I couldn’t believe Corbin had taken a leap of faith like that. He didn’t seem the type.
As we entered the main living area, I was instantly impressed. The views from his condo must’ve been astounding during the day, but at night, they bordered on spectacular. The city lights went on as far as the eye could see, and I found myself mesmerized by them.
He went over to the wall next to the TV and pushed a button. Rows upon rows of DVDs appeared before my very eyes. It was like magic. “I had this installed when I moved in. DVDs have lost their appeal to many, but I treasure my collection. Especially my Marvel movies.” He pointed to a row dead center, and I was in awe. He had every single one.
I plucked a title off the shelf and smiled with excitement. “Thor is my favorite.”
“Thor it is then,” he said as he took the DVD from my hand. “Why don’t you go make popcorn while I put the movie on and light a fire? It’s gotten chilly.” It was clear that no one had been here all day; without a source of heat, the air held a bite that had prevented either of us from removing our coats.
Following his directions, I found the popcorn and put it on to bake; it wasn’t long until I became hypnotized by the sound of the kernels popping away. It played in the background as I daydreamed of spending evenings just like this—in complete comfort with someone I enjoyed. Apparently, I’d gotten so lost in my thoughts that I jumped when Corbin came up behind me and began to rub my arms.
“Do you feel any warmer?”
“Yes, thank you.” I moved out of reach. There wasn’t anything inappropriate in his actions, but it made the butterflies dance in my stomach. And I needed to ignore that feeling. He was my best friend’s brother. Nothing more.
I got the hot bag out of the microwave and poured the buttery goodness into a bowl Corbin had put on the counter. He poured two glasses of red wine and expertly carried them into the living room.
The sigh escaped my lips before it registered.
“You okay?”
“It’s just so serene. The city lights through the window, the warm fire, and the gigantic movie screen—because that television is big enough to pass as a theatre rendition. If I lived here, I would never leave!”
“I’m actually not home very often. Most of my free time is spent at the office.” He chuckled and then pointed to the ottoman. “Pull out a blanket if you’re still cold.”
We established our boundaries by silently placing a throw pillow between us. It didn’t take me long to forget about the awkwardness of being so close to Corbin and get into the movie. I couldn’t even say how many times I’d seen it—countless. But it still held my attention, and I swear I always picked out something I’d never seen before. Although, I had to say, the best part was having someone to talk about it with. He was the first person who seemed as interested as I was in the mythological aspect of Thor.
When we finished the movie, I wasn’t sleepy in the slightest. My earlier exhaustion had dissipated, and if anything, I felt invigorated. “Do you want to watch the next one? If you’re tired, I can take a raincheck.”
“No raincheck necessary.” He got up to switch the discs over, and I realized I hadn’t spoken to Nellie all day. We usually didn’t go long without texting one another, and I didn’t want her to think something was wrong.
I grabbed my purse off the floor and pulled out my cell. But before I could do anything else, Corbin snatched it from my hand and tsked, shaking his head. “No phones allowed.”
“I’m just going to send a quick text to Nellie. I don’t want her to worry.”
“You guys are so co-dependent it’s ridiculous.” His tone was light, yet it struck a chord.
“I don’t think so.” I tried to hold back the attitude, but it had seeped into my words anyway. “I get it, Corbin—Nellie could do better than me for a friend. But guess what? It doesn’t concern you, so your opinion doesn’t matter. I refuse to defend our friendship to anyone. I mean, wasn’t it enough to pester us when we were younger?”
“Hey, hold on. Where the hell is all this coming from?”
“It’s like you’re always putting us down.” I seemed to have reverted back to my teenage self. But rather than cry like I would have when I was twelve, I got angry. It was amazing how much strength one person could find when they felt like the whole world was against them. “You may see it as codependency, but I see it as respect. You may think we’re always up to something, but really, we’re just trying to help the other out.”
“Will you let me explain?”
I nodded. Not trusting myself to speak for fear of rivers flowing down my cheeks.
“You and I are grappling to find our footing because this is different. A lot of times you witnessed the sibling relationship between Nellie and me. Hell, you were even part of it. It was my brotherly duty to give both of you a hard time. I do respect you guys and what you have. Fuck! If I’m honest, I envy you at times.”
“You envy me? Why?” That made no sense. “For what?”
“Because you two have this awesome kinship; you have someone to talk to when you need it. Someone to stand by you, no matter what. Who wouldn’t want that?”
“I don’t understand, Corbin…you have the same thing.”
He laughed. Like, tossed his head back and howled at the ceiling. “With who?”
“Uh…Nellie? Your ex? And you’ve told me you still hang out with your old friends from school. I mean, I don’t presume to know everyone in your life, but I assume you have people.”
“Sure, I can call my sister anytime I want, except the dynamic between me and her isn’t the same as it is for you two. And just because I still see the guys I’d gone to school with from time to time doesn’t mean I can depend on them for anything.”
It wasn’t lost on me that he’d left out his ex.
“You always seem to leap to the wrong conclusion because you’re so hell-bent that you don’t fit in. You do fit in, Brooke. More than you realize. For instance, you didn’t want to go to my parents’ house for dinner last weekend because you had convinced yourself that they don’t like you. They love you, yet you’re blinded by self-doubt. After all you’ve accomplished, how can that be?”
“I don’t know.” And I didn’t. Despite my close friendship with Nellie, it had always hung over me. And hearing him point it out didn’t help. If anything, it exacerbated the doubt. And uncomfortableness.
“Believe in yourself, Bridge. Believe in your abilities.” He leaned over and took my hand in his. His words touched me, but they also brought about questions—questions I wasn’t sure I wanted the answers to. Part of me wanted to point out that he, too, needed to abide by his advice.
“I’ll try,” I promised.
“Okay. We’ll leave it at that.” He awkwardly patted my hand, since he’d been holding it too long.
I laughed and then turned back to my cell, determined to contact Nellie. “Can you give me your sister’s number, please? I swear, this ordeal makes me want to memorize the numbers of everyone I frequently call.”
He typed in his passcode and then threw the device at me.
“Ouch!” I exclaimed half-jokingly as it hit my thigh. Then I quickly looked up her info and sent her a message—from me—explaining that I got my cell back and we’d hang out tomorrow.
Corbin tossed his phone onto the ottoman and sat back on the couch. When I wasn’t looking, he snatched mine off the cushion between us.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I practically jumped on him. My screen was open for him to look up anything, and the image of Mady and Nellie fighting me for the same thing replayed in my mind.
“Settle Down, Bridge. I’m just going to help you reset your contacts and make everything right in the world again. I’ll tell you when you need to do your part.”
My back hit the couch and I feigned pouting, but I quickly grew tired of the act as the movie played on. I’d gotten so sucked into the action that by the time he was ready for my part, I mindlessly entered my passw
ord and gave it back.
While he worked on my phone, I curled into the corner of the sofa and continued to watch the movie. There was something about seeing it on his big screen in his living room…next to him…that made it so much better. I couldn’t explain it, nor did I want to.
I grew lost in the visions of Chris Hemsworth swinging around that massive hammer while his long hair blew in the air behind him. Damn he was hot. Although, the guy next to me had his own appeal—one I couldn’t ignore no matter how hard I tried.
“Okay, all done. Check your contacts.” He scooted closer and leaned over me, now situated between my thighs and hovering over my torso. I wasn’t sure why he needed to be so close, but I didn’t question it.
Nor did I ask why he brushed the hair off my face.
I just moaned while taking a moment to enjoy his touch.
“Don’t do that,” he grunted, sounding as though he were in pain.
At that point, I realized his breathing was coming out in short pants. “Are you hurt?” I asked, feeling confused over the scenario that played out before me.
“No, I’m fine.” He was either lying or hiding something.
His mouth was close to mine, and I felt his girth against the inside of my thigh. And suddenly, I couldn’t even remember what movie we were watching. All I could focus on was his closeness…and his body heat that warmed me from the inside out. Then I remembered how good last Sunday had been. I would’ve done anything in that moment, because I’d fallen deeply under his spell.
Before I could deliberate anything more, I did something I normally wouldn’t. I grabbed either side of his face and pulled him to me. Once his mouth met mine, I felt complete. That feeling I’d been craving came back full force. A sense of calm wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. My lips grew tingly, and I opened them to trace his with my tongue. It was bold, but my move only brought additional pleasure. His hot lips moved in tandem with mine, and I began to suck his tongue. Sucking wasn’t my thing, but this was the second time I got caught up in the moment and lost myself, doing things I normally didn’t.
He toyed with the waistband on my skirt, and I stiffened.
“Do you want to stop?”
“Oh, God. No,” I stated between pants. “Don’t stop.”
His mouth met mine again, and I lost all thought.
His hands caressed the length of my body, and it made me arch deeply into him. My skirt gathered around my waist from the twisting, but I didn’t even care. He lined up his massive bulge with my entrance and began rolling his hips against me through my thin panties. I cried out and began to meet each thrust, which hit the spot it was supposed to.
“Fuck! I want to bend you over my knee and spank you. You’re so bad, you’re good. I can imagine my cock moving in and out of your wet pussy.” He put his hand behind my head so that it didn’t hit the armrest. “Are you wet?”
“So wet…” I couldn’t believe I answered him, or the hedonistic tone that came from me. My cheeks flushed with heat, although it wasn’t from embarrassment. It was because my orgasm was reaching the point of no return, and I didn’t know if that was okay. I didn’t even know what we were doing, but I never wanted him to stop.
“Would you squeeze me when I’m inside you? I bet you would, because you’re a bad girl who does amazing things. My cock would stretch that tight pussy. Wouldn’t it?”
I reached the top of pleasure mountain, and his dirty talk propelled me over into pulsating bliss. He brought his face close to mine and kissed the tip of my nose.
“Are you okay?” he asked me softly.
I hummed, and then I heard his reverberating chuckle. I must’ve closed my eyes, because I couldn’t see his face, and my body was so warm I could no longer feel him against me.
Then my phone dinged. And the warmth that had coursed through me turned to fuzzy tingles. The kind that consumed you during that in-between state of sleep and wake.
At that point, I became fully aware that I had fallen asleep on the couch, but I was so mortified, I refused to open my eyes. There was no telling if I had voiced any part of my dream. Something told me I had, because as I ran through the entire situation in my head, his asking me if I was okay had definitely happened in real life.
I wonder if he’d believe I had died in my sleep.
Then his phone began to ring, which had given me the break I needed. Saved by the bell!
“I’ll be right back.” Without waiting for a response, he was off the couch, and the soft padding if his footsteps indicated he was on his way out of the room.
His place had an open concept, so his voice carried. From my spot on the couch—where I hadn’t moved from, nor had I opened my eyes—I could hear his side of the conversation. And he didn’t sound happy.
“Linds, I don’t know.”
Lindsey. As in his ex, Lindsey?
My eyes flew open, and I frantically searched for an escape route. I seemed to always end up in sticky situations, mostly with Nellie, but this one took the proverbial cake. Luckily, my shoes were on the floor next to the couch, so I quickly slipped them on and prepared myself for my exit. After a quick glance behind me to make sure I hadn’t caught Corbin’s attention, I snatched my purse and jacket off the back of the sofa and hurried to the front door as quietly as I could.
I felt like a thief in the night.
Although, before I could make my escape, I heard Corbin say, “I’m glad you enjoyed the flowers,” and it made me freeze in place, mere feet from freedom.
He sent her flowers?
Before or after I’d had my hand down his pants last weekend?
The answer didn’t matter. I had to get out of there.
I yanked open the door, not caring how much noise it made.
“Bridge, wait!” Corbin shouted behind me. Followed by, “No, I’m not alone.”
That did it.
I was done.
I ran to the elevator and punched the down arrow harder than necessary; I was fairly certain I had jammed my thumb, but that was the least of my worries. My foot tapped anxiously in the hallway as I waited for the cart to arrive and take me away.
“Bridge. Let me explain.” I heard the words, but I couldn’t see him. I looked for the stairwell and thought I would go down twenty-two flights of stairs to avoid him if I had to. But luckily, that wasn’t necessary. The elevator chose that moment to show up and save me from the sheer mortification of facing Corbin Fields.
Chapter 9
Corbin
I paced the living room floor with my head in my hands. What the fuck had happened? This evening had been effortless, better than I could’ve imagined. Then everything went to shit when Lindsey called. I hadn’t heard from her in weeks, and then, of all the nights she could’ve called, it just had to be this one.
I needed a plan.
That’s when I spotted it.
Brooke’s cell phone, lying in plain sight on the ottoman.
She’d forgotten it during her hasty exit.
I’d barely taken a step after grabbing her cell when my doorbell rang, and a smile instantly stretched across my face. She may have run off like a bat out of hell, but now that I had something she needed, she’d have to talk to me.
Brooke didn’t wait for me to open the door all the way before barging past me, arms crossed, face painted in a crimson shade of anger. Normally, that color on her cheeks meant she’d done something cute and embarrassed herself, which automatically made me smile, but not this time. This time, it caused me to chase after her while my stomach did somersaults.
“Where’s my phone?” Her voice wavered as she frantically searched the couch where she’d been asleep just a few minutes ago.
“This one?” I held it up, but then quickly hid it behind my back when she lunged for it like an animal attacking prey.
She grabbed at my arms and followed me in complete circles as I turned to keep her from getting it. It reminded me of when we were kids and I’d taunt her and my sister by ta
king something they were playing with. If not for the vicious way she growled at me, I would’ve found it comical. Actually, the growling only made it funnier. The tears lining her eyes, however, did not.
“Bridge… Brooke…” I assumed her anger had stolen her ability to hear me, so I wrapped my arms around her, pulled her to my chest, and whispered into her ear, “Brooklyn…hear me out.”
With my hands behind her, she couldn’t reach her phone, and with her face pressed into my shirt, she couldn’t speak—well, she could, but it would’ve been muffled and unintelligible. At least she seemed to recognize this, because she immediately calmed, giving up her fight.
For now.
I wasn’t stupid enough to think she wouldn’t try again once I eased up.
“I’ll give it back. I promise.” I relaxed my arms just enough to pull away and look at her, though I refused to release my hold on her. Not until I knew for certain that she wouldn’t go all Billy-Badass on me again. “The only thing I ask is that you listen to me. Give me two minutes. Can you do that, please?”
She stood before me, a storm brewing in her pistachio-colored eyes. I had a feeling there was little I could do to hold it at bay. So I needed to explain things quickly before the huffing and puffing returned.
“Fine.” She may have given in, given me what I wanted, but the defeat that hung heavy in that one word offered me no sense of victory.
I stuck her cell in my back pocket and motioned toward the living room. “Come sit on the couch.”
Brooke’s defenses came back so fast it practically gave me whiplash. The walls she erected around her in that split second filled me with panic, fearful that, this time, they wouldn’t be as easily penetrable. That was only reinforced by her crossed arms and clipped tone when she said, “Corbin, spit it out. I said I’d listen, not sit and converse.”
The unEXpected Plan Page 9