There is something on my mind, but my sister does not need to know about the dirty thoughts I’ve been having about her best friend. Since the day at the pool, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Stephanie.
I’m dreaming of her wearing some sexy lingerie, tied in ropes to my headboard while I pleasure her beyond her wildest dreams. I can see it now in my mind’s eye. Her, writhing in pleasure against my tongue while she pulls on the ropes trying to reach her release.
The thought has my cock straining against the fabric of my jeans. She’d look so fucking sexy tied to my bed; or with her hands bound behind her back while she sucked my cock.
I need to stop this shit. I shouldn’t be thinking about Stephanie like this.
“Earth to Jake,” Aria’s voice calls in my ear, making me jump a little. I turn around to find her right behind me.
“Don’t do that, would you! It’s creepy.”
“What were you thinking about?” she asks.
“Nothing you need to know.” I continue making her drink and decide to open a beer for myself instead. I try to move to the fridge without Aria noticing the situation I’m in. My cock is demanding release, and to get it, I want to go bang down Stephanie’s door and fuck the living hell out of her, ruining her for anyone else, and then I might get to call her mine.
“Why are you moving so slowly?” Aria asks. I throw her a grin, and she screws up her face. “Did you have a dirty thought? That’s gross. Do you want me to leave so you can be alone?”
“No, I don’t want you to leave, but can you talk about something I don’t give a shit about?”
“Okay, so have you heard from Steph lately? I’m a little worried about her. I haven’t seen her in a few weeks, and when she does text me, it’s one-word answers. She’s probably busy with work, but still, this isn’t like her. She didn’t even respond when I said I was making cookies over the weekend.”
My cock throbs at the very mention of my sister’s best friend’s name.
“Can we talk about something else?” I demand through gritted teeth.
Aria looks at me as she takes a sip of her drink, and as if she can read my mind, her eyes widen. “Do you have a crush on Steph?” she asks.
“No. Where in the hell would you get that idea?” I ask.
“Well, it’s just first, you had a dirty thought, and then you ask to not talk about her. It leaves me to wonder,” she pauses and takes me in as I sip my beer. “Wait a minute. All the flirting with Steph, that dirty thought was about her, wasn’t it? You like my best friend.”
“I never said I don’t like her,” I argue.
“But you like her like her, as in you want to get her into bed and do the deed with her.”
I chuckle. “What are you, twelve?”
“Sorry, I’m used to having Charlotte around, and she’ll repeat everything I say.”
“If you must know, yes, I like her okay, but that’s as far as it will go. She’s got a boyfriend.”
“Who she’s going to break up with,” she says in a duh tone.
Is she breaking up with her boyfriend? This is news to me. I want to leap into the air, showing my excitement, but I can’t. Aria will know she’s right and I’ll never live it down.
Stephanie certainly wasn’t shy about her feelings at the pool the other day.
I flick my gaze to Aria who is staring at me, wearing the biggest grin on her smug face.
“What’s that look for?” I ask.
“You’re wearing a goofy look on your face. So tell me the truth Jake, do you like Steph or not?”
Best I fess up.
“Don’t make anything out of it. Yes, I like her okay, but if anything is going to happen, I want it to happen because she wants it.”
“Jake, this is perfect! You two would make a great couple.” I roll my eyes, regretting I said anything.
Thankfully, we are interrupted by Aria’s phone buzzing in her purse, and she gets off the couch to come and check it.
“I’ve got to go. Simon and Charlotte are on their way home. Promise me one thing. If you get the chance to tell Steph how you feel, you’ll do it. If neither of you admit it to the other, then you’re never going to know what there may be in the future.”
She hugs me goodbye and exits the house. I hate to admit that my sister is right this time. I won’t ever tell her that. If I get the chance to be with Stephanie, I’m going to take it because the thought of her with anyone else—bound by someone else’s rope—would drive me mad.
Stephanie
Tonight, I’m meeting Ben for dinner. He offered to pick me up, but I opted to take a taxi. After what I have to tell him, there’s no way in hell he’s going to want to talk to me afterwards. I’ve already packed his stuff into a box because I didn’t want this to be any harder than it has to be.
The taxi pulls into the parking zone on Courtenay Place. I pay, then get out of the car, walking past the few bars on the block to get to the restaurant. Courtenay Place is the nightclub hub of Wellington City. It’s lined with nightclubs, bars and restaurants. Usually, the nightclubs are packed with people on Friday and Saturday nights. Bars are more sit down, grab a drink, and something to eat. The temptation to walk in, buy a wine and then break up with Ben over text is overwhelming. That is the coward’s way out, though, and he deserves better than that.
I clutch my purse close, my stomach twists into knots, and I take deep breaths with every step I take. Ben is going to be crushed, but I can’t drag this out.
I stop at the doors to the restaurant. I try to formulate my speech inside my head, devising a plan on how I’m going to do this. I need him to understand that it’s not him, that it’s all me.
Upon entering the restaurant, I scan the room. I’m expecting to find Ben sitting alone, not with a lot of other people.
Oh shit!
My heart sinks. He’s invited his entire family to dinner despite me telling him we needed to talk tonight.
With this change in circumstance, I’ll have to talk to him after dinner; dragging it out even longer than I planned. I approach the table, and Ben turns his head towards me, a huge smile crossing his face. Seeing him this happy only makes me feel worse. A lump forms in my throat. I should’ve tried harder to talk to him before now. Something’s up tonight. I’ve never known him to invite his family out to dinner with us before.
Ben stands up to greet me. He leans down to give me a kiss, and I turn my cheek, so it lands there. My indifference to him must show because he whispers, “No kiss?”
“I don’t want to ruin my lipstick,” I say, taking a seat at the table. I shouldn’t be here. Ben slides a glass of wine over to me which I gingerly pick up and take a sip. I say a quick hello to his parents and brother before turning my attention to the menu. I can’t choose what to have for dinner. I don’t really feel like eating considering what is on my mind.
I decide to order something light and take another sip of my drink. I remain silent throughout dinner, listening to the conversation. As the hours tick by, I wonder if we are ever going to leave this place.
Ben squeezes my hand and leans over to me. “Are you okay? You seem distracted,” he says.