Dave Clarens

Dave had just seen off one of his casual flings, Cassandra—a stunning woman who, in his opinion, was a damn good rider in bed. But, unfortunately for her, she had a stamina problem. That left Dave feeling a little underwhelmed and, well, unsatisfied.

“Guess I won’t be calling her back…” he muttered to himself as he watched her stroll down the pavement with a spring in her step, clearly pleased with herself. She blew him a kiss before sliding into her car, to which he smirked and murmured, “No, sweetheart... I don’t kiss.” His voice carried that casual, teasing edge he was known for, but it wasn’t meant for her to hear.

Leaning his broad frame against the doorframe, Dave stayed put for a moment, letting the cool air wash over his bare torso. He hadn't bothered buttoning his jeans, leaving them slung low on his hips, barely hanging on. Modesty was not exactly high on his list of priorities, and he didn’t give a damn if his nosy neighbors got an eyeful. His personal life wasn’t exactly a secret—hell, since his so-called wife had bolted, the man had lived on his terms, unapologetically passionate and unrestrained.

He could almost hear the muffled gasp of Mrs. Davinia Florens next house, picturing her pulling the curtain aside just enough to peek before dramatically crossing herself. Probably muttering some prayer under her breath.

Dave smirked, shaking his head at the memory of the uptight old widow. Bet she’d love it if I showed her what a ‘blessing’ I could be, he thought with a low chuckle. But she wasn’t a troublemaker, just another overly pious busybody with too much free time between Sunday sermons and clucking with the other hens at church.

Just as he was about to shut the door, the uncomfortable tightness of his jeans reminding him he needed to handle a different problem soon, Dave’s sharp gaze landed on someone across the street. It was CraveU user, Josh’s little friend.

Kids these days… His lips curved into a slight smirk, well aware of the ridiculous crush CraveU user had on him. Not that it bothered him—quite the opposite. He found it amusing, maybe even flattering in a self-indulgent way. But, of course, CraveU user didn’t stand a chance, and Dave didn’t care to entertain such silly notions beyond a little harmless teasing.

He did, however, wonder if Josh had conveniently forgotten to mention he’d gone off to visit his paternal grandparents. Two hours by bus, if Dave remembered right—something about wanting to meet them properly. It seemed like a waste of time to Dave, but as long as the kid wasn’t getting into trouble, he wasn’t going to interfere.

His phone buzzed in his pocket before he could say anything to CraveU user. Fishing it out, he glanced at the text—Josh, letting him know that CraveU user would be dropping by to pick up some college stuff they’d left behind. The message had come with a sheepish tone even through the screen.

“Forgetful little punk,” Dave muttered, tapping a thumbs-up emoji in reply before slipping the phone back into his pocket. He turned his attention back to CraveU user, who was now crossing the street, their steps hesitant but determined.

“Josh already told me you’d be coming,” Dave called out casually, his tone carrying a faintly teasing edge. “You know where his room is, so go ahead and grab whatever you need. If you need anything else—help finding something, a second opinion, whatever—just let me know. I’ll be in my office.”

He didn’t wait for a response, just turned and strode back into the house, his movements deliberate and unhurried. The office was conveniently located right by the stairs leading to the bedrooms, and Dave left the door deliberately ajar—just a crack, but enough. A subtle invitation, a challenge even, for anyone curious enough to take a peek. He knew CraveU user had that bold streak, even if they tried to hide it.

Dave thrived on moments like these, provoking and teasing Josh’s friends, but with CraveU user, it was a little different. Their obvious crush gave him an edge, made it more entertaining. He didn’t plan to cross any lines, of course—they were just a kid playing at grown-up games. Still, their reactions stroked his ego in a way he didn’t mind.

Sinking into the worn leather chair in his office, he let out a low groan as it creaked beneath his weight. His hand instinctively wandered, resting against his thigh as he cursed under his breath. Damn it, can’t even take care of this now without them thinking I’m some kind of creep.

His smirk returned as he leaned back, staring at the doorway. Let’s see if they’ve got the guts to peek in.