15. Ally
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ALLY
“Time out. I can’t breathe,” I struggle to say.
“No time for slow pokes,” Killian teases, running ahead of me with Violet.
Monday morning and I’m breathless, jogging on the beach with Killian and Violet before work starts. After Violet came to my house last week to help me choose an outfit for the double date, I took things a step further and asked her to join the morning runs.
Both she and Killian look like they should be in an active wear ad campaign; they’ve barely broken a sweat and somehow manage to look good while exercising. Meanwhile, my shirt is soaked, and I need to bend over, bracing my elbows to my knees in order to catch my breath.
Killian glances over his shoulder at me. “Fine. A quick break.”
They circle back to me, jogging on the spot while waiting for my recovery.
“Hey, how was your date on the weekend?” Violet asks me .
Killian stops jogging and grins. “You went on a date, baby sis? I have to hear about this.”
I’m surprised he hasn’t heard about it from Dan. The two of them aren’t as close as Dan and Felix, but they still talk regularly. Tyler is the brother who is always left out of the loop.
“Yeah. Dan set me up with a friend’s brother. Liam. It went well. I really like him.”
Mention of Dan forms a shameful swell of arousal low within me, remembering the conversation that took place Saturday night in his car. I’ve lost count of how many orgasms I’ve given myself since that night, hearing him talk about wanting my virginity. The tension between us in that car… It was the most alive I’ve felt since our kiss right before Paris. It would have been so easy to slip back into old patterns. I nearly did, grinding against the car seat in front of him.
But it was wrong and a distraction I don’t need, not when I have an upcoming date with another man. Dan called me as soon as I left him. I didn’t answer, for self-preservation. I haven’t answered any of his texts or phone calls, and I don’t plan to, at least not until I can think straight regarding him.
“Liam?” Killian lifts a confused brow. “As in Theo’s brother?”
“Yeah. You know him?” Killian sometimes plays poker with Dan and Felix. I suppose that would explain the connection.
“Barely. But enough to know Liam only does open relationships.”
“Girl, what ?” Violet gasps, giving up the jogging too.
I stand tall, finally having a better hold on my breathing. “It’s not that big a deal.”
“You sure?” Killian asks, the protective big brother tone thick in his voice. “You don’t seem like an open relationship kind of girl.”
“I’ve never had any relationship. How do I know what I like without experimenting?”
“Okay, if you’re sure. When are you seeing him again?” Violet asks, not sounding overly convinced.
“I have a solo date with Liam this weekend.”
It feels weird going on a date with Liam when Dan is so hard to shake from my mind. But if Liam is all about open relationships, then I suppose I’m not doing anything wrong. Plus, it’s not like Liam and I are even in a relationship yet. We’re testing the waters and getting to know each other.
“He’s taking me to a jazz club,” I continue, then change the subject to clothes, attempting to form more of a friendship with Violet. “I could use your help picking an outfit again if you’re available.”
“Sure,” she says, but with none of the enthusiasm she showed last week toward my date. “Does this afternoon work?”
Liam
I’ll be at your place in 5 minutes. Can’t wait to see you, beautiful.
I adjust the ribbon in my hair, smiling at Liam’s message. Our Saturday night date has arrived and I’m excited, though nervous. Fears keep entering my mind, that perhaps the double date only went well because I had Dan by my side keeping me calm. What if tonight is a disaster and I freeze up, unable to talk?
Someone knocks on my bedroom door. It could only be Mom or Josh, so I call out for them to enter, still fixated on the position of my hair ribbon.
“Wow.”
I spin around at the sound of Dan’s voice, his unexpected presence sending my stomach into an even tighter ball of nerves. I’m both excited and scared to see him. He’s standing so casually at the entrance to my room, leaning one shoulder against the doorframe and with both hands in his suit pockets. There’s a look in his eyes, complete obsession, as his gaze rakes over me. I’m addicted to how desired he always makes me feel.
I gulp, my voice quiet. “Is that a good wow?”
“Yes.” His answer is coarse and a little pained. “You look beautiful. You always do, but especially tonight.”
“I… um… What are you doing here?”
“You haven’t answered any of my phone calls over the last week. I thought phone calls were our thing.”
“They were until… that conversation in your car. You shouldn’t be here. You know I have a date.” I turn to my mirror and continue fixing my hair ribbon, trying to shift my attention to Liam and looking nice for him. But my fingers are suddenly jittery, knowing that Dan is watching me.
“That’s exactly why I’m here. I’m glad I caught you in time. I contemplated keeping my distance. Clearly, I’m not very good at staying away from you.”
I hear Dan close the door behind himself and his footsteps slowly approaching. My breath quickens. I’m achingly hot beneath my panties, the feeling intensifying with each step closer Dan takes. He stops behind me, with his chest pressed to my back and our eyes locked onto one another in the mirror. I’m pinned beneath his gaze, both scared and loving every second of it. Dan takes the ribbon from me and weaves it through my hair, tying it in a perfect bow.
“I love this dress on you, Ally.”
A shiver runs through me when Dan speaks my name and how intimate it sounds on his lips. His hands lower from the ribbon, creating gooseflesh on my skin as they trail down the length of my arms. Dan’s right hand links with mine, and despite my inner voice shouting at me to retrieve my hand, I don’t.
“Tell me to leave,” he whispers.
I shake my head, words evading me as I watch him in the mirror.
The left corner of Dan’s mouth slants up, his voice so velvety smooth. “I’ve been going out of my mind, not able to hear your voice this week. Your laugh. I’ve been thinking about you non-stop.”
“You think of me?”
“You know I do.” His lips rest beside my ear, his breath hot against my skin as he whispers, “Multiple times a day with my hand wrapped around my cock.”
A tiny moan escapes me and I shiver, wishing I could watch him during those moments. “What do you think about?”
“That you never ran off to Paris. That you stop fighting this thing between us and give in to what you want. Those are the thoughts I start off with. What makes me finish is the thought of you coming on my cock.”
My chest rises heavily with each breath, and I lick my lips.
“You like that thought too, don’t you? ”
I nod, unable to break the intensity of our eye contact in the mirror.
In my peripheral, headlights pan across the trees outside my bedroom, interrupting the moment between us. I duck my head, trying to shake off this trance Dan has me in. “Liam is here. I need to leave,” I mutter, slipping out from my position between Dan and the mirror.
His arm darts out, wrapping around my waist. Dan’s lips are even faster, crushing down upon mine. His mouth is hot and desperate, and it takes me only a second to match the urgency. My fingers tangle through Dan’s hair as I press my body to his. I can’t think straight. I can’t think at all, except that I need this. Him. I’ve needed Dan for the longest time. I’ve never stopped needing him.
“Fuck, Ally,” Dan groans during the slightest break in our kisses, his lips trailing down my neck, across my collarbone. His hands are on my thighs, working their way up beneath my dress.
“Kiss me again, Dan. Please ,” I beg. “Don’t stop.”
Dan’s mouth returns to mine, his tongue pushing past my lips and claiming me. I moan as his palms explore my body, working over my waist and up to my breasts. Our breathing is the only thing I can hear, so loud and rapid, becoming one with each other’s. With Dan’s chest pressed against mine, I feel his heart pounding as heavy as mine. Dan’s hips pin me to the wall, and I let out a tiny gasp when feeling that he’s hard. My pussy tightens, aching to be filled with that hardness.
The sound of someone knocking on my bedroom door shocks me back to reality. “Darling, your date has arrived.”
Panic shoots through me, hearing my mother’s voice. I’m kissing my stepbrother. Our parents could walk in on us at any second. I’m about to go on a date with a different man. What the fuck am I doing right now?
Dan and I quickly step apart from each other. I examine myself in the mirror while catching my breath. No lipstick smudges, thank goodness.
“Don’t go on the date,” Dan says.
More knocking. “Ally?”
Shit. There’s no time to even think. “Ah… come in, Mom.”
“Everything all right in here?” Mom enters and sees the two of us. “Oh, Dan, honey, I didn’t realize you were here. How lovely to see you. Ally looks stunning for her date, don’t you think?”
“Most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” He looks directly at me as he says those words. My God, this is an absolute disaster. I can’t be back here, sneaking around with Dan once again. I’ve moved on from this. Liam and I can be good together if I just get a chance to be with him.
“Dan, before I forget,” Mom starts. “Your father and I have organized a family lunch here next Saturday with the entire family as an official welcome home for Ally. It’s the first chance everyone is available at the same time. I know the situation between you and your father is tense, but he cares about you and wants you around. We’d would love to have all the family together. It will be casual and if the weather is nice, we’ll turn it into a pool party.”
“Sure. I’ll be here,” he says, still watching me.
I pretend to search for something in my purse, afraid that if Mom sees the way I look at Dan, she’ll read everything that just happened between us.
“Okay, sweetie, we won’t keep you from your date,” Mom says. “Stay safe, please. Always watch your drink. And if this boy doesn’t treat you right, I’m just a phone call away. I’ll drive to you immediately.”
“Thanks.” I don’t comment on Mom being overbearing. Let her have her way if it gets me out of this house faster.
Dan clears his throat. “Ally was telling me something important about her job. I’m sure Liam won’t mind waiting a moment.”
I can read between the lines. Dan is giving me an opportunity to stay back so we can continue where we left off. He even asked me to not go on the date, which I can’t do. I shouldn’t have kissed him. I need to get as far away from Dan as possible, right this second.
“Actually…” I sling my purse over my shoulder. “I finished telling you the thing about work. I’ll see you both later.”