LEFTOVERS USUALLY AREN’T BAD, but for some reason, I can taste what the reheating has done. Rubbery chicken is not good. Maybe it’s a texture thing.
Sitting at my kitchen island eating my unappealing leftovers, I also notice just how quiet it is. There are cars passing by, but besides the tick of the clock on the wall behind me, there is nothing but silence. Suddenly, I feel . . . lonely.
Cam is meeting me at The Sinclair at eight, and he’s bringing Niko. I’m tempted to start in on the drinking some liquid courage based on that fact alone, but I need to get out of my house, and if I dive in now, I won’t make it out.
I need this night. I’ve spent all week working followed by every spare minute devoted to unpacking boxes and locating everything. Box after box, and still there are more boxes, but I’ll worry about them this weekend. For now, I need a drink and a few hours to let loose. Besides, I’m the one that said we should start over. Be friends and forget things happened. Easier said than done, but I’m going to try my hardest to stick to it. Niko is always on my mind, but thoughts of him are always being interrupted by the nagging from my cheating ex.
It’s been just over two months since I walked in on Tate fucking Shannon, and I’ve been going full speed ahead ever since, barely stopping to take a breather. Every moment has been filled with packing, unpacking, work, setting up my office, and getting used to the time zone difference. Even when I was at my parents’ when they weren’t, I was always busy with something.
For two years, Tate was my world, and it’s just now hitting me hard that I’m single again. Not that it’s a bad thing that he’s history, but I miss sharing my time with someone.
Aly is about an hour away, but she works two jobs, so getting together with her is more difficult. I’m happy that at least the calling between us has gotten easier. I have no other friends here. High school was filled with a lot of self-centered assholes who I don’t care about reconnecting with, and any adult friends I have are back in California.
What needs to happen tonight is a good time, and hopefully, an added good time. I told Cam I wanted to join the fun club, but even after over a month, the only sex I’ve had was with Niko that first night I got here.
Even if I can’t admit it to myself, the truth is Niko never left my mind. I can’t get over that night.
It shouldn’t be surprising. Because he’s Niko. Man of my dreams who showed me why after so many years that he will always be that. They are altered, dirtier than ever before, and make my previous view a sugar-coated candy crush in comparison.
I do worry, though, about tonight. He’s almost gotten me to cave in the last few weeks, and a little alcohol could have me giving in to him. Then again, Cam will be there, and they will be in full pick-up mode.
Fears that I’ll have to watch Niko in action, in his prime, picking up another woman, makes my stomach turn.
Maybe that drink isn’t such a bad idea.
At just after seven-thirty, I’m in a dress I forgot I owned until I found it while unpacking, and some strappy heels. Pretty basic wear, but perfect for the night’s objective. The dress, however, has nowhere to put anything, making me find a clutch in the closet. At least my new closet is huge, unlike the one I had in California. All my clothes, shoes, and purses are perfectly organized, the only section in my home to be fully unpacked.
I step outside and turn to lock the door. Right as I get the key turned, I feel something nudge me and a cry of surprise leaves me.
“Oh! Jojo!” I lean down to pet the taupe head while I look around for Grant. Instead of a tall man, I’m met with a girl who can’t be more than six or seven with curly, light brown hair and large green eyes. Where did she come from?
“Well, hi, what’s your name?” I say to her.
“Ella Prince.” Her voice is light and sweet.
“Ella!” Grant pops out from his door, his eyes wide and frantic. He zooms in on the little girl and runs forward, scooping her up in his arms. “Baby, you can’t go out the door like that. You scared Daddy.”
Daddy?
It hits me then—Grant Prince.
He lets out a hard sigh and blinks as he looks at me. “Everly . . . I’m so sorry. I turned my back for five seconds and she was gone. It took me another minute to realize Jojo was gone, too.”
“So . . . you have a daughter?” I ask, still surprised by the revelation. From the moment I saw him, there was never any indication.
He nods and turns her in his arms. “Ella, this is our neighbor Everly. Can you say hi?”
She waves at me, her green eyes a perfect match of her father’s. “Hello.”
“Why don’t you go inside and wash your hands? We’re going to Grandma’s for dinner.”
She pads off, and Grant turns to me, a sheepish grin. “She’s six. I have family that helps me out a lot so I can get some work done.”
“She’s yours, full-time? What about her mom?”
I watch as something flashes across his eyes, his lips forming a thin line. “It’s just Ella and me.”
Such an open sentence that doesn’t answer much. By his reaction, I decide it’s best not to pry.
“Are you headed out?” he asks as he looks me over.
I nod. “Going out with my brother.”
“He’s the firefighter, right?”
I nod. “How did you know?”
“I’m not stalking you or anything; I just saw them when they were helping you move in.”
“Yeah, the T-shirts with the firefighter logo on them were hard to miss. A couple of the guys were on backup.”
“Yeah, that kind of gave them away. Either that or they all give a lot of money to the fireman’s association.” He smiles, and I have to admit, he’s charming. Too bad.
“Well, I should get going. It was nice meeting you, Ella Prince,” I say and smile down at the cute six-year-old who is back and standing next to her dad.
“Enjoy your night, Everly,” Grant says and ushers his daughter back inside.
“You too.” I walk down the front stairs to the Uber that just arrived, and I can’t imagine being a single mom. I can’t imagine that being a single dad to a six-year-old girl is easy. Then again, I can’t imagine much of any childcare. I don’t ever think that is something I want in my future. I’m sure he must find it difficult to date with having his daughter full-time.
I don’t know why I’m thinking these things. He’s my neighbor. It’s not my business. Time to meet my brother and Niko. Get my head back in the game, so to speak.
Less than ten minutes later Emily, the night’s Uber driver, drops me off outside our meeting point. The Sinclair is packed, but thankfully Cam already has a table. Too bad Niko is sitting next to him. I want a relaxing night, but I’ll have to make the best of the situation.
“Excellent table,” I say as I climb onto one of the stools and cross my legs.
Cam’s eyes go wide, and he nearly spits out the brown beer he was drinking. A Guinness, I’m assuming, and gross. I don’t know how anyone can drink that stuff. “What the fuck are you wearing?” my big brother asks, and I want to laugh.
I glance down. “A dress?”
“You call that a fucking dress?”
I look down, then back up. “Yes.”
Cam rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “Fucking California. That shit isn’t Boston wear.” he says, and I glance around at the other woman in here who are dressed similar to me or worse. He’s so full of shit.
“Is it warm out?” I ask him sarcastically.
“Yeah.”
“Then it’s fine.”
I glance over to Niko who is staring at me. “What?”
He looks to Cam and shrugs. “You got your bat bag from the baseball game today in your truck?”
Cam nods. “Good call. Gives us something to beat them back with.”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes. “Oh, please. Enough of the protective theatrics. I already told you, Cam. I’m ready to play, and I plan to learn from the best.”
“It’s a little different from the male side of things. And for fuck’s sake, I don’t want to fucking witness someone hauling my little sis off to a dark corner to do shit she shouldn’t be doing.”
“Shouldn’t be doing?” I ask.
“Yes, you’re too young.”
I roll my eyes. “What age is appropriate, then?”
“Thirty. Maybe forty.”
I lean forward, narrowing my eyes at him. “And how old was the last girl you went home with?”
His lips form a thin line. “Irrelevant.”
“How so?”
“She’s not my sister,” he says and shrugs his shoulder.
“Um, ew,” I say, my face scrunching up. “That’s gross, but you know, she was probably somebody’s sister.”
“Nope. Not going to change my view.”
“What about when you have a daughter of your own someday— then what, brother?”
“Won’t happen.”
“Why the hell would you say that—you not planning on having kids?”
“Sure, but I won’t have any girls. God is going to bless me with my own football and baseball team. He would never leave me responsible for a daughter. He knows I’d fuck that job up, so I’m good when it comes time to procreate,” he says, and my mouth drops open as I process his statement. “Besides, I don’t plan on kids for a very long time, so for now, I’ll just practice the act of creating my very own sports team,” he says with a huge smile and then takes a swig from his bottle. I look over to Niko to see if he’s thinking the same thing that I am right now, and that is that my brother is a moron.
“Don’t look at me, Ev. I agree with him. Men like us shouldn’t have daughters. What do we know about raising girls?” Niko says to me, and then he and Cam clink their bottles together in agreement.
“Amen, brother,” Cam says to Niko, and I want to smack them both in the back of the head right now.
“That is the dumbest shit I think I have ever heard come out of your mouth, Cameron Hayes. Am I ever going to get it through your thick, warped mind that I’m not a child anymore?”
“Probably not. Last time I was around you for any measure of time you were a teenager, and that is how I will always remember you. Tonight, you’re following us around just like you always used to do. The only difference is you’re not crushing on Niko.”
My eyes go wide. “Cam!”
“What? Everybody knew.”
I look to Niko. “Did you know?” I ask, curious about his response. Did he know?
“Yes.”
Heat floods my cheeks. “Well, that’s embarrassing.”
“You were a pre-teen, Ev,” Cam argues.
“And that makes what difference?”
“Just like your awkward phase, you grew out of it.”
Oh, if my brother knew just how wrong he was. In fact, my crush is on fire and looking at me like he wants to rip my dress off. He’s covered it well, but I see the innuendo, hear it in his words, the pause as he speaks. As Cam looks around for his target for the night, I lock eyes with Niko. The corner of his mouth slowly slides up, and I shift in my seat.
I clear my throat and look down at the drink menu.
“What do you drink to let loose?” I ask, looking between Cam and Niko. They glance at each other and in unison, hold up their beers. I narrow my eyes at them. “Really? You’re no fun.”
“And you’ve been hanging with fucking Alyson too much,” Cam says, and I ignore his jab at Aly.
“We’ve learned how to pace ourselves,” Niko says. “We’re older and wiser now. Besides, too much of the sauce and you can’t get it up as well. Don’t like to leave them with a lackluster performance.”
I roll my eyes. “Unbelievable.”
“What are you getting? Sex on the Beach?”
Cam starts laughing while I glare at Niko. “Dude, nobody drinks those. Such a fucking cheesy name.”
I purse my lips and glare at my brother. Not the best name, but it’s a good drink. Probably the only real drink I will order with alcohol in it other than my glass of wine here and there.
The waitress pops up beside me and looks around, her gaze lingering on Niko and Cam. It’s hard not to roll my eyes.
“Hi, I’m Lindsay,” she says once she makes her way back to me. “I see they already have drinks. Is there anything I can get you from the bar?”
“Yes.” I stare directly at Cam. “I’ll have a Sex on the Beach.”
Cam lets out a chuckle and shakes his head. “What did you learn in California?”
I glance over to Niko. “That sex on the beach is the best.” There, buddy. Take that.
Niko’s tongue slips out to wet his lips. It’s slow, seductive, and I can’t keep my eyes off the way his teeth scrape across his bottom lip.
“Maybe you should try something different, then. Like a Screaming Orgasm. I hear those are good.”
Fuck. He did not just say that in front of my brother. I shift in my seat, suddenly wishing I’d worn at least a thong.
Another point for Niko.
He makes me want to pull out my phone and text him, but that would be too obvious with Cam so close. Plus, my reduced purse for the night does not have room for two phones, meaning my work phone is at home.
“What are you going to have with your frou-frou drink?” Niko asks, teasing me to cover up.
“I had some leftovers at home. I didn’t realize we were getting food so I might get an appetizer, especially if I plan to drink more.”
“Burger for me,” he says.
“So, when do you two work next?”
“I’m free until tomorrow night,” Niko says, his tone still flirtatious.
Can he be any more obvious? I glance at Cam who doesn’t even seem to notice as his phone goes off.
“Shit,” he says with a huff as he looks down at the screen before answering it. “Hayes . . . mmm hmm . . . be there in ten.”
Niko glances at his watch, then to Cam. “Really? Your on-call shift ends in less than two hours.”
Cam stands up and grabs his wallet, pulling out a few bills. “That’s how it rolls. You’re up on Sunday.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“How can you go when you’ve been drinking?” I ask.
He holds the bottle up. “I’m not, Ev, this Root Beer is non-alcoholic. I’m more than good,” he says and smiles at me. I glance over and notice that his glass of water is empty as is the brown bottle he just held up that I assumed was a Guinness beer.
“Oh, I didn’t realize. I thought you’d be drinking with us tonight.”
“If it got to ten o’clock and no call came in, I would have, but the call came in. Sorry, baby sis, but work calls. Have fun with Niko. I’ll apologize for him ahead of time, though. He may ignore you for the night’s pick,” Cam says and slings his arm around Niko’s shoulders.
“Make me sound like an ass.” Niko shakes his head and tips back his beer.
“What? It’s true.”
“Yeah.”
Cam leans down and whispers something into Niko’s ear. I can’t hear it, but when Niko looks my way, I know it’s about me.
“Everly,” Cam says as he leans in for a hug. “Have fun, but not too much, okay? Be a good girl.”
I shake my head. “I’m going to be a very bad girl tonight.”
Cam rolls his eyes. “Just don’t tell me anything that happens.”
“Deal. Stay safe.” I wave goodbye as he steps away, then turn to Niko as soon as he’s gone. “What did he say?”
“He said to keep an eye on you.”
I scrunch my brow. “And you agreed.”
He nods and takes another sip of his beer. “I’ll keep both eyes on you. Such a beautiful sight, why would I look elsewhere?”
“Ooh, bringing out the smooth talker now that the brother is gone.”
“Been forced to keep comments to myself. Something that is hard when you’re teasing me with sex on the fucking beach.”
“It really is the best.” I give him a wink and love the way his eyes darken.
“Ev, there are beaches in Massachusetts. Don’t make me take you to one right now to try it out.”
I’m tempted to do just that, but then Cam comes to mind. If we continue down this path . . .
“What about your friendship?”
His eyes narrow on me. “Yeah, well, you’re the fucking iceberg in that situation.”
“The iceberg? Does that make you the Titanic?”
His lips twitch up into a smirk. “I do like to go down.”
I squirm again in my seat, remembering how good he was at just that. “How many beers have you had?”
“Three.”
“Seems I need to catch up.”
Over an hour, three more beers for Niko and two Sex on the Beach drinks for me, we pop off the dance floor and back to the table for some water.
The songs playing have been upbeat and fun, but the lights dim even more as the DJ begins to pump out more sexual songs. Bodies come together, and I look to Niko. Going out there would be dangerous for us, but I want to.
I want his arms around me, his hands all over my body.
I notice Niko looking around; a pretty blonde a few tables away is making bedroom eyes at him.
“She’s pretty,” I say.
Niko turns back to me. “Yes, she is.”
“Do you want to fuck her?” There’s more venom and hurt in my tone than I mean, and I blame it on the booze.
He scrunches his brow as he stares at me. “What if I do?”
“Do whatever you want, I’m going to go dance.” I grab the new drink the waitress sets down in front of me and stand, my legs pushing the stool back.
I quickly down the rest of my drink, and I’m gone. I don’t look at him, not even a glance back as I make my way into the sea of gyrating bodies.
Let her have him, so maybe I can move on.
The music is loud, hypnotic. The lights flash to the beat, displaying an array of colors out into the crowd. I don’t even know the song, but my body knows the beat, swaying and moving. I’m just like everyone else, caught up in the current, the booze releasing the stress of everything.
I feel the spark before his hands slip around my hips, his powerful muscles drawing me back against his chest. There’s no need to look back. I know the body holding me close, moving in time with my own. The cock that’s pressing into me.
Fuck!
The bastard is going to tear me down. Especially when his warm breath is against my neck, sliding up to my ear.
I want it. Want him.
“Those fuckers are looking at you, Everly,” he hisses.
My lips pull up, and I turn my face closer to his. “Good.”
“But none of them are me,” he says. It’s a statement. He’s not fishing, backward asking me if he’s above them because he knows. God, he knows what he does to me, what he’s doing to me.
“No, they’re not you,” I whisper, my head falling back against his shoulder.
“I don’t like it.”
There’s no stopping the need now. Arms around me, lips grazing my neck, and his body grinding against mine in time with the beat are all overwhelming feelings colliding, stealing all thoughts from my mind.
“You were looking at other women,” I remind him.
“I only want to touch you.”
I’ve fought it ever since he touched me on the day he helped me move. The need for him. Feigning annoyance to cover fear and desire.
“I’m going to take you home,” he says, “and remind you who I am.”
“I know who you are.”
“I don’t think so, baby, but you will.”
Oh Jesus! The promise in those words sends a shiver down my spine. Home? That’s too far. I need him now. “We could just find a dark corner.”
“No, Everly, I don’t want a quickie. I need an all-nighter.”
“Yesss,” I hiss. “I can totally do an all-nighter.”
I’m too attached to Niko’s mouth to understand how we made it up the stairs to his place, let alone to his place, but as soon as we’re through the door, he grabs my ass and picks me up. I love how he can do that so effortlessly. My legs wrap around him, pulling him closer as he slams my back against the wall. There’s fire from his hands on my legs as they make trails under the hem of my dress.
“Fuck,” he hisses as his hips rock into me, fingers digging into my ass. “Are you fucking bare?”
I groan and rotate my hips against him. “Can’t wear panties with this dress.”
He crashes his lips to mine, and I can feel his hand between us. I’m wet, ready, and desperate for him to fill me. A month’s worth of teasing texts has us both so worked up.
“I need inside you, Everly.”
Fuck, the way he says my name.
No pause, clothes still on, he presses his lips to mine as he pushes inside me. Stretching, full and deep, and exactly what I need.
Every nerve ending lights off, sending a spiral of what feels like an electrical charge racing through my body. It feels so good. Too good.
I whimper when he pulls out only to thrust forward, smashing me into the wall, igniting me all over again. My head falls back, and I close my eyes, listening to the erotic groans leaving Niko with each thrust that slams into me harder and deeper.
Everything is Niko. All I feel, hear, and smell is him. My fuzzy mind can only comprehend the pleasure, his cock rocketing me toward a mind-blowing orgasm.
Nothing but carnal bliss as he pounds into me. My whole body tightens, and I scream out. Fire rips through me, whiting everything out as my muscles snap, releasing all the tension in my body.
“Fuck,” he curses as his hips crash into me, his back arches, muscles jumping.
I can feel his cock twitching inside me, coming. Filling me.
His head falls against mine, our breaths harsh. This is what I so desperately needed. Release.
After a moment of rest, Niko pulls back, his hands still holding me up as he steps away from the wall.
“Wha . . .” I trail off, wondering where he’s taking me. His cock twitches inside me again, and I realize he is still hard.
“All-nighter. I’m going to make you come until you pass out,” he says as he lays me back on the bed.
He strips off his shirt, giving me a full view of his chiseled physique. One that I love to rake my eyes over.
“Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll never let you leave,” he growls, making me shiver and clench around him. His head falls back, and a groan vibrates in his chest. “Fuck, baby.”
The fire is back in his eyes, consuming me.
Never leave.
Never, ever leave again.
The need to pee wakes me, and I try to roll out of bed, but a weight around my body stops me from moving. I pick up the arm and turn as I sit up, my head spinning from the movement. I blink, the action taking longer than usual.
The neon light from the bedside clock hurts my eyes, but I’m able to make out that it’s just after four in the morning. Looking over, I have a sense of déjà vu. Niko is asleep next to me, naked as the day he was born. So am I.
“Shit,” I hiss.
Standing up is a challenge, and I’m still too drunk to walk straight. Not being able to walk in a straight line seems to help avoid some of our clothes on the floor, but not all. A pair of jeans almost sends me falling on top of Niko, a guaranteed way to wake him, but I manage to steady myself on his dresser.
Thankfully there is a nightlight on in the bathroom. My mind is hazy, memories of the last few hours nothing but a blur, but I know as soon as I’m done, I have to get out of here.
The déjà vu of the situation doesn’t go unnoticed, even in my current state.
I locate my dress and heels on the floor and pick them up before walking out into the living room.
Somewhere I vaguely remember dropping my clutch. The problem is where. Luckily, I spot it right away, the silver sparkling against his navy blue couch.
My phone still has half of its battery power, and I immediately pull up the Uber app. There’s someone ten minutes away, which is just enough time for me to get my clothes on and get out.
I want to leave him a note, but without my purse, I’m low on options. Carefully and quietly I pull open drawers until I find a thin stack of Post-it notes that can’t contain more than two or three pieces. Niko probably doesn’t even know they are there, buried at the bottom of a drawer.
I’m tempted to put the Post-it on him again, but instead, I choose someplace a little more conspicuous. All I need is a repeat of last time.
Dress on, heels in hand, hair an absolute mess, and with my clutch in hand, I walk out once again on Niko.