“I’m trying to tell you something important, Lil. He said he would be happy to see you with anyone but me.”
“He doesn’t mean it,” she says. “If he saw us together. Saw how happy you make me. He’d get used to it.”
“That’s what I’m counting on.” I exhale. “Because I want you to be my girlfriend.” And if that means getting on the wrong side of her brother then so be it.
“Y-you want to be my boyfriend?” She blinks up at me.
“Of course I do.”
“You want to label this?” Her brow furrows before the shock clears and a smile breaks over her face. “Really? Do you mean that?”
“Yes. Yes.” Her smile is contagious. My own echoes it. My chest is buoyant. Full of her. “I need to talk to him first, but—”
“Yes.” She jumps into my arms. Wraps her legs around my hips. Kisses me feverishly. “Yes, I want to be your girlfriend.”
“Good.” I kiss her back. “Because I wasn’t sure after that night at the bar in L.A.”
“I didn’t want to rush you.” She peppers my face with kisses. “I know this is a huge deal.”
“It’s you and me, Lil. Being with you is a huge deal. And I’m done hiding it.” I slide my tongue against hers. Revel in her taste and how much I want to tell everyone that we’re together. Trail my lips down the valley framed by the collar of her shirt.
I only mean to tease her a little. Tempt her with what’s to come when we can be alone later. But the way she whimpers creates a monster in my pants. She has me hard all the time. Always wanting her. I tug her blouse out of the way so I can suck her nipple through her sheer bra. The same one she wore that night she took those pictures months ago.
Her tits thrust toward my mouth and her back arches on a moan. “Vale, I want—”
“I know, pretty girl. I’ve got you.” She’s wearing this short, flowy, pleated black skirt. It’s professional, but easy access. Thank God. I knead her ass and slip my fingers inside her panties. She’s wet for me. Keen. Ready. I trace her seam and circle her clit. The way she likes. I’ve watched her for months. Worked out the best ways to make her climax. The right movement, the right pressure. Whatever it takes to keep my girl happy. I stroke that sensitive spot inside that makes her tighten her grip on me.
Her eyelids flutter shut. “Oh, my captain.”
“That’s it,” I encourage her.
“I want you. Inside me.” Her lips part around small gasps. “Please.”
“I don’t have any—” We used the emergency one in my wallet a few days ago when we realized our jumbo box was empty. There’s a brand spanking new package on my bedside table, but fucked if that helps me now.
“I do.” Her words are breathy and edged with tension all at the same time. “In my purse. Ever since that night we ended up almost having sex in the bathroom in L.A.”
“Thank God,” I murmur against her collarbone.
“I just…oh God…need you.”
“Hold on,” I force through my teeth as I drop her to her feet so I can retrieve the condom from her purse.
Undoing my pants, I shove them off my hips enough to free Goliath from its prison. It takes me a moment to tear into the foil and roll the thin membrane on before I pick her up again.
She squirms over my erection, which, like a heat seeking missile, is intent on finding its target. I wrap my fist around the base and line the crown up with her entrance.
She moans as she impales herself on my length.
She’s so hot. And wet. My eyes roll back into my head.
“Never felt anything like this.” I clasp her face and kiss her as I thrust into her. “You feel incredible.”
She licks her lips between whimpers. “I’m not going to last. I’m so close.”
“Then let’s get you there.” I thrust into her. Deep. Powerfully. Bury myself to the hilt. Glide out. Do it again. Over and over.
“Oh God, Vale,” she cries out as her body starts to spasm.
“Fuck.” I clamp my hand over her mouth to keep her quiet. Don’t want anyone hearing her sex sounds as she falls apart for me.
Watching her orgasm sends me over the edge. I piston my hips and bury my face in her neck as my own climax tears through me. “Can’t get enough of being with you.”
“Lily, is that you I hear? What the hell is going on in there?” Hud roars from the other side of the door.
“Oh shit,” she whispers as the door cracks open and I come eye to eye with my best friend.
Time slows all the way down to a crawl as his gaze drops to my bare chest and Lily’s legs wrapped around my waist. I’m still inside her. Thank God that detail isn’t visible. I catch the shock in his green orbs. His pupils constrict and his eyes bulge. His jaw pulses. It’s like that moment in Jurassic Park when the tiny human being comes face to face with the mother of all dinosaurs. Only I know he’s seen me.
“What the absolute fuck?” Hud snarls.
There was only one thing I had to do to stay on the amenable side of my usually laid-back best friend. I press my hand to the door. Slam it in his face. Twist the lock. “He was supposed to be gone for the rest of the day. What is he doing back here? Fuck.”
“We didn’t lock the door.” All the color has drained from her face. Her eyes are anime big against her pallid skin. “Oh God, my brother heard me having sex.”
“Lily?” The door rattles against its hinges. “Open this door. Vale, you fucking asshole. Get out here.” His fist pounds so hard against the wood I swear I hear it crack. “I want to talk to you.”
“What are we going to do?” Lily’s voice is squeaky high as I lower her to her feet. She tugs at her underwear through her skirt while I toss the condom in the trash can and grab my T-shirt. “He’s so angry. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him this mad before.”
I yank the shirt over my head and smooth it over my torso. He’s going to want to crack my skull. Get his pound of flesh, so to speak. I’ve betrayed him. Broken the rules. My gut clenches. That same old rancid sensation—like something is rotten inside me— that always comes when I think about my brother and Jessa, overwhelms me now. I knew what I was doing and I did it anyway. That’s on me. “I’ll talk to him.”
“No, we’ll talk to him together.” She takes me hand. “I’m as much a part of this as you are. And he’s my brother. It’s about time he understood that I choose who I want in my life. And I want you. He has no right to be this ridiculous.”
“Lily, you need to open this door right now. I’m going to kill that fucker for touching you.”
I inhale a breath that makes me dizzy. “I’ve broken his trust, Lil. Of course he’s fuming. We knew how this would go.”
“But he shouldn’t be. If he just took the time to see what we’re like together he’d change his mind.”
“What’s going on?” Another voice joins Hud on the other side of the door. Arrow.
“Vale’s screwing with my sister,” Hud rumbles. “But not for long. The minute I get in there this shit is over. You hear me? You’re fucking done.”