Tempting Tricks (Tempting Nights #2)

Chapter Two

~Trick~

I ’m a quarter of the way down the hallway before the door slams shut behind me, my heart banging against my chest as I stride past the elevator and burst through the doorway to the staircase. I’m on the twenty-third floor, but right now, I don’t give a damn. I fly down the steps, not stopping until I’ve reached the twelfth-floor landing, finally feeling like I’ve put enough distance between myself and Doctor Murphy.

Placing my balled hands onto the wall, I rest my head on my bicep. I blow out a breath of air to try to slow down my racing heart. At least, running down twelve flights of stairs has lessened the ache throbbing between my legs. Being in the same room with her is getting harder and harder. Especially when she wears a skirt like she did today, exposing her long, bare legs. Perfectly smooth, like pale silk, except for the tiny rose tattoo she has on one ankle, a petal falling softly beside a thorny stem.

“Get your shit together, man!” I yell, my words echoing against the cement tunnel of the staircase. I push myself off the wall, rake one hand through my already tousled brown mop, and begin descending the stairs again. This time, at a slower pace. Therapy is supposed to be helping me, but each time I leave, I only feel more frustrated. What I’d really like to do is lay her back on her desk, push her skirt up, spread those long legs, and sink deep inside her. That’s a therapy session I could get on board with. And I know for a fact I’d feel a fuck of a lot better than I do right now.

I reach the first floor and push through the door, emerging into a corner of the lobby, and my phone rings. I pull it out of my pocket, see it’s Trey and hit accept to take the call. “What’s up?”

“It’s me, not Trey,” Charlotte, Trey’s fiancée and soon-to-be baby momma, says. I like her. She makes my best friend happy, and working in the medical profession like him makes them a good fit. She’s six months pregnant with their little girl and lives one floor below mine in the same apartment building.

“Hey, Charlie.” I pull the phone away from my ear to check that I didn’t misread the call when it came in. “Why are you calling from Trey’s phone? Is everything okay? Is the baby okay?”

“Yes, yes, everything’s fine.” She laughs lightly. “If only you would show others how much of a big caring teddy bear you really are. Trey’s phone was just closer than mine, and I was too lazy to push this big ole belly off the couch.”

“Okay, what’s up? Another craving?” I drawl out as I exit the building, a blast of frigid March air reminding me that I left my jacket up in her damn office. “Fuck!”

“Trick!” Charlie’s worried voice carries over the phone. “Are you okay?”

I stomp my foot on the ground in frustration, making an instant decision. I’d rather freeze my balls off then go back into the same room with Doctor Murphy right now. I turn in the direction I just came from and walk back into the lobby. “Yep, sorry. Just realized I forgot something.”

“Are you sure?” She asks, not convinced. “Where are you?”

“Charlie, what do you need? Did you call for something?” I’m short with her. I know I am. But I’ve already got one woman driving me fucking nuts today, I don’t need another.

“I just wanted to know when you were going to be home,” she says quietly. “I have something for you. I went up to your place, but you weren’t there.”

Great, now I feel like shit for snapping at her. “Sorry, Charlie. Bad morning. I’m on my way home now. You need anything?”

“No, just text me when you’re home. I’ll come up.” There’s a pause before she continues. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, yeah.” I’ve softened my tone considerably, feeling like a total douche bag for snapping at her in the first place. “I’m good. I’m gonna catch a cab. Should be there shortly.”

“Okay, see ya soon.” She ends the call, and I slide my phone back into my pocket, pulling my cash out to see what I’ve got on me. Thirty bucks. Plenty for a taxi. No fucking way I’m going up to get my jacket, and no way I’m walking home without one.

T wenty minutes later, I step out onto the seventh floor of my building and turn left to Trey and Charlie’s apartment instead of going up to mine. I knock when I reach the door, my head cocking when I hear a commotion on the other side, Charlie yelling at Trey to get the door. What the hell is she up to now?

The door swings wide, Trey on the other side, a crooked smile on his scruffy face. “I just want you to know I had nothing to do with this.” He motions for me to come in.

“What the fuck?” I enter their living room and shoot him a questioning look. “She planning an intervention or something?”

“Yeah, a pussy intervention.” He chuffs out a laugh, running a hand over his stubbled chin in thought. “Actually, this will probably help get you more of that.”

One side of my mouth shoots up in a devilish grin. “Okay, now I’m intrigued.”

“Is he ready?” Charlie’s voice shouts out from behind the bedroom door.

“Sweetie, he’s here. What else do you want him to do?” Trey walks a couple steps closer to the door she’s behind. “Close his eyes?” The last part is dripping with sarcasm, but it’s no surprise when she responds.

“Yes! And have him sit on the couch!” She’s little, but boy, she’s bossy .

I shoot Trey a look, throwing my hands up to my side. “What the fuck is going on?”

He shakes his head and replies in a pleading voice, “Just do what she says, man. Help me out here.”

“You’re so fucking pussy whipped, dude.” I roll my eyes but throw the guy a bone and go sit on the couch.

“Close your eyes,” Trey hisses out.

“Jesus Christ,” I mutter, but close them, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Okay, Charlie, he’s ready,” Trey calls out.

I hear the door click open and then the patter of footsteps growing louder as she approaches and then stops in front of me. I feel the warm weight of something round being placed in my lap and instinctively lower my hands just as Charlie yells, “Surprise!”

My eyes snap open to look down as my fingers land on soft fur. I nearly jump up when I realize what I’m holding but am too afraid I’m going to drop it on the floor.

“It’s a boy!” Charlie jumps in place and claps her hands. “Congrats, Daddy!”

“What the ever-loving fuck?” My eyes dart to her then the fur ball on my lap, my nostrils flaring as I try not to yell when I glare back up at her. “This is a puppy, Charlie.”

“More to the point, it’s your puppy.” She beams angelically at me. “A Siberian Husky. Known to be intelligent, independent, and stubborn.” Her brows arch as she continues, her tone changing to one of contention. “I thought you’d make the perfect match.”

“What the hell am I going to do with a puppy?” I stand, grabbing the bundle of fur in my hands, and hold it in front of her. “Take it back. ”

She takes a step away, clasping her hands behind her. “Nope.” She looks down at the puppy, now awake and squirming to try to get out of my grasp. “Trick, you can’t hold him like that!”

I grasp it a little tighter to stop it from wriggling out of my hands and thrust it toward her again. “Then take it!”

She shakes her head firmly and stomps a foot. “No! This will be good for you. You need something to love.”

Tired of trying to stop the damn puppy from falling, I gather it against my torso and hold it there, shooting Charlie a hurt look. “I love lots of things.”

Her brow lifts as she crosses her arms. “Name one thing. Besides Trey and me.”

“When did I ever say I loved you?” One side of my mouth cocks up into a grin as I challenge her.

She doesn’t take the bait. Instead, she moves beside me and sits on the couch, patting the space next to her. “Some homeless guy had this whole litter of puppies over on Eleventh, near DeWitt Park. If they don’t freeze to death, sooner or later, they’ll probably starve. I couldn’t just walk by and not try to do something to help.”

“Then you keep it.” I sit, shoving the puppy onto her lap. “I can’t take care of a damn dog.”

“No.” She shifts the squirming ball of fur back over to my lap. “I got him for you. Trey and I will have a new baby here in a few months. We can’t get a dog right now.”

“Oh, but I can?” The little beast sinks his teeth playfully into my finger when I try to move it back to her lap again. “Ouch!” I pull my wounded digit from its mouth. “He’s got sharp little fangs!”

“Those are love bites.” She reaches over and pats the puppy on the head. “Good boy.” Then she smiles back up at me. “What are you going to name him?”

I groan. “Come on, Charlie.” I look down as the puppy begins licking the finger he was biting just moments ago. I feel myself begin to thaw when piercing blue eyes look up at me. “I don’t have time for a pet.”

“Don’t be silly.” She stands again and walks over to the kitchen counter. “The only time you ever leave that apartment is to go to The Den or for one of your Temptation dates. Let’s face it, you really can do without either of those things in your life.”

“I disagree. Fucking is the highlight of my life,” I retort smugly. I feel a hard smack to the back of my head.

“Hey, asshole, watch how you speak to my girl.” Trey moves in front of me and points to the puppy. “Try him out for a week. Maybe he’ll keep you.”

I look down at the little guy again, his large puppy paws playing with the leather cord I have wrapped around my wrist. “I don’t even know what the hell to feed him.”

“No problem!” Charlie is back in front of me, setting a big bag on the coffee table, and begins pulling items out of it. “I sent Trey to the pet store and we got you covered.” I watch as she shows me what they got. “A collar, a leash, some dog bowls, a puppy bed, and oh!” She looks up at Trey adoringly. “I didn’t tell you to get this!” She lifts a small stuffed candy cane out of the bag and gives it to the puppy, who grips it in his jaw immediately.

Trey just shrugs and mumbles. “It was on sale. Trying to get rid of all the Christmas stock.”

She blows him a kiss then turns her attention back to rustling through the bag but doesn’t lift anything else out. “ And there’s food, puppy pads, and poopy bags for you, too.”

“Puppy pads?” I ask, not sure I want to know the answer.

She places her hands on her hips. “Really, Trick?” She shakes her head. “You’ll need to enclose him in a small area when you aren’t home, like the bathroom, and put these down on the floor in case he needs to go to the bathroom.”

“Yeah, just what I want to be doing in my spare time, Charlie.” I stand and peer into the bag. “Is there a book in there on how to take care of this thing? ‘Cause I ain’t got a fucking clue.”

Charlie claps her hands, her mouth breaking into a wide smile. “So, you’ll take him?”

I grumble. “You really aren’t giving me much of a choice here, are you?” I lift the squirming monster up and turn him so we’re face to face. “I guess we’re stuck with each other.” He lunges forward and laps his tongue over my cheek, I think in approval, and I can’t help but laugh.

“See? He loves you already!” Charlie exclaims, joy in her voice.

“Sorry, man.” Trey claps a hand against my shoulder. “I tried to talk her out of it, but you know how she is once she makes up her mind.” He starts loading everything back into the bag and grabs it by the handles. “Come on, I’ll go up with you.”

I stuff the little beast under my arm, pick up the stuffed toy, and fix my eyes on Charlie. “I’ll give him one week.” Then I stride past her to the door, Trey on my heels.

“You’re welcome!” she sing-songs as we exit, clearly knowing I’ve already lost this battle.