Landon's Obsession: An Endless Series: Book 3 (Series 3) (20 page)

     “I know it’s only seven, but I don’t know if I’m up to
going back down there. It’s been a really long, jam-packed day.” She mumbled,
rummaging through her bag.

     “So let’s stay up here and watch a movie.” I stated,
headed for my bag.

     She looked up in surprise. “Really!? But this is your
party; don’t you have to be down there to like, keep an eye on everyone?”

     I pulled some boxers out of my bag. “Even if I was down
there I wouldn’t be policing everyone. Everyone knows to keep the party outside
except for when they’re ready for bed, and then they crash were they can.”

     She smiled in pleasure. “That sounds really nice. We
haven’t been able to do this, hang out casually at each others houses. Our
secrecy thing has made that kind of difficult.” She grimaced.

     “So let’s do that tonight. I’ll run down to the kitchen
to grab us some snacks and drinks, and then we’ll veg up here the rest of the
night.” I didn’t care if I went back to the party or not. This weekend had been
about spending time with her, and staying up here, just her and me, sounded
perfect.

     Her smiled turned even more brilliant. “Okay. Do you
need help?”

     “Nope. Maya, I’m dropping my towel.” I warned her
before letting it fall.

     She gasped, looked down, and then blushed before
looking away. “Landon!” She exclaimed in embarrassment.

     Grinning, I pulled my boxers on, as well as some
shorts. “I warned you.”

     “Barely.” She made herself busy by pulling out some
clothes.

     Not bothering with a shirt I stepped over to her,
giving her a quick kiss on her flushed cheek. “I’ll be back in a few minutes;
you can use that time to get ready.”

     I worked quickly downstairs; microwaving some popcorn,
cutting up some peaches and strawberries, and grabbing four water bottles. The
party was still going strong outside and would probably go till the early
morning hours, and I had no interest in joining them. Instead, I dashed up the
stairs in anticipation at spending more time with Maya.

∞                    ∞                   
∞

     I woke up to the strangest, but interesting feeling in
the world. It took me a few moments to assimilate to my surroundings, but when
I did I relaxed in surprising relief, and contentment.

     I’d fallen asleep only a few times with girls after
sex, but each time I’d woken up in no way feeling relief or contentment. It had
been more like anger, like with Crissy, or alarm at having to possibly deal
with females thinking I stayed because I wanted more time with them when in
fact I’d just been too drunk to leave. During those times I’d at least moved to
a different location, like a chair or couch.

     This time I’d fallen asleep completely aware of what I
was doing. Maya had passed out before me last night, around halfway through our
second movie, and after she had I’d scooted in even closer to her, laying my
arm over her abdomen, me head next to hers. I didn’t question my need to be
near her as we’d slept, I’d just gone with it.

      And now, this morning, I was spooned up against Maya’s
backside and my cock was trying to poke a hole through my shorts in an effort
to get to her. Unfortunately, she still wasn’t ready for that yet so I knew I
had to get out of this bed before I lost the hold on my control. With one last
inhalation of her scent that had my dick throbbing painfully, I carefully disentangled
myself from her so as not to wake her.

     She sighed deeply, shifted, but remained asleep.

     After quietly brushing my teeth, washing my face,
pissing, and giving Maya one last longing look, I made my way downstairs. There
were bodies everywhere, inside and out, and the place was a mess, but I ignored
it all heading toward the water front.

     I needed to expel some of my pent up energy and
frustration, and the only way to do that was going to be though some exercise…I’d
been doing a lot of that for the last month. Hence, I did a twenty minute run
down the beach and back, and after that I headed for the indoor exercise pool; a
twenty by six swimming pool with a current that was used chiefly for swimming
laps.

     After another twenty minutes of that I climbed out,
wrapped a towel around my waist, and headed for the kitchen for something to
eat. When I neared the kitchen I heard some voices and slightly surprised that
anyone was up yet since it was only eight-thirty in the morning.

     Recognizing Maya’s voice I smiled in delight and
figured she must be talking to her friend, Gabby. Unconsciously, I stopped,
wanting to know what they were discussing before I walked in. I know I was
being suspicious, but alas, that was my nature. Except, the other voice I
overheard wasn’t Gabby’s. It was Conner’s.

     I was amazed the douche bag was up this early.

     “So, you and Landon seem to be getting closer.” Landon
remarked.

     “I guess.” Maya replied, sounding hesitant.

     She sounded unsure. Why? We
were
getting closer,
was she being hesitant because she just didn’t want to discuss it with someone
she barely knew. I could understand that.

     “We’re pretty close friends, so I can tell you anything
you might want to know about him.”

     I frowned;
what the hell Conner!?
I didn’t need
him spilling any of my secrets.

     “But would he want you doing that?” Maya answered,
reading my mind. I was pleased that she didn’t take him up on his offer,
although I didn’t think Conner would spill anything significant.

     “You know, you don’t have to clean up. Landon has a
cleaning crew that comes in and takes care of everything.” I thought I heard a
smidgen of derision in Conner’s voice. This had my eyes narrowing in anger and
I snuck a look around the corner to see Maya cleaning up a counter area while
Conner watched her wearing faint expression of mockery on his face.

     I held back from the intense desire to interrupt,
because I needed to watch this play out.

     Maya shrugged as she continued to clean. “I wanted to
make something to eat and I can’t do that while it’s a mess in here. I don’t
mind cleaning up a mess that I was partly involved in making either.”

     Conner stepped up next to her and I stiffened in
jealous fury. Was he seriously making a play? He’d done it before and I hadn’t
given a shit then, but he should have known that Maya was different.

     It was getting harder to hold back.

     It looked like Maya made a move to put some distance
between them…at least, I hope that’s what she was doing.

     “Yeah, I heard you were a maid in his house so you are
probably accustomed to cleaning up shit, but why do it if you don’t have to.” I
watched his gaze travel her frame as he spewed his crap. Maya had pulled on a
pair of shorts and a white t-shirt. Simple outfit that looked amazing on her.  

     “I’m pretty sure I just said why, Conner.” She three
him a smile, but it looked tight to me, and I wondered if it was because of the
maid comment or because he was moving further into her personal space. After
speaking she moved over to the garbage to dump some trash, taking herself out
of his range. “I was going to make some eggs and toast, would you like some?”

    
Was she asking to be nice, or did she want to
?

     “Sure, I’m not going to say no to food.” He smiled
arrogantly, the ass. “You know, Landon’s not really the relationship type. I
just want to tell you this for a head’s up, in case you were hoping.”

     I gritted my teeth, my anger increasing.  

     Maya appeared to freeze momentarily, but then she
started opening cupboards, before finding and pulling out a wash cloth. “I’ve
been made aware of this,” was all she responded back with.

     Conner walked toward her, very near to touching her. My
fists clenched. “You don’t seem like a hit and release female, Maya. Why would
you let yourself be used that way?”

     Maya ran the wash cloth under the water before walking
away again. Was she keeping her distance from him because she didn’t want him
near her, or did she want him chasing her? Some chicks were like that.

     “Who said I was being used?” Maya retorted, and I heard
anger in her tone.

     Conner’s gaze narrowed on her, and then he laughed.
“Are you trying to tell me that you guys haven’t had sex, because I wasn’t born
yesterday?” His laugh cut short as Maya continued cleaning without replying.
“Although…that would explain his continued interest. Landon’s pretty
competitive; he’d view that as a challenge. Is that what you’re doing, Maya?
Have you been making yourself hard to get?” He asked with another contemptuous
laugh.

     I grew angrier at his derisive attitude, even though it
had crossed my mind, and still lingered there.

     Maya frowned and began to vigorously wipe down the
counter. “Conner, I really don’t want to talk about mine and Landon’s
relationship with you. I know you are one of Landon’s close friends, but it’s
really none of your business.”

     Why didn’t she say ‘no’? Although, it really wasn’t any
of Conner’s business. I was torn, because I wanted her to say ‘no’.

     Conner moved into her space again. “I want to make it
my business, Maya. You are too sweet for Landon. He’ll use you up and spit you
out. But I won’t.” He actually touched her this time, trailing a finger down
her arm, and my control finally slipped. “When I look at you I see more than a
challenge. You’re special, Maya. You’re made for more than a fuck. I can see
that, I doubt Landon does.”

     Both their backs were to me as I stepped around the
corner. I strode across the kitchen, grabbed Conner’s arms, spun him away from
Maya, and then followed that with a blow to the jaw.

     He went sprawling and Maya screamed.

     I paced after him as he crabbed walked backwards trying
to stand. “What the hell, Landon? What did you do that for?” He exclaimed
crossly.

     “You touched her, Conner, when you knew how I feel
about her.” I waited for him to stand so I could punch him again.
Unfortunately, he stayed down.

     “Landon, I was just testing her. I promise. I know how
you feel and I just wanted to make certain she wasn’t like the others.” He held
up a hand holding me off, his expression uneasy.

     I wanted to believe him, because we’d been friends for
years and he knew how I felt about the women who chased me for my money, but I
wasn’t certain, and fury and jealousy rode me too hard to distinguish whether
he was telling the truth, or just trying to appease me.

     Fists clenched in anger, I glared down at him. “Maybe,”
was all I could muster between my teeth. “But at this moment I’m too angry to
see it that way so get out of my sight before I beat the shit out of you.”

     Conner stood slowly, and I could see on his face he
couldn’t believe I was choosing Maya instead of him. “Okay. We’ve been friends
a long time so hopefully you’ll be ready to listen to me later, because Bro’s
come first, buddy.”   

     He was lucky he phrased it that way instead of the
other or I would have knocked his teeth down his throat. “Just go, Conner.”  

     Without delay he was out the room, and I watched him go
in frustrated anger. I took in two deep breaths and then turned to face Maya.
She stood there frozen, staring at me with eyes wide, hands clasped on the
counter behind her.

     “Do you think he was testing you?” I growled. And then
I wondered why I wanted her opinion. Would she even tell me the truth? Fuck, I
didn’t know what to believe, all I knew was I wanted her and I got pissed when
someone interfered with us.

     “I don’t know?” She answered hurriedly, still staring
at me in shock. “I hope so.”

     I moved to stand directly in front of her, our gazes
locked in silent communication even as we conversed verbally. “Why do you hope
so?” I pressed. Emotions rode me hard and I really wanted to haul her into my
arms and…do something. Too many ideas were bombarding me to decide on one.

     “Because he’s a good friend of yours, and what he said
is something you’ve said you worry about.”

     “Are you playing me, Maya?” I asked angrily.

     Her expression darkened in similar anger. “No, Landon,
I’m not, but I could ask you the same question because he fed on my
insecurities as well. Am I just a challenge to you? Once you screw me do I
become like the rest?”

     I started at her phrasing. I’d never thought about my
suspicions as insecurities. They were facts. But what she said did enlighten me
about hers, and I couldn’t deny that she had grounds for her doubts; especially
since my
friend
drew attention to them.

     A couple days ago I wouldn’t have been sure of my
answer, but I was now. Gripping her arms, I pressed her up against me. “No,
Maya, you are not just a challenge, and you are not like the rest. Conner did
utter one truth; you are special.”

     Her gaze searched mine keenly. “Okay…and I say that
because I want it to be the truth. I really, really like you, Landon. We’ve
only know each other for a short time but I feel like I’ve known you forever,
it makes me feel comfortable around you. On the other hand, the emotions you
elicit in me are intense; exhilarating and daunting at the same time, and they
are ceaselessly keeping me on my toes. I’m trying my best to keep them
controlled, but it’s very difficult, as was displayed last night.” She gave a
small grimace. “I know you have a natural suspicion for females, thinking they
are always trying to hook you for your money, but I have to tell you that I’m
in this because I think there’s something between us. I need to know if you
feel the same?” 

     Again, if she had asked me this a few days ago, I would
have probably balked at discussing such a topic, and though still disturbed by
what I was feeling, I could answer her truthful discomfort. “Maya, I want to
see where this is going because when I’m with you I feel…more.” It was the best
I could do.