“I’ve still slept with you, that shit goes against the bro code,”
“No it doesn’t. Fucking doesn’t count. You had to have dated the girl. Blaze didn’t do anything wrong,”
“Whatever. There’s no need to argue about this now. I admit that I took what happened a few minutes ago too far. I just can’t stop myself from touching you, and I damn sure don’t want him to touch you. Now if you’ll refrain from biting that sexy lower lip of yours I might be able to restrain myself,”
“Blaze likes it when I do that too. It turns him on instantly and drives him crazy,”
I growled and brought my hand into her hair wrapping it around my fist before tugging back pulling her head back and exposing her neck to me. I pressed my lips to the pressure point there that was pounding in her neck and she moaned bringing up her hands to my shirt gripping the material tight. I flicked my tongue out and licked her slowly only pulling back when she shivered.
“You think that what you said would piss me off and detour me. You were right and wrong. I’m mad as hell that you know what turns Blaze on, but all you did was issue a challenge to me. Now I know without a doubt that Blaze wants you in bed, and he might actually have a shot at getting you there. But I also found out that you still love and want me even if you’re fighting it. Well baby girl challenge accepted. Blaze will not get you, and I will again.
With that I let her hair run through my fingers until I was no longer holding it and then turned to my food to start eating like nothing earth shattering had just happened. I’m not sure if Chloe was aware that she had just woken the beast inside of me that had been sleeping up until this point, but she soon would know. There was a limit to how strong I could be, and I was reaching that fucking limit. Her painting the image of Blaze being turned on from her nibbling her lower lip made the possessive monster roar to life inside me. Her heart was still fucking mine. I had to believe that I could win her back.
8
ZANE
Thirty minutes after I left the restaurant I walked into my front door exhausted. Jessica was somewhere in the house but I didn’t want to be bothered by her. Today had not gone how I had hoped, and I was exhausted. Chloe was not cooperating with me. If anything she was trying to make it blatantly clear that she no longer wanted me. I understood that I was married, I just wished that she understood that I wanted to change my current relationship status because now I wanted her. It might have been wrong to try and make things right with her only because I now wanted her, when before I made it damn clear I wasn’t interested in her on a deeper level. Although none of that seemed to matter now because she was running full throttle into her attempt to get over me. Over our little lunch date I had thought that the two of us had made progress. Which she quickly shot to shit.
The second we were back at the studio she had went straight into Blaze’s arms, where she stayed for the rest of the day until they all packed it up and went home. Then I was only further pissed off when she climbed into Blaze’s car. That had my mind thinking up all sorts of sordid thoughts. Was it possible that all I really accomplished was turning her on and then sending her into the arms of another man? If that were so, Blaze would have to know that she wasn’t turned on because of him, it was all because of me. I knew where to touch her to make her instantly in need. Which I proved today.
That hot little body of hers had been made for me since the first time I had touched her. I then spent twelve years teaching her how I liked to be touched, and molding her body to fit mine perfectly, as well as learning where to touch her to make her shiver with need. Now I knew why I had been with her for so damn long even if I pushed her away and ran into the arms of another woman anytime she told me she loved me. I wonder if Chloe had ever put that together. She might still think that it was a coincidence. Only I knew that it wasn’t, and I hoped like hell that she didn’t know the truth. That would make it even harder for me to get her back. The truth of it was though, was that anytime she told me those words it scared me and I had to get out of there and save myself, the way I did that was by falling into a bed with some other skank that only wanted sex from me. Then that one nightstand would turn into a relationship for a few weeks so that I could show Chloe that I didn’t want her as a permanent.
It killed me to remember it all, especially the wounded look that she would get on her face every single time I did it. She looked as if I were killing her. Now I knew exactly what I had made her feel, and I didn’t fucking care for it. I hated myself with a passion because I hurt her repeatedly over the years, and never once apologized for it. Was it wrong of me to try and break up what she and Blaze had for my own selfish needs? Chloe loved me and because she did she had selflessly let me get married thinking it was what I wanted and she wanted me to be happy even if it didn’t include her.
Could I do the same? The problem was that I did love her, I loved her so damn much that I couldn’t let her go. I froze in place as the breath rushed out of my body, I had to gasp to get it back. That revelation was one I had not been expecting. When I could breathe again I thought over what I had just realized. How the hell could I have not known that I loved her? Why the hell else would I have continued to go back to her for twelve years? Or spend the time making us both perfect for each other, because it was plainly obvious that we were perfect for each other. Or it was obvious for everyone around me to see just not me.
This all brought up the obvious question. If I had loved her this entire time then why the hell did I keep hurting her by dating other random women that meant nothing to me? The biggest question of all; why the hell did I get married to anyone that wasn’t her? After pondering this for a few minutes the answer was pretty fucking obvious and I hated to admit it, even to myself. The truth was I went with women who didn’t have the power to hurt me. Chloe did. She had the power to kill me if I lost her. Though my plan backfired on me because not only did I lose her, but I continuously hurt her the way that I was afraid of being hurt. Though unlike me, she risked her heart every day in the hope that I would one day want her.
Well now I do want her and I couldn’t have her. No, that wasn’t true, I had to believe that I could still have her or I would go out of my mind. If this was how I had made Chloe feel then I owed her a huge apology and some sort of gesture to make up for all the pain. Fuck, how could I have done this to her over and over again? Now that I realized the truth, it was easy to find the answer. It wasn’t always to fulfill my selfish needs to have her body, it was because it always felt right when we were together. I needed to touch her satin skin and kiss her. There was always a desperate need inside of me to bury my body deep inside of her to feel like I could breathe again. But I was never fair to her in the process. Except for that last night.
I had gave her tenderness once, and made love to her. That was the first time I showed her just a hint of what I was feeling towards her. But it was the worst time to show her that, because the next day after sharing that incredible night together, I had left her to marry someone else while she stood at my side and watched me do it. Oh, god I was a fucking jackass. Groaning I pulled out my cellphone and began to pace. I had avoided making this phone call since I had found out about the two of them. I couldn’t wait any longer. I hit the call button and listened to the annoying ringing four times before I heard Blaze answer.
“What’s up dude?” Blaze asked when he picked up
“Um, not much, what are you doing?” I said working up the nerve to talk about why I called.
“Nothing much. I’m just about to head out to pick Chloe up for our date tonight,”
“Good that’s why I’m calling,”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t like the two of you dating,”
“Well that really isn’t something you have any control over,”
“Come on Blaze, you know that you shouldn’t have started dating someone I used to sleep with. That shit goes against the bro code,”
“I don’t think it applies in th
is case dude. You made it clear for a dozen years that you didn’t feel anything for her and that all you wanted was sex. So if there were no feelings involved then I’m not doing anything wrong. If the bro code stated that the four of us were not allowed to date someone another one of us had slept with, that would leave us with men. Besides I’m starting to like her,”
“What do you mean?” I grunted
“I always knew she was fun and amazing, but going out with her, she’s showing me just how amazing she is. She’s a one in a million type of girl and there is no way in hell I’m letting her go,”
“She doesn’t belong to you Blaze,”
“No Zane, she doesn’t belong to you. You let her get away, now you have to deal with it. If Chloe wants to be with you she will be. Right now she’s happy being with me. Can’t you let her be happy for once? Or hell for the first time since you repeatedly broke her heart?”
I felt like fucking crying as my heart broke. What Blaze was saying was true, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to fully let her go. Chloe would always be mine, but I could let her have a little bit of fun right now. At least until I figured out how to get out of this current relationship status. Hell she deserved a little bit of happiness after all the pain I put her through. It would kill me but it wouldn’t be a permanent thing,”
“Don’t hurt her Blaze, and just know that you might have her now, but you won’t have her for long,”
“Whatever you say dude, listen I gotta go,” I heard the click in my ear as Blaze hung up the phone. I put my head in my hands and tried to think of a way to make everything right.
CHLOE
Blaze pulled out the chair for me and pushed it in when I sat down. When I was fully seated and comfortable he walked around the table to take his own seat. We both ordered drinks then were handed menus and left alone. I could feel his eyes scan over me appreciatively. I didn’t think I looked all that good tonight, but his eyes were telling me something else. Honestly it was a real damn shame that things couldn’t be different between Blaze and I. Our feelings for each other would never go deeper then friendship, if it were possible that we could, we would probably be really great together. Plus Blaze was still waiting for Zane to wise up and get me back, well that’s how he put it.
“What are you thinking about so deeply over there?” I asked him when I realized his eyes had a faraway look to them.
“Just wondering how Zane could be so stupid, and wishing that things could be different for us,”
“I was thinking the same. It would be so much easier if we had genuine feelings for each other. Also you surprise the hell out of me,”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a womanizing playboy, you’ve slept with more women then there are in this restaurant. Yet when you’re with me, even if we are faking, you don’t look at other women, and you’re so sweet,”
“Shhh, don’t let anyone know that. I have a reputation to uphold,” I laughed and he sent me another dimpled smile.
“Are you two ready to order?” A waiter asked appearing at our table as if out of nowhere.
“Yeah, I’ll have the lobster,” Blaze answered then handed over his menu.
“And I will have the duck,”
“Good choice,” The waiter replied grabbing my menu before walking off.
“I didn’t know that you liked duck,” Blaze commented
“I love it, I couldn’t decide if I wanted the lobster or duck. Since you ordered the lobster I went with the duck,”
“That’s insane, I wanted to get duck. Want to split?”
“Sure,”
“See it would be so damn easy with us. Everything seems to click when we’re together,”
“Except for the fact that I’m in love with another man, and you want another woman,”
“Don’t sweat the small things,” Blaze said laughing, “I think everything will work out for you in the long run,”
“What makes you so sure?”
“The fact that I hung up with Zane ten minutes before I picked you up. He was begging me to not go out with you anymore,”
I kept my face impassive, I would not get my hopes up. Zane didn’t have feelings for me. “Blaze, that doesn’t mean anything. He’s just jealous that I’m with you. It’s getting to him that I’m with you, one of his friends. That’s all there is to it,”
“I’m not going to argue with you Chloe, but I think you’re wrong. Let’s just leave it at that for now,”
“Well what about you. You’re so sure it’s going to work out for me, why aren’t you sure it would work out for you?”
“I hurt her, maybe one day I will tell you everything, but that day isn’t right now. Just know that I broke her heart probably worse than Zane ever did to you,”
“Is that one of the reasons you’re helping me out?”
“I guess in a way. Trying to absolve some of my guilt by trying to help you out. But it’s not the only reason. I love you as a friend Chloe. I hated watching what Zane did to you, and I wanted to get him back,”
I went to ask him more about the girl he hurt but I was interrupted by the waiter bringing our food over. I took that as a sign to leave it alone. It was Blaze’s story and if one day he wanted to tell me, I would listen. Now that I know though I could see him in a new light. There was a sadness in his eyes that I had never noticed before. It was probably always there, but he does a damn good job at hiding it. I decided to let it go and sent him a small smile. I reached over to grab his plate. He raised a brow at me but didn’t say anything to me. I split our food giving him more than half of mine, before giving his plate back to him. He winked at me and I blushed. I had just gave him a plate full of my food, but I wanted his taste on my fork. I leaned over the table and let him eat off of my fork, he wrapped his lips around my fork and I felt my blood heat. The erotic images began to run through my mind causing me to squirm in my chair. His eyes flared as he licked his lips. I was just leaning over the table to kiss him when I felt the air change around me and I knew that Zane was here.
“Hey funny running into you two here,” Zane said to us
“Yeah well enjoy your dinner,” I said trying to get rid of them. I was not in the mood to sit there with Jessica and Zane tonight.
“Can we join you two?” Jessica asked. Blaze and I shared a look with each other. We knew that Jessica had never done anything wrong to us so it would be rude to dismiss her.
“Sure,” Blaze answered on a sigh as he moved over to sit next to me, bringing his food with him.
Zane looked like he agreed with me about being unhappy over how this had ended up. Sitting through yet another dinner with each other while we tried to pretend nothing was wrong sucked. I watched as Zane pulled out a seat for Jessica before taking his own. The two of them quickly ordered and we were all once again left alone. I decided to just go back to paying attention to Blaze. I wanted to get lost back into my own little world with him, the one where nothing hurt and I was calm. Blaze grasped my hand under the table and just like that I was calm enough to start eating.
I brought my fork down to my duck where it sliced through like butter. I smiled at that then brought the fork to my mouth moaning when the taste exploded on my tongue. I saw both Blaze and Zane shift in their seats and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. I shot my eyes down to Blaze’s lap and chuckled when I saw the obvious bulge behind his zipper. I was almost positive that if I saw Zane’s lap I would see the same thing. I saw the two men share a look with each other. Blaze looked smug whereas Zane looked mad as hell. I knew that he hated that I turned Blaze on but he would just have to deal with it. I mean hell his wife was sitting right next to him. I decided to break the silence that was going on around us.
“This Lobster is so fucking good and I’ve never had better duck then this before,” I said with pleasure in my voice. Blaze smiled down at me and then leaned down to kiss my lips. I moaned and began kissing him back until I heard a growl come from across the tab
le.
Blaze however didn’t let it stop him. “You’ve never tasted better either,” He whispered to me before he picked up his own fork and dug into his food.
I sent him a huge smile and laughed when he moaned at his own bite. I brought my lower lip into my mouth at the sound. Zane leaned forward with his hand outstretched before he stopped himself and sat back. Blaze shot him a look before he leaned towards me and pulled my lip out from between my teeth then pressed his lips back against mine. This time I groaned into his mouth and Blaze had to pull back to stop himself from going further.
“The two of you are cute together. I’m surprised you didn’t get together sooner,” Jessica said looking happy about something.
“Chloe wasn’t available any other time,” Blaze answered earning a blank stare from Jessica.
“I don’t remember her having a relationship,”
“It wasn’t something I advertised, but until recently I considered myself taken,” As soon as the words left my mouth I saw Zane’s eyes flash with pain. It hurt me, but I wasn’t going to let him get to me.
“You were dating someone? How come I never met him?” Jesus Christ, Jessica was like a dog with a bone, why the hell couldn’t she leave me and my love life alone?
“Oh, he didn’t meet any of my friends. We weren’t dating we were just fucking. Either way I felt like I was cheating if I was with someone else,”
“That’s ridiculous. Do you think so little of yourself that you allowed a man to take advantage of you like that? Also why would you want to be with an asshole who treats women like that?”
Blaze snorted before he could stop himself. Oh Jessica if you only knew that the asshole you just described was the man you married.
“Let’s change the fucking subject. Yes, Chloe and Blaze are dating. It isn’t some earth shattering news”
“Honestly Zane, you’re her best friend. Did you know that she was in a relationship like that? If you did, why the hell didn’t you beat his ass?”
Almost Easy (Sinister Ascent Book 1) Page 9