And Then It Happened: An Unexpected Romance (11 page)

“I’m sure. And just know, I won’t succumb to blackmail.”

I smiled even though my eyes were closed. “I’ll keep your secrets if you keep rubbing my feet. Because…oh…that’s heavenly.”

“Deal.”

Except for the occasional groan from me, we sat in silence while we watched TV. Actually I was half asleep on the couch, peering at the screen through lidded eyes while he watched TV.

Finally Adrian asked, “So you going on another date soon?”

His question seemed out of the blue and I stared at him. “What?”

“Do you have another date soon?”

“Yeah. I have one next weekend.”

Adrian didn’t say much, just kept rubbing, his long fingers working their way up my calves.

“I hope it goes better for you than the last one.”

“Me too.”

“Does Craig know you’re dating?”

“Who cares,” I replied, as he rubbed underneath my knees.

“Do you mean that?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, I guess I do. Things weren’t right between the two of us for a long time. It just hurt because he left me for someone else. I’m already insecure enough as it is. His decision to be with someone else made me feel ugly and worthless.”

My honesty embarrassed me. It must have been his massage that had loosened my tongue. I wasn’t normally this honest. I peeked over at Adrian. His eyes were on the TV and I wondered for a moment if he’d even heard me.

“Jane, Craig is a dick.”

He’s standing up for you.

“Yeah, I know, but if he couldn’t love me then who can? I mean he knew me inside and out…eight years. Eight years and I wasn’t enough.”

Adrian’s eyes met mine and I stared into their depths for a moment before turning my head and blinking furiously.

Do NOT ruin this by crying over Craig.

“Sorry for being so serious. Let’s just forget I said anything,” I managed to say with a weak smile. “Must have been the alcohol.”

Adrian’s hands left my legs and before I knew what was happening, he pulled me across the couch until I was pressed up against him.

“What are you doing?” I asked as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“I’m being a friend,” he replied as he held me against him.

I didn’t tell him that it felt like a whole lot more than friendship to me. I didn’t say that because I liked how I was around him and I liked how he felt wrapped around me.

I liked him. Period.

***

I fell asleep
curled up in Adrian’s arms and woke up with my head in his lap. I was going to open my eyes, but Adrian’s fingers felt so good running through my hair. So I stretched out and sighed instead. It just felt so natural with him sometimes. Despite our constant bantering, being with Adrian was nice. Better than nice. It was fun and if I was being honest with myself, I’d admit that I was totally falling for him.

Suddenly his hands left me and I heard him tapping on his phone. He was probably texting someone…maybe a girl. The thought had me tensing up slightly and after ruminating for a few minutes, I forced myself to relax. Adrian was my friend. Nothing more. If he wanted to text another girl when he was with me, it shouldn’t bother me.

But it did.

And it should bother you. What if he’s sexting someone else right now?

I pushed the unruly thought from my mind. It didn’t matter. We were just friends. It couldn’t ever be anything more than that.

Oh yes it could. And it will, so stop pretending otherwise.

I clamped my eyes shut and nearly exhaled in relief when his hands once more slipped through my hair.

Chapter Seven

I woke to the smell of bacon, eggs and coffee. I pushed myself up off the couch and sniffed my way to the kitchen where Adrian was cooking a vast array of food.

“Holy crap. Where did you get all this food?” I asked, pulling my tangled hair off my face.

He shrugged. “From my house. I was starving after last night.”

“Well, it smells delicious,” I said as he handed me a cup of coffee.

“Black, right?”

“Sure,” I replied, my heart swelling that he remembered I liked ‘manly’ coffee.

“You know, I’ve never cooked for a girl before,” Adrian told me as he flipped a pancake on the griddle.

“Right,” I said, taking a sip of the piping hot liquid and nearly groaned from how good it tasted. “It’s one of your rules.”

“I’ve actually never cooked for a girl after spending a sexless night with her,” he added, furrowing his brow.

“I guess I’m your first then.”

Adrian crooked a smile at me. “I guess you are. There are a lot of firsts with you, Janie.”

I smiled warmly at him. “I like my nickname.”

“I prefer Janet or Janice, but if you like Janie then I’ll keep it up,” he said as he placed a plate of food in front of me.

I took a bite of the steaming food. “This is good,” I said as I shoveled more into my mouth.

“Jesus, you can fit a ton of stuff in that mouth of yours. I think if you ever did decide to go down on me, you could probably fit my entire cock in there.”

I shook my head and swallowed. “No sex talk during breakfast.”

“Not even just a little?”

My lips twitched despite trying to keep a straight face. “Not even just a little.”

He looked forlorn. “Not even if I said you looked hot in that dress the next morning.”

“Now you’re just lying. I’m completely rumpled.”

“That’s the best part. You look thoroughly fucked, which is a shame because you haven’t been. How long has it been anyway?”

“How long has it been for what?” I asked around a mouthful of eggs.

“Since you’ve been fucked.”

I could feel my cheeks turn red, which was ridiculous because we’d discussed things much more embarrassing. Perhaps it was that the truth just seemed to solidify what a loser I was.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been fucked…” I admitted as images of Craig wiggling between my legs caused my stomach to churn.

“What do you mean?” he asked, his eyebrows slamming together. “You’re a virgin?”

“No, no,” I said, shaking my head furiously. “I’ve had sex, but I wouldn’t qualify it as fucking.”

“What was it then?” He looked genuinely intrigued and mortified at the same time.

It was oatmeal sex. Safe and boring.

“Just sex…I guess.”

Adrian lowered himself next to me and leaned forward. “Give me details, please. I’m dying to know.”

I glanced away and cleared my throat. “I don’t know what to say…”

“Okay, so you’ve never had a quickie?”

“No.”

“Or been pushed up against a wall because you just can’t wait to get to the bedroom?”

“No.”

“Never had your hair pulled?”

“No.”

“Spanking?”

“Um…no.”

“No hand jobs under restaurant tables?”

“What? No!”

Adrian smirked a little. “Yeah, I didn’t think so.” He tapped his fingers against the table. “Well, I guess you haven’t been fucked then…well, hell. Fuck me sideways.”

I glanced over at him, my food forgotten. “Pretty pathetic, huh?”

“It’s not your fault. It’s that jackass Craig. How long did you date him again?”

“Eight years.”

Adrian whistled, his eyes wide. “That’s unfortunate. But please tell me that you’ve at least had an orgasm while having sex.”

I shrugged. “I guess, but it’s nothing like the romance novels. I could take it or leave it.”

Adrian’s eyes widened, like I’d just committed a sin. “I bet the vibrator could rectify that. Have you used it yet?”

I shook my head weakly.  “Not yet.”

“Jane, Jane, Jane. You really should use it. Give it a go and see how it is. Just once. For me.”

He said ‘for me’ softly and it sounded almost like a whispered word of endearment. It made me go all soft inside.

“Maybe,” I managed to say, feeling kind of sorry for myself at the moment.

“Maybe? Hm… well, my offer still stands.”

“Offe
r?”

“To help you out with the vibrator if you need me to. I’m pretty good with them.”

Just the thought of him doing that to me had me clenching my thighs together under the table.

“I’m good, I think I can handle it on my own,” I managed to say, despite wanting to drag him upstairs, spread my legs and watch as he placed it in me. I’d never felt this way before and it was driving me crazy.

You’re turning into a barbarian yourself.

Adrian shrugged, like he could take it or leave it as he stood up and walked back to the kitchen.

I sat there and watched as he dished up a plate of food. Everything about him was smooth and tight and the urge to paint him caused my stomach to clench in excitement.

You want to do more than paint him. You want to fuck him. F.U.C.K him.

I opened my mouth to suggest he sit for me when he turned around.

“You know,” he began as he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “Ever since we’ve been hanging out my work’s taken the back burner. You’re bad for me.”

“That’s not my fault,” I said, glancing at him over my cup of coffee. “You’re the one who started following me around.”

“I never followed you around,” Adrian protested.

“Um, yes you did. So don’t blame me for your lack of work effort. That’s all you, buddy. And just so you know, my work’s taken a back seat too.”

“You mean your art.”

I nodded. “Exactly.”

“I can help with that you know,” Adrian said, lowering himself next to me.

“I know,” I said softly.

“So why don’t we schedule a time for me to sit for you since you’ll just avoid it till the good Lord comes back.”

I glanced up at him and shrugged. “Okay.”

“Okay? That’s all I get? Normal girls would be clamoring to get me naked.”

“Well, I’m not a normal girl then,” I said, standing up and bringing my plate to the kitchen sink.

“Tell me about it. You’re the strangest girl I’ve ever met.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

He peered at me as he picked up my coffee cup and took a sip.

He made a face and quickly set the mug down. “Jesus, I forgot you like your coffee burly.”

“That I do and you never answered my question.”

“Janie, is it a bad thing? Well, it’s bad in that we’re not fucking right now…”

I rolled my eyes.

“…but no, it’s not a bad thing.”

I nodded as I walked back toward him and swiped my coffee cup from him. I finished it off as he stood up and looked down at me.

“Now you answer me one question,” he said, his eyes darkening with seriousness.

“And that is?”

“Why don’t you want to paint me?”

I glanced at floor. “I do. I really do…”

“Yeah, that’s what you keep telling me, but you’ve been avoiding actually doing it. Why?”

“No reason.”

“Do you not want me to do it?” He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Is it me?”

My eyes shot up and met his as his cheeks flushed slightly. An embarrassed and shy Adrian was quite possibly the sexiest thing I’d ever witnessed.

And I couldn’t quite help myself. I tilted my face up, stood on my toes and pressed my lips against his.

He stood incredibly still until I pulled away. His eyes darkened as he watched me. And then he leaned forward again and licked my lips, his tongue slowly tracing my mouth before he pulled away.

I fought to catch my breath as his lips turned up. And even though he seemed nonchalant, his eyes still smoldered.

“Cherry chapstick?” he finally said, his voice hoarse.

“Yes,” I managed to say before inhaling deeply.

Holy crap. Holy crap. This is bad. This is so bad.

“And why did you kiss me?”

“Because you looked cute…all shy and stuff,” I stammered.

“Cute? Never call me cute again,” he replied with a smirk. “Hot, sexy, gorgeous…those are acceptable terms.”

I playfully shoved at his chest. “You’re such an ass. You know that, right?”

His tongue flicked out and he met my gaze. “I am and I’m going to be a broke ass if I don’t spend some time working today.”

“Fine then go,” I said gesturing toward the door.

Don’t go! Don’t go!

“Shouldn’t I do the dishes first?”

“Stop procrastinating and go. You made breakfast. I’ll do the dishes.”

His eyes dropped to my lips once more before he made his way out the door. “Don’t miss me too much, Janie,” he called out.

And even though I feigned a sigh of annoyance, it was contrary to how I felt.

I missed him already.

***

My phone vibrated on the bed stand and I picked it up. It had been four hours since Adrian left my house and I had just put on my pajamas and was lying in my bed reading a romance novel.

You really are a loser.

What are you wearing?

You’re supposed to be catching up on work.
I typed back.

I’m bored. You suck at sexting and practicing with you is more fun. So what are you wearing?

I glanced down at my pajama bottoms and worn shirt and texted,
Pajama bottoms and a shirt.

Remember, Jane. Use your imagination. No guy wants to jack off to pajama bottoms and shirts.

I curled up under the covers and wrote back
Fine. Then I’m wearing nothing.

Nothing? You’re a liar. Just a few seconds ago you were wearing man-clothes.

Well, I don’t know what you want me to say.

At least say you undressed and are now naked.

But it’s too cold to undress.

You’re killing me.

I giggled into my pillow.
That’s my plan. Now go back to work.

I could almost hear him rolling his eyes on the other side of the wall.

***

Three hours later
, my phone vibrated again. I placed my book on the bed and saw Adrian’s name flash across the screen.

So I keep thinking about your cherry chapstick.

Adrian, you need to get back to work.

I’ve worked long enough. Let me come over and let
’s make out.

My heart skipped a beat as I texted back
,
But you don’t make out unless sex is involved. It’s a rule remember?

It’
s a stupid rule.

I sat up in bed, not taking what he was texting seriously and replied
,
And why is it a rule again?

Because girls always get the wrong impression when I do.

I’m a girl.

You don’t need to remind me.
So are we making out or not?

Sometimes I can’t tell when you’re joking.

I’m not joking.

My heart pounded in my ears as I replied
,
You can’t be serious

As a heart attack. I know where your spare key is so I’ll be right over.

I didn’t believe him until he was standing over my bed with a smile on his face. “So where do we do this?”

I put my book down and stared at him. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

When he shook his head, I sat up and my mouth fell open. “I thought you were kidding.”

“I kid about a lot of things, but I never kid about sex.”

“We aren’t having sex…we aren’t even making out.”

“Yeah
, we are,” he said, looking baffled.

“No
, we aren’t,” I said before adding. “We can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because we’re friends and friends don’t make out.”

“Jane, we’re friends and we’re going to make out if it’s the last thing I do.”

He looked so determined, and he looked damn hot when he was determined. Was sexiness always so effortless for him?

“No, we’re not,” I said weakly as he lowered himself next to me.

He ignored me and patted the pillow next to mine. “So you want top or bottom?”