Chapter 38
“But you know where he lives.”
“Yeah, babe,”
“Are you guys friends outside of the club?” I asked.
He let out a weird sound. Chuckle? No, maybe snort. Chortle? Yes, it was definitely a chortle.
I squeezed his hand. “What?”
“Booker was one of the kids my parents‘ took in to foster. He and I have a complicated past.”
“I didn’t realize he was a foster child,” I said sadly.
“He had a shit life, baby. It’s why he works so hard to make his current one good.”
“Why is your relationship complicated? Are you not friends?”
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“We’re gettin‘ there,” Alex said. “My dad molested most of the girls who came through our house. I didn’t know about it until Annie. She made a formal complaint through CPS, but it got lost or buried, or something. Not sure. Booker hacked into the computers and found it. It set in motion a series of events that sent my dad to prison for a very long time.”
“And you blame Booker for that?”
“Fuck, no. I hated my dad, but as a kid, I didn’t know just how much of a bastard he was. He used to smack my mom around and me too, ‘til I got big enough to defend myself, but I still didn’t know the depths of evil in him. Booker nailed him to the wall. I was thankful for it.”
“So, why the tension?”
“The issue came when Annie got pregnant by some douchebag in high school and had an abortion that went bad. Booker thought I’d knocked her up, so he’s hated me for years. We’re cool now, but can’t say we’re gonna share our feelings anytime soon.”
I smiled. “No, that’ll probably take some time.”
“Where am I parking?”
I looked out the windshield to see we were almost at our destination. “I have Macey’s code, so we can park in her extra space.”
He nodded and guided the truck into the underground parking structure and I directed him to the space. I pulled out my phone. “I just have to check with Macey and make sure she’s comfortable with you coming up.”
“I don’t bite.”
“No, I know. It’s not that.” I wasn’t sure what to say at this point. It’s not as though Macey’s life was a secret, but I also didn’t want to drag her shit out onto the street so to speak.
He sighed. “It’s fine, babe. I’m a lot to take.”
“She was raped.”
“Fuck,” he rasped.
I grimaced. “It’s been almost three years since it happened and for the most part, it’s done, but she gets nervous around men
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Chapter 38
she doesn’t know and it’s why we rally around her when Dallas is gone, Usually Bailey or I stay with her so she doesn’t have to be alone. The guy broke into her old apartment, so she doesn always feel safe when she’s by herself”
“Understandable.”
I nodded.
“I don’t have to come up, Payton. I can wait in the lobby, or here in the truck. Whatever she feels comfortable with. I can even hang at Booker’s place until you’re ready.”
“Thank you. I’ll see how she feels and go from there.” I texted Macey to let her know what was happening and she responded immediately. “She said that Dani and Booker are already there, she’s fine with you coming up”
“It’s a party, apparently.”
I giggled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Bailey and Brock are also there already. I’m usually late, so Brock said he’d take Bailey.” I checked my phone. “I’m only twenty–two minutes late tonight, and I probably would have been on time if a certain badass biker dude didn’t delay me.”
Alex laughed. “Next time I’ll make the wait a little more enjoyable.”
“Good lord, the thought of you ever making anything more enjoyable might kill me.”
Having released his seatbelt, he leaned forward and kissed me. I was still locked in, but not for long. Still holding my lips hostage, he freed me from my belt and pulled me onto his lap. I slipped my fingers into his hair and slid my tongue into his mouth, deepening the kiss.
Alex held me close, but I couldn’t get close enough and groaned in frustration as I cupped his face.
“Baby,” he said between kisses, “I’m not fuckin‘ you in the truck in a parking garage. You need to quit with those noises.”
I leaned back and frowned. “What noises?”
Alex cocked his head. “You don’t know?”
“I groaned because I was frustrated… obviously not helping the situation,” I said.
“No, babe, before that. Never mind.”
“What?” I said and gripped his shoulders. “Tell me.”
He chuckled. “I just thought you were gonna come.”
I slapped his arm. “I do not sound like I’m going to come when I’m kissing someone, Hawk. That’s disgusting.”
He cupped my bottom and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You do when you’re kissin‘ me.”
“I do not.” My face flamed. “Let me go.”
“No.”
“Hawk,” I warned, and tried to shift off his lap.
“Payton, settle,” he said. “Don’t be embarrassed baby. Nothin‘ about what we’re doin‘ should embarrass you.
“You just said I sound like I’m having an orgasm while I’m kissing someone. Now I’m thinking back to all of the other men I’ve kissed and wondered how many times I’ve done that without knowing.”
Alex’s body stiffened. “How many guys have you kissed?”
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Chapter 38
“Several.”
“Fuck me, Payton.”
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“Well, you asked! I’ve kissed a lot of guys, Hawk. But I’ve only slept with two. And they were two men I loved very much once upon a time, and with whom I’m still friends. Neither of them mentioned noises when I kissed them… I barely made noises when we had sex, so I’m sorry if this is taking me a bit by surprise.”
He looked at me like I was an alien. “You didn’t make noise when you came? Ever?”
I pushed at his shoulders again. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”
“Babe, tell me.”
“No. I don’t kiss and tell, Hawk. I like to keep my past my past.”
“Payton?”
“What?”
“Did they make you
come?”
I gasped. “What? That’s none of your business.”
He frowned. “They didn’t make you come.”
“I’m not taking the bait, Hawk. It’s none of your business.”
“Okay, baby, we’ll leave it there for now.”
“Forever,” I said.
“For now.” He patted my bottom. “How do I get Alex back?”
“Stop being such a jerk.” My phone buzzed but I ignored it.
“Okay, baby.” He smiled, and honestly I had no idea why he was so smug. “I’ll stop being a jerk.”
“What are you up to?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.
He laughed. “God, you’re gorgeous, Payton.”
My phone buzzed again. “Stop being sweet and tell me what you’re up to.”
“I’m not up to anything, babe. Promise.” He picked up my phone that was sitting on the seat beside us. “We should get upstairs.”
Just to drive home his point, my phone buzzed again. I snatched it from him and checked my texts, still sitting in his lap, mind you. I liked sitting here. Gah! I was insane.
“Let’s go,” I said, still looking at my phone, but he held firm. “What?”
“Hey,” he whispered. “Look at me.”
I met his eyes and bit my lip.
“I like everything about you, baby, yeah? Don’t ever feel self–conscious or embarrassed about your responses to me. new. We’re figurin‘ shit out.” He stroked my cheek. “You’re beautiful, Payton.”
We’re
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Chapter 38
I sighed. “And you’re back to being sweet.”
Alex chuckled. “Come here,”
He drew my head down for another delicious kiss, but this time made sure I didn’t make any noise whatsoever.
“Don’t like that, baby,” he said, and broke the kiss.
I scowled. “Now I’m not kissing right?”
“Your kissin’s fine, baby. It’s you all locked up and stiff.”
“You could tell?”
“Yeah, Payton I could tell.” He smiled. “I want you to let go. Just let it happen, yeah?”
“I’ll think about it. But right now, we have to get upstairs.” I scooted off his lap and was relieved when he let me.
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