Love's Ache (Gently Broken Series (Bonus)

by Ava Alise

  “Yeah,” he shrugs, “maybe I’ll get a different job, or go back to college. Hell, maybe I’ll decide the money isn’t enough and start dancing again,” he chuckles, nudging me playfully.

  I nod in understanding, and then slowly step in front of him and lean back against the wall.

  Wow… a stripper. Or he used to be a stripper. Well, at least he’s not a drug dealer.

  Relief floods through me when I look at him again. Chris continues to stare at me, unsure of what my next move will be.

  Haha, but NOW I know… Mr. Chris. You have just become the world’s most perfect rebound!

  “Well, damn, Chris… I’m shocked,” I say. Looking up at him at him I smile. “But it’s actually kind of hot.”

  “Yeah?” he says after letting out a breath of relief.

  “Yeah,” I say.

  “I know you just quit and all, but umm… you just booked one more job.”

  He flashes that perfect smile and places a hand on my lower back. I move closer, leaning against him.

  “Let me guess. A private show?” he says in a low, husky, tone.

  “Mmmhmmm.”

  “Fuck yeah.”

  Chris leans in closely and trails soft kisses up my neck. I feel my knees grow weak and my heart does its ‘I’m about to explode’ thing as I suck in a sharp breath. When he makes it to my ear, his voice sounds more gravely and deeper than it did a second ago.

  “You’ll have to prepare yourself, sexy. I can be kind of wild.”

  The look in his eyes tells me he means every word, and a trickle of excitement rolls up my spine. For what? I don’t exactly know, but the fact that he’s so opposite of Sean is refreshing. There is no doubt in my mind that Sean will be the last thing I think of when Chris is around, and this causes a smile to spread across my face. He leans in again, and my heart continues to pound; it’s racing like it knows this is about to be the start of something so insane and so intense that it needs to practice its sprints.

  “Liz!” I hear, coming from behind me and I snap my head around to see Brooke rushing toward me with worry lining her face.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but we got to go. Kesha twisted her ankle. Uber is here, and I need your help getting her out of the bathroom.”

  Brooke and I make our way back inside with Chris following close behind. I don’t know what happened to the idiot Kesha was dancing with, but I half expected a guy to be waiting next to the ladies’ room when we got there. Instead, I walk into a very buzzed Ros, stumbling out of the restroom, with Kesha leaning across her back.

  “Do you think it’s broken?” I ask, concerned.

  “No.” She clenches her teeth as she shifts her weight to lean against the doorframe. “I just need to get off of it. If it looks bad tomorrow I'll go get it checked out.”

  “Let me help you,” Chris says as he walks over and scoops Kesha off of her feet.

  “I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Chris.”

  “Kesha,” she breathes.

  Chris heads toward the exit with Brooke, Ros, and me in tow.

  Carefully, he slides Kesha into the Uber while Ros and Brooke hop in behind her.

  “Well,” I sigh.

  “Well?” He smiles.

  “I hate that the night was cut so short.”

  “Yeah, me too. What are you doing tomorrow?” he asks.

  I open my mouth to answer, but I’m cut off by a sound coming from the car.

  “Uhhhh,” Kesha gripes.

  “Aye, please don’t let her throw up in my car!” the Uber driver says, sternly.

  “I’m not drunk, you ass,” Kesha retorts.

  “Shit! I should go before we lose our ride,” I say, reaching for the door handle.

  “Yeah,” he chuckles.

  “But I’m not doing anything. Call me tonight.”

  I watch as we leave Chris standing in the parking lot.

  Damn…still no kiss. I can tell that kissing Chris is going to be amazing.

  As soon as I step foot in the door, I stagger to my desk, open my laptop, and begin searching for male stripper videos. The search result loads, and I click the first one. I watch as drool-worthy hot men do the sexiest things I’ve ever seen to crowds of women. Holy shit, Chris was right, it’s sex. It’s hot, it’s rough, nothing like I’ve ever experienced. I didn’t realize there were so many ways, so many positions. My mouth drops as I watch a dancer flip, lift, and grind on a bachelorette wearing a ‘Bride to Be’ sash. Her mouth falls open as the dancer runs his face down her body and simulates licking between her legs. The crowd screams.

  Have I been living in a hole? How in the hell did I miss all of this? This shit truly is hot! And now… I’m a little nervous.

  Stunned, I walk toward Ros’ room and find her lying in bed laughing while talking on the phone. When she notices my expression, she sits up and tells whoever she’s on the phone with she will call them back. At that moment, Chris calls and I put one finger in the air to tell her I’ll be right back.

  “Hey, you,” I say, sitting on my bed.

  Be cool. It’s true, he’s just moved from crazy hot to fucking crazy hot, but don’t dork it up.

  “Hey, sexy, what are you doing?” he asks. I hear loud music in the background, then a door shutting, muffling the music a bit.

  “Lying in my bed. It sounds like you’re at a party or something.”

  “Nah, I’m home. I told you, I got crazy ass roommates; it always seems like a party is going on here.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Yeah, so… tomorrow?”

  “Nothing planned, why? Do you want to see me again, Mr. Stripper?”

  “Ha ha, is that a real question?”

  I laugh.

  “I don’t know how to ask you this without sounding like a creep, so I’m just going to do it. Tomorrow is JJ’s birthday, and we’re having this huge party for him. It’s the party till you drop type. There will be people here probably sleeping on the couch and….shit….just wherever they drop. I want you and Ros to come. I would invite the other two, but I only have one extra bedroom. So you two would have to share that room, but I wouldn’t have a good place for the other two girls.”

  “You’re asking me to come spend the night at your house?”

  “See, I told you I’d sound like a creep,” he laughs.“I think you’ll have fun, but I don’t want you to think I’m trying to… you know,” he says, trailing off.

  “Yeah, that sounds fun. I have to tell you, though; I’m not really looking for anything serious right now. I’ve been through a lot recently, and I’m just not there yet.”

  “I like you too, Red, and that’s good because I’m not looking for a girlfriend right now either. I had a long-term thing with my son’s mom, and it took a lot out of me. I want a break from all that, but at the same time, I like being around you.”

  “Trust me, I completely understand. So, I’ll talk to Ros, but I think she’ll be game to go. I’ll text you before I go to bed and let you know, alright?”

  “Ok, sexy, I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Bye.”

  We hang up, and I immediately burst into Ros’ room and spill the beans.

  “HE’S WHAT? WAIT, SERIOUSLY?” Ros says, as her jaw hits the floor.

  “Yes! Right before he told me, my damn heart about stopped beating because I thought he was about to say he was a drug dealer, and then he hit me with that!” I say, dropping down on her bed.

  “Wow! That’s crazy! I mean… wow,” Ros says, wide-eyed.

  “He invited us to JJ’s birthday party, overnight, at his house tomorrow; we’ll have our own room. Want to go?”

  “Hmmm... Is Ty going to be there?” she asks, grinning.

  “Probably, wait… Has someone found herself a rebound from Kevin?”

  “He’s just cute as hell… that’s all.” She grins.

  “Uh huh,” I tease.

  “Hell yeah, girl, I’m in! Chris seems like a good guy, probably the naughtiest type of
good guy there is,” she laughs.

  I laugh, shaking my head, and text Chris to let him know we’re in. He says he’ll be by to pick us up around 8 p.m. tomorrow night.

  The next day, Ros joins me for my morning workout, which is really an afternoon workout since our asses slept until about noon. The good thing is that neither of us got too wasted last night, so we didn’t have to deal with the dreaded hangover.

  I don’t usually work out after a night of drinking, but I’m a complete nervous wreck. Ros and I are positioned in front of each other, throwing a weighted ball back and forth while completing a full squat each time we catch the ball.

  Shit is getting tiring really fast.

  “Why are you so worried, Liz?” Ros asks, struggling through her squat.

  “If you would’ve seen what I found on YouTube… damn, Ros, if he is like that he will totally be out of my league.”

  “Or, he will teach you a lot.”

  “Or he will see I have no fucking idea what I’m doing and get bored.”

  “Lizzy! It won’t be that bad! He seems like he really likes you. When it gets to the sex part, just follow his lead, ya know; let him take control.”

  After our third set, we retire the weighted ball and fall to the carpet to catch our breath.

  “Screw that ball, Liz, squats are hard enough!”

  “I think I’m done too. I’m going to take a shower and pack. Shit, what should I pack? Rossie, I’ve never done this before,” I whine.

  “I mean, it depends, are you planning to hook up with him?” she asks, still trying to catch her breath.

  “No, but I still want to be sexy. I mean, I’m not totally against hooking up with him, but I’m not planning it.”

  “Ummmm… Okay. So pack normal pajamas, but bring something simple and sexy in case you change your mind… like the boy shorts and a v-neck tee,” Ros says.

  “Ros, what about STIs and STDs? What’s the best way to ask someone if they are currently experiencing any itching or burning in their…”

  “Oh my god, Liz!” Ros cuts me off.

  I laugh.

  I can’t believe I’m about to go spend the night at this guy’s house. Shit… what if Sean calls? Well, hell… if he calls, then I’ll answer and let him know I’m on a date. Fuck him and his feelings, he sure wasn’t worried about mine.

  I turn the shower on and step in.

  Chris doesn’t seem like the type to pressure for sex. He seems like the type who can actually get it whenever he wants. Plus, he’s going through a great deal to make sure Ros and I are comfortable in our own room and all. I guess he really is sweet. I mean, even when we get all touchy-feely, I’m always the one who starts it... Hell, he hasn’t even kissed me yet.

  After my shower, I grab my overnight bag and start shoveling in my essentials.

  At the crossroads of packing nightwear, I decide on yoga pants and a cami, but when I see my cami I also notice the few pairs of boy shorts Ros picked out for me.

  Should I pack them?

  Why do I feel like packing them is sealing my fate? And why do I feel like packing them takes me further away from Sean. Hmmm. I guess Sean IS the only guy I’ve been with besides Grayson. I want Sean and me to work out so bad, but I can’t keep holding myself in this miserable hostage.

  I sigh and continue to stare at the panties.

  New Liz… Okay… New Liz is supposed to be living a little. Right? I really do like the way I feel when I’m with Chris, and I shouldn’t be worried about Sean. I’ve got to get out there and loosen the hell up.

  I grab the boy shorts and put them in my bag.

  Chris pulls up promptly at 8 p.m., and Ros and I grab a few last-minute items before heading to the car.

  “Damn, Chris, nice ride!” Ros says, looking around the car before we settle in.

  “Thanks,” he says, smiling at her through the rearview mirror.

  I know she’s going to say something, she must be about to burst back there.

  “So, Chris,” Ros says, about fifteen minutes into our ride.

  Ah, there it is.

  “I hear you’re a naughty little stripper.”

  “Haha, naughty?” He laughs and glances at me. I smile apologetically.

  “Yeah, I guess I was a naughty little stripper.”

  “So, would you have to get completely naked?” she questions.

  Oh my god, Ros.

  “Nah, but pretty darn close. I didn’t mind it though, we always had a good time with the girls.”

  “Did you get like… stalkers?”

  “I had a few who would come to all of my shows to see me in particular over the years, but none to like follow me home or anything like that. Paul, on the other hand, he’s had a few stalkers,” Chris says with a hearty laugh.

  “Wait, Paul is one of your roommates, right?” I question.

  “Yeah, didn’t I tell you? All of my roommates are strippers. JJ and Nard run the company I just left. Paul and Ty work part-time with a group Paul dances with. Even Casey is a stripper; that’s how we met her.”

  My eyes meet Ros’ eyes immediately in the rearview mirror.

  Holy shit!

  “A house party full of strippers, now this will be interesting!” Ros says.

  I try hard to keep the smile on my face as we all chuckle at Ros’ comment; meanwhile, on the inside, I’m completely spazzing out. After everyone stops laughing, I nonchalantly grab my phone to text Ros.

  Me: Omg, girl, what are we about to walk into? A stripper convention?

  Ros: LMAO!

  I see her shoulders shaking with her laughter when I glance at her in the rearview mirror.

  Me: What if it’s like a twenty-four-hour orgy going on over there? Or what if they have a condom dispenser at the front door?

  She laughs out loud for real this time. I bite down on my lip to hold my own laugh in and glance over at Chris. Fortunately, he has turned the music up and doesn’t seem to notice, or care, about Ros’ seemingly random laughter.

  Ros: Omg, I’m in tears…. A condom dispenser, really, Liz?

  I glance up again at Ros in the rearview mirror, and though she has quieted her laughter since the first outburst, she is literally in tears still laughing. At that sight, I completely fail at my attempt to hold in my laughter. Chris notices and turns the music down then looks over at me.

  “What?” he smiles.

  “What’s so funny?”

  Clearly, I can’t tell him that I’m imagining when I walk into his front door, I’ll be entering a room full of men wearing thongs and banana hammocks with condom dispensers and orgies.

  “Uh,” I clear my throat. “Oh, you missed the look Ros gave me when she realized Ty is a stripper too.” I smile back, trying hard to convince him of this horrible cover-up.

  Damn, I could’ve done so much better.

  “So you’re into Ty, Ros?” he asks, smiling at her in the rearview.

  Luckily, she stopped laughing once she realized we were busted, and she’s able to answer with a straight face.

  “Oh, Ty is a cutie!” She grins and wiggles her eyebrows.

  Chris laughs.

  About thirty minutes later, we pull onto a long gravel pathway, which leads to a big house that sits in the middle of, what looks to be, at least a half-acre of land. About ten parked cars line the pathway in a straight row leading all the way up to the house. Chris pulls past them all and drives directly into a space inside of the garage.

  “Damn, y’all are living it up out here, huh?” Ros says, admiring the house.

  “A little bit, I actually love this place.”

  Chris grabs our bags and leads us through a doorway that enters the house from the garage. Ros and I pass a look between us that means ‘Here we go’, as we step through the doorway.

  Liz

  This house is huge! The living room has three couches that could probably fit my bedroom and bath along with our entire living and dining area. The kitchen is beautiful, with stained oak ca
binets, stainless steel appliances, and a bar in the nook area. Loud music is playing; people are scattered everywhere talking and laughing.

  “Wow… nice!” I say.

  “See, no signs of orgies or condom dispensers,” Ros whispers as Chris leads us through the house.

  I choke on my laugh.

  Chris shows us to our room and drops our bags off then takes us around introducing us to people, particularly his roommates.

  I can’t believe how clean this house is; I mean, as clean as a house can be with a huge party going on.

  “Hey, JJ, you remember Liz and Ros, right?”

  “Oh yeah, of course.” He turns facing us, eyes a little glazed.

  “Happy Birthday!” we both say, offering him smiles.

  “Hey, thanks,” he says, smiling genuinely.

  “If y’all want a drink, there is some punch in the huge container on the counter, a keg outside, and a few bottles of liquor in the fridge. We have sandwiches and shit all over the counters, and I think Nard grilled,” JJ says with a slight slur.

  “Thanks,” I say.

  Ros smiles at him.

  “Aye, man, three code, ” Chris says, and JJ nods before we walk away.

  It’s after that I notice, besides the huge cake that looks like someone’s face has been smashed into it, that every roommate Chris introduced us would say “three code” before we walked away.

  What in the hell is three code?

  “I’m not going to lie, Chris, I thought it would be chaotic in here with all y’all young bachelors living together, but it looks really nice,” Ros says looking around.

  “Yeah see, that’s because we live by house code,” he says.

  “I was going to ask what three code means,” I interject.

  “House Code is the only reason we DON’T live in chaos. Well… anymore,” he says.

  Confusion floods Ros and my face. He stops and grabs a bottle of Vodka from the fridge and three shot glasses.

  “I’ll explain, party shot first.” We all take our shots and sit at the bar. People are constantly walking in and out of the house to get more drinks or food. Some are dancing inside, but most have migrated outside to the patio.

  “Okay, now to the House Code. We’ve been through a bunch of roommates, but Paul and I have been here going on three years now. The first year was a fucking mess; the house was always trashed, roommates fighting a lot, usually over pussy, so we made up House Code, the four codes we live by,” Chris says with a serious look on his face.