Friend Zoned (Barnett Bulldogs #2)

by Jennifer Sucevic

  “Hey, Violet.”

  That damn shit eating smirk is curving his lips upward again.

  Unaware of the sudden tension radiating off me in hot thick waves, she smiles back. I still hate that he took her out and spent time with her. I don’t think she has any feelings for Liam, but I still find myself getting irrationally jealous.

  Which is completely ridiculous.

  Trust me, I know damn well it is.

  But I find it difficult, if not impossible, to rein in the utter possessiveness he rouses within me. The funny part is that I’ve never felt territorial over a girl before. This is definitely a first. But what else would you really expect?

  This is Violet we’re talking about. I’ve wanted this girl for way too long to let sanity get in my way at this point. Maybe after we sleep together, I’ll finally be able to relax a little bit.

  Then again… maybe not.

  “Hi, Liam.”

  Alright… enough with the chit chat.

  Sending a dark scowl in Garrison’s direction, I all but haul Violet into my room before slamming the door shut behind us. The low strains of his chuckle follow me as I do. Rather wide eyed, Violet just stares at me silently as if she can’t quite figure out why I’m acting like such a tool to my friends.

  With a smile trembling on her lips, she cocks her head towards the living room. “You don’t want to hang out for a while?”

  Wild horses couldn’t drag me back out there.

  “Nope.”

  That’s all I say before stripping off my still damp shirt. Almost immediately her eyes fall to my now uncovered chest. Her pupils dilate just a fraction. God, but I fucking love it. I love how completely fascinated she is by my body.

  I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the way she looks at me. At least, I hope I don’t. The way her gaze slowly licks over me, the tick of her pulse in her neck that picks up speed, the way her breath hitches, coming out just a bit quicker, it all means that she likes what she sees. When she looks at me like that, I feel as if I could conquer the freaking world. I’ve spent years and years waiting for her to see me as something more than a friend and now finally, she does.

  I can’t help but bask in it.

  And yeah… freaking use it against her every chance I get.

  Now that I have her alone again, some of the testosterone surging through my system begins to drain and I’m able to slow this down a bit. So it’s with unhurried movements that my fingers settle on the button of my cargo pants before leisurely flicking it open. With her gaze held captive, she silently sheds her shirt. Rather quickly her jeans follow suit until she’s standing before me in nothing more than her bra and panties.

  After seeing her at the pool in those lacy little scraps of underwear, I’m instantly harder than a steel rod.

  I just want to fall to my knees and worship all those amazing curves. I love running my hands over her soft as silk skin. Violet has absolutely no freaking idea just how gorgeous she is. Every once in a while she’ll complain about needing to shed ten pounds. I honestly don’t know what she’s talking about. Her breasts are full, more than a handful, and I fucking love the way her hips flare out. Sexy as hell. Her tummy is firm but there’s a hint of softness to the curve of it.

  I can’t even begin to tell you just how many times I’ve jerked off while fantasizing about that lush little body of hers. Hell, she’s the only one I think about. Has been ever since freshman year of high school. What’s about to happen tonight has been a long time in coming and I can’t freaking wait to get my hands on her.

  Even though I’m still wearing my boxer briefs, I stalk towards her, closing the distance that separates us until I’m able to cradle her face in the palms of my hands before raining tender little kisses on her already swollen lips.

  Just another thing I’ll never get enough of.

  As my tongue strokes softly against hers, I reach around, unfastening her bra before letting it fall slowly down her arms. Breaking contact, I slip the material from her before throwing it over my shoulder.

  I can’t resist dropping my gaze. “You’re so beautiful, baby.”

  Her lips quirk into a small smile.

  Without another word between us, I pick her up in my arms, carrying her to the bed before laying her out on top of the covers. Goddamn but this girl is gorgeous. And she’s mine. Violet, whether she realizes it or not, has always been mine. Ever since I first laid eyes on her. And I’m going to make damn sure she stays that way.

  Hooking my fingers into the elastic band of her lacy panties, I tug them slowly down her hips and over her toned thighs. Lifting her legs, she kicks the flimsy fabric away. And then she’s totally bare. Like a goddamn Thanksgiving feast laid out just for me. The simple act of gazing at her has sharp shafts of need stabbing their way through me.

  For just a moment, I stand there, my eyes sliding lazily over her, taking in every single dip, curve, and contour of her body. As my eyes snag hers again, I can’t help but wonder if she’s nervous. After tonight, nothing will ever be the same again.

  Because I love her so damn much, it’s almost on the tip of my tongue to ask if she’s absolutely sure about this. About giving herself to me. But then her lips slowly curve up into a sultry smile. Raising a hand, she curls her index finger, beckoning me forward.

  And if that wasn’t enough of an invitation, she slides her legs up the bed. Once her knees are bent, she allows them to fall completely open. A long guttural groan rumbles up from deep within my chest as my eyes instantly arrow to her gorgeous pussy. So pink and lush, just waiting for my lips and tongue. Almost at once, I’m reminded of sliding my fingers inside her tight warmth before licking them clean.

  God, but she’s truly stunning.

  And she’s mine, I remind myself as possessiveness once again streaks through me. Violet is mine.

  With record speed, I’m out of my boxer briefs and kneeling on the bed between her legs. I’ve dreamt about this moment at least a thousand times. But nothing can possibly compare to the real thing. Her legs widen even more as I move my shoulders between them. My eyes stay fastened on her delicate pink flesh, already glistening with moisture and plumped with desire.

  Wanting to take my sweet damn time, I place my hands on her thighs, spreading her even more. Spreading her as wide as she can possibly get. I want to see every delicious inch. I want to lick every tantalizing blush colored fold. I want to hear her soft whimpers of pleasure when I drive my tongue deep inside her and when I suck her delicate little clit into my mouth.

  When I’m done with Violet tonight, there’s no goddamn way she’ll ever think about another guy again. Because I’ll be all she ever needs. Just like when I’ve kissed her, my mouth ghosts over her spread lips. She trembles beneath me as the warmth of my breath slips across her silky flesh. Seeing my big tanned hands against the paleness of her supple thighs has heat and longing arrowing straight down to my cock.

  Once…

  Twice…

  Three times…

  I want her pussy to fucking ache for what only I can give her.

  Then, and only then, will I finally give us what we both so desperately need.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Feeling utterly boneless, I can’t help but wiggle my backside against his big strong body which is curved protectively around mine. Rather sluggishly my eyes feather open. There are faint wisps of sunlight filtering in through the window. Because the man radiates heat like a furnace, I find myself kicking away the covers before burrowing even closer to him.

  He makes the cutest little noise but continues snoring soundly beside me.

  It’s still early. Dawn is just breaking over the eastern horizon. Pinks and purples paint the morning sky in bright hues. Even though I’m completely exhausted, a lazy smile of satisfaction settles across my lips.

  Last night was completely amazing.

  I don’t think I’ve ever been loved quite so… thoroughly before. Good lord, the man is insatiable. And I have th
e sore muscles to prove it. Stretching, I test them just a bit.

  Yep… deliciously tender.

  Turning in the warm circle of his arms, my eyes land on his face. Even when he’s sleeping, and those brilliant cerulean hued eyes aren’t pinning me in place, he’s still devastatingly handsome.

  It’s slowly that my gaze roves over all the carved angles and planes of his face. The slightly crooked nose he broke in high school. Those gorgeous full lips, capable of giving so much pleasure.

  Who would have ever suspected?

  All the other girls he’s been with tumble their way through my head. I can’t help but wonder if he made love to each of them with as much tender care as he did to me last night. I have to tamp down the sharp shafts of jealousy that are spiking their way through me because I have no right to feel that way.

  But I do.

  Which is completely absurd.

  Not wanting to think about it, I continue cataloguing each feature. He has the most flawlessly sculpted jawline. There’s just a bit of sexy stubble covering it because he hasn’t shaven for a day or so. And then there are those ridiculously long lashes that lay feathered against the chiseled bones of his cheeks.

  Yup, Sam is completely gorgeous.

  It’s not that I didn’t realize it before, of course I did. I was completely aware of what he looked like. But it’s only within the last month or so that I’ve become more aware of him. Of the amazing man he’s grown into.

  I have always loved Sam as a friend. I still love him. But it’s deeper now. More complete. As if everything has fallen perfectly into place for the first time in my life. Being with him like this has absurd amounts of giddy happiness bursting like tiny bubbles within me. I don’t know what to do with all this joy. It’s almost too much for the confines of my body.

  Even though I would love nothing more than to lie here for the rest of the day, wrapped up in the warm comfort of his embrace, I need to use the bathroom. Carefully, so as not to disturb him, I gently untangle myself from his arms before slipping into one of Sam’s t-shirts and my underwear so I can leave the room.

  Unable to help myself, I bring the shirt to my nose, inhaling the delicious masculine scent of him. Rather ridiculously my heart spasms at the thought of being cloaked in something that is his. This whole thing between us feels kind of crazy, but it’s a good kind of crazy.

  The absolute best kind of crazy there is.

  Not more than a few minutes later, I sneak back into the room before quietly shutting the door behind me. As my gaze settles on the bed, I’m struck by the sight of Sam sprawled out across the queen sized mattress. The breath catches at the back of my throat as I stand rooted in place simply staring at him.

  He’s lying on his belly with his big brawny arms thrown above his head. His face is turned towards the window as the first rays of morning light slant their way over his handsome features. My eyes roam appreciatively over the broad set of his muscular shoulders down his well-built back to his tapered waist before sinking to the high, tight curve of his ass. Pulse quickening, my gaze continues licking over that area before moving further down his thickly muscled thighs that are smattered with dark blond hair.

  Christ almighty, the man is absolutely freaking gorgeous.

  And he’s mine.

  Somehow, rather unbelievably, Sam Harper is mine. Has always been mine. I almost want to shake my head at the notion of him waiting patiently for my clueless ass to finally catch up. Thank goodness he saw what I couldn’t.

  I just… I just want to hold onto this moment for the rest of my life.

  Because this is the beginning of us.

  The beginning of something beautiful.

  The delicate unfolding of a new wonderful phase in our relationship.

  The need to capture this moment arrows clean through me. Without thinking, I quickly swipe my phone from the bedside table before backing up, trying to squeeze his big beautiful body into the small frame of the screen. It takes a moment to focus before I snap him from just the right angle. Then, quietly, I set the phone on the table before climbing back into bed with him.

  As soon as I do, he rolls onto his side before wrapping his arm around me, hauling my body so close that all my soft curves align perfectly with his hard ones. Feeling ridiculously content, I fall back to sleep for a few more hours.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Sam

  With a couple of hours to kill in between classes and practice, I take a quick trip home to see my parents. It’s a little after two when I come through the front door.

  “Hello?”

  My voice echoes off the hardwoods that run throughout the entire first floor. Because it’s early, I know my sister and brother will still be at school. Gavin is on the middle school basketball team, so I know he won’t be home until four which is just about the time my sister, Ari, will get off the bus from elementary school.

  “Mom,” I call out again, wondering where she is.

  After a moment, I hear footfalls coming up from the basement. Going to the door, I open it a little wider as she comes through with a few stacked boxes in her hands.

  “Hi, sweetie!” She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek before sweeping by. “This is a surprise.” Just as she says the words, concern flares within her eyes as her brows quickly slide together. “Everything okay?”

  “Yep, everything’s fine. Just thought I’d stop by, see how everything’s going.”

  When she doesn’t immediately respond, I point to the boxes in her arms. “Do you want some help with those?”

  “Nope, I’m good.”

  I trail after her as she walks into the formally appointed dining room with its ornate crystal chandelier and Doric columns, all of which were added at my father’s request. The gleaming wood table in the center of the room can easily seat fourteen guests. At least twice a month, my dad likes to host an evening of drinks along with a catered dinner for some of the more influential members of the community. I’ve been required on more than one occasion to suit up in a tux to help grease palms.

  I don’t hate it.

  But I don’t love it either.

  The worst I can say is that by the end of the night, my cheeks ache from all the forced smiling. Plus, I have to bone up on the local, state, and national political scene. Which is a job in and of itself. My dad’s people usually give me a cheat sheet of talking points to discuss.

  Luckily, since I’ve been knee deep in classes and football, my dad hasn’t requested my presence lately. Although I know if I’m seriously going to follow him into politics, it’s something I need to be comfortable with. Well, at least look comfortable doing.

  What I’ve learned over the years is that appearances are everything.

  But none of that needs to be decided right now. For the moment, I just want to live in the little bubble Violet and I have created around ourselves. The last thing I want is to jeopardize it. After years of waiting patiently, I finally have the girl of my dreams. I’m happier now than I’ve ever been in my entire life.

  I know it’s crazy to say, but with Violet by my side, I feel invincible. Like there’s nothing I can’t do.

  Hefting the boxes onto the dining room table, my mom settles a hand on her slender hip. “So you just stopped by during the middle of the week to see what’s going on, huh?” Her eyes narrow as she continues studying me. “Is something going on at school that I need to know about?”

  I flash her a brief smile. “No. Just thought I’d check in. See what was going on around here.”

  That’s enough to have her eyebrows smoothing out and a small smile curling her lips upward in pleasure. “Aw, aren’t you sweet.”

  Pointing towards the plastic bins she just brought up from the basement, I ask, “So, whatcha got there?”

  Patting one of the boxes, she says, “Just some stuff from when I was working.”

  This has my brows rising across my forehead. “Work stuff?” My mom quit her job over a decade ago. I can’t imagin
e why she would be schlepping all this up from the basement.

  Giving me just a bit of a sheepish smile, she admits, “Yeah… I was thinking of maybe going back to work.” Quickly she adds, “You know, when the kids are in school. Just a few days a week.”

  Eyes wide, I slowly nod my head. “I think that’s a great idea.” My mom should get back out there, if that’s what she wants to do. I mean, I know she has a lot to keep her busy around here. But why can’t she do both? Plenty of women do. If working makes her happy, then she should definitely do it.

  “Really?” She looks completely bowled over by my words. “You do?”

  My smile broadens. “Yeah, of course. Why not?”

  Shrugging her shoulders, her eyes slide away. Her voice becomes just a bit quieter before finally confessing, “I haven’t spoken with your father about it yet, so please don’t mention anything. I know he thinks it’s important for me to be here for Gavin and Ari. And I do as well. But they don’t need me the same way they used to. I find that I’m not as busy as I once was when you guys were younger. I thought it might be nice to get back into nursing again.” As soon as those words leave her lips, she tacks on hastily, “It’s just an idea I’m mulling over.”

  Trying to be supportive, I say, “Mom, I think you should definitely do it.”

  For just a moment we stare at each before she finally gives me a full-fledged smile. Relief fills her eyes. “Thanks, Sam. That means a lot to me.”

  I shrug. My mom has always been there to support everything I’ve done. Hell, I wouldn’t be who I am today without her. She was tough when I needed it and always there with words of encouragement. “You deserve to do whatever makes you happy.”

  Almost immediately, she cuts in, “My family does make me happy. All of you. I couldn’t be prouder of how the three of you are turning out. We’ve raised wonderful, kind hearted children.”

  “You’ve raised wonderful kind hearted children,” I say quietly.

  With her eyes holding mine, she nips her lower lip with her teeth before reminding me, “Your dad is a good father. He’s always there when we need him.”