2B or Not 2B

So, hey! I know it's been a while, and I meant so many times over the past two years (!!) to get something posted, but it just didn't work out. I went back to school and started a full-time job (because I hate myself, I guess), and my writing time and/or motivation to do so pretty much dwindled to zero.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading this short fic as much as I enjoyed writing it! There is a fair amount of build-up before you get to the good stuff, fyi. I edit my own writing, so any mistakes are mine. Feedback is, as always, greatly appreciated; I'll try my best to respond!

xXx

Brynn awoke with her hand between her thighs and the sheets tangled around her legs. Sweat dotted her forehead and lower back, and her pussy throbbed with an ache that came from somewhere deep inside of her. Her dream teased the edges of her mind, and her face flushed as she recalled dark hands parting her thighs and an enthusiastic tongue lapping her wetness.

Dark hands in her red hair.

Full lips on her pink-tipped breasts.

A big, pulsating cock poised to spear her c -

A series of shrill beeps sounded as her phone vibrated with her alarm, and Brynn groaned, fighting the urge to pull the covers up and over her head. She untwisted herself from the sheets and rolled onto her tummy, burying her face in the pillow.

Fuuuuuuck.

Though she never saw his face, she knew exactly who those hands belonged to. The dream had plagued her for months, and since she had no intention of doing anything about her wanton desires, she expected it would continue to do so.

He'd stumbled upon her one fine morning in the parking lot as she had a meltdown of incredible proportions over a flat tire, something she hadn't had the pleasure of experiencing up until then. She vaguely recalled seeing him around her apartment building and in the elevator and acknowledging his attractiveness, but hadn't thought about it further.

Still dressed in his work clothes, he'd calmly asked if she had a spare before changing the tire in less than three minutes. It was all very heroic. Plus, he had politely ignored her mascara-tinted stress tears.

They'd talked for a few minutes more, and through incredible coincidence, had come to find that they were neighbors - literally right across the hall from each other. He'd introduced himself by his apartment number, and she'd done the same, and they'd taken to calling each other their respective units in passing.

So, okay, yeah, she didn't even know his name.

Her alarm sounded a second time, and she yanked the phone off the nightstand, jabbing the off button. Groaning again, Brynn forced herself from the warm vestiges of her bed and headed for the bathroom.

Inside the shower, she turned the knob until it was just shy of unbearably cold and had the quickest wash of her life.

As she got dressed, she mentally went over her schedule for the day, or at least tried to. Coffee, work, gym. Coffee, work, gym. Cock, work, gym. Wait, no, that wasn't right.

"I need to get laid," Brynn announced in a sing-song voice to her empty apartment as she grabbed her lunch from the fridge. Shouldering her purse, she made her way out the door and locked it behind her.

It was a short trek to the elevator down the hall, and the doors were nearly closed when a deep voice rang out.

"Hold that, please."

Brynn's eyes widened, and for a second, she contemplated smashing the Close Door button as the baritone voice echoed inside her head. She took a breath to rid herself of the ridiculous thought and stuck her hand in between the doors to hold them open.

"Thanks...hey, 2B!"

And there he was, almost criminally chipper for eight o' clock in the morning.

She didn't know his name, but Brynn knew she liked the way his FDNY shirt stretched over his broad shoulders and extremely defined biceps, the navy color pleasant against his dark skin. She greeted her neighbor with what she hoped was an easy smile and crossed her fingers that her pale face remained unflushed. "Hey, yourself, 1B."

"Did you catch the game last night? Crazy stuff, right?"

Her mind was suddenly blank. "Ah, yes. The game. Crazy."

His thickly-lashed brown eyes twinkled with mirth as he shifted his duffel bag to his other shoulder. "You have no idea which one I'm talking about, do you?"

Brynn shrugged as the elevator began its descent and leaned against the railing attached to the side. "Sure, I do. The one with the sports."

He threw his head back and laughed, and she tried to ignore the warm feeling that suffused her at the sound, taking a moment to admire the sharpness of his jaw. His face was all angles but somehow not harsh, and his nose looked a little crooked, like it had been broken once before.

"Oh, man, nailed it. You really know your stuff. Tire holding up okay?"

"Absolutely. Thanks for that, again."

See, she could do this. She could pretend that she hadn't had numerous sex dreams about him.

The elevator dinged as it reached the lobby, and they exited side-by-side. He held open the door to the outside for her, and as she passed him, spicy deodorant and cool aftershave teased her nose. "All right, 2B. Have fun at work," he said.

"You, too," she replied, and turned to walk towards the parking lot, dodging the already bustling city life.

She'd only gone a few steps before turning back, blurting it out before the nerve left her. "Hey, 1B. Do you have a name?" Oh my god, bitch, what are you doing? the voice inside her head sounded in alarm.

He stopped, his back to her. It was a moment before he turned around, and Brynn held her breath until she saw his grin, his teeth white against his richly colored skin. "Tristan," he said, taking a step towards her as he held out his hand.

God, he was tall. How had she not noticed this before? She barely came up to his chest. She returned his offer and tried not to squeak as his hand nearly swallowed hers. His skin was warm and callused, and sent a thrill through her as it scraped the smoothness of her own.

He - Tristan - looked at her expectantly. Oh, right. "Brynn."

"Brynn," he repeated. "Suits you better than 2B." His thumb rubbed over hers.

She swallowed hard. "Thanks."

They were basically holding hands at this point.

A cacophony of horns blared from the rushing traffic next to them, breaking Brynn out of the moment. She quickly drew her hand back, and Tristan looked...disappointed?

"I figured it was time we learned that," she said with a smile, tucking an errant lock of hair behind her ear.

"Truth," he nodded. "See you around, two - Brynn."

They both laughed as they acknowledged the habit before parting ways.

She forgot to stop for coffee.

xXx

"...because Linda from accounting has a serious attitude problem and I would, straight up, love nothing more than to - you're not listening to me."

"I am. Linda from accounting."

"What about her?"

Brynn was silent.

"I rest my case," Kim said, pointing a finger at her.

"You should be a lawyer."

Her coworker rolled her eyes. "I should have been a lot of things, but it's too late, now. All right, spill. Is it the hot ass fire-fighting, tire-changing neighbor?"

"Tristan," Brynn said, refusing to look up from her computer as her fingers furiously flew across her keyboard. Per my last email, Alison...

Kim held a fist to her mouth. "Oh, we're on a first-name basis now! Someone, please sound the wedding bells!"

From a few desks down, Michelle, who consumed gossip like an active volcano consumed a small town, stuck her head up. "The neighbor? Is it the neighbor?"

Brynn finally looked up and glared at her office bestie. "You told Michelle?"

"Only because my love life is too boring to talk about! Don't get married," Kim said, resting her chin on the top of Brynn's cubicle, her expression innocent.

She snorted. "Love life? More like lack thereof."

From behind, Rohan stood up at his own desk, and the green of his paisley tie almost matched his earnest eyes. "Girl, you have to let Anthony go. It's been a year. Download that app and go on a date! You're cute when you put in the effort!"

"Thanks," Brynn said dryly, and Kim laughed.

"Look," Kim said quietly once Rohan sat down, "he's kind of right. You need to get back out there, whether it's a date or a dick. And homeboy sounds like just what the doctor ordered. Vitamin BBC."

"Oh my god, you are truly the worst," Brynn said, slapping a hand over her mouth so she wouldn't guffaw.

"And you love me for it! Ugh, I have to go deal with Linda. Let's get Thai for lunch in thirty?"

As Kim traipsed back to her department, Brynn minimized her email and sat back in her chair, pondering her words. Anthony. She thought back to that night last year, the one that had ended everything. She glanced at her left ring finger and remembered the diamond that had once decorated it. Her stomach twisted. You're so fucking high-strung! Not everything needs a ten-step plan! Loosen the fuck up!

Brynn squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. When she opened them, they stung, and she blinked rapidly. No, she was not doing this today. At least, not without some ice cream and a few episodes of her favorite medical drama. She reopened the email screen and resumed her email, editing it to sound less annoyed.

Kim was back at her cubicle some time later, tossing her long braids in an action that was no less than dramatic. "Okay, Linda's been put in her place. Let's eat."

"Being a bitch did always work up your appetite," Brynn said, grabbing her purse.

Their favorite Thai place was a blink-and-you-miss-it hole in the wall nestled between a souvenir shop and a corporate coffee place. As they sat down with their food, Kim launched into another tirade about Linda, and Brynn half-listened, watching as a text came in from her mother.

She didn't have to open it to know the matriarch of the O'Mara family was probably begging her to go on a date with her friend's cousin's son, or whatever. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate her mom, but the woman was thoroughly convinced that her youngest daughter was going to turn into a spinster and die alone with naught but ten cats. Which, yikes, was already kind of half-true. Brynn turned her phone over and gave Kim her undivided attention.

Several minutes later, the bell over the door jingled, and everyone looked up as three firemen, half decked in bunker gear, shuffled in, shoving each other and laughing. They were covered in ash and grime, even their faces streaked with it. The college girls at the next table over immediately went haywire, and Kim gave a low whistle as she turned fully in her seat, her eyes like laser beams.

And then a fourth man came up behind the three, equally as dirty, and Brynn's stomach turned into a live creature, twisting into one big knot. "Oh, fuck," she murmured, staring hard at her food. How was he still so sexy covered in God knew what?

"What?" Kim asked, her tone defensive. "I can still look!"

Two of the firemen moved up to the counter to order, and Tristan and the other one stayed back. He gripped the kid's - really, he looked no older than eighteen - shoulder and said something only he could hear, and the younger one visibly relaxed.

"What is wrong with you?" Kim hissed. "I know it's been a while, but come on, girl, you're bright red! It's okay to - oh. OH. Which one is him?"

Brynn clenched her teeth and shook her head a fraction.

"Is it the one at the counter or the one talking to the little one? Tell me!"

"Please stop," Brynn whispered, her throat suddenly dry.

Kim looked at her and sighed. "The things you force me to do."

"Wha -?"

"Tristan!" Kim yelled, her eyes trained on Brynn's face.

Brynn's stomach unwound itself only to plummet to the bottom of her body. She dared glance up, and when she did, he was staring right at her, his dark, slashing brows raised nearly to his hairline.

And then he moved towards her, his boots heavy over the scarred wooden floor. Brynn placed her face in her hand as if it would render her invisible and tried not to hyperventilate. He approached their spot with an air of amiability; under the table, Kim kicked at her shin so Brynn would look up at him.

"Twice in one day, this is unheard of," he said, looking down at her. "Can't say I'm complaining, though."

Across from Brynn and unbeknownst to Tristan, Kim gazed up at him, batting her eyelashes. Brynn knew her face was nearly the same color of her hair as she spoke, her voice about ten octaves higher than when she'd greeted him this morning. "Yeah, hi! You, uh, look like you were busy with some fires or something."

Kim snorted. As soon as they got back to the office, Brynn was going to kill her.

"Yeah, definitely something like that," he laughed.

"Hi, I'm Kim!" her friend interjected, holding out a well-manicured hand. She shook his proffered hand with a vigor that seemed to surprise him. "You guys are neighbors, right? Small world, that's so funny!"

Tristan glanced at Brynn, his expression amused. "You been talking about me, 2B?"

Brynn's hackles rose at the satisfaction that saturated his tone. "No, I - "

He turned back towards Kim. "Yeah, I won't lie, it's been pretty rough. Brynn here likes to throw ragers and disturb the peace."

Her eyes flashed to him in momentary confusion before both she and Kim burst into giggles, realizing he was joking. He'd immediately alleviated the tension. "So sorry," she said, her sarcasm evident. "I'll keep it down next time."

"Or you could just invite me," he winked.

She was speechless for a moment. "I'll remember that," Brynn finally said, trying to keep her tone as lighthearted as his. She ignored Kim, who was drilling a hole in her forehead with her eyes.

"Yo, Lieutenant, you ready?" one of the men's voices sounded from the front. Another guy, this one almost as built as Tristan, sauntered over. He knew the power of the uniform and wielded it with confidence, his gaze immediately zeroing in on Kim. "Well, aren't you just the most beautiful - "

"Married," she said flatly, pointing at the sizeable rock on her finger.

Brynn and Tristan laughed.

The guy hung his head. "Damn. Tell your man he's got a dime."

"My man already knows," Kim said, her words pointed.

Tristan looked back at her, and his gaze was warm. "I'll probably see you around soon?"

"Probably. We do live right across from each other," Brynn said with a tight smile.

Tristan cleared his throat and nodded, shoving his coworker towards the exit. "Right. Cool, cool. See ya."

Once the four firemen exited the shop, the girls at the next table over burst into excited chatter, debating over which one was the most attractive. Brynn turned back to her food, moving it around on the plate with her fork, but her appetite had diminished. "Well, that was the worst."

Kim tsked. "You need to stop looking at everything so negatively. He wants you to invite him to your rager," she said, dancing around in her seat. "He wants you to see his raging b - "

"Kimberly!"

Her friend threw back her head and laughed. "God, is it you or me that's the old married lady? But seriously, he was definitely flirting with you."

"Are you just saying that to make me not jump out this window?"

"For sure. I would hate for you to scrape your knee on the sidewalk three inches below," Kim said with a frown. "Stop trying to change the subject. Feel him out a little more, and then make your move."

"Yeah, okay, totally," Brynn said, intending to never do any of that.

xXx

A week later, she lay awake in bed. It was nearing midnight, and her mind wasn't any closer to sleep than it had been two hours ago. She went over her Thai place encounter with Tristan for the millionth time, and internally grumbled over the fact that she hadn't been cute or witty or clever like Kim.

It just didn't come naturally to her. She flashed back to Anthony's words. Maybe if she loosened up a bit...

She imagined rolling out of bed and matching across the hallway to 1B and asking Tristan if he wanted to ravish her, taking inspiration straight from the ludicrous romance novels she used to read in high school. She imagined him grabbing her by the shoulders and shoving her up against his doorframe before taking her mouth in a wild kiss, not giving a damn who saw them.

Brynn would jump into those strong arms, her own wrapped around his neck, the place between her thighs pressed against his dick.

As her fingers slid down her neck and across her chest, pausing on her nipples, she wondered how big Tristan was. She wondered if she could fit him down her throat. She wondered how much he would stretch her unused pussy, how her pink lips would look around the purple head of his cock.

She couldn't recall wanting someone this desperately. At least, not in a very long time.

But another, smaller part of her also wanted him to hold her afterwards, to press his lips against her neck and shoulder, to run his fingers through her hair.

This was ridiculous; she barely knew the man.

So get to know him, that voice sounded again. It was reaching nuisance-level.

Could she invite him to dinner, or was that too cheesy? Did people even do that anymore? She wondered if he liked lasagna, because that was about the fanciest thing she could make without burning the kitchen down, and she suspected that certainly wouldn't impress him, being a fireman and all.

Fucking hell, she needed to go to bed.

Her alarm went off a woefully short time later.

She was out of her apartment in forty minutes, damp hair thrown up in a low-maintenance bun, her navy blazer a smart contrast against the gray of her work dress. He was standing by the elevator, of course, ready to go, his ballcap obscuring most of his face as he looked down at his phone.

Okay, here goes. She had to ask him before she lost her nerve. "Do you like lasagna?" Brynn asked, her words coming out much louder than intended.

Tristan looked up, and then looked behind him, no doubt wondering why she was shouting at him from several feet away. "Me? Yes," he said, equally as loud.

Cringing inwardly, she walked towards him, trying to project an air of casual coolness. "I was thinking of making some Friday night, and was wondering if you wanted in?"

He looked at her. "I've been existing on takeout for months at this point. You'd be my hero if you're serious...but I have a shift. Any chance you can make this happen on Saturday?" He put his arm out to hold the door as they stepped into the elevator.

Her heart leapt at his interest. "I suppose I could rearrange a few things. Months of takeout is pretty much an emergency."

Tristan chuckled. "Thank you for taking sympathy on me, Brynn."

God, the way he said her name. She stepped a little in front of him and faced forward as they descended so he wouldn't see her ever-present blush. She pulled out her phone to covertly text Kim, and swayed a little as the elevator came to a stop to let some Floor A residents in, a mom and three rambunctious, chattering school kids.

Brynn took a step back to make more room but lost her footing in the heels she rarely wore for this exact reason. She pitched backwards with a gasp.

Tristan was there, his strong arms circling her and pulling her body upright against his front, a move that would have been purely dashing if not for the fact that one of his hands was completely full of her tit. For a second, he seemed to pull her more tightly against him, and Brynn felt the unmistakable nudge of his hardening cock against her bottom. Oh, my.