by K E Osborn
“Shit,” I murmur to myself as I shut down my notebook and start straightening all my notes on my desk. I’m running late, and I need to get to dinner. Lunar is probably waiting for me, I should have kept a closer eye on the time. Gathering my things quickly, I grab Hunter and head for the door. I walk briskly to my car, load my new pet inside, and make my way toward Ryan’s house without changing.
The drive isn’t far, but long enough to have my stomach doing back flips the entire way. Does he even know I’m coming over tonight? Is he even going to be there? Is he going to talk to me after today? I don’t have any clue nor any answers to those questions. All I know is I’m now officially late and that’s bad for my first friend invitation with Lunar.
Good one, Tillie!
Pulling up in the drive, my fingers are clamped around the steering wheel so tightly I’m sure I’ll need to pry them off. I take a long, deep breath in and let it out slowly as I close my eyes trying to calm myself.
Why am I so worked up? This is stupid.
Just go inside!
I open the door, step out and grab Hunter. I hope Lunar doesn’t mind me bringing him. I didn’t have time to drop him home first. With a cage in one hand and a handbag in the other, I stroll up the path toward the door. Still in my sneakers and yoga gear that I didn’t bother to change out of earlier. Before I can even press the doorbell, the door flies open and Lunar stands there wearing a gorgeous smile, a Betty homemaker apron, and her hair up in a messy top knot.
“Hey stranger, I thought you were ditching me.”
I smirk and shake my head. “No, of course not. Just got lost in paperwork and the guys’ social media campaigns.”
She giggles and pulls me inside the house. “You work too hard.”
“Mmm.”
She looks down to Hunter’s cage in my hand and smirks. “Nice accessory.”
While I place his cage on the floor, I laugh. We walk into the dining room which is attached to the medium sized kitchen. The house isn’t huge, but it’s very nice and practical and not really how I imagined. I guess I thought it would be more bachelor style come rock star pad, but it looks more like a family home, which is surprising but in a good way.
Danger walks down the stairs to the left of the kitchen and waves at me while Lunar stands in the kitchen stirring a giant pot of something that smells amazing. I make my way to the kitchen bar and smile watching Danger admire Lunar’s ass.
Suddenly, thunderous footsteps thump down the stairs as we all look up to see Ryan rushing down wearing only a pair of tight white briefs and… nothing else.
My eyes open wide taking in his almost naked form and my hand shoots up to my mouth in shock as Ryan pauses looking right at me. I’m embarrassed because even though he isn’t as toned as Danger with a ripped six pack, seeing Ryan practically naked is making my heart race, my breathing stop and goosebumps riddle my skin.
Ryan gawks at me, looks down to his briefs and smirks, stands taller and strolls into the kitchen like he isn’t bothered by his lack of clothing. “Didn’t know we were having company?”
“I thought if I told you you’d crack the shits… and she’s my friend. I wanted her to come over for dinner,” Lunar says matter-of-factly.
“Yeah, but to my house,” Ryan replies and I tense up slightly.
Sighing, I shake my head. “I can go.”
“Ryan!” Lunar chides while glaring at him.
He swallows hard but his face is stern and his mouth has a slight turn down on each end.
“No, it’s fine.” I reach down grabbing Hunter and turn to walk out.
“You kept the rat?” Ryan’s voice filters through the room halting me in my stride.
Swallowing hard, I turn back and nod. “Of course, I wasn’t going to set it free when obviously he’s so tame. He would die. Plus, he’s cute as hell and I’d love another pet.”
“Jesus Christ, I try to scare you with a rat and you fucking adopt it. You really are something… stay for dinner, but don’t expect me to get dressed for you.”
I try to hide my smile. “That’s fine, I don’t need you in clothes,” I say then open my mouth wide at how that sounded. Ryan raises an eyebrow at me while Lunar and Danger both laugh.
“Wait, I didn’t mean that how it sounded—”
“Sure… sure, Tillie. You always want me naked and I can arrange that.”
I roll my eyes. “Please don’t. The live streaming would have a server crash with everyone wanting to see that.”
Danger and Lunar laugh loudly as Ryan softly smiles.
He might just be thawing slightly.
“Fine, I’ll keep my shows just for you then. Seeing as you showed me yours it’s only fair I show you mine, yeah?”
My stomach clenches at the thought and I gasp slightly, but not enough for anyone to notice. Ryan affects me. I know he does, I just wish I knew why. I also think we would get along just great if he could accept that I’m here to help Recoil, not to replace him.
“Tillie?” Ryan asks breaking me from my rambling thoughts.
“Sorry… what?” I ask, and he chuckles.
“No quick come back?”
“How ‘bout we just have dinner and have less talk about naked people?”
He tilts his head slightly. “Why Tillie? Are you uncomfortable?”
“Leave her alone, Ry!” Danger berates slapping him across the back of his head with a small thump. He chuckles and we walk to the dining table to sit down as Lunar brings over a bottle of wine. Danger brings a big bowl of something that smells delicious while Lunar pours me a glass of red. I take it from her with a smile, clinking my glass to hers.
“I hope you like chili con carne.”
Smiling, I nod. “I like things spicy.”
Ryan smirks as he sits down next to me. I take a big sip of my wine while Ryan begins to pile his plate high with chili. His muscles flex in my line of sight and I’m distracted for a moment. My wine glass tips further than it should against my mouth causing the liquid to ripple down the side of my chin and flurry down in rivulets onto my chest. I pull the wine glass away from my lips quickly as I gulp a mouthful and lurch backward.
“Shit,” I murmur while grabbing a napkin, pulling my top forward and wiping in between my breasts. Lunar and Danger chuckle while Ryan gawks grabbing another spoonful of chili from the pot and directing it toward his plate. But he’s too busy watching me wipe my breasts and the ladle of chili lands right in his lap. He screams out as he stands up abruptly. We all look at him as the chili covers his entire crotch and thighs and then it starts to dribble down his legs. It would seriously have to be burning him. Before I have time to grab a napkin to help him wipe it off, he grabs the hem of his underwear and pulls them down.
Right down.
All the way down.
Then flings them off as he jumps from side to side groaning while he wipes his thighs. His giant cock sways from side to side right in line with my face as I gasp and look directly at it. Besides being a little red from the heat it looks… perfect. My thighs grip together to dull the ache from seeing Ryan completely naked. Lunar and Danger crack into hysterics as I continue to gawk at Ryan’s giant swaying cock.
“Fucking hell that chili burns!”
“I think it’s made your cock swell,” Danger says, and Ryan scoffs.
“Fuck off! You know my cock’s this big normally.”
“Okay, can you put your cock away? We have guests,” Lunar asks.
Ryan looks down at me noticing I’m unashamedly staring at his dick. He chuckles and sways his hips making it swing from side to side which immediately snaps me from my trance. I look up to see his heated gaze, my cheeks flush red hot so I bring my hand up to my eyes to hide from seeing him.
He cackles and pats my shoulder. “It’s okay to stare, Tillie. I know I’m amazing.”
“Oh my God, Ryan… go shower, and put some clothes on for crying out loud,” Lunar berates as Danger and Ryan both continue laughing.
“Yes, ma’am.” His hand leaves my shoulder.
I part my fingers slightly to watch him walking away from us and up the stairs. His ass is quite toned and my muscles clench again as my stomach twists in on itself.
“You can uncover your eyes now, Tillie,” Danger chuckles.
Twisting back to the table, I pull my hands away from my face completely and exhale. “Well, that was…” I pause not being able to find the right words.
“That was normal for this house.” Lunar giggles and starts placing some chili in her bowl.
“Wow! He’s not ashamed to be naked is he?”
Danger smirks. “Nope, not at all.”
“Well, I guess he has nothing to be ashamed about does he?” I admit, and Lunar raises her eyebrow.
“You do like him!”
“What?”
“You do!”
“No, I don’t.”
“Okay, well, just so you know… I think you two would be cute together. Don’t you think, babe?” Lunar asks and Danger half-smiles.
“I don’t think you should give out false hope, Lunar. Ryan is… well, he doesn’t do relationships so I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Plus, you work together. It could be awkward.”
Sighing as Lunar glares at him, I nod. I knew Ryan was guarded, I just didn’t know how much. But if he doesn’t do relationships there’s a reason. He’s been hurt before. I just don’t know how deeply.
“I get it, it’s complicated. Plus, Ryan kinda hates me anyway so it wouldn’t matter even if I did like him,” I say, and Lunar smiles.
“You know you just admitted you do like him, right?”
“Did no such thing.”
Danger smiles. “You kinda did.”
“Shut up, or I’ll tell the world you like to dress in Lunar’s clothes.”
Lunar laughs as Danger smirks. “Okay, message received.”
I scoop out some chili and proceed to eat with Danger and Lunar, noticeably quieter without Ryan.
We finish dinner and Ryan is still absent. His shower shouldn’t have taken this long and I’m a little worried as to why he hasn’t come back downstairs yet.
“Should someone check on Ryan, he’s been gone a long time?”
“Danger and I are going to clean up, so why don’t you go see if you can find him?” Lunar asks as Danger eyes her sternly, but she smiles at me and nods her head toward the stairs.
“Umm… okay, sure,” I say and stand taking a deep breath while I head for the stairs.
Each step takes me an inch closer to Ryan, but with each step the butterflies in my stomach flutter around causing me to feel nervous and ultimately slightly sick. But the higher up the stairs I ascend, the more I can hear the gentle strumming of a guitar, and as I reach the top I turn to hear it coming from what I’m assuming is a bedroom. My feet feel heavy as the somber tones from the acoustic guitar echo from behind the closed door. I gently knock and the music stops as Ryan’s voice sounds, “Come in.”
The door handle clicks as I turn it and I pop my head around the open door to see him sitting on his king-sized bed wearing only a pair of loose fitting joggers and no shirt.
“Are you okay?”
Ryan half-smiles while he places his guitar on the bed near his pillows then he nods. “Yeah, just didn’t want to embarrass you by being around at dinner.”
“I would have been fine, and you should have come and eaten with us.”
He nods picking up his guitar again and starts to strum it softly. The melodic tune is delightful and yet somber to my ears as he plucks at his strings delicately. I walk in and over to the bed sitting down on the mattress next to him.
“That’s beautiful, what is it?”
“It’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps by George Harrison.”
“It sounds so sad.”
He nods. “It is.”
A soft quiet falls over us for a moment. I wonder what to say to Ryan, when I turn slightly facing him and take a deep breath. “You know, I’m really not the enemy.”
He tenses and places his guitar down gently on the pillows again closing his eyes briefly, before slowly looking up at me. “I know, it’s just hard having you around.”
Furrowing my brows I tense up. “Why?”
He stiffens. “It’s hard to explain.”
“Can you try?”
“No,” he says bluntly.
I raise my eyebrows. “No? Just no?”
“Yeah! I can’t open up to you, Tillie.”
“Why not?”
“I just can’t, all right!”
Huffing, I stand up breathing harshly through my nose. “Fine, don’t talk to me. I don’t know what I did to make you despise me so much, but I’ll keep away from you from now on.” I turn and head for the door. Tears well in my eyes as I reach for the door handle but his grip on my shoulder stops me, then he spins me around to face him. Ryan pushes my body against the door with his, locking me in position. His eyes bore into mine while his hand comes up to the side of my face caressing my cheek. His other splays out on my hip. My breathing hitches and my heart gallops in my chest.
“Problem is… I don’t despise you, Tillie. As much as I tell myself to keep away from you, my body and mind won’t listen to me.” He inches closer, the smell of his freshly showered body mixed with mint from his breath sends warmth over me.
I shudder as his fingers gently caress my cheek. “Ryan,” I murmur.
He leans in so close, I think he’s going to kiss me. I close my eyes and purse my lips, my body aching for the contact. Sparks shoot between us as the magnetism pulls us so close every inch of us is touching. His warm breath is hot against my lips. I part them… waiting, but then his soft lips divert, and gently kiss my cheek. My body slumps, half in delight that his lips are on me and half in sadness that they’re not on my lips. My eyes flutter open as I look into his emerald green eyes and they’re glassy like he wants to cry but is holding back. The sight shocks me slightly as his hands drop, leaving me feeling cold. He steps back and nods grabbing the door handle, then he opens the door behind me.
Guess that’s my cue to leave.
Swallowing hard, I turn without saying anything and walk out of his room. I make it out in the hallway and I hear him close the door behind me with a slight thud. Taking a breath, I chew on my bottom lip wondering what the hell just happened as I descend the stairs.
Lunar looks up at me as I enter the kitchen, and she must see the puzzled look on my face as she takes me in. “You okay?”
Nodding, I fake a smile back at her the best I can. “Yeah, but it’s been a long day. I think I’m gonna head home.”
Danger looks at me and frowns. “Did he say something to you?”
Shaking my head a little overzealously, I grab my bag and pick up Hunter’s cage. “No. I just need to go. Thanks for dinner, though. See you when I see you,” I say and make for a speedy retreat.
“Tillie,” Lunar calls out as I race toward the front door, but I ignore her and walk out heading straight for my car to go home to cuddle Piper and cry into my pillow.
A light knock on my door startles me and I sit up on my bed.
“Come in.”
The door opens and part of me hopes it’s Tillie, but the rest of me hopes I never have to see her again.
Bright pink and yellow hair falls through the door and Lunar’s bright blue eyes look up at me. “Hey.”
I pat my bed and smile. “Hey.”
She comes in closing the door behind her and walks over sitting down next to me. “So, the fun loving guy I know seems to be taking a bit of a back seat to this broody, snappy guy. Where’s Ryan gone?”
I shake my head. “Fucked if I know. This health scare, and Tillie showing up has really messed with my head.”
She leans into my side cuddling into me like the sister I never had. “Ry, I know you’re working on your health, and we’re all here for you with that. You’re doing so well and already losing weight. The doctor said your diagnosis of pre-
diabetes is looking less likely now, and your blood pressure is slowly coming down. Give it a little more time. It'll be okay. I promise.”
I swallow hard and shrug. “But what about Tillie?”
She looks up at me and half-smiles. “You like her?”
Scrubbing my face with my hands, I groan. “No. She’s my nemesis.”
“Right, so what happened up here to make her bolt faster than Flash Gordon?”
I sigh and clasp my eyes shut remembering her beautiful lips puckered up waiting for me to kiss them. “We nearly kissed, but I dodged it and kissed her cheek instead.” My eyes flick open and I look to Lunar who is watching me closely.
“You like her!”
“You said that already.”
“Last time it was a question, this time it’s a statement.”
“Fuck! I don’t know, Lunar. I can’t do anything with her.”
“What? Why not?”
“Well, because I’m supposed to dislike her for one.”
“Pfft… plenty of enemies become lovers.”
“Like who?”
“Romeo and Juliet.”
I snort. “We all know how well that fucking ended!”
She laughs. “True. Bad example. But still, it’s okay to like her, Ry.”
“It’s really not.”
“Why?”
“Well, we employ her for starters.”
“You employ me too technically, and I’m dating the lead singer, that argument is null and void.”
“Urgh… well, I don’t want to hurt her.”
“I can’t imagine you hurting anyone, Ryan, you’re too loyal.”
Shaking my head, I exhale. “I don’t mean by cheating or whatever, I mean physically.”
She jolts her head back in shock and furrows her brows together. “Ryan, you would never hit a woman?”
Shaking my head quickly from side to side, I groan. “God no! Fuck! That’s not what I mean. I’m bad karma for people who love me. I’m bad news. I’m no good. I don’t want Tillie to end up like…” I pause not being able to finish my sentence as a lump catches in my throat and breathing becomes difficult.