Frenemies With Benefits (Geek To Chic Book 2)

by Brinks, Nikki

  “Hi.” She said shyly, wringing her hands together.

  Why she was suddenly shy and nervous with him, he had no idea, especially after all of the things that they had done to one another. He smiled at the dirty thoughts. Stalking to her, Alex wrapped her in his arms, taking in a deep lungful of her sweet smelling sent. Tonight he was going to catalog every trivial detail about this woman. Memorize every line and curve of her body. That way when she walked away from him and married a better man, he would have his memories to return to on lonely nights.

  Pulling out of his arms, Izzy looked into his eyes. His depression must have been easier to read than he thought. An emotional smile spread over her beautiful face, her hand cupping his cheek. “You OK?”

  Her voice was a balm to his very soul. He needed her. Something in his soul recognized her as belonging to him all those years ago. In a matter of hours she would no longer be his. He would no longer have the right to touch her, to kiss her, or even hold her close. Not that she ever truly was his.

  Taking the hand that she had placed on his cheek in his own hands, he kissed her palm. “I’m fine, baby. You want to watch a movie?” His voice was soft.

  She stared intently at him, as though she believed if she stared long enough the answers to all her questions would appear magically on his forehead. After a few long beats, she sighed and smiled up at him. Nodding her head, she answered. “Yes, a movie sounds nice. We never did get to watch a movie that night in Cabo. I assume you have Die Hard or how about White House Down?”

  “Yes to Die Hard, no to watching White House Down. I will not watch you drool all over the place for Channing Tatum.” Alex teased.

  “Maybe I have a thing for older bald headed action stars like Bruce Willis?” She teased back.

  “Hmm, in that case, how about we watch Silicon Valley episodes? That is, unless you have a thing for pasty computer nerds?” He smiled.

  “Nope, that’s Roni.” She shot back as she moved around him to go sit on the couch.

  “Good, then Silicon Valley it is.” He turned on the first episode of season one and snuggled her close to his side.

  ~*~*~*~

  They watched several episodes, eventually slipping down on the couch until they were lying down spooning. His arm warm around her. She felt content. “This is the first time we’ve snuggled on the couch, I like it.” She said softly.

  His nose began to nuzzle her neck. “I like this too. I like being with you.” He spoke as he started to kiss her neck.

  “Hmmm, you like being with me?” She practically moaned.

  “I do. I like having you here, with me.”

  She had lost the ability to think as his hands and tongue roamed her body. As he rolled onto her and kissed her deeply, her brain seemed to reengage. Pulling him away from her, he looked into his eyes. “Tonight’s it for us.”

  “Yes, I know our agreement ends in a matter of hours.” Alex retorted.

  “Yep, a few hours and we have to be friends, nothing more, nothing less.” She was desperate to see some kind of emotion on his face, something to tell her he was as sad about them being no more than friends. His face was an emotionless void.

  “Do you think we can be friends? Or are you going to start plotting my death again the minute you walk out that door?” He clearly found himself amusing by the look on his face.

  “Who says I ever stopped plotting your murder?” She winked.

  “I am pretty sure there were a few nights we spend together that you were actually trying to kill me. Teasing me with that incredible body when we were in public. And then some of the things you did to me in bed,” he leaned in and looked around his empty penthouse for dramatic effect, “I’m pretty sure they are illegal in all 50 states. And if had a heart attack while you were doing them to me; well I am sure you would have been brought up on man slaughter charges for sure.”

  Izzy giggled a little and shook her head. The man was funny, no arguing that. She was comfortable being around him, being here in his penthouse. A penthouse that over the past month she had spent more time in than her own apartment. Hell, she still had boxes of dishes and other items still waiting to be put away in her own home.

  They snuggled back into the couch and into a quiet between them. His large warm hand resting possessively on her stomach as they watch the geeky guys start their company on the Silicon Valley episode. She was not even following the simple storyline, her mind already moving onto the pain her heart would endure come her first morning without Alex.

  His hand began stroke her stomach, causing all thought of loneliness to escape her mind. "You know, it doesn't have to end in a matter of hours. We could take our friendship outside of the walls of our homes, you know go on an outing."

  "What are you suggesting a field trip?" Izzy joked in response. "Do I need to have your mother sign a permission slip like I do with my kindergarteners?"

  "Hmmm, not sure my mother needs to see that type of permission slip." He cooed in her ear as he kissed her. "Thursday night, after my meeting with the French client, let me take you to dinner. I'll already be in a suit so let's go somewhere nice."

  "That sounds very close to a date, Alex." She smirked surprising herself that she was able to form a complete sentence through the haze of hormones flooding her system.

  "No not a date, friends can't date, right?" His question was laced sarcasm and something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

  "Exactly. So not a date. Just a dinner. To celebrate us no longer wanting to kill each other." Her verbal skills were wavering as his hands began to roam her body.

  "So Thursday it is." Once he completed the short sentence she found herself beneath his perfect hard body. He looked into her eyes, a brief flash of emotion crossing his masculine face causing her heart to lift with hope, before his lips took possession of her own. Her hands immediately went to rid him of his shirt, her shirt and the rest of their clothing soon followed.

  “I know our agreement ends at midnight, but stay with me tonight. One last night, please?” Alex almost begged, his face was in her neck as he spoke so she couldn't see the expression on his face.

  Before her mind could warn her of the dangers of staying one last night, her heart answered for her. “I would like that. One last night for me to sleep in the softest bed ever. And having you there will be ok too.” She added the last part in a vain attempt to take the emotion out of the conversation.

  His head popped up and he stared at her with such intent she wondered what she had said wrong. “All this time, I thought you were using me for my body and here you were using me for my soft bed.” He paused, shaking his head at her, “I’m truly hurt, Izzy. You are going to have to get very creative to make the hurt go away.”

  A slow smile crossed her face as she extracted herself from beneath his large body. Standing in front of the couch, she spoke in a sultry voice. “You're right I should make up for hurting your feelings.” As she spoke he sat up. Without taking her eyes from his, she slowly lowered herself to her knees between his muscular thighs. “Now, be a good boy and let me show you how much I was using you for your bed as well as your body.”

  He said nothing, she could see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard. She slowly kissed his chest, teasing each of his nipples. She listened as he sucked in a breath as she trailed her nails down his chest. His hips began to thrust a little, as though his cock was begging for her touch. With one last look deep into the green eyes she loved to stare into she took his cock into her mouth as far as she could.

  “Oh, fuck!” Alex hissed. His hands hesitantly coming to rest on her head.

  Swirling her tongue around his length as she slowly moved up his cock. She sucked the head of his dick between her lips and licked around the crown. “Oh God.” She heard him mutter between his pants that were both pain and pleasure. She swallowed him whole again.

  Both of them were moaning as he worked him over with her mouth and his hand pulled at her hands. Before she could get him
to release his control and empty into her mouth, he pulled her off of him. She searched his eyes, again, for the reason. “Not tonight, Demon Pixie. Tonight I need to be inside of you when I come.”

  Picking her up in his arms, he easily carried her to his bedroom, to make love to her for the last time. Izzy thought as they fell onto the bed together. Her body was wrapped up in the pleasure as he touched and kissed her before grabbing a condom. Her heart was wrapped up in the emotion of the moment. Once he had the condom in place, he took his time entering her. As he did her mind acknowledged what her heart already knew to be true, she loved this man with everything within her. Her brain knew though, that she had to let him go in a matter of hours.

  Before she was ready for the moment to be over, both of them were screaming out the other's name as they found their pleasure simultaneously. For long minutes they held onto each other, stroke one another and cuddled as close as two people could.

  When his breath grow even and steady, and the heart beat under her ear slowed, she knew he was deep asleep. Raising her head from her resting place on his chest, she lightly kissed his lips, stroked his cheek and whispered, "I love you Alexander Porter." She then fell into a content sleep in his arms, not wanting morning to ever come.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lying on her couch, Izzy eyed her kitchen trying to determine exactly how many steps it would take her to get there. Too many, was the answer. Her left eye felt as though it was trying to violently rip itself from her head, her sinuses were on the verge of exploding and her body hurt… everywhere.

  This was the downside to teaching the germ infested kindergartners, eventually every teacher will fall victim to their lack of hand washing, germ spreading ways. Now she was barely functional. She was unable to even summon the energy to get a glass of water. She wondered how long it would take after her death before someone discovered her body. The fever was making her a little dramatic.

  Deciding if she wanted to live, she better crawl to the kitchen for some water, she hoisted herself from the couch. Once she was on her feet, she sat right back down on the coffee table. She put her head in her hands, in an attempt to stop the world from spinning. She needed to lie back down. She curled up right there on the coffee table, closing her eyes.

  “Izzy, Izzy, honey, why are you asleep on the coffee table?” Alex’s voice pierced through her exhaustion.

  “What?” She croaked out.

  A hand was suddenly on her forehead. “Jesus, Izzy, you’re burning up.” Without warning, he lifted her into his arms. “Have you taken any medicine?”

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned her head on his chest. “Medicine?”

  “Izzy, how out of it are you?” Alex sounded concerned.

  Feeling the softness of her bed against her back, she let go of Alex’s neck. “Alex, I don’t feel good.” Izzy mumbled.

  “I know, baby, I’m going to take care of you.” Alex spoke softly.

  Opening her eyes for the first time since he had woken her, she watched as he struggled off his suit jacket, placing it gently on the chair in her room. As he rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt, he walked back over to her, tucking her under the covers. “Why are you in a suit?”

  He laughed a little. “Business meeting, remember, you were going to meet me after for dinner. When you didn’t show I got worried. And when you didn’t answer the door, I let myself in. Now let me take care of you.”

  “Why are you taking care of me, you don’t even like me? I can take care of myself.” She pouted.

  His facial features were soft and full of compassion. He brushed her hair away from her face, “Of course I like you, Izzy. Now, let me take care of you.” He kissed her gently on the forehead before stalking out of her room to the bathroom.

  A moment later he returned with a wet wash cloth, a bottle of pills and a glass of water. “Sit up for a minute to take some ibuprofen for your fever.” Easing her to a sitting position, he gave her the pill and the water. Once she had swallowed it down, he settled her back in bed and laid a cold wash cloth over her forehead.

  “That’s cold!” She screeched! Her body wracked with shivers.

  “I know, I know, but we have to get your fever down or I am going to have to take you to the hospital.” He stroked her cheek, comforting her. “Why didn’t you call me?”

  His voice was strained with need. She was too sick to analyze what that meant. “I came home from work early. Most of my kiddos are sick. I was only lying down on the couch for a few minutes. I thought.” She had no idea what time it was or how long she had been asleep.

  “I am going to get you something to eat and some more fluids. Then, you can go back to sleep. I will wake you when it is time for more medicine. I’ll be right back.”

  Before he even slipped through the door, Izzy was asleep again.

  ~*~*~*~

  A few hours had passed since Alex had arrived at Izzy’s. When he saw her lying on her coffee table in a ball, his gut clenched with fear that something terrible had happened. It was a relief when she said she was sick. That is until he realized how sick she was. Gently placing the digital thermometer in Izzy’s ear, he prayed her temperature had gone down. The little device beeped at him. Fuck! 103.1, not good! He wasn’t able to get her to drink much, nor had she eaten anything. Her fever had spiked, even with him stripping her down to her undies and putting ice cold wash clothes over her.

  Deciding it was time to go to the emergency room, he opened her dresser drawers to find a pair of pajamas for her. As he dressed her she moaned in pain. Not the type of moaning he liked to hear from her. “Hang on, honey, I’m taking you to the hospital.”

  Moving quickly he picked her up and carried her to his car. Mr. Guzman was kind enough to help Alex get her into his car. “Cold.” She whimpered as he sped down the dark street.

  Panic itched at the base of his neck. He needed to get her to a hospital. His foot hit the accelerator, when another pained groan came from her. He pulled into the only available spot near the emergency room entry, a handicap spot, fuck it he didn’t care if his car was towed. Izzy needed help. Gently lifting her from the car he carried her into the emergency room.

  “May I help you?” A young woman at the desk asked politely.

  “Yes, my girlfriend has a high fever and is semi unconscious.” Alex tried to keep the worry out of his voice.

  The woman flew into action, calling for a stretcher, and a doctor. Within minutes Izzy was whisked away to a room behind the locked doors, while Alex was told to wait. Logically, he knew she was going to be fine; she needed an IV and maybe some antibiotics. Unfortunately, his panic had kicked the crap out of his logical side. He gently laid her on the stretcher, turning her over to the care of the hospital staff despite his instincts to keep her close and never let her out of his sight. Dropping into one of the bright orange plastic chairs in the waiting room he leaned his forearms on his knees and his head in his hands. His foot tapped the ugly vinyl flooring relentlessly. His body tense, with the need to help her, be with her.

  After almost an hour a doctor finally came out to talk to him.

  “Mr. Porter?”

  His head snapped up to see an older doctor, with white thinning hair standing over him. “Yes? Is she ok?”

  The doctor, adjusted the glasses on his face, and smiled. “Yes, she is going to be fine.” Alex stood as the doctor spoke. “It is a good thing you brought her in. She was dehydrated and has walking pneumonia. We have given her IV fluids and antibiotics. I will send her home with a script for oral antibiotics she will need to take. She is asking for you.” The doctor turned, nodding his head for Alex to follow.

  “Thank you.” Alex said, still not feeling any better. He needed to see that she was ok for himself before his anxiety would fade.

  The doctor led him to her room saying he would be back by in a little bit to check on her and left. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door, taking in the sight of her. She was awake and some of the color
was back in her cheeks. “Izzy, you’re ok.” Making his way the few steps to her side, he ran his hand gently down her cheek and kissed her forehead. Resting his forehead to hers he whispered, “You had me worried pixie.”

  “I’m sorry, I scared you. I didn’t realize I was so sick. Thank you for taking care of me.” She said hoarsely, clearly still overly tired.

  “You’re forgiven for scaring me. And you don’t have to thank me. This is what friends do.” The word friends stuck in his throat, almost choking him. Alex didn’t want to use the word ‘friend’ when he spoke of Izzy. However, she had him squarely in the friend zone.

  ~*~*~*~

  “Right, I forgot we made it to the point of friends. We were supposed to go out and celebrate our friendship tonight. Sorry, that me being sick ruined our plans." Izzy spat out. She had no idea why she suddenly went into ultra bitch mode when he had been so kind to her. The month was over and she needed to put her shields back in place so that she would be ready for the day when he showed up at some event they were both invited to with another woman.

  He suddenly had a broken little boy look to him. A look that made her heart want to reach out to him. He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up her hand to stop him. "Hey, I'm sorry that was not very nice of me. I am not a very good patient to say the least. You taking care of me is very sweet. I would have probably ended up running down the hallway naked at some point, deranged from fever. So thanks for saving me from that embarrassment." She faked smiled.

  The sad boy look was replaced with a trouble maker grin. "Sorry I deprived the world of that view. Actually, I'm not that body is for my eyes only, but feel free to go ahead and give me a floor show later in the privacy of my condo." He said with a wink.

  She could only shake her head at him, she tsked him and gave him a finger wave, as she pulled the thin covers over her body, playfully hiding herself from him. "No way buddy, pal, friend of mine, this body is no longer for your viewing pleasure."