Fighting Dirty

by Lori Foster

  “She’s not fine china,” Denver said quietly. “Women have a nice way of blunting the bad shit.”

  Armie jerked the truck into gear and pulled out. “You don’t need to lecture me on the joys of sex. Trust me, I know.”

  “I’m not talking about getting laid, dumbass, but yeah, that helps, too.”

  Don’t ask, don’t ask—

  “I’m talking about a woman you care for.”

  So he didn’t even need to ask? Denver would just continue to regale him with a married man’s wisdom? “Can you be quiet? I’m trying to think.”

  “No, you’re looking for a way out. Big difference.”

  “You—” Denver’s phone rang, cutting off Armie’s venom and making him grind his teeth in frustration.

  But then, as Denver said, “It’s Cannon,” Armie decided it was just as well that he take a breather on the animosity.

  After all, he wasn’t really pissed at Denver. But this was a perfect example of why he shouldn’t be around Merissa tonight. He might say or do something that would—

  “Cannon wants to talk to you.” Denver put the phone on speaker. “I already told him we can head straight to the shop and Cherry can take me back for my ride.”

  After giving Denver the evil eye, Armie said, “Cannon, what’s up?”

  “We’re already here, just waiting on you two, so thanks for making it a straight shot. The ladies might head out any minute.”

  “They’re still inside shopping, huh?” What the hell was Merissa buying?

  “Lots to see,” Cannon joked. “While we wait, I figured I might as well get an update on Bray. How’d it go?”

  Armie spent the next few minutes telling Cannon everything he knew, as well as his plans.

  “I know the foster parents. They’re good people. And since Bray will still be in the area, I’m betting they’ll let him continue coming to the rec center.”

  That was a relief.

  “See you in a few,” Cannon said. “And Armie?”

  Dread had him mentally cringing. “Yeah?”

  “I’m glad Merissa doesn’t have to go home alone tonight.”

  The call ended and Armie could only stare at the road and concentrate on his driving. What the hell? Cannon knew his little sister was buying porn, for God’s sake. And he was glad that she’d be going home with him?

  Laughing, Denver gave a light shove to Armie’s shoulder. “Guess Cannon knows she’s not made of fine china, huh?”

  At the moment he didn’t understand Cannon at all, so no way would he weigh in on that.

  As they pulled up to the shop, Armie shook his head. “This is probably the most traffic that joint has ever gotten.” He knew the ladies were inside, while Cannon, Gage, Stack, Leese and Justice waited outside. If it weren’t for his visit with Carter and then Bray’s fucked-up situation, Armie would be enjoying this a hell of a lot more.

  Together he and Denver approached the others.

  “So far,” Cannon told him, “there hasn’t been much foot traffic. Other than a couple of regulars, they’re in there alone.”

  He looked in through the big front window. “I don’t see them.”

  “Back room,” Stack told him, his tone dry.

  The notorious “back room” was where all kinds of kinky paraphernalia could be found. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall...

  Or to have been an escort. He was pretty sure the rest of the guys felt the same.

  “While they’re in there,” Gage muttered, his gaze on the shop, “one of us should slip inside and make sure the cashier knows what’s what.”

  “Dirk’s at the desk,” Leese told them. “Armie, you know him, right?”

  Armie scowled. “We all know him.”

  “Yeah, but you’re friendly with him.”

  Denver elbowed him. “I hear tell you’re his best customer.”

  Cannon laughed.

  Screw it. “Yeah, all right. I’ll do it.” It’d be better than being needled by the rest of them.

  Keeping an eye on the door to the special room, Armie went to the cashier desk, then put a finger to his mouth in the universal “Shh...” sign so that Dirk didn’t call out a greeting. Keeping it low, he said, “You have some ladies shopping tonight.”

  “Yeah, dude,” Dirk replied with a smarmy laugh. “Not like I could miss them, right? Pretty clear they were in uncharted territory. You know them?”

  “I do.” One of them more intimately than the others. “Make sure no one bothers them, okay?” Armie leaned closer. “My friends and I are going to be right outside—which isn’t something you need to share with any of them.”

  Brows up, Dirk leaned to see out the front window, spotted the fighters lounging around, and gave Armie a bug-eyed look of uncertainty. “I don’t want any trouble.”

  “No trouble.” Armie slipped him fifty bucks. “We’re going to surprise them—like a joke—that’s all. And to ensure they don’t see us as easily as you just did, we’re going to move down the road a little. But we’ll be there as soon as they come out. Got it?”

  “They’ll be fine. Only Gary and Frank are around, and they’re not into chicks anyway.”

  Armie looked. Old Gary and Frank stared through the open door into the room, but yeah, they looked more bemused, maybe even fascinated, but not interested.

  His duty done, Armie said, “Thanks, man. I owe you.” Then he headed out before he got caught. They all walked down to wait in front of a closed furniture rental building, away from the entrance to the porn shop but with it in clear view.

  Everyone seemed to be enjoying the diversion, telling ribald jokes and sharing suggestions. Armie wished he were elsewhere. He wished he were alone with his foul mood.

  He had much to think about it, and details chipped away at his concentration. For her own good, the best option might still be to send Merissa home for the night.

  He could play it off that he was tired; most men would be. He could say he needed time to think; the utter truth. Whatever Rissy bought tonight, she’d just have to enjoy it by herself.

  Aw hell. That particular thought brought with it an explicit image, and of course his dick reacted. Shifting, Armie willed away the rising boner.

  What he really wanted, what he really needed tonight, was a hard, mindless fuck to obliterate everything else.

  But Rissy deserved so much more than that. Unfortunately, she was his greatest temptation, the one he most wanted to lose himself in.

  He would never use her that way, so yeah, he’d definitely have to find a way to send her home. And the worst part? He was already missing her.

  * * *

  WITH CHERRY STICKING close to her side, Merissa perused the aisle of very realistic penises. At a particularly large one, she slanted Cherry a look.

  Brows lifted, Cherry whispered, “Close.”

  It was no secret that Denver was well-endowed—which had been a constant source of curiosity and teasing from all the other ladies. Voice equally quiet and somewhat enthralled, Merissa asked, “Bigger or smaller?”

  “Actually—”

  “Here you go.” Vanity tossed a book at Merissa. “You need this.”

  Barely catching it against her chest, Merissa turned it to see the title.

  Beside her, Cherry read aloud, “New Ways to Please the Man Who’s Done It All.”

  Merissa rolled her eyes. “Very funny.”

  While everyone laughed, Vanity said, “I glanced at it and I think there’s good advice inside. Check it out.”

  She did—and had to agree. “Okay, so I’ve got my purchase. Now how about the rest of you?”

  “A book?” Cherry complained. “Unfair.”

  Vanity held up a package of edible body paints. “I’m going to create a masterpiece.”

  Grinning, Harper asked, “Where? On Stack’s abs?”

  “Most definitely.”

  Yvette hesitated, then grabbed some massage oil. When she started to speak, Merissa said in a rush, “Little sister
in the room!”

  Amused, Yvette told her, “Fine. Just know that I’m going to put it to good use.”

  Striding past all the supersize sex toys, Harper said, “I can’t even look at those for fear Cherry will think I’m daydreaming of Denver.”

  Cherry covered her face, but nodded. Through her fingers, she said, “It’s true.”

  “This.” Harper chose a customizable coupon book that included some pretty risqué promises. “Hopefully I can talk Gage into offering me a few coupons, too.” She winked theatrically.

  And they all turned to Cherry, who gulped. That’s when the outrageous suggestions started, and Merissa had a great time ribbing her friend. Finally Cherry chose a really raunchy movie that left the rest of them agog.

  Getting checked out was its own unique embarrassment. Two men stood off to the side of the main room, tracking their every move, and the cashier seemed jumpier than he had earlier.

  Vanity saved the day by saying, “The gifts are on me.” And since she was so well-to-do after different inheritances, no one argued—especially since that meant they could wait off to the side while Vanity handled the transaction.

  A minute later, each carrying a different bag, they stepped outside and right into loud applause—from all their significant others, as well as male friends.

  The guys were laughing, amused, all except Armie, who appeared far too forbidding. Merissa had a very bad feeling about the long look he gave her. Something had happened, something that had Armie brooding.

  Well, too bad.

  Right then and there, she made up her mind.

  After the earlier scare at her house, she needed Armie. Regardless of his dark expression, he could damn well comfort her—even if she had to force the issue.

  * * *

  HOLDING BACK, ARMS CROSSED, Armie leaned against his truck and watched the scene before him. Vanity, as energetic and in some ways as outrageous as him, jumped against Stack, planted a big kiss on him, then whispered in his ear.

  That got Stack smiling before he took his wife’s hand and told the rest of them, “Later.” Since Stack had ridden over with Cannon, they left in Vanity’s car.

  Gage snatched Harper’s bag away from her and then, holding it out of her reach, withdrew a small coupon-type book. As he flipped through the pages his eyes widened. Cocking a brow, he showed a particular page to Harper. She gave her husband a sly smile, nodded agreement and just like that, they, too, departed.

  Trying not to focus on Rissy, Armie transferred his attention to Yvette. She willingly shared the contents of her bag with Cannon, who had one arm around her shoulders and a protective hand over her belly, while repeatedly kissing her temple. When he whispered to Yvette, she looked equal parts interested and flushed.

  Armie shook his head. “Dare I ask?”

  “None of your business,” Cannon told him. “I’m taking Yvette home. Everyone have a good night.”

  “Cherry knows,” Denver said, as they all watched Cannon and Yvette leave. “I’ll get her to talk.”

  Cherry slugged Denver in the stomach, then shook her hand. “Ouch.”

  Making a big production of it, Denver lifted her hand to his mouth, teased his lips over her knuckles, and whispered, “What’d you get?”

  Going three shades of red, Cherry opened the bag for him to see.

  His smile was slow and suggestive. “That’s my girl.”

  Laughing, Leese said, “If anyone’s going to need a ride—”

  Denver opened his mouth, but Leese cut him off.

  “No, scratch that. I meant a lift home. If you need a lift home, let’s get to it before I start blushing at all these demonstrative displays of lust.”

  “He’s jealous,” Denver said to Armie. “But since you look like someone broke your funny bone, I think we’ll ride with Leese.”

  “Let’s go, then,” Justice told them. “I’m thinking there are a few lady friends I need to call tonight and I don’t want to wait until it’s too late.”

  Cherry waved to Rissy. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  As Armie watched them all walk off, chatting amicably, he heard no reply from Rissy.

  His time was up and he knew it.

  Then he felt her approach. “Armie?” Her voice was hesitant, hurt. She touched his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

  He rubbed his face with both hands, stepped out of reach and tried to summon up a smile. “Nothing. It was just a rotten day, that’s all.” The evening breeze toyed with her hair, compelling him to tuck one side back. And once he was there, his hand so close to her face, he couldn’t resist brushing his thumb over her soft, warm cheek. “I’m sorry, Stretch, but I’m lousy company tonight.”

  “That’s okay,” she rushed to say.

  Armie was already shaking his head. “No, trust me, it’s not. I’m going to head home to jog off some steam. You should sleep at your house and tomorrow we can—”

  “No.”

  He stalled. Had she just told him no? He met her stormy gaze and tried again. “I’ve got a lot on my mind,” he said. “It’ll be better—”

  “Forget it.”

  Her scowl surprised him. “Rissy.”

  She stiffened up. “Don’t you Rissy me.” Bag in hand, she stomped to her car and pretty much snarled, “I’m going to your place!”

  He’d never seen her like this before, insistent but also on edge. “I just told you—”

  “I heard exactly what you said! But you’re not brushing me off, and that’s that.”

  She refused to leave? He stalked up to her car. “Damn it, Stretch, if you’d just listen—”

  Instead, she slammed her car door, started the engine and without giving him another glance, drove away.

  Heading toward his apartment.

  Son of a bitch!

  Armie hurried to his truck and followed right behind her, his thoughts churning with every mile they drove. By the time he’d parked in the lot, she’d already jumped out and was literally jogging to his door.

  What did she think? That he’d physically bar her?

  Feeling like an idiot, his blood pumping hot, he chased after her.

  She raced up the steps, and he thundered up behind her, getting to his apartment door just in time for her to slam it in his face. His door. Of all the...

  He jerked it open, stepped inside and slammed it again. Nostrils flared, he looked around but didn’t see her. “Rissy?”

  “Don’t bellow,” she bellowed back from the bedroom.

  Some anomalous emotion surged through him, tensing his muscles and narrowing his vision. He was furious, but for insane reasons, equally turned on. His nerves sang. His blood burned.

  Urged forward by his own carnal imagination, he reached the closed door of the bedroom. More than a little lost, he sorted through a dozen different things to tell her and without settling on a single one he threw open the bedroom door.

  It bounced off the wall, but didn’t distract Rissy, who stood there topless, hurriedly undoing her painted-on jeans. It fried his eyes, seeing her like this, almost frenzied, her body bare down to her hips. Gorgeous.

  Her top was on the opposite side of the room, as if she’d thrown it. Her shopping bag had been dropped on the floor, but at the moment he didn’t care what she’d bought.

  “I’m not leaving,” she snapped, and almost fell over when she struggled to tug the tight jeans off her ankles. She ended up plopping onto the bed, bounced a little, kicked furiously and finally got the jeans off.

  She now wore only low, boy-short panties the same color as her soft skin.

  Heartbeat hammering, Armie took a step toward her, and she threw up a hand.

  “Wait!”

  He halted midstep.

  Eyeing him warily, Rissy scooted farther into the middle of the bed, skimmed off her panties and flung them at him.

  They hit him in the face and fell to the floor. Still he didn’t move.

  After shaking back her hair, she came up to her elbows, one le
g straight, the other bent at the knee, and she smiled at him. “Okay. Now you can join me if you want.”

  Raw from the inside out, Armie edged cautiously closer. Tonight had been too much, first with Carter telling him his worst fears had surfaced into reality, then seeing a kid abused and having that same kid now distrust him.

  Then to know he’d brought Rissy down to his level, that she’d been slumming in some low-class porno dive...

  “Yeah,” he whispered through his teeth, his eyes burning and his cock throbbing. “I’ll join you.”

  Instead of looking threatened, she breathed a sigh of relief, and this time her voice was gentle when she said, “I’m not leaving.”

  At the side of the bed, Armie stared down at her long, toned, sexy body, and damn it, he needed her.

  More than he needed his next breath.

  More than he needed anything or anyone else. She’d given him a few tastes and now he craved her, like an addict.

  Casual as you please, her blue eyes intent on his face, watching his reaction, Rissy parted her thighs.

  Hotly provoked, Armie worked his jaw, then smiled at her in warning as he covered each of her knees with a hand and opened her wide.

  Her breath caught, but she didn’t fight him.

  Damn, she was beautiful, her slim thighs straining, her sex pink and damp. And his.

  “I told you to leave me be tonight.”

  “And I refused.”

  “I told you I wasn’t fit company.” He didn’t entirely understand his purpose, but he felt determined on it all the same. “You wouldn’t listen.” He watched her gaze go heavy and her lips part. Turned on? How long would that last?

  Switching gears, he scooped her up and put her properly in the bed, her head on a pillow. Looking her over, he said, “You know what I wanted tonight?”

  “Not me,” she whispered, bitterness filtering in. “But I wanted to be here all the same.”

  “You’re wrong.” Slowly, giving her time, he lifted one wrist toward the center of the headboard and the Velcro cuffs hanging there.