Skid Row Kings Complete Series

by Winter Travers

  The closer we got to the last door, the louder the groaning got with incoherent mumbling mixed in. I pushed the door open and was hit with the sickening smell of vomit. My hand instantly covered my nose and mouth, and I tried not to gag.

  “Jesus,” Mitch cursed, his arm covering his face. Kurt wasn’t doing as well as he wasn’t prepared for the smell and was dry heaving in the hallway.

  Bev was laid out on the bathroom floor, covered in vomit and blood. The bathroom was trashed, and the toilet was overflowing. It was a fucking disaster. Bev moaned low from the floor, grabbing her stomach.

  “What the fuck are we supposed to do?” Kurt asked. I looked behind me, and he was bent over, his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath.

  “Calling a fucking ambulance. We aren’t going to be able to help her.”

  Bev’s eyes cracked open at the mention of her ambulance and started babbling again. “No… I… cops… jail.”

  “I’m assuming she doesn’t want to go to jail,” Mitch said, stepping back and pulling his phone out of his pocket.

  “Yeah, well, from where I’m standing she doesn’t get a choice.” I stepped forward, kneeling down next to her.

  She continued to mumble, “It… hurt… I miss… Mary…”

  “What the hell did she just say? What the fuck is she talking about mom for?” Kurt demanded.

  “Is Frankie… here?” She croaked.

  “No. She came over, but you didn’t answer the door. She had to walk home,” I sneered at her.

  “I’m sorry. I love… her. She’s… she’s just like… your mom.”

  “I know,” I growled. “If you love her, why the hell do you treat her like shit, Bev?” Don’t fucking tell me you love Frankie but leave her all alone by herself in a shitty neighborhood and then make her walk fucking home because you’re too fucking high to answer the damn door. “You’ve got a real fucked up way of showing her you love her.”

  “It hurts…” she moaned, closing her eyes.

  “I hope it fucking hurts,” Mitch said, hanging up the phone. “The ambulance will be here in ten minutes.”

  “It hurts… to look at… her,” Bev whispered, “I can’t handle… it.” Well right there explained why Bev was such a fucking idiot. I never really thought about how my parent’s death would affect her. We had lost our mom and dad, but she had also lost her sister.

  “You need to straighten the fuck up, Bev, or I’m never going to let you see Frankie again.” I understood what she was feeling but getting high all the fucking time to numb herself from the pain wasn’t going to work for me if she ever wanted to see Frankie again.

  She started crying, quietly sobbing. I stood up and looked down at the woman that was my aunt, but she was far from the woman she used to be. She was always the wild, crazy one when Mom and Dad were alive, but it was like she had a handle on things. Now, with Mom gone, she was fucking lost and barely holding on. “You need help, Bev.” Her body shook as she started crying harder, sobs taking over her body. “You get one more chance with her. You fuck it up this time, that’s it.” I walked out of the bathroom, not waiting for a response.

  Her sobs followed me down the stairs, fading away as I opened the front door and stepped outside. I put my arms over my head, resting my hands on top of my head and breathed a sigh.

  What a fucking mess.

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  Chapter 26

  Violet

  It was half past one, and Luke still wasn’t home. He had been sending me sporadic updates on what was going on, but I was still worried about him. Frankie was sprawled out on the couch next to me, and I was contemplating whether or not to try and move her to her bed.

  After we had milkshakes and watched two movies, she had passed out, but not before she told me she was honestly worried about her aunt. I didn’t know what to tell her. Luke had told me not to tell her what was going on, so it was hard to figure out what to tell her without actually telling her what was going on. Hell, I barely knew what was going on. Luke had told me that Bev had been at her house the whole time, but she was so messed up that she wasn’t able to answer the door when Frankie had knocked.

  After I had told her over ten times that Luke was going to help Bev, she just stopped asking, knowing I wasn’t going to tell her.

  I finally heard boots stomping up the stairs and breathed a sigh of relief, they were finally home. I glanced over the back of the couch when the door opened and watched, Mitch and Kurt file in with Luke behind them. His eyes instantly went to me. He looked tired and beyond exhausted, and all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him and try to make him feel better.

  “How long has she been out?” Mitch asked, standing behind the couch looking down at Frankie.

  “Um, for about an hour. She wanted to stay awake until you guys got home but sleep won,” I mumbled. There was such a heavy, somber mood in the room it felt wrong to talk.

  “I’ll put her in her bed. She’ll have a stiff neck if she sleeps like that all night.” Mitch walked around the couch, carefully lifting her up so not to wake her and walked down the hall to her room.

  “I’m beat. Night,” Kurt mumbled following behind Mitch. I gave him a little wave, feeling bad that they were so tired.

  I turned back to Luke, who was still standing at the door. His eyes were on me, but he didn’t move. “Are you going to come in, hunny?” I had never really called him that before but it felt right.

  “I don’t know if I can do this, Vi. I…” His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “I didn’t know how bad Bev was. I should have known…” he trailed off.

  I sprang up from the couch, walking straight into him and wrapped my arms around him. “This isn’t your fault, Luke. How were you supposed to know? No one really knew. Frankie spent the most time with her, and she didn’t know either.”

  “You didn’t see her, Vi. She was laying on the floor covered in her own puke. She’s bad.”

  I leaned back and looked him in the eye. “You can’t carry this all yourself, Luke.”

  He slowly blinked, his face blank. “I hoped she was dead before I found her, Vi. I wished she was dead because I didn’t want to have to deal with her on top of dealing with Frankie.”

  Shit. Shit, shit, shit. “But she’s not dead, and you’re only human for feeling that way. After you found her, did you feel that way?”

  He shook his head but didn’t speak. I knew Luke wasn’t a bad person, but right now he thought he was for only feeling what anyone would. “Time for bed.” I crouched down in front of him, unlacing his shoes. He toed them off next to the door, and I grabbed his hand.

  I hit all the light switches on the way to his bedroom, the apartment going dark around us. Mitch and Kurt both stepped out of Frankie’s room, closing the door behind them and skirted around us, heading to their rooms. This whole Bev thing had messed up all three of them. Although it seemed Luke was taking the brunt of it, because I know he felt like he was the one who was supposed to be taking care of everyone.

  I opened the door to his bedroom, a wave of cold air hitting me as I flipped the light on. I had wandered into Luke’s room before he had come home, so I knew my way around. I pulled him in the room with me and shut the door behind him. I had never seen Luke like this before. He seemed so defeated and just lost. I wanted the old Luke back who knew he could take on the whole world and come out on top. That Luke was the only one who was going to be able to make it through this.

  Except tonight, I would be the one to take care of him. He had been carrying too much so long, he needed a night where someone else took care of him.

  I grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and tossed it on the floor. “I missed you,” I whispered, running my hands over his chest. My hands traveled to the button on his jeans, and I popped it open, sliding the zipper down. I pulled his pants down, and he stepped out of them. I looked up at him as I crouched in front of him and his head was tilted down, watching me. “You
can let go with me, Luke. I’m here.”

  He grabbed my hand, pulling me up and wrapped his arms around me. “I don’t know what to do,” he whispered into my hair.

  I held on tight, my arms wrapped around his neck, trying to take away everything he was feeling. “You don’t have to do it alone. You have Mitch and Kurt, who just proved to you tonight that they are more than willing to help, you just need to let them, hunny.”

  “God damn I missed you, Princess. Just being with you makes me feel better. I was suffocating at the hospital waiting for them to tell me how she was. You’re my air.”

  My heart squeezed at his words. He had told me before that I was his air, but now I felt it. I felt that I was something more to Luke, something he needed. I stepped back, grabbing his hand and pulled him to the bed. “Sit down,” I ordered. He sat on the edge of the bed, and I stood in front of him and put my hands on his shoulders. I crawled into his lap, straddling his waist. My hands cradled his face, and I pressed a kiss to his neck. “You’re a good man, Luke,” I whispered. I kissed the other side of his neck. “I’ve never known anyone like you.” I leaned back, my eyes traveling over his face. “You would do anything to protect your family. You’re helping your aunt get the help she needs. You're the rock everyone needs.”

  He grimaced, and I knew he didn’t believe me. I knew he thought that there was more he should be doing, but right now I was going to be the one being his rock. “I don’t know what I did to get you, Violet.”

  “You deserve me, Luke.” His hands wrapped around my waist, skimming under my shirt with his fingertips. “I’m the one who’s lucky to have found you.”

  He shook his head, a smirk on his lips. “How about we both agree that we deserve each other?”

  “I can deal with that.” I ran my hands over his head, and he closed his eyes at my touch. “Although I totally don’t deserve you.” Luke laughed, leaning forward and pressed a kiss to my lips.

  “Is this you trying to distract me from the shit storm that is my life right now? Frankie hates me and my aunt is going into rehab. It’s going to take a lot to distract me.”

  “Well, I am trying to distract you, but I should probably tell you that Frankie doesn’t hate you. She just doesn’t know where she fits in.”

  “She’s my sister, there is no having to fit in, she just fits.”

  “I tried telling her that, but I think that’s something you need to tell her. Plus, she misses her mom something fierce, Luke. She says there are days it almost haunts her.”

  Luke rested his forehead against mine and sighed deep. “She needs her mom, Violet. I don’t know how to give that to her.”

  “She needs to talk. If she keeps it all in, she’s going to wind up like Bev, spiraling out of control, not knowing how to deal with it. I told her she could call and talk to me whenever she wants, but I think she’s going to need more than that. I think you need to get her some help, too, Luke. A therapist who will listen to her and tell her it’s OK to feel the way she does.” Frankie having me to talk to was going to help, but I knew there were going to be things she would be afraid to tell me because of the relationship I had with Luke.

  “You really think she needs that?”

  “I do. I think that will help her to move on.”

  “I’ll call someone tomorrow.”

  “That’s good, hunny, but tomorrow is Sunday,” I laughed.

  “Monday.”

  “Monday is good.” He held me close, neither one of us talking, knowing there was more to figure out, but there was always tomorrow.

  “I really missed you,” I whispered.

  “I missed you, too, Princess.” His hands slid lower and grabbed my ass. “I needed you tonight, and I hated that you weren’t there.”

  “Then I guess I’ll just have to be there from now on.” I kissed his lips, sweet and light.

  “I don’t deserve you, Princess,” he whispered against my lips.

  “Yes, you do. You deserve everything you have, and you have me.” I grabbed his hands and laced my fingers with his. “I’m not going anywhere.” I pushed back on his hands, making him fall backward onto the bed, my body covering him. I lifted his hands over his head, pinning them to the bed. My hips gently rocked into him, my body needing him and everything he gave me. “Make me yours, Luke,” I breathed out. He closed his eyes at my words, and I knew that was exactly what he needed right now.

  He broke free of the hold I had on his hands, and his fingers delved into my hair and pulled my head down, my lips connecting with his. He kissed me slow, taking his time, tasting and teasing like we had all the time in the world, and we did. I had all the time in the world to love this man. I should have been shocked that I already loved Luke, but it felt right.

  His hands were on the waist of my shorts, working them over my ass, his hands caressing my skin. I sat back on my heels, balancing from knee to knee pulling my shorts and panties off. I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it on the floor all the while Luke’s eyes watched my every move. I reached behind me, unhooking my bra and tugged it off.

  “Fucking beautiful.” Luke jack-knifed up, grabbing me around the waist and pulled me down on top of him. “Tell me you’re mine, Princess.”

  “I’m yours,” I gasped, feeling his rock, hard cock grinding into me with every move. He rolled us over, his body never leaving mine, pinning me to the bed.

  His hands roamed over my body, driving me insane as his mouth devoured my nipple. “Yes,” I moaned, my body on fire from his touch. My hands roamed over his back, my nails digging in when he nipped at my nipple, sending tremors through my body. “Please,” I begged, needing more.

  With every kiss, touch, and bite, I fell more in love with this man as he worshiped my body, making it his own. My hands grabbed the waistband of his boxers and pulled it down his ass as far as I could. He took pity on me and sat back on his heels and easily took them off and then his body was covering me again.

  His lips were on my mouth while his fingers worked between us, cupping my pussy. His fingers found my clit, and I moaned deep against his lips. He slowly rubbed my clit, pure heaven but torture as he gave me just enough to drive me crazy but not enough to tip me over the edge.

  His lips devoured mine, our tongues dancing together. “I need you,” I pleaded.

  Luke growled low at my words, and leaned back, balancing on his knees as he stroked his cock. He leaned over the side of the bed and grabbed his pants and pulled out his wallet. He flipped it open, grabbing a condom and ripped it open with his teeth.

  A full body tremor rocked me as he worked the condom down his hard shaft. All I could do was watch this gorgeous man who wanted me and only me. I cocked my legs up, digging my heels into the bed and spread my legs wide. “Good girl,” he growled. He lined his cock up with my pussy and slowly pushed in, again driving me crazy by only giving me a little bit. “Tell me,” he demanded.

  I knew what he wanted to hear, but I more than needed him. I loved this man. I needed him, but I also loved him. I shook my head no and clamped my lips shut. I knew if I opened them I would tell him I loved him.

  “Princess, let me hear you.” He thrust all the way in, and I slammed my eyes shut and tossed my head back. He splayed his hands on my hips, holding on as he thrust in and out. Each time driving me closer and closer to the edge. “Tell me,” he demanded again.

  “No,” I gasped. He covered his body with mine, caging me in.

  His hips still hammered into me, but his lips were on my neck, and he whispered in my ear. “Tell me you’re mine. Tell me.”

  He slammed into me, his finger finding my clit, and I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I had to tell him. “I’m yours, I’m yours. I love you,” I gasped as he flicked my clit again and my orgasm roared over me. “Luke,” I moaned as it rolled over me, my body spasming and my pussy milking his cock with each thrust.

  He pounded into me, his body taut above me. “Violet,” he growled, “eyes.” I opened my eyes, and I was
met with the most beautiful sight I had ever seen before. Luke threw his head back and shouted, “I love you,” as his hips slammed into me as he found his release. He dropped his head, pressing a kiss to my lips and rested his head against my forehead as he slowly rocked in and out, both of us slowly coming down from heaven. “You love me?” He whispered, amazed.

  “I do. I love you.”

  “Fuck me,” he gasped, closing his eyes. He grimaced like he was in pain and turned his head away. “God dammit.” He turned back to me, his eyes open, looking at me. “I can’t let you go, Violet. I’ll never let you leave.”

  “I don’t want to go anywhere, Luke. This is right where I need to be. You are what I need.”

  “Son of a bitch.”

  I smiled wide. “I’m assuming you’re having a hard time wrapping your head around the fact that I love you.”

  “Yeah, Princess. Just a little bit.”

  I reached up, grabbing him by the neck and pulled him down, kissing him. “Now would be a good time to tell me you love me again,” I whispered.

  “I love you. I think I fell a little bit in love with you when you first told me your name.”

  “I told you my name the day I stumbled into the shop. You acted like I was annoying and twelve!” I laughed.

  Luke shrugged his shoulders and pressed a kiss to my neck. “I have since seen the light. You’re now my sweet, sexy librarian who managed to sneak her way into my heart, and I have no plans to ever let you go.”

  “I love you, Lucas Jensen.”

  “And I love you, Violet Barnes.”

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  Chapter 27

  Luke

  “You know we should probably try to get out of bed.” It was half past eleven, and I honestly had no intention of getting out of bed. I knew as soon as my feet hit the kitchen I was going to have a shit ton of things I needed to so. Being in bed with Violet, I only had one thing I needed to do.