Enemies with Benefits: A Real Man Read online

  Enemies with Benefits

  A Real Man

  Jenika Snow

  ENEMIES WITH BENEFITS (A Real Man)

  By Jenika Snow

  www.JenikaSnow.com

  [email protected]

  Copyright © December 2020 by Jenika Snow

  First E-book Publication: December 2020

  Photo provided by: Adobe Stock

  Cover Designer: Lori Jackson

  Editor: Kayla Robichaux

  Proof Editor: All Encompassing Books

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental. Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.

  Contents

  Synopsis

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue One

  Epilogue Two

  About the Author

  It was hate at first sight.

  That’s what I told myself anyway, because wanting Malachi, who was my brother’s best friend, probably wasn’t the smartest move.

  He got under my skin in the worst kind of way... and I was pretty sure he got off on it.

  I could have ignored my desire, an arousal that was at war with my annoyance with Mal, but then we found each other alone at my parents’ house and everything changed.

  He taunted, teased... pushed me to the point I couldn’t stop myself from acting out, letting my arousal take control.

  I started showing Mal exactly how much I wanted him, even if it was the worst idea of my life.

  Or maybe it wasn’t.

  What I didn’t anticipate was him giving me a night I’d never forget, a night that would shake all other experiences in my life.

  It was after that when I realized I didn’t hate Malachi. I was hopelessly, madly, and irrevocably in love with him.

  Sleeping with the enemy never felt so good.

  1

  Delilah

  It was hate at first sight.

  Well, hate was a strong word. Annoyance. Yeah, annoyance at first sight, absolutely.

  Malachi “Mal” Stevenson, my brother’s best friend, former captain of the football team, and the most popular guy at our high school—when he attended—was so ridiculously attractive I expected a song to play whenever he walked into a room.

  He also knew how good he looked, which made him cocky, but only with me, it seemed. I couldn’t help but hate him... or love him.

  It was the latter. Kind of. Mostly. I think.

  I was pretty sure I was in love with him.

  I’d known him for years. He’d been a part of our family all that time, always over, always looking so good it pissed me off even more, because he knew how hot he was.

  He was cocky and stubborn, knew he got under my skin, so he pushed my buttons on purpose. I knew that was a fact by the smirk he always wore when he saw how pissed he made me.

  But it wasn’t just hate. It was something more, something forbidden. It was something that pissed me off royally.

  And that’s why when I pulled into the driveway of my parents’ house after work, I couldn’t help but purse my lips when I saw his truck parked in my spot.

  My. Spot.

  This was planned, something to further annoy me. It wasn’t like Mal didn’t know this was where I parked all the time. I swore he did this kind of shit on purpose, stuff to rile me up.

  I parked along the curb, cut my engine, and curled my hands around the steering wheel. Mal was probably a pervert and got off on being annoying to me.

  After grabbing my backpack and tossing my apron in the back seat, I curled my fingers around the paper bag that held the few bags of ground coffee my mother asked me to get for her after my shift ended at the coffee shop.

  I made my way to the front door, cutting a glare toward his shiny black truck as if the inanimate object was Mal himself.

  Once inside the house, I set my backpack on the floor by the door, toed off my shoes, and took the coffee into the kitchen. I assumed my father was in his study working late, and I didn’t see my mom’s car in the driveway, which meant she was probably out with her friends on a “wine date.”

  I heard a couple deep, rumbly, masculine voices carrying through from the living room, and I cut my eyes in that direction, hearing Mal’s deep chuckle above it all.

  I narrowed my eyes, because that sound did things to me. Wicked things, things that had parts of my body tingling and becoming warm, soft… wet. And that pissed me off even more.

  I made my way out of the kitchen and into the living room, bracing my shoulder against the doorframe and crossing my arms over my chest, staring at my brother, Aidan, who sat on the couch beside Mal. The large flat-screen TV on the wall across from them showed some military video game they always played when Mal came over.

  “Dude, did you see the new girl at school?" my brother asked.

  Mal didn’t respond right away, and instead they both started cursing as something happened in the game that clearly pissed them off. Mal tossed the controller on the coffee table and leaned back, linking his hands behind his head. “Man, you know I don’t pay attention to that shit.”

  My brother looked over at him, both of them still oblivious to the fact that I stood here eavesdropping. “You’re oblivious to what? Hot-ass girls?”

  Mal made a deep noise that sounded like he was getting annoyed. “Things like talking about that shit with you.”

  Aiden just sat there staring at Mal as if he’d grown another head. “So what, you’re not into pussy?”

  I grimaced at Aiden’s crude language. I rarely heard my brother talk like this, but clearly he was free with his word choices with his friends.

  “Dude,” Mal said in a disgusted tone and snapped his head in Aiden’s direction.

  “What?” Aiden shrugged and leaned back on the couch. “I’ve just never seen you with anyone, and you don’t talk about liking any chicks. If you’re gay, I just want you to know it’s cool with me.” Aiden sounded sincere.

  Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t seen Mal with anyone, and there weren’t rumors about him with girls at school.

  I furrowed my brow, wondering if Mal wasn’t into the female population.

  Mal was silent for long seconds. “I’m not gay, man. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I am into the opposite sex.”

  Aiden shrugged again. “Just saying, I’d be cool if you were.” They were silent for long seconds before Aiden spoke again. “But legit, you don’t talk about chicks. I never see you with any, so like, what’s the deal? Saving yourself until you’re married?”

  Mal just shook his head and stared at the ceiling. “Just because I don’t talk about that with you or anyone else doesn’t mean shit. Maybe I like keeping private shit just that… private.” Mal’s body was ramrod straight, and even I could see how tense he looked. “And just because I don’t run my mouth like half the douchebags at school doesn’t mean I’m not into someone.”

  Now that statement had my spine goin
g straight. I hated that I was jealous, that it sounded like he was into someone by the tone of his voice. A little voice in my head wanted me to be that girl Mal was into.

  God. I’m losing my mind.

  That thought had me pinching my lips together. I shifted on my feet, and the floorboard beneath me creaked from the movement. Both Aiden and Mal looked over their shoulders, Aiden promptly rolling his eyes before standing.

  “D, stop eavesdropping.”

  “Don’t call me that,” I snapped at my brother.

  He chuckled. “Why, Delilah?” He emphasized my full name. “Does calling you D remind you of something else that starts with the same letter?”

  It was my turn to roll my eyes. “You’re so damn immature.”

  Aiden chuckled. “I know, but it’s fun to see you bothered by it.”

  “You’re a pig.” I turned my focus back to Mal and saw he still watched me, this weird expression on his face.

  “Hey, Delilah,” he said in greeting, his masculine, deep voice making my body warm instantly.

  I licked my lips, wanting to say some smartass comment, but instead, I said, “Hey.”

  I stared at my brother. Aiden—and Mal—were only a year older than my eighteen years, and both of them attended the same university in town. I did envy them already being in college, having more freedom that came with that. But being my senior year of high school, I’d get to experience university life soon enough.

  The guys opted to commute for this first year instead of staying at the dorms, but I knew Aiden didn’t want to do that next year. He told me plenty of times he wanted the full college experience. I didn’t know where Mal stood on that front, and we didn’t talk about stuff like that, so it seemed weird broaching the subject.

  “How much did you hear?” Aiden asked, pulling me back to the present and having my thoughts—which were starting to turn sexual where Mal was concerned—fade to the present.

  I shrugged but then curled my lip in disgust. “Before or after you brought up ‘new girl in school pussy’?” I felt my cheeks heat, because I still felt Mal’s stare on me.

  Aiden chuckled. “Serves you right for getting an earful of that conversation. Don't be so nosey next time.” He didn’t say anything else as he left the living room, and a second later, I heard him rummaging around in the kitchen.

  I glanced back at Mal, hating how on edge he put me and he hadn’t said more than “hey.”

  I liked to think he was my enemy, but the truth was, he wasn’t a bad guy. Annoying and frustrating, yeah, but I knew he was decent and had a good heart. He was wicked smart and super athletic. But he was my brother’s best friend, so by default he got on my nerves.

  We both stayed there just staring at each other for long moments, and the longer he stared at me, the harder and more intense his gaze became.

  I started to feel bare, spread open from the inside out for how focused he was on me. Beads of sweat dotted the valley between my breasts, and my pulse beat frantically.

  And that just pissed me off.

  “You parked in my spot,” I said in a clipped, frustrated voice.

  He didn’t react at first, but then a slow, devilishly sexy smile spread across his face. He stood, all six-feet three-inches of him. He was lean but muscular, his body uncoiling as if he were a snake about to strike.

  I stood where I was, unable to move, my heart beating even faster. I shoved my hands in the pocket of my light jacket, curling my fingers toward my palms, my nails digging into my skin. He walked toward me, stopping when he was only a foot from where I stood, looking down at me. I had to crane my neck back just to see his face, and my breath left me so harshly I actually felt dizzy, having to reach out and place a hand on the wall to steady myself.

  “I know,” he said so confidently.

  I wanted to snap back, give him a smartass comment, but I couldn’t. I felt weak-kneed, warm and soft all over. I took a deep breath, his scent so, so good. I didn’t know what cologne he used—or hell, maybe it was just his natural aroma—but it had my heart hiccupping in my chest and other parts of my body becoming… wet.

  “Why do you do this shit, Mal?” I tried to scowl, but I felt like it was only half-assed. I was too aroused to be all the way pissed.

  “Do what?” He was still smirking, the gorgeous asshole.

  “Get under my skin. Do shit you know pisses me off.”

  He sobered then, his expression taking on a serious note. He didn’t speak for long seconds, just letting his eyes roam over my face as if he were memorizing my features. It made me feel… naked for some reason.

  “You just look so pretty when you’re pissed at me.” His voice was so deep, so low, that I felt a tingle race up my spine. He also sounded serious as hell.

  And then he was moving past me. I still couldn’t move, not when I heard him call to my brother that he was heading home, not even when I heard him head to the front door. Only when I felt his stare on me did I look over my shoulder at him, his eyes locked on mine.

  I didn’t know exactly what passed between us right at this moment, but it wasn’t mutual annoyance. It was something more. Deeper. It was a connection of reciprocated... attraction.

  “Later, Delilah.” He winked before heading out the front door and leaving me standing there thinking, What in the hell just happened?

  2

  Mal

  God, I was hard, so hard my cock ached and my balls throbbed. But this was the reaction anytime I was around Delilah. It was as if the fucker between my legs wanted me to give it what I wanted... Delilah.

  Except this time my desire for her had been worse, more consuming. And all because I’d seen the flair of desire in her eyes. I’d seen it before, her arousal thick and strong, but she was stubborn, pushing it back, because she thought she hated me. But tonight... tonight, she’d let that wall down, the one she kept up so tightly, the one she tried to use to mask her wants and needs.

  She didn’t hate me. She fucking craved me. Not nearly as much as I wanted her, because what I felt for Delilah bordered on insane, obsessed. But her desire for me was still there, this sweetness that surrounded her. It was my addiction, and I craved it more each and every day.

  So I pushed her, annoyed her, did little innocent things to get under her skin. All because I knew it had that attraction for me blooming more, blossoming like it was being fed, given sunlight, and provided oxygen. It had her focused on other things—like how I annoyed her—and the cracks in her exterior gave me what I wanted.

  To know I was playing with fire. To show me the only girl I would ever love cared for me back.

  I muttered a hello to my parents as they lounged on the couch in the living room, and I headed for my room. I didn’t mind living at home and commuting to school. It gave me a chance to save up, to not worry about the real-life shit that came about when you were on your own. But that's not even the main reason I decided to stay home.

  I wanted to stay close to Delilah.

  I stepped into my room and shut the door, leaning against it. God, I was hard, and I swore the fucker grew bigger at the thought of her.

  If girls thought it was uncomfortable to drive with a boner, they didn’t know the half of it. And adjusting myself only made my cock throb more, almost as if I pissed the fucker off because it knew it wasn’t Delilah.

  Maybe I should’ve felt a little shame about what I was about to do, but I needed to ease the pressure. And despite knowing I’d only get a second of relief after jerking off, I also knew it would make my arousal for her increase tenfold. It would be an empty orgasm, but I’d take it regardless.

  Still leaning against the bedroom door, I hadn’t even bothered turning on the light. I didn’t need it on for the debauchery and obscenity I was about to do, for the things I was about to think about.

  I reached down and palmed myself through my jeans, closing his eyes and groaning at the feel. It felt good.

  I exhaled and let my arm fall to my side as I stared into the dar
kened room. I pushed away from the door, went to my bed, unceremoniously lying down on the mattress and staring at the ceiling for a second.

  Fuck. When was I going to grow a set of balls and actually tell Delilah how I felt? When was I going to quit skating around my need for her? And how far was I willing to push her just to see her cheeks turn pink, her eyes narrow, and her lips purse because she was annoyed with me and what I’d done or said to provoke her… all because it turned me on like no other to get under her skin?

  I didn’t think too much about it as I reached out and unzipped my jeans, flipped the button open, and reached between my legs to pull out my thick, throbbing cock. A slow and deep groan spilled from me at the first touch of my palm wrapped around my dick, of the instant those filthy images of Delilah slammed into my head.

  God, I felt a little dirty, kind of pervy for the dirty thoughts running rampant through my brain.

  Delilah standing before me in nothing but this little white dress, so sheer I could clearly see she wasn’t wearing a bra.

  I gripped my hand around my shaft even harder, my breaths leaving me harshly.

  I’d tell her to strip for me as I stroked myself, and she’d like that order; she’d fucking love watching me jerk off because of her. And she’d slowly let the straps of the dress fall down her shoulders before the material slipped from her body.

  “Fuck,” I groaned into the darkness, my eyes closed tightly, the images so clear in my head.

  She’d be pantiless, her tits on full display, those perfect handful-sized mounds causing my cock to seep pre-cum like a motherfucker. Fuck, her pussy would be on display, the slit visible, her inner thighs glossy from her cream, because she’d be that worked up for me.