Friends and Lovers

Book 2: Friends with Benefits

by Vristen Pierce

Genres: Short Stories; Contemporary Romance; Erotic & Steamy Romance

Synopsis

DOUBLE OR NOTHING After a job assignment in London, Stacy Washington is heading home. Home to her cozy apartment . . . and the two hot studs who share her bed. Picking up where things left off with Evan and Justin is exactly what Stacy needs, that is, until she finds herself caught between them-literally, figuratively, and in all the ways that feel insanely good. She realizes she's falling in love with them, and they're both completely crazy about her. The only problem: Evan and Justin no longer want to share. Now Stacy has to make the hardest decision of her life-choose between the two . . . or accept the possibility of losing them both.

Release date: June 3, 2014

Publisher: Forever Yours

Print pages: 98

Sample

Note to self: Never allow anyone to drag me out for a night on the town while I’m still suffering from jet lag—even if that someone is my best friend. After enjoying a nice, calm “welcome back” dinner with my family, I’d been planning nothing more than getting into bed and staying there for a ridiculously long time. Thanks to Nina, however, I was headed away from my bed.

I groaned as we made our way to the waiting cab. “Can’t we do this another night?”

Nina scoffed. “Please. I get my best friend back after six months and she’d rather stay in and watch reruns?” She pulled me toward her for a side hug. “You’re here,” she said, beaming, “and that calls for a celebration!”

I gave her a reluctant smile. My intended three months away had morphed into six, but I wasn’t complaining. It had given me plenty of time to put some things—and certain people—behind me. “I guess, but I’m pretty sure we could have had a good time minus the going out part.”

She gave me a playful shove toward the cab. “Quit your whining, girl. We’re gonna party and that’s that.”

I got inside the cab and slid over so Nina could get in. “As long as it’s not at Blaze,” I muttered. The hip nightclub had a lively atmosphere, but it was one of the last places I wanted to be. Too many memories… And, Lord have mercy, what if Evan was there? I’d made some serious progress in the last six months, but just seeing him would take me back to square one. Well, seeing him or Justin. “And not The Biker Alley either,” I added under my breath. It was doubtful Justin would be around, but the memories would be strong there, too.

Laughing, Nina shook her head. “Gee, I wonder why.”

I slid my gaze toward her. “Don’t start.”

She put her hands up in surrender. “Fine. So you’re really over those two, huh?” She nodded as she seemed to consider what she’d just said. “Impressive.”

I rolled my eyes, but made no further comment.

“Take us to Bricktown,” she told the driver, referring to the small entertainment district in downtown Oklahoma City.

I sat back with a small sigh. What could I say? I was the idiot who’d dared to take a ride on the wild side by seeing two men at once, indulging in a threesome I’d never forget, and, saddest of all, falling in love with both guys. Smart, Stacy. I wasn’t completely stupid, however. I knew there was no future for me and Evan or me and Justin. And definitely not one for me and Evan and Justin. Time away had given me a distraction, thanks to work and distance, thanks to London. I didn’t feel as if I were on the verge of coming apart at the seams anymore. Now that was progress. As secure as I felt, though, I wasn’t trying to test my luck. No way was I seeking Evan or Justin out. Honestly, it was best that I never even see them again.

The thought of that always made my heart constrict, but I knew it was nothing more than a cold, painful truth. The best breaks were clean ones—and things with Evan and Justin could get extremely dirty. I closed my eyes against the temptation to allow the memories of that night to come back. I hadn’t let myself think about it since it happened. Better that way. Simple thoughts would lead to fantasies. Those fantasies would surely lead to my hunting the two men down and insisting on a repeat.

It was bad enough that I let thoughts of them, individually, creep into my mind at night. When all my work for the day had been done, when there was nothing to divert my attention, I’d remember. Every single touch seemed to play out in my head, over and over again.

So, yeah, it was bad enough that that happened. How about the fact that those thoughts always made my body ache in ways I couldn’t begin to explain even if I wanted to? Separately, Evan and Justin had rocked my entire world.

Then I’d dismantled it by dumping them and setting off for Europe. But that had been the plan. I’d picked up the pieces and put my life back together. I couldn’t afford to be an emotional wreck by pining away for something that could never be. I’d been forced to get it together. And so I had. I’d even been on a few dates during my time out of the country. Brutally awful, boring dates. Oh, there was nothing wrong with the men, per se. They just hadn’t been the ones I’d wanted.

God, I was a mess.

“So were the dudes in London hot?” Nina asked, nudging me with her elbow.

“You asked that every time we talked on the phone,” I said with a smile.

“I know, but humor me. I want to live vicariously through you.”

“They were pretty hot.”

“And those accents, yummy.”

“Yeah,” I said absentmindedly as I stared out of the window of the cab.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy to be home?”

“Yes,” I said, gathering my thoughts. I gave her a weak smile. “Just tired. I told you I wanted to stay in.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “That all?” she asked warily.

Not even close. “Yeah, now enough with the third degree.”

She sat back and folded her arms. “Has Nathan called you again?”

My most recent ex-boyfriend, if I didn’t count whatever the hell it was I’d had with Evan and Justin, had given me a lot to think about over the last several months. He swore he loved me and was ready to settle down, something I wanted more than anything. Well, almost.

Suddenly, the thought of being pinned, naked and sweaty, between Evan and Justin popped into my mind. I immediately pushed the image away and cleared my throat. “He’s been in touch,” I said casually. I’d only told Nina about the first two calls he’d made to me while I’d been away. She really didn’t need to know that they’d come at least twice a week. She’d surely bitch. The last thing she wanted was a reunion between me and the ex who’d dumped me.

“You’re holding out on me, Stacy.” She turned in her seat to give me her best glare. “And that means you’ve either done something incredibly stupid or you’re considering it.” She leaned in and dropped her voice to a menacing level. “Don’t.”

I waved her off. “I haven’t and I don’t plan to.”

“God,” she said and groaned. “You’re back together with him, aren’t you?” She rubbed her temples. “Just say it.”

I laughed. “I’m not.”

Nina narrowed her eyes. “You’re not?”

I shook my head.

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. It would be insane to get with him while you’re in lo—” She must have seen the way my expression changed because she suddenly feigned interest in her small clutch purse. “I hope I remembered to put my license in here.”

“Subtle.” We laughed, but I knew I couldn’t hide my feelings from my best friend forever. I needed to get at least part of this out of the way. Then I hoped to never speak of it again. “I’m not in love with Nathan, true… but I can’t be with Justin or Evan so they aren’t even an option. Who knows? Maybe in time I’ll fall in love with Nath—”

Nina huffed. “Why do you keep saying that? How do you know Justin and Evan aren’t an option? You never even asked.”

“Right here’s fine,” I said to the driver. He pulled out of traffic, next to a sidewalk. I glanced at Nina as she handed him some money. “I know because I ended things kind of horribly with them before I left here, okay? Even if they wanted me once, they sure as hell don’t anymore.”

I’d been as cruel as I could bear, hoping it would be enough to push them away and keep them there. I was fairly sure I’d succeeded, which sort of sucked, but, hey, it was what I’d wanted. “Thanks, by the way, for ratting me out in the first place. I hadn’t intende. . .