1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Fourteen

by Kristen Ashley

  “Candy, get your hands off me.” I command in a low voice to avoid making a scene in front of Raven.

  I’m grateful to see her engaged in conversation with Eve and Nikki who joined them by the pool.

  Candy follows my gaze and sneers in Raven’s direction. “Oh, I get it.” She looks back at me and pulls her hand from my neck, making sure to drag her long fingernails against my skin. “Fresh meat.” She looks back to Raven before spinning on her high heel. Her short, tight skirt looks more like a belt as she swings her ass. “You’ll be back. Can’t live on SPAM forever.”

  Her sidekicks squeal with laughter, and I glare at Blake. He shakes his head and throws his hands in the air mouthing, “I didn’t know.”

  I’m not familiar with the sick feeling that gnaws at my insides. From the hateful look Candy gave Raven, there’s no way she’ll keep her mouth shut about our night together. My reputation is no secret, but having it confirmed is unsettling.

  It shouldn’t matter because I slept with Candy before I knew Raven, but the thought of Raven knowing the intimate details of my sexual history makes me insecure. I want her to see me as worthy. And sleeping around, especially to the daughter of a prostitute, doesn’t say ideal boyfriend material.

  Is that what I want? To be her boyfriend?

  It’s on this eye-bulging thought that Nikki walks up with Raven and Eve flanking her.

  “Blake, I see you’ve brought the entertainment.” Nikki’s smile is the farthest thing from friendly.

  “Oh, come on, Nik. Don’t hate the player; hate the game.” Blake laughs and the tension rippling off Nikki intensifies.

  Raven and Eve, eyes wide as saucers, look back and forth between the two.

  Owen stands from his barstool and grabs his wife by the hand. “Nik, baby. Inside. Now.”

  She allows herself to be led away, but maintains a death glare on the strippers until she’s out of sight.

  Blake’s eyes follow Nikki into the house before he sets his sights on Raven and Eve. He pushes past his dates. “And who do we have here?” His cocky-ass smile has the girls giggling.

  Fucking Blake.

  I give a quick growled introduction.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you.” Raven extends her hand graciously. She motions to me with the hand that Blake is still holding. “Jonah mentioned you the other day.”

  My eyes burn at their connection. I try to figure out a way to get him to let her go without breaking her hand in the process.

  “Raven. Why haven’t I met you before?” Blake’s gaze leaves Raven to narrow on me.

  Raven shifts at my side. I spear Blake with a glare. He gets the message and lets her go. Smart man.

  “Raven’s helping me with my Impala.”

  Blake throws his head back, roaring with laughter. Raven stiffens at my side. I drape my arm over her shoulder, and she presses softly into my hold. Her body feels so small and delicate under my arm. The intimacy of her bare shoulder against my shirtless torso has me gathering her deeper into my side. Her mild fruity scent combined with the comfort of her body calms my nerves. I resist the urge to bury my face in her hair.

  “Dude, you have a smokin’ hot mechanic. What the hell?” He’s back to looking at Raven, and as his eyes dance up and down her body, I thank God she’s still in her cover up. “Gives a whole new meaning to the term body shop.” His eyes settle on her legs. “Nice legs, what time do they open?”

  “Watch your fuckin’ mouth.” My jaw locks down. A warm, familiar buzz stirs in my head. My hand squeezes Raven’s shoulder on reflex.

  Silence hangs thick in the air as everyone stares between Blake and me. Even the Stripper Sisters have ceased their obnoxious babbling.

  Blake focuses on me, his eyebrows low and questioning.

  A soft giggle breaks the silence. In unison, all eyes move to Raven.

  “Thanks for the compliment, Blake.” Raven rolls her lips between her teeth, her face red with withheld laughter.

  The buzz in my head retreats.

  “Jonah didn’t tell me you were so funny.” She loses the battle, a burst of laughter escaping her lips. The melodic sound further calms my temper.

  Small talk erupts all around me, but I don’t hear a word. I’m stuck analyzing what the hell just came over me. I never get possessive over girls. I was half a second away from giving my best friend a beat down.

  Raven and Eve go back to the lounger, and I throw Blake a chin lift. He responds in true Blake form, cocky smile and the middle finger salute.

  The Stripper Sisters saunter to one of the lounging areas and whisper back and forth to each other. I relax seeing they’ve decided to sit on the opposite side of the pool from Raven and Eve who are back to their loungers by the bar.

  Damn, I need a beer.

  I walk behind the bar where the guys are camped out in front of the television.

  “What the hell was that about?” Blake shoves a handful of popcorn in his mouth.

  I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

  “You almost flipped the switch on your boy for spewing the kind of shit he says to every girl he meets.” Rex laughs and rubs the back of his neck. “One more word and I’d have been pulling your ass off him.”

  I nod and grab a beer. No doubt in my mind I would have beaten Blake for disrespecting Raven.

  “Never thought I’d see it.” Owen’s back from settling down his wife and caught up on recent events. “You got it bad, my man.”

  Dress removed, I’m staring at a bikini-clad Raven. She’s not covering or sucking in her stomach. No bashful body language that would expose her insecurities. Her olive skin glistens in the sun as she laughs and talks with Nikki and Eve. She looks so natural and at ease in her own skin in my backyard, hanging out with my friends, as if she’s been doing it for years.

  “Hey, Jonah.” Owen calls my attention away from the girls. “She’s one fine piece of a—”

  A growl rumbles deep in my chest.

  The guys explode into laughter.

  Owen smacks me on the back. “Yep, you’re hooked, brother.”

  ~*~

  Raven

  The murmured voices and rhythmic thumping of rap music lull me into semi consciousness. I close my eyes and relax, soaking up the last warmth from the sun before it drops behind the mountains. Male laughter erupts. I turn and watch Jonah with his friends, his dimples highlighting his bright smile. I slide my sunglasses down my nose for a better look. He’s stopped laughing, but still smiling as he engages Owen.

  I track his movements while he walks around the bar to sit on a barstool. His back muscles flex powerfully, as he brings his drink to his mouth. Brightly colored tattoos decorate his arms from his wrists to his shoulders with one flowing over and onto his chest. I want to get a closer look, run my hands along his arms as I study his body art. I wonder if his skin is as soft as it looks. If it tastes like he smells. Citrus and spice.

  “This place is sick, Rave.”

  I jump at the sound of Eve’s voice. Shoving my sunglasses up my nose, I pat my cheeks to bring down the heat. Eve is on the lounger with me, a gossip magazine resting against her thighs.

  “Yeah.” I clear the lusty sound from my throat. “I’m always in the garage. I didn’t know all this was back here.”

  I scan my surroundings. The modern outdoor kitchen and bar, flat-screen TV, lagoon-style pool with Jacuzzi, and a fire pit. But the best parts of the backyard are the loungers. They’re made for two, complete with large queen-sized mattresses and outdoor pillows.

  “When you guys make it official, you have to have me over . . . like a lot.” Eve looks at me over the tops of her sunglasses with a smile lighting her face.

  My eyebrows pull together. “Make it official?”

  “Yeah, you know, admit you dig each other.” She shrugs before licking her finger and turning another page.

  “Whatever.”

  It’s all I can say through the full-on grin I’m sporting. As much as I wish I didn
’t, I feel something for him. What girl wouldn’t?

  Even the women Blake brought seem to fall into a trance when Jonah’s around—not that I blame them. A swell of nausea threatens at the thought of Jonah with a girl like that. Their huge, clearly medically enhanced, breasts and lips push up and out for anyone’s attention.

  “What’s going on over here, baby girl?” Blake plops down at my hip.

  There is something about this guy that goes beyond his super-hot, bad-boy, fighter good looks. That alone would make any girl fidgety. His light brown hair is buzzed short, drawing all the attention to his bright green eyes. His looks alone are enough to leave a trail of broken hearts in his wake. But it’s his composure, a slight expression he wears, that makes him dangerous, like his eyes hide a dirty secret he masks with a friendly smile.

  “If I flip a coin, what are the chances I’ll get head?”

  Eve turns to Blake, her jaw wide open, and closes her magazine with a smack.

  “Eww, Blake. That’s gross,” I say through a fit of giggles. “Please tell me that doesn’t actually work on girls.”

  “You see how many dates I have at this barbeque. What do you think?” He turns his attention to Eve. “How about you, Barbie? You up for a game of naked leap frog?”

  “Ugh! I’m going to get a drink. Rave, you want anything?”

  “No thanks.”

  Eve gets up, and Blake is not shy about watching her butt until she disappears behind the bar.

  “Is it something I said?” His crooked smile tells me he likes making girls uncomfortable.

  The fact that he can talk to women like that and still get dates is a testament to how incredibly attractive he is.

  I catch Jonah at the bar from the corner of my eye. He’s watching Blake and me, the weight of his stare makes me shift in my seat. I don’t want a repeat of what happened earlier.

  “Shouldn’t you be getting back to your dates? I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

  Blake looks to the girls, but quickly dismisses my concerns with a wave of his hand. “Nah, they’re cool. And if they’re not, fuck ’em.” Blake rubs his hand back and forth a few times on his buzzed head. Turning his head slightly, he fixes his cocky half smile on me. “You into my boy?” he asks cryptically.

  I prop myself up on my elbows. “Huh?”

  Leaning forward, he looks me in the eyes. “Jonah tried to take my head off back there. You want to know how often I’ve seen him do that when I put the moves on a girl, even a girl he’s going home with?”

  “How many?”

  He makes a circle with his finger and thumb. “Zilch. Never.”

  I stare at Blake, trying to figure out exactly what he’s telling me and hoping like heck I don’t misunderstand.

  “We’re just friends.” Thankfully, I’m wearing sunglasses so he can’t see my eyes betraying my words.

  “Just friends, huh?” He rubs his chin then shrugs. “Perfect. I’ll see if a couple of my dates want to hang with Jonah tonight after the barbeque.” He braces his hands on his knees to stand.

  No. “Wait.” Reflexes have me grabbing his arm. My heartbeat throbs with panic.

  He looks at me. “You got something you wanna say, baby girl?”

  I like Jonah.

  The words are there, but I can’t bring myself to say them. What if he doesn’t feel the same way? I won’t be able to work with him after suffering that kind of embarrassment. Putting myself out there like . . . No, I need to keep my feelings private. His friendship means too much to me. And really, what kind of chance do I have with a guy like Jonah Slade?

  “Yeah, I just wanted to say . . .” I let go of Blake’s arm and lean back on my lounger. “Go ahead. Jonah’s free to date, er, um, be with whoever he wants.” Gosh, that hurt.

  Blake studies me for a second before leaning in. “Jonah’s a lot of things.” He looks around the pool then back at me before sliding his sunglasses over his eyes. “But from what I’ve seen tonight, he’s not free—at least, not anymore.”

  He struts away, acting completely unaware of the shock-and-awe devastation he left behind. “Raven, a little later we can play Titanic,” he calls over his shoulder. “I’ll yell ice burg and you can go down.”

  A laugh rips from my chest, fueled by giddiness from Blake’s admission.

  He’s not free . . . not anymore.

  Could Blake be right? Is it possible that Jonah could be feeling the same thing I’m feeling?

  Eve comes back from the bar and sits at the spot Blake just vacated. “Finally, he’s gone. He’s a sweet piece of eye candy, but the second he opens his mouth . . .” She shakes her head and takes a sip from her water bottle. “Why do you think he’s so funny?” She points her grimace in Blake’s direction.

  “I think he’s hilarious.”

  I lie back, a face-splitting smile aching my cheeks that has nothing to do with Blake.

  Seven

  Raven

  “My woman can cook,” Owen bellows from the doorway of the kitchen as he brings in a stack of dirty and very empty plates.

  Nikki takes the plates from his hands and kisses him lightly on the cheek. “Thank you, baby. Now get out of here before I put you to work.”

  These two look like a famous Hollywood couple. Owen has deep mocha skin and short cropped hair. His body is similar to the others: athletic, bulky, and the perfect mix of captivating and terrifying. His rugged masculinity is a contrast to his wife’s caramel-colored skin, soft curves, and long, wavy hair. He gives her a playful swat on the bottom, making her squeak and jump, her light brown eyes sparkling.

  She drops the plates in the soapy water. “Thanks for helping me clean up, girl. I’m usually the only other female around that does more than stick my tits out.” She rolls her eyes at the obvious reference to the women Blake brought with him.

  “It’s the least I could do. That was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. You’re an incredible cook.” I rinse out a huge bowl that once held a delicious fruit salad.

  “Thanks. I get a lot of practice hanging around this group.”

  That doesn’t surprise me. The guys alone ate enough to feed a small country. I think Jonah grilled an entire cow.

  “Nikki, where do you want me to put these?” Eve asks from the doorway, her arms filled with more plates.

  Jonah follows behind her, a few bottles of condiments in hand. He walks to the fridge to put them away.

  My gaze is soldered to his form, and I nearly slice open my finger with a soapy steak knife. It shouldn’t be legal for him to walk around without a shirt on. Reckless endangerment.

  “You girls don’t have to do this. My cleaning lady comes in the morning.”

  “Like dealing with your dirty drawers isn’t enough, you’re going to make that poor woman clean up after the five of you? Uh-uh.” Nikki turns Jonah around and shoos him from the room.

  “All right, all right, I’ll go.” He wraps Nikki in a one-arm hug.

  She leans in with a grin.

  His eyes find mine. “But, Nik, don’t work my girl too hard. She needs to take care of those hands. Can’t have tools sliding from her grip because you overworked them.” He hits me with a wink and walks away.

  Nikki chuckles. “Damn, girl. He’s sprung.”

  Eve snickers in the corner, stacking clean dishes to the side.

  I can’t believe he just called me his girl! And something about the way he talked about tools sliding in my hand. Sure, it sounded like simple shop talk, but the way he held my eyes made me feel like he was as if her were talking about using my hands for something entirely different. First Blake and now Nikki. Could they be right? They’ve known Jonah a lot longer than I have. Is it possible that he could be feeling something? For me?

  I rushed through the rest of the dishes, anxious to get back to Jonah. The kitchen is spotless in record time.

  “Well, girls.” Nikki wipes her hands on a dishtowel before hanging it perfectly on the rack. “I think we’ve
just earned ourselves a little hot-tub time.”

  Minutes later, I’m submerged in liquid heaven. I lean my head back as the warm bubbles caress my body. Everyone around is either in the water or sitting on the edge, dangling in their legs. Conversation hums around me. Relaxing, I allow my eyes to slide shut, a soft moan drifting from my lips.

  “. . . then tell her to swallow.” Blake’s punch line has me giggling despite the fact that I didn’t hear the joke.

  Eve’s responding snort drags me from my relaxed state and has me laughing harder.

  Feeling eyes on me, I turn my head away from Eve and Blake. My laughter dies instantly.

  The carnal stare from Jonah’s eyes has me mesmerized. I’m unable to look away from the smoldering hazel. My blood heats and pounds in my ears. A yearning, deep and delicious, stirs in my belly. The intensity making it hard to breath, my chest rises and falls erratically. He tilts his head as his eyes travel from my face to my breasts and back again. I suck my bottom lip into my mouth, and my mind conjures images of him coming at me from across the warm water. I squirm.

  “I’ll be right back,” I mumble to whoever’s listening and excuse myself from the hot tub.

  I push up and swing a leg over to jump out. A hiss sounds from behind me, like someone sucking air through his teeth. I turn and find Jonah with an expression that looks like pain mixed with something new I can’t name. Whatever it is makes my stomach plummet and land low. Really low. I grab my towel and head for the bathroom.

  Locked inside, I flip the toilet seat closed and sit. What was that? I fan my flaming cheeks. What that was, was hot. And it had nothing to do with the water temperature. It’s happening more often: our eyes lock on each other, and the world around us fades away. But why? I can’t explain it, only that he must feel some attraction or . . . God, what is wrong with me?

  I step to the mirror and let down my hair, running my fingers through the tangles. This is crazy. I have a major crush on a UFL fighter who probably looks at me and sees nothing more than a score: a naïve girl who will fall for his charm and meet some need on a physical level. If that’s true, why hasn’t he made a move? What would I do if he did? My lips curl and my stomach flips.