WhatFriendsAreFor Read online

  What Friends Are For

  Lacey Thorn

  Book 2 in the Girls Night Out series.

  Friends can make the best lovers. Or at least that’s what Jacey decides when she finally takes that step with her longtime friend Jonas. He knows her, what she likes, what she wants, what she needs. Maybe even better than she does. But Jonas isn’t willing to settle for just a sexual relationship when Jacey finally comes around. He wants more. He wants it all. And this time he won’t give up until they’re much more than friends.

  WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

  Lacey Thorn

  Chapter One

  “Fuck him.”

  “You don’t mean that, Jacey,” Dee stated. “You and Jonas have been friends for a long time now.”

  “That was before he decided I should take a hike.”

  “That’s not what you told us he said.” Mischa snorted. “I believe the man just asked you to knock instead of barging in. Your brother is sort of living there.”

  Jacey laughed. “He might as well be living with Dee at this point. Good grief it’s only been a couple of weeks and you two are practically joined at the hip.”

  “Yeah,” Dee agreed with a grin.

  “She’s got that great-sex glow,” Mischa said.

  “Oh, hell, yeah,” Dee nodded.

  “And I so don’t want to hear about sex with my brother on GNO,” Jacey groaned before grinning wide. “However, he’s my brother, so of course he’s incredible and all that. It’s a family thing.”

  “Really, when was the last time you had sex, Jacey?” Mischa asked.

  “I’ve been busy.”

  “You’ve never been too busy for sex.” Dee snorted. “I don’t remember you mentioning anyone since we saw Jonas out to dinner with that redhead.”

  “Yeah, wasn’t that when you walked out in a snit?” Mischa smirked.

  “I did not have ‘a snit’,” Jacey snapped. “I just lost my appetite seeing him try so hard, that’s all.”

  “Try so hard on what?” Dee pressed. “Having fun? Going out? Living his life?”

  “Isn’t that what you’ve been teasing him to do forever?” Mischa added.

  “Whatever,” Jacey muttered. “What happened to the rule about no picking at each other on girls’ night? Does that one not exist if it’s me?”

  “Yep,” Dee agreed.

  “Yes,” Mischa said at the same time, making them all laugh.

  “Seriously, Jacey,” Dee spoke as soon as the laughter quieted down. “Just take a little bit of time and think about why this is really bothering you.”

  “Think about it and then do something,” Mischa added.

  “Trust me,” Jacey said, looking incredibly sad, “I’ve thought about very little else for the last two weeks. I just don’t know what to do.”

  “What?” Mischa slapped her hand on the table. “You always know what to do.”

  “This is different,” Jacey said.

  “How is this different?” Dee asked.

  “Because it matters,” Jacey confessed with a sigh. “Damn it, Jonas matters. I don’t want to lose him as a friend.”

  “And how many times have you stopped over to see him in the last two weeks?” Dee wanted to know.

  “None,” Jacey admitted.

  “Then seriously, Jacey, what have you got to lose?” Mischa asked softly, putting her hand out to rub her friend’s arm.

  “You still have the key to his place, don’t you?” Dee asked and Jacey nodded. “Then use it.”

  “I don’t think he wants me to.”

  “Did the man take the key back?” Mischa demanded.

  “No.”

  “Enough said then,” Mischa stated. “If he didn’t want you there, he’d have snatched that key back or changed the locks.”

  “What if I walk in on him with someone?” Jacey sighed.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Mischa demanded. She reached out and tapped her fingers against Jacey’s head. “Hello? Is the real Jacey in there? Can she come out and play because this insecure whiny bitch is getting on my damn nerves.”

  They all laughed again and for the first time that evening Jacey started to feel more like herself.

  “You’re right. I either need to do something or move on.”

  “So what are you going to do?” Dee asked when she realized Jacey wasn’t going to elaborate.

  “I’ll let you know tomorrow,” Jacey said with a laugh. “Now, doesn’t someone have an anniversary coming up?”

  Mischa seemed to practically glow. “One year the end of the month. I can’t believe I’ve been married to the perfect man for an entire year.”

  “He does seem pretty awesome,” Dee agreed.

  “Yeah, I kind of wondered if we would have to do GNO without you once you got married,” Jacey confessed. “I was afraid once he got the ring on, things would change.”

  “Nah, he loves it when I have girls’ night,” Mischa said. “Besides it gives him a free night to go hang with his buddies and do guy stuff.”

  “True.” Jacey nodded.

  “So I have this really wild, kinky idea for our one-year anniversary.” Mischa leaned in to the table to tell them. “A weekend away at this cabin I found and I already put a deposit on. Now I just need you two to help me shop for some fun stuff to take with me.”

  “Fun stuff? Please tell me this will involve a trip to our favorite toy store,” Dee said. “I could use a few new things myself.”

  “Not going there,” Jacey said, looking at Dee, but she was grinning nonetheless. “What kind of fun things do you have in mind? Tell us everything!”

  “Well, I’m thinking this is as good a time as any to play out some of our sex talk fantasies,” Mischa said.

  “Fantasies are good,” Dee said. “I have a few myself.” She looked at Jacey and laughed as her friend buried her face in her hands and groaned. “A few I will refrain from sharing.”

  “Bless you, my friend,” Jacey said and they all laughed again.

  “So what are we looking for?” Jacey asked Mischa. “What kind of fantasies are you talking about?”

  “And is Clint going to kill you for telling us?” Dee asked with a laugh.

  “Please, girl, we’re married. My man knows I share everything with you two. Hell, at this point he asks me what you guys said!”

  They all laughed again.

  “He’s a good guy, Mischa,” Dee said.

  “A total keeper,” Jacey agreed.

  “I think so.” Mischa smiled. “Now about these fantasies.”

  The waitress arrived then with fresh drinks and food. At this point she knew that it didn’t matter who she gave what plate as they always passed and shared everything. That was why they all ordered something different and at least one of them ordered whatever they saw that was new on the menu.

  “Oh my god, this is so good,” Jacey moaned as she popped a stuffed mushroom in her mouth.

  “So dinner, shopping and then the bar?” Dee asked.

  “Sounds good to me,” Jacey mumbled around a full mouth, making them all laugh again.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Mischa agreed.

  * * * * *

  Dee and Mischa waved as Jacey pulled out of the parking lot at the bar. They’d all done some serious shopping, letting Mischa’s fantasy list inspire them.

  “Do you think she’s heading home?” Dee asked.

  “As many times as you said that Jack was waiting for you at your house, I’m hoping that she goes to see Jonas.”

  “Well, I just wanted to let her know that her brother wasn’t staying with Jonas tonight.”

  “Do you think he’s with someone?”

  “No, Jack said Jonas is a moody ass lately. He hasn’t been out
since the redhead and according to Jack, Jonas said it was a bad idea.”

  “Well, duh.” Mischa snorted. “You can’t go out with one woman when all you do is think about another one.”

  “Not fair to any of them,” Dee agreed.

  “Man, I just want to smack them both upside the head and tell them to quit being stupid,” Dee said and Mischa went off into peals of laughter. “What?”

  “I’ve felt that way for over a year now,” Mischa told her. “Welcome to the world of happiness and being with the man you love.”

  “Yeah.” Dee smiled. “I’ve been trying not to say the words though.”

  “Why not?”

  “He’s just not ready yet,” Dee said.

  “Meaning, he’s not ready to say them. But, honey, everyone knows you’re in love with that man.”

  “I know, but I’m trying not to make him feel pressured into feeling like he has to say them in return. Is that silly?”

  “No, honey. It’s definitely not silly. And when he sees what’s in that bag of yours, he just might be moaning the words by the end of night.”

  Dee giggled. “My one bag has nothing on your three bags!”

  “My man won’t know what hit him.” Mischa grinned wickedly.

  “I can’t wait to hear all about it.” Dee snickered.

  “I can’t wait to experience it,” Mischa said. “The next few weeks will be the longest of my life, even longer than the ones leading up to our wedding.”

  “Better tell him that you rented a cabin so he doesn’t plan something.”

  “He knows and he knows I have more planned. He keeps commenting on the wicked light in my eyes.”

  They both laughed.

  “Are you planning to drive by Jonas’ and see if Jacey’s car is there?” Dee asked and they both laughed again.

  “Hell, yeah,” Mischa said.

  “Me, too.” Dee nodded.

  “I say we give her at least ten minutes to get out of her car.”

  “At least.” Dee grinned. “If he’s there, and she finally decides to go inside, I hope she rocks his world.”

  “Oh, honey,” Mischa said, “I hope that man rocks hers.”

  Chapter Two

  Jacey sat in her car and stared up at Jonas’ window. The light was on. His car was in the drive but his motorcycle was gone. She had no idea if that meant he was gone or if he’d loaned it to her brother or another friend, or if it was in the garage. A shadow moved at the window and the curtain shifted aside. Definitely Jonas. He was home.

  Her phone rang, making her jump. She looked down at it and wasn’t surprised to see Jonas’ name on the ID. She was busted. She slid her finger across the screen to answer and put it to her ear.

  “You planning to sit out there all night, Jacey?” His voice was that deep timbre that she’d always associated with safety and comfort. She’d missed hearing that voice. “Jesus, I’m feeling stalked here.”

  That made her laugh. “I wasn’t sure if I was welcome.”

  A sigh. That was what came over the line. “What do you want, Jacey?”

  “To talk.”

  “I’m tired, Jacey. Go home.” And the son of a bitch hung up on her.

  “You did not just fucking hang up on me,” she yelled at her phone. She was good and pissed now. He was tired? Well, fuck that. She wanted to talk and by god he was going to fucking listen to her.

  She slammed her car door and when the curtain moved again she couldn’t control the impulse to flip him off as she moved toward his house and the outside stairs that led up to his porch. He should have taken the key away if he didn’t want to talk to her. He was tired! Well, bully for him. He could wake the fuck up.

  The door opened as soon as she reached it and Jonas filled the space. His brown waves were mussed as if he’d been running his fingers through them as he often did when he was agitated. His brown eyes were a deep chocolate shade behind his glasses, and if she wasn’t mistaken, he’d been drinking. He still had on the slacks she was sure he’d worn to the office that morning but his shirt was unbuttoned and hanging untucked and wide open, revealing a chest that no computer geek should have.

  God, how had she been so blind? How had she not realized that Jonas meant more to her than a mere friend? And when had that changed? When had her feelings for him changed? Because, honestly, she didn’t know. She just knew that when he said she should find someone else to discuss her love life with, it had hurt. Then when she’d seen him with that redhead, well, she’d seen red. And she hadn’t been looking at the bimbo’s hair.

  “I told you to go home.” Jonas’ voice washed over her and she shivered, her nipples getting tight and hard. She wasn’t missing the way he made her feel now.

  “Well, good for you,” she said and shoved past him into his house. “But I want to talk.”

  She turned around when she was safely inside only to see him still holding the door open. “Shut the door, Jonas, before you let the flies in. Besides, I’m not sure you want the neighbors to hear what I’ve got to say.”

  He slammed the door and flipped the lock before moving away from her. She followed him to the kitchen and took in the dishes in the sink, the clutter on the counters and the open bottle of whiskey and glass on the table. Jonas was neat. Jonas was tidy. Jonas didn’t drink all that often.

  “What’s going on Jonas? Everything okay?” she asked, really concerned.

  “Everything’s perfect,” he said, plopping down into his chair and lifting the whiskey glass to his lips for a sip. “Abso-fucking-lutely perfect.”

  “Jonas, you can tell me,” Jacey said. “We’re friends.”

  “Friends,” he muttered and she watched the glass lift for another longer sip. “You wanted to talk, so talk. Who’s the guy this time, Jacey? What’s wrong with him? Did he suck in bed? Was his dick too small? Didn’t he satisfy you?”

  Jacey blanched at his candor. Oh god. Had she destroyed any chance of going further with him by talking to him about her sex life? Did she really talk like that with him? Usually she said those things to Dee and Mischa but she did feel safe and comfortable with Jonas, she just hadn’t realized why until he’d pulled away.

  “There isn’t a guy, Jonas,” she said.

  “Wow, the amazing sex machine called Jacey is taking a little fuck break,” Jonas muttered then chuckled. “What will the male population do?”

  “You might as well have just called me a whore,” she said quietly.

  “Well, if the shoe fits,” he muttered again and she rose to her feet.

  “Fuck, Jacey, I’m sorry,” Jonas said, coming to his feet beside her and grabbing her arm to keep her from leaving. “I told you I was tired and apparently I’m a fucking douche bag as well.”

  “Yeah, you are,” she agreed.

  “Just go home, Jacey,” he said. “Before I say something else that attempts to destroy any friendship we have left.”

  “I can’t,” she whispered. If she left now she might not have the courage to come back. She’d been the one to tell him about her conquests, laughing as she described having sex with another guy. She was an idiot. And if he told her to get the hell out when she was done, then she would. It would kill her to walk away but she would.

  He sat back down and lifted the glass. “Then stay at your own risk. I’m not going to pussyfoot around with you when I told you now wasn’t the time.”

  “I understand,” she said, sitting beside him again at the table.

  They sat for a few minutes in silence. Jacey had never seen Jonas like this. It was blowing her mind.

  “Jacey,” Jonas said as he emptied his glass and reached for the bottle. “You better talk soon.”

  “Why are you drinking?” she blurted.

  “You came all the way over here on a Friday night, a night I know is girls’ night, to ask me why I’m sitting in my house drinking?”

  “No, I’ve just never seen you drink like this,” she said.

  “There’s a lot you’ve nev
er seen,” he muttered and took another sip.

  “So show me,” she whispered and finally, he met her eyes.

  “Don’t,” he said.

  “Why not?” she countered.

  “Trust me. You don’t want to go there. Not now. Not tonight.”

  “Why not tonight?”

  “Because I’m not in the mood to play games with you tonight.”

  “Too bad. Girls’ night included a toy store visit and I picked something up.”

  “Go find someone to play with then, Jacey.”

  “I’m trying to.”

  “Don’t, Jacey. Just don’t. I’m not going to be one of your bed buddies for a night.”

  “Why? I know you want me,” she blurted.

  “So, you finally opened your eyes, huh? Well, good for you, Jacey. Chalk me up to another male conquest and just go home.”

  “I’m not leaving, Jonas. So you can either deal with me or I can sit here and watch you drink.”

  “You wouldn’t like the way I’d deal with you,” he muttered, standing and taking his glass to the sink where, with a sigh, he dumped the whiskey out. “You’ve ruined a really good buzz.”

  “Maybe I’d enjoy the way you’d deal with me,” she said, coming to her feet and moving over to stand behind him.

  He turned around, his eyes blazing. At five-foot-eight-inches, she wasn’t that much shorter than he. In fact their bodies aligned perfectly. He had a longer torso than she so their legs were the same length, making the important parts align just right. She glanced down at his slacks where there was definitely something growing.

  “Sizing me up?” he said and her eyes flew back up to his face.

  Damn it. Enough was enough. “Yeah, I’m sizing you up, Jonas.” She moved into him, not stopping until they were touching, her breasts against his chest, her pussy nudging the growing bulge in his pants.

  “Back off, Jacey,” he grunted. His nostrils flared and his hands gripped the counter behind him so tightly that his knuckles were white. But she could feel his cock at full mast now and damn it felt good.

  “Or what?” she asked. “Are you going to discipline me, Jonas? Gonna spank my ass until it’s nice and red?” She reached out to shove his shirt off his shoulders, trapping his arms at his sides, and scraped her nails over his chest. “Is that what you want to do to me?” she purred and rubbed her hot cunt along his clothed cock.