Cross (Dark Kings 3)

He pulls away and lets go of my chin, slowly running his knuckles down my neck and over my chest bone. My breathing picks up. His eyes follow his touch and then lift to meet mine. “I put my number in your phone. Text me later.” With that, he pulls back and exits the room, leaving me alone to catch my breath.

I rush to his bathroom and find a toothbrush on his counter, not even bothering to wonder why he has an extra one still in the package. Total playboy move, but whatever. At least he’s considerate of his one-night stands.

Once done, I bend over, throw my hair up into a messy ponytail and then use the restroom before getting dressed in the clothes I wore last night. I don’t even have time for a whore’s bath. This’ll have to do until I can get home and soak in the tub.

Making my way to the twentieth floor, I enter Empire at a quarter till seven to see April and Jasmine already seated. “Hey, ladies.” I scoot into the booth with a smile. They both sit across from me. April looks like her glowing self. She has her dark purple hair down and her makeup done. Her lips match her hair, and her winged black eyeliner is on thick.

Jasmine looks rough. “Have you been home?” I ask.

Jasmine has her face covered with a big pair of white Versace sunglasses, and her red hair is up in a messy bun. Well, kind of. It’s so short that a lot of pieces have fallen to frame her face. Pretty sure she still has her makeup on from last night just like me.

“No.” She sighs. “I left the moment I got to their house last night.” She points at April sitting next to her.

“I was wondering where you were this morning,” April says. “I went into the room, and there was a piece of paper on the bed, but nothing had been written on it.”

“Shit. I could have sworn I left you a note.” Jasmine shrugs. “Must have imagined it.”

“Where did you go?” I wonder.

“I climbed out the window and had someone pick me up,” Jasmine answers vaguely.

“You what?” April laughs. “You climbed out the window? Why didn’t you just use the front door?”

“It was fine. Felt like I was fifteen again.” Jasmine sips her coffee.

“How do you feel?” I ask, looking her over.

She pushes her glasses to the top of her head, and sure enough, her once flawless makeup is smeared under her eyes. It looks like she has been crying, but that could just be the result of a good fucking. “Like I’m seventy and just had back surgery,” she says matter-of-factly. “My pussy is still feeling the aftershocks of the 9.5 dick that pounded it last night.”

We both laugh. “Hey, before Emilee and Haven get here, I need to tell you guys something, but you have to keep it a secret.” My eyes dart around the restaurant to make sure the girls haven’t arrived yet.

“With my life.” Jasmine pretends to slit her throat, showing her commitment to keeping my secrets.

April chuckles at her but nods. “Of course.”

I can trust both of them. I’m not so sure about Haven and Emilee, though. They’re both married, and I’m not sure how much they tell their husbands. “I slept with Cross last night.”

“What?” April gasps, her ice blue eyes wide.

“I knew that was going to happen.” Jasmine waves it off. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you guys did it in his car before you even left.”

“I waited until we got back here.” I laugh.

“Why is that a secret?” April asks, looking confused all of a sudden.

“I guess Grave told him I was off-limits.” I shrug, having problems remembering everything that was said last night. At one point, I was hammered. The other part, I was exhausted. “Not sure why or what that meant. But he made Cross promise not to touch me at Titan and Emilee’s wedding.”

April frowns, tilting her head.

I can’t keep secrets from her. I understand that I told Cross I can, but I didn’t know it was going to involve April. I’m not sure what I was thinking about who he wanted to keep it from, but I have to tell her.

“But why?” she asks again. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Because you and I are friends,” I answer.

She sighs, running a hand through her hair. “Grave has been … fragile ever since he got out of rehab.”

“What do you mean by fragile?” Jasmine asks before shoving a piece of toast into her mouth.

“Just overprotective, I guess is the right word.”

“Well, you’re pregnant with his child. What do you expect?” Jasmine adds.

“Please don’t tell him,” I add quickly. “I don’t want it to put a strain on his relationship with Cross.” I don’t know Grave well enough to know how he would react to this news. And it’s not like I plan on doing it again. It was just a one-night stand—multiple times. They, however, see each other every day. They’re not only best friends but also business partners.