Chapter 23

Sammi

2:16 PM SATURDAY

Lock pulls the motorcycle over just outside of Bangkok, and it’s not a moment too soon. I don’t wait for him to say anything or even turn off the bike. I’ve fucking had it.

I jump off the bike and immediately start pacing.

The stress of this trip is already getting to me. I just wanted to enjoy one night out to celebrate my award and have one last hurrah before I tied the knot.

But, nooooooo.

“Seriously, what the fuck, Lock?” I reel around on him. “Every time you’re around, shit happens. Every. Fucking. Time. Why is it that at every conference or ceremony, you’re there?”

“In case you forgot, darl, we work in the same field,” he shrugs, finally hopping off the bike himself.

“Yeah, we do, but do you know how many other people work in the same field that I don’t see on a regular basis? I swear it’s like you’re stalking me.”

It’s the truth. I always see him. It’s like he materializes out of thin air and into the barstool next to me, bottle of tequila in hand.

Like a fucking genie that can’t get enough of me rubbing his lamp.

His long, hot la—

GAAAAH! Sammi, stop it!

“Really, Sammi? You’re going to fucking play it like that?”

“Play it like what, Lock?” I throw my hands up in the air.

“Me, stalking you? Not by a long shot. I’ve got women falling all over me, in case you haven’t noticed. If I end up at your side every fucking time we’re in the same city, it’s because you want it that way.” He jabs a finger at my chest accusingly.

I can’t help but laugh as I smack his finger away. “Yeah, I don’t think so. Maybe if you crawled out of your own ass once in a while, you’d see that you’re not all that fabulous.”

“That’s why you end up in bed with me each time, screaming my name over and over, right?” He smirks, and memories of last night under the waterfall pop into my mind.

Hot, passionate sex with water flowing behind us. The look on Lock’s face as he pounded me relentlessly.

No, no, no, no, no! Not right now!

“I—”

“And it wasn’t just once, Sammi. It’s all the fucking time. We’ve fucked on multiple occasions, and I’ve given you multiple orgasms each time.”

“Obviously, it’s not that memorable, because I don’t fucking remember any of it!”

Of course, I’m lying. The flashbacks have been coming fast and hard, much like the way we fucked last night. I can still feel the heat of his stiff, massive cock in me.

He doesn’t need to know that, though.

For a moment, I swear I see the hurt on his face. Lock is one to wear a mask; he doesn’t always let his true feelings shine through.

But just like that, his cool exterior is back in the blink of an eye. Must’ve been my imagination.

“It’s because you don’t want to remember, right? It’s so fucking easy to blame it on the tequila, but the fact is you don’t remember, because you don’t want to. God forbid you experience fun for once in your sober fucking life.”

“Fun? I have lots of fun, Lock. Without you. I don’t need you to have fun.”

“Really, fun with Egghead, perhaps?” He scoffs.

“His name is Eggbert. And yes, we have fun together. Why else would I marry him?”

“Because it’s the logical fucking thing to do, according to you. You’re so uptight in your day-to-day life that I’m surprised I could fit my cock up your ass. And I did do that by the way.” A knowing smirk spreads across his face.

“Wha—” I subconsciously rub my ass. Yeah, we might’ve done something like that. “What’s wrong with being logical?”

“Logic has a time and place, darl, but it’s not meant to rule your life. I highly doubt you have fun with that scrambled idiot. He’s a pompous ass, and you’re so much fucking better than he is.”

“You’re just jealous, because I’m here telling you that I don’t want you. I don’t bow to your feet like all the other women in your life.”

“No, I’m pissed because you won’t let yourself fucking be happy!” His normally bright green eyes are now dark with anger. “Is that any way to fucking live? At least when you’re with me and a bottle of tequila, you break out of that stick and have fun! And for what it’s worth, you have bowed down to me… I’ve had you on your knees sucking my fucking cock!”

“That’s not—”

“And you fucking loved it. You loved sucking every last drop of cum down that sexy ass throat of yours like a cup of Maxwell House’s finest. Do you need receipts? Because I’ve got them darlin’!”

“Lock—”

“The first time was three years ago, right here in Bangkok…”

“Stop!” I don’t want to hear this right now. “Just stop it, already. There’s no point to this.”

I’ve been having fucking flashbacks of hot sex with Lock for hours. The floodgates are threatening to open just thinking about it.

But I can’t let this get under my skin. After all, I am getting married.

“Why should I? You may not remember, but I do. And to be honest, I’m getting pretty sick and fucking tired of you forgetting. This has been our deal for years, Sammi. Years.” He takes a step closer to me, but I take one back.

“We’ve done it in an alley, in an aquarium, in the water…”

“Al-right! What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t want you to say anything. I want you to stop fucking denying the time we’ve spent together. I want you to realize that you can let yourself be free to live your life without having to be off your face.”

His eyes are searching mine, and I can tell he’s serious. Honestly, though, I don’t want to deal with this shit right now.

“I want you to stop being afraid and start embracing who you really are.”

“I’m not afraid of who I am, Lock. Never have been, never will be. Who I am is Sammi Brighton, and I am marrying Eggbert. You may not like it, but it’s not your decision to make.”

It’s only one in the afternoon, and this entire day has gone to the fucking dogs.

It’s hot, I’m sticky and pissed, and I just want to get away from this.

From Bangkok.

From Lock.

Because right now, my mind isn’t thinking straight, and I have no idea what the logical next step is here.