Sweetened Suffering (Sweet Treats Book 2)

by Charity B.

I glare at him. “Yeah, thanks for pointing that out.”

  We walk inside and Timothy’s sitting at the bar reading a book…wearing glasses. I hide my smirk. He doesn’t look quite as scary as a book worm.

  “Hey, Timothy, this is Silas.”

  He looks up and smiles. “Hi. I’ve heard a lot about you from Sasha.”

  Stretching his arms behind his head, Silas boasts, “It’s all true.”

  Timothy laughs and takes off his glasses. “I’m not sure you want to be admitting to that.”

  Silas frowns and drops his arms. “What? Why? What did she say?”

  I laugh with Timothy as he says, “Can’t tell. I’m under the oath of pinky promises.”

  It’s clear why he and Tavin get along so well. Speaking of… “Where’s Tav?”

  “She’s in her room.”

  “I’ll go get her and change, then we can pick up Sasha,” I tell Silas, before turning to Timothy. “You’re free to go. Say hi to Todd for me and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Taking off my jacket, I bend down to pet Blind Mag. She’s still working on that bone. I climb the stairs and take off my tie before pushing open Tavin’s door.

  She’s lying on her stomach sketching in her notepad when her eyes travel to mine.

  “Hi,” she whispers so quietly it’s barely heard.

  “Hey.” She bites her lip as if forcing herself to stay quiet. “We’re going to go get dinner with Silas and Sasha and then I need to get a new car.” I’m partially successful in keeping the aggression from my tone and add, “So get around and meet us downstairs.”

  She nods as I turn back into the hall. I know she’s sorry. I don’t like things like this between us. As angry as I am and as much as I loved it, it was only a car, a thing.

  She’s my Lille.

  I MISS THE FIRE IN his eyes when he looks at me. I hate seeing the disappointment and frustration. I let him down and that’s not what I want. I was just trying to be a good friend to Toben. For so long, it’s been the two of us against everyone else. It’s not like that anymore and I should have considered Lex more. I’ve always known how he felt about it.

  As much as his words hurt, there was still comfort in them and that’s what I’ve been holding on to since last night.

  I will always love you, Tavin.

  I slide my pale green dress with the puffy sleeves over my head and slide on my boots before going downstairs. Alexander gives me a small smile that heats up my chest and makes my heart race. I smile back and my lungs expand when he touches the small of my back.

  Silas rubs his hands together as we walk outside. “Where do you guys want to eat after we grab Sasha? I vote for Amai Gochis.”

  I’m happy Sasha is coming too. I don’t get to see her as much now that she’s staying with Silas, and I miss her. I’m glad she’s with him, though. I like him way more than Drew. She told me at the sleepover, that Silas has been taking her to a group that helps her make sure she doesn’t do heroin again.

  I sit in the back seat and watch the trees pass in the window, while Silas and Lex argue about which movie made them more money, two years ago. A few minutes later, Lex drives up to the curb and we wait in the car as Silas runs into his penthouse for Sasha. I lean forward between the seats while he fiddles with the buttons on the console. I want him to talk to me again like normal.

  “Lex? Will you please forgive me? I should have never let Toben drive, I know that. We just never got to do the kinds of things you did and sometimes it feels really unfair.” He lets out a sigh and still doesn’t look at me. “I want you to trust me too… I am so, so sorry.”

  His shoulders fall when he finally looks back at me. “I’m still upset about it, but I do forgive you, okay?”

  I smile in relief at him as the car door opens and Sasha jumps in the back seat with me and wraps me in a big hug that feels so good.

  The place we go for dinner is so neat you wouldn’t believe it. The cook makes our food right in front of us and that’s not even the best part. He does tricks with the food. He turns the onions into a train and flips an egg into his tall hat. He tells me he’s going to try to get the food in my mouth by throwing it, so I open as wide as I can and a few seconds later a warm, yummy shrimp appears on my tongue. He sets things on fire and he’s funny and nice. I don’t think I stop clapping the entire time. On top of that, Alexander keeps smiling at me. The food is so good and I’m stuffed to the brim as we leave.

  I rub my belly as Lex grabs my hand. “Did you enjoy that, Lille?”

  Every time he calls me that, it makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. I love that he still sees me that way, after everything.

  “Oh, yes, can we come back some time?”

  I want to show Toben this place. He’s gonna think I’m making it up when I tell him they throw food in your mouth.

  “Of course.”

  I look up to him as we walk down the pathway. “Do you know what color car you want to get?”

  He gives me another smile and I’m so glad he’s not still angry with me. “The same. Yellow’s my color.”

  I met this girl at a party once that told me I have a soft pink aura. She said it’s the color my energy radiates. I can’t see auras like she did, but if I could, I bet Lex’s would be yellow.

  “I think so too.”

  I’m excited to go see the car store. I’ve never seen one before. I bet there are aisles of cars in giant boxes on big shelves.

  We pull in and it isn’t at all like I imagined. All the cars are just parked in a big parking lot. There’s a building, and when we walk inside, I see some cars in here, they aren’t on shelves or in boxes though, they’re just sitting in the middle of a big room. The man who helps us is so nice, he even walks around with us to help us look.

  Sasha and I stay behind this time. As we walk around the lot, she tells me which ones she wants. They all seem fine to me. They will all take you to where you want to go and that’s the point, right?

  The engine is loud, so I hear it before I turn to see them coming back. Lex barely gets parked before jumping out and I’m so glad his big grin has made its way back onto his perfect face.

  “I found it. I can’t believe I found it. This is it. I need this car.”

  Silas climbs out and laughs as he shuts the door. “I bet you do. This is a serious upgrade.”

  Caressing his hand over the hood, Lex groans, “Fuck, I know. I’m so hard right now.”

  Sasha’s eyes go wide as she scrunches her nose and slaps his arm. “Ewe, you’re disgusting. How would you like to know how wet my pussy is?”

  Now it’s Alexander’s turn to have the exact same expression, causing both me and Silas to snicker. “Oh God, Sash, point taken.”

  The man that’s been helping us walks up to Alexander. “So, what did you think?”

  Lex’s smile is so wide, it makes me have one too. It feels good when he’s happy.

  “This is the one.”

  The guy punches his fist across the front of his torso. “The Lamborghini Huracan. Gets ‘em every time.”

  Once we finish the paperwork, Lex is almost bouncing with joy and I’m happy because the guy that sold us the car gave me a sucker.

  Lex opens the door for me and when I climb in, I smile because it’s yellow on the inside too. The interior of the Alfa was all black and I don’t think the seats were as comfortable as these. He jumps inside and slides in the key, the sound making him close his eyes and moan.

  “Listen to that.” He reaches his hand across the car to rub me over my panties and I grin.

  He’s definitely not mad at me anymore.

  Silas’ car is gone when we drive through the gate and Lex’s Mercedes is parked out front, so Silas and Sasha must have already left. The garage door opens and even though he pulls inside and turns the engine off, he still leaves the music playing.

  Reaching over to me, his hand softly traces down my neck. “This is a brand new car.” His voice is deep and husky which makes
mine stick in my throat, so all I can do is nod. He trails his hand down my body until he reaches the hem of my dress. “I’m glad the Alfa can’t hear me say this, because in some ways, I’m kind of glad I had to replace it.” He murmurs.

  His kisses are slow, and when I slip my tongue into his mouth, he lightly sucks on it while lifting my dress and sliding his hand down the front of my panties. He touches me softly and I ache for part of him, any part, to be inside me. I can’t stop myself from grinding against his fingers when he suddenly shoves two of them in hard. I don’t even know if I’m moaning or gasping when he pounds them in and out. It’s shameful how loud the sound of my wetness is.

  He breaks our kiss to unbutton my dress and pull down my bra. His kisses pepper my logo for a moment before he bites and sucks on my nipple.

  “Every part of your body tastes so damn good.” His hand slides out of my panties and he licks his fingers before he bites my ear.

  Lifting his body, he hovers above me, making it easier to reach his jeans. His button can’t come undone fast enough, and it gives me a rush to feel how solid he is. I pump up and down as he thrusts into my hand.

  “I really want you to fuck me.”

  He grins as he yanks my panties to the side and lines the head of his cock up with my entrance.

  “Say it again.”

  “Fuck me, Alexander.”

  He shoves himself inside and my body fights his size, taking a few thrusts before he’s able to slide in and out easily.

  There isn’t a lot of room to be moving around, so he lifts my legs over his shoulder as he shoves in harder. God, he’s so deep.

  Reaching above me to the seat belt, he pulls it out far enough to wrap around my neck. He picks up pace as he tightens the belt until I am no longer able to get oxygen.

  “Come for me, Tav.” He says it just as the beautiful burn begins to fill my throat. The feel of his cock sliding into me is so much more intensified without the function of breathing. He squeezes the seat belt a little tighter.

  The pain, the pleasure, his words, his voice…it’s a plethora of sensations. The ache feels incredible and the tenseness of my building orgasm causes my legs to shake against his shoulders.

  Finally, it takes me over and consumes me, as the little spots that I like to pretend are fairies, are all over everything. It rolls out of me in currents. Each one more overwhelmingly pleasurable than the last.

  I hear his rough chuckle. I think he still gets proud of himself every time he gets me off. He lifts my head and suddenly the fire of air is rushing into my lungs as I gasp for it. The seat belt snaps back into place as my vision comes into focus.

  He quickly pulls out and the sudden emptiness leaves me wanting to beg him to come back. Pulling up his body so he is inches from my mouth, he presses his hand against the back window of the car, using the other to guide his cock in between my lips.

  I take it gladly. Tasting myself on him makes me want to suck harder. I feel so proud that it’s my body he was just inside of. His hips push the tip against my throat and I try to get him even further in. I love the way he softly touches my hair and my face while violently fucking my mouth.

  He groans when he slips himself out and kisses me on his way back down. His grin makes my stomach flip before he licks his hand and reaches in between my legs to my ass. He rubs his slippery fingers over my tight hole and slides one in. When he’s satisfied that I’m ready, he scoots me down and lifts my hips, giving him an easier angle.

  The tip presses against my tightened orifice as the pain of the stretch forces me to moan. He grunts with the last push, getting him completely inside.

  “Oh my God, you’re so fucking tight.”

  I am, and it hurts so bad that when he begins to rub my clit, it doesn’t take long for the heightened aching to begin again. He’s about to come, so he’s going harder and faster, and while it feels incredible, it’s not enough pain.

  As if he can read my mind, He leans down and takes a small piece of skin on my chest between his teeth. It’s like he’s biting out a chunk of my flesh while his fingers are expertly massaging me. Once I feel his teeth break apart the skin, I let the whimper fall from my lips and my body vibrates in pleasure at the same time he grunts and fills my ass.

  His eyes are locked onto mine as he separates our bodies. He kisses me, and when he pulls back he touches my face and whispers, “Now I’m hungry.” I laugh even though I kind of want something to eat too. Something sweet. I swear he knows what I’m thinking, because he asks, “How about ice cream?”

  I can’t nod fast enough. It’s always a good time for ice cream.

  His fingers lightly tap the yellow steering wheel to the music as we drive to the ice cream parlor. He’s in a good mood with the new car and us having sex, so now is a good time to talk to him about something.

  I’ve been thinking a lot about him and Toben. I want them to get along and maybe even be friends, eventually. They both love me and I love both of them so that should make them want to try, right? If this is going to be my life now then they will have to accept the fact that they are both a huge part of it. Lex would have been easier to convince before everything with the Alfa.

  “You know what would be really fun? If you invited Toben over for a ‘guys night’. You could drink and talk about guy stuff.”

  His eyebrows drop and his mouth presses into a line before he says, “Yeah, about as fun as swimming in a boiling vat of oil.” He parks in front of the ice cream parlor and turns off the car.

  I’ll give it a few days. I really want us to all be able to hang out together as friends, like me and Toben are with Christopher. I just think they need to spend time alone, without me there, to really do that.

  The You Scream ice cream parlor is fun to just be inside of. The walls are white with a whole bunch of large brightly colored candy sprinkles painted all over it. The pink glittery tables have yellow and blue chairs, while the blue glittery tables have yellow and pink chairs. I really like the song that’s playing in the background, too.

  I walk up to the counter to pick my flavor and I can’t believe my eyes. There’s not only buckets of ice cream choices, there are also a ton of different candies and sweets. The best part? I get to do everything myself so I can get as many different ice cream flavors and toppings as I want.

  “Just because it’s there doesn’t mean you have to get it. I mean, Jesus Tav, Hot Tamales and caramel sauce? That’s disgusting.”

  He’ll be wishing he had this frozen treat masterpiece. The lady weighs our desserts and mine is almost twice as heavy as his. And twice as yummy.

  As we pick a table, he says, “I’ll seriously invite Toben over myself if you eat that whole thing.”

  “Pfft.” Does he not know me at all?

  We sit at a pink table and I stick my spoon into some chocolate chip cookie dough, taking a big ol’ bite. Mmmm even more wonderful than I expected.

  I point my spoon at him. “I’ll give you his number.”

  He shakes his head and laughs. “I’m not worried. You’re never going to be able to eat all that.”

  Ten minutes later my spoon scrapes across the bottom of the bowl to scoop up the very last bite. I shove it into my mouth and smirk at the open-mouthed expression of shock on his face.

  “Where the hell do you put it?”

  I shrug. “Toben really likes metal music, so if you play Slayer it’ll get you on his good side.”

  “Shouldn’t it be him trying to get on my good side?”

  For some reason my emotions for him momentarily overwhelm me, forcing me to hold back my tears. I don’t want to cry. I feel happier than I have ever before and I hate that I still can’t completely trust it. I want to.

  The fear of losing all this still sleeps beneath my skin. I will still save these memories and store them up in case the day comes when I can’t make anymore.

  “Thank you for the ice cream, Lex.”

  Friday, July 3rd

  As much as I don’t wa
nt to do this, I made a promise and it’s time to keep it. Toben’s caller tune plays in my ear, or rather screams, as I wrap up a few things on the computer.

  “Hello?” His voice sounds unsure and a lot less confident than normal.

  “Hello, Toben. This is Alexander Sørensen.”

  His groan is long and dramatic. “Yeah. I was warned about this call.”

  I have to admit my relief that she prepared him for this. Maybe we can agree to grin and bear it for her sake.

  “Look, Toben, she wants us to get along and I’m willing to try. My sister’s taking her to an Independence Day fashion show tomorrow evening. What do you say you come by my place for drinks? I have a great view to watch the fireworks and I’ll grill us some steaks.”

  I hear him inhale and exhale before sighing, “Fuck.” I have no idea if that’s a yes or a no. I’m about to ask him when he asks, “What time?”

  “Will six work?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay, see—” I hear the call end and I still check my phone. Well, okay then. At least that part’s over with. Maybe we’ll get drunk enough to forget we don’t like each other.

  I leave the office and my eagerness for the festival tonight increases as I get closer to home. This morning, Tavin asked if we could go to the boardwalk tonight for the Shadoebox Independence Day party. It’s a two-day long event with a beer festival, live music, and a dance. I’ll never pass up the opportunity to see her dance and now we both have plans tomorrow.

  Music is playing as I walk into the house, and the view in my kitchen is a stunning one. The back of her pretty dress is the first thing I see. It’s a cream sheer maxi dress that has soft ruffles caressing her shoulders. Her hair is loosely pinned up showing the neckline of the dress curving slightly across the top of her back. There are little buttons trailing down her slender frame to her waist where the fabric gently flows down in panels. She’s holding a glass of white wine as she turns and gives me her angelic smile. The whole picture is so elegant.