Page 84 of Friend Zoned

While she sings, she nods once and slowly walks from the balcony that’s off the master bedroom to my bed. She straddles me, and the long skirt spreads around us. “There she is,” I say. “That’s all folks.” I turn off the phone and toss it aside right as she bends down and captures my lips. The kiss is deep and wet. It’s sloppier than ever before, and when she slides her fingers into my hair, I sigh.

“Hey, baby,” she says against my mouth. I can still taste and smell the rum from her lips. That’s her preferred drink, and I find that I like it.

“Hey, Jeannie.” My hands travel up her skirt, over her soft thighs until I grab her luscious ass with both hands. “I’ve wanted to grab these since I first saw you arguing with your mother all those months ago,” I tell her.

“Oh? You were watching us?”

“I was watchingyou. Because you’re so beautiful.” I reluctantly remove my hand from underneath her skirt and glide it across her exposed midriff. “I knew you’d feel this good.” My hand slides up her spine and cups the back of her neck. “And smell so intoxicating.” She slowly grinds on top of me while she pulls me out of my boxers. “What are you doing, pretty?” I ask her.

“I’m taking what I want,” is her husky response. “It’s mine, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

“I want it. Inside of me. Right now.” My hands return underneath her skirt and I rip her thong apart. She lifts her hips, and I align myself at her entrance. I know she’s ready. I can feel how wet her slit is. I grab her hips and help her slide down, inch by inch. “Wait,” she says when I’m halfway in. “God, you’re so big, Aiden.” She puts her hands on my chest and slowly slides down. “Aaah.” She throws her head back and moans. The gentle breeze from outside hits, whipping her short hair around. She bites her full bottom lip the instant I’m fully ensconced inside of her wet velvet walls.

“Take me, baby,” I whisper while I unbutton her shirt and toss it aside. She’s braless, and I cup her breasts. She throws her head back and calls my name as she starts to slowly grind on top of me. Up and down. Up and down. I lift one of her hands from my bare chest and run my tongue across her fingers.

“I love you,” she whispers, and I almost come inside of her, but I manage to control myself.

“Come here.” She leans down and I take her in a savage kiss. “God, I love you. I love you so damn much.” The words are barely out of my mouth before she shudders on top of me, calling my name and whispering more words of love. I grab her hips and thrust deep inside of her before I release. I pull her down on top of me and kiss the side of her neck, while she catches her breath.

“I love Miami,” she says.

“I love Jeannie.”

Once I leave for work, she spends the hours before the game with Tara and Vickie, and we all fly home together in Ethan Bradford’s private plane. Monday hits us hard, and it’s back to reality. Tuesday takes me out of town until early Saturday morning, but I’m instantly comforted when I return home and find her curled up in my bed. I slide in right behind her and fall asleep almost instantly.

Now, with her soft hand on my lap, I’m driving us out of Manhattan and into Connecticut. She’s looking out the window, chatting about her plans for the week. I’m only half listening. My stomach is in knots about what’s going to happen in a few minutes. Despite everything I’ve told myself, I’ve been deceptive. The thing is, I don’t regret it. It would have taken me seconds to prove who I really am, but if I had done that, she would have shut down on me immediately.

“So, I was thinking of inviting Colt and Vickie for dinner to show off my new kitchen,” she says. “But it’s going to be too pretty to cook in.” She has a small smile on her lips, and I realize I’d do anything to keep her happy like this. “The contractor says he’ll be done on Monday. I can’t wait.”

I squeeze her thigh. I don’t know if it’s to comfort her or myself. She’s in a burgundy shirt tucked into black pants that fit her just right and ankle boots. She’s casual but so damn sexy.

I turn off at the Hutchinson Parkway exit.

“We’re home next Saturday if you want to do it then,” I tell her.

“I want to invite Tara and Ethan too, but I don’t have that much space, especially if they bring the boys.”

“Have it at my place,” I quickly offer.

Her head whips around. “You don’t mind?”

“Nope.” I pick up her hand and kiss it. “Treat it like your home.”

“Okay. Thank you.” She smiles and leans back in the car. She has on a pair of big sunglasses so I can’t see her eyes. I turn down a winding street. It’s not a very sharp contrast from the street we were on, but there’s a subtle change, and Jeannie picks up on it. The houses are now spread further apart, and they get bigger. The trees are only now starting to grow leaves, so the view of these mansions is clear. Her posture changes. She sits up straighter, and she takes the sunglasses off before sliding them in her purse. She leans closer to the window and looks outside. I take a left onto another side road. There are only two houses on this street, and you can’t get to either until you go through the security gate.

I stop my Mercedes in front of the little office and wait.

“What are you doing?” She playfully punches my arm. “Not funny, Aid. They’re going to call the cops on us, and you know I’m the one they’re going to arrest,” she whispers.

“Why would you be the one to get arrested?”

Her eyes widen and she purses her lips. “Tell me you are not that out of touch. Why do you think?”

Before I can think of an answer, Keith, the head of security, waves at me. “Mr. Walsh. Good to see you. Welcome home.” The double gate swings open, and I drive in. I look straight ahead while Jeannie stares at my profile. I know her mouth is hanging open, and I wonder what she’s thinking right now. She doesn’t ask any questions, and that makes the butterflies in my stomach flutter more. Jeannie asks questions. She’s not shy about it. Maybe it’s because of her asshole ex, but she’s the most direct woman I’ve ever been with, and her silence is making me nervous.

The street where I grew up winds around, taking us behind a forest of trees and bushes. There’s no way one can see the palatial home from the streets. When I finally turn onto the driveway, I’m met with another gate, but this time, all I need to do is punch in a code. I hear a gasp from Jeannie. Again, I wish I knew what she was thinking. At the very least, I wish she would say something.

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