19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Josh

"Did you happen to see Layla get in her car and leave thirty seconds after Josh left the party last weekend?" Liam says slyly after he takes a sip of his beer.

I'm starting to wonder what the hell these two are up to right now. They asked me if I wanted to get dinner casually at Layla's restaurant tonight. Now, with the look they're giving each other, I'm thinking they have more conniving intentions.

"I did see that. I wonder where she was going since she went the opposite way of her house," Eric replies.

"What the hell is going on? What did I miss?" my buddy Kyle asks.

Kyle is dating Avery, Layla and Charlotte's friend, but Kyle has been a friend of mine since I came to this town after college.

"It appears that love was in the air in Italy," Liam replies playfully .

I shake my head. He's being a little over the top, but then again, it's Liam. I've learned over the years not to try and figure out what's going on in that head of his.

Kyle's jaw is hanging down like a puppy with a treat in front of him. "Shut the fuck up!" he shoves me from across the table. "You and Layla?"

"Can we all please keep in mind that this is new? You guys are the only ones who know, and most importantly, this is her restaurant, and she could pop up at any time. I don't want you to make her feel uncomfortable."

Kyle nods his head in agreement but also beams with joy. He leans forward, "You know that we've all basically been watching you two fight for years, knowing that you were really just suppressing feelings? Right? I mean, am I right, guys?" He looks to the other guys for confirmation.

"Of course. It was only a matter of time," Eric agrees.

Layla hasn't come by yet, even though I texted her to say we were here. She replied and said it's been crazy. Two waitresses called in sick, so she is trying to help the staff out.

I spot her for the first time tonight as she carries a tray of food to a table across the room. Her hair is pulled up in a tight bun and she's in all black with the company logo on the front of her shirt. She looks adorable, but I can see the stress through her fake smile.

"Where's Asher been? Haven't seen him in a while," Kyle asks.

"He's been busy with Brie and Charlotte. He can't come out with us all the time with a family at home," I defend, knowing I can't announce Charlotte's news yet .

Kyle shrugs his shoulders and moves on. Layla finally spots me and offers a small smile and waves. I can't take it anymore. I haven't seen her since Tuesday.

Is it only Friday? Yes. It's only been three days, but that feels like an eternity for me. I slide out of my chair.

"I'll be right back," I tell the guys.

Eric laughs. "Tell Layla to come say hi sometime tonight."

I roll my eyes. Why the fuck am I so transparent when it comes to Layla? It's like I have a sign on my forehead saying, ‘Fool in love.'

Not bothering to defend myself or correct them, I find her when she's walking away from a table and grab her hand. I lead her into one of the private restrooms and close the door behind us. I step into her, caging her against the door, and lean in until our lips are connected.

Torturing her with long, slow kisses suddenly becomes torture of my own. When I pull away, her eyes are heavy.

"What was that for?" she asks.

"You seem stressed. I wanted to give you something else to think about until you come over to my place tonight."

"Your place?"

"Yes, my place. Come over after work."

"I might not be off work until after ten," she tells me.

"I don't work tomorrow, and I also am capable of staying up passed ten. Come on, I'll cook you breakfast again. "

I'm rewarded with a smile. "I suppose I can just shower at your place tonight."

"Yes, you can absolutely get naked and lather your sexy body up at my place tonight," I say as I start running kisses down her neck. "It's actually encouraged."

"Okay, I'll come tonight," she sighs as I place an open-mouthed kiss on her shoulder.

"Yes, you will be coming tonight, Freckles. Now get away from me before I have you coming on my mouth right now for all your staff to hear this time."

She laughs as she opens the door and practically runs away from me. I smile the entire way back to the table. As soon as I sit down, the guys all look at me.

"You've got it bad, dude," Kyle says.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I tell him. "So, Eric, how's work going? You still gunning for the VP position?"

Liam rolls his eyes. "How you became another corporate scrooge out for only the money is beyond me. What happened to you?"

Eric stiffens in his seat. "You're like a broken record playing on repeat. I get it, you don't like what I've chosen for my career."

Eric has always been the buttoned-up one ever since I've known him. Sure, he can relax and chill with the guys, but he's never been interested in settling down or coasting through his career. He was always a determined guy.

"I'd like it if I thought it made you happy," Liam scoffs .

I let the two bicker over the same old shit while my eyes remain glued to Layla the rest of the evening. Just watching her work stirs up my body in ways I don't even understand. Like when she smiles and I see the crinkles at the corner of her eyes, it makes my heart race in my chest.

I head back home around nine, stopping at the door to wink at Layla before I leave.

It's nearly eleven thirty when she shows up at my house looking exhausted. I pull her into me for a hug, but it only lasts a second before she steps away.

"I must smell like grease and sweat. I can't believe you want to touch me. Let me shower first."

"Come on. I'll get you some towels. On my way home, I picked up some women's shampoo, conditioner, and whatever else I could think of that you would want."

Her eyes go wide as she looks at the counter in my bathroom that's covered with products.

"Did you buy the entire store?"

I chuckle. "I don't know what you like to use. Go ahead, pick whatever you want. I'll be in the bedroom waiting for you."

I give her some space to wind down and relax while I light candles in my bedroom and put lotion on my nightstand. She works her ass off and I'm sure her body is feeling it tonight. I want to spoil her and give her a massage.

She walks out of the steamy bathroom with a towel wrapped around her and wet hair dripping water droplets down her chest. My dick instantly gets hard. Down boy, this is about getting her to relax .

"What is all this?" she asks as she walks into the room.

"Come lie down," I pat the bed next to me. "This is spa night for Layla."

She doesn't argue as she sits next to me.

"Lie down on your stomach," I instruct her.

She looks at me skeptically. "You're serious? Is this gonna last like two minutes, and then you want sex?"

"Of course not," I laugh. "I'm pretty sure if I wanted sex, you'd be all for it."

I raise an eyebrow, waiting for her to try to deny it, but she knows I'm right.

"Good. Glad you agree," I tell her. "Now, lie down on your stomach. Are there any muscles that hurt more than others?"

"My feet and my back," she mumbles into the pillow.

"Got it, babe. Just close your eyes and relax."

I grab the lotion and pour some on my hands, making sure to mix it into my hands first to make it warm. Then sit on the side of her, and start with her shoulders. I can instantly feel the tension in her muscles.

I swear her stubbornness carries through even in a massage. I can feel her muscles fighting with me, not wanting to give up control. Finally, they give in, and she begins to relax.

I pull the towel down until it is just covering her ass and spend the next twenty minutes massaging the rest of her back, letting her moan her way through the entire thing like my dick isn't confused as hell. He wants to know why we are in bed with the woman of our dreams who is naked and moaning, and yet we are not allowed to get in on the action.

Then, I crawl to the end of the bed and grab a foot, working my thumbs into each section, before moving onto the other foot.

I start working her calves as I notice her heavy breathing. I think she's asleep. I smile to myself, thinking I've accomplished what I wanted, so I start crawling over to my space to go to sleep.

Layla lifts her head slightly. "You're done?"

"I thought you were asleep. Do you still want me to massage you?" I ask, still on my hands and knees.

"I want you to touch me."

"Touch you?"

"Please. My new boyfriend was somehow able to make it through an entire massage without trying to have sex. I think it's a little insulting."

I laugh as she makes a pouty face. Then I yank down my grey sweatpants and let my hard dick hang out. I grab it and give it a stroke. "It wasn't because I didn't want to, Freckles. I just wanted to make this about you."

"I appreciate that. Now, touch me," she demands, and I'm not about to make my girl ask me a third time.

I grab the towel and rip it away from her, exposing her ass. I lean in and kiss a cheek as my fingers gently run from her ankle up to the top of her thigh, then I push it out so I can see her pussy.

"Have you been this wet the entire time?" I growl as I look down at her glistening pussy .

"Yes," she whispers.

I spread her cheeks, then run some fingers from her clit to her opening, where I push them inside. From this angle, I need to push my fingers down to hit the spot that I know will make her come. I do it a couple of times, and she is already groaning and panting.

While my fingers continue, I kiss my way from her lower back up to her shoulder.

I whisper in her ear. "Is this what you wanted, Freckles?"

"Yes, please," she begs as she wiggles her ass, pushing my fingers further into her.

"Please, what?" I ask, wanting to know what else she wants.

"Please, fuck me."

She's needy for me and I love it. I pull my sweats off completely and roll over so my body is lying on top of hers, letting most of my weight rest on my elbow. Then I grab my dick and replace my fingers with it, fucking her while she's on her stomach.

It gives me the perfect access to whisper filthy things in her ear. I slide inside of her then lick the patch of skin behind her ear, and she gasps.

"Your ass looks incredible while I fuck this tight pussy," I tell her.

She looks up at me through hooded eyes, and my heart skips a beat. I'll never get over the fact that it's my Freckles who is letting me do these things to her. I lean down and kiss her lips as I pick up the pace .

I put both my hands on the bed so I can hold myself up and really get a look at my view. Her ass, her slender back, her pussy are all in my line of sight, then her beautiful face looking up at me. It's enough to make me feel like I'm about to start to lose it.

I fuck her hard and fast now, desperate and chasing my own release. She screams and tightens around my dick as she comes, letting me know it's for me to let go. As soon as I am done, I fall on top of her.

Both of us are breathing heavily as I pull myself out. I don't have to ask her to stay; thankfully, it's just understood now. A guy doesn't buy out the entire drugstore for just anybody.