Stuck in Between (Bound by Your Love)

by Bennett, Blakely

  “Something’s going on with you. You haven’t shared anything about your dates lately, and that’s not like you. I’m forever dumping my problems in your lap and lately it’s been one sided —”

  “It’s not something I can talk about.”

  “I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Don’t go anywhere,” I said and hung up. I had been so wrapped up in sorting through my own drama that I’d dismissed Lainie’s general withholding of information.

  I gathered a couple sets of clothing to bring to Red’s and grabbed my bag.

  “You didn’t need to come by,” Lainie said. She flipped the bolt lock and followed me into the living room.

  “I was worried and you know you would’ve done the same thing. What’s going on?” I sat down on the couch and looked up at her.

  She appeared agitated, which was not at all like her. She said, “It’s not something I’m free to talk about at this point.”

  “That doesn’t sound good. Are you okay? Are you safe? Are you worried someone is going to show up here?”

  She glanced over her shoulder, and I could tell that I got that right.

  “I can blow off Red’s, and we can go out if you’d like,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “You can stay at my place. Tell me how I can help you.”

  She shook her head. “I just need a drink. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll get ready.”

  I trailed after her into the bedroom and plopped down on her bed. “I don’t want to push you to talk about it, but you should know that I’d never share what you tell me with anyone.”

  “Jacqueline, it’s not a matter of me trusting you, which I do, I just made a promise and—”

  “Okay, but I’m here when you’re ready—any day, anytime.”

  “Thanks for understanding.”

  I didn’t understand, but whatever she was keeping from me couldn’t be good. Maybe because my life currently revolved around two men, I assumed her mood and upset had to do with a lover. A lover she had been keeping a secret.

  She kept on her jeans and slipped on a gray-blue, long-sleeved top. “Is it cold out?”

  “It’s a warm night. Are you up for going to Red’s or shall we do something else?”

  “Red’s is ok—” she started until her phone signaled a text. She retrieved it from the bed and read. She pursed her mouth and turned it off. “Let’s go.”

  I drove us to Red’s and we rode in veritable silence. I hoped hanging out with the gang would brighten her mood.

  “Park along the road in case I want to take off early,” Lainie said.

  “Sure.”

  “Will Bond be here tonight?”

  “According to him, no, but that remains to be seen.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Lainie?”

  “What?”

  “Thanks for coming. It means a lot to me.”

  “Yeah, I know. Let’s get me that drink.”

  Lainie had never been given a nickname from Bond because she made her feelings clear regarding his behavior towards me, and I loved her for it. It was like having my own personal bulldog.

  When we walked through the house into the kitchen, we could see Red, Blue, and Stay through the window to the back. Lainie took two hard cider bottles out of the refrigerator and handed me one.

  “Thanks,” I said, twisting off the cap. I took a sip and observed my friends out back. My gut twisted over what I might find out from Blue; however my heart filled with joy over spending the night in Red’s arms again. As if he could hear my thoughts, he turned my way and smiled.

  When Lainie and I headed out back, Blue mumbled a quick hello and stole inside.

  I witnessed Stay’s face light up when he saw that Lainie was with me.

  “Hey ladies,” Stay said. He hugged me close and whispered, “We need to talk.”

  “Hey to you too,” I said, stepping out of his embrace.

  “Lainie, are you up to some pool?” Stay asked.

  “Sure,” she said.

  They left Red and me alone outside. We stood facing each other.

  “This is weird,” I said.

  “Let’s go upstairs for a minute.” Not giving me a chance to respond, he grasped my hand and pulled me along with him.

  “You’re so pushy,” I said, once we entered his bedroom. I tried to suppress my laughter.

  “This is probably our only chance to steal away for a few minutes.”

  “I brought a few more clothes with me.” I took the items out of my backpack.

  “Top drawer on the right is empty.”

  “That’s so sweet,” I said, putting my belongings away.

  He cornered me against the dresser, and pressed his body to my back. “There’s nothing sweet about it.”

  “Oh,” I said, twisting in his arms to face him. “You’re happy to see me?” I batted my eyelashes.

  “Oh, yes,” he said, lifting me onto the chest of drawers. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too.” I fingered his bottom lip and ran my hands over his bristly, red beard.

  He dipped his lips to mine, and I sighed into his mouth. Our kiss rapidly escalated, scorching my libido and sending an aching heat to my pussy.

  Breaking off the kiss, I declared, “Unless you plan to take me, right here, right now, we had better stop.”

  “Sorry, love. It’s hard not to get carried away with you.”

  I cupped his erection over his jeans and said, “Yes, he is hard.”

  “Behave yourself, Little One, or I might have to punish you,” he said, moving back a step.

  “Promises, promises.” I hopped off the dresser.

  He grabbed my arm, flipped me around and smacked my ass.

  “Oh, you Neanderthal!” I said, pushing him away. “You behave or take off your pants.”

  “Downstairs with you Little One or everyone will find out sooner than later.”

  “I’ll leave, but you should know,” I said, first lifting my skirt, so he could see my naked pussy, and then lowering the top of my blouse exposing my uncovered tits. I left him with his mouth hanging open as I slipped out the door.

  Once I made it to the bottom of the stairs, Blue rounded the corner. “What were you doing in Red’s bedroom?”

  “What were you doing with Bond on Saturday night?” I said, staring her down from the bottom step.

  She sputtered and finally said, “What do you know? Wait, come here.” She led me to the sitting room in the front of the house.

  “Just that you and Bond got into a huge fight and that he was too drunk to remember what happened.”

  Her face flushed red. “What the hell do you see in the man?”

  “Are you going to tell me or shall I continue to assume?” I said, placing my hands on my hips.

  “We both had been drinking a lot—”

  “So that’s the excuse?” I could feel my jaw tighten and my pulse race. “Just say it.”

  “Alright, we fucked. Is that what you want to hear?”

  “Is that what the fight was about?” I asked. At the same time, I didn’t know if I truly wanted the answer.

  “He called out your name as he came.”

  I almost felt sorry for her, but only almost. “You shouldn’t have been fucking him in the first place.”

  “You don’t get to take dibs on all the guys, Jacqs. Word on the street is that you and Red are riding the hobbyhorse.”

  “Fine, fuck him to your heart’s content. But if you thought it was okay, you wouldn’t have had a hard time telling me about it. You had to have realized he was three sheets to the wind. Why would you do that to yourself?”

  “That’s none of your fucking business. Who do you think—”

  “Ladies?” Stay said, ducking his head into the room.

  “I’m done,” I said, slipping past Stay through the main part of the house. I stamped straight out the French doors and sat on the loveseat rocker. I curled my legs up onto the cushion and covered them with my skirt. Rocking back and
forth, I tried to soothe my anger. Did I have a right to be mad at Blue? I couldn’t fathom why she would choose to fuck Bond when he clearly wasn’t in his right mind. Not that I should be excusing his behavior, either.

  “A lot on your mind?” Stay said as he approached.

  “The soap opera called ‘Jacqueline’s crazy life.’”

  “High drama these days,” he said, sitting down beside me.

  “Yeah, no kidding.”

  “Don’t be too hard on Blue. She’s searching for something.”

  “Aren’t we all? Couldn’t she have picked outside of the pond?”

  “Couldn’t you?”

  “Point taken.” I unfolded my legs and rocked us. “Has Bond told you?”

  “He didn’t need to. So he knows?”

  “Yes, Red told him.”

  “I don’t imagine it went over well.”

  “Not in the slightest. Of course, I never thought it would. I mean, I didn’t plan for any of this to happen.”

  “Love is never planned. Sometimes it works out well for us, but other times, not so much.”

  “Are you doing okay?” I wondered if he was grieving the loss of Karen.

  “I have my moments. Being a way from Karen has given me great perspective. We weren’t a good match.”

  “Yeah, I know how that is.”

  “You mean Bond?” Stay reached out and touched my arm. “He can’t handle the thought of losing you.”

  “He’s had over eight years to figure that out. I love him, Stay, but I’m not going to spend my life wishing he could be what I need. He can’t or won’t and in either case, it means the same thing. Sometimes I wish I could just rewind—” I stopped myself mid-sentence and glanced up. “Please don’t tell the rest of the group.”

  “They already suspect, and I don’t imagine the guys will care. Blue and Cat are another story. I don’t know how they’ll take it.”

  “At this moment, I don’t give a shit what Blue thinks. Cat on the other hand…”

  “Other than Bond, I’m sure the rest will come around. However, Bond is the binding force that’s brought us all together. If he shuns Red, we might be hanging elsewhere. Or more likely taking turns like in a divorce.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You remind me of Lainie sometimes.”

  “How’s that?”

  “You both are excellent listeners and supportive and cut right to the point.”

  “I like her a lot,” Stay said and looked back into the house. His expression became grim.

  “I’ve gotten that impression.”

  “Dawg’s here,” he said his tone gruff.

  I followed his gaze and saw Lainie laughing at a joke Doug must have told. “I’m ready for another drink. Shall we go in?”

  “Sure.”

  We strolled back into the house, arm and arm. I walked off to the kitchen, and he headed back toward the game room.

  After retrieving another hard cider, I leaned on the counter and observed Lainie and Doug for a few minutes. They made an odd couple. She towered over his short, stocky physique.

  “Can you bring me a drink?” she called over to me.

  I opened another bottle for her and joined them on the couch. “Long time, Dawg.”

  “Was dealing with some business in Canada. Should be staying in town for a while.”

  “Nothing too serious, I hope.”

  “Nah. I’m glad you dragged Lainie along this time, eh?” Dawg said, throwing his arm over her shoulder.

  “I’m sure,” I said to him. “Watch out for this one,” I said to Lainie, raising my eyebrows and hoping she would heed my advice. “Let’s play doubles with Red and Stay.” I stood and pulled up on Lainie’s arm.

  “In a bit.”

  I wandered to the front of the house to see if anyone else had showed. Finding it empty, I walked back toward the game room.

  Red, Stay, Cat, and Kev were playing a round of pool, so I took a seat at the table closest to them. “Where’s Blue?”

  “She went to get supplies for making margaritas,” Cat said, sashaying toward me. She hugged me tight and whispered, “Forgive her.”

  I shrugged my shoulders and asked, “Are there chips and salsa to go with them? I’m getting hungry.”

  “I’m hungry too,” Red said, staring directly at me.

  I could feel heat spread across my face so I turned away. When the others were focused on the next shot, I mouthed to Red, “Behave.”

  He winked in response. “Text her. I have the salsa, and there’s cheese, and leftover chicken too.”

  “I will,” Cat said.

  I smiled to her in thanks.

  “If you all plan to indulge Blue’s plan for a tequila romp, you need to spend the night,” Red said while he lined up his next shot.

  “Nice one,” Stay said. “I don’t plan to drink so I can be the designated driver for those in need of a ride.”

  Red stood next to me, looking down the cleavage of my shirt.

  My nipples responded and when his penetrating gaze lassoed mine, I lost myself in his bright green eyes. For a moment, I forgot myself and where I was; so did he.

  “Yo, Red, it’s your turn,” Stay said.

  We both turned to see the rest of the group looking at us.

  “I think I’ll check on Lainie,” I said and left the game room before we made our growing relationship even more obvious.

  I wasn’t thrilled to find Lainie and Doug cozying up on the couch. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” I said to her.

  “I’ll be right back,” Lainie said and followed me to the front of the house. We flopped into the couch. “What gives?”

  “You seemed upset before, which I can only assume is over a man, and Dawg is definitely a bad choice to take it out on.”

  “I’m a big girl, Jacqs. So if that’s it?” She moved to stand up.

  “He’s a player and I’m worried—”

  “I know who he is and what he’s like. I’m enjoying myself so please back off. He’s assured me that he doesn’t let emotions get in the way of great sex.”

  “If you know what you’re doing,” I said, holding up my hands. “Please do the sensible thing and use a condom. I can ask Red if he has—”

  “I feel like you’ve taken over my mother hen role.”

  “Yes and it feels odd.” I chuckled.

  We both stood and hugged. I hoped she wasn’t going to do something she would regret later but who was I to talk?

  When Blue came back with the supplies, the party ramped up. I nursed my one margarita and ate a pile of nachos. I had three interviews to do the next morning at work and planned to avoid a hangover. Red stuck to his beer and Stay abstained altogether.

  “I’m making another pitcher,” Blue said after she refilled everyone else’s cup.

  “Let’s go swimming,” Dawg said. “It’s a warm night out and the pool is heated.”

  “I don’t have my suit,” Cat said.

  “Let’s all go skinny-dipping,” Lainie said.

  I looked over at her with my eyes wide. Clearly she had been drinking a lot to suggest such a thing. I had never known her to get naked in front of a group of people.

  “Perfect,” Kev said.

  We all watched him shed his clothes, walk outside and dive into the deep end of the pool.

  I glanced over to Red to see his reaction. “Fine by me,” he said.

  “Should we turn on the outside lights?” I asked.

  “No, let’s leave them off, eh?” Dawg said in a hurry.

  Everyone wandered outside, leaving Red and me alone.

  He drew me into the pantry and immediately grasped my ass, pulling me into him. “You’re a naughty girl to tease me like that.”

  “Me? What did I do?”

  “Sauntering around naked under those clothes.”

  I laughed out loud and said, “I’m glad it worked.”

  “It’ll be challenging for me to keep my hands of
f you in the pool.”

  “Good,” I said, sauntering a few steps away. I flipped up the back of my skirt and mooned him.

  “Now you deserve more than a spanking,” he said, stalking toward me.

  I giggled, ran outside and shed my clothes. I stepped down into the shallow end of the pool watching the others swim around.

  Doug still had on his boxers until I saw him slip them off quickly before lowering himself down the side into the water. I got the impression that he didn’t care to be seen naked.

  Cat and Kev chased each other around the pool and Lainie and Blue stood next to each other chatting. I wondered what they might be talking about.

  My attention was immediately drawn back to the door when Red strolled out of the house naked. His cock hung heavy and I longed to have him alone again. I wanted him hard in my hand, mouth, and pussy. I tried to shun the lust that screamed within me by diving under the water and swimming to the deep end.

  “This was a good idea,” Cat said. “It’s an incredible night and it’s sobered me up a bit.”

  “You and Kev seem better,” I said, hanging from the ledge that separated the pool and the Jacuzzi.

  “Oh yeah, we’re doing great. I was just having a bad night on Saturday.”

  “That’s good. He’s definitely a keeper.”

  “That he is.”

  We watched Lainie and Doug take turns swimming on the bottom of the pool between each other’s legs.

  I let go of the edge and swam back toward the shallow end and Red. Once I surfaced beside him, my breath caught in my throat. Everyone’s attention faced the house.

  “Isn’t this a pretty picture,” Bond said. He held Blondie’s hand, who stood rigidly by his side.

  “We weren’t expecting you,” I said, dipping down so my breasts weren’t exposed.

  “Clearly,” he said. “So have you told everyone? Have you all heard?”

  “Bond, maybe—” Stay started.

  “Then let me do the honors. Red and Jacqs are now an item.” He paused and swayed just slightly. “Sprouts in the refrigerator and toothbrush in the bathroom. How sweet.” Making sweeping eye contact with the rest of the group, he said, “And get this, he’s allowing me visitation. Isn’t he generous? Let us raise our glasses. Oh, nobody has a glass? Everyone out of the pool so we can toast Red.” He waved vigorously for the clan to follow him.