by Marie James
“No, every one of you guys are a gossip though. Chatting and laughing, hushing when I walk into a room. I know what you’re talking about, but not speaking to me about it makes everything ten times worse. I wish you juveniles would get it over with.”
“Hmm.”
That’s all I get.
“We figured you’d be offended.”
“Of course I’m offended,” I snap, turning in his direction.
Maybe it’s him, maybe it’s watching Sophia watch Cannon with little hearts in her eyes, or maybe it’s everything combined and I’m finally going to snap.
“See!” he hisses. “That’s why we didn’t tell you about our plans.”
“Plans?” My brows draw together.
“Hound and Gigi are taking Mia out of town for the weekend.”
“Okay…”
“We already got permission from the boss man.”
“Dude, can you just spit it out? I’m getting gray hair over here.”
“We’ve been planning this for weeks, and the timing just lined up.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean against the window frame and wait for him to actually give me information rather than dancing around whatever it is he’s trying to tell me.
“We want to have a party.”
I laugh. “That’s it? A party? You’ve been snickering and making sure I can’t hear what you’ve been saying for weeks because you want to have a party?”
He scratches his head before running his hand down his neck and gripping the back of it. He’s nervous as hell, and I’m surprised I’m not standing here with my jaw on the floor because of how offended I am right now. From what I’m gathering, all of their weirdness over the last couple of weeks is about some stupid party.
“I like to party,” I tell him. “Let’s do it. Hound will be gone with Amelia so we won’t have to keep the noise down.”
I smile up at him, but even my agreement doesn’t seem to calm his nerves.
“What?”
“It’s umm… it’s not umm… that kind of party,” he stammers.
“Really? It’s not like you’re planning on having an orgy in the living room.”
His eyes dart to mine, and I nearly fall out right here at his feet.
“You’re planning a fucking orgy in the living room?” I hiss.
“See?” He points at me as he takes a step back. “I knew you’d be offended.”
“And if I wanted to join?”
Now it’s his turn for his eyes to widen comically.
“Well… I mean… I guess you can… we just didn’t plan for umm… any other guys to be here but Cerberus members. Unless you’re interested in banging a couple of us?”
I double over in laughter, the action somehow a balm to the bruised ego I’ve been lugging around for weeks.
“Fat fucking chance,” I assure him when I can stand up straight again.
“You sure?” A light smile pulls the corner of his mouth up. “Jinx would love it. He’s been the one who’s most afraid you’ll be offended.”
That’s why the fool couldn’t even look me in the eye.
“I’m sure,” I say and turn back around to gaze out the window.
“I mean, we’re not trying to kick you out of your house or anything, but unless you’re going to join—”
“Keep my distance,” I finish for him. “Believe me I don’t want to see your pale ass any more than I have to.”
Stripping down and catching fast showers in the field isn’t unheard of, and I’ve already seen more of my team than I’d like to admit.
“So, you’re not offended?” He sounds serious, like if I am, he’d cancel the whole damn thing.
“Do you plan to clean up all the jizz and shit in the living room when it’s over?”
“Jesus, Rivet. Do you ever think before you speak?”
“Not normally,” I respond without looking at him.
“Yes, we’ll clean everything up.”
“Fine. When is it?”
“Tonight.”
“Seriously?” I spin around to face him. “Not really giving me much time to prepare, are you?”
He shrugs.
“Did you draw the short stick? I can’t imagine anyone wanted to have this conversation with me.”
He grins, and I know it’s the truth. “Kincaid and Shadow said we had to. They didn’t want some sort of lawsuit if you came out of your room and saw ten guys with their asses in the air.”
“I wouldn’t be offended, but I appreciate the heads up.”
“I mean if you’re into girls…”
“I’m not.”
“We haven’t seen you with any guys…”
So they don’t have a clue about Cannon? That makes the fact that I’ve avoided him for the two weeks since we had our little chat outside the firing range stings just a little more.
“Not into girls,” I assure him.
“Not even a little?” I turn to see him holding his fingers an inch apart, and I know he’s joking.
“I’ll get out of your hair in a couple of hours. What are you going to do about all of them out there?”
“Kincaid said he’s taken care of that for us.”
“And the young kid?”
“Landon?” I nod. “He’s staying the weekend at a friend’s house and knowing that kid, he’s got a little orgy planned of his own.”
I scoff. “The kid’s like fifteen.”
“Are you telling me you were innocent as a fifteen-year-old?”
“Kid would kick his ass,” I mutter, refusing to answer his question.
“But knowing Landon, he’d have one hell of a time until he got caught. Most of the folks out there,” he motions to the crowd around the pool, “they’re pretty straight, don’t cause trouble. Landon is going to be the one who tests the patience of every adult in this clubhouse. You just wait and see.”
“Probably,” I agree.
“What did you think was going on?”
“Huh,” I raise an eyebrow, but I don’t pull my gaze from the happy people outside.
“Earlier,” he clarifies. “You said you knew what we were talking about, but then you were totally surprised when you found out our plans.”
“I thought you guys were tired of having me around,” I lie. “Thought you were gearing up to vote me out or something.”
“Rivet.” Warm hands grab my shoulders, and Rocker turns me to face him. “You’re as much of a part of this team as any one of us. We want you here. We need you here. Don’t ever fucking doubt that.”
Tears burn the backs of my eyes, but I refuse to let them make an appearance. I will not ruin my hardened edge just because this man wiped out all the fears I’ve been struggling with recently.
“Okay,” I tell him, and it has to be enough.
“Good. Now have a bag packed and get your toned ass out of this clubhouse by eight, or you’re going to see a lot of stuff that would require brain bleach to erase.”
I’m laughing at his back as he leaves the kitchen, heading toward the pool with a six-pack of beer in his hand.
I feel like a fool, like a teen girl with self-esteem issues. I created so many scenarios in my head about what they were talking about. An orgy? That takes the fucking cake. Now, hopefully, things can get back to normal around here.
When my eyes land on Cannon, shirtless and smiling, I can’t help but wonder if I jumped the gun a little too fast with him. I feel like I owe him an apology about the way I spoke to him. I reacted poorly, without any facts and took it all out on him.
I can’t deny that I’ve missed him. Being gone for eleven days made things a little easier, but we’ve been back three days, and it’s difficult to keep my distance. He’s been avoiding me too. Yesterday all the younger kids were hanging out here, but Cannon was absent. Right now, poolside, is the only time I’ve seen him since our argument two weeks ago.
And damn does he look delectable with the sun glinting off of his tan skin.
A rush of air leaves my lungs as I prepare myself to go speak with him, but like he can read my mind, the man in question gets up from his lounge chair and begins to walk this way.
So I do the only thing I can manage and scurry away like a coward.
Chapter 26
Cannon
“Really?”
Griffin just raises an eyebrow in my direction in response.
“Dad said none of us can go into the clubhouse tonight?”
He nods, trying his best to keep from drawing Ivy’s attention.
“Did he say why?”
“Nope.”
“How weird. Maybe it’s some sort of super-secret meeting? Maybe they have to bring someone back to hide them.”
Griffin rolls his eyes, and I know he’s not impressed with my guesses and conspiracy theory.
“They’ve only ever done that twice before.”
“Just drop it,” Griffin hisses before turning his lips up into an unassuming smile as Ivy sits down beside him.
It doesn’t really affect me. I haven’t gone into the clubhouse for weeks, not even while the team was gone, and certainly not when they got back.
Rivet doesn’t want anything to do with me, so avoiding the places where she’s at has been my goal. She didn’t even come to Jake’s last night with the guys.
Just thinking about her, something I’ve tried to avoid for the last two weeks becomes impossible with knowing she’s right inside. She’s less than fifty yards from where I’m sitting, and it kills me to know she’s so close yet she’s completely off-limits.
My resolve weakens as I watch Lawson and Delilah splash each other in the pool with some sort of mating dance obvious to anyone with working eyeballs.
Even Ivy laughs huskily when Griffin leans in to tell her something.
It’s all around me—sex and suggestion seem to be on every mind out here.
Izzy and Sophia have their heads leaned in close like they’re planning some covert mission, and I don’t miss the way they keep glancing over at me.
Samson and Camryn have dropped all pretenses and are making out, pawing each other, and I imagine we’re only minutes away from live porno action.
The Cerberus guys are shooting the shit and laughing, oblivious to all of it. Surprisingly, not one of them have cut their eyes in Izzy’s and Sophia’s direction. My dad always hires top-notch men, and they won’t jeopardize their positions with Cerberus for a quick peek at a couple of women they’d never have a chance with.
The only person missing is Rivet.
And I don’t imagine she has any plans of showing her face out here.
The longer I sit surrounded by happy couples, the harder it is to ignore what every cell in my body is urging me to do. When Rocker leaves the clubhouse to join his friends, I do a count of everyone outside. Rivet is literally the only person left inside. I know all the parents left for a weekend trip, and Landon is at a friend’s house. I’m on call if he needs anything since everyone is out of town. I was the easy pick. I have the weekend off and no life to speak of. Everyone else is paired off and that must mean they’re too busy to be responsible for him if there’s trouble.
With my mind made up, I make some lame excuse about grabbing a bottle of water from the clubhouse, but no one is paying attention to me. They’re too wrapped up once again in each other. It’s seriously getting old, but I really can’t fault them for being happy when it’s exactly what I want too.
I don’t feel eyes on me as I leave the pool area and make my way to the back door of the clubhouse. I open it slowly, praying she’s in the kitchen, but I find the room empty. I head to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water so I can have something to do with my hands if I manage to find Rivet, but before I can head down the hallway to her room, the back door opens again and Sophia walks inside.
“What’s up?” I ask when she glides across the room with a little too much sway in her hips.
“Shhh.” She presses a finger to my lips like she’s about to spill some sort of secret, but when she lifts her hand away, she replaces it with her mouth.
I freeze, stunned stupid that this girl is trying to kiss me.
I try to pull my head back but she moves even closer.
“Soph—”
Opening my mouth to say her name gives her the access she needs, and she doesn’t waste a second swiping her tongue against mine.
“Stop,” I snap, dropping my bottle of water to the floor so I can grip her upper arms and move her back without hurting her.
Her bright pink lips turn into a pout, and she looks absolutely ridiculous.
“What are you doing?” I watch her eyes, checking to see if her pupils are blown or if she seems drunk or stoned.
This girl watches me from afar, but hell, coming in and pressing her lips to mine like she has a right? I never thought I’d see the damn day.
“I’ve always wanted to kiss you.” She wiggles and I realize I’m still gripping her arms.
I release her and take a step back.
“This isn’t going to happen,” I say, motioning my hand between the two of us. “Your dad would kill me.”
It seems like a good enough excuse. I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but I need to shut this shit down quickly.
“I’d never tell.” She bites her lower lip, and if I were some horny fucker who didn’t have control over his body, it might work. I’m not that guy though, at least not where she’s concerned. “Jasmine is bedding down with two guys. I could do a lot worse than hooking up with you. I’m sure Dad knows that.”
My head is shaking immediately.
“I was trying to be nice.” The seductive expression on her face changes immediately. “I’m honestly not interested.”
Her eyes search mine for a long minute before she speaks again. “One night? No one has to know.”
Is she struggling with the English language because I thought I was perfectly clear?
“That type of thing doesn’t appeal to me anymore,” I tell her truthfully.
She looks confused once again.
“Is it Izzy? Do you have a thing for her instead?”
I can’t catch the laugh before it escapes my lips. “No, Sophia. I’m not pining after Izzy either. Maybe you should find someone your own age.”
“You’re only a couple weeks older than me, Cannon.”
She huffs, arms coming up to cross over her chest, and I realize she’s right, but lord are we years apart in maturity. Maybe it’s my fun-guy persona coming back to haunt me once again.
“Listen, I’m not trying to hurt your feelings, but we’re never going to hook up.”
“Okay.” She honestly seems okay with what I just said, and maybe a little embarrassed. “Are things going to be weird between us now? Are you going to tell everyone?”
“No. I won’t tell anyone, and I don’t want things to be weird.”
She nods quickly and heads right back outside.
“What the fuck just happened?” I mutter to myself as I bend down to grab my bottle of water from the floor. I move out of the kitchen, nearly dropping my water again when I round the corner and find Rivet standing there leaning against the wall.
“You scared the shit out of me,” I hiss, but I think my heart is racing more at the sight of her than the fright she just gave me.
“Doesn’t really look like your shade of lipstick,” she teases.
I use the back of my arm to wipe away what Sophia left on my mouth.
She doesn’t take a step closer to me, but she also doesn’t seem pissed off and distant like she did a few weeks ago.
“She umm… Sophia… she—”
“Kissed you,” Rivet says with a quick grin. “Did you enjoy it?”
I narrow my eyes. “You were out here creeping so you know better.”
“You broke that poor girl’s heart.”
“I get the feeling she’ll be just fine.”
“So, no love match happening tonight?”
I
raise an eyebrow, and it’s impossible to keep the cocky grin from my face. She’s sending off all the right vibes, so I figure now is a good time to test my luck.
“The night is still young.” I inch closer, my heart singing when she doesn’t move away. “Know what’s on the menu tonight. Me-n-u.”
She laughs, the emotion taking over her entire pretty face and sparkling in her blue eyes. “That cute smirk of yours and those ridiculous pickup lines never worked on me.”
“Really? I have a ton more.”
Her smile widens.
“Are you religious?” I inch even closer. “Because you’re the answer to all of my prayers.”
With that one, she rolls her eyes. “Nope.”
“I think my allergies are acting up because every time I see you my dick begins to swell.”
“Wow, now that one got me close.”
I grin. “Really?
“Umm... no. Just stop while you’re ahead.” She smacks at me, her small hand hitting my chest, but she doesn’t pull it back.
“I’ve missed you,” I confess on a whisper.
“Cannon.” She’s looking at her hand against my skin, a small frown forming like she misses her marks being there, too.
Maybe I’m pushing too hard. Maybe I’m moving too fast, but if she is the end goal, I’ll go as slow as I need to.
“Let’s go for a ride.”
She peers up at me, pulling her hand from my chest, and I miss her touch the second it’s gone.
“A ride?” She narrows her eyes.
“What?”
“I was waiting for the punchline.”
I take a step back. “No punchline. Let’s go for a ride.”
“On motorcycles?” she asks, still looking wary.
“Yes. Let’s go for a motorcycle ride.”
“Okay.”
“I have to go change,” I tell her, like it isn’t obvious because I’m standing here in nothing but my swim trunks. “I’ll meet you out front in ten minutes.”
“It takes you ten minutes to change? I thought I was the girl here.”
“It’s going to take seven minutes for my cock to deflate enough to walk back to my house,” I clarify.
“Those cheesy pickup lines work that well for you?”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing. “The sight of you makes my cock hard. No joke. No corny come-on. You. Make. My. Dick. Hard.”