by Nyora René
She didn’t care that LL was rapping about a girl he liked and the song didn’t match Brendon’s relationship with her. She liked the lyrics and set the ringtone. None of his previous girlfriends appreciated the ringtone, but he and Crystal were a package deal. If you couldn’t deal with her, then there was no future with him. He refused to compromise on that point.
“What’s up, Crys?” he answered.
“Hey, I wanted to drop by today to discuss the tiny home community with you. I have some estimates from different companies for the cost of the homes. You have any free time?” Her honeyed tones drifted to him across the line.
His shoulders relaxed into the chair, and he propped his feet up on the desk beside his journal, crossing them at the ankles.
“For you, I’ll make time,” he told her.
“Aren’t you sweet,” she gushed.
“When do you want to come by? You can come here to the office. I don’t have another appointment for two hours. I cleared most of today to do paperwork, and I’m ahead. Or you can come by the house later tonight, and we can discuss this over dinner. What do you say?” He hoped she chose dinner.
“I’m supposed to meet Amethyst at the movies tonight, otherwise I’d take you up on the dinner option. I’m not that far away, so I can be there in about five to ten minutes. That okay?” she asked.
His heart sank and he banged his head against the top of his chair. “Yeah, that’s fine,” he said.
“Cool, see you in a bit,” she said before hanging up.
“Well, at least I get to see her today,” he murmured.
Glancing at his desk, he closed his journal and tidied up his work area, filing the little paperwork he had and putting his pens back in the holder. He glanced at his phone and decided to wait until she was there to put it on silent. If anyone needed him, they could call his office.
A few minutes later, a soft knock fell on his door. He stood up, calling for the person to enter, and Crystal walked in, smiling. They hugged and he pulled back to take her in. She wore a white T-shirt, what she called “boyfriend jeans” that were ripped, and a pair of white Converse low top sneakers. Her hair was in two braids and she wore little makeup, but her face still glowed. As usual, his body reacted to the loveliness in front of him, his manhood hardening and his mouth watering.
Brendon waited until she sat down in the chair in front of his large desk before he walked around to sit in his chair, hiding his physical reaction from her.
“The other night I couldn’t sleep, so I took the initiative and started researching and pricing different companies that build tiny homes,” she said, reaching into her large purse and pulling out her iPad.
His brow furrowed and he leaned forward. “You okay? Why didn’t you call me?”
She waved his concern away, her eyes on the tablet on her lap. “It was nothing, my mind wouldn’t shut down. You know how it can be sometimes. Anyway, I have some preliminary numbers for the cost of building the homes.”
He frowned but held out his hand for the tablet she held. “Let me see.”
He perused the numbers, smiling at the spreadsheet that had each company and the price per home. The spreadsheet allowed him to compare the costs without having to flip from website to website.
“What about materials? Quality? Reputation?” he asked, eyes on the numbers.
As Crystal stood and walked over to stand behind him, the energy in the room shifted. She pointed out the different companies and told him what she thought of each. As she talked, he placed the tablet down and opened up his web browser on the computer. Crystal perched her bottom on the edge of the desk and leaned over him to see the computer and occasionally point out details, one of her hands resting on his shoulder.
“This company tries to locally source as many supplies as possible, but that can be pricey. On the other hand, we’re investing in local businesses,” she murmured in his ear. A shiver ran down his spine as her breath caressed his ear. Man, he had it bad.
They were interrupted by a hard knock on his door.
“Come in,” he barked, not pleased with the interruption.
Aiden peeked his head around the door. “Sorry, boss, but we’re having a problem with one of the customers. She refuses to leave and insists on talking to you and only you.”
He groaned and Crystal chuckled. “Go ahead, boss man, and handle your business, I’ll be right here when you get back.”
Brendon stood, picked Crystal up, and sat her in his seat. “Hang tight, I’ll be right back.”
He followed Aiden out the door, wondering who was cutting up in his gym, and why they insisted on speaking to only him.
Crystal sighed, her body humming from when Brendon had picked her up without warning and placed her in his seat, which still held his body heat and musky scent.
She relaxed into the butter-soft leather and closed her eyes, imagining that he was still in the office with her, but she was seated on his lap instead. Earlier when she was pointing out different features on one of the company’s websites, she’d been so tempted to bite his earlobe as she whispered her comments in his ear. He’d smelled so damn good!
“Get it together, girl. The last thing you need is for him to sense your arousal and make things awkward,” she told herself.
Her cell phone rang and she walked around the desk to retrieve it from her purse. Seeing one of the contractors’ name and number pop up on her screen, she quickly answered.
As she listened, she looked around for something to write on. Spotting a dark leatherbound book on his desk, she opened it, flipping through, looking for a blank page. She quickly realized it was his journal when she noted the date entries and style of writing. As she turned the pages, her name caught her eye, and as much as she wanted to be nosy and read it, she needed to get the information from the builder down, so she put a finger on the page and kept going until she came to a blank page.
She jotted down the notes and promised to get back with the company after speaking with Brendon. Hanging up, she sat the phone down slowly. Biting her bottom lip, she softly caressed her chin, contemplating if she should invade Brendon’s privacy and read his journal.
“Is it really invading his privacy if I see my name? That means it’s about me, so technically that’s my business…”
She glanced around the office and looked out the window. Brendon was below talking to the customer. Quickly turning back to the page, she read the entry dated yesterday, her eyes widening and her heart taking off at a gallop.
“Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod….” she repeated over and over again, her breath coming out in short pants as her nipples hardened painfully. Her panties became soaked the more she read, putting her in danger of seeping through her jeans.
She took another glance out the window to see where Brendon was, and he was still talking to the customer. She went back to the journal and flipped back a few pages. Never had she suspected Brendon had such a dirty mind. This was better than reading smut.
Crystal slammed the book closed after she read the fourth entry, fanning herself and panting. She grabbed her phone and pulled up her camera app, quickly turning to yesterday’s entry and snapping a picture. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Brendon jogging up the stairs.
Slamming the book closed, she put it back beside the picture of his mom and rounded the desk to sit in his chair. Her bottom touched the seat of the chair just as he opened the door. She fought to control her breathing, a sweat breaking out over her forehead.
“Everything okay?” she asked, taking shallow breaths.
He paused mid-stride, his brow furrowing, head tilted to the side. “Yeah, you good?”
Crystal cleared her throat. “Y-yeah, why?”
He walked over and placed a hand on her forehead. “You sound like you’re struggling to pull in air, and you’ve got a fine sheen of sweat on your forehead and hairline. You sure you’re not sick?” He checked her temperature with the back of his hand.
“I’m fine,
but I do need to go. I received a phone call and I need to go uh…handle some uh…business,” she told him, standing and walking to her purse.
“You sure you okay?” he asked, stopping her movement towards the door by placing a hand on her arm. She shivered at the contact and he cupped her face in his hands, his eyes roving over her face before boring into hers.
She was about to go up in flames. Her shirt was lightly sticking to her skin, her jeans, although slightly baggy, felt tight. Her thong was soaked and was uncomfortably wedged up her ass. She hoped her padded bra hid her diamond-hard nipples.
“I promise I’m…um…fine…I’ll call you tomorrow morning so we can talk about the builders,” she told him, struggling to maintain eye contact.
“My first appointment isn’t until eleven. How about I drop by around eight-thirty with breakfast?” he asked, dropping his hands from her face.
She nodded and then bid him goodbye, hurrying out of the office and almost stumbling down the stairs in her hurry to get away.
Once she made it to the safety of her car, she turned on the vehicle and put the AC on its highest level. Leaning into the powerful blast of icy air, Crystal closed her eyes, her mind wandering back to the words Brendon had written.
She pressed the button to activate a phone call. “Call Prince Eric,” she croaked out.
When her sister, Jade picked up, she rushed into speech.
“I need a sister video chat, stat. I need some serious help, you will not believe what just happened,” she said, not stopping to take a breath or let Jade talk.
“First of all, are you okay? Are you hurt?” Jade asked frantically.
“I’m fine, nothing is wrong…but ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod…” she panted.
“Hey, hey, get it together. This better be damn good with as dramatic as your ass is acting,” Jade teased.
“Girl, you have no idea…can you talk tonight around seven? I’m supposed to go to the movies with Amethyst, but I’m going to have to cancel. This is important.”
“You are so lucky I love you. Seven at night your time is literally the middle of the night here. Set it up with Ruby and Amethyst and let me know,” Jade said.
“You’re the best,” Crystal said, her heart rate finally slowing. She turned down the air and leaned back in her seat. Quickly she texted Amethyst and Ruby sending out an “SOS” message, requesting them to meet up at her house and video with Jade.
After assuring them that nothing was wrong, but that the meeting was urgent, they agreed to come to her house around six forty-five. She sighed in relief…and happiness. Smiling, she looked around and checked her mirrors before pulling out of the parking lot. She had a lot to think about before she met with her sisters…but first on her list? Getting some instant, temporary relief from her battery-operated boyfriend, as she recalled the words in Brendon’s journal.
6
“Girl, this better be good for you to have me leave work early to come here,” Ruby said by way of greeting as Crystal let her into her home.
Crystal waited until Ruby placed her coat in the closet before giving her a hug.
“I thought the workday was from eight to five? It’s a quarter to seven and you talking about you left work early,” Crystal muttered as they walked into the living room. Ruby sat beside Amethyst, who had arrived a few minutes ago, on the dark grey couch.
“Says the person who works all hours of the day selling flat tummy tea and butt enhancers,” sniped Ruby.
“Anyways, thank you for coming tonight.”
Ruby turned towards Amethyst, placing her knee sideways on the couch with her arm draped along the back.
“Do you know why she summoned us here? Has she told you anything?” Ruby asked Amethyst.
Amethyst rolled her eyes. “She wouldn’t say, wouldn’t even give me a hint,” she huffed, glaring at Crystal.
Crystal blew out a long breath and gazed at the cathedral ceiling while she counted to ten. If she didn’t need advice so badly, she wouldn’t have called Ruby over. When she and her sisters were younger and still living with their parents, they’d made a pact to always seek each other out when they needed advice instead of listening to people who may or may not have their best interests at heart. Twelve years later, and they still did sister circle whenever one of them had something they needed to work through.
“You’re talking about me, in my own damn home, like I’m not standing right here. I didn’t say anything to anyone, not even Jade, because one, it’s hard to wrap my mind around, and two, I didn’t want to have to repeat myself any more than necessary.”
Amethyst grimaced. “You’re right, we are being rude. I’m sorry.”
Ruby harrumphed but apologized as well. After taking their drink requests, Crystal walked into her kitchen to get Ruby’s red wine and iced water for her and Amethyst. Placing everything on a small silver serving tray, she walked back into the living room and handed out drinks.
Once everyone was seated on the couch, Crystal turned on the fifty-five-inch smart tv and grabbed her phone, immediately texting Jade the link for their video chat. Once Jade clicked on the link and her face appeared on Crystal’s phone, she cast the video to the television, which also had a webcam attached to it.
Clearly Jade had been in bed, as she had on her satin bonnet and sleeping gown. Her golden skin was makeup free, making her look eighteen and not twenty-eight.
After everyone said hello, Crystal jumped right in.
“So, you know how I’ve been agonizing over my feelings for Brendon?” she asked, glancing around at her sisters.
“You’ve only talked about how much you love him for the last ten years,” Ruby said drily, taking a sip of her wine.
“Yeah, Ruby is right, which is a phrase I hate saying. You’ve been going on and on about Brendon for years, what’s new?” Jade asked, laying on her side, head propped up with her hand.
Crystal took a deep breath. “I didn’t think he returned my feelings, as you all know. But something happened today that made me think that he sees me as more than just a friend.”
Jade abruptly sat up, eyes wide. Ruby straightened from her comfortable slouch, and Amethyst grabbed Crystal’s hands, smiling.
“Girl, drop the suspense and tell us the tea! Did you finally tongue him down?” Jade asked, leaning forward towards the camera.
“And was it as good as you imagined?” Amethyst asked, high-fiving Ruby above Crystal’s head.
“What? No! We didn’t kiss, but I wish we would have.”
All three sisters sighed. Jade flopped back, Ruby took a gulp of wine, Amethyst shook her head.
“I know you didn’t insist on a sister circle in the middle of the night, to talk about your fantasy about Brendon,” Jade said, scowling.
“No, I do not want to talk about my fantasy…but I wanted to tell you about his.” Crystal glanced at each sister to gauge their reactions.
Silence. No noise, and she thought that Jade had frozen she was so still. That only lasted for a minute.
“If you tell me you are not the star of his wet dreams, I swear I’m getting on the next plane and staging an intervention for you and Brendon,” Jade snarled.
“And I’m going to help her,” Ruby said.
“Ditto,” Amethyst chimed in.
Crystal shoved Ruby and Amethyst with her elbows and glared at Jade through the screen. “Will you three shut up? I’m trying to tell you what happened.”
“No, you’re being dramatic, as usual. Just spit it out, Crystal,” Ruby said, crossing her arms and shaking her head.
“Okay, okay. So earlier today I was in Brendon’s office. He’d stepped out to handle a difficult client, when I got a phone call from a company Brendon and I are thinking about using for a project we’re collaborating on. Anyway, I was searching for something to write on and grabbed his journal to write on a piece of paper. I noticed my name written on one of the pages, but couldn’t read the entry because I was still on the phone handling business, s
o I put my finger down to hold the page.”
“Pause. You were riffling through his things? Sis, that’s not cool,” Ruby told her.
Jade rolled her eyes. “Ruby, chill. They know and share everything with each other, and I’m sure he wouldn’t trip if she read his journal which was in plain sight.”
“Anyway, after the phone call, I went back to the entry and read it. You all will not believe what I read!” Crystal stood and paced the length of the living room. As she paced the wooden floors, she repeated word for word what Brendon wrote about her. She’d memorized the journal entry she took a picture of. The imagery was seared on her brain and she’d come so many times from her vibrator as she imagined Brendon acting on his thoughts that her clit was sensitive.
Once she’d finished reciting the entry, she looked at her sisters, all of whom had their mouths open and eyes comically wide. Jade was fanning herself, Amethyst was pulling the neckline of her shirt back and forth, and Ruby’s mouth kept opening and closing. For a full minute, silence reigned.
“He’s a super freak, super freak,” Jade sang, breaking the silence.
Ruby snorted and then burst into a full throaty laugh, clutching her stomach as she leaned back against the couch. Amethyst choked on the sip of water she’d just taken, and Jade had stood up and was dancing and gyrating on her bed.
Crystal joined Jade singing, all four of the sisters laughing. Once they’d finished singing, Ruby brought everyone’s attention back to Crystal and Brendon.
“From how he talked about wanting to taste every inch of your body, even your crusty-ass toes, it’s safe to say that Brendon wants to lick you up and down,” Ruby said.
“And she BET NOT SAY STOP!” Amethyst shouted, prompting all three sisters to look at her and laugh. She blushed and shrugged.
“What happened after you practically orgasmed in his office from reading his innermost thoughts?” Jade asked.
Crystal flopped back down on the couch between Jade and Amethyst. “I was so discombobulated. So many thoughts and feelings were coursing through my body. Lust, excitement, happiness that he wanted me, and relief that I wasn’t pining after my best friend for nothing. I made up some excuse and hightailed it out of the gym.”