by Laura Lee
“Why not?”
I cringe, replaying that moment in my head. “He has a small penis, Dev. And when I say small, I mean a teeny, tiny wienie.”
She bites her lip, clearly trying not to laugh. “Oh, c’mon, Lorraine. It couldn’t have been that bad.”
I hold up my index finger to demonstrate. “It really was.”
Devyn’s eyes widen as she clears her throat. “Well, size doesn’t matter that much, does it?”
I give her a look that screams, are you kidding me? “He was packing a gherkin, Devyn! Fully erect!”
She loses her battle against laughing.
I glare at her. “I’m glad my horrific story amuses you so much.”
Devyn wipes a tear from the corner of her eye. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. But you have to admit, you’d think it was funny if it had happened to someone else.”
I smirk, knowing damn well she’s right. “Maybe.” I take another sip of Chardonnay. “What can I say? I like a big D.”
“Talking about me again?” Brody says over my shoulder.
I jump in my seat. Shit, how long has he been standing there?
“Shouldn’t you be shooting pool instead of eavesdropping?”
He smiles and nods to the bar where Drew is talking to the bartender. “We’re finished. Drew’s getting another round. Now back to the topic at hand. What were you saying about big dicks?”
“Nothing you need to be concerned about, Brody. I wouldn’t want to give you a complex.”
He narrows his eyes. “We both know I have nothing to be concerned about in that area, princess.”
I suppress a shiver when his words make me recall our drunken dry humping session. Even if I hadn’t seen him in all his glory on the day we met, that night would’ve confirmed that Brody definitely doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of. Not even close.
“Whatever you say, buddy.”
Now he’s smirking. “I’d be happy to remind you, darlin’. Just say when.”
Does now work for you? I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from saying that out loud. Jesus, I need to get laid.
“Okaaay,” Devyn says. “I think I’m going to go help Drew carry those drinks back.”
Turncoat, I mouth to her. She’s always sneaking away when Brody and I are bickering.
Brody slides into the chair next to mine. “How’ve you been, Rainey? I haven’t seen you around in a while.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s been four days, dumbass.”
He flashes his stupidly perfect teeth. “So, you’re keeping track now? Good to know.”
“Quit trying to read between the lines, Brody. I was simply making a statement.”
He places his arm on the back of my chair and whispers in my ear. “If I’m going to be between anything, I’d prefer your thighs.”
Goddamn, I hate how easily he can turn me on. I can feel the flush moving across my skin and there’s no chance of hiding it with my fair complexion. I can feel his grin against my earlobe as he notices. You know what? Fuck it, I’m calling his bluff.
His muscles tighten when I place my hand on his thigh. “Then let’s go back to my place so you can put your money where your mouth is.”
He jerks back in surprise. “What?”
My fingers crawl up his leg, stopping right below his hip. “You heard me, Brody. You’ve been bragging about your sexual prowess since the day we met. It’s time to pony up.”
He searches my eyes for a moment. “Are you fucking with me right now?”
“Nope,” I say, with an exaggerated pop.
Devyn and Drew rejoin us before he can say another word.
“Dude,” Drew says, “why do you look like you’re trying to solve complicated math in your head?”
Brody finally tears his eyes away from me. “Shut the fuck up, man.”
“Whoa, buddy. What crawled up your ass all of a sudden?”
I smirk. “Yeah, Brody. What’s got your panties in a bunch?”
Drew laughs at that while Devyn watches us carefully, obviously trying to figure out what the hell happened in the two minutes she was gone.
Brody glares at me. “Oh, game on, honey.”
I casually sip the wine Devyn placed in front of me. “Bring it.”
With my statement, something shifts in the air. Brody is practically incinerating me with his gaze, making me realize how much he’s actually been holding back before now. I try concealing how strongly he’s affecting me, but his cocky grin tells me that I’m not doing a very good job.
I take several gulps of wine, trying to act aloof. I set the glass on the table—probably a little too hard—and clear my throat. “I’m going to call it a night, guys. Brody, would you mind walking me home? Some weirdo has been hanging around my building lately and I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
He grins. “I’d love to.”
Devyn is still watching us like a hawk but Drew is completely oblivious as he pulls Brody into a back-slapping hug. I can feel her eyes burning through my back as we make our way out of Kelly’s but she doesn’t say a word.
Brody places his hand on the small of my back as we step onto the sidewalk. “Is there really a weirdo hanging around your building?”
My mind is so focused on the pressure of his fingertips against my spine, it takes me a second to realize he asked a question. I step out of his reach so he can’t distract me.
“Yeah,” I shrug, “but he’s harmless. He just likes preaching the word of the lord. He only takes the megaphone out on Sundays and holidays.”
He laughs. “Ah, gotta love downtown living.”
I chuckle. “It’s definitely interesting.”
As we approach my building, the sexual tension between us is tangible. As anxious as I am to have an orgasm from a warm-blooded man, I know I need to put on the brakes so I can regain control of this situation. A physical relationship with Brody has the potential to get messy so I want to make sure we’re both on the same page before we take that step.
I can feel his big body behind me as I jiggle the key in the lock. His hot breath hovers over my neck for only a second before his pillow soft lips meet my skin.
He groans. “God, Rainey, I can’t wait to finally be inside of you.”
My knees literally go weak as I push open the door. It takes me a moment to regain my balance, but once I do, I manage to swat him away.
“Hold on there, Romeo. I have some ground rules.”
He appears crestfallen. “Ground rules?”
“Yep,” I nod. “I don’t want to do anything that could make things difficult. Our closest friends live together so avoiding each other isn’t really an option if this goes south.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” he says, holding his hands up to cut me off. “Why are you writing this off before we even get to the good part?”
“I’m not,” I deny. “I’m being cautious.”
The skin between his eyebrows crinkles. “Elaborate.”
I set my keys and purse on the kitchen counter. “If we do this, it’s strictly a friends-with-benefits arrangement.”
“Go on...”
“Well, I know our friendship is...different, but I definitely consider you one of my only real friends. I don’t let a lot of people in, yet, you somehow wormed your way onto that short list.”
“At least you’re finally willing to admit it,” Brody says and winks.
I roll my eyes. “Anyway...like I said earlier, it’s not just our friendship on the line. We spend a lot of time with Drew and Devyn. And now that Riley’s back, I have a feeling it will be even more so, once Devyn gets over the shock of his return.”
“Agreed,” he says with a smile. “What else?”
“I don’t want complications,” I explain. “We’re just two people scratching an itch. Once either of us has had enough, we pretend like it never happened.”
He scowls. “I don’t know if—”
“I’m not done.” I hold my hand up. “No one outside of this condo can know
about our arrangement. And I mean that, Brody. If I find out you’ve said anything to Drew or Riley, I will end it immediately.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “Anything else?”
I think about it for a moment. “If we do this, I expect monogamy. You can go back to your slutty ways once we’re done.”
“Hey!” he protests. “I’m not that bad.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Do you forget how we met?”
Now he rolls his eyes. “That was years ago. My dating...habits have changed significantly since then.”
Have they? When I think about it, he really hasn’t dated much. Not that I know of, anyway. Huh. Strange that I haven’t realized that before now.
“Regardless,” I say, breezily waving my hand. “I have no interest in sleeping with someone who’s sleeping with someone else. After what Adam put me through, I hope you can understand that.”
His face softens. “Trust me, Rainey. You have no worries there. You’re the only woman I’ve wanted since the day we met.”
What?
I clear my throat. “So...do we have a deal?”
I don’t think Brody’s grin could get any bigger. “I will definitely take that deal. Shall we seal it with a kiss? I’ll even let you choose. The lips on your face...or the lips on your—”
I slam my hand over his mouth. “I get it, perv.” I pull my hand away when he nibbles my palm. “Nothing’s happening tonight, stud. I have to be at work in six hours and medicine requires being alert.”
His jaw drops open. “Seriously?”
I bite back a laugh at his shocked expression. “Seriously.”
“Are you sure?”
This time my laughter breaks through. “I’m sure, Brody. Do you have plans tomorrow night?”
“I’m watching football at Drew’s but I will definitely skip out early if you give me a reason to.”
“Okay. I’ll be starving by the time I get off work. Can you meet me at Tang’s Wok over on Third and Pike around seven?”
“I will meet you at the fucking Eiffel Tower if you ask me to.”
“You’re not playing very hard to get, are you?”
“Fuck, no!” he says. “And I don’t give a rat’s ass how pussy whipped that makes me look. I’m still not convinced this isn’t a dream. I’m sure as hell not going to do anything to screw it up in case it’s not.”
I bite my bottom lip to conceal my smile. “Okay, it’s settled then. After we fill our bellies, we can come back here and work off the calories.” I squeal when he grabs my hips and yanks me into him. “What are you—”
He silences me by slamming his lips against mine. Brody takes a step forward, forcing me to walk backwards until I’m pressed up against the door. His muscular body pins me against the wood as his large hands cup my jaw possessively. When he pushes his tongue into my mouth, I’m a goner. This isn’t the first time that we’ve kissed, but it’s more carnal than it was before. I’m breathless and dizzy, burning with desire. Just when I’m about to beg him to rip my clothes off, he pulls back, wearing the biggest cat-that-ate-the-canary grin that I’ve ever seen.
“What was that?” I pant.
“That was a preview for tomorrow night.” I step aside as Brody turns the doorknob. As he’s stepping over the threshold, he adds, “Sweet dreams, princess.”
Gobsmacked. That’s what I am right now as I watch his cocky, swaggering self, step into the elevator without looking back. Oh lord, what am I getting myself into? If one kiss has me so discombobulated, what will I be like when we actually do the deed?
Chapter Thirty
RAINEY
“Shit! I’m so late!”
I’m supposed to meet Brody for dinner in ten minutes but instead, I’m rooting through my purse looking for my keys. “Where the hell are you, you little bastards?”
It’s going to take at least twenty minutes to walk there. I grab my cell off the counter and pull up my Uber app. I try walking whenever possible because downtown parking is an absolute bitch, but in times like this, Uber is my BFF. The app tells me my driver will be here in five minutes so I resume digging through my bag. Why do all purses have built-in black holes? I swear it doesn’t matter; big or small, every handbag I’ve ever owned has the ability to swallow something I really need. And the most annoying part is that when I do finally find said item, it’s somewhere I’ve already looked three times! It’s more mystifying than socks disappearing in the dryer.
“Finally!” I shout when my finger loops through the keyring.
I fling open my door and shriek when I see the man standing in the hallway.
“Hi, darlin’,” he says with a wink. “It’s about time. I’ve been waiting for you to come out for twenty minutes.”
“What are you doing here, Brody? You were supposed to meet me at the restaurant.”
He holds up a brown bag. “I was already there. I thought takeout might be a better option.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You did, huh? And why would you think that?”
He raises his other hand, producing a DVD case. “Dinner and a movie.”
I smirk when I see which movie he’s picked out. “Top Gun, huh?”
“If you ask me, Iceman is way hotter, but I’m man enough to give Maverick another chance.”
I laugh and grab the bag of delicious-smelling food out of his hand. “Come on in. I just need to cancel my Uber, then we can dish up.”
Brody walks into my kitchen like he owns the place, opening drawers until he finds the one he wants. Pulling out two pairs of chopsticks he says, “Go put the movie in and have a seat. I’ll get this. Do you want the broccoli beef or Kung Pao chicken?”
I can’t fight my smile when I see that he chose my favorite dish without having to ask. “Kung Pao for the win, baby.”
He returns my smile before pulling two beers out of the fridge. “Movie. Couch. Now, woman.”
I head over to the DVD player and pop the movie in. “Okay, bossy pants.”
We settle into the couch and dig into our respective cardboard containers of MSG-laden goodness. I’ll admit; I was worried this might be weird, but being here with Brody, doing something so domesticated, is oddly comforting. Maybe it’s because we’ve known each other for so long, so there’s none of the first date awkwardness that you’d expect. Not that this is a date, of course. We’re just two friends hanging out and enjoying a meal. So what if we’re planning to have sex afterwards. Not date-ish at all.
I honestly expected Brody to jump me the second we came into my apartment but he hasn’t made a single pass at me and the movie is almost over. He hasn’t even dropped a single innuendo, which is very out of character. Has he changed his mind about our arrangement? That’s stupid, right? He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t want to have sex with me. I study him as the credits roll and he looks perfectly relaxed. My brows furrow in confusion as I try figuring out what’s next.
Brody reaches over to run his index finger over the crease between my eyebrows. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“Have you changed your mind?” Damn it, I can’t stand how insecure I sound.
He blinks rapidly. “Why the hell would I do that?”
I gesture to the two feet of space in between us. “Because you’ve been sitting on the other end of the couch all night. And you haven’t cracked a single dirty joke or tried feeling me up.”
“Relax, Rainey. I know you’re dying to get in my pants but a man needs to be eased into these sorts of things.” He lets out a large gasp and presses his hand against his chest. “Wait a minute... are you a sex maniac or something? Should I be worried? Oh my God, you are, aren’t you?”
I roll my eyes at his theatrics. “You think you’re pretty funny, don’t you?”
He scoots closer and lifts my chin with his finger. “Have you changed your mind?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Thank fuck,” he says on an exhale.
“So, what are we waiting for?”
>
He searches my eyes for a beat. “I have no idea.”
I smile. “Then kiss me, stupid.”
Brody flashes his pearly whites. “Yes, ma’am.”
He wraps his arm around my waist, simultaneously pulling me into him and guiding me onto my back. I can feel every inch of his hard body. His quads tighten, the ripples on his abdomen become more pronounced, and the pulsing of his thick, eager cock against my stomach makes my inner muscles clench, desperate to have him inside of me.
Brody fists the hair at the back of my neck with his other hand and slowly— far too slowly— lowers his mouth to mine. I think I moan when his tongue slides into my mouth, encouraging me to meet him stroke for stroke. Sweet baby Jesus, this man knows how to kiss. I’m pretty sure he could make me come from this alone. Everything about the way he dominates my mouth screams possession. He’s making carnal promises with his lips and tongue, telling me that he’s going to own me before this is over. The intensity of it should freak me out but I don’t care as long as he doesn’t stop.
I’m not sure how long it takes before my entire body is slicked with sweat. I’m shivering in his arms from the need he’s stoking inside of me. Brody pulls back as a full-body shudder courses through me, making me whimper.
“Why’d you stop?”
He searches my eyes for a moment before a small frown creases his face. “You feeling okay?”
I match his frown. “Well, I was. Why’d you stop? We were just getting to the good stuff.”
Brody purses his lips. “Don’t take this the wrong way, honey, but you look like hell.”
Dafuq?
I angrily shove his giant body off of me. “Screw you, Brody! If you didn’t want to do this, you could’ve just been honest with me before getting me worked up.”
He smirks. “A, I’m glad you’re finally admitting how much I affect you. B, I definitely do want to do this,” he says, gesturing to the hard-on punching against his zipper. “And C, I wasn’t trying to be a dick. I’m genuinely concerned about you. You’re really clammy and pale all of a sudden.”