Worthy of You: Book One in The Haze Nightclub Series

by Kandee Reyna

  “Do you think you could take me home in a minute? Krysta is worried and wants to see me.” I say sheepishly, and then something she said comes to mind. “What’d you leave at the apartment for me?”

  His eyes darken, and he drops the pillow he’s fluffing back onto the bed. “If Krysta wants to see you, Facetime her, or tell her to bring her ass here. I just got you back, and I’m not letting you go. It was a letter. You can read it later, but it doesn’t say anything that I haven’t said here tonight… and some earrings, not a bracelet.” There’s humor behind his eyes, “Now get your ass in this bed so I can fix your face.”

  I roll my eyes and climb into the pillowy-soft sheets. “So, you’re saying there’s something wrong with my face, now?” I joke.

  He cuts his eyes at me. “Do you ever just do what you’re told?”

  “No. I don’t need jewelry, Lo.”

  He gives me a hard look, “I know you don’t, but I do what I want.”

  I roll my eyes, shrugging and digging into the pillows, getting comfortable, not even touching on his last statement because, well, he really does do whatever the fuck he wants.

  He sighs, “I’ll be right back with the bandages. I should probably take you in, let them stitch it up,” Worry clouds his eyes.

  “Please don’t, I just want to be here with you.”

  “You only ever have to ask Angel. Always.” He kisses my forehead and dims the lights, my eyes slide closed as he walks out of the room. I’m asleep before he even makes it back. He loves me.

  Epilogue: Renee- Six months later

  “I can’t believe you’re leaving me. Bitch.”

  “I’m not even that far away. I never sleep here anyway. I would understand if it was like a rent issue, but your dad literally owns the building, and pays for all your shit.”

  Krysta flips her hair over her shoulder, “Whatever. Don’t make this out like you’re not abandoning me.”

  “I’m not abandoning you. I’m moving in with my soon-to-be husband. You know, the reason you’re going ape-shit about wedding plans and going way too overboard with the color rose. Which, by the way, I stand by my opinion that it’s literally just another name for fucking eighties mauve.”

  ‘It’s not mauve. It’s rose, and it’s in this coming spring, when you’re getting married to that rich bachelor. People will be watching. Paying attention to the minor details, Ree.” I continue taping the box I’m working on while she keeps ranting, “Hello!? Are you listening to me?” I roll my eyes and nod my head. “What am I going to do here all alone, Ree!?” She huffs and stomps to the kitchen, pulling open drawers. “I’m not giving you all your kitchen shit back.” She says like a defiant toddler.

  “You can have it. We stocked the kitchen already.” I laugh, “Not that you’d know what to do with it anyway.”

  “Maybe I plan on learning to cook. You don’t know me.” She slams the drawer shut.

  “Oh, I know you. And I know you’re not going to be learning to cook while I’m gone.” I laugh again, stacking the box in my hand onto the other two sitting in the living room, and that’s it. The last of my things, other than my clothes. Everything else we bought together, or I don’t need, like the kitchen stuff. “I’m even considering having someone hired to stock your fridge every week, to make sure you have something more than vodka and take out to eat.”

  “Shut your face.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m going to miss you.” She says quietly.

  “I’m gonna miss living with you too, but I’m not going to have to miss you much because we’re literally down the road.”

  Lo proposed to me two weeks after he got me back. It was fast, but it was perfect. To Krysta’s dismay, he popped the question at an intimate dinner at a steakhouse on the water and of course, I said yes immediately and then finally convinced him to make love to me. Something he’d refused to do until I was completely healed. Two months ago, he bought a farm-style house that sits on ten acres. It’s pale blue with beautiful white shutters and original hardwood floors and plenty of space for me to garden, get some fluffy chickens, and to grow our family someday. My own little slice of Texas.

  “Oh, yes. In your fancy new house on the hill. You make me sick.”

  I laugh, “No I don’t, you love me.”

  “Yes. Yes I do.” She smiles and blows me a kiss.

  A knock sounds at the door before it’s pushed open.

  “What the fuck do you even knock for? You never wait until we open it.” Krysta huffs, throwing her hands in the air.

  Lo smiles, and strides in with Max, and his friend Ax on his heels. When Ax walks in, Krystal immediately tenses. One nighters are her thing, and she’s never awkward about it, but she is right now… interesting. “If you two would lock the damn door, I wouldn’t be able to walk right in here.” He rolls his eyes at her, moving straight to me and pulling me into his arms.

  “We don’t have to lock it. You’ve got your goons that hang around in the damn lobby every day.” She fires back.

  “My men are not goons.” Max says defensively, but Krysta ignores him.

  “Just making sure my girl is safe.” Lo says, smiling down at me, and then dropping a deep kiss on my lips.

  “Ew! Stop. Ugh, I hate you both.”

  “Aw, come on now, Sugar. You’re not telling me you’re not accustomed to a little intimacy?” Ax winks at her and she blushes, fucking blushes. Krysta fucking Mayell blushes and Lo and I exchange looks.

  Axis Marks is one fine looking man. He’s got that good-boy vibe going on and it suits him, but we all know the truth. There’s not a well-behaved bone in his lethal body. He’s built like a swimmer. Killer upper body strength, and long lean muscles that aren’t bulky. His smile is dangerous. All straight white teeth and panty-melting sugar.

  “Interesting.” Lo says quietly and I giggle.

  “Come on,” Max, Mr. Serious calls, “Let’s get these boxes out of here. I’ve got shit to do.” Milo makes a mocking face at me and I stifle a smile.

  Max has warmed up to me some since I’ve been back, but he was angry and hesitant for a while after I left Milo, like he wasn’t sure if I would stick around. I don’t blame him though, for wanting to protect his best friend. He’s the most guarded person I’ve ever met, which is saying a lot since Mr. Ice Man is my soon-to-be husband.

  “Come on baby, we need to get Mr. Grumpy-Pants back to the house for his nap.” He says low.

  “I heard that, cunt.” Max calls over his shoulder as he carries a box out the door. Lo and Ax follow behind him and we all laugh.

  “What was that?”

  “What was what?” She asks avoiding eye contact.

  “He spoke, and you blushed.”

  “The sex was good. That’s all.”

  “Hm… if you say so. You know, it’s okay to see someone more than once. If it was good, maybe it’s worth a second try.”

  “That, Renee Moran, soon-to-be-Turner, is a big fucking no.”

  “Interesting.”

  “What is?” She asks, sitting down on the couch.

  “Oh, nothing.” I head toward the door. “Should I send him back up?”

  She shoots up on the couch, “I will cut you, bitch!” and I laugh slamming the door behind me.

  Epilogue II: Lo- One year Later

  I don’t want to be standing here, well I do. But I don’t. Not because I don’t want to be here but because it’s so hard to not run to her. She’s breathtaking in her dress. Krysta told me I’d, “Fucking die” when I saw it, and I don’t know what it feels like to die, but if it’s this blissful and exciting, then I can’t fucking wait. She looks like a goddess in the flowing white gown with its long lace sleeves and sweetheart neckline. She’s got a crown of daisies in her hair and her usual curls are tamed into long waves framing her face. She’s taking slow, deliberate steps in time with the music, Cat Power’s, Sea of Love. All I can think is one, how beautiful she looks and two, I wish the bitch singing would hurry the fuck u
p, so her steps would speed up and she’d get to me quicker. Max bumps my shoulder, and I look over at him for a split second, and he silently nods his approval and I nod back, blinking tears from my eyes.

  Closer, and closer with each step a new feature is visible on her face behind her veil. Her bright blue eyes first, then the soft smile on her lips, the smooth curve of her nose, the blush in her cheeks. She’s perfection. I miss the minister asking who gives her away, and before I know what hits me, she’s on my arm, joining me below the arch that Krysta artfully covered in daisies and some kind of greenery. I’m trying to figure out just how mad she’d be if I pulled her close and devoured her mouth right now. She must be able to read my mind, because she gives me a coy smile, and shakes her head slightly.

  We both promised each other not to write our own vows so we could exchange rings, give her my last name, and get the fuck out of there and into a bedroom. The entire ceremony is over in a blur and I’m raising her veil and planting a possessive kiss on my wife’s lips. My fucking wife.

  Epilogue III: Renee- Five Years Later

  “Damn it, Lo!” I yell from the top of the stairs when I see him sitting on the couch with Kaia in his arms, still awake, even though we were both supposed to be each putting a kid to bed. I held up my end, clearly Lo didn’t.

  “What?” His face the epitome of guilt.

  “She’s two, Lo. Two. She can’t be sitting on the couch with you at ten o’clock eating ice cream and watching shitty T.V.!”

  “I did it with Jenson.” He shrugs his shoulders. He did. When Jenson, our first born we conceived after skipping out on our wedding reception, was her age, and I’d pass out from exhaustion, they’d sit up watching crappy T.V. and eating even crappier food all night. He’s just like his daddy. Charming, moody and all dark eyes and dark hair. He’s Lo’s mini me where Kaia is mine. She’s got perfect little ringlets and a round face with bright blue eyes and lashes so thick and dark the fucking Kardashians are jealous.

  “Yeah, and now he’s an ice cream loving jerk that doesn’t ever sleep, just like you. You know what he tells me now? ‘Well, Daddy lets me do it and he’s the boss!’ And if he wasn’t four, I’d tell him to tell you to fuck off, that I’m the boss ‘round here.”

  His eyes go dark and hooded, “Oh, Angel. I think we both know who the boss is around here. Maybe you need a reminder. Those hormones have got you all mixed up there, huh?” He drops the spoon back into his bowl and stands with a sleepy-eyed Kaia. My heart rate picks up and my sex feels heavy with wetness. He strides toward the stairs with our sweet curly-haired girl in his arms looking sexy as sin. Fatherhood and marriage made him sexier, I swear it. He stops on the stairs where I’m standing, leaning in close and I freeze, pretty sure the sexual energy radiating from him and my hormones could have us both combusting at any moment when he rubs his hand over my belly. Yup, baby number three up in the house… er, belly. “You wet for me baby?” I nod, swallowing loudly, “I’ll be in the room in a minute. Get naked. Now.” He rubs my growing belly again and then continues up the stairs like he didn’t just whisper dirty nothings in my ear with a baby in his arms.

  I run up the steps, down the hall and burst through our bedroom door breathless, stripping off his boxers I’d taken to wearing, and the oversized t-shirt I had on to hide my swollen, bra-less boobs. I move to the end of the bed and start to climb on when the door opens and then latches quickly.

  “Fuck, Angel. That’s just how I like you.” He practically growls and I pause my crawl up the bed looking back over my shoulder.

  “Like that, huh?”

  “Stay just like that.” He commands, and I freeze, his clipped tone telling me he’s serious. I hear him moving behind me. The clank of his belt and then the swish as he pulls it from the loops. His zipper, his shoes. My mouth waters in anticipation and I start to shift in my position before I feel his hands on me, kneading my cheeks. “I fucking love this ass baby.” He bites me hard enough that I let out a strangled moan and then plunges two fingers into me without any preamble and slaps my ass with his other hand, pitching me forward.

  “Fuck,” I hiss, and he starts a quick pace, his fingers curling into my sensitive spot, causing sparks of electricity to shoot through my sex; my clit reacting with each one.

  “So fucking wet for me, Angel.”

  “Always,” I whisper through a moan.

  He pulls his fingers from me, “Turn around, on your knees,” He says, and drops a pillow on the ground. I turn quickly and drop, thankful for the pillow. He grabs the base of his cock and rubs it against my parted lips. “Open, Angel.” I widen my mouth and suck his head in, swallowing the pre-cum that’s beaded at the tip, and then pull him deep, moaning around my full mouth. “Suck me baby,” I reach up and cup his balls, kneading them as I pick up the pace, pulling him deeper with each bob of my head.

  His hands move to my hair, gathering it up and holding it at the top of my head. His head tips back and he hisses loudly when I pull him deep and hold him there while I swallow around him a few times until my lungs scream for air and I gag. I pull back and suck air in through my nose then continue my quick assault. “Fuck!” He growls and grips my hair tightly, pulling his dick from my mouth with a pop. “On the bed angel. Spread those legs for me.”

  I scramble up the bed, my legs hanging off the side. He comes up between me and aligns himself at my entrance, pushing my legs up his shoulders. “Tell me what you want baby.”

  “You.” I say without hesitation.”

  “Always, Angel” and he slides home.

  Dear Readers,

  Thank you SO much for reading this piece of me. This is something I went back and forth about before finally committing, and I’m so glad I did. As most of you know, an

  author lives and breathes by your reviews, so please take a moment to do so, whether you loved or hated it. I’d be forever grateful!

  A HUGE thank you to the king of our castle. He put up with hours of clicking keys in the middle of the night, burnt dinners from trying to write and cook, a dirty house, and mountains of clothes.

  Thank you to my sweet kids that put up with, “Hold on, let me finish this sentence,” and “Pause Youtube so I can put this note in my phone real quick before I forget… HURRY!” I guess I should thank Youtube for being the best babysitter it knows how to be. (Don’t judge me, yo.)

  Thank you to my editing friends, A and K, who put up with my thoughts that weren’t translating correctly and my dirty jokes. Y’all da best. Love you both.

  Did you Like Lo and Renee’s story? It’s not over yet! Get glimpses into their lives through the rest of the Haze Nightclub family. Read on to get a sneak peek of Krysta and Ax’s story.

  Chapter One: Krysta

  Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck. I’m so late for this stupid class. Why the hell I’m taking these stupid business classes is beyond me. Actually, no it’s not. I’m taking them, because Mommy and Daddy would shit bricks; big, gold, expensive bricks if I didn’t. They about died when the only school I got into was Hamilton. Never mind the fact it’s a badass art school thousands try for each year. They almost died when I told them I’d rather pursue a career in a museum surrounded by ancient art instead of some stupid corporate career or become a bored housewife. I think they’re still in shock I’m in my final year and haven’t “come to my senses.” I mean, I wish I would have grown some nuts before now because my internship at Syracuse Museum of Art starts this month and I don’t need any of the credits I’ve crammed in to please my parents. My phone vibrates on the desk and I pick it up.

  Renee: Make it to class on time, Speed Racer?

  Me: Hardly. Why do I do this to myself?

  Renee: Because you’re a spoiled little girl who doesn’t want to give up her nice things but isn’t rich but also is because: Parents. Also, you don’t want to go to school for something that will prime you to take Daddy’s place, but also don’t want to marry rich like Mommy did, but also kinda do?

  Me: Sounds right.
Thanks for that reality check.

  Renee: You could, like, get a job and then you wouldn’t have to worry about taking classes you have no interest in… Just an idea. Lo and I could help you, you know.

  Lo being her new husband. Renee’s my best friend. We met at orientation our first day at Hamilton. She’s everything I’m not, southern, full of curves and long curly brown hair and killer blue eyes that pop against her olive skin. She moved out of her dorm and in with me when her roommate was being a bitch our first year. She just moved out not too long ago and married her hunk of a man, Milo Turner.

  The teacher clears his throat before I can respond to her. She’s right. I could get out of Daddy’s pocket and move out of my apartment. Could. It’s really nice though. Like, super nice. I’d also have to give up my credit card, and lines of credit at my favorite stores too, though. No way would he’d allow me to keep any of those if I rebelled against them any more than I already do solely by chasing a life of art. I sigh and drop my phone back in my bag before the lecture begins.

  The class drags on forever, and by the time it’s over I’m ninety percent positive I’ve failed before even starting. I pull out my phone as I walk out the door and there’s a new message from my dad’s secretary, yes, his secretary because it would be too informal for him to just freaking text me himself. He wants me to meet him for dinner this evening at his hotel in New York. Oh joy, so I guess he knows I’m going to fail before I start too. I text back to confirm that I’ll take the train in this evening and meet him at seven and she responds, telling me he’ll have a car waiting to take me back home after the meal. Yay. Dinner with Daddy on a Thursday night.