Owned: An Alpha Anthology (38 page)

We didn’t go for drinks like girlfriends to talk about our lives. He never took me to dinner, unless you count the shithole bar in town as a restaurant, or McDonald’s. We didn’t hold hands, walk along the beach, or snuggle. We fucked and he left. Plain. Simple. No feelings involved.

"I know, Izzy." He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing, as he looked down at me. "I meant as a friend. I’ve known you my entire life."

"Just as long as we’re clear, Flash." I slid my feet down his chest, rubbing against his hard length before I opened my legs to him. The look on his face was closer to a little boy losing a puppy dog than one about to fuck my brains out. "Come here and kiss me already," I said, holding out my arms to him.

A small smile spread across his face as he leaned over me, placing his arms under my body. "I thought you’d never ask," he said with a chuckle.

I’d known Flash long enough to know that there was something more he wanted to say, but he always held back. I loved him. Don’t get me wrong. We’d gone to kindergarten together, but I wasn’t in love with him. I never would be, either.

I grabbed his face as he hovered over me. "Hey," I whispered, "I’m happy you’re here."

His eyes lit up as he rested his forehead against mine. "Thanks, Izzy. It’s just so hard at times."

"What is, babe?" I asked, moving my arms around his shoulders.

"Being part of the Sun Devils MC. I feel so lonely."

"Get yourself an ol’ lady," I replied.

He rolled his eyes, pushing himself up on his elbows. "They’re bullshit."

"Come on. I’m sure there’s someone you’re sweet on, Flash."

"She’s not—"

"Babe, listen to me. Everyone needs someone. You need to fill that void."

He sprawled out on the mattress, putting his hands behind his head. "It’s not that simple, Izzy."

Resting my head in my hand, I placed the other on his chest. "I know. You have a big heart, and any girl would be lucky to have you, Sam."

He didn’t like anyone calling him that anymore, but I was always the exception to the rule. I only used it to help drive home the point. He needed to finally comprehend that he and I would never be a "we."

"Not the one I want, though," he mumbled, blowing out a breath.

My heart hurt for him, but I just couldn’t give myself to him in that way. "I’m sorry. You know I love you, but not in that way. You’ll always be one of my best friends. You need to forget about me and find someone who’s going to love you the way you deserve to be loved."

"Yeah, maybe." He closed his eyes as he laid his hand on top of mine and stroked my skin. "No woman will ever measure up to you, though, Isabella."

"I know I’m pretty fanfuckingtastic, but I’m not the one. She’ll fall into your lap when you least expect it," I said as I nuzzled my face against his chest.

"What about you?" he asked, kissing the top of my head.

"What about me?" I looked at him.

"When are you going to find someone to love?"

"Aw, baby. I have my family. I don’t need anyone else."

"We all do, Iz. When are you going to stop lying to yourself?"

I winked at him, laying my head back down against his skin as I twirled his dark chest hair in my fingers. "I have as much love as I can handle. I don’t want to be tied down. I’m happy with my life. The last thing I am is lonely."

"Liar." He laughed, pulling me flush against his side. "Can we just sleep like this tonight?"

"Snuggle?" I asked, wanting to run out of the room.

"I just want to feel close to someone tonight. Please, Iz. I’m so comfortable like this. I don’t want to sleep on the couch."

I bit my lip, feeling shitty about always doing that to him. Having him sleep in my bed always felt too intimate for me to handle. "Fine," I said, hoping I wouldn’t regret it later. "Don’t get used to it."

"Thanks," he whispered, burrowing his nose in my hair. "Night."

"Night," I mumbled as I closed my eyes.

An overwhelming sense of guilt came over me as I lay in his arms. Flash loved me, and had voiced it many times over the years. I’d always set him straight. Tonight felt different, though. It was as if I’d had a knife and jammed it in his heart. I felt like such a cunt for telling him I wouldn’t love him—not in that way, at least.

We’d sworn that it wouldn’t be any more than a physical friendship. He’d promised me years ago that he wouldn’t fall in love with me. Sam had given me that amazing smile while speaking the words I’d wanted to hear but meaning none of them. I felt the end near for us, because I couldn’t handle having to kill his heart and hurt him every time we were together.

Hurting someone, no matter the reason, sucks—especially when they’re a friend. Someone who has been by your side and had your back since you were a little girl is an important person. He meant the world to me, but I could never settle down and spend my life with Flash.

I needed to let him down easy, and that wasn’t my strong suit. I always spoke my mind, and sometimes I came off as brash or unkind.

I curled into his side, letting my old friend drift to sleep while I mulled over my future without Flash weaving himself in and out of my life through the months. I needed to move on. More importantly, he needed to move on and find himself someone to love.

As long as it wasn’t me.

RESISTING BY CHELLE BLISS

2 - Izzy

"Morning, beautiful," Flash whispered in my ear as I hugged my pillow, facing away from him.

"Morning," I said, groaning as I stretched.

I wasn’t a morning person. I’d slept like shit with Flash in my bed. He’d been a hog and snored no matter how much I’d elbowed him to move. The noise just kept coming. I’d thought about pinching his nose, but I’d also thought that’d earn me an elbow to the face by accident. So I’d covered my head with my pillow, faced away from him, and prayed for him to shut the fuck up.

"Sleep well?" he asked, stroking my arm lightly as goose bumps broke out across my skin.

"Ugh," I whined, turning toward him. "No."

"I slept like a fuckin’ rock." He smiled, brushing the hair out of my eyes.

"Yeah, I know," I mumbled.

His slow blinks and sappy smile made my stomach turn. He wasn’t staring at me like a piece of meat or a hit-it-and-quit-it kind of thing. His face screamed that he loved me, and it freaked me the fuck out.

"So, what do you want to do today?" he asked, his eyes searching my face.

I bit the inside of my lip. "It’s Thanksgiving, Flash. I’m going to spend the day with my family."

"Fuck," he muttered as he stared at the ceiling.

"What?" I asked, pulling the sheet over my breasts as I sat up and rested against the headboard.

"I forgot it’s Thanksgiving."

"I’m sure your parents are expecting you."

"No, they’re out of town. I’ll just do what I came here for and head back to the clubhouse."

Fucking great. I don’t want him to be alone on a holiday. No one deserves that.
"I’m sure Joe wouldn’t mind if you came to dinner. He cooks for an army, just like my ma."

"You wouldn’t care?" he asked, looking over at me with puppy-dog eyes.

"No. You know everybody, and my mom has always liked you."

"Your mom is the best damn cook. That’s one of the reasons I liked you as a kid. Your mom fed everybody."

"You liked me because I let you feel me up in eighth grade." I laughed, hitting him in the face with my pillow.

"Yeah, that too." He grabbed me by the arms, pulling me down on top of him.

"Flash," I warned.

"I know, Izzy. I’m just a cock to you."

I hit his shoulder hard, making my palm sting. "Fucker, you’re a friend, but your cock is mighty fine."

"My cock could use some attention."

"So could my pussy."

"Listen, you greedy little cunt. I ate you so fucking good last night and what did I get?"

"You just said what you got. You got to eat my pussy."

"Izzy," he said, grabbing my shoulder. "My balls are gonna burst. You gotta help a guy out here."

I crawled on top of him, straddling him, and felt his dick already hard underneath me. "Flash, what do I get if I let you?"

"Woman," he said as he swatted my ass. "You’ll get to come on my ‘mighty fine cock,’ as you called it."

"I want two," I demanded, grinding myself against him.

He shivered as a small moan escaped his lips. "Anything you want."

I looked at the ceiling, resting my index finger against my lips as I moved my hips. "Well, my house could use a good cleaning," I teased.

"You’ll get what I give you," he growled.

"Oh, I like big, bad biker Flash." I laughed, leaning back and pushing the tip of his cock farther into my wetness.

He tossed me through the air, and I landed on the bed and bounced. I snorted as I laughed. He grabbed the condom off the nightstand and moved his body between my legs.

"I’ll show you big, bad biker Flash."

"Shit better be good."

"You talk too fucking much," he said as he rolled the condom down his shaft. "I always do you good, Izzy. No one does it better."

On a consistent basis, he was the best, but I’d had better one-night stands. There’s something about the explosion of passion that happens when two strangers get together and there’s an undeniable attraction. Clothes get torn, bodies get bruised, and everyone walks away with exactly what they wanted to begin with—a quick fuck, no strings attached.

"Gimme those lips," he said, leaning over me as he stuck the tip of his cock inside me.

"No," I whispered, turning my head.

He stopped all movement. "No?"

"Your breath." I laughed, but it was more than that. It felt too personal, and the last thing I wanted was anything that involved feelings.

"Gotcha," he replied as he jammed his dick inside me, causing me to cry out in pleasure.

"Jesus," I mumbled, pushing my head into my pillow and arching my back to give him better access.

"So fuckin’ good," he whispered, rocking back and forth.

I sighed, letting myself get lost in the pleasure and blocking everything out. As his thrusts grew more punishing, I dug my fingers into his skin, trying to ground myself.

Closing my eyes, I listened to our moans as he moved. The sound of our bodies connecting filled the room, mingled with our breathing. He drove me closer to the edge. Each thrust hit my clit, bringing the orgasm just within reach.

Within minutes, I was flying off a cliff. A kaleidoscope of colors filled my vision as the orgasm that tore through me stole the air from my lungs. Flash had that ability. That’s one reason why I always welcomed him into my bed.

"Oh God, yes!" I screamed, meeting his thrusts as the orgasm waned. I wanted more, needed more. I wasn’t done, and neither was he.

He stared down at me, his eyes blazing as he gritted his teeth, chasing his own release. Picking up the pace, he grabbed my ass and tilted my hips, causing him to slide in farther.

"Right there!" I screeched, kicking my feet against the bed.

"Fuck," he hissed, his momentum quickening to an impressive speed.

Moments later, his movement stuttered as he groaned though his release. Sweat dripped from his chin, landing on my breast and sliding down to rest in between my tits.

The very last thrust he gave me sent me over the edge. The second orgasm was just as intense as the first and left me a puddle of jelly.

We lay there panting, sweaty, and exhausted. Trying to gulp air as if we were fish searching for water as we flopped in a new atmosphere. I wanted to fall back asleep. My eyes felt heavy as the tiredness I felt went bone deep.

Just as my breathing slowed and my mind started to turn off, my phone beeped.

"Fuck," I muttered, reaching out and feeling around my nightstand. Cracking one eye, I brought the phone to my face, too tired to open both.

Joe: Be on time today.

I rolled my eyes, tossing the phone to the floor. Yawning, I moving away from Flash and snuggled with my pillow. I had hours until I needed to be there for dinner. It was a holiday, for shit’s sake, and I needed rest after having listened to Flash snore all night.

Comfortable and sated sleep took me quickly. Everything faded away.

"Izzy," a voice said inside my dream, but I ignored it. "Izzy," the voice repeated.

"What?" I mumbled, annoyed to have my darkness interrupted.

"Izzy," Flash said, shaking my shoulders. "What time do we have to be at your brother’s?"

"Two," I muttered, placing the pillow over my head.

"It’s one thirty, babe."

I jumped from the bed, my heart racing at the thought of being late. "Fuck. Why did you let me sleep so long?" I grabbed my jeans off the dresser, slipping them on and quickly fastening them. Then I turned to see Flash staring at me. "Get your ass up. We gotta go."

"Is someone scared of her brother?" He smiled, stretching out across my bed.

"No. I just don’t want to hear bullshit about being late."

"Pussy." He laughed, climbing off the bed.

"If you ever want my pussy again, you’ll move your ass." I threw his dirty clothes at him before he could react. They hit him square in the chest and fell to his feet.

"What the fuck, dude?" he asked, holding out his hands.

"Put something on. You can’t go like that," I said, waving my hands up and down.

"My clothes are outside."

I crossed my arms over my chest, highly irritated at this point. "Flash, move it. Stop fucking around. Get your shit and get ready. I’m leaving in ten with or without you."

"Fine," he said, pulling on his jeans before stomping out the door as I walked into my closet to grab a cami.

It was bad enough that I was bringing Flash with me. Joe hated him. Fuck, all my brothers hated him. Hopefully, with it being a holiday, they could put aside their bullshit and welcome him inside. I could hope, but I knew the reality. I’d be playing interference the entire day to stop fists from flying.

Exactly ten minutes later, I grabbed my keys off the counter and threw on my heels. Then I stood by the front door, about to walk out, when Flash rounded the corner looking as good as biker Flash could. His outfit wasn’t fancy, but it would do. Time to get the clusterfuck over with.