Breaking Shaun (19 page)

“So, that guy you were talking to is pretty hot,” Mandy said as she pulled her stuff out of her locker.

I shrugged. “Yeah, he’s not bad.”

Mandy put her purse strap on her shoulder and crossed her arms as she leaned on her locker. She looked at me like I was a puzzle she was trying to piece together. “Are you going to call him? Or are you meeting up with Mr. Text tonight? What about that hottie who came in earlier? How do you know him anyway?” she asked as she watched me close my locker.

“Mr. Text?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, girl. There’s no way a text from a woman got that kind of reaction from you.”

I laughed, and she straightened her back and dropped her arms.

“That is, unless…you’re into women, which is totally fine. Women are hot.”

I started laughing again as I began walking toward the door.

She followed me. “So, which is it?”

She was pushy and persistent, but I knew she meant well, so I didn’t let it bother me.

“I’m not a lesbian.”

“Oh, good!” she exclaimed.

I stopped walking.

She stopped, too. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against gay people, but if you’re straight, that means we can gossip about men.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Mandy was definitely a girl who spoke her mind, and I had to respect her for that.

“So, are you gonna tell me which guy you’re into? Or are you going to leave me hanging over here?”

“Honestly?” I waited for her response.

She grinned, and I knew she wanted to hear it.

“I don’t really get
into
men. I get on them, and then I get off.”

Mandy burst into laughter as she came to put an arm around me, and we walked toward the rear entrance.

“Oh my God. I knew I’d love you.”

“Goddamn, you’re so fucking sexy,” Brad growled as I rode him.

We were in his bed after an hour of eating at a local all-night diner. To his credit, he had been polite, and he’d actually tried to get to know me a little, but I had been careful not to get too personal. I’d had one thing in mind, and that had been getting laid. I’d also hoped to get an orgasm out of the deal. So far, I hadn’t had one, which was why I was on top now. I’d given him a chance to take care of me, but I was growing impatient.

I arched my back and rested my hands on his thighs behind me as I circled my hips faster. I closed my eyes and threw my head back as I felt his dick getting harder. He was going to come soon. It was a race to the finish. I imagined Shaun was under me with his hands gripping my hips as I made him come. The image of Shaun—sweaty and panting with those light green eyes watching me—had me falling over the edge in seconds. I squeezed Brad’s thighs with my fingers, digging my nails in. I began to shake, my insides tightening like a vise, and then I let go. The best part of the orgasm was the moment I let go and allowed myself to just feel.

Brad must have felt it. A few seconds later, his long fingers were pressing into my hips, and he was grunting and swearing as he came. After letting him finish, I rolled onto my side next to him with my head resting on his pillow. I took deep breaths as I basked in the afterglow of my fantastic orgasm.

“God, Natalie, that was fucking amazing,” Brad said between breaths as he tilted his head up to look at me.

His eyes looked lazy, and his cheeks were flushed. He was seemingly basking in that same glow. I smiled and moved onto my back to stretch as my euphoria began to wear off.

Time to come up with an escape plan.
“Well, that was fun. Thanks again for dinner—or breakfast, I guess,” I said with a shrug.

I sat up on the side of the bed and began searching for my clothes.
Where in the hell are my panties?

“That’s it?” Brad asked.

I fastened my bra around my back, and I peered at him over my shoulder. “Is there more?”

“Well, there could be, don’t you think?” Brad asked.

I stood up and pulled my black shirt over my head. “Honestly?”

He nodded as his eyebrows furrowed a little.

“I’m not really the relationship type. I figured that my offer to let you see me naked in the first few minutes of us meeting would have tipped you off.”

He seemed to relax, and he chuckled a little. I pulled my tight black pants on, and then I buttoned and zipped them.

“Okay. So, I’m just a one-night stand then,” he said before pausing. A hopeful look swept over his face. “Or can we do this again?”

“I have your number.” I smiled and winked at him before turning on my heel and walking out of his room.

I never did find my panties.

Twenty-six.

It was May 28, and
I was twenty-six years old today.

I sighed and rolled onto my stomach in my bed. I inhaled, and I was happy that my sheets actually smelled good this time. I guessed I was growing up. I had managed to keep my place fairly clean so far. Granted, it had only been two days, but still, it was an improvement.

It was my birthday, which meant I wasn’t working or doing anything I didn’t want to do for the entire day. Sitting up in my bed, I decided to look at the wave report before making any plans. I grabbed my iPhone off my nightstand and checked the live camera feed on the surf.

Flat. Guess I won’t be surfing.

Unfortunately for me, Virginia wasn’t the best place for surfing.

After using the bathroom, I stood in front of my mirror to brush my teeth, and I had to hold my hair back as I spit into the sink. It was getting too long. Straightening my back, I pushed my fingers through my long brown hair and held it away from my face.

Maybe I’ll get a haircut.

After drying off my face with a towel I kept by my sink, I made my way into my kitchen for some food. I decided this year was going to be a good one. This would be the year that I found my way and stopped wasting time.

After pouring myself a bowl of Cookie Crisp, I stood in my kitchen, leaning against the counter, as I ate. My apartment was so quiet. The silence was almost deafening. With the bowl still in my hand, I walked into my living room and turned on my stereo. Drake’s newest album came blasting through the speakers, and I instantly relaxed.

Sitting down on my couch, I finished my bowl of cereal as I thought about the night before. I had been surprised to see Natalie working at Red, and I would be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. I knew what men thought about when they watched her behind that bar. They were thinking the same things I was, but she’d turned me down. I wondered if she would turn them down, too. I’d seen the way she was watching me when I was dancing with that blonde. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I had her.

She would be at my birthday party tonight. It was time for me to step up my game before someone else did.

I groaned as I woke up to the sound of Nick singing to Lorde in the other room.

Seriously?

I hadn’t made it to bed until almost four that morning, and now it was—

Eight. Oh God.

Rolling over, I picked up my pillow and used it to cover my head as I tried to muffle the sound of my tone-deaf cousin singing “Royals” as loudly as he could.

After a few minutes, I finally gave up and tossed my pillow and blankets aside. Since it was my day off, I promised myself a nap later. Staggering out of my room, I scowled as I walked down the hallway. When I found Nick washing the dishes, my scowl quickly turned into a smirk as I watched him shaking his ass and using a wooden spoon as his microphone. He had no idea I was there, and I instantly regretted not having my phone with me to document this moment. It was definitely blackmail material.

I snuck into the kitchen behind him. Standing only a few feet away, I shouted, “Good morning!”

The wooden spoon went flying, and Nick nearly fell down as he spun around quickly. I started laughing so hard that tears came to my eyes as he stood there, panting and holding his hand over his heart.

“You bitch! That was not funny! I could have had a heart attack.”

I couldn’t respond. I was too busy trying to keep from peeing on myself.

Nick turned the music down and resumed his chores as I finally regained my composure. For a second, I thought he was ignoring me until he asked me where I’d been the night before. He watched me suspiciously, and I knew there was no point in lying to him. He was too damn nosy and perceptive.