Delayed Call

by Toni Aleo

  But Jensen was right, Vaughn didn’t get close to anyone because of her.

  Letting out a long breath, Jensen added, “I like Brie. She’s a sweet girl, and I’d hate for you to ruin things for Rodney because you fucked his sister and hurt her. Again.”

  Vaughn’s head fell back as he groaned loudly. “Do you like it when I’m on you about Wren?”

  “No.”

  “Then shut up.”

  “Because you shut up about Wren, right?”

  Snapping his head up, Vaughn smiled. “That’s right. So tell me, why are you coming in so late? It’s way past your bedtime. Did you go take her to bed like you should have done eons ago?”

  Jensen’s eyes narrowed as he shook his head. “No, asshole. I made sure she got home okay, and then I came here. I didn’t want to leave her. So I hung out.”

  “Did you get a kiss for the New Year?” When Jensen rolled his eyes, Vaughn laughed. “On the cheek? That’s depressing.”

  “I hate you,” he declared, standing up and picking up his shoes. “You’re going to fuck up, and then I’ll be here, getting you drunk so you can’t think about it. Do you want that?”

  “I like drinking.”

  With a sound of dismay, Jensen shook his head as he headed toward his room. “Such a prick.”

  “It’s part of my charm.”

  “Yeah, and it makes you a huge douche, but don’t worry—” Stopping at the door, he held Vaughn’s gaze. “One day, me, Wren, and Wells will all be happily married or whatever, and you’ll be here. With your dog. Alone. Then you’re going to be sitting there or wherever, and you’ll be like, ‘Man, maybe I shouldn’t have pushed everyone away.’”

  “No, I won’t.”

  “Yes, you will. Because, yeah, you do a lot for everyone—but it’s in secret, Vaughn, which is cool. But what’s going to happen when you have no one to share it with?”

  “Are you breaking up with me?”

  “You are so fucking frustrating!” Throwing his shoes in his room, Jensen leaned his elbow to the doorframe. “I’m trying to tell you that when you find someone who challenges you and excites you, like Brie, maybe you should, I don’t know, give it a chance, instead of ending it before it even gets started.”

  Holding his gaze, Vaughn laughed. “Dude, I just fucked her like two hours ago—”

  “Do you plan to do it more, with the possibility of a relationship?”

  “If I say yes, will you leave me the fuck alone?”

  “No, ’cause I know you’re lying. I’m trying my hardest to plant a little seed in your brain that maybe you could try to see where it could go.”

  “Well, take your seeds and throw them at Wren. I don’t need them.”

  “You don’t?”

  “No, dude, I know Brie’s a great girl and she’s hot as fuck, but I don’t see anything other than fucking with her.”

  Shooting him a look of pure annoyance, Jensen directed his hands toward himself. “Do you know who I am? I’ve known you since I was fourteen. I know you better than Wells because while he was chasing dudes, we were chasing girls. I know you. I know what you look for, and it’s her—”

  “Dude! Leave me the fuck alone!” Vaughn finally roared, his heart pounding in his chest. “You’re so fucking worried about me and my life. Worry about your fucking own.”

  Taking his dog, he headed toward his room, brushing by Jensen with a little more force than needed. When his door slammed, he heard Jensen mumble something, which was typical Jensen. Jensen wasn’t a douche like Vaughn was, teasing him. When Jensen said something, he meant it. He wasn’t just talking shit or trying to piss Vaughn off. Vaughn knew that. He knew that Jensen cared.

  Problem was, Vaughn didn’t. He just couldn’t.

  Apparently, the following day, Vaughn and Jensen weren’t talking.

  Because they were ten-year-old boys who were fighting over the last G.I. Joe.

  Rolling his eyes as his best friend walked by, Vaughn was getting really fucking tired of the silent treatment. But Jensen Monroe was an expert at it. He had a way about him that made the person who was on the receiving end of the silent treatment start to question themselves. Was Vaughn wrong? Should he be a little more cautious with Brie? Maybe he shouldn’t have slept with her…but it was so fucking good. There was no way he was going to feel bad for that. Still, Jensen’s silence was setting his teeth on edge.

  He wouldn’t admit that his best friend was right. There was no way in hell. Yeah, he understood where Jensen was coming from, and he was absolutely right, Vaughn potentially could be playing a really nasty game. But then, who said anything else would happen? He hadn’t heard from Brie all day. He hadn’t seen her, nor would he see her until Tuesday, probably in California. It could very well have been a one-time thing, and everyone was getting worked up over nothing. Jensen was such a fucking pansy. Why was Vaughn even friends with him? He should kick him out.

  Asshole.

  Frustrated, he got off the couch and yelled out, “If I go get you some Hattie B’s, will you stop being mad at me?”

  Jensen looked up from his phone from where he was leaning on the kitchen counter. “Yes.”

  “God, you’re like my fucking girlfriend! I don’t even need a girlfriend with your ass here.”

  As Vaughn stomped by him and to the door, Jensen laughed. “But I won’t be here forever.”

  “Oh, you’re going to tell Wren you love her?”

  He shrugged. “When she is ready, I will.”

  Rolling his eyes because, be real, that day was never coming, he yanked open the door and slammed it shut. But when he turned, he ran right into his neighbor.

  “Whoa.”

  Steadying her, he laughed. “My bad. Didn’t see you there—”

  “You make a joke about my size, and I’ll punch you.”

  He grinned as he moved her hair out of her face and behind her ear. She looked like a hot mess, as if she hadn’t slept a wink the night before. But still, she was so pretty, and when he saw she was wearing the shirt she’d mentioned about wanting to make love to nineties R&B, everything from the night before came crashing over him like a wave.

  A wave of hot lust.

  Without thinking, he took her in his arms, his mouth colliding with hers. She met him with just as much enthusiastic need. Somehow, she pushed him into the wall, her little body crawling up his. As her tongue tangled with his, he couldn’t take it. She was beyond amazing, beyond mind-blowing and, speaking of blowing, he was going to blow his load in the damn hallway if he didn’t get somewhere where he could be deep inside of her. Reaching out, he found that her door was slightly ajar.

  Thank God.

  Picking her up under her ass, he carried her inside and kicked the door shut before slamming her body into it. Pushing her shirt up and over her head, he yanked her bra down and took her breast in his mouth, licking her peak as she gasped, her fingers getting lost in his hair as her legs wrapped even tighter around him. She was so hot between those naughty thick thighs, and she tasted so good. When she started to tug at his shirt, he pulled away, pushing it up and over his head before returning to nibbling at her neck. Her nails ran down his bare back, tucking her hands into his waistband and sending such intense chills down his back. Every one of the hairs on his arms stood at attention, while his skin broke out in gooseflesh.

  What in the world was she doing to him?

  Pulling back to look at her, he was just so unsure. But when her lips curved, her fingers tracing his cheek, everything stopped.

  And it scared the living fuck out of him.

  Fucking Jenny.

  When her lips started to trace his own, he pulled back, biting at her lip, which just made her grin. She nipped at him, a soft giggle leaving those sinful lips, and if he didn’t fuck her, he was going to lose it. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he carried her to the couch and then put her to her feet before turning her around and guiding her body over the back of the couch.

  “Here?”


  “Right fucking here,” he groaned as he reached into his pocket for his wallet. As she shimmied out of her jeans, he shook his head as his cock throbbed in his hand while he put the condom on. Unable to move as he watched her ass wiggle, he groaned when he got a nice little view of her pink center. “I can’t handle you.”

  Looking back at him, hair falling from what he guessed had been a bun, she grinned. Her face was bright and full of color. “Good or bad?”

  “Both.” Pushing her back over the couch, he thrust up into her, her feet coming off the ground. The way her pussy felt around him was downright wrong. It shouldn’t be like this. He shouldn’t fit so fucking well and feel like she was sucking him deeper inside of her. He had never in his life had that happen. He fully expected to pull out and see gold covering his cock. She had that enchanted pussy, and he never wanted to stop.

  But as he slammed into her, her moans filling the room, he wasn’t sure how long he would last. He had been thinking about her, about this, all night. He had gotten himself off just from remembering how tight she had been. How gorgeous her pussy was. How great it tasted. She fucking blew his ever-loving mind, and as he was cock deep, feeling every single emotion known to man, he knew damn well he couldn’t trust himself with her.

  Fucking Jensen.

  He slapped his hand to her thick ass, and the sound echoed in the room as his hand rested on the spot, his body rocking while his orgasm took over his soul and her body started to squeeze his. Everything went still, lights went off behind his eyes, and he was pretty sure he was about to pass out. As his head fell back, his eyes shutting, he molded her ass to him while he sucked in breath, his heart jackhammering in his chest. Biting his lip, he looked down at her, his cock deep inside of her. He saw her ass was red from where he had smacked her. He felt bad. He felt bad? What the hell, was he Jensen?

  Yet, he pulled out of her, bending down and kissing the spot on her ass where he had left a mark. His kisses trailed up her back as she got to her feet, leaning her back to his chest as he kissed the back of her head. As his arms came around her waist, she angled her head up at him and their lips met. Softly. Sweetly.

  At that moment, Vaughn knew he was in some big fucking trouble.

  When she pulled back, he went for more, but she grinned. “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  “Wanna take this to the bedroom?”

  He froze. Her eyes were burning into his, and he wanted to. So damn bad, but…

  He needed to be honest.

  He had to be.

  “Yeah, I can’t.” He let her go and stepped back, shaking his head. What was he doing? This wasn’t him. He didn’t care. He didn’t kiss girls or fuck them like that.

  Damn it. Fucking Jensen!

  Backing away, he pulled the condom off and tossed it in the trash as she turned, deliciously naked as she eyed him. “You can’t?”

  “Yeah, sorry, babe—…er, Brie. I was on my way to get food for me and Jensen, but then you distracted me, and we gotta be at the airport by seven. I can’t.”

  “It’s one.”

  “Yeah, but I gotta pack and shit and take Tricksie to Wren… Yeah, I gotta go.”

  She looked dejected and, fuck, he felt bad. Damn it. Reaching for his shirt, he put it on and then zipped up his pants. When he looked up, her eyes were on him. “Oh.”

  “Yeah, sorry. Um, I’ll see you Tuesday?”

  “Yeah.”

  He nodded, leaning over and pressing his lips to hers. It was quick and almost like kissing Wren, but it had to be. He needed distance. “Yeah, so, um…bye.”

  “Bye.”

  He heard it in her voice—she was pissed and maybe a little hurt. Who could blame her? He had just bent her over the couch, fucked her, and now he was running out. He was a douche. Or a lying, assholey douche as she had called him. Man, what was wrong with him? Shutting the door loudly behind him, he went right across the hall to his apartment, throwing his door open before he stomped past Jensen, who was still leaning on the counter.

  “Did you forget something?”

  “Yeah, my fucking sanity! I hate you.”

  Jensen’s eyes widened. “What did I do?”

  “Everything!”

  With that, he went into his room and slammed his door shut, falling face first into his bed as Jensen called out, “So, no chicken?”

  Shutting his eyes, he put a pillow over his head and let out a long breath.

  He was so fucked.

  “I really appreciate your checking in on him.”

  Looking up at the hotel bar’s TV, Brie held her breath as her heart ached. She hadn’t wanted to leave Rodney. He was having problems sleeping and she almost asked to get someone to cover for her, but she knew there wasn’t anyone. Except Travis, and they’d rather have no one if that was their option. She loved her job, took pride in it, and Rodney also told her to go. Told her he was fine. She just hoped he wasn’t trying to act like he didn’t need her so she would leave. If he was, it worked. Damn it.

  “I don’t mind at all. He looked in great spirits today. He asked if I talked to you, and I told him not yet. He told me to tell you he loves you.”

  Her heart burst in her chest. “He’s a doll. I think they’re gonna keep him an extra couple days. His respiration levels are a bit down.”

  “That’s what he said, which we are fine with. I’d rather have you here to move him back. Though we can handle it, I think it would set your mind at ease.”

  Brie’s lips curved at the sides. She wasn’t sure how Dawn had figured her out so quickly, but God bless her for it. “Yeah, it would.”

  “Good, I thought so. I made sure he was comfortable. Brought him some sweets, and I’ll go back in the morning. I think Trish is going to go stay the next couple nights. Thank God that girl is single and has no pets.”

  “Oh, is she gonna stay? She doesn’t have to.”

  “She wants to. She knows Rodney is having problems sleeping. She thinks her being there will help. Plus, Vaughn is paying her to. Girl loves some money.”

  Vaughn.

  Pressing her lips together, Brie asked, “He’s paying her extra to stay?”

  “Yeah, we talked this morning. I told him about how Rod isn’t sleeping well, and he set it up.”

  Good to know someone was talking to him. Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Oh, okay, that’s good.”

  “Yeah. Okay, well, love, I have to go. I gotta go teach some English.”

  “Okay, thank you, Dawn.”

  “Of course. Enjoy your dinner.”

  “I will, thank you.”

  Hanging up the phone, she set her phone by her plate and rolled her eyes. She was worried for Rodney, she was, but her annoyance with Vaughn Johansson was something she hadn’t expected. Though, they’d made no promises to each other. She just couldn’t believe he’d come in, fucked her, and left. It was so disrespectful. But then, it wasn’t like she stopped him. Who could? Her willpower was shot when it came to him. She wished she felt a little disgusted by that, but she didn’t. He worked her in ways she hadn’t even realized she liked, and she wanted so much more.

  She wanted him.

  But after that last afternoon, she wasn’t sure if there was more.

  That pissed her off. She was finally accepting that she didn’t even want a man. That she wanted to just do life, get by, and live the best way she could, but then Hurricane Vaughn had to come through and blow that all to shit. She wasn’t ready. Not even in the least, and she wasn’t sure what to do about that. Should she confront him? Ask him what his deal was? Because she had been in California with him for three days, and he had said nothing to her.

  Nothing.

  It was downright rude, and she was beyond annoyed.

  Digging into her steak and potatoes, she was about to take a bite when her phone started to chime with a FaceTime call. It was Rodney.

  Laying her fork down, she smiled as she answered. “Hey, bub.”

  He looked pitiful with
all the cords attached to his chest as he held the phone out, a smile on his face. “Hey, B, how’s it going?”

  “It’s going. We just got into San Jose.”

  “Cool. Good game last night.”

  She smiled. “It was. You watched?”

  “I did.”

  “I’m surprised. I thought you didn’t like hockey.”

  “I have to watch Vaughn.”

  She laughed. “Of course.”

  He grinned, his little face rosy. “Did you get my candy?”

  “I did. I had someone go out and get it for me because I couldn’t make it.”

  “Awesome. I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”

  “I figured, so I got a big box.”

  “You rock.”

  “I try. How are you feeling?”

  “Tired. Really tired.”

  Concern filled her face. “Do you want me to ask them to give you something to help you sleep?”

  “I don’t like the way it makes me feel.”

  “Okay, well, you tell them if you need something. They’ll call me, and I’ll authorize it.”

  “Okay. Trish is on her way.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m happy about that.”

  “Good. Me too.”

  His brows pulled together. “Are you okay?”

  She shrugged. “Yeah, why?”

  “You look mad.”

  Great. She looked mad. If he could tell, then probably everyone could. Shaking her head, she smiled. “I’m fine.” When he yawned loudly, she laughed. “Why don’t you try to go to sleep?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, maybe I’ll try.”

  “Good. I love you.”

  “I love you more.”

  She waved at the phone, and he did the same before the call ended. Sucking in a breath, she let it out slowly before setting her phone down again and beginning to eat once more. After the Assassins had landed, unloaded their bags, and checked in, everyone had gone to dinner, but Brie decided not to. Not only did she have to call Rodney, but she wanted to be alone. She was annoyed. She hated how infuriated she was that Vaughn wasn’t talking to her. What had she done to deserve that? She’d thought he was different. She had misread him like crazy, and that bothered her.