My Fake Neighbor’s Valentine (Be My Fake Valentine)

1. Grace

One

Grace

H e tightens his hold around my waist and pulls me close to his naked body.

“How long you are staying up with your family?” Seth, my upstairs neighbor and current friends with benefits, asks.

“Probably until January 7th. My grandparents are also visiting, so my mom wants to celebrate Three Kings Day.” I turn to face him.

He’s been staying with me the past couple of days, leading to the day I’m going back to Clear Springs for the holidays. He is staying in Maxwell since his family is from the west coast and his parent are spending the holidays road tripping through Europe. I know he thought of going to one of his siblings, but after learning everyone is traveling to their spouse’s families, he opted out of the idea.

I thought of inviting him with me, but knowing my mom would think he is my boyfriend and that we are getting married.

That’s the thing I’m not looking forward to. The never-ending conversations and comments about being single on top of why I haven’t comeback to Clear Spring and settle down.

“When are you leaving?” He asks, nuzzling my neck.

I giggle and bury my hand inside his hair. I know where this is going and I’m not opposed to one more round before I have to spend the holidays in my old room and a cold bed.

“Ideally around noon, but I wouldn’t mind leaving around 3:00 pm. I would arrive around dinner time, which works for me.”

“What time is it?” I reach over his body, grabbing his phone to look at the time.

“It is 10:12 am.”

“Perfect!” He runs the tip of his tongue from the base of my neck to my earlobe before wrapping his lips and biting it softly. I gasp as I slide my hands over his chest and pinch his nipple. He captures my lips with his and kisses me breathless. He throws the blanket off of our bodies, goosebumps cover my entire body when the sudden drop of temperature hits my skin. He kisses his way down to my breast, stopping to kiss and suck my nipples before going further down.

I open my legs wider for him, making space for his wide shoulders. What God didn’t give him in height, he give it to him in length and width. I wrap one hand in his hair and grip the edge of the mattress with the other one.

Seth gives his all in everything he does. His all-in nature has helped him and his business partner build a successful company. He is a nurturing and ride or die friend and in bed, well fuck. Let’s say whoever I ended up with in a relationship has huge shoes to fill in. Seth doesn’t hold back and always, since hook up number one, prioritizes my pleasure. He doesn’t come until I come.

God, whoever taught him how to properly eat a woman, bless her and her entire generation. Whoever she is, she is a saint.

He spread my legs further apart, and the strain heightens the pleasure I’m feeling. I pull on his hair to let him know I’m coming, knowing well he is not gonna slow down. Instead, he adds his fingers to pull that orgasm out faster and harder. High in ecstasy, he kisses me deep, letting me taste myself, something I never knew until the first time he kissed after oral sex, how much it would turn me on.

“Are you ready for more?” He whispers into my ear.

“Yes. Fuck me so hard I have a hard time sitting for the almost three-hour drive I have to make.”

He chuckles. “If that’s what you want.”

“That’s what I want, so put on that condom and get in me now.” I order.

Seth says nothing. I feel him pushing into me as I relax. I had my fair amount of relationships and a one-night stand here and there, but nothing and no one compared to Seth. Sometimes I feel like we were born for each other with how compatible we are in and out of bed. I wish this could be more, but I also don’t want to spoil one of the best friendship I have as an adult. Sex chemistry be damned.

I wrap my legs around him, pushing him deeper into me. I sigh as I leave half-moon indentations on his back and moan his name over and over again.

“Can’t you stay longer? Doesn’t your job allow you to work remotely?” My mom says as I pack my luggage in the truck of my SUV.

“I’ve already worked enough remote days. I have co-workers and clients to meet. You know you are always welcome to visit me.”

“You know I don’t like cities.”

“Mom. Maxwell is far from being a city. I don’t like small towns like this and I still make time to come and visit. It is only fair you and dad come at least once in your lives. See how happy I am living in a bigger town.”

She sighs and hugs me. “Can I give your number to Asher?”

“Mom, no. Stop trying to hook me up with every single man here. We had this conversation over the holidays too many times. I’m not moving back to Clear Springs. I don’t like it. Please stop.”

My mother pouts at me and I have to stop myself from wanting to roll my eyes all the way back into my skull.

“I get it. Get in the car before you get colder. Call me when you get to your apartment.”

“I’m stopping at the grocery store, so I’ll call you then. I don’t want you to wait until I get home to call you.”

She nods and opens the driver’s door for me. “Be careful.”

“I will.”

I get in the car just as Seth calls me.

“Your uncanny sense sometimes creeps me out.”

“Why? What did I do?”

“I’m about to drive out of my family’s driveway to get home.”

“I told you we are more connected than what you thought.” His chuckles stir something deep in my belly.

My mom knocks on my window. “Hold on Seth, don’t say something weird, please.”

I push the button for the window to roll down. “Focus on the road…” Mom pauses before gasping. “When were you going to tell me you have a boyfriend?”

I frown, not understanding what she means until I look at the screen on my car where basically everything I would need from it is. The word boyfriend with a heart in front and end of the word took most of the screen space. I forgot I change his contact number to than when I went out with work friends just in case someone got handsy or doesn’t know the meaning of the word no. I’ve only used it once and while I assure Seth he didn’t need to come, he still picked me up, The Willow Well Pub Bar, the newest bar in Maxwell.

I ignore her question. “Mom, I’m using the hands free feature of the car. I have buttons here on the steering wheel to hang up. I don’t need to touch my phone at all. Besides, I haven’t moved the car. Go inside before you catch a cold from being out here with me for too long. You gotta trust that you thought me well mamá.”

Mom glares at me but lets it go. “Don’t forget to call me and you got that contact name to explain to me. Don’t think because I let it go means I forgot it.”

“I won’t,” I say.

“Gosh, I miss you already.”

“You know where I live in Maxwell. You can come whenever you want to. For a day or a weekend. Just let me know ahead of time so I don’t pile my days with meetings or it doesn’t coincide with a work trip.” I see dad coming out through the front door. “Dad, take mom inside before she catches a cold. She’s been out here for too long and she doesn’t even have a jacket on.”

“Darling, come inside and let Grace get back to her busy life. I’m sure she will try to find another time to come and visit before the holidays roll back again.” Dad reaches us and grabs Mom by her shoulders, steering her around and away from my car.

I smile as my car window goes up. “You can talk now, Seth.”

“Sounds like your mom is reluctant to let you go.”

“She is always reluctant. Why did you call me?”

“I did groceries for you already. No need to stop anywhere. I’ll have dinner ready by the time you arrive and we have a guest.”

“You didn’t have to, but thank you. Who is at my apartment?”

“Your little sister.”

My smile stops midway, and I take a shaky breath. Why Maggie is at my apartment?

“I’ll see you both in three hours,” I say.

“I can’t wait,” Maggie yells from where she is at.

“I’ll text you,” He whispers in his raspy voice that stays in my ears keeping my anxiety at bay.