by Layla Frost
“You’re coming back to my place,” Kase whispered.
“Nope,” I answered as if he’d asked me.
Yeah, like that happens.
“You owe me a conversation, starting with why your ma has a different last name.”
“Definitely nope. And you don’t have to whisper.” I jerked my head toward the backseat. “Once Hadley is out, she is out. After two slices of pizza, a giant cookie, and three hours at the arcade, she’ll sleep straight through to the morning.”
“Then it works out perfect that you’re spending the night.”
Since arguing anymore would do exactly nothing, I changed the subject. “You’re really good with her. Do you have kids or siblings?”
Surprise, followed by something I couldn’t decipher, flashed across his face. “No.”
“What was with that look?”
“Just the first time you’ve really asked anything about me. You’re warming up to me, huh?”
“No. I just figured since you’re gonna keep showing up and bossing me around, I might as well ask some questions. You know, the whole know-your-enemy thing.”
His smile turned cocky. Or, in his case, cockier. He patted my hand. “Yeah, you’re crazy about me.”
Time for a clever retort.
Whenever you’re ready.
“You wish,” I mumbled.
Smooth. So smooth.
Any chance of further wittiness was lost when his hand stayed on mine, his index finger drawing random patterns. His darker skin and colorful tattoos contrasted with the paleness of mine.
Not for the first time, I wondered how we’d look with nothing between us.
No clothes to cover us, or space between us.
Just skin against skin.
“Where’s your head at, Harlow?”
I jumped. “What?”
“I asked what time you had class tomorrow. Now I’m more interested in knowing what you were thinking about.”
“Just planning what I’ve gotta do.”
His naked body is on my to-do list now?
Awesome.
No, bad. Very bad. Super naughty…
Rolling my eyes at myself, I sighed and looked out the window as we turned onto my street. “Class is at eight tomorrow and I have a lot of work to catch up on before then.”
“Do it at my house.”
“Uh, no.”
Kase pulled into my driveway and parked. “Why not?”
Rather than going into extensive details about all the various ways being in the same house with him would distract me, I threw open the door and got out. When I turned to get Hadley, Kase was already there, lifting her easily.
“Your hair is soft,” she mumbled to Kase sleepily, putting her head on his shoulder and falling right back to sleep.
“Why not?” he repeated to me, grabbing the booster in his other hand and heading up the walkway.
Left empty handed, I followed after him. “I have a lot to do.”
“Yeah, you’ve already said that.”
Before I could reply, the front door swung open. I knew my mom must have been standing there waiting for us.
“How was dinner?” she asked, taking the booster first and setting it inside.
“It was good,” I said. “We—”
“Probably want some time alone, got it.” Snagging Hadley from Kase, she picked up some bags and handed them to him.
I reached out. “No—”
“I packed your school stuff, plus a few changes of clothes. See you tomorrow. Or in a couple days. Just shoot me a text, you know I worry. Okay, bye!” she said through the already closing the door.
I stood and stared at the closed door.
The lock audibly slid into place.
Slowly, I dropped my outstretched arm. “I think my mom just locked me out.”
Kase wrapped his arm around me. “Looks that way.”
“She wants me to go home with you.”
“Her and I both.”
I lowered my voice, scrunching my face. “I think she thinks we’re doing it.”
He smiled, using his hold to turn me toward his car. “Then she must see the future.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head, even as my body heated at the thought. “You seriously have a ridiculous amount of confidence.”
“Yeah, Edge said you and Ray were talking about that.”
“You’re all a bunch of gossips and perverts.”
“This coming from the chick who had a ten minute discussion about whether the plural of penis was penises or peni.” Kase opened the trunk and put my bags in.
“Hey, that was a very valid and scholarly discussion.”
“Scholarly?”
“Yeah, it was about grammar and anatomy. You were paying attention to that?”
Kase’s smile faded. “I pay attention to everything you say.”
At the surge of intensity between us, my instinct to run and escape kicked into overdrive. Breaking eye contact, I looked into the window. “What’re the chances you’ll give me my bags back?”
“About the same as getting your mom to open the door for you.”
“Yeah, that’s what I figured.” Getting into the car, I waited until Kase was heading to his side before I grinned.
*******
This was a bad idea.
No, this was a stupid idea.
When we got to Kase’s, I was surprised he was actually cool with me working. After connecting my laptop to his Wi-Fi, he left me alone at the semi-cleared off table.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t make my mind focus on anything but him. I was acutely aware of him taking the dogs out and watching a ballgame, though he kept the sound low. Every once in a while he’d ninja sneak by to refill my water bottle.
He was considerate and thoughtful.
I hated it.
Okay, I loved it, but I didn’t want to. The added layer of awesomeness made him all the more irresistible.
“Don’t feel like you have to stay up,” I said when he picked up my cup again. “I still have half a PowerPoint to finish.”
“I’m good.”
“The games over, though.” I twisted in my seat, grimacing as a pain shot through my lower back before it numbed again.
“Those chairs are hard, do you wanna work on the couch?”
I turned to eye the oversized, plush couch longingly. “Will I be in your way?”
“Never,” he said, the word weighty with more meaning than a discussion on comfort called for.
I looked at him, knowing my response held the same emphasis. “Good.”
As seconds ticked past, neither of us moved until my computer dinged with a message, breaking the moment.
I stood and grabbed my stuff as Kase stepped forward. Turning quickly, I kept the laptop between us. “I’m going to get set up.”
He smiled at my buffer attempt. Pushing forward, he pressed his lips to my head. The bitter scent of beer on his breath made his kiss even more appealing. “Want another water?”
“Can I have a beer?”
“Yeah. Go turn the TV off, I’ve gotta take the boys back out.”
I shook my head, reaching into my bag for a set of headphones. “I’ll just listen to music. I can’t do it while I write ‘cause I end up typing lyrics into my paper. But I’m just piecing together the presentation.”
His hands trailed down my sides. The pads of his thumbs skimmed along the line of exposed stomach where my shirt had slid up. Just as quickly, he let go and headed into the kitchen. “Porter, IPA, or stout?”
“Stout,” I called to his retreating back, though my voice was breathy.
Gathering everything, I got set up on the couch, popping on my headphones and stretching out my legs. Immediately, several flaws in my plan became apparent.
As uncomfortable as working at a table had been, the numb butt and back were helping to keep me awake. As I sank further into the couch, my eyes immediately got heavy.
And I thought his bed was a cloud. There’s a
chance I’m never, ever leaving this couch.
The problem I was finding most distracting was that the couch smelled like him. There was the stronger scent of his soap, something crisp and clean. But laced with that, far more subtle, was the smell of the garage and of him.
I found myself wondering if he’d ever been on the couch naked.
Because the likely answer was yes, my pervy brain kept picturing him, adding me on top.
“Here,” Kase said, pulling me from my naughty thoughts as he handed me the beer.
Needing to cool my overheating body and mind, I took a few long gulps.
He grabbed my ankles and lifted them. Sitting, he stretched my legs back over his.
Turning on my music, I got back to work. It was a good thing most of the actual assignment was done, because sitting on the couch was an even worse idea than I’d originally thought.
Kase’s hands stayed on my legs, his thumb sweeping absentmindedly. I’d never thought of my calf as an erogenous zone, but he was proving just that.
Stop being a perv and focus. The sooner you get this work done, the sooner you can climb into that ridiculously comfy bed.
With him.
Possibly a shirtless him.
Scrunching up my face, I sighed. When Kase shook my leg, I slid my headphones off.
“Where are your hipster glasses?”
“What?”
He tapped near his eyes. “You keep squinting.”
“No, I was just trying to, uh, refocus.”
“You squint. It’s cute and all, but you need your glasses.”
“They’re in my bag.” I started to sit up, but Kase beat me to it, grabbing my empty cup as he went.
He returned a minute later with a refilled drink and my purse.
“You could’ve just grabbed them out,” I said, putting them on.
“Even if I wanted to, I doubt I’d have found them in that thing.” Holding his shoulder, he rotated his arm around, the action making his muscles flex. “Think I tore something just picking it up.”
I tossed my bag back at him, aiming for his head.
He caught it easily, flipping it back onto the chair behind him. “How much more work do you have?”
Crossing my legs, I leaned over to look at my notes. “Not much. Like I said, don’t feel like you have to stay up.”
“I’m a night owl.” Grabbing his beer, he sat close to me.
Putting my headphones back on, I worked and drank, thinking maybe, just maybe, my plan wasn’t so flawed after all.
*******
Kase
There goes that plan.
After taking the dogs out, I’d come upstairs to find Harlow passed out. Like, arm hanging off the bed, head not even on the pillow, o-u-t, out.
I wanted to talk.
I wanted to do a fuck of a lot more than that.
Just looking at her long ass legs, my dick got hard.
But she needed to sleep.
I wasn’t sure how she did it. Waking up at the crack ass of dawn and staying up as late as she did couldn’t have been healthy. More than once, I’d had to crash on the couch at Hyde during the day because I was fucking wiped.
Stripping down, I tucked my hard-on into the waistband of my boxers and climbed into bed. Waiting to make sure Harlow stayed asleep, I adjusted my dick again before the band cut off all circulation.
When I inhaled my relief, all I could smell was her and the citrus shampoo she used. My dick jumped.
Fuck. Now I’m gonna get wood every time I see a lime.
I turned away from her and tried to sleep, but all I could think about was waking her with my hands and mouth.
I give up.
Staying as quiet as possible, not that it seemed to matter, I got up and headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I didn’t bother turning on the light.
I leaned against the tile wall, the coolness a jolt against my naked back. Sliding one hand into my boxers, I wrapped my fingers around my cock. It jerked in response, pushing against the fabric. Hooking my other thumb in the waistband, I pulled them down, freeing myself.
Gliding up and down the length, my muscles tightened. I squeezed harder, pumping myself as an image of Harlow formed in my mind.
Feeling like a fuckin’ skeeze, I slowed my movements and tried to clear my thoughts. Instead, the picture became more vivid, my dick getting harder.
Down on her knees, she takes me in her mouth. Her full lips surround my cock, working me as she sucks, all of her bouncy energy going into it. Her hand goes between her legs, sliding into her shorts.
No longer caring that I was a skeevy fuckin’ perv, I closed my eyes and gave in to the fantasy. My fist tightened around myself as I stroked. Harder. Faster.
Pulling her hair, I control her movements as she looks up at me, the dazed, playfulness in her eyes letting me know she’s getting off on it as much as I am.
At that visual, my balls tightened and my head shot back. All thoughts blanked as I came hard, the warmth hitting my stomach and floor as I kept stroking.
When I finished, I reached out for the sink, leaning on it for support as I caught my breath. Grabbing a washcloth, I wet it and cleaned up, flicking the light on long enough to check that I got everything.
My still hard dick refused to go all the way down, but it wasn’t as bad. Readjusting, I tucked it back into my boxers. I tossed the cloth into the hamper and headed to bed.
A bed that had a fuck hot redhead waiting for me.
I’m a sick, sick man.
*******
Harlow
I’m dreaming.
Though I could’ve sworn my eyes were open, I was unsure if I was truly awake, or just hovering in that moment between sleep and full consciousness. Watching Kase, I knew I must have been asleep.
In only his boxers, he crossed the room toward the bed. That sight alone was what dreams were made of. When my gaze dropped lower, I knew I was wrong.
It was what fantasies were made of.
His hard cock was tucked up into the waistband of his boxers, as if he were trying to hide it. If that was his intent, it wasn’t working since a few inches and the head were sticking out.
“Go back to sleep, Harlow,” Kase ordered, his voice a low rumble as he startled me from my hazy in-between.
Trying to orient myself, I widened my eyes.
Annnd, I’m still looking at his hard-on.
Now I’m staring.
Look away. Look away, perv!
“Harlow,” he said, his voice a rough warning.
Scrunching up my face, I sat up. “What time is it?”
“You still got over an hour to sleep.”
I flopped back down. “Thank God.”
When Kase climbed back into bed, my body tensed. I waited, wondering if he’d do something. While it wasn’t the first time we’d slept in the same bed, it was the first time I’d been awake without having to haul ass.
I jumped as Kase reached for me, but he only curled my body into his. I rested my cheek on his shoulder and threw my leg over his. My breath caught when his hand settled on my thigh.
He pressed his lips to the top of my head. “Relax, ipo.”
The tips of his fingers ran along my spine, teasing the sensitive skin. My anticipation grew as I waited for him to dip his hand lower.
When his pattern remained the same, I contemplated making the first move. Before I could, the soothing strokes made my eyes too heavy to even open.
Drifting off, my thoughts were whirling with a muddled confusion.
And an undeniable sense of disappointment.
Chapter Six
Stalkers and Metaphorical Wheaties
Harlow
After oversleeping, I’d shot awake, waking Kase in the process. With no time to pick up my car, he’d dropped me off at school. To my equal parts annoyance and pride, he’d even gotten out to brush his lips across my cheek in a close, intimate looking way.
I’d spent the day trying to ge
t caught up, all while dodging questions from almost everyone that’d seen me with my mysterious tattooed hottie.
Though he’d told me to call him for a ride when I was done with classes, I hopped on the bus to go see Piper at Hyde.
Because of the ugliness of Z’s betrayal, Piper and Jake were selling the garage and building a new one, including an adjoining bakery. Piper had been pushing herself harder than usual to prepare for having a storefront in addition to her custom cakes.
Since I knew what it was like to work an insane amount, I decided to do what a good friend does, and take her to lunch.
If that lunch just happens to involve alcohol based drinks, so be it.
Trying to avoid Kase, I moved quickly and quietly as I made my way through the side entrance and into her kitchen.
Piper looked up from her sketchbook and grinned. “Hey! What’re you doing here?”
“I got the afternoon off. Figured I’d drag you to lunch.”
Indecision flashed across her face as she set the pad aside and picked up her calendar. “I’ve got a busy afternoon, but it’s mostly catching up on emails and updating my social media with the cakes from the last few weeks.”
“How about if we make it a quick one? Only two, maybe seven drinks.”
Tossing her stuff to the side, she stood. “Deal. But we’ll have to go someplace close.” Her smile turned secretive as she looked to the side and tried to act innocent. “How about Rye?”
“Still? Really?” I shook my head. “Rhys and I aren’t gonna happen. I might consider drinking shots out of his dimples. And, sure, I’ll let him talk to me with that lazy drawl. Plus, he can definitely smile at me all day, every day. But that’s as far as it’ll go.”
“Fine,” she said on a sigh. “If you’re not into him, who are—”
Before she could finish her question, her cell phone started ringing.
“Go ahead and get it,” I said, relieved to avoid that conversation.
My good vibe changed as I watched her body tighten.
Her face paled and her eyes widened. “Why? No, I get it. Uhh, yeah, I’ll be right there.” She glanced down at her jeans and fitted tee, both splattered with bits of frosting and flour. Reaching up, her shaking fingers touched the messy hair bun. “I’m at work right now. Do I have time to go get changed?” She closed her eyes and nodded. “Yeah, no, it’s okay. All right. Thanks for giving me the heads-up. I’ll… I’ll be right there.”