by C. M. Owens
KODE
Cold showers suck. Three days ago, I was getting laid multiple times a day, and now… nothing but icy cold showers to kill the raging hard-ons. And she’s still using that fucking sexy, curvy body against me.
After drying off and tossing on a pair of workout pants and a T-shirt, I head into the kitchen, only to stumble to an abrupt halt. Tria is sitting at the bar, her long hair braided in two pigtails, and she feigns interest in a magazine as she licks her popsicle.
I’ve been imagining her mouth on me like that since we started this relationship, and now we’re at a stalemate, making my dreams go awry. Every day she finds a way to look like a motherfucking wet-dream. This isn’t war—it’s torture.
“Thought you were opposed to clichés,” I announce, regaining forced composure while moving to grab the orange juice from the fridge. “Don’t you think seducing me by licking something is one of the most cliché things you can do?”
“Just enjoying something cool after a run on the beach,” she lies. Even though she is wearing shorts that are much too short, and nothing else but a sports bra, she looks too sexy to have gone running.
Fucking games. How’d I get myself into this mess?
“I had to delay our New York trip. My business associate pushed the meeting back to the next weekend. I suppose that’s for the best. It gives you time to fold,” I tell her cockily.
She’s holding out much better than I am, but I can’t let her see that.
She snorts out a laugh before standing and pushing the remaining part of the popsicle into her mouth. She sucks it hard, cleaning the popsicle stick of anything solid before discarding it into the trash.
My knees buckle, and I might whimper internally, but I grab onto the side of the counter to stabilize my weak and pathetic self. She grins over her shoulder before swallowing the chunk of frozen stuff, and she tugs her bra over her head before tossing it at me.
“Kode, you’re barely hanging on. I’m not too particularly worried about winning this little bet. Right now, I have to get ready. Brin is coming to pick me up for a shopping trip.”
She shakes her ass in shorts that might as well be underwear, walking away with a strut that makes me feel all the weaker. I can’t wait to meet up with my trainer. I need to punch something since I can’t fuck anything.
***
TRIA
Ow. Ow. Ow! Brainfreeze!
It’s so hard not to wince in pain when your head feels like it’s stuck in an artic inferno. How can something be so cold and burn so painfully at the same frigging time?
Now I’m standing under the hot water with my mouth wide open under the flow. Stupid popsicle. Even my ears hurt.
The pain finally subsides, and I flip the water on to be cooler—much cooler. Before Kode, it had been forever since I’d had sex. So obviously thinking I could go a long time without sex again seemed perfectly logical. Only… When you have sex regularly, numerous times a day, with Kode Sterling, and then you stop, but yet you share a home with the man who stars in all your fantasies… It. Is. Painful. Brutally painful. Especially when he spends all his spare time seducing you with every weakness you have.
I swear I don’t know who I am anymore, because the old Tria didn’t wake up desperate to ravage the man next to her. It’d be easier to sleep in another room, but then he’d know how weak I’m getting.
It’s only been three days, yet it feels like months have passed. It’s maddening.
The only good thing is that, without sex, we’ve managed to have very lengthy conversations. Out of all his antics to get me to cave—strutting around naked, brushing his erection against me, talking dirty enough to make me pull my own hair—it’s the times when he just talks about nothing in particular that has me wanting to cave.
I didn’t judge Kode wrong all these years. He’s an asshole. But only to people he doesn’t care about. It doesn’t make it socially acceptable, but it’s the way he is. Unfortunately, I’ve grown rather attached to the complex enigma he is. Too attached.
By the time I finish getting ready and walk out, Jax Marshall—Kode’s friend and personal trainer—is here, and I’m getting a sexy show. The furniture has been pushed against the walls for their session, and mats have been laid down. Usually he goes to Jax’s studio for this, but since he’s trying to make me swoon, he has moved his workouts to the house.
Both men are shirtless and a sheen of sweat glistens on their sexy bodies. Kode is in the process of taking Jax down, scissoring him between his legs after leaping through the air.
Yeah… It’s definitely hot.
Jax struggles to get free, but finally manages, and then he pins Kode to the large black mat with a thud that has me wincing. But Kode doesn’t flinch before wrangling Jax back down, and pinning him.
He winks at me when he sees me drooling, so I decide to ice his triumph while leisurely strutting through the house, swinging my hips just enough to distract him and earn Jax an opening of escape.
“Great way to prove you’re not gay. Invite your sexy male trainer over to have private sessions together.”
Jax’s eyes grow wide in confusion, and Kode pins him again before shooting me a glare of warning. But of course that doesn’t stop me from continuing.
“By the time he leaves, his clothes are rumpled, his hair looks just-fucked, and there’s sweat all over his body. Just saying.”
Jax strangles on air, coughing out a laugh, and Kode stalks toward me a little too scarily. I stand my ground, trying not to look as intimidated as I feel right now. Probably just crossed a line.
“Keep talking, Tria, and I’ll add a public exhibition to my demands for winning the wager.”
My cheeks heat in surprise and embarrassment as Jax rises from the mat, his brows high as his eyes glisten with curious amusement. Kode’s gaze travels down to the respectable amount of cleavage my shirt is showing.
“Or I can just give you a private demonstration of what I want done in public right now,” he dares, his voice full of lust, tempting me more than I want him to know.
Fortunately for me, the doorbell rings, and I send a silent thank you to Brin.
With a steeled moment of false bravery, I step into him, forcing contact with our bodies. The magnetic charge between our heady attraction is almost too much to bear, and we both take a deep breath.
“As soon as you fold, you can demonstrate any position you want to.” My voice is huskier than intended, but it seems to work, considering how hard he’s forced to swallow.
He walks away woodenly to disappear into the bedroom. I start to wonder if he’s caving right now, and a thrill shoots through me. Jax starts rolling up the mats while I walk toward the bedroom.
My victorious grin turns into a frown when I hear the water running from the bathroom.
Drat. Cold shower.
“Guess our training session is over,” Jax says with his charming grin.
Brin grows impatient and calls out that she’s coming in when she realizes the door is unlocked. She walks into the living room, joining us, but she stumbles when her eyes catch sight of the dark-haired MMA fighter.
“Do we have to go shopping?” she asks, her eyes greedily taking in every sexy line of muscle.
“Yep. I need coffee and clothes.” And sex, but coffee and clothes will have to do.
Brin pouts playfully, and we laugh as we head out.
“Has he given in yet?” she muses when we reach her small, old Camry. It’ll draw less attention than one of Kode’s flashy cars. There’s no way Pete would be looking for me in this. He assumes I’m a snob that thinks I’m too good for the blue-collar ways. Just like most people, he doesn’t know me at all.
My phone rings just as we start down the road, and I frown when I see Rain’s name. She probably went by the empty condo again.
“Do me a favor,” I tell Brin.
“You need me to talk to you while you’re talking to her so that she knows you’re really with me. Got it,” she says, reading
my mind and impressing the hell out of me.
“You really should be doing something more than assisting the director of the museum.”
She laughs while nodding. “I agree. Now answer.”
As soon as I answer my sister’s call, Brin starts speaking as though she was in the middle of talking before promptly apologizing for not realizing I’m on the phone. I mouth thank you before moving my attention back to Rain.
“Sorry, we’re on our way to do some shopping. What’s up?”
“Well, Corbin called to see if we could all get together tonight. I wanted to see if you would go with us. He thought it’d be a good idea, and I totally agree.”
Of course Corbin thought it would be a good idea. He’s the only one of Kode’s friends besides Jax that knows what’s going on between us. He wants me to be there for entertainment value.
“Will Kode be there?” I muse, wondering why he didn’t bother saying anything to me.
“Probably. Corbin was calling him next. But don’t worry; he’ll behave. I swear.”
Almost immediately, I get a text. I pull the phone away to read it, and groan when I see Kode has changed his name in my phone again.
Master Of Your Universe: We’re going out with the guys tonight. Maybe you can fold then, and I can spend the night getting reacquainted with your body.
I stifle a grin while rolling my eyes. “I’ll come,” I tell Rain.
After she gives me the place and time, I hang up. Another text comes in, and I bite back a grin when I see it’s from him.
Master Of Your Universe: If you fold now, I’ll cancel on the guys and fuck you like I hate you all night. Considering the pain I’ve been in, it wouldn’t be too hard to fake it.
“You’re grinning,” Brin says as I leave Kode hanging.
“Yeah. I think I need a really sexy dress for tonight. Kode is close to breaking.”
Chapter 16
KODE
“Any word on finding Mercer?” I ask the private detective I’ve hired.
“He’s hiding good, but I’ll find him. He hasn’t contacted any of his family or his pre-prison friends in a few months, but he has to be staying with someone. Did something happen to make him take precautions? Because he’s definitely been covering his ass since before the warrant for his arrest was issued.”
I curse while pulling up at the restaurant. The cab is also rolling up, depositing Tria at the front door, and I watch as she blows me a kiss and gives me a wink before going in. Maybe I should just fold. If she doesn’t give in by Saturday, I will. Even though I’m enjoying the spirit of this game.
Who am I kidding? I’m ready for this asinine game to be over with.
“My fist collided with his face a few months ago after he ran Tria off the road. He left her alone for a while, apparently taking time to cover his ass and keep us from finding him again. Keep digging and keep me informed.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll see if I can’t backdate that. If you could send me the exact date, that will help with my search.”
I make a note to do so before hanging up, and then I climb out of the car. Tria left a few minutes before me, and the cab driver was hitting on her the second she walked out. She’s dressed to kill, but it’s only to slay me.
Corbin walks out just as I near the entrance, and he nods for me to follow him. Curious, I do as he silently beckons.
“What’s with the cloak-and-dagger exit?” I ask as he leads me around to the side where no one’s at.
He sighs while running a hand through his hair.
“Wren’s mom called and asked Rain if she would take Edward’s boxes to him. Apparently he still had work files in his study at their house. You know Rain’s history with her father, so I was hoping you could ask Tria to do it instead.”
Immediately, I feel defensive. “Yeah, well, Tria’s relationship with him isn’t any better than Rain’s.”
“She was daddy’s girl for eighteen years. Rain has never had a relationship—”
“Exactly,” I bite out. “She loved him, was close to him, and then he cut her out of his life because he’s a coward that can’t face someone after he disappoints them.”
“You’re seriously suggesting that Rain go instead of Tria? You’ve been dating Tria for a few weeks, but Rain has been like our sister for years.”
My anger starts to burn under my skin, radiating off me in waves that has Corbin taking notice.
“Rain has plenty of people defending her and looking out for her. Tria has me. Get me the address. I’ll take him his fucking stuff since he can’t even find the balls to go get it himself.”
Corbin takes a step back, obviously surprised by my anger, which only pisses me off more. Did he really think I’d just put this off on Tria without any concern as to how she’d feel about it?
“Dude, sorry. Didn’t realize things were that bad between them. It’s no big deal. I’m sure Dane will do it.”
“No. I’ll do it. Don’t mention this to Tria, because it’ll just put her in a sad mood. She’s got enough shit to deal with since Mercer is being a pain in the ass.”
Corbin nods slowly. “I’ll tell the others not to mention it.”
After running my hand through my hair, I walk away from him and head into the restaurant. Tria’s eyes meet mine immediately, and her smile forces me to put on a mask, denying my anger the right to surface. Edward has two great daughters that he can’t appreciate because he’s too busy wallowing in the miserable bed he made for himself.
“Where’d you two disappear to?” Maverick asks as he sips on his beer, eyeing us like we’ve got a secret to tell.
“Just had some business to sort out,” Corbin says, using a tone that tells Maverick something is up but to drop it.
Maverick heeds the silent warning and flips the subject. Corbin sits next to the empty chair that is next to Tria, and I sit between them, playing it cool for the crowd.
“Kode, you should probably change with Corbin,” Dane says, frowning when he sees me next to the girl that is driving me crazy in too many ways.
Tria bites back a grin before using her menu to cover it, trying to act as though she’s not secretly enjoying my brother’s disapproval. Corbin snickers before taking a sip of his beer, and I ignore Dane while ordering a drink for myself. Before I even think about it, I’m ordering one for Tria, too, which earns a few eyebrow raises.
I shrug it off, pretending as though I didn’t just slip up. Tria doesn’t acknowledge it. She engages in a conversation with Rain about one of her new books, and we all groan when they start talking about the mushy stuff.
Even though it’s not an actual date, it’s nice to be sitting beside her in public. The only way it could be better would be if I could just kiss her without causing a few heart attacks. I’m sure there’d also be a few hell-froze-over comments in there, too.
By the time we finish eating—and drinking profusely—the table starts getting louder, and Tria turns to me, keeping her voice low.
“Are you okay? You’ve been quiet.”
She’s the only one who has noticed that anything is wrong. Other than Corbin, but only because he knows what’s wrong.
“I’m fine. Just bored. You could help out with that if you’d just give in and do to me what you were doing to that popsicle.”
She laughs while shaking her head, but Maverick interrupts every conversation as the alcohol takes over.
“Alright, time to do something real. Dane and Rain are getting married. Ruby is coming back, which means Corbin will be spending less and less time with us, and Kode is already missing most of the time these days. It’s time we finally get those tattoos.”
Corbin glares at Maverick, and the rest of us shake our heads in protest.
“Who’s Ruby?” Tria muses, but no one can answer before Maverick continues with his relentless charge.
“We agreed to do this forever ago. Sterling tattoos. Now. Tonight. Before everyone continues to drift apart. Call it a bonding ritual. I ren
ted a limo, and it should be outside by now.”
“You can’t get tattoos if you’ve been drinking,” Tria points out, sounding soberer than the lot of us.
“You’re not supposed to. But it’s not like we’re going to bleed to death getting a Sterling tattoo. Come on,” Maverick begs.
“Hell no,” I say in objection. “There’s no way in hell I’m going to go get something permanently tattooed on my body after I’ve been drinking.”
***
TRIA
“I can’t believe you talked us into this,” Kode growls while straddling the tattoo chair as the guy buzzes away on his back.
I stifle a laugh when he glares at Maverick who is absolutely beaming while staring down at his arm where “STERLING” is proudly displayed in an Old-English font.
My eyes keep trailing back over to the shirtless man who has done all he can to stay close to me tonight. It actually looks sexy to see his surname being written between his shoulder blades. It’s a cliché that actually works.
“I should have gotten it on my ass,” Dale says loudly, wincing while they tattoo down his chest to his hipbone on his left side in a vertical line.
“You’d mess up that pretty ass?” Corbin jokes, eliciting heckles from everyone else.
Dale flips them off while rolling his eyes and leaning back. Dane is next to him, getting his own tattoo.
Rain is across from us, wincing as she looks down at her exposed hip. A bald man with a dragon tattooed across his scalp is working quickly to get the name forever inked on her right hip.
“Dane Sterling, you have to marry me now,” she says, prompting him to laugh as they buzz away on his chest. Wow. He’s built damn well, too.
“Baby, you’re stuck with me for life. Now there’s proof.” He winks at her, which earns him her goofy grin.
“Ah, hell, Rain,” Maverick says as he stands up, making room for Corbin to sit down, “you’ve been a Sterling since you were a kid.”
Rain grins over at him, and my heart clenches. I would have killed to have this sort of connection with anyone.