Winston Brothers Box Set

by Lewis, Stacey

  “You could use a man though. It has to be so boring working all the time and then going home to an empty house.”

  I bite the inside of my cheek, wanting to do is tell her she has no idea how true that statement is, but I can’t. I refuse to tell her anything about Remy or the situation I’ve gotten myself into.

  I’m strong enough to handle it on my own.

  “I don’t need a man, Mads. I don’t need anything but you and mom.” I smile as I lean in and bop her on the nose.

  She gives me a look that says bop me again and see what happens, making me giggle and earning me a dirty look from her. “Someday, you’ll fall in love and I’m going to enjoy telling you I told you so. I just hope one I can find someone that wants to be with me too. Sitting in this hospital bed doesn’t exactly make me attractive, or even capable of finding someone to date.”

  My head shakes at the irony of her statement. Someday is going to come sooner for me than she thinks. “Let’s worry about that after you get out of here. Baby steps, little sis, baby steps.” We talk for a little bit longer, until today’s nurse, Carol according to her nametag, comes in to administer meds I know will make her sleepy.

  I have a house that needs cleaning, plus I need to swing by the grocery store and pick up some stuff for lunch and dinners next week. Giving her a quick kiss and hug, I slip out the door just as her eyes close.

  Of course, my life can’t ever be easy, so my eyes collide with my father’s. He’s standing on the opposite wall from the door, so I can’t even pretend I didn’t see him.

  “I knew you leaving so fast was too good to be true. You’d never take my advice and actually leave,” I snap, heading down the hall and knowing he’ll follow. I don’t want to get into a screaming match with my father so close to Maddie’s room. I’m a bitch but I’m not that big of a bitch.

  His fingers dig into my shoulder, halting my steps and causing me to whirl around and shrug out of his grip. “Wait...”

  “What?” I feel like I’m about to explode out of my skin. “What could you possibly need to talk to me about?” We’re gaining some looks as nurses and parents meander up and down the hall.

  My father looks around, and then leans in speaking underneath his breath, “Where did you get enough money to pay for the trial?”

  I blink, unable to believe he has the audacity to ask me questions about bills, ones that weren’t even mine to pay. “If you were half the man you consider yourself to be, you wouldn’t need to ask me that question. Don’t come here again, and I mean it,” I growl, turning on my heel and heading back down the hall, anger and fiery rage burning deep inside me. Thankfully, I make it out of the hospital and to my car in the parking lot before the tears start falling.

  I’ve had to be strong for such a long time... can I keep going on when I’m doing it all by myself?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Remy

  I stare at my phone, the need to crush the damn thing in my hands stronger than it should be when I realize Mel has been reading my messages all day but refusing to respond to any of them. “Jesus, Hulk, is there a reason you look like you’re ready to snap your poor phone in half?” Ryker jokes as he walks into my office. I force myself to breathe even though I want to throw my phone through his head.

  “Is there a reason you’re in my office instead of working?”

  He raises one eyebrow in question. “Is there a reason you’re asking me what I’m doing when it looks like you’re doing the same thing?” My eyes roll at his convoluted as hell response.

  “What do you want?” It comes out as a snarl thanks to all the confusion, anger, and yes, a little hurt too, I’m feeling. Mel’s got my emotions going all over the fucking place, and even though I don’t want to take out those feelings on my brother, he’s caught me at the wrong fucking time.

  He gives me a grin that says he knows exactly how much he’s getting on my nerves. “Oh nothing, just checking in on my most favorite brother.”

  My gaze narrows. “Favorite? I didn’t know you had one. Then again, I’m not really in the mood to play your little mind games right now.” Gripping my phone tighter, I know if I want to get answers from Mel, I’m going to have to go straight to her. First, I have to get out of my office and away from my brother, who seems to interrupt at the worst times.

  “Of course, I have a favorite. Reed is my favorite when you aren’t, and you’re my favorite when Reed isn’t.” He grins proudly at his idiocy.

  I stand, wanting to be done with this conversation so I can go find Melody. “At least you’re honest, I guess. Don’t you have anything else to do with your time?”

  “Nah, not really. Without Ava here, things seem more boring than usual.”

  God, he needs a new hobby or something. “When you say boring, I’m assuming you really mean you have to do your own work now.”

  Ryker nods. “How did you know?”

  “You hate working. You hate being in an office, and regardless of what you say I know you hate working here.”

  I can tell Ryker is shocked I just called him out. His stunned expression gives him away. He scrubs a hand down his face, all laughter and playfulness gone from his eyes. “Well then. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say to that.”

  “What’s the point in lying? If you want to leave, do it.” I shrug, not caring what he does either way. “Look, Ryker. Life is too short to be stuck behind a desk your entire life if you don’t want to be there.” Why am I the one giving him advice? I should be the one asking for it with my current situation.

  Ryker’s staring holes through me and I know what he’s going to ask before he opens his mouth. “Where are you going?” he asks curiously.

  “Out. I have some things I need to sort out.” I give him the vaguest answer I can because while I love my brothers, I’m not required to tell them every little thing about my personal life. They’ve found their happily ever afters, now they need to let me find my own.

  He knows me way too well. “Out? And when you say you have things to sort out, does that include the person you gave a ride home from the bachelorette party to?”

  Standing in the doorway with my back to him, I can’t stop the smile lifting my lips. “When I’m ready to share what’s going on I will. Until then, just let me do my thing.”

  “Sure, whatever you need. Just know Reed and I are both here for you.” I nod, walking out the door, heading to find the one person I want more than my next breath. The one person who refuses to want me as much as I want her.

  * * *

  My fist pounds on the wooden door of her apartment, anger spiraling out of control inside me. I’ve sent text message upon text message and yet she doesn’t answer. Knowing she’s screening my calls and texts annoys the hell out of me, but now I’m here at her apartment and she’s not answering the door. That’s the final straw for me.

  I run a hand through my hair, letting out a long sigh before I rest my head against the door and contemplate my next move. She signed the contract. I could push the fact that she signed it, so refusing to speak to me is a breach. That may send her running, but it can’t be worse than it already is, right?

  Pulling my phone out once more, I look at all the messages I’ve sent, each one showing they’ve been read but no response, not even to one.

  “Fuck,” I mutter under my breath for what feels like the millionth time today. It’s possible that she isn’t here right now, but there’s no real way to know unless I go to the bar she works at and doing that could push her away too.

  Gritting my teeth, I try to figure out what to do. Do I hang out here and wait for her to get home? Chancing a look down at my watch, I see that it’s just after four. It’s highly probably her shift at the bar hasn’t started yet.

  After a quick, but fruitless, trip to the paper, I make the decision to drive by the bar just to check. If she’s not there, I’ll go back to her apartment and wait. The only other likely possibility is that she’s at the hospital with her sister an
d I don’t want to intrude there.

  With my stomach full of knots, I drive in the direction of the bar. I find a parking spot, throwing my car in park as I take a few deep, calming breaths. My hands squeeze the steering wheel as I try to decide whether to go in or stay out here. Thoughts funnel in and out of my mind as I try and conjure up every single excuse I can, even though I know deep down inside that she’s avoiding me.

  Pushing the thoughts away, I exit the car. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let her walk away or avoid me this time. When I walk into the semi-dark bar, my eyes home in on Mel and every single thought in my head fades away.

  All the questions and my aggression are gone. Mel’s all smiles until she notices who it is that just walked through the door.

  “What do you want, Remy?” She looks everywhere but at me directly. I wonder if she refuses to meet my eyes because she feels everything I am when I look at her.

  I take a seat on one of the bar stools, taking in her long black hair, and perfect pouty lips. She’s fucking gorgeous. Absolute perfection, and she wants nothing to do with me. The thought hits me like a ton of bricks and I’m reminded why I’m here.

  “Why are you screening my texts and phone calls?” I demand an answer, leaving no room for an excuse. The bar is quiet, with literally no patrons inside, so my voice sounds louder than it really is. She narrows her gunmetal blue eyes at me as if to say you know why. “Go away Remy. I signed your dumb contract and I’ll do what you need to me to do to repay the debt, but I refuse to have this conversation right now.”

  My fists clench unconsciously. Her words sting, a-fuckin-lot. I let out an amused laugh anyway, acting like she doesn’t bother me. “I’m not stalking you. I wanted to make sure you were okay since you weren’t answering me. As for repaying the debt, you agreed to it when you signed your name on the dotted line. You also agreed to remain in contact with me at all times.” I hiss the last two words, fire filling my stomach. My skin feels stretched so tight thanks to all the pent-up need and anger inside me. I have half a mind to pull her across the bar and kiss the fuck out of her, but before I get the chance, she throws down her towel and stomps to the back of the bar, going through a pair of double doors that I assume leads to the kitchen.

  I couldn’t stop myself if I tried. Walking my happy ass around the bar, I follow her to the back, my feet pounding against the concrete just like hers did. When I push through the double doors, I spot her at the back of the room. She turns on her heels fast, heat stirring in her gaze and I know were about to have one of our many sparring matches.

  “Mel,” I try to explain myself. “I’d do anything for you, but I can’t handle it when I don’t fucking know where you are or if you’re okay.” I take a defiant step towards her fully expecting her to push me away. I’m shocked when she crosses the space between us instead, her hands sinking into the fabric of my shirt as she grabs it and pulls me into her body.

  Her lips crash against mine before my mind can catch up to what’s happening. Any words I thought about saying are pushed to the back of my mind as I wrap my arms around her. One hand grips her hip, while the other tangles in her soft hair.

  Melody’s back makes contact with the wall, or maybe a box or even the back door, neither of us know or really seem to care. When she starts pulling at my belt, I pull away ever so slightly, my lips sliding softly against hers as I speak my next words. “Stop running from me, Melody. Stop hiding and pretending you don’t want this when we both know the truth. I can see it. I can feel it in the way you kiss me and the way your body trembles when I touch you. It’s more than sex Mel, so much more.”

  I can feel the tremble of her lips as she sucks my bottom lip into her mouth. The sensation has my cock rock hard, threatening to bust through the seam of my jeans. God, the way she makes me feel is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. For a fraction of a second, I wonder if this is too good to be true. If I can’t get her to see the love I can offer her, how will we ever be together?

  “Remy,” she whispers against my lips, “I’m terrified of falling.” Her body tensing for barely a second, like she can’t believe she just admitted it, but she quickly recovers. Moving south, her lips against my skin as she sucks and bites all the sensitive spots along my throat and below my ear.

  It takes everything in me to concentrate on what she said and not ripping her clothes off so I can fuck her senseless against the wall.

  “Why?” It’s my turn to show her how vulnerable she makes me, and I do, my voice cracking as need for her trickles up my spine.

  Mel’s voice is so quiet, and I can tell her fear is real. I can feel it, and it saddens me to know that she’s had to witness that kind of heartache and that it’s shaped her into the woman she is today, afraid of finding love, and loving in return. “Happily ever after doesn’t exist in my world. I don’t want to fall in love like my mother did and end up in the same boat she’s in now.”

  Gripping her chin, I force her to look into my eyes. She tries to shy away, but I grip her tighter, forcing her to look at me, to really see me. “I’ll never hurt you like that. Once you’re mine, I’ll never let you go. In my eyes you already are. I’m just waiting for you to realize it.”

  She doesn’t even let me get the rest of the words I have planned to say out before her mouth is on mine again. It’s as though something I said set a spark off deep inside of her. Melody gets my belt undone, her hands slipping under the button of my pants, and before long we’re both naked, her sweet pussy gripping my cock like a vice as I move in and out of her. Her toned legs are wrapped around my waist and being inside a woman has never felt so fucking good.

  “Fuck me, Remy,” she demands.

  I smirk, taking one of her puckered nipples between my fingers and twisting it just enough to watch her eyes roll to the back of her head. “Only if you say please.” She squeezes me with her inner walls, and I moan. My cock is all but screaming for me to pound into her, but I don’t. If I thrust into her as hard as I want to, this will be over entirely too fast. Instead, I keep my pace, moving in and out of her slowly, enjoying every single wet slide inside her.

  A pout forms on Mel’s face and I can’t resist the puppy dog eyes she’s giving me. If she wants me to fuck her good, then I will. Pulling out, I drop her feet to floor, not even acknowledging her grumble of displeasure as I do so. Then, I navigate us towards a metal table that looks as if it’s normally used to prep foods on. As soon as her skin touches the cold metal she shivers, and I smirk, grabbing a handful of her hips so I can plow deep inside her body.

  My body shakes as my orgasm builds, her soft curves beckoning me forward, pushing me closer and closer to the edge. My eyes move down to her perfect heart-shaped ass and I can’t resist slapping one cheek, leaving a red welt in my wake.

  She groans, her face and chest pressed firmly against the table as though she can’t get enough of what I have to offer. I up my pace, slapping her other cheek and earning myself an even louder moan. I don’t give a fuck that we’re in her place of employment or that someone could walk in on us or hear what we’re doing. I want everyone to hear.

  All I care about is making Mel feel the same way she makes me feel.

  “Fuck, baby, come for me. I need you to come for me.” I’m practically begging her to do it as I snake a hand between her body and the table, my fingers finding her slippery clit with ease.

  As soon as I press against the tight bundle of nerves she goes off, her pussy tightening around my cock so hard it feels like it’s squeezing the life out of me. The air leaves my chest in a loud shout and my heartbeat sounds like it’s pounding in my ears. All I feel is Mel and the pleasure she brings me.

  It’s only seconds later that I find my own release. I empty every last drop of my release inside her, feeling the rush of my climax tingle down my spine. My toes curl but I don’t let go. I squeeze her hips until I know I’m probably leaving bruises, hoping and praying like hell this will be the last time I have to chase after the
woman I love.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Mel

  I feel at home when he’s inside me. Like nothing bad can or ever will happen. And a part of me believes that to be true. Isn’t that crazy? Remy is the knight in shining armor I read about in story books as a kid but believing that we can make it feels like I’m setting myself up for failure.

  When the euphoric feeling wears off, Remy helps me get dressed. I barely have my shirt covering the important parts of my body when Abe waltzes in. The smell of sex still permeates the air, and I know without saying anything that he knows what we did.

  “Well, it ain’t the first time Mel’s been screwed in the back of this bar…” I blink, astounded Abe would say such a thing, especially right in front of me.

  But before I can get even a word in, Remy’s at my defense, nostrils flaring, and his fists clenched as though he’s ready to pummel Abe with them. “What the fuck did you just say?” Remy sneers, but Abe isn’t afraid of him. They’re both just about evenly matched. Same height, almost the same weight. Abe’s a little stockier, but where Remy is all muscle, Abe has a little bit of a beer belly. He’s older too, in his late thirties, something that didn’t really bother me before. But now, seeing the two men stand facing each other, I feel dirty.

  “You heard me asshole. You ain’t the first bastard to fuck her in the back of this bar and you won’t be the…” Abe doesn’t get to finish his sentence because Remy’s fist snaps out, colliding with Abe’s jaw. The sound of skin slamming into bone fills the tiny space and I don’t get to react before they’re tousling around the room. Abe swinging his fists, while Remy slams him against every surface he can.