Tempting Tricks (Tempting Nights #2)

Chapter Sixteen

~Trick~

I wait for what feels like fucking forever for Kane take a shit, then walk a block with him tucked under my arm to the nearest wine outlet. I grab two bottles of Pinot Grigio, every single person in the shop stopping me to fawn over the puppy before I can finally pay. I practically jog back to the apartment then pace back and forth in front of the elevator as I wait for it.

I’m worried she’s going to start thinking again and bolt if I take too long. The lift arrives and delivers me to my floor, my senses going on high alert when I hear Gabby’s voice drifting from my apartment. I pick up my pace, bursting through the open door into the apartment, absorbing the scene in front of me, my eyes locking onto Belle’s angry face.

“Oh, look, here he is now,” Gabby states in an overly dramatic voice. “Lover boy is back.”

I swing my head in her direction, trying to figure out what the hell has happened. I slam the door behind me, setting the puppy on the floor and the wine on the counter. “What the fuck are you doing here, Gabby?”

“Charlie told me you’d been down in the dumps lately, so I thought I’d come cheer you up.” She holds up a bottle of tequila then points her head in the direction of Belle, one brow arching high. “But looks like someone already beat me to it.”

Belle’s hands plant on her hips as she glares at me. “I thought you said you were just friends?”

“We are just friends. She has a damn boyfriend,” I exclaim, turning to look at Gabby. “Tell her.”

“I tried.” She shrugs. “She didn’t believe me. I told her just ‘cause we fucked once upon a time doesn’t mean we aren’t friends now.”

Belle visibly flinches like she’s been slapped, and I snap. I see red as I storm up to Gabby and grab her by the arm. It’s then that I smell her and realize she’s drunk. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you drunk at six o’clock?”

She wrenches her arm out of my grasp, almost losing her balance when she does, but grabs my shoulder before she can fall. “Don’t touch me.” She spins on her heel and heads for the door. “I’m leaving.”

I step in front of her and block her exit. “Where the hell do you think you’re going like this?”

She pushes against my chest, not even budging me. “I’m a big girl, Trick. Don’t worry about me.” She tries to walk around me, but I grab her wrist and pin her up against the door. I turn my head to Belle. “Can you call someone for me? ”

“Let me go!” Gabby fights under me, slashing her nails down my arm.

I turn and hiss at her. “That won’t work on me, remember?” I turn back to Belle, her eyes wide and fixed on me. “Can you dial 212-763-8558? Tell Charlie to come up to my apartment.”

I watch as she dials the number, listening as she speaks. She hangs up. “She’ll be right here.” She gives me a blank stare then turns and walks across the room and into my bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

Gabby stops struggling against me, so I loosen my hold but don’t release her. I know her well enough to know she’ll bolt if she gets the chance. I bring my face to hers, and through gritted teeth, speak. “What the hell is going on with you?”

She smiles wickedly back. “Sorry I ruined your date. Looks like you got to fuck her already though, so not all’s lost. Does she know how much you like?—”

I’ve had enough. I step back, pulling her with me, yanking the door open at the same time, and push her out just as Charlie exits the elevator. “Take her before I do something I regret.”

Charlie shoots me a confused look as she wraps an arm around Gabby.

I wave my arm in frustration. “She’s drunk. Something’s wrong, but instead of telling me, she went into full on bitch mode.”

“Okay, I got her.” She turns and leads Gabby to the elevator, the doors opening, and the pizza delivery guy steps out.

Jesus fucking Christ, what next? I pull a twenty out of my pocket and trade it with him for the pizza. When I go back inside the apartment, I stop in my tracks when Belle walks out of the bedroom, fully dressed. I’m going to fucking kill Gabby.

I toss the pizza on the coffee table on my way to her. “No, don’t go.” I reach her and latch onto her arms. “Please.” I pull her closer to me. “I know that was the most fucked up ten minutes ever, but don’t let it ruin our night.” Her eyes blink up at mine, her head shaking back and forth. “I swear to God, she’s a friend. She’s Charlie’s best friend, and, obviously, something’s going on with her.”

“You slept with her,” she finally says.

I sigh, closing my eyes for a moment. “Yes. A few times. Over six months ago. It was sex. Nothing more. And not since.”

“How many other fuck buddies can I expect to come knocking on your door?”

I raise my brows at the bite in her retort. She’s feistier than I would have suspected. “None.” I press my forehead against hers, forcing her to look at me. “I promise.” I slide a hand into her hair and brush a kiss against her lips. “Stay.”

After what feels like an eternity, she nods, and a wave of relief sweeps over me. I kiss her again. “I’m sorry,” I murmur against her lips then fold her into my arms, grateful she’s still here for me to hold.

“I could really use that glass of wine,” she mumbles against my chest.

I chuckle, releasing her, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “Okay.” I head to the kitchen. “Let me get some plates for the pizza, too.”

She follows behind. “Can I help? ”

I cock a brow. “You could go put my shirt back on so I know you’re not going to leave.”

She kicks her heels off, standing three inches shorter, so petite next to me, and smiles. “Will that do?”

“For now.” I smile back at her, pulling the wine out of the bag. I place one bottle in the fridge and leave the other on the counter to open. I point toward the cupboards. “Plates are there, and glasses are up there if you want to grab one.”

“Are you going to have a glass?” She walks over to where I directed.

“I’ll stick with beer.” I open the wine and pour a healthy portion into the glass she sets in front of me. She grabs a couple plates and her glass while I snatch up some napkins, forks, and a fresh beer, then she follows me back into the living room.

I sit and notice what’s on. “Country?” I try not to make a face.

She sits beside me. “Not a fan?”

“I’m more of a rock ‘n roll kind of guy.” I shrug.

She laughs, sipping her wine. “And that doesn’t surprise me one bit, Patrick.”

I lean over and brush my lips across hers, the taste of the wine sweet when I swipe my tongue against hers, a warmth spreading across my stomach. “I like when you say my name,” I muse softly. “Everyone always calls me Trick.”

“Why does everyone call you Trick?” She reaches out to open the pizza box, putting a slice on each plate for us.

“It’s a pilot thing.” I take a bite of pizza, chew, then continue. “We all have call names, like a nick-name.” I let out a snicker as I remember how I got my name. “I was a pretty damn good pilot but got into quite a bit of trouble. I tended to favor trickier maneuvers that were considered dangerous. And, thus, Trick was born.”

“You mean, you are a good pilot.”

I stop chewing and stare at her. “Not anymore.” I grab the beer off the table and chug half of it, slamming it back on the table roughly, my pulse picking up when I look back at her. “You aren’t going to ruin this and psychoanalyze me now, are you, Doc?”

“I think it’s called getting to know each other,” she answers, pressing her lips firmly together as she blinks over at me.

I close my eyes, letting out a sigh. “I’m sorry.” I grab the bottle and take another swig. “I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

She nods and speaks softly, not giving up this subject easily. “I thought you wanted to fly again?”

I watch the video playing on the T.V. for a minute, then swing my gaze back to her. “I loved flying. I did.” I take another drink. “I want to love it again. I just—” I look down at my feet and shake my head. “There’s a history, ya know? Maybe this isn’t what I’m supposed to do.”

“You had more than one accident?” Her brows draw low as she drinks her wine.

I stand, needing another beer but also not wanting to see her reaction when I admit the next thought. “My father.”

“Your father?” she replies, confusion in her voice. “How?” She pauses. I snag a beer out of the fridge and carry the wine bottle back with me. “You think because he crashed, too, that it’s a sign? That you shouldn’t fly?”

I refill her glass, place the bottle on the coffee table, and sink back into the couch, my elbows on my knees, my head hanging low between my shoulders. “Maybe. ”

“Patrick.” She turns next to me, placing her palm against my cheek, and turns my face to hers. “I’ve read the reports. That crash wasn’t your fault. Your helicopter was hit by a missile. There was nothing you could have done.”

I press my lips into a frown, wanting to surge forward and kiss her, end this conversation, but I know it won’t be that easy. So, I shrug. “I should have done more. I should have gotten my guys out of that chopper.”

“Your leg was broken in two places. You had a concussion,” she retorts, emotion in her voice, pleading my defense.

“I should have pushed through the pain. I should have gotten to them.” I grimace. “At any cost. I’m a soldier first.” I pull away from her and take a slug of my beer. “The pain would have faded.”

“Your tattoo,” she mumbles, thinking out loud. “All pain is fleeting.”

I scoff. “Except, it’s not.” I stare back at her. “I’m in pain every fucking minute of every fucking day knowing that I lived and they didn’t. They were burned alive, and I didn’t do a damn thing to save them.”

“Couldn’t,” she says. “You couldn’t save them.” She squeezes her hand on my thigh. “There’s a difference, Patrick.”

“Not to me,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Not to me.”

“So, you punish yourself.” She slides her hand up to my face, pulling it back to hers again. “Let me help you.”

I don’t want to talk about this anymore, so I do what I know how to do best and surge forward, crushing my mouth against hers, wrapping my hands around her face. I hold her against me, forcing my tongue into her mouth, sweeping it against hers until I feel her surrender, her body giving in to me. Her arms snake around my neck, our kiss escalating in seconds.

Dragging her to her feet I begin undressing her, her fingers pushing down my sweats, our lips parting only long enough for me to yank my shirt over my head. We surge back together like two magnets connecting, my desire for her sparking a flame only she can tame. I fall back onto the couch, and she straddles my lap, her breaths panting out in quick bursts. She slides her core, wet and slippery, against the length of my cock and groans before slamming her mouth back to mine.

With one hand I grip her hip roughly to lift her, and use my other hand to guide my cock to her opening. I thrust my pelvis up as she surges down, both of us groaning. I clutch the back of her head and crash my mouth to hers again. I want to taste every moan that falls from her lips as I rock into her.

She shoves her head back, breaking the hold I have on her, sliding her hips back as she trails her tongue down my neck, over my pec, twirling the tip around my nipple before sucking my piercing between her lips. An electric shock bolts straight to my dick, my hips bucking hard, my cock throbbing against her tight muscles.

Sucking harder, she pumps her core back and forth on my cock frantically, over and over, until my release starts coiling up my balls, down my shaft, erupting as her walls convulse, sending me over the edge. She bites hard on my nipple, my fingers digging into the soft flesh of her ass, shoving my cock deep inside her as I yell out her name in relief.