Elle: Where are you?
Reed: Jillian’s. How about u? Did you shop til you dropped?
Elle: Not yet. Your sis is killing me.
Reed: Can’t have that. Let me rescue u.
Elle: I wish. She’s discovered another sale!
Reed: Damn. Call me if u need me!
Elle: I will. ;) love u.
Reed: Love u doll.
I slide the phone back into my pocket and refocus. I can’t remember what I was doing before she called. I just want to pick her up and get her home.
“Yo, did you hear me?” Tommy taps my shoulder with the stick. “Your turn.”
“Oh, shit. Sorry,” I say. Adjusting my pool stick, I inspect my target and set myself up for the shot. My mind is not on the game anymore. My brain is focusing on Elle and all the things in my life that I’ve fixed and the things that still need fixing. I got Elle back, but there is still that uncertainty with Jerry and now Dad has made an entrance. At some point, I’m going to have to deal with that and get past all the hurt he caused Momma, Juju and me. Life is so fucking hard. One day my life is not going to involve me trying to shove a square peg into a round hole. The pieces will fall into place for me. I just have to work at it, and it will happen. I have to accept my fate. I follow the line of the stick as I take aim at the ball. “Number two ball in the side pocket,” I call out. It falls in.
“Nice shot.”
Holy shit. I jerk my gaze to my right when I hear the sound of that fucker’s voice, the douche who tried to swoop in on Elle while I was MIA. I haven’t had words with him since the night at the club. I should kick his ass for interfering with Elle and me, but it doesn’t matter now. Elle and I are together, and it looks like Tyler has gotten himself a piece. I straighten up and squint at the blonde at his side. Phoebe. Yeah, that’s her name. Party girl. Almost had her. Now, I’m glad I didn’t. Tommy stands at the other end of the table, nursing his beer and waiting for me to introduce the guy who tried to keep Elle away from me, but I’m not feeling friendly right now. Tyler glances around the bar and then back at me. He’s obviously looking for Elle. My anger is boiling just beneath the surface, making my skin heat.
“She’s not here,” I answer the question burning in his brain. He’s pissing me off now, but I have to keep my anger in check. Shit. That’s all I ever do with the men in Elle’s life. Between Jace and Tyler, I’m ready to explode with all this pent-up rage. I take a deep, calming breath and slowly bring my anger under control and return to the pool game.
“I just wanted to kind of clear the air about some things,” Tyler says, handing Phoebe some money and asking her to grab a couple of beers at the bar. She smiles as she passes me. I nod, watching her walk away and waiting for my anger to subside before I look at Tyler again. He leans one shoulder against the wall, folding his arms across his chest. Suddenly, I’m not in the mood to talk. I just want to finish this game, have a few more beers and pick up Elle, but now I have to listen to his explanation for why he did what he did. I know why he fucking did it. I flick my gaze back over at him before I line up my stick for my next shot.
“Not necessary,” I challenge. “I know the reasons why you wanted me to stay away from Elle. You wanted her.”
“I wanted her to stop hurting,” he replies, annoyed. “You didn’t see her at the airport that day. The day you were a fucking no show.” He steps away from the wall and places his hands on the edge of the table. “I knew you weren’t going to come back for her. I saw the look in her eyes when she walked away from me that day. I couldn’t leave her there.”
Fury rolls up my back and invades every fucking living cell in my body. “Dude,” I seethe, throwing the stick onto the table. “There are reasons why I couldn’t make it back here, and I’m not going to waste my breath explaining them to you. All that matters is that Elle knows the truth, end of story.”
“I get that. Just know that what happened between Elle and me was bound to happen. I wanted it, and she wanted it. I know she did, but then you came out of the woodwork and fucked it all up again. I never pushed her, though it was the fucking hardest thing I ever had to do. I couldn’t confuse or hurt her more. You had already put her through enough,” he says, raking his hands through his hair and glaring at me like he wants to blow a hole through my head.
I wince at the images of Elle and Tyler together, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. I couldn’t control myself with her, and I don’t expect any other guy to either. I can’t think about that shit anymore. It’s over, and she’s with me now.
“Well, shit, you must have been suffering from a severe fucking case of blue balls considering you’re now keeping company with Phoebe.” I laugh, shifting my focus to Phoebe at the bar.
“It is what it is. You know, like that thing you had with Mindy over the summer. It was the talk at the center. Looks like you forget your humble beginnings,” he replies sarcastically.
Shit. That was so long ago that I completely forgot about it. I barely remember a damn detail from that night. It meant nothing, but that shit will always come back to bite me. I can’t change the past. I can only change who I am now.
“Yeah, it meant nothing,” I counter, locking eyes with him.
“Exactly. Just a way to pass the time until the next one. I understand.” He chuckles sarcastically.
“Who’s your friend?” Tommy interjects, leaning his stick up against the wall.
“Not sure if friend is the right term to be using,” Tyler retorts, taking the beer that Phoebe hands him when she returns. “We have a mutual friend.” He smiles at Phoebe. Thanking her for the beer, he takes a long pull.
“So much for fucking clearing the air.” I laugh under my breath.
“Call it what you want, man. I just had to say my peace.” Tyler looks between Tommy and me. “I’m Tyler by the way,” he states, without extending his hand.
“Yeah,” Tommy answers. “I’ve heard all about you.”
“Good things, I hope,” Tyler replies sarcastically.
“Except for the cock block,” Tommy says with a frown.
“Like I said, I was protecting her.”
“And trying to get some play,” I counter.
Smirking, Tyler throws his head back and slides his hands into the pocket of his jeans.
“My feelings for Elle run deeper than that, douche,” he grits. “I made a move long before your ass got in the picture, but she made her feelings known. I didn’t cross that boundary because I didn’t want to damage what we had. Her needs will always come first with me, even if it means she chooses you again. I’ll take her friendship, if it means having her in my life.”
I’ve got to hand it to this guy. Even though he tried to make a play for Elle, he was man enough to walk away and give her space to make her own decision. It takes a strong man to let someone like her slip away. I’m just glad that he let her slip back to me.
“Anyways, tell Elle I’ll give her a call,” Tyler finishes as Phoebe wraps her arm around his and smiles. I’m not sure how serious he is with her, but it seems like she is a little smitten with him. Not that I’m worried. He needs to refocus his energy on something or someone else since I’m back and Elle’s with me.
“Yeah,” I reply absently as I watch them walk away. It will be a cold day in hell if I do any favors for him, but then again, he is Elle’s best friend, and I know how strongly she feels about him. Grabbing my beer, I finish it and ask Tommy to get me another one.
I texted Elle an hour later from the bar while I downed another beer. She hasn’t called for me to pick her up, and Tommy’s worried that Juju may have maxed out his credit card. There’s a little more activity at the bar, and all the pool tables are occupied. I’m not in the mood to wait around to play another game and would much rather nurse my beer at the bar.
“Dude, aren’t you worried?” I ask, fidgeting with my phone and hoping she will text me back.
“Nah, your sis is a champ when it comes to shopping. It’s you
r girl I’m worried about.” He chuckles, throwing back his beer.
“Thanks. I can always count on you to ease my mind.”
“Hey.”
I can’t mistake that voice for anything, anywhere as I turn around on my stool. I could listen to her all day and all night and never get enough of it. At one point, I may have not had another chance to hear it again, but I fought my way back to her. It warms me from the inside out when I turn in the direction of her voice. I drink in her features: her hazel eyes, her perfect lips and her long, silky hair. She looks amazing in a pair of snug blue jeans and a white V-neck sweater that hugs every delicious curve of her body. I’m hurting, and my dick is already feeling her presence.
“Doll, you had me worrying over here,” I say as she strolls over to position herself between my legs as I grab her for a hug. I slide my hands under her sweater. I love the feel of her satin-soft, warm skin. Half a day away from her and I can’t deal. It makes me wonder how I lasted all those months without her. I kiss her. She smiles over my lips and gently nips on my bottom lip.
“I couldn’t wait any longer to see my man,” she whispers. “How ‘bout you?” she teases.
“Yes... I’ve been imagining you getting all kinds of kinky all day in my head,” I groan, brushing her hair away from her neck.
“Well, I’m here now,” she barely whispers as I watch goose bumps prickle her skin.
“I like what I do to you,” I say, nipping at her neck.
“I love what you do to me,” she answers seductively, tugging at my hair.
“Where’s Juju?” Tommy interrupts. I frown at the disruption, but continue my assault on Elle. She meets me blow for blow, touch for touch and kiss for kiss.
“Ladies room trying on her newest lipstick from Sephora.” Elle breaks away for a second to answer him. He frowns, shaking his head in mock irritation and resumes watching ESPN.
“So, you missed me then?” she breathes into my ear as she presses her body against mine.
“Is what you’re feeling any indication?” I laugh, tasting those lips once again as I press her against my cock. “I’m not sure how much longer I’m gonna last.” I grin, feeling her body respond eagerly to my touch.
“You need to get a handle on yourself,” she says, lifting her chin to mine. “It’s only been a few hours.”
“Are you resisting an officer?”
“Depends. Are you going to use cuffs?”
“You’re treading in dangerous waters, doll,” I say, gazing into her deep, soulful eyes.
“I’m an exceptional swimmer,” she murmurs, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“We need to go home now,” I reply gruffly, aching to be inside her. I wonder if she’s feeling adventurous tonight. “Or, we can make use of the rather large bathroom stalls here,” I rasp, gesturing my chin toward the men’s bathroom.
“You have no self-control, do you?” She tilts her head flirtatiously, biting her bottom lip.
“Not with you. And when you talk this way, feel this way or look this way, I can’t concentrate on anything else.”
“Hey, kids,” Juju quips, setting her purse down onto the bar. “Boston is the shopping mecca. Holy shit, the sales are off the hook!”
“Ugh,” Tommy moans. “I can’t wait to get the credit card bill.”
“Relax, baby. It wasn’t all for me. I picked you up some goodies, too.”
“Don’t scare me. Last time you bought me khakis.”
“No clothes this time. Just toys.” She winks, brandishing a bag from Condom World.
“All right, TMI.” I cringe. The last thing I want to hear about is what Tommy and Juju do in the bedroom. Elle laughs.
“I may have picked up a little something from there. For us,” Elle murmurs, running her hands over the muscles of my arms. “I can always take everything back.”
“God, doll.” I smile and shake my head as she runs her hands down the front of my shirt and pulls on the belt loop of my jeans until our hips touch. I can feel her breath quicken. “This teasing has got to stop, or I’m gonna have to take you right here.” I eye her up and down, summoning every ounce of willpower not to throw her over my shoulder and take her to the bathroom. “Can you at least tell me what you bought?” She shakes her head, exhales and runs her tongue along my bottom lip.
“And where’s the fun in that?” she replies in a shaky breath.
“Looks like you two need to be alone.” Juju wiggles her eyebrows and throws herself on Tommy.
“No more shopping trips. This is it. The rest of the time we’ll be hanging out together until you guys leave next week,” I say, inhaling the sweet smell of her hair.
“How about we play some pool?” Juju chirps.
“All the tables are taken,” I groan, mentally wincing that my chance to get Elle home early is slipping out of my fingers. I frown when Tommy snatches a table from a couple of guys finishing up. I’m starting to think that Tommy hates me.
“Why are you frowning, baby?” Elle asks. You don’t wanna play pool with me?” Her intense gaze causes my dick to twitch.
“I think I’d rather play with you in bed,” I growl into her ear as I tug playfully on her hair.
“I’ve got a better idea.” I see her brow crinkle, and I know she’s thinking about me as she chews on her bottom lip.
“I’m listening,” I reply, hopeful as I run my teeth over my bottom lip.
“If you win, you choose whatever it is you want from me.”
“Anything?” My mind goes wild thinking about her in nothing but red lace. I may need to pick up those cuffs she’s made reference to before we go home. I don’t doubt her skills at pool. Shit. I have never seen her play, and I’m pretty good. Either way, win or lose, I’m going to come out on top.
“And if I lose?” I say, quirking an eyebrow in amusement.
“I make you my sexual slave,” she whispers with a distractively sexy half-smile on her lips.
I think my dick just ripped a hole in my boxers and is ready to burst my zipper. Fuck winning. I’m losing.
“Let’s go.”
We’ve been playing pool for about thirty minutes, and Elle is horrible. I have to top her shitty pool skills by being equally horrible. I want to lose. I’m curious about her whole slave idea. We haven’t been together that long, and it makes me wonder if she’s got this super kinky side. She grins at me and then leans over the table, eyeing me seductively.
“What’s your next move?” I chuckle, observing her trying to handle the stick. I want her to handle mine instead. She walks around the table, twirling her hair and trying to get the best angle for the shot, sometimes purposely putting her sweet ass within my reach. I’m no dummy. I smack it every time she offers it. “You really aren’t good at pool, are you?” I grin, admiring her ass in her tight jeans.
“Stop it, Reed.” She pouts, struggling with the stick.
“You want me to help you, baby?” Rising from my stool before she can answer, I stand behind her as she’s bent over the table. Her scent envelops me as I nuzzle my nose in her hair. “I like you in this position,” I growl, nibbling her ear as I tug her hair.
“Are you guys playing pool or making a porno?” Tommy laughs from the table with Juju looking on with a smirk on her face.
“Sounds like fun, don’t ‘cha think?” Elle peeks over her shoulder. Her eyes twinkle devilishly. “You’re losing on purpose.” She laughs.
“The way I see it, I win either way.”
God, the fact that I am back here with her now makes me the luckiest fucking man alive.
“I can’t get a good angle to get a shot in.” She frowns, turning her attention to the table.
“I know a lot of good angles.” I cock an eyebrow at her and grab her waist. This constant touching is torturing me. I need a release really soon. This game is dragging.
“How about we make this the last shot? If you make it, I lose. I’m your slave. If you don’t make it, I’m still your slave.”
&nb
sp; “You’re really curious about this whole slave thing I have planned, aren’t you?” she teases, cocking her head to one side as she winds her hair around her finger.
I nod my head adamantly. “Hell yeah, between you mentioning the cuffs and this, I think there’s plenty I still don’t know about you that I’m eager to discover.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” she says, flirting shamelessly with me.
“Fuck, doll, I’m gonna love whatever it is you have planned. Just take the shot so we can get outta here.”
“Fine.” She crushes her lips on mine before I grab her waist tighter and position her in front of the seven ball. I rest my hand over hers to help her. She pulls back and still misses. She furrows her brow at me when I chuckle, nudging me lightly in the ribs. Shrugging her shoulders, she gracefully straightens, turns and throws her arms around my neck. “I guess you win,” she whispers, brushing her lips over mine.
I can’t ignore the feel of her body under my hands and how badly I want to protect her. I salivate knowing that we are going to be alone soon in her bedroom. I trace small circles on her back and whisper into her ear that I love her. I love when she says it back to me, right away without hesitation. I stiffen my grip around her tight body and press her against my chest, feeling her beating heart against mine. Fuck. She feels perfect. Suddenly, her body tenses against mine, and her breath seems to catch in her throat. I loosen my grip, thinking that I’m holding her too tight.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” I ask, lifting her chin to me. She hesitates before she answers me, but not before a sigh escapes her lips.
“Nothing,” she replies. Her voice drops so low I can barely hear her over the music playing through the speakers.
I know it’s something. Her eyes reveal way too much emotion, way too much about how she’s feeling. They expose her in ways she doesn’t see. I don’t push her for further clarification. Instead, I glance over my shoulder in the direction she’s looking across the room. She squints and ever so slightly pulls away from me.
Wanting Reed (Break Me) BOOK 2 Page 30
