Taking Chances (The Chances and Choices Duology - Book 1 of 2 - Contemporary Romance)

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Taking Chances (The Chances and Choices Duology - Book 1 of 2 - Contemporary Romance) Page 5

by Omasta, Ann


  “I have plenty of answers.” She gave Seth an ornery grin before adding, “I know all of his secrets.” Then she finger waved at me and said to track her down later.

  After she fluttered off, I turned on Seth. “Told your sister all about me, huh?”

  “She has a huge mouth. I’ll get even with her one of these days,” he added in my ear as he kissed my cheek. “Sorry I was late. Did my family take good care of you?”

  I coughed, thinking of how Sam had almost taken care of me. I wasn’t sure how to bring that particular topic up with Seth. I finally settled for, “I met your brother because I thought he was you. You didn’t feel the need to mention that he is your identical twin?”

  “Didn’t I mention it?” He seemed truly surprised.

  “No, I’m positive I would have remembered that.” I tried to figure out how to continue. How does one tell her lover that she almost banged his twin in the bathroom? It wasn’t a problem that I had encountered before, so I wasn’t at all sure how to broach the subject.

  “You really do look exactly alike,” I hedged.

  He smiled as he answered. “We are identical on the outside, except for a scar that Sam has on his shoulder. We’re very different on the inside, though,” he added. “Oh, and I’m older by a few minutes, which really gets his goat,” he chuckled.

  It was clear by Seth’s expression how much he loved his twin. My eyes were drawn involuntarily to Sam. He wasn’t looking at me, but something inside me felt like he recently had been. I didn’t know how to tell Seth what had happened, but I knew I needed to. The words just wouldn’t form in my head. It had been an honest mistake. I knew he wouldn’t be angry, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him.

  Maybe we will laugh about it someday. My mind was hopeful, probably a little too hopeful.

  Seth asked me to dance and whisked me onto the dance floor. I spent the next few songs with my head against his broad shoulder, relishing the feeling of being enveloped in his strong arms.

  I felt that he was near before I heard or saw him. “May I cut in?” Sam’s voice was deep and clear and so similar to Seth’s. Seeing the two of them standing together like reflections in their dashing tuxedos nearly took my breath away. They were perfection. Seth gave a mock bow and walked away, unaware of the tension radiating from me.

  Sam’s eyes slowly perused me from head to toe then back up again. My body burned under his gaze. I could feel my nipples puckering under my dress when his eyes paused at my breasts and his mouth turned up slightly, knowingly. When he finally made it back up to my eyes, he held open his arms in invitation as he lifted his brows and said, “Shall we?”

  I didn’t want to be in his arms again, but I couldn’t cause a scene. His eyes twinkled as he sensed my reluctance. That bastard is enjoying making me uncomfortable, my mind screamed as I vowed not to let him see how much he affected me.

  I stiffened myself into a formal dance pose as he expertly guided me around the dance floor. My body was acutely aware of the places where he touched me. The nerve endings in my hand, lower back, and waist were all teeming with activity. I consciously slowed my breathing because it had become quick and shallow. I attempted to keep my face a passive mask as the rest of my body betrayed me. My eyes scanned the room, desperate to look anywhere but at Sam.

  He drew me in closer, and I sucked in my breath. “Since I didn’t get punched in the jaw, I am assuming you didn’t tell Seth about our little tryst in the bathroom,” he growled near my ear.

  “It was hardly a tryst,” I snarled back at him, “more like an unfortunate mistake.”

  “I didn’t find it unfortunate at all. In fact, I rather enjoyed myself, until you called me by my brother’s name.”

  He had the audacity to grin. Then he continued, “I don’t generally share my brother’s taste in women, but with you he did okay.”

  “Okay?!?” I spluttered. Then I lifted my chin, deciding not to let him push my buttons. “You know, instead of rating me, you might think about how hurt Seth would be if he knew about us.”

  “Us?” he asked. “So, now we’re an ‘us’? I didn’t know you cared so much.”

  “You know what I meant.” I glared at him. This man was exasperating.

  He leaned forward to whisper in my ear. “When I’m fondling my date’s fake tits tonight, I’m going to be thinking about your real ones.”

  That did it. My mouth fell open, appalled. My eyes felt like they might pop out of my head. I whirled away from him and headed for the bar. I needed a glass of wine. Pronto.

  “Your brother is a pig!” I said loudly when Jessie hopped up on the bar stool next to me.

  “I take it you’ve met Sam,” Jessie chuckled. “Yes, he can be a bit of a pig. But he can also be generous and kind and hilarious and a pain in the ass, but I love him to pieces. I love both of them to pieces,” she gushed. She leaned in as if telling me a secret. “You definitely picked the right one to date, though. Seth is the real deal, and Sam leaves behind a trail of broken hearts.”

  By the way her words were slurring together, I could tell the glass of wine she ordered wasn’t her first of the evening. “I think that’s why Sam settles for the never-ending stream of gold-digging ‘I’ girls,” she continued.

  “What’s an ‘I’ girl?” I asked her.

  “Oh, you know,” she waved her hand around, “Candi with an I, Terri with an I, Sandi with an I, Cami with an I. The parade of leggy blondes with enormous jugs that he shows up with always introduce themselves that way.” She mimicked shaking a hand and fluttered her eyelashes. “Hi, I’m Bambi with an I.”

  She started cracking up at her own joke. Her laughter was contagious, and I soon had the giggles as well. I was enjoying being with her and laughing at her despicable brother.

  “You know what else,” she went on, leaning in further. “He doesn’t ever kiss them on the lips. They all think they are going to win him over and marry him and take his fortune, but he gets tired of them after a few dates and sends them along their merry way. Then POOF,” she snapped her fingers for added affect, “he finds another one just like the last 412.”

  I had the feeling she wouldn’t be telling me all of this if she wasn’t tipsy. I wondered why Sam treated women like they were disposable. Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about figuring him out because I had Seth, and he was wonderful. I decided to see what Jessie had to say about him.

  “So tell me about your sweet brother.” I nudged her elbow gently.

  “They are both sweet to me,” she replied, “but since I know you’re talking about Seth, he’s one of the good ones, Abby. Please don’t hurt him.”

  Her sudden rush of sincerity surprised me. “I won’t.” I reassured her, and I meant it.

  “Speak of the devil.” Jessie smiled at Seth as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “I’ll let you two be, since you’ve barely seen each other all evening.” With that, she hopped off her stool and disappeared into the crowd.

  “I’m almost afraid to ask what you two were talking about.” Seth slid around and plopped down on the stool Jessie had just vacated.

  “You, as the matter of fact,” I answered. “Your sister seems to think rather highly of you.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have interrupted then, but I feel like my siblings have had more of you tonight than I have.” I attempted to push the unwanted thought of Sam having a whole lot of me in the bathroom out of my mind. “Is it my turn to get to hang out with you?” Seth asked, batting his dark eyelashes playfully.

  “Absolutely,” I answered. “Can we get out of here or do your family duties require you to stay longer?”

  Before I finished the question, he was already downing the last of his drink and standing up. “Let’s go. I’ve been wanting to rip that little black dress off you all night.”

  “Deal.” I stood, taking his hand. As we exited, I tried to ignore the electrifying chill that went up my spine. I knew, without a doubt, that Sam was watching
me leave with his brother.

  Chapter 11

  I looked in my rear view mirror to make sure Seth’s Jeep pulled out of the museum lot behind me. We had decided to go to my house, and I was suddenly nervous about having him in my space.

  Courtney had worked the dinner shift tonight; so she wouldn’t be there when we arrived, but she would be coming in later. I wasn’t sure how to let her know not to disturb us. I wondered if I should tie a ‘we are screwing our brains out’ scarf to the doorknob, but decided that was a little crass. She would just have to draw her own conclusions when she saw Seth’s vehicle parked in our driveway.

  I was hornier than I ever remember being in my entire life. In fact, I briefly considered pulling over and having my way with Seth in his Jeep on the side of the road. I pictured myself climbing through the doorless driver’s side and mounting him in one smooth move. I could have him inside me, easing this aching desire within seconds. I tapped the brakes, but at the last minute decided that we would have more room to fool around at home.

  I refused to acknowledge the idea that this extreme randiness might be in any way related to my encounter with Sam in the bathroom. Besides, I told myself, I thought he was Seth when we were in there. Any lust that I felt for Sam had to be due to the fact that he looked exactly like his brother.

  Even though it only took a few minutes to drive to my house, it felt like an eternity. I was so excited that my fingers shook as I tried to work the keys in the lock of our mahogany front door. When I managed to open the door, Buster thumped his tail a couple of times, but didn’t bother to get up. Tabitha lit out of the room as if her tail were on fire when she saw me entering the house, not Court.

  As soon as Seth shut the door behind us, I turned and pushed him back against it. I kissed him, plunging my tongue into his mouth. When I reached down, I happily discovered that he was already hard and ready. His groan of pleasure at my touch increased my urgency.

  “I need you inside me now,” I pleaded as I worked to loosen his tuxedo pants. I freed him and wrapped both hands loosely around his thick cock, enjoying the velvety smoothness as I stroked up and down the length of him.

  He whirled us around, lifting my dress and yanking my lacy thong down. I stepped out of the panties and leaned my back into the door as he lifted me over him. My hand guided him to my opening. I was so slick with desire that he slid right in. I tilted my head back and wrapped my legs around him, as he kissed my neck and started circling his hips.

  He held me against the front door with one arm as his other hand reached down to rub over the front of me. I was strung so tight that a few quick brushes of his thumb over my clit had me convulsing around him. I cried out as I came hard, wrapping my arms around his neck and ramming my body onto his dick with every fiber of my being. His orgasm was powerful, and he yelled my name as his body tightened and he spilled into me.

  We stood there like that for several seconds, breathing hard. Once my brain started to operate properly, I marveled at how strong he must be to have held me like that. I wasn’t a large woman, but I certainly wasn’t a waif. I preferred the word curvy, and he had held me with one arm and a very large penis. Impressive.

  After he lowered my feet back to the floor, I did a hand motion indicating the rest of the house, beyond the entryway and said, “So, this is my place.”

  “I love it so far,” he replied, and we both chuckled as we straightened our clothes.

  Chapter 12

  When I showed him the kitchen, he grabbed a half-empty package of Nutter Butters. “I’m starving,” he admitted. “We snuck out of the auction before they served the rubber chicken.”

  I had seen the menu and knew it entailed filet mignon and other fancy-schmancy cuisine, but was happier to be sharing stale cookies with Seth. As I poured us each a glass of milk, I decided that this was a great time to ask about his family. “So, Seth Davis, are you a part of the Davis family who put on that fabulous shin dig tonight?”

  He seemed almost embarrassed, but he nodded and answered. “Yes, it’s my mom’s pet project. My grandmother died of breast cancer when I was young, and my grandfather lost his battle with throat cancer a few years ago.” He sighed but continued. “It really took a toll on mom. She became depressed, to the point that we were concerned that we were going to lose her too. Then one day, she decided to fight back. She came downstairs to breakfast dressed and enthused about stamping out cancer. She started planning the first fund-raiser that morning. It was a huge success and since then, she makes sure it gets bigger and better every year.”

  It was the most he’d shared with me about his family, and I was impressed by his mother’s perseverance. “What a way to turn things around. You’re mother must be quite a lady.”

  He smiled with pride. “She is. My whole family is amazing. You met Jessie and Sam. They are the best siblings anyone could ask for, and Jessie’s little girl, Katie is the light of my life. I call her Katiedid. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”

  Thoughts were flying through my head as he spoke. I was surprised to learn that Jessie was a single parent. The way Seth spoke of his niece made me fall for him even more. I was touched that he wanted me to meet her, and thrilled by the confirmation that he assumed we would keep seeing each other. I noticed that he didn’t mention his father. That seemed a little odd; but I was even more curious about Sam, and I thought this might be a good time to fess up about my risqué incident with him in the restroom.

  “I’d love to meet Katie,” I answered honestly. I paused for a few seconds, and then I dove in. “I can’t imagine having an identical twin.”

  Seth smiled. “I can’t imagine not having one. Sam and I give each other a hard time, but he’s my other half.” He shook his head. “That sounded weird. We’re not soul mates or anything.” He grinned before continuing. “I don’t know how to explain it, but there isn’t anyone who is there for me or understands me like Sam does. He even saved my life once. That’s how he got the scar on his shoulder.”

  I was completely intrigued and wanted to know more. “Go on,” I encouraged him when he stopped.

  “When we were in college, we were partying with a group of friends on a boat by a little island out on the lake. The waves were really starting to kick up, so we decided to head in. The anchor was stuck and we couldn’t get it to come up, so I dove in to swim down and loosen it. I didn’t realize the place where I dove was a shallow ridge, and I hit my head hard enough to knock me out. The rest of the people on the boat were too wasted to realize I didn’t come right back up, but Sam knew something was wrong. I don’t know if it was twin intuition or what, but he jumped in and grabbed me. When we surfaced, a big wave was rolling in. Sam put himself between me and the boat, and he was body-slammed into the ladder. If he hadn’t sensed that something was wrong that day, I wouldn’t be alive. I feel like I owe him everything.”

  The conversation had taken a serious turn, so he lightened the mood by adding, “Doesn’t stop me from teasing him about being younger, though. He hates that,” he chuckled.

  I smiled, but couldn’t get the picture of that pig of a man jumping in to save his brother out of my head. Seth obviously thought of Sam as a hero, but I wasn’t willing to think that highly of him. I wanted to think of him as the ass that I knew him to be. Anyone would jump in to save a sibling, I told myself. It doesn’t mean he’s not a jerk.

  “Well, I’m glad he was there to save you, or I wouldn’t be able to do this,” I said as I leaned over to give Seth a sweet, slow kiss. I was trying to think of a way to say that I had almost fucked Sam in a public bathroom, but my mind couldn’t focus on anything but Seth when his tongue began swirling around mine.

  Seth pulled back and asked, “Do I get to see your bedroom?” I ran for the stairs and giggled as he playfully grabbed my rear end, following close behind me.

  We slammed my bedroom door shut and grabbed each other, groping to remove clothes as we fell into my bed. I didn’t give Sam another thought, as I spent t
he entire night rolling around naked with Seth’s glorious body in a tangled mess of sheets.

  Chapter 13

  I awoke alone and immediately missed the feeling of Seth’s warm, bare skin against me. I turned to find a lavender Post-It note on the pillow beside me. It had a giant heart drawn on it and was signed simply “S”.

  He had obviously been in my bathroom and seen my circle of encouraging reminder notes on the mirror. A wave of embarrassment overcame me as I realized how silly that must seem to someone who had every reason to be completely self-confident.

  Shaking my head at myself for not remembering to take down this humiliating display of my inferiority complex, I padded into the bathroom and added Seth’s heart to the mirror. He had seen one of my quirks and hadn’t left the room screaming. In fact, he had added a sweet note for my collection, so I decided to do my best not to worry about it.

 

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