Page 29 of The Bitter Rival

An hour later, we’re dried off and are heading to The Zone to pick up Katarina. I have no idea why I’ve joined him other than this is the most relaxed I’ve been since… well, since Isabella was in my bed. Shaking that thought from my mind, I look through the windshield as the car begins to come to a stop. I send Charlie a quick text letting him know I’ll need him to slide by and pick me up after a quick drink. I have no plans to stay here long. Maybe I should pick up a sweet co-ed while I’m here. I’m relaxed enough I could probably enjoy a leisurely romp without letting my mind wander to women I can’t have.

Nick finds a spot and points toward the line of college-aged kids extending from the front doors.

“Hell. I’m not waiting in that.”

“No, Kat’s going to meet us. She said they’re all done for the night.”

Retrieving my phone from my back pocket, I text Charlie that it appears I won’t be having a drink after all. I barely hit send before raucous commotion bursts from the doors. Lifting my head, I recognize Katarina, Erin, and another guy I think works in the radiology department at St. Luke’s. This has barely registered before I see Isabella coming out of the doors, face flushed and beautiful in a short black dress, on the arm of none other than Jeff. My shoulders stiffen as I take in their casual familiarity. His proximity is closer than one would expect a coworker to stand.Are they intoxicated?Is this who she was running home to?As the question taunts me, I notice Isabella has stopped moving and is staring directly at me. I can’t read her expression. This night’s taken a nosedive. Fuck this. I’m going home.

Isabella

What on earth is he doing here?Attempting to keep some semblance of control, I’ve been careful not to have too much to drink tonight. I’m still taking an Uber, so I don’t have to risk driving, but I need to remember these are potential work colleagues. I don’t need to do or say anything that could get back to the job. As well, I can’t let Jeff think I’m interested in anything more than a friendship. Loneliness fueled by alcohol can be a combustible combination.

Yet, the last thing I expected to see when we came out of the club was smoking hot Sebastian Lee standing in the parking lot. And talk about flammable. I’ve never seen him looking this casual. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a smoke show in his expensive suits and scrubs. But standing tall with his legs spread shoulder-width apart, one hand tucked into his dark jeans, his black long sleeve button down clinging to the firm muscles of his chest and arms is more tantalizing than I was prepared for. His dark inky hair has fallen over his forehead, almost appearing damp. I just want to run my fingers through the tousled strands.

Trying to allow the cool night air to bring my mind into focus, I look over to Kat, who is wearing a strange expression.What is that all about?There’s no time to continue considering her morse code when Nick swoops in, wrapping his arms about her.

“Did you have a good time, kitten?”

“Yes.”

“Did you save the Dirty Librarian for me?”

A giggle escapes me before I can stop it, contemplating this saucy little conversation I’ve eavesdropped on.

Katarina flicks her eyes over to me and answers, “Yes. Only for you.”

My cheeks pink, and a warm sensation tickles my senses at the voyeuristic moment. Unable to stop it, I allow my gaze to drift back to Sebastian, only to find he’s gone. I can feel my face fall at this realization. Unsure how to interpret the disappointment I now feel, my eyes reconnect with Kat, who is now wearing an unmistakable look. It’s a knowing look.Don’t be silly. You’ve probablyhad more to drink than you thought. One of Katarina’s well-manicured dark brows lifts in question, and there’s no doubt. She knows.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Sebastian

Well, that didn’t last long.Something tells me getting back into the Jacuzzi and having another beer won’t bring back the relaxation from earlier either. To think I thought I might try to get laid, just to have the star of my wet dreams walk out on the arm of someone I have to work with day in and day out.

This is the longest I can ever recall going without getting any pussy. It would anger me if it weren’t so ridiculous. I’ve never let a woman get to me like this. I could probably get Charlie to take me to any bar in town and find a willing partner. But, I already know it won’t matter. Any sex would be lackluster after her. The masseuse in Bali practically threw herself at me, and I turned her down spectacularly.

It’s probably some weird mid-life crisis. Questioning my life choices. Either that, or Nick and Kat have put some sort of hex on me to join their honeymooners’ club.

The drive is short from the club to the house. I throw open my door, heading up my front steps without so much as a ‘goodnight’ to Charlie. Nothing new to him, I’m sure. So long as he gets paid, I doubt he cares. I stomp up the stately steps to the double front doors and instinctively turn the knob, realizing I left the door unlocked. The home is set back from the main road with security cameras marked along the drive, so I’ve never truly worried about a break-in. More so, an invasion of my privacy from my ludicrous brother.

Recalling his recent phone call, I shout into the empty space. “Sam? You here?” Satisfied I’m alone, I grab a scotch from the bar and flop myself onto the couch. This is depressing. How did I go from such a phenomenal evening with my friend to this? I let the burn of the scotch grab my attention ever so briefly before the conversation from earlier returns to my mind. What would it be like to have a partner waiting at home for me? To have something akin to the relationship Nick and Kat enjoy.

Shaking my head at this nonsense, I take another sip of the mind-numbing amber liquid. “Fairy tales,” I utter aloud. I need to face the music. It’s me and the hand again tonight. I’ll finish off this scotch, pound one out, and try and get a good night’s sleep. I need to embrace a brighter outlook tomorrow.

Swirling the remaining alcohol in my crystal highball tumbler, I can’t help but recall the way I felt when I saw Isabella come out of the club with Jeff. For the briefest of moments, our eyes connected, and I felt she wanted me too. But I need to face it. That’s twice I’ve seen them entwined. He’d be much better for her anyway.You’re not your parents. I hear Nick correcting me.

Throwing back the last drops of scotch, I stand from my leather couch. Placing my glass into the sink, I unbutton the top few buttons of my shirt and pull it overhead as I make my way to the bedroom. Removing the rest of my clothes, I get into bed and exhale. What the fuck has become of my sex life where I’d rather jack off to visions of this woman than get pussy with a pulse?

Reaching down, I find I’m semihard just thinking about her. It doesn’t take long, replaying the dirty pictures of our hot night together before I’m stiff. I can almost feel her soft skin against my chest as I remember how her body felt wriggling underneath me. The memory of her scent makes my mouth water. My tongue dips over my lower lip, yearning for the taste of her. Her warm, flushed skin. Her nipples. Her swollen, wet folds. Her arousal was like honey on my tongue. I jerk my engorged dick harder, imagining my fingers teasing her opening, wet and willing for my entrance. Everything about that night is burned in my memory. The way she arched her back as I thrust inside her. Her heady moans comingled with the sounds of our flesh slapping together. Our union was animalistic and raw but different than the nameless encounters of my past. It felt as if I could just fuck her hard enough, there’d be more.But more what?It was like she held the key to something elusive.

Fisting my cock harder, I strain to feel the electricity present when she was here in my bed.I should have never washed these sheets.Saved a pillowcase or something. Maybe the scent of her would give me what I need to cross the finish line.

I picture how she looked, kneeling at my feet, taking me down her throat. She was focused on her pleasure, which only added to mine. It was something to behold. Her cheeks would hollow with the glide of her mouth up and down my length and push me closer and closer to release. But watching her succumb to her carnal desires had me holding back for more. It was all I could do to keep from emptying down her throat, but I had to feel her wrapped around me.

Tugging harder on my dick, I can tell I’m getting close. There’s a familiar sensation building in my balls, and while it won’t consume me as she had, it’ll be enough for tonight.

Picturing her sweet, dusky pink nipples sitting proudly on display for me, I cup my balls and prepare for my release. Only a few more strokes and-

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