Chapter 14 Owen
Roscoe walks out of the back bedroom, swiping the sweat off his brow with his forearm.
“I’m not moving again for at least five years. This shit sucks ass.”
“Agreed,” Carson mutters, dropping onto the sofa and flinging his arms out along the back. “It’ll be worth it, though. Trust me on that.”
The smug smile hasn’t left his face since yesterday, and Roscoe and I know exactly what put it there. Lucky bastard.
Roscoe pulls out his phone, slapping Carson on the back of his head as he walks by.
“What the fuck was that for?” he grumbles, fixing his hat since Roscoe knocked it askew.
“For rubbing it in.”
Carson smiles wider. “I haven’t said shit, but if you want me to tell you how goddamn tight she was—”
“Oh fuck.” Roscoe stops in his tracks, wide eyes darting to Carson.
“Yeah, exactly. She—”
“No, you dipshit. Check The Grapevine.”
We whip out our phones and open the app.
Roscoe and I glare at Carson, who at least has the decency to look a little ashamed.
“You fucked her in the store?”
“In the middle of the day when anyone could walk in?” Roscoe growls.
“I didn’t plan for it to happen that way. Things just kinda…got out of hand.” Cars grimaces, lifting his hat to run his fingers through his sweaty hair. “But look at it this way, I got us one step closer to the end goal, right?”
“Idiot,” Roscoe mutters, walking out to grab another box.
The idiot in question points at our friend’s back. “What’s his problem?”
“He’s still coming to terms with all of this. Plus, you know how protective he can get when he cares about someone. Cut him some slack.”
“Understood.” Carson sighs, letting his head fall back. “She was fucking spectacular, Ox. Not a single girl can hold a candle to how brilliant that woman is.”
“I know,” I murmur softly, looking out the window at her apartment across the way. Making a split-second decision that’s either the smartest thing I’ll ever do, or the dumbest, I head for the door. “I had her first. Remember?”
The last thing I hear as I step outside is Carson’s “Kinda hard to forget, dickhead.”
Crossing the landing, I can’t keep the grin off my face.
Nik and I were each other’s firsts, and no matter who came along after, that’s one thing no one can take from us.
It meant something then, and it still means something to me now.
Always will. I raise my hand to knock but hesitate with it hanging mid-air.
Sure, things are better between us, but are they show up at her door without notice or reason better? Only one way to find out.
Knock, knock, knock.
There’s a loud thump, followed by muffled curses. “Jesus fucking Christ. Just… Come in!”
My brow furrows. She doesn’t even know who it is. It could be the turd waffle that’s been harassing her, and she would’ve just let him walk right in.
I swear to god, girl needs a spanking.
The door opens without resistance, and I damn near growl out my frustration. Thankfully, I’m greeted by an empty room.
“Nik?”
There’s a loud splash, followed by aggressive hissing.
“Back here.”
The short walk across her living room, through her bedroom, and into the ensuite has my mind going in a million different directions.
But when I get my first glimpse of the girl who has always had my heart, I do a double take.
She’s in a bright pink sports bra, tight black shorts that perfectly outline the shape of her curvy ass, with her hair pulled up into a messy ponytail, and sure, she looks amazing.
But it’s the fact that she’s soaking wet and holding a pissed-off Hemingway that has me speechless.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Help me!” Her frustrated glare almost makes me smile, but I catch it just in time.
Something tells me that particular reaction wouldn’t be welcome right now.
“You thought this was a good idea…why?”
Hemingway looks at me, his wet fur full of suds and his black eyes pleading with me to save him. He honestly looks way skinnier than I expected with all his fluff matted down.
“Little man here has decided that my bed is now our bed. The only problem? He came in at some point in the night smelling like something straight out of the dumpster—rot and decay with a little motor oil thrown in. When I woke up and turned on the light, I saw him covered in God only knows what, leaving smears of his filth on my freshly cleaned sheets. This is bath number four.”
She sets him back down into the few inches of murky water, holding the scruff of his neck with one hand while using the other as a scoop to rinse him off.
“Here. Let’s empty this and get some clean water going.”
I settle in next to her, the tight space forcing our bodies to brush against each other.
My dick wakes up, thinking it’s time to play, and I have to think of all the gross shit this damn raccoon probably got into in order to stop the raging hard-on before she notices.
I pull the plug, letting most of the water drain before I reach for the little monster.
“Here, give him to me while you run and get some dish soap. It will cut through whatever the fuck this grease is faster.”
Big blue eyes look up at me, the dark circles underneath making her look more fragile than she is. “Thank you.”
Without thinking, I lean over and kiss her forehead because it feels as natural as breathing. “You need me, I’m here, love bug. Any time, anywhere.”
Hemingway chooses that moment to shake his entire body, much like a wet dog would, sending water and soap suds everywhere.
“Oh my god!” Nik shrieks, covering her face. “It got in my mouth!”
The words leave my lips before my brain can stop them. “I have something you can rinse your mouth out with.”
Her snort echoes through the bathroom. “Did you just—”
Shaking my head, I mutter, “I did. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s me who should be apologizing. Pretty sure you didn’t come over here to bathe a mischievous raccoon.”
Hesitantly opening my eyes, I glance down the length of my white tee and gray shorts that are now soaking wet. “Good thing I still need a shower after all the moving this morning.”
Reaching up, she swipes a cluster of bubbles off my cheek while carefully avoiding my eyes. “Is that what the commotion was? The guys moving in? I heard voices and footsteps, but I was a little preoccupied.”
Setting Hemingway under the flow of clean water, I start to rinse him off, but I can’t seem to take my eyes off of her. “Yeah. They’re almost done though. Should quiet down here in a few.”
She nods, biting her lower lip. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to lean over and kiss her to get her to stop.
She must realize the same thing because she jumps up, wiping her hands down her thick thighs. “I’ll just run and grab the soap.”
Using the short time she’s gone to get myself back under control, I run my hand between Hemingway’s eyes. “What’s your secret, pal? How’d you get into her bed?”
He just hisses in response.
“Here. This should help.” Nik comes back, carrying a bottle of blue liquid soap.
“Perfect. I’ll hold him. You scrub.”
Kneeling beside me, she’s forced to reach across my arm to reach the fluffster, but I don’t mind one damn bit because the side of her tit keeps rubbing along my forearm.
Trying to avoid stealing glances at her cleavage is pointless.
She’s too close, and I keep getting whiffs of something sweet from her hair.
She has no idea of the effect she has on me, or at least I was assuming she didn’t until I catch the slightest tilt to her lips.
“You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?”
Her resulting smile makes my chest feel fucking tight. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Mmhmm.”
Her laughter rings out, and for the next few moments, we concentrate on washing and rinsing Hemingway until he’s no longer covered in slimy goo.
Nik grabs a towel, and we work together to get him mostly dry before he decides he’s had enough of his impromptu spa day and slips from my hands, running for his life out of the apartment.
“You better keep your ass out of those dumpsters, mister!” Nik shouts after him.
“How’s he even getting in here?”
She shrugs. “No idea. But if he keeps stealing my cookies, we’re gonna have to have a chat.”
“Speaking of chat…” I accept the towel she hands me, drying my arms and face. “You give any more thought to joining us next door?”
“Owen, I—”
“Before you say anything, know we’d never push you into something you’re uncomfortable with, but we are worried about you. And it’s not like you wouldn’t still have access to this apartment if you need a little time away from the testosterone.”
“I understand, and I really am appreciative of—”
Whatever she was going to say is cut off as she takes a step, her foot slipping in a puddle of water.
Her arms flail, and without even thinking, I lunge forward and catch her before she can fall.
Her wet body is plastered against mine, our faces mere inches apart.
She’s leaning back slightly with me bent over her, our chests heaving damn near in sync.
“You okay?” I murmur, eyes searching hers.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Straightening, I’ve still got her in my arms, the warmth of her palms heating my biceps through my damp shirt.
“Nik, if all I ever get is this fake relationship with you, then I’ll accept that, but I’d be a dumbass if I didn’t try to convince you that everything I feel is one hundred percent real.”
Not giving myself time to question what I’m about to do, my hand cups her jaw while my mouth drops to hers.
I don’t press for more than she’s willing to give.
Instead, I enjoy the way her fingers tangle in my shirt and the slight hitch of her breathing just before her body relaxes into mine.
It isn’t until her hands slide up my shoulders and her arms wrap around my neck that I feel the first threads of my control snap.
Before I realize what I’m doing, I have her backed up against the bathroom wall and we’re making out like we’re teens again. The only difference is the curves pressed up against me and the fact that we’re not in a cramped treehouse.
She lifts her leg, curling it around my hip, and I’m about ready to see how stretchy the material of her shorts are when loud voices from outside break through the lust fog we’re wrapped up in.
“Get your prick ass off our property,” Roscoe growls.
“Uh oh,” Nik says, untangling herself from my hold.
She tries to sidestep me, and my hand shoots out to try to catch her. “Nik, hold up.”
“I’m not letting them fight my battles for me, Ox.”
Cursing, I rush out after her to where Roscoe and Carson are standing in the middle of the landing, facing down a very angry Frederick.
“We already told you,” Carson says, flipping his hat backward. “She’s ours. Now, scram.”
“I came to see it for myself.”
Nik steps out from the doorway, and his beady little eyes latch onto her. They take a leisurely stroll over her half-soaked, half-bare body, and it takes an enormous amount of willpower not to punch him in his fucking face for eyeing up our girl.
“How many times do I have to tell you, Frederick, go home.”
He takes a step toward her, but Roscoe steps in his path, blocking him.
“So it’s true, then,” the dick spits out. “You’re moving in with them.”
“I—”
Stepping up beside her, I wrap my arm around her bare waist and drop a kiss on the side of her head. “She is. That’s why we’re a sweaty mess.”
“Annika, I’m not sure how I spent three years with you and never knew the depths of depravity that you were willing to sink to. Had I been aware, I might’ve played my cards differently.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she snaps.
“I wouldn’t have treated you with kid gloves, darling. You could’ve been just like the whores I—”
“You finish that sentence, and you’ll be eating your dick for dinner,” Roscoe snarls, taking a menacing step forward. “Annika is a lot of things, but above all, she is an intelligent, beautiful woman who commands respect. Always.”
Looking down at the woman in question, I see her eyes going glassy as she stares at Roscoe like he’s her knight in shining armor. When he glances over his shoulder, he gives her a long stare before turning back to the asshole who still hasn’t backed down.
Frederick takes one last look at all of us, shoving his hands into his front pockets. “I have ways of getting what I want, and this time will be no different. You heard my warning, and I always say exactly what I mean. Guess you’ll be finding out soon enough.”
Without any further issue, he turns and heads down the stairs. As soon as he’s out of earshot, Nik looks up at me.
“What did he mean?”
I catch Roscoe shaking his head in the background. “You’ve heard him, love bug. He’s all bark and no bite. Anything he says, we can handle.”
“But—”
“No buts, books. Owen’s right.” Carson closes the distance between them, gripping her chin and forcing her to meet his serious face.
“We can handle him, but if he catches you unaware, I’m worried about what he might do.
I think it’s beyond time we get your shit and move you over here where there’s safety in numbers. I don’t trust that dickweed.”
“You guys, seriously, I—”
Carson doesn’t give her a chance to finish. Right there, in front of all of us, he kisses her senseless while she’s still in my arms.
Roscoe and I share a look and a quick nod to confirm neither of us are bothered by what we’re witnessing.
It’s the first time we’ve ever actually put the whole group relationship thing into action.
I can’t speak for him, of course, but I’m oddly turned on, which is unexpected.
Not that I thought I wouldn’t be, but you never really know until you experience it, right?
“Please, Nik, Roscoe and I are bunking together on tiny twin beds just so you could have your own room. Don’t make our sacrifice meaningless.” He leans in and stage whispers, “He snores, ya know.”
Laughter bursts out of her, but she doesn’t say anything for a long moment. The wait is torture, with my mind coming up with rebuttals for every argument she may have. She studies the ground, then meets each one of our nervous stares.
“Okay, but only until Frederick leaves town. Then y’all can get back to your lives, and I can figure out what I’m doing with mine.”
Silly girl hasn’t figured it out yet. We’ve already got that handled.
Outwardly, we’re calm and collected. Inwardly, we’re high-fiving each other. First part of the plan is falling into place. Now, we just have to convince her there’s nothing fake about this.