“Chloe, did you think about what I suggested?” Blaze asked into my hair.
“Not really, there’s been so much going on,”
“I understand, but I really think that this would be a good idea. Seriously, Chloe, I want to be there for you and this seems like a good idea,”
“What do you get out of this?”
“I get to put that asshole in his place and teach him a lesson,” Blaze said hating his best friend and guitar player with a passion at that moment.
“Is that all it is Blaze?”
“Look, Chloe I love you, not in an ‘I’m in love’ with you way, but you mean a lot to me. I want him to see what the hell he let go, and this is the perfect way to do that,”
“I know that, I think I even understand, but I don’t want to hurt him Blaze,”
“God Damnit! Chloe, he just hurt you worse than anyone ever could and yet you’re still trying to protect him. Why?”
“Because I love him,”
“I know you do baby, I wish you didn’t. But I really think that this would solve so much. I’m just wanting to help you,”
I looked into his eyes and saw how sincere he was. I had to admit that his plan sounded like a good one. Fuck I had lost all of my pride to Zane when I begged him not to get married. This would be a way to gain a little of that pride back. Though I didn’t want any of the others thinking badly of me for doing this.
“Who would all know?” I asked
“Everyone will know except for Zane and Jessica. I know that you don’t want the others to think of you in certain ways. I’ve already taken care of everything and Cage and Axel agree with me. They think it’s a good idea,”
“And you’re sure you want to do this?”
“Absolutely. You have no idea how mad at him I am,”
“Okay if you’re sure,” I whispered earning a huge dimpled smile from Blaze. “It would be so much easier if it was you I loved.”
“Wouldn’t it though?” Blaze asked laughing. He linked his hand with mine and tugged me out of the church.
Zane and Jessica were still there waiting to get into the limo. Zane looked up and caught our linked hands and frowned in our direction. I could tell that he wanted to come over and ask why the hell we were holding hands, but he couldn’t pull away from his new wife to do it. And since there wasn’t a reception being held Zane wouldn’t be able to talk to me until after the honeymoon. Since he would be gone for two weeks I would have time to collect my thoughts and make my peace with losing the love of my life and agreeing to Blaze’s crazy idea. And even if Zane marched over to me and demanded I tell him what the hell I was doing with Blaze, he had no right, he was now a married man, and I was no longer his.
4
CHLOE
I sat next to Blaze in the studio as we waited for Zane and his wife to come back from their honeymoon. It had been two weeks since I had saw him and I was no closer to being over him. My heart was still his, and the pain had not faded at all. Sometimes I still couldn’t believe that he had married another woman with me standing at his side. All the years that I had known Zane I didn’t think he could be that cruel. But the damage was done, he had shattered my heart, and all the dreams I once had. And even though I would stay his friend, I was afraid that I would never be able to forgive him.
Even with that fear I wasn’t sure that what Blaze had suggested was a good idea. Right now I was surrounded by the three people who knew the plan, the only one who knew that wasn’t here was Zane’s sister. They all thought that the idea was a damn good one, but it made me feel slightly nauseated. Not because I didn’t like Blaze, but because in my heart I couldn’t ever imagine being with anyone other than Zane. But he was a married man now, and what better way to get over him then by doing this? It would also help me slowly get back into the dating world, and at least this way I was starting out with someone that I knew and trusted. Also this might let me regain some of my pride that I had so earnestly laid at Zane’s feet.
“Zane’s on his way here,” Cage said after looking at his phone. “He just dropped Jessica off at their house,”
“Are you ready for this?” Blaze asked me when he heard my audible intake of breath.
“I think I am. But I’m not sure this is going to work,”
“Why not?” Axel asked.
“How the hell could he ever think that I can move on from him so easily?” I asked
“Chloe, we all know that you love Zane, and we know that there is no way in hell you can go from one man to another like this, but I’m pretty sure this will work,” Blaze answered, “It’s really simple, we pretend that we’re now seeing each other, if I’m right Zane will be so eaten up with jealousy that he won’t be able to think clearly for some time. That being the case he won’t realize that you aren’t the type of woman to jump from one man to another,”
“But won’t this put a restraint on you? I mean you wouldn’t be able to be seen dating another woman, and that would hinder your sex life….”
Blaze burst out laughing before holding up his hand to stop me. “Chloe, seriously we’re not going to pretend forever, and I think that I have enough restraint to hold out for a few months. Sex isn’t everything, and I got laid last night so that will hold me off for a while. Besides I really want to give Zane just a slight taste of his own medicine,”
“And how is this going to do that?”
“Very easily, it’s going to make him feel exactly how you did when you saw him with Jessica. But it’s going to have just the slightest bit more of a sting because it’s with one of his friends,” Axel responded.
“I don’t want to hurt him you guys,”
“We don’t want to hurt him either Chloe, we just want to show him how he made you feel. For twelve damn years we have watched him keep you on the back burner, running from you to someone else, and every time you told him you loved him he got into a relationship with someone. I’m so tired of him not grasping the depth of how much he hurt you, and I just want to make him open his eyes,” Blaze said with so much emotion that I was lost for words.
“Not to mention that it would show us all if he actually has feelings for you. We all think he does, but he keeps them hidden even from himself,” Cage added
“I doubt it,”
“Plus the biggest plus of all is that I get to kiss you, a lot,” Blaze said wiggling his brows at me.
I laughed for the first time in two weeks at that which earned me a smile from the guys around me. Before I could say anything else though we heard a car pulling into the parking lot. Blaze didn’t hesitate to bring me into his arms, nuzzling his face into my neck so that he could whisper into my ear.
“Don’t worry Chloe, just let me be here for you,” I nodded and he pressed a kiss to my neck.
I absently heard the door behind me opening but my mind was focused on Blaze’s lips coming down to mine. My heart was about to beat out of my chest. I was afraid to let this happen, once he kissed me none of this could ever be undone. What scared me the most was that all of this would end very badly. Before I could decide if this was what I really wanted Blaze’s lips were on mine and all thoughts left my mind. I felt his exhale of breath on my face as he brought me closer and began moving his lips against mine. Now that there was no going back I decided that I might as well throw myself into this performance. Blaze smiled against my lips when I wrapped my arms around his neck and I pulled him as close as I could get him. Hesitantly his tongue darted out and an along my lower lip. I opened my mouth to him instantly and moaned when his tongue darted in and I tasted him for the first time. I heard Blaze moan slightly before a loud voice shattered the moment.
“What the hell is going on!” Zane shouted causing Blaze and me to pull away.
My eyes darted over Zane taking in his slightly tanned skin which I assumed was from him being in the sun on his honeymoon. My mouth went dry just seeing him and I knew that it would be hard for me to ever get over him. I quickly looked away from him taking in
Cage, and Axel’s satisfied looks as they sat staring at the scene in front of them. I felt chills run up my body from the look on Zane’s face, and just when I thought that I would have to face him alone I felt the comforting feel of Blaze’s arms wrap around my waist as he pulled me into him. I instantly leaned into him seeking the comfort of his arms. My body slowly relaxed as I felt his arms supporting me in more ways than one. I knew in this instant that this plan wasn’t the best one I have ever had, but for once in a long time I would feel secure.
“Welcome back dude, how was the honeymoon?” Blaze asked carelessly like him kissing me was the most natural thing in the world.
“No, don’t change the fucking subject. Why the hell are you kissing Chloe?”
Blaze went to answer but I looked up at him in a silent plea to be quiet. He took the hint to let me answer. If this was ever going to seem real I was going to have to play my part. I leaned up and brushed my lips against his chin earning another gasp from him before I turned my head back to look at Zane. I was curious about those little gasps he was letting out. I would have to ask him later.
“We’re seeing each other.” I responded keeping my voice firm earning a surge of pride from the man standing behind me.
Zane hands folded into tight fists at his sides. “Excuse me?” He seethed from clenched teeth, the reaction shocked the shit out of me. Why the hell was he acting like a jealous asshole all of a sudden? Isn’t this what he wanted? He had made it clear that he would be a very happy man if I started dating someone else.
“Yup, you let her get away and I snatched her up. I guess I should say thanks.” Blaze said with a smug look on his face.
Zane’s eyes darted down to the arms that Blaze had wrapped around me. Something akin to pain flashed in his eyes. He looked up meeting my eyes and I felt the breath leave my body. There was so much sadness and anger swirling in his that I felt myself softening to him. Blaze had some sort of fucking radar when it came to me about to weaken towards Zane. I felt his arms tighten around me as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my neck. Without another word Zane got up and walked out of the studio shouting over his shoulder that he needed to go smoke, then he was gone. I looked up at Blaze with a frown on my face.
“What the hell was that about?” I asked shocked as hell.
“He’s jealous as shit, and starting to realize that he lost you. That little fact isn’t sitting well with him,” Axel answered with a smirk on his face.
“I don’t think so. I’m sure he is just upset that he thinks that Blaze is going to be fucking me like he used to,” Blaze groaned into my neck and I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me.
“I thought you were going to blow our cover at first. I’m glad you didn’t.” Blaze said to me.
“I agreed to this, I wasn’t going to back out.”
“I’m now damn sure that my plan is going to work, and I want to add a little bit more of a shock, so when he gets back in here we’re really going to start having some fun.”
ZANE
I had the oddest sensation running through me. Why the fuck did I care if Blaze and Chloe were together? I was now a married man. She should be able to see whoever the hell she wanted to. But when I had seen Blaze’s arms around Chloe I felt as if my heart turned over in my chest. I shook my head clearing my thoughts, sucked up my pride and went back into the studio. As soon as I walked in Blaze sat down and pulled Chloe down onto his lap and kept his arms around her. I watched as she rested her head on his chest, her face half turned into his neck. That odd feeling went through me again, as my heart constricted in my chest. For a minute it felt as if I couldn’t breathe. But that soon turned into anger. Why the hell would Blaze think it was okay to move in on my Chloe? At this moment it didn’t matter that I was a married man, Chloe was fucking mine. She had been since we were young, and Blaze couldn’t fucking have her. I clenched my teeth and swore I heard Blaze murmur out ‘let the games begin’ to Chloe.
What fucking game was he talking about? Was she a game to him? If he thought for one second that he was going to string her along as he used her for sex then he would learn soon enough. He would probably get the hint when I beat the shit out of him. No one had the right to treat sweet, perfect Chloe like she was some sort of…Shit! That was exactly how I had treated her wasn’t it? Why the hell hadn’t these three around me beat the hell out of me? Now that I realized just what I had done I wanted to beat my own ass. Chloe was fucking perfect, she was an amazing woman, any guy would be luckier then hell to be able to call her his. For some reason I was the lucky one who she gave endless opportunities to, to call her mine. Well Blaze was right about one thing, the games have definitely begun.
I took a seat and gripped the arm rests so hard that my fingers turned white. How the hell could Chloe and Blaze be together? Didn’t Blaze know that she fucking belonged to me in every aspect? My teeth clenched as I realized that no one thought that she belonged to me, I had made it obvious as hell that I didn’t want anything more with her. And then I made it fucking clear as day when I had her stand at my side as I vowed myself to another woman. I was just beginning to see how hurtful and wrong that was to do to her. No wonder she was moving on, and Blaze was a great guy that would ultimately treat her right, way better than I ever had. But Chloe wasn’t the one for Blaze, we all knew that he was still in love with Brittany. So could I let them both get over the people they love with each other? The thought alone had my heart clenching and my gut churning. I let out a huge sigh, this had all caught me off guard, it would take me a little longer to fully know if I could accept this, or not. Maybe now that I knew I wouldn’t be blindsided, and maybe that would help me brace myself and hide my emotions when I saw Chloe in the arms of another man. But why the hell am I acting so crazy over this? Chloe was my friend that I occasionally screwed, she wasn’t my girl, my new wife was my girl. I wasn’t sure what exactly I was feeling just yet. Since no one in the room made a move to explain to me what was going on, I decided to be the one to talk first.
“So what’s new?” I asked earning laughs from everyone around me in my attempt to dig into the news about Blaze and Chloe.
But I knew they weren’t going to make it easy for me. I would have to outright ask what I wanted to know. I was proved right when they all took turns telling me what they had done while I was on my honeymoon, but none of them made an attempt to tell me what I wanted to know.
“Babe,” Blaze said catching both mine and Chloe’s attention.
“What’s up?” She asked snuggling deeper into his chest.
“Okay, when did this happen, what exactly are the two of you doing, and is it serious?” I finally asked because I needed to know what the hell was going on.
“Well after you left the church for your honeymoon I was really upset so Blaze offered to spend time with me. That turned into us spending a lot of time together and going out on dates, and we both realized that not only did we have a lot in common, but that we both actually really liked each other. So we’re dating now, and it is as serious as it can be for only going out for a couple of weeks.” Chloe answered earning a huge smile from Blaze.
I heard the words that Chloe said but I couldn’t believe them. Chloe wasn’t supposed to like anyone but me. For twelve years she had been in love with me, and within a few weeks I had managed to kill all of her feelings for me? That thought delivered a devastating blow in my stomach causing me to lose my breath. Did Chloe no longer love me? And if she didn’t could I ever be truly happy without her love? She had loved me for so long that I had become used to it. Her love was so warm and always seemed to flow out of her whenever I was near her. I could always feel it, would I ever feel as content as I used to if I could no longer feel her love? Or if I wouldn’t see her eyes light up whenever I walked into the room, and the biggest question of them all was; would I be able to handle seeing that look in her eyes or feel the love flowing off of her if it was being directed at Blaze? I wasn’t sure why I was feeling or thinking
like this. I was a very newly married man, and my wife was a great woman. Chloe was just the girl I fucked on the side because the sex was out of this world. Before I could look deeper into my feelings I was pulled out of my thoughts by Blaze.
“Zane!” Blaze shouted for the third time. “Jesus dude you were spaced the fuck out,”
“Sorry, what did you say?” I asked after giving my attention to Blaze, as I tried my damn hardest to ignore Chloe sitting on his lap.
“I asked if you would want to go on a double date with Chloe and I?”
Chloe sent me a slight smile before she turned her face hiding it into Blaze’s neck. I sat there and watched as Chloe tucked her face somewhere that she felt safe. It was something that she used to do with me when I would actually hold her, which wasn’t often. Actually the more I thought about it the more I realized that I very rarely just held her, it was always sex and then I would leave right after.
“Uh, I will have to ask Jessica and let you know,” I finally answered.
“Yeah, let us know, it would be fun,” Blaze responded tightening his arms around Chloe.
I saw red when he bent his head down and whispered something into her ear. I watched as she brought her face out of his neck to look up at Blaze. Her head was resting against his chest where his heart was and her face was tilted up to him. My hands curled into fists until I felt my nails digging into my skin. Chloe puckered her lips out to press a kiss to Blaze’s jaw. He obviously knew what she wanted because he tilted his head down so that she could reach him and she pressed her lips to his for a tender kiss that left me aching for something and I wasn’t sure what it was. But obviously the little move between the two of them was something that happened often.
They might have been together for only two weeks, but this was definitely not the first time that Chloe was wrapped up in Blaze’s arms this way. It was clearly a signal that when she kissed his jaw that she wanted him to lean down so she could kiss him. It was a choreographed move that showed me that they were together long enough to learn little things about each other. Chloe pulled her lips away from Blaze’s and sent him a small wink. I heard Blaze let out a small laugh as his lips skimmed over her forehead before he leaned back and rested his head on his chair.
Almost Easy (Sinister Ascent Book 1) Page 5