Delayed Call

by Toni Aleo

  She trusted him, and he broke that.

  Again.

  “Hey.”

  Jumping a bit, surprised, she looked over to find Mekena. “Hey, y’all are back already?”

  “Yeah, we got burgers, quick and easy. Plus, everyone wanted to come back and drink. I saw you and wanted to say hi before we went upstairs.”

  “Gotta get it in before curfew?”

  She smiled. “Yup.”

  “Well, don’t let me keep you.”

  “Oh, you’re not,” she said, waving her off. “Markus is outside with Jayden, on the phone with Lucy. She just found out she’s pregnant, and they’re trying to figure out a creative way to tell Benji.”

  Brie’s mouth dropped open as she aww’d loudly. “That’s so sweet!”

  “I know, we’re all pretty excited.”

  “That’s so cool you guys are so close like that.”

  “Yeah, the Sinclair family is amazing. I love it, and they treat me like I’m a part of them, so it’s nice.”

  “I bet.” Brie was grinning from ear to ear. She loved Benji and his wife, Lucy. They had a little girl, and they were the epitome of love. Benji just loved his girls, and to know they could have another one or a little boy… Ugh, it just made her ovaries cry. Then it hit her, and she lit up. “You know what you should do? Remember how you did their family pictures, and Angie held the sign ‘Marry Benji’ or whatever it said?”

  Mekena’s eyes sparkled. “Yes!”

  “They should do that, but this time it should say that he’s gonna be a dad!”

  “You are a fucking genius,” she said with a little hop. “I’m gonna go tell them. I’ll holler at you later.”

  “Yeah, go!”

  Mekena started to run off, but then she came back. “Are you okay? You seem upset.”

  Brie laughed. “I’m fine. Go, this is way more important than my drama.”

  Her smile dropped. “Rod’s okay, right?”

  “He’s fine. Promise. Sleeping problems, but fine.” Mekena eyed her, and Brie waved her off. “Really, go, Mekena.”

  “Okay, we’ll talk later.”

  “Promise.”

  Satisfied with that, Mekena turned and ran off, leaving Brie to feel good about herself. She might be extremely upset over her own clusterfuck of a nonexistent love life, but at least she could help others. She was amazing. Vaughn’s loss.

  Douche.

  Shaking her head, she went back to eating her meal and watching the Minnesota game on TV. As she drank and ate, it felt good to have some peace and quiet. She had been going a thousand miles an hour since she had come to California for the Assassins’ West Coast trip, and she was just tired. Plus, she was mentally exhausted from trying to figure out what the hell was going on with Vaughn. She picked up her phone a billion times to text him, but she never did. She felt like he walked out on her, so why should she chase him? He should be chasing her. She was chaseable.

  Asshole.

  Leaning on her hand, she finished off the glass of wine she had and then set it down before looking for the bartender. She should probably go upstairs, go to sleep, but what else did she have to do? She’d probably just sit in her room alone. At least at the bar, she had wine on demand. When the bartender saw her, he smiled and started for her. But when he moved, she found that he had been blocking Vaughn, who was sitting across the square-shaped bar, with Jensen beside him. Vaughn looked up at that second, his eyes meeting hers, and she paused, her heart jumping up into her throat.

  Thankfully, the bartender stopped in front of her, blocking Vaughn. “Another?”

  She should say no. Go to her room. “Yes.”

  He smiled before walking away to refill her glass, and her eyes met Vaughn’s once more. Heat traveled down through her chest and right between her legs as their gazes stayed locked. Her eyes were challenging. She wanted to know what he would do, and she wanted him to know she was pissed.

  “Hey.”

  She was surprised he spoke. “Hey.”

  He nodded, looking away, and she wanted to cry out in victory at winning their staring contest that she had made up in her head.

  “Hey, Brie,” Jensen called over, and she smiled.

  “Hey.”

  “You look lonely.”

  She laughed as her glass was put in front of her. “Nah, it’s me and my wine. Happy campers.”

  Jensen smiled awkwardly, and she rolled her eyes. He probably knew everything, which was downright embarrassing. Taking a sip, she looked over to Vaughn as he ran his hand over his mouth before standing. So he was going to run off? Whatever, he was such a fucking—

  But when he started to walk, he didn’t go toward the lobby. Instead, he came around the bar and stopped beside her. Leaning on the bar, he looked across at Jensen, who he held his hands up as he said, “Fine, I’m going.”

  Shaking his head, Vaughn looked at Brie and then up at the TV. “Hey.”

  “Hey, once more.”

  “How’s Rodney?”

  “He’s fine.”

  Silence fell, but the heat between them was undeniable. She was pretty sure she was about to start sweating as she could feel her heart pounding against her ribs. She wanted so badly to reach out, move his hair over into his eyes before smothering him with kisses. But she refrained. He owed her an apology, and she wasn’t going to give him any sort of help on that matter. “Trish is there right now,” he said.

  “I know. I hear I should thank you for that.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t.”

  “I wasn’t going to.”

  He scoffed at that, his lips curving as he nodded. “So, you’re pissed, I see. Since you haven’t talked to me since Sunday.”

  “I haven’t talked to you?” She laughed. “You’ve avoided me like the plague, JoHo. I can’t make someone talk to me who doesn’t want to.”

  “I wanted to talk to you.”

  “Then why haven’t you?”

  He shrugged, his eyes on the TV. “I feel like an ass.”

  “You are an ass.”

  His grin grew. “I’m sorry.”

  She rolled her eyes. “If you’re going to apologize, you’d better look me in the eye when you do it.”

  With his grin still intact, he turned, his eyes meeting hers. “Brie.”

  “Yes, Vaughn?”

  “I apologize for being an ass and running out on you on Sunday.”

  Her eyes held his. She wanted to tell him to fuck off; she did. Instead, she asked, “What made you run? Was I bad?”

  His eyes fell shut. “No, you were…fucking amazing.”

  “Then why did you run?”

  “I got spooked.”

  “Spooked?”

  “Yeah, too much at once.”

  She understood that. It was a lot. A lot of feelings she hadn’t ever experienced. To know he felt them too made her giddy inside as she nodded. “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” he asked, drawing it out, and she smiled, nodding her head.

  “Yeah.”

  His eyes turned playful as his lips quirked. “Kiss me.”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “’Cause I’m still mad.”

  Chuckling, he leaned in, his lips caressing her ear. “Want to go upstairs, and I’ll kiss away all that anger in the spot you love it most?”

  Looking ahead, she said, “I don’t know what you mean.”

  His hand snaked into her lap, and she jumped, her breath catching. “You know exactly what I mean, Soledad. Come with me.”

  “Where?”

  “To your room.”

  “My room? So you can run off again? Been there, done that.”

  He chuckled against her ear. “I won’t run, but I will walk away slowly when it’s time for me to go.”

  Unable to hold it in, she sputtered with laughter as she shook her head. As her laughter died out, she turned her head, looking at him. His eyes were so playfu
l, his lips curved in the sexiest way. He had a five-o’clock shadow that she knew would be gone tomorrow because he never had hair on his face on game day. She wanted to reach up, touch it, but something held her back. “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t think. Come on.”

  “I’m not you.”

  “Thank God. Though, I would fuck myself. I’m very good-looking.”

  Her face broke into a grin as she shook her head. “You’re impossible.”

  “And you are the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.”

  “Lies.”

  “No, really. I can’t stop thinking about you,” he said, his nose sliding along her ear. “I’ve felt like an ass, but my pride wouldn’t let me apologize, and I’m sorry for that. Come with me. I want you. Don’t you want me?” When she paused, he laughed. “Remember my poor pride.”

  She scoffed. “Like you remembered to respect me?”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry for that.”

  “I heard you.”

  He nodded. “I know, but you’ve ruined me, Soledad.”

  “What? Please? Be real,” she laughed.

  But his face was oh-so-serious. “You have. I need you. I yearn for you.”

  “Stop.”

  “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  “I’m sure you can find someone to fill that void.”

  “I don’t want anyone else. I want you.”

  “You’re insane. Flattery will not get me upstairs.”

  “But you’re so pretty, and I like your boobs.”

  Nearly choking with laughter, she shook her head. “You’re killing me, Smalls.”

  “Come upstairs with me.”

  Staring into his eyes, she felt like her lips were permanently curved, but she found they did that a lot around him. Or when she thought about him. Even when she was annoyed with him. “You’re practically begging. Your pride, please remember your pride, JoHo.”

  He grinned. “Want me on my knees? ’Cause I’ll do it.”

  She gave him a dubious look. “What would Jensen say?”

  “He’d give me shit, but if it got me you, I wouldn’t care.”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “I do.”

  She eyed him and then shook her head. “I’m going upstairs, but don’t think it’s because I want you.”

  “But you do.”

  “That’s beside the point,” she said, opening her wristlet. “I’m going to bed.”

  “With me.” Covering her wristlet with his hands, he signaled to the bartender. “On my tab.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “You can’t buy my lovin’, JoHo. I’m not like those hos you’re used to.”

  “You’re not?”

  She smacked him as he laughed loudly. “No!”

  Standing up, she started for the lobby, but he caught up, falling into step with her. “What floor are you on?”

  “Noneya.”

  He laughed. “That again?”

  “Yes.”

  Getting into the elevator, he waited beside her, and she rolled her eyes, hitting the eleventh floor. “So, the eleventh?”

  As the door shut, she said, “No, that’s my boyfriend’s room.”

  The elevator filled with his laughter, but before the door could close, a hand caught it, pulling it open. “Hey, guys.”

  “Hey, Benji,” Brie said, her face lighting up. “How are you? How’s Lucy?”

  “I’m great, thanks. She’s good, she’s been a bit sick.”

  “I’m sorry. I heard it’s going around.”

  “Yeah, isn’t it? I think Wren was sick too, right?”

  Vaughn nodded. “Yeah, but she seemed fine the other night.”

  “She did. How’s your brother, Brie?”

  “He’s great, thank you. Thanks for sending the balloons.”

  “Of course. Let me know if you need anything.”

  “Thanks,” she said as the doors opened, and he went out with a wave. As the elevator started back up, Vaughn’s hand snaked around her from behind, entering her pants and slipping down to her hip. “Excuse me?”

  “Huh?” he asked before he pushed her into the wall, his mouth capturing hers. Like an idiot, she leaned into the kiss, needing it. Wanting it more than her next breath. He was irresistible. Call her whatever you wanted, but she wanted him. Bad. As the kiss deepened, she was pretty sure the only reason they stopped was because they came to her floor. When the door opened, she pulled back, licking her lips as she looked up at him. His hand shot out, holding the door as he gazed down into her eyes.

  “Brie.” He moved his nose along hers, his lips caressing hers. “Let me in your room.”

  “And I assume, my bed?”

  “That or the couch…or a chair? The wall. Hell, anywhere. I just need you.”

  Her pussy clenched, and butterflies were going nuts in her gut. Breathless, she closed her eyes as their lips met. Pulling back only slightly, sharing a breath with him, she whispered, “Am I going to regret this?”

  He shook his head. “Never.”

  She sucked in a breath and then nodded. “Okay.”

  His face split with a grin before he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, walking out of the elevator. Smacking his back, she yelled, “Put me down!”

  “Which room? I don’t want you running off.”

  “I’m not the runner! It’s 1102.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, here we are. Hand me the card.”

  “Oh my goodness, it’s in my ass pocket.”

  He laughed as he reached up, taking the key out of her back pocket and opening the door. When he shut it behind them, she said, “You can put me down now.”

  “No.”

  Carrying her through the small living room, he kept going past the bedroom, and then out onto the patio. “What in the hell?”

  “Shh, you.” He put her on her feet, and she looked around as he reached for her shirt.

  “What are you doing?”

  His lips quirked at the side as he gazed out at the view of the mountains that the hotel faced. “I want to fuck you, right here, in the open air, with the sun setting against your skin.”

  She eyed him. “Are you insane? People could see us!”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Well, I do, you crazy person,” she said, walking past him back into the room. When she turned to look back at him, he was leaning against the rail, watching her. “Come on.”

  “Nope. I want you here.”

  “No.”

  Holding her gaze, he lifted his shirt over and off his body, throwing it back into her room. Next, he undid his belt before pulling it out of the loops and throwing it after his shirt.

  “Vaughn, don’t you dare,” she said with laughter. He was insane!

  “Come here.”

  “No.”

  “Fine.” Reaching for the button of his pants, he undid them before pushing them down his legs. He wasn’t wearing boxers. His cock sat there, free and out, standing at attention just for her. Had it grown even more? Lord. “Come here.”

  Why was her mouth watering at the sight of him stroking his cock?

  Maybe she was the insane one.

  “I’m not having sex on the balcony.”

  He wasn’t listening as he slowly sheathed himself with a condom. “No one is out here. Just me and you.”

  She couldn’t go out there. That was just crazy. But then her feet were moving, and she went to the threshold of the balcony door. “We could do it right here. Same thing.”

  That was the biggest mistake she could have made, because his reach was long and he had her up against him with the next breath she took. “There you are.”

  “I swear, if someone sees us, I will kill you.”

  “No one is here,” he said as he slowly undressed her, throwing her clothes into the room with his.

  When she was naked, he kissed her along her collarbone, sending chills down her spine and heat straight between her legs. Vaughn�
�s hand found its way between her thighs, stroking her softly. His lips smashed to hers, and soon, nothing mattered but the two of them and the magic that was happening between them. She had never felt so connected to a person in her life—which was weird because she thought she had loved her ex Martin with everything inside of her. If that was the case, then why did she feel more connected to Vaughn? Someone she wasn’t in love with. Yet, there was this bone-deep connection between them.

  As he moved his hands down her arms, he drew the kisses out of her before lacing his fingers with hers in a sweet and gentle way. Lowering himself into a chair, he pulled her onto his lap, not breaking their connection as her hot center moved along his hard, massive cock. Moaning against her lips, he lifted her up a bit and entered her completely, their moans mingling at the connection.

  “God, yes,” he groaned against her lips. “I’ve been thinking about this for days.”

  “Phone call away,” she whimpered, her head falling back as she moved up and down on him to the rhythm he provided with his hands. Lifting her legs up, she put them over the arms of the chair as he went deeper, and her breath caught against his lips.

  “I was such an ass,” he murmured.

  “You were.”

  He bit her nipple, and she cried out as he licked it, sucking it into his mouth. He was so deep, and it was so fucking perfect. Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back as he trailed kisses up her neck, nibbling on her jaw before taking her mouth with his. She felt her orgasm building, her body getting hot all over as he nipped and kissed all over her neck. Her body moved up and down on him with ease. He was strong and she weighed nothing to him, it seemed. It was so invigorating to be manhandled by a beast of a man, and she had never felt more amazing or beautiful than at that moment. He worshiped her body. His mouth was all over her, and it took only a second once his thumb found her clit.

  She shook against him, shattering with no notice. All he could do was chuckle against her neck. “Ha, you wanted me.”

  “I really hate you.”