Something for the Pain (Pain 2)

Alex runs his tongue over his bottom lip and nods his head as if trying to hold something back. “Do you even have to ask?” He turns to me and gives me a kiss on the forehead before his gray eyes find mine. “I should grab my shit and get going. I need to be at Ravage for an appointment soon.”

“See ya later, man,” Lucas says while pounding his fist with Alex’s. “We’ll be moving some of our stuff in over the weekend. I’m sure Tripp will fill you in on the rest of the details later. Cool?”

Alex nods his head and starts backing up. “Sure thing.” He turns back to me and winks. “Talk to ya later, Firecracker.”

“I’ll call you in a few hours,” I say in response, ignoring his silly nickname for me.

Lucas watches as he walks down the stairs before turning back to me and pulling me against him. He presses his lips against mine and grips my ass in his hands. “You look so damn sexy wet. I hope you’re in the mood, because I can’t help myself right now.”

He kisses me again before licking his lips and pulling away. “I told you he’d agree to move in. I just hope he doesn’t mind us having a little fun once in a while. I’m not going to hold back just because he’ll be living here too.”

I let out a little breath and force a smile. “He’ll be fine. I’m sure he’ll have a ton of girls over anyways. He will hardly even notice.”

Saying the words out loud only makes my heart ache.

“Yeah. Well who knows, maybe he will share with us. I don’t mind sharing.”

I let out a nervous laugh and try to hide the fact that for some reason that bothers me.

“Maybe,” I whisper.

Maybe I want him all to myself . . .

IT’S BEEN FIVE DAYS SINCE Tripp asked me to move in with her and Lucas. I should have been moved in days ago, but the truth is my head is still reeling from our conversation at the bar. That and the fact that I have been extremely busy, working my ass off here at Ravage. I’ve been lucky to have any amount of free time in between my endless appointments.

“Hey dude. Alex,” Ace calls out, probably from the gaming couch.

“Yeah, man?” I smile down at the sexy brunette in my chair as I hand her the mirror, allowing her to check out the dandelion I just placed below her right collarbone.

“Your girlfriend is here to see you,” he replies with a hint of laughter. “She’s looking damn fine too, so you better hurry your ass up.” I hear him whisper, “Damn,” as her footsteps start heading toward my door.

Everyone at the shop knows she’s not my girlfriend, but after months of everyone calling her that, we have both given up on correcting them. It’s not like it really bothers me anyways. If I were to ever have a girlfriend, Tripp would be the perfect one for the role; the only one able to capture my balls and lure me in, so fuck it.

Sliding my chair back, I look up to see Tripp appear in the doorway with a half-smile, dressed in another damn dress. Fuck, those dresses do me in. She glances down at the brunette that now seems to be glaring at me, looking jealous.

She gives me a knowing look. “Nice tattoo,” Tripp confirms as the girl looks between Tripp and I, trying to get a read.

“Thanks,” she says with a sneer, before looking at me. “I didn’t realize you had a girlfriend.” She stands from the chair and walks over to stand in front of me. “I’ve been hearing some things about you and I was hoping we could hang out sometime. I just assumed you were single from all the talk.”

Before I can say anything, Tripp walks over to the chair and takes a seat, slapping the brunette on the ass. The girl seems surprised, but this chick never fails to surprise me. She’s definitely something else. “He doesn’t.” She grabs the girl’s arm and pulls her down so that her lips are close to the girl’s ear. “And I can confirm that everything you’ve heard about this stud is true.”

Tripp leans in closer, brushing her lips under her ear as the brunette lifts an eyebrow, her interest piqued once again. “Trust me,” she whispers.

The brunette now looks back at me with a playful smile, looking hopeful once again. “I see,” she says sweetly. “That’s perfect.”

“We’re having a party tonight at our place,” Tripp says proudly. “Ask Ace to hook you up with the address. It’s not far from here.”

“I’ll definitely be there.” She looks me up and down, admiring my body before saying, “The name is Mel by the way.”

Tripp winks at me before smiling up at Mel. “We’ll see you around eight, Mel. Don’t keep my guy over here waiting for too long. The other girls will swoop in and take your place if they see the opportunity.”

Mel looks a little nervous, before shaking it off and smiling. “Oh, I won’t be late.” She starts backing up toward the door while biting her bottom lip. “I’ll see ya then, Alex.”

Shaking my head, I look to Tripp and smirk as Mel turns around and exits the room. I somehow find what she just did to be extremely hot. “What was all that shit about?”

She shrugs her shoulders before reaching in her purse and pulling out a sandwich, tossing it to me. “I was just being your wingman . . . or would it be wingwoman?” She raises an eyebrow in thought, grinning from ear to ear.

I reply to her while unwrapping my ham and cheese sandwich and taking a bite. “You really are something else. She would’ve came home with me no matter what. You know that, right?”

“Of course,” she says in a high-pitched voice. “But I owe you for agreeing to move in with us. I had to make sure it was a done deal.” She jumps up from the chair and wraps her arms around my neck. “I’ve been settled in for three days now. You need to hurry up and move in. I won’t be excited until I see your stuff show up. I want you to call this place home. You promised me.”

I run my hands up her arms before pulling them away and pushing her toward the door, pinning her up against it. I look her in the eyes so she can see the truth in them. “You know I’ll be there. Just give me a few hours. I have two more appointments and then I’m out. I promise, Tripp. Never question that.”

“Alright,” she says with a nervous smile. She places her hands on my chest and looks down at them before looking back up at my face. “I’ll be home setting up for the party. It’s going to be a blast. I promise.” She removes her hands and sucks her bottom lip into her mouth. “Later, Stud.”