A Real Man: Limited Edition

by Jenika Snow

  “Call,” Brendan said, and I looked up at him.

  Setting my cards down, I showed him my three of a kind. It was only fours, and I knew he could easily beat that if he had a good hand. I tried gauging his expression, but he kept it in place. “Well?” I lifted a brow, hoping to appear more confident than I really was. The fact was I was pretty drunk, and although I only had my bra and panties on, I was really hot. Beads of sweat were lining the length of my spine, my palms, and I even felt it between my breasts.

  “Motherfucker,” Brendan said in a teasing voice, although there was a hint of annoyance in his voice. He tossed his cards down, and I saw he had nothing. The smile widened over my face. “You’re definitely cheating. Two hands in a row?” Before I could respond, he stood and went for the button of his jeans. As he undid it, and pulled the zipper down, that V of muscle that disappeared down the denim became more pronounced, as did the trail of dark hair that started right below his navel.

  It was then that I realized he wasn’t wearing any underwear. I felt my eyes widen as the two sides of his jeans opened all the way. Yeah, he was totally going commando under those pants.

  I looked up at him, knowing my eyes probably looked like saucers, but unable to school my features. I noticed several things right away: he was breathing harder, his gaze was lowered to my chest, and his body seemed strung tight.

  He also was sporting a growing erection.

  “U-um,” I managed to stutter out, not sure what to say. Yeah, I knew this was strip poker when we started playing it, but good God, I guess I hadn’t really been prepared for it.

  “This is the game, yeah?” Brendan finally said, but his voice seemed tight, like maybe he was either uncomfortable or … holding onto his control with a short leash. I should have nodded, or maybe said something, but I was frozen, my throat tight and my voice nonexistent.

  Right when I thought he’d push the pants down and reveal the monster growing between his legs, there were three loud pounds on the front door. My heart seized a second, and I found myself looking in that direction. When neither of us moved, the pounding started again.

  “Fuck,” Brendan said and buttoned his pants up. He picked up his shirt and tossed it to me. “Put that on. I don’t want whoever it is seeing you like that.”

  This flutter of pleasure washed through me at the fact he was looking out for me. I slipped the shirt on despite the fact my clothes were an arm’s reach away. The material smelled like Brendan: dark, spicy, all man.

  I heard Brendan open the front door and then heard a male voice. Whoever spoke sounded mad.

  “Dude, she totally fucked me over,” the guy said.

  “Man, I’m sorry,” Brendan replied.

  I got up, walked over to the kitchen entrance, and leaned around the corner to see Brendan and whom I assumed was his friend, standing by the front door.

  “I just left after I beat the shit out of the little fucker I caught her with and didn’t know where to go.” Then his friend looked my way. “Oh, shit. I didn’t know you had company.” The guy rubbed his hand over his head.

  “I’ll be in my room and give you guys privacy.” I looked at Brendan. He mouthed, “I’m sorry” and “Thank you.” I smiled and nodded, knowing his friend needed him right now. As I headed to my room, I overheard his friend say, “Her room?”

  Before I went into the bedroom, I turned and saw Brendan looking at me, this expression on his face that seemed intense, yet loving. God, if only that love was on a different level … like the level mine was on.

  Brendan

  Several days later

  I hadn’t been able to get the image of Meghan in only her bra and panties out of my mind. I had these really filthy fucking thoughts about telling her to get out of that innocent looking underwear, and how she’d tell me to fuck off, showing me that fire I knew she had. I got turned on when she gave as good as she got, how she didn’t put up with any bullshit. She wasn’t in the best mood because of the issues with getting kicked out of her apartment, but it seemed like she was starting to feel better.

  Hell, I was watching her enough, thinking of all the things I wanted to do to her, and imaging me actually being a real man and telling her I loved her.

  I looked over my shoulder and stared at her as she cooked dinner. Hell, I wanted to go in there and help her, not only because I didn’t want her doing all this shit alone, but because I wanted to be near her. She looked good, though, sexy, with her hair piled high on her head and the shirt she wore too big and hanging off one shoulder.

  “You need any help?” I called out.

  “I’m good,” she replied, but I was off the couch and heading into the kitchen anyway.

  I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms over my chest. She bent over to grab something out of the oven, and my fucking cock jerked to attention as the pants she wore molded to her ass to perfection.

  Fucking. Hell.

  “Shit,” she said on a gasp, and I was by her a second later.

  “What happened?” I asked, seeing her cradle her hand.

  “I just burned myself.”

  I grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her over to the sink. Holding her hand under the running cold water, I looked at her. She was already staring at me, and I felt this zap of electricity move through my body from where I touched her and how we stared at each other.

  “It was quick. I think it’ll be okay,” she said, and I pulled her hand from the water. Looking at it, I wanted to make her feel better. It was a strong feeling in me, one that wanted to keep her safe, even from herself.

  “I should have some burn cream in the first aid kit.” I didn’t wait for her to say anything before I turned to grab the cream.

  “Thank you,” she said after I came back and applied the cream. But I didn’t let go of her hand once it was all said and done. “Thank you,” she whispered this time, but I sensed this heat coming from her, this emotion that I wanted so badly to claim as mine.

  But I forced myself to let go.

  Just tell her how you feel. Tell her how much you love her. But as I opened my mouth, feeling like I could finally do this right here and now, her cell went off.

  Fuck, I swore it was either the phones or someone coming to my house that broke up whatever moment we were having.

  At least, I thought it was a moment. Hell, maybe all of this was in my head? Maybe she was thinking I was crossing a line, but didn’t know how to tell me?

  And maybe you’ll never find out unless you grow a set and just come clean.

  4

  Meghan

  “You’re good?”

  I looked at Brendan. “Sure. I can handle cleanup,” I said and chuckled.

  He gave me this half smile that set my blood on fire.

  His cell went off, and he pulled it out of his pocket to look at it. A sigh left him second later.

  “Everything okay?”

  He nodded and pocketed his phone. “Yeah. It’s just Hunter wanting to go out and drink. I’m not down with that.” He grinned again as he looked at me, and I felt this electricity slam into me. “I was thinking you and I could raid Netflix and find something to watch.”

  My heart did this little flutter at the suggestion. “Yeah, okay.” I hated that I sounded so breathy.

  “I’m just going to go take a quick shower. I smell like work.”

  I laughed and nodded.

  I shouldn’t have let my thoughts control me, but trying not to think about Brendan while living under the same roof with him was impossible. And, honestly? A part of me didn’t want to push those thoughts aside.

  Being his roommate wasn’t like I’d thought it would be. During the short time I’d been here, he was respectful, sweet, and although I knew he’d always been like that, I thought maybe he would be different because I was intruding on his space and time.

  I put the last plate in the dishwasher, popped in one of those cleaning packs, and closed the door. True to my word, and because this was the lea
st I could do, I’d just cooked us a meal and was cleaning up. I tried to be as domestic as I could between work and going to school, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I liked doing this. It seemed weirdly intimate, like we were a team, a partnership.

  It just felt right, and I hated that I had these delusions that there was something more than there was.

  But do you really think there isn’t anything there?

  I thought about the way I saw him look at me, at the fact I swore he felt the connection between us too. Hell, just a few minutes ago, I felt his stare on me as I cleaned up. And when I looked at him, I could see this intensity, this heat spear right through me.

  God, just thinking about it now had me getting all hot and bothered.

  It was another ten minutes before I was done in the kitchen. I heard the shower cut off down the hall, and I couldn’t help the pervy thoughts that slammed into my head.

  Naked.

  Water droplets on his body.

  His flesh slightly red from the shower.

  Lord. I could have had a heart attack.

  I went into the living room, feeling pretty giddy at the prospect of watching a movie with Brendan.

  I am some kind of pathetic, that’s for sure.

  I heard a few knocks on the front door and contemplated ignoring it. I might live here temporarily, but I felt slightly weird answering his door. But then I thought not seeing who it was would be rude as hell, and I found myself walking toward it, gripping the handle, and pulling the door open.

  I saw one of Brendan’s friends on the other side, his focus on his phone for a second before he looked up at me. The grin he gave me was slow, and I felt like he was trying to picture me naked by the way he was eyeing me up and down.

  I thought his name was Hunter.

  I’d met him one other time since being here, and although he was nice enough, I’d felt him checking me out. It was uncomfortable, not because it was him, but because I’d never been one to feel especially good when a guy eye-fucked me.

  “Hey. Brendan around?”

  I nodded and moved back to let him in. Before I could call out to Brendan, Hunter was doing that.

  “Yo, bitch tits. Get your ass out here.”

  I refrained from rolling my eyes at the macho attitude coming from Hunter.

  I turned to go wait in the living room, but Hunter clearing his throat had me stopping and turning around.

  He had this smirk on his face, one that told me he had something nasty on his mind.

  “You seeing anyone?”

  “Kind of a personal question for someone you don’t really know,” I said honestly, not trying to be a bitch about it, but also hating when this kind of thing happened. It wasn’t like it happened a lot, but in college, there had been a few times I got hit on, featuring lewd comments that made me feel like oil had been poured on me. I just knew where this was going by the way he was eyeing me and seeming to smack his lips.

  “Just trying to be friendly,” he said, his grin widening. “So, seeing anyone?”

  “No.”

  His eyebrows lifted slightly. “No? Well, how about you let me take you out?” He came closer, and I turned around, about to tell him no thanks, but he started talking again. “Dinner, movie, and maybe afterward we can head to my place for some drinks?”

  I refrained from rolling my eyes for the second time in less than five minutes of being in his presence tonight.

  Then, surprising the hell out of me, Hunter reached out and wrapped his fingers around a lock of my hair.

  “Just say you’ll go out with me.” He leaned in a little closer, and I cocked my head back, not about to go there with him. Before I could say anything, I heard Brendan.

  “What the fuck, Hunter?”

  Hunter looked to his side.

  “She’s not on the market, so get the fuck away.”

  I was surprised at what Brendan said, but also at the anger coming from him.

  He came closer, his hair damp, and only a pair of sweats hanging low on his hips covering his body. He glared at Hunter, and I looked at the guy, seeing he was still close to me, and still had my hair wrapped around his finger.

  “I said back off, Hunter.” There was a distinctive sharpness in Brendan’s voice, and instantly Hunter moved back. He looked between Brendan and me, then shrugged.

  “I came by to talk you into coming out tonight and drinking.”

  Brendan shook his head. “I texted you back I was busy.”

  Hunter knitted his brows. “Busy with what? You’re like all ready for bed and shit.”

  “I have plans already” was all Brendan said. “I’ll talk to you later.” The finality in Brendan’s voice had Hunter nodding. There was no argument, no trying to push him into going out. Instead, Hunter just turned and left.

  I stood there, wondering what in the hell had happened. Brendan had been protective while we were growing up, but this seemed a lot different. He seemed possessive almost.

  Or was that just my wishful thinking?

  “Brendan, is everything okay?” I ran my now sweaty hands down my jeans and stared at him. He looked down at the ground, his jaw clenched. Under the stubble-covered flesh, I saw a muscle ticking.

  “He didn’t do anything else before I got out here, did he?” He looked at me then, and I shook my head. “He didn’t touch you anywhere but your hair, did he?”

  I shook my head again. “No. But are you okay? You seem … intense and angry about what happened.” Although Hunter had been forward as hell, Brendan’s reaction shocked me. He’d been incensed.

  “I’m fine. It’s just Hunter has a pretty filthy reputation, and I don’t like the idea of him near you.” He looked at me, and I saw something flash across his face.

  Was he lying?

  Was he jealous?

  Before I could really let that sink in, he came up to me, placed his hand on my shoulder, and led me into the living room. I didn’t miss how his fingers flexed on my shoulder, or how I felt his body heat seep into me. I also swore he leaned down and smelled my hair.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked and looked over my shoulder at him. I froze when I saw exactly how close we were. His face was lowered, and the only reason it would be that way was if I had been right and he’d smelled my hair.

  If I rose up, I’d kiss him right now.

  As if I said those words out loud, or maybe he thought the same thing, he lowered his gaze to my lips and held it there for long seconds.

  “How about we watch a movie?” he said in a low, deep voice. He looked into my eyes again and as much as I wanted to kiss him, I nodded and turned back toward the living room.

  Okay, there was something between us, and it wasn’t just one sided.

  5

  Brendan

  Ever since the night I saw Hunter touching Meghan’s hair, and the kitchen incident, I’d tried to stay away and think about how in the hell I was going to go about this. It wasn’t as easy as just telling her how I felt; at least it wasn’t for me. I sure as fuck didn’t want to tiptoe around this, but I also knew I should be slow and gentle, and not just spring this shit on her.

  I’d been the “brother,” the friend, and the guy who always looked out for her. I wanted her so fucking badly, but I knew me acting like that in front of her had confused the hell out of her.

  At least I assumed it had. I didn’t want to give her whiplash.

  If I just had the balls, I would have told her a long time ago that I loved her.

  Tonight. I’d do it tonight after I came home from going out with the guys. Truth was I’d rather stay home with Meghan. But we all had some time off now. With Garrett having caught his girlfriend cheating, and beating the shit out of the guy who’d been plowing her, I knew Garrett needed his friends right now.

  So, it was up to me and a few others to make him feel better. It was the least I could do as a friend.

  But fuck, I wanted to stay home with Meghan. I wanted to just sit next to her, sm
ell the sweet, floral aroma that always clung to her, and touch her because she was mine.

  I grabbed my phone and sent her a text since these plans had just come up right now. I wanted her to know where I’d be and when I’d be back.

  I probably won’t be home until late. Taking a friend out to drown his sorrows.

  I saw three little dots show up on the screen and knew she was typing a reply.

  Meghan: Sorry to hear your friend is upset. I won’t be home until later anyway because I’m studying for finals. Be safe.

  I hated she’d be by herself.

  You be safe, too. If you need me, call. I can be to you in an instant.

  Even if we were carpooling to the bar, I would get to her right away if she needed me. I’d always get to her, because she was my priority.

  Meghan

  I went into my bedroom and shut the door, feeling exhausted. School was in the final stretch of the semester, I had finals coming up next week, and I was trying to pick up extra hours at my mediocre job. Even trying to pretend it didn’t bother me that my former roommate worked at the same place was tiring. But quitting because tension was clear when I saw her wasn’t an option. I needed the money, especially now.

  It had only been days since I moved in with Brendan, and God, it felt good being under the same roof again.

  I was trying to put extra money aside to help Brendan out financially, even if he was adamant I didn’t do that. Cooking him dinner was the least I could do to stay here, but I’d also started doing all the laundry and making sure the house was picked up. He wasn’t horrible in the domestic duties, but the fact remained he lived alone, and it was clear he wasn’t that concerned about keeping up appearances.

  He was funny and a good guy, and the fact he was helping me without expecting anything in return showed me there were decent guys out there. Of course, I’d known this well before now, but being in this situation, just the two of us, really showed me what I could have.