by Nana Malone
Her breath grew ragged against his shoulder, as he nuzzled and kissed her neck, grazing her skin with his teeth every so often. Her hands clawed at his back. Her back arched, even as her hips rolled into his, pressing her soft center against his thick erection. He had a knee between her legs, slowly spreading them wider as she purred. Fuck, he wanted to taste her.
Something slid up his leg and he started awake. He blinked, trying to take in his surroundings. Tami’s foot slid across his thighs as she stretched in her sleep. Gently, he readjusted his position so she wouldn’t inadvertently encounter his erection—his dick stiff and aching from his interrupted dream. Probably better it had been interrupted. It would have been hard to explain him calling her name in his sleep.
He looked over to Tami stretched out on the couch, the blanket tucked up around her chin, head buried in the corner where the arm joined to the back of the couch, and her feet resting in his lap. She had made it most of the way through the movie before she started slouching and sliding, as sleep began to win out over interest.
Unsure what to do when she’d given up and assumed the horizontal position, Bryce had let the movie finish, and then turned the television off. He hadn’t dared to move for fear of disturbing her, and frankly, it was kind of nice to just sit there with her like that.
It wasn’t the first time he’d been invited over to a woman’s place and ended up sleeping on the couch, but it had been the first time he’d done so after such an…uneventful evening.
Gently, so as not to wake her, he rested a hand on the back of her leg. He could feel the swell of her calf beneath the blanket, and lightly stroked it as he watched her sleep.
She hadn’t been lying when she said she was tired earlier. Her exhaustion ran deep, and Bryce feared it stemmed from more than just being busy at work. She’d resumed practicing at the local court, though it was taking some time for her to adjust to playing with a different racket—he couldn’t tell whether it was the difference in how the racket handled or if she was a little afraid that she might somehow damage it. One look at her place—even in the dark—and it was clear that she wasn’t used to having much. He was beginning to understand why she’d been so reluctant to accept anything from him. It wasn’t just that the racket was more expensive than she felt was necessary, it was that it somehow didn’t belong with her or the life she was leading. That she didn't feel worthy of it.
Except he knew that she absolutely was. Anyone who could play the way she did deserved better and could have better—with a little help. If only she would let him. Given her resistance so far, it would be ages before she’d let him—if she ever would.
She was proud. Too proud to let anyone help her when she didn’t feel she’d earned it. And apparently the trials of watching her mother’s illness, taking care of her to the extent she could, and then managing things in the wake of not only her mother’s death but then her father’s a short time later, didn’t push her to feel entitled to anything special.
Actually, it was refreshing to find someone like that. Most of the girls—women—he’d been with in the last few years felt nothing other than entitlement, and he was ashamed to admit—even silently—it had been rubbing off on him, too. It was difficult not to feel entitled to something growing up in his family, with his grandfather, and then his father, chattering on all the time about the family legacy, the family drive, the family capabilities. Brent had made sure his children knew to put in the work necessary behind the scenes to develop those natural skills and talents that came hand-in-hand with being a Coulter.
But the attention, the reverence, the way people reacted when they found out he was a Coulter… Those things were easy to get used to, and even easier to take for granted.
Tami stirred once more in her sleep, settling with a heavy sigh of contentment that made him throb. It was more than just the money. She was wary of him. At the same time that he resolved to kick the ass of whoever had hurt her, he vowed never to do the same. He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was two in the morning. He wanted to stay, but he wanted to give her space. Be friends.
Quietly, he shifted and moved until he was off the couch and she was covered. Before leaving, he kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, friend.”
Thirteen
“Tami,” Veronica’s voice came over the walkie-talkie to where she was unpacking boxes in the storeroom.
“Go ahead,” she responded.
“You have a visitor.” From the tone of Veronica’s voice, Tami knew exactly who was there to see her. She tried to quell the excitement. This isn’t a date. This is not a date. But she sort-of wanted it to be a date.
“Tell him I’m off in fifteen, and I’ll meet him when I clock out.”
What a field day everyone would have when word got around that Bryce had stopped by the store to see her.
She could try and discourage him all she wanted, but he’d just do as he pleased. Besides, they were friends now. And had almost-sleepovers. After last week on the couch, she’d half-expected him to push the boundaries. But she was determined not to let her friendship with him get out of hand. He could visit her. But he would wait. Because she had a job to do. She was good at this job, and she worked hard.
As soon as the clock told her that her shift was over, she headed for the locker room, punching out along the way. Bryce was waiting for her by the employees’ exit to the parking lot.
“I have something for you—well, technically, it’s not from me,” he told her.
She crossed her arms over her chest, wary of surprises in general, but from Bryce especially. She’d had to be firm about the price tags of presents.
He pulled a tennis outfit from behind his back.
“You bought me clothes?” she asked, confused. And suddenly feeling a little pissed.
“Actually, no, I didn’t. Echo was going through her closet for a charity drive with Mom. She had this, and she said she’d never even worn it. She said I should see if you’d want it.”
“You told her about us hanging out?”
“Of course. We’re friends, right?”
Her eyes stung. Oh shit, she was going to cry. In front of him. Bryce held the garments out for her to take. “I don't want things from you, Bryce.”
“I know. Honestly, it’s something Echo offered.”
She was overreacting. Damn. “I’m sorry. It was very sweet of her.” She took the outfit. “It’s pretty, thank you.”
Fingering the blue fabric, she asked, “Have your doctors cleared you to start playing?” He’d been filling her in on what transpired at his doctors’ appointments, and pretty freely and frequently whined about the snail’s pace at which the physical therapy sessions progressed.
“Not officially, but I don’t have to run around or try anything too strenuous,” he argued. “Besides, if you’re there to pester me through it, I’m sure I’ll be fine. Maybe meet me at the court at the club? What d’you say?”
Yes. Pretty much any time they spent together was okay by her. You need help.
She sighed. “I have to go home to change and get my stuff, but I’ll meet you at the court in, say, half an hour?”
He gave her a grin, but not the one he used for the media. This time, the corners of his eyes crinkled. This was his special smile for her.
“See you there.”
She bit her lip, then blurted out, “Uh, there’s this party tonight. It’s a goodbye party for a friend of Amy’s roommate. Would you come with me?”
He grinned and answered immediately. “Yes. Absolutely.”
Why did she have a feeling being his friend was going to be a struggle?
This was a bad idea. Why was she going to this party again? And worse, why had she told Bryce to come? Tami slid him a look over the console of his car as they pulled up to the tiny craftsman in North Park.
Streams of people poured out of the house, seeking the cooler night air. This was not Nick’s first party and Tami knew for a fact how warm it could get in that house. �
��You know, we don’t have to do this,” she said.
He turned to her and shook his head. “No chance. First, you promised me we were going to hang out. And then, you promised me I could meet some of your other friends. So we’re here.”
She swallowed hard. Yeah, she’d said that, but maybe that was temporary insanity. “I know, but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable or anything. There will be fawning, it’s sort of guaranteed. And I know how you like to keep it low profile.”
With shrewd eyes, he studied her. “Low profile. Right. It’s fine. I wanted to hang. And chilling with you is preferable to being at home. So were going to this party.” He reached for the door handle. “And look, if you’re worried that someone will think I’m your boyfriend or whatever, I know that this is just a friends gig. Two friends going to a party, enjoying themselves. No pressure.”
“Bryce, that's not—”
When his brow rose, she snapped her jaw shut. That was exactly what she was worried about. Well, that, and he might look down on her coworkers. He'd probably never been to a party like this before. His parties probably had bottles of Cristal, or whatever the rappers were drinking these days. “Okay, let's go.”
He might have said they were just friends, but Bryce was still all gentleman. He insisted on coming around to her side of the car and helping her out. Then, as they walked to the door, he tucked his hand against her lower back and guided her in. The gesture was polite, but there was something about his touch that made it seem like ownership. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.
Amy bounded over as soon as they entered, carrying a red plastic cup. “Tami!” She yelled. “I honestly didn't think you'd come.”
“Well, I promised. Oh, yeah. Amy, Bryce. Bryce, Amy.” She introduced the two of them, and waited for Amy to fawn, or squeal, or something. Her bestie was always a little unpredictable when she was drinking.
Instead, Amy took Bryce’s proffered hand. “Hello, other bestie.”
He grinned. “Nice to meet you. Tami talks about you all the time.”
“Funny, she only tells me select details about you. Why is that?”
Tami shifted on her feet. “You guys, I’m right here.” But neither of them paid her any attention.
Amy launched into twenty-questions mode, and led him away. Knowing her friend, she could be at that all night, so Tami made her way to the bar area to make herself a drink from the mix of cheap booze.
As she took a sip of her vodka cranberry, she watched Bryce as Amy introduced him around. And, unlike her, he seemed perfectly at ease. Zero discomfort. You’re the only one uncomfortable, here.
Bryce was a natural in most situations. He’d had a lot of practice making small talk, no doubt. His parents held lots of parties, and of course, he’d had to participate. But it wasn’t until a lanky blonde named Michelle sidled up to Bryce, that Tami decided to turn away. Michelle injected herself into the conversation and took up her post between Amy and Bryce. When she put her hand on Bryce’s arm and leaned in to whisper something to him, Tami had to turn away. He is not your date. Yeah, that was true. He wasn’t, and he also wasn’t her man. Then why did it sting so bad to see another woman with her hands on him? Because you are a moron. She could do this. They were friends. That was all. The sooner she accepted that, the better off she'd be.
“You look like someone took your favorite toy at a play date, and refuses to give it back.”
Tami glanced up from the DJ’s impressive music collection, and gave Amy a wry smile. “Nope. I’m having fun. Can’t you tell? All the fun having, right here. I am party central.”
“Cut the shit,” her friend said, laughing. “You think I don’t notice that you search the crowd for Bryce, then when he looks up to find you watching, you quickly look away?”
“I—” What, she was going to deny it? “Fine. Yes. I guess I didn’t think through inviting him properly.”
“You hoped he’d be awkward like you, and glued to your side?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know.”
Amy handed off her empty cup to some guy walking past. “Babe, if him talking to Michelle bugs you so much, why don’t you talk to him? It’s clear you want him.”
“Well, wanting him and being able to be with him are different things.”
Amy placed both hands on Tami’s shoulders, and gave her what Tami liked to refer to as “Mom face.” Brows drawn down. Eyes grave, lips pursed. It was the look Amy liked to give her when it was time to drop some truth bombs. “You want him. It’s clear to me. And from the way he’s done nothing but talk about you to every single person he meets, he has it bad for you. But if you don’t do something about it, someone else will swoop in. Cue Michelle. I know you’ve been hurt by someone like him before, and we’ve talked about this ad nauseam. But it’s time to make like Elsa and let it go. You’re letting someone great get away from you because you’re scared.”
“I— But what if it goes bad?”
“Then you and I torch that pretty Beemer of his, Waiting to Exhale-style.”
“Amy!”
“Kidding…mostly. But you gotta live. No more hiding, baby girl.”
Amy had a point. Tami had been hiding herself for way too long. And it was true—she wanted to be with him. “Okay, I’ll go find him.”
“Attagirl. Now, I need to find Luke to get me another beer so I’ll be drunk enough to make out with him and can pretend I know nothing about it tomorrow.”
“You’re incorrigible,” Tami called after her friend, over the din of the music.
Amy just waved at her, as she wove through the crowd.
Tami squeezed around the mass of people in the living room, in an attempt to find Bryce. When she finally spotted him, he was on the balcony with Michelle, and she was leaning close…very close. Tami locked gazes with Bryce and held his, as she made her way onto the balcony.
“Uh, Bryce, I—”
Michelle turned around and gave Tami a once-over that apparently found her lacking. “Oh, Tami. Where have you been hiding Bryce all this time? I’ve convinced him to give me a tennis lesson, just like he gives you.”
Lessons? Is that what he called it? The bottom fell out of her belly, and pain followed the queasy feeling. Bryce frowned as he shook his head, but as he started to say something, she cut him off. “I’m glad I found you two. I’m actually not feeling well, so I’m going to take off.”
Bryce tried to extricate himself from Michelle’s grasp, but the girl held on Boa constrictor-style. “Tami, wait. I’ll take you home.”
“No, thanks. You guys are having fun. And making plans, it looks like, so I’ll just Uber it.” Before he could have a chance to say anything further, she hurried back into the kitchen, then out the dining room to the front of the house.
Damn, that hurt. Lessons? Was that what he told Michelle he was doing with her? Like he was some tennis pro, and that was all that was happening? He could have told her they were friends or— Or what? You told him yourself you didn’t want him.
Yeah, well, her heart and her brain were of two minds about that. Either way, she had to get the hell out of here. She couldn’t watch them for anther second. Conveniently, a taxi pulled up to the curb, dropping off three more revelers, and she climbed in the backseat, swiping away the tears spilling onto her cheeks. She’d lived in a fantasy world long enough. Time to go back to her real life. One without Bryce.
Tami curled up on the couch, wiping away never ending tears with wadded up tissues.
Why the hell are you so upset? You wanted it this way. He’s free to go out with whoever he wants.
But God, it hurt. It burned in her gut. She wanted him. And that girl had been all over him, and she’d had to pretend she didn't care.
“Tami?” Bryce’s voice accompanied a sharp rap on the door.
She leaned against the door, eyes closed and fists clenched at her sides, in an effort to get herself under control. Why did she have to feel this way? About him? This would be easier if she liked Ch
arlie from work.
Suck it up.
“Sorry about that.” She took a deep breath and opened the door. What good was keeping him at a distance to protect herself, if she was going to feel the bitterness of jealousy anyway? So far, all she’d managed to do was keep herself from having the good things about a relationship, while still having to put up with some of the bad.
“Let me explain,” Bryce said, pleading. “It was not what it looked like at all. Michelle asked what we did most of the time, and I said played tennis. I was talking about how great you were, and she assumed I was giving you lessons. Said she wanted the same. I never said lessons, nor did I agree to give them to her. You walked up just as I was trying to get out of there.”
She wanted to believe him, but this had happened before. “You know you don’t have to explain yourself to me.” She tipped her chin up.
“I know I don’t, but I want to.” He stepped farther into the apartment, getting closer. “I need you to know. As much as we’re friends, you’re the one I want to be with. If you’re not ready, that’s cool, but the only girl I’m interested in is you.”
She swallowed, her pulse quickening. Oh, God. He was so close. His heat. She wanted him. Wanted his arms around her. Wanted his lips on her. She wanted him to look at her like she mattered.
“The way you ran off… Are you going to keep denying that you want more than to just be friends?” His voice was low. So close. He was only a breath away. “We could be so much more than friends.”
Tami avoided meeting his gaze. “You don’t understand. I’ve been here before. And it hurts too much when I get left behind.”
He whispered, “I wouldn’t hurt you. You are the reason I get up every day and I feel excited instead of depressed.”
She looked up at him and saw her waning restraint reflected in his eyes as he leaned closer. So close. She wanted to feel. She was done with being numb. Tami rose on tiptoe, gently wrapping her arms around his neck. Bryce released a shuddering breath before sliding his lips over hers.