Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
LANCE
I stare at the new bartender at Martinis, trying to work a puzzle out in my mind. She must take my gawking as a sign I need a drink. She makes her way to the end of the bar, where I’m perched on a stool.
“Hey there. Can I get you something?” she asks, tucking her long, wavy dark hair behind her ears.
“Where’s Ollie tonight?” I ask.
“Ollie’s been having an unfortunate second wave of morning sickness lately. She broke down and hired backup.” She holds her hand out, her fingers perfectly decorated with dark purple polish. “I’m Sydney. I take it you’re a regular?”
I nod as I shake her hand. “Sydney, I’ve had a really long night, so it might be my mind playing tricks on me, but didn’t I see you outside the bar in a car earlier…with red hair…and an entirely different outfit?”
She glances down at her blouse and laughs. Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she shows me her screensaver. I see double—two women with identical features have their cheeks pressed together as they smile at the camera for a selfie. Each of them is cradling a cat. “My twin, Genevieve. She’s my ride. She’s outside waiting for me to finish my shift.”
“Ah, that would explain it.” I reach for my phone in my pocket, but I remember I turned it off. Vienne told me it was fine for me to leave President Baker’s birthday party early. I didn’t want to have my phone on in case she changed her mind and called me back. I couldn’t take one more second of Cricket’s shameless flirting with the pain-in-the-ass, handsome billionaire. “What time is it?” I ask.
“I was just about to do last call. What can I get you?”
I look around the lounge. There was another occupied table about ten minutes ago. The couple must’ve slipped out in the last few minutes of me brooding at the bar. “Don’t let me keep you,” I say. “It’s probably late.”
“No, it’s fine. We’re just slow. Ollie said we could shut down early.” She pulls her phone back out and sends a message. “There. I just told Genevieve to pick up some dinner. So, we have time. What can I get you?”
“Dealer’s choice,” I say.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, make me your favorite. I’ll buy you a drink, too.”
Sydney smiles and pulls a blender out from underneath the bar. “Is a frozen margarita too girly for you?”
I give her a pointed stare. I will never, ever admit out loud that I happen to love a frozen margarita with an extra squeeze of lime and a little umbrella. “I’ll make it work,” I mutter.
Sydney sets her phone down on the bar and then starts collecting supplies. Her screen lights up when Genevieve texts her back, and I see the image of her cats again.
“How many do you have?” I ask.
“Huh?” she asks.
I tap my finger by her phone. “Cats,” I clarify.
“Oh. Three, total. Raven, Phantom, and Pansy.”
I nod. “Cats are pretty self-sufficient, right?”
Sydney sighs. “Well, they were a nightmare in the car when we drove from Long Beach. Genevieve and I just moved here from California a few weeks ago,” she clarifies. “But other than road trips, they’re great. Definitely independent. I have to keep a stockpile of catnip to coax them from their hiding places.”
“I’m debating getting one. I travel a lot for work, but I feel like a cat could survive on its own for a few days. It’d be nice to return home to some company.”
“Do you know what breed you’re interested in?” Sydney asks distractedly as she pours shots of tequila over the ice cubes she’s placed in the blender.
“Not really. Something smart and sturdy. A playful breed that’ll go on runs with me, but also likes to lounge around from time to time. I just want something loyal. A cat that will wait by the door for me to get home with their tail wagging. What breed would you recommend?”
Sydney stops filling the blender with ingredients. She stares at me, her brows pinching together like she’s concerned for my sanity. “For all that? A dog. ”
I laugh. “Fair point.”
“You know, in my experience as a bartender, when there’s a lonely guy at closing looking all mopey, talking about pets that’ll cuddle with him, it’s usually girl problems. You want to talk about it?”
“No.” I run my hand over my face as I sigh. “Maybe.”
“Bad breakup?” she asks.
“Sort of. Have you ever loved someone so much that you want to hold them and protect them, while simultaneously wanting to just shake the living daylights out of them for being so difficult?”
Sydney smiles. “Well, yes. I told you I had a twin, right?”
I chuckle. “I’m in love with a woman who chooses everything over me. Her pride, revenge…handsome billionaires. The bottom line is, I love her with every ounce of my existence. But at the end of the day, I know she won’t choose me.”
Sydney frowns. “I’m really sorry to hear that. You should talk to her and tell her how you feel. Let her know where she’s letting you down.”
“She won’t talk to me,” I say dejectedly.
“You sure?”
“Positive.” If I had a shot at working things out with Cricket, I think my tantrum at President Baker’s birthday dinner sealed our dismal fate. I stare down at the dark, glass bar top, seeing a hint of my reflection. I look miserable. I came here to drink away my problems, but once I got to the bar, I didn’t really feel like drinking alone.
I just can’t shake the image of Cricket’s lips on his. The way she closed her eyes, like she was trying to get lost in a moment. I can’t believe she’s actually falling for a bomb-making monster.
“Let me ask you another question,” Sydney says. “Your girl—is she about five foot five, long blond hair, wears dresses that make her look like she’s attending a Hollywood movie premier?”
“What?”
Sydney points over my shoulder at the lounge entrance. “Kind of seems like she wants to talk.”
I turn to see Cricket, still in her sleek ballgown, standing at the door. She seems frozen; her eyes are fixed on me and the attractive bartender, like she’s trying to assess the situation.
“I hate to run after you started making all that,” I tell Sydney, looking at the half-filled blender.
She winks and waves me off. “Go. More for me.”
“I can at least pay—”
“Go.”
With Sydney’s blessing, I slip off the stool and make my way to Cricket. When I get close enough, I see her eyes are red, and her makeup is a little smeared.
“You already changed clothes,” she says.
“Well, you know how I feel about tuxedos.”
“She’s pretty,” Cricket says, nodding toward the bar. “Exactly your type.”
After a quick, over-the-shoulder wave to Sydney, I pull Cricket out of the lounge, and into the hidden back alley of Martinis. Looking up and down in both directions, I ensure we’re alone. “What would you know about my type?” I ask, dropping her hand. My tone is laced with such gruff agitation, I sound more like Linc than myself.
“Lance.” She covers her eyes with one hand. “ I didn’t … I didn’t sleep with him. Every time he kisses me, I have to stop myself from cringing.”
I scoff. “He’s that bad of a kisser, huh?”
Cricket looks me in the eye. “He’s not you.”
Something immediately softens in me when I see her sad eyes. I’m powerless before this woman. I’m angry—furious, actually—for the hell she’s putting me through. But my heart isn’t in my chest; it’s in Cricket’s hands. I’m at her mercy. Like it or not, I always will be.
“Why are you here?” I ask.
She takes in a deep breath and holds it. It’s like she’s bracing herself. “Because I didn’t want you going to bed tonight without knowing the truth.” She breathes out heavily.
“What truth?”
“I’m sorry that I hurt you,” she says, her eyes dropping to her elaborate stilettos. The kind with string crisscrossed around her ankles before tying at the bottom of her shin.
“Look at me,” I command. Cricket lifts her eyes like they are the heaviest things in the world. “You want me back in your life?”
She nods, wordlessly.
“Then ‘I’m sorry’ are not the magic words. I don’t care about apologies, Cricket. That’s not what I need to hear.”
She shifts her eyes to the side. “You want me to beg, don’t you? Grovel on my knees?”
I grab her jaw between my thumb and forefinger, forcing her to look at me. “ No. My girl doesn’t beg for anything. And you don’t drop to your knees for any reason other than when you want to suck me dry.”
She swallows hard. “Then what do you want?”
“What I want?” I force out a bitter breath. “You’ve been a piece of work over the past few weeks, you know that?”
“I was hurt that you ran to Vesper—”
“And I apologized,” I snap back. “But I stand by protecting your life. Do you understand that?”
“Yes.”
“It was painful thinking I lost you.” My hand moves down from her jaw to her neck. Backing her against the building wall, I wrap my hand gently around her throat. “But it was torture seeing you with him.”
“If you can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s a job, that’s your own insecurity, Lance. Grow up.”
I tighten my grip, and she gasps. “You know, there’s a little part of me that just wants to fuck that bratty attitude right out of you. Except I’d do it, and you’d just leave me again, wouldn’t you?” With my free hand, I trace the deep V of her chest line, where the sleek red fabric outlines her breasts. “I fucking hate this dress, by the way.”
She isn’t tense, even with my hand around her throat. She’s completely relaxed because we both know the truth. I’d die before I hurt this woman. But I do like the little flare of fire in her eyes. The way her breath goes ragged, and her lips fall apart just slightly as I hover over her.
“Why do you hate it?” she asks.
“I hate this dress because it’s beautiful…and you didn’t wear it for me.”
She hangs her head, like she’s ashamed, but lifts her eyes so her bright green gems are peeking through her full lashes. “If you hate it so much, then take it off.”
The strongest desire rips through me at her suggestion. It’s been too long since I’ve had what’s mine. I look up and down the alley one more time. “Does Gabriel know where you are?”
She shakes her head. “I slipped out. I only have a few minutes before I have to get back.”
I release her neck and graze the shell of her ear with my lips before placing a sweet kiss on the hollow of her throat. “You want me? Right here?”
“Yes,” she breathes out.
I reach around to find the clasp of her dress. I pinch the fabric between two fingers and feel the dress relax. After pulling down the zipper in one fluid motion, her dress slips right down to her feet, leaving her completely naked and exposed under the moonlight.
I take my time studying the full curve of her bare tits, and the outline of every muscle from her abdomen to her strong thighs. “We’re not doing this your way anymore. You’re hurting us both, C.”
She nods. “I’m sorry—”
“Again, I don’t want your apologies. You know what I want to hear,” I whisper. “But only if you meant it.”
Her eyes are dry, but she sniffles. Cricket’s not devoid of emotion. She’s just spent ten years being stronger than she should have to. I’m here to help carry the load. I’ve been here the whole time. She just needs to lean on me.
After a quiet beat, she finally understands. “I love you,” she murmurs.
I nod. “There it is. Say it again.”
“I love you, Lance. I want you.”
I cup both of her breasts and squeeze tightly. Warm and soft, they fill my palms like they were designed for me. A perfect fit. Bending over, I draw her right nipple into my mouth, teasing it with my teeth. I tug until she’s at the brink of pain. Her back arches, and she bites her bottom lip. I switch nipples, dolling out the same torturous pleasure.
“It feels so good, Lance. Please touch me.” Spinning around, Cricket puts her hands against the brick wall and widens her legs. She bends over, and throws her hips back, trying to push her pussy into my palm. But as quickly as she spun around, I grip her hips and turn her right back.
“Here are the new rules,” I growl at her in a tone so deep, I barely recognize my own voice. “When we fuck, you keep your eyes open and on me. When I say I love you, you say it back. When I make you come, you scream my name . Don’t you ever fucking shut me out again, Cricket. It’s useless. I’ll break down every single wall to get to you.”
“Okay,” she murmurs, nearly out of breath. Her adrenaline is surging; I see her flushed skin. Cricket grabs at my belt, unfastening the buckle, then my pants button. She plunges into my briefs and grabs my cock so tightly, it’s like she’s afraid it’ll escape her. Silly girl, where would I go? My cock was made for her.
Thud… Crash.
Cricket yanks her hand out of my pants, and we both look in the direction of the sudden sound. I walk her backward so her bare back is tight against the wall. Best I can, I cover her nakedness with my own body, protecting her. My erection, still contained in my briefs, is pressed against her belly, aching to come out.
“Raccoons,” Cricket says, as we see the shadows of furry triangular faces at the far side of the alley. “Little gangs that roam at night. We’re in their territory.” She flashes me a sweet smile, a stark contrast from the icy glares I’ve become accustomed to.
“I missed that smile.” I weave my lips between hers and kiss her so hard, it feels like our lips could pop. Kissing her like this is like trying to satiate an addiction. But pretty soon, kissing isn’t enough.
I push down my pants just enough for my cock to spring free. Her eyes drop, admiring me. I hook my hand under one of her thighs to lift her leg, spreading her as much as I can. Her pussy is pink, smooth, and already slick with her arousal. It makes my mouth water. I try to drop to my knees, craving a taste, but Cricket, anticipating my next move, weaves her hands through the top of my hair. “I don’t have time. Just fuck me. Hard. Like you’re trying to break me.”
“Why?” I ask.
“I just want to feel it, Lance.” She guides me to her entrance, teasing her center with the tip of my dick. “I want to feel all of it.”
With one thrust of my hips, I give Cricket every inch. She cries out so loud, I’m sure we’re going to get caught, fucking in public like this, but at the moment I don’t care. She feels like paradise. So wet and hot, wrapped around me so tightly it’s almost hard to move. My balls are already grazing her smooth ass, but I push even deeper, ensuring every single inch of my cock is nestled in her warmth.
I scoop under her other thigh, hoisting her into the air. Then, I fuck her like I’m possessed. We’re both gasping for air as I slam into her relentlessly. She groans and wails so loud, I have to brace her upper back against the brick so I can free my hand to cover her mouth.
“Hush, baby. You’re going to get us caught.”
She shakes her head and bites my hand. When I release her mouth, she says, “I don’t fucking care.”
“Hold on to me.” I grab her legs with both hands again, sliding from underneath her thighs to underneath her knees, lifting them as high as they go. She leans backward, trusting the wall to support her as she bridges her hips and tries to match my thrusts.
“Right there,” she cries out. “It’s so good, Lance.”
“That’s right, baby. Don’t ever forget I’m the only one who hits that spot for you. I’m the only one who does this right.”
“I love you… I love you…” she murmurs right as her toes start to clench. “So fucking good.” She wraps one hand around the back of my neck as her orgasm crescendos. Her other hand goes to my throat. Unlike me, Cricket isn’t gentle. She digs her fingers into my skin as she shuts her eyes.
“Oh, fuck ,” I groan. I love the power in her hand and how tightly she’s gripping. She’s barely letting me breathe. “Is that all you got? Go ahead, I can take it,” I manage to muster out. “Choking me is making you so wet, isn’t it?”
She clenches down with all her might and whimpers as her orgasm rips through her. She holds her breath as her pussy quivers around me, sending me to the very brink of my release. Still shuddering, she begs, “Slow…slow.”
I steady my hips, trading my frenzied thrusts for long, slow strokes.
When she’s caught her breath, she releases my neck and pushes against me, signaling for me to put her down. As soon as her stilettos touch the ground, she squats and sucks the crown of my cock into her mouth.
“Oh fuck,” I groan. “Good girl.” Her mouth is a fucking waterpark, the way she keeps it wet and slippery for me. I slide in deeper and deeper, my hand holding the back of her head. “That’s it. You came so hard on my cock, baby. Clean me up.”
She pauses for barely a moment to smile, then she returns to sucking on my tip, while stroking my shaft with two hands. The tension building is more powerful than any of the orgasms I’ve had before. Every cell in my body is full of tension, angst, pain, desire…and I need a release. The ache of losing my girl, and the relief of getting her back. I’ve bottled up so much for too long. “I’m going to come, baby.”
I try to push her away but she latches harder on to my tip, sucking with all her might. She pauses to tell me where to come. “Every drop, Lance. Give me every fucking drop.”
With one hand against the building, I brace myself as I explode right down Cricket’s throat. I come once, then I come again. I’m paralyzed as every ounce is drained, leaving me emptier than I thought was possible.
Cricket stays squatted, not satisfied until she’s swallowed down every drop of cum. She looks up at me with a mischievous smile before she licks her lips.
Scooping her up by her elbows, I help her stand. After fixing my pants and refastening my belt, I grab her dress that’s crumpled in a pile on the dirty alley ground. After shaking it out best I can, I help Cricket back into her dress. I spin her around so I can pull up the zipper and refasten the top clasp.
“You really do look beautiful,” I say in her ear, placing a trail of kisses against her bare shoulder.
When Cricket turns around, her eyes are almost watering. “I lied before. I did watch Star Trek .”
I smirk. “What’d you think?”
“It was ridiculous and far-fetched and had so many plot holes.”
“Literally one of my favorite movies, but okay…”
“And I loved it so much because it made me feel close to you. I’m so sorry for wasting time being angry. I could’ve lost you.”
I stroke her cheek. “No more apologies, Cricket. You can’t lose me. I still love even the absolute worst version of you. Being angry doesn’t mean I’m done with you. Don’t you understand how my love works by now? You can hate me until it hurts; I’ll only love you harder. When I said I was ready, I meant it. Forever.”
She nods. “Thank you for saving me, even from myself.” She puts her hand flat against my chest.
I put my hand over hers, holding it tightly against my heart so she can feel the sturdy beats. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. Let’s go home.”
Cricket shakes her head. “I can’t. I want to, but I told Gabriel I just wanted to freshen up and make a call. I have to get back before he notices I left. The restaurant is a ten-minute cab ride from here.”
“You can’t tell him something came up?” I ask, really starting to get agitated with this guy.
“I’m going to get through the night, then go to Vesper tomorrow. Gabriel’s clean. Vienne’s off her fucking rocker. I’m done snooping around. There’s nothing to uncover here. My part of this assignment is over.”
“I don’t know, C. There might be more to the story. Vienne told me something disturbing tonight, but she asked me not to tell Vesper. It makes sense, but it also doesn’t. I don’t know who to trust.”
“I have no right to ask but…” Cricket rises on her tiptoes and kisses me on the cheek. She pauses for a moment to breathe me in. “Trust me.”
“I do,” I answer like a knee-jerk reaction.
“Brief me tomorrow?” she asks. “I’ll meet you at headquarters. We can figure it out together.”
“Okay. I’d drive you, but I got dropped off here myself.” I pull out my phone from my back pocket and turn it back on. “I’ll call you a ride.”
“So chivalrous. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, sugar.” I wink at her.
She pinches her brows together. “What did you just call me?”
I cackle at the disgust in her tone. “The President of the United States gave me some advice tonight. He told me to never stop opening car doors for my lady. He and Vienne are a sweet couple, actually. He calls her sugar. I thought I’d try the nickname out on you. Swing and a miss,” I say distractedly as I try to navigate the rideshare app. It’s struggling to find our location.
“Sugar,” Cricket repeats with a shocked expression on her face.
“What’s wrong?” I study her conflicted expression.
“I don’t know. Maybe something…” She takes in a deep breath and places her hand on her hip. “Then again, maybe nothing. I’ll see what I can find out.”