Just Between Friends Read online

  "Why does that scare you, Bella?" his mother asked.

  Bella paused. "I...guess, if he... really...”

  “If he really does change you'll have to give him a chance, maybe?”

  “Yeah, how did you know?”

  "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Bella. His father was the same. Before he met me, he went through women like a revolving door."

  Sitting on her couch, Bella was beginning to get a glimmer of understanding. “So what if I did say no to his date with Carmen?"

  “My suggestion? Instead of not letting him, tell him to go and see if he can resist the temptation to be sexual with her. Carmen would be a true test. If he could go out on this date, and at the end of it, he could tell her no sex? If he can tell her no, he's made his choice and means it. It would show who he wants. However, there's risk involved, and it will take a lot of courage from you to let him take that test.”

  “Do you think I have that kind of courage, Liz?” On the edge of her seat waiting for Liz's answer, Bella realized that, between the smell of Seth's cologne on the pillow she was hugging and the excitement of the moment, she was wet with desire.

  I can't believe that talking about this is even making me wet.

  “Only time will tell, Bella, but I think you have all the qualities he needs. I don't know if you know it or not, but before Seth bought his house, he got into a huge argument with us about it. There was a better property closer to us. Seth made at least a dozen excuses as to why he wanted to buy that particular house. For every excuse Seth made, his dad shot each one down, until he got to the heart of the matter. 'Because Bella, lives next door.' And his dad dropped it. He knew a losing battle when he heard it.”

  "Wow, I just thought he wanted someone to wax his car." Bella tried to break the tension with a joke but it wasn't working.

  "I don't think it has anything to do with his car, Bella. I know you're worried he's going to hurt you, but love is like that. If you don't ever take a chance, you'll never find it.”

  "I guess not, but I wasn't expecting it to be so scary.” Bella squeezed the pillow harder, burying her nose in it.

  "But it can be the best thing that ever happens to you when it works out. Do you trust him, Isabella?"

  Bella stalled, not because she didn't know the answer, but because admitting it to Liz meant she was going to have to take a chance on Seth. “ Yes. He's my best friend and always will be.”

  * * * *

  “Seth, you're a hard man to track down,” Carmen announced as she knocked on his office door. Looking up from his paperwork, a necessary evil of his job, he looked at her with a blank look, hoping she wasn't here with the goal of messing up his plans with Bella.

  “Carmen, I wasn't expecting to see you today.” He pulled off his glasses, which he only needed for reading.

  Sauntering over and perching on the edge of his desk, she asked. “So, when are you planning on tying me to the bed again, Stud?”

  “Excuse me?” His face reddened as he glanced at the open doorway. Anyone could walk by and hear her.

  “Come on, Stud, you know the date is superficial. At the end of the night, I will end up where I want to be, tied to your bed while you fuck me senseless.” She trailed a red painted fingernail up his sleeve. “But if you want to call it a date, that's fine, as long as I get my prize at the end of the night.”

  Glancing at the clock behind her, he knew he had to get her out of his office. Bella and Marissa were due to arrive any minute.

  “What night is good for you?” He shoved the papers into a folder.

  “Any night, Stud. I don't even care if it's a work night. You're worth the sick day.” Carmen purred, before her lips settled in a little moue men simply found irresistible.

  “Let me check what night Bella and I are going out and I'll get back to you.” Seth ushered her to the door as he tried to stall her.

  “Excuse me? Why are you going out with her when you could have this?” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her ample tits against him.

  “You weren't the only one who won a date at the auction.” Seth realized he enjoyed taunting his old flame with Bella.

  “What can that little mouse give you that I can't? I remember how hot we were together, Stud? I want that again. You can't tell me you've have forgotten.” She pouted as he untangled himself from her arms.

  Uncomfortable with the memories of the time spent in bed with her luscious body, he shifted. He was different now. It was the last thing he would have expected.

  “I'm sorry but I have a patient waiting for me.” With a firm hold, he turned her toward the door.

  “What's the rush? Your patient can wait. I'm sure you would much rather play with this body, wouldn't you?”

  He kept guiding her forward until they were standing out side of his office. Pulling the door closed behind him, he decided to do some damage control. The last thing he needed was Carmen making a scene. He gave her the “old Seth” smile. If Bella let him go out with Carmen, he wanted to be able to tease the other woman.

  “Sure, baby, I want to play, but I have to go now. I promise I'll call you soon as I can.”

  “You better, Stud.” Standing on her tiptoes, she fastened her mouth to his. She let loose her tongue to play with his but his response was less enthusiastic than she had expected. Still pissed, she broke off the kiss and stomped her foot. “I bought and paid for you, Seth. I expect to get my money's worth. And that pathetic display wasn't even close.” Walking off in a huff, she left Seth to deal with his new found knowledge.

  Seth had let her have her way, but in his lack of effort he'd discovered something. He'd felt nothing, no spark or passion for Carmen. This was the strangest feeling for him, to have a beautiful woman he'd lusted after mere months ago and now, she had no effect on his libido.

  I can do this! I can be loyal to Bella.

  Seth entered the therapy room, expecting to find Marissa and Bella waiting for him, but his Bella was nowhere to be seen. He glanced at the other nurse, Linda, who attended Marissa

  “Hey Linda, where's Bella at?”

  “She came down, but then came back to the nurse's station saying she wasn't feeling all that well and asked if I could fill in.” Linda continued her combing out of the little girl's hair, when Marissa added her two cents.

  “Nurse Bella saw you with the woman with yellow hair, and she got upset. Then she took me back to nurse Linda.”

  Seth forced a smile on his face while dread filled the pit of his stomach. Looking at Linda for verification of Marissa's story, he hoped in vain wasn't true.

  '”She did seem upset. Her eyes were quite red.”

  “She cried when she saw you kiss her, and she didn't want to be near the yellow haired lady. Did she make nurse Bella sick?” Marissa's story was as innocent as the four-year-old herself, and it confirmed Seth's worse fears. Feeling ill himself, Seth reassured Marissa about her favorite nurse.

  “I don't think so, sweetheart, but as soon as we get done playing, I'll check on her.” Seth wanted to hunt Bella down and explain but Marissa had to come first. Lifting the girl out of her chair with ease, he knelt with her on the mat.

  “Ready to play, sweetheart?”

  “Yea!” she squealed as she gave him a quick hug.

  “Well, let's get to it.” Hoping his therapeutic work time with Marissa would take his mind off the apprehension in his gut, he wondered how his best intentions had blown up in his face.

  After his session with Marissa, Seth headed for the nurse's lounge in search of Bella. He knew she was still here because from his office he could see the parking lot and her car was still parked next to his. Knocking on the door to the lounge, he popped his head into the room. Looking up from her coffee and newspaper, Bella surged to her feet, intent on leaving.

  Glancing around the room, he realized they were the only two people in the lounge so he shut the door behind him and twisted the lock.

  “What do you want, Seth, as
if I don't know? If you're looking for a double dip, you're out of luck, Romeo. I don't do leftovers. What the fuck made me think I could trust you?” Bella glared at him, challenging him and confirming she'd seen Carmen kissing him.

  “What are you talking about? I saw you kiss her and it looked real to me. Do you think I'm stupid?” She pulled away from him when he tried to take her hand.

  “It's my reputation, isn't it, Bella? That's the crux of the problem you're having about dating me? You've seen me kiss my lovers before, right?”

  “What does that have to do with it?”

  “Think carefully about what you think you saw. Did I slide my hands to Carmen's ass or squeeze one of her tits? Did I pull her against me or lift her up to align her pussy against my cock? Or did you see me standing there, just letting Carmen kiss me?”

  It hit Bella right between the eyes. She'd seen him kiss his lovers before and he was right. She hadn't seen him respond to Carmen's kiss. “You mean you let her kiss you, and. . .”

  He finished her sentence. “Felt absolutely nothing. For the first time ever with a woman, I might add. It's rather scary, if you want my honest opinion.”

  It was hard to believe, but somehow the pieces fit for Isabella. I'm not sure why but I believe him. Reaching out, she took his hand. “Okay, I believe you, Seth, but where do we go from here?” Her question was a double edged sword, meant to find out what he was thinking. Will he push for sex right here, returning to his old habits?

  Letting out a huge sigh, his relief evident. Seth seemed to relax for the first time since he'd entered the room.

  . “Can I hold you for a couple of minutes, Isabella? I feel like a total bastard now. I hate hurting you and disappointing Marissa," he whispered, his voice tight and soft, seeking her permission, something Seth rarely did.

  "I'm sorry I overreacted, but it looked just awful. Is Marissa okay? I know she was upset to see me upset.” Moving into his arms, she let him hug her and rested her cheek against his shoulder, ignoring the flash of desire settling in her loins.

  “She will be when she sees you're okay. You're her favorite nurse, remember?” Seth tipped his head, smelling the clean sweet scent of her chestnut hair and relishing the warmth of her body. He sighed as his cock stirred and he got confirmation of what he'd suspected. The sexy Carmen didn't turn him on but Bella did. Maybe this is what Dad meant by maturing and becoming a responsible man

  Unable to control his thoughts, he found that, with his erection stirring, they turned to sex, and having Isabella this close to him didn't help. He pushed those thoughts away. No, I was lucky to not lose her today. I'm not going to be stupid and fuck this up!

  * * * *

  "Bella!" Seth called from the back yard. It had been a week since the kissing incident with Carmen, and he was still dodging the blonde vixen. Standing by the grill, he flipped the burgers. Like most guys, he loved to grill.

  "Just a second, I'm coming," she yelled from the kitchen.

  "Not yet, you're not, sweetheart, but I'm going to make you come like crazy when you make up your mind.” Seth muttered the words so she couldn't hear him but he couldn't help thinking of that day. This last week had been one of the most difficult times he ever experienced, but he wasn't going to fail at this, just because he was horny. This is too important to me.

  "Here's that plate you wanted.” Bella interrupted his thoughts and she was thinking of kissing him, but when he focused his hot gaze on her, she froze. He had that I-want-to-eat-you look in his eye, which meant he was thinking about having sex with her again. The look aroused her and frightened her at the same time. While he'd been suppressing his libido, she'd been thinking about him almost 24/7 and her desire for him was simmering just beneath the surface. She now realized what was going to be the most important part of their first time. I want to be the one to initiate it. It's the only way I can be sure he isn't reverting back to his old habits.

  "Thanks, sweetheart." Taking the plate away from her, he made sure he brushed her arm as he did.

  “No problem.” She seemed visibly affected by his touch. She glanced away and busied herself by grabbing the used plate they had brought the raw meat out on.

  ""So, where are we going tomorrow night?" Seth asked as he leaned back and eyed his beautiful friend across the patio table they shared.

  "Tomorrow night?" Bella seemed confused.

  "Our charity date. You said Friday would be good."

  "Oh, yeah, I forgot.” She hadn't forgotten, in fact she was looking forward to it with an odd combination of excitement and dread.

  "I've been holding off Carmen. She calls every day, but I need to go out with you. Have you made a decision about whether or not I should go out with her? She won't put up with this forever.”

  Hours later, Bella sat there with a shocked look on her face. Her body was humming with unfulfilled desire and she definitely had a date with her vibrator later. Damn that man, he was driving her up the wall. Standing up, she paced about her room knowing a decision had to be made or she might exhaust Seth's patience with her. Realizing she wouldn't have a coherent thought while her body was frustrated she yanked off all her clothes. Lying down on her bed, she reached into her drawer for her vibrator but she felt only empty space where her it usually sat. Sitting up on one arm, she pulled the drawer farther open to see inside. Where the hell is my vibrator?

  "Looking for something, Bella?" Seth asked from the doorway, his hands tucked into his pockets, leaning against the open door. Busy with her search for her vibrator, she hadn't heard him. Flopping back on her bed, she vowed not to kill him.

  Startled, her hands went to pull up the sheets to cover her nude body, but she suppressed them. "Are you getting a good look, Seth? You simply walk into women's bedrooms now?” Looking at his eyes, she could tell he was entranced by her glistening nakedness, and wondered if he even could speak.

  "That's not even fair, Bella. You're not just any woman to me.”

  “Well then, what do you want?”

  “I just wanted you to feel what I have. To be crazy with desire and not be able to sate it.”

  Approaching the bed, he gasped at the vision of her breasts with their sharp, rosy nipples. Looking closer, his hunger evident, he took in her long legs, and her bare pussy mound. Oh God, she waxes. I can't wait to bury my face in it.

  Taking a deep, cleansing breath, he got hold of himself before it was too late. Reaching in his pocket, he took out her vibrator and laid it on the bed beside her. “I'm going to leave you with two things, Isabella, your vibrator and a promise.”

  Looking her over, he grabbed the sheets and pulled them over her nakedness. “I've come to a decision and it wasn't easy. My actions are making your decision harder. I can see that now. I've decided to remove my negative influence from the equation. From now on, I don't mention sex, look at you with raw desire or talk about your body. The next move in our physical relationship is yours to make, for better or worse. As far as Carmen's persistence about our date, when she calls me tomorrow, I'm going to set up a date, take her to dinner as promised, and explain things to her. I don't want her-I want you.”

  “Why the one-eighty, Seth?” Bella asked, curious as to what had brought on this change of attitude.

  “I can be a better man, Bella, one worthy of you, but it means nothing to say it if I won't stand behind it.” For a moment the silence between them grew.

  During the silence, Bella mourned what she had once hated, the loss of her best friend's sexual appetite. Just when I'm close to saying yes, he decides to withdraw his smoldering sexuality, leaving me to be the aggressor.

  “Is this permanent? Or is Seth the lover still in there if I make a move to bring him out?”

  Seth's breath released all at once, like the weight of the world was lifting from his shoulders. To hear her say there might be a chance was enough reward for the risk he was taking. Now more certain he was on the right path, he told her. “Oh he's still here, but he's not going to play unless h
e's invited to. From now on he puts you and only you first.”

  “And if I never ask him to play, Seth?” She had to ask, but she was more interested in how he acted than the actual answer. If he turns on the ego and tells me what I am going to do, it's the same old Seth, but if he takes it calmly and walks away, then I have a tough decision to make.

  “Then so be it.” Winking at her, he turned and walked from her bedroom softly whistling.

  * * * *

  Bella paced back and forth the next afternoon, smoothing down the long swirling skirt she wore. Not very comfortable in the skirt, she wondered what the hell she'd been thinking when she'd offered a picnic and a late night stroll at the waterfront.

  She'd gone to Seth's favorite deli to get the feast for their picnic and had arranged to have a horse-drawn carriage take them to the water front. Everything was in order and she knew it, but it didn't stop that 'pins and needles feeling'.

  "Hey there, you look good.” Turning to look at him as he greeted her, she thought he did too. He looked sweet in khaki shorts and a polo shirt and she felt overdressed.

  "Don't say a word about the dress."

  "What? You look beautiful, Bella."

  "I feel like a fool. I don't do dresses, romantic picnics and moonlit strolls. What the hell am I doing?"

  "Stop, Isabella, you're putting yourself down, and I won't listen to it," Seth growled as he looked into her eyes. “You look damn fine, and there's a gentleman here who wishes the pleasure of your company.” Extending his arm for her to take, he made a gentle bow.

  Looking into his eyes, it was what she didn't see that made her crazy. The good enough to eat look is gone but now I wish it was there. What was it he said? I have to make the first move to initiate our intimacy?

  Seth moved to the fridge to fetch the little used picnic basket, but when he turned around, Bella was gone.

  Upstairs in her bathroom, her ragged breathing barely under control, she splashed some water on her face and tried to regain her composure. Even though he'd given her back her vibrator, the buzzing tool no longer seemed to be enough to satisfy her. I came three times last night, but I still want him. He used to talk about burying his cock inside of me, and I think that's what I need right now, but how do I ask him?