Chapter Fifteen
Douchebaggery and Huge Meat
Harlow
I was done.
I’d survived.
I was unstoppable and a force to be reckoned with.
I needed a nap.
Even with my internship over, I’d been crazy busy with study groups and cramming for finals. I worked at least four nights a week at Rye, though I’d picked up a couple double shifts on the weekend to help Rhys out.
Kase had been even busier at Hyde.
In the two weeks since the opening, I’d seen him for all of five minutes.
Okay, it was a little more than that, but it didn’t feel like it.
I was hoping that was going to change. School was done for the semester. My last final was completed, my brain was totally fried, and I was pretty sure I’d learned to survive off textbooks and caffeine.
But I did it.
Which meant after a well-deserved nap, I was going to force Kase away from work for a couple hours to go celebrate with Mexican food and copious amounts of margaritas.
If I could find the energy to get out of the car and make it upstairs.
Although I spent most of my time at Kase’s place, I’d decided to go to my house since it was closer. As I pulled into the driveway and saw the cars lining the streets, I regretted that choice.
Summoning all of my energy, I grabbed my bags and headed inside. I was too tired to even attempt any ninja quietness.
“Harlow!” David greeted me, pulling me into a hug. “You did it! How did your last day go?”
“Exhausting.”
“Hellion!” he called over his shoulder, using his pet name for my mom.
It was cute and clever.
I hated him for it.
“Coming!” Mom came from the kitchen, carrying a cake. Abbey trailed behind her, holding a knife, plates, forks, and the best thing of all.
A giant, and I mean huge, iced coffee.
“What the heck?” I asked, while reaching out to gladly accept the coffee Abbey handed to me.
And that glorious frosting covered cake isn’t looking too bad, either.
‘Cause, really, who needs a nap right away when I can have coffee, some cake, and then sleep?
“Another year done. Only a light year left and you’ll be a college graduate.” Tears brimmed Mom’s eyes.
I had the urge to rub the back of my neck like Kase did. “That’s only if I passed finals.”
She began cutting the cake. “You know you will.”
“Yeah probably.” I took a piece and tried to look serious. “But if it bums you out so bad, I could just move into the basement and live with you forever.”
“Because you already stay here so much?”
My smartass response flew out of my head when the bite of cake hit my taste buds. The vanilla cake was sweet and rich, topped with light and fluffy citrus frosting.
I pointed my fork at her. “You got the cake from Piper.”
“Of course. I have to support your friends. Plus, how could I ever go back to supermarket cakes after tasting hers?”
Someone cleared their throat, drawing our attention. The cocky asshole from the last meeting stood in the entryway.
Looks like he works for David and not the techies.
Those poor, poor techies.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, his tone not matching his words. “You’re needed in there.”
“Coming.” David began quickly working his way through the rest of his piece.
The guy stared at me as he waited. It was disappointing for womankind he was such an asshole, because he was actually pretty attractive. Standing up, I saw that he was around six feet tall. His brown hair was cut short and styled in a fashionable way that still worked with his professional appearance. Though, he was probably in his late twenties, he looked older. His brown eyes were too sharp and calculating.
And cold.
His gaze slowly travelled down my body. When it reached my legs, some warmth infused his expression.
I much preferred the glacier disinterest.
Checking a chick out like that while her stepdad is in the room?
He’s either crazy or a fuckin’ prick.
My money’s on both, in large amounts.
Skeeved out, I looked away and focused on my cake.
“I have to get back to it,” David said. After setting down his plate, he hugged me again. “I’m so proud of you.”
When he started down the hallway, I thought it was safe to peek that way.
Instead, the douchecanoe was still standing there, as if waiting for me to look at him. When we made eye contact, he smiled.
It was seriously creepy.
Without another word, he followed after David.
“Tell me again why he can’t hold all his meetings in an office or on a golf course like most people?” I asked.
“Company policy. They want to seem wholesome and family oriented so people don’t feel like they’re just selling their electronic babies to a faceless corporation. At least it’s only a couple times a month.”
“Still, too much.”
Especially if that asshole is gonna be dragging his douchebaggery through my house.
*******
“Fuck, I love that taste,” Kase growled against my mouth. Biting down on my bottom lip, his tongue licked lightly across it before releasing it.
“What taste?”
“You. Lime. Tequila. You. Fuckin’ heaven.”
After our celebratory Mexican dinner, we went back to Kase’s. When I’d gotten out of the car, he’d picked me up, his mouth taking mine as he headed inside.
I couldn’t even walk without tripping most times and he was able to carry and kiss me as he moved effortlessly.
Not that I was complaining, of course.
Kase set me on the back of the couch. “Chill here for a minute. I’ve gotta let the boys out.” Curling his hand around the back of my neck, his fingers dug in as he kissed me again. “Fuck.”
I waited until he was out of view to hop up and slip off my panties. Reaching in between the couch cushions, I doubled checked that the condoms I’d stashed were still there.
Climbing back onto the back of the couch, I put my feet on the cushions and waited, trying to look casual.
I heard a loud commotion as Boba came running into the living room, jumping for me to pet him. Chewy was his usual stealth ninja self as he snuck behind me, his wet nose hitting the back of my arm. I just knew he made his big, perma-sad eyes look more pathetic while he waited for his ear scratch.
All interest in me dropped off when they heard the distinct sound of kibble hitting their metal bowls. Even Chewy picked up speed as his fluffy white body hustled to the kitchen.
“Fuckin’ hell, you’re killing me,” Kase groaned from the entryway.
“Why?”
“‘Cause all I wanna do right now is kneel in front of you, push that hot as fuck dress up, and worship at the church of lani pussy.”
My body tightened at his words and the hungry look that accompanied them.
I licked my lips. My voice was breathy when I asked, “And?”
Some amusement mixed with the heat in his eyes as he moved to stand in front of me. “You’re not exactly the most, uhh, coordinated person. I wanna give you nice things, like tacos, tequila, and orgasms. Not stitches ‘cause you fell off the back of the couch.”
I let my legs drop open. “I guess I’ll just have to dig my nails in really well.”
His teasing expression gone, Kase didn’t say a word. Instead, he dropped to his knees on the couch. His hands spanned my inner thighs, keeping my legs spread, as his mouth covered me.
Devoured me.
Like it’d been months since he’d tasted me and not the couple days it’d really been, Kase’s mouth and tongue were relentless.
The tension built fast. My hands gripped the couch so hard I knew I’d have deep fabric indents.
Knew, but gave zero fucks.
My legs started to tighten and tremble. Before I could come, though, Kase pulled back.
“No!” I cried. “No, no, no.”
“Chill, ipo.” He began licking again, going slower as he teased. When the tip of his tongue flicked across my clit, my hips jerked up and I almost toppled backward. His chuckle vibrated against me. “Told you so.”
“I’m good. I’m fine. Harder.”
For once he obeyed my request and used more purposeful pressure as he moved his mouth on me.
The tension settled low in my stomach. I could feel it, just out of reach but quickly approaching.
And then he stopped.
I tried to move against him, not even caring if I fell and ended up hanging upside down. I’d dangle from a high wire if it meant coming.
He started again, gentle kisses up my thighs and between my legs, all while never even grazing my clit. Suddenly increasing force, he used his lips, tongue, and teeth to get me to the edge before pulling back.
My nerves were raw, my body screaming for release. The tension was unbearable.
But still I held on, waiting patiently.
Rough, then gentle.
I knew the rhythm.
Hard, then soft.
My hips rocked with the torturous pattern.
Tender.
Savage.
Crying out, my body locked up. My mind raced before going blissfully blank. My breath caught, my neck arched, and I was lost. Coming undone.
Drowning.
Kase pulled away quickly, and I missed his mouth immediately. His arms wrapped around my back and pulled me forward, making me realize I’d been swaying backward.
“You’re always doing that,” I whispered.
“Making you come?”
“Well, yeah, that too. But I meant catching me before I fall.”
He dropped his forehead to mine. He tucked my hair behind my ear, his fingertips trailing down my neck. “I’ll always catch you, Harlow.”
Something passed between us, intense and chest tightening.
Before it could settle, Kase’s mouth dropped to mine, his arms wrapping around my back. The sound of my zipper sliding down was barely audible over my pounding heart.
Pulling away, I lifted my ass so he could pull my dress off, tossing it behind me. My bra followed.
I pushed my hand into his jeans and stroked him. The head of his cock stuck out of the band of his boxers. I rubbed my thumb across it.
Kase pushed his hips closer, his groan low and rough.
His response drove me. I wanted to make him do it again. Needed to. I wanted to spend hours slowly exploring his body and finding all of the different ways I could make him groan like that.
But not right then.
Right then I was selfish. I wanted him to make me moan.
Undoing his jeans, I shoved them and his boxers down.
Kase stood and kicked them off, pulling his shirt off, too. Naked in front of me, he was a work of art for my personal viewing. His defined and chiseled body was a canvas, every part of him offering a glimpse into his soul.
“Fuck. When you look at me like that, Harlow…” He shook his head.
“What?”
Instead of answering, he grabbed my waist and shifted me down onto the couch.
I turned around, my knees on the cushion, my ass in the air. I held onto the back of the couch and looked over my shoulder.
At the expression on his face as he looked at me, my heart jumped into my throat.
It wasn’t want.
Not even need.
Attraction, arousal, lust.
Nothing did it justice.
Leaning over me, Kase’s hands covered mine. His tongue followed the curve of my ear, down to my neck. He kissed, sucking and biting lightly.
I tilted my head to the side, arching my back.
His lips continued their journey to my shoulder. Reaching around, his hand spanned my pelvis. His middle finger rubbed my clit.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
“Yeah.” I wiggled my ass. “Kinda what I’m hoping for.”
“I’ll be back. Gotta grab—”
I reached into the couch and pulled out a strip of condoms, tossing them back to him. I heard the crinkle of the packet.
“Not even gonna ask?” I looked over my shoulder just in time to see his fist around his cock as he put the condom on.
His lips tipped up. “Nope.”
Curving his body to mine, he covered one of my hands with his. The other went between us, guiding his cock into me.
Begging would get me nowhere. Nor would ordering. I could push, pull, twist, and shout, but the results would be the same.
Slow.
Leisurely.
Gliding in and out.
I closed my eyes and savored it. Each inch stretched me, filled me, heated me.
It consumed me.
My own lani.
*******
I’d forgotten what it was like.
I knew I’d been living a hectic life. Anxiety had weighed me down, my constant companion.
I was stressed, overworked, and exhausted. But I’d still been happy. Deep to my soul, when it came down to it, I really was.
But I’d forgotten what it was like to be happy without all the other stuff. There were no ‘in-spite-ofs’, no ‘even-thoughs’.
Standing on Kase’s deck, surrounded by friends, I was just happy.
“You okay, ipo?” Kase asked from behind me. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he reached his other one over my shoulder and handed me a fresh drink.
“Happy.”
“Good.”
Taking a sip of my drink, I covered his arm with mine.
“You don’t get over here soon, the cake is gonna be gone, dudes!” Piper yelled.
“We haven’t even eaten dinner yet,” I pointed out.
She shrugged and handed me a corner piece. “Opposite day.”
Mmm, maximum frosting-to-cake ratio.
Deciding to take full advantage of my first school free weekend, I’d asked Rhys for the time off from Rye. Since I was still majorly helping him out and kicking ass at it, he’d been more than happy to give me a break.
With the weather warming up, I’d suggested to Kase we grill out. That snowballed into having the Hyde crew over, Piper baking another cake to celebrate the end of my semester, and Kase grilling a cow’s worth of steak and an ocean’s worth of seafood.
Not that I was complaining, of course.
Especially when everyone showed up with side dishes, assorted booze, and a congratulatory margarita machine from Key.
I never would’ve guessed he knew my drink of choice.
Setting down my freshly made margarita, I ate a forkful of cake.
“Give me a bite of that before I put the steaks in the oven,” Kase said, releasing me.
“No. And I thought you were grilling them?”
“You sear them on the grill before baking them. Now give me a bite.”
“Fine.” I forked up some cake from the cut edge and held it out to him.
“You’re stingy with your frosting, Cooper.” He put the fork and plate on the table, pulling me close before whispering, “Lucky for me you’re not like that with other sweet things I want on my tongue.”
My cheeks heated, my nipples tightened, and I swayed into him. I put my forehead on his chest. “You don’t play fair, Teo. This part of your plan to get me distracted so you can steal all my frosting?”
“No. This is part of my plan to get you distracted so I can insert myself so deep into your life, you’ll never get rid of me. The second part of that plan happens later.”
“What’s that?” I wasn’t sure if the words could be heard over my pounding heart.
“To make you come so hard you won’t want me to go.”
Once I’d stopped fighting, our relationship progressed easily.
Almost effortlessly.
We worked around our insane schedules and grew closer in a natural way.
So close, in fact, he’d long ago accomplished his goal.
Gripping his shirt, I quietly told him, “You’ve already done that.”
His arms tightened around me. I could feel his heart beating and his hard cock pushed against my stomach. My fists clenched as I fought the urge to touch him.
Psst, perv, there are people here.
I looked up at him and smiled, trying to lighten the mood and control my lust. “That said, I’m still totally cool with your plans for tonight.”
Throwing his head back, he laughed. “Gotta get those steaks, ipo.”
I pried my hands away. “And I’ve got frosting to hoard.”
When he left to handle grill duty, I sat down at the table with everyone else.
Boba was sprawled happily on Xavier’s lap, soaking in the gentle rub down.
Chewy found a way to wiggle his big body under the table to collapse on my feet. I could feel him snoring.
The men were debating a new project at work. It was a common theme any time they got together. I listened intently because it was surprisingly fascinating.
Some visuals and a translation book might’ve helped me understand more, but I was starting to do okay.
“I hope it doesn’t bother you that you invited everyone over and they’re still talking shop,” Piper said to me from across the table. “Hanging out and discussing cars means they’re having a good time. Or breathing.”
“I’m used to it.” Because it was my luck, there was a lull in their heated conversation as I continued. “I’m just glad that Kase’s giant deck is finally getting used.”
Silence.
No one else was talking. I was pretty sure birds had stopped chirping, waves had stopped crashing.
Instead, all eyes were on me.
I scrunched my face and held up my hands. “I heard it as soon as I said it!”
The table erupted into laughter.
I laughed along with them.
*******
Kase
“These steaks are fucking huge, man,” Eli said, grabbing a second one from the platter Harlow was setting down.
“My meat is huge, my deck is giant.” I winked at her.
Her cheeks flushed again even as she rolled her eyes. “And your ego is ginormous.”
Grabbing her hand, I yanked her into my lap. “You good?”
She nodded, her eyes warming. “Yeah.”
“So what’s it like at a news station?” Xavier asked her as he grabbed a second and third steak.
“Insanely boring or can’t catch your breath hectic,” Harlow answered. “And nothing really between.”
Key shifted his chair toward us. “Is that anchor chick as big of a bitch as she seems?”
Harlow threw her arms in the air. “Thank you! Everyone always thinks she’s so nice.”
He gestured to his eyes. “Not if you look here. Then it’s evil.”
“Like Satan’s boss.”
As she spoke, answering questions and sharing crazy stories, I got sucked in. Beyond her hot as fuck looks, her cute as hell voice, and her whole appealing vibe, she was also seriously fuckin’ smart.
And, while I was a dude that loved some tits and ass, a big brain was what really did it for me.
The fact she also had the tits and ass was just an added bonus.
I slipped my hand under her long t-shirt and curled my fingers around her waist. My thumb stroked her soft skin.
When I lost my folks, I clung to Wil. I should’ve let her go long before I did, but then I’d be losing her and the only family I had left.
Then she was gone.
But I hadn’t lost my family. I just hadn’t found them all yet.
After I met Jake and started making money, I’d saved it all. Lived in a shitty studio apartment and hoarded my cash like I was preparing for the apocalypse. When I finally had enough, I’d had my place built.
For the first time in years, I had a home.
I had a family
But I didn’t have everything. Not then.
Looking around the deck I built, I saw my family. And with her ass in my lap, my woman talked to my brothers.
Laughing.
Happy.
Giving me everything.
“Baby,” Harlow said, shifting to look at me.
“What?”
“Did you float away to your own island?”
I chuckled, pressing my lips to the top of her head. Her citrus shampoo mixed with the smell of the water. “Nah, I’m right where I wanna be.”
She smiled, small and sweet, holding up her empty cup and my empty bottle. “I asked if you wanted another drink.”
“I got it.”
“That’s okay.” She kissed the corner of my lips. “What do you want?”
“Whatever.”
Getting up, I watched her legging covered ass as she went inside. Chewy, the traitor dog, followed after her like he always did.
Key leaned over and lowered his already quiet voice. “How’s everything?”
“Almost done. Now I’m dealing with the logistics.”
He smiled, which was huge for him. “Let me know what you need.”
“How are your acting skills?”
Before he could answer, a small shriek came from the house.
Bolting up, I ran inside, almost tripping on Boba who was running in to investigate.
“What’s wrong? You okay?” I looked around, trying to figure out what had her freaked.
“I’m good,” she said, her face bright red. She looked behind me, waving away whoever was there. “Sorry, I thought I saw something.”
“What?” I asked.
She glanced to the side. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re a bad liar.”
“No I’m not.” Inching away from the counter, she forced a smile. “Let’s go outside.”
“Harlow.”
“Hmm? What?” she asked, distracted as she glanced to the wall and shifted again.
I followed her line of vision to try to see what had her so freaked.
“Ladybugs?”
“I, uhh, thought they were spiders,” she lied.
“Bright red, circular spiders?”
She nodded, moving away. “Mmhhmm. Ready to go outside?”
“You gonna grab your drink?”
Looking back to her cup on the counter, her eyes darted up to the ladybugs before returning to me. “No, I’m not very thirsty.”
Walking over, I snagged the cup and handed it to her. Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, we headed back outside.
Note to self: Install screens ASAP.