by Bethany-Kris
It wasn’t her dad.
“Hello?”
“Are you here yet?”
Camilla’s excitement had her words coming out in a high screech. Or something very fucking close to it. Laughing, August pulled the phone away from her ear a bit to save what might be left of her eardrums.
“Yes, we just got to the apartment,” she said, “and I was planning on calling you—”
“Not soon enough!”
“God, I love you, Cam.”
“I know,” her friend chirped happily. “Was the flight good?”
“Yeah, and my companion, too.”
She swore she could feel Camilla’s smirk when she replied, “Listen, you know I wouldn’t usually give out your info like that to people ... but it was Beni. And he’s clearly on for you, if you get what I’m saying here. Besides, I also have ulterior motives for doing what I did—”
“Yes, making me move here.”
“No shame in my game.”
“Cam.”
“Hmm?”
She was going to keep this secret until she had everything figured out, and could lay it all out on the table, but the thing was ... that wasn’t something Camilla would ever care about. She didn’t need details—she just wanted to know.
“I quit Bared Brands,” August said.
It took Cam a second.
Then, two.
“When?”
“Yesterday before I knew Beni was there.”
“Does that mean—”
“It means what you think it means.”
This time, August was smart. She was learning from her mistakes, which meant as soon as those words left her lips, she pulled the phone away from her ear so that Camilla’s responding yelling wouldn’t give her a headache.
She could still hear it buzzing in the speakers, though.
Shaking her head, August pulled the phone back to her ear when she figured it was safe to do so. Although, that was a hit or miss when it came to Camilla. The girl couldn’t be contained, and it was better not to try.
“I am so excited!”
“I can tell.”
Camilla laughed. “Have you told—”
“You and Beni.”
“Yikes. Not your parents?”
“They’re not like you ... they’ll feel better to know once I have everything settled out. A job to show them, a place to stay, you know? That’s all.”
“I get it.” Camilla sighed, but it still sounded like a happy one. “And also, I mean a place to stay should be easy—I hear Beni lost his roommate and all, so ...”
“Don’t get me with the shit, Cam.”
“I’m just saying!”
August laughed under her breath. “Nice try. I will call you later, or tomorrow. We’ll figure out something to meet up.”
“I am free all weekend, and even if I wasn’t, I would just call in.”
“You’re terrible.”
“Terribly lovely, you mean.”
“Nope—just plain terrible. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
It was the dark, sexy chuckles ringing out from behind August as she hung up the phone that alerted her to the fact Beni was leaning over the back of the couch, watching her with amusement coloring his handsome face. He didn’t look the least bit ashamed to have been caught spying on her when she turned to face him with a raised eyebrow.
“Seriously?” she asked.
“What?”
“I literally ignored your conversation for the sake of privacy, and you can’t even be bothered to try for me.”
He shrugged. “I was enjoying myself. Watching you when you’re talking with Cam—reminds me of me and my brothers, I guess.”
“Does it?”
“Yeah.”
“She’s kind of like a sister for me.”
“How long have you been friends?”
“Too many years to count,” August admitted, “and she knows more about me than anyone else in the world.”
That had Beni standing straight, his hands fisting into the leather of the back of the couch as he said, “We’ll see about that ... you know, now that I’m around.”
“Oh, don’t start that.”
“Start what?”
“I have one jealous person in my life—Cam. Don’t make it two.”
“Too late.”
His joking tone had her grinning.
“You know, I hadn’t realized the last time I was here, but the place is kind of empty without your twin’s stuff, huh?”
Beni’s natural expression scanned the living room, and the few empty spaces on the wall. “I never really noticed—I was more concerned with the fact he was gone, honestly. That was something that took a while to get used to. Still not feeling great about it, but what can you do?”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
No, she didn’t think it was.
Undoubtedly, being separated from his twin, who it was clear he was close to and loved, hurt him just as much as it did his brother. The only difference, perhaps, was that Beni was slightly better at hiding his emotions and dealing with them than his twin was at the end of the day.
August didn’t like him sad.
Not at all.
She wanted that sexy smile back.
His jokes, too.
All of it.
He came around the side of the couch as she crossed the space to close the distance between them with a grin, determined to get him happy and feeling good in a way only she could. It was the way his lips curved at the edges, knowing and wicked, that said he knew exactly what she had in mind for them.
Him on the couch.
Her on her knees.
Sucking him off.
Yes.
“So, I promised Cam I would figure out something this weekend to hang with her,” she said, hands coming up to find his chest before she pushed him down to the couch. “And I am sure you will help me work that out.”
Beni’s laughter came out dark, and husky. “You know, I have to go grab a pack of condoms because I’m out.”
“I’m on the shot.”
He grunted thickly. “What?”
“Mmhmm, and since you’re the only person I’m fucking, and I had better be the only person you’re fucking—”
“You know you are.”
“Then, I think we’re okay.”
“Good to know.” He swallowed audibly. “And something is already in the works to meet up with Cam, and the rest.”
She dropped down to her knees between his spread legs, her hands working fast at his zipper and button to get them undone. Through the fabric of his slacks, she could already feel his erection straining against her palm when she stroked him.
“How so?”
“We were thinking a big party at a club.”
“How big?”
“Open invite to a group of people.”
August arched a brow when he lifted just enough to let her tug his pants and boxer-briefs down around his hips. And there he was—his cock was free for her hands to fist his length, and she did just that, stroking his dick hard and fast, tightening around the tip just the way she knew he liked, and then again at the base. There was nothing particularly beautiful about a man’s cock, and yet, she loved the way his looked. It didn’t matter if she was jerking him off, he was just getting out of the shower with a semi, or he was stretching her out and she could watch him do it ... she loved it, wanted it.
“Fuck,” Beni groaned.
“And when are we going to this club?”
“Woman, stop talking and suck my dick.”
August grinned. “Well ...”
“You’re killing me here.”
But damn ...
He looked so fucking good like this. All taunt, and tense, watching her with hooded eyes that both begged and demanded all at once that she get her mouth on his cock instead of just letting her lips hover over the tip ... teasing. The strong muscles of his thighs jumped under her palm when she placed it do
wn.
“August—”
“When are we going?”
“If all goes well, tomorrow night. Now, stop playing with me, and—”
She took him into her mouth.
That long, deep groan never sounded better.
• • •
Beni hadn’t lied; the club was packed. Considering he nodded and spoke to far more people than August could keep track of, she assumed that open invitation he mentioned the evening before had meant exactly that. Anyone who knew anyone was welcome to make a stop at the club owned by the Rossi brothers, have a drink on them, say hello, and party.
“Oh, look at this one,” Cam said, leaning over in the booth to get close enough that August could see the screen of her phone. Even over the loud music, and all the people moving about in the VIP section, August could still hear her friend pretty well. She had already been up on the floor dancing—with Cam, and then Beni. Right now, she was trying to let her feet have a rest. “What do you think?”
“What do I need three bedrooms for?”
Cam shrugged. “I mean, I need two just for my clothes, so ...”
“That’s because you have a problem.”
“Rude.”
August’s laughter melted into a sigh when Beni slipped into the booth on her side, tossed an arm over her shoulders, and pulled her in for a kiss that he pressed to her temple. “Where did you go to?”
“A drink order.”
“Tommaso has had enough to drink tonight,” Camilla said loudly.
“Don’t be like that, Cam,” her husband shouted back from the other side of the room. Apparently, he had been watching and listening. “You know—”
His words were cut off by someone to his left that stepped in his line of vision.
August only shook her head.
“Did he drink a lot tonight?” she asked Beni.
He shrugged. “A little. Just enough.”
“Enough for what?”
Beni winked. “To make it look good.”
She had no idea what he was talking about.
“Well, an answer on this one would be great,” Cam said, waving the phone.
August gave her a look. “I don’t need three bedrooms.”
“Besides, she’ll probably be staying with me anyway.”
Beni grinned when August swung his way.
“We didn’t discuss that,” she said.
“Do you really want to jump between apartments throughout the week? A night at my place, one at yours—that seems ... like a waste.”
He wasn’t wrong.
At the same time ...
“I’ve lived alone for years.”
“And I slept alone for years,” he countered. “But now I sleep better when you’re in bed, too. What’s the difference?”
Uh ...
“I will turn your place into a girl’s haven. You will have to deal with Cam constantly. I wake up at six every day because I need that extra time for my hair. You don’t have nearly enough books in your place. Oh, and you snore.”
Beni guffawed. “I do not.”
Okay, so he didn’t.
“And you know you’re considering it because all those reasons you just gave are excuses. Admit it.”
“Stop making good arguments for crazy things,” she said, trying not to sound whiney.
Across the booth, Camilla giggled. She hid her face by looking down at her phone, but it didn’t matter because August had still heard it.
Damn her.
“Later?” he asked.
August nodded. “Definitely coming back to this later.”
“Works for me.”
Of course.
Because he was getting what he wanted.
Possibly.
And maybe, so was she.
This was nuts.
“Drinks, drinks, drinks!”
Their conversation about her future living situation was put aside as the Rossi brothers approached the table, both carrying trays full of drinks.
“Was that your drink order?”
Beni chuckled. “Yeah, but I didn’t think they would bring it.”
“Good to make them work,” Cam said, “keeps them humble.”
“That’s enough of that,” Cory grumbled.
“Just saying.”
More trays were carried through.
Cory slapped a guy on the shoulder that August didn’t recognize, but a few others seemed to, including Beni. “Thanks for the help, Neil.”
“Yeah. No worries, thanks for the invite.”
“Of course.”
The guy—Neil—glanced Beni’s way, asking, “Where did you disappear to on Friday? Thought you were supposed to be working with the rest of the guys in the crew?”
“Something more important,” Beni said. “Besides, you’ve got the crew handled on the east side, right?”
“Always have.”
“Right.”
Before the guy could reply, Tommaso came up to the table with a grin, reaching for one of the lowballs of whiskey. Lucky for him, because he did look a little drunk—totally unusual for Tommaso; he didn’t drink heavily in public—Camilla missed it until he was downing the drink, and it was already too late.
“Tom,” she warned.
“Relax, I’m fine,” he replied, glancing Beni’s way to ask, “and speaking of the east side, did they move that shipment of cocaine again?”
Beni nodded. “Yeah, sure did.”
“The one he uses on the west end?”
“Looks like it.” Beni reached for one of the red vodka drinks, handing it over to August with a wink. “But that’s enough business for tonight—we’re here to have fun.”
Tommaso grinned. “Right, fun.”
Neil slipped away from the table.
No one else seemed to notice, though.
August went back to her friends, her drink, and her man. Nothing else mattered to her except having a good time.
• • •
“I’m not that drunk,” Tommaso grumbled.
“You overdid it a little,” Beni replied, “and I only needed you to seem like it, you fucker.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Time for bed,” Camilla said loudly, clapping her hands and gaining her husband’s attention in the process, “because I swear to God, Tom, if you make me clean puke tonight ... you will live with your mother for the next month.”
“Maybe she’d be okay with that.”
Camilla smiled coolly. “But would you?”
August hid her laughter into her palm.
“Fine,” Tommaso grumbled. “You all ruin my fun all the time.”
“And that’s a lie,” Beni replied. “Do you need me to help you get him to bed, Cam, or ...?”
Camilla took Beni’s place at Tommaso’s side as they headed further down the foyer of the large home. “No, I got him. As for you two ... use the small guest house over the pool, okay? I know you can call an Uber, or whatever, but just stay off the roads altogether. We don’t mind, and someone is going to have to drag his ass out of bed tomorrow with the hangover he’s going to have.”
Beni looked August’s way.
A silent question.
She shrugged. “Sure, we’ll stay here.”
Why not?
“And the pool is cool to use, if you want,” her friend added before she disappeared around the far corner.
“That could be fun.”
August’s brow dipped. “What?”
“The pool.”
“Oh, my God, Beni.”
“Why not?”
She had a million reasons.
Her hair, for starters.
The fact she was slightly buzzed.
More.
His stare kept her quiet.
“Race you,” she whispered before darting down the hall.
“Unfair!”
Their dip in the pool only lasted as long as it took for Beni’s self-control to snap. By means of his hands pinning her to the wall of t
he pool while his hot kisses found her throat. She managed to convince him to get out of the pool, and away from where they might be seen, but fucking barely.
And as much as she tried to keep her hair dry in the pool, the ends still managed to get dunked under the water. Not that she could think of that what with the fact Beni had found the closest flat surface he could to sit her on, which just happened to be the fucking couch in the sitting room that the pool house led into, and now he was between her thighs.
Eating her.
Or feasting, really.
There was something about the sight of this man on his knees for her, his tongue and lips and mouth loving her pussy while his eyes locked on hers that just drove her crazy. It made her hotter than ever. And to see her wetness on his lips, slick with her ... yeah, damn, that was something else.
Never had there been a sexier sight to be seen than Beni between her thighs. He ate her like he was worshiping a god at an altar, and this was his very favorite way to pray.
He knew just what to do.
How to tease with his tongue to bring her right to the edge, and then quickly dive right back into her slit with firm strokes to soothe her back down. It was enough to make her want to beg for him to let her come, but hell ... she loved the sight of him like this.
All of him, really.
“You ready to come?” he asked, tone husky.
God, that need.
It was great.
She could hear every bit of it.
“Gonna come for me?”
“Y-yes.”
His grin was all she saw before his tongue replaced his two fingers rubbing hard circles into her clit. That steady, fast beat was enough to send her flying right back to the edge again. He knew exactly how to play her body for him.
“Oh, my God ... Oh, my God.”
Her words came out in heavy pants, shoulders arching as that tingling wash of pleasure started deep in her womb, promising bliss was soon to follow. The softness of his hair tangled in her fingers, his thick approval coming out in a groan that vibrated against her slit.
And then she was coming.
Hard, fast, and so unsteady.
“Fuck, yeah,” he murmured, kisses dotting up her stomach as he rose higher to hover above her parted lips. She hadn’t stopped trembling, that orgasm was still echoing, and he looked so fucking pleased with himself for having done it, too. “What do you want now, huh?”
“For you to kiss me.”
Beni grinned. “Wanna know how you taste?”
“I taste better on you.”