Chapter 3 Rush
RUSH
Fucking bastard.
Nora’s words settle on me, and it takes everything in me not to call my brother and give him an earful.
What kind of asshole cheats on his girlfriend, let alone a woman like Eleanor Brighton?
From the moment I met Nora when Brett brought her to our family picnic last year, I knew she was the perfect woman. And not just for Brett.
Any man would be lucky to have a woman like Nora. She’s smart, witty, has curves in all the right places, and she’s sweeter than apple pie. And in my opinion, it’s always the sweet ones who crumble the best in bed.
But I knew better than to lust after my brother’s girlfriend, even if she hit all my fucking boxes and then some. Unlike some people, I’m not a damn asshole.
But cheating? How could a man want anyone else other than his girlfriend who he’s supposed to love?
Supposed to being the operative words, I suppose. I try to recall a moment when Brett said the word love or even implied it, but I can’t find it. Then again, it’s not like my brothers and I see the guy that often. We see Nora a hell of a lot more than him.
Or we did, because judging by her mood, I can’t imagine she’s going to forgive him or take him back. That would be crazy.
So why do I feel this strange sort of desire culminating in me like a damn hurricane as I walk beside her, my hand on her back? Why is my fucking cock twitching in my damn pants right now when I’ve had at least three beers already?
Because your cock doesn’t know it’s Nora. Your cock only knows it’s pussy, and you haven’t had any in months.
Not that I think you have to have sex to function or anything, but I never exactly expected to hit a dry spell. For God’s sake, I’m twenty-five, I’m in the best shape of my life, and I play for the Lansing Lions alongside my brother, Freddie.
You’d think I’d be a pussy magnet at this point, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The truth is, I’ve been single for over a year, and the last time I had sex with a person and not my hand was before Brett started dating Nora.
What the fuck is wrong with my brother? If I was burying my cock in those cheeks, you best believe I wouldn’t even need to look elsewhere, nor would I want to. But I’m pretty sure that’s standard relationship shit.
When Nora clears her throat, I realize that I’ve been fuming in silence, and I have to concentrate on not calling up Brett and starting shit. I know that won’t do anyone any good right now. Especially because this fourth beer is starting to hit me and I have zero filter when I’m drunk.
I mean, to be fair, I have zero filter when I’m not drunk, but when I drink it’s way worse. I say everything that pops into my damn brain. Which is also why I need to get away from Nora before I say something I’ll probably regret.
“You okay?” Freddie asks in my ear. I nod as he slides the drinks across the table to Nora’s friends. Abby and Zayne.
Her co-workers. I met them once or twice at Brett’s. Abby’s birthday, I think, and some holiday get-together. I don’t know them well, but they seem nice. And Nora seems to be pretty close to them, so I guess that’s good.
Everyone needs friends, right?
When I started playing hockey semi-professionally, my friend pool dried up faster than the watering hole in the Lion King. The only friend I really have anymore is Chris, and my teammates.
Who are probably back in the VIP section still making out with those girls they met at the bar when we got here. They probably don’t even realize we’re gone…
“Thanks,” Abby says, eyeing me skeptically.
Nora sips her drink, and I can tell she’s uncomfortable, though I’m not sure if it’s me or the situation, or…
“Hey.” I nudge her as Freddie gives me a knowing “let’s go,” glare.
Nora looks at me with those big blue eyes, framed by her thick, dark lashes.
God, she’s so fucking pretty…eyes blue like sapphires, lips so pouty and perfect. I can’t take my eyes off of them as she sucks her drink through her straw, her cheeks hollowing as she does so. I have to fit the groan that wants to escape me.
I bet those lips would look just as pretty wrapped around my cock, sucking me dry.
My cock twitches and I absentmindedly adjust myself, as nonchalantly as possible.
I don’t need to be thinking about my brother’s ex-girlfriend sucking me off right now, here, in this damn bar.
Because I know if I let my thoughts wander down that road, I’ll come in my fucking pants.
I always come quicker when I’m drunk, and my dick’s already overzealous enough as is because we’re single and lonely as fuck.
“You want to dance?” I ask.
She raises an eyebrow.
I hold my hands up. “Or not, it was just a question.”
The music picks up. I have the strangest feeling of wanting to dance with her, but also to just…touch her. I know that sounds creepy, and maybe it’s because there’s a familiarity there, or maybe it’s just because Brett is an asshole and Nora doesn’t deserve to be fucked over.
Whatever it is, I don’t want to fight it. I want to make her feel better. If buying her and her friends some drinks and offering to dance with her can accomplish that…then I’m glad to do it.
I think she’s going to say no, or Freddie’s going to grab me and start reeling me in like a damn fish, but he doesn’t. And her answer doesn’t come right away. She twists her lips as she looks at Abby, who shrugs.
“It’s a dance, Nora. Not a commitment,” Abby says.
Freddie sets his hand on my shoulder. “We should head back…”
I brush him off as I look at Nora.
“One,” she says, sucking down the rest of her drink as she hollows out her cheeks again, the sight going straight to my dick.
Fuck me.
I hold my hand out, and she takes it as Zayne says something and Abby curses.
“What?” Nora turns to look at them.
“This dude just swiped on me,” Zayne says with wide eyes as he quickly shows off some profile to Nora. “And we’ve been eye-fucking all night, so—”
“Go,” Nora says softly.
“Are you sure?” Zayne asks.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Nora says.
Abby huffs out a heavy sigh, looking at her phone. “I have to go, there’s been an emergency.”
“What?” Nora tenses beside me.
“Is everything okay?” Freddie asks.
Abby shakes her head as she turns to Zayne. “My mom’s been in an accident.”
“Oh my God!” Nora leaps forward. “We have to go, now, we—”
Abby bites her lip as she looks between Zayne and me.
“Um…no, Nora. You…you can stay here. You should stay here and have fun. Don’t cut your night short on my account—”
“Your mom is like a second mom to me, Abs, I—”
“She would want you to be here and not in a damn hospital.”
“I’ll drive you,” Freddie offers, but Abby puts her hands up.
“No, it’s fine, Flash—I mean, Freddie—um…I’ll Uber to the hospital, and probably drive her car home. She said there’s no damage, but they want to check her out in case…and you know how long the ER can take so…”
Zayne settles a hand on her back and I watch them intently. “You sure you don’t need me to—”
Abby shakes her head. “I’m sure.” Then she looks at me.
“We’ll get you home,” I say, turning to Nora. “It’s the least we can do, right?”
Something strange passes in Nora’s gaze, something I can’t quite place.
“Yeah,” she says, her voice almost breathless as Zayne and Abby say their goodbyes. Only when they’ve finished hugging Nora and left do I offer her my hand again.
“You don’t have to take me,” Nora says. “I can call an Uber.”
“Nonsense,” I say as her gaze dips to my hand. I can feel Freddie’s eyes, burning a hole into me. “Now how about that dance, princess?”