Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
Rainey
“So, how was your date?” Devyn asks.
I put my head on the table with an audible thunk and groan. “Ugh, can we change the subject please?”
She shakes my forearm until I sit up. “What do you mean? I thought you really liked him.”
I pick up my wine glass and down half its contents before answering. “I did really like him. That’s the worst part.”
Her brows furrow in confusion. “You’re not making sense, Lorraine.”
I glance over to the pool tables to make sure the guys are still engrossed in their game. “You know how much I was looking forward to it. It was our third date, and I was really hoping the evening would end in orgasms.”
“And?”
“And…it was heading in that direction until things came to a grinding halt. We were fooling around, but when it got to a certain point, I just couldn’t go through with it.”
“Why not?”
I cringe, replaying that moment in my head. “He has a small penis, Dev. And when I say small, I mean a teeny, tiny wienie .”
She bites her lip, clearly trying not to laugh. “Oh, c’mon, Lorraine. It couldn’t have been that bad.”
I hold up my index finger to demonstrate. “It really was.”
Devyn’s eyes widen as she clears her throat. “Well, size doesn’t matter that much, does it?”
I give her a look that screams, are you kidding me ? “ He was packing a gherkin , Devyn! Fully erect!”
She loses her battle against laughing.
I glare at her. “I’m glad my horrific story amuses you so much.”
Devyn wipes a tear from the corner of her eye. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. But you have to admit, you’d think it was funny if it had happened to someone else.”
I smirk, knowing damn well she’s right. “Maybe.” I take another sip of Chardonnay. “What can I say? I like a big D.”
“Talking about me again?” Brody says over my shoulder.
I jump in my seat. Shit, how long has he been standing there?
“Shouldn’t you be shooting pool instead of eavesdropping?”
He smiles and nods to the bar where Drew is talking to the bartender. “We’re finished. Drew’s getting another round. Now back to the topic at hand. What were you saying about big dicks?”
“Nothing you need to be concerned about, Brody. I wouldn’t want to give you a complex. ”
He narrows his eyes. “We both know I have nothing to be concerned about in that area, princess.”
I suppress a shiver when his words make me recall our drunken dry-humping session. Even if I hadn’t seen him in all his glory on the day we met, that night would’ve confirmed that Brody definitely doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of. Not even close.
“Whatever you say, buddy.”
Now he’s smirking. “I’d be happy to remind you, darlin’. Just say when.”
Does now work for you? I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from saying that out loud. Jesus, I need to get laid.
“Okaaay,” Devyn says. “I think I’m going to go help Drew carry those drinks back.”
Turncoat , I mouth to her. She’s always sneaking away when Brody and I are bickering.
Brody slides into the chair next to mine. “How’ve you been, Rainey? I haven’t seen you around in a while.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s been four days, dumbass.”
He flashes his stupidly perfect teeth. “So, you’re keeping track now? Good to know.”
“Quit trying to read between the lines, Brody. I was simply making a statement.”
He places his arm on the back of my chair and whispers in my ear, “If I’m going to be between something, I’d prefer your thighs.”
Goddamn, I hate how easily he can turn me on. I can feel the flush moving across my skin, and there’s no chance of hiding it with my fair complexion. I can feel his grin against my earlobe as he notices. You know what? Fuck it, I’m calling his bluff.
His muscles tighten when I place my hand on his thigh. “ Then let’s go back to my place so you can put your money where your mouth is.”
He jerks back in surprise. “ What? ”
My fingers crawl up his leg, stopping right below his hip. “You heard me, Brody. You’ve been bragging about your sexual prowess since the day we met. It’s time to pony up.”
He searches my eyes for a moment. “Are you fucking with me right now?”
“Nope,” I say, with an exaggerated pop.
Devyn and Drew rejoin us before he can say another word.
“Dude,” Drew says, “why do you look like you’re trying to solve a complicated math problem in your head?”
Brody finally tears his eyes away from me. “Shut the fuck up, man.”
“Whoa, buddy. What crawled up your ass all of a sudden?”
I smirk. “Yeah, Brody. What’s got your panties in a bunch?”
Drew laughs while Devyn watches us carefully, obviously trying to figure out what the hell happened in the two minutes she was gone.
Brody glares at me. “Oh, game on , honey. ”
I casually sip the wine Devyn placed in front of me. “Bring it.”
With my statement, something shifts in the air. Brody is practically incinerating me with his gaze, making me realize how much he’s actually been holding back before now. I try concealing how strongly he’s affecting me, but his cocky grin tells me I’m not doing a very good job.
I take several gulps of wine, trying to act aloof. I set the glass on the table—probably a little too hard—and clear my throat. “I’m going to call it a night, guys. Brody, would you mind walking me home? Some weirdo has been hanging around my building lately, and I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
He grins. “I’d love to.”
Devyn is still watching us like a hawk, but Drew is completely oblivious as he pulls Brody into a back-slapping hug. I can feel her eyes burning through my back as we make our way out of Kelly’s, but she doesn’t say a word.
Brody places his hand on the small of my back as we step onto the sidewalk. “Is there really a weirdo hanging around your building?”
My mind is so focused on the pressure of his fingertips against my spine, it takes me a second to realize he asked a question. I step out of his reach so he can’t distract me.
“Yeah.” I shrug. “But he’s harmless. He just likes preaching the word of the lord . He only takes the megaphone out on Sundays and holidays.”
He laughs. “Ah, gotta love downtown living.”
I chuckle. “It’s definitely interesting.”
As we approach my building, the sexual tension between us is tangible. As anxious as I am to have an orgasm from a warm-blooded man, I know I need to put on the brakes so I can regain control of this situation. A physical relationship with Brody has the potential to get messy, so I want to make sure we’re both on the same page before we take that step.
I can feel his big body behind me as I jiggle the key in the lock. His hot breath hovers over my neck for only a second before his pillowy soft lips meet my skin.
He groans. “God, Rainey, I can’t wait to finally be inside of you.”
My knees literally go weak as I push open the door. It takes me a moment to regain my balance, but once I do, I manage to swat him away.
“Hold on there, Romeo. I have some ground rules. ”
He appears crestfallen. “Ground rules?”
“Yep,” I say with a nod. “I don’t want to do anything that could make things difficult. Our closest friends live together, so avoiding each other isn’t really an option if this goes south.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” he says, holding his hands up to cut me off. “Why are you writing this off before we even get to the good part?”
“I’m not,” I deny. “I’m being cautious.”
The skin between his eyebrows crinkles. “Elaborate.”
I set my keys and purse on the kitchen counter. “If we do this, it’s strictly a friends with benefits arrangement.”
“Go on…”
“Well, I know our friendship is… different , but I definitely consider you one of my only real friends. I don’t let a lot of people in, yet you somehow wormed your way onto that short list.”
“At least you’re finally willing to admit it.” Brody winks.
I roll my eyes. “Anyway…like I said earlier, it’s not just our friendship on the line. We spend a lot of time with Drew and Devyn. And now that Riley’s back, I have a feeling it will be even more so, once Devyn gets over the shock of his return.”
“Agreed,” he says with a smile. “What else?”
“I don’t want complications,” I explain. “We’re just two people scratching an itch. Once either of us has had enough, we pretend like it never happened.”
He scowls. “I don’t know if?—”
“I’m not done.” I hold my hand up. “No one outside of this condo can know about our arrangement. And I mean that, Brody. If I find out you’ve said anything to Drew or Riley, I will end it immediately. ”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “Anything else?”
I think about it for a moment. “If we do this, I expect monogamy. You can go back to being a Casanova once we’re done.”
“Hey!” he protests. “I’m not that bad.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Did you forget how we met?”
Now he rolls his eyes. “That was years ago. My dating… habits have changed significantly since then.”
Have they? When I think about it, he really hasn’t dated much. Not that I know of, anyway. Huh. Strange, I hadn’t realized that before now.
“Regardless,” I say, breezily waving my hand. “I have no interest in sleeping with someone who’s sleeping with someone else. After what Adam put me through, I hope you can understand.”
His face softens. “Trust me, Rainey. You have no worries there. You’re the only woman I’ve wanted since the day we met.”
What?
I clear my throat. “So…do we have a deal?”
I don’t think Brody’s grin could get any bigger. “I will definitely take that deal. Shall we seal it with a kiss? I’ll even let you choose. The lips on your face…or the lips on your? — ”
I slam my hand over his mouth. “I get it, perv.” I pull my hand away when he nibbles my palm. “Nothing’s happening tonight, stud. I have to be at work in six hours, and medicine requires being alert.”
His jaw drops open. “Seriously?”
I bite back a laugh at his shocked expression. “Seriously. ”
“Are you sure?”
This time my laughter breaks through. “ I’m sure, Brody . Do you have plans tomorrow night?”
“I’m watching football at Drew’s, but I will definitely skip out early if you give me a reason to.”
“Okay. I’ll be starving by the time I get off work. Can you meet me at Tang’s Wok over on Third and Pike around seven?”
“I will meet you at the fucking Eiffel Tower if you ask me to.”
“You’re not playing very hard to get, are you?”
“Fuck, no!” he says. “And I don’t give a rat’s ass how pussy-whipped that makes me look. I’m still not convinced this isn’t a dream. I’m sure as hell not going to do anything to screw it up, in case it’s not.”
I bite my bottom lip to conceal a smile. “Okay, it’s settled then. After we fill our bellies, we can come back here and work off the calories.” I squeal when he grabs my hips and yanks me into him. “What are you?—”
He silences me by slamming his lips against mine. Brody takes a step forward, forcing me to walk backward until I’m pressed up against the door. His muscular body pins me against the wood as his large hands cup my jaw possessively. When he pushes his tongue into my mouth, I’m a goner. This isn’t the first time we’ve kissed, but it’s more carnal than it was before. I’m breathless and dizzy, burning with desire. Just when I’m about to beg him to rip my clothes off, he pulls back, wearing the biggest cat-that-ate-the-canary grin I’ve ever seen.
“What was that?” I pant.
“ That was a preview for tomorrow night.” I step aside as Brody turns the doorknob. As he’s stepping over the threshold, he adds, “Sweet dreams, princess. ”
Gobsmacked. That’s what I am right now as I watch his cocky, swaggering self step into the elevator without looking back. Oh lord, what am I getting myself into? If one kiss has me this discombobulated, what will I be like when we actually do the deed?