’s different.
He reached out and picked up my friendship charm from off my chest where it hung on a little chain. He examined it like he hadn’t seen it before and then set it back. “Can I come in?” he asked.
I stepped back and waved him in. He deliberately sided in so our chests brushed and kept my eyes when he did it. There it is again, he’s looking at me like…like…?
I closed the door behind him and he pet Goliath as he walked into the center of my place. “Are you hungry or just wanna chill-?” I asked.
I was going by when he turned around and loomed over me, “why didn’t you tell me about Elijah?” he asked.
I took a step or two back to give us space but he followed me, “didn’t come up. You’ve been busy. I don’t know.” I don’t want to ask how he found out.
He crossed his arms like he wasn’t sure where to put them. “So it’s okay if I stay here? Because…you’re single again and…I’m single again…so we don’t need…boundaries.”
I really wish I could place the look he’s giving me but I’ve never seen it on him. He’s not practicing body space and its reawakening feelings I buried. His freshly showered scent, the energy his body disturbs by being so close, it’s all unearthing the curious want I have for him.
I shrugged, “I guess not. Yeah, you can stay.”
He looked me up and down again. What is that?!
“You look pretty.” He said the words without moving his lips much.
“Thanks,” I said uncertainly. “Well it’s laundry day so…”
The corner of his mouth tipped up and I walked past him to clean up the coloring markers I had all over my bed where my coloring book was.
He came over, “you were using my Christmas gift?”
“Well yeah! I love it and Jenzy said this author puts out hot books too so I ordered those.” I laughed, “I won’t eat for a week, but books are soul food right? Author’s make the money worth it.”
“You read the new poetry book?”
I saw him pick up my books from C. Dougherty. It was her first one Bleeding on the Page.
“I did, but to tell you the truth, I re-read her first one a lot.”
He flipped through it and stopped where a bookmark, a post-it and a dog ear was. I stood straight with my markers and reached for the book. “I should put that up.”
“Why so many dividers for this one poem?”
I knelt on the bed and waddled over to where he was, “no reason, I just like certain ones-.”
“Too close to be a stranger,” he read what I had highlighted. “Too far to be too much. A glimpse into your smile.”
I grabbed for the book but he backed up. “Moses, don’t be a dick. Gimmie the book.”
He parted his legs as he stood with it open in his palm, “why? You have these parts highlighted you know. Why is that?”
I clutched my markers and closed up my coloring book. “I think the author is brilliant and…and…shut up and give it.”
He laughed then skipped down to what else was highlighted. “Oh my galaxy lies in your eyes. Twisted into knots when your glance flits to another.”
I leapt in good time and took the book back. “Grow up please.” I said shoving it in my drawer with the markers.
“Did you highlight that when you still had a crush on me?”
I felt agitated now as I made up my bed, “not everything I feel is about you.”
He let the topic drop.
I gathered things to take down in a laundry basket at the door. “I have to go down and get my other load out of the dryer in like half an hour.” I told him.
He went to sit on my bed, sitting up against the wall. “Game of Thrones?” he patted the bed and Goliath went to lay by his legs.
I hesitantly came over and sat down by him but I left a gap. He closed that gap and turned on my TV. “No spoilers, Mr. I Read The Books.” I jabbed.
He laughed and lounged a little as the opening titles came on. As the show played he made his way closer. He would pull me into his side, or like right now, he’d stroke my knee. It looked innocent enough because he’s not looking at me or anything but his fingertips are making my sex throb and I can feel myself getting wet, it’s almost embarrassing.
Then of course there was a famous Game of Throne’s sex scene and with every noise the couple made, and every thrust, I felt the realization of Moses sitting so close.
He didn’t stop either, during the scene. I half expected him to withdraw but instead he slowed the patterns he was drawing on my knee and it went directly to my sex again.
The timer went off on my phone and I almost jumped on the ceiling with a start. I got up and he paused the show. “I’ll be right back.” I said.
/> He beat me to the door and picked up my basket. “I’ll go with you.”
I froze and debated that. “Just hang out. I’ll be right back.”
“I don’t mind.”
I blinked then opened the door and went out. He followed me from the upstairs to the laundry room and my heart pumped in over time when I saw that it was empty. No other washers were going and it looked deserted. My dryer was along the far wall and it sounded like it quit so I went over and pulled open the door. I laid all my stuff on a washer and swore.
“What’s wrong?” he asked at my back.
“Like an idiot, I put some of my delicates in the regular wash and dried them. This is going to suck.”
A sheer gray bra fell on the floor along with a lace pink panty and he got to them first and handed them back to me. Him touching my underwear felt extremely weird.
I took the basket he brought down and nervously filled the washer while placing things in the foamy water.
“Mind throwing something of mine in there?” he asked.
I scrubbed a food stain off my table cloth and shrugged, “sure.”
He reached around me and handed me his shirt. I took it and put it under the water. Then I remembered that would mean he’s shirtless, so I looked around. He was leaning back against the washers, his tanned skin was contrasted by the dark hair that splashed his chest and trailed down the center of his rippled abs, past his navel and into a forbidden path over the top of his low riding sweats.
Moses has a man V. Where his lower abs meet his hips is seriously the most shapely V ever. Then there’re the dark nipples and tight arms. And there’s that look again! What is it? He’s looking at me like…like….
I went back to scrubbing when his hand came around to hold my stomach.
I turned around and this time, he wasn’t further back, he was directly behind me. My girl brain is saying, ‘omg! Remove your panties as this is a clear indication they are no longer needed.’ But my other brain is saying, ‘now don’t read into this Chloe. Lots of men take off their clothes with women they call friends when they’re alone in an empty washer room.’ Funny how logical voices go so logical they sound insane.
Chapter Twenty-Four
I tried to turn back around but he pressed his hips into me to keep me in place. A heat built between my legs that was tightening my stomach and causing weak knees. His friendship charm was lying in the middle of his chest and it tossed me out of the moment.
“Moses?” I said his name shakily. “What’s going on?”
He set his hand at the back of my neck and gently squeezed and released which felt fantastic. Now I know what the look is. He’s looking at me, like a man. Not a friend or a brother, he’s looking at me like men look at women when they want them.
“I don’t know…” he’s never searched my face before. “I’m not over thinking it.”
His face came close and he brushed his lips over my nose where my piercing was. “I’m kinda overthinking it,” I said in a trembling voice.
He let his hand fall from behind my neck to between my shoulders and the heat of his hand made me want more. “You said you had feelings for me…are they really gone?”
I debated that, “they’re like…merging onto the highway of gone…”
He smirked, “your analogies are getting as bad as mine.”
“No, that was a good one.”
“Why did you break up with Elijah?” his question made me shaky.
“Uh…when you said…after my audition that you were going to tell Jenzy you love her, it…bothered me. It shouldn’t have bothered me if I was with the right guy so I ended it. Staying would’ve been selfish and dishonest.”
Moses put both hands on the washer on either side of me and leaned close. “It’s not love feelings, though? It’s still just crush feelings?”
I let my eyes wander from his face so I could look him over. My feelings for Moses aren’t skin deep. I focused on his forearm where the scorpion tattoo was. I love that ink, but I love the skin below it. I love the blood that courses ever deeper and I love the heart that forces the steady flow. I brought my eyes back to his and my lashes felt heavy.
I took too long to answer so he said, “Chloe, if you just have crush feelings, this can happen…we can handle that. If you have love feelings we can’t. Unzoned love has expiration dates, and I can’t risk losing you. If I do this and leave you alone in those feelings then I’m no better than the jerks you’ve dated and I refuse to do that.”
My feelings are totally unzoned, but if I tell him that his annoying honor will stop this from happening, and I’ve waited a really long time to be seen like a woman by him. I can control my feelings. I can subdue them. Besides, if I finally have him in this way maybe the feelings will stop.
I danced my fingers up his arm slowly, “it’s just a crush…” I agreed.
He was suddenly holding my face in his large hands.
I reached up and held his wrists, “what do you want to do now?” I asked.
“I wanna try kissing you and stuff…”
My heart hurts, it’s beating like thunder in my chest. When his head tilted so his lips could slant over mine I sucked in a silent breath. His lips were like a tidal wave of life. Even from a gentle press, I felt insanely drunk on it.
This breaking of friend chains meant I had license to touch in ways I never had. So I put my hand over his chest where the firmness of his body lay. I pressed upward.
“Touch me,” he said in a whisper.
I used both hands to caress his chest. Palms flat then the backs of my fingers moved up and down his ribcage. He feels amazing.
The kisses morphed from tender and careful to inpatient and trustingly open. He wanted it and I gave it to him; more than any man before him I gave Moses full control of my mouth. Opening to him and teasing the roof of his mouth with the tip of my tongue.
His teeth clashed with mine and nibbled at the corner of my lips. We switched which way our heads slanted trying different angles to get closer and further.
I didn’t know it was possible to orgasm from just kissing, and I don’t think it will be enough but it feels fairly close.
“How often do people come down here?” he asked. He’d broken the kiss to look at me with eyes on fire.
I threw my arms round his neck, “often enough that we can’t take forever,” I kissed his throat, “not so often that we’d get caught.”
He slammed the lid closed on my washer, slapped the button to start it and hoisted me on top. I spread my legs and he shoved the skirt of my dress up before kissing me.
“This is scary,” I said as the agitation of the machine vibrated my body and tantalized my already sensitive clit. It wasn’t even near it but the motion was still felt.
“Why?” he questioned then pulled the strap of my dress down.
“I’ve never seen this side of you,” I locked my legs around his waist like I was trying to keep him there, “I know every side of you except this one,” I rolled my eyes from the zing of desire I got from his lick up my shoulder.
“I don’t know the Moses that…the…” I got distracted when he licked a fine line across my collar bone to then dip to where my charm lay. He used his tongue to bring it up between his teeth and pulled my neck forward when he drew back.
What was I saying? I dug my hands through his hair, the sight of him with my necklace between his teeth igniting me, “I haven’t seen the…” I gasped when he jerked left and the chain broke. “Primal Moses…” I panted.
He leaned so far over he forced my back down into the washer as he kissed me.
I pressed my body up to feel his, “what about you? Isn’t this scary?”
He gripped my waist and arched me higher. “Actually it feels naturally bizarre.”
Something about the way he said that lifted me higher. I tangled my fingers in his close beard, “this feels natural to you?”
“Am I making you scared?”
I came up to kiss hi
m over and over, then I stopped to look up into his eyes, “yes…but a good scared.”
Moses’ hand tightened on my side then brought me to sit up, while his other held the back of my neck again. I know all of this man’s traits but I didn’t know he could touch me like this, the way he cradled my neck, like to demand me to stay close but it also makes me feel small and fragile.
My hand slipped from his shoulder, down his chest and stomach to above the line of his boxers. I’ve never touched or seen Moses down here. I’m achingly curious but also reluctant because it’s him. He’s watching me and waiting for me to make that step. In one bold move, I let my hand fall to where his erection was lifting his pants and boxers but then I went wide eyed and looked down.
“What the fuck?”
He rolled his eyes and grabbed both my wrists, “listen, don’t-.”
“Holy shit!” I looked again and tried to touch it but he’s irritatingly strong and wouldn’t let my wrists go.
“Chloe. I need to explain first okay?”
I tried to look over our arms, “did you grow up near a power plant or something?”
He bumped my forehead with his to get my attention then leaned back, “yes, I have a big dick… but I know how to handle it.”
I busted out laughing and he gave me a very flat look. “Do you give all girls this line?” I couldn’t control the giggles anymore. It might be nerves.
“No, it’s not a line!”
“Awww,” I held back a bundle of more laughs, “now I feel so special…” then it erupted again but I really couldn’t stop it.
“Chloe! I’m serious. It’s-.”
“Okay, shut up, let me see.”
He kept my wrists. “Try to be mature about this.”
“I will. Let go.”
He did and I hooked his plaid boxers with my finger then bit my lip and pulled to look inside. I gasped, “Holy hell! Moses, you are seriously hung!”
He took my hands away, “okay, you said you’d be an adult.”
The Friend Zone (The Relationship Quo Series Book 2) Page 21