5. Bronco
5
brONCO
Present day
Cupcake crawls across my lap as I wait for my turn at the pool table. I really wanted to avoid female drama tonight. I’ve had a long fucking day and I don’t need to deal with her petty shit.
“What are you doin’?” I’m tempted to yank her off, but it’s not like she’s done anything wrong… technically. I’m just a sour bastard. We’ve never fucked, and as she’s new at the club, she wouldn’t know anything about my vow; keeping away from sweet butt pussy. It’s not that I don’t like sex — hell, I fucking love it. But if I’m being honest, the club chicks just aren’t doing it for me anymore. They haven’t for ages and I can’t pinpoint how or when it happened. It’s like my libido just died overnight and hasn’t regained momentum.
Cupcake is gorgeous. She has a mixture of pink and blonde hair, a pretty face with pouty lips — that are one hundred percent silicone — lashes, nails, the works. She also has a pair of ten-thousand-dollar titties that are half hanging out the scrap of material she’s calling a top.
All in all, she would’ve been my type six months ago. Hell, I probably would’ve fucked her right here on the couch while waiting for my turn at the pool table. But that was the old me.
“Aww, poor baby looks a little tense,” she purrs against my neck. “Would you like me to suck that big dick of yours to relieve some of the tension?”
I glance down at her as she grinds against me, her tiny skirt rising farther. “How do you know it’s big?”
She giggles. “I’ve heard the rumors.” She sits up, swinging her arms around my neck. “I’ll make it good for you.”
“I need to take my shot.” I gesture behind her.
“Your shot can wait.” Not an inch of her face moves and I always think it’s sad that a girl as young as her, not a day older than twenty-two, has so much botox in her face that she’s expressionless. It’s not like she’d have a damn wrinkle on her pretty face anyway. “I’ve been dying for this dick.”
“Then you’re gonna be sorely disappointed,” I grunt, trying to untangle her arms.
“Ooh, someone’s a little feisty tonight,” she sing-songs, my brush-off doing absolutely nothing to make her grip any less tight. “I like a little fire in the bedroom.”
I snort. “Get off me, Cupcake. I’m serious.”
She sighs, then before I know what’s happening, she’s flipping up her top; her giant titties bouncing right in front of my face. I mean, they’re nice tits, I’m not gonna deny it, but like everything about her; it’s all plastic. I’m a natural man myself, and I love big tits. Even though I’ve seen a lot of breasts over the years, you can’t beat a natural rack. They just feel better. Look better… Who the fuck cares? Cupcake ain’t gonna give me any attention once I flip her off. My mind suddenly flicks to Amber shaking her rack at me behind the bar the other day in jest. My dick twitches and I hope that Cupcake can’t feel that because it ain’t for her. I didn’t realize it was for fucking Amber either until this very moment.
“Don’t be so mean.” She cups her tits as I put my hands on her hips to steer her backward.
“Fuck, man, nice rack!” Bullet hollers as I turn and see him, JJ, Pipes and Giggs, one of the prospects, hooting and gawking. “Throw some of that my way!”
They all laugh as I steel my jaw. I don’t know why, but I look over toward the bar, knowing Amber is on shift tonight. I don’t see her, but I also don’t want her seeing Cupcake on my lap like this. I know our date isn’t a real date, but I don’t want her to think I gave in to temptation. She needs me right now, and that’s what I’m trying to focus on. Being a better man. This sudden awakening all happened the night I beat the living shit out of those two assholes bothering Amber in the street. The charges against me were dropped and deemed self-defense, even though I didn’t have a scratch on me. Security footage showed exactly what happened when the two jerks chased her up the street and waited for her to leave the restaurant. The thought sickens me that something more sinister could’ve happened. One of the guys, the bigger dude who fell like a sack of shit when I hit him, has already been inside for sexual assault. Seems he didn’t learn his lesson and he’s back in the slammer because he was on parole.
“I’m not bein’ mean.”
She’s still cupping her ginormous tits. “Don’t you like these?”
My dick is still hard, but not from her tits. That one flash back of Amber shaking hers, plus that time she dropped her pants and I saw her butt cheek, is all it took to get me rock hard. I don’t like it. I don’t like having these thoughts about her because I’m never gonna act on them. You can’t fuck and be friends.
“Sure, they’re great, I’m just… I’m… seeing someone.” The words blurt out before I can stop myself.
She frowns. “You are? Who?”
I wave a hand. “Just someone.”
Her frown turns into a grin. “Would I like her?”
I growl. “No, you wouldn’t, so go flash your titties over at Bullet, I’m sure he’d love to take you for a ride.”
She huffs. “Sure you’re not gay?”
“If I was, I wouldn’t be ashamed of it,” I counter. “Also, have a little self-respect. Pullin’ your tits out like that when there are ol’ ladies present isn’t gonna win you any favors.”
Her nose wrinkles. “You sound like a bitter old man.” She tucks her tits back into her top angrily. “I bet you can’t even fuck if you wanted to.”
“Oh, he can,” Amber says, leaning over to pass me another drink. “And I would know.”
I stare at her open-mouthed as Cupcake gapes.
“You?” she stammers, one hand placed on her hip. “Are you fucking him?”
We’re not, obviously, but I’m glad Amber jumped in to save my reputation. Sometimes I’m known to stick up for the ladies a little too much. I mean, we’ve all been sucked off and even fucked on this very couch with people around, but those days are very much behind me. The club is more PG now we’re all getting older and settling down. We still like to party, but I still think the likes of Cupcake and the other girls who wanna act this way should show a little restraint. That’s what the rooms upstairs were made for. Fuck away in private.
“What if I am?” Amber fires back, narrowing her eyes.
Cupcake, like a lot of the sweet butts here, are a little intimidated by Amber. She’s a tough chick and I dig that she can stick up for herself. She backs up just a fraction and I smile to myself.
“Nothing, I mean… I didn’t know.” Cupcake bites on her lip. “Sorry, Amber.”
Amber rolls her eyes. “Just don’t let it happen again.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.”
Cupcake trots away in her sky-high heels over into the waiting arms of Bullet. He owes me one, but I’m glad she’s gone. I let out a sigh of relief.
I pique an eyebrow. “So not all heroes wear capes?”
Her lips tip up in a smile she’s trying to fight, collecting the empty glasses around the table. “Apparently not.”
“Thanks. So now you’re my fake girlfriend?”
“It looked like you needed an out.”
“I did, she’s a clinger,” I say, which makes it sound like I know. I didn’t mean it to sound like that, but Amber doesn't look like she really cares.
She gives me a withering look. “I didn’t just do that for you. I did it for the rest of the women who are getting pretty sick and tired of chicks like her flashing their boobs anytime of the day and night without giving a shit about the rest of us.”
The pounding in my chest increases. What is going on?
“I think you’ll find I practically told her the same thing. You may have missed that part.”
“I’m curious.” She taps her chin as I try to keep my focus on her face, and not on her body. She’s wearing a cut-off t-shirt so I can see her belly button, along with tight, black patent leather pants and boots. Her hair is tied back into a thick ponytail, but some curls have escaped. As usual, her face is pretty and her skin flawless. The way her eyes narrow when she’s either mad at me or asking a serious question, like the one in progress, makes me smile every single time. “Do you think she’s throwing herself at you because she can’t have you?”
“Reverse psychology?” I cup my dick and thrust into my hand. “Everyone wants this dick, babe, haven't you heard?”
“Oh, God, I am never sticking up for you ever again.”
I laugh. “I think you kinda enjoyed that as much as I did.”
“Listen to you with a big ego. I told you, there won’t be a next time if your head doesn’t fit through the door.”
I laugh. “I’m not playin’ hard to get. I don’t want her.”
She pats my arm and I realize my hard-on has got worse. No, fuckface. This is Amber and we don’t get hard over her. She’s our friend… The fact I’m talking in third person to my dick is actually insane. “I know, you’re saving yourself for marriage.”
She rolls her lips, collecting more glasses from around the pool table as I watch her go. I’ve never really noticed until recently how well her ass fits into the tight pants she wears. It’s a fucking tribute to the nation. Focus!
I stand, ready to take my shot as Nevada misses. Damn asshat is practically a pool shark, which is why I’ve been waiting so long to take my shot. I see in my periphery Cupcake and Bullet taking off upstairs and my shoulders sag in relief. I’m all about the vibe in things, and I can’t feel something just because someone wants me to. Maybe that’s why my club brothers keep saying I’m going soft. Fuck them.
I block Amber’s retreat, taking my shot as she’s caged in between me and Nevada who’s leaning back against his stool, watching me closely because he thinks I cheat.
“Question is, why do you care what Cupcake does?” I say, lining up my shot as I sink the ball into the side pocket. I turn my head as she watches me, that look of defiance on her face.
“I don’t, but like I said, I don’t wanna see her big, fake tits bouncing around when I’m trying to work.”
“Most of the guys around here won’t wanna hear you sayin’ that.”
“You think I give a shit?” she sasses. “We both know I can’t get fired. Cash loves me and I’m the only reliable staff member here who doesn’t ball every guy in the place and work for blow jobs.”
“What the fuck?” Nevada laughs.
We ignore him and I don’t miss the grin forming on her lips as I smirk. “I guess you’ve got me there, no competin’ with that.”
“Plus, she’s annoying,” Amber goes on.
“Right again.”
She sighs. “So if that’s all, can I go now?”
I move, standing taller but resting my hand on the table so she still can’t go anywhere. “Nope.”
“Take your shot, asswipe!” Nevada calls, throwing a couple of Cheetos at me.
“Fuck off!” I yell over Amber’s head.
“That’s right, you’re talking to your fake girlfriend now, use your manners,” Amber says sarcastically.
“You know what I do to chicks who talk back?” I grin.
“Do I really want to hear this?”
“It’s not what you think, by the way.”
“Uh, huh, most guys talk about Fifty Shades, but they just can’t seem to pull it off.”
“I’m more of a vanilla man myself with a little dark chocolate on top.” I waggle my eyebrows. “Does that shock you?”
She leans in. “I’m not sure telling a girl you’re vanilla is the right way to lure them into your bed.”
“What about when I deny them an orgasm because of their lip?”
Her own lips part as she dips her eyes down to my crotch, then back up again. “You are so full of shit.”
I laugh. “What? Is that too boring for you? Trust me, ain’t no lurin’ here, babe. Women come willingly.”
She waves her hands at me. “It’s not me who wants it. This is hypothetical.”
“Enlighten me.” I lean down, taking another shot. I miss this time, not that I mind because it gives me more time to give her shit. My gaze back on her, I move away from the table, but don’t let her pass me.
“Vanilla is considered boring. In the romance books I read, they like wild, dirty sex… No hero ever said he’d give them good old plain, boring vanilla.” A smile tugs at her lips and I palm the back of my head, considering her words.
“I bet I can prove you wrong about that. I’m sure there are plenty of vanilla romance books out there ready to shock your pretty little mind into submission.”
“Right, like you would know.” She’s really on a roll. “Oh, and porn doesn’t count as reading, Bronc.”
“I read.”
“What, Playboy ?” She thinks she’s so funny.
“I’ll have you know there’s a lot about me that would surprise you if you dug deep enough. It isn’t about how many times I can make a woman come. It’s about the connection.”
She blinks at me for a fleeting moment, then we’re back to sarcasm. “What’s your record, hot shot?”
I lean closer. “If you must know, it’s fifteen.”
She bursts out laughing. “Fifteen?”
Clearly, she’s never had a decent lover before. “Yup. The first three weren’t even using my hands.”
She swallows hard and I’d like to think she’s thinking about my ability when I realize this innuendo is hitting differently. We’ve always bantered and given each other shit about lovers and sex and shitty experiences, but now I want to know how good or bad her lovers have been in the past. I realize I know nothing about that part of her life. Not even her ex.
“Are you sure you’re not lying to try and get your balls back after Cupcake’s little display?”
I cup my dick in front of her for the second time tonight. “Nope, balls are still safely hangin’.”
“Glad to hear it.”
If I’d have known our innuendo would make me stiffer than ever, I wouldn’t have engaged in it in the first place. I blame her, and I tell her as such. “This is all your fault, by the way.”
“How do you figure that?”
I lean closer to her ear. “That time you wanted me to tattoo your ass.”
She laughs, but it comes out more like a snort and she slaps her hand on my chest. “You just can’t let go of that, can you?”
“More like you should be thankin’ me that I didn’t take you up on that idea. Do you know how many cover ups I do? Please tell me you’ll never get drunk and get tattooed.”
“If I do, it’ll only be with you.” She pats my cheek and slips under my arm with her tray of empty glasses.
Nevada stands next to me. “You tappin’ that?”
“No,” I grunt, watching after her.
“But you want to, can see that look in your eyes, brother. Can’t hide it from me.”
“We’re friends,” I say, turning back to him. “This is what we do. We banter.”
He snorts. “Come to think of it, I haven’t ever seen her here with a dude, like ever. Have you?”
“What’s your point?”
“Point is, maybe she’s battin’ for the other team?”
I shake my head. “She isn’t.”
“So why haven’t you fucked her yet?”
“ Because, asshole!” I slap him upside the head. “She’s not like that and once we fuck, it’ll ruin the friendship.”
“Not if you fuck without feelings.”
I frown, taking in his words. It’s not often that Nevada says anything prolific. Heck, until he met his ol’ lady Star, he fucked anything that moved. Then he fell in love and now has twins; a boy and girl who’re only a few months old. He’s content now, happy and settled, which just goes to prove my point after all; that monogamy is not a dirty word.
“Fuck buddies?”
“Yeah.” He slaps me on the back. “You’d make a cute couple.”
Nevada knows how I feel about this whole situation, and even though he gives me shit about it, we’re best friends. He knows the heart of me. I tattooed his fucking dick for Christ’s sake, and that took a lot of bribing.
“Yeah, but she’s too pure. Look at her, she’s a goddamn dream.”
“So? Ask her out, no good can come of procrastinatin’ over it.”
“Words of wisdom?” I mock. “Comin’ from you, that’s rich.”
“Hey, just because I no longer play the field doesn’t mean that I can’t see what’s right in front of me. When you know, you know, and it’ll happen for you, too.”
“Not with Amber,” I maintain.
“Fine. She’s eventually gonna find someone else.” He says it like I don’t know. Like I haven’t considered it before. Oh, I’m well aware, and while I don’t like the idea, it’s because I don’t want to see her get hurt. Or so I thought.
“Don’t I know it.”
“You’ve got nothin’ to lose. Hell, you just rejected Cupcake’s titties in your face in front of the entire club,” he laughs. “Not like you could sink much lower than that.”
I punch him on the arm as he laughs harder. “I love how you act like you weren’t Bullet not too long ago.”
He shrugs. “Like I said, shit gets old. When you find a woman who knocks you off your feet, you’ll know it, and when that happens.” He makes a hand gesture toward his head, impersonating an explosion. “It’s magic time.”
I know he’s right, not that I’d tell him that. I’m well aware of brothers getting snagged by their ol’ ladies but I never thought I wanted that until recently. My emotions are everywhere right now. I’m literally a lost fucking puppy with no place to land.
“We’ve got a date this weekend,” I say.
“There ya go.” He nods approvingly.
“But it’s not a real date, she just had an extra ticket to the Pelicans game when her date bailed out at the last minute.”
“So it’s the perfect opportunity to test the waters. If you do the fuck buddy thing, I’d make it a stipulation that you’re exclusive, just so she doesn’t get any funny ideas.”
“She doesn’t sleep around.” The entire club knows that, but I don’t like the insinuation.
“But if she’s dating other people, that means she could be gettin’ friendly with another dude on the side while she’s gettin’ it from you.” He holds up his hands because he knows it’s a touchy subject where she’s concerned. He knows what I did to those two assholes in the street and I’d do it again, ten times over. “I just don’t want it to be your bleedin’ heart smashed up and hurt when she ends it because some other guy had the nerve to give her what she wants.”
I let his words hang between us. I never thought I’d admit this, but maybe Nevada is right?
I clear my throat, trying to lighten the mood. “Okay, hey, Amber. I think we should fuck with no strings attached and no feelings or expectations, but I’d also like to be exclusive and no, you can’t see other people or ride any other dick but mine. We’re exclusive but not together, you got me?” I roll my eyes. “That’s the most pathetic thing I’ve ever heard. Plus, can I just say it one more time? I don’t like her like that.” The lies I tell are starting to make my inner being frown at me in disgust. But Nevada sees right through it.
“You’re a pathetic excuse for a brother,” he sighs. “With all that woo woo shit you spout about, I thought you’d see the connection a mile away. I guess I was wrong.”
I glare at him in disbelief as he saunters off to take his shot, leaving me staring after him, questioning everything I thought I knew.