by Xavier Neal
Should I be concerned she’s faking orgasms with me? Oh come on! You thought it too!
“Lex,” I cut her off before she sells herself short again. “I like having you around in my bed and out of it. Period. Now, you comin’ to the game or what?”
A bright smile stretches across her face and I feel my heart pump a little harder. “Should I change?”
My eyes give her sexy rehearsal outfit another glance, wishing the answer was no. “Unless you want the rest of the evening to be filled with horny teens trying to flirt with you and their parents in sheer disgust, I would say it’s probably a good idea.”
“Are you sure it’s not just because you’d be jealous?” She undoes the two vest buttons and I’m greeted with the black lace on her bra. My cock starts to rise again.
Needy bastard...
“That too...” my eyes zone in on her nipples that are hardening under my stare.
Playfully she sheds her vest, drops it on the couch, and reaches behind to unclasp her bra, well aware my attention couldn’t go anywhere else even if I wanted it too. Giggling at her power over me she starts to back out of the room slowly, my body mindlessly following her, desperate to get a peak of her topless.
Pathetic I know. She was topless under me this morning, so I shouldn’t be this eager to see her tits again, but that was this morning. And seeing her naked is easily my new favorite thing in life.
***
In the bleachers, Lex leans against me, my arm draped around her shoulder screaming her head off at the refs for every bad call they make. She’s enthusiastic. Mouthy. And every time her accent slips out a little stronger on a word my dick notices like it’s an invitation to get touched.
As much as chicks dig accents, so do we.
Directly below us is C.J. and Erin who are bickering over which flavor of cotton candy is better while below them is Luke who’s sandwiched between Stuart and Maxx. On the other side of her is Logan trying to comfort her through the obvious tension. She didn’t speak to me when we got here, but she didn’t ask me to leave either. We’ve barely made eye contact. It’s driving me nuts.
This girl is the best friend I’ve ever had. She’s been there for me when I needed it. Listened to me moan about all my family bullshit. Our shared all night marathons of ‘Doctor Who’. She’s my nerdy twin and the fact it’s steadily heading towards a week of us not speaking has me on edge.
“Half-time,” Stuart announces standing to his feet. “I’m gonna get some nachos.”
“That cheese is bad for you,” Luke delivers his nutritional wisdom.
“I don’t mind things that are bad for me,” Stuarts flirts wetting his lips.
Luke quickly clears his throat and looks away not even attempting to make a comeback.
Annoyed Erin snaps, “That’s it? One line out of his mouth and you shut up? Stuart, you need to come around more often.”
On a laugh he gives Luke another glance before he answers, “Believe me. I’d love nothing more.”
“I could use some nachos,” Lex rises, her black KISS t-shirt riding up giving me a glance of the colorful sun and moon tattoos that start on her sides until the rays of light stretch to meet right in the middle of her back creating a cosmic clash of purple, and white clouds with stars. It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen.
I swear I’ve spent hours admiring her body and still don’t know all the tattoos she has.
“You want anything, baby?” She offers and I hear a slightly annoyed sigh come out of Maxx’s mouth.
You heard it too didn’t you?
“Just um...a water,” I answer my attention trying to stay focused on her as she climbs down the bleachers instead of using the stairs.
“You could’ve just used the stairs,” Erin says.
“Where’s the fun in that?” She replies before winking at me.
So she knows I like my eyes on her ass. What’s the big deal? She’s my wife. I can do that guilt free. It’s one of the perks.
Stuart and Lex disappear towards the rest of the crowd that needs a break, which is when I slide over and say very sternly to Maxx, “If you hate Lex then just say it, but your childish noises are getting old.”
“Oh snap,” Erin whispers out. “We’re not gonna be the Jerry Springer family are we?”
C.J. elbows her to shush just as Maxx’s head twists around like something from the movie The Exorcist.
I didn’t phrase that right, did I?
“Excuse me?” Her voice shakily whispers out as Logan tries to hide his cocky grin.
I hate him.
“I—I—I’m just saying, Maxx. Do you hate Lex?”
“I don’t know Lex,” she stabs at me. “She just sort of appeared out of nowhere like a toothache.”
“Or a zit,” Erin adds.
“And have you taken the time to get to know her? Or even fucking tried?” I snap back watching Maxx’s pregnant body try to turn to face me.
Yes. Yes, I feel like an even bigger dick for fighting with an emotional pregnant woman. Don’t rub it in.
“I’m sorry would that be between her tongue down your throat or your hand up her shirt?” Maxx’s counter has my mind flashing back to just those moments, which if I weren’t in the middle of this argument with her would lead me to finding Lex and using the school bathroom very inappropriately. “Don’t give me shit for not taking the time to get to know your weekend wife when you can’t even take the time to pull yourself off of her!”
Luke quietly tries to intrude, “Can we please keep the conversation below megaphone level?”
“You don’t give anybody else shit for being a little handsy in public!” Her mouth shuts and I finish, “Sounds like your jealous.”
A little gasp comes from Erin and to my surprise Kellar agrees, “It does. It really fucking does, Maxx.”
Her eyes widen to a size that only means unspeakable horror is about to ensue.
My suggestion to you? Brace yourself. Find something to hold on tight to because this is gonna hurt.
In a very slow precise tone Maxx growls, “Fuck. You. Both.” My eyebrows narrow as Kellar’s jaw drops. “How dare either of you say that to me.”
Quickly I try, “Maxx—”
“No,” she snaps again. “Jealous? Fucking really? Tony, I could’ve had you when I wanted you remember? Or has all that cherry lip gloss from mouth on mouth fucking her gone straight to your head?”
“Her lip gloss be poppin’.” Erin playfully giggles amusing only herself.
It was a terrible song. And if you didn’t know it was a song that should tell you how terrible it was.
“Tony, I didn’t think Lex was right for you because she seemed like the kind of girl who doesn’t stay anywhere for too long. Not the kind to get attached to things. A lot like Erin and Logan. I know what those people look like because I fucking married one! Because I spent my life chasing one! I didn’t think that was the kind of girl you wanted from everything you’ve told me...”
In all fairness, she has a point. That is the kind of girl Lex is, but she’s so much more. I can’t help but feel like part of her wants a reason to stay grounded. To hold on. I can be that reason. I will be that reason.
“But now I don’t think Lex is right for you, because she has turned you into kind of a dick,” Maxx states so coldly it feels like a physical blow to the chest. “You’re supposed to be one of my best friends, who treats me with respect and kindness and in less than a week with this girl in your life you’re turning into someone you’re not. Forgive me for being a little weary of her.” She struggles to stand, to storm off, and in the process manages to say, “And yeah, maybe I could try a little harder to be a little nicer, but I’m hormonal damn it! And I’m lugging around a 36 pound baby on the front of me!”
“That’s not possible,” Luke quietly states. When she shoots him a scowl he says, “And blood pressure. Careful of your blood pressure.”
Wobbling she gives him the finger and turns to Logan. “And you...�
��
I’m afraid for him.
“The next time you wanna accuse me of being jealous of another woman in regards to my best friend, be prepared to have my wedding ring down the drain and C.J. pulling up divorce papers because I’ll be damned if you ever question how much I love you again.”
Wisely he closes his mouth as she tries to wiggle out towards the stairs. In a quiet voice Erin states, “She looks like a pregnant Weeble Wobble.”
C.J. laughs while saying, “Just remember that when it’s you some day.”
“Oh. Hell. No,” Erin snips and they playfully start arguing while Logan hops up to chase after Maxx.
Unsure of what else to do I lean my back against the bleachers.
Is she right? I mean, yeah, Lex occupies a lot of my attention at the moment, but I went from practically not ever having sex to having it like it’s the only thing keeping me alive. And yeah before Lex, I would’ve spent a lot more time with Maxx and sat down with her sooner to try to hear her out, to see where she’s coming from, but Lex...Oh. Fuck. She’s right, isn’t she? My brain is so focused on Lex that I’m kind of letting my friendship slip. But seriously. She’s overreacting a little bit...right?
Chapter 7
Lex
“I look ridiculous,” I sigh pulling up the top of the black strapless cocktail dress I squeezed into.
It was the only one I had in my suitcase that could remotely pass for this occasion.
“If it wasn’t for these boots I swear this dress would have stayed on the rack.”
Tony wets his lips and admires me again on the front porch of his brother’s home. “It’s really an image I’m okay with.” When he sees me smirking he says, “It’s all worth it for that smile.” I roll my eyes and stretch my hands out to touch his hard firm chest courtesy of basketball he plays at the gym on Tuesday night’s I recently learned.
I know that I really am just fact checking so when the guy comes for our ‘Are They Really Married?’ interview it’s believable, but part of me enjoys knowing this kind of shit about him. Having someone to know this shit about. Having a reason to remember things other than what city I’m in¸ the name of the hotel, and whose turn it is to buy the next box of rubbers. Kronk always tries to weasel his way out.
“While this isn’t how I wanted to spend our one week anniversary as a couple,” Tony wraps his arm around my lower waist. “I have to. Even though I hate my family, not to show up to something like this would be like throwing down the gauntlet. Shooting off a nuclear weapon to start World War 3.”
“Why do you hate your brother so much?” I question, the pain of knowing I’ll never get to see mine again, cleverly hidden. “He seemed like an alright guy when I met him.”
“Yeah you can thank the Jäger for that.” Seeing my unimpressed reaction he sighs, “My brother is a raging dick. If you have money you are welcomed in his life more than if you do not. Status is a must. What can your life bring his is next. Anyone else, everyone else is useless. He also gets off on making sure to remind the world that my ugly divorced parents treasure him for being the ode to the happy highlights of their marriage and me the echoing reminder of their divorce.”
His confession is followed by the front door opening and a tall slender brunette dressed in a black cocktail dress as well, showing us a toothy grin.
Like the cat that’s about to eat the canary.
“Anthony,” she greets him, toying with the pearls around her neck. “Late as usual.”
“Clarissa,” he coldly remarks.
“It was my fault,” I chime in seeing the obvious discomfort that’s trying to hide in his eyes, though I’m not sure why it’s there. “Couldn’t get off my knees fast enough.” When her jaw hits the ground in morbid shock, I extend my hand to shake it. “I’m Lex.”
I really did just say that. Ha. You wanna know if it’s true or not, don’t you? You’re naughty...I like that.
“Clarissa,” she shakes lightly before snatching it away. “Won’t you two come in? The boys were just about to get settled at their poker game.”
“I love poker,” I insert, feeling Tony’s hand rest protectively on my lower back.
“I’m sure you do,” she snips while I admire her pointed heels that look like they wanna stake me through the heart.
Though with over tanned skin like hers, I’m sure her heels think I’m a vampire. Hey! It is not my fault that the sun is allergic to me!
“But,” she sharply turns around. “That’s for the men. Us ladies,” the word rolls off her tongue like it hurts to include me in it. “Will be enjoying cocktails and gossip.”
“Oh what fun,” I say in a tone she buys because she turns back around.
Looking Tony dead in the face I mouth. “Shoot. Me.”
He chuckles and she glares over her shoulder as we make it to the other side of the overdressed living room. I wasn’t even paying attention. In the open kitchen that reminds me of something from ‘Gone With The Wind’ there are six other couples mingling dressed in fancy gear as well.
I feel like I have just stepped back into the 50’s through some weird ass time portal. Down to the cigars two of the dudes have in their mouths. Who smokes cigars and drinks brandy like that anymore? God! This is so not me. I shouldn’t be here.
As if he heard me, Tony leans over and plants a firm kiss on my lips igniting the desire to have more of him.
He just tastes so damn good.
My mouth parts and his tongue barges its way in demanding to be noticed. A soft moan escapes me as I clutch on to his jacket for leverage. He deepens the kiss clearly on some sort of mission to dominate.
Whether it’s the situation or me, I don’t really care.
“Am I gonna have to surgically remove your tongue from hers, small fry or what?” A voice booms I recognize and manage to drag my lips away from his.
When my lips are free I smile at him. “Good to see you again, Mike.”
“Michael,” Clarissa corrects me quickly before wrapping her talons around his arm.
Yeah those things aren’t nails. Nails belong to those of us that don’t fly the sky looking for harmless rodents to devour.
“And what do you mean again?” She looks up at him suspiciously.
“We met at his bachelor party,” I answer as his face tries not to brace itself for the lashing that’s to follow.
“What were you? His stripper?” Clarissa shrieks.
Poor dogs. They didn’t deserve that.
“Watch your mouth about my wife,” Tony defends me.
Does it seem like he has to do that a lot when I’m around? I guess I get it. I’m not the one you’re supposed to bring home. I’m the good time girl, but damn...
“You’re his what!” Her shrill reaches a new octave and I wait for glasses to break.
That’s how it goes in the movies.
“Leave it to you, small fry to ruin the party,” he grumbles.
In a low tone Tony grunts back, “I didn’t wanna fucking be here.”
Sensing the need to split them before there’s an explosion in the kitchen I speak up, “Clarissa, you mentioned something about cocktails. Shall we?”
Realizing how impolite she looks in front of her party guests she touches her pearl necklace again and clears her throat. Calmly she says, “Right. This way...” She motions a hand back towards the way we came and the other females follow.
I do my best to blend into the crowd as I follow the girls up the stairs and to an entertainment room clearly meant for females only. The tiny white and pink vintage furniture has me worried about breaking it from a wrong look at it let alone sitting on it.
I’m not heavy by any means, but fucking Barbie could break this shit.
“Wine, ladies?” Clarissa questions as they find seats and settle themselves.
I park myself on a barstool right in front of her.
Look, chances are she’s gonna move to join the rest of the housewife convention and I’ll be safest here. Next to the b
ooze. An old but faithful friend.
“Wine?” She offers me a glass of red. I take it doing my best to remember I have to be polite to this woman.
Call me crazy but Clarissa seems like the kind of person who would go out of her way to make sure I got sent back to Wales. And that’s just not a possibility. Remind me of that when I get the urge to pop her for something bitchy she says. We know its’ gonna happen.
I watch as she serves the others before settling on the small parlor couch next to a blond version of herself.
Is it creeping you out that they all have the Stepford wife thing going on? Whose robot face do you wanna see first?
Conversations about her wedding begin and I quietly listen. She bitches about the flowers. The caterer. How their invitations had one letter slightly crooked and she sent them back. She goes on and on about every little fuck up that has occurred, never once mentioning how happy she is someone wants to marry her.
Somehow during glass number two for me, the subject curves in my direction, “So,” Clarissa snaps while toying with her pearls again.
I think that’s where her magical bitch powers come from. Kinda like Ursula from ‘The Little Mermaid’ except she’s so thin she could be Ursula’s toothpick.
“You’re married to Anthony?” She bites harshly. “Did he like lose a bet or something?”
“No, I’m just that good in the sack,” my answer gets giggles from her friends, which she quickly squashes with a look.
“Bet you’ve had lots of practice,” she mumbles like I can’t hear. “Tell us, Lex, if that’s what we have to call you, what do you do for a living?”
“I’m in a band—”
“In the band, or a groupie of the band?” Clarissa chuckles at her quip.
I clutch my glass tighter. “Lead singer in an indie rock band. Lix and the Final Six.”