Chapter 5 #2
She grinned at the memory. One of millions she shared with him. “It took me forever to convince her I made you do it.” She rolled her head toward him, a little surprised at how close his face was to hers. “She thought you were just some asshole boyfriend who didn’t like my decisions.”
Leland was turned toward her, the hard lines of his body barely touching hers. He reached out, smoothing back a little bit of her dark hair. “I would never tell you what to do with your hair. Or anything else.”
A little laugh escaped her even as every nerve ending in her body rejoiced at the contact. “That’s because you know I don’t listen to anybody.”
“Exactly.” Leland’s dark eyes moved over her face. “It’s one of the things I like best about you.”
She stared back at him, trying to think of a reply. Words that might serve as a segue to the conversation she really wanted to have.
Something like, If you like me so much, why haven’t you married me and put a baby in me yet? Or maybe, If you like that, you should see how good I am at sex. Or possibly, Get your dick out. Then your new favorite thing will be how good I am at bouncing on it.
But, like always, she kept her mouth shut. Because if she said the wrong thing, found out he didn’t want her the way she wanted him, there would be no going back. And she couldn’t lose him. Even if it was only as a friend, her life needed to have Leland in it.
She wouldn’t mind having him in her body too, but you can’t always get what you want. And keeping Leland—in any capacity—was the thing she needed.
Even though he’d just fallen asleep mid conversation.
Paige stayed awake to watch the whole movie, sneaking peeks at the man curled up beside her. By the time the credits rolled, she was actually feeling a tiny bit better.
She loved this movie. Not because it was the greatest cinematic achievement of all time, but because it gave her hope. Made her think there was still some chance that she wasn’t the only one pining away her life.
Maybe, like Captain Wentworth, Leland was sneaking her longing looks and covetous glances. Ones she never saw.
It was a ridiculous hope considering she never really took her eyes off him. Even now.
WAKING UP NEXT to Leland was always kind of a mind-fuck. She was exactly where she wanted to be, but it was also the worst imaginable place for her to be considering the circumstances.
This morning was a little different, though.
Not because she didn’t love hearing his even breathing beside her—she did.
And not because she wasn’t laying there knowing she was an asshole who was in love with her best friend—she was.
This morning she had the added trauma and frustration of Leland accidentally spooning her in his sleep.
One strong arm was banded tight at her waist, sealing her back to his front as he held her close.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, the part of him she always worked so hard to ignore was clearly a morning person.
After years of working hard to have no idea about her best friend’s junk, she was quickly becoming educated on two very annoyingly intriguing facts.
One: Leland wasn’t ever going to be made fun of in a locker room.
And two: He was perfectly sized to nestle right between the cheeks of her ass.
Pulling in a deep breath, she willed herself not to react. Gave her nipples and nethers a firm mental talking to as she attempted to wiggle away, desperate to escape the guilty pleasure creeping in.
But her harried movements only made things worse, because Leland reflexively hugged her closer, his big body shifting around behind her in a way that pressed his hips tighter to her ass.
Then—because the universe fucking hated her—he groaned.
And not some sleepy kind of sound. This was the kind of groan that came from a different sort of place.
The same lusty place she was working hard not to go herself.
Unfortunately, the deep rumble that moved through Leland’s chest sent her tumbling right into that pit as it vibrated through her body. It made her wonder what would happen if she moved her hips just a little. Ground her ass against the hard length behind it.
Probably nothing good. Leland would likely wake up and be horrified. Traumatized by their current situation and never able to look at her again.
The possibility sent a pang of pain stabbing through her insides. And had her determined to worm her way out of this predicament unscathed.
It took a hell of a lot of finagling, and more than a few minutes, but eventually she finally managed to slide free of Leland’s grip, inching her way off the mattress. After making sure he was still fast asleep, she adjusted the blankets around him and crept from the room.
Not once in the time they’d been friends had she ever snuck out like this, but staying wasn’t an option. Not when she wanted it so badly.
When she wanted him so badly.
She was halfway down the stairs before realizing her socks were still up on the nightstand. But it was almost six, so Leland would absolutely be waking up soon. And considering her cheeks were still flushed and her clit was still throbbing, facing him now was not a good idea.
Reaching the bottom of the steps, she was halfway through blowing out a sigh of relief when the rumbling sound of the garage door stopped her in her tracks.
“ Fuck .” She whispered the curse. The only thing worse than facing Leland down while she was still horny from him rubbing his dick on her ass in his sleep, was looking his sister in the eye.
The race was on, and Paige was determined not to come in second place. She ran into the kitchen, grabbing her bag and swinging it over one shoulder. She’d made it halfway across the room when the entry door to the garage opened and Beverly stepped directly into her path.
Leland’s sister gave Paige a bright smile. “Hey. I thought that was your car out front.” Her head tilted, brows pinching together. “Is everything okay?”
Paige was already nodding, head bouncing around.
“Yup. Uh-huh. Everything’s great.” She didn’t stop moving as she rounded Beverly, walking backwards toward the front door.
“I just came over to help Leland because Will had a tummy ache and he thought it would be easier with two of us here, so we just tag teamed. That was it. That’s all. ”
She reached the front door and nearly broke her neck trying to stuff both feet into her tennis shoes.
The backside of one folded in half and wedged under her heel, and the tongue on the other was twisted enough it made her want to scream, but she didn’t stop.
Not even in the face of so much adversity.
She grabbed the handle of the front door, fumbling around for the deadbolt.
After flicking it open, she removed the final barrier to her escape, continuing to back away while her rambling explanation carried on.
“Everything was good though. The kids were angels. Good to see you again. Hope you guys had fun. Bye.” She ducked out and closed the door, barely waiting until it clicked into place before turning and running across the yard straight to her car.
Was her reaction a little insane? Probably. But she would rather Beverly think she was insane than horny for Leland. Insanity she could deal with. Beverly probably already suspected she was a little crazy anyway.
But Bev finding out Paige had been lusting after her brother for years would probably put a damper on their friendship.
And since her dad was the last of her family, friends were all she had. It was worth any sacrifice to keep them. Including swallowing down her own feelings and smiling when she wanted to cry.
Or—in this particular case—scream.