Falling For My Best Friend's Brother

by J. S. Cooper

  “Who?” I said childishly, and I saw Xander rolling his eyes.

  “Aiden Taylor, Liv’s brother.”

  “Oh, hi, Aiden. How are you?” I said stiffly as I grinned at Liv who was grinning back at me. Xander was looking back and forth at our expressions with an even more bemused look, and I knew he was thinking to himself that it didn’t take much to make us happy.

  “I’m good.” Aiden cleared his throat. “I was actually just calling to see if Liv is okay?”

  “Liv?” I said stiffly. Huh? What was he talking about?

  “Yeah, I tried texting her a couple of days ago, and she hasn’t responded, so I figured I would check with you.”

  “She’s fine,” I said and put my finger up to my lips as I looked at Liv. “Hold one second, please,” I said quickly and pressed mute. “It’s Aiden. He said he’s tried contacting you and you haven’t answered,” I whispered to Liv and she frowned.

  “Uh, no.” She shook her head. “What is he talking about? I just spoke to him this morning.”

  “Oh.” I shrugged my shoulders. “So he’s lying? Should I tell him you’re here with me now?”

  “Yeah.” Liv nodded. “Tell him that I’m here and that I said I spoke to him this morning.”

  “Okay.” I was about to unmute, when Xander shook his head and sighed.

  “Do you two have absolutely no clue?” He stood up and walked toward me. “That’s still on mute?”

  “Yes.” I nodded.

  “Good.” He stopped in front of me and his green eyes pierced mine. “Listen to me carefully. Do not tell Aiden that you know that he’s lying. He obviously used that as an excuse to call you. You should be thanking your lucky stars, not accusing him of lying.” He shook his head and looked back at Liv. “I have no idea where you are getting your advice from.” He turned back to look at me. “Get back on the phone and ask him something. Be nice. Be sweet. Be happy to hear from him. Don’t accuse him of lying. Don’t have an attitude. Don’t talk about kissing Scott or seducing him when you were sixteen. Stick to topics that are safe for now. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes.” I nodded meekly.

  “I don’t know why he’s calling you,” he said with a serious face. “Maybe he got hit in the head and actually likes you.”

  “Xander!” Liv screeched.

  “I’m sorry.” He laughed and looked at her. “But really, I think I got hit in the head as well.”

  “Why’s that?” She frowned.

  “‘Cause I’m dating you.” He grinned at her, and she just shook her head and mumbled something. “But you know I love you. That’s why I’m letting you move in with me.”

  “What?” I froze and looked at Xander and then Liv’s pink face. “You’re moving in with Xander?”

  “Oh, boy.” He bit his lower lip and stepped back. “You didn’t tell her?” He looked at Liv and she glared at him.

  “I’m sorry, Alice. I was going to tell you. And it’s not for—”

  “We’ll talk later.” I made a face at her and then unmuted the phone. “Sorry about that,” I sang into the phone, my heart racing as I thought about Liv moving out.

  “That’s okay,” Aiden said stiffly. “Where did you go?”

  “I had another call,” I lied. “I just got asked out on a date.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, this guy I met last weekend. His name is Sylvester,” I said and I could see Xander rolling his eyes as if he couldn’t believe I was going down the lying road again.

  “Sylvester Stallone?” Aiden asked and I laughed.

  “Funny—not,” I said. “I didn’t say Rambo called me.”

  “That’s good. I don’t think I can take Rambo on.”

  “Oh?” My heart felt as if it were going to pop out of my chest then. What did he mean he couldn’t take Rambo on? Did that mean he liked me? Did he want to date me? My stomach was doing somersaults.

  “Yeah.” He laughed. “He might not like you getting calls from guys, even if they’re just friends.”

  “Oh yeah,” I said, suddenly deflated. “That’s true.”

  “Anyway, I also just wanted to see if you were okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “After our Facebook chat the other day,” he said softly. “I wasn’t sure if I’d upset you.”

  “Why would I be upset?” I squeaked out.

  “I realize we’ve never really spoken about that night,” he said awkwardly. “And I wanted to apologize for what happened.”

  “You wanted to apologize to me?” I said stiffly. The moment felt surreal, and then the room started to spin. How was it that he was calling to talk about that night just when I was talking about that night as well?

  “I should have known better.” He sighed. “I shouldn’t have let it continue once I knew.”

  “Once you knew what?” I said softly, my face burning in shame.

  “Once I knew it was you in my bed.”

  “You knew?” My jaw dropped. “Before the morning?” Excitement and hope ran through my veins at his words.

  “Of course I knew, Alice.” His voice was husky. “How could I not have known?”

  “But …” My voice trailed off. “I didn’t know you knew before the morning.”

  “I wasn’t proud of myself.” He sighed. “But yes, I knew.” He cleared his throat. “I knew as soon as you got into the bed and wrapped your arms around my chest. Actually, I knew as soon as you walked into the bedroom. I could smell your strawberry fragrance hanging in the air as soon as the door opened.”

  “I, uh—I don’t know what to say,” I squeaked out. I had loved that strawberry spray and the matching strawberry lotion. I’d worn them both so much that my mom had asked me if I wanted to move to a strawberry patch.

  “I shouldn’t have brought it up. I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said softly. “I know we’re older now and we had some awkwardness recently, but I wanted to reach out and let you know that I consider you a part of the family, Alice, and I hope you know that.”

  “Thanks,” I said softly, my head spinning. I was so confused. Why was he calling me? Did he like me or not? And what did he think about that night we’d spent together? Did he ever think about it? And did he ever think about me? Did he wish that he could have another night with me? Or did he wish that he could have many more nights with me?

  “Anyway, I should go now,” he said cheerfully. “Tell Liv to text me back or call me when you see her. I hope to see you soon.”

  “Where are you going?” I said, knowing I sounded pitiful, but I didn’t want the conversation to end.

  “I have a date,” he said. “I’m taking her to a Degas exhibit.” He groaned. “Don’t I sound boring?”

  “No,” I said lightly as my heart lurched.

  “You’re too sweet, Alice,” he said, his voice sounding sexy as hell. “I just hope Elizabeth enjoys it.”

  “Elizabeth Jeffries?” I said, unable to stop myself.

  “Yes, how did you know?” He sounded surprised.

  “Good guess,” I said and then sighed. “But I have to go. Talk to you soon.”

  “Oh, okay. Bye, Alice,” he said softly, and I hung up. I looked at Liv and Xander and I knew that I looked like a sad case because that was how I felt—really sad and sorry for myself.

  “What’s wrong?” Liv jumped up and ran toward me. “What did my brother say? God help me, but I’ll kill him if he was a jerk.”

  “He has a date,” I said softly, my voice cracking.

  “You did just tell him another guy had called you,” Xander said and closed his mouth as Liv glared at him.

  “Oh, no.” She rubbed my shoulder.

  “And he knew it was me that night.” I rubbed my forehead and then sank down into the couch. “He knew it was me before the next morning,” I said again in a daze. “I can’t believe it.” I shook my head and my mind went back to that night six years ago, the night that had been both the best and worst in my life. The night that I was de
termined to experience again. Only this time I was a woman and I sure wasn’t going to sneak out of the room the next morning with anything other than a grin and a well-loved body.

  “So what are you going to do?” Liv said, her eyes wide with shock.

  “I don’t know,” I groaned. And I really wasn’t sure. “I guess I’ll start by joining the flag football team.”

  “Hold that thought, I’m going to get us some drinks.” Liv jumped up and hurried out of the living room. I nodded at her and sat back and closed my eyes, my heart still thudding from my call with Aiden.

  “So I need to talk to you.” Xander moved closer to me on the couch as Liv left the room. My heart raced as his voice lowered, and I felt him next to me. What was he doing? Was he going to make a move on me? What sort of woman did he think I was? Did he really think I was going to let him come on to me when he was dating my best friend?

  “About?” I looked up at him warily, and his green eyes looked amused as he gazed at me. Oh God, please don’t tell me you want me to experience your miracle tongue as well, please do not make me have to slap you.

  “What are you thinking, Alice?” he said softly, a small smile on his face as I glared at him.

  “Liv is my best friend, and I will tell her if you do anything inappropriate.” I made a face at him and then took a deep breath. “And then she’ll leave you, and you’ll—”

  “Alice.” He cut me off as he rolled his eyes. He looked as if he wanted to laugh at me. “I need to tell you something, and I don’t want Liv to hear. Not because I’m trying to hit on you, but because I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”

  “Uncomfortable how?” I asked him suspiciously.

  “It’s about Aiden.”

  “What about Aiden?” I frowned and leaned forward as my heart raced. What did he have to tell me about Aiden that he couldn’t say in front of Liv?

  “I think Aiden is a Dom.”

  “Say what?” My eyes widened as he spoke.

  “I think Aiden is a Dominant.”

  “What?” I screeched as I stared at him. My face was reddening as I thought about Aiden with a whip in his hand and me lying across his lap. Wait, could that even work? And would I even want him to use a whip? I chewed on my lower lip as my mind raced. Maybe I’d just be on his lap and he could use his hand. Yes, that was preferable to a whip.

  “A Dominant is someone who takes a superior position in the bedroom and—” Xander interrupted my thoughts, and I blushed as a dart of embarrassed heat spread through my body.

  “I know what a Dom is.” My face reddened. “I’ve been around town, you know.” Well, I’ve kinda been around town. I’ve never been with a guy that was into much experimental play, not that I haven’t tried, but, well, it’s just never worked out for me.

  “Okay, Alice,” Xander answered me smugly.

  “Why do you think he’s a Dom?” I asked him curiously, my heart racing quickly again, this time in excitement. Had Aiden told Xander that he wanted me to be his submissive? I wasn’t sure what I’d say to that. I’m not exactly the submissive type. I think I talk too much and I don’t take orders well. In fact, I like to order men around. Especially in the bedroom; I like to let a man know what I want very clearly.

  “Shh.” Xander shook his head. “Keep your voice down. I don’t want Liv to know.”

  “Why not?”

  “Would you want to know if your brother was a Dom?”

  “I don’t have a brother.” I shrugged.

  “Would you want to know if Liv was a Dom or a sub?”

  “She would tell me.” I shrugged again and then grinned at him. “We share all of that information.”

  “Hmmm.” He frowned for a second and then shook his head. “Well, I don’t think that this is something Liv wants to think about her brother doing.”

  “What?” I laughed. “Spanking women?” I winked, and I was almost positive that I’d made Xander blush. I had said spanking on purpose, of course. Liv had told me that Xander had a penchant for giving her a quick spank before doing doggy-style, though I wasn’t going to tell him I knew that. Not in an even more obvious way, anyway. I wasn’t sure that he’d be happy knowing I knew intimate details about their sex lives. At least not if the frown on his face was any indication.

  “I don’t know what he does exactly.” Xander grinned. “But it seems like you would be into that, huh?”

  “Into what?” I frowned and looked down, not wanting him to see the eagerness in my face.

  “The kinky stuff,” he said with a light in his eyes. “Maybe that’s a way for you to entice him,” he said softly. “Let him know you’re down for experimenting.”

  “Ooh.” I nodded thoughtfully. Maybe Xander had a point. Maybe Aiden was being wary because he didn’t know if I’d be interested in getting down and dirty in all sorts of different ways. Maybe I needed to show him I could be a sub. Not that I’d make a great one, but I could try. And maybe I could be a great one. I was great, after all. And I had skills. Though, I didn’t know if the skills I had were the sorts of skills I needed to be a sub. I wondered what I would have to wear as a sub. Would he have me in leather chaps? Would he expect me to wear nipple clamps? I cringed as I thought about the pain I’d feel wearing nipple clamps. The sex had better be good if I was going to wear nipple clamps. I’d have to look them up online or maybe even go to a sex store. I’d convince Liv to go with me. Maybe I could pick up a sexy outfit or some toys that I’d casually let Aiden see the next time I saw him. I could let some handcuffs fall out of my bag the next time I saw him or something.

  “Alice, you okay?” Xander’s voice sounded concerned, and I looked up at him with an apologetic smile.

  “Sorry, I spaced out a little bit.” I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I was getting carried away already. Even if it was only in my mind. I couldn’t wait to speak to Liv about what Xander had told me. Though I wouldn’t tell him that I was going to tell her. I’m not sure what Xander was thinking, but how could he possibly think I wasn’t going to tell Liv? We told each other everything. There was no way I was keeping this to myself. I was going to let Aiden see that I could be the best sub he could ask for, and Liv was going to help me.

  “That’s okay.” He looked at me uncertainly. “I hope I didn’t shock you with the news.”

  “Oh, not at all.” I smiled sweetly, my mind racing. Xander hadn’t shocked me at all. In fact, he’d just given me the perfect idea to try and get Aiden once and for all.

  Chapter Four

  Master of the Universe

  Game night at the Taylors’ house was a tradition that had been going on for years. What was funny about game night was that only Aiden and Liv were interested in playing board games. Their parents never played, Scott played sometimes, and Chett never played at all.

  “I’m going to take you all down.” Aiden wiggled his eyebrows as he looked at Xander, Liv and me with a serious face and I tried not to laugh. He was so far from intimidating when he made that face, but I knew he wasn’t joking. Aiden never joked about board games. He played to win, and he pretty much always did.

  I stared at Aiden’s face for a few seconds and wondered how it was that he could be so good looking without being completely cocky. Aiden Taylor is classically handsome in the way that means that pretty much any woman can look at him and find something to appreciate. That’s not why I like him, though. Yes, his eyes are vividly blue and remind me of the sky on a clear summer day; yes, his hair is dark and silky with a slight curl that makes him look dangerously sexy; yes, his lips are full and pink, and have a curl to them that makes him look roguish; yes, his skin is a tan olive brown and his body is fit and muscular without looking like he’s Mr. Universe … Yes, I’m attracted to his looks, but what I like most about Aiden is the fact that underneath his bossy-older-brother persona, he is deeply caring, wickedly intelligent, and he has a secret naughty side to him that I love seeing come out. And even more than that, he’s always been there for me even wh
en I didn’t know I needed him.

  “Are you going to play, Alice?” Aiden asked me and poked me in the shoulder.

  “Sorry, I was just thinking,” I said and smiled at him as I picked up the dice. He smiled back at me and then looked away and started counting his money. I laughed at the happy look on his face. Aiden had always loved playing Monopoly, and he was the king of property buying. He always acted as if the game were real life and he was always a sore loser when he happened to lose a game, which had only happened once. And if I’m completely honest, I wasn’t sure if he had lost on purpose or not.

  “Thinking is not acting,” he said with a stern face. “Roll the dice and move.”

  “See what I told you, Xander?” Liv said and kissed her boyfriend. “Aiden takes this game so seriously. He really thinks he is buying real properties and hotels.”

  “Don’t be a sore loser, Liv,” Aiden said, and Liv laughed.

  “We just started playing ten minutes ago. You haven’t won yet.”

  “Yet,” he said with a smirk and then looked back at me. “Are you going to play?”

  “I’m playing, jeez,” I said and rolled the dice and then moved my piece. “I’m not buying the property,” I said as I looked at my cash.

  “What?” Aiden looked at me like I was crazy. “How can you not buy it? You always have to buy.”

  “I’m saving my money.” I shrugged and adjusted the strap of my top as it was sliding off of my shoulder. I noticed Aiden’s eyes shift from my face to my shoulder and his gaze became more intense as he watched me adjusting my bra strap as well. My fingers got stuck underneath the strap for a moment, and Aiden moved towards me. For a second I thought he was going to help me untangle my fingers, but he didn’t. I released my breath, and he moved back.

  “You can play now.” I smiled at him sweetly. “My turn is done.”

  “That was a bad move,” he said and shook his head. “How many times do I have to tell you and Liv to always buy a property?”

  “I didn’t want to,” I said, and I saw Liv rolling her eyes as Xander smiled.

  “Well, you should have,” Aiden said and picked up the dice. “I know you like being difficult, Alice, but really you should listen to me when it comes to playing board games.”