“OMG, girlfriend, guess who just walked in the door down here?”
Of course she didn’t give me the opportunity to respond.
“The Hot Nazi with his hot brother and some chick with long, blonde hair draped between them.”
Trey, Tristan and Libby - fucking fantastic.
“Don’t worry; they’re taking a table down here. I guess I’ll go over and greet them properly. Call down here if you guys get slammed up there and I’ll come up to help. Cha-Ching!!”
Why the hell was Trey here after he'd been so furious with me for investing?
“You okay, honey?” Eddie asked, as he filled one of the waitress’s trays with draft beers for a table of college guys sitting nearby.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Gina called to say that if we get slammed to be sure and call down for help.”
“You're doing excellent Tylar, for an amateur, by the way.”
“Thanks, Eddie.”
Just then, a couple of guys sat down at the bar and made no secret of perusing me from head to toe. They were nice looking and well-dressed in business suits. They appeared to have gone out after work for happy hour and then decided to make a night of it.
“So, what’s your specialty drink tonight, sweets?” the one with the raven black hair and dark brown eyes asked. He was smiling at me showing straight, white teeth and a rakish look. I greeted both of them, placing cocktail napkins in front of them, and handing out our drink menus.
“It’s all good here,” I replied smiling. “Do either of you want to start a tab?”
“Here let me, Ryan,” the other guy said, pulling a credit card from his wallet for me to keep.
It was club policy. Ryan’s friend was probably about the same age with very blond hair and pale blue eyes. Ryan looked up from the drink menu and ordered a Captain Morgan and water; his buddy, whose name turned out to be Andy, ordered a bourbon and Coke. I noticed they both wore expensive watches, like Trey’s.
By ten-thirty the bar was full and most of the tables on the mezzanine were as well. The band had been playing for an hour and took their first break of the evening. I was handling the bar; Eddie handled the drink orders from the floor waiters and waitresses. If there was a lull, he helped me with the bar patrons.
By this time, Ryan and Andy had consumed about three rounds. Ryan was waving me over with a silly grin on his face. “Tylar,” he said having read my name off of my nametag, “over here.”
I went over to where both of them were wearing shit-eating grins.
“Andy and I think that we're ready for something a bit more interesting and fun to drink,” he clarified. “Tell us a bit about this drink here called Adios Mother Fucker.”
“I don’t think that I'd recommend that one for either of you,” I laughed.
“Why not?” Ryan asked, encouraged. “Is it because you aren’t ready to say ‘Adios’ to us, Tylar?”
“Well, guys, it’s more along the lines of I don’t think my conscience could stand giving you a drink like that, considering what you’ve already consumed here, not to mention what you probably consumed before you got here.”
Ryan laughed good-naturedly. “You’re beautiful and caring at the same time. I’m impressed, Tylar.”
“Well, then,” Andy chimed in, “we need something for the road, Ryan. Something a bit tamer I'd guess.” Andy had a slight British accent as if he was either born in England and had spent most recent years here in the states, or perhaps was from here but spent a lot of time in the U.K.
Ryan leaned forward as if he wanted to share a secret with me. I was getting restless, knowing that with the crowded bar, there were other patrons I needed to serve. I really had hoped they were ready to cash out and be on their way.
“Yes, Ryan?” I inquired politely.
“I’ve decided that I'd like you to give me a Kiss on the Lips.”
“Me, too,” Andy piped in, “only I want you to double mine.”
“Excuse me?” I heard a very familiar smooth and silky voice say from behind them.
Holy shit.
“Mrs. Sinclair will not be giving either of you a kiss on the lips. That's unless you're willing to part with your teeth should you try.”
“Trey, stop,” I cautioned quietly. “They just want a drink.”
“A drink is one thing, Tylar; I believe they wanted more than that.”
“Nooo, Trey, they didn’t. The drink they were requesting is called a Kiss on the Lips.” I recited the ingredients for him as Ryan and Andy snickered in the background. Andy was the first one to get lippy. It was evident he was British.
“Shove off, knob head,” he said, his accent more pronounced. “We’ve got it covered here. Who are you to care anyway as to what the lass says or does?”
“She's my wife,” he hissed, towering over Andy with a glint of murder in his blue eyes.
“Don’t see a wedding ring on her finger,” Ryan cut in, smirking.
Trey lowered his eyes to my left hand.
Holy Hell. I didn't put it back on after braiding my hair.
My ring had snagged my hair a couple of times as I was French braiding it, so I'd taken it off while I finished. Apparently, I'd forgotten to put it back on. Trey was livid. Thankfully, Eddie sensed that something was amiss and quickly came to my side.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“No, it isn’t,” Andy chimed in. “This chap here is poaching on what Ryan and I've staked our claim on for this evening.”
Ah - hell to the no!
The next thing I knew, both Ryan and Andy were picking themselves off the floor, while Trey ordered me out from behind the bar threatening, to drag me over the top if I wasn’t front and center within ten seconds.
“Call Gina up here, now,” I whispered to Eddie, as I made my way past him around to the front of the bar. All of the patrons at the bar were watching the drama unfold.
Once I was out from behind the bar area, Trey took my hand, leading me as he wove us through the crowd on the mezzanine, dragging me behind him. As soon as we got to an area that was somewhat cleared, I yanked my hand from his grasp. He spun around looking at me as if I'd somehow lost my mind.
“What in the hell do you think you're doing, Trey? How dare you come up here and make a scene like that,” I snapped.
“What the hell? You come here not wearing your wedding ring, leaning over the bar flirting with those two idiots, who by the way, were enjoying the view down your unbuttoned blouse. So I’m thinking that should be my question. What the hell do you think you are doing?”
“I’m working; I’m a partner in this, remember?”
He stood there in a partial slouch, hands resting on his hips looking totally gorgeous and extremely pissed.
“You don’t have the right to come into my place of employment and conduct yourself like some overbearing, hormonal crazed jerk!”
Just then, Gina and Tristan were at our side. “What happened?” Gina asked.
“Trey assaulted two of our patrons,” I replied, crossing my arms and glaring right back at him. I saw a flicker of amusement cross Tristan’s face. Trey wasn't amused.
“The fuckers were telling her they wanted her to kiss them on the lips,” he snarled.
“Oh, Jesus Christ, counselor, that’s the name of a drink,” Gina hissed.
“That may be, Gina, but their body language was speaking to much more. Then the bastards accused me of encroaching on their turf!”
“Trey,” Tristan spoke up calmly, “Let’s get back downstairs and let Tylar work, okay?” Trey didn’t take his eyes off me. He didn’t answer Tristan because he was too busy staring a hole in me with those piercing eyes. There was much that I wanted to say to him, but here and now wasn't the time or place to air our dirty laundry.
“Trey, c’mon, let’s go on back down to our table and leave Tylar to her work. I left Libby down there by herself when Gina came to get me.”
“I’m sure she’s been kept entertained in your absence, Tri
stan. She’s probably humping the bus boy or spanking the bouncer,” he spat.
Oh fuck.
I looked over at Gina. Her expression was frozen in disbelief. I raised my eyes to Tristan, who had taken on a steely expression. I'd never seen Tristan anything other than congenial or laid back. I was seeing the angry side of Tristan now; and it was intimidating.
"You're out of line, Trey,” he said, his words edged with calm fury. “I'll consider the fact that you're drunk at the moment and, for whatever reason, pissed that your wife did something on her own without your permission. We all know your need to control, but don’t ever speak about Libby in that manner again. You aren’t eight years old anymore, and I guess we’ll finally see who can whip whom’s ass.”
Tristan turned to depart, but then stopped and turned to me. “I apologize for my brother’s behavior tonight. Good luck with your new endeavor, and should you need anything, please let me know.”
“Thanks, Tristan,” I replied softly.
With that, he turned and left. Trey was still standing there staring at me. He looked totally miserable and out of sorts. I wasn’t sure if it was because of me or a result of the way he'd just acted with his brother. He raked his hand through his hair, and then glared at Gina before turning and following Tristan. Now it was Gina and I left standing there in confusion.
“Wow,” Gina said taking a deep breath. “That was kind of hot.”
“Oh, Gina,” I wailed, “how can you say that? Trey hasn’t spoken to me in a couple of days, and then he comes in here and gets all jealous and causes a scene. What’s hot about that?”
“First of all, I was referring to Tristan putting Trey in his place; secondly, why the hell haven’t you said anything to me about Trey not speaking to you?”
“Because it’s my problem and I need to deal with it.”
“Alright, alright. Obviously, you didn’t feel the need to share this with your best friend, so I'll keep my nose out of it. Are you okay to go back to the bar?”
“Yeah. I’m good. I’m sure those guys are gone by now.”
“Okay. Call if you need me?”
“I will,” I smiled as I turned to go back.
The band had started again, so the bar filled back up from the patrons that had taken restroom leave while it was quiet. Eddie was handling the bar.
“Is everything okay, honey?” he asked me when I returned.
“Not really, Eddie. Where’d Ryan and Andy go?”
“Oh, honey, they paid their tab and skedaddled. They told me to tell you they were sorry they were disrespectful to you and they left you this.”
Eddie handed me a hundred dollar bill. I looked up at him. “My tip?”
“Yes ma’am. They said you earned it by tolerating their drunken asses. You know, I think your husband might have given those two a well-deserved lesson in manners. That was really hot, you know?”
I smiled at Eddie. “I swear Eddie, you and Gina have a weird perception of what's hot and what's not.”
I hung around after closing to help Gina empty the registers and put the money in the floor safe. One of the bouncers had stuck around and walked us out to our cars to make sure we got safely to them.
“When do you have to be out of the condo?” I asked Gina on the way out to our cars.
“Ian takes possession of it December 1st.”
“Have you been looking around at apartments?”
“I’m not really sure what my budget is going to be just yet. Since you’re drawing a salary instead of Ian, it won’t be coming into my pocket indirectly any longer,” she laughed.
“You can always stay with us until you find something.”
“Yeah, right, Ty. I think Trey hates me enough already. I can’t imagine he would want me under his roof.”
“It’s my roof too, Gina.”
“So it is girlfriend. It’s nice to have you back.”
“Where have I been?” I asked, puzzled by her comment.
“Good-night, Ty,” she said, pushing the remote to unlock her car.
Chapter 23
It was nearly two in the morning when I let myself in the apartment. The first thing I did was get out of my heels. Being on my feet for so long definitely gave me pause for thought about having to wear three inch heels to work. Perhaps Gina and I needed to re-visit the employee dress code for females.
I crept into Preston’s room and peered over the rail of her crib. She was sleeping soundly, tucked under her blanket with her hand on the stuffed bear that Trey had bought for her the day she was born. I leaned over and kissed her forehead.
I was exhausted and I had to do this again tonight. I peeled everything off and went into the bathroom off of the nursery to brush my teeth. I so wanted a shower, but I was simply too tired. I crawled beneath the sheets of the bed in the nursery and was asleep within minutes. Just as I dozed off, I heard Trey out in the hall talking to someone on his cell phone.
“What the hell time did she leave?” he asked, not bothering to mask his anger. He'd called Gina looking for me.
Holy shit.
I threw the covers off, grabbing my white blouse from the pile of clothing on the floor and went out into the living room where Trey continued to pummel Gina with questions.
“Trey,” I interrupted his angry tirade on the phone, “I’m home. I was sleeping in the nursery.” He turned to face me, the relief obvious on his face.
“Never mind, Gina; she was here the whole time, I guess.”
Gina’s response was apparent when I heard Trey snap, “Yeah? Well you can bite me, too!”
He turned to me; his sleep tousled hair gave him a rakish appearance similar to Ryan’s. What the hell had made me think of Ryan? That’s how this latest shit got started. “So,” he said in his smooth and silky, yet tired voice, “we aren’t sharing a bed any longer?”
“I just didn’t want to continue the argument you started at the club tonight. I’m tired. Your silent treatment and coldness over the past few days has worn me down."
He was at my side, pulling me into his strong arms, stroking my hair. “I’m sorry, baby. I’ve been a controlling ass just like Tristan said. Can you forgive me?”
I looked up into his eyes and saw the sincerity in them. It wasn't like Trey to capitulate this easily. He'd been giving this a lot of thought, I decided. Perhaps I owed him an apology as well. “Trey, you were right about one thing. I shouldn’t have invested the money without discussing it with you,” I conceded.
“No, you shouldn’t have,” he replied, smiling, “But, I understand why you did. I haven’t been the most approachable person these days. When I thought back to the conversation we had that night, I was extremely dismissive of you. Actually, I was downright rude. I love you so much Tylar. Sometimes you're the kick-in-the-ass I need to remind me just how much.” I smiled up at him, lacing my arms around his neck. He lowered his face to mine, our lips finding each other.
“I want to make love to you, baby,” he whispered against my lips.
“What if I want to fuck?” I teased.
“I’m fairly certain that we can accommodate both, Mrs. Sinclair.”
Trey carried me to our room and placed me on the bed as he quickly discarded his boxers. He climbed under the covers, pulling my panties and blouse off simultaneously. He pulled me to him and our lips met in a hot, passionate kiss. Trey was hungry for me and I was hungry for him. He flipped me onto my back and covered me with gentle kisses. He took his time when he reached my breasts, swirling his tongue around my nipples, making them taut and hard.
“This is mine,” he whispered, as he suckled gently from a breast.
His tongue traced a path to the other one, where he brought that rosy peak to attention as well. “And this one is mine, too,” he said softly as he continued to suck gently.
He continued his trail of love southward, kissing my stomach and grazing my navel ring with his lips. I was already wet for him. His lips and tongue found my core. He moaned softly as he
captured my clitoris with his tongue, gently massaging it in a circular motion.
“And this is mine,” he rasped, inserting his finger into me, feeling the wetness and quickening as he probed my sweet spot gently. I moaned softly, and then remembered that I hadn’t put in my diaphragm.
“God I'm so ready for you, baby. We’re going to need a condom, though,” I said.
It was as if he hadn't heard me or chose not to listen. He continued his expert ministrations with his lips and tongue, bringing me to the brink of orgasm with his mouth. Perhaps he'd planned on making me come this way. I had no issue with that at all.
My hips gyrated against his mouth; I could hear my soft moans escaping as my body took control, responding to Trey and what he was doing to me; what he always did to me which was bringing pure pleasure to every part of me. He rose back up suddenly, capturing my lips with his mouth. His hand spread my legs gently apart; I felt him lower himself into me.
“Trey…” I started to tell him to stop, that we needed a condom, but he was pressing himself into me in his perfect rhythm. I loved the fullness I felt when he was inside of me, rocking back and forth with his thrusts.
“What, baby?” he asked softly, kissing my lips over and over again. He was watching me with his sapphire eyes full of love and passion. His right hand was fisted in my hair. He continued the circular thrusting of himself in and out of me. He was bringing me to frenzy. “Do you want me to stop, Tylar?”
“No,” I breathed softly against his lips. “Don’t stop.”
“I love you, baby,” he moaned against me, increasing his tempo as he readied for his orgasm.
“I love you,” I said, matching him thrust for thrust as he continued to bury himself deep inside of me. Our orgasms exploded with a fury. Trey moaned loudly, pulling me up to him as he emptied himself inside of me.
I was right there with him, whimpering in pleasure as my orgasm unfolded around him; squeezing and contracting as I was filled with his love.
Preston was up early the next morning. It seemed as if I'd just drifted off to sleep when I heard her from the nursery. I looked at the clock on the nightstand. It was a few minutes after seven. Damn—I had just drifted off to sleep.
Shadows and Dreams (Dream Series Book 2) Page 18