Page 18 of Unexpectedly You (Boston Boys Bozok #1)

Chapter Eleven

Bentley

Two days later, I’m making my way into work with my phone in my hands, texting and paying very little attention to my surroundings. I’m just strolling into the tiny little space I have reserved for an office in the building Peyton and I rent for our business, when I hear, “Who you texting?”

I shriek, and almost throw my phone in the air, but fumble and manage to catch it against my chest as I stare at my best friend, who is sitting on my small desk, laughing so hard she’s snorting.

“What the cotton-picking hell?” I ask, after I’ve taken a second to calm down. “Girl, you almost made me shit myself.”

She just laughs harder and I have to chuckle some at her snorting at least. “Okay, it wasn’t that funny,” I say after it’s been a full two minutes and she’s laughing so hard she’s crying now and can barely breathe.

“I’m sorry,” she says, calming down a smidge. She wipes her eyes and tries to compose herself .

Another thirty seconds go by before she finally calms down enough to tell me why on earth she’s in my office instead of at her desk out front.

“Listen, I had to talk to you, and I thought if I tried out there you would just escape.”

“What are we talking about?” I ask hesitantly.

My phone chimes and I look down at the text I just got from Alex.

We’ve been texting back and forth all morning about Supernatural, after he texted me with a gif of The Rock again.

Sometimes it’s gifs of actual rocks. We like to switch it up.

And whoever didn’t send the gif of the rock sends back a gif of a penguin.

I have no idea why we do it, but I’m glad we do.

It feels like our thing, and it’s nice to have that with someone.

Right now he’s trying to get me to give him spoilers about Supernatural now that we’re on the second season and he’s as obsessed with it as I am, but also very impatient for us to get to the next episode.

A smile splits my face when I see his ridiculous gif of Dean saying, “Not cool,” after me telling him I will reveal nothing.

“That,” Peyton says.

“Huh?” I ask, looking up.

She’s grinning widely. “We’re talking about why you have such a huge smile on your face when you text him, and have had for the past several weeks, and why he was so eager to help you at the ice skating rink the other day, and how you’re blushing like crazy right now.”

“Am not,” I say, my cheeks flaming as I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling even more.

“What is going on with you two?” she asks, kicking her feet.

I shrug. “Nothing. And how do you know it’s Alex I’m texting? ”

“Because he and I are the only ones you text, period, and I know it’s not me.”

Okay, fair point. That’s what happens when you don’t have any friends.

I can’t help the grin that escapes me. “It’s nothing,” I say again. I sigh and decide it wouldn’t hurt if Peyton knew a little bit. “We just have this thing we’ve been doing. Kinda an inside joke between us, but I like it.”

She raises an eyebrow. “What thing?”

“We’re pebbling each other.”

“Pebbling?”

“Yeah, like sending each other gifs and memes and stuff. Penguins do it.”

She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Penguins text each other?”

“No, they give each other pebbles as a sign of affection, and when people send texts or gifs or memes or whatever to each other, it’s called pebbling.” I show her my phone. Her smile gets so big she looks like the fucking cheshire cat as she scrolls through the texts.

“Oh my God,” she says. “You guys are totally flirting.”

I yank my phone away as if it’s in danger. “Are not.”

“Okay,” she says, raising her hands. “If you say so.”

I bite my lip. “You really think he’s flirting?”

“Um, I really think you’re both flirting. Honey, no guy texts his friend like that. He’s seriously got a hard on for you.”

My face flames again. “He’s straight.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” She pauses as I worry my lip between my teeth. “Do you…want him to be flirting with you?”

I meet her eyes and there’s nothing there but care and affection. My voice is hoarse when I say, “Maybe. ”

She squeals and I almost drop my phone a second time. “Omg, you two would be adorable together!”

“Yeah, well, as far as I know, I’m the only one with feelings and it sucks.”

“Have you talked to him?”

“No. I can’t.”

“How come? You’ll never know if he feels the same if you don’t say anything. And I’m pretty sure he’s got heart eyes for you, too, if those texts and the way he was looking at you at the skating rink are anything to go by.”

I shake my head. “That’s just Alex. He was just being nice.

” I don’t tell her about the fact that he gives me foot massages every week while he reads to me, because she’d probably try to convince me that was him flirting too, and I can’t have her giving me false hope.

But also because I kind of want to keep it just between me and Alex.

It feels more special that way, even if it isn’t romantic.

I don’t want to share that piece of him, of us, with anyone else.

She sighs and hops off my desk, resting her small hand on my arm. “I think you guys would be amazing together. I see how happy he makes you, and I want that for you. I’m just here to support you. You know that.”

I nod. “Yeah, I do. Thanks.”

She bites her lip. “So, while we’re on the subject. There was a package that arrived right before you got here, and I took it because you weren’t in yet. And I’m thinking it was maybe supposed to have discreet packaging, but it didn’t so much.”

“Oh my God,” I groan, sliding down the wall and covering my face with my hands. “I’m a turtle, and you can’t see me right now.”

She laughs. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Lots of people buy sex toys. I do.”

“Yeah, but you’re you. ”

“Hey, you know what? I’m pretty sure introverts have sex, too.”

I remove my hands from my face, managing a small smile.

“I don’t see any problem with you exploring. Especially if you think you might be into a guy. It’s a good idea actually. It’ll help you know what you like if anything does happen. And look on the bright side, at least it came here instead of to your apartment.”

I sigh and rest my head against the wall. “Yay for that.”

She chuckles. “Come on, we better get ready. Your first appointment gets here in ten minutes.” She holds her hand down to me and I grab it, letting her haul me up.

As embarrassed as I am, it kinda feels good for her to know, and to not have to hide either my feelings for Alex anymore, or the fact that I’m wanting to try some new things in the bedroom.

Even if nothing ever happens between Alex and I, at least I know now that I’m into men and women, and that makes things a little different when it comes to dating.

When I finally do get out there again, I want to know what I like.

And if I just happen to picture Alex while I’m using my new toys, there’s no harm in that, right?

That night I once again have Alex front and center in my mind while I work my brand new flesh colored dildo into my ass, my eyes closed and mouth parted, hair loose and tumbling across my pillow as I move my hips, chasing my pleasure as the magic toy nudges my prostate again and again.

I was a bit nervous about sticking something so big up my ass, but after watching a couple of how to videos and using a ridiculous amount of lube, I was finally able to relax and let it slide inside me, and holy fuck, it’s been one hell of an experience.

The only thing that would be better is if it were Alex’s cock buried inside me, making my body sing with pleasure, making me come so hard I see stars.

I can practically feel him holding me down, those plush lips pressing kisses to my neck and chest, before moving to my nipples and sucking on them. I let out a wail as I pinch my own nipple and the dildo hits that rubbery spot over and over, making my body light up.

“Alex!” I cry out, my body shaking as I shoot my release all over my stomach and chest. I take a second to come down from the high of my orgasm, before I slowly slide the dildo out, thankful that I had the courage to purchase it even if Peyton did find out, because the orgasm I just had was worth every single second of embarrassment.

“You get five gold stars, my friend,” I tell it.

As I stare at it I wonder what Alex’s dick looks like.

If it’s anything like the one in my hand.

Is he thick, or long, cut or uncut, does he manscape or does he have a wild bush of hair down there like I do?

God, I’ve never wanted to know what another man’s dick looks like until he came along.

Even with all the showering and changing we do at the gym I’ve never seen it.

As wild and carefree as Alex is, I’ve noticed he’s also not the type to strip naked around strangers, or even me, and I kind of… like that about him.

I sigh as I stand and make my way to the bathroom.

I hop in the shower for a quick clean up before sliding into clean boxer briefs and my warmest, coziest pajama bottoms, that just happen to be Supernatural themed; a gift from Peyton last Christmas.

I slide into a long sleeved sleep shirt as well, before I climb into bed.

I grab the picture of Gram off my nightstand as I lie on my back, and just look at it for a second.

I see that smile and I wonder again what she would think of Alex, or what she would think of me having feelings for Alex.

I have no doubt that she would support me no matter what because that’s who she was, and I have tears filling my eyes knowing she’ll never get to know that special person that I marry someday.

I miss her so much. Her humor, her kindness, her sass.

I miss her chocolate chip cookies and banana bread.

Even though I have the recipes for all of her delicious treats and meals, it doesn’t seem to taste quite the same when I make them.

I miss her carefree spirit and her courage to stand up for what was right even if it cost her. I miss her optimism and that laugh that always made me feel like everything was going to be okay.

God, I could really use some of her wisdom right now. Because as much as she goofed off and joked around, she was also one of the smartest, most thoughtful people I knew.

“I miss you,” I tell her as tears slide down my cheeks.

“I’m kinda lost right now. I don’t know what to do.

” I wipe my tears and start to talk, like she’s really here and can hear me.

Who knows, maybe she can. “I met this guy, Gram, and he’s, he’s really great, and I think I’m falling for him, but he’s straight, and,” I chuckle as more tears fall and I wipe them away, too.

“And apparently I’m not. Did you know that?

God, it’s strange to be realizing this in my thirties, but I’m kinda glad cause I would have hated to have gone my whole life never knowing this about myself.

” I take a breath, pausing before I start again.

“Peyton thinks he likes me, too, but I can’t let myself believe it, because what if I’m wrong?

What if I say something and he doesn't feel the same? I could ruin everything, and I’d rather have him in my life as a friend than not at all.

It’s really hard, though, spending so much time with him, feeling like I’m falling harder and harder for him each day and not being able to do anything about it.

Peyton says I should say something, but I’m too damn scared.

“I could really use your advice right now.”

Alex

I’m leaving my apartment to head to work later that week, and running a wee bit late as usual, when I open my front door and step into the hall in a hurry, only to be stopped by a box sitting on my doormat that has me tripping and nearly falling over.

I’m caught by strong arms and inhale the scent of ocean and rain as Bentley lifts me back on my feet.

“You okay?” he asks, his voice warm and soft and as sexy as ever.

“Yeah,” I croak, almost whimpering when his arms leave me. “Thanks.”

I bend down to pick up the box, and flush when I realize what’s inside.

It doesn’t have any pictures on it or anything but I recognize the return address.

It’s the sex toys I bought so I could do more in depth experimenting.

And the guy I’m undoubtedly going to be thinking about while I’m using them is right fucking here.

“What’s inside?” Bentley asks.

My brain fucking shuts down and I can’t think of anything to say, so I spew out the last thing I bought. “Coffee maker.”

He blinks and eyes it. “You sure? It’s kinda small for a coffee maker and kinda a weird shape.”

I panic. “Uh, well, you know, they can do all sorts of things with technology these days.” I pat him on the chest. “See you later.”

“Bye,” he says, and I practically shiver as that southern drawl sends electricity racing through my veins.

I get out to my car and open the door, throwing the stupid box with the stupid sex toys into the stupid passenger seat and then sitting down in my stupid seat.

I turn the key with a vengeance, and it’s not nearly satisfying enough, so I climb back out of the car and grab some snow in my hand, before throwing it as hard as I can. Okay, owe, that hurt my shoulder.

I want to fucking scream because I’m so damn sick of feeling the way I do for Bentley, like my chest is going to burst or my mouth is going to open and blurt out something that will ruin everything.

I turn around and kick the wheel of my car.

Yeah, I’m just full of good ideas tonight, and no I apparently didn’t learn from the mistake I just made a second and a half ago, and I wince when my toes start to throb.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I growl, then climb back in the car and slam the door shut. I rest my head back on the seat and sigh, before I pull out of the parking lot and head to work.

It’s busy all night, and even though I get a couple of texts from Bentley, I don’t have time to open them.

My feet ache and I’m fucking exhausted when the bar finally closes hours later and I head home.

It’s not until I’m in bed that I remember Bentley’s texts, and by then I’m too close to falling asleep to worry about it.

Marble jumps up on the bed and settles on the pillow next to me, and I can’t help wondering what it would be like to fall asleep and wake up to a sexy as fuck Viking with a southern accent, to have his scent on my sheets, his warm, hard body curled around mine, those big, strong but gentle hands on me.

It’s almost enough to make me break out my new toys, but I’m too damn tired.

I think of how Bentley holds Marble, and how he fusses over her, and rubs her belly, and plants kisses on her head.

I have never in my life wanted to trade places with an animal until now.