Chapter 15
Corey
“ S he seems pissed,” Aaron says unhelpfully as he scrolls and taps on his phone.
“You think?” I grumble. This is my fault. I was so distracted by that call with Mark, dropping the bomb about Sabrina, and then heading directly to my workout with Trevor… I forgot. Which, according to Bex, wouldn’t have mattered, anyway, but I still feel like a fool. Tonight was supposed to be perfect.
Aaron is scrolling through something on his phone. I’m tempted to ask him why he’s coming out tonight instead of Drew—usually it would be reversed. Going out, having fun, especially on a night when the Bravado is busy? That’s Drew’s MO.
It doesn’t take long for Bex to clock out and change. After ten minutes, she’s walking back across the floor toward us and something seizes in my chest at the sight of her. She is so beautiful with her curves accentuated in leather leggings that hug her hips, and a black top that ties at her neck and dips low to expose her cleavage. Her hair cascades down over her shoulders in rich chocolate waves, the strands reflecting a mirage of colors from the casino lights.
As she draws near, I pull her close to me for a hug and bury my nose in those wavy locks, inhaling deeply. “I’m so sorry,” I murmur against her ear.
Bex wraps her arms around me, mumbling, “I’m annoyed, yes, but I am happy to see you.”
For a moment, we stand there, just holding each other. It’s not aggressive or ravenous—something I was convinced I would be the moment I had her in my arms again. No, this is… intimate. It’s something I’ve never experienced before, a sense of fulfillment and completeness. I never even felt this way when I was briefly with Sabrina. It consumes me for a moment, wondering how I got so goddamn lucky to have this woman in my life.
“Game starts soon,” Aaron pipes up beside us. I pull back from Bex and give my best friend a glare. “Sorry, man,” he says, holding his hands up as if in defense. Aaron turns to Bex and asks, “Can your friends join us?”
Bex gives me a curious glance before nodding at Aaron. “They’ll meet us there. ”
The relief mixed with excitement is visible on Aaron’s face, and I wonder if Bex’s friends are the motivating factor for him coming out tonight. I make a mental note to ask him about this later.
I take Bex’s hand in mine and squeeze. “Ready for this, baby?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I’ve never been to a hockey game, so I don’t really know what to expect,” she says.
“Don’t expect too much from the game,” Aaron says over his shoulder as he leads us through the casino. Aaron and Drew worked diligently and tirelessly with the city to get a sky bridge directly from the Bravado to the arena. Guests are eager to shell out the money for a room at their luxury hotel just for the convenience of being connected to the arena.
“I didn’t think the Vipers were that good,” Bex admits.
Aaron and I both bark out laughs. “They’re not,” I say. “Christian’s a co-owner for the team, and his son is an enforcer for the team. He’ll be the first one to tell you how shitty they are.”
“The best thing about tonight will be the food and drinks in the suite,” Aaron explains. “With a top shelf open bar and a food menu by Bobby Flay, it’s the best suite experience in any arena in the US.”
Bex smiles and nods, and while I know she’s being polite, this kind of shit doesn’t impress her. To be honest, this stuff doesn’t impress me anymore, either. About midway through my career, when shit really started taking off, when I didn’t have to audition for roles anymore… I reveled in the high class, luxury lifestyle that I was suddenly able to enjoy.
Not my Bex, though.
Shit. My Bex ? I glance down at her and catch her quickly looking away from me, but I catch a sexy smirk on her face that fills me with warmth. My girl was staring at me with some sort of light in her eyes.
My Bex. I am so totally fucked.
“Is this where the party is?” I turn to the suite entrance, where Ally and Britney are arriving. Britney enters with a flourish, shaking her arms and tits as Bex runs over to her, laughing. I know Bex is grateful for her friend’s appearance because, until now, she’s been the only woman in this suite.
Christian grins from behind the bar; our suite came with a bartender, but they were dismissed pretty quickly. My friend claims to be an amateur mixologist, so we often indulge his desire to play around with ingredients. Sometimes the drinks are incredible concoctions, but most times we end up asking for straightforward cocktails, like bourbon on the rocks. Hard to screw that up.
“Can I get you ladies anything to drink?” Christian asks, gesturing at the liquor bottles arranged behind him.
Ally moves quickly over to Christian, peruses the bottles, and immediately asks for a gin and tonic. He grins at her, and I can tell he’s trying to turn on the charm for her. Rolling my eyes, I wonder if Ally would be into someone like Christian. From the little I know of her, she’s pretty straight-laced and no-nonsense. She cares a lot about her job and lets very little distract her—including relationships. The only relationships she is interested in are the fictional ones in her smut books—as Bex calls them.
I look at the other end of the suite, which opens out to the arena. There’s a bar-height counter with some chairs, then a section of ten seats just inside the arena.
Bex and Britney are deep in conversation, and I take a moment to admire Bex. Her ass really pops in those leather pants, and I bite my lip, recalling how thick and plush that ass felt in my hands weeks ago. And while I was happy to get her a Vipers jersey—she said she could wear it on game days next season at work—I’m a bit disappointed how it covers the curve of her hips and those lush, full breasts.
I’m about to head over to them when Aaron steps next to me, nudging me with his elbow. “Hey.” That’s all he says. Aaron’s eyes dart nervously between me and where Bex and Britney are huddled.
“All right, man, what’s going on?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest.
Aaron shrugs, sliding his hands in his pockets. “What do you mean? Just enjoying watching the Vipers…” He trails off, squinting at the jumbotron for the score. “Losing by three goals after the first period.”
“You’re so full of shit,” I say, laughing. “I wasn’t sure at first, but you’re into her friend Britney, aren’t you?”
He steals a glance at the girls before shrugging. “Yeah, I guess. Maybe. Fuck, Corey, I don’t know.” Aaron runs a hand through his hair. “Can I be honest with you?”
I want to chide the guy, but his tone is so vulnerable that I let it slide. “Of course.”
Aaron looks at the girls one more time, then closes his eyes. “I think I’m going crazy. Ever since that night at the club, I can’t stop thinking about her. And I met her for, what? A total of ten minutes?”
“Yeah, I know that feeling,” I say, stealing a glance at my girl. Fuck . My girl.
“No, it’s not just that,” Aaron says, his expression strained. “I keep thinking I hear her when I—” He cuts himself off, his face flushed. “This isn’t me. I don’t date or sleep around. There’s no time in my life for– ”
“Dude, calm down,” I say, reaching out to grip his shoulder. “Breathe, Aaron.” The poor guy is clearly down bad with infatuation because, as far as I know, neither of them have spoken beyond introductions.
“I’m being ridiculous, I know,” he finally says, taking a deep breath. “I’ve just… never felt this way before.”
Once again, I look over to Bex, because I know exactly what Aaron is describing. The time spent apart from Bex has been painful. Though we’ve gotten to know each other so well from our video calls and daily texts, there’s an insatiable desire to be physically present with her. Even now, with her feet away from me, there’s an unfulfilled promise of desire that has me yearning to swing her over my shoulder, carry her out of this suite, and back to my penthouse.
My gaze catches on the girls again, and it looks like Britney is… consoling Bex? There are traces of distress on Bex’s face and, before I’m even aware of it, I’m striding across the suite. I didn’t even take a moment to end my conversation with Aaron. I can text him about it later—whatever is going on with Bex is more important right now.
“Hey,” I say, stepping up next to her, slipping my arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay?” She glances up at me, and I’m rattled seeing the shine of tears in her eyes. “Babe,” I say, pulling her closer. She tries to look away, but I tip her chin up to look at me.
“I’m gonna go grab a drink,” Britney says, giving me a significant look that screams “fix this,” but I don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to fix.
“Corey, I’m fine. Just being stupid and emotional,” Bex says as she shrugs, faking a laugh.
“You’re not stupid,” I growl. Bex’s gaze darts around the suite and, suddenly, I just need to get her alone. “Come with me. ”
Taking Bex’s hand in mine, I walk us toward the back of the suite where there’s an ensuite bathroom. Christian gives a wolf-whistle as we slip into the spacious bathroom. I shut the door behind us, locking it.
I swing Bex around and press her against the door, cupping her face in my hands. “Be honest with me, Bex. Please. What’s wrong?”
She grasps the bottom hem of my jersey, as if she needs to hold on to me. “It’s so, so stupid, Corey.”
Brushing my thumb over her cheek softly, I murmur, “Nothing you feel is stupid, Bex. But I can’t help if I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Okay,” she says, taking a deep breath. “I was completely unprepared for you to show up tonight.”
I give her a grin. “I already told you I don’t mind if you don’t shave.”
A giggle escapes her, and the sound sends a bubble of light down my spine. “No, not that,” she says. “I just… When I went to the staff room to change, I wiped off all my makeup. And since I wasn’t anticipating doing anything after work, I didn’t bring my makeup bag with me.”
It dawns on me what she’s trying to say. I move one of my hands to the back of her neck, gripping her just hard enough to feel commanding, yet comfortable. “Bex, are you upset because you’re not wearing makeup?”
“Obviously,” she says, whining a bit. “I just feel so… naked. Bare. When we walked here with Aaron, all I could see were people staring at me like… like I wasn’t someone worthy enough to be with you guys.” She shakes her head. “This sounds so stupid when I say it out loud.”
“Bex,” I growl. Her eyes widen slightly at the flare of anger on my face. “I didn’t even notice. When you came out of the staff room, all I could focus on was your beautiful smile and your sexy as fuck curves in those leather pants.” Bex bursts out laughing, and I’m caught off guard. Not that it doesn’t thrill me to see her smiling, but what did I say ?
“These aren’t leather pants, Corey. They’re Spanx. They just look like leather. And I’m glad I threw them in my bag this morning, otherwise I’d really be a mess.”
I slide my hands down the curve of her waist and grip her ass tightly. “Leather or not, they’re fucking hot. You are fucking hot. Don’t ever think for a moment that I’m not attracted to you, Bex. It’s not just the way you look, it’s… everything about you. You’re the whole package for me.”
“Okay, now you’re really gonna make me cry,” Bex chokes out, but I don’t let her continue. I claim her lips with mine, slipping my tongue inside her mouth, stroking and claiming her. She moans into my mouth, and I squeeze her ass tighter.
Her hands roam up and down my back, her nails digging harder with each stroke of my tongue against hers. I pull back quickly and use my perfectly placed hands to hoist her up as I slide my knee between her legs.
“Corey, I’m too hea—”
“Don’t you dare fucking finish that sentence,” I growl, pressing my lips just below her ear. “I caught you off guard today and that stressed you out.” Bex wraps her arms around my neck and she begins grinding against my leg. “Seems like my baby needs a little stress relief, hmmm?”
“Oh, god, Corey,” she moans into my neck. My cock is punching, rock hard, against the zipper of my jeans, but this isn’t about me. This moment is for Bex.
“Take these pants off,” I command, slipping my hands under her jersey and stroking the soft skin of her waist just above the band of her pants.
“Not happening,” she pants against me.
“Excuse me?” I pull back from kissing her neck and stare at her, confused .
“First of all, our best friends are right outside this door. Second… Corey, if I take these things off, they’re not going back on. They’re sort of one and done.”
“Stupid fucking Spanx,” I groan, choosing instead to grip her hips hard, grinding her down on my thigh. She moans loudly, and I chuckle. “You better be quiet, Bex. Otherwise, our friends will know you’re getting off in here.”
Bex whimpers against me. “Corey, please,” she begs. I know what she’s begging for and I’m going to get her there.
“Go on, baby,” I groan as Bex begins to eagerly writhe her hips, rubbing her Spanx-covered cunt against my thigh. “Use me to feel good. Take whatever you fucking need.”
“It feels so good, Corey. Oh my god,” she groans into my neck.
I could do this all fucking day. Bex holding onto me, moaning in my ear, grinding her pussy against my thigh, the scent of her arousal flooding my senses—there’s absolute magic in this moment. Something I have never felt on a film set, not one fucking day in my long career.
Her hips grind faster, harder, and I lick a trail from below her ear, along her jaw. As I capture Bex’s mouth with mine again, I can feel her trembling. “That’s it, Bex,” I moan against her mouth. “Be a good girl and come for me.”
Bex trembles, then shudders against me. Her arms are still wrapped around my neck and her fingers are tugging hard at my hair. It hurts, but it feels so fucking good at the same time. Slowly, I slide my leg from between hers, causing Bex to slide down the door, slumping back against it for support.
There’s a soft knock at the door and I say, “Give us a minute.”
Bex leans forward, panting against my chest. “I have never, ever finished that quickly in my life,” she says .
I run my hands up and down her back, then her arms. She shivers against me, and I bring her tighter against my chest, holding her. “I hope you know that was the first of many tonight,” I murmur as I press a kiss to the top of her head.
Another knock at the door, a bit harsher this time.
“I’m going to murder our friends,” I groan.
Bex laughs and reaches up on tiptoe to place a soft, intimate kiss to my lips. “Let’s make up some excuse and ditch them and the game.”
Laughing, I nod. “Now that is a perfect idea.”