by Allie Faye
He has me there and I pout.
“You’re jealous.” He brushes his thumb over my lips. “Did you kiss him?” I look away and he sighs. “You going back to him?”
“Does it matter? I saw you with her last night.”
He sucks in a breath. “Don’t know what you saw, but I asked you a question?”
“Not this morning,” I answer him.
He pinches my bottom lip between his fingers on the verge of being painful. He whispers, “Good.” Then he kisses me softly.
His mouth on mine ignites me and I push his shoulders back, pressing him into the door, deepening our kiss. His hands grip my hips as I work on pulling his shirt over his head. His thumb brushes over my hip bone while his other hand cups my ass. “We could go back to the apartment ya know,” he says with a smirk.
“Wren’s there,” I tell him like it matters.
“We can get a room and say fuck the world today,” he says, and it is so damn tempting.
“We have time. Ezra will be gone for the next three or four days,” I inform him.
His hands stop touching me and he goes rigid. “What’s that have to do with anything?”
“I only meant we won’t have to worry about him being around. Holden, are you seriously mad at me right now?”
“Forget it,” he says but I can’t.
I wrap my arms around his neck and he rolls his eyes and tries to pry me off him.
His cock is steely beneath me and I rock into him. “Holden.”
“We should go before someone sees us.”
I rest my forehead on his. “We should but I don’t want to,” I confess and unbutton his jeans. I wink at him and bite my swollen lip.
His head thumps back on the glass and he holds my hands still. “Not here like this. Tonight, after the bar closes we’ll talk.”
“Suit yourself,” I grumble and slide back to the passenger side sexually frustrated.
Chapter 23
Holden
After helping Conleigh haggle with the dealership, she drove off the lot in her beater Honda Civic. She was so damn happy behind the wheel though. I just left my attorney’s office. He said he’d attempt to serve Reese at her parent’s house later today or early tomorrow. She better not fucking contest it. I don’t know what game she is playing but I don’t want any part of it.
I’ve just arrived at the bar and Wren is here making a fucking spectacle of himself, but the place is packed so I won’t complain. College girls are competing for his attention and he’s eating it up. Conleigh is too busy keeping up with her tables to notice me. Waylon sent me a text earlier and said Cheryl called out sick. Missy is supposed to start back next week. Waylon’s mom is going to keep the baby while they work. I am trying to work the schedule to give them two days off together every week. That’s where Conleigh will come in. I want to train her to bartend. I figured the two of us can work together on Sunday and Monday; the two slowest days. We get the football crowds, but they mainly drink pitchers and order wings. I want to do away with the food menu all together. The place needs an overhaul. I just haven’t decided if I want to sink more money in the place. I plan to do some small renovations. I’ve had a few offers to buy me out. It has potential being so close to campus. Wren waves me over and I reluctantly accept his invitation and follow him downstairs.
“Wanna play a game?” He holds up a rack for the pool table.
“You find a place yet?”
“Damn, man. You hate me that much? I thought we could leave the past behind, ya know? I’ve changed. I have a proposition for you?”
“Fine. Rack ‘em. You win, I’ll listen. If I win you pack your shit and go beg Reese to stay at her parent’s place.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know why you gotta be such a prick. I told you I was sorry. I know I shouldn’t have fucked her. I was on drugs. I know it isn’t excuse. But fuck, I hardly knew what city or country I was in most the time.”
“You could have not taken her with you.”
“She wanted to go, and I asked you to come. We both begged you. But you wanted to stay in school. I told you not to marry her. You wouldn’t listen. Reese was a whore. She still is.”
“Just rack. I don’t want to revisit shit that doesn’t matter.”
He gets to it and I send Waylon an order upstairs for a beer.
A few minutes later, Conleigh brings it down and I cop a feel of her rear. She shakes her head. “That’s considered sexual harassment.”
“You gonna turn me in?”
“Well there’s my love dove,” Wren interrupts before she can respond.
Conleigh rolls her eyes and moves on to get her next tray of drinks from the bar.
“You’re asking for trouble with that one,” my brother informs me as I line up my next shot.
“How do you figure?”
“She’s too good for you.”
I sink the nine ball in the corner pocket.
“But she’s perfect for you, right?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “Not even close. A girl like her is much too sweet for our blood.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“She’s your best friend’s girl, correct?”
“He doesn’t deserve her, and she knows it.” I shrug and scratch my next shot.
“You’re going to get hurt.”
“Why do you care?”
“I shouldn’t but you’re my brother. I’ll always tell you the truth even if you don’t want to hear it.”
I frown but know he means it. Doesn’t mean I think he’s right though.
In the end, Wren wins so I take him to my office to hear his proposal.
I take a seat on the edge of my desk. “So, let’s have it. What do you want?”
“Don’t say no. Just hear me out first.”
I nod so he gets to it.
“I want to invest in your bar. Become a partner. I have a little money saved from our last record. There’s so much potential here, but to be blunt. You aren’t utilizing the space and making the money you could be.”
“You, who I couldn’t even share a bedroom with want to be partners?”
“Yeah man, the band is done with shows on the road. I’m done with that life. I want to settle down and build a life. I got so busy making a living that I wasn’t living, man. Just coasting through town to town. Nothing to call mine. I can do this. We can do this together. It’s like we used to talk about when we were younger. We could have live music. I have the connections.”
“I’ll think about it.”
He smiles. “You serious?”
“Yeah. Why not?”
“I was ready for you to shoot me down and call me every name in the book.”
“Bros before hos. Besides, I’ve been trying to decide what to do with the place. Let me get this divorce shit out of the way then we can get the paperwork drawn up.” People deserve a second chance. Not all but some. Wren may be full of shit but at the end of the day he is my brother. He was young and dumb. Hell, we all were.
“You won’t regret this. I swear to you, Hold, we’re gonna turn this place around. I need this, brother. I need something to look forward to.”
“I believe you. So, you think she’ll sign the papers?”
“You really going through with it?”
“Yeah, it’s long overdue.”
“She loves you,” he says. “You used to love her, but she will probably fight you. I don’t trust her.”
“Reese only loves Reese. I know that and so do you.”
“She regrets it you know. She used to talk about coming home and winning you back. She said a lot of things…”
“Shut up before I change my mind on being partners.”
“Alright.” He holds his palms up.
“You’re still getting your own place.” I grin, and he chuckles, clamping me on the shoulder as he follows me back to the front. I’m only teasing him. I have it in my mind that tonight shit gets settled
between Conleigh and me. No more back and forth shit. I promised her space, but that space will only push her back to Ezra and I want him gone. When he gets back it’s time he learns the truth. It’s time for him to move out and Wren can take his room.
The happy hour crowd has dwindled down to a few people. Conleigh and Waylon are cleaning up. She’s supposed to be off by now, but with Cheryl out, I can’t leave Waylon to do all this shit on his own.
Conleigh clears the tables and Waylon wipes them down making shit get done quicker. Wren even grabs a broom while I restock the bar. The four of us make a good team.
The door chimes and in walks Bailey. She goes straight for Conleigh but before she makes it to her my brother serves as a distraction. She detours to his location near the bar.
“Holy shit on a cracker, you’re that dude.”
“What dude would that be?” He flashes her his charming smile.
“That group. Oh my god, I love your songs. Your voice is liquid velvet,” she gushes.
“Thanks,” he takes a napkin from the bar and grabs a pen. “Who do I make this out to?”
“Bailey.” She grins eagerly.
This has bad news written all over it. Wren takes her hand and kisses her knuckles. Yeah, this is a disaster in the making. A train wreck. If Bailey thought I was a dick she has no idea what she is in for with my brother.
Chapter 24
Conleigh
My feet are killing as I flip the last chair up on the table. I should have gotten off work over an hour ago, but Cheryl called out and Waylon shouldn’t be left to clean everything alone. Wren and Holden pitched in to get us out of here faster. But now Holden is back in his office closing out the register with Waylon, and Bailey is shooting pool with Wren.
They are making goo goo eyes at each other. It’s disgusting and cute at the same time. Bailey is being such a tart and pretending she doesn’t know how to line up a shot so Wren will teach her.
I go to the bathroom to freshen up, but I’m really too tired to go to the late night showing at the theater. What I really want to do is go home and go to bed, but Holden also said we would talk tonight. I don’t know if I have it in me though. I have received a few texts spread throughout the night from Ezra, just checking in. I haven’t responded to any of them. Maybe that isn’t fair of me, but now I regret telling him we would see how things go and where they will lead. Because deep down I know we are on the road to nowhere. I got pissed at Holden and reacted. Jealousy is a bitch.
As I am coming out of the bathroom, Bailey pushes me back in.
“Oh my God!” She squeals and bounces grabbing my arms. “Wren James. Holy shit. He’s so famous.”
“He’s also Holden’s brother,” I say, bursting her bubble.
Her eyes grow wide and her mouth drops. “I never thought about that. Hmm. We could date brothers.” She smirks, surprising me.
“Who are you and where is my friend?”
“Conleigh, how many times in my life am I going to have the chance with a rock star. Seriously! He’s so freaking gorgeous.” She flips her hair and checks out her reflection in the mirror.
“He is good looking,” I agree.
“So, uh. Do you mind if we do the theater another night? Wren invited me to hang at the apartment and I couldn’t say no.”
“Actually, that’s perfect. I’m exhausted. Just be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“You’re the best.” She hugs my neck and we make our way out front where Wren and Holden are waiting for us. Waylon appears to already have left.
Seeing the two of them standing side by side, the resemblance is there although Wren has darker hair and is slightly shorter than Holden. Both are equally handsome, but I am definitely partial to Holden and his beard.
Wren grabs Bailey by the hand and pulls her into his side, whispering in her ear, and making her giggle. Not wasting another second, I smile at Holden, but he doesn’t return the gesture. He only waves me out the door, locking it once Wren and Bailey stop touching each other long enough to leave. I go on to my new to me car. It could be a heap of junk for all I know but I love it. It’s perfect for me. Wren has Bailey pushed up against the driver’s side door of her car, his hand is moving up the side of her sweater and I can’t help but laugh and smile to myself as I prepare to leave. Holden is getting in his truck as I back out of the lot.
Maybe we aren’t going to have a talk. Maybe he has changed his mind.
I park and go in, headed straight for my room to grab a change of clothes. I’m in desperate need of a shower. Holden can do whatever in the hell he wants to, and I can too. All of this back and forth in my life is making me crazy.
Stripping down, I look at myself in the mirror and I barely recognize the woman staring back at me. Sure, my features are the same, but I appear more hardened not quite as happy and free as I had felt when I first agreed to move in. Ezra’s and Holden’s deodorants are in the medicine cabinet. I sniff each one and gauge my reaction to either one. Ezra’s has a spicy smell that makes me sad where Holden’s is cool and earthy. The moment I inhale a big whiff, I smile. But can I base my love life on my reaction to men’s deodorant?
With a heavy sigh, I adjust the temperature of the water and get my shampoo from under the sink.
Stepping under the spray of warm water, I pull the clear curtain shut. I stand here for a moment letting the worries of today rinse away at least for a little while.
I start lathering the soap on my body when I feel a chill. My eyes pop open. Next thing I know, Holden is stepping into the shower with me. He doesn’t say anything, and I don’t either. It’s a tight fit, but I am not complaining. His body, naked and wet is a sight to feast on. My gaze travels his body taking in every inch. From the small patches of manly hair that fans across his muscular chest to the trail that leads down his stomach to his manhood between his thick legs that I remember pinning me down in bed. He studies my body with hungry eyes before taking the soap from my hand and finishing the job I started. We remain silent as he massages, plucks and teases my body with his steady hands. My own are trembling, aching to reach out and touch him. The desire to have him right here right now burns through my core. I know I want him tonight, but will I still want him tomorrow?
His eyes blaze across my soapy flesh, searing me.
“Let me do you,” I tell him, moving to trade places with him.
His body presses against mine, slippery and oh so hard and sexy. I take my time running my lathered hands all over the contours of his body. He grunts when I rub his inner thighs, so I pay special attention to them, massaging him deeply. His fist grips my hair as I sink to my knees.
Long, hard, and fully erect, his cock is eagerly awaiting my affection.
I look up at him, wiping the water from my eyes. He’s staring down at me with his jaw clenched, mirroring a God and every dark and dirty fantasy I have ever dreamt.
Water trickles from his beard and plops onto my head as the fresh rain scent of the soap bubbles in my hands. It smells of Holden. Running my hands down his calves, I continue to wash him, taking my time, making him wait. Teasing us both with the idea of my taking him in my mouth.
Finally, I trail my fingers back up his thighs and cup his balls, rolling them in my palms. He rocks back on the balls of his feet and throws his head back. While his eyes are closed, I wrap a hand around his girth, stroking and jerking up and down. A tremble courses through his body down to the tip of his cock as I take him between my lips, running my tongue along his wet, heated flesh.
“Fuck,” rips from his throat as his fingers bite into my scalp, yanking on the roots of my hair. The water runs clear below me, rushing down the drain. Holden’s hips thrust forward sending him further into my mouth. I push all my what ifs to a faraway place and concentrate on bringing Holden pure pleasure. I want to stake my claim on him, erase Reese from his mind and body. I want him to forget that he was ever married to her.
Passion and jealousy drives me. I hold onto hi
s tight buttocks, bracing myself for the furious pace of his thrusts. Each time he glides in and out of the part between my lips he comes closer to reaching the back of my throat. Tears spring in the corners of my eyes as my mouth stretches to accommodate him.
Releasing one hand, I can’t resist slipping my deft fingers between my parted thighs and touching myself, imagining Holden’s tongue in their place. I moan around his thick cock. A thrill shoots through me and I use my other hand to tweak my nipple.
Holden is staring down at me, lust smoldering in his liquid steel eyes. “That’s it, Con, play with your pussy for me. You’re so damn good, baby,” he praises.
He holds the back of my head, keeping me right where he wants me. Just as I am on the cusp of my orgasm he slides out of my mouth and smacks his dick on my lips, shooting his load on my tongue.
He grins as I swallow and follow by sticking my clean tongue out at him. It’s exactly like the pages in my book are coming to life.
Holden pulls me to my feet and shuts the water off. As we towel off my pussy throbs with want.
As though he can read my mind, Holden says, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you in a few.”
And he does.
I don’t bother with my clothes, I leave them on the toilet, not caring if Bailey and Wren see me darting to Holden’s room clad in only a towel. I only have one thing on my mind…Holden fucking me all night long.
I ignore the giggles coming from the living room. I don’t even look in their direction.
As soon as I step through the doorway of Holden’s room, he grabs my arms and pulls me across the hall.
“What are you doing?” I hiss.
“I’m fucking you in Ezra’s bed. I want him to lay in our passion and love when he comes home. I want him to smell our sex on his sheets. I want him to smell me on you. I want him to know you’re mine. I don’t want to play games anymore, Conleigh.”
“We can’t do that.” I shake my head, but my thighs are sticky with need. Every word out of his mouth has me becoming wetter.
