by Claire Adams
"No. We can walk. They're about half a mile, but it's nice out. No more than a ten minute drive at most?" Dedra cupped the basketball against her chest and moved to the door. "You bums sure you don't want to join us?"
"Not only no, but hell no." Emily glanced over her shoulder as she slouched in her chair and yawned again.
"Suit yourself." I plucked a crouton from the large salad bowl on the table and walked out to the patio where Dedra waited for me.
"Thanks for this. I love Cindy, but I'm at my limit on shopping and ogling at men for the week. The month. The year?" She chuckled as she looked over at me.
"I'm just going to enjoy myself this summer." I reached over and took the ball from her. "If I want to shop, I'll shop. Sleep in? I'll do that, too."
"Have a one-night stand?" She took the ball back, bouncing it around me as we moved down the sidewalk. Her skills were incredible. It almost seemed like a waste to not watch her go into the WNBA, and yet her shoulders were giving her far too many issues to push her body to perform the way she would have to. She wasn't over the devastation of turning down the offer, nor did I think she would ever be.
"A one-night stand sounds fun, but I'm usually horrible with those." I shrugged and glanced over my shoulder. "Let's cross the street."
"I think a one-night stand would be perfectly acceptable. It's much better than falling for some guy that's headed to Maine after college and you having to stay here."
"This is true, but I'm not worried about any of it. Guys are the least of my worries, right now."
"Oh, yeah? What's your top worry?"
"How I'm going to hold my tongue when I whoop the Arizona State girls’ basketball captain at her own sport." I ran by her and stole the ball, laughing as she raced after me.
She might be on the team, but she was right about one thing: I could have been, too.
Chapter 6
Cora
Dedra let me get a few good shots in the night before, but once I got within ten points of her score, that was it. She pulled out the stops and stomped me to the ground without much effort on her part. Where I should have been upset, I wasn't at all. Seeing her come alive was well worth the massive loss on my part.
Dinner was outstanding, but with Cindy in the kitchen, it was expected. Her dream of opening her own restaurant seemed like a high possibility in the next ten years. She batted off our comments like she always did, and we settled down in front of a movie with our bottle of wine. I passed out before getting past the credits.
I woke the next morning from a dreamless night to the sound of someone pounding on my bedroom door.
"Come on, sleepyhead. We're making cinnamon rolls from scratch, and if you think you're missing out on this, you're wrong." Cindy poked her head into the room and gave me a big smile. Her red hair was a mess, leaving her looking beyond cute. Some guy was going to finally realize what a steal she was and treat her right. I could only pray he would show up before too many more of them used her and threw her away. How she had the strength to keep moving forward and give anyone a chance was beyond me.
"Alright. Give me five minutes to brush my teeth and wake up." I sat up and ran my fingers through my hair, stretching and letting out a yawn. The boy from the day before still played along the edge of my mind. That he was blond and a total dick should have sent me scurrying away from even the thought of him, but it would seem my hormones had a mind of their own.
"Let's go." Emily opened the door and gave me a look. "Your only job today is to help Cindy understand that we're not having an alarm clock this summer. Do I look happy?"
Emily's black hair framed her face and accentuated the blue of her eyes, making her almost look like a Goth princess.
"You do look happy now that I'm really looking." I tilted my head to the side and smiled. "Alright. I'll figure out a nice way to tell her."
"You're up to bat first, but if she keeps this Betty Crocker shit up, I'm going to hurt her feelings."
Dedra moved up beside Emily at the door of my room. "It's been a long two weeks."
I laughed and got up, tugging at my tank top to pull it back in place. "Alright. I get it. She's just excited, and I'd take a homemade cinnamon roll over a cold bowl of cereal any day. Both of you would, too."
I pushed past them and yawned again before making a beeline to one of the two bathrooms in the house. After brushing my hair and teeth, I put on my bikini, a tank top and some shorts. I made my way to the kitchen to find Cindy humming something.
"Coffee's ready." She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "Will you braid my hair after we eat breakfast? I want to go out on the boat today, and it gets in my face like crazy."
"Absolutely." I got a cup and poured the dark liquid into it before walking to the front door. "I'll be right back."
"Five minutes and we're making these cinnamon rolls!" She called after me in a perky tone.
"I wouldn't miss it." I closed the door behind me as I inhaled deeply. I didn't mind Cindy's excitement. It was almost refreshing, and getting up early wasn't too bad, either.
The soft sounds of birds chirping in the trees above me caused my heart to flutter in my chest. I didn't have to be anything or anyone but myself for the next six to eight weeks.
"Incredible." I leaned against the railing at the front of the house and watched the sun play across the lake. The house was nestled against the street that ran right in front of the large blue lake, and our boat bobbed up and down with the waves at the edge of our pier, tempting me to sneak away for a few hours.
The door behind me opened, and Emily walked out with a cup of coffee. "You owe Dedra a thank you."
"Why is that?" I took a sip of my coffee.
"She told Cindy that you and I needed to get out of here for a while and that they could make breakfast together. We have thirty minutes." She wagged her eyebrows. "I think she feels bad for slamming you on the courts last night."
"She didn't slam me." I gave her a silly grin. "Alright, yeah, she did."
Emily chuckled and nodded toward the lake. "Let's go sit on the pier; you want to?"
"Hell yeah." I followed her toward the lake, making sure to keep my eyes on the ground to avoid broken glass. There was no need to end up with a staph infection in the hospital before the summer really started.
"You sleep alright?" Emily slowed a little, and I caught up to her.
"Yeah. I don't remember anything after us sitting down for the movie. Did you guys take me to my bed?" I took another drink of my coffee and turned as someone whistled just behind us.
A car full of guys slowed down, and the goofy-looking one half hanging out of the back window called out to us. "Party tonight at the big ass house as you drove in. Bring your own beer!"
"Got it. Thanks." I waved and turned back to Emily. "Sounds like everyone in the whole damn town got invited."
"You got up and went to bed yourself about halfway through the movie." She stood still as her gaze followed the guys down the road. "That guy looked familiar. I think he was in my Calculus class."
"Oh yeah?" I turned to look back down the road, honestly not caring. "I'm not sure I'm going tonight."
"What? Yes, you are. You're going." She lopped her arm into mine and walked with me down to the grassy bank of the lake. "I'm going, and that means you're going."
"Why do we have to go?" I took another sip of my coffee and walked out onto the pier, loving the way the sun warmed my skin.
"Because, Cora, it is summer break and we're in the middle of party central. Let's go meet all of these people, and if they suck, then we'll rent a bunch of movies and survive Cindy's cooking lessons instead." She smirked and sat down on the edge of the pier, letting her legs dangle off the edge.
"Are there alligators in this water?" I handed her my coffee before sitting down beside her.
"Doubtful, and even if there were, they wouldn't be over here. They're scared of humans." She moved over as I sat down beside her and let my feet skim over the warm water beneath
us.
I took a deep breath. "You guys be nice to Cindy. She's a good person. Cooking is just her thing."
"I get it, but it's not mine." She handed me my coffee before leaning back and closing her eyes. "I'll behave, though. I love her; you know that."
"Yeah." I lost my train of thought as my eyes moved over the various boats across the lake. The one directly in front of us caught my attention. The guy from the day before was wrestling with some chick on his boat. His friends were laughing, and the girl was having far too much fun. "Ugh."
"What?" Emily glanced up.
"That guy that was leaning against my car yesterday is out there." I pointed to him and tried to keep the false disdain on my face. His body was covered in an oily substance, and the way it made his skin shine left my stomach tightening.
"That's the guy?" Emily leaned forward as her mouth dropped open. "Wow. Next time he's leaning against your car, don't dirty your hands with him. Just call me. I'll take care of him."
"Brother." I leaned back, letting my eyes move across him as he tossed the girl into the water. His laughter was loud and fun. A smile lifted my lips as his friends moved up to knock him into the water next. He swam to the girl and they laughed, dragging each other under the dark blue surface.
"Is he taken?" She looked back at me.
"No clue, nor do I really care." I shrugged, caring more than I wanted to. I had the ability to locate the douchiest guy in the whole place and attract him to my side no matter where we were. It was a gift. A magical power. Now, if I could just figure out how to not fall for them once they came close.
"I care. Damn, he would be fun for a one-night stand." She moved back and tugged her shirt off, shocking me.
Her blue and white bikini top looked great on her. She drove me nuts hiding her body behind her clothes when she had every right to show it off.
"You look good." I leaned back and pulled my legs up, resting my feet on the edge of the dock.
"No, you look good. I just look okay." She laid down beside me and pulled her sunglasses off the top of her head and put them on. "We need to get back over there. I bet the cinnamon rolls are almost done."
"Naw. They'll call for us." I lifted my arms into the air and stretched. "I love it out here. It's so peaceful."
I jerked up as someone yelled from beneath the pier. "A little help?"
"What?" I moved up to my knees and glanced down to see Brody bobbing in the water beneath me. "You again?"
He laughed. "Yeah, princess. Help me up?"
"Just walk out of the water over there." I nodded toward the shore beside us.
"There are too many sharp rocks." He lifted his eyebrow and turned his attention onto Emily. "Hi, pretty girl. Any way you'd be willing to help me up? Your friend here isn't being very neighborly."
"No, she's not, is she?" Emily gave me a look and stood up, offering the guy her hand.
"Really?" I got up and gave him my other one.
He got up with our help, forcing us to step back several steps as he shook the water off of him like a dog. I glanced down at myself and gave him a scathing look.
"Where is the girl you were with?" I couldn't help but ask. "Did you eat her?"
"Yeah, all night long until she couldn't walk." He turned and looked out toward the lake, lifting his middle finger in the air toward the group of guys laughing loudly on what I assumed was his boat. "Thanks, girls."
He moved past us without another word, leaving me standing there in shock. I glanced over at Emily. "Did he just say that?"
Her eyes were wide as she watched him walk off. "Yeah, and for the first time in a really long time, I'm jealous. I want to be that girl."
I turned and searched the surface of the lake, not finding her. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea. I don't see her anywhere."
"Let's go. Stop worrying. Everyone out here is having a good time. We're going to that party tonight and will soon be joining them." Emily tugged at the back of my bathing suit, and I turned, walking back toward the house.
Brody was a little ways away from us, walking down the center of the street like he owned it. I couldn't help but admire how sexy his back was, littered with muscles and dripping with lake water. His blond hair almost looked dark brown, and for a moment, I thought maybe I was overreacting, but no: he was a cocky bastard for sure.
Did you eat her? All night long. Good grief.
Chapter 7
Brody
I couldn't help but laugh at the expression on the pretty brunette's face as I walked off. The night before had been spend with the boys thanks to the hot little number behind me fucking up my lay. She was everything I liked physically in a woman, yet her attitude left her off limits. Dominate, bitchy, and cold.
As much as I wanted to look over my shoulder to see her one more time, I forced myself to keep walking down the road. Clint's party was that night, and something told me that she would be there.
If so, I would try to see where I stood with her. Anything more than a few minutes of flirting and I was out. I wasn't trying to propose, just score for the night. There was only so much effort I was willing to put into that venture before moving to the next woman.
"She is hot, though." I took a shallow breath. She had warm brown eyes and shoulder-length hair that appeared thick enough to grip during a long session in the sheets. Her little bikini was beautiful on her, barely covering her nipples and leaving plenty of her tanned flesh spilling over the sides. I groaned as I imagined her in my lap, bouncing up and down as I treated her nipples like my only source of sustenance.
I walked into the house as my mood plummeted. The fact that the woman hadn't so much as checked me out once in the two times I'd been in front of her was concerning. I wasn't into someone playing hard to get, and yet my dreams the night before had her center stage to a few unconventional fucking sessions.
"Are you sporting that hard-on in town? What the fuck, man?" Clay looked up from the table and shook his head. "You seriously have no shame."
"Nope, I don't." I grabbed my dick and shook it before walking to the kitchen and grabbing a bottle of water.
Daniel glanced over his shoulder as he lifted a sandwich to his mouth. "You want-”
"Yep. Thanks." I snatched the sandwich and walked back to the back as he cursed me. "I'm laying down. I'll see you pussys after a while."
"Oh, Lord. He's in a mood." Clay called from behind me. "He must have been denied."
"I don't get denied." I walked into my room and locked the door behind me before sitting down on the edge of the bed and making quick work of Daniel's sandwich. Every group of friends needed an alpha asshole type. I was just playing the role given to me years ago in high school. Derek took the position every once in a while and gave me a break, but the older we got, the more often I found myself back in it.
"Can't even get the bitch’s name." I licked my fingers before moving back on the bed and tugging my shorts over my hips. My erection sprung lose, and I wasted no time grabbing in and lifting my hips with a hard thrust.
I dropped down on the pillow behind me and imagined the pretty brunette hovering over my thighs, her eyes locked onto mine as she licked her lips.
"Suck it nice and slow, baby. Just take your time with it. It's my first time." I groaned and pinched the tip of my cock as a shudder ran through me. I hadn't been with a woman that thrilled me in ages, but something told me that if I could just play my cards right, the rich girl with a bad attitude would bring me back to life.
I rolled onto my stomach and pressed my face to the bed as I lifted my ass in the air and worked into my hand at a pace that had my heart racing, and yet...nothing. No excitement or thrill. No promise of release.
"Come on." I groaned and bit my lip, forcing my thoughts to the sexy blonde that had been on the boat with us earlier. She was cute and fun. If the rich girl didn't put out within a few hours of working my charm on her, I'd find the blonde from the boat.
I thrusted hard and rolled back over to my
back, treating my cock like an object as I took myself rough and hard.
Nothing. I felt nothing.
"Fuck." I sat up and reached back, grabbing my pillow and launching it across the room. Anger burned through me, and yet there was no outlet. I loved women and spent my nights in the arms of a different one every night, but it was getting old.
I flopped back down in the bed and pulled the cover up around me before turning on my side and forgoing my need to come. It wasn't going to happen. Fuck, it hadn't happened in weeks. All those pretty girls, and I was looking for something I couldn't find.
Daniel needed someone to talk to about confidence, and I needed a shoulder to cry on. But it wasn't going to happen. The guys believed me to be every bit of the cock I'd convinced them I was over the years. No fucking way was I letting down my guard and baring myself to them or anyone else.
Besides, I wouldn't even know where to start.
*
"Hey, fucker. Get up." A bang at my door accompanied by Clay's voice woke me up.
I groaned and rolled over, still half naked under the sheets. "Get out."
"I'm not in the room, idiot. Get up. We're going to for a burger at Jasper's before we head to the party. Let's go." He hit the door a few more times.
I didn't respond, but pulled myself up. Daniel's family was spotting the bill for the summer, and they'd put a spending cap on us, but it was so high that there was no way in hell we would hit it. We were all pretty responsible with it, but when it was time to eat, you ate or you were on your own to lick up everyone's leftovers from the fridge.
A groan left me as I got up and fumbled around in the bedroom as I tried to get dressed. The guys wouldn't want to come back to the house before going to Clint's, so getting ready meant doing so for dinner and the party. I needed a woman with me later that night, even if it wasn't going to end with me finding release. The comfort of having one in my bed was enough to stave off my angst.
I flipped on the light and found a pair of khaki shorts and a polo before walking out and getting my sandals from the porch. The guys were laughing about something as I pulled my deodorant from the cabinet in the kitchen and put on a little bit of cologne. Daniel and Clay were weird about wanting space in the bathroom, and the only solution was to take over a cabinet in the kitchen.