Forever Love: A Friends to Lovers Collections Read online

Something snapped. I needed her, and it wasn’t going to wait. I pulled her on top of me.

  She giggled. “Wow, and I didn’t even say please.”

  “I guess you didn’t.” I rolled her off me, and instead hovered above her.

  She looked up at me through her unbelievably long eyelashes. “Would you please make an exception?”

  “You have full permission to kiss me.”

  She reached up and pulled my head down to hers. Her lips crashed into mine aggressively, and that only made me want her more. I didn’t wait for her to open up this time, I pushed my way into her mouth, determined to get every taste of her I could.

  She slipped her hand underneath my t-shirt, and I needed more of her touch. I broke the kiss long enough to pull off my t-shirt.

  “If we’re playing fair tonight, you can take mine off too.” Her words sent a thrill through me, but also an alarm. Taking off her shirt was entering new territory. Much more dangerous territory.

  “You sure you want me to?” I ran my fingers over the strip of skin exposed by her tank top riding up.

  “Yes. Positive.” She sat up and pulled off the tank top herself.

  My eyes greedily took in the sight of her gorgeous breasts before I cupped a breast with one hand while my mouth descended on the other.

  She let out a moan, letting me know she approved.

  She ran her hands up and down my chest and stomach, each time stopping right at the waist of my boxers. She teased me that way until finally she slipped her hand underneath and took me in her hand.

  I groaned. No woman’s hand had ever felt so good. I needed to make her feel just as good. Despite how hard as it was to concentrate as she stroked me, I pulled her shorts down her long legs and slipped one finger inside her panties.

  She opened her eyes and watched as I slowly pushed her panties out of the way. I locked eyes with her as I slipped my fingers inside her, needing to know that she wanted each and every thing we were doing.

  She wriggled as I continued with my fingers, and I pushed her panties all the way off.

  She let go of me as she opened her legs, and although I missed the touch, I didn’t mind. It was time for me to take care of her.

  Listening to her moans nearly undid me. “Kyle.” She made my name sound so much better than it had ever sounded before.

  “Are you going to be mad at me for bringing condoms with me just in case?”

  “Right now I’d be mad at you if you didn’t.”

  “Good.” I reluctantly left the bed to pull a condom from the box in my bag. I’d thought that bringing them guaranteed I wouldn’t need them, but luck was on my side.

  I returned to the bed to once again take in the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. Jade lay there completely naked and ready—for me. I saw it in her eyes, and I felt it in her heartbeat as I lay down next to her. “You’re so beautiful.”

  She wrapped an arm over her chest as if to cover up.

  “Hey. I just told you were beautiful. That was not code for ‘hide from me’.”

  “You’re making me self-conscious.”

  “I’m letting you know how gorgeous you are in case you forgot.”

  She raked her teeth over her bottom lip, and I needed more of her. I tasted her other breast this time, gently biting down on her nipple as I ran my tongue and teeth over her. At the same time I moved my hand between her legs to make sure she was really ready.

  “Kyle.” She said my name again, and I knew I couldn’t wait any longer.

  I unwrapped the condom, put it on, and moved above her. “I’ve wanted this for so long.”

  “Me too.”

  That was all I needed to hear. I thrust into her, needing to feel her wrapped around me. She gasped, and I knew ready or not, I had to be gentle. I made careful movements as I slowly eased more of myself inside. She moaned as I started to speed up the movements.

  I was in heaven as she wrapped her legs around me, encouraging me to continue. I needed to hold on as long as possible—to make this perfect for her, but she felt so good it wasn’t going to be easy. I cupped her ass with my hand, needing her closer, needing all of her.

  She called out my name, and I shuddered before releasing.

  I couldn’t move for a moment. I was in a state of shock. Sex had never felt so good. I looked down at her, at the sweat trailing down her chest and her messy hair—messy from being with me. She was so beautiful.

  She reached up and cupped my face with her hand. “That was really good.”

  I rolled off her. “I’d go with amazing.”

  “I mean really good.”

  “Trust me I know. I was part of it.”

  “Can that happen again? Can it happen a lot?”

  “It can happen as often as you want.” I would have offered Jade the moon at the moment, but a promise of more sex? Like I could have said no to that?

  “Not just on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays?” She smiled, reminding me that this was still Jade. Everything had changed, yet nothing had.

  “No this is a twenty-four hours/ seven days a week kind of promise.”

  “You better be careful. I might keep you busy.”

  I ran my hands through her tangled hair. “You better keep me busy.” My heart rate was just starting to return to normal.

  “Well, we don’t have to lie anymore. I know what you’re like in bed.”

  “I wasn’t particularly inventive tonight.”

  “Nor was I adventurous, but it was awesome.”

  “We can work toward the inventive and adventurous stuff. You are going to be keeping me busy after all,” I teased.

  “Definitely. Ok, see, that didn’t ruin our friendship, right?” She leaned up on one elbow.

  “No. It enhanced it.”

  “I’m not so worried about sleeping next to you tonight.”

  “You’re not?” I moved my hand to her inner thigh.

  “Should I be?”

  “That depends.”

  “On?”

  “Whether you have any plans to sleep.”

  “You think I’m giving you an all-nighter?”

  “Didn’t that whole twenty-four hours a day thing apply to me too?”

  “Yes.” she put her hand on top of mine and coaxed me in between her legs.

  “Ready already?”

  “It’s getting late. I don’t want to run out of time.”

  I smiled. “You’re perfect, Jade.”

  “Not perfect.”

  “Well, you’re as perfect as you need to be.”

  She didn’t need to guide my hand, I was more than happy to take over from there.

  * * *

  The sun streaming in through a space in the curtains woke me up the next morning. We’d barely slept, so I was careful not to wake Jade where she lay in my arms. The night before had been unreal. I’d gone from thinking I’d made a mistake bringing her with me, to having the most unbelievable experience of my life. How was it even real?

  A knock on the door ruined the perfect morning.

  Jade stirred. “What time is it?”

  The knocking continued.

  “Who is it?” I called.

  “It’s me. I need to talk to you.” Dylan with his usual impeccable timing.

  “You can keep sleeping.” I kissed Jade on the forehead before throwing on some clothes.

  “You sure?” she asked sleepily.

  “Positive. I’ll be back soon.” I opened the door, pushing Dylan out of the way before he could look in.

  “Took you a while.” He smirked.

  I double checked that the door had locked behind me. “What do you want?”

  “It’s after nine already. Late night?”

  “Yes, it was.” I smiled despite my annoyance at Dylan. “It was a very late night.”

  “She’s easy on the eyes. I’ll give you that.”

  “Stay away from her, Dylan.”

  “Worried she’s going to leave you for me?”

  “She’s
friends with Juliet. I wouldn’t worry about it.” I didn’t like to play dirty, but I also didn’t like him talking about Jade. She was off limits, and he needed to remember that.

  “That doesn’t change the way she was flirting with me last night.”

  “She wasn’t flirting with you.” My body tensed. “Stop.”

  “I will. Just warning you, the girl isn’t going to stick around if she’s already checking out your brother.”

  “I’m not worried about that. Tell me what you want so I can get back inside.”

  “Take a walk with me.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we need to talk.”

  “We can do it later.” We had all week.

  “When? Did you forget we have a ten o’clock tee time with Dad?”

  Damn. I had forgotten. Leaving Jade to fend for herself that morning wasn’t on my to-do-list after our incredible night together.

  “How about this? I’ll make you a deal.”

  I shook my head. “No deal. Your deals always get me in trouble.”

  “Hear me out. You give me fifteen minutes to talk, and I’ll get you out of golf.”

  “How are you going to do that?”

  “Do you doubt me?” He arched an eyebrow.

  “No.” If Dylan was anything he was convincing.

  “Fine. Fifteen minutes.” Fifteen minutes was better than five hours while we played a round of golf. I glanced back at the closed door longingly before following Dylan down the hall.

  We headed down and outside. I followed Dylan as he wrapped around the back side of the hotel. Evidently he wanted to make sure we didn’t run into any family.

  “What is it? Just tell me.”

  “I need to borrow some cash.”

  “Why? You have plenty.”

  “I fucked up. I already told you that.”

  “Yes… but why does that mean I should lend you money?”

  “I already borrowed some and that’s why I’m in trouble.”

  “Who’d you borrow money from?” I sincerely hoped Dylan hadn’t been stupid enough to borrow from the wrong people.

  “The company.”

  “What the hell, Dylan? That’s illegal.”

  “You think I don’t know that? But I had no choice.”

  “You always have a choice.”

  “I’ve been playing with Russo.”

  With the mention of the name I knew Dylan was in over his head. “You stole from Dad’s company because you ran up gambling debts? This keeps getting better and better.”

  “Can you help me? I’ll pay you back.”

  “How much are we talking?”

  “How much do you have?”

  “Dylan. Don’t.”

  “Fine. I need to replace at least fifty or Dad’s going to find out.”

  “Fifty grand?” My mouth fell open. “That’s insane even for you.”

  “Do you have it or not?”

  “I don’t have fifty. I can’t get access to most of my money yet, but I have some.” The trust fund my grandfather had set up for me didn’t kick in until I was twenty-one.

  “How much?” He ran a hand over his sweaty forehead. It wasn’t that hot out.

  “I can get you twenty, but I want it back.”

  “Of course. With interest if you want.”

  “I’ll transfer it at the end of the week on a few conditions.”

  “What conditions? I owe you, man.”

  “Stay the hell away from Jade. Do not mess with her, bother her, or even talk to her any more than is socially necessary. Do we have an understanding?”

  “Crystal clear.”

  “No more gambling. This is a one-time deal. This happens again and you’re on your own. Got it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, and you’re still covering me for the golf.” I turned and headed back toward the hotel.

  “Thank you. I owe you.”

  “Just do what I asked.” I knew I was never going to see the money again, but I also didn’t want to deal with the fall out when Dad discovered it missing. Somehow I’d end up blamed. That’s how it always worked.

  I pushed off those thoughts as I walked up the stairs and down the hallway. When I opened the door to the room I heard the shower running. Maybe my morning wasn’t ruined after all. I slipped the do not disturb sign on the door before locking it and walking into the bathroom.

  Jade

  I stood under the hot water, still in shock over what I’d spent the night before doing. Had I really slept with Kyle? The answer was obviously yes, especially since it had happened more than once. My body warmed as I thought over our night.

  I heard the door open. “Kyle?” I wasn’t sure whether I was more terrified or excited about him walking into the bathroom. Was it going to be awkward?

  “Mind if I join you?” he called from inside the room.

  “In the shower?” Did he want to hook up again? I had no clue if the night before had been a one-time thing.

  “Yes.” He pulled open the curtain and stepped in. I guess that answered one question. He wasn’t planning to bring things back to platonic.

  My eyes took in his naked body as I continued to stand under the stream of water. His eyes were doing the same thing to my body. “You didn’t wait for me to answer.”

  “I decided to go for it.” He grinned. “Very glad I did.” He closed the space between us, his lips meeting mine for a slow and gentle kiss. I closed my eyes, accepting his kiss and pushing away my doubts. I needed to live in the moment, and that moment involved Kyle kissing me in the shower.

  “I’m glad you did.” I fought off the urge to cross my arms over my chest. He’d already seen me naked. There was no reason to be embarrassed, yet I still was.

  “Mind if I get under there?” He gestured to the shower head.

  I nodded, and scooted out of the way. Were we really going to do this? Shower together like two people who were supposed to be showering together?

  Before I could think about it long, he eased me back under the water and his lips descended on my neck. He cupped my breast with one hand. I ran my hand down his wet chest, loving the feel of each muscular plane.

  “How are you feeling?” he whispered.

  “Good.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” His lips ran over my earlobe, sending a chill through me.

  “Would you mind helping me with something?” I handed him the bar of soap. If I was taking a shower with Kyle, I was going to enjoy it.

  * * *

  “Are you up for a hike?” Kyle cleared away the remnants of our breakfast in bed. He seemed intent on keeping us in bed as long as possible after our shower. I wasn’t sure if it was all about the sex or staying away from his family. Maybe it was a little of both.

  “You should have told me to pack my hiking boots.” I jumped on the first non-sexual conversation Kyle had started all morning. I was still in a bit of a haze from everything that had happened. Despite my apprehension about the wisdom of what I was doing, I decided to channel the advice I gave my friends. Now wasn’t the time to overanalyze everything. Sometimes it was better to feel than to think.

  “You have hiking boots?” He stepped into a pair of cargo style shorts. Kyle seemed so comfortable being naked in front of me.

  “Yes… after how well I pulled off our camping at the festival you shouldn’t be surprised.” We’d camped out with some friends during a music festival a few months earlier.

  “But hiking boots mean you hike a lot.”

  “I do it with my mom.” I shrugged. “It’s kind of our thing.” For the first time in a while I really missed my mom. Then I thought about what her reaction would be to what I was doing with Kyle. I was lucky she wasn’t anywhere nearby.

  “That’s really cool. It means you’re all set for our hike today.”

  “But without boots.”

  “This is a really gentle hike. Sneakers are good enough.”

  “How many miles?”


  “Four.”

  “Sounds great.” I sorted through my bag for a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Unfortunately I didn’t have any long socks with me, but if the hike was as mild as Kyle promised I’d be fine. I did however pull out my bug spray.

  “Now I did remember that.”

  “You conveniently remember the way mosquitos eat me alive?” Luckily the music had been great at the festival, so it had all been worth it.

  “That’s hard to forget.” He pulled on a t-shirt. “I felt bad for you.”

  “You laughed at me.” I’d been annoyed at the time, but eventually I forgave him.

  He walked over and put his hands on my hips. “I only laughed because you were so cute.”

  “I was cute because I was covered in bug bites?”

  “No, it was your reaction.”

  “No laughing at me if it happens again.”

  “I won’t. Instead I’m going to kiss each and every one of them to make them feel better.”

  “No hoping I get more bites just so you have more to kiss.”

  He laughed. “Would I ever do that?”

  “I’d hope not.”

  “Nope. I’d prefer blood sucking creatures not steal your blood. So that also means stay away from vampires.”

  “Couldn’t you just kiss those bites and make them better too?” Teasing and playing around seemed like the best way to handle any potential awkwardness. Kyle seemed to have the same idea.

  He ran his lips down my neck. “The only one biting you is me.”

  “I’m guessing that’s supposed to sound hot?”

  He laughed. “In theory.”

  “Stick to what your lips are doing. That’s hot.”

  “In other words keep my mouth shut.”

  “Not always. Sometimes your words are pretty darn sexy.”

  “Like when I tell you all the sordid things I want to do to you?”

  “Sordid? Let’s stick with dirty.”

  “I can do dirty.”

  “If you want me hiking keep those dirty thoughts to literal dirt right now.” I stepped out of his embrace. “I need to get changed.”

  “You mean you don’t want to go hiking in that?” He gestured to my pajamas. I’d gotten dressed while he ordered breakfast. There was no way I’d have eaten while naked.

  “Oh, you’re so funny.” I headed toward the bathroom.