Love Thy Neighbor (Friend-Zoned #2)

  Yeah. Those.

  Nat stiffens by my side and I see Isa smile big. Suddenly I’m bombarded with questions. Max leans forward and asks incredulously, “Seeing someone? As in dating?”

  I nod and Trick says wide-eyed, “Wow. Who is she?”

  I open my mouth to answer but Nik cuts me off by asking, “How long you been seeing this broad?”

  Scowling at Nik, I suddenly want to smack him for calling Nat a ‘broad’. Only I get to call her a broad because she’s mine. She’s a…I would say lady, but…yeah, no. Let’s call her a spitfire.

  Tina looks dreamy-happy when she states, “Oh Ghost, honey, we need to meet her!”

  Mimi side-eyes Nat and repeats, “Yeah. We’d love to meet her.”

  Lola looks from me to Nat looking sad. She says sulkily, “Well that sucks.” Trick nudges her and she amends her previous statement to, “I mean that’s great.” Forcing the fakest smile I’ve ever seen her wear.

  Maria and Leti look like they’re about to burst from happiness. And I suddenly feel courageous. I tell them, “Yeah, she’s- uh- she’s something else.” Reaching under the booth, I squeeze Nat’s knee and go on, “She’s fuckin’ funny and cute as hell. She yells at me all the time. Doesn’t take my shit.” I feel Nat’s hand cover mine. Her thumb caresses the back of my hand and I continue, “She listens to me even when I’m being an ass. There’s something different about this one. I want her. To keep. She says she loves me.”

  All the girls gasp and make gooey faces while clutching their hands to their chests. All except Nat and Mimi, that is. Mimi smiles gently and Nat remains stone-faced.

  Tina leans forward and asks quietly, “Do you? You know? Love her?”

  Squeezing Nat’s knee again, I reply, “She’s teachin’ me how.”

  If Tina could melt into a puddle, she would’ve just now. Shit, she actually looks like she could cry.

  Max looks shocked. So does Trick. And Nik.

  Okay, they all do, and normally I’d give a fuck or two, but not a single fuck was given this day. If she’d let me, I’d tell them all right now that she’s mine.

  And I’m keeping her.

  ***

  Oh. My. Fucking. God.

  Did that just happen? Did Ash just tell everyone that he was dating me and that I was teaching him how to love?

  Swoon, baby.

  That right there was swoon-tastic. He is so getting laid tonight. I might even beg to suck his cock. I know how much he likes that.

  If I’m being honest, I like it as much as he does.

  I take a sip of my drink just as Ash slides his hand from my knee up my thigh. I try to swallow but it goes down the wrong way, so I sputter and cough my ass off. I cough long and hard for a good minute when Ash throws my previous insult back at me. He chuckles and mutters, “Spaz.”

  Still holding my thigh under the table, he slides it a little higher, looks down to me with a scowl and says, “Did you lock my car?”

  Suddenly horny and confused, I tell him, “What the fuck are you talking about, asshat?”

  He sighs loudly and the whole booth looks up at us.

  Why is he making a scene?

  He says, “There’s a way to lock it. My baby gets stolen, it’s on you.”

  Oh! I get ya, baby. Wink, wink.

  I glare at him and say, “Well, if you’d shown me in the first place, you wouldn’t be questioning me right now.”

  Ash shakes his head, exhaling loudly and muttering, “Ain’t gonna be a next time.” Then nods his head. “Come on.”

  Isa moves out of the booth trying hard to hide her smile. Ash stands and I follow him out. I meet Tina’s eyes, and mouth, “Asshole!”

  She throws me a sympathetic look and waves to me. Running to catch up with him, I tell him, “You could’ve warned me, Ash.”

  He shakes his head and says, “Need to be inside you, pretty girl. Now.”

  Taking hold of my forearm, he almost drags me out of the club and over to his shiny black Impala. A word to describe this car. Hot. Sex incarnate would be another.

  The doors unlock and he walks around the car. He sits in the passenger front side, pushing the bench seat back as far as it’ll go. He pats his lap, looking up at me through hooded eyes.

  Oh, I like this.

  The parking lot is dimly lit but if anyone walked past his car, they’d see us pretty damn clearly. And that makes this all the hotter. He unbuckles his shiny silver belt, undoes the top button to his jeans, lowers his zipper, then reaches into them and pulls himself free.

  Damnnnn!

  Every time I see it, my heart skips a beat.

  It’s a nice dick. Thick, long and strong. And it’s all mine.

  Careful of my head, I climb over to straddle him. Once my knees are settled nicely, he slides his hands down my back, under my dress to cup my ass. He stills before he looks up at me, his expression stunned. He says hoarsely, “Pretty girl, please tell me you haven’t been sitting at the booth all night without panties on.”

  I smile the most angelic smile I can muster and his head falls back with a groan. My dress is moved up, bunched around my hips. He lifts me a little, positions himself at my entry and before I can say a word, he drives home. I reach up to clutch his shoulders, close my eyes and moan loudly. He doesn’t move a muscle. I lower my face to his neck and feel his pulse thumping through my lips with every sensual kiss I place there. Running my tongue up the side of his neck, I stop to kiss his jaw. I breathe him in, a strong and completely male scent. Woodsy and musky and totally panty-wetting. Knowing it’ll drive him crazy, I nip his earlobe and whisper, “I love you, Ash.”

  His arms tangle me up, he groans long and thrusts up into me, so deep that my eyes flutter back as my core clenches around him. My pussy weeps happy tears. He reaches up and holds my chin down to him. His kisses are wet and sexy. His tongue plunders into my mouth using the same rhythm as his thrusts. My breathing turns erratic, my core clenches tight and I moan into his mouth.

  He reaches down between us and presses his thumb to my clit, rolling it in soft lazy circles. My face heats, my heart races and I gasp suddenly when my core contracts uncontrollably in release. Ash growls into my mouth. He says, “My dirty girl. I fucking love you like this. All mine, baby.”

  I whimper as he captures my mouth in a possessive kiss that rocks my very soul. He mutters into my mouth, “Here it comes, pretty girl. All yours.”

  His thrusts become erratic, his arms tighten around my back and he holds me tight as he finds his release. I feel him jerk inside of me and it heightens my already blissful high.

  His body relaxes against mine, his breathing steadies and his shoulders slump. He pulls back to search my face and says, “This is mine,” then he reaches down to cup my still impaled pussy, and it’s so hot that I gasp a little before nodding vigorously.

  Somehow, he doesn’t look convinced but he nods lightly before he demands, “Lips, baby.”

  Leaning my face closer to his, I suddenly move back and ask, “Why’d you do that? You know, in there?”

  Confusion settles over his face. He sighs quietly, “I really don’t know. It felt like a compulsion. Like I couldn’t stop it.”

  Nodding in stunned disbelief, I whisper, “That’s an acceptable answer.”

  He blinks once before his wide new Asher happy smile appears. I grip the front of his shirt and rub my cheek against his. I move slightly so our noses touch and run my nose up his, softly and sweetly. I ask him quietly, “So, I’m still your obsession?”

  His hands rub my back in long, soothing strokes. Pecking a small kiss on my lips, he answers, “The one and only. Never stopped, pretty girl.”

  Swallowing hard, I suddenly start to sweat when I ask in a barely-there whisper, “You’re trying hard, right?”

  He presses into me in a deliberately slow, open-mouthed kiss that would set anyone’s tongues wagging. He replies, “Yeah. I am. Which makes me think you’re worth it.”

  I smile into his mouth a
nd utter, “I am.”

  We both chuckle at my cockiness. A second passes before I say, “Ash?”

  “Yeah, girl?”

  I whisper, “My ass is asleep.”

  His body shakes against mine and I lean back to watch him laugh.

  Nothing could be better than this.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The Ghost returns

  Taking a break from my work, I head on over to the chillout room, walk to the sofa and land with a plop.

  Watching Nat all day long is giving me some serious issues. Everyone’s gonna know about us if I walk around all day with a hard-on. And not just a stiffy but a full-on raging hard-on. It’s like my dick knows she’s on the screen and wants to get closer to her.

  I spent most of last night thinking about what’s happening here. I came to a conclusion.

  Nat is a witch and she’s cast a spell on me.

  Yep. That’s the only explanation I could come up with. Why else can’t I stop thinkin’ about her?

  I think about her all the time. When I’m at work. When I’m at home. When I’m at the gym. When I’m in bed with her, fuckin’ holding her. She’s in my brain, hijacking my thoughts all the time. And it annoys me, but when I see her, I don’t give a fuck about anything other than touching her or holding her or even just talking to her.

  A scowl forms on my face and my lip curls.

  I don’t do warm fuzzies.

  See?

  Witch.

  Closing my eyes, I lean my head back on the sofa and sigh. Last night she asked me if I was trying and I am. I really am. But I don’t know where to go from here. I need advice.

  The seat depresses and I feel something cold press into my hand. Opening my eyes I see Nik on the seat next to me, watching me through narrowed eyes. “Who shit in your cereal?”

  I open the soda he’s placed in my hand and sip without answering.

  He nods long and slow before muttering, “Ahh. Woman problems.”

  Scowling at him, I lie, “You’re way off, bro.”

  He leans back from me, eyebrows raised. “Oh yeah? I’m wrong? You’re forgetting who’s got a pregnant wife at home.” He nods. “That look? I know that look. Fuck. I invented that look. You owe me royalties for using it.”

  I can’t help but chuckle. Nik knows how to make a funny.

  Giving in, I ask, “When you first realized you were in love with Tina…what did that feel like?”

  He leans back with his arms resting behind his head. He sighs through his smile and says, “Still feelin’ it, man. Still affects me.” Turning to face me, he goes on, “Feels like no one else matters, just her. Like she’s the center of my world. Every time I see her, I just want to touch her. I want everyone to know she’s mine. She makes me happy. I know I’ll never love anyone as much as I love her. Well, maybe Tatiana and the new baby, but Tina, she’s always gonna be my girl. A fuckin’ hurricane.”

  Fuck.

  That’s how I feel about Nat.

  I frown at my thoughts. Nik continues, “Now I’m not saying you’re seeing her or whatever, but if Nat was my girl…” I turn to glare at him and he bursts into laughter. Through his laughter, he says, “…If she were my girl, I know she’d want it all.”

  Okay, my interest is fuckin’ peaked now.

  Still glaring at the ass, I ask, “What do you mean?”

  Nik’s smiling face becomes thoughtful as he replies, “Nat isn’t the type to do anything half-assed. If she wants it, she wants it all. She might be happy with what you’re givin’ her right now, buddy, but sometime in the future, she’s gonna expect you to man up and bite the bullet.”

  What bullet?

  Confused, I ask, “What bullet?”

  It’s Nik’s turn to glare at me. He says, “Wake the fuck up and clue the fuck in. Marriage, Ghost. She’s gonna want it. Is that something you can offer her? Because if it’s not, I suggest you break it off right now.”

  Marriage? Fuck me.

  Random thoughts swirl through my head.

  I want to be with her. I don’t want anyone else to have her. If I put a ring on her finger, it would mean she’s all mine and will be for life. I suddenly wonder why the thought of marriage used to make me feel like I’d swallowed a pint of lead paint. I could do marriage with Nat.

  Nik breaks me out of my thoughts. He quietly tells me, “She isn’t going to want someone who pushes her away when shit gets tough. She’s going to want a man who’ll talk to her, talk through issues and she’ll want to help with those issues.” Leaning back again, he says, “Love you like a brother, man, but Nat’s like my sister, so if you break her heart, you leave me no choice but to break your nose.” I look over at him and his lip twitches as he says, “Not that you’re dating her. Just saying.”

  Without another word, he winks at me, stands and leaves me sitting on the sofa with a hundred more questions than I had to begin with.

  The question is, can I be the man Nat needs?

  ***

  Walking into my apartment after a long day at work, I slip off my heels and yell out, “Honey, I’m home!” I’m a very 1950’s sitcom way.

  No response.

  My brow furrows.

  That’s strange. Ash is normally here and waiting on me after the longer shifts I have. He must still be at home, which is fine because I need a shower real bad before I get some sweet, sweet lovin’. I stink.

  Dropping my bag on the counter with a sigh, I walk into my bedroom and turn on the light. I squeak when I see Ash sitting on the edge of my bed, waiting for me. Clutching my chest, I chuckle and say, “Babe. Word of warning. No sneaky-ups on me. That’s the best way to get a concussion.”

  His elbows rest on his knees and he holds his fisted hands in front of his mouth. He looks deep in thought, so I figure I’ll leave him to it. I walk over to him, kiss his forehead and tell him, “I got to have me a shower. Your lady is a very stinky one today.” Just as I walk away from him he says, “Nat, come back here.”

  Not turning, I utter, “In a second, babe. I really need that shower.”

  He says, “Nat. I’m leaving.”

  I walk into the bathroom to turn on the shower and reply, “Okay, I’ll be over in about fifteen. I just gotta-”

  My body shakes in shock as he roars, “Sit. The fuck. Down.” He yells so loudly that the veins in his neck bulge.

  Placing my hand on my chest, I feel my heart race through my palm. I whisper, “Okay,” then move to sit on my bed. Something tells me this is not the time to argue so I don’t.

  I know. I’m as shocked as you are.

  Unease flows through me. Something’s not right.

  Searching his face, my heart squeezes as I take in his cold expression. He says firmly, “This- this thing. It’s not good and it has to stop.”

  No. God, no.

  Tingles hit the bridge of my nose and my eyes sting. I ask quietly, “What thing?”

  He waves an arm out to me and mutters, “This you and me thing. I’m changing everything about myself for you and I don’t like it. So, no more. We said that when one of us wasn’t into it anymore, we’d call it quits and I’m not into it anymore.”

  My chest aches with every beat of my racing heart.

  My heart is breaking. Shattering into a million pieces.

  His gaze hits the floor. He places his hands on his hips and stands tall. He says, “I liked it. I mean, I do like you. It’s just not for me. You need another type of guy. A guy I can’t ever be.”

  Where is this coming from?

  My stomach clenches. Lifting myself from the bed, I croak, “All I need is you.”

  He looks me in the eye and spits, “I’m not even a full man, Nat. Fuck! I’m barely half of one.”

  Walking closer to him, I reach out and touch his arm. I say through my stuttering breaths, “I’ll help you. We’ll go through it together, one day at a time.”

  Snatching his arm away from me, he yells, “You can’t fix me!”

  Losing m
y shit, I yell back, “I don’t want to fix you! I love you!”

  He lowers his head in defeat. Placing his hands on his hips, he says quietly, “I have nothing to offer you.”

  Tears stream down my face. I tell him, “Your love is something.”

  “I don’t know what love is,” he whispers, avoiding my gaze.

  Silence.

  We both stand so close to each other, but I feel like I’ve lost him. I’m not losing him without a fight. I wipe my fallen tears and ask quietly, “Where is this coming from, Ash?”

  He exhales loudly and paces in front of my closet. Not answering my question, he says, “When we’re little, we ask our moms to check under the bed for monsters. My monsters weren’t living under my bed. My monsters…” He points to his temple. “…My monsters were in here. They still are. You wanna be with someone like that? Someone like Cole? Because I’m worse than him. You wouldn’t believe the shit I’ve done. It would make your skin crawl.”

  Liquid anger singes my veins. I cry and shout, “You’re nothing like him! Don’t say that! You’re not like him!”

  His face changes to something cruel and dark. He takes the two steps over to me and wraps his hands around my throat, gripping tight. He cuts off my air slowly, slowly til I can’t take in a full breath. And I’m letting him. He snarls through gritted teeth, “You think I’m not like him? I’ve killed before. I’d do it again. You can’t change me. Evil breeds evil. Just like my dad.”

  I reach up and hold onto his arms, I don’t claw, I don’t fight, just hold onto him. My vision turns fuzzy as pressure builds in my face, my ears block. I choke out on a whisper, “You’re not him,” then gasp, “I know what you’re doing.”

  His face changes to something more than pained. Devastation.

  He drops his hands from my throat and I sink to my knees in a heap, gasping and coughing. His voice is cold when he speaks without looking at me, “I’m leaving. Got shit to work out.”

  A single tear trails down my cheek. Breathing heavily, I clutch my sore throat with shaking hands. Looking up at him, I whisper, “If you leave me now, I don’t know if I’ll ever want you back.”