Chapter 18
Lexi
What the hell am I doing? I’m just as bad as Sax and Ryder. I can’t believe I just kissed him, while dating Derek. It felt like coming home. I know Derek and I aren’t like that, but I owe it to him to be faithful while we're together. I make my way back into the club and sit by Derek.
“You okay, babe?” he asks, looking at me with concern.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I tell him, smiling up at him. I need to tell him about the kiss. If not, it will eat me alive; I’m not a person to keep secrets. After a few more drinks Derek and I head to my apartment. He’s yet to spend the night with me, and we've done nothing more than kiss so far. As he walks me to the door, I blurt out, “Derek, I have to tell you something, and you’re probably gonna be mad.”
He frowns and glances at me. “What is it, babe?”
“I kissed Ryder tonight,” I quickly rush on. “I’m so sorry, it won’t happen again.”
Derek is quiet for a moment but he looks pissed. His jaw clenches, and his eyes narrow, but all he tells me is, “It’s okay, babe.”
I don’t know how he can be so forgiving. I unlock the apartment door, and invite him inside. I don’t know if it’s because I feel guilty or what, but I practically attack him, kissing him almost desperately, trying to forget Ryder’s kiss. Derek picks me up in his arms effortlessly, and takes me into my bedroom. I don’t stop him when he undresses me, his gaze raking over my body hungrily. Derek undresses himself afterwards, his brown eyes connected to mine the entire time. I gulp when I take in his muscular body. He's ripped. He pushes me back onto the bed, and pulls a condom out of his wallet, putting it on his aroused cock. When he leans over me and slides inside me with one smooth thrust, I moan out, “Ryder.” He instantly stills. Oh, shit. Shit, shit, shit.
He gets off me in an instant and sits on the bed, his head in his hands.
I feel like the worst person ever.
“Derek, I’m...” I try to explain, but he cuts me off.
“Just don’t. I should have known. It’s always been him,” he says hoarsely.
“I’m so sorry, Derek.” I start crying and he pulls me close to him, hugging me. He's comforting me when I don’t deserve it. This man is one of the good ones.
“It’s okay, Lexi, you’re a great girl. It just didn’t work for us. Don’t be upset, sweetheart,” he croons.
I feel sick that I did this to him. Derek gets up and gets dressed. Before he leaves I give him another hug. “Derek, I'm really sorry. You’re a great guy.”
He sighs and hugs me tight. “It’s okay, Lexi.”
“You’re really hot too,” I tell him.
He chuckles, kisses the side of my head, tells me to take care, and that he’ll see me later. I sink back onto my bed, feeling like shit.
Ryder. I guess he and I need to talk, after all.
*****
Ryder
I storm into Sax’s place without even knocking, and I'm shocked when I see him with a chick in his bed. She’s on all fours, and he’s pounding away behind her. I so do not need to see this shit, especially when I recognize the girl. It’s Payton, the bartender from Steele. I’m pretty sure Lexi and her are friends, too. F*ck!
“What the f*ck, man? I thought you were pining away for your precious AJ,” I yell at him, making sure not to look at Payton. Sax quickly covers Payton’s body, apologizing and passing her her clothes. She quickly puts them on, rushing out. She avoids looking at me the entire time. Sax throws his boxers on, his eyes solely on Payton’s retreat.
“I just came to tell you that Lexi is mine. I’m going to get her back because I love her. And I sure as f*ck would never cheat on her,” I hiss vehemently. Sax’s gaze snaps to me, like he forgot I was even standing here.
His face pales at my words. “She told you?”
“Yeah, you cocksucker, she told me you cheated on her when she was grieving for her mother. How the f*ck could you do that to her?”I fume.
“Trust me, I’ve regretted it every day since.” He wipes his hand over his face. “I loved her, man, I still do. She won’t forgive me, though. When she took off years ago, I tried to find her. And when she came back, I thought it was my chance. But she f*cking hates me,” he says, his voice cracking at the end.
F*ck, he’s my friend, and I’m moving in on his girl. Granted, I didn’t know Lexi was AJ until later. But still, it makes me feel like shit. “You’ll find someone else, and when you do, don’t f*ck it up. You cheat on a chick, there is no coming back from that,” I tell him.
He lets out a sigh. I’m starting to feel like this is a huge f*cking girly moment. “If you can get AJ, I mean, Lexi back, I’ll stand by ya, man. She’s an amazing girl. Hurt her though, and you’re dead,” he warns. I nod. I'll do anything to get Lexi back.
*****