Nineteen
Tess
Morning broke through the thin curtains of the sunroom where I had fallen asleep the night before with the third book in my hands.
My eyes were still puffy from crying. Thank God no one saw me last night. My heart broke when I got to the part where Keith brought Savannah the fish because she kept pushing people away.
Gawd, I’m a sucker for angsty books!
I ran my hands through my hair and tugged my clothes back into place as I heard voices outside the door.
“Morning.” Gus’s raspy voice broke through my fog, and I smiled when I saw he had two mugs of coffee in his hands. I stood to take them from him as he struggled to walk without splashing. “Thanks.”
“How’d you find me?”
His smile quickly changed into a squint as he dropped into the overstuffed chair across from me. I hated that he was always in so much pain and had two little boys to raise.
“You think Trigger goes to bed without knowing you’re okay first?”
“Oh.” I almost blushed. I liked how he cared enough to look for me. “I’m shocked he didn’t wake me.”
“He wanted to.” He coughed loudly and fought to catch his breath. “But he thought you probably wanted to be left alone. Do you?”
His blunt question threw me, and when I didn’t answer right away, he remained quiet.
“You’re different since you came back. Clark’s death botherin’ you?”
I played with a piece of my hair for something to do and shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not bothered by his death, just by the things he said.” I shrugged. I realized I really didn’t give a shit. I tried to kill him before, and now it had been done. “I think I struggle with the fact it wasn’t my mother lying limp and pathetic on the slaughter room floor.”
“Just say the word, sweetheart, and Trigger will make that happen.”
“I know. I also know her time will come.” I knew Trigger would take her out, but, “I guess it’s not time yet. I want her to feel his loss the way I did when she took him away from me. Then I’ll make my move.”
“There’s the fire I love about you.”
I nodded. “Trust me, Gus, the fire is right at the surface, but I’m feeling…”
“What?”
“Like I’m a floater, like I’m not really sure what to think about things.”
“Things like Trigger?”
“Yeah.” I went with the truth. I never thought of Gus as my person to talk to, but he really was the only one who had any insight into Trigger.
“What’s he doing?”
I sipped my coffee and nearly moaned at the flavor. It was a strong brew with hazelnut woven through it. “Nothing, really. It’s me.” My mind spun with the right words.
“I’m confused.”
I laughed and set my mug on a triangle-shaped coaster. “Welcome to my head.” I crossed my legs and took a deep breath. “Look, Gus, I was always the girl who was in love with someone I couldn’t have. Clark strung me along for years, took my innocence, took my choices from me, but even through it all, I did know he truly cared for me. But Trigger…” A lump grew in the center of my throat. “His walls are so high, he won’t allow himself to admit how he feels, and when I think I’ve made progress with him, I’m wrong. I never thought I wanted to fall in love again, but now that I have, I’m not sure how to navigate it…” I trailed off when his face froze.
What?
Oh-my-fresh-hell, what did I just say?
A cold sweat broke out along my neck, and my head started to pound.
“You love my boy?”
“No,” I blurted. “My mouth just ran away with me.”
“Oh.” His smile showed such unconditional pride for his nephew that it made me want to retract that last comment.
“Even…” I cleared my throat and lowered my voice. “Even if I did, that’s not what he wants. He’s made that very clear…and so have I. Gus, I didn’t mean to fall for him. Truly, I didn’t. We had an understanding, but before the whole church thing happened, we had a few days there where I saw behind his walls, and I hate that I fell. Hard.” I stood abruptly, unable to stay still, so I paced the room. “I thought about dating someone else just to prove these feelings aren’t real. I mean, this isn’t me. I never wanted this. I’m the ice queen. But…” I held my head, feeling dizzy. “Help, help me fix this! I can’t run and leave Brick again. I owe him the world.”
“Tess.” Gus stopped my madness. “Sit.”
I did as he said but still felt like I was on a hamster wheel with no end in sight.
“Trigger has had women fall at his feet his entire life, but never once have they been able to touch him, sleep in the same bed with him, none of them was kept around this long. And this is a big one—never, ever would he have gone after them. He’s shit at communicating his feelings, but let me tell you, he feels something for you. And I know you know that.”
“I do, but anytime I let him know I can see he cares about me, he shuts down. It’s not like I want marriage.” I shuddered at the thought. “But I need to hear from him that I matter.”
Gus leaned back, his lips pressed together in thought. I took the moment to down some more coffee. “I came in here to talk to you about something else, but now I’m wondering if I can use your confession as a tool to help me.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Hear me out.” He rubbed his face then leaned forward, resting his arms on his thighs. One shoulder rose higher than the other. His body was in such bad shape.
“Look, Tess,” he massaged his knee, yet another sign how much his body hurt, “you have Trigger’s ear more than anyone right now, and that’s sayin’ a lot. I need you to do something for me.”
“I’m listening.”
“I need you to convince Trigger not to fight.”
“Why?” The conversation had taken a strange turn.
My senses went on overdrive. I knew something was up, something more than just Trigger going back into the ring. Gus looked straight at me, and his jaw bulged as if he was gritting his teeth.
“You think you’ve seen Trigger at his worst in the slaughter room. Well, you haven’t. The ring is what makes Trigger go into beast mode. It messes up his head, and it takes him over. They talk about how he has a switch, but you really haven’t seen his switch fully flipped until you’ve seen him after that bell has rung.”
“So what? He flips it, fights, wins, and we’re done.”
“No,” he shook his head, “it’s not that simple. He’ll probably win, yes. Allen is sixty-something, but it’s the after that scares me. He might go back to the old Trigger. I’m afraid he’ll get lost in his hell again, and he won’t want to get back out. I’ve seen it before, firsthand, and I don’t ever want to again.”
“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do, Gus. We all know Trigger does what he wants, when he wants to.”
He nodded then rolled my arm over and pushed up the sleeve of my cashmere sweater. The corners of his mouth went up and he chuckled quietly.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I glanced at the black and gray tattoo key that was hidden in the thick ivy of ink. I loved how my scar was now hidden so well. The only way you’d know it was there was if you touched it.
His hand fell on top of mine, and I looked over. He seemed to be struggling with words.
“Spit it out, Gus.”
“Tess, promise me you’ll try anything you can to keep him out of that ring.” He swallowed hard before he looked deep in my eyes. “Give him a reason not to.”
His words echoed around my head, and then it hit me.
“You want me to ask him not to fight if he truly does love me?” I felt sick. What a way to ask someone to prove they love you. With a threat.
“I get how this sounds, Tess, but there’s more to it than Trigger getting lost back in his own hell.” He shifted and hesitated. “I have a shitty feeling there’s a lot more going on with this fight.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, but Allen hates his son more than anything, and he never does anything without a damn good reason, and he always has a backup plan.”
And his backup plan could be death…
***
My shoes pounded the pavement, my arms pumped at my sides, and the cool, crisp air lined my lungs with a thin layer of frost. Light mist hung in the morning air, and dark rain clouds promised another wet afternoon.
I missed my usual running companion who left me alone with my thoughts. Instead, I had a wheezy Rail who had stopped twice now for a smoke break. Jace disappeared this morning to run an errand for Big Joe. Really, I thought he’d offered himself up so he could avoid running with me.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Rail heaved over, hands on his knees. A guy in tight shorts and a headband ran by him in perfect form and slowed.
“Slap my ass and call me jazzed. Beautiful morning for a run, hey, man?”
I fought my laughter at Rail being hit on.
“Yeah, we get it.” Rail snickered as he drew closer to him. “You work out, and we’re all so impressed.”
“What?” The cute guy looked confused but kept moving.
“You about done?” I folded my arms once again, annoyed I wasn’t able to go out for a run on my own.
“I just need—” He coughed and pulled out another smoke, lit the tip, and closed his eyes as the poison smothered his insides. “Sweet,” he purred. “Tastes like sex in the dirt.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I covered my face and groaned. “Can we just get this done?”
“Why can’t we quit now? What are…” He sucked in another breath, and something crossed his mind and his eyes widened. “What are you running from, anyway?”
“I’m not running from anything.” We both stopped, and he walked over to a railing. He rolled his head and blew a white cloud at my face.
Sexy.
But was it that noticeable?
“Ugh,” I huffed and flopped down next to him on the railing. My muscles screamed for a break, and I could really use some food. “Myself. Trigger. I don’t know.”
“Wow, I was just grasping for an excuse, here. I didn’t know there really was something going on,” he joked, but when he caught my unimpressed expression, he tried to get serious. “Okay, let me get in the headspace.” He squeezed his eyes shut and chanted. “Chick talk, chick talk, chick talk. Ass, tits, scissoring, and wet bits. Okay,” he sighed dramatically, “I’m ready.”
“Aren’t I lucky?” I rolled my eyes at his views on women. “I’ve been asked to do something, and I don’t know where to begin.”
“Ah,” he nodded, “Gus got to you about Trigger and the fight.”
“How did—” I stopped myself. I wasn’t sure how much he really knew.
“Not like we all aren’t thinking the same thing. Trigger goes rogue after he fights. I’ve seen the tail end of it, and it wasn’t pretty. Ever since he told Gus, the old man has been stressed out.”
“Oh.” My mind slapped me around a little. Gus needed your help and what did you do? You decided to go for a run. Talk about ungrateful.
“Trigger listens to no one but himself. Of course, there’s the whole ‘is Allen really the one fighting Trigger, and if not, who is he bringing in’ thing.”
“Yeah, there’s that too.” Who would be good enough to fight Trigger?
Rail pushed himself up. I joined him and looked around at the clouds closing in. It suddenly felt like it was a race to tell Trigger before the storm hit.
“Gus thinks you might have an in.”
“Do I?”
“Don’t you?” he countered.
“Fuck me.”
“That’s the spirit.” He slapped my shoulder. “Now, are we done here, or do I have to choke on this fresh fucking air some more?”
“No, let’s go.”
“Good.” He raised his hand. “Taxi!”
After we returned to the house, Rail went directly to the bar and yelled for a beer while he dramatically clutched his chest as if in pain.
I showered and headed downstairs for something to eat. I was almost lightheaded with hunger.
Just as I rounded the corner, I heard voices and slowed my pace. Trigger and Brick were at the island discussing something, and the way they were hunched over and speaking in low voices, I assumed it wasn’t something they wanted me to hear.
“You kill him?” Brick quickly switched topics and kissed my cheek.
“Yeah, about that.” I rested my hands on my hips. “Why the hell would you send Smokey Joe to run with me when he has the lung capacity of a five-year-old?”
“Jace was busy.” Brick shrugged.
“That so?” Trigger checked his phone. “I just saw him.”
“He’s avoiding the workout.” I hoped Trigger was in a chatty mood.
“Won’t hurt Rail.” Trigger grunted as he texted someone. “Next time, take Cooper.”
“Or you could run with me.”
Brick laughed as he left the room, and Trigger looked up at me. “You couldn’t keep up.”
“Wanna bet?” I bit into an apple.
The corners of his mouth went up into that oh-so-sexy look he gave me when the promise of sex was in the air.
“And when I win?” He set his phone down and stood like a panther, excited at the challenge.
“Me, anywhere you want.” I lifted my head as he came closer. “And if I win,” I held my ground, “I want to speak to you about something without you shutting down on me.”
His brows drew together, and I could see he was interested. His curiosity would get the best of him.
“What’s wrong?”
Seriously? Here?
“Can we talk alone?”
“No.” Rail leaned over the back of the couch. When did he get here? “If you leave, I can’t eavesdrop.”
“Fuck off, Rail.” Trigger took my hand and pulled me outside. He led me to a pathway partially covered with palm trees so we could have some privacy. He didn’t seem to mind the cold weather, whereas I held onto his arm with both hands to steal his warmth.
“So,” Trigger glanced down at me, “we’re alone now.”
I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and thought about my words. I wanted to make sure I made my point without scaring the hell out of him. “Promise you won’t shut down.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.” I mirrored his tone. “Who am I to you?”
I felt him hesitate, but he shook it off. “We’ve been down this road, Tess.”
Okay…
Here comes a classic female moment.
“Am I your girlfriend?”
His expression changed, and he turned to block my path. “What is this all about?”
My face heated, and I wanted to break eye contact, but I also wanted to hold my ground. “Why did you come back for me?”
“I like having you around.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Tess,” he rubbed his head like I stressed him out, “you know I don’t do this stuff well. Either say what you want to, or don’t.”
“Okay. Never once have you asked me why I let you take me back to the club.”
He shook his head as if he never thought about it that way. “Okay. Why, then?”
“I asked you first.”
“And I answered you.”
“Did you?” I wanted some answers, and I was going to get them if I was going to put myself out there.
“Fuck! I…” He paused. “I have never wanted to have a woman around me. No one gets me. I used the chicks around the club for a release, but that’s it. Until you…”
Holy shit, we’re making progress.
“Like I’ve said before, you turn off the shit inside me. You bring me silence, and you flip my switch during sex, and that’s never happened before.”
I nodded but was nervous to speak. I didn’t want him to close up. When he seemed like he was, I tried a different angle. “What if I told you I met someone else?”
His face dropped, and his jaw twitched. “Who?” The tone sent a shiver through me. “Is that what you’re doing here, telling me you’re interested in someone else?”
“If I was?”
“I’d murder him.”
“Why?”
“’Cause you’re my woman.”
“But I’m not your girlfriend,” I reminded him.
“Tess,” he warned, and I got pissed.
“Trigger, I get it. We always said we wanted nothing more than to just be fuck buddies, but I—” My mouth slammed shut.
He stepped closer and slid his warm hand around the back of my neck. My eyes fluttered, and I was once again consumed by his simple touch. “You, what?” he whispered as he leaned down and licked my lobe. “Tell me.”
“I’ve fallen in love with you.”
His muscles locked, and his head drew back slightly to read my face. “I’m unlovable, Tess. It’s just lust.”
I saw red.
I wiggled out of his hold and jammed my finger in his face. “Don’t you ever tell me how I feel,” I hissed. “I don’t want to be—I don’t want to be feeling this way when the other person doesn’t. I’ve been here my whole life!” Raw, empty feelings started to surface, feelings I’d buried deep down inside, and anchored themselves to my soul.
“Hey!” he snapped and reached for my arm, but I was too fast and jumped out of his way.
“Jesus Christ!” I covered my forehead with my hands as I thought about what I just admitted. “Fucking Gus and Rail all inside my head.”
“Gus?” he asked, clearly confused what I was rambling about. “What the fuck does Gus have to do with this?”
“Nothing. Just forget all of this.” I turned to walk away when he hooked my waist and pushed me up against the trunk of a palm tree.
“Stop running. Just give me a fucking second to process this.”
“There’s nothing to process. One of your dumb chicks opened her mouth.”
“Don’t ever compare yourself to those women,” he barked. “No one has ever told me they loved me and meant it for the right reasons.”
“I have no desire for your money, Trigger. There’s no hidden motive here.”
He shot me a look like he knew that already.
I figured since I was doing a stellar job of fucking this moment up, I might as well say it all.
“If you have any feelings for me whatsoever, please hear me when I say this. Please don’t fight your father.”
He cocked his head, confused. “So, Gus has been talking to you.”
“Yes.”
“Fucking Gus.”
“It’s not just Gus, Trigger. Your whole club is worried. I’m worried.”
His body seemed to relax, and he closed his eyes as he thought. I reached up and ran my fingertips along his cheek.
“You and I are a lot alike, Trigger. I never meant to mess up what we had. I was content with it, but there was a point where it hit me. When Clark kissed me, everything inside suddenly became clear, and I knew. When I saw you in the house, dressed in a suit and tie, I almost died. You did that for me, and I thought maybe, just maybe, you felt it too, but—”
“What does it feel like?” He towered over me, and I couldn’t help but slide my hands up his arms. He was stunning in a dark way that made my mouth water. He was everything Clark wasn’t, and that called to me.
“I’m dizzy around you,” I murmured as the first few drops of the storm fell. “My body heats and reacts when you enter or leave a room.” His throat contracted, and his eyes looked hungry. “I think about you all the time, and I get…” I stopped, feeling exposed, “jealous when you’re around other women.”
“Jealousy can be a bitch.” He smiled, and I felt the lust burst through me, like a bubble deep down in my belly that picked up speed as it rose. “I feel that way with you.”
His confession caught me off guard, and I matched his smile.
“Go on.” He kissed the corners of my mouth.
“Your touch,” I nearly moaned, “calls my body to attention. It’s not just pure lust, but pure need.”
“Mmm.” His breath shot across my collarbone. “Why do you think I spend so much time here,” he kissed his way up my neck, “and here?” He sucked at his spot. “I can’t get enough of your body.”
He pressed his massive erection into my stomach, so I reached down and wrapped my hand around it and gave a good tug.
“Jesus, Tess!” His head dove into my neck as he panted. “I need to be inside of you.” He grabbed my waist and held me over his shoulder.
“What the hell?”
“Shh.” He slapped my ass and hurried to the garage. Once inside, he sat me down on the lawnmower then left to lock the door. I noticed he looked around first.
“You see something?”
“Don’t need Langley interrupting.”
“You’re not allowed to have sex, are you?”
He grabbed my jeans and hauled them down, and his hand was between my legs before I could even think.
“I love that you’re so wet for me.”
“Should we be doing this?” I wasn’t about to stop, but I didn’t want to fuck up his fight if I couldn’t convince him not to go through with it.
“Come here.” He lifted me onto the workbench, which had a fairly smooth surface, and undid his pants. His gorgeous erection bowed under its weight and leaked from anticipation.
He lined up and pushed just the tip in before he held my head in his hands and stared into my eyes.
“You came into my life and showed me that I am worthy of something, maybe even love. Countless times you have proven you’re loyal. Any man who can’t see what you are is a fool.”
I am speechless.
“I’m not good at this, but I will try for you. I might struggle with the words, but I can always show you my feelings.” He nudged further in.
My head spun, and my heart opened wide.
“You can’t miss something you’ve never known before.” He held my gaze. “But, shit, when you left, it felt like my insides were bein’ ripped out. I couldn’t think straight and couldn’t do anything but kill. Never do I want to go through that again.”
When I tried to speak, he shook his head like he didn’t want me to break in on his train of thought.
“You’re so fucking pretty, Tess.”
Tears fought their way to the surface, and I rubbed the back of his neck while I let his words sink in. It was the most he ever said to me at once about anything so personal.
“Thank you,” flew out of my mouth. The corners of his mouth rose, and I saw a real, genuine smile.
Jesus.
His hands slowly descended my back and curled around my ass. He pulled me to him and dove deep inside of me.
I jolted, and he nuzzled my hair. “I laid out all my feelings for you, but I will never change the way I fuck you.”
Good!
***
Trigger
“He’s been sitting like that since he won the fight.” Langley eyed me from behind the asshole who lost his bet and was now trying to get his money back. “What’s wrong with you?”
“He’s fine.” My father smacked my shoulder hard, but even that couldn’t shake me from the alternate world I was caught in. I hated it there, but it was the only way I could handle the demons that ran free whenever I fought. It was as if I needed to be still and stay quiet so they’d retreat to their cages.
I could feel their nails. They seemed to click against my bones and drag me back to each swing, each blood spray, each moment I punched my opponent. The reaper loomed a little closer, and his cold, dark presence cloaked my world as I had fought like hell through their heavy shadow to get back. Sometimes I wondered what it would be like to stay there and just give in to the madness.
“Hey, boy!” The loser kicked my leg. “Show some respect when I’m talking to you.” He went to kick me again, but I latched onto his wrist, yanked him down, and smashed his face into my knee, and the blood sprayed. Next, I rammed the heel of my boot into his mouth, and his teeth broke off and fell from his tongue as he screamed. I covered his lips and watched as he struggled to breathe and not swallow little chips of bone.
My father caught my attention, and he smiled and shook his head at someone who was about to intervene. He held up a hand to stop him.
“The boy’s a natural killer. Let him finish.”
A chill pricked at my skin. He was here, ready to take my next offering. I leaned back and gave him some room.
“Again,” Langley shouted from the corner of the ring. “Arms up!”
The boxing opponent Langley had brought in had a hard time standing, and I could see he had a concussion. Five hours in a ring and multiple blows to the temple would do that.
“Tap out or fight,” I spat and waited. He blinked, but he wasn’t there.
He stepped forward but collapsed, nearly taking my shoulder off in the process.
“Jace!” Langley pointed at him, and Rich, my newest prospect, grabbed both arms and pulled him out of the ring.
Another man took his place and got into position.
Once the word was out I was in town, there were lots of men willing to help me train. There was a time when the underground world was my life. I ate, slept, and breathed the ring. Everyone knew my name and placed their bets in my favor.
The excitement sent a feverish rush through my veins, and I twisted and sent a kick straight into his neck. His eyes bulged, and when he went to grab his neck, I punched his shoulder, knocking it out of its socket.
He yelped but stayed standing. I smirked, happy with his decision.
“Name?”
“Hugo.”
I nodded and waited for Langley to reset his shoulder, then we started back up again.
Back and forth we went. No helmets, no gloves, just skin to skin, bones to bones.
Every punch I took made my demons scream. Their nails clawed the floor, and their teeth gnawed at the bars. They wanted out, they wanted to be free, but it wasn’t time yet. Tomorrow they could feed.
Hugo’s gaze flicked over my shoulder, and I saw a change in his face. I didn’t need to see who it was. I felt her.
Rail looked uneasy as he dropped the screwdriver and headed over. I tried to stay focused. I didn’t need Langley up my ass with Tess. Three more punches and a few more glances from Hugo, and I finally called a break.
“Like what you see?”
His eyes took another detour to Tess, then snapped back to mine, and he shook his head. “No.”
Tess caught the attention of both males and females. She held herself with confidence, and dressed fucking hot. Having her in the same room as guys like Hugo made me want to take on every one of them.
I knew I’d kill anyone who went near her if I wasn’t careful.
“Where’s your head, Trig?” Langley’s voice broke through my murderous thoughts.
I jumped and kicked Hugo in the chest, and he flew back into the ropes. His knees hit the floor first, then his hands.
He didn’t speak as he peeled himself off the mat and stood on shaky legs.
“Take a break,” Langley shouted and tossed me a cold Gatorade.
“Hey.” She hopped up and stood on the other side of the ropes. Her breasts were squeezed into a black tank, and her ass was in a pair of tight jeans.
I leaned over and kissed her and grabbed a large handful of her ass, giving it a grope. She started to protest but soon gave in. Her body sagged into mine. She didn’t seem to care I was covered in sweat.
“Territorial much?” She rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t hide the fact she was horny.
“Get used to it.”
She looked over at Langley then smiled and nodded at the ring.
“Can I try?”
A sudden flash went off in my head, and it nearly froze me. Tess crossing over into my past scared the shit out of me.
“No.”
She completely ignored me and ducked under the ropes.
“Hey,” she waved at Hugo, “I’m Tess.”
“Hi, Tess.” He stepped to the side of the ring with Langley, who shot me an unimpressed glare. He muttered something and handed Hugo a bottle of water.
“So, like this?” She put her hands up like she wanted to fight.
A cold rush broke over me, and I almost felt sick. She needed to get out of here now.
“Tess, get out.”
“Why?” She moved around the ring with a wink. “Think you can’t handle me?”
I shook my head and fought my switch. I wanted to yell and tear a strip off her, but I also didn’t want to hurt her. I had done that enough already.
Instead, I lunged at her, wrapped myself around her arms, and pinned her back to my front.
My mouth rested above her ear, and I tried to speak very calmly. Each word came out slow. “I need you out of the ring.”
“Why?”
She wiggled her ass, and I wanted to fuck her into submission.
Calm yourself.
“Tess.”
She turned and looked up at me. “Okay.” Gently, she pulled away, but when she started to duck back under the ropes, I caught her worried face.
“Hey.” I grabbed her arm to turn her around. “What?”
Her eyebrow rose, and she shrugged. “Have you thought about what your father really has in store for you? Or are you overshadowed by the need to fight again?”
“I have.”
“And?”
“And nothing. We’re prepared for everything.”
She let out a long sigh. “I heard a saying once. Just because you can’t see evil, doesn’t mean it can’t see you.”
“Oh, trust me, sweetheart, I can see evil.” By looking in the damn mirror.
She played with the necklace that hung between her breasts, and my hungry gazed followed her fingertips as they descended into her cleavage.
“If you won’t listen to me in the ring, maybe you will in bed tonight?” Her sexy mouth curved up, and her gaze dropped to my lips. “Or will you be too tired?”
“Never too tired for that.” I hooked her waist and slammed her tight little body to mine.
I shook my head, and as I was about to devour her mouth, I heard a voice.
“Tess, you need to leave.” Langley appeared at my side. “You’re a distraction.”
She tried to hide her smile as she ducked under the ropes.
“We wouldn’t want that.”
“Your timing is flawless.” I snickered at my coach.
“Your mind is elsewhere.”
True.
***
I didn’t stop training until nine o’clock that night. Everything burned and started to feel stiff. I had a massage and a cortisone shot to help with my back. It was acting up, and Langley thought it was necessary. I disagreed, but I trusted his opinion. He had never steered me wrong.
I set the whiskey bottle on the night table and flopped into bed. Took me a moment to realize the smell that drifted from the bathroom.
“You’re interrupting my date.” Tess came into view with a thick joint between her slim fingers. She took a drag as I took in her outfit. Heels, purple silk nightgown, matching robe, and her hair was curled.
“Am I?”
“Mmhm,” she purred before she sat on the couch across from the bed.
“Who do I need to kill?” I shifted the pillow under me so I could see her better.
“You’re hurt.”
“Sore,” I corrected.
“You fight tomorrow. You think it was wise to train that much on the day before?”
“Are you questioning my methods?”
She blew out a long trail of smoke while she thought. She fished around in her purse and pulled out her lipstick vibrator.
My brows rose, and so did my erection.
Slowly, her legs spread, and one hand inched its way to her opening. I licked my lips, hungry to see more. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she shifted down the couch a little. Her movements were mesmerizing, and the way her fingers eased in and out in the slick coating had me unzipping my pants.
The click of the vibrator made my stomach knot and my head swim.
She set the joint on the rim of her wine glass and pushed the tip of the lipstick into her mouth to moisten it.
I groaned with primal need. Everything inside of me ached and begged to be released. Heat burned its way to the surface to the point of pain.
She slipped the vibrator between her folds, and her head flopped back with a huff. Her free hand pulled at her nipple, and her chest rose and fell heavily.
“Mmm,” she moaned, and I joined her with a few pumps to my erection.
“Come here,” I ordered, but even my voice seemed strained.
She ignored me and kept going. She pushed, twisted, and pumped that little shit into her hole, and I started to get frustrated. She wasn’t listening, and I needed her to.
“Tess,” I warned when she got dangerously close to coming.
A layer of sweat glistened on her forehead, her cheeks were pink, and her breathing told me she was close.
“So close,” she hissed.
“Fuck that!” I jumped out of bed and grabbed her waist and tossed her on the mattress face down. I crawled over top of her ass and hiked up her nightgown. Holding her down with my body weight, I spread her legs and thrust.
She was so tight, so ready that she took me to the root. She was flat on the bed, and when she turned her head to the side to gasp for air, I saw the need in her eyes. Sex was our drug, one that we shared. She consumed me in every way, and that scared the shit out of me. But I was addicted and willing to fight to the end to keep her.
Grabbing both hands, I pulled them forward and held them as I molded to her curves. We were both slick, and I slid around easily to change direction.
I used my free hand to hold some of my weight. Using only my hips, I fucked her hard. Occasionally, I slowed and ran my fingers down the curve of her spine. Her skin heated under my touch, and she wiggled when I hit a sweet spot.
I allowed myself to smile, feel, and be raw in these moments. When we were together, nothing mattered.
“Trigger,” her knuckles were white as the anticipation built, “please.”
With my knees on either side of her hips and my hands on the headboard, I flicked my hips upward, and she jolted forward with a sexy cry.
She clawed helplessly at the tangled sheets. Her lungs fought for air. Her eyes squeezed shut.
My favorite part was when she first let go. Her insides clamped around me, and her back bowed as her orgasm ripped through her center and slingshotted me into mine.
I dropped down, and my head hit her back. I wrapped my arms around her midsection as I hung on. It was the only moment I was completely defenseless. Completely at her mercy.
***
Allen
“What, exactly, do you mean?” His forehead had broken out in a heavy sweat, and he squinted as he absorbed my words.
“I mean it’s time.”
“I don’t think I can do this.”
I slapped my hands together and smirked. “I don’t recall asking you.”
“He’ll kill me.”
“Him or me. Really, I think you’re getting the better end of the deal if he does.” I glanced back at my hungry weasels. “I’m done with you now.”
He slowly rose and looked out the window at the other guys.
“Time to go.” Zay popped his head in the door, holding my bag. He turned to my visitor. “You better not fuck this up.”
“Don’t have a choice, do I?”
“No,” we said in unison.
He muttered as he went for the door. Zay stepped in his path momentarily before he let him go.
“She’s pretty.” Zay turned his phone around so I could see. Tess was at the market looking through the wine section. Her hair was long, and her ass was stuck in the air.
“Yes, she’ll be a fine match for you.”
I tapped on my laptop and checked in. “Shall we?”
Zay hopped to his feet with my bag in hand. “You worried?”
“Scared of my own son? No.”
“Of him.” He nodded out the door.
“He knows what will come if he doesn’t do his part.”