**I've had this story posted previously under the user name sweet-escape**
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Chloe perched on the edge of kitchen bench, her legs crossed at the knees. A silver heel dangled from one set of toes while the other lay on the tiles at her feet. A feeling of contentment washed over her. She tossed her black hair over one shoulder and glanced around the chaotic kitchen - empty glasses everywhere, half-finished plates of food, someone's forgotten jacket draped over a dining chair.
She drew in a breath, her chest lifting beneath her blue party dress. Chloe smiled and sighed. The cleanup would have to wait until tomorrow. Her thirtieth birthday celebrations had completely wrecked her -in a good way of course- but now all she wanted to do was have a wind-down drink and curl up in bed.
Her attention drifted to Jake, her husband Dominic's best friend. "Did you have a good time?" she asked him. Dom had gone out a few minutes ago to drive his parents home, refusing to let them call a taxi after they'd overindulged. He'd left Jake behind to keep Chloe company. Jake was visiting for a week, staying in the guest bedroom as he often did.
"It was a great night." A tie hung unknotted around his neck. He walked toward her, unfastening the top button on his shirt. His dirty blonde hair had that artfully roughed-up look, and a lifelong surfing addiction had given him a well toned body. "You and Dom always did know how to throw a party."
Chloe's brows snapped together as he stopped before her. She watched him closely, surprised by the play of emotions flitting across his face. When his mouth lifted in a half smile, her heart began to speed and she couldn't put her finger on the reason why.
He looked her over, his grey eyes spending far too long on the breasts nestled inside her low-cut dress. Chloe fought the inclination to clamp her hands over her chest. "What's wrong?" she asked. He'd never shown the slightest interest in her body before. He'd had a bit to drink, but not enough to make him act this way.
"Nothing." Jake's gaze returned to hers. He flicked another button open on his shirt. A sprinkling of blonde hairs appeared in the vee of material.
"You're being strange." Chloe shifted and uncrossed her legs, her remaining heel dropping to the tiled floor with a clunk. She'd gone without a bra and panties for the night, wanting to surprise Dominic at the end of the party. That decision left her feeling vulnerable now.
"Sorry, Chloe-bear, don't mean to be." Jake rested a hand either side of her on the bench, his body remaining just far enough away to keep from crowding her. "It's just...after watching you tonight I've finally come to a conclusion." His eyes swept over her, lingering on her mouth. He released a breath of air through his nose and his tongue moistened his lower lip.
"Oh." Chloe fingered her soft waves of hair, trying to calm her nerves. The tone of his voice had deepened. Her nipples hardened in response, pressing against the silky fabric of her dress. Her body's reaction to him confused her. He'd never stirred these feelings inside her before. "And what's that?"
"I want to tell you a secret." His breath whispered over her cheek as he spoke.
"So...tell me." Chloe tried to maintain eye contact with him, but it was impossible. She glanced off to the side. "You've never had any trouble talking to me before."
"It's different this time." His thumbs brushed the sides of her thighs. "The subject's a bit delicate."
She shivered and met his eyes, searching for something to explain his strange mood. For some reason she wanted distance from him - immediate and prolonged distance. "Well, maybe you should think on it a while longer and get back to me."
"See, that's the problem." Jake inhaled and let the air out in a controlled breath. "I've been putting this off for years."
"Years? Sounds serious. Why don't you wait till Dom gets back? You can speak to him if you're uncomfortable talking to me." Chloe silently begged him to choose the former option. She didn't even know why she wanted to put him off. She only knew the air had grown heavy around them and she wanted to disperse it somehow.
"That wouldn't work. I don't think he'd appreciate hearing what I have to say." Jake's gaze lifted to meet hers. "The thing is, Chloe, I want you. Always have."
Chloe swallowed hard. He wasn't smiling, not in the slightest. Was this supposed to be a joke? "What? You tell me just like that? We're friends." Heat crawled up her neck. She couldn't breathe. It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Her mind whirled as she wondered what Dom would make of this. Even if she never told him about his best friend's confession, it would change everything - the secrets, the shifts in behaviour and uncomfortable silences - nothing would ever be the same between them again. Anger welled inside her, hot and intense. "You've just ruined our friendship."
"That wasn't my intention. I've been dealing with this a long time. I've tried talking myself out of it." Jake stroked a finger along her jaw line, smiling when she jerked out of reach. "It's been going on for years."
"Not for me, it hasn't. I had no idea you felt this way." Chloe closed her eyes. She pressed her lips together to keep from screaming out her frustration at him. She wanted to go back ten minutes in time and talk Dom out of leaving the house. If his parents had called a taxi instead of letting him drive them home, this would never have happened. Why now? Why do this when it never had a hope of going anywhere? She opened her eyes and shot Jake an accusing look. "You should have kept this to yourself. I'm married to your best friend. I'm happy. Nothing's ever going to happen between you and me."
"I know that. You're a good girl." Jake smoothed the hair from Chloe's forehead, slid his fingers down to trace the shell of her ear. She flinched. "I have no intention of making a move on you. I just want you to know how I feel."
"Why?" Chloe's lower lip began to tremble. She raised her eyes to his. "How could that possibly help?"
"Because when that husband of yours is fucking you senseless, I want you to think of me." Jake leaned in closer, so close their mouths almost pressed together. "It'll be a small consolation knowing that even though Dom's the one moving inside you, I'm the one you'll be thinking of."
"I won't." Chloe tried to keep her voice from wobbling. "Just because you feel this way, doesn't mean I do, too."
"It doesn't really matter." A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest, the sound bringing both fear and pleasure alive inside her. "When Dom kisses your mouth, you'll think of me. When his lips suckle your nipples and your back arches, when you make that sweet keening sound I've heard you make, you'll think of me."
Chloe shook her head, squeezing her eyes closed as a tear leaked free. It embarrassed her knowing Jake had listened to her and Dom late at night, to the sounds they'd both made as they lost themselves in each other. More than that, it hurt knowing he was prepared to throw away all the years they'd had together for something that had no chance of developing.
"I'm not asking for anything. I'm not making demands on you. This won't go any further than what's between us right now." Jake trailed a fingertip across her collarbone and she couldn't help but shiver at the touch. His eyes dropped to her breasts. She knew her nipples strained for release against the fabric. Chloe closed her eyes, ashamed.
He shouldn't be having this effect on her, she thought. They shouldn't be having this conversation. Her eyes drifted open, taking a moment to focus on his features. His expression had hardened with desire, his blue eyes boring into hers. How could she have not known he felt this way about her? How could she have missed the signs? "Jake. Stop."
"I haven't even started." He swept his finger along her shoulder, continuing down the length of her arm. Tingles followed his touch. She shoved his hand away, angry at her reaction. He gave her a patient smile. "Whenever our eyes meet, Chloe, I'll picture your legs wrapped around me, your body moving beneath mine. Whenever I hear your voice, I'll imagine my cock buried deep inside you, my tongue licking your tears while I fuck you so hard you cry."
His words delved deep inside her, to some hidden place never before touched. Her inner thighs heated and tingled, pulsing uncomfortably. She spread her knees to ease the feeling and braced her hands beside her on the bench. "Stop it." She glared at him, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. If she let go it would overwhelm her. " Just stop it . That's enough." Her eyes moved to the kitchen clock. She mentally pleaded for Dom's return, for the torture to end.
"Are you upset because a part of you wants it?"
Heat surged inside her, flushing her cheeks, blocking out all sense of reason. She wanted to hurt him, tear at him like he was tearing at her. Chloe pushed at his shoulders, balled her hands into fists and thumped his chest. "Stop talking. Stop saying those things to me!" She slapped his stomach, grunting and shoving his body with her elbow to get him the hell away from her. Tears threatened to break free any moment. Chloe just wanted him gone so she could let go.
"It's okay." He stood there and took it, stood strong and bore the brunt of her anger. "It's over now. I'm done."
She felt her heart breaking. A sob tore from her throat. "You didn't have to do this. You've ruined everything we ever had!" She quashed the urge to start balling like a baby and reach for him. Chloe knew how his arms would feel around her. She needed that comfort, but instead pushed the back of her hand to her mouth to keep the emotion inside. When she'd regained her composure she dragged her hand away and looked at him with all the hurt in her heart. "I hate you."
"Chloe-bear." He tipped her chin up, his voice soft as his gaze meshed with hers. "I hate you too. I hate that you've had my heart all these years and didn't even know it. I hate that you're not mine. I hate that you chose him. And every time he fucks you till you call out his name, you'll hate me even more because it'll be my name you'll really want to scream."
