Just A Step Away (Closer) (5 page)

Chapter 8

~Lucas~

I had no idea what I did to deserve this shit. It was a fucking tuna sandwich, for crying out loud!

             
“I don’t think I can walk any further. Seriously. I think I need a tree.” The last thing I would’ve ever saw myself doing was squatting near a tree. Even as a child when my family would go camping, we’d always end up at a spot where there were restrooms. “Nope. Can’t make it.”

             
“Chill out, Hoss, we’re almost there.”

             
There was nothing ahead of us but a stall. It sure as hell didn’t look like a fucking restroom.

             
“There, where?” I said, voice strained.

             
I heard Willard chuckle and I seriously wanted to strangle the beefy fucker within an inch of his life.

             
“Welcome to Willard’s Crapper!”

             
My eyes flew open as wide as they could go. Was he fucking serious? I stood in front of the wood box and cringed when I got a whiff of the foulest odor I’d ever smelled.

             
“It’s an outhouse, Hoss. My outhouse, so treat her nice.” Willard’s face lit up when he spoke of the thing as an actual person. He was no doubt proud. “I built her myself.”

             
I looked at the box and then back at Willard. “You want me to go in that? In that smelly thing? Are you fucking insane? What’s wrong with the one inside the house?”

             
“Broken,” he said, a half grin pulling at the side of his mouth. “Don’t flush.”

             
Sweat doubled on my forehead as I stood and regarded Willard’s crappy outhouse. But when my stomach gurgled as though it was in agony, I made the executive decision to trust the large oaf. Trying not to move too much, I reached for the slender handle and pulled it open.

As soon as I did, I regretted it.

             
“Holy shit!”

             
“That about sums it up.” Willard smiled at me and lifted his brows. He waved his hand toward the outhouse. “To shit or be shitted on. That is the question.”

             
I swore that I was going to knock that smirk right off of the idiot’s face.
But first
, I needed to go.

Holding my breath, I slipped through the door and closed it behind me. I tried not to look around at my surroundings but it was like a bad train wreck. You know you shouldn’t look, but you do.

I looked around. The place was surprisingly clean, considering what it was and where it was located. I almost face palmed myself when I searched around for toilet seat covers. Finally, realizing that it was now or never and that I couldn’t hold it any longer, I sat down and handled my business. I was only in there for half a second when I heard the other side of the door lock.

             
What the
fuck
?

             
“Hello? Dude, you out there? Hello?” I started to panic, sitting there on the wooden throne. “Dude!”

             
“You and me need to do some talkin’, Hoss.”

             
Oh, fuck.

             
“Well, whatever you need to talk to me about I think can wait, don’t you?” Could this guy be any more of a dip shit? “Besides, I kind of doubt that we have much to discuss.”

             
“My sister, Hoss.”
Fuck
. “I know that girl didn’t have a boyfriend last week when I talked to her, so how did she happen to stumble on to your ass so quick? You one of those perverts that patrols the internet, looking for some poor chick to take advantage of?”

             
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I was still on the pot trying to concentrate when Willard continued talking out of his ass.

             
“Look, Hossy Hoss, you can’t fool me, ‘cause I’m kind of smart. So, let’s have it.”

             
And this just kept getting better and better. “Did you just say that you’re
kinda
smart? You know, that isn’t really something that one should ever admit.”

             
A fist laid into the door, and I momentarily jumped, ass lifting from the toilet seat.

             
“Do not toy with me, Hoss! If you don’t get to explainin’ what’s going on, I will leave you in this shit box. And if you think it gets any cooler in the evening, you’ve got another thing coming. This place will smell to high Heaven come six o’clock.”

             
My shoulders slumped forward. I felt absolutely stuck in a corner, defeated to say the least. I promised Lanie when we were boarding the plane that I wouldn’t breathe a word to her family about our little arrangement. But Willard had me. He knew that something was up. If he actually had talked to Lanie last week, he probably knew that she really didn’t have a boyfriend, and there was going to be no way of lying to the overgrown ass hat.  

             
“I’m not really her boyfriend. We’re roommates.” I sighed. “We’ve been roommates for the past year.”

             
A loud grumble came from behind the door and I wondered what in the hell Willard must be thinking. He was probably pissed. No, he was probably really pissed that he was lied to by his sister, and me. My stomach gave another loud rumble. I wasn’t anywhere near done with my business.

Something hit the outhouse door with force.

             
“I knew it!” Again my ass came up off the toilet seat. I was convinced that the dude was trying to give me a heart attack on the crapper. “I knew she was lying! But why?”

             
“Your cousin, Jasmine, apparently heard from your mom that Lanie was dating someone and she told her to bring her boyfriend to the wedding. It seems Jasmine has a really big boner for seeing Lanie look like a jackass.” I heard what sounded like gagging coming from the other side of the door. I almost felt bad for Willard because the place smelled like a sewer. “Hey, you alright?”

             
More gagging ensued.

             
“You got any freshener in this joint?

             
“It ain’t you, Hoss. Well, it kinda is. But why in the hell did you have to describe that bitch having a dick? I already hate that broad and just thinking of her with a boner.” And the gagging continued. “You just insulted the entire male population.”

             
“Yeah, well I haven’t met the infamous Jasmine yet, but I’m assuming it’s not going to be a bucket full of unicorns and rainbows.”

             
“The bitch is evil to the core. I don’t even think her mama can smack the ugly outta that one.”

             
I was beginning to think that Jasmine was going to be force to be reckoned with. I just hoped that Lanie was going to be able to deal with the drama.

             
“Hey, you got toilet paper up in here? I think I’m good now.” I heard nothing from the other side of the door. “Yo! Willard? You out there, man?”

             
“How bad do ya want that ass wipe, Hoss?”

             
Seriously?

             
“I’ll make you a deal. I need help with something. You tell me that you’re gonna help me, and I’ll give up the ass wipe. Deal?”

             
I shook my head. “C’mon, man! That isn’t cool, just so you know. I really need to get the hell out of this thing.” I felt my palms beginning to sweat as I searched for something to finish my business—and found nothing. “Dude, don’t be a dick. I’d really like to get out of here.”

             
“Like I said, Hoss, you scratch my back, I scratch yours. You want me to keep your little secret from Jasmine, then I suggest ya agree.”

             
First of all, I had absolutely no fucking desire to scratch the idiot’s back. And second, if he told Jasmine the truth about Lanie and me, I was pretty damn sure that she would rip Lanie up one side and down the other. I couldn’t see that happen even if it was considered blackmail.

             
“What do ya say, Hoss?”

             
“Dude, why are you doing this to me? This is some shit you do to one of your friends, not someone you just met.”

             
Willard chuckled lowly from the other side of the door. “No, Hoss, this is what ya do when you got someone’s nuts in a vice. And you, city slicker, have got your nuts good and gripped.”

             
“This is bullshit, man!” I felt like a jackass, sitting there on the Throne of Shitty Shame, contemplating the baboon’s demand. But I caved. I really didn’t see any alternative. “But fine, I’ll help you. Now where’s the fucking toilet paper?”

             
“Look down to your left. Put your hand in that little hole.”

             
Sure enough there it was, plain as day. I swooped up the white roll and handled my business. And when I walked out, Willard was leaning up against a tree, grinning from ear to ear. I swear, if I hadn’t known that he could probably kill me with just one finger, I would have knocked that smirk right off of his ugly face.

             
“Feel better, Hoss?”

             
“Oh, yeah! Now I do believe my ass crack is chaffing!”

             
Willard waved his large hand, dismissing my comment. “Your ass’ll be fine. Now, you and me need to talk revenge of the cousinly type.”

             
Oh, hell.

Chapter 9

~Lanie~

My bedroom hadn’t changed much. The posters of horses and wild flowers I had hung up on the walls as a young girl were still there. The pink and white lace curtains my mother had sewn for me still adorned the windows. And the old doll I thought I had boxed up and taken to the local thrift store was lying snug up against the pillow on my bed.

             
“Wow, Lanie, you sure did go all country with this bedroom.”
             

             
I choked back a few tears and quickly wiped under my eyes before turning around to face Lucas. “I didn’t know you were here.”

             
“Yeah, you’re brother decided that the outhouse was—hey, what’s wrong?”

             
Only everything under the sun!
“Nothing. I’m just tired.”

             
“
Right.
You’re not a very good liar, Lanie. And if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that your conscience was getting the better of you.”

             
I literally took a step away from him, my chest heaving. It was an accusation. There was no doubt about it. And the fact that I did feel guilty didn’t make hearing that any easier.

Lucas had never judged me. Never. So to hear him doing so now, about something so delicate in my book, without having the full reasons?

              “How dare you assume to know anything about my conscience or even how I feel right about now? You. Know. Shit!” I was so angry that I actually sneered at him as he came closer.

             
“This,” he said, waving his arms around him. “All of this, Lanie. I would give anything to have
this
. And you...you just take it for granted.”

             
Had he not been witness to the Comedy Hour earlier in the front yard? Did he not see the stupid shit my family did? And that was normal for them!

             
“Oh, please, you have the perfect family. Mine, on the other hand? Well they certainly aren’t perfect.”

             
“You know what?” he said, pointing at me. “You’re a brat. You’re a selfish, whiny little brat. And I hope your grandma beats your butt. I’d pay to see that shit!”

             
“You know what, Sparky? Why don’t you just go back to LA? Back to your ditzy-assed blondes and your perfect little life! I don’t need you here.” Irrational. I was so mad I wasn’t even making sense anymore.

             
I bit back my words
. I did need him. If I hadn’t needed him, I wouldn’t have agreed to him going there with me. If he left now, I’d probably fall apart. But what I did not need was his cynical ass pointing out all of my faults. Especially this weekend. He was supposed to be on my side.

             
“I’ll ask Willard to take you back to the airport.”

             
Even though I didn’t really want him to go, I walked past him and made my way to open the bedroom door, trying to convince myself that I didn’t care. I would just have to get through this weekend on my own and deal with my family and all of their bullshit while flying solo.

             
Before I was able to get three steps toward the door, I was jerked back and forcibly whipped around. My breath caught in my throat when I realized Lucas was standing mere inches from me. He looked me straight in the eye and held our stare. So close. All the while, our chests rose and fell together, our breaths fast but oddly in sink.

             
“I’m not going anywhere, Lanie.”  He rested his forehead against mine. “I’m in this. All the way.”

             
The weight of Lucas’ hands on my waist sent a shiver up my spine and back down to my toes. His fingers lightly dug into the delicate skin on my hips, and my nipples hardened painfully. Suddenly.

             
The way his touch fired up my senses scared the crap out of me and excited me all at the same time. I wanted to run from him—
to
him. My body betrayed every preconceived notion I’d ever had of our relationship. I was utterly confused about his actions and my body’s desire to surrender to his touch.

             
“I’m sorry.” It was a whisper that floated from his lips to my ear, and just the sound of his voice alone pressed down on every one of my nerve endings. “Don’t make me go.”

             
I closed my eyes and allowed myself to feel him.

             
Going against my better judgment, I leaned into his touch. My hand shook as I slid it up his forearm and up to his cheek. I slowly and cautiously held the side of his face in my palm and waited. When he leaned into it and closed his eyes, my apprehension wavered. I closed my eyes and breathed in his cologne, woodsy and fresh; all man. My other hand followed suit until it reached the other side of his face.

             
“More.”

             
That one word was loaded with promise, want and desire, and it scared me. I had never thought of Lucas as more than just my friend and now it seemed as though the rules had changed. The pull he had on me was absolute…intense beyond words.

             
I let my inhibitions subside and slowly slid my hands around the nape of his neck.

             
“I’m gonna kiss you, Lanie.” His words were low, silky.

             
I opened my eyes and saw Lucas looking back at me. The expression on his face was full of need. His hooded lids hung heavy over his beautiful eyes, and my knees went weak when he slowly bent and tilted his head. My heart began to race when I felt his hot breath close to my lips. My toes curled and the butterflies in my belly multiplied as they bounced furiously around my belly.

I couldn’t stop the shudder that went through me when he ran his tongue across his bottom lip and then parted them. The closer he got, the more I wanted that kiss. The more I yearned for it. I grabbed on to the tiny hairs at the nape of his neck, letting him know that I was ready, willing.

A tiny growl slid up his throat, and his nostrils flared.

             
“Lanie Pie!”

             
I just about jumped out of my own skin when I heard my mother’s voice coming down the hallway. I met Lucas’ wide eyed expression and reality hit me like a freight train. Quickly pulling myself together, I brought my hands down from his neck.

I said a silent prayer, suddenly very thankful for the interruption.

The desire to get my ass out of that room, and away from Lucas, had me turning and opening the door. Lucas’ arm appeared in front of me, and he pressed his hand to the doorframe, blocking my way out.

I had no choice but to turn my head and glare at him. No words were spoken.
I tried not to believe that I knew exactly what that was.

             
“Lanie Pie? You awake, baby?”

             
I didn’t have time to answer before my mother appeared.

             
Lucas quickly moved away from the door, making room for me and giving me that cute good-boy smile of his.

             
Wait. Cute?

             
“Oh there you kids are! It’s time for dinner. ” My mom smiled brightly at Lucas and I. She looked us up and down and, even though we had separated before she walked in, a knowing smirk stretched across my mother’s aging features. “Did I interrupt...sumthin’?”

             
Oh my God. She even waggled her eyebrows.
“No, Mama.” I shook my head and my eyes flickered toward the bedroom door in a silent hint for her to leave us. “We’ll be down in a minute.”

             
My mother’s face lit up, and I realized that I had referred to her like I used to as a child.

             
“Okay, baby.” My mother’s smile never wavered as she slid up next to my side and placed a small kiss against my cheek. “We’ll wait for ya.”

             
Once she left the room, thoughts of Lucas’ fingers lingering against my skin consumed me. I could still feel his hot breath against my neck and, as I closed my eyes, I wanted more. I knew that it was wrong. It was the heat of the moment and nothing else. It had to be. Because in a few days, when we were back in LA, we would be laughing our asses off about it.

             
“We should go.”

             
I kept my back to Lucas and tried to step through the door.

It was quietly, but firmly, shut right in front of my face by one of Lucas’ hands. He came up and stood right behind me. No. I wouldn’t be able to handle that—he moved closer, standing flush against my back, sending every sense I possessed back into overdrive.
He moved closer to stand flush against my back and every one of my senses were on high alert. His breath was hot and thick against the crook of my neck. My nipples once again hardened painfully and a dull ache settled in between my thighs.

A low whimper escaped my lips. I couldn’t stop it. “What are we doing, Sparky?”

             
“Nothing...yet.”

             
I drew in a breath when I felt his hands slide up my belly until they reached my breasts and cupped them gently. I wanted to give into every pleasure that I suddenly knew he could give me. One touch, above my clothes, and all I wanted was to feel his naked skin against mine. His lips devouring me. His hard cock deep inside of me.
             

             
That’s what my heart screamed out to me, but my head was telling me different. No matter how overwhelmed my body was, I knew. This could ruin us, our friendship. I couldn’t lose Lucas. I wouldn’t. “Stop, Sparky. Please. Just stop.”

             
His hands continued their work. Up and down, sliding across my skin. Throbbing hard between my legs, I started to succumb to his tender touch.

             
“We can’t,” I muttered all the while my body screamed at me to shut the fuck up.

             
“Why, Lanie? Give me one good reason why we can’t,” he whispered into my ear. “Fuck, you smell so good.”

             
Lucas brought his hand under my chin and lightly wrapped his fingers around my throat and pulled my head back so that my head could not move. My knees went weak.

             
“Do you want me?” he asked with his mouth at my ear. And before I could answer, he ran his tongue up the shell of my ear, much like he did earlier, but this time it held something more to it. “Tell me, Lanie. Do you want me?”

             
“I...
uh
.”

             
“Do you remember when I said that you needed your ass spanked?”
             

             
“Y-yes.”

             
“I wasn’t fucking around.” As the words left his mouth, he ran his hand around the curve of my ass cheek. He had me squirming, wanting more. I was about to speak when I felt his hand land right on my backside. A moan worked its way up my throat. “I knew you’d like that.”

             
“Lanie? Yo, Lanie! Mama wants your ass downstairs for dinner.” My eyes flew open and I practically flew out of Lucas’ hold. “Don’t make me come in there, girl! You and Hoss better get your butts downstairs!”

             
Okay. Two interruptions. I knew when God was communicating with me. That was definitely one of those times. I was hornier than I’d ever been, and, yes, it was over my freaking best-friend…but giving into that desire would be a huge mistake.

Huge one.

I had to end it before it went any further. I had to.

If I lost Sparky in my life… “This. Us.” I pointed between both of us. “We can’t, Sparky. Ever.”

             
I left the bedroom before Lucas had a chance to touch me again. If he had, I would have probably given in and not cared until later. Much later.

I repeated it to myself over and over, heading down the hall
.
I still couldn’t let go of the feelings he inflicted on me.
What the hell just happened?
I silently asked myself as I made my way down the stairs. However, I did not have time to figure that one out.

             
“Oh, Lanie, you’re here!”

             
God,
her.
I internally cringed, fighting the urge to throw myself in front of a bus.

             
“Hey, Jasmine,” I said, walking into the living room.
I was hoping like hell she wouldn’t want to hug me.

             
“Gah!” As soon as Jasmine threw open her arms, I almost crawled out of my skin. “Give me a hug!”