by K. J. Lewis
I roll my eyes and lean in to plant a quick kiss on her.
“Make it good, Donovan. I haven’t gotten laid in a month.” Fran raises a brow in challenge.
“I can take care of that for you,” one of the guys at the table says, and Fran flips them off.
“Fine.” I straddle the bench so I can reach her better. Scooting towards her, I cup my hands along her jaw and pull her towards me. Running my thumb over her bottom lip, I close my eyes and kiss her lightly before pulling her bottom lip between my teeth. With a soft bite to her lip, she opens her mouth on a moan and grants my tongue entrance. I kiss her slowly for several seconds before pulling away.
“God, if that did it for me, I would be the luckiest girl in the world,” Fran says.
“I’m going to need a few minutes before getting up,” Blake injects.
“We can’t all be gay,” Theo says with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Damn you can kiss.” Fran fans her face.
I roll my eyes again and on the downward roll, I catch Reid’s eyes still on me. He raises a single brow at me. Fuck is he sexy. We continue to make our way around the table. Rainbow Warrior and Screw the NFL Kicker blocks have been drawn ensuring everyone is well on their way to being drunk. The lightweights are there already.
Reid pulls his first block. “Swap Meet,” he says and turns the block over. “Exchange an article of clothing with the person directly across from you.”
He looks up at me. I wait to see if he is going to do it or take five drinks. He grabs the back of his sweatshirt and pulls it over his head. Fran’s hand squeezes my thigh when he stands to hand me his t-shirt. His jeans hang low on his hips highlighting his chiseled stomach and a sculpted V. I’m grateful for Fran’s nails digging into my leg or I would have been too distracted by this vision to hear what he was saying to me.
“I believe you owe me an article of clothing,” he says when I take his t-shirt. Unfortunately, he puts his sweatshirt back on.
I pull the vintage handkerchief off my head and hand it to him. “My top won’t fit you.”
He shrugs and, with a goofy smile, wraps it around his forehead and ties it in the back. I can’t help but laugh as I remove my cardigan to pull on his t-shirt. I have been so busy trying to ignore him that I just now see what his shirt says. It’s a maroon t-shirt with “Save a Broom, Ride a Quidditch Player” in gold lettering across the chest. I pull my cardigan back on and take my seat. Gabby pulls the “change up” block and makes changes to where everyone is sitting. I am now on her left with Reid to my left. I pull the next cube.
“Hands Across America.” I turn it over. “You must keep physical contact with the person to your left for the remainder of the game.” I hiccup. “I think I’ll take the five drinks.”
Reid stops my drink in midair.
“I don’t think you can handle five more drinks in a row. Just… hold my hand.” He holds his hand out, and I place mine in his before he brings them to a rest on his thigh. He pulls his block.
“Bipolar. Compliment the person on your left and insult the one on your right.” He turns to his left. And I’m wondering how buzzed he is when he jokes to Ryan. “I’m sorry this wasn’t the kissing block because I am sure you would be good at it.” He seems pleased when everyone cracks up. Some harder than others depending on their drink level. Then he turns to me, and I think he is going to do what appears to come naturally to him and insult me for a second time tonight, but he chooses to take five drinks instead. When he’s done, Ryan takes his turn. I can’t help but notice that Reid has threaded his fingers through mine and his thumb is skating metrically over mine. I watch him. He truly seems to be enjoying himself, and I’m surprised how comfortable I am with him. He’s laughing at a story Blake is telling when he becomes aware that I am watching him. Turning to face me, his eyes hold mine and there’s an unmistaken warmth in them.
Theo pulls a block and the tower sways but somehow manages to stay upright.
“10% lie.” He flips the block over. “Every player who masturbates drink one.” Everyone at the table drinks one, but I drink five with a blush thinking about earlier.
“Elise.” Theo says my name, not buying it and knowing better.
“I’m not saying I don’t, I’m not saying I do. I’m just not saying.”
“I told you,” Blake says. “Vanilla.”
I finish the last of my drink five and am grateful when the tower falls on the next pull.
Having anticipated our Drunk Jenga night, Owen has chauffeured golf carts waiting out front to take everyone back to their cabins. After we have said our goodnights, the team loads up and heads out.
Theo and I return to our room. When I come out of the bathroom, I find that he has a full glass of cold water and four Advil waiting for me on my bedside table. I hastily drink the entire glass, and then I shed my clothes leaving on only my tank and cotton boy-shorts underwear.
“I think I’ll get one more glass to have when I wake up with cotton mouth. Do you need anything?” I ask him. He’s already under the covers.
“No, babe. Want me to get it for you?”
“No, go to sleep. I’ll get it.” I rub his head and turn off his bedside light.
The water has helped sober me somewhat. I check the doors off the balcony in the darkened living area to make sure they are locked before making my way to the front door, then the kitchen. The moon or outside lights, I’m not sure which, light the room enough to see to pouring another glass of water. I catch Reid in my peripheral as he enters the kitchen. He’s in pajama bottoms sitting low on his hips and even in the muted light, I can see the dark trail of hair that makes me want to follow it down. He stops beside me and reaches for a glass.
“Water?” I offer softly without turning to look at him.
“Please.” He sets his glass on the counter and I begin to pour when I feel his fingers brush along the inside of my thigh. He aligns his body behind mine, and I feel his erection against my backside. Leaning down, he scatters kisses across my shoulders. Moving up my neck he finds the sweet spot behind my ear and I know he can feel my accelerated pulse. I don’t know if it’s the alcohol, being called vanilla when I’m not, or the argument we had earlier, but my inhibitions are lowered, and before I can talk myself out of it, I turn and mount him. Wrapping my legs around his waist, my hands curl around his neck pulling him to me, deepening an already volatile kiss.
He releases a string of expletives when I grind against him, rubbing my sex along his. He shoves us against a wall, and if it weren’t for the cotton barriers between us, he would be balls-deep inside me right now.
With my body supported, his hands are free to roam, encircling my waist before moving under my tank to squeeze my swollen breasts, heavy with need. A need to be fucked.
He applies pressure to my clit with his thumb, and his lips encase mine, absorbing the orgasm that slams through me with only a single touch. It’s enough to send us both into an urgency of needing more. There isn’t time to take his pants off. Sliding my underwear to the side, he frees his cock and buries himself in me in one forceful motion. My sex pulses around him, feeling like it has found what it has always been missing.
“Please. Oh my god, Reid.” I breathe at the fullness of him inside me.
The sound of my voice brings him to an immediate halt. His head coming to a rest in the curve of my neck.
“Fuck!” he curses. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have.”
“What?”
“We can’t do this,” he growls as we gasp for air. He lowers me to the ground, making sure I have my balance before pulling out of me.
“I’m sorry, Elise.”
I hit the back of my head against the closed door to my bedroom. Jesus, Beckett. Get a grip. That should have never happened. Here I am giving Theo shit about separation of work and relationships, and I can’t go five fucking minutes without thinking about her. Without wanting to smell her. Feel her. Taste her. Touch her. Bury myself in her. I knew as s
oon as I saw her shadowed figure in the kitchen that it was a mistake to go near her. But since meeting her, I appear to only make decisions with my dick.
Tonight had been an education on how she and Theo interact with the team. I was surprised to learn Theo is more detached than I originally thought. I don’t remember who said it, but it’s true: Theo is the dad, and Elise is the mom. They revere Theo, but they love Elise. This is a problem. I don’t need a fucking prom queen who wants to be loved by all running the show.
Stripping out of my clothes, I opt for a shower to once again reign in a dick that’s so hard it could pound nails. Elise plays on repeat in my mind, and my hand does little to dull the need I feel. I let out a yell and come, hard, shooting my load across the shower. Fuck. Even in its intensity that did nothing to ease my discomfort.
I towel off and climb into bed without any clothes on. I just need five minutes. Five minutes of not thinking about Elise Donovan, so I can get some rest. Five minutes of not seeing the hurt and confusion on her beautiful face when I left her in the kitchen. Turned my back on her. I count the seconds turning into minutes. With no relief in sight, I toss back the covers and make my way to the closet to throw something on. I can’t sleep if I don’t make this right.
Padding softly across the living room, I enter their wing, knocking softly when I come to the closed bedroom door. There is no light or noise to indicate anyone is still awake. Turning the knob, I softly open the door to find Theo and Elise in bed, both asleep. A moonbeam shoots across the bed, lighting a path, and I can see the features on her beautiful face. And sure enough, in a space barely suitable for a small child, Elise is glued to Theo, just as he had attested, her back pressed against his. On the other side of her is an entire king size bed that could comfortably fit two more people. On the other side of Theo is a drop-off to the floor.
I contemplate waking her, but don’t want to alarm Theo, and she has mentioned more than once that she is exhausted. With a shake of my head, I close the door and go back to a bed that feels emptier than before. Even if Theo only gets a small sliver of bed, at least he has Elise’s warm body pressed against his. Never did I dream I would be envious of who my gay friend sleeps with. Punching my pillows, I turn fitfully on my side wishing I could dismiss what happened as easily as Elise did and sleep.
Nova wakes me early the next morning with two paws planted firmly in my chest, ready to go out.
“Really bro? You couldn’t let me sleep another 30 minutes?” I rub his head as he lays across me. “I did after all drink a fifth of vodka last night.” I rub my pounding head. I can’t remember the last time I had that much to drink. Nova gives me what I am quite certain is a look of disapproval peppered with some judgement. “Okay. Let’s go.”
It’s early and there is no sign that anyone else is up yet. It’s a beautiful morning and Nova is enjoying being in the great outdoors. I toss a stick for him to fetch, letting him get a little exercise before I head inside to pour a cup of the coffee.
“You’re up early.” Theo’s deep morning voice startles me. I turn to see my friend who looks like he was run over by a car that decided to circle back around and do the job again.
“Nova wanted some fresh air. Coffee?” I offer with a smirk.
“Asshole.” He nods, adding a “thanks” when I hand him a steaming mug of redemption. “I am getting to old to drink like this.”
“You’re 27. Not 50.”
He takes a seat at the kitchen bar. “Not all of us can drink like a fish and then look ruggedly handsome the next day.”
“True. It’s a gift. So, how is Ross?” I ask at an attempt at conversation, but I don’t hear a word of the answer because at that moment Elise walks into the kitchen. I’ve never known a woman who looks fucking edible in leggings and a t-shirt. My t-shirt. She’s wearing my t-shirt from last night.
I move to position my hips behind the kitchen island to hide the hard on forming in my sweats. These are not the pants to provide me any cover.
“Good morning.” She greets us both, but her eyes don’t meet mine and I feel lost without them. Elise’s eyes are like snapshots of what she is really feeling. Watching her last night, I realized her line of work has taught her to have control over her facial expressions. But her eyes. If you know what to look for, they give everything away.
She hugs Theo from behind and places a light kiss where her head meets his back before walking around to the refrigerator.
“I made some coffee,” I tell her. I’m rewarded with the eye contact I was seeking.
“Thank you, but I don’t drink coffee.” She turns to get juice out of refrigerator. “Breakfast will be ready in twenty minutes.”
“Are you making enough for the army or just us?” Theo asks her.
“Just us. I imagine they’re still asleep.” She sets ingredients on the counter. “Why don’t you boys plan your day and I’ll have it ready in about fifteen minutes.”
“Sounds like a plan. Reid?” I look up to Theo saying my name. “We can meet for a while after breakfast and then go for a run. Sound good?”
“Yep. Sounds like a plan,” I echo and make the first move to leave the kitchen, ensuring my reaction to Elise remains under wraps.
The balcony doors are open and Benny and the Jets is playing over the sound system. The front door opens at the same time I enter into the living room, and Theo brings in a bunch of wildflowers. I want to beat the shit out of him when Elise rewards him with a fucking fantastic smile and soft kiss to his cheek.
“Breakfast is ready.” She greets me with the smile of two people who share a secret before placing a large stack of pancakes on the table. My breathing skips when her arm brushes mine as she picks up the remaining platter of bacon and eggs. She’s pulled her hair up into a large bundle on top of her head. She looks adorable, and a small moan escapes me when I see her wrap her lips around a fork full of pancakes.
“These are delicious.” I motion to my pancakes in an effort to divert attention from what I was really moaning about.
“Els can cook, that’s for sure,” Theo praises.
We discuss some of the accounts they have on-going over breakfast. As it stands now I plan to proceed with the merger, but Theo and I are going to meet later to go over the details. We all pitch in and the kitchen is cleaned in a matter of minutes. Theo takes a call as I place the last platter in the dishwasher.
“When’s the last time you loaded a dishwasher?” Elise asks.
“I’ll have you know I am perfectly capable of loading a dishwasher.”
She raises a brow.
“So it may have been never, but I’m pretty sure I aced it.” I beam at my accomplishment and get an eye-roll in return.
Folding the dish towel over the sink she turns to leave. I can see Theo on the balcony, still engrossed in his phone call, so I decide it’s now or never.
“Elise, about last night.” Shit! I should have given some thought to what I wanted to say. Motioning between the two of us, “This would really complicate things. Plus, you seem like the kind of girl who…it’s just that I don’t have time for…” Running my hands through my hair, I try to land on something intelligent to say. She nods but makes no attempt to make this easier for me as she moves past. I stop her with my hand to her elbow. “I don’t do relationships and you seem like a hearts and flowers kind of girl.”
Her eyes on mine, she places a hand to my chest. “Reid. I don’t want to be romanced. I want to be fucked.” And like the goddess she is, she leaves me standing there resisting an urge to drag her by her hair to my room and give her that wish. Never have I wanted to possess someone like I want to her.
“Fuck me,” I exhale.
Theo enters with a questioning look.
“What?” I ask, feigning ignorance.
“Why are you smiling like you are auditioning for a toothpaste commercial.”
“Just enjoying the break from the city. Let me change and we’ll go for a run.”
Theo is a b
east when it comes to anything athletic, so I’m more than happy when we make it back to the chalet. We are meeting the group for lunch before some team-building exercise that I’m sure will bore me. Theo has some calls to make, giving me some time to seek out Elise. The balcony doors are still open and Coldplay is playing, so she has to be here somewhere.
“There you are.” I catch a glimpse of her when I walk out to the balcony. When I step through the doorway, I see Owen sitting closer than he should be and making fucking googly eyes at her. The only thing to mollify me is Nova laying between them watching Owen’s every move. I know that stance. Owen would likely lose a hand if he tried anything.
“He’s been sitting with me,” Elise says mistaking my comment to be about Nova and not her.
“Owen.” I acknowledge him and he greets me in kind.
“Your dog isn’t very friendly,” he says.
“What are you talking about? Nova is a sweetheart.” Elise bends to kiss his nose, and I swear on all that is holy, Nova gives Owen a “fuck you” stare.
“He snapped at me when you went for a drink,” Owen tells her. Pit Bulls are highly misunderstood. They are also highly protective. Nova knew exactly what he was doing.
“Where’s Theo? How was the run?” She’s wearing sunglasses, so I can’t see her eyes.
“It was fine. He’s in his room.” I pat Nova on the head before leaving. He doesn’t move from his spot. “Good Boy.”
Another shower, another jerk-off that gets me nowhere. Maybe she is what she says she is. I recall thinking she seems like a girl who can separate herself from emotional decisions. The thought that we might make this work as a one-time hook-up is appealing. I want her enough that I would break my own rule of not fucking the staff. I turn off the shower and prepare for a day of planning. There’s a little lightness in my step at the potential that lies ahead.
I’m disappointed when I see Elise is not at lunch with the team. She and Ryan have been pulled into a call about some crisis. It does, however, give me a few minutes to observe just Theo with his team. They obviously look up to him, but Elise’s statement about his managing style is accurate and confirms what I have known all along. Theo is the face of the company and brings in the accounts while Elise is the brains and the glue. She has a keen sense for how to fix things. Both are needed, but I wonder how they will work apart?