Caught In You: A BWWM Romance (The Token Black Friend Series Book 2)

by Nia Arthurs

“Why wouldn’t I be okay? I’m perfectly fine. And you? Are you okay?”

  “I might have a mild concussion.”

  “Good.” Then she freezes. “Wait, what?”

  I smirk. “I slammed my head pretty hard.”

  “Sorry about that.” She nervously plays with the engagement ring strung around her neck.

  I stare at it and my laughter dies. “About that kiss—”

  “It was not a kiss.”

  “What would you call it then?”

  She opens her mouth. Snaps it shut.

  “It wasn’t intentional so you don’t have to feel guilty about it.”

  “And what happened after?” She raises her chin defiantly. “You touching my cheek. Was that an accident too?”

  I lean forward. “You closed your eyes.”

  “I was shocked.”

  “You liked it.”

  “So did you.” She drops her eyes pointedly to my pants.

  I lean back. Spread out my legs. Own it. “Yes.”

  She gulps.

  Looks away.

  I sense the uneasiness in her when she whispers, “I’m engaged.”

  “I know.”

  “I can’t… it can’t happen.”

  My mood sours.

  I inhale deeply and nod. “I know that too.”

  “Can we…” She plays with the collar of her shirt. “I’d like it if we forgot that ever happened. I don’t want it to be awkward. Not that it will be but just in case—” She squeezes her eyes shut. “I want us to be okay.”

  “We’re okay.”

  Her phone buzzes.

  Just then McCarthy returns to the kitchen. “I forgot my tablet.”

  I hand over the device.

  “I should check my phone too. It was ringing…” Kaz picks her cell up and sighs loudly. “It’s just Ashley.”

  I nod to it. “What does she want?”

  “She’s bothering me about what to wear tonight.”

  “What’s happening tonight?” McCarthy asks.

  “I’m going clubbing.”

  “Fun.”

  “Would you like to come?” Kaz offers to McCarthy. “It should be interesting enough. Ashley promised we’d ‘get in trouble’.”

  The hell?

  “No thanks. I’m at that age where loud noises and crowds sound like a nightmare.”

  She turns to me. “You, Morgan?”

  “Forget it.” McCarthy chuckles. “He’s never agreed to—”

  “Yes.”

  McCarthy’s jaw drops. “What?”

  I train on my eyes on Kaz. “I’ll go with you.”

  There’s no way in hell I’m sending Kaz into a nightclub alone. If she’s getting into any trouble tonight, it’s going to be with me.

  18

  Kaz

  It’s a few minutes to ten o’clock and I still haven’t found the perfect outfit. Clothes litter every inch of the space, fill the floor and form a small heap in the doorway. It looks like a hurricane ripped through my room.

  Frustration nips at my heels. Back home, my closet was filled with the latest designer apparel. Shopping was my therapy and my parents kept my credit card stocked so I could live a happy, satisfied life.

  Since I’ve been here, Shanel’s parents haven’t reached out once. I’m assuming they don’t have a good relationship with her, which suits me just fine because I didn’t want to pretend to be their daughter anyway.

  But it does suck that I can’t have a parental ATM at my disposal.

  Luckily, I have my own ATM.

  Maybe I can run into a department store and quickly…

  My bank balance laughs at me. Girl, what you gon’ buy with this?

  New plan.

  I tap my chin in thought. It’s too late to check out the local Goodwill for any hidden treasures. Even if they were open, it takes too long to wade through every option until I can strike gold.

  Morgan’s picking me up at ten thirty. I don’t have time for indecision. Nerves tighten in my stomach when I think about seeing him. I beat the excitement back like a rabid dog with a stick.

  There will be no swooning over the scientist.

  None.

  I already crossed the line today when I melted into him as he caressed my face. The accidental kiss was bad enough, but when the aching started between my thighs and the urge to rub against him reared to life in me, I knew I was dancing into very dangerous territory.

  Even now…

  Thinking about his green eyes darkening…

  I closed my eyes when he touched me.

  I wanted him to touch me.

  It’s a dead giveaway that I’m feeling more for Morgan than I should. More than I can deny. I can’t allow myself to fall for someone in this world.

  It’s too complicated.

  It’s too… wrong.

  But just because I have inappropriate feelings doesn’t mean I have to act on them. As long as I put rules and boundaries in place and keep my distance, I won’t make any more mistakes.

  With a deep breath, I grab the first dress I pulled out of the closet and slip it on. It’s a navy blue bodysuit and a mini skirt that cinches at the waist and gives my short frame an exaggerated hour-glass shape.

  I’m fun-sized with a long torso and scrawny legs, so my body doesn’t exactly scream va-va-voom, but I feel sexy in it. Hopefully, the rules of club attire are the same here as they are on my earth.

  I check my reflection in the mirror. Touching my shimmering eyelids, I scan my makeup. I usually try for a more natural finish, but tonight is about having fun.

  I’ve been working hard since I got caught in this world, I think I deserve a night off to let loose.

  Within the limits of course.

  A knock sounds at the door. My heart jumps to my throat and I take a few calming breaths before admitting Morgan into my cramped foyer.

  As usual, his commanding presence fills up the space. The old couch and nasty wallpaper feel shabbier in comparison to his designer jacket and crisp white shirt. It’s my first time seeing him dressed up and it makes my mouth water.

  “You look…” he walks toward me, his green eyes roving my body, “incredible.”

  “Thanks.” I step back.

  He steps forward.

  My body reacts to his nearness, throbbing faster and harder than ever before. I can’t take my eyes off him.

  It’s more than his crazy good looks or his fancy clothes. There’s a tension simmering between us that makes me question whether or not I can keep my rules, especially under the influence of alcohol.

  Morgan caresses me with his gaze, his eyes moving from my lips to my outfit and back up to my face as if he wants to forever inscribe it in his memory. Beneath his heated appraisal, I’m aware of every hint of my bare skin, every dip and curve exposed in this outfit.

  He’s doing nothing to hide his admiration. There’s something… powerful about being on the receiving end of this man’s attention. Something that makes me want to be reckless and test just how far I can push the limits until I break.

  I reign that impulse back before I give in to temptation. I’m probably misreading his gaze. Morgan’s probably surprised that I have boobs given he hasn’t seen me dressed in anything outside of that ugly pink uniform at the diner and over-sized T-shirts.

  “Makeup, right?” I joke, desperate for something to ease the tension in the air. “It does wonders.”

  “It’s not the makeup. It’s you.”

  My breath hitches. Butterflies break out of their cages and take off in my stomach. I chuckle nervously. “You don’t have to lie.”

  “I’m being honest. If it was the opposite, I’d tell you that too.”

  “Way to make a girl feel special.”

  He reaches out as if he’ll touch me but stops himself halfway. “You are special.”

  My eyes lock on his.

  His gaze steals my breath.

  It’s the complete opposite of what Miles would say.

&nb
sp; You’re trying too hard, Kaz.

  Stop embarrassing me.

  His harsh voice echoes in my head. I was always embarrassing him. Learning to make myself smaller was a part of earning his love. I don’t know how to act around someone who doesn’t make me work for his attention. Someone who praises me. Bigs me up. Makes me feel cherished.

  It’s disorienting. Like the world is upside down.

  “Shall we?” Morgan gestures to the door.

  He sets his fingers on the small of my back as he guides me down the stairs. I don’t need the help, but I don’t brush him off either. I’m enjoying the graze of his fingers against my clothes. I cling to the warmth of his touch.

  As we walk side-by-side to the car, our arms brush ever so slightly and that warmth hikes up and becomes heat.

  It’s electric.

  Explosive.

  I know if I lose even the slightest inhibition, I’ll be all over Morgan.

  I squeeze my eyes shut.

  All I can see is Miles’s face, lips trembling as he asks if I’ve betrayed him.

  Not yet, but I have a feeling I’m about to.

  “Are you okay?” Morgan asks.

  “Yeah.” I swallow. “Have you made any progress with the doorway?”

  “Yes and no. I’m running calculations, but I keep finding something weird.”

  “Weird?”

  “It’s like,” he licks his lips, “someone’s trying to get in.”

  “In where?”

  “To this world.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Every universe exists in a bubble and all the parallel dimensions are constantly pressing against each other. We never feel it. We don’t know they’re there, but the alignment last month allowed a portal to open between them.”

  “Is that happening again?”

  “Sort of.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Energy flows in a circle. So for our earth, it’s easier to cross between the dimensions. Another earth might have trouble if they’re trying to move to an earth ‘upstream’.”

  “Okay…”

  “I think there’s another world rubbing up against our bubble, but the bridge they’re trying to build goes against the natural energy flow. Like someone is pushing on our door and trying to break it down when they shouldn’t.”

  “Should we be worried?”

  “That you’ll get home? No. The parts for the machine are still coming in and we’re still going to find a way to get you back.”

  “I know that. I meant…” I brush my skirt down. “Should we be worried about who’s coming?”

  “It’s hard to say. Obviously, it’s not the first time someone’s traveled between the worlds. ”

  “Pavel said he met a boy many years ago. Maybe that kid is trying to come back.”

  “Maybe.” He shrugs. “Or maybe I’m wrong. There’s not a handbook on alternate dimension-hopping. We’re in uncharted territory.”

  “True.”

  We park close to the night club. It’s a huge building with tinted windows and a small balcony. From here, I can see people dancing under the moonlight, holding shot glasses to the air and having a great time.

  I glance at Morgan. “Ready to forget about parallel earths and magic doorways for a few hours?”

  “It’s not magic, it’s science.”

  “My bad.”

  He smirks. “I’m just here to keep you safe.”

  “From myself?”

  “That too.”

  We exchange smiles and walk into the club.

  It’s packed. Noisy. Lights flash overhead, spilling green and yellow over a crowd of dancers in front of a raised platform. A DJ is spinning a hype beat and my body starts swaying naturally.

  As my eyes sweep the room for Ashley, I spot a familiar face staring at me.

  My blood runs cold.

  I skitter to a stop, my heart beating against my ribs.

  Miles?

  Just then Ashley comes charging at me, temporarily knocking me off balance and grabbing my attention away from the man across the room. I look past her, pushing her aside so I can confirm if my vision is right.

  But there’s no one at the bar.

  I glance around, but I don’t see him.

  Miles is gone.

  19

  Morgan

  Ashley barrels into Kaz, filling the air with the scent of booze and heavy perfume. “Girl, you’re finally here! What took you so long?” Her words trail when she sees me. She steps around Kaz and gives me a once-over. “Well, hello, Mr. Hottie. You clean up nice.”

  “So do you.”

  “Thanks.” She does a little twirl. The shiny peach dress she’s wearing is skin-tight and low-cut, showing off her generous cleavage and curvy body.

  Her blonde hair is pulled up into a tight ponytail that spirals down one shoulder. Dark makeup outlines her blue eyes and red lipstick stains her thin mouth.

  Ashley is beautiful, no questions asked. Still, I find myself more drawn to Kaz. The dress she’s wearing hits differently. The top brings attention to her beautiful shoulders and neck. It fits her slim body like a glove and makes my fingers desperate to fit into the curve of her tiny waist.

  And that skirt—

  It’s begging to be shimmied down to her ankles and discarded.

  Keeping my hands to myself when I saw her tonight was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The moment she stepped into my line of sight, I wanted to lower her to the floor and tear off that stunning outfit.

  But I didn’t.

  Couldn’t.

  Not after the conversation we had earlier today.

  I’m going to resist her as much as I can.

  It’s what she wants.

  And I respect that.

  “Hello?” Ashley waves a hand in front of Kaz’s face. “What’s up, girl?”

  Kaz’s expression is pinched. Trim eyebrows meet in the middle of her forehead. Glossy lips screw to the side and then fall open in utter terror.

  Her eyes lock on someone by the bar.

  I glance that way, but the place is too packed to make out any individual faces.

  Ashley glances over her shoulder. “What are you staring at?”

  “Didn’t you see him?” Kaz mumbles.

  “Who?”

  Instead of answering, Kaz strides ahead, her heels slamming into the ground, her hair bouncing behind her. She’s moving with purpose and both Ashley and I stand frozen in shock.

  “Is she—?”

  “I’ll be right back,” I mumble.

  “Where are you going?” Ashley’s ponytail whips the air. “What’s going on?”

  I keep my eyes trained on Kaz who’s storming ahead. There’s something wrong. I feel it in my bones. I saw it in her eyes.

  Unease tramples my stomach and sets a fire of discomfort sweeping through my veins. I’ve never seen Kaz that disoriented before. Like she was on the cusps of a horrible discovery.

  I hasten my steps.

  Music pulses around us.

  Dancers gyrate to the fast-paced song, sweat dotting their shadowy faces.

  Kaz dives into the crowded dance floor, turning around in circles.

  I hold my hand out gently. “Kaz, talk to me.”

  “He was here.” Frantic brown eyes meet mine. “I saw him, Morgan.”

  “Who?”

  She shakes her head.

  “Who did you see?”

  “I…” She wraps her arms around herself. Confusion wrinkles her brow. “Did I see him?”

  "Come on.” I wrap my fingers around her wrist and lead her away from the dancers. “You look like you need to sit down.” The loud music swallows my words, but Kaz stumbles forward as if she hears me.

  Ashley waves us over from a table in another section of the bar. I weave through the crowd, pulling out a chair for Kaz. Instead of falling into it, Kaz reaches for Ashley’s liquor.

  “That’s hard…”

  Kaz knocks it back and coughs.

  �
�Vodka.”

  “What happened out there?” I pull a chair up close to her, watching with alarm as Kaz reaches for the second glass and knocks that back too.

  “Nothing.”

  My eyes narrow to slits. “Don’t play that game, Kaz.”

  “I’m just tired, that’s all.”

  “You saw someone.”

  “Who?” Ashley gasps. “Wait. Is it your fiancé?” She peers around and hisses, “Is he here?”

  "It wasn’t him.”

  “You don’t think he saw you with…” Ashley points to me.

  “I said it wasn’t him!” Kaz stumbles to her feet. “I need another drink.”

  “Great idea.” Ashley grabs her purse. “For you, Morgan?”

  “I’m driving,” I grumble, my eyes on Kaz.

  Ashley pouts. “That’s no fun.”

  “Never said I was fun.”

  Ashley totters away from the table with a sigh.

  Kaz tries to follow her, but I wrap my fingers around her wrist and tug her back. “Stay.”

  “Why?”

  “We need to talk.”

  “Look around. This isn’t the place to have a conversation.”

  “Are you coming, Kaz?” Ashley yells, staring at us.

  “Yes!”

  “No.” I gently tug her back. Lifting my eyes to Ashley, I point my chin in the direction of the bar and silently instruct her to leave us.

  “I’ll bring something back for you,” Ashley yells.

  Smart girl.

  Kaz scowls at me. “What are you doing?”

  “Getting answers.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  I give her a hard look. “It’s important. If you saw Miles…”

  “I said I didn’t. What part of that don’t you understand?”

  “Then what did you see?”

  “A ghost.”

  I rest my free hand over Kaz’s forehead. “You don’t feel hot.”

  “I’m fine.” She slaps my hand down.

  “It’s possible you saw Miles.” I lean back. “A doppelgänger.”

  “What?”

  I grab the shot glass. “There are parallel versions of us. Two people who look identical but aren’t related at all.” I place the second shot glass side-by-side. “You might have seen this earth’s version of Miles.”

  “So it’s Miles, but it’s… not him.” She sinks into her chair, the defiance gone from her eyes. “He was real?”