by J. L. Drake
“I have to go.” I was about to step back when his arm locked around my waist.
He leaned in and brushed his lips over my earlobe. “I’ll make you a deal.”
I could barely handle how close he was again.
“If you’re not wet, I’ll behave. If you are, it’s fair game. After all, look where we are.”
“Trigger.” I nearly panted as his free hand slid down my side, over my hip, and curled around the edge of my panties. Before I could stop him, he stroked my folds with the pads of his fingers. He chuckled and slipped his fingers inside me with ease.
“You lose.” His voice vibrated through me.
I reached out and held his shoulder for support. The fact we were in public failed to matter. Trigger knew exactly how to stroke to build me up.
“D to the N,” Shantee chimed in behind me. I pulled quickly out of his hold and pushed his hand away. Trigger looked like he might murder her. “I heard there was some new meat in the house, but no one prepared me for this.” Shantee reached out to touch Trigger, and I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer.
“Shantee, meet…” I stumbled to come up with a name.
“Don’t need a name, sweetheart.” She bit her finger in an attempt to be sexy. “I just want to know what side of the road he drives on.”
Trigger downed his drink as I asked for another. “Straight, but flattered.”
I was pleasantly shocked by Trigger’s manners.
“Well, give me time.” She turned to me. “Venna is looking for you. Said you took her shift, and you need to be there now.”
“Shit, that’s right. Okay, thanks.”
Trigger eyed me sideways. “Shift?”
***
Trigger
I sat in my car outside the gate and sent off a few emails and touched base with the guys. Cooper told me my father got the package. We were waiting for what would come next. Eye for an eye, bitch. I never started this war.
Truth be told, I couldn’t watch Tess dance. I’d kill someone, and she didn’t need that right now. She had agreed to talk later, and that was enough for me.
Brick: You kill anyone yet?
Trigger: Night’s still early.
Brick: How is she?
Trigger: Guarded.
Brick: Clark’s got his claws in her, then?
Trigger: Yeah.
A flash of purple raced by the window, and it took me a moment to squint through the rain to see it was Tess. She looked to be in a hurry in her high heels and house outfit.
What the hell?
I slammed the car into drive and eased up beside her. She stopped, closed her eyes, and muttered something before she opened the door and slipped in.
I blasted the warm air and moved my bag to the back seat before I headed out into the flow of the traffic.
“What happened to your shift?” I eyed her outfit, and she covered herself with the soaking wet robe.
“Couldn’t do it.”
“Why?”
“Trigger—” She stopped herself and looked out the window. “Just forget it.”
She stayed quiet but wiped her cheeks a few times. Her damp hair made it hard to read her face, but she needed time to get over her pissed off feelings.
I pulled up to the Wynn and tossed the keys at the kid who jumped when I parked.
“Good evening, sir. Do you need any help this evening?”
“No.” I pulled the bag from the back seat and wrapped my jacket around her shoulders. I placed my hand on her back to steer her to the elevators. Once inside, she put distance between us, so I closed the gap, and again my hand was on her hip.
I pulled the key free and opened the door and waited for her to come in. She hesitated until she heard the TV. She peered inside and saw Brick as he poured a beer into his Cheerios. He looked her over as if to see if she was okay before he went back to his show.
“You look like shit, Tess.”
She rolled her eyes and came further into the room.
“Yeah, hell will wear you out.”
“How was the bitch?”
Her shaky fingers tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “She booked me solid.”
“To dance?”
“No.”
Brick flicked off the TV and turned to face her. All fun was gone. He started to approach her but thought better of it and stood back. “Tess, you didn’t.” He rubbed his head. “Please tell me you—”
“Venna is back. We made a deal that she’d take my clients, and I’d dance. She needed the money more.” She glanced at me then quickly looked away. “It wasn’t easy and took me to a dark place, but it was only temporary.”
“Temporary? Why did you even go back?”
I slammed a glass on the bar and filled it to the top with whiskey.
“He’s just pissy he had to wear a suit.” Brick waved me off. “Tess, did Clark…I mean, did he do anything?”
Her silence pulled my attention in their direction. Tess shook her head and moved over to the bar. “Pour me one of those. I’ve things to tell you, but I need a shower first.”
Brick pointed to my room. “Towels are under the sink.”
“Thanks.” She pulled my jacket off her shoulders and hung it on the back of the chair.
Brick waited for the water to start running before he joined me at the bar.
“Well?” I grew impatient.
“I’m glad we got to her when we did. It’s obvious she knows something she’s not ready to talk about.”
“Any idea?”
“My guess would be the million-dollar question why Tess stayed at the house for six years.”
I tugged the tie off and tossed it on the table and unbuttoned the shirt. I wanted to change into my cut and jeans, but Eli had advised me to dress the part of a businessman so as not to draw too much attention to the fact that we were here.
I ordered room service, and when the bellman arrived, he glanced over my shoulder and smiled. I followed his line of sight and found Tess in one of my t-shirts. A part of me was glad she didn’t choose one of the dress shirts. I liked her in my clothes.
“You like your dick?” I snapped at the bellman, who couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her.
“Sorry.” He straightened and handed me the slip. “If you could sign here.”
I signed and shoved it back at him.
He pointed to one of the covered plates. “Here is your steak with sweet potatoes and—”
“I ordered it,” I reminded him.
“Right.” He peeked at Tess again, and my temper rose. “Is there anything I can get you, miss?”
Tess came to my side and shook her head. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” He didn’t leave.
I pulled out my gun and checked the clip. It was full. The man cleared his throat then turned and left quickly.
She sighed. “That was rude.”
“He was staring at you.”
“So do you,” she challenged.
“That’s different.”
“How?” She propped her hands on her hips and lifted her chin.
“You’re mine.”
For a split second, I saw her flinch, but she kept it together.
“Was,” she corrected before she turned back to the bedroom.
“Where the hell are you going?”
“Bed.”
“You need to eat, and we need to talk.”
She glanced back at me from the doorway. “I do appreciate you ordering it, but I’m not hungry. I’m also super tired, Trigger. I need to sleep.”
Fine.
Later that night, the rain turned into a storm and lit up the entire place. Tess took Brick’s room, and he slept on the couch in the other room.
My head was chaos. The demons wouldn’t sleep, so I drank to keep them quiet. I lit a joint and kicked my feet up on the rail of the balcony. Whenever the rain blew, I got sprayed, but the cold felt good on my throbbing head.
It was a habit to sit in the far cor
ner of a space, so no one could sneak up behind me. Plus, fewer people would interact with the lurker in the shadows.
I wasn’t a fan of Vegas. Too many fights held here, too many desperate women looking to trap a man into marriage.
My dick twitched when I saw Tess step out onto the balcony with her phone to her ear. I strained to listen over the storm.
“I’m sorry, Ven. I just needed to step back for the night.” She sounded exhausted. She paused to listen then dropped her head. “Yeah, he’s just someone from my past.”
Just? I didn’t like that word.
“Clark will be fine. No, I don’t want to talk to him. Tell him I’ll be back tomorrow.” She rubbed her head. “Thanks, girl. I’ll make it up to you somehow.” She hung up and ran her hand through her hair before she caught me out of the corner of her eye. I drew back the smoke and let it coat my lungs, taking in her body under my shirt.
“Jesus, Trigger.” She held her chest. “Miss your pickup much?”
I smiled at her comment; she had a point. I did. I liked how I could blend in the shadows in the back of my truck.
The wind blew her shirt back, outlining her body. Her nipples grew hard, and so did my erection.
“What are you doing out here?”
I flicked the joint then handed it to her. She thought for a moment before she stepped up and was careful not to make skin to skin contact.
She sat on the footstool and crossed her legs, hiking the shirt up further.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
She blew out the smoke and nodded. “Understand that one.” She jumped when a clap of thunder burst above us. “I like your hair.”
I was pleased she liked it and took that moment to lean over and pull her stool between my legs. Her hands landed on my shoulders to stabilize herself.
“You need to be closer.”
“Why?”
I pointed to my head. “The only time they’re quiet is when you’re near me.”
“It’s all mental, Trigger. You can override that shit.”
I leaned closer, using my size to prove my point. “No, Tess, only you can.” My lips were close to hers, and I smelled her arousal lingering in the heavy mist around us. I wanted to attack her, dominate her, but I didn’t yet. The Clark thing hung between us. He was too close and had sunk his claws in too deep.
She dipped her head to block my access. “We should talk first.”
“Then, talk.” I moved her legs apart and slid my hands up her smooth, cool thighs. It was as if someone draped a cloak over my demons’ cages, granting me a moment of sanity. I suddenly became thirsty for her taste, my tongue begging to lap at her skin.
Her hands landed on mine, but it didn’t stop me. She moved out of my hold and stood at the balcony. I covered her back with my front and slipped my hand into her wet panties. I parted her smooth folds and slipped two fingers inside.
Her head flopped back onto my shoulder, but I felt her desire to fight me. My mouth latched onto her neck and drew in her intoxicating taste. My erection was painful, so with a free hand, I let it out and lined up with her. Before she could protest, I dove in until I hit my base.
She screamed and arched her back. I held her tightly and sucked harder.
I could barely think as her walls adjusted to my size. I hiked her leg up on the chair and leaned back to get a different angle. I drew out to my tip and slammed back in. She screamed my name and clawed at my arm around her stomach.
“Harder.” She reached back inside my pants and cupped my balls. My switch was dangerously close to flipping. She drove me wild as her nails dug my flesh.
“Tess,” I warned through a locked jaw, “careful.”
“Careful?” she bit out and pulled away so I’d slip out. The loss of contact made me instantly angry. “Careful of what? Because you’ve lost your shit on me before? Or are you saying careful, like you might throw it in my face that I’m a whore?”
What the fuck?
“I never called you a whore, Tess.”
“You may not have said the word.” She stepped back when I came near her.
“Don’t walk away from me.” I saw red, and my dick grew hot.
“You screw anyone while I was gone, Trigger?”
I hated the head games, but I hated to be questioned more.
“I can fuck whoever I want.” I marched up and backed her into the corner. “When I want.”
Her hand rested on my chest, and her head dropped, but not before I saw the sadness in her eyes. “Then you don’t need me.”
That stopped me in my tracks and held me in place, and she slipped around me and disappeared inside.
I hated my fucking ego.
Chapter Eight
Tess
The next morning, I woke to a pounding headache. I showered and put my house clothes back on. Careful not to wake Brick, I searched for my shoes, but they weren’t in the room.
Damn. I must have kicked them off in the living room.
Thankfully, the place was quiet, and I found my shoes by the coffee table. Just as I slipped the second one on, I heard the couch squeak.
“Tess?” Brick rubbed his eyes. “Where are you going?”
I stood and headed for the door. “I need to go to work.”
“What?”
“I’ll call you later.”
“Hang on—”
I opened the door to Trigger holding a tray of coffee cups.
He used his bulk as he moved forward and forced me to back up. He shot me the most pissed off look and handed me a Starbucks coffee.
“Brick.” He held my gaze, and Brick headed for the bedroom, leaving us alone.
“I’m late. I need to go.” I held up the coffee. “Thank you.”
He beat me to the door and slammed it shut. His arms folded over his chest, and I got hit with the scent of his body soap. I flinched, and I knew he caught it.
“I didn’t drive four and half hours, dress in a fuckin’ monkey suit, and be in the same room with your goddamned ex just for you to sneak out on me.”
“I never asked you to do that.” I felt like a child with my response, but if he was going to use that excuse, I was going to remind him of mine.
He took a step closer, and I held my ground. “Do you want to be there?”
“No.”
He threw his hands in the air with an exasperated sigh. “Then why the fuck are you going back?”
“Because of you!” I shouted, and his face twisted in confusion. “You may think I’m a whore, and that I’m beyond fixable, and you know what? I am. I don’t wanna be fixed.” I pointed to my head. “I deal with my fucking demons too. My past is way more fucked than even Brick knows.” Tears streamed down my cheeks.
“Then share! You said you wanted to talk, that you had something to tell me.” His voice made my ribcage rattle.
“Why? So you can throw that in my face too?”
“No, so I can understand!”
Oh. Well, he asked for it.
“I fell in love with a man at ten years old. He made me feel like I had a place in this world.” My throat burned with the words. “That I wasn’t just a fuck-up in the back of a dingy strip joint. He loved me. He talked to me and bought me shiny things. We had secrets. It was wrong, I see that now, but it felt so good. I was happy and felt loved.” I angrily brushed my tears away. “My mother was and is a jealous bitch and saw he wanted her money. She hated what I had, so she used him and got him to marry her. I’m not stupid, and I know he saw an equal opportunity and went along with it.” I yanked up my bracelets to show my scar. “Just another reminder of my failure as a woman. You wanna know what happened after my mother brought me back from the psych ward? She made sure I would see them having sex, or kissing. She wanted me to try this again,” I held up my wrist, “and she still does.”
I stopped to catch my breath, and he stared.
“Clark tried everything to get me to understand why he married my mom. Said he had to for us to be together. D
idn’t take that long for me to fall for him again. Love is like that, especially when you’re young. My eighteenth birthday, he took me to on a weekend trip where we had sex for the first time.”
I hoped that stung him as much as it did me telling this story.
“He stole my heart and my virginity. I thought things would be different then, but every time my mother won, and every time my world would crash around me. There’s so many broken pieces of me floating around inside, I don’t know what fits where, and what doesn’t.”
I couldn’t go on. I couldn’t go that one step further and utter the horror that might tip the scale too far. I was permanently scarred.
“The last six years after I left Brick at the warehouse…” My shame got hold of me, and I stopped. “Look…”
I took a deep breath, but it was no use. I was too vulnerable to be rational.
“I made a promise that I wouldn’t step foot inside that house after I left, after he stole the very last piece of me.” I started to cry harder.
“Why did you? What did you mean, you did it for me?” he asked softly as he kept a safe distance away. I didn’t blame him. I was a mess.
I eased into the chair, too tired to stand. “It’s what I wanted to tell you, why I came to you in the church. That day, I heard Detective Aaron on the phone, talking to Clark about how he had something that could destroy your club. Clark was pissed because Aaron didn’t keep his end of the bargain.”
“Which was?”
“Me for the information.”
Trigger popped his neck.
“I hid in the van. Jace and Morgan had no idea. I just wanted to tell you, and I didn’t know when you’d be back. But you…” I closed my eyes for a moment before I stood on shaky legs. “I need to go back before Clark sends someone else to find me or leaks whatever information he has on you.”
“Tess…” He rubbed his face.
“Please don’t. I don’t want to hear an apology.”
“I’m not sorry.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Of course, you’re not.” I headed for the door, but he hooked my arm and swung me around to face him.