Operation Foreplay (10 page)

“Really. But enough about my shit.” I clinked his shot glass with mine. “What’s new with you? I mean, gosh, I haven’t seen you in like forever! Anything new with what’s her name?”

“Allison? Nope. Haven’t called her. She’s too much of a princess. But I do have other news.”

“Yeah? What? You’re madly in love with me and you’re going to take me away to an island in the Caribbean?” I laughed at the thought.

“Of course I love you. You’re you. But that’s not it. I was offered a promotion.”

“A promotion? Good for you! Congratulations.” I held up my hand to high-five him but he didn’t return the gesture.

“Thanks. The thing is, well, it’s not in New York.”

“Oh no. You’re being relocated to Jersey again?” I laughed as Brian set two beers in front of us.

“Not exactly.”

“Where?” I couldn’t believe he was leaving.

“California. I called Ryan. I’ll stay with him while I find a place.”

“How is Ryan?”

“He’s doing well. Got some part in a movie or something. But anyway, I have to fly out Sunday night. I’m taking the red-eye. That’s why I thought we could have dinner Friday. I have a few meetings before I come back here, I’ll look for my own place. I officially move out there in two weeks.”

“Two weeks? That’s like, in fourteen days!” Why did I suddenly feel like everyone else was moving forward in their lives and I was still stuck in park?

“I have to get out there. Heading up a new division.”

“That’s great, Danny. You are going to take California by storm!”

“Melody, it’s a great opportunity. And I’ll still fly back and visit. You’ll fly out and I’ll show you around.”

“Honestly, it sounds awesome.” I smiled but didn’t feel it. I wanted something to be excited about. Something new. The newest, most exciting thing that had happened to me was seeing Jared naked. “Have you told anyone else yet?”

“Not yet.”

I watched as Brian made his way down to our end of the bar. “Now’s your chance.”

I winked and kissed Danny on the cheek before excusing myself. I suddenly needed air.

I stepped out the back into the alley and breathed in deeply. I barely noticed the few small tears that fell and sat down, leaning against the cool brick. I have no idea how long I sat there trying to figure out what was happening in my life that had my panties suddenly in a bunch. Something wasn’t clicking. Something wasn’t allowing me move out of the tiny box I’d fit myself into. I was barely aware of someone handing me a tissue and sitting on the ground next to me.

“Thanks.” I wiped the snot from my upper lip.

“Are you crying because your friend is moving?” Jared spoke softly.

“That would be silly, now wouldn’t it? I’m not crying because he’s moving. I’m happy for him.”

“I kind of think maybe you’re not happy for him. Or at least not happy about something.”

“You don’t know me well enough to kind of think anything.” I huffed.

“I kind of think I do, actually.”

I kind of thought his voice was sexy.

“What are you, a shrink?”

“Nope. I just call things like I see them.”

“Great.”

Rifling through my purse, I found my compact and was disheartened to see the mess that was reflected back. I slicked on my favorite lip gloss anyway and stood, hiking my purse over my shoulder.

“You look great, you know. I was too busy busting your chops to tell you earlier.”

“Thanks. You’re sweet.” I half smiled.

“And, uh, thanks for letting me stay at your place.”

“You’re welcome.” I smiled. “Look, I’m going home. Will you tell everyone else I’m fine? I’m just tired and have to get up early for work tomorrow.”

“Sure you don’t need some company? We could maybe hang out or something. Watch a movie.”

I laughed. “Wouldn’t want to give your sister the wrong idea.”

“Sarah? She knows I’m a grown-up. Besides, my offer of company won’t
necessarily
end up with us rolling around naked.”

I couldn’t tell if he was hitting on me or just being nice.

Then again, rolling around naked with him wouldn’t be the worst thing.

Stop. Best friend’s brother.

“Won’t necessarily, huh?”

“I can’t promise you’d be able to keep your hands off me.”

“My hands, what?” I rubbed my temples and gathered myself. “Whatever. Forget it. I’m going home. And we can put that rolling around naked under the heading of never. But thanks.”

“Well,
I
never say never.” The corner of his mouth crooked up into a panty-dropping smirk that yanked the rolling around naked back into the realm of possibility. “Like I’m sure if I asked you out to dinner, you’d probably say no but I’m sure you’d come around eventually.”

“Awfully sure of yourself.” I tilted my head and took him in.

“I like what I like.”

“And you’re saying you like me?” I stepped closer to him and smelled my lavender shampoo as a small breeze swirled through the alley.

“Maybe. And maybe you like me.”

“Hmm.” I stepped back. “Maybe.”

“So you’ll go out to dinner with me?”

I contemplated him, then contemplated the pit that grew in my stomach whenever I thought about Zac lately. “Maybe.”

“Maybe is not no.”

I laughed. “Maybe is most definitely not no. See you later.”

He reached out and grabbed my hand before letting go quickly. “You sure you don’t need me to walk you home?”

“No, you stay here. Have fun.” I straightened his collar.

“You going to be okay?”

“I’m good.” I plastered the biggest smile I could muster. “I’ll be fine. No biggie. You still have your key?”

“Yep.” He patted the pocket of his well-fitting jeans.

I turned and started toward my apartment. “Hey,” I shouted over my shoulder.

“What?” He stopped.

“No redheads!”

“Wouldn’t dream of it. Besides, I’m partial to blondes.” He winked and retreated into the bar.

An hour later, there was a knock at my door.

“Did you lose your key?” I opened it dramatically.

“I don’t have a key.”

Caroline.

“What’s going on, doll face?” She stepped into my apartment and walked to the kitchen to grab a couple of beers.

“Nothing. Why?”

“I don’t know. You left.”

“You left, too.” I gestured toward her.

“True. Berk’s all annoyed that Danny told you before he told them about the move. He says some sort of man code dictates that he should have told them first.” She rolled her eyes.

“Bros before hos?”

“If you say so.” She shrugged. “But that’s not why I’m here.”

“No?”

“No. Something is going on with you.” She stated and handed me a bottle of Yuengling.

I flopped onto the couch. “I know. I know.”

“Spill.”

“I think I’m stuck.”

“Stuck?” She eyed me over the top of her beer.

“Stuck. Not moving. Not going anywhere. Not excited about anything.” I stood and paced. “I mean, look at you. You and Brian moved in together. Sarah and Drew are doing so great. Berk has a steady boyfriend. Danny is moving up at his job and even Jared moved to another state! New! Exciting! And here I am the same plain old Melody doing her normal, everyday shit. When is it my turn to be excited?”

“Zac doesn’t excite you?” She said it as if it were a question but it hit me like a statement.

“Care, he’s married.” And for the first time, the implications of the scenario dawned on me.

“He
is
married. This is not new information.”

“I should tell him that I can’t do this anymore unless he gets a divorce.”

“I think that’s a conversation you should have had a long time ago.”

I turned and looked at her. “I think you’re right.” I drained the last of my beer. “Thanks, Care.”

“Anytime. Bitches gotta stick together.” She stood and pulled me into a bear hug.

“Truer words, doll face.”

“Okay.” She finished her beer, too. “I’m going. Make this couch up for Jared before he comes back and has no other choice than to slide into bed next to you.”

“He asked me out to dinner.”

“What did you say?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe’s not no.”

“That’s what he said. Sarah would kill me.”

“Oh, I don’t know.”

“Not going to happen.”

“We’ll see.” Her laugh followed her down the hall to the elevator.

Chapter Eight

I
went to bed before Jared came home and when I woke to get ready for work, he was still snoring on the couch. I packed my gym bag and a small overnight bag and headed out, but not before leaving him a note letting him know I might not be home until Sunday morning. That would all depend on how Zac took my ultimatum.

After my forty-five-minute run, I rushed through my shower and dressed as quickly as I could. I wanted to call Caroline before she left for work to thank her again for the talk. The call went right to voice mail and I ended up leaving a lengthy message detailing ten reasons she was one of the best people on the planet.

The workday went quickly and I could think of nothing other than the fact that I was either going to spend the next few days with Zac or end it all together. Either option didn’t sit well in my stomach.

*  *  *

Zac mentioned, “We’re taking Friday off,” as he helped me out of the car.

“We are?”

“I put it on both our calendars. I think”—he traced his finger along my cleavage—“we will have more important things to do with our time.”

“Why not take off tomorrow, too?” I whispered. His presence was clouding my head and I hadn’t yet broached the ultimatum I’d worked out so perfectly in my head the night before.

“Let’s see how tired we are in the morning.” Zac wiggled his eyebrows and held open the door of the restaurant.

Dinner couldn’t end fast enough and he and I were on each other the second we got back in the car. He removed his mouth from my chest long enough to tell the driver to bring us back to his place.

I slipped my hand in his pants, gripped his cock, and rubbed my thumb softly over the head. He unbuttoned my shirt and pushed his hand underneath the fabric of my bra, using his fingers to pinch and twist my nipples before he placed his hand on the back of my head and slowly eased me onto his lap.

As I ran my tongue across his stomach and undid his pants, he cursed softly under his breath and told the driver to hurry.

“I’m going to come.” He fisted my hair as my head bobbed up and down in his lap.

I pushed my face into his lap until I was deep enough to feel him in the back of my throat. He came the second his driver pulled up to the apartment building.

“Let’s go.” His voice was gruff as he zipped his pants and buckled his belt; he all but shoved me out of the car by my ass. “Thanks, Marco.” He two-finger saluted his driver, who was, by that time, used to the damage Zac and I did to each other in the back of that car. What could I say? When it came to Zac I had no shame.

“My bags—” I turned back toward the car.

“Don’t worry about the bags. Right now, I want you to focus on nothing but me.”

The doorman opened the door in time for Zac to pull me through without slowing down. We didn’t have to wait for the elevator, either.

“Excuse us, please,” Zac said to the man who worked the elevators after he turned the key and hit the button for the penthouse. By the time the doors slid shut, Zac’s hand was at my throat, pinning me against the wall. I gasped at the pressure but didn’t fight him. He undid my pants, wedged my legs apart with his knee, and shoved his hand deep inside my panties. He worked furiously at my clit before his fingers found their way inside me.

“Zac!” I called out his name as he crushed his mouth on mine. I could feel the familiar rise of heat begin in my stomach and spread to my thighs; my fingers and toes tingled with anticipation.

“I love to hear you come,” he whispered in my ear. “It’s my favorite sound.”

My knees buckled as he tore at the buttons on my shirt and crashed his mouth on my nipple and bit down. My orgasm hit me in waves and I soaked through my panties. When he retrieved his hand and sucked his fingers, my eyes rolled back in my head and he caught me as I lost my balance. My head spun and the only word I could get out was “More.”

“Absofuckinglutely.” He nipped my bottom lip.

The doors of the elevator slid open to his foyer and he picked me up, pulling my legs around his waist and carrying me through the apartment and upstairs to his bedroom. He dropped me on the bed. “You’re wearing too many clothes.” He stood, not taking his eyes off me while he slowly unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall to the floor. Grabbing my legs, he pulled me closer to him, leaned down, and unbuttoned my shirt, licking my chest and stomach as he did. With my shirt splayed open, he tugged off my pants and panties, discarding them in a heap next to his shirt. I unhooked my bra and tossed it across the room.