by Low, JA
“You’re free,” I say as we both stare at each other for a moment too long.
“Thank you,” she mouths as she launches herself into my arms, hugging me tightly.
Goddammit, her naked, heated skin is pressing against the fabric of my suit, and my dick twitches to life. This is not good. Then as quickly as she hugs me, she’s running from my arms and locking herself in my ensuite, leaving me standing there trying to calm my body’s physical reaction to her.
I need to get out of my office.
I need to get my desire for her under control.
“I’ll head out and grab us some breakfast.”
“Thank you,” she yells back through the door. I hear the shower turn on.
Now I’m picturing her naked.
I definitely need to get out of here because those images are not helping me with the problem that’s currently digging at the zipper in my pants. I rush out of my office and pull my cell from my pocket and hit AK.
“Why are you calling me so early,” Anderson moans into the phone.
“I have a fucking emergency.” There’s silence on the other end of the phone. “A personal one, not a business one.” I hear the sigh of relief through the phone.
“Can’t you talk to your brother about this or EJ?”
My stomach flips, there’s no way I am talking to EJ, he’s Chloe’s brother.
“Fuck no,” I yell down the phone in a panic. “I can’t talk to them about this problem.” I duck and weave through the morning rush hour along the sidewalks.
“Then what’s the problem?” I can almost see the eye roll through the phone.
“Chloe just flashed me her boobs.”
Silence.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Anderson asks. “Back up a minute. I don’t think I heard you right.”
“You heard me right, man. Chloe flashed me her boobs in my office, and they are spectacular.”
More silence.
“How the hell did that happen? I thought you were firmly in the friendzone?”
I rake my fingers through my hair. “No, shit. Hence, I have a problem. She got—”
“She got what?” Anderson raises his voice.
“She got stuck in her sports shirt.”
He bursts out laughing. “You fucking liar.”
“No, I’m serious. I was pissed because my breakfast meeting was canceled. So, I went back to my office, and there she was bouncing around in all her naked glory. I honestly thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”
“I always suspected she had great tits.” His voice fades away.
“Focus, man. What the hell do I do? Because I can’t forget about what I saw. I mean… shit… I’ve always wanted to see her naked, and now… fuck.”
“Told you, you should have fucked her months ago when you had the chance.” Anderson chuckles.
“Fuck you. I’m serious. It’s her birthday, and I know she’s been feeling weird about turning thirty.” Silence fills the phone. “Anderson!”
“Sorry, my mind was wandering.”
“She feels humiliated,” I tell him.
“Then you need to do something to humiliate yourself, so you’re even.”
That’s the stupidest—actually, maybe he’s onto something.
“Like what? ‘Cause I’m all out of ideas. “
“She showed you her boobs, so why don’t you show her your dick.”
Is he fucking stupid?
“I’m pretty sure that’s sexual harassment, and Lenna would cut my balls off. So would Logan.”
“Out of context, yes it would be. But she flashed you first, and I think this will make her humiliation not so… you know… bad.”
Maybe seeing Chloe’s boobs has short-circuited my addled brain because I’m seeing his logic.
“So, what, I just whip it out?”
“Yeah.”
“This could end horribly. You know that, right?”
Anderson bursts out laughing again. “I know. But only you could get yourself into a situation like this.”
“Fuck you.”
“Have fun. I’ll see ya tonight.” Then he hangs up on me.
Is flashing my cock really a good idea?
Flashing my chest isn’t the same.
Nothing else is the equivalent on a guy as boobs is to a girl. I distract myself at the bakery grabbing all her favorite food items as well as a cake. She’s always told me cake makes things better. Lastly, I grab her a coffee and head up to my office where things could go one of two ways.
She will either chop my dick off or laugh?
I’m hoping she doesn’t laugh because that gives a guy a complex. Not that I have anything to worry about because I think I have a pretty good dick, but this is about Chloe and trying to make her feel better.
18
Chloe
The hot water rushes over my body, I can’t believe I flashed Noah my boobs. It’s not like I did it on purpose.
How am I going to look at him again?
How is he going to take me seriously after this?
He did say I had the best boobs. Focus Chloe.
That is not important.
But there is a little portion of me that’s kind of a giddy because he told me he thinks I have the best boobs he’s ever seen, and Noah Stone has seen many a boob. Not to mention, he gave me his sex voice. I wasn’t lying when I told him that I’ve overheard him using his sex voice. It gives me the chills, the way he drops it low, his dirty words vibrate through you.
But we’re friends. Only friends. We have agreed on this so many times, especially anytime we have come close to crossing over into something more.
I let my forehead hit the tiled wall. Last year, I thought I would be celebrating my thirtieth birthday differently, that I would be enjoying it with my husband. Instead, I’m starting a new chapter of my life. Single. I should be thankful because I’m much happier now. I have a job where I get to travel the world, the most fantastic home I could only ever have dreamed of, and I’m with my friends living in a new city where I’m close to my brother again. I have so much to be thankful for. Maybe I do need to get laid. I haven’t been with anyone since walking out on my wedding day six months ago.
Maybe I need to start my thirties with a bang.
Yes. That’s exactly it.
No more feeling sorry for myself. No more pining after Noah Stone. Chloe Jones is thirty and fabulous. I will not let this one humiliating moment derail my birthday. I square my shoulders, giving myself one last pep talk and walk out into Noah’s office.
“Happy birthday,” he sings, standing before me with a cake in his hands and his pants around his legs. My eyes widen. Holy shit! He’s flashing me his dick.
Have I blacked out or something?
This seriously cannot be happening right at this moment.
“What the h-hell are you d-doing?” I stutter my words, my eyes transfixed on his dick, and they don’t move. His gloriously perfect dick. Now that I know what he’s packing under those ten-thousand-dollar suits, I kind of wish I had jumped on it months ago. No wonder he has women lining up to be with him. I wouldn’t want to be giving up that D for anyone.
“I thought it was only fair that I show you mine, seeing as you’ve showed me yours.”
“This isn’t elementary school, Noah.”
“I simply wanted you to feel comfortable, you know, after exposing yourself to me.”
My heart blooms. He’s trying to take away my humiliation by humiliating himself.
“I’m guessing it isn’t the right time to tell you, I’m a dick-liking kind of gal.”
These few words make him burst out laughing. I still haven’t taken my eyes off the D. I’m soaking it all in as much as I can before it vanishes forever.
“Noah, pull up your pants.”
“You sure?” His voice dips low, making me raise an eyebrow.
No, I’m not sure, but if anyone walked into the office at this moment, it wouldn’t look good for
him or me.
“Yes, I’m sure.” He places my gorgeous cake on the side of the table and pulls up his pants. I watch in fascination as he tries and wrangles that thing back into his underwear. My cheeks heat up with the thoughts running around in my head that are not G rated, at all.
Urgh. I’m supposed to be getting over him, not making my infatuation worse.
“There we go, it’s as if nothing happened.” He gives me a wink as he straightens his tie.
“We will never speak of this again.”
Noah pretends to lock his mouth up and throw away the key.
“Can I have some cake now? I feel like I kind of deserve cake.” I eye off the beautiful pink masterpiece.
“Your wish is my command.”
He hands me a knife, and I carve into the stunning creation. I cut a slice for each of us, and we take a seat in his chairs. The first bite of the vanilla bean cake is delicious, and I can’t help but moan at the glorious burst of flavor in my mouth.
“Seriously?” Noah glares at me.
“What? It’s delicious.”
“For the next ten minutes, I do not want to hear anything that resembles a moan, especially coming from you.”
Frowning at him as I lick my spoon, his green eyes flare as they concentrate on my spoon.
“And don’t do that either.” He points his spoon directly at me.
“So, I can’t enjoy this cake. Is that what you’re saying?”
Noah lets out a heavy sigh. “No. But after seeing some of the best boobs in my entire life, then the body attached to the said boobs is moaning and licking a spoon wickedly, it’s a little hard.”
“A little hard to concentrate.” I giggle, my cheeks flushing from his compliment.
“No. Literally. It’s a little hard.”
My jaw drops at what he’s saying. Then I burst out laughing because, in all honesty, this morning has been crazy.
“Please tell me you’re not laughing at my dick?”
“No. I’m laughing at how messed up this morning has been.”
Noah smiles.
“Definitely different to how I saw my morning going,” I say then take a bite of his delicious cake. “I’m really sorry about this morning, though,” I tell him.
“Honestly, I’m not complaining.” He smirks over his plate. “But may I ask why you were stuck in that shirt in the first place.”
“I was thinking maybe it’s time I got back out onto the dating scene.” Noah pauses, his spoon halfway to his mouth. “But New York is filled with all these beautiful, skinny women, and I guess I thought I needed to lose some weight.”
“You what?” Noah exclaims.
“I’ve put on a couple of pounds since leaving California, mainly because I’ve been doing a lot of comfort eating.” I’m feeling a little weird telling him this fact.
“There’s nothing wrong with you.” Noah looks me over. “You’re a beautiful woman.” My heart skips a beat at his comment.
“You’re just saying that cause it’s my birthday.” Awkwardly, I shrug it off.
“No, I’m not.” Putting his slice of cake down on the table, he says, “You have no idea how beautiful you are. And I know I shouldn’t be saying this, especially at work, but you’re stunning.”
I give him a nervous smile. “That’s sweet of you. But I haven’t seen you date anyone my size.”
“That’s not fair. You know I don’t date. And the women who are seen on my arm are there for exposure, most definitely not for me.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Putting down the plate, I stand. “Thanks for the cake, it was delicious and sorry about before.” Turning on my heel, I start heading for the door, but Noah rushes past, stopping me.
“No. You don’t get to drop that statement on me and walk away.” Folding his arms across his chest.
“I have nothing to say.”
“Yes, you do,” he argues back. “Has someone said something to you?” Concern flitters across his face. It’s stupid, so fucking stupid, and I shouldn’t have done it, but I did, and I can’t look at him. He’ll probably think I’m still hung up on Walker.
“Noah. Please.” His arms fall down to his sides.
“Talk to me, Chlo. We just saw each other’s bits this morning, nothing could be more embarrassing than that.” He attempts to make a joke.
“It’s stupid,” I confess.
“I won’t judge. I promise.” His voice softens.
“I don’t want to talk about it here,” I tell him as I begin to hear the sounds of the office starting to come to life.
“Okay. Grab your coffee, and we’ll head across to the park.”
He leads me out of the office with his hand on the small of my back, and we had down and outside. Taking the short route, we begin walking through the park, the morning commuters rushing past us. I take a sip of my second cup of coffee for the morning.
“Ready to tell me now?” Noah pushes.
“It’s foolish, idiotic, and I can’t believe I dragged you all the way out here for you to hear it.”
“Well, I’m here. So, you might as well tell me now.”
It’s true. Just like a Band-Aid, I need to rip this off.
“Fine.” Rolling my eyes. “Last night I was sitting by myself and thinking how this is the last night in my twenties.”
“Was wine involved?”
“Yes.” Of course, wine’s involved because I was grieving the loss of my youth. “Anyway, I was thinking about how much my life has changed in the past six months. I thought I’d be married by the time I was thirty. Well, I was supposed to be.” Shrugging my shoulders, I continue, “And now I’m living in New York. Single. Starting over again.”
The panic that I felt last night returns with a vengeance. “It’s stupid because men don’t have to worry about their biological clock ticking.” Noah wisely doesn’t say anything to that. “Walker and I spoke about having kids after I turned thirty.” My stomach turns merely thinking about that man. “And now… I have no idea if that’s even going to happen for me.”
“Chloe, you have years before you have to worry about a family.”
“Not really. What happens if the next guy I date lasts a year or two and then fizzles out? I’m two years older, and in the same place. What happens if we end up dating for five years and then nothing? My window of opportunity keeps closing around me.”
“What happens if the next guy you date is the one, and you live happily ever after?” Noah teases me.
See, I knew he wouldn’t understand—Mr. Playboy of Manhattan.
“Anyway, I posted a photo to Instagram saying goodbye to my twenties and hello to my thirties. Someone commented on my weight, and told me that maybe if I weren’t so fat that Walker wouldn’t have cheated.”
“Oh, Chloe.” Noah stops and turns to me.
I’m trying to hold my emotions in, but the comment stung.
“They’re just a troll. Ignore them.”
“But what happens if they’re right? Was that the reason he cheated?”
“That was not your fault,” Noah tries to reassure me. “None of it was your fault.”
“I must have done something to make him cheat, though.” I don’t know why it is now that these questions are haunting me. I thought I’d dealt with all of this months ago.
“He cheated because he could, not for any other reason than he thought he was a fucking god.” Anger laces Noah’s words. “The fact that still after all this time you don’t think you’re good enough kills me.”
We stare at each other, caught in a moment.
“I think you are one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met, Chloe.”
My heart thunders in my chest as he reaches out and touches my cheek, sending goosebumps over my skin.
“I wish you could be mine.”
Dead.
His words have killed me.
He leans into me, and I take a step forward, and we are inches away from each other. The rest of the park has disappear
ed. Gone silent. All except the sound of a phone ringing. It takes a couple of beats to come back from that moment when I realize its Noah’s phone.
“I should take this.” He moves away from me. “Brooke, hi. How can I help you?”
Hope sinks like a lead balloon when I hear the name Brooke. She’s one of the women he likes to parade on his arm at certain events.
The fact he decided to take a call from her in that moment, well, it kills me.
Was what he said all bullshit?
Was it a ploy to get into my pants now he’s seen how great my boobs are?
Either way, I’m not waiting around until he’s finished on the phone with another woman.
Turning on my heel, I head back to the office.
19
Noah
I shouldn’t have answered that call from Brooke, but I panicked. Especially when we were moments away from something.
Fuck! I’m a damn dick.
I had no idea Chloe’s still dealing with this level of trolls. I don’t get how people can be so cruel. There’s nothing wrong with Chloe at all. She’s a beautiful, intelligent, and curvaceous woman. It kills me that Walker has done a number on her and that she thinks his infidelity is her fault. The guy’s an egomaniac who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. It stung when she accused me of only dating model-size women. It’s not true, but I guess I’ve been relying more on convenience dating than actual dating.
I’m a thirty-five-year-old guy, maybe I should be looking at settling down. I know women have biological clocks, but men can have internal clocks too. There’s something deep inside of me that’s been ticking away, and I guess I didn’t realize what it was until she pointed it out. Fuck! Now I’m having a midlife crisis of my own. I realize I want more from my life.
Logan and I have been working so hard to build this company and our wealth, but now we don’t have anyone to share it with besides women who are looking for mutually beneficial relationships which are based more on infamy or the latest handbag, not love.
Chloe’s gotten into my head. She’s making me question things I’ve never wanted to question before. It’s too early for this existential shit.