by L. J. Woods
“Make Daddy proud?” she teases. “Keep your career?”
Pulling up to the shiny, golden gates, a crowd of paparazzi greets us, lights flashing right into the car.
“Mister Perez!”
“Christian!”
“Over here!”
“Who is she?”
“Holy fuck,” Rayne mutters. “I forgot how crazy they can be.”
“They’re not usually like this.” Driving the car slowly through the gates, Rayne ducks in the seat as they slap the windows and doors.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
“Is it true you’re expected to be the next star of The Bruins?” A woman presses against the driver’s window, her voice muffled through the glass.
Waving her off, they finally let me through.
Driving down the long, tree-lined driveway, Rayne looks back. “I see news still travels fast here.”
Pulling up to the valet, he’s quick to my door while I walk around and help Rayne from her seat. Some dinner guests gather at the front of the castle. One of Eden’s oldest buildings. The Palace.
Whispers erupt when eyes land on us. I’m not as dressed up as they are in my sweater and slacks, but Rayne stands out. The women out front are all in fancy cocktail dresses, diamonds and designers to match.
“This was a bad idea,” Rayne says, stopping at the bottom of the steps, looking up at a life from her past. “I don’t know what I’m doing here. I don’t belong here anymore.”
“Ray, you belong here more than these gold-digging assholes,” I remind her. “You’re the daughter of a legend. Act like it.” We don’t have time for another talk about this. She doesn’t move so I lay it on harder. “Unless you wanna find another way home.”
Her jaw tightens before she lifts her chin, taking a step up the stairs. “Fine. Let’s do this, Perez but if they start throwing shady comments, I’m throwing fists.”
She walks ahead and in case she’s serious, I follow, taking her hand in mine. Ray might not see it but the shiver that goes up my arm reminds me that she's exactly where she needs to be.
Beside me.
“Christian,” Petrov’s wife greets me with a long skinny cigarette in her hand, smoke coming from her lips. “Glad you made it. Is this the girl we’ve been hearing so much about?” She eyes my frame before they move over to Ray’s. Her eyes narrow when they land on her tattoos. They narrow further when they land on her boots.
Ray’s grip on my hand tightens. “Yeah, she’s quite the catch.” With an arm around her waist, I pull her closer. I’m determined to make this painless for both of us. “See you inside, ladies.” With a tip of my head, I walk through The Palace doors.
A tray of champagne greets us, a piano player somewhere around. We can’t see them but we can hear it. A classical melody rings through the room, chatter, and laughter mixing in with it.
The air is a mix of expensive champagne, perfume, and cologne. And with Rayne standing in the middle of it all, it looks more pretentious than ever.
The main room has enough dazzle to blind, chandeliers dripping in diamonds, giant floral arrangements in golden vases. To be honest, if Ray wasn’t standing next to me, I wouldn't see how stupid this all is. It’s meant for charity but we’re all here to show off and throw around our riches.
“Want a drink?” I ask, leaning into her. I could use one of my own.
“Many,” she responds and it’s hard not to chuckle.
With a hand on the small of her back, I lead her through the long shiny hallways until we get to the golden bar stationed at the far end of the room.
A few men stand by, discussing their latest buys but Ray and I tuck into a corner. I rather be on the side with her than chatting with them. There’s so much more on my mind than impressing these people. When I bring dates to these things, they're always interested in who’s arriving and what they're wearing. But Rayne looks way more into her drink than anyone else.
“Just got the SUX 6000.” Matt Hunter, my dad’s old poker buddy, approaches the bar, taking the spot next to us. He’s so enthralled in his conversation, he doesn’t notice us. And I’m too enthralled in Rayne to care what he’s saying.
“The RoboCop car?” Another voice asks with a thick Russian accent. Sacha Petrov. Also from my dad’s hey-day.
“The one and only!” Matt’s voice gets louder, definitely wanting more people to hear. “Cost a fucking pretty penny. Katie gave me shit for riding in it here but it’s parked outside.” His elbow bumps into mine and he looks over his shoulder to apologize before he stops, turning around. “Ay! It’s the new Hugo! Didn’t see you there, kid.”
“Matt, hey,” I greet, tilting my glass his way. He eyes Ray with the same look I’ve seen him give girls at away games and it makes me take a step in front of her.
He chuckles, his eyes still on Ray as I pull her closer to my side. “Just like your dad.” He looks around, Petrov giving me a tilt of his chin. “Where is the old man anyway?”
Looking around I don’t see him and I don’t know if that makes me relieved or worried. “I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.” Though I hope he's not.
The men look at each other with a knowing smile. As if they know he’s been a mess. “Lucky for you. You’re the talk of the town, not him." His eyes fall to Rayne again. "Speaking of the talk of the town …”
Clearing my throat, I’m hesitant, but I introduce her. Would look suspicious if I didn’t. “This is Rayne. Rayne Rose. She’s my … partner.” I know we’re not exactly pretending anymore but it’s the only thing that fits what she is. Partners in crime at the very least.
“I bet she’s quite the partner,” Matt replies, sipping his drink as he eyes her. He’s not as muscular as he was when I was a kid, greying goatee and a wrinkled smirk.
Narrowing my eyes, I continue the cordialities. “Ray this is Matt—”
“Hunter,” she nods, taking a step forward. I pull her closer. Knowing what I know about my dad’s old teammates, I don’t want her anywhere near them. “You used to come over to my folks for poker every Thursday. Loved your guac.”
He almost spits out his drink, bushy brows rising to his greying hairline. “Rose? You’re Emery’s daughter?”
“The one and only.” It’s hard not to smirk at the way she mocks him.
“Surprised you remember that, kiddo,” he stalls. “Well, you’re much more than kiddo now. You’re a full-grown woman.”
I’ve had it with the way he’s looking at her. “Hey, Matt—”
“No, I’m not a kid anymore, Matt.” She stops me, her eyes filled with hate, staring him down. I know because she's given me that same look. “But I still remember a whole lot.” The way she says that makes me think she’s talking about more than her mom’s death.
“Oh?” Matt asks. “I’ve got some time. Want to talk about it out back? Just you and me?”
My jaw clenches. So do my fists.
“No, we can talk right here.” Ray’s nostrils flare. “Let’s start with how you can buy a shitty car but not help out my family when my mother was dying.” She takes a step forward. “I also remember the way you made me sit on your lap if I was up late. Always thought it was weird when your lap got hard.”
Disgusting fuck.
No wonder Ray has trust issues, she couldn’t even trust the people in her town or in this case, under her very roof. I always knew he was sleazy but I didn’t expect that.
“Listen, kid.” A finger pops in her face before I push it away. He takes a step forward anyway. I pull her back. “You don’t stay on top of the chain by getting handouts. If your pops can’t support his own family with as much money as he made, then it’s not the job of his teammates to pick up the slack. We have families too.”
He takes another step forward and I give him a warning, “Watch it, Hunter.”
“Does your family know you’re a perverted fucking dick?” Ray asks. She sounds calm, cool, and collected but I know she’s anything but.
“Don’t
think we forgot about you and your delinquent brother. You guys aren’t welcome here. No matter who you’re fucking.” It takes everything in me to not push Hunter to the ground, but Ray grabs a hold of my arm before it can move. He turns to Petrov, reaching into the pocket of his blazer. “Come on, P. Let me show you the ride I bought with my cash.” He only takes a few steps before he turns around, eyes glaring at Ray. “You take my keys?”
Her nose scrunches. “Why would I take that ugly piece of shit?”
He storms to her and I get between them. “Back off, Matt.”
He laughs. “You’re gonna take up for this trash? Give it up. Your parents are a fine example that this shit won’t work. She’s a lucky call-girl if anything.” My chest hits his to tell him I’m not fucking playing, my fists clenching. “I’m not leaving without my car.” He looks over his shoulder. “Security!”
Fuck.
Looking back at Rayne, she looks ready to fight, but if she’s using this event to get back at the people in Eden, it won’t be pretty. “Ray.” She catches my gaze when I say her name. “Just … give it back.”
Her jaw tenses, eyes turning to slits and … fuck. “You think—" She lowers her voice. "Listen, if I’d taken it, I’d be halfway back to The Grove by now.” She looks around her. “And you know what? That’s exactly where I should be.”
Rayne starts heading for the doors as Matt calls for security.
“That little slut has my car!” he calls.
My head whips to him. “Hey, Matt…”
When he turns around, my fist slams into his face.
Twenty-Two
Rayne
Fuck this shit.
Paps still swarm the gate like a pack of angry bees.
With how tense my body is I can’t promise I won’t deck a bitch on the way out.
We didn’t last an hour in that place. Well, I didn’t. What makes me angrier than Matthew Hunter accusing me of stealing his ugly car is Christian believing it.
Turning around, I decide that heading through the kitchen is a better bet. After that, I’ll head back to The Grove. A place where I belong.
“Ray!”
Christian’s voice comes from behind me and it seems I’m not quick enough. Without looking back, I pick up my pace, apologizing to a busboy as I almost knock dishes out of his hand.
“Rayne!”
I’m almost at the door when an arm pulls me to the side and I don’t see Christian standing in front of me until cold air washes over my skin … and I smell cheese.
“Is this your way of telling me to chill?” Folding my arms, I avoid his eye contact, my focus on the stack of vegetables behind him. We’re in the fridge, I know because after working at the Shady Shore diner on and off, I’ve cried in a commercial fridge more times than I can count. “‘Cause I’m far from it. I can’t believe you thought I took his car.” Reaching behind me, I throw a stick of celery at his head.
His brows lower. “You say that as if you haven’t stolen a car before. My car.”
“So much for being partners.” My chin lands in his hold, a tingle flowing through me, and when my eyes land on his greens … well, fuck him. “I didn’t steal his car, Perez. And fuck you for thinking I did.”
“So you wanna be partners?” he asks, a smirk pulling at his lips.
My eyes narrow. “We can’t be partners if we don’t trust each other. You don’t trust me to not be a thief, and I don’t trust you to have my back.”
“Well." He takes a step forward, my back hitting the shelf behind us. “That’s a good place to start. If we’re gonna do this, you’ve gotta be honest with me. You didn’t exactly tell me the truth about what the fuck happened back by the lake.”
Biting my lip, my shoulders drop. He’s right, and that makes my stomach flip. I expected him to try to be all controlling and alpha, but he’s trying to work this out. I shouldn’t tell him, but confiding in someone might be what I need.
“Ace is my brother’s rival,” I say, looking down to nibble the nail on my thumb but he stops me, tilting my chin higher. “Well, now he is. They used to be best friends, but whatever.”
“So why the fuck is he after you and not him?” His brows knit, confusion all over his face.
I take a beat before I admit it. “He’s my ex.” Christian blinks those gorgeous eyes and he takes forever to say anything. So I keep going. “He wasn’t any good for me. Clearly.” Wincing at the memories in my head, I keep my eyes on Christian, hoping that hypnotizing gaze will soften the blow. "And after I called things off I got desperate. For the money, not dick. Stole some stuff, sold it at the docks and now he won’t let me live it down. You don’t steal from the Spades. Not even the girl he claimed he loved.” A nervous laugh ends my thought but Christian doesn’t look amused.
“Did he hurt you?” He takes a second, his fingers gripping my chin and the longer I take to answer the tighter he grips it.
BANG!
He slaps a hand on the metal shelf behind me, my back vibrating with it. “Of course, he fucking hurt you, he sent fucking Jason Statham to kill you.”
“Chill the fuck out, Perez.” My hands splay against his chest, his heart pounding against my palms, but his reaction tells me that …
Shit, he cares.
“August took care of it," I reassure. "Not that he knows we were a thing, he’d kill me, but … he took care of it.” Reaching in my bra for a silver ring with diamonds, I hold it out between us, changing the subject. I want to put it all behind me. “And since we’re telling the truth, I didn’t take Hunter’s keys but I did take this.”
The team logo shines on the ring in sparkly diamonds, catching the fridge light. Taking his hand, I put the ring in his palm.
“Truth is, he doesn’t deserve it,” I say. “Not when my dad brought them the championship that year.”
I’m expecting a lecture. Anger. Disappointment. So much so that I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until Christian’s shoulders shake and … he’s laughing.
“What?" My brows knit. "I can get a lot for that.”
A smile spreads across his face before he puts the ring back in my hand. “Paparazzi would have a field day if they found out you stole this, but keep it. You’re right. He doesn’t deserve it. And Ace, or whoever he is, doesn’t deserve you.”
My stomach spins. “I guess if we’re partners, my actions will affect you.” I hadn't thought about it until now. When my dad was at the top of the chain, he’d remind us not to do anything stupid in public that tabloids can twist or spin. “You're right too. I’ll put it back, I’d hate for you to be on the front page because of me.”
He chuckles. “If you need money, ask.”
“Save it. I don’t wanna be your sugar baby.”
“Then just be my baby.” He moves in closer, peering at me with those dazzling greens. “No more surprises. If you need something, let me know.”
“Guess coming back here was enough of a surprise to you.”
“Yeah. It was. And nothing’s gonna top that.” He smirks. “It’s all downhill from here, Loca.” When he kisses me my entire body feels weightless.
Warmth spreads through me, combatting the chill of the fridge. And once we’re on each other, we can’t stop. That fire builds inside me and all I want is him inside me too.
Cold air makes my nipples pucker when he pulls my top down and he devours my tits like he’s hungry. Starving. His warm tongue flicks and swirls around my hardened nipples in the most perfect way. And when I grip the shelf behind me, he falls to his knees.
A woosh of cold air flows between my legs when he tugs on my thong and when he plunges his warm tongue between my folds …
Fucking paradise.
My hands come through his thick, brown strands, head falling back against the shelf as something thick and cold pushes at my entrance.
My eyes widen and when I look down, Christian has a thick, girthy … cucumber in his hand.
“Holy fuck,” I exhale, condensation stre
aming out my mouth and when he pushes it inside me, it fills me like I’d never imagine.
He groans against my thigh, teasing me with his tongue. “This looks so fucking good inside you, Ray.” He pumps harder, his tongue swirling over my clit and when he pushes it as deep as it can go, I can’t take it anymore.
So I demand it. “Fuck me, Perez.”
That makes him stop, lifting his gaze to me with a sexy wet face, his cheeks red and glowy. He moves the cucumber slower. “Don’t you think I should punish you for your lies, Rayne?”
“I didn’t lie … I just—” He sinks his teeth into my thigh and that makes everything feel even better. If this is punishment, I want more.
He rises, leaving the cucumber inside me. Strawberries and bananas tumble to the ground when he clears a shelf. But before I can ask, he’s bending me over, something warm and hard pressed against my exposed ass.
It’s hard not to moan with excitement. I’m a sucker for getting tossed around and Christian just tapped into that side of me. “Trying to tame me, Perez?”
He pulls out the cucumber, trailing the wet end up my ass.
SMACK!
My eyes widen. Everything tingles. Not just my ass but the heat of his slap flows right through me. It stings so fucking good before he rakes his fingers over my skin, teasing me some more. “Do that again,” I moan, feeling myself getting wetter, my cheek warm. “Like I deserve it.”
He chuckles, a sexy deep chuckle that makes my insides twist. His hard cock pokes at my entrance before he pulls me back by my strands, my ear next to his lips. “You, Miss Rose, can’t be tamed … you’re a bad girl now and I’m gonna fuck you like one.”
When he pushes inside me, he doesn’t take it slow this time. Once he bottoms out, his girth filling me in all the best places, he pulls out and pushes in again.
Then again.
And again.
He fucks me harder with each thrust. Like he knows how crazy it drives me, my eyes rolling to the back of my head. Just when I think I can’t take anymore, his hand comes to my neck and I’m entirely his.