by Vicki Green
Cassie looks over at Paxton, smiles, then back to Jesse. “So, babe. You said that you have Tuck’s band lined up for a mega corporation charity in L.A. in a few weeks?” Jesse winks and nods. “Wow! How cool for them. Maybe it will be their big break.”
I see Paxton sit up straight, stirring her drink with the straw. She clears her throat. “Oh, are they that good? What corporation?”
Ah! I see what they’re doing. Maybe Paxton has the hots for Tuck after all. I know he’d give his right nut for a chance with her. This could be very interesting. Fuck, I’d tap that if I wasn’t spoken for. I lean over and kiss my girl’s head. Yeah, very spoken for.
Jesse leans over, putting his elbows on the table. “It’s your dad’s corporation, Pax.” She gasps. “Yeah, they’ll be playing at their charity in a few weeks. Gonna be big. Your dad told me you’d be going. Will be nice that Tuck will know someone there.” He sits back, pulls Cassie close and winks at Paxton.
I can’t help but chuckle. Good fucking set up. I watch her as she slowly sits back, the look of shock on her face. She gets her bitch composure back and sits up straight again.
“Well, we’ll see. I might have plans that night. I’m pretty busy,” she smirks. Now the whole table is laughing. “What the fuck?” Her eyes narrow. “Are you all trying to set me up? Fuck you.” She gets up from the table and heads toward the restrooms. That did it. Pissed her off. Damn. We were only trying to help.
Allie nudges my knee. “I’ll walk you, love. Come on.” I get up and hold out my hand for her to help her up. We walk to the bathroom, and I wait in the hall outside there. Not leaving her alone for a minute. They are in there for fucking forever! Women! Finally, the door opens and they both come out laughing. Laughing? Fuck, I’ll never understand women.
As we head back to the table I notice Tuck’s boys up on the stage getting things ready. Tuck usually comes in right before they start playing, making a fucking grand entrance.
“Pax, sorry, we didn’t mean anything by it,” Jesse says while reaching across Cassie and putting his hand on hers. “We just think Tuck’s a great guy and that you all would make a great couple, that’s all. We care about both of you.”
Paxton fidgets in her seat, looking pissed still. Then her smile opens up and she pats Jesse hands back. “You’re still a douche, Jesse. I was never mad. You know me. Shit, I don’t get mad that easily. And as for Tuck?” She cocks her head, an eyebrow raised. “You never know.”
Jesse sits back with a ‘Humph’. Well, I’ll be damned. She shut him up. Fuck. Hope Tuck has some luck with her, at some point. I have to agree with Jesse though. They are kinda made for each other.
All of a sudden the crowd roars as Tuck enters the stage. Fuck! It’s deafening. But hell, that’s why I book them here, we are standing room only now in the bar. A group of girls have made their way to the floor in front of the stage, arms out towards Tuck and screaming.
“Thanks for joining us at Barton’s bar tonight! We’re Razers Edge and we are here to rock you out!” Tuck screams into the mic. “You ready to ROCK?” More screaming ensues. I may have to get earplugs. Tuck leans forward hand on his ear, “I SAID, YOU READY TO ROCK?” More ear piercing screams. His drummer clicks a beginning beat, and they start playing.
“I love this song!” Allie screams. I get up to let her out of the booth as she nudges my shoulder. She takes Paxton’s hand and pulls her to the dance floor. I squirm a little in my seat. Fuck! Anything can happen in that crowd. I look over at Rock, our hulkiest bouncer and tilt my head towards Allie. He nods and walks to the area near where she is dancing. He crosses his arms and watches all around her. That’s my man! Nothing will happen to my girl on his watch. No. Fucking. Way.
After three songs the girls come back and slide into the booth. I look at Allie, all sweaty, and my cock twitches. I brush hair back from her forehead, tucking it behind her ear and pull her in for a kiss. “Mmmmm. You taste fucking delicious,” I coo in her ear. I lean back so she can take a drink and I look over at Bell, our waitress. I cock my head at our table and run my finger around the booth, telling her we need another round. She winks and saunters off towards the bar.
The band plays another eight songs and Tuck declares a break. The crowd all cheer’s and boo’s, most return to their seats while others stay dancing to the music from their playlist they run during breaks. I watch Tuck make his way through the group on the dance floor, stopping as girls kiss him on his cheek, grabbing his arm and fan girling him to death. Man, what a life he has made for himself. I’m fucking proud of him. I look over and see Paxton watching his every move until he gets close to the booth then she abruptly turns towards the table and takes a drink. Hmmm. I think she is a little hot over him. Interesting.
Tuck leans on the table, right in Paxton’s face. “So, your bitchiness. How’d you like the sounds? I saw you dancing, princess. You definitely were rockin’ out.” I have to stifle my laugh. Have to say he’s got guts. Stupid fucker. When will he ever learn?
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
What an idiot! Seriously, he did not just say that to Pax. She pushes him out of her way. He almost loses his balance but catches himself from falling, and she marches to the bar. I look at Shane, who has a grin on his face. I can tell he’s trying not to laugh his ass off. I nudge him and he gets out of the booth and offers his hand to help me up. I kiss him quickly on the mouth and run after her. I catch up to her just as a shot is placed on the bar in front of her. She downs it quickly and taps the glass on the bar. “Wanna shot of Hot Damn?” I just nod. “Bartender, another one and one for my bestie,” she yells.
Two people leave their seats at the bar, so we sit and down our shots. “Whew! That’s good,” I say wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “Pax—”
She raises a hand in front of my face. “Don’t. Just don’t. Fucking jerk.” Then she places that hand on my leg. “Then why am I so head over heels for him?” My mouth drops open in shock. What?
“What the fuck, Pax? I knew it! Oh. My. God! You have to tell him, or show him, or something!” I say excitedly. Wow! Who would have thought? They would be great together though. But, I don’t want to see her get hurt either. I know Tuck’s reputation. I might just have to have a little talk with him. I’ll kick his ass myself if he hurts her. Or Shane will, oh, my God. Shane. He’s gonna freak.
She orders us another shot, and we shoot them quickly. Shit! I’m getting tipsy already, and I think she is well on her way too. She looks at me and slurs, “Hold up, bestie. You know I don’t play that way. He’ll have to work for my attention or whatever.” Yep, she’s tipsy.
We head back over to the booth, arm in arm. Tuck gets up from where Paxton was sitting and holds his arm out to her seat. What a gentleman. My sexy man gets up and kisses me hungrily, then helps me into the booth. Sigh. I love my man.
Paxton moves over giving Tuck a soured look as he sits next to her. She keeps moving over until she is practically on top of Cassie. “I don’t bite, sugar. Unless you want me to,” Tuck says close to her face. She places her hand on his broad chest and pushes him back.
“Down, tiger,” she says with a smirk. “I don’t let wild animals in my arena.” She turns and sucks some of her drink down and looks at me with an eyebrow raised. I watch as Tuck leans into her ear and can barely make out what he is saying. But, I’m pretty good at lip reading.
“Don’t worry, sugar. I don’t let just anyone in my arena either, but I will definitely make an exception for you,” he whispers.
Oh, holy shit! He’s just asking for it now. Thank God his band is on the stage getting ready for the second set. He takes her hand, kisses the top and winks at her. She looks kind of in shock. Oh, if he only knew. He leaves us and heads towards the stage. I kick her underneath the table. “Ow!” She yells, coming out of her stupor. I can’t help but laugh.
We stay until the last set. Jesse and Cassie went home about an hour ago. Poor Cassie texted Stella about every few minutes checking on the twins. I
knew it was going to be hard for her to be away from them for the first time. Paxton and I are both way too drunk and have been dancing all night. The band just announced the last song, a slow one. Shane takes me to the dance floor and pretty much holds me up.
“Love, you’re so fucking drunk,” he laughs in my ear as he holds me close. “But I’m glad you’re having fun.” He kisses the side of my head then lays his head against mine. My arms are around his neck, my fingers playing with his hair. Man, he’s making me horny. I rub my body against his. My boobs smashed against his chest. “Fuck, if you don’t stop I’m taking you right here.” He takes my face in his hands, kissing me deeply.
“Mmmmm, take me home, darling,” I say against his mouth. He didn’t need to be asked twice. He takes my hand and leads me to the booth. Pax is sitting there, her body swaying a bit. She looks up at me, and I can see her eyes are glazed over. I start giggling.
Shane kisses my forehead and whispers, “I’ll be right back.” He looks over at Pax and then back at me. “Need reinforcements,” he chuckles and heads towards the stage. I sit next to Pax, her head dropping on my shoulder. I laugh hysterically.
“Fuck, I’m dwunk,” she says to my arm. “Hawvnet been this dwunk in a wong time,” she slurs. I am dying laughing now.
I gasp as I am lifted into Shane’s strong arms. I watch Tuck lift up Pax by her hands and get her out of the booth. She looks at him, her body swaying, and she humphs at him. “Whatre you think you’re dwoing, tiger? Huh?” She says sternly. He quickly picks her up, her long hair whipping around them. She hits his chest while looking into his eyes. “Fuck, let me—” Her head hits his shoulder hard as she passes out. He looks our way and smirks.
They carry us to my SUV. I think Shane knew something like this might happen so that’s why he insisted he drive in my car instead of his truck. He places me in the passenger seat up front and fastens my seat belt. I cup his face as he is bent over me and smile. “I love you,” I tell him and kiss his cheek. I am rewarded with a kiss on my mouth. I smile.
Tuck puts Pax in the back seat and slides in next to her. He gets her securely seat belted in and fastens his own. When he puts his arm around her, she falls against him. So sweet. I hear Shane tell him he’ll take him to get his motorcycle in the morning and that he’s crashing at our place. He better not get any fucking ideas of messing with my bestie or I’ll sic my sexy man on him, damnit! My sexy man. I love that. I sigh.
Once we are home, Shane half carries me in the front door. We stand there while Tuck brings Pax in his arms. I start to say something to him, but Shane puts a finger on my mouth. “He’s cool, love. He won’t do anything but tuck her in. I promise.” I nod my head, or I think I nodded, not sure. Shane chuckles, picks me up, locks the door and takes me to our room.
He lays me on our bed and proceeds to undress me. I close my eyes and pass out.
I sit up with a jolt when I hear screaming. I grab my head with both hands. Oh, my head fucking hurts. There’s pounding going on behind my eyeballs. Ugh! I look at the clock to see its 9:00 in the morning.
Screaming erupts again from down the hall. I slap my hands over my ears. Oh. My. God. That’s Paxton! I get up so quickly that I have to stop, my body still feeling like its moving. An arm goes around me instantly and sets me back on the bed. “Whoa, love. You’re about to fall over. I’ll go see what the queen is yelling about,” Shane says quietly. I shake my head and start to stand again. His arms take mine and help pull me up. “You sure?” He asks. I squint and nod slowly.
We make our way down the hall to the guest room and find Paxton sitting against the headboard of the bed, sheet pulled up to her chin, screaming. Tuck is across the room, in his boxers only, with his hands out in a stopping position.
Paxton looks at Shane and scowls, “Get him the fuck outta my room. The pervert was sleeping next to me and had his hands on me. Get him the fuck OUT!” Ouch! My head is going to explode.
“Sugar, I didn’t do anything to you that you didn’t want last night. Now, calm the fuck down,” Tuck yells back, starting towards her. Oh, my! This is not good.
Shane becomes referee and takes me over to the bed, sitting me down by Pax. He grabs Tuck’s clothes, which are all over the floor, and pushes them into Tuck’s chest while he pushes him out of the room. When the door closes, I look at Pax, move over to her side and get under the covers, putting my arm around her. She lays her head on my shoulder. “Do you remember anything? What happened?” I ask as I smooth her hair.
She wipes her eyes with her hand. “I dunno, for sure. I don’t feel like anything— Happened. Oh, my God, baby girl. I am never drinking again. Especially around him.” She points at the door. “I don’t even remember leaving the bar. UGH!” She looks up at me with sadness in her eyes. “You don’t think—”
I hold her close and rub my hand up and down her arm, shaking my head. “No, Tuck wouldn’t. He’d never do anything to a woman that’s unconscious, not his style.” I laugh. I don’t think she thought that was very funny as I watch the tears roll down her cheek. “Oh, honey. I was just kidding. Seriously, Tuck’s not that way, truly. He would never take advantage of anyone. He really is a sweet guy. All he did was take care of you last night.”
She looks at me again and half smiles. “You think?” I nod and start smoothing her hair again. Wow, what a night! I better be right about this or I will kick my own ass.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
“What the fuck, mate?” I say pushing him into the living room. He’s stumbling as I keep pushing on his chest with his clothes. “Put those the fuck on. I don’t wanna see you in your skivvies. Hurry up!” He quickly puts his jeans on, nothing else, and sits on the couch.
I sit in the chair next to him and cross my arms. What the hell was he thinking staying in her room, in her bed last night? What? Is he fucking crazy?
“Are you fucking crazy? Why in the hell would you stay with the ice queen?” I lean my arms on my knees and cock an eyebrow. He opens his mouth, but I cut him off. “Did ya think you’d get lucky? Or did you think you’d just take what she wasn’t willing to give sober?” I ask my eyes squinting.
He lowers his head, shaking it as he looks down. His head tilts back up and he looks me in the eyes. “Shane. I would never do that. I laid her in bed, covered her up and when I turned to leave, she grabbed my arm. She looked sad and asked me to stay with her until she fell asleep. Honest! I fell asleep waiting for her to go to sleep. I never touched her.” He looks a bit sheepish. “Well, ok. In my sleep I guess I moved over and cuddled.” Now it was my turn to open my mouth, but he cuts me off. “She cuddled me back!”
Fuck, he sounds like a teenager, what the fuck? I get up to go make coffee. I think everyone will need a heavy dose this morning. I know I do. Oh! And aspirin, lots of that. Tuck follows me in and sits at the table, resting his head in his hands. I take a look at him and sigh.
“I believe you. But, you better be telling the fucking truth, so help me—” He raises his hands up.
“Shane. Mate. I am telling the truth. I promise. I would never do that, you know that, you know me.” I look at him and raise both eyebrows. “Ok. Scratch that. But I swear I didn’t do anything. You know I wouldn’t lie to you, man.”
I nod slowly. Bringing the cups of coffee over to the table, I sit and take a drink of mine. I watch him drink, his eyes on me the whole time. He leans across the table with that damn puppy dog look on his face. “You gotta believe me. I’ve never felt this way about a girl before. She’s different.” I roll my eyes. Fuck me. That is contagious. “I mean it. There’s something about her, Shane. In just the few days she’s been here, she’s changed me. I don’t want anyone else.”
Oh, my God! He’s killing me here. The light bulb goes off in my head. I believe him, he really is telling the truth. Wow. Never thought I’d see the day ole Tuck would be a one woman man. Ok, he’s only 22 but shit he’s had enough women in his young life to equal a forty year old, seriously. He’s definitely what one wo
uld call a man-whore. I keep looking at his eyes and take a deep breath. “I— I believe you, mate. I never thought you would stop your whoring ways, but I believe you. Now how in the hell are we going to convince her?” I smirk.
Chapter Nine
I leave Pax and go into my bathroom to take a shower. Man, I am wiped! My head feels a little better after Shane brought up some aspirin and my latte for me. He’s so sweet. He just had to know how to work my latte machine, so he could make me one and a damn fine job he did too. I sit on my bed and drink my divine latte. I just don’t know how I got so lucky. Paxton shuffles into my room, sits next to me, holding her latte and lays her head on my shoulder.
“You’re so lucky to have a man like Shane.” She lets out a big sigh. “I’m never gonna find someone like him.” She sighs again. Oh, my!
I put my arm around her. “Honey bunch, you have to lighten up if you’re ever gonna get a man.” I turn my head and look at her sweet face. “I mean really. Um, don’t take this the wrong way or anything, but— um— you’re kind of a bitch queen.” I shrug. What else can I say?
She sighs again and looks up at me. “I know. I just can’t help it. It’s the way I was raised and well, you know how it’s been for me.” I nod sadly. She sits up and takes a drink. “Every guy only wants my body. They don’t want me for anything but a piece of meat.” She looks at me again. “You know how I’ve had to fight them off and Jesse’s had to as well. He’s always stuck up for me and beaten them up for me.” I nod sadly again. Yes, I do know. Shit. I don’t know what to tell her. I have no advice whatsoever. Ugh! What kind of a bestie am I?
I look over at the door and see Tuck standing there, looking shy. Weird. Pax sits up straight and looks down at her cup.