Chapter 5
Green fills my vision, Liam’s stare intent as it rakes down my body. My thighs tremble as the orgasm hits me hard and fast. I arch my hips, savoring the release.
Relief fizzles to nothing as I open my eyes and blink away the morning light from my bed, where I lie—alone.
It was just a dream.
“Ugh.” I moan and slump into my pillow, one arm thrown over my face, shielding my sleep-bleary eyes from the morning light.
The fantasy felt so real—Liam’s warm breath panting against my neck, his hands running up and down my body.
I curl the fingers anchored between my thighs—sticky and wet. Even though my alcohol-addled brain is clear after a night of sleep, my body still hasn’t gotten the memo that best friends don’t fuck.
Looks like it will be my fingers for a bit longer. I drag one finger through my folds, enjoying one last self-indulgent stroke, but the door handle clicks and turns before I can slip my hand from my panties.
I freeze in place, my entire body stiffening as I try to keep my breathing steady.
Footsteps shuffle into my room, heavy even though I can tell he is trying to tiptoe and not wake me. If Liam weren’t so well built, he might be able to get away with it.
I have to fight to hide the smile.
The clink of glass hits my bedside table, and the soft rattle of a pill bottle follows.
He thinks I’m hungover… because too much alcohol is the only explanation for trying to climb on top of him last night.
My heart rate picks up, reliving the embarrassment. Can I just curl up under my blankets and never face the world again?
He stands so close to me that I can feel the heat from his body. A rush of warm air tickles my arm. Is that his breath?
What is he doing?
If he gets any closer, my nipples will harden, and my fingers… can he see a bulge beneath the blankets where my hand is?
Footsteps quietly sound their way to the door, the handle clicking a moment later.
I lift my arm off my face and check that the room is empty. The musky hint of arousal hits my nose. I pull my fingers out from between my legs, each digit glistening with proof of the scent lingering in my room.
I groan into my pillow. How many times can I embarrass myself in twenty-four hours?
I don’t want to find out.
It’s lunchtime before I hear him leave for his daily run. I venture out and find the sandwich on the counter. The care he took, filling the bread with my favorite ingredients and adding orange slices on the side, makes my heart swell.
“Why does he have to be such a great guy?”
It would be easier to pretend last night didn’t happen if he were an inconsiderate ass like my ex. The amount of attention Liam showed to sandwich-making promised he’d take even more care of the body rocking beneath him.
But it can’t be me. If Kyle thought I was boring, what would Liam think? He doesn’t do monogamy because he likes variety.
I definitely wouldn’t be spicy enough for him.
My lust-fogged brain wants to believe that Liam stayed and watched because he was interested in me… but he turned me down.
Last night he said we’ll talk tomorrow, but coherent, sensible conversation is impossible while my vagina pulses whenever I think of him. He’s already blaming my overzealous attention on alcohol, but I wasn’t drunk when I looked at him while touching myself.
How long until he remembers that part and then has to feed me the I-love-you-as-a-friend line?
Keys jangle in the door.
I splutter on the last bite of the sandwich, almost choking in surprise. He’s back early.
My feet scurry across the tile floor, and I dart to my room before the front door opens. I flatten my back to the hardwood of my closed door and try to catch my breath.
I can only hide for so long before he will look for me with that sweet, friendly smile that will break my heart.
Going out with Ally tonight is the best way to avoid him. I can find someone to work off these urges and not care what they think. Then, when Liam gives me the speech about loving me like a friend, I can agree instead of wanting him to do more than watch next time.
As quietly as possible, I grab a bag and stuff it with everything I’ll need to get ready at Ally’s place tonight.
Knock, knock. “Em, are you awake?”
I bolt to my ensuite bath, bag in hand, and close the door behind me just as I hear my bedroom door open.
“You in the bathroom?” he calls.
“Yea…” I clear my throat. “Yep.”
“Okay.” There’s silence for a moment, and I wonder if he’s left. “I’m gonna shower real quick, then we should talk.”
“Sure thing.” I pull a face at my overenthusiastic expression in the mirror, then scoop my makeup into the bag.
I wait until my bedroom door opens and closes before I sneak back into my room.
Grabbing a pair of heels and a little black dress from the back of my closet, I tiptoe to my door and slowly open it.
The muffled sound of water pounding against tiles tells me he’s already in the shower.
Time to make my escape.
I dart for the kitchen to grab my purse but halt at the counter. Beer, frozen pizza, and a collection of action and thriller movies sit on the counter. It’s our breakup routine—well, mine because Liam never lets himself get close enough to someone to break up with them.
I smile at the sweet gesture even though I don’t need it. Liam is trying to be a friend… and I tried to screw up our friendship by coming on to him.
Ugh.
I am an idiot. He’s my favorite person; I can’t lose him over a cock-crazed vagina.
Maybe I should stay. I’m an adult. I can handle a conversation and a couple of movies without trying to climb all over him. My gaze darts to the living area, and I realize I’m in the same spot Liam was when he watched me.
Did he touch himself last night, thinking about me?
“That’s why you can’t stay.” Friends don’t want friends touching themselves while thinking about them.
I grab a piece of paper and pen and scribble, “Plans with Ally. Talk tomorrow,” then dart out the front door.
Ally insisted I wear another pair of sexy underwear again—black this time. Immediately, I wondered what Liam would think...
This is why I’m getting blisters on my toes and an itchy ass from these ridiculous panties instead of curling up in comfy sweats eating pizza and watching movies.
Liam: Where are you?
I ignore Liam’s text and follow Ally down the sidewalk to whatever bar she’s chosen for the evening. I’m a coward, but maybe I’ll feel braver once I find someone else to go home with tonight.
My phone buzzes again; Liam’s name appears as an incoming call this time. He’s persistent. My body flutters in all the most inappropriate places.
“Did you two have a fight or something?” Ally asks, glancing at the screen. “It’s not like you to ignore him.”
“He thinks I’m heartbroken over Kyle and acting irrationally,” I say. It’s not a total lie, but admitting the truth would be admitting feelings I’m trying to smother.
“Fucking Kyle out of your system is the most rational thought you’ve had in twelve months.” She winks at me and sashays her hips. “Someone’s getting cock tonight.”
Wolf whistles and clapping come from a group congregating around the door of a bar.
Pink warms my cheeks. “Announce it to everyone, why don’t you?”
Ally blows kisses to her fans, then turns to me, her eyes softening. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Tonight is about saying fuck you to the cheating ass.”
I shake my head. “I don’t care about Kyle. You’re right—he was a mistake. I should have broken up with him months ago. Tonight is about me and…” finding someone to help me put Liam back in the friend zone, “…getting what I need.”
Ally grins in approval. “I like this new Emily.”
We navigate our way to a bar, skipping the line and going straight to the door.
A figure stands guard—black cotton stretches tightly around his chest, solid muscles bunching beneath. Lines of ink decorate the exposed skin of each arm. He smiles when he sees Ally coming and opens the door. “Looking fine tonight, Ally.”
He trails an appreciative glance down my body. “Who’s your friend?”
“Emily. Cole,” Ally leans closer to Cole with a devious look aimed at me, “Emily’s looking for company tonight. Come find us. Soon.”
My bottom lip drops, and the sting of a blush pinches my cheeks.
Cole winks at me, a promise behind his smile. He steps aside as Ally guides us through the open doorway.
“You can’t say stuff like that,” I whisper-shout as the music level increases with every step we take through the club.
Ally rolls her eyes. “Nothing wrong with being up front about what you want.”
Her comment hits me hard. She’s right. If I had been up front with myself, I would have admitted that I haven’t been happy with Kyle for a long time, and I would have kicked him to the curb sooner.
But if I tell Liam what I want… that might not end so well.
I follow Ally to the bar and order two drinks while she checks her phone.
Two martini glasses slide toward us minutes later. A rim of green salt outlines a fluorescent purple liquid.
“Here’s to a cock-induced orgasm,” Ally cheers.
I laugh, but it doesn’t stop the nerves twisting me up in knots on the inside. I’ve only ever slept with guys I was in a relationship with. Can I really go home with a stranger?
Cole's eyes find mine through the crowd, and a slow grin curls his lips.
That was quick.
Is it because he really wants to get to know me or because Ally gave away just how easy it will be to take me home tonight?
If he’s going to give me what I need, it doesn’t matter.
He moves toward me, his gaze raking down my body, slowly and deliberately.
Deep breaths, Emily. I force my eyes to trace a similar, confident path down Cole’s body. Solid muscles bunch beneath the tight black T-shirt, and jeans cling to his thighs.
“Cole.” Ally smiles as he reaches our table. “You remember Emily?”
Cole stands close enough that his thigh brushes my knees. The move is bold and unexpected, his intentions for the night obvious. “Hello, Emily.”
“Hi.”
“Can I buy you a drink?”
He’s sexy and confident, but there’s no spark of desire, nothing like what I left in my apartment.
Ally quickly swallows what’s left in her glass and hands it to Cole with a jiggle, ice clinking on the glass. “Yes, please.”
Cole grins at her eagerness but looks to me for my response. He’s gorgeous and confident, and based on what I see, one night with him could potentially result in multiple toe curls.
But he isn’t Liam.
You can’t think like that, Emily. Liam is at home rehearsing his friends-forever speech, and you need to prove to yourself that Kyle is wrong.
“Okay.”
Cole smiles, his lips full of promise and seduction, before walking to the bar.
Ally fans herself. “Well, I think your search for cock is over.”
I scan my body, looking for that spark of attraction, but it’s like I’m tuned to a frequency only Liam can find. Just being in the same room, looking at me, was enough to build up an intensity I’ve never experienced before.
Can Cole or anyone else really get me to that peak again?
Ally snaps her fingers in my face. “Where did you go?”
“To the living room.”
“Huh?”
I spill to her about the whole Liam fiasco. Ally’s face morphs from surprise to amusement to something bordering on arousal. “Wow. I was not expecting that.”
“Yeah, you and me both.”
“Liam sent a text while we were at the bar, asking if I was with you and where we were. He told me not to tell you he’d asked.” Her gaze shifts to a point across the room, and she grins. “It makes sense now.”
“What do you mean?”
Ally nods toward the dance floor.
Standing in the crowd is Liam.