Exposed: An Anthology

by Brooke Cumberland

  “Why exactly were you there?” I shot back defensively. “It seems kind of suspicious to me that you were driving right behind me. I thought you had already left the party.”

  He looked away quickly and ran his hands through his hair and sighed. “I wanted to make sure you made it home safely.”

  “What?” I gasped. “You were following me?”

  “I wasn’t following you, per se.” He shook his head. “And you should be thanking me. I saved your ass.”

  “My ass didn’t need saving,” my voice rose. “You are a creeper. I can’t believe you were following me.”

  “I wanted to make sure you were okay, Lucky. You’re too nice of a girl to be going to those types of parties.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “The girls at those parties know the deal. They fit the lifestyle.” Zane paused. “I didn’t want to see you getting hurt.”

  “So what deal is that, Zane?” I frowned. “Do you mean these girls are all a part of ‘The loose legs for Zane club’?”

  “The what?” He looked at me and laughed. “Did you just make that up?”

  “You know what I mean.” I glared at him. “It seems to me that you seem to think you’re the only one who can look after himself.” I went off on a tangent. “I may be a girl, but I don’t need you to come save me, Zane. You can save that for the two-dollar whores you take out every Friday night.”

  “That’s a low blow, Lucky.” He frowned. “And I’ll have you know, I don’t sleep with every girl I take out.”

  “Oh, really? So you didn’t sleep with any of the girls I’ve seen you with at Lou’s?”

  “Well, hold on.” He grinned. “I never said that.”

  My heart fell at his words. I was hoping he was going to say that he had never slept with any of them. That he was looking for Miss Right, and that was why he had gone on so many dates. In my heart of hearts, I had pictured him telling me that he had also been saving himself for his future wife. Then I would tell him that I had been saving myself as well, and we would ride off into the sunset together.

  “So you’ve slept with most of them?” I looked up at him curiously, the causal expression on my face hiding the urgency behind the question.

  “I’d rather not talk about my sex life with you, Lucky.” He peered at me with a serious expression. “I’m sorry that you were uncomfortable with me following you, but I thought it was for the best. And it turns out, I was right. I followed my gut, Lucky, and my gut was telling me to make sure you got home okay.”

  “What about Angelique?” I bit out angrily. I was mad that he didn’t want to tell me more about his dating life.

  “She got home fine, I’m sure.” He sighed and turned around. “I’m going to let you get some sleep. In the morning, we can call a tow truck and have it towed to the shop.”

  “I don’t have any money to pay a mechanic yet,” I sighed softly. “Well, I have some money, but not enough.” I looked down at the lush cream Berber carpet beneath my feet, feeling embarrassed.

  “We’ll figure something out.” He reached over and grabbed my arm. “I promise, Lucky. It’ll be okay.” His blue eyes crinkled warmly, and as he reassured me, they seemed to be trying to communicate to me in some unknown language. I felt myself trying to understand his silent message.

  “I hope so.” I sighed, letting my long brown hair cover my face. I was starting to feel even more confused, and I could feel a slight melancholy build up in me. A wave of exhaustion hit me, and I yawned loudly.

  “Point taken, Lucky.” Zane grinned and winked. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Night.” I watched him as he walked out of the room and quickly shouted, “And thanks.”

  “No problem.” He didn’t look back as he sauntered down the hallway, and I quickly closed the door before pulling off my clothes and putting on his boxers and T-shirt. I sniffed the T-shirt to see if I could smell his scent, but it smelled like fabric softener. I laughed at myself for my cheesiness before getting into the king-sized bed. I moaned out in pleasure as I slipped in between the sheets. They reminded of hotel sheets, and I knew that they had to be 500-thread count Egyptian cotton. I moved my legs back and forth, loving the luxurious softness against my skin. I lay back with my head against the down feather pillows, and I wondered what Zane was doing and thinking. I felt a warm thrill in my stomach as I thought about him being concerned for me. It had been a little creepy that he had waited for me, but part of me felt exhilarated and cared for. He had to like me, at least a little bit, if he had been worried about me getting home safely. Unless he just saw me as an innocent, guileless local girl and he felt a responsibility for me because he saw me every Friday at Lou’s. I felt disappointed then. Maybe he didn’t really care for me at all. At least not in the way that I wanted.

  I felt my eyes drooping and I yawned. I rolled over, exasperated with myself for continuing to hope that I meant something more to him. He doesn’t even know you, Lucky, I thought to myself as I drifted to sleep.

  ***

  I awoke about two hours later, sweating and delirious. I felt disoriented in the big bed and jumped out and walked around the room. I wanted to go home. I wanted to be in my own space and look at the photos of my parents. I wiped my face and cleared my dry throat and decided to go down to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I knew that I couldn’t go back to bed right away. Not with the images of my parents so fresh in my mind. I walked lightly, hoping not to make any noise, as I looked around the house in awe. It was beautiful and large in a non-ostentatious way. This must be what Scarlett O’Hara must have felt every day at Tara, I thought as I floated down the stairs, imagining myself to be the lady of the manor. What would it feel like to live in a palatial home like this? I looked at the statues in the foyer, lit up by the moonlight shining through the window. I was a bit surprised at the décor of the house. It seemed to be a bit sophisticated for someone Zane’s age, but what did I really know? I jumped from the staircase to the ground, and the marble floor beneath my feet was cold enough to make me cry out slightly. I paused and looked up the staircase to make sure I hadn’t disturbed Zane.

  I walked quickly through the hallway and into the kitchen, trying to be as quiet as possible. I walked into the kitchen and looked around in amazement—it was beautiful. I was just about to open the doublewide stainless steel fridge when I felt something on my back.

  “Argh!” I screamed and turned around quickly, my heart beating rapidly.

  “Hey, sorry.” Zane’s voice was calm and slow, and he looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “I was just coming to get some water,” I muttered, unable to stop myself from looking at his naked chest. Zane looked even more handsome and muscular than I had imagined, and I was slightly overwhelmed by the urge to run my hands across his chest. “I was feeling sexy—I mean, thirsty,” I quickly corrected myself, blushing furiously.

  “I don’t see why you can’t have been feeling both ways.” He laughed and opened a cabinet. “I think I’ll join you in a glass.”

  “Did I wake you up?” I watched his biceps flex as he took the glasses out, and I swallowed hard.

  “No, I couldn’t sleep.”

  “Oh.” I wanted to ask him why, but I didn’t want him to think I was being nosey.

  “I was about to go in the hot tub.”

  “Oh.” I looked down and realized he was wearing a pair of swimming trunks. I stared at his muscular thighs and wondered if he played soccer. I had always had a thing for guys who played soccer.

  “You’re welcome to join me if you’d like.”

  “I don’t have a swimsuit.” Please don’t tell me you have one for me to borrow, I thought to myself. I couldn’t stand the thought of wearing one of his skanky girlfriend’s outfits.

  “We can skinny-dip.” He winked, and laughed at my mortified expression. “I’m joking, Lucky.”

  “I knew that.” I swallowed the water qui
ckly, trying to ignore the telltale feelings in my stomach. “I should just go to bed.”

  “Or we can just talk?” He smiled. “If that would help.”

  “You don’t want to talk.”

  “How little you trust me, Lucky.” He cocked his head and smiled. “But actually, yes, I would love to talk.”

  I bit my lip and giggled. “I didn’t mean that you wanted anything else or anything, just that maybe you wanted to relax and not feel the need to entertain me.”

  “Thanks for clarifying that.” He grinned and opened a cupboard. “Want some cookies?”

  “What cookies do you have?” I paused. “And do you have hot chocolate as well?”

  “You’re not going to eat cookies and drink hot chocolate as well?” Zane looked at me with a shocked expression.

  “There’s a reason I’m not a size zero.” I laughed, suddenly feeling lightness between us. I wasn’t sure what had changed between us. It was almost imperceptible, but I could sense a change in the way Zane was smiling at me.

  “Will you make us both a hot chocolate if I can find the ingredients?” Zane pulled out a jar of Cadbury’s drinking chocolate, and I opened the fridge to look for some milk.

  “Of course.”

  “Will you dunk your legs into the hot tub at least?” He smiled at me. “As we drink our hot chocolate.”

  “I guess I could do that.” I laughed.

  “Okay, I have Lorna Doone shortbread and Oreos. Which one do you want?”

  “Both.” I laughed and grabbed an Oreo. “My parents used to call me the real cookie monster.”

  “Oh, yeah?” He made a face. “I used to be called Tickle Me Elmo.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “Because I love to tickle.” He reached under my arms and started tickling me. I shrieked and pulled away from him.

  “Oh, stop.” I laughed hysterically. “I’m too ticklish.”

  “Beg me to stop.” He looked down at me, and I realized that he had me backed up to the counter. I felt his bare chest pushing against me, and I couldn’t stop my body from reverberating into his as he tickled me.

  “Zane, please.” I gulped as I stared into his devilish blue eyes.

  “Beg me,” he purred down at me silkily.

  “I’m begging you, Zane.” I put my hand on his forearm and we stood still for a few moments, just gazing into each other’s eyes.

  “You have pretty hair,” he said distractedly.

  “Thank you.”

  “How old are you, Lucky?”

  “I’m twenty-two.” I licked my lips nervously and studied the cleft in his chin. “What about you?”

  “ Twenty-five.” He stared into my eyes, unblinking.

  “So many more playboy years ahead for you then, huh?” I heard the words coming out of my lips, and I wasn’t sure why I had said them.

  “You could say that.” His eyes crinkled, and he stepped back from me. I wanted to groan because my body missed the warmth of his so close to mine but instead, I turned around to spoon out some sugar into the cups. “So you don’t have a boyfriend, huh?” I heard his voice whisper into my ear, and I nearly jumped out of my skin at how close he was. I could feel his chest against my back, and his breath was tickling my ear.

  “No, not right now.”

  “That’s a pity.”

  “It is?”

  “Yeah, a beautiful girl like you needs a man to …”

  “I don’t need a man for anything.” I frowned, annoyed at his words.

  “You obviously need a man to take care of you.” He laughed and grabbed a cookie. “That’s not a bad thing.”

  “I don’t need anyone to take care of me,” my voice rose, and I could feel my blood pressure rising.

  “Every girl I know needs a man.”

  “I’m not every girl you know.” I narrowed my eyes and pushed past him. “I think I’m going to skip the cookies and go to bed.”

  “Wait, Lucky.” He grabbed my shoulder and sighed. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “I’m sure.” I rolled my eyes at him, and I paused as I saw his eyes crinkle and look away from me.

  “You're not like other girls, are you, Lucky?”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Shall we go and talk in the hot tub?”

  “No, thanks.” I twirled around. “I think I want to go to bed now.”

  “You think I’m a jerk, huh?”

  “I think you are an egotistical ass, yes,” I spat out, my harsh words belying the calmness in my face.

  “That’s heavy.” He frowned.

  “You date a different girl every week and tell me I need a man. I think anyone would agree with me. You are an ass.”

  “I don’t date a different girl every week. Just because I take a girl out for dinner, doesn’t mean it’s a date.”

  “I don’t even care,” I sighed. “I have other things to worry about.”

  “I told you, I will help you with your car.”

  “I don’t need your help.”

  “I need your help, though.” His voice was low. “Can we go and talk please?”

  I looked at him suspiciously. What help could he possibly need from me?

  “Can’t it wait?” I yawned, all excitement and adrenaline having left my body.

  “It can wait.” He smiled at me sweetly and stretched. I watched as his muscles flexed and I found my eyes on his sexy chest again. He had a light spattering of hair across his pecs, and I wanted to reach over and caress it. I wanted my fingers to confirm that his hair was as silky soft as it looked. I wanted to feel his arms around me, holding me close. I wanted my head pressed against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Zane Beaumont was the guy I had been fantasizing about for months, and now here he was in front of me in all his glory. I held in a groan. I was mad at myself for wanting to be with this man in all the wrong ways.

  “I’m going to bed.” I turned around and ran up the stairs quickly.

  “I don’t bite, Lucky,” he shouted up at me from the bottom of the stairs with a laugh, and I ran quickly to my room.

  I jumped into the bed and stared at the ceiling, breathing heavily. All I could picture was Zane’s face. I sighed and rolled over and tried to think about something else, but I couldn’t get him out of my mind. As I drifted to sleep, images of Zane on top of me and kissing me all over flooded my mind.

  Chapter 4

  “Lucky, are you awake?”

  “No,” I groaned from the bed with my eyes still closed.

  “Can I come in?” Zane’s voice sounded too sexy for this hour of the day. “No,” I groaned and rolled over.

  I heard the door creak slightly as it opened and Zane walked up to my bed. “Good morning, Lucky.”

  “Not really.” I rolled over and peeked at him from under the covers. I was slightly disappointed when I saw him wearing a grey T-shirt, and tried to ignore the urge to reach up and pull him down to me.

  “Sorry for waking you up, but I figured we should go and get your car before it gets towed by the police.”

  “Oh, shit.” I jumped up out of bed quickly. “I didn’t think about that.” I stumbled slightly as I hit the ground and Zane grabbed me around the waist.

  “Careful. We can’t afford to have you hurting yourself as well.”

  “I’m fine.” I pulled away from him reluctantly.

  “Good.” He ran his hand through his hair, and I watched as he rubbed the stubble around his mouth. “So, I have a proposition for you.”

  “Oh, yeah?” I looked at him in surprise, wondering what he was going to say.

  “I think it’s something that will work for both of us. You need money, and I—” he continued, with a silky voice.

  “I’m not going to be your paid escort,” I blurted out. “I may need the money, but I don’t need it that bad.”

  “Lucky, I was just going—”

  “I know you think I’m a mess and that I need a man. But I don’t. I can look after myself. I don’t n
eed your money, and I don’t need you in my bed.”

  “Who said anything about bed?” He smirked.

  “I don’t want to be your sub.”

  “My sub?” He frowned. “Like my sandwich?”

  “No,” I whispered slowly. “I’m not a sexual deviant.”

  “And I am?” His eyes twinkled. “Lucky, how did you know I was going to ask you to be my sub in exchange for paying for your car repairs?”

  “Wait, what?” I frowned up at him and groaned. “Sorry, just ignore everything I just said. I think I’m still half asleep.”

  “Were you dreaming about being my sub?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “So just normal sex then.”

  “Yeah,” I muttered and flushed. “I mean no. I wasn’t dreaming about you at all. I don’t even believe in casual sex. Well, not anymore.”

  “Oh?” Zane sat down on the bed and grinned at me.

  “I need to go and shower.” I turned away, flustered. “You made me confused waking me up out of my sleep like that.”

  “Don’t you want to hear my idea first?”

  “What idea?” I frowned, looking back at him.

  “Sit.” He patted the spot next to him on the bed. “Sit, take a deep breath, and listen.”

  I sat on the bed next to him and looked at him curiously. “You’re really bossy, you know that?”

  “I know.” He grinned. “I also know you’re not the quiet, sweet girl you seemed to be at Lou’s.”

  “Disappointed?” I laughed, self-consciously running my hand through my dark brown hair.

  “Not at all.” He turned towards me and reached over and rubbed something by my eye. “Sorry, you had some sleep in your eye.”

  “Thanks.” I felt breathless as his finger traced down my cheek.

  “You’re beautiful.” His words were slow, and he spoke as if in a trance. “You’re really beautiful.”

  “Thanks.” I bit my lip, unsure of how to answer him. “I’m not really sure what to say.”

  “Can I kiss you?” He leaned towards me, and I shook my head.

  “No.” I held my breath, hoping he would kiss me anyway.