Unfriended(Love in New Highland Book 1)(36)

Only one problem. I was with Charis, but we hadn't exactly gone over the details of our relationship.

She was mine. I was claiming her, whether she knew it or not.

Beyond that, I wasn't sure. I knew what I wanted, but it all hinged on her. And she was currently the unknown in this equation.

Charis the chum, Charis the family friend, I knew. It was the Charis who gave me her passion I still had to figure out.

She may have sent me away to think, but I had a feeling it was more than  that. Risks terrified her. She could talk herself out of driving  through green if she thought it was about to turn yellow.

I had no intention of giving her time to doubt what we were doing.



I HAD MY MORNING RUN, TOOK a quick shower without washing my hair-I  foresaw dust in my future-then stripped down to my briefs and got to  work.

By mid-afternoon, the house was shiny. I'd swept up every visible trace  of my ex-girlfriend into cardboard boxes that were now stacked into a  pile in the foyer, ready to be delivered to her place. What with Aura's  "engagement" to Karl, I didn't know if it was still necessary to  convince her we were over, but it couldn't hurt.

I suppose I should have felt some melancholy while I was handling Aura's  panties and hair conditioners, but all there was was relief her stuff  would be gone when Sloane came over.

I'd also called a furniture store and had them deliver some items.

First and foremost was a new bed, because no way was I going to make  love to Charis in the bed I'd shared with Aura. The idea seemed  disrespectful to Charis and Aura, both.

The old bed was a hand-me-down from my pre-LLC days. I chose to upgrade  to a firm sleigh bed. Firm mattresses are better for fucking because A)  better bounce and B) edge fall is a thing.

Then I cleared out a room full of boxes, set up what little exercise  equipment I had there, and ordered some fitness machines, mats, and even  some dance stuff I'd once seen at Sloane's parents' house.

I called the fitness equipment supplier and made it worth their while to  deliver the next day. The dance place snottily told me what they  thought of my expectations of their installing a sprung floor that week.

Yeah, I may have gone a little overboard.

I may also have overdone the spoiled-rich-asshole thing. I mean, I  didn't think I was spoiled, but cash was not a problem now and I was  throwing a lot of it around today. All because I wanted Char to have all  the workout stuff she wanted right there at her fingertips.

Selfless? Not exactly. I wanted us to spend as much time together as possible doing intimate shit.

Making up for lost time.

I was a fucking saint, though, in the way I held back from texting or  calling. When dinnertime rolled around, I considered that the end of my  exile and showered again, got shit ready and drove to her place.

Without giving her warning. It was a betrayal of the UFC, but I  considered our friendship code had already been compromised at that  point. I didn't want her on her guard.

I almost used my key to her apartment, but decided not to push it and to send her a text instead. I'm here.

I kind of expected snark, but the door opened in seconds. She let me in  with raised brows, returning a warm smile not to me, but to the phone  she was thumbing.

"Hold … on," she said distractedly.

Somehow I didn't think she was studying my text.

I scanned her critically. She'd gone back to the usual conservative,  body-disguising getup, a peach-and-gray striped polo shirt and gray  cords. Wow, could you get more ugly? I choked on a laugh.

Her chest had a smooth profile. Knowing now what lay under that shirt, I  could only conclude a bra was busy flattening those jaunty nipples. The  thought of shoving the shirt and bra out of the way and exposing her  immediately brought my cock to attention.

You'd think fucking her was all I'd thought about all day. Not true. Less than half.

Not that she noticed my predatory attitude. She acted oblivious to my presence.

I closed the door behind me a bit too hard, my good humor fading. Who  the fuck was she texting like that, and how could she ignore me?                       
       
           



       

I stalked her across the floor until she slowed with awareness. Because  her hair was up in a ponytail and I was looking, I saw the goose pimples  break out on her neck. Abruptly my jeans felt too tight.

Sneaking up behind her, I wrapped my arms around her, bringing her to a  halt, inhaling at the base of her neck. That smell. Oranges and earth  and … bleach?

I looked around, taking stock of the apartment. For once it was  organized and spotless. No papers or bags of pistachios or any the usual  clutter. I had the feeling if I went into the kitchen I'd see gleaming  surfaces and a sink free of dishes.

I was stoked. "You cleaned for me."

"Yeah, well … I didn't do it for you. " She stood still for my nuzzling,  clutching her phone, then abruptly turned and gazed up at me."Okay,  dammit, I did."

I staggered back melodramatically, taking her with me. She yelled and when we landed on the floor, she was on top of me.

Perfect position for a hello kiss.

I didn't let her raise her head until I'd had a chance to remind her,  with plenty of tongue, that kissing me was the fucking bee's knees.

"Why'd you fall down?" she demanded breathlessly as we got to our feet.

"You looked like a panicked chipmunk, Sloane. Am I really that scary?"

"Chipmunk!" She shoved and kicked me.

I caught her fist. "A hot, sultry chipmunk, swear to God."

"What are you doing here anyway? I didn't know you were coming over."

"I knew you'd be a wimp about this. I'm taking you back to my place. I'm feeding you. Pack stuff for overnight."

"What, for … what do you mean?" The panicked look was back. "Hey, where's my-gimme that!"

I'd swiped her phone and I was scrolling through her texts. To Joel, damn his ass.



Charis: Thanks again for feeding me the other day

Joel: No prob. How's it going with Asher?

Charis: Fine. Wait, what do you mean by that?

Joel: You and Asher

Charis: What me and Asher

Joel: Not you and Asher?

Charis: Asher exists and I exist. Your point is?

Joel: OK be evasive. Then I don't have to act sensitive and shit around you guys.

Charis: Of course you don't.

Joel: Yeah I believe that.

Charis: When did you become so cynical, not trusting people?

Joel: I trust my mom, gran, bro and cousin

Charis: So you're saying you can count on one hand the people you trust.

Joel: More or less.



I narrowed my eyes at her. "Why are you flirting with Joel?"

Her jaw dropped. "Who, wha?"

Now I felt like a fool. I still wasn't used to these possessive  feelings. Her not telling Joel we'd started something put me on edge. I  returned her phone and took out mine to text Joel. Stop bothering  Sloane. She's busy.

Joel's reply, filled with irony, had me smirking. Glad I don't have to act sensitive and shit.

"Go on, get packing. Why didn't you tell him we're a thing, Sloane?"

She started pulling out her dresser drawer. I liked how she'd just did  it without giving me sass about being bossy or anything. But then she  turned slowly around.

"Are we a thing?"

I couldn't read her expression. "This is why I knew I should have taken you home with me yesterday."

"Taken me home?" She covered her head with her hands. "I'm not a stuffed  animal. No, wait, what are you saying? I didn't know we were public  with this. I don't even know what this is!"

Just as I feared, her time to reflect hadn't done us any good. I opened  my mouth but my phone alerted me to another text, this one from my  sister.



Mel: Rebound any?

Asher: ?

Mel: You look like Dad before he retired in that tan coat.

Asher: Stop being cryptic. Busy. What's up.

Mel: Busy with black anorak lady?

Asher: Uh what?

Mel: Karl won't say who she is. But he knows. I know he knows. My sister sense tingles when we talk.

Asher: Who who is?

Mel: Come on, I had like three people retweet the pic to me. They  thought it might be you but didn't recognize the woman. It was totally  you.



I pretended ignorance.



Asher: My pic is all over social media?

Mel: Isn't that what I said? Some woman they said isn't Aura. Kissing was mentioned.

Asher: It was j-



"Don't tell her it's me."

Charis grabbed the phone. She'd been standing on the sofa, peering over  my shoulder. Now she fell on her ass, cupping my phone protectively.  "Don't say anything to Mel, for heaven's sake."

"Mel knows you."

"But she obviously didn't recognize me. This coat is relatively new and  the picture must have cut off my face or something. Whew."

Her relief was highly irritating. "So? She knows we're friends who hang out a lot."

"And discuss kissing?" Her hands covered her nose. "No, it's too weird  and embarrassing. I don't want Mel lecturing me about how young you are.  I don't want this thing public."