One Night Stand With My Bestie's Brother

Chapter 5

I was curious, so I slid the door open and took a closer look. I could tell that he had just finished his run on the beach because he was sitting there with a bottle of water in his hands and looking relaxed. I noticed the curves and planes of his beautiful chest as I took in the sweat that had soaked through his t-shirt.

When Harry caught sight of me, he looked up and gave a feeble smile. "Would you like coffee?" I queried while putting my drink on the table. I took a seat in the lounge next to him and looked out over the beach as he shook his head. After a short amount of silence between us, I readjusted myself in my seat. “Are you doing okay?” I whispered to him while stealing a glance in his direction and asking him.

"I simply arrived here under circumstances that were more chaotic than intended." As I nodded in agreement, he continued. I was aware of the reality of the situation and accepted it. "I need to leave everything in the past and move on... I need to find a job." That will help me feel more secure. The last time I checked, he was doing very well professionally in Avalon. I didn't feel like asking, so I just nodded instead.

You have the choice of working for a company or working for yourself in this endeavor. I suggested it to him as he took a sip from his glass of water.

"I do." I turned to look at him when I felt a light touch on my arm and saw that he was the one making it. "How are you making it through this?"

"And what exactly?" As I gazed deeply into his eyes, I posed the question. They appeared to be exhausted.

"Over the course of your life, a great deal has transpired. I can't help but think that it must have been difficult to graduate without them there. I had to make a conscious effort to maintain my position of stillness as he spoke in a raspy, low tone.

"It did. I still deeply mourn them, but I have made peace with all that took place in the past. I have no doubt that they are in this place with me in some capacity. Your family has been really kind and helpful in making an effort to support me. When I felt him stroking me, I thought about curling up closer to him so that I could have more of his touch.

"Shauna, you've been there for all of us when we needed you." I gave him a friendly grin and looked ahead, trying not to put too much stock in what he was saying. "I count you among the most admirable of persons I know."

"I don't know about that," I argued with a light tone as I recalled my going right past the night that I slept with him. "I don't know about that."

"I do. You have always been someone who makes me feel at ease. It seems to me that you have a maturity that belies your age." He fell silent. "After Thompson passed away, I don't remember a lot of what went down, but one thing I do remember is that you helped me," she said. I came to a standstill as I pondered how much he actually recalled.

You were in need of it. Because you were such a tremendous support to me through this difficult time for my family, I would like to return the favor. The incident caused us to lose a lot of people very rapidly." I reassured him, but I couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't also grieving s*x for me. That evening, I did manage to get some feelings off my chest.

When Harry said, in a low voice, "I don't think that I gave to you what you so freely gave to me," I came to a complete and utter standstill. "I was intoxicated, Shauna.

I am aware of that, but whenever I think about us, images pop into my thoughts. Sometimes, when I'm sleeping, I can almost hear your voice. I became red in the face and sipped my coffee while my hands shook. "Throughout the years, I've given it a great deal of thought."

As he withdrew his palm away from mine, I explained to him, "It was just a bad night for you." "Perhaps it was something that I needed as well. My mother passed away just a few short months ago."

“Maybe. As I took a deep, steady breath, he added, "I simply didn't see you as the sort to do something so private merely to make someone feel better." I would never do something like that for just anybody. Because my hormones started acting up, and since the door was already wide open, I wanted Harry.

I wouldn't do that for a casual acquaintance. However, we are familiar with one another, and I believe that this helped us be there for one another when we needed it. It was a fortunate turn of events at the moment." It was painful for me to discuss this topic, and I could feel his gaze on me.

"Do you ever worry about the possibility that it will happen again?" As I turned to look at Harry, he questioned, and my stomach dropped at the thought of what I may see.

"Welcome to the morning." When Minda came to welcome us, I leaped. "I truly apologize. Were you sleeping?"

"Just talking, Mom. Having a good time this morning." I grimaced as Harry's sharp response made me laugh out loud.

"Would it be okay if I went and got some coffee and joined you?" She inquired, and we afterwards advised her to proceed.

I felt his hand on my arm when she was entering the building. "No, Shauna, this is not yet over. When we have some time to ourselves in the future, we're going to talk about it." Minda came outside to seat at the table, and I maintained my silence throughout her arrival.

She read the paper while sipping her coffee, causing us to be forced to sit in awkward silence for the duration of the interaction. I wasn't sure whether Harry just wanted to put the night behind him and move on or whether he wanted to sleep together again. After she had finished reading, I engaged Minda in light conversation while laughing heartily at the appropriate points.

After Emrina got up, we went inside to prepare breakfast, which gave me the opportunity to avoid Harry for the remainder of the day. That evening, Emri and I went to a movie, and afterward we stopped at our go-to coffee shop. After a late arrival, we made our way to the second floor of the house. I could tell that he was awake since the light in his room was on, and it took all in me not to go in there and knock on the door.

I was finally able to enter her room and get into her bed. The events of the morning kept playing through my head, making it difficult for me to fall asleep. I was left perplexed and stimulated by the words he had spoken. I remember going outdoors while Emrina was asleep so that I could try to get some fresh air and relieve some of the strain that I was feeling.

When I was finished, I went downstairs to get some water, and as I was carrying it back upstairs, I was taken aback when Harry opened his door. I came to a stop and fixed my gaze on him, watching as he extended his hand to bring me inside. "What exactly are you up to?" I hushed him as he shut the door to his room.

When I made a face, he said in response, "We're going to chat."

"Haven't you slept yet?" I inquired as he took my hand and brought it to his nose while he was doing so. s**t. After I was through m**********g, I did not thought to wash my hands because I did not consider the possibility that anyone was awake.

“No. Have you?" I watched as he took a deep breath in and then stuck his tongue out to taste my flesh as he did so. "Do you remember this from the last time we talked, Shauna?"

I said, "I don't believe we should talk about that," as he put a finger into his mouth and sucked the fluids off of me. "I don't think we should talk about that." I was too weak to move, yet I was aware that this situation was potentially harmful.

/Harry/

As I took a mouthful of the wonderful nectar that Shauna was offering me from her finger, she stared at me with wide eyes. At some point tonight, she started touching herself, and I realized that it was because of what had happened this morning. I'll be damned if I can't j******f to the fragmentary recollections of the previous night that I have. I had the want to yank her into the bedroom, strip her down to her underwear, and take a taste of her for myself.

In response to her earlier complaint, I slowly said, "I think it's important that we talk about it."

"Harry, you were mourning and inebriated. I wasn't there for anything other than to facilitate you working through that issue. It might have been any one of the women. When Shauna told me this, I chuckled quietly to myself.

"I would never put myself in such a vulnerable position with just any woman. I needed someone I could trust, someone who could understand me. I let out a low growl as I reached out and drew her closer to me.

"After that, you slept with a number of different ladies. You have progressed along perfectly fine." As I lowered my head to rest against hers, she said the words in a trembling voice. However, I felt the need to defend myself because she was correct.

"I did. Shauna, I had not yet remembered our evening together. When I did it, I felt like a complete jackass." As I reached out to cup her face, I broke the news to her.

When did that happen? As I grimaced, she questioned.