How To Fall In Love

by Bella Jewel

  “Reign,” she purrs in a perfect sing-song voice as we stop.

  He slides my arm from his and leans forward, brushing his lips against her cheek. Shit, I think I just had a mini-orgasm. So did she. Her eyes flutter closed and she breathes him in.

  Awkward.

  “Selena.” His voice is low and husky. “It’s good to see you.”

  “You too,” she says in a shaky tone as he steps back. “It’s been a while. You look good, Reign.”

  Her eyes turn to me and narrow. “And this is . . .”

  “This is Tiani. She’s with me.”

  Her lips from a little O, but she says nothing. She just turns back to him and flutters her eyelids. “I’m back in town. I’d love to have lunch sometime.”

  He nods. “That would be great.”

  “Well,” she says, turning towards the course, “I have to go. I’ll see you soon, Reign.”

  I watch as she disappears.

  “She’s still into you,” I point out.

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  He nods, with a quick jerk of his head. “Good.”

  Double awkward.

  We make our way through crowds of people, stopping so Reign can chat. He knows a shitload of people and by the end of the afternoon my legs are aching. Seriously, I have walked half the course just following him around as he moves from person to person, well, okay, it wasn’t half the course but it was close. When he stops at the next lot, I find a seat and flop down onto it with a sigh.

  “Your feet sore?” Reign asks, standing beside me.

  “Yeah, can I go soon?”

  He looks around until his eyes find Selena. “Let me talk to her, then I’ll take you home. You did good today.”

  He disappears before I can say another word.

  “No worries,” I mutter to no one.

  I wait for fifteen minutes before Reign comes back. He has Selena by his side. She has this “I won, na-na-na-na,” look on her face. I narrow my eyes at her, but when I see Reign’s expression I force the look off my face.

  Your job, Tia. Don’t forget it’s your job.

  “Selena needs a ride,” he says. “I’m going to take her home, and then I’ll come back and get you.”

  Point made, loud and clear. He doesn’t want me to come.

  “Fine, no problem,” I say, leaning back into the chair.

  He leans down and presses a kiss to my cheek before whispering into my ear, “I won’t be long.”

  Then he’s gone with her . . . Slutena. She looks back and has the audacity to smile at me as she hooks her arm through his. What is it with women? They can go without a man, saying they don’t love him and don’t want him, but the moment he’s seen with another woman the claws come out and they turn into crazy, over-possessive bitches.

  I wait for more than an hour before deciding to get off my chair and walk to the car park. When I get there, I glance down at my phone. Nothing from Reign. I wait for another half an hour, but he still doesn’t come back. Not long my ass.

  “Waiting for someone?”

  I turn to see a handsome, well-groomed man standing beside me. He’s got sandy-blond hair that’s cropped short, and green eyes that are absolutely stunning. He’s got a rugged jaw, with light stubble covering it, and he’s wearing a suit, so he looks quite professional, only he has a real edge about him.

  “I am.” I smile weakly. “But I think he forgot about me.”

  “Are you after a lift? Perhaps I can call you a cab?”

  I look down at my wristwatch. It’s after five p.m.

  I look up, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Maybe a cab.”

  “Maybe?” He smiles, his eyes crinkling at the side.

  I smile back. “Sorry. Yes, that would be great. I’m Tiani, by the way.”

  He reaches his hand out. “Xander.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Xander.”

  “Pleasure is all mine. Who were you here with, darlin’?”

  “Reign Braxton.”

  His eyebrows shoot up. “You’re with Reign?

  “I’m not with Reign. He just invited me along.”

  He runs a hand through his messy hair. “I work for him. I run a bar on the south side.”

  “Oh,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat.

  “Listen, let me give you a ride home. I’m leaving now anyway.”

  I give him a skeptical look. “You could be an axe murder.”

  He laughs softly. “Ring Reign and ask him, if you like?”

  Sighing, I stand. “No, look, that’s okay. I’d love a ride, thank you.”

  He smiles and points to a small, sleek, red convertible. “That’s mine.”

  “Nice ride,” I breathe, walking over to the car.

  We get in after he opens the door for me—yes there are still men like that in the world—and then I give him my address. He pulls out of the car park and speeds off down the highway.

  “I’m just going to let Reign know I got a lift,” I say, waving my phone about.

  He nods his head. “No problems.”

  I quickly punch out a text to Reign.

  T: Thanks a lot for coming back to get me. I’ve been abducted by a murderer, and am currently about to be chopped into tiny little pieces.

  A moment later I get a response.

  R: Sorry, T. I got caught up. I’ll be there in 10.

  T: I got a ride. It’s fine.

  R: With who?

  T: Xander.

  R: He’s a man whore.

  T: You said I needed to be fucked.

  It takes him about five minutes to respond.

  R: Let me know when you’re home. I’ll call you later.

  T: No, don’t worry about it. I’ll be immersing myself in water to wash my sins away, then I’ll cry myself to sleep because you forgot about me.

  R: U angry at me, babe?

  T: Oh absolutely.

  R: I’ll call you.

  T: Goodnight, Reign.

  R: I’ll call.

  I turn the phone off and then twist to face Xander. “Thanks for this.”

  He waves a hand. “No problem. Was Reign okay with it?”

  “Fine. He’s probably boning Selena right now anyway.”

  Xander raises his brows. “He back with her?”

  “He wishes,” I snort.

  “Here we are.”

  I look out the car window to see we’re at my apartment. “Shit, that was quick.”

  “I may drive a little fast.” Xander smiles.

  I laugh softly. “Thank you for the ride.”

  “No worries. Maybe we can do it again sometime?”

  I climb out of the car and smile at him. “Yeah, maybe.”

  “You’re not wanting to share your number by any chance, are you?” He grins.

  I can’t help but smile back. He hands me his phone with a hopeful expression. Shit, he’s kind of cute. I reach out and take it, then I punch my number in.

  “See you around.” I grin.

  He winks at me before speeding off.

  Well, I guess you could call that a success.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Bang, bang, bang.

  I groan and sink deeper into my warm bath.

  Bang, bang, bang.

  Not getting out.

  I hear the sound of keys rattling and then my door slams. Reign. He’s the only one who has a key to my house. I gave it to him when he gave me one to his. It only seemed fair. We spend a great deal of time together, and we’re forever coming and going at strange hours.

  I hear footsteps pound through the hall, before the door to the bathroom opens and he steps inside, wearing a pair of dark-denim jeans and a tight, black T-shirt.

  “Still sulking?” he asks, shutting the door behind him.

  I stare up at his face, but say nothing; I simply fluff the bubbles around me and ignore him. He walks over and sits down on the side of the tub. “You want me to say sorry?”

  “No, because you
don’t mean it.”

  He nods, pursing those perfect lips a little. “No, but I’m trying to be nice.”

  I snort. “Are you always such an ass? I could have been raped or . . . I don’t know . . . chopped into thousands of pieces.”

  “You watch too many horror flicks.”

  I give him a sarcastic look. “One phone call, Reign.”

  “Yeah.” He sighs. “I know. I fucked up.”

  “How’d it go, anyway?” I ask

  He shrugs. “Awkward, but we talked.”

  “And . . .”

  “And there’s nothing else to say. Shit doesn’t get fixed that easily, Tiani.”

  “Okay,” I say, sinking down further into the water. “Now, can you go away? I’m relaxing.”

  “You fuck Xander?”

  “Should I have fucked Xander?” I ask, staring up at him.

  His golden eyes pin me and I feel my skin prickle. “No.”

  “Why? Does he have a small penis? You can tell me.”

  His lips quirk. “No, he’s just an asshole.”

  “Aren’t all men?” I sigh, closing my eyes.

  “No, babe, they’re not.”

  “We’ll see. Now . . . are you leaving?”

  He shakes his head, running his hand over his delectable abs. “I’m hungry, are you hungry?”

  “No, I’m tired.”

  “I’ll order a pizza.”

  “Reign!”

  He stands, running his hand through his messy hair. “Pepperoni?”

  “It won’t matter. I’ll be asleep.”

  “I’m sleeping with you. I can’t be fucked driving.”

  “No you’re not,” I protest. “You kick.”

  “You snore, we’re even.”

  I sigh. “You have your own bed. Your own home. Your own pizza.”

  He walks out, not acknowledging me. Reign and I have a strange kind of relationship: it’s as though we’re a married couple, only we’re not. We’re just friends, working partners, and two people who just seem to fit.

  The way we get along, it’s almost an insult to fate for us not to fuck.

  I get out of the bath after another fifteen minutes, and pull on a pair of sweats and a Cubs shirt, before walking into my room. Reign is on the bed, shirtless, flicking through my channels. As I said, an insult to fate. He’s got a pizza box on the bedside table. I walk over, flopping onto the mattress.

  “Didn’t your parents teach you not to eat in bed?” I murmur, fluffing some pillows behind me.

  “No.”

  I roll my eyes as he hands me a slice of pizza. I only get half way through before handing it back.

  “You not hungry?” he says, staring at the half-eaten slice. “You usually fight me for the last slice.”

  “No, I’m too tired.”

  He narrows his eyes. “You still pissed at me?”

  “No, Reign.”

  He throws the pizza box aside and turns to me, pinning me with a panty-melting stare. “Sure?”

  “I’m sure.” I yawn. “I’m seriously just tired.”

  “Well, go to sleep. I’m watching this movie for a bit longer.”

  I nod and shuffle down into the sheets, rolling to my side to block out the light. I can sleep through any kind of noise, but light is a whole other story. I yawn again and then my eyes flutter closed.

  Before I know it, I’m out.

  ~*~*~*~

  Mmmmm, a warm hard body against mine. A breath tickling the back of my neck. A hard . . . shit!

  My eyes snap open as I realize whom that body belongs to. A gasp escapes my lips when I go to move only to see that Reign has tangled his legs with mine, and because of the position we’re in, the moment I move his cock presses into my ass.

  “Oi!” I say, thumping my foot against his leg. “Get your morning wood out of my ass.”

  A sleepy chuckle comes from behind me and he untangles himself, rolling to his back. “You put it there,” he says, his voice thick with sleep.

  “I did not,” I protest, stretching my arms.

  “Did so. You wiggled towards me during your sleep like a desperate little puppy wanting to be stroked. As soon as I put my hands on you, it’s like a drug. You drop off and don’t move again.”

  My cheeks flush. “All lies.”

  “Not. You reached out and took my hand last night, pulling it over yourself as if I was your damned blanket.”

  I sit up and glare down at him. “Well, you slept in my bed.”

  “Yeah.” He yawns, also sitting up. “Remind me to get you a new mattress. This one sucks.”

  “It does not suck!”

  He reaches over and takes a pack of cigarettes, pulling one out and lighting it. “It sucks.”

  “You’re going to kill us both with this smoking,” I say when he pushes it my way.

  “Say no then, babe. Ain’t stoppin’ you.”

  I take a pull then hand it back to him and throw my legs over the side of the bed. “Do I get the day off?”

  “Mmmmm,” he murmurs. “I’m good for a few days.”

  “Good. I need to see Autumn.”

  His phone chirps and I turn to see him lift it off the bedside table. He stares down at it and I catch a glimpse at the screen. It’s a message from Slutena.

  S: I was wondering if u wanted to do lunch 2day?

  I watch his fingers glide over the screen as he responds.

  R: Yeah, that sounds good. You pick where and when, I’ll b there.

  I turn away, confused by the tiny pang in my chest. I don’t know if it’s jealousy or if I’m just uncomfortable. I’ve been working for Reign for a good few months now, maybe even longer, and it’s the first time Selena has become a real thing. Before that we just spoke of her. I spent most of my time getting other random fucks for him. Having her finally enter the picture is . . . I don’t know.

  “I’ll give you a few days then I’ll call you, yeah?” Reign says, getting out of the bed and finding his shirt. “I gotta run.”

  “Not even a morning kiss?” I mutter.

  He walks over and stops in front of me, capturing my jaw with his hand. “Is that a note of sarcasm I detect?”

  I smile up at him. “You’re a cheap, mean date.”

  He presses a kiss to my forehead before turning and leaving the room. “Call you later, babe.”

  “Yeah,” I murmur. “Later.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “So you met her?” Autumn asks, skipping along beside me as we near our local club.

  “For a moment. She was so damned perfect, A, I swear. It was rude.”

  She chuckles, flicking her curled hair over her shoulder so it trails down her back.

  “The perfect ones are always assholes.”

  “You’re right about that,” I agree. “No doubt Reign is banging the absolute shit out of her right now—or at least, he’s wishing he was.”

  Autumn chuckles. “Such a man whore.”

  We reach the line and my phone buzzes in my purse. I reach down and pull it out, staring down at Xander’s number. I wonder what he wants?

  X: R u busy tonight?

  T: I’m at a club. Any reason why?

  X: I thought we could catch up.

  T: To do what . . . become friends? Are you trying to be my friend Xander?

  X: Ha ha. Yeah, friends. Keen?

  T: Sure, meet me at the club.

  X: Which one?

  T: North side.

  X: Be there soon.

  I tuck my phone back in and think about what Reign said about Xander. Man whore. Well, at least I might get laid. I hook my arm through Autumn’s and we move forward in the line. When we reach the beginning of it, I see two big, sexy bikers. One is Spike; the other I haven’t seen before. When Spike sees me, he grins.

  “Wingman, good to see you.”

  I grin at him. “Hello there, biker. How’s your security work going?”

  He shrugs. “Boring. I haven’t thrown out a single fucker yet.”
/>
  “It’ll come, don’t you worry.”

  He nods to the man next to him. “This is Cade.”

  Holy.

  He’s all tall, dark and handsome like Jackson, only his eyes are green and he’s got a bad-boy look. Yum. Autumn mumbles something that sounds a whole lot like “Hello, hot stuff”.

  “Ladies,” Cade says, nodding at us.

  “This is Reign’s wingman, or lady—he actually pays her to get him laid,” Spike brags.

  Cade’s eyebrows shoot up. “No shit?”

  “Shit.” I grin. “I’m damn good at it, too.”

  “You up for hire?”

  Autumn laughs nervously beside me.

  “Already asked that,” Spike says. “Boss man say’s she ain’t.”

  Cade nods as someone behind us yells, “Hurry the fuck up, you can screw them later.”

  Spike’s eyes darken as he looks over to the man who yelled at us. “Calm the fuck down, or I’ll throw your ass out of that line and you can start all over again.”

  “Yo, fuck you dude.”

  I bite back my grin as Spike storms away from us, and charges towards the man. I turn just in time to see him take hold of his collar and literally launch him onto the sidewalk.

  “You ain’t comin’ in tonight, so get the fuck outta here.”

  The young man, who must only be about twenty-two, pushes himself to his feet with a growl. “You’ll pay for that, dude.”

  Spike grins and it’s almost daring. “I’ll be waiting.”

  The young man walks off, and I turn back to Cade. “Well, I guess we better go in before he abuses anyone else.”

  Cade grins. “Have fun tonight, ladies.”

  Autumn takes my hand and we enter the club. As soon as we are in, she turns to me. “Are those guys bikers?”

  I nod. “Yep.”

  “Whoa.”

  I laugh. “Yep.”

  “I’m getting a drink,” she yells as we get further in and the pounding music fills our ears.

  I nod and give her a thumbs-up. I find a booth and slide in, glancing around. People are grinding against each other on the dance floor; I suspect some of them have their bits in action. Actually, I’m certain of it. Gross. My phone buzzes again and I sigh, dragging it out of my purse again. Reign.

  R: What r u upto?

  T: I’m clubbing.

  R: With Autumn?

  T: Yes.

  R: No problem. Have fun.