My Forbidden Date: A Brother’s Best Friend Romance

by Tara Brent

  In thirty minutes, we’re downstairs in clean jeans exploring an amusement park designed with adults in mind. Colored lights are flashing, the music is bumping, and a constant murmur is punctuated with the occasional shout and ringing of coins. We walk up to a flashing slot machine that beckons us over.

  “Feeling lucky?” asks Jackson.

  The coin poised in the slot, I nod. Jackson leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek for luck. His soft lips contrast with the stiff stubble on his jaw against my skin. Suddenly, I forget the coin. That’s what his kisses do to me. They take me by the shoulders and shake me up until I tumble down into temptation. I drop the coin into the slot. An apple, another apple, and an emoji flash across the electric screen.

  I shrug my shoulders.

  “Do you want to try again?”

  I stare into his eyes. The other meaning is not lost on me. “Maybe,” I whisper.

  ***

  Jackson went overboard and ticked off almost every plate on the menu.

  “What are we celebrating?” I ask as the champagne tickles my nose.

  “You coming home,” he says, linking his arm in mine. We stare into each other’s eyes as we sip the pale champagne. I lick my lip, and he bites his. I down the rest in my glass and extract my arm from his.

  “I’m looking forward to going home.” My voice shakes, exposing my nerves. I hold out my glass again, seeking liquid courage to tell him the truth. It might have worked, except I’m not used to drinking anymore. I rarely drink since having Lucas. The tension between us amps up every second that we wait. I’m buzzed, but thankfully, not drunk. Or I would’ve blurted out my secret.

  My inhibition starts to lower, and I find reasons to touch Jackson while we eat. I place my hand on his arm when I lean over to pop a shrimp in my mouth. I brush past him when I move around the table to grab a crouton from his salad. He watches me intently as I suck a cherry tomato into my mouth.

  I don’t think I’ve ever tried to seduce him before. I waited for him to make a move the first time. Well, it’s more than I can stand. To be in a hotel room with the man I desire, knowing that he also wants me. I lean close to grab a roll off the table, and my breast brushes against his arm. I giggle when he looks at me. And I stop to stare into those beautiful eyes, I dare him to touch me. Jackson places his big hands on my waist and pulls me down on his lap. My chest presses against his muscles as we kiss. I’m turned on by his heat, so close. I deepen the kiss until he pulls away.

  Jackson places his finger under my chin and raises my head until I meet his gaze. “Are you sure, Maya?”

  I smile and his gaze locks on mine. I place my hand on his stomach, and when I touch his muscles, my hand stays there. Staring into his eyes, I move my index finger over the defined cuts of his stomach. I break eye contact, but my fingers keep stroking him.

  “Things have changed,” I glance toward the baby’s room, “there’s more baggage now.”

  He grins. “Life is baggage, Maya.”

  His hand slides down my hips, and he pulls me high on his lap. I feel the hard bulge in his jeans against my bottom. Jackson’s other hand leaves my chin and slowly slides down my neck. Chills flare across my skin as his fingers stroke the edge of my neckline. Gently, he touches the swell of my breasts. His touch makes heat between my legs as I wait for him to touch me there.

  I’m going crazy in my head. I want him to do more than touch me through my clothes. But what if I get pregnant again? We had been careful that time. Jackson puts both hands on my hips and lifts me off his lap. He stands up and whips off his T-shirt. He’s bulked up more since the last time I saw him. I’m staring at his defined chest and six-pack, and he winks at me. My gaze drifts down, taking in every inch of him. He takes off his belt, and his jeans hang off his hips, showing off that sexy V. My eyes go lower, knowing it’s as big as the rest of him.

  He smirks. “I go to the gym to work off frustration.”

  “I gained a little weight,” I whisper, clutching onto the hem of my shirt. This isn’t a good idea for so many reasons.

  “You’re sexier than I remembered,” he whispers as he tugs me closer.

  Jackson lifts me onto the table, and his hips are even with mine. I open my legs, letting him stand between them. Jackson moves in closer, and his thick bulge presses against my thigh. As we touch, I lean back and let out a moan. I should say no, but I won’t. I want him in me again. But this will make things difficult. How can I fuck him now and later tell him Lucas is his son?

  Jackson moves his hips, grinding into me slowly, and I glide my hand along the sides of his waist to his hips to the top of his jeans. Feeling his smooth muscle, I want to slide his zipper down. But I don’t. I hesitate to go any farther, but I can’t pull my hands away.

  “Maya,” he whispers my name against my neck. “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No,” I moan.

  Jackson stares into my eyes. “I may not be able to later,” he says.

  I nod, biting my lip.

  His hands move to my hips, and I lift my butt so he can ease my jeans down. He feels my drenched panties with his fingertips. His finger slides underneath the lace. Jackson kisses me as he slips my panties down my legs. The cool air makes me shiver, or maybe, it is just from being exposed.

  Jackson watches my face as he unzips his jeans and lowers them with his boxers until his cock springs out. His eyes lock on mine. His breath is on my cheek as he leans in. I move my hands between us, place them on his stomach, and reach down. I grab his jeans, pushing them down his strong thighs.

  Common sense urges me to confess before it’s too late. But my tongue won’t form the words.

  “Wait.” I press on his hips, stopping him from getting closer. “We need to talk.”

  “Later.” He leans in, and I wrap my arms around his shoulders, kissing him.

  My will is weak. I stop pushing and edge myself forward slightly. My mouth drops open as his thick tip touches my thigh. I moan as I open my legs wider. Craving him, I can’t resist the feel of him near me—warm and thick. I have thought about Jackson on lonely nights remembering how he filled me. I didn’t want sex with any other man. I only want it with Jackson.

  His tip slides down my wet slit, and I let out a loud moan, tossing my head back. He presses against me and stops. Lightheaded, I open my eyes and glare at him, wondering why he’s waiting. Jackson knows I want him, but I have to make it clear—the need I feel. No regrets later or blame games after the fact. I wiggle my hips forward and whimper for him as I rub against him.

  Cupping my head in his hand, he kisses me powerfully. The scent of sex is in the room, and I inhale deeply as my tongue sweeps his lips. Our kiss intensifies as I cling to his shoulders. Jackson places a firm hand on my ass. I shut my eyes and grip the table, eager with anticipation. Slowly, he begins to push in. I gasp as I pull away.

  Lucas’ thin cry fills the suite. Jackson steps back as I grab my jeans off the floor and struggle to put them on as I hurry to my baby. I flip on the light and rush to his crib. His red face twisted into a painful scowl.

  “Sweetie, what’s the matter with my little baby?” I hug him and reach for his bottle. He should have slept through the night. Maybe, he sensed mommy was making a mistake.

  Jackson stands in the doorway in his jeans, watching me comfort my son...our son. I want Jackson, but I also want to tell him the truth. I settle Lucas back in his bassinet and then sit on the bed, avoiding Jackson’s eyes.

  I can’t even tell him my secret even while we’re alone. His expression makes me gasp. I see a glimpse of the hurt in Jackson’s eyes. It has to be love. He walks over to the bed and kisses my forehead gently.

  “Are you staying in here tonight?” he asks.

  I take his hand and hold it.

  “Come on, Maya.” He pulls me off of the bed and leads me back into the master bedroom. We drop our clothes on the floor along the way.

  Jackson pulls me onto the bed, and I guess because it’s Vegas, there’s
a mirror over it. He slides a hand down my thighs and between my legs. Kissing me, he moves his finger along my slit, sending sparks of desire through me. I moan and lay my head back on the pillow. I watch his strong back moving over me. I spread my legs slightly, and he begins to rub in circles. My knees feel weak, and a chill races up my spine.

  I stroke his cock with both my hands. He let out a sigh as I wrap both my hands around its length. It is stiff and hot, and I want it inside me. It pulses in my hands as I move closer.

  “I’ll get a condom,” he gasps.

  He gets up, and I roll onto my tummy. Over my shoulder, I grin at him, beckoning him over, my ass in the air. Jackson slides the condom down his heavy cock and climbs back on the bed. He straddles me. His bare skin brushes mine. Jackson places his hands on my ass, and I rise up on my hands and knees. With my other hand, I reach for him between my legs and aim it into me as I lean my body back.

  His tip slides easily into my drenched pussy. He holds onto me as I look above us. It’s an incredible turn-on to watch his muscular arms grip me as he fucks me from behind. Moaning, my body is overwhelmed with sensations as the intensity shakes my legs. I slam back to meet his thrusts, delirious with the feeling of being fully fucked. The look on his face sends me over the edge as he holds firmly onto my ass, thrusting into me. His mouth latches onto my neck and moans against my skin. My orgasm shatters me as I collapse on the bed, laying my sweaty forehead on the cool sheets. We stop for a minute to catch our breath.

  “That was the greatest orgasm ever.” My voice cracks as I cling to the bed.

  Suddenly, Jackson pulls out. I’m confused until he flips me over and starts again. We form a V as he holds my hips in his strong hands. My breasts bounce against his chest as he pulls my body up and down on his hard cock. Tingles of pleasure run over my skin as he pushes deeper.

  I moan. “Harder and go deeper.”

  I thought Jackson was completely inside me, but he grabs my ass and pulls my hips up further. Leaning over, he’s breathing heavy, and I can feel his hot breath on my lips. Slowly, I rotate my hips against him. His hands grip tighter, quickening the pace. I’m lost in the sensation of being with a man I had dreamt about forever. Eagerly, I move against him, letting gravity take control while desire makes me forget. I forget myself and all the things I have to confess.

  I see myself in the mirror. My makeup is gone, my skin is sweaty, and my mouth is wide open. I look at Jackson, and he’s watching me with a smile on his face. He pulls away and falls back onto the bed. Our chests rise and fall as we inhale deeply. I put my hand to my frizzy hair, brush it off my damp face. Hazy, I look back into the mirror, and Jackson winks at me. Worn out and sore, I still want more of him.

  “I want to look at your pretty face,” says Jackson, climbing over me, “when I come.”

  I watch him as he kneels over me. His covered cock is shiny and wet, and desire makes me tingle as I spread my legs wide. Jackson meets my gaze. He leans down and kisses me first. The passion lights me up as I press my lips hard against his, moaning and sighing as our tongues tangle.

  Jackson pushes his cock into me as we kiss. Deliberately, he moves his hips, driving me crazy with his slow movements, back and forth. Our lips stay sealed as our tongues twirl around. I release his lips and sigh as another orgasm starts deep within me. My hands go to his hips, and I pull him in deep as I come. Jackson’s calm finally breaks, and he’s fucking me fiercely. He tenses up, and with a few hard thrusts, buries his cock deep inside me. As he shouts, his gaze locks on mine.

  “I missed you,” he says, collapsing beside me. “You don’t know how badly.”

  “I do know,” I whisper, as he holds my hand, “I felt it every day.”

  ***

  I wake up in the morning, and my head feels as if it’s as wide as the bed. Lucas will definitely be on the bottle today. I roll over, and my leg hits something beside me. Jackson is next to me, fast asleep. I peek under the sheet, and I’m naked. I look over at Jackson’s prone body, and he’s completely naked. I stare at his tight bare ass and then slowly lower the sheet.

  Moaning, I lay my aching head back down. What else did we do? I can’t think, and then a cold chill whips the sleep right out of me. Oh no. I check my finger for a ring. And sigh with relief when I find nothing. But I also feel a pinch of disappointment. I slip out of bed and walk stiffly into the next room to check on Lucas. Tears prick my eyes. Lucas was a happy accident, but I can’t afford to make another mistake.

  ***

  I wait in the SUV while Jackson bullshits with the gas attendant who’s filling the tank. The GPS has guided us to Ohio with a few mishaps not worth mentioning. Jackson eagerly gets out of the SUV to ask the locals for accurate directions. He spends half the time laughing while exchanging corny jokes. I’m relieved he’s having fun. I peek into the back and look into my son’s gray eyes—Lucas giggles and gurgles when I touch the heel of his foot. I tell my baby how much I love him. I love his father too, but I still haven’t told him about our son. We’ll be home in less than two days. My stomach churns each mile we head down the road getting closer and closer to New York. I face forward when Jackson gets back into the SUV.

  “And the next stop is?” I ask.

  “A small town outside of Cleveland, near Mount Vernon,” he smiles. “I booked a B&B. The guy over there heartily recommends it. He and his wife spent their anniversary there.” Jackson waves at the attendant as we pull back onto the highway. The bright sunlight leads our way as we drive along a two-lane road. Fingers crossed it’s a good omen.

  We’ve been on the road for six days driving through states I’ve only seen on maps. And if I weren’t feeling like a lying asshole, this would have been the most incredible trip I’ve ever been on. After all, I’m with Jackson, and that would’ve been enough. The traffic is light, and the radio is playing an old song I used to lip-sync to in my bedroom when I was fourteen. I’m feeling optimistic, and I don’t know why. Nothing’s really changed. I glance over to Jackson’s profile with those steel-gray eyes, and my heart flutters like it did when I first realized I loved him.

  The temperature is climbing toward the eighties as the wind blows the heat around. A dark mahogany horse near a barn sniffs the water in a puddle as we pull up to a B&B named The Queen Anne’s Lace. The air smells like an overheated furnace as I get out of the car. The owner walks out of a lilac-colored Victorian looking like an ad for a cookbook in her floral apron and crocs.

  “Welcome to the Queen Anne’s Lace B&B.” She wipes her hands on her apron as I take Lucas out of the back. “Oh, a little one.” She glances at me and then looks at my hand with no ring. I hold my breath waiting for her to comment on the likeness between Jackson and Lucas. But she doesn’t mention it. I don’t know her name yet, but she will be my friend forever.

  “How long have you been on the road?” she asks.

  “For five hours.” Jackson comes out from around the SUV. “Sightseeing along the way.”

  Smiling, she extends her hand toward Jackson. “Belinda Davies, owner.”

  “Jackson, Maya, and Lucas.” Jackson shakes her hand. “I’m helping Maya move from LA to New York.”

  Belinda lets out a low whistle as she walks up onto the wrap-around porch and opens the screen door for us. “That’s a long drive, so let me show you to your rooms. Dinners at six.”

  “It’s cozy in here. What a lovely window.” The living room is decorated in gray and sage with matching textile prints and a stained-glass window of English ivy above the window seat.

  “It’ll be quiet too,” replies Belinda, showing the way up the double-wide staircase. “Right now, you’re the only reservation, and then next week, it will be crammed. Local flea markets and antique fair start then,” she explains.

  After a huge dinner that could’ve fed a town, Jackson and I sit in Adirondack chairs on the wrap-around porch. In silence, we watch a waxing moon lift up gradually into the sky. My hand rests on the bassinet, and my wee angel is fast a
sleep like the ideal baby he is. The starlight flashes across an indigo sky while crickets fill in the gaps in our conversation. Despite the stillness, my mind is racing, warning me that I’m quickly running out of time.

  Finally, I speak first. “So what happens in Vegas...”

  “Stays there, Maya,” Jackson replies, “but you know how I feel about you.”

  “And you know how I feel.” Days had passed since we had sex in Vegas, and only now did I have the nerve to mention it. I would’ve sexed him up the entire trip, riding him until I couldn’t walk in a straight line, but I held back for obvious reason. I had to tell him.

  Jackson interrupts the silence. “Maya, I know what you’re thinking.”

  I suck in the air.

  “What you’re worried about,” he continues.

  I bite my lip.

  Jackson rubs his whiskers with his hand and studies the ground. His shoulders hunch over as if he can’t bear to look at me. Half of his face is hidden in the shadows, but I can see his mouth, and it’s set in a harsh line. I squeeze the armrests in my hands, feeling the roughness of the wood dig into my flesh. This is it. Jackson’s going to ask me.

  “Vince and I started the real estate business so we could go straight.”

  The pressure pulls off me in one sudden whoosh of relief. Inhaling deeply, the heat leaves my face, and tears slide down my throat instead of falling from my eyes.

  “You know, we used to run errands for Derrick’s dad when we were kids.” Jackson takes a deep breath and looks up at the sky. I look away, concealing my racing thoughts tangling up my emotions. I want him to continue. If he keeps talking, I won’t have to.

  He scoffs. “It was a dangerous thing to do. I was stupid for doing it.”

  I would never think of Jackson as stupid. I always thought he was smart, daring, and brave. And that opinion would never change.

  “It wasn’t that we only needed the money,” he continues, “I had a taste of wealth, and it sticks with you. The norm doesn’t satisfy you after you’ve had the best. I was given luxuries that I didn’t even know existed.”