Текст книги "Falling For My Best Friend's Brother"
Автор книги: J. S. Cooper
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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 12 страниц)
Chapter Seventeen
Waiting Is Part of the Fun
“No Monopoly tonight,” Liv said as we all sat around her parents’ dining room table. She spoke directly to Aiden and he made a face at her.
“Fine,” he said as he held my hand under the table. “What do you want to play, then?”
“I don’t care,” she said and then looked at Elizabeth. “What do you want to play?”
“Who, me?” Elizabeth blushed. “I’m just happy to be here. I’m surprised I was invited.” She looked at me. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me being here.”
“Oh, I’m fine.” I laughed. “You were a great actress, but you were always nice. I’m glad you’re here. Liv and I need another girl in the group.”
“Aww, thanks. I’m so happy to be here.” She smiled at me and then at Liv. “I’m so glad to make some new friends in town.”
“Oh, I thought you made friends quite easily,” Scott said with a weird look on his face.
“I’m glad I gave you that impression,” she responded with a tight look on her face.
“I think we all got that impression, didn’t we?” Scott looked around the table, and I could see that he looked slightly annoyed. Liv and I gave each other a look and I was dying to talk to her about the weirdness between them. What was going on there?
“I’d be happy to show you around town,” Henry said from his seat next to Scott. His green eyes looked friendly as he smiled at her and he was clearly oblivious to the tension in the room. Typical man!
“Oh, thanks.” She smiled back. “I’d like that.”
“I’m sure you would,” Scott said and then chugged his beer down. “So what are we going play, then?”
“I think we should play whatever Liv and Xander want to play,” I said. “This is their game night.”
“Yeah. I agree,” Chett said and jumped up. “Sorry, guys, but I just realized that there’s a NASCAR race on. I’m going to check it out. I think Mom and Dad have gone to bed, so I can change the channel.”
“Chett!” Liv said and laughed. “Fine, go and watch your car racing.”
“Hey, at least I came.” He grinned. “Gabby didn’t even show up.”
“That’s not a shock.” Liv laughed and Xander wiped his forehead.
“I can’t say I’m complaining.” He made a face. “I’ve had enough awkward with Gabby to last the rest of my life.”
“I know!” Liv clapped her hands. “Let’s play truth or dare.”
“Okay.” Aiden nodded and sat back. “Is everyone in?”
“Yes,” Liv, Xander, Scott, Henry, Elizabeth and I all said in chorus.
“Okay,” Liv said. “Let’s go in a circle. I’ll start the questions and Elizabeth will be first up, then we’ll just go round, okay?”
“Okay.” We all nodded.
“Okay, truth or dare?” she asked Elizabeth.
“Truth,” she said with a smile and made a face. “I hope I don’t regret this.”
“Why did you take the fake-girlfriend job?” Liv asked and I was surprised by her question, though I had wondered myself.
“Because I needed the money.” Elizabeth looked at me. “I’d lost my job, and this was the first offer I’d got and I needed to pay rent. Plus, Aiden didn’t seem sleazy, and when he explained to me that he was trying to see if the girl he loved really cared about him or was just playing games, I kinda felt for him. And then I met Alice, and I knew that they were perfect for each other.” She smiled at me. “I have to admit I felt bad, especially when I had those cuff marks on my wrists. I thought it was going too far, but I think Aiden got a bit carried away.”
“I did.” He nodded and kissed me on the cheek. “I wanted to see how far I could push you. I’m sorry. I just wanted to see what you’d do. I kinda liked seeing you jealous.”
“Aiden!” I hit him in the shoulder. “You’re awful.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Guys.” Liv grinned at us. “This is Elizabeth’s time. You guys will have your chance later.”
“Sorry.” I grinned back at her.
“So do you have a job now?” Liv asked Elizabeth and she shook her head.
“Not yet.” She sighed. “I’m still looking.”
“Maybe I can help,” Scott interjected. “I’m looking for some help.”
“Oh, really?” Elizabeth looked at him, her expression unsure.
“Yeah, we’ll talk later.” He nodded.
“Okay,” she said, and Liv looked at me with a huge grin. The game continued on for a few rounds and almost all of us chose dares instead of truth. It was crazy when Xander dared Henry to kiss Elizabeth. I wasn’t sure what he was playing at, but if looks could kill, Scott would have killed both Xander and Henry.
“Okay, you’re up, Aiden,” Liv said. “Truth or dare.”
“Truth,” he said simply, and Liv looked thoughtful for a while before speaking.
“When did you realize you had a thing for Alice?” she asked softly, and my heart thudded as I stared at him. This was something I’d been wondering as well and I loved her for knowing to ask him.
“Aww.” He grinned and looked at me. “I should have known this was coming.”
“Answer, please.” I grinned back at him.
“I first knew I was falling for Alice many summers ago,” he said and held my hands to his heart. “It was the summer after I’d graduated from college. I was in the kitchen with Mom, and you came sailing through the doors like sunshine and rainbows and you gave me a huge smile and my breath was just taken away. I remember standing there and staring at you and thinking that you’d blossomed into a beautiful, beautiful girl.”
“Wow,” I said as I gazed into his blue eyes. I could remember that exact moment and it struck me that the emotions and feelings I’d been feeling that summer weren’t just a part of my imagination, but very real.
“That was when I knew that Alice was the one.” He chuckled and looked embarrassed. “That sounds corny, doesn’t it?”
“No.” I shook my head and then I thought about something. “So you knew before I crept into your bed?”
“Crept into his bed?” Henry looked amused. “What?”
“Not now, Henry,” Xander said and shook his head at his brother.
“Yes,” Aiden said with a smile. “I knew I was falling for you before that night.”
“I didn’t know.” I stared at him in amazement. “I can’t believe I didn’t know that.”
“Why do you think I went ahead with it when you slipped into my bed?” He laughed. “I don’t just sleep with anyone.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” I laughed and snuggled into him. “I was so scared to fall for you. I was so scared that I was going to ruin everything. You’re my best friend’s brother, and I thought that I jeopardized everything that night, especially because you never spoke about it to me again.”
“You were too young, Alice. I wanted you to date, go through college and see how you felt after you’d had a few more life experiences. I didn’t want to start something with you and then have you regret it and change your mind. I don’t know if I could have coped with that.”
“I understand.” I nodded and kissed him. “Thank you.”
“Aww, who knew my big brother was such a softie?” Liv smiled happily. “Now we’re one big family.”
“Not quite.” Xander laughed. “Don’t go jumping the gun, Liv.”
“I think it’s fair to say not yet.” Aiden squeezed my hand and then stroked my hair. “We’ll all be one big official family one day.”
“I’m going to be Mrs. Pleasure one day?” I asked happily.
“I think so.” He laughed and kissed me softly. “As long as you pass all of the tests.”
“Tests?” I pouted.
“You know.” He grinned at me. “Our special tests.”
“I’m ready to take an exam right now.” I stroked his thigh and he groaned.
“I’m ready to test you,” he replied, and Liv groaned.
“Enough, guys!” She held her hands up. “This game night is rated PG.” She giggled. “You guys have to go somewhere else for the rated X nights.”
“Oh, don’t you worry about that, little sis,” Aiden said and winked at me. “I’ve already got our first X-rated night out planned.”
“You do?” I asked him, my heart racing. “Where?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see.” He grinned. “The waiting is part of the fun.”
Epilogue
You Know When You Know
I’d always wondered how I would know that I’d met the one. I’d always wondered what true love was. I can tell you now that once you have it, you’ll stop wondering. Once you have true love, you’ll know it from the bottom of your being. You’ll know because there is nothing that will ever replace or top that feeling. Nothing will ever live up to the feeling of simply seeing your loved one’s face. Once you have true love, you don’t wonder if it’s real. No, once you have true love, you just want to bottle it up so that you never lose or forget that feeling. Once you’ve found the one, you’ll know what it really means to be complete.
“Do you know how happy I am, Alice? Do you know how much I love you?”
“Yes,” I said as I lay next to him in the bed. “I know because I feel the same way.”
“We’re really lucky—you know that, right?”
“I know.” And then I nibbled down on his chest and looked up at him. “I still can’t believe you faked being a Dom.”
“I’m surprised you forgave me so quickly.” He pinched my ass. “Is it because I’m so lovable?”
“I forgave you so quickly because I know I’ve been a bit immature myself in the past. But pull a stunt like that again and you’re going to really have to make it up to me big time.”
“Oh?” He laughed. “I think I’ve made it up to you, don’t you?”
“Why? Because you like to tie me up and spank me?”
“No, because I let you tie me up as well.” He laughed. “And because I let you talk me into going to a couples massage.”
“You went to the couples massage because you thought we’d have sex in the pool.” I laughed.
“How was I to know that there would be five other couples in the same pool?” He groaned. “That was not sexy.”
“It was fun, and we both felt more relaxed afterwards.”
“True.” He pulled me close to him and kissed the top of my head. “I always feel relaxed when I’m with you.”
“Really?” I held him close to me.
“Yup. You make me relaxed and happy, Alice. You’re my everything. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“You’re only saying that because I booked us a room at Kat’s Corner again next week.”
“Well, are you not excited to try out the sex swing?” His fingers grazed my lips as he stared at me.
“Well, about that …” I said and sat up. “I have a little surprise for you.”
“You do?” His eyes widened in glee. “What is it?”
“It’s an early birthday present.” I jumped out of the bed and grabbed a big plastic bag that was next to my suitcase. “I figured maybe you might want it early.”
“Ooh, what is it?” He grabbed the bag and pulled out the box holding the doorjamb sex sling that I’d bought him. “Wow,” he said with a huge smile as he stared at the box. “This is hot. Seriously hot.”
“We can try it now, if you want?” I winked at him and laughed as he jumped out of bed and ripped open the box. I stared at him while he set the sex sling up and smiled to myself. This was what it was to be in love. This is what it meant to be adventurous and fun loving. I didn’t need to play games with Aiden. I didn’t need to try and make him jealous. I knew I loved him and he loved me and that was enough. Between our adventures in and out of the bedroom, I had enough to deal with.
“You need to hold onto these straps and put your feet in here.” Aiden pulled me over to him and lifted me up so that I could fit in the sex sling.
“I hope it doesn’t fall down,” I said as I glanced up at the top of the door with a worried expression.
“Don’t worry,” he said and gave me a quick kiss. “I’ll be here to catch you if you fall. I’ll always catch you, Alice. I’ll always be here to catch you,” he said and my heart melted as his eyes glittered into mine right before he entered me with one long, deep thrust.
Note From Author
Thank you for reading Falling For My Best Friend's Brother. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please leave a review and recommend the book to your friends. This really helps me as an author.
I am thinking about writing a book for Scott Taylor and Elizabeth and a book for Henry James as well if enough people are interested. Please join my mailing list to be notified of my new releases. You can also like my Facebook page here to see teasers from new books.
Also feel free to email me at [email protected], if you'd like to see a book on Scott and/or Henry or just to say hello! :)
Also, there is another standalone book for Liv and Xander called One Night Stand that you should definitely read if you haven't read it yet. Find out why Xander is called Mr. Tongue!
OTHER BOOKS
You can see a list of my other book releases here.
One Night Stand
Illusion
The Ex Games
Rhett
Rhett in Love
The Last Boyfriend
Everlasting Sin
The True Diary of That Girl
