Secret Cravings

by Sara York

“That’s right. Mike told me your name last week.”

  “You asked about me?” Bryan’s heart stalled.

  “So, how old did you think I was when you saw me pick up Joey?”

  “Eighteen, but I was hoping for older.”

  “Really?” Nichole smiled and teased his earlobe with two fingers. “Come on, let’s go.” She kissed him again, running her fingers through his hair.

  His mind swam as he thought about having sex with this girl. Hell, he didn’t even know her and yet he wanted to fuck her silly. Stop. He opened his mouth to say it, but she reached between them, slipping her small hand into his pants and grabbing his cock. The shudder that ripped through him pulsed all the way from his head to his toes, centring at his dick.

  Fuck, no.

  Bryan squirmed and threw his head back, biting his lip. This girl was too much. He didn’t have sex with women unless he knew them. It was too early. Sure, he’d seen her every day for weeks on end, but he didn’t know her.

  She removed her hand from him, taking her warmth too. “Let’s go, big guy.”

  Nichole pulled the guy through the alley to Fifty-Third Street. They burst out from between the buildings into the open as six of New York’s finest pulled up outside Silver Lace. “Oh, fuck, a raid.”

  “What?” Bryan asked, looking around as if he’d been stunned.

  “Cops. Must be a drug bust. Come on, let’s scoot.”

  Nichole dragged him away from the club. This part of the Meatpacking District wasn’t swarming with clubs. The street was a rather empty area with few hotspots, such as Silver Lace. No cabs were set up outside to take revellers home, and if there had been, they would have taken off as soon as the cops showed.

  Nichole and Brian ran two blocks and stopped, looking back to check out the chaos at the club. Nichole glanced back over her shoulder as a car raced up the street and pulled to a stop beside them. The driver rolled down the passenger-side window.

  “You guys need a ride?” the guy in the car asked.

  The driver seemed clean, and the car was a Jaguar. He was probably someone from the club. She took a quick look up at Bryan and shrugged. “What do you say?”

  He bent down and gazed into the car, then stood up. His face went white. “I don’t know.”

  “Come on, the cops will be here in a few,” the guy in the Jag hollered out.

  Bryan tugged her into a tight hug, his lips beside her ear. “You sure about this?”

  One of the police officers started moving their way, his flashlight shining into the dark shadows.

  “Yeah, we need to get out of here,” Nichole said.

  Bryan pulled open the passenger door and let her hop in while he took the back seat. The car raced forward, the driver navigating the streets like a pro. They flew around corners and down roads. They drove quickly, but the distance they covered was farther than she thought. Soon they pulled on to East Sixty-Fifth Street, drove down to Sixty-Seventh then turned and hurried into a parking garage.

  Nichole glanced back at Bryan, who looked a little pissed and totally hot. All three of them sat perfectly still after the driver had cut the engine. She’d bet none of them had ever done anything like this before. She’d done some wild things in her life, but jumping into a car with a stranger who then drove them across town to a posh high-rise wasn’t her normal style. The area reeked of money and scared the hell out of her.

  This had to have been the stupidest thing Bryan had ever done, but when he’d caught sight of the totally hot guy in the Jag—the one who’d been giving head in Silver Lace’s bathroom—he didn’t want to be careful. Nichole had had him turned on, then he’d seen the man who’d been sucking dick earlier and he’d thrown all caution to the wind. He wanted this guy’s lips around his cock. What would Nichole think?

  Bryan grabbed the door handle and jumped out of the Jag. He heard Nichole open the door beside him. His breath came in gasps as he realised the severity of his actions. He’d put Nichole’s life in jeopardy, all because he’d wanted a little man head. What if the Jag guy turned out to be a cold-blooded killer? Fuck, he’d watched too many scary movies.

  Nichole’s hand on his arm startled him. The guy from the Jag stepped out, accessing his full height and making Bryan’s dick swell with desire. Shit, he wanted both Nichole and this other guy.

  The Jag man came around the car, his gaze travelling up and down Nichole first, then Bryan. His rakish smile did funny things to Bryan’s insides. “I’m Luke, by the way.”

  He stuck out his hand and Bryan shook it. “I’m Bryan.” They held on to each other for more time than appropriate. Luke smiled, a knowing gleam filling his eyes. Bryan’s heart thumped wildly in his chest. His cock strained at his zipper as he envisioned Luke on his knees in front of him.

  Bryan cleared his throat and pulled his hand from Luke’s. The conflicting desires had his brain spinning. He wanted both Luke and Nichole. Could his previously vanilla sex life handle the sprite of a woman and this hunky god of a man?

  Luke turned to Nichole. “You don’t remember me, do you?” Luke walked around Nichole, his eyes taking in her tiny skirt and sexy top.

  “Should I?” she asked, her gaze following him.

  Luke threw back his head and laughed. Bryan saw the predatory gaze overtake Luke and for a moment jealousy stabbed him in the gut. But why? Could it be the way Luke was staring at Nichole? He didn’t know.

  Luke’s gaze caught Bryan’s. The pure lust coming off Luke made Bryan tingle all over. Luke licked his lips while he drilled into Bryan with his eyes.

  “It’s late. Stay at my place tonight. I promise to be good,” Luke said.

  Luke had struck gold with both Nichole and Bryan. He’d seen Nichole first, then Bryan, both of them very appealing, but together they were dynamite. It was too bad he hadn’t approached them at Silver Lace, but having them here now made his body quiver with need. He couldn’t believe that he’d asked them to spend the night. It was stupid and risky. What was he trying to prove? That he wasn’t a whore who pimped his body out to the highest bidder? That he could choose whom he did and when? He’d just finished off Christopher when the police had shown up and he’d dashed out of the back door. His car had been close and luck had shone on him, bringing him this pair.

  Yeah, and inviting strangers up would make it all better. Pathetic.

  The booty call from Christopher had been totally unwanted and had disgusted him, but scoring a meet with this pair made the memory of sucking Christopher less repulsive, since Luke was in control now. He’d evened the score with Christopher tonight and the jerk had nothing more to hold over his head. He’d never do that again. The fame and prestige had been too big of a carrot, turning him stupid, but a huge weight had now been lifted from his shoulders. He and Christopher had parted on mostly amicable terms, and his free agent status felt mighty powerful now that Nichole and Bryan were only yards from his lair. Not that he was all into that pseudo-macho junk, but his place was rather nice.

  “So you really don’t know who I am?” he asked Nichole again.

  “No, no clue. And I would remember a guy who looked like you. Just saying.” Nichole stared at him, her eyes following everything he did.

  “At the park on Mondays?”

  “Still don’t recognise you,” she said.

  “I wear a ball cap and sunglasses. Let me grab them.” He opened the trunk of his car and slipped on the cap and oversized shades.

  “Oh, you. Gosh, without the shades and cap I never would have known who you were. What’s your name again?”

  “Luke. You haven’t been there for a while,” he said.

  Her shoulders slumped. “I moved.”

  Luke almost said something, but the hurt in her eyes sealed his lips. Something bad had clearly gone on in her life, and he wondered if a relationship had ended. Over the last year he’d been ‘accidentally’ running into her, and she’d mentioned a relationship at one point.

  “Follow me up. Promise I don’t bit
e.” Luke held up one hand to enhance his innocence. He doubted Bryan would buy his act. The man made him too hot. The night held promise that made his heart race and his dick harden.

  “I don’t know. It’s kind of late,” Bryan said.

  “The sun will be up soon. The view is incredible. A few hours’ sleep wouldn’t hurt. Slogging across town isn’t much fun at this time in the morning.”

  Bryan took a step away and shook his head. “Maybe another time. Nichole, I’ll share a cab with you.”

  Nichole bit her lip, her eyes filled with sadness. She placed a hand on Luke’s arm. “Spending the night with you would be nice, but I don’t know.”

  Luke hated the brush-off junk. He wanted to tell them to fuck off, but they were both right. He shouldn’t have assumed they would come up for a threesome. Not everyone in the world was a skank. Messing with Christopher had jaded him. “I understand,” Luke said, though he wanted to plead with them to come up and just cuddle with him. Anything to fill the huge hole in his heart. Nichole and Bryan turned towards the exit and Luke felt despair sliding over him. Nichole stopped walking and turned around.

  “I have a new set of clients next month. This neighbourhood. I’ll be at the usual spot on Mondays in two weeks. I would love to talk, if you aren’t too pissed off at the letdown.”

  Luke couldn’t believe she’d thrown him a bone. Maybe taking it slow with this girl would work. But in a month he would have to be in London. The small amount of hope that had flared in his mind was soon dashed. His work was tough on relationships—few people stuck around once they realised he had depth and wasn’t only pretty to look at. Too bad Bryan wasn’t interested, because he was the one Luke really wanted to get to know.

  “I live off of Sixty-Eighth, just around the corner. Green awning—if you are in the neighbourhood.” He stared at Bryan, praying the man would take him up on the offer.

  The pair disappeared from his view, and he walked out of the garage and around the building to his place. Martin was at the door and let him in. He said nothing, just went to his private elevator and swiped his card. The ride to his floor was long and lonely, but Bryan and Nichole coming up here would have been a mistake, one he’d made way too often when it came to relationships. Quick fucks might give his body relief, but his soul craved a deeper connection.

  The elevator came to a halt and Luke stepped out into his living area. He loved his apartment, his things. For the next two weeks he’d stay here and read, maybe watch some movies. The outside world could just go fuck itself until Nichole showed up at the park on Mondays. He couldn’t wait.

  * * * *

  Amy explained for the third time that she wasn’t going to submit to a drug test. She had rights and she knew them. The cops had taken her for a stupid bimbo, too dumb to know what was happening.

  When she’d first seen the cops, her eyes had darted around the dance floor, searching for the cute girl in pink. God, she hoped the girl had got out. In the hour and a half since the raid, she’d not seen Pink, which was what she’d affectionately begun to call the girl in her mind.

  The cops had let a few people go, but they were bringing in the paddy wagons to arrest a multitude. It was too bad her firm didn’t do criminal law—she’d be catching a ton of business. She’d already texted Robert, her boss, telling him what was what. He’d called and she’d answered, even with the cops shooting her dirty looks. Robert had had the gall to laugh when she’d explained the situation fully. When she’d told him how the cops had targeted her, he’d said very seriously that she needed to text him a picture, so, of course, she had. That was when his giggle fit had erupted. Five days a week she played the role of über-responsible adult, dressing in business suits, working twelve hours a day to pull down enough billable hours to get the partners to notice her efforts. Robert, a partner in the firm and her boss, had been impressed from day one, but weekend nights were her time. So what if she dolled up a bit when cutting loose? Before she’d hung up with him, she’d made him swear he wouldn’t hold this against her.

  He’d made some comment about holding her and she’d reminded him that she played for the other team. All in all, it hadn’t been too bad because he’d sobered quickly, telling her that he would be deleting the picture and that the only time he’d ever mention it again would be once she made partner, which would happen sooner rather than later.

  Amy had ended the phone call and had jumped up, shouting “Hell, yeah!”—which, of course, had drawn all eyes to her.

  “Miss, take a seat,” the nearest cop had barked.

  After twenty more minutes of haggling with the cops, she secured the release of three-quarters of the crowd and headed home. Julie had left the den a wreck, and the kitchen wasn’t much better. Dirty plates sat on the counter, nowhere near the sink, and Julie had left the milk out. Who the hell leaves the milk out? She needed to say something to the girl—anything to make the situation better.

  Amy walked into her room and heard snores. She flicked on the light and gasped. Oh, hell no. Right then, as she stared at the huge guy asleep on her bed, she vowed to find a new place to live, and soon.

  * * * *

  By the time the cab had dropped Bryan off at his place, the sun was coming up. He’d thought he should have stayed at Luke’s. God, that man was beautiful.

  Bryan had said goodbye to Nichole, but hadn’t set up a time to meet with her. She’d made it clear that she was interested in Luke before they’d even left his parking garage.

  Bryan had slept most of the day away, waking a little after three. His new place was small, not at all like where he’d been living before, but he was close to some cool places. On his way down to the street to grab something to eat, he heard a dog bark and thought about Joey, then Nichole. He didn’t want to be a stalker. If he ran into her when she showed up to walk Joey, then fine. Otherwise, he wouldn’t force the issue.

  On Sunday, he cleaned his apartment and prepped for work. He had the luxury of working from home. Sure, he had to travel at least once a month, but he loved the freedom of being able to wake late if he’d had a rough night or finish up early if he was tired.

  His flexible schedule had come in handy more than once. Before his ex had left, he’d been able to help out with Michael, but these days he woke early and walked the streets.

  On the Tuesday after he’d met Nichole and Luke at Silver Lace, he ran up the steps to his apartment and right into Nichole. The shorts and T-shirt she was wearing looked cute, and his body took notice. Joey drooled beside her, drawing Bryan’s attention with soft woofs.

  After Bryan had given Joey a pat on the head, his gaze swung to Nichole’s. They stared at each other for a long moment. He didn’t know what to say. The attraction was there, and he wouldn’t mind getting to know her. Maybe he was moving too fast.

  “Hi,” Nichole said.

  “Hi.”

  Nichole looked away, disappointment evident on her face. She started moving and he knew he had to act.

  “Hey, listen. I’m really bad at this and I know you’re busy working. Would you like to get something to eat at some point? You know, together?”

  “Wow, you are bad. Was that you asking me out on a date?”

  Heat crept up his neck, and he looked away, embarrassed by his stupidity. He’d made a fool of himself—no way would she ever want to see him. Luke was the type of guy who drew her interest, not him.

  She reached out and touched his face. “Hey, I think it’s sweet that you suck at picking up girls. You want to go grab a cup of coffee now?”

  “I can’t, I have to start work. I have a call in about twenty minutes.”

  “Oh.”

  “Tomorrow, I’m free. Can you get here earlier?” He checked his phone for the time. It was almost nine. “Like, eight?”

  “Sure. I’ll see you then.”

  “Great.”

  Work flew by, and a bubble of excitement grew in Bryan’s chest as the day turned to night. It was the first night he’d felt ev
en close to chipper as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  * * * *

  Bryan woke way too early—close to four—and his mind raced as he thought about Michael and what he’d be doing today. He got up and dressed, then headed out for a walk. Depression had done a number on him after Stephanie had left. Maybe spending some time with Nichole would help.

  On his way back to his apartment, when he was still about a block away, he ran into her. “Hey, Nichole. I’m glad you showed up.”

  “I’m a little early.” She had on a pair of jeans and a white shirt. She looked totally hot.

  “It’s okay. Want to grab something at the diner across the street?” His nerves were getting the better of him. If he wanted to make her feel ill at ease, all he had to do was keep acting the way he was right now. God, I’m such a dork.

  He held open the door for her and led her into the retro Fifties eatery. He hadn’t been here in a few months, but the place never changed. He grabbed a seat and tapped his fingers on the table, his gaze catching Nichole’s, then flitting away. Cool topics filtered through his thoughts, but he didn’t have the concentration to speak about any of them. Her beautiful eyes were making him hot and bothered.

  “I’m sorry, I’m just nervous. I haven’t been out in a while, and the truth is, I’m just not that good at impressing women on first dates…or second dates.”

  “What about third dates?”

  “I don’t know. I usually scare women off by then.” He laughed with her and the ice was broken. Throughout breakfast, they talked about nothing important, but he felt better than he had in ages.

  “I’d like to see you again. Well, that is, if you want to. We could…I don’t know, maybe do something.” Bryan stumbled through the words, his face heating with each syllable.

  “Wow, you do suck at talking to girls.”

  Bryan was making a fool of himself and he wished he could stop, but he didn’t know how, and, after what his ex had put him through, any confidence he’d had around women had died. Then there was part of him that wished she were Luke. If he were truthful with himself, he would admit that he wanted to date guys instead. Hell, he’d probably suck at that too. “Yeah, it really is a me thing. So can you do breakfast again on Thursday?”