Just good friends

“... and then Todd confessed his love.”

“He what?” Caiden exclaimed in both disbelief and amusement.

“Yeah, I know! We’ve had like four dates, and he found it completely natural to tell me he loves me.”

“That screams desperation a long way, man. What did you say?”

I sucked my lips between my teeth for a second to stifle the sudden urge to laugh.

“Not much. I just shrugged and said ‘okay’.”

Caiden snorted and shook his head.

“God, you’re so evil, Amelia,” he grinned. He didn’t seem very sympathetic towards Todd, though. Not even the slightest.

“Evil? What did you expect me to say? Propose to him and ask how many kids he wants?”

Both of us laughed, and I leaned closer to him and rested my head on his shoulder. We were sitting on the couch in his living room watching a dull series on TV, when I started telling him about the catastrophic date I’d endured the day before. And I say ‘endure’ because that’s exactly what it was. In retrospect, I didn’t really understand why I went out with the guy in the first place. Maybe I was just as desperate as Todd? God, no. Please say I’m not.

Caiden moved so he could wrap his arm around me and pull me against his chest. I loved to cuddle like this. I just wished it was a boyfriend instead of my best friend.

“He’s not my type,” I muttered.

“Then why are you still dating him?”

I tried not to giggle, but failed.

“I’m not.”

“You’re not? You dumped him?” Caiden asked and raised his eyebrows in surprise, suddenly with his focus solely on me.

“Mhm.”

Then he just stared at me for a moment, and I struggled to read if he found it funny or just pathetic. Most likely the latter.

“About time,” he mumbled eventually. I frowned.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing. Just that I agree that he’s not your type. You need someone like me to hold you in his strong arms and kiss the top of your head, just like I’m doing right now.”

I pretended to vomit and even choked for dramatic effect.

“You? Strong?” I asked and rolled my eyes. Both of us knew I said it just to tease. He was strong enough to lift me and run a mile, since he spent several hours a week in the gym. He wasn’t the steroid type, with a bull’s neck and biceps that threatened to tear his shirts apart, but he was definitely ripped enough to make girls swoon at his feet.

“Hey! I’m stronger than you give me credit for. Actually, I changed my middle name to Superman last week.”

I lost the battle against the urge to laugh before my gaze drifted from Caiden’s pouting face and to a random place in the room, because I didn’t want him to see that I secretly agreed.

“Sure... And the worst part is that you’re crazy enough to actually do that.”

“Do I need to remind you?” he asked with a voice that promised all kinds of unpleasant surprises. So I quickly figured it was either to run for it or face the agonizing death of being tickled to death, judging by the mischievous glow in his eyes.

“No!” I shrieked, but it was too late. I barely managed a half-attempt to wrestle myself away from him before he pinned me down with my arms above my head, and he had no problems keeping me there with the weight of his body. So eventually I gave up. He was enjoying this far too much.

“You need someone who can handle that sharp tongue of yours, missy,” he murmured and squinted at me. I knew he hinted at the everlasting sarcastic comments I threw at him at every chance I got. And there were plenty of chances to do so because of our constant bickering and teasing. We often drove everybody around us crazy. Did we care? Nah.

I scowled before I stuck my tongue out at him, which caused him to lose focus for a moment. But just as quickly as he fell out of it, he snapped back and continued.

“You need someone who claims you with his kisses and makes love to you all night through and...”

He kept ranting while I tried my best to wiggle out of his grip, only to feel him sink deeper into my body until I almost felt suffocated underneath him.

“Alright! I get your point, now get off of me!” I yelled. And it worked. He reluctantly let me go while he made sure to block even the slightest chance of getting kicked in his nuts. I’d done that one too many times before.

“Don’t be mad,” I teased when I saw his childish pout. He almost looked kissable. Keyword: Almost.

“I’m not,” he mumbled and turned away.

“Yes, you are.”

“I’m not! Honestly.”

I gave him a playful glare.

“It’s either that or you’re horny,” I said and received a lopsided smirk in return. So I was right, then?

“Don’t even think about it, mister!” I exclaimed when Caiden suddenly leaned in. I pushed his chest and jolted up with him hot on my heels, chasing me around in his apartment and into the kitchen, where he cornered me between the counter and the fridge. Then he just waited for my expected attempt to escape so he could coil his arms around my waist and reel me in. It always ended like that. And it always ended with me cursing like a drunken sailor, too. However, this time, I figured out a different tactic. To distract him somewhat, I looked over his left shoulder to make him believe I was about to go that way. But since I knew he was going to block me whether I went left or right, I dived in between his legs and crawled my way past him instead.

Or... I tried.

Laughing at my failed attempt, he picked me up and held me upside down while I was cussing and kicking to get loose. To no avail, of course. He was simply too strong.

“Don’t touch me!” I protested loudly.

“Sorry. I can’t help it,” he laughed and squeezed a little extra to make it harder to breathe.

“Yes, you can, so put me down!”

I groaned and kept flailing my arms until I ended up clinging to his thigh. I’d already noticed the direction he was carrying me.

“Okay. I will. On my bed,” he said, and even though I didn’t see his face, I knew his cocky grin went all the way around his head.

“No! We’re not doing that now.”

I knew he needed to relieve some of the tension I’d noticed in him lately, and it was pretty clear he wanted me to help him.

“But I’m horny!” he said and sounded like a whining puppy.

“Like that’s something new?”

“Come on. You’re finally single again,” he pleaded, and walked with steady strides toward the stairs.

“Finally? You sound like you’ve been waiting for it to happen.”

“Maybe I have?”

I tried to shove him in protest, but it was scary to think that he might drop me so I would fall down the stairs. By now it felt like my head was going to explode from all the blood draining from my body, but he continued holding me upside down like it was a completely normal thing to do. Which it kind of was, since he had this strange need to pick me up and carry me around all the time, claiming it was easier to keep me under control. Then he always cracked the same joke about putting a leash on me.

“Like you said, he wasn’t your type.”

“Put me down!” I yelled again, groaning with each step he took up the stairs.

“Not until I have you where I want to.”

We finally reached his bedroom, and he opened the door with his shoulder, so it slammed against the wall. Then my whole world started spinning when he threw me on his bed and climbed on top of me.

“Seriously, Caiden. I’m on my period,” I said, which wasn’t a lie at all, and he slowed down and looked at me in defeat.

“A make-out session then?” he suggested, but I didn’t really see how that would make him more relaxed. Still, I shrugged and nodded.

“Okay.”

Caiden narrowed his eyes at my flat reply and chewed on the inside of his cheeks.

“A little more enthusiastic, please.”

A seductive smirk spread across my lips, and I saw the immediate effect it had on him.

“Come get me then, stallion.”

“That’s more like it,” he murmured, and pushed himself between my legs and started kissing my neck. I wasn’t even ashamed to say that I let him. In fact, I pulled him closer like a bitch in heat, and arched my neck a little to give his soft lips better access.

Soft lips. His soft lips. The softest ones that had been on mine, even though it wasn’t on purpose. We were just too caught up in the moment to remember the rules. And right now, it seemed like Caiden wanted to break two of them on purpose.

“We can do it in the shower?” he breathed into my ear before he started spreading his kisses along my jaw toward the forbidden area. But I would not let it slip this time.

“No.”

“But a little blood...” he said, but I cut him off promptly.

“I said no. You know the rules. We’re not supposed to see each other naked.”

“Well, we’re not supposed to be kissing either, but you see how well that works out.”

I was just about to argue and tell him we weren’t breaking the kissing rule as long as we didn’t kiss on the lips when his breath fanned my upper lip and his nose touched mine. He almost caught me off guard before I could turn away, so his kiss ended up on my cheek instead.

“Caiden! Stick to the rules!” I said and tried to sound stern. “No kissing on the lips.”

“But it’s so hard when you’re making sounds like that.”

“Like what? I’m not making any sounds,” I asked in confusion and dug my fingers into his hair just the way I knew he loved. And in response, he ground firmer and more directly at my most aching body part. I just couldn’t help the moan that forced itself up my throat and through my lips.

“Like that,” he said, and his gruff voice made him sound like he had a severe cold.

“But that’s your own fault for doing that.”

He ignored me and continued grinding until both of us moaned in fever. His steady rhythm and rocking hips were so hypnotizing that I was about to lose control, which was dangerous because he was already past that stage.

“God, I’m gonna cum in my pants,” he said after a couple of minutes. It was just a quick mumble, and I wasn’t sure if he was talking to himself or if he meant for me to hear it. But it was what it took to snap me out of it and push him away.

“Okay! TMI! Get off me.”

And he did, although with confusion written all over his face.

“But...”

“Go jerk off in the bathroom or whatever.”

I refused to admit I was jealous of him. I wanted to cum so badly too, but since my period spoiled it all, it just made me annoyed.

“That’s not fair,” he said with a huff and sat up.

“It’s not fair to rile me up like that, either. I didn’t start this, and I already told you I’m on my period and...”

“So you’re just as horny as me, then?” he said and smirked, not the slightest interested in hearing me out.

“I didn’t say that,” I muttered and scoffed.

“No, but that’s what you meant.”

He kept smirking and adjusted his dick in his way too tight jeans. I was just relieved that he didn’t wear his gray sweatpants he often used on the weekends, because that...

“No, I didn’t. So just stop with those crazy conclusions of yours.”

Knowing he was right, he rolled over to his back next to me, arms crossed behind his back, and chuckled to himself.

“I knew you were. No use of denying it. You love my cock.”

I blushed and looked away, pretending to be busy fixing my hair. I refused to admit he was right.

“I didn’t say that either,” I mumbled sourly.

“You don’t need to,” he retorted and arrogantly placed my hand on his more than prominent bulge that was pulsating and throbbing hard between his legs. “Junior already knows.”

“God, you’re such a dork,” I said with pretend disgust, but I didn’t protest when he pulled me into his arms.

“Yeah, but you love me.”

I sighed in defeat because of his ability to read me like an open book and snuggled up to him with my cheek against his shoulder and my arm draped across his chest. I could feel his heart beating just as hard as mine did.

“You’re my best friend. Of course, I love you. I just wish I could find someone like you to share my life with,” I said eventually, which made him tilt his head to look at me with one arched brow.

“Well? I’m right here, babe.”

I slapped his chest and rolled my eyes from the billionth time just this evening, and kind of wished I could claw the cocky smirk right off his lips.

“I’m not your babe, and I will never be unless you give me some glue so I can cover your face with someone else’s face.”

He snorted and glared at me.

“What on earth is wrong with my face?”

“Nothing. It’s just weird to think about you in that way.”

There was a short, awkward pause until I spoke up again.

“Thanks, though.”

“For what?”

His deep voice vibrated so pleasantly in his chest and made me shiver, and somehow, he picked up on that and held me tighter. Then he started circling the skin on my arm with his finger.

“For listening to me when I said no.”

Caiden immediately froze, and his demeanor changed completely.

“He forced himself on you?” he asked with rapidly rising anger.

“No, not like that. I just... I wasn’t in the mood,” I explained. “But eventually I managed to push him away.”

“Eventually? He should have backed off immediately. I’m gonna rearrange that scumbag’s face if I see him! You simply don’t do that to a woman!”

A little smile tugged at my lips for a reason I didn’t know. It felt good to have a friend like Caiden to protect me. Even though I didn’t want him to do anything to Todd, it was still a good feeling to know he got my back.

“Calm down, Hulk. You don’t even know what he looks like.”

I squinted at the ceiling when I heard him mumble something I couldn’t make out.

“What?” I asked, suddenly suspicious.

“Nothing.”

“No, seriously, what did you say?”

Caiden cleared his throat and tried to hide that he was blushing.

“I may or may not have checked the pictures on your phone.”

“You what?” I burst out. Then I huffed. “I seriously need a new screen lock.”

“No, please don’t change it! I promise I won’t snoop anymore. I just needed to see what kind of guy he was, that’s all.”

“And?”

“Definitely not your type,” he concluded blatantly. “So I knew you would come running back to me, eventually.”

He snickered.

“Running back? I never left in the first place. I won’t stop being your friend just because I have a boyfriend. I told you that. Just like when you’re dating other girls. How’s it going with Theresa, by the way?”

Caiden didn’t answer, and the silence made me draw my own conclusions.

“You dumped her?” I gasped in shock, but he just shrugged indifferently.

“You dumped Todd. What’s the difference?”

“The difference is that Todd’s an ass. Theresa was really nice. One of the nicest girls you’ve dated, actually. How could you do that?”

He shrugged again.

“She just wasn’t my type.”

“Then who’s your type when it’s not someone as sweet as her? I know you love chestnuts and petite girls just like her, and she has a great sense of humor, too.”

“You’re right, so you better stop bleaching your hair,” he said dryly, and I poked his rib to keep it serious.

“Knock it off. Stop making this about me. She’s...”

“Look, if you love her that much, then maybe you should start dating her instead?” he said, a suggestion combined with a devious grin, which made me scoff. “I wouldn’t mind. The idea is kind of hot.”

“What? You know I don’t play on that side of the field. I love dicks too much.”

Just to tease him, I grabbed his package to state my point, and he groaned and closed his eyes.

“What did you do that for? I finally calmed down, dammit.”

“I know,” I giggled. Then I yelped when he suddenly rolled us over and pinned me down again, with my arms above my head, and rolled his pelvis a few times. I could feel him harden again, but he didn’t dig his face into the crook of my neck and kiss me like he used to. Instead, he held my gaze until he rolled off with a sigh.

“Wanna watch a movie?” he asked and tried to sound indifferent, but he couldn’t quite hide the exasperation in his voice.

“Sure. Which one?”

“You pick. As long as it includes...”

I silenced him by quickly rolling over and pinching his lips together.

“No, we’re not watching porn again.”

“Awe, why not? We can watch girl on girl and pretend it’s Theresa.”

I nudged him in protest.

“Idiot.”

“What? That’s hot. At least let me imagine that.”

“You can do that all you want when I leave. Even a threesome, for all I care.”

“You’re not staying the night?” he asked, and his mood dropped ever so slightly.

“Sorry,” I replied and shrugged with one shoulder. “Action or horror?” Then my eyes widened when I realized what I’d said. “No! No horror. I don’t want to walk home in the darkness picturing killer clowns and whatnot lurking around every corner.”

“Good. Then you’ll stay until tomorrow, so let’s watch The Shining.”

“I said no horror movie! And you just want me to stay so you can sleep on my boob.”

He didn’t bother to hide his obnoxious smirk.

“Can you blame me? I’m a man.”

“Well, I’m a lady, and last time I checked, ladies don’t like drool all over their shirt and someone snoring in their ear.”

“I don’t snore!” The exclamation was both so horrified and surprised that it sounded like a question, and it made me giggle.

“Yes, you do.”

“I don’t!” he said, way sterner. I could see him waver a bit, unsure of whether or not I was telling the truth, and I laughed even more. Until he pinched my hip hard. Then I groaned in pain before I kept on laughing.

“Okay, you don’t. But you breathe heavily.”

“So? I’m having wet dreams. Leave me alone.”

I pressed play after scrolling to a random movie on Netflix. Then the intro of ‘Upgrade’ flared across the screen.

“Have you seen this one before?”

“Yeah. But it’s fine as long as it’s not one of those sappy romantic comedies of yours. Ow!”

Caiden flinched when I slapped his stomach.

“They’re not sappy! And I just happen to love romance and to picture myself...”

“...in the role of damsel in distress and let the prince come and sweep you off your feet,” he finished with a dead-panned look. “I know all that. But do you know what? Men like that only exist in movies or those pathetic books you’re always reading.”

“They’re not pathetic!” I protested, but it sounded more like a question. “And I’m not a damsel in distress.”

“Okay, you’re not. But my point is that you’ll never find anyone at all with that mile long list of criteria you have for your future husband.”

I snorted in disbelief at what he said. I wasn’t that bad, was I? A girl could have high standards, and it didn’t have to be a bad thing. But Caiden obviously disagreed.

“What? It’s true. You need to be a little more realistic. You won’t see the king in front of you because you keep searching for a stupid prince.”

“Oh, yeah? And here comes the part where you picture yourself to be the king, am I right?”

“Of course,” he snickered, with the most nauseating, self-satisfied grin ever.

“Well, sorry to disappoint you and your inflated ego, but you’re not a king, and I will find my prince out there. I just haven’t looked in the right place yet.”

Then I paused for a bit before I remembered something I needed to ask him.

“Do you wanna go out and check out the new club tomorrow?”

“Like a date?” he asked and wiggled his eyebrows.

“Yes, I’m sure they have a small romantic table for two in a corner, just for the two of us,” I said and gave him a glare that said it all. “Of course not, stupid. And you need to stop clinging to me while we’re dancing. People will think you are my boyfriend.”

“Good.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is, because you won’t find a decent man in places like that.”

“That’s not true. Love can strike no matter where you are.”

Caiden sighed and chewed on his lip.

“So, are you coming or not?”

“Sure,” he said, but he didn’t sound especially eager.

“And you promise to stay out of my way?”

After clenching his jaw, he eventually nodded. Then he suddenly changed his mind.

“I’m not promising anything.”

“Caiden?” I threatened, and he held up his hands in defeat.

“Okay! But I swear to God that I’m gonna...”

“No, you’re not gonna go all Arnold Schwarzenegger just because you don’t like the guy I’m dancing with.”

“But I’m just looking out for you. And that sleazy guy had it coming.”

Now it was my time to sigh. He always put this nameless blond guy as an example to have an excuse to ruin my evening when we were out. Except that it actually was a good example, and Caiden wasn’t the one who ruined anything. When Mr. Blondie dragged me into one of the restrooms and forcefully started groping me, Caiden literally tore the door off its frame and knocked the light out of the bastard’s eyes. After that, he grabbed every opportunity to remind me of how close I was to being raped.

“Can you please stop bringing him up? That happened once.”

“That’s one time too many, and you know what would happen if I wasn’t there.”

That left me out of smart comebacks. God, how I hated when he was right.

“But you might find a new girlfriend,” I said and tried to sound cheerful, but his narrowed eyebrows and tight lips told me it was not going to happen.

“Let’s just watch the movie.”

So we did. Or at least he did. I lost track of the plot long before the movie was done and fell asleep on his chest. The last thing I remember was the comforting sound of his heartbeats and the feeling of his ribcage rise and fall like I was a baby being rocked to sleep by her mother. And since I was asleep, I didn’t notice that he pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. Neither was I aware that I automatically snuggled closer to him and wrapped my arm around his neck. Not until I woke up the next morning to a solid morning wood pressed against my thigh and a smirking Caiden next to me.

“Morning, baby.”