Thirteen (Love by Numbers Book 4) (27 page)

“W
ake up, sleepyhead.” Kisses feather across my closed eyelids but I refuse to wake up from the warmth of my dream.

“You look beautiful with dried drool at the corner of your mouth.”

That does the trick and I spring upright before I even open my eyes, vigorously rubbing at my mouth with my hand.

The sneaky git has the cheek to chuckle, “I thought that’d wake you up. Why are girls so worried about a bit of dribble?”

His broad grin is the first thing my sleep heavy eyes see and what a sight to wake up to. My girl parts tingle and demand a replay of last night so I lean forward to place a kiss on his lips, then remember his teasing remark and pull back, abruptly covering my mouth with my hand. “Morning breath.” I explain.

He removes my hand and before I can protest he seals my lips with his, licking at my mouth with his minty breath. I run my hand down his arm and furrow my brow when my hand doesn’t meet bare skin.

“Why are you dressed?”

He pulls back to look at me just enough that I don’t get cross-eyed. “I have to go to work. First day remember? Do you fancy meeting me for lunch, or I could bring something back from the deli and we could eat here?”

“You don’t have to come all the way back here for lunch; I’ll be fine.”

“But I won’t, I won’t be fine. I want to have lunch with my girl, I don’t have to but I’m selfish, remember?”

His face holds the hint of a smile but I see the seriousness of his words. He’s just admitted that he’s going to miss me.

“You, Harry Brown, are the least selfish person I know. I’d love to have lunch with you.” Then I kiss him, morning breath completely forgotten when his soft lips touch mine.

H
arry insisted that I go back to bed and sleep awhile longer, so when my phone rings a few hours later, I’m totally disorientated from waking up in a room that’s not mine. For a blissful second, I forget everything that’s happened over the last few days and bury my head in the pillow, sniffing it like a stalker trying to absorb Harry’s scent.

When my phone buzzes with a voicemail, I huff out an annoyed breath and reach for it on the nightstand without removing my face from the soft and deliciously smelling pillow. I fumble with it for a second, then manage to hit play and bring it to my ear.

“Lils, it’s me. I’m bringing my stuff over this afternoon. Mum and Dad are doing my head in and I need to escape before we come to blows. I can still stay at Harry’s, right? He’s not changed his mind? Well, tough if he has, I’m coming anyway. Oh… and before I forget, we need to go back and grab some stuff from the apartment.” She hesitates and when she speaks again her voice is softer, “I mean, I’d go on my own but… I don’t know what you want to get, so thought it would be best to go together. Okay, well… call me when you get this. Love you long time.”

I roll over onto my side and end the message.

My feisty, independent, fearless and strong sister doesn’t want to go back there alone. I did this to her. My mistakes, my weakness and it kills me.

I hit redial and she picks up so quickly that it doesn’t even ring.

“Hey, Lils. So is it okay for me to stay?”

“Of course it is, Harry told you he’d covered it with Nate. Want me to come and get you after lunch?”

Her voice is overly cheerful; it’s forced and not like Nicola at all. “Nah, I’ll come and get you in the Mini. Save you driving all the way here. We can call in the apartment on our way back unless you want to wait for Harry to help?”

My sister would never normally ask for reinforcements; she’ll hate herself if I ask how’s she’s doing, though.

“Nah, we got this. I’ll see you around two-ish?”

“Sounds like a plan. Love you long time, Lils.”

“Love you big time, Nic.”

I have to fight past the lump in my throat and hang up before she hears the sob that leaves my chest.

I feel sorry for myself for a little while and indulge in a pity party for one. Then, I pull up my big girl knickers and wash it all away with a shower.

I have an hour, maybe a little more before Harry is home and I think I should find some way to thank him for everything.

Yes, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll head out quickly, grab some supplies and be back in time to surprise him.

M
y first morning working for Nate goes by in a flash. His computer systems need a major overhaul meaning the last bloke he employed was either severely lacking or lazy. Maybe a touch of both.

I really do have my work cut out for me but getting a sweet office to myself and reassurances from Nate, who I’ve already had a conference call with, that I can take my time and implement any new ideas without needing his authorisation, has me chomping at the bit to get cracking.

It’s almost twelve-thirty and I haven’t moved from my desk. It surprises most people to know, that when I’m in work and absorbed in a job I love, I knuckle down and lose track of time easily, hence, my reason for setting the alarm on my phone. There’s no way I’m turning up late for my lunch date with Lilah.

I let Nate’s assistant know I’m leaving and head out to grab some food from the specialist deli that’s just around the corner from my place.

The woman behind the counter rings up my purchases, her eyes smiling knowingly at me and my choice of chocolate dipped strawberries. Maybe she can see a loved-up bloke at thirty paces. Maybe the goofy grin that is a permanent feature on my face gives me away.

I don’t care. I left a beautiful girl in my bed this morning and she’s waiting for me, that’s right,
me
to come home to her.

How the fuck did I get this lucky?

Lilah, my number thirteen date and I use the term date loosely as we’ve still not had a proper one. The girl I’ve shared more laughs and humiliation with than any other, yet she still wants me.

Thirteen might be unlucky for some, hell, it’s always been unlucky for me but now it’s brought me to her and I’m the luckiest bastard alive.

I grab my goods, give the cashier a cheeky wink, just because I can, and then all but jog towards Nate’s building.

“Hi, honey. I’m home!” I call out jokingly as I open the apartment door.

I expect to see Lilah on the sofa watching TV or maybe in the kitchen setting things up for lunch. When I don’t find her in either of these places I head for my bedroom. The door is slightly ajar and I get an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. I should never have left her on her own.

I barge through the door, not thinking about anything else except finding her and I’m greeted with a scene that literally stops me in my tracks.

Laid out on my bed, is a tartan picnic blanket complete with plastic plates and cups. Laid out above the indoor picnic is Lilah. Naked.

Well, slap my thigh and call me a lucky fucker.

“I thought I’d surprise you.”

Her sultry voice snaps my eyes up from their perusal of all her silky skin.

“Is it my birthday?” I ask, dumbstruck.

She laughs and the sound tickles its way over my skin, hardening my already full-mast, Davidson.

“I don’t know, is it? It can be if you want, as long as I’m your cake and you promise to blow out
all
of my candles.”

“Oh, hell, yes.
I love cake!”

I bound towards the bed like an overeager kid in a toyshop, not caring if I look like a dork. Best. Surprise Ever.

Plastic cups go flying, plates get crushed under my weight and Lilah giggles like a teenager as I pull her down the bed and roll fully clothed on top of her.

I lick a path from between her breasts to her mouth, speaking directly against her smiling lips “So much sweeter than any cake I’ve ever had before.”

I swallow her laughter with my mouth until it turns to whimpers of need. Her hands frantically try to strip me, while mine memorises every inch of her bare skin.

“Too many clothes. Get. Them. Off,” she demands between random licks, kisses and bites. I like this demanding side of Lilah, it’s not just hot but also bolsters me, knowing that I can make her lose her inhibitions.

“I’m trying, but there’s this super sexy girl, with her tongue all over me and her tight little body writhing beneath me. It’s kind of hard to undress when you’re making it impossible for me to move.”

Her hands drop from my body immediately, her heaving breasts rub up against my skin through the few buttons of my shirt that she’s practically ripped off in her haste to get me naked.

She brings her leg up to the front of my trousers and rubs her foot over my swollen cock. I cannot help the low groan that slips from my lips. Then, in a feat of flexibility, she hooks her toes into my open waistband and begins to drag my trousers down over my hips.

“Look, no hands.” She smirks at me, still panting with desire.

“I’ve always been a fan of unique skills. Let me show you what I can do with my…” I don’t get to finish the sentence because the buzzer goes followed by someone banging the shit out of the front door.

“How the fuck did someone get up here past security?”

Lilah’s face pales, and when I go to check it out she grabs my arm to pull me back, whispering as if whoever is outside can hear her, “Don’t answer it, we don’t know who it is.”

I’m just about to tell her I’ll call down for security when her phone beeps with a text; then another literally seconds later.

She covers her magnificent boobs with one hand and grabs for the phone with the other, letting out an audible groan when she reads her message. “Let her in; it’s Nic. She decided to head over early.”

She flashes me the screen which says:

I’m outside your door.

Then the text that came through a second later says:

Let me in.

And as I’m reading yet another comes through, accompanied by more knocking on the front door.

I know you’re in there. LET ME IN

I hand the phone back to Lilah and my throbbing Davidson almost screams at me in pain. “I’ll go and let her in, I’m guessing you need a moment to cover up my cake. I’m hoping it doesn’t have a best before date because I’m bloody starving and the only thing that’s going to sate my hunger is cake. Lilah cake to be precise.” I take one last look at her soft curves, perfect tits and firm arse and close my eyes to imprint the memory on my brain.

Why did I have to date a twin? Why couldn’t she be an only child like me? If she were, I’d be gorging on my cake for the next hour at least.

I hand Lilah her prosthetic so she can get ready quickly and walk slowly towards the front door to buy her some time, calling out, “I’m coming” as I go.

I peek through the peephole and see a distorted version of Nicola staring back at me impatiently. Just as she lifts her fist to bang again, I swing the door open wide.

“What a pleasant surprise. You have impeccable timing, as always.”

She has the balls to smirk a me, realising exactly what she’s interrupted when she spots my rumpled clothing.

“Just in time, I’d say. I always promised my father I’d watch out for Lils and protect her virtue.”

“
Great.
A wise-arse.” I mumble just loud enough for her to hear me.