Chapter 34
Brianna
I winked at you after I said it
The usual exhaustion that immediately follows a therapy session is overpowered by my arousal.
I hyperfocus on the road before me while my thighs aggressively rub together, my clit thirsty for the friction as if she’s in the middle of a drought.
Since Asher, I don’t know if I’ll ever not be wet.
Just looking at the man has me weak in the knees.
After today’s revisit to fantasy’s past, I am antsy to take out my horniness on his oh so willing cock.
On the drive home, I stop to get my favorite iced vanilla latte as a reward for doing hard shit in therapy, because damn it, I deserve it. My body is buzzing with excess energy and horniness at surprising Asher at work later.
I’m pulling into my driveway about ten minutes later. Surprise blooms throughout my body like flowers on the first day of spring when I see Avery sitting on my front porch.
“Hey, Aves, what are you doing here?” Avery’s gaze meets mine, and my iced coffee falls out of my hand when I see tears.
“Aves, what’s the matter? Is the baby okay? Is it Cas?”
“No, Bri, everything’s good. Cas and the baby are fine. Can we go inside?” Panic threatens to claw its way up my throat as I help her up. We walk through the front door and make our way to the couch. The silence is killing me.
“Aves, this no talking thing mixed with the tears is scaring me. What’s going on?” Avery pulls a white envelope out of her purse and hands it to me.
“Open it.” My fingers trail over the envelope's seal before opening it.
I let out a gasp before I scream. “Are you for real?”
“Yes. It’s real. I’m having a little girl. Cas is losing his mind and is already threatening to murder any man who comes within a five mile radius of her. I’m having a girl, Bri.” I get up from my spot on the couch and throw my arms around her. I’m so ecstatic for my best friend.
“I’m going to have a niece! I’m so happy for you guys.”
“Thanks, babes. She’s going to have the best life and even better people around her. You are going to play such an important role in this girl's life, Bri. I know she already loves you so much.”
I place my hand on her growing belly and whisper, “You’re so loved, baby girl. I can’t wait to meet you. Oh, and your parents are total horndogs, so be prepared to be grossed out.”
“Bee, stop that.”
“What? Am I wrong? All you have to do is walk around the house and Cas is practically drooling over you.” Avery snort-laughs and just shrugs her shoulders.
“I could say the same about you and Asher. You two go at it like rabbits.”
I flip my hair over my shoulder and toss her an innocent look. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Really? Does candle wax ring any bells for you?”
My face turns beet red, and I shift in my seat just thinking about that night. I called Avery the following day and gave her a summary of what happened.
“Oh, that? That was nothing.”
“Nothing, huh? Then why are you squeezing your thighs together and your pupils are blown?”
“I hate you.” I mock glare at her.
“You love me. Admit it, you two are just as big of horndogs as Cas and I.”
“Fine, you win.”
“Speaking of, how are you and Asher?” She waggles her eyebrows at me, and I playfully push her shoulder.
“We’re good. He’s slowly starting to move his things in, and the sex?
Avery, it's out of this world. The way he pays attention to my body? It’s like he’s committing it to memory so that he never forgets a single detail.
I’m actually planning to surprise him later at work.
I bought this silky, black wrap dress, and I plan to do my hair in big curls and wear absolutely nothing underneath. ” I see Avery roll her eyes at me.
“Thanks for the details, Bri. I don’t think I’d survive without them.”
“Shut up. But seriously, though, Aves. I’m so happy. He makes me happy.”
“I’m so happy for you. You’re such an amazing, wonderful human and you deserve the world. I feel like I should threaten to chop his balls off if he hurts you. Ya know, like you did with Cas.”
“I still live by that threat, but go for it. Fair is fair.”
Avery and I scour Pinterest, creating endless boards of inspiration for her baby shower.
My best friend isn’t one for extravagant things, so I offer to take as much of the load off her shoulders as I can.
I love planning shit like this, always have.
And it feels even more special because it’s for my future niece.
I’m still reeling with the news that my bestie is having a girl.
I’m putting together yet another Pinterest board when I realize it’s almost time for me to surprise Asher.
I hop in the shower, making sure to wash and exfoliate every inch of me.
By the time I step out of my scalding hot shower that even Satan himself wouldn’t be able to withstand, my skin is pink, but every inch of me feels as smooth as silk.
My body is thoroughly moisturized, my hair and makeup are on point, and I feel my body pulse with anticipation knowing my pussy is about to get destroyed by the man my heart can’t stop thinking about.
Who knew I’d be as into office sex as I am?
Well, okay. Office sex with Asher, specifically.
This man has reignited my sex drive, and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
Plus, this will be the first time I’m actually driving myself to the bar.
What better way to celebrate that milestone than to have my man pound into me relentlessly?
Everything seems to be falling into place, and I’m ready for what happens next.
Asher
I’ve been by to see Max multiple times, but this time is different. When Bri talks to her brother, I don’t want our relationship to override the conversation. I brought this up to Bri and she gave me the okay to talk to him about us.
Us.
It’s surreal to think that Bri and I are an us now. When I walk into Max’s room, I’m surprised to see Cas.
“Hey, man, what’re you doing here?” I ask Cas.
“Well, Asher. Max and I are friends. And when you’re friends with someone, you hang out with them.” Cas smirks at me. Bastard.
“Fuck off, Cas,” I retort before turning to Max.
Max’s strength continuously astounds me. And I’m not just talking about his physical strength, but mental and emotional, too. Anyone could have taken the cards he’s been dealt and let it run their lives.
Not Max, though.
He’s showed up for PT every day, ready to make it his bitch.
Watching him go from limp and lifeless to being able to walk on his own has been truly incredible to witness.
He’s nowhere near one hundred percent, as he still has faint twinges of pain in his arm and shoulder, but he’s here.
He’s alive. And that’s what matters. I notice the boot he once relied heavily on sitting in the corner, and I know without a doubt that his mom is the reason it’s still there.
His doctor has given him the all clear to go back to work with some slight restrictions, but anytime someone brings it up to him, he changes the subject.
He says he’s content with office management stuff at his company, but I call bullshit. Well, I silently call it.
“Hey, buddy, how’re things going?”
“Good. Shit has been a lot better. I no longer have to do as much PT now, and I’m able to walk up and down the stairs without feeling like I need to take a break.”
“That’s good. I’m happy for you, man.”
I don’t think Max is gonna give two shits that I’m dating his sister. But there’s a sliver of doubt lingering in my mind that has me second guessing myself.
Max, Bri, and I have been in each other’s lives for years.
We’d spend every summer going on trips with each other’s families or just hanging out at each other’s houses.
There has always been this unspoken, intense connection between Bri and I.
There had been many nights tossing and turning as visions of Bri flooded my brain.
Her laughter was the perfect lullaby, guiding me to sleep.
Well, that and the endless amount of Bri-induced orgasms. I’d chalked it up to teenage hormones and not because of how incredible she was.
During the daytime, I’d drown in my own denial.
And at night, I let my imagination run wild as I pictured Bri’s pretty lips wrapped around my cock.
It wasn’t until her name slipped through my lips after a mind-numbing orgasm that I realized the truth.
I was hopelessly, stupidly in love with my best friend's sister. A confession I’d take with me to the grave as a kid since Max was extremely protective of his sister.
Hell, he warned our entire baseball team off from dating his sister.
And since I was both his best friend and teammate, I was double fucked.
So, I kept my feelings for her under lock and key, planning to never tell a soul how I felt.
The only time I came close to saying fuck it was when she threw herself at me during that party.
Now that I have her, I refuse to give her up for anyone or anything. Even if that means my relationship with Max isn’t the same. Because Bri deserves to be loved out loud. And no one, not even my best friend, will stop that from happening.
“Asher?” Max interrupts my inner monologue.
When I look up at him, it’s clear he’s been talking to me, and I wasn’t paying attention.
“Hmm?”
“I was asking how Bri was doing? She still hasn’t been by to see me or texted me back. I just want to know she’s okay.”
“She’s doing a lot better. She wants to come see you and she will when she’s ready. Speaking of Bri, I have something I need to say.”
“Finally!” Max shouts, causing me to jump out of my seat.
“Finally? What do you mean finally?” What the fuck?
“Well, I’m assuming you two are together?” Max raises his brow, wearing his signature crooked smile.
“We are. I’m sorry I didn’t ask for your permission to—” Max interrupts me.
“Permission? Like Bri would give a shit if I said yes or no. Either way, I’m happy for you guys. It’s been obvious you two liked each other for years. I know you’ll treat her right, so I’m fully behind it.”
“Thanks, man. I didn’t know how you’d act, honestly. I mean, you warned our entire baseball team not to fuck with her. What did you expect me to think?”
“Fucking hell, man. I winked at you after I said it. That was me telling you the rules didn’t apply to you, dumbass.”
“Fuck. You did, didn’t you? Goddamn it, so we could have been together this whole time. Asshole. As far as Bri not giving a shit about your thoughts? You’re wrong. She values your opinion a lot. I think that’s why she hasn’t been to see you. Your opinion of her matters.”
Max isn’t an overly emotional person, but as soon as the words escape my lips, Max's eyes fill with sadness. I watch an entire life of pure sibling love flash before me as his gaze swims with unshed tears begging to be freed. His head falls into his hands, and I watch as emotion rattles his entire body like an earthquake. With Bri, I’d pull her into my arms. But with Max, he just needs the space to feel.
So Cas and I sit next to him in silence, offering our support just by being here.
“I’ve held everything in for so long and I can’t take it anymore.
I am a complete mess, and I feel like I’m losing my mind.
That accident fucked me up, and I miss my sister.
She was my first ever friend, and the fact that she hasn’t been by to see me hurts.
I understand she’s going through her own shit, too, I just wish she would come to me. ”
Well, damn. I guess all that waiting for Max to express himself paid off.
I’ve always had a solid connection with my gut instinct, and it told me to wait him out.
Max will come to you when he’s ready. I just wish I knew how bad it was, because seeing my best friend shatter before me? Truly heartbreaking.
“She wants to. She’s just been dealing with some heavy shit. Give her time, she’ll come around.”
“I just feel like she hates me. Either that, or she’s mad at me or something. We’ve never gone this long without talking to each other. It feels like a piece of me is missing.”
“Hey. Trust me when I say this, she doesn’t hate you.
I think you both need to talk to each other and when you do, things will make sense.
Do you…” I pause, unsure if I want to ask this type of question.
Not everyone is pro-therapy. As much as Max has been supportive of me and my therapy journey, I’m not sure where his thoughts lie on the matter.
“Listen, man, please don’t take this the wrong way, but are you planning to go to therapy to deal with your trauma? ”
“Yeah. I think I need to. I have it on my list of things to do, but I’m not ready yet.”
“I get it. It took me a while to work my way up to therapy. Shit like this isn’t easy to work through. You have to be ready to tackle your shit,” Cas adds.
If anyone knows about healing from grief, it’s Cas. He’s a recovering addict who is still processing and healing from his childhood trauma. I give him a shit ton of credit. It’s not easy to turn your life around, and yet, he did it.
“Yeah, I guess so. And I’m not even close to being prepared to have the difficult conversations. Anyway, enough about me. How's dad to be?”
“Good. Avery and the baby are doing well. We found out what we’re having.” Cas looks down at his feet, but his smile is as wide as can be.
“So, are you going to stop there? Or are you planning to tell us the news?”
“We’re having a little girl.” Cas’ eyes begin to water, and his smile widens even more.
“Watch out future partners, this little girl has three men in her life who will kick their ass if they hurt her,” Max jokes around.
“Don’t even get me started on that. She’s not allowed to date until she’s forty.”
“You aren’t gonna be able to stop her. With a woman like Avery, that girl is destined to be beautiful. Men, and or women, will flock to her like bees to honey.”
“Fuck,” Cas curses while throwing his head back.
Max and I can’t help but laugh. Poor Cas, he has his work cut out for him.
“So, Bri and I are planning on going into business together,” I blurt out. Cas and Max look at me with matching surprised expressions.
“What?” Max asks
“Yeah, she told me she’s always wanted to open her own bookstore, and I’ve been wanting to do something more with my life. So, the two of us are going to pair certain cocktails with books and call it ‘Booked ‘N’ Boozed.’”
“I like that. I think the two of you will work well together, especially with the things Avery tells me.” Cas winks at me.
Max covers his ears and shouts, “I don’t wanna know! That’s my sister.”
We spend the rest of the time laughing, and they share their opinions on cocktail names. We talk until I have to leave for the bar.