Alphas on Top

by Harper Sloan

  Charlie finally moves away from the door, grabs her briefcase, and sits on the couch facing me. She pulls out a notepad and a pen and then puts glasses on. They’re thick brown frames that highlight the color of her eyes rather than hiding them. Something about the combination of the glasses and the briefcase has me thinking naughty professor, and I’m kind of shocked that my dick is picking up on it.

  Picking up the pen, she begins to ask me questions in detail about the explosion, my injuries and surgeries, and all the subsequent doctor visits since then. It’s not exactly something I like talking about. I give her as little detail as possible but just enough that she knows what she’s getting into. She listens intently, nodding and giving me sympathetic looks as I tell her what I remember about the incident.

  There’s not much more that I hate than pity, so I try to end the conversation, but the girl is relentless with her interrogation. Her face softens as I tell her about waking up from the coma. The look she’s giving me is a combination of both sexy and sweet and I’m finding it hard to concentrate. She keeps chewing on the end of her pen, and my cock goes hard in two seconds flat as I envision those sweet, plump lips wrapped around it. Trying to discreetly readjust myself in my basketball shorts so I don’t scare her off with the giant tent, I grab the pillow from behind me and place it in my lap as she continues her line of questioning, frequently sucking on the pen. Finally, after about twenty minutes have passed, my dick and I get some relief as she puts her things away and stands. Thank freaking Christ that’s over with.

  “I know your brother’s been here to help you, but this place looks like it could use a good cleaning, so I’m going to get to work. Need anything before I start? And is there any place in the house you want me to avoid?” she asks, and I’m taken aback at the question. Most women I know would be dying to snoop around.

  “I’m good. I’m getting used to sitting around doing nothing. And no, there’s nothing off-limits.” She’s about to leave the room when a thought pops in my mind. “Hey, actually, there’s a book on my nightstand. Can you grab that for me? It helps pass the time.”

  She nods and disappears, only to walk back in a few moments later, her eyebrows raised at the book she’s holding.

  “You’re reading War and Peace? Don’t you already have enough trouble staying awake with your pain pills?” she asks teasingly as she hands me the second volume. The sexy grin on her face has me itching to grab her hand and pull her into my lap, but the bulky brace would just be in the way and I’m in no shape to pleasure her the way I want to.

  “I’ve got nothing but time, sweetheart. And…well, Jace bet me a hundred bucks that I wouldn’t finish it, and I hate to lose,” I admit.

  “Yeah, good luck with that. You’ll have to let me know how it turns out,” she says before grabbing her iPod out of her purse. She puts the headphones in and exits the room, leaving me alone with Tolstoy and the talking heads on ESPN.

  An hour later, I’m still trying to lose myself in the world of the Rostovs and the Bolkonskys, but my mind keeps wandering to the brown-eyed girl who’s signed on to hang out with me over the next few weeks or however long she’s going to be around. I hate that I’m thinking about her, and I hate even more that I’m going to be tortured by seeing her every day. I know she’s attracted to me. I saw it in the way she checked me out last night and then in the way her eyes took in my bare chest this morning. I have to admit that it does something for my ego since it’s been killing me to stay inactive. I swear I can feel the muscle mass melting off me every single day that passes and it's doing nothing to help the bad mood that's been hanging over me for the past few weeks.

  Closing the book and setting it aside, I contemplate going to find her to help ward off some of this loneliness that's been gradually creeping up on me since I left the hospital. If we’re going to be spending time together, we might as well get to know each other—platonically, of course. If she’s still around when I’m fully healed, then maybe we can test the physical waters. Maybe.

  I’m about to get up and go in search of her when I hear her phone beep and notice it sitting on the table. Picking it up to take to her, I can’t help but glance at the screen. It’s a text from some guy named Drew.

  Charlie, I love you. I’m back in town and I need, I want to see you as soon as possible. Please call me as soon as you get this.

  Well, fuck me cockless. All sorts of accusations start flying through my head, and I determine this guy must be her man. So much for trying to get to know her. Now I don’t even want her around if that’s the type of chick she is. Either I misjudged her attraction or she likes to step out on this Drew guy when he’s apparently out of town. And to think I was getting ready to put myself out there.

  “Hey, I found this grocery list on the side of the refrigerator. Cohen gave me some cash before he left. Want me to run to the store and pick this stuff up for you? I’ve got time. I don’t have anywhere I need to be today,” Charlie asks as she walks into the room, pulling the headphones out of her ears. She freezes when she sees me holding her phone and gives me a confused look.

  “Oh, I think your day just got a little busier. Apparently your boyfriend’s back in town. Guess I’m fortunate that I didn’t sit down on the barstool next to you last night like my dick was screaming at me to do, sweetheart. One thing you need to know about me is that I don’t fuck other men’s women. And I sure as hell don’t respect a woman who’d step out on her man,” I spit out, pissed that what I thought could be a sweet girl I could get to know has turned out to be in the same category as Megan.

  Her eyes first widen and then narrow at my words. I can see the anger spreading across her face, and while I’m confused by it, it doesn’t stop me from giving her a stare down. Who the hell does she think she is to be angry? I know she didn’t exactly hit on me, but her eyes last night told me that she wanted to. She’s standing frozen in her spot, and I can’t help but egg her on.

  “What’s the matter, Charlotte? Didn’t expect me to find out? I guess that’s just too bad for you. Here’s the thing. I don’t do cheating and I can’t stand cheaters.”

  Before I can get the last word out, she moves so fast that I can’t anticipate the slap that lands across my cheek. This isn’t the first slap I’ve ever gotten, but it is the first time it’s happened that I didn’t hear an apology immediately following it, the slapper’s eyes wide as she covers her mouth in an I can’t believe I just did that type of way. Nope, this girl meant for that slap to sting, and fuck, did it ever. I’m rubbing my jaw when I notice that her eyes look hot with anger, and I have to take a step back before she lands another blow.

  I watch as she closes her eyes and balls her fists at her sides as she takes a deep breath. She stands there in that exact spot for a few moments, and I’m hoping she’s trying to calm down. I’m still the wronged party here, if you can even call it that, but I don’t feel like getting hit again. Slowly, she opens her eyes, unclenches her fists, and glares at me once again.

  “I hope that leaves a mark, asshole.”

  What in the fucking hell?

  THIS GUY has lost his mind. He is seriously delusional, and I’m questioning the validity of the assessment that he didn’t suffer brain damage. I’m about to suggest that he get a second opinion when he interrupts my thoughts.

  “Sorry, sweetheart, but you’re going to have to hit a lot harder than that to leave a mark on my skin,” he prods, further irritating me, causing me to ball my hand into a fist again, ready to accept his challenge.

  “Let’s get a couple of things straight here, asshole. First of all, when I introduced myself to you last night, did I say, ‘Hey, sexy, I’m Charlotte. I want a good fuck and you look just like the guy to give it to me’? Well, did I?” I ask, seething with anger as he hesitates to answer me. Sure, I may have thought about his lips on my skin, but I never would’ve gone home with him on the first night, no matter what Lucy advised me to do.

  He blinks at me, looking from my fist
to my face. “Uh…no?”

  “Exactly, so you can forget that whole part of your argument, but thank God you’re so fucking noble that you won’t sleep with another man’s woman. Seriously. Fucking kudos. I’ll have to get you a cookie for that.” He snorts, and I glare at him, shutting him up. “So second of all, did you ever ask if I have a boyfriend? Not that it should matter to you since you blew me off when I simply told you my name, but did you ever ask if I had a boyfriend?”

  Again, I get a blank stare before he lets out another, “No.”

  “So then ask me.”

  He clears his throat before he asks the question. “Charlotte, do you have a boyfriend?”

  Giving him a sweet smile that’s still laced with venom, I answer him. “No, Knox, for your information, I do not have a boyfriend. I did, however, have a fiancé until a couple of months ago. It looks like we have one thing in common. I, like you, cannot stand cheaters.”

  His eyes widen as the realization that he’s a complete and total asshole dawns on him. Or at least I hope it does. Wanting to have the last word, I hurriedly grab my purse and head into the kitchen to grab the cash his brother left. As I make my way towards the front door, he stops me in the living room and hands me my phone. I try to ignore the way his hand lingers on mine when I take it from him, but the feel of his rough skin turns me on, and it pisses me off even more.

  “Charlie, I—” I hold my hand up and he stops talking. I don’t bother looking up at him. I’m so angry, and I’m afraid if I see a sympathetic or apologetic look in his gorgeous green eyes my anger will melt away. I have no time for a guy who’d make assumptions about me like that, both that I’d fuck him the night I met him and that I’d cheat on my boyfriend to do so. I don’t care how hot he is—he’s clearly an arrogant cockbag I’m better off just admiring from afar.

  “Just don’t, Knox. I’ll be back with the groceries later. Maybe while I’m gone you can take the foot out of your mouth and shove it up your ass.”

  Without looking back, I leave his house. It isn’t until I’m halfway down the road that I finally stop shaking.

  LUCY LOOKS at me with wide eyes. “He did not say that!” Taking a sip of my coffee, I nod and she falls back against the couch with a look of disgust on her face.

  I called her to meet me for coffee so I could vent and calm my nerves. Knox’s grocery list wasn’t all that long, but I need time to cool off before going back to his place. To be honest, I was getting used to the idea of taking care of him while his brother is away. After Jace and Cohen had left, he seemed to have mellowed out a little, and while I was cleaning, I decided that he was probably just grumpy from having a caretaker and being cooped up inside. I was hoping that after I was done we could lunch together and get to know each other, but it’s clear now that’s not going to happen.

  “So what’d you do? I can’t believe he snooped through your phone and then went off on you like that!” Lucy exclaims, and I know she’s going to be stuck on this for a while. Her last relationship didn’t end well and she’s still in the man-hating stage, except where Kale’s concerned.

  I grin sheepishly as I relive the slap for her. She squeals and holds up her hand for a high-five. Lucy’s all about the slap. I’ve always given her crap about it, but damn, it felt good when I did it. It might have been a little unwarranted, and I’m wondering if part of it was because I never got to give Drew the same treatment.

  “Have you ever even slapped anyone before?” she asks, and I shake my head.

  “That was definitely a first for me, but I was just so angry. And I think I was more pissed that he basically called me a slut without having to say it! All I did was say hi and tell him my name. Since when did that mean ‘please bend me over this table and do me good’?”

  Lucy giggles and shakes her head. “I saw that guy last night. He’s probably had the very thing happen to him. You know how the Army groupies around here can be when it comes to hot soldiers. They don’t call them barracks bunnies because they’re there to do housekeeping. They prey on these guys, and the men eat it up. For the most part.”

  I roll my eyes, knowing she’s right. It doesn’t escape my attention that there always seems to be attractive girls hanging around the VA office on campus.

  “I don’t get him. I’ve ‘known’ the guy for less than twenty-four hours and he’s already shot me down, blown me off, flirted with me, had to hide his hard dick, and then called me a slut in that period of time. I mean, who does that?”

  Lucy’s eyes widen and the grin on her face grows just as big. “His penis got hard and he had to hide it? Oh, sister, do tell!”

  Rolling my eyes again, I’m not surprised that’s what she latched on to from my statement. “When I was trying to get information out of him about his injuries, needs, and wants so that I can help him out in the most efficient way, I couldn’t help but notice that he kept watching me chew on my pen. I swear, he wasn’t even aware we were having a conversation. His eyes were glued to my lips…so I may have put on a little show, sucking the tip while he watched.” I grin sheepishly, and Lucy laughs.

  “Oh my god, you were teasing him?!”

  “I couldn’t help myself! Then I noticed him readjusting his crotch and then he covered it with a pillow.” I grin to myself as I remember how empowering it felt with his eyes following every movement my lips made. I felt even more confident when I realized he had an erection.

  Her head falls back again as she laughs. “You totally gave that guy spank bank material! Nice going, girl.”

  Shaking my head, I just shrug. “I seriously doubt that. I think the slap probably took care of that little problem.”

  “Or it turned him on even more. Maybe he likes it a little rough.” She pauses, and I’m sure she’s thinking about the very thing right now. “Hey, at least you learned one good thing about this guy,” she says, and I wrinkle my forehead in confusion.

  “That he likes to jump to conclusions and apparently thinks every woman on the planet wants to sleep with him? Yeah, great guy! My panties are melting just at the thought of him,” I say sarcastically, but if I’m being honest, I can totally see that actually happening.

  She takes a sip of her latte before she responds. “Not every woman on the planet. Just you. You must’ve been giving him fuck-me eyes.” She starts batting her eyelashes and I can’t help but laugh at her. “What I mean is, you know he’s not a cheater. After what happened with Drew, I’d say this guy is at least a step in the right direction. Maybe he deserves a chance. Or at least a roll in the hay.”

  “You’re kidding, right? Between his accusations and my slap, I highly doubt anything’s going to happen. I imagine we’ll barely tolerate each other until this assignment is over. And I’m absolutely not getting between the sheets with him. That’d only prove his theory that I wanted him!”

  Watching me, Lucy twirls her straw in her drink before she grins wickedly at me. “Well, did you? Don’t think I didn’t notice you practically ignoring Michael while you were staring at this guy across the bar. Hell, I had to yank you outside to get you to leave.”

  I blush, knowing I can’t keep anything from her. “Okay, fine. So maybe I thought about what it would be like for him to be a good rebound, but it wouldn’t have happened that night!”

  “Oh, Jesus, Charlie. Lighten up and stop being such a prude. A one-night stand is a great way to rebound. You get to feel good for a night without letting your heart get involved. And then you don’t have to go to bed knowing the last person to touch you was the asshole who broke your heart.”

  “How’s that working out for you, Lucy?” I ask immediately regretting it as I see the dark expression wash over her face. “Shit, Luce, I didn’t mean that.”

  Waving me off, she plants a fake smile across her face. “It’s fine, Charlie. We all have our ways of coping. Yours is crying yourself to sleep, and mine is not being alone long enough to do the same.” She catches the expression on my face and her eyes soften. She reaches acro
ss the table and places her hand on mine. “The walls are thin, honey, and you’re not exactly quiet.”

  I grin back at her, trying to lighten the mood. “Yeah, well, Lucy, you aren’t exactly quiet either, and Kale definitely isn’t.”

  We both fall into a fit of giggles, letting the serious moment pass us. She’s exactly right. We both have our own ways of coping, and I’m beginning to realize that mine is doing nothing but keeping me down. Maybe I do need to change things up. I don’t necessarily need to sleep with every guy who buys me a drink, but perhaps it’s time to loosen up and just let myself have a little fun for once. But not with Knox. I’m vowing to keep my heart—and my legs—completely void of the broody, grumpy, irritatingly good-looking soldier.

  I AM an asshole. That’s not a secret. And I’ve never hidden it or shied away from being who I am. So why do I feel so guilty for what I said to Charlie? I admit, I flew off the handle and made assumptions I shouldn’t have. The wave of jealousy that washed over me when I saw that text had me seeing red, which is fucking idiotic because I have no claim to her. I want no claim to her, but that damn slap did nothing to calm my raging dick. And although I should be happy that it’s working properly for the first time in weeks, I’m irritated as hell.

  I’ve been sitting around the house trying to read this damn book to no avail when I hear a car pull in the driveway. Setting it down, I slowly rise from the chair and make my way outside to try and wave the white flag, hoping to salvage some part of this working relationship.

  She has her head in the trunk when I approach her. “Need some help?” I ask, causing her to stand up so quickly that her head smacks the trunk door.

  “Mother fucker!” she yells, her Southern twang coming out as she rubs the spot on her head where she collided with the metal. “Dammit, Knox! Don’t sneak up on someone when they’re in an unfamiliar place and not paying attention.”