Twelve

Bryce

When Ann called me up and asked if she could come over, I knew something was up. She showed up in sexy red leather pants and a green holiday sweater that shouldn’t have been sexy, but abso-fucking-lutely was. “Ann, you look beautiful, as always.”

Her laughter tinkled melodically in my small bungalow as she stepped inside, making sure her body brushed against mine in all the right places. “Bryce. How have you been?”

“Better now that you’re here.” That much was true. I didn’t like the way things had been between us over the past few weeks when we spent time together. And I knew it was my fault. “Come in. Want the two-dollar tour?”

She grinned and wrapped her arms around mine, squeezing a little. “I’d love it. You know, I thought maybe you lived in one of those firefighter houses.”

I frowned. “Would you have preferred that?”

“Not at all. I’m happy to have you all to myself for now. I’m just surprised because you seem very proud to be a firefighter, I thought you’d go all in with the camaraderie and brotherhood.”

“I do, but I live with these guys for two days straight every three days. We live, cook, eat, shower and sleep together at the station. That’s more than enough brotherhood for me.” I was secretly pleased she’d picked that up about me. Most women didn’t see past the uniform and the muscles and I liked that Ann did.

“I guess that makes sense. Besides, it could get kind of complicated with a house full of hot firefighters fighting over girls.”

I loved the way she touched everything, running a delicate finger over photos and trophies, books and other mementos as though she were really interested.

“Parents?”

“Yep. That’s my mom and dad, and my sister. You’ve met.”

“Oh right. Jasper said they went to Tahiti for their honeymoon, right? How was it?”

I ignored her mention of Jasper and answered the question, sidestepping several more mentions of my best friend. “It’s still weird having one of my friends married to my baby sister, but he’s a good guy.”

“Plus you threatened bodily harm if he hurt her in any way?”

I grinned. “Damn straight.” She seemed to like that answer, pressing closer against me as I showed her the kitchen and back yard.

“This is so nice! You can grill outside all year. The only thing missing is the twinkle lights.” She laughed at my shocked look. “Okay, maybe not.”

“Grown men don’t have twinkle lights, Ann.”

“The ones with women in their lives do because we know that twinkle lights make everything better.” She turned and made her way back inside, close to the cold fireplace. “Your place is nice. A total bachelor pad with just a hint of style.”

I could live with that. “Maybe it needs more color,” I told her and pulled her down onto the sofa so she was right on my lap. “Like red leather pants on the floor.” Her husky laugh was music to my ears, and the weight of her body settling onto mine was intoxicating. The heat of her core pulled me in and I held her close. “Maybe along with a green sweater?”

Her response was to take the sweater off, giving me an up close and personal look at . . . “Candy canes wearing top hats?”

“Yep. I’m a bit of a holiday nut.”

“I never would have guessed a sexy, sophisticated woman like you would wear something so cheesy, but I like it.”

“Yeah?”

“Hell yeah.” I wanted this woman. Bad. Only I didn’t know what she wanted. I pulled her close and fixed her lips to mine, letting the kiss simmer before it bubbled over. My fingers speared through her long hair so I could kiss her the way I wanted to, the way I fucking needed to.

I tasted her mouth from the deep, dark depths to the sweet nectar on the tip of her tongue. She began to grind on my cock, already hard enough to break right through my zipper, because that was what she did to me. She was so different from any other woman, sophisticated and sexy on the outside but a straight up freak in the bed.

She groaned into my mouth, cupping my jaw so she could take over the kiss while I pushed up against her. “Oh, gawd, Bryce!” A long, low moan seeped out of her when I hit the spot she liked. Faster and faster we began to move, like a couple of teenagers dry humping on the sofa. Then she broke the kiss with a nervous laugh. “You make a girl forget herself, Bryce.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I told her, brushing soft kisses on her neck and collarbone.

“I meant it as one. But I came here to talk. First.”

Words that never ended good for a man. I sighed and dropped my head back on the sofa, holding Ann close to me. “Okay. I’m listening.”

“What’s up with you and Jasper?”

Really? “That’s what you want to talk about now?” I thrust up into her for extra emphasis.

She sighed and slid off me. I felt the loss immediately and hated it. “I don’t want to come between you guys. You don’t talk about it much but Jasper told me about your friendship. It’s been long and enduring and I like you both too much to come between you.”

She liked both of us. And I was born last night. “Listen Ann, if you’re not interested just say that. Don’t pretend to spare my feelings.”

“You dummy!” She scanned the room as if she was looking for something to throw at me. When she didn’t find it, she tossed her shirt at my face. “I said I liked you both and I meant it, dammit. Don’t put your hang ups and insecurities on me, Bryce. I’m being honest.”

I couldn’t tell if she was lying to me or to herself, but a voice niggled at me that maybe she wasn’t lying. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d lost a girl who was more interested in Jasper, though he’d never do that to me. The women didn’t know that. “I don’t understand.”

She grabbed her sweater and put it back on, taking a seat beside me. “I like you Bryce, and I like Jasper. I’m sure I could be happy with either one of you but if I’m being honest, I think I, no we, could be a lot happier together. All of us. He is your best friend after all.” She nibbled on her plump bottom lip, a telltale sign she was nervous.

I sat there, stunned and no longer hard, for a minute or two, trying to understand her words. She wanted both of us. “Is this a real thing or a sex thing?”

She grinned. “Yes,” she answered on a sigh.

Shit. She meant it. There was no mistaking the determination in her eyes. “You’re serious.”

“I am. But like I said, I don’t want to come between you guys.”

I felt my brows furrow, my jaws clench involuntarily. “So what was that, seduction?”

Her blue eyes widened, and she stood, nodding but not in answer to my question. Just . . . in general. Her hair spilled over her shoulders as she scanned in search of her belongings. She grabbed her purse off the table and walked toward the door, but she didn’t leave right away. Ann turned to me, cheeks red and eyes like the bottom of a flame. “Fuck you, Bryce. I knew this wouldn’t work. Have a nice life.” Then she yanked open the door, glared at me as she stepped outside, and put her entire body into slamming the door behind her.

I stood there, numb, for a few minutes after she’d gone, unable to believe her visit had gone from hot as fuck to bat-shit crazy in a matter of seconds. “Fuck!”

As a rule, I didn’t share my women. With anyone.

Not even my oldest friend in the world.