Beyond Friends: Big Flirt Book One Read online

  Beyond Friends

  Big Flirt Book One

  Kristen Echo

  BEYOND FRIENDS

  Big Flirt Book One

  Copyright © 2019 by Kristen Echo and Kristen Publishing

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of the above copyright owner of this book or publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Website: http://www.echoromance.com

  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorkristenecho/

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  eBook ISBN:978-1-7753433-8-7

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Author Note

  Sneak Peek

  Also by Kristen Echo

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  DEAN

  My best friend lured me here with the promise of an experience I’d never forget. Arielle assumed I came on this trip because I needed a change of scenery and a break from fixing cars. I didn’t care about white sandy beaches, swimming with the dolphins, or if I ever left my small-town. I cared about her, and I had big plans for us.

  When she handed me a ticket to paradise, I knew this was my chance to move our relationship to the next level. Spending every waking hour with her surrounded by the ocean waves and no other distractions couldn’t be more perfect. Only there was one small glitch in my master plan. Arielle had plonked me in the friend zone years ago and I couldn’t get out.

  The door closed behind us as we entered our room. “You should have tried the flan and pineapple Empanadas. Hands down the most decadent and tastiest things I’ve ever put in my mouth,” she said.

  “I’m holding out for something sweeter.”

  An adorable pink blush colored her cheeks. “Wow. That sounds kind of dirty. Must be all pheromones floating around this place.”

  I wasn’t the king of romance, but this place did all the heavy lifting for me. We were staying at a beautiful, couples only, all-inclusive resort. Our every need was catered to and then some. From oceanfront massages to a personalized butler service. The food and booze flowed freely. We were stuffed and mildly buzzed from sunrise to sunset.

  Romance oozed from every nook and cranny of our one-bedroom suite. A room with one big four-poster bed and a jacuzzi tub for two. I hadn’t used either but hoped to change that soon. Beyond all the bells and whistles, the best part was the fact we were alone. Finally, just the two of us.

  “Do you want to take a walk on the beach?” I followed Arielle towards the balcony. “We can catch the sunset and stretch our legs.”

  The glass doors had been left open. She stepped onto the balcony and gripped the railing until her knuckles turned white. I’d never known her to be scared of heights, but the tenth-floor view was worth any discomfort. A strong wind blew her brown hair around, covering her face.

  She’d been unusually quiet throughout dinner. A few times I caught her staring at me, but she’d quickly divert her attention back to the elaborate handcrafted, gourmet meal. Soft music had played in the background, filling the comfortable silence.

  After two nights on the Mexican coast, my plan to get her to see me as a potential love interest wasn’t working. Her heart had belonged to someone else for as long as we’d known each other, but he’d dumped her and left me to pick up the pieces. It was for the best because that guy wasn’t right for her. Once the initial shock wore off, she’d agree.

  I stepped next to her, looking out at the water as the sun completed its dip under the horizon. “Beautiful,” I said, not meaning the sun.

  “We can see it from here,” she answered.

  “True, but we could get closer.”

  “A romantic sunset stroll probably isn’t a good idea.”

  I tuned to face her and leaned my back against the glass. “Why not? Afraid you’ll fall in love with me,” I joked, clearing the hair away from her face and trailing my fingers across the smooth surface of her cheek.

  Her eyes were closed. “Love,” she scoffed. “It’s late. I don’t have the energy for a walk. I might just—”

  “You’re not going to sleep yet. We need tequila,” I suggested.

  The past few nights, Arielle had gone to bed early. She’d sent me on an errand and when I’d returned the bedroom door was locked. Forced to sleep alone on the couch was not how I envisioned spending my nights.

  Her body tensed. “Dean, I’m tired. Would you mind checking with the concierge and booking a tour to see those ruins I told you about?”

  “We can book it tomorrow. Our time here is limited and I’m not letting you go sleep another night away.”

  “I’m doing my best,” she huffed.

  The past few weeks had been rough on her. A break-up, graduating from University and moving back in with her parents had monopolized all her time. We hadn’t seen each other in weeks. I missed her and it seemed like she’d been avoiding me since we arrived.

  “I get it. But—”

  “No, you don’t. I’m struggling not to cry every time I see something crazy romantic. Which is a constant struggle since we arrived. He picked this place for a reason. Love is in the air.” She inhaled deeply. “I can almost smell it. It’s potent and overwhelming.”

  “Pretty sure you’re just smelling me.”

  She shook her head and looked past me towards the miles of sand and surf. In the distance, a man dropped to his knees in what looked like a proposal. Arielle stopped breathing as the couple embraced.

  “Keep breathing,” I reminded her.

  “Do you think this perfect sunset with all the pinks and purples painted across the sky would have been the backdrop for my engagement memories?” She sniffled and a lone tear spilled down her face. “Being here is more exhausting than I expected.”

  This post University graduation vacation was supposed to be her engagement trip, but her ex had bailed, leaving her with an extra ticket. She could have canceled or invited anyone, but she’d called me. That had to mean something.

  “Don’t give him any more tears.” I wiped the moisture from her skin. “Focus on better things.”

  “Easy for you to say,” she shot back, pushing my hand away. “You’ve never been in love.”

  The unintended insult stung. She was wrong. I may have never told a woman I loved her, but I was in love. Deeply and madly in love with Arielle.

  “It’s not easy to see you hurting. Let me help you feel better.” For some reason my tone lowered, becoming more sultry and flirtatious. I lifted my eyebrow and leaned closer. It was impossible not to flirt with her. “Tell me what to do. Possibilities are endless.”

  “If I knew, don’t you think I’d do it.” She ignored my advances. “I hate crying.”

  Arielle released the railing and crossed her arms over her chest, causing a long deep cleavage line. My eyes drifted down, taking in her voluptuous body. Her red dress hugged her torso and the bottom half flowed in the breeze. She wasn’t a stick figure who starved herself. Her body was all woman and so damn sexy.
I’d dreamed for years about stripping, kissing, touching and claiming every glorious inch. I wanted so badly to grip her hips as she writhed naked underneath me. I’d make her come so hard. She had the type of body made for pleasure.

  “Hate even more that you have to see it,” she continued, tearing me from my filthy fantasies. “It’s been over a month and I… never mind. You don’t need to hear me bitch and whine. We are supposed to be here having a good time.”

  I loved that she let me see her vulnerable side. She searched my face for something. Her big brown eyes had swirls of gold that became more pronounced when she cried. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. It would have been a good time to tell her she was more stunning than the stars that twinkled in the sky, and that I wanted this sunset to be the backdrop for our first kiss. I should have said something equally poetic, but those words formed a lump in my throat.

  “Say whatever you need to move past it. No judgment, but no sleeping yet. Unless your version of sleeping involves us rolling around naked in bed.”

  “Quit teasing. And thanks for being so great. I’m not sure I could have handled coming here alone.”

  “Thanks for the invite.”

  “Of course. You’re the best friend anyone could ever have.” She wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me. “Thank you.”

  I grunted as her soft curves pressed against my body. She needed me to be her friend. Not a horn-dog, trying to spread her legs open. My desire to make love to her until she forgot any man had every touched her except me had to be pushed way down. She wasn’t ready. My flirting wasn’t exactly subtle, but she had yet to respond in an encouraging way.

  “Ready for some tequila?”

  “Tequila sounds good,” she answered. “I bet they have a bottle or two in the minibar.”

  “No. Tonight, we’re dancing. We can have our drinks downstairs.” I grabbed her hand, tugging her with me. “Stick with me and I’ll show you a good time.”

  She bit her plump lower lip and nodded as we entered the hallway. “Okay, we’ll go.” Her steps slowed when we reached the elevator. “I didn’t know you danced. We’ve been friends for years. How did I not know this?”

  Most of the time we spent together was working on cars. Arielle loved rebuilding classics. I admired that she wasn’t afraid to get dirty with me under the hood. My family owned a repair shop in a small town and that’s where we hung out. Before I dropped out of University, we’d grab a coffee or a meal on campus, but I didn’t venture into the city much anymore.

  I shrugged my shoulders, held her hand tighter and kept walking. “There’s plenty you don’t know about me. But ask and I’ll tell you everything. No secrets.”

  “Everyone has secrets,” she mumbled.

  As we trekked through the massive open-air lobby, I commented on the thatched roof and mosaic tiled floors. The patterns were bold and colorful like her personality. She didn’t laugh at my comments or notice the surrounding beauty. For someone so smart, sometimes she missed the obvious. I often wondered if she knew I had the hots for her or if she was truly clueless. My brothers, friends and family teased me to no end about it. I couldn’t help falling for Arielle. She had beauty and brains. A mind equally as sexy as her body.

  When we arrived at the on-site Disco, she sighed and squared her shoulders like she was preparing for battle. I opened the door and ushered her in. Once my eyes adjusted to the blue neon lights, I noticed the hoops hanging from the ceiling with professional dancers twirling within them. I’d never seen anything like it.

  “Pretty cool,” Arielle yelled over the loud thumping of pop music. “Those dancers are amazing. Can you move like that?”

  “Dance with me and find out.”

  She shook her head and turned towards the U-shaped bar. Her long brown hair spilled down her back, stopping just above her ass. The sexy waves would look amazing sprawled across the pillows in our room or wrapped around my fist as we kissed. As we…

  “Drinks first. I only agreed to drinks.”

  Only a handful of guests sat at the bar, leaving no shortage of seats. I selected two away from the others. I didn’t want to share her attention.

  “You’re going to love my moves,” I teased as we settled at the bar. “Prepare to get wet.”

  She shimmied onto a stool and ordered three tequila shots for each of us. The bartender poured them in a line before us. She studied the booze and inspected the shot glass before lifting it.

  “To learning more about each other.”

  “Cheers.”

  We clanked glasses. The clear liquid slipped down my throat easily. She tossed hers back, winced and grabbed a lemon from the plate. Her lips covered the slice as she hallowed her cheeks and sucked. The satisfied moan that followed made my cock twitch. Everything about her made me hard.

  She put down the empty shot and grabbed another. “To living in the moment.”

  “Carpe diem.”

  The second drink went down even easier than the first. This time, she didn’t wince. The bartender collected the empties as Arielle licked her full lips and exhaled.

  “That was good. A few more and I’ll forget all my worries.”

  Before she could steal the final toast, I picked up the third shot. “To us getting sweaty together.”

  “Um… to you and me.” Her hand shook as she brought the liquor to her lips.

  We drank the last shot and the heat from the booze warmed me. With a little liquid courage running through my veins, I stood and invaded her personal space. My hands planted on her hips and I lifted her off the stool. Instead of giving her room to move, I pulled her against me and walked backwards until we reached the nearly empty dance floor. Only two other couples filled the space.

  “I like this song,” she said, shuffling her feet from side to side. “Show me what you got.”

  I gripped her hand, spun her out and brought her back, painting her back to my front. My fingers dug into her hip, keeping her close. When her ass swayed against my cock, it responded by instantly trying to break through my jeans. If she noticed, she didn’t say a word. Our bodies moved together, grinding and dry humping to the beats. One song bled into five. This wasn’t the sweaty I had intended, but I enjoyed having her close.

  She was a great dancer. The pros jumping through those hoops had nothing on Arielle. Waitresses came by and supplied more shots. We broke apart only long enough to drink and then she was back in my arms. We fit together perfectly. With each song, her shoulders relaxed more.

  Our private oasis became crowded as more couples danced and kissed next to us. The heat between her legs rubbed against my thigh as my fingers trailed down her sides, over her hips and squeezed her luscious behind. She moaned. A minor lift of her dress and I’d be able to feel her wetness. A temptation too great to resist. The fabric bunched in my hands as nearby dancers slammed into us.

  Arielle stepped back and fanned her face. “It’s gotten way too hot in here. Ready to go?” Her eyes were glassy as she stared at me.

  “Back to the room or—”

  “Yes, take me to bed,” she slurred.

  “Thought you’d never ask.”

  “First one back to the room wins.”

  “You’re on.”

  She was fast, but no match for me. She opted to wait for an elevator as I ran to the stairwell. I climbed the stairs two at a time. I’d played high school and college football. Probably could have gone pro, but it wasn’t in the cards. The short race was an easy victory. I reached the room first and opened the door.

  “You’re a cheater!” She shoved me inside the room.

  I chuckled. “Don’t be a sore loser.”

  “I hate losing.” She added the chain to the door, kicked off her sandals and headed towards the bedroom.

  “Not so fast.” I grabbed her hips like I’d been doing all night. Having her this close felt natural, but I craved more.

  “What are you doing?”

  “No more talking.” I turne
d her around and eyed her mouth.

  This was it. I would finally taste her sweet lips. We’d leave the friendzone and jump into something new. I was ready. I closed my eyes and went for it. Instead of feeling her soft lips, I got her cheek.

  “Goodnight, Dean,” she breathed, racing away and disappearing into the bedroom.

  Chapter 2

  ARIELLE

  The sun beat down against my shoulders and the sand tickled my toes with each step, nearly burning my skin as I hurried towards the water. It was hot and sweat dotted my brow. The wind caused huge waves in the water. My hair whipped around, covering my face and making me wish I’d tied it back. The swells were rough and greeted me with a welcome slap against my shins. I smiled and raced deeper into the warm saltwater.

  I couldn’t recall the last time my smile wasn’t forced. Stress had taken a permanent residence on my neck and shoulders. My fingers kneaded the area as I distanced myself from the shore. I needed this holiday. Time to forget all about my problems and focus on relaxation.

  Stealing a few days away from the craziness of my life hopefully wouldn’t cause too much harm. Even if it did, I’d deal with the consequences later. For now, I planned to enjoy the serenity of the water. This beach on the Mexican coast was my paradise. I hadn’t been to the tropics in ages.

  Once I was waist deep and several feet away from the nearest swimmer, I stopped running. The white, sandy beach was packed with tourists. I closed my eyes and dove under the turquoise blanket, soaking every inch of my body. I rolled onto my back, floating as the sun’s rays warmed my body. I adjusted the strap of my bikini. Something I never would have been comfortable wearing back home, but Dean encouraged me to leave my comfort zone. He made me feel beautiful. I slapped my forehead, slicked my long hair away from my face and exhaled a long breath.