Page 4

CHAPTER 4

Farren

T he day dawns in a haze of late December light streaming through the guest bedroom window, and I lie in bed for a few extra minutes, scrolling aimlessly through my phone. A small smile plays on my lips as I reread my text exchange with North night before last. He reached out to me after he got home from Stone and Harlow’s wedding reception.

Nothing too risqué, but there’s no doubt where North and I are headed soon.

North: You awake?

Me: Yup. What’re you doing?

North: Lying on the couch. Watching some dumb action movie. You?

Farren: Thinking about you right now?

North: Oh yeah? What exactly are you thinking about?

Farren: Let’s just say it involves you, me, and that couch you’re lying on. Except you wouldn’t be just lying there .

North: Go on… I’m intrigued. You sure you’re not trying to distract me from this incredibly deep, thought-provoking film I’m watching?

Farren: If your movie is more interesting than me, then we have a serious problem. But something tells me I’d have your full attention.

North: You always have my full attention. What would I be doing on this couch instead of lying down? Enlighten me.

Farren: I can think of a few things. But for starters… I’d be sitting on your lap. And you wouldn’t be able to keep your hands to yourself.

North: You’re assuming I’d even try.

Farren: You’d try. I like it when you’re hands-on.

North: Noted. Now let me paint you a picture: You’re on my lap, and I’ve got my hands on your thighs. What happens next?

Farren: Depends. Are you going to behave?

North: Absolutely not. I’d slide one hand higher while the other pulled you closer. You wouldn’t be able to get away.

Farren: Who said I’d want to?

North: Good answer. Now stop teasing me or I’ll lose all patience.

Farren: Who’s teasing? Just laying the groundwork for later.

North: Later? Don’t leave me hanging like this .

Farren: Relax, Paquette. You’ll get everything you want… eventually.

North: “Eventually” better be soon, Abrams. You’re making it real hard to focus on anything else right now.

Farren: Good. That’s exactly what I wanted. Sweet dreams, North.

North: Sweet dreams, Farren.

It was sexy and sweet all at the same time, and the fact that I’m smiling about it is concerning. I don’t do sweet, but North has that tiny bit of cinnamon roll thing going on. I know that he can be domineering when we’re naked and I get off on that, but outside of the heat of passion, he’s almost a little hesitant.

He hasn’t pushed to make plans with me the last few days and I can only assume he doesn’t want to pin me down because it’s the day before Christmas. He probably assumes I’m going to be spending it with Rafferty, but after going out for drinks with Tempe last night and seeing that she has feelings for my brother, I’m making an abrupt change of plans.

I swing my legs out of bed and head to the kitchen to find Rafferty scrubbing the sink. It’s adorable the way his tongue sticks out the side of his mouth when he’s concentrating. He’s invited Tempe over for dinner tonight and if I’m reading the situation right from the vibes I’m picking up from both of them, I think things are heading to a new level.

He glances up at me, his face softening in that brotherly way that always makes me feel like a kid, even though I’m a grown woman.

“Morning,” he says, setting the sponge down to grab a mug from the cabinet. He pours a cup of coffee and passes it to me. “I’m surprised you’re up so early after your wild night out with Tempe.”

I snort at the implication. “It wasn’t wild and I was back home and in bed long before you even got in from your game.” The Titans had an out-and-back game against the Florida Spartans, and Tempe and I watched from a downtown Pittsburgh bar. Rafferty got home long after I was in deep sleep and I didn’t even hear him come in. “Tempe and I had a nice, quiet evening watching the game. She’s great, by the way, since I haven’t said it directly. I approve.”

“Approve of what?” Rafferty’s brows shoot up, a flicker of hope in his eyes that makes me laugh.

“Of her. She’s cool. Down to earth. Good sense of humor. You should lock that down before someone else does.”

Rafferty squints at me, but without any real heat. “What’d you two talk about?”

“Stuff.” I sip my coffee, trying to look as enigmatic as possible just to annoy him.

He leans back against the sink, crossing his arms. “ Farren…”

“Relax,” I say, laughing. “We talked about you, obviously.”

“Such as…”

I smirk at the way he’s trying to play it cool. “She likes you, bro. You need to run with it.”

“Really?” he asks with no effort now to temper his eagerness for more knowledge.

I nod, setting my mug down. “Yes, really. Now isn’t the time for you to be too casual. If you’re interested, you need to let her know.”

“I have,” he says in a low rumble of feeling. “She knows.”

The tenderness in his expression makes my chest ache in that annoying, sentimental way. I’ve seen Rafferty with plenty of women over the years, but it’s different this time.

I bump his shoulder as I move to rinse out my mug. “How about we get this place cleaned up so she isn’t turned off by your bachelor pad ways?” I tease, and give him a friendly nudge with my hip when he looks slightly panicked. “You’ll be fine. Just don’t overthink it. And for the love of God, don’t say anything stupid.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

The rest of the morning is spent helping Raff clean up his condo, which honestly doesn’t need much. I change out the linens in his bedroom and the guest rooms, teasing him the whole time about how much effort he’s putting in to impress Tempe.

By the time I’m done, I’m restless. I need to get out of here, and I already know exactly where I’m going. I shower, take my time with my makeup and hair, and don my sexiest lingerie.

Grabbing my backpack, I head for the door. Rafferty’s standing in the kitchen, looking like he just stepped out of a J.Crew catalog in his jeans and long-sleeve shirt. He’s so put together, so steady. The perfect big brother.

“Where are you going?” he asks, his brow furrowing.

“To hang with a friend,” I say, slinging the backpack over my shoulder.

“What friend?” His curiosity is sharp, but there’s no suspicion.

I turn and give him a pointed look. “I happen to have friends here in the States as well as other countries, Raff. Why you think I wouldn’t is beyond me. Hello, I’m the social butterfly from hell.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “Fine, don’t tell me. Just… be safe, okay?”

I grin, going on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Always.”

As I step out of the condo, the cold Pittsburgh air hits me, but I don’t mind. I take a deep breath, my pulse quickening as I order an Uber. I contemplate texting North to let him know I’m coming over but then that wouldn’t be any fun. I want to see the surprise on his face and I want to see it morph into lust when he realizes what a gift he’s got on his doorstep.

?

The car drops me off in front of North’s house, and I step onto the curb, pulling my backpack over my shoulder. The air is crisp, the kind that makes you feel alive.

I’ve been here twice, and it was surprising to me the first time to learn that North lives in an upscale neighborhood in Oakmont, right along the Allegheny River. In fact, from his third-floor balcony, he has a lovely view of the water.

It’s not so much I’m surprised he lives in a nice place, because hello… he’s rich. But most of the young players live in apartments or condos, usually preferring to avoid the responsibilities of traditional home ownership like mowing lawns or repairing roofs.

But North loves his house and the neighborhood. It’s the type where children ride their bikes on warm days, and it really told me all I needed to know about the man.

He’s an end-gamer. A man with an agenda and a goal, and he’s aiming for a family at some point. The thought of such commitment makes me wonder why I’m here. He’s the exact type I try to avoid, and yet I can’t seem to force myself to run after the Uber that’s a hundred yards down the block.

Instead, I take a breath and study the exterior of his home glowing in the late-afternoon sun. It’s three stories and what one might consider a modern transitional style with porches on all three floors, white siding and black shutters. The small yard is bordered by a three-foot wrought iron fence and a welcoming gate that leads from the sidewalk up to the front door.

His truck—a dark gray Ford F-150 with an aggressive grille—sits in the driveway, freshly washed and gleaming like it just rolled off the lot. North has too much other stuff stored in the garage to fit the beast in there.

I grin to myself, feeling a little mischievous. He has no idea I’m here, and the element of surprise is always fun. Especially with North, who has this way of keeping me on my toes. I’m glad I get to give a little back.

My boots crunch on the salted walkway as I approach his front door, the sound loud in the otherwise silent neighborhood. I take a deep breath and knock firmly, my knuckles rapping against the solid black lacquered door. For a moment, nothing happens. Then I hear footsteps, followed by the sound of the lock clicking.

The door swings open, and there he is, North Paquette, in all his off-duty glory. He’s wearing a plain black long-sleeve Henley that hugs his broad frame, paired with gray sweatpants that hang low on his hips.

It’s his face that captivates me though. His light brown hair is longish on top and wavy. It has that perpetually mussed look like he’s been running his hands through it and is slightly at odds with his lean, angular face. His cheekbones are sharp, his nose thin and his eyebrows arching over intelligent, sparkling blue eyes that are about two shades lighter than my own. They are currently widened with shock.

“Farren?” he says, his voice rough with disbelief. His gaze darts from me to the backpack on my shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi to you too,” I say with a smirk, brushing past him and stepping into the warmth of his entryway. “Surprise!”

He turns to face me, his brow furrowed. “I… what—how—why are you here?”

I laugh, setting my bag down by the door. “You’ve got a lot of questions, don’t you? It’s simple, North. I didn’t have any plans tonight, and neither do you, so here I am.”

He shuts the door but doesn’t move from it. “How do you know I don’t have plans?”

I appraise him, trying to figure out if he’s putting me off or just trying to get me to think. It’s difficult for me to think of anything past jumping his bones, because that’s why I’m here. I toss my thumb at the door. “I can go if you want. No skin off my back.”

He shakes his head with a smirk. “I don’t want you to go. Just trying to point out you could have come here to find me not available. And speaking of which… why are you without plans? Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I figured you’d be hanging with Rafferty.”

I shrug, pulling off my coat and tossing it onto a nearby chair. “We’re doing dinner tomorrow but tonight Rafferty’s got Tempe coming over, so I figured I’d give them some privacy. And I took a gamble you didn’t have any plans…” I trail off, letting the implication hang in the air.

His lips part like he wants to say something, but no words come out. I step closer, grinning up at him. “Are you going to invite me in, or are you just going to stand there looking like a fish out of water?”

“You already invited yourself in,” he mutters, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Not much I can do about it now.”

“Exactly.” I glance around, taking in the polished hardwood floors, the open floor plan, and the minimalist décor. It’s very North—clean, modern and understated, with a few personal touches like framed hockey photos on the walls and a well-stocked bar cart in the corner.

He narrows his eyes slightly, like he’s trying to figure out what angle I’m playing. “And what exactly are we doing tonight?”

I close the gap between us. My pulse kicks up as I tilt my head, looking up at him through my lashes. “Whatever we want,” I say, my voice low and teasing. “Unless you’ve got somewhere else to be?”

His gaze softens, his lips curving into a small smile. “No,” he admits. “I don’t have anywhere else to be.”

“Good,” I murmur, and before he can say anything else, I rise onto my toes and kiss him.

It’s not a tentative kiss, it’s full-on, no holds barred. My hands grip his shirt, pulling him closer as I pour every ounce of anticipation and desire into our connection. He’s still, like he’s caught off guard. Then, just as quickly, he responds, his arms wrapping around me and pulling me flush against him.

His tongue slides into my mouth and I groan at the contact. My fingers clutch at his shirt and I shamelessly press my hips against him.

I feel his fingers dig into my upper arms and he pushes me back slightly, hot eyes searching mine. “What exactly are we doing, Farren?”

“Getting ready to have sex,” I say breathily.

“Yeah, got that part. But what is this?”

I study him carefully, looking for some hint that he’s latching onto something I can’t give. But I only see genuine curiosity. “It’s fun, right? Can it just be that?”

I see neither relief nor trepidation, merely easy acceptance. “Of course, it’s fun. But what about your brother?”

“I don’t want him to know,” I blurt out, and almost take a step back.

“It seems dishonest,” he murmurs as he pulls me into him. I hold my breath, wondering if this might be too much to ask of him. But then his mouth brushes against mine. “But if it’s just casual with no strings, and we aren’t together as a couple, I suppose…”

He trails off, like he can’t quite force himself to say the words I know he’s thinking. “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

North nods and I do see a bit of troubled worry there. But it seems to ice over as he comes to the same conclusion I have. We have something that’s fun, sexy and shouldn’t be ignored. We’re both of the age we should be able to dally with each other and not have any worries over what might come tomorrow.

As long as we can agree on that, this is a perfect relationship.

“So, are you ready to have some fun?” I ask playfully, running my hand over his abs, down the front of his sweats where I cup his already thickened cock. I squeeze and North’s eyes sizzle with heat.

“Yeah,” he rasps, resting his hand over mine and forcing me to squeeze harder. “I’m down for some fun.”