by Piper Rayne
“Why on Earth are you trying to do this yourself?” I demand.
“What? I’m fine.” But she loses her footing when she looks down at me and I catch her in my arms.
Adam comes out of the store. “She didn’t tell me she was doing it.”
“Because you’ve got music in your ears twenty-four hours a day,” I yell. He’s gotta get out of this funk and back in the world of the living.
Presley wiggles out of my hold and I realize I’m holding her as if she’s my bride and we’re about to walk over the threshold. Chuck comes out of the butcher shop, bloodstains on his white apron, to see the commotion. His bushy eyebrows rise when he sees me, and a customer whispers something in Chuck’s ear while walking past him into his shop. Luckily, Chuck follows her in. I’m in no mood to hear his sarcastic comments.
“I would’ve helped if she’d told me. I was stocking the storage area,” Adam argues.
“Exactly my point.” I put Presley down because if I don’t, she’s going to fall with the amount of wiggling she’s doing in my arms.
“Just stop, both of you. I can do things on my own.”
Here we go again, her proving a point.
“You should at least have someone spot you,” I say in a loud voice, grabbing the attention of two middle-aged women walking out of The Grind.
“Just relax,” Presley says in a hushed voice. “Is the segment just moments ago not enough?”
So she heard it.
“Nikki’s up to her usual tricks?” Adam asks, putting his AirPods back in and walking into the store.
I throw up my hands.
“I can do things myself without you yelling at your poor brother for not helping me.”
I stuff my hands in my pockets. “What is with you and my brother anyway?”
She stares blankly at me. “Seriously? Your brother?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.
“You’re jealous of your brother.” She leans in close and whispers, “I don’t think it was his mouth between my legs last night.”
Just the memory of her taste makes me want to take her over my shoulder and carry her into the Truth or Dare office. If only I had condoms at the brewery. Which reminds me, I need to carry one around with me as if I’m sixteen again and believe the false notion that the opportunity for sex is always around the corner.
“Come, let me feed you lunch, then we’ll finish the awning.” I grab her hand and she actually lets me take her over to the brewery.
“Are you going to feed me a hot dog?” She laughs, our fight over, I suppose.
I open the doors of the brewery with my keys in my pocket, lead her in, and lock it back up. “Come on now. You know it’s a Kielbasa sausage.”
She laughs, but my hands are busy roaming up the hem of her T-shirt as I guide us to my office. Just as I have her ass on my desk and my hands on her tits, I hear the back door open then Jed humming as he turns the doorknob to the office.
I lean over Cade’s shoulder, pretending I’m looking at something he’s showing me on the computer.
“See,” Cade says, pointing at a blank cell on an Excel spreadsheet.
“Oh, I get it.”
Jed walks in and stops in his tracks, taking in our positions. “Figures you two would get all hot over numbers.” He rounds Cade’s desk, never looking at the screen before plopping down in his chair.
If he only knew that Cade’s dick is very hard under this desk because moments ago, his hands were on my breasts. I’d very much like them there again. His whole heroic act of saving me while I was doing the awning shouldn’t turn me on, but call me a damsel because it kind of warmed me that he was protective.
“I’m starved. Want me to make you something in the kitchen?” Cade asks.
Since Jed’s presence never sits well with me, I agree. I pull out my phone. “I’m just going to text Adam and ask him to pull the ladder in.”
Jed stands. “I’ll tell him. I have a date I wanna set him up on, and since you two are doing whatever you’re gonna do, I’m out. Don’t dirty up the kitchen before service tonight.” I’m pretty sure he doesn’t mean dirty the dishes. “I’ll be back.”
Music to my ears. Jed walks out of the office and we hear the door slam behind him.
I straddle Cade’s lap, grinding along his hard bulge. “About that Kielbasa?”
“It’s hot and ready.”
I’m pretty sure my cheeks are fire-engine red. His hand slides around my neck and brings my mouth to his. Not taking any time, his tongue glides through my lips and mingles with mine. He really is a great kisser. Not too aggressive, but far from passive. My hips move on their own accord, chasing the pleasure Cade elicits.
His hands lift the hem of my shirt, only stripping his lips off of me to see me in my bra. His fingers go to the front, but this bra clasp is in the back.
“I’d like to request front clasps from here on out.” He pulls down the cups and bends me back, taking a breast into his mouth before I can respond.
My arms anchor around his neck and he bucks his hips off the chair, aligning perfectly with my core. The only problem is we’re both wearing jeans and they don’t allow it to feel as satisfying as I wish it was. But his mouth devouring my breasts feels amazing. His tongue twirls, his mouth sucks, and he blows a stream of air on my nipples, causing them to harden even more.
“Can I just stay here all day?” he murmurs against my breast.
“No complaints here.”
He stands from the chair and rests my back on his desk. The stapler presses into my right shoulder blade, but that’s a small price to pay. He unbuttons my jeans and lowers my zipper, his eyes promising me that I’m going to love every second of what’s about to happen. I have no doubt.
His large palm slides down the front of my pants, past the threshold of my panties, and his long finger slides through my folds before concentrating on my clit. He has a black belt in clit mastery—I swear he plays me almost better than I can myself.
Wanting to touch him, I straighten up and unbutton his jeans. I pull them open as much as possible, and my hand rubs his hard length through his boxers.
God, I feel as if we’re in high school with all this foreplay and getting each other off with our hands and mouths. I kind of like it, rather than going straight to sex, although I’m sure I wouldn’t be complaining if he was deep inside me right now.
Just his lips all over my skin and the pressure of his palm on my clit and his finger teasing my entrance is enough to get me there. Mostly because the dark stubble on his cheeks along my breast is a torture of the best kind. Right in his office, I come undone and a shiver runs up my spine like the last sizzle of a spent firecracker after the grand finale.
When I come to, he’s staring at me and places one kiss at my navel. “I could watch you come every minute of the day.”
He slides me forward and I’m very aware he’s still hard. I slide onto his lap and give him a quick kiss. His hard-as-steel dick is between us.
When I move to slide off his lap and down to the floor, he stops me. “I need to get inside of you.”
“Are you refusing a blow job?”
“Hell no. But I’m not going to be satisfied until I sink into you.”
Just thinking about it gets me going again.
“Well, unless you have a condom in that drawer…” I hate the fact I haven’t told him we’re probably good to go bare, but I’m not ready to go there yet.
“I think it speaks to how clean I am that I don’t.”
I lower myself to the floor, bringing his jeans and boxers down farther on his hips. Once I lick up his length, his head falls back. And soon we’re exactly where we were yesterday, his hand in my hair while he comes down my throat. After we’re done, his thumb runs along my bottom lip and he stares in my eyes as if I’m a puzzle he needs to figure out.
“You’re way too good at that,” he says, but I feel as though there’s something else he wanted to say. Something he
’s holding back. Especially when he urges me up under my arms and wraps his arms around me, kissing my neck. “I wish we could take a nap.”
Last I knew, friends with benefits don’t take naps, so I spring back. “I’m really hungry.”
“You’re not full enough after the Kielbasa?” He taps my ass to get up off him.
We both button our pants and I put myself back together, finger-combing my hair, and we head to the kitchen where he prepares me a sandwich.
“So the rental place has a car for me. You can drop me off, then I’m heading to the grocery store.”
“And what about staying there for a while longer?”
I’ve been thinking about it all morning. Being at the apartment this morning was nice. It’s not much bigger than my room at Glacier Point, but it’d be cheaper. Plus it has a kitchen, and it would be nice to cook for myself a little. “I want to pay rent.”
He shakes his head.
“That’s the only way I’ll agree to do it.”
He finishes his sandwich, downing his water after, and crinkles the bottle. “I’m sure we can figure out some kind of arrangement.” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Like I’m a hooker?”
“No!” he says loudly. “I mean…” But he must think about it and see my point. “Okay, fine. Pay whatever you want.”
“Glad you finally came to see things my way.” I smile.
When we’re done eating, we walk out to the sidewalk and find Adam and Jed putting up the awning.
“Oh, you guys didn’t have to do that,” I say.
“It’s either that or you break an ankle,” Adam says, looking at Cade behind me.
I’m shocked to find Jed helping.
“I guess since you’re not going anywhere,” Jed says, climbing down after he finishes, “you might as well be official.”
We all stare at the awning that has the words The Story Shop scrawled across it. Cade’s front is to my back. Although we’re not touching, I’m very aware of his presence.
Zoe from The Grind comes out and claps. “It looks awesome,” she shouts from across the street.
Chuck steps out of the butcher’s, and for the first time, I see a grin on his face. “Welcome, neighbor.”
A few Sunrise Bay people stop and say how excited they are about the shop opening too, and a seed of happiness sprouts inside. Maybe things in this town are finally coming together. I have my store, a place to stay, and soon I’ll have a way to get around. And then there’s Cade, although I’m not sure for how long I’ll have him.
It’s almost too easy and too simple, but I’ll enjoy it for as long as I can.
“Jed?” A woman’s voice invades my bubble. “Cade?”
All four of us turn, but it’s Adam’s hand on my shoulder that tells me this is something I should be concerned about.
“Reese?” Cade says. I’ve heard the name enough to know she used to date Cade, but I have no idea how long or how serious it was.
“Reese.” Jed rolls his eyes at Adam, her name falling from his lips with a very different tone.
Cade wraps his arms around Reese, and she closes her eyes and inhales. I know the scent she’s smelling right now, and it makes me want to yank him away from her and say that smell is mine. But he doesn’t belong to me.
“When did you get back?” he asks, as though they keep up with one another.
“Yeah, Reese, what brings you back?” Jed asks, disdain clear in his voice.
Now I’m all kinds of confused. Why would Jed hate her?
She’s a blonde, but her hair is on the short side and it’s straight. She glances over Cade’s shoulder then up at the awning.
“Oh, you must be the Presley I heard about who’s opening the new bookstore?” She walks away from Cade, but I know I’m not imagining the way his eyes are glued to her as she walks toward me.
I put out my hand. “Hi. Yes, I’m Presley.”
After she shakes my hand, she peeks in the window and smiles. “It’s so cute.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, I’m Reese,” she says, but doesn’t give me a moment to respond before turning to Adam. “Adam.” She holds her arms out as if she’s his dear aunt who hasn’t seen him in ages. “I’m so sorry about Lucy. My mom told me.”
Adam’s eyes flare, looking at Jed and Cade over her shoulder.
Cade never glances in my direction. Not once. His gaze is steady on Reese.
“I’m fine,” Adam says.
“Yeah, he’s found a new love of Motown that’s getting him through,” Jed chimes in.
Adam steps back and Reese moves to Jed as though the three of them are her own brothers.
“Jed, comedian as always.” She hugs him, but it’s brief because Jed doesn’t reciprocate and looks at Cade the entire time her arms are around him as though he’s telling his brother to get this disgusting thing off of him.
Cade wouldn’t notice though because he’s yet to look at anyone besides Reese.
“What’s the Motown about, Adam?” She stands in the circle with us all, as though she doesn’t understand that she’s struck everyone speechless.
“Presley.” Adam motions to me.
“Oh, you’re a Motown girl?” Reese shakes her head as if music is actually playing.
“No, I just suggested he listen to whatever music wouldn’t remind him of Lucy,” I admit.
Cade finally looks at me and our eyes lock, a small smile forming on his lips.
“Oh, that’s cute. I mean, I doubt that helps you sleep at night after your wife left you, but it’s cute.” Her tone has turned condescending. If she thought of this family as her own, she could maybe be less crass in her delivery.
“It does help, actually.” Adam eyes me.
I shrug. I don’t really give a shit what Reese thinks. All that matters is what Adam says.
“Anyway, my mom sent me to the butcher. You know her.” She looks at Cade.
He nods.
I guess that’s not the reaction she wanted, so she puts her hands on Adam’s arm then Cade’s. “I know it’s about that time of year, so if either of you needs anything, let me know.”
She leaves Adam’s side and rises on her tiptoes to place a soft, lingering kiss on Cade’s cheek. Jed rolls his eyes. I think we might actually have something in common now.
“Bye, guys. Nice meeting you, Presley. Can’t wait until the grand opening.”
“You too.” I wave and smile, not meaning it. Here I thought the manipulative bitches were only back home. Turns out there are some in Sunrise Bay too.
“What time of year is it?” I ask quietly. I’m fairly sure I’m overstepping, but I hate the fact Reese knows more than me.
“Our mom’s birthday,” Adam says.
“Hey.” Jed clasps Cade’s shoulder. “I need help for a second. Something’s come up with a client…”
Jed doesn’t fool me though. He’s tearing Cade away to get a grip on himself before I grow suspicious. But Jed is underestimating me again. Cade and Reese have some sort of long history and what scares me is that he might think she’s worth more than just a friends with benefits relationship like we have.
Jed practically shoves me into Truth or Dare. “What the hell?” he yells, but I’m barely able to form a sentence.
Reese hasn’t returned home in at least five years. Seeing her again stirs up all those emotions from when we were young.
“What?” I ask.
“Not that I’m condoning it, but if you want any hope of having anything with Presley, you pretty much screwed yourself just now.”
Presley’s name takes me out of my trance. “Pretty cool how she did that with Adam, huh?”
“The Motown thing? Yeah, but I still think he needs to get laid. Get under someone else to get over Lucy. He’s dodging my set-up.” Jed puts a beer in front of me. I never even saw him fill it.
“Not everyone solves things by screwing people.” I sip the beer to calm myself. “She looked good.”
&
nbsp; “Same money-grubbing girl as ever.” Jed’s hated Reese since high school. And I can’t say I don’t understand why. “I’d take Presley over her any day.”
“Since when did you join the Presley train?”
“Since Reese’s train pulled into town. She’s nothing but trouble.”
I know she is and I’m not thinking of rekindling anything with her, but she was so much a part of my life, it’s hard not to have all those feelings rush to the surface with her unexpected appearance. She was the only girl I was ever honest with about my mom dying and the responsibility I felt toward my family. Jesus, she’s the only person other than my dad I’ve ever allowed to see me cry. All that doesn’t disappear just because we broke up.
“What’s going on with you and book girl?” Jed asks.
I sip my beer, not sure if I should tell him. I don’t want it getting around. But then, Reese’s appearance reminds me of how much I can trust him. He proved that long ago.
“We make out sometimes.” I shrug as though it’s no big deal.
He rolls his eyes. “You know it’s only going to end with trouble, right?”
“What’s that mean?”
“Don’t get me wrong.” He hops up to sit on the back counter. “It’s great that she’s brave enough to stick around, open a new store, and give it a go. The whole finding yourself thing is great, and so far, she looks awesome doing it.”
I quirk an eyebrow and he waves me off. “Relax, I don’t wanna fuck her. But what if it doesn’t last? I mean, if anything is evident, it’s that she’s not from around here. What happens if the bookstore doesn’t take off? Do you think she’ll try again with another business? Can she even afford to? She ran away from home once… what’s to say she won’t run away again? You’re a Sunrise Bay lifer, but is she?”
“She doesn’t have to be.” I finish my beer and walk around to wash my glass. “There are no strings.”
He hops down from the counter. “You’re a smart guy, always did better than me in school, and even I don’t believe that.”
Whether my brother believes it or not, it’s true. Presley didn’t expect me to spend the night last night. She lectured me about bringing her breakfast. She’s getting her own car. There are no signs that she wants anything more than my dick.