“I was missing you and we haven’t gotten to talk much, and yeah, I just needed to make sure you were safe and okay.” She looks a little uneasy when she says this and I’m instantly on alert. I think she’s hiding something and it makes me freak out a little inside. Now that I take a closer look, even her clothes are looking a little frazzled, which is not her style. She’s always dressed to impress.
“Of course I’m okay! Why, do I have a reason to be worried?” I give her a tense smile that she sees right through. As I’m saying this, Avery, Tate and Cameron walk up to us. I look to Avery and give her a sheepish grin.
“I’m sorry if I scared you, chick, but I caught sight of London and couldn’t control my excitement! London, these are my friends: Avery, Cameron and this is Tate. Guys, this is my BFF London Layla Traverson.” I beam at London as I say her full name.
“Oh, bitch! You had to bust out the middle name? Hi everyone and don’t listen to this loser, my name’s just London.” I start laughing loudly because this reminds me of third grade when I got all the boys to sing ‘Layla’ to her. She was so furious she didn’t talk to me for two whole days. As you can see, London is loud and has a bad mouth, but I wouldn’t change her for the world. She’s been there for me my entire life when I needed her and never left my side. That is until I had to leave hers; but I had to run away from that psycho. Avery turns to me and smiles widely back at me.
“Actually this is perfect. Tate and Cameron here were just asking me if we all wanted to do something tonight. I was saying food, but now that Miss London is here, maybe she’d like to go out tonight?” Avery turns her playful smile at London and London returns that smile just as mischievously. Oh great, tonight is going to be crazy, I already know.
“Of course, we would love to go out! Do you boys have a hot friend that can come too, so I have a dance partner? If not, I’ll have to steal these two ladies to dance with me all night.” Of course she just agrees without asking me. London has dragged me to so much stuff over the years. It’s miraculous we didn’t end up in jail half the time.
Tate looks at me while he answers London. “Of course we have someone, tell me your type and we will pick you girls up at 9:30.”
Chapter 6
“So, don’t take this the wrong way. I am super happy you’re here and I love seeing your beautiful face, but why exactly are you here?” I feel bad for asking, but it’s driving me crazy. I keep picturing worst case scenarios in my head over and over. We just finished getting dressed for our night out with the boys. Of course London and Avery dressed me up like a hooker after London saw Tate staring at me; it was cemented in her head to hook me up. They are telling me the dress is hot, and I look great but I say I look almost naked. I guess we were supposed to check out some club called ‘Tainted’, but Avery won London over with the OO7 theme, so it’s back to OO7. I swear she would go to OO7 every night she’s off, if we were up for it. I hope it’s not another drama-filled night. I don’t know if I can handle Tate on an Alpha kick again.
“Look, Emily, let’s have some fun tonight. I just got here and want to have a good time with you guys. We can talk about all the serious stuff tomorrow, okay?” She has looked pretty stressed out since I first saw her at the University. It looks like she could use some sleep too, which is weird for my friend. At least she got in a short nap today.
I nod and smile; it’s fake but I want to reassure her. I’m beginning to get pretty decent at my fake smile. “Okay, that sounds like a plan, and don’t forget we are checking out one of the lakes this weekend. I don’t care if both of you are rocking hangovers or not! It’ll be even more fun now that you are going with Avery and me.” I’m so happy London and Avery have hit it off and have become fast friends.
“Us hung-over? Oh no, girly, I’m in town, you can relax for a night, or two, or three.” She’s giving me her annoyed look where she scrunches up her eyebrows and has a line down the center of her forehead. Speaking of lines, I know how to distract her from talking me into making bad decisions and getting plowed with them.
“Wow, when you make that face it shows a big line in your forehead. Are you getting a couple of wrinkles, London? It looks like you might be getting too much sun.” Avery busts out laughing at me. Damn it, she caught on to my distraction.
“Don’t listen to her, London; she’s trying to get you off topic.” She gives me a big shit-eating grin.
“Ugh! You suck, Avery! You are sooo fired at being my friend!”
“Haha, nope. You already fired me at the coffee shop, so technically you can’t fire me anymore!” I think about lunging at her and tackling her to the ground. I know once I get her there London will at least help me tickle her. Right as I go to make my move, there’s a knock on my apartment door.
Avery jumps up really fast and practically runs to the door to answer it. She must be a little excited to see Cameron. Or not. She completely ignores Cameron as he walks in and she gives the guy they brought with them a big hug. I’ll have to ask her about that later.
“Ladies, ladies, ladies, are we ready to have some fun?” Cam’s voice booms through my tiny apartment. London eats up the loudness and gravitates toward Cameron. They are both eye-fucking the shit out of each other while Avery talks to the new guy. Wow, never would have predicted this one. Tate gives me a soft smile and walks toward me. He leans down and sweetly kisses me on my cheek. Ahh, so sweet!
“Hey, little lamb, you look breathtaking. I love this dress on you. I’m going to have to break some guy’s knees tonight, huh?” Break some knees? Who says that? I look at him like he’s lost his mind and it makes him chuckle. Yeah, definitely no personality disorder here! Riiiiihgt!
“Relax, Красота (beauty), I’m just joking. I’d have Nikoli here do it for me.” He smiles over at the other guy they brought. Nikoli is a beast. He’s huge, full of muscles, probably 6’5” and covered of tribal tattoos. He’s still good looking though; he has short blond hair and dark blue eyes. He looks like the ultimate Russian fighter. Nikoli smiles down at me and I look at Tate.
“Emily, this is Nikoli, he was a bouncer at OO7 when we went last time. Nikoli, this is my Красота, Emily.” He looks so excited to be introducing me. I think he may have told Nikoli about me already.
“Nice to meet you, Nikoli.” I stick my hand out and he grabs me with both of his big, meaty paw-like hands. He brings me in for a hug and I think I squeak.
“Добро пожаловать Леди Босс (welcome Bosses lady).” Tate smiles after Nikoli speaks.
I look between both of them, puzzled. “Huh?”
Nikoli looks at me sheepishly and grins so his dimples pop out. Such a cutie.
“I apologize. I speak Russian so much, that sometimes it automatically comes out. I said Welcome…” Tate shakes his head minutely but I still catch it. “Umm, lady.”
Hmm, I wonder what he really said. Everyone’s heading toward the door, so I guess it’s that time. Tate has his Tahoe again so we can all ride together and have a designated driver.
“You girls will have to sit on Cam and Nikoli’s laps. Emily, you will sit in the front with me.” Tate’s barking orders as we reach the vehicle. Everyone jumps into action and I just stand there. Yeah, I don’t think so. I don’t take orders from men anymore. This reminds me, I need to check out the parking lot. I start scanning all the vehicles and my surroundings. There are lights outside but there are too many dark spots for me to see everything. At least I’m surrounded by three big men, so I don’t have to completely freak out right now about being outside in the dark.
“Umm, why, Tate, that doesn’t make sense. Let Nikoli sit up front, because we will all fit better in the back.”
“Come, Красота, get in the front.” He gives me a stern look and I just roll my eyes at him.
“No, Tate, I’m not jumping because you say so. This doesn’t make sense and I know I’m right. You need to give in on this one.”
“I didn’t ask you to jump, I asked you to
sit down.” He must realize this is going to be a battle because before I can get a response out he picks me up, Nikoli opens the front door and Tate shoves me in the front seat. Nikoli smiles really big at me and shuts the door quickly. I’m so shocked it doesn’t even register what they just did for a few seconds. Tate gets in the truck and looks at me; I can only stare at him with my mouth open. I cannot believe that just happened. I don’t know whether to be pissed off or turned on right now. Avery is in the back giggling and London’s looking at Tate like he hung the moon. Freaks, damn freaks, I’m surrounded by crazies.
“Oh My God, my head! What time is it? What happened last night?” Is that Avery’s scratchy-ass voice I hear pounding into my head? Why is she yelling?
“Duuuude shut up! And go back to sleep.” That sleepy voice is definitely London, so she really is here after all.
“Fuck, I’m going to be sick!” Avery runs to the bathroom but trips over me and goes flying onto another body under a comforter. I want to laugh at her because it was hilarious, but my head and tummy hurt too badly.
“Ooof. Shit! Sorry!” She scrambles up and takes off running again. I hear her slam the bathroom door and we all let out a collective groan. Tate peeks his head up out of the blanket that Avery just tripped on and looks over at me. He looks absolutely adorable, like a sleepy puppy. Only hot, and male, with bed head, and wow, yep, no shirt on. He leans up so the blanket falls to his stomach and I can’t look away from his gorgeous body. Tattoos cover his pecs and little barbells adorn each nipple He is ripped, way more so than I had thought from dancing with him. He has a little happy trail of brown hair that leads over his six pack. He has a freaking six pack! Of course he does.
Tate slowly leans toward me and kisses my forehead and whispers softly, “Morning, baby.” I melt a little inside when he says it so naturally. I give him a small smile because he just made this horrible hangover a little better by being here when I first woke up.
“Good morning, Tate.” I go to lean up also but freak when the blanket falls down. I scramble to pull the blanket back over my chest. Damn it, Tate just got an eye full!
“Holy fuck! Why am I naked?” Tate gives me his grin and the dimples come out to play. Oh no, here it comes.
“Well, last night all of you ladies decided to sleep naked. You all decided it would be one less thing you had to worry about in the morning. I tried to get you to keep at least your panties and bra on, but you wouldn’t hear of it. I got you to lie down under the blanket, but you made me promise I’d stay right beside you or you would take the blanket off. You said something about being scared and needing me to protect you. I stayed because I swear if either one of these fuckers looked at you, I’d be throwing blows. I told you to relax, that I’ll always keep you safe. You kissed me pretty sloppily and told me you like me way too much. Then you snuggled into me and passed right out.” Good lord, I’m mortified at this moment. There is a reason I don’t drink. I tend to binge drink when I do, then I can’t remember anything the next day.
“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry I put you through that. That’s so awful, I’m so embarrassed!” Cameron starts laughing and lifts his head up to look over at me. Oh God, what now?
“Are you kidding, Emily, Tate was in heaven. You were naked, and you’re bangin’, by the way. Not only were you showing your boy the goods, but he got to take care of you and boss you around last night. I think you just fulfilled one of his secret fantasies!” Cam starts laughing some more at the face I make; I guess you can call it disgruntled. Yep, I’m disgruntled.
“Ow. Shit. My head is killing me.” He winces and puts the blanket over his head again. Thank God, no more stories out of him!
“Good, that’s what you deserve for making Emily embarrassed.” Tate is looking over toward where Cam is lying like he wants to strangle him.
“Shhhhhh! Please, Boss!” That was Nikoli. Geez, did everyone stay here last night? I guess so, if Tate is here considering he was the one who drove everyone. I can’t believe I had enough blankets. Looking around I see there are actually only three blankets out. Guess I’m not the only one who was snuggled up to someone last night. I see the spot is empty next to Nikoli, so that means Avery must have slept beside him. She comes out of the bathroom slowly and looking green. She has a towel wrapped around her.
“Surprise! I see you discovered you’re naked also?!” I don’t say it too loudly because my head is pounding but I do say it full of sarcasm. Man, I need to find my Excedrin.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. No biggie, Nikoli is naked too. We had fun being naked together.” She smiles and crawls back under the blanket with Nikoli. Well that answers some of my questions for her.
“Ugh, this is why I don’t drink. I’m never drinking like that again.” I scoop up my shirt and lie back down. I know I can get it back on underneath the covers.
“Yes, you are. We are going to the lake later and probably that river restaurant place y’all told me about.” London perks up a little and I just want to throw something at her. I look around and spot one of my flip flops.
“Ooof!” says a deep voice. Shit, that was Cam, not London. I pick up my other flip flop and chuck it a little harder.
“Fuck!” Yep, that was London. That just put a smile on my face. Tate pulls my back in close to his chest and wraps his arms around me tight. I feel his nose and lips close to my neck and feel his breaths tickle my neck. My nipples get hard from it and I squeeze my legs together to try to relieve some of the ache he has put there. I swear I feel his teeth graze my neck and it turns me on like crazy. He whispers “Sleep, my Красота, I have you.” And I do, I sleep the best that I have in months.
I slowly start to wake up and look around the living room. Tate and Nikoli are missing. I see London and Cameron spooning on the coach watching a movie and I hear the shower going. I’m guessing Avery is in the shower since she brought clothes with her to stay the night. I check out the clock and see it’s noon. Wow. I can’t believe the girls are up and moving around already. I was expecting to have to drag them out of the blankets and make loud noises to get them awake.
“Mornin’, where is everyone?” I ask the room in general. Cameron pops his head up and looks at me. He’s so tall his feet hang over the arm of the couch. I can’t believe they can both fit on that couch together, with his size and London’s butt. He has the cute lazy look going on. His hair has a bad case of bed head, going every which way like Tate’s earlier. His eyes are the color of Hershey’s chocolate and he has long, pretty eyelashes. He’s always so put together and all preppy looking when I see him. Seeing him relaxed and lounging around actually makes him look so much cuter. He kind of reminds me of a muscular pretty-boy. Cameron and London look absolutely beautiful together; I bet they would have little babies that would look like models. Ha! That’s silly, London and Cameron are both hardcore players, there’s no point me even going there.
“Tate and Nikoli left to shower, change, get me some clothes and pick up one of the boats. Avery’s feeling better so she’s in the shower right now. I think she’s trying to be ready before Nikoli gets back. She was rushing around all crazy as soon as he left.” I look at Cameron like he’s speaking Chinese. Did he just say one of the boats? Freaking spoiled boys!
“Umm, boat?” I repeat like I don’t know how to use my words.
“Yeah, you said you wanted to go to the lake or river, right? Tate’s family has a few boats so he went to go get one. He wants you to be pleased, so he was going to pick up a chest of drinks and everything we would need. Tate said he wants everyone to be ready to go whenever you want to leave. They should be back anytime; they’ve been gone for a while.” I just stare at him, because…I mean…shit. Tate is thinking of me yet again. He’s even going out of his way to make me happy, just like he did that first night. I walk into the kitchen to get some caffeine. I need to wake up. On the counter there is a white, long stemmed calla lily.
“Hey, who got the flower?” I ask no one in general again, I’m still
stuck in zombie mode.
“Oh, Tate brought it in and set it on the counter.” London opens her pretty little mouth for the first time. Cameron must be doing something right, to keep that one so quiet. It’s like he has her tamed or something right now. Tate is so sweet. I don’t remember him buying me a flower, but then I don’t even remember coming home, so yeah.
Avery comes breezing out of the shower looking all brand new. You’d never guess she was blowing chunks this morning. She has on a hot pink bikini top, white jean shorts and white flip flops. She looks adorable. She has her hair down and brushed straight, with just a little mascara on her face. She actually looks younger than usual with her makeup missing.
“Geez, sweets, you are rocking some serious abs! Playing volleyball sure does agree with you.” I’m not a fan of abs on chicks; I think it’s not really a feminine look. I have always believed women are meant to look a little softer and men are supposed to be hard and full of muscle. She sure can pull it off though; she looks hot.
I hop in the shower long enough to do a quick upkeep and wash my hair. I have a new red bikini I’m going to try out today. Tate seems to like it when I’m wearing red, pink or black the most. He’s been going out of his way for me, so I’m going to wear a color he likes. Plus, I want his attention on me and with Avery and London’s hot bodies, he might easily get distracted. I put lots of lotion on since I’m going to be in the sun, some mascara, and lip gloss. That’s as good as it’s going to get, plus London and Cameron need to get in here too. I step out of the bathroom and am instantly assaulted with the delicious smell of cheeseburgers. Yum. I feel like I could eat a horse right now and drink about a gallon of water. That smells amazing.
“There she is! Girl, this guy is out here trying to get us all to hurry up! Please tell your man to calm down, that you’re not ready to leave yet either.” London is smiling at me and when I look at Tate he’s looking at the ground a little bashful. I just roll my eyes at her. She’s never going to stop picking on Tate if he lets her get away with it.
Secrets Page 5