by Vella Day
He kissed Zoey quick. “Hold that thought. I need to tell Pete something.”
Not wanting Zoey to sense how pissed he was, he tried to keep his strides even. As he stepped into the garage, Pete was about to leave.
“Hey.”
Pete stilled. “What’s up?” His tone almost seemed carefree.
“That’s what I want to know. What was with the fake call?”
Pete’s chin tucked inward. “What are you talking about?”
“Cut the bullshit. The phone wasn’t even on.”
Pete drew a hand down his chin, a telltale sign he needed time to come up with some excuse. His lips skewed to the side. “I see how you look at Zoey. You’re falling in love with her, and that’s just not for me.”
Thad had dealt with a lot of lying thugs in his life, but Pete’s excuse was beyond pathetic. Thad’s cool demeanor not only cracked, it burst. He grabbed Pete’s jacket and slammed him against the side of his truck. “You walking out? Huh? You’re going to use that lame ass excuse that you’re not ready?” Thad let go of Pete’s lapels.
“I need time.”
“You fucking lied to her. Don’t you know that a good relationship is built on trust? Even if you decide to crawl back, it’ll be too late. You can’t repair that kind of damage.” When Pete didn’t blink, Thad’s disgust and disappointment reached the limit. “You know what? You can go fuck yourself. Just leave, but know that I’m staying with Zoey.”
If Thad remained in the garage another minute, he’d have smashed Pete’s face in. Anger roiling inside him, he stomped back to the kitchen door. He couldn’t let Pete’s immature attitude fuck this up with the woman he cared so much for. Thad wanted her, and he wanted her bad. He inhaled, pasted on a smile, and drew open the door.
As soon as he stepped inside, she looked up from the fire, looking content and happy. His body ached for her. If he said anything about what Pete was planning, he wasn’t sure he could watch her heartache. The only way he was going to make it through the next few minutes was to lose himself in her. In her goodness. In her loving ways.
With his gaze on Zoey’s beautiful face, he flicked off the kitchen light and eased his way over to her. The fire bathed her in a warm glow and lit her auburn hair. She looked like an angel, and his heart soared. He was still reeling from Pete’s rejection, but before he told Zoey anything, he wanted to show her how much he needed her. It might be the only way to make Pete’s rejection less painful.
Thad grabbed the sofa seat cushions and brought them over to where she’d sprawled out. “I thought we’d be more comfortable on these.”
She moved both her glass and his off to the side and sat up. “I like it.”
He knelt, lifted her up a few inches and placed her on the cushions. “You are so beautiful, and I’d take a hundred more bullets if it meant I could be with you.”
She reached up and placed a finger on his lips. “Don’t ever say something like that.”
“It’s true.” His life had been so empty before he’d met Zoey. “You’ve made me see what I’ve been missing.” He popped open his jeans and unzipped his pants. “I want you, Zoey, in the worst way.”
Her grin sent his heart in overdrive. “Me, too.”
“Race ya.” He unlaced his shoes and toed them off. As much as he wanted to strip off her clothes, inch by delicious inch, he needed her too much to take his time. He finished undressing just as she was about to remove her bra and panties. He stayed her hand. “Let me.” Climbing on top of her, he supported himself on his elbows then brushed a lock of hair from her delicate face. The second their lips touched, his balls drew up painfully tight. Zoey was all his, and he wanted her to understand what that meant to him.
When her tongue delved into his mouth, his blood caught on fire, and Thad couldn’t get enough of her. His fingers found the straps of her bra and lowered them. Then with a quick pinch, he undid the back clasp. Anticipation soared through him.
Needing some air to quell his rapid pulse, he trailed his lips down her chin, across her smooth neck, and over Zoey’s soft skin. What she did to him should be outlawed. He wanted to slowly explore every inch of her body but his need was too great.
“You smell so good.” It was a hint of citrus mixed with something flowery. Soft. Feminine. Sexy as hell.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders. “I need you.” Her throaty groan undid him.
Quicker than the next flame could flicker, he straddled her and discarded the pretty black bra. What was underneath was ten times better. “A feast for me.” His lips found one succulent nipple, and his fingers grasped her other full breast. His imagination went wild as his tongue suckled on the pert tip. “So sweet.”
“I’m not food.” Her giggle soothed his soul.
He loved toying with her. “So you say. When I eat you, you might come around to my way of thinking.”
Zoey lifted her hips. The pressure of her body against his cock caused all hell to break loose. He dragged a hand from her breast down her waist and slipped his fingers under her panties and along her hipbone. He tightened his hold on her supple skin and inhaled her essence. “What you do to me.”
She closed her eyes and dropped back her head. “Show me.”
Needing no more encouragement, he slid between her legs. He loved how the light from the fire caused shadows to dance across her perfectly proportioned face and over her round breasts. Dragging a palm across her belly, he grinned when she inhaled and then let out a little mewling sound.
It was hard not to sink his cock deep inside her, but Zoey deserved more. The urge to rush slammed into him, but he needed her to see they were meant to be together.
“Lick me,” she said. Her groan nearly undid his resolve not to rush.
With care, he slipped her panties to her knees, and then down her silky smooth legs. Once they were off, he lifted both ankles and placed her feet on the floor. She was open. Vulnerable. His. His cock nearly detonated. Holding her thighs wide, he licked his way up her inner thigh toward his reward.
“Thad, please.”
Nothing was better than to hear a woman beg, but what he wanted more was for her to come so hard she had to gasp for breath.
“Patience.”
She squeezed her butt cheeks and lifted her ass, offering him her pussy. Wanting to satisfy her, he worked a finger into her silky opening. When her walls caressed and warmed his skin, he was unable to hold out. From the way Zoey was moaning and wiggling, she was on edge, too.
From a pocket in his pants, he found a condom, tore it open with one rip, and rolled the rubber down his length. Before he slaked his own lust, he wanted to bring her higher. He swiped his tongue between her naked pussy lips, and the taste of her delicious honey altered him. He flicked her swollen nub and she bucked.
“Now, Thad.” Her plea broke him.
He hooked her knees over his shoulder. This was where he needed to be. Her breasts and lips both called to him, but he captured her mouth first. The second the tip of his cock pressed against her slick opening, her fingers clamped on his hips and tugged him close. His world spun.
Using every ounce of control, Thad edged into her. Zoey opened her mouth and he kissed her hard. Their tongues touched, and his cock almost exploded. He wanted it all. They dueled, danced, played, and loved. With each new position, he came closer to release.
Zoey’s heels dug into his back, drawing him near. “Zoey!”
“I’m so close.” Each word came on a breath, forcing him to give in.
With one long thrust, he filled her to the hilt. Her heated walls encased his cock, pulsing and throbbing around him. Nothing mattered but her release. He broke the kiss and buried his face against her neck, pounding his cock down her tight channel. With each trip, he lost a little more of his heart and soul to the woman beneath him.
Her mouth opened and a strangled cry erupted right as her pussy strained and gripped his dick. His hot cum blasted out of him and he held her tight, never wanting to let her go.
Thad kissed her, and then hugged her some more. When the beating of their hearts finally slowed, he eased out of her.
“Be right back.”
In the kitchen, he grabbed a towel and wet it. As soon as he wiped her clean, he slid next to her on the pillow and dragged her on top of him. He wanted to promise her that he’d keep her safe, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life loving her, but the image of Pete surfaced. Thad feared she’d withdraw when she found out the threesome had crumbled.
* * *
Pete had no idea where he was headed, but as he drove down Fourth Street a spot opened up in front of Banner’s Bar. It was as good a place as any to stop. He kept telling himself he was doing Zoey a favor by bowing out so early in the relationship. Sure, she responded to him in bed and seemed to enjoy the star show, but she also adored Thad. The two of them would do well together. Pete pushed aside the ache that stabbed his gut. He wanted Zoey—too much in fact—but this was for the best. A man whose own father didn’t love him wasn’t good for someone as amazing as Zoey Donovan.
Pete never doubted himself when it came to building homes or seducing women, but he couldn’t bring himself to cause Zoey any more distress. Hadn’t she mentioned that her old ménage relationship hadn’t worked out? She might be happier with just one man.
He parked and headed inside. For a Saturday, the place wasn’t as packed as he’d expected. Each of the four televisions was set to a different college football game. With no room at the bar, he maneuvered his way to the back to see if any of his buddies were shooting pool.
Well, what do you know? Alex was there with someone Pete didn’t recognize. With intense concentration, Alex banked a striped ball, which collided with another one that ran straight into the pocket. He looked up at opponent and grinned. After Alex sank two more, he missed his next shot. His opponent took his turn, and when he failed to clear the table, Alex called the pocket and dropped the eight ball right where it needed to go.
The two shook hands and Pete slapped his coins on the edge to indicate he was challenging in. Nothing like a game of pool to take his mind off his troubles.
Christie, a pretty young thing, came by for his drink order. “I’m in a Jack Daniels frame of mind. And make it a double, honey.”
Alex racked the balls. “While it’s none of my business, where’s the fair lady tonight?”
“You’re right. It’s not your business, but I’ll tell you anyway. She and Thad are enjoying a nice warm fire.”
“Good for them. I can see why you’d come here. My company is much more exciting.” Alex’s lips pressed together like they always did when he was in his “you’re-an-idiot” mode.
Well, fuck him. Pete didn’t need to hear Alex’s bullshit. He might try to claim Alex didn’t get where he was coming from, but of all the people on earth, Alex understood him the best. It was actually unfortunate his good friend was here.
“You break,” Pete said, not caring if he won or lost the game.
“Fine, but if I win, you have to answer a question for me truthfully.”
“What are we? Fifteen?”
Alex centered the triangle on the table then carefully removed the rack. “You afraid?”
“I’m afraid of listening to you blabber and distracting me from my game.”
Christie waltzed back over with his drink. “You want a tab, Pete?”
“Definitely.”
“You got it.” She set his drink on the table a few feet away, winked, and sashayed off.
“Now that’s a hot chick,” Alex said with fake interest.
Pete decided on the truth this time. “Christie’s nice, but she’s pushed my buttons on too many issues.” Like only wanting sex one way.
“But Zoey doesn’t?”
Before he answered, he slammed back half his drink, and set it down with a thud. “You going to shoot or what?”
Alex bent over the table with his cue in hand. “You in a hurry to get back to your honey?”
Now the guy was pissing him off. “I like Zoey just fine. She prefers Thad.” Or would prefer him if she thought about it. He and Thad hadn’t given her much of a choice about which one she wanted. She was almost shot, and both he and Thad happened to be there to pick up the pieces. He’d never asked what she wanted.
Alex punched his stick into the stack of balls, and they went flying. The sound brought Pete back to the present. One of the striped balls dropped in the pocket. “Nice shot,” Pete said.
“Thanks.”
Two couples wandered into the back room. One went to the dartboard, while the other surrounded the Foosball table. With more people around, Alex might not discuss Pete’s personal life. Before he took his turn, he polished off his whiskey, wishing he’d at least get a buzz to blot out his thoughts. Alex drove in two more balls then nicked the pocket. The ball rolled on by.
Pete walked around the table to decide on the best shot. He aimed and sank the first ball. Alex nodded approvingly at the accomplishment. Pete sank another one, but missed the third. When he stepped back to give Alex room, another Jack Daniels replaced the one he’d just finished. He liked the service around here.
“Thad okay with you going rogue on him?” Alex’s voice sounded so unconcerned, it was as if he’d asked what Pete thought of the new paint color on the wall.
“He didn’t say much. Now can we get on with the game?”
Alex laughed. “You know what your problem is?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Pete wasn’t in the mood to listen to Alex’s shit. “No. Tell me what my problem is.”
Pete’s former partner swallowed a smile, lined up the cue stick, and ran the table. “I win. Now, bring your drink. Let’s see if we can find someplace quiet to talk.”
No way Pete would agree to that. He didn’t need to be answering questions, especially from Alex. “Rematch, then maybe.”
“Didn’t realize the guilt ran so deep. What the hell did you do? Sleep with someone else?”
The accusation hurt worse coming from Alex. Pete never cheated and Alex knew that. “Fuck no.” Pete retrieved the balls from the side pockets and organized them in the rack. It was his turn to break.
“Then you found someone else.” His statement made the irritation scrape Pete’s insides raw.
He was tired of this game and considered tossing down his cue and walking out. “Wrong again. I’m not a womanizer.” He hadn’t had time to even date someone else. Didn’t want to.
“By whose definition? Brenda’s? Lisa’s? Jane’s?” Alex counted on his fingers. “Shall I go on?”
“You little shit.” Pete leaned his stick against the table and tossed back his drink.
Alex laughed. “You’re so in denial. Every time you called when I was with Dad, all you’d talk about was how the lady you were with was ‘the one.’ Then after a month or two, you’d pull away. Find some excuse why it wasn’t right.”
That was what Thad said, but they didn’t know the truth. Didn’t understand. “Might look like that, but this is different.”
“How is it different?”
Pete didn’t know why Alex had to press so hard. “It just is.” With more force than was required, Pete broke. Balls flew but none dropped. In fact, he wasn’t left with much of a shot. If he studied the table long enough, Alex might lose interest in his line of questioning. Or better yet, leave. Pete bent over, moved the stick back and forth then stood. “Don’t have many options here.”
“I know what you’re doing, Pete. But go on. Stick your head in the sand.”
Sometimes Alex could be such a dick. Pete tried the shot again. It went wide.
Alex moved into position. “You’re just like your dad, you know.”
Pete’s lips firmed and his fist clenched. “That’s a low blow.”
Alex shrugged. “You both think very little of yourself.”
“I’m not an ass to the hired help.”
“No, but you both don’t think enough of yourself to
let another person in.”
Pete wasn’t quite sure what Alex was referring to, but the pain stabbed him in places he didn’t know could be hurt. “You’re saying because my dad regrets his past that he’s afraid to love anyone?” That was what Zoey had said.
Alex glanced to the ceiling then laughed. “Sometimes I wonder how you ended up running and owning your own business. For someone who seems to get what the client wants, you can be such a fucking moron when it comes to people.”
Alex was pissing him off royally. Pete needed another drink and waved to the waitress for a refill. “You saying I don’t understand people?” Alex must be doing drugs or something.
Alex waved a hand as if to dismiss his question. “It shouldn’t matter what your dad has done or is doing. You’re almost forty fucking years old yet act like you’re nine. You, Pete Banks, need to grow up and be a man. If you’re not happy with the way your daddy has treated you, get over it.” His friend stepped closer and got up in his face. The scent of beer was strong. “Why do you have to depend on his goddamn actions? Ask Zoey what that makes you. Codependent? Juvenile? Doesn’t matter the term. You’re a child and a whiner.” Alex tossed the cue stick on the table. “I’m finished. Clear the table yourself.” With that, he stormed off.
“Fuck you, buddy.”
No way he was going to let Alex dismiss him like that. Pete charged, collared his friend and spun him around. He expected Alex to hold up his hands, but his friend punched him in the gut instead, sending him backward. Having downed those three Jack Daniels caused Pete to lose his balance. His butt hit the edge of a chair and sent it sprawling. A girl cried out from near the dartboard.
“You want to fight?” Alex motioned with his fingers. “I’ll give you a fucking fight.”
Pete got up and dusted himself off. Alex dipped his shoulder and rammed it into Pete’s belly, pushing him into a table. As it upended, glass shattered. The momentum caused them both to land on the ground, and Pete’s back took the brunt of the impact, but his brain was too numb to feel much. Instinct took over. They wrestled, twisting and turning, until Alex slammed Pete’s head into a chair leg, which unceremoniously went flying. Alex’s fist then connected with Pete’s face. Shit. Pain streaked across his jaw, possibly loosening a tooth. The next blow connected with his nose. That did it. Pete thrust his leg up and flipped the two over. He delivered a punch to Alex’s face. Damn, that felt good, but his knuckles stung from the impact. His friend grunted, shook off the daze and did a quick and complicated maneuver that resulted in Alex on his knees behind Pete. In seconds, Alex had an arm wrapped around Pete’s throat. The bastard held on tight, too. Try as he might, Pete couldn’t get loose. Alex yanked inward, nearly crushing his windpipe. Christ.