Van

  Van doesn't say anything for a moment, but then his chin jerks up and he nods toward the exit. "You go and get some sleep. I'll stay with him tonight and be his DD."

  "You don't have to--"

  "Just go, Simone," he mutters, and I see something in his eyes other than friendship he's offering to my brother.

  "Are you trying to get rid of me?" I ask him suspiciously.

  "Why would you ask that?" he inquires with a casual smirk.

  "Because you can't stand to be around me," I snap at him.

  For the first time since I met Van a little more than three weeks ago, I'm boggled to see actual amusement on his face when he says, "Now that's absolutely not true. But I do appreciate you keeping your word that you'd stop the come-ons."

  I want to smack him. Then kiss him.

  Instead I roll my eyes at him. "Call me if you have any trouble, but my advice is to try to get him home early and not let him get too drunk."

  "On it," he says, and then he turns and walks away.

  And fuck if I don't like Van now more than ever.

  Chapter 7

  Van

  I wipe condensation off my drink glass, ignoring the liquor inside it. Lucas thinks I'm along for the ride tonight to get hammered and bang some anonymous pussy. At least that's what he said when he'd invited me out tonight, and because I've been on partial baby-sitting duty this past week along with Simone, I didn't have any qualms about accepting his invitation. The only problem is that I knew he'd be making a mistake if he screwed another woman. Not because he has a duty to Stephanie, which he doesn't...she broke it off with him.

  But only because if they do have a chance of working things out, he's going to hate himself later if he goes through with this insane idea.

  Unfortunately, I needed reinforcements, because if it was just Lucas and me out on the town together tonight, I'd be hard-pressed to keep him off a woman. He knows that's not my nature ordinarily, and he'd also expect me to be getting some tonight. I don't feel like going through the guise of acting interested in someone just so Lucas doesn't catch on that he's being handled like a kid who can't be trusted not to put his hand in the cookie jar.

  So I told Simone she had to come out with us.

  "Why?" she asked curiously. Since that night at Hoolihan's a week ago, we had sort of a silent pact that we would double team Lucas to keep him out of trouble until he could get his head out of his ass. One of us was always with him, and oddly I didn't really mind the responsibility. I'd like to say it was completely altruistic of me to have Lucas's back, but truthfully I'm doing it for Simone. She may be a brazen little brat who turns my world upside down, but I can't lie and say that I don't like who she is at the core of her being. And that's because she's kept her word and has left me alone. It shows she's honest and trustworthy, so I kind of like helping her out in return.

  I had to tell Simone the truth of her brother's plans. "Because he intends to get laid tonight, and you and I both know it's a bad idea."

  She nodded in agreement and "Operation Stop Lucas From Having Sex With Another Woman was in effect. Lucas wasn't altogether too happy about it, but I don't think he's deterred. Not if the way he's looking at that blonde across the bar is any indication right now.

  Tonight has not gone well. A perfect storm was brewing, and it got launched when Lucas, Simone, and I went over to Max and Jules's to have dinner before we went out. Since we took the second round in game five, we had a full week until the start of the conference finals, and chilling and grilling seemed to be a good idea.

  Or so I thought.

  Turns out, Stephanie had lunch with Jules today, and she told Jules just what an asshole her soon-to-be brother-in-law was. Seems Lucas had told Stephanie when they broke up that she'd fuck their kid up because she was fucked up by her parents. Or that was the gist of what I got.

  It was a totally fucked-up thing to say, but personally, I think it was more fucked up for Jules to call Lucas on the carpet for a rash reaction. Anyone that knows the dude knows he would never mean something like that, and I'd bet my entire salary the reason he was drinking so much was because of saying those things to Stephanie. I guarantee you the guilt is tearing him up.

  But Jules lit into him when we arrived at their house and Lucas stormed out.

  Since Simone and I were on baby-sitting duty--unbeknownst to anyone--we both followed him out the door.

  And here we are in a bar, and Lucas is knocking back the liquor hard and shooting "I want to fuck you" eyes at the blonde.

  "Lucas," Simone says as she nudges her brother in the shoulder. "I think we should talk about it. You and Stephanie had something really good, and you both can't throw your hands up and quit yet."

  Lucas spins on her, and that causes her to take a startled step backward, where her luscious ass comes into contact with my thighs. I step back, fighting my instinct to put my hands on her hips and hold her there. Her ass pressed up to my cock is what I want, but she's kept her word and has left me alone. I need to let her go and quit wishing for something I can't have.

  Lucas snarls at his sister in defiance. "I'm not the one that quit that relationship. That was all Stephanie, so I'm not the bad guy here."

  "You are if you said those things to her," she retorts. "If there was a chance to work it out, you probably shot that to shit with those nasty things you said."

  Lucas's face mottles with rage and guilt, and he looks like a powder keg ready to explode. I want to tell Simone to dial it down, but I hold my tongue because I'm afraid I'll add fuel to the fire.

  Simone turns conciliatory with her brother. Her voice softens. "Maybe if you went over to see her and apologized, you could get back on track. You are still having a baby with her, you know."

  "Mind your own fucking business," Lucas growls at her. "And I mean that sincerely. If you can't, pack your shit up and get out of my house."

  Simone's body actually jerks, and yeah, that was fucking harsh, but I know Lucas would never kick her out. What he would do though is pull his keys out of his pocket and thrust them at me. "Get Simone home if you don't mind. I've got much better things to do with my time."

  I take the keys, but a glance at Simone shows she's furious with her brother. He doesn't see it, and probably doesn't want to see it. He just turns and starts to walk across the bar toward the blonde, who's been sending him the same "fuck me" vibes since we got here.

  "Lucas," Simone calls out to her brother.

  He doesn't look back.

  "Lucas, you don't want to do this." Her voice has a note of desperation and my gut churns for her.

  Lucas still doesn't look back.

  "Lucas, look at me damn it," she yells loud enough everyone in the bar hears it. Lucas stops and looks over his shoulder.

  "Guess what?" she asks tauntingly, and I don't like the sound of her voice. "I've been secretly making out with your roommate and he loves it."

  A blast of adrenaline spikes through me at her admission, and while I don't think she said that for any purpose other than to distract Lucas, it still pisses me off.

  It pisses me off more, though, when she turns and wraps her arms around my neck, going up to her tiptoes to press her mouth against mine. My lips part in surprise and her tongue slips in.

  Fuck that feels so goddamn good.

  I fist my hands hard so I don't pull her to me. I don't participate in the kiss, but fuck if I can find the willpower to push her away. Slowly I find myself starting to fall prey to her sensuality and I actually reason to myself that it would be okay just to have her once.

  "What the fuck?" Lucas yells, and it startles Simone enough that she steps back from me. She turns to look at her brother, her eyes roaming over his face to gauge his reaction.

  Fury sweeps through me that she'd out us like that. That she'd touch me, kiss me, when she said she wouldn't. And a rage so hot that I still want this woman more than I've ever wanted anything in my life courses through me.

  I step into Simone and sh
e looks up at me. I lean down and snarl at her, "That was not fucking cool."

  Slamming the keys down onto the bar, I don't give another glance to Simone or Lucas. I stomp out of the bar with her taste still on my tongue.

  --

  Headlights sweep across the dark interior of the house and I stand up from the couch. Looking out the front window, I see it's Simone, and she's all alone. That can only mean Lucas must be off fucking that blonde.

  I watch from the darkness as she trudges up the steps, her shoulders sagging in defeat. When she hits the light of the porch, I see the same on her face.

  Stepping back from the window, I'm there to meet her when she comes in the door. Her eyes flare with surprise, and when she sees the look on my face, they instantly ignite with fire.

  The look on my face probably says a million things, but it mostly says I'm done fighting this shit. She crossed a line tonight, going back on her word with me, but I decided she's not the only one I'm pissed at. I'm furious with myself because I let one tiny kiss obliterate all my resolve where she's concerned.

  I am still pissed at her, though.

  For using me to distract her brother.

  For being outrageously seductive.

  For knowing how to kiss so fucking good I feel like I'm going to die without another taste.

  For tempting me and causing me to lose control.

  My hands shoot out to the side of her head and I fist my hands in her long hair. She gasps as I pull her to me and slam my mouth onto hers. This kiss is brutal, born of frustration and lust, and a final fall from any grace she may have once had from me.

  Her hands curl into my shirt and she fucking growls into my mouth. It shoots a bolt of pleasure straight through to my balls.

  I savor her taste just for a minute, but I want more than that. Tearing my mouth away, I'm further weakened by the way her eyes are filmed over with desire and need.

  Even though the words are heavy and oh so wrong as I scrape them off my tongue, I tell her, "I'm tired of your games, little girl. No more flirting and shaking your ass around me."

  She laughs at me, and well she should. She hasn't been doing that for days now since she promised me she wouldn't. The brat has my fucking number and she knows it was that kiss in the bar that knocked down my defenses and left me vulnerable. She may not have intended it, but Simone is getting what she's always wanted.

  Gripping her hair tighter, I lean my face back into hers and bite down on her lower lip. She gives a tiny sound of pain, so I lick it. Simone responds by thrusting her hips into me, and my rage burns even hotter that I've succumbed.

  I release her so fast she stumbles forward slightly. I take a tiny step back, taking everything away from her but my command. My voice is harsh...guttural when I tell her, "Get your ass in my bed and get naked. I'm going to show you what happens when you aren't smart enough to stop provoking me."

  The coldness in my eyes and the lack of intimacy in my tone were meant to intimidate her.

  Send her running.

  Instead my cock turns to fucking concrete when I see her eyes fire up with pure excitement over what's to come.

  Goddamn fucking, incorrigible brat. I watch with narrowed eyes as she saunters to the hallway, pulling her blouse up over her head as she goes.

  I close my eyes and suck in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Part of me hopes to hear her go into the bathroom instead, because if she does, I'm fucking out of here.

  Instead, I hear the familiar creak of my bedroom door and the taunting call of her sweet voice. "Come on, Van. Show me what you got."

  "Fuck," I mutter, and with both trepidation and yearning beyond what I've ever felt before, I turn toward the hallway. I feel like I'm walking to my doom.

  Or is it destiny?

  The urges I have where Simone are concerned are so intensely dark I can't help but wonder how similar that makes me to him. From that first hot kiss, I've wanted to possess and control her, which is why it was so imperative she leave me the fuck alone.

  Sadly, that ship has sailed, and I have no clue what's going to happen once I touch her.

  When I walk into my bedroom, Simone is removing her jeans. She looks up at me and holds my gaze as she wiggles out of them. When they get to her ankles, she sits on the edge of my bed and holds her legs out. I note that her panties and bra, which she left in place, are black lace.

  "Do the honors," she says with a sexy purr, completely ignoring my order to get naked and get on my bed. I'd imagined her spread-eagled and waiting, not this sexy creature wanting to play with me.

  After I shut the door behind me, I pull my wallet from my pocket. Our eyes stay riveted upon one another as I fish a condom out.

  I don't say a word. An endearment. A promise of what I can give her.

  I sure as shit don't help her out of her clothes at her request.

  I just free my cock from my jeans and roll the condom on, wanting her to get that this is me giving her the basics of what she's demanded.

  Nothing more.

  She tilts her head slightly, her eyes narrowing just a bit with uneasiness as she watches me walk toward her.

  Bending over her, I put my hands to her hips and she gives a tiny hum in the back of her throat that she likes my touch.

  She cries out in surprise when I flip her onto the bed, tossing her up just a bit before I yank her jeans off. Pulling her right up to her hands and knees, I push her legs apart.

  "Oh God," she murmurs in a way that tells me she likes what I just did.

  Fuck.

  I'd hoped to scare some sense into her--since all mine has completely evaporated--when she realized I don't have love and roses to offer her. But this woman isn't normal, or so I'm finding out, as she pushes her ass back toward me. Her head hangs low in surrender and her body trembles. My balls start aching with need.

  Just fuck.

  Slipping my fingers into the waistband of her sexy black panties, I peel them down the back of her legs. As she's revealed to me, I take only a moment to admire the backside of her pussy before I slip a finger into her.

  Goddamn soaked and so needy, her muscles contract around me.

  "Van," she whispers. "Please."

  An involuntary grunt rumbles out of me as I hook my finger inside of her, pressing it deeper.

  "Please," she says again, and I give her what she wants.

  Removing my hand, I line the tip of my cock up to her wet folds and I start to press inside of her.

  Chapter 8

  Simone

  I can't breathe.

  I honest to God can't even make my lungs work because I'm afraid to take my attention away from the feel of Van as he starts to work himself inside me. I can only feel one hand on my hip, the other I imagine holding himself steady as he enters me.

  And the head of his big, thick cock pressing inside.

  Everything I thought I wanted from him culminates in this one thrilling, provocatively sinful moment, and I know there was Old Simone, and there will be a New Simone when this is done.

  Right now, I'm In Between Simone and I can't fucking breathe.

  Van lets out a strangled sound as he takes me...an inch in, back out. Two in, back out.

  So big and I feel stretched to capacity, but I still want him deeper. So I start to push back against him.

  A hand immediately comes to the back of my skull and he grips a chunk of my hair, pulling my head up slowly. I go from looking at his comforter to my gaze sliding upward as he pulls and pulls me so my head is tipped all the way back and I'm looking at the ceiling.

  "Touch yourself," he says gruffly as he holds my head in place and resumes his slow, deliberate strokes. My hand immediately goes between my legs, and the first brush of my fingers against my clit causes my hips to tilt, seeking more friction from myself.

  At the same time, Van gives a sharp punch of his hips into me, seating himself deeply, and I nearly weep.

  "Yes," I hiss as all the air in my lungs comes out in a massive r
ush. "So good. So damn good."

  This mysterious, withdrawn, and taciturn man shouldn't be this alluring to me, but he is. My body hugs him tight as if it knows his cock was made just for me.

  Then he moves.

  A hand on my hip, the other keeping my head pulled back by his fist in my hair. Van's breathing roughens as he starts to fuck me, and I pant right along with him as his thrusts go deeper. My fingers work between my legs, but I'm having a hard time concentrating there. Vague, distracted sweeps that can't compare to the feeling of him pounding inside me.

  Van's hand grips my hip tighter and he slams into me with snarls and grunts of pleasure. My hand drops away from my clit to press down into the mattress for leverage, and I throw myself backward onto him.

  "Fuck," he groans as my ass slams into his pelvis, the zipper on his jeans scraping my skin.

  That one word torn from his chest as if he's died and gone to heaven is what sets me off. Like a fucking rocket, my orgasm bursts apart with such intensity I scream out my release.

  Van's hand is gone from my hair and both hands are now spanning my hips as he fucks me with brute force, and I love every fucking minute of it.

  And then he's shoving me down onto the mattress, his heavy weight slamming onto me. His pelvis bucks and grinds into my ass with a rolling motion, and then he whispers, "Simone," as he starts to come. He gives a ragged moan that sounds fulfilled and defeated all at the same time.

  He buries his head into the back of my neck, and I feel his hot breath through my hair as he continues to slowly move within me. Tiny shudders of pleasure pop along my skin as I relish every millimeter of friction his cock is still creating inside of me.

  There's a moment he goes still, and then he's rolling off my back. Turning my head his way, I push my hair out of my face to look at him.

  If I'd been hoping to find a sated, peaceful expression on his face, I'd be sorely disappointed. Instead he looks troubled as he stares at the ceiling, both of his hands resting on his stomach as his breathing starts to return to normal. He looks wicked and sinful with his condom-covered cock lying at an angle across his lower abdomen and over the bottom hem of his shirt, which he hadn't even bothered to take off. He's still fully dressed and he just gave me the best sex I'd ever had in my life.