Ford’s smile fades and I think he might throw a punch. The brothers are difficult to read, but their playing is veering close to violence.
“My turns,” I say, ignoring Ford. “I like how Pax is growing as a person. He realized he gets depressed whenever his dick is exposed. Signs of shame maybe.”
Pax narrows his eyes at me then shrugs. “I liked how you wailed on Creepy Spencer. Made my dick hard.”
Ford stands up and walks over to his brother. Leaning down, he whispers something. Pax’s expression shifts from annoyance to anger to amusement. Ford returns to his seat and looks at me.
“Pax is being an asshole and I can’t fix that. However, I can think of a way to make you feel better later.”
Grinning, I scratch at his inner thigh then focus on my food. We all eat quietly as the band plays and people talk nearby.
“This is so good. Thank you for bringing me here.”
Ford smiles at me then glances at his brother who looks ready to start shit. Pax keeps his mouth shut and we fall into silence again for another ten minutes.
“The girl I met the other night at the hotel texted me. We’re going to have lunch tomorrow.”
“Bebe, right?”
Pax snorts. “Rednecks will name their kids anything.”
“You have a point, Pax.”
“Mom isn’t a redneck.”
“True, she’s more of a hillbilly.”
“I believe she preferred the term ‘mountain folk.’ Something with mountain anyway.”
The brothers share a grin then Ford scoots his chair closer to mine. “The next set will be loud and I don’t want you getting scared.”
Leaning my head against his chest, I bat my eyes. “It’s sexy when you act protective.”
“Not an act. I protect what’s mine.”
Pax frowns. “He even protects temporary shit. Like when we watched the neighbor’s yippy dog.”
Ignoring Pax’s comment, I get how Ford and I aren’t forever. Hell, we might not last until next week. Even though losing him will tear me apart, I plan to savor the time we have left. Based on his hungry gaze, Ford’s savoring it too.
26
Ford
No Games
Shay’s walking on air when we leave City by Night. I love showing her off to people. She’s lovely and she’s mine. I can’t imagine what it’ll be like when our relationship is over and she hates me. I refuse to imagine her looking at me with anger. Instead, I focus on her current smiles and forget the rest. We could all be dead tomorrow, so I plan to enjoy the now.
At the house, Shay walks to my bedroom while I grab us drinks from the fridge. Pax joins me, wearing a frown.
“Shay passed my test, but she won’t like when you dump her. I see a future of her clawing out your eyes. Crotch destruction too. I won’t blame her. Teasing a young girl like that is a dick move.”
I roll my eyes and hand him a beer. “Fuck you and your test. Shay’s not a girl and she knows the score. We like hanging out. I dig her for more than the fucking too. Let it go.”
“You haven’t had a girlfriend since high school.”
“No, since I joined the club. I saw a short life ahead of us. I’m not Joker who can pretend he’s living a normal Joe life. Fuck, he played that game twice.”
“Didn’t work out well for Big Dick, did it?”
I shove him back against the fridge, making him smile. “No and nothing’s changed for us. I just want this chick and you being an asshole to her won’t change anything.”
“Fine. I’ll tolerate her better. Even treat her with a level of respect like I would a waitress or the cleaning lady.”
Rolling my eyes again, I leave him to watch a movie with Folgers. In my room, Shay’s spread out on the bed facing the TV. Smiling, she rolls onto her back and swings her bare feet in the air.
“I should be bored of sex by now, but I can’t get enough of you.”
“Orgasms will do that,” I say, setting down the drinks and kicking off my boots.
“You smell good. Taste good. When you touch me, I feel different. I think the orgasms are the cherry on top.”
Staring at Shay, I wonder where she’s going with her praise. Are we heading for a relationship talk? Does she want promises? I can promise her anything, but they’ll be lies.
Focused on her feet, Shay doesn’t notice my frown. “I really need a pedicure. If I’m going to wear heels again, I can’t have such grungy nails.”
Realizing Shay’s praise is just chatter, I want to relax. Except I can’t. My initial relief is replaced by annoyance. Are Pax and I all wrong about how Shay will react when the fun ends? Is her time with me meaningless?
During moments when I feel her completely open to me, I imagine her declaring her love. Yet right now, I wonder if she’s only a young woman having fun. Maybe I’m reading too much shit into her behavior. Am I the one falling for someone with no intention of sticking around?
“I better not waste money on a pedicure, if I want to save up for my brothers to visit,” Shay says, rolling back onto her stomach. “Or I might visit them.”