Sweet Seduction (4 page)

“Shit, shit, shit,” I hiss as I run down the dark street to Grayson’s house from the parking lot two blocks away, late once again. After leaving Jax’s, I had to stop by my apartment to shower and change my clothes before dinner. It was sad to wash Jax’s scent off me, but I couldn’t really go to dinner at my brother’s house smelling like sex, and I'm sure Jax will be more than happy to mark me again.

I still can’t believe I spent the entire day in bed, I haven’t done that since I was a kid. But having copious amounts of hot dirty sex will help with that. Jax has revealed a new side of me, I feel so wild and free when I’m with him. Even if I wanted to, I don’t think I could ever get him out of my system. In less than twenty-four hours, Jax has completely embedded himself into the fabric of my being. I can’t imagine being with anyone but him.

Walking up the last three steps to my brother’s door, the knots in my stomach are twisting tighter and tighter. My palms are sweating, and my heart is beating out of my chest. I know I shouldn’t care what my brother thinks of Jax and me, but I want him to at least like the man who, quite possibly, could be the man I spend the rest of my life with.

I slowly open the door and quietly step inside, my eyes immediately go the wall by the stairs where I saw Jax standing, being all cute and brooding and jealous when he thought I was Grayson’s fiancée. It was kind of flattering that he got so possessive over me, makes me feel so wanted and desired.

Closing the door behind me, I see Pippa barreling down the hallway toward me. She grabs me by the arm and drags me through the dining room to the kitchen.

“Hello to you too,” I huff as she lets go of my arm.

“Sorry, but I had to get to you before Gray,” she says, turning her back to me to peek around the corner.

I take the opportunity to steal one of the chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes sitting on the counter. I’m absolutely starving and hope some food will help calm my stomach. Peeling back the wrapper, I bring the cake to my lips and spot Pippa’s eyes widen as I practically unhinge my jaw to shove half of the cupcake into my mouth.

“What? I’m starving. All I’ve had since yesterday is a waffle and Jax’s cum and, let me tell you, that stuff is not as filling as you would think.”

Her stunned look fades into panic. “Jax is who I need to talk to you about,” she whispers. “Grayson knows about you two.”

I swallow my bite of cupcake down hard, almost choking.

“I’m sorry, it just slipped out while we were on our way to the club. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all day to warn you not to come tonight until he cooled off. I am so sorry; I didn’t think he would fly off the handle like that.” I can see the sincerity in her eyes. She has a lot to learn about Grayson. He thinks him being over protective is somehow good for me, when, in fact, it only hurts me more.

“I just thought with him being friends with Jax that he would be happy for you two, like you were for us.”

“The only way I’ll be happy about this is when you end whatever the fuck is going on with Jax,” Grayson growls from behind me. I spin around to face him. He’s standing in the entryway, his arms are folded in front of his chest and his angry eyes are burning into me. “Whatever little game you are playing with Jax, I want you to end it now,” he orders.

Here we go again with the over protective brother crap. I am so sick and tired of this bullshit from him. I can take care of myself, and I wish he would get it through that thick skull of his.

“Where do you come off telling me who I can and cannot date? You are such a fucking hypocrite Grayson. It’s okay for you to sleep with my best friend, but if I sleep with one of your friends it’s like the world is ending,” I challenge back.

“That’s different, Pippa doesn't have the same past as Jax. He will do and say whatever it takes to get into your pants. I’m just trying to protect you,” he barks back. I can see Pippa has moved behind Grayson, staring daggers at the back of his head. Now she sees what he can be like. What a true pain in the ass he is.

“This coming from someone with loads of experience in that department. You don’t exactly have the best track record either Grayson. I am so sick and tired of you telling me what I can and cannot do. I'm a big girl, and if I want to continue to see Jax then I am going to, whether you like it or not.”

He’s making my blood boil. I've never been this mad at Grayson in my life. I just want to punch his big stupid arrogant face. I can't look at him any longer. I turn toward the door, only to have him grab me by the arm, stopping me in my tracks.

“How can you choose him over your family, over your own blood?”

I look up at him with narrow eyes, my face burning with rage. “Because he’s not the one making me choose.”

I pull out of his grasp and bolt down the hallway for the door with him calling after me. Just as I get to the door a soft hand on my shoulder stops me. I turn my head and see Pippa standing next to me.

“I’m so sorry Lexi.” Her words are laced with sadness and there are tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

“It’s not your fault Pippa, it's Grayson. He just can’t see that I'm grown up now. He still thinks of me as the little sister he has to protect, and that’s never going to change. I love you, and I wish you both all the best, but right now, I can’t be anywhere near him.” Brushing her hand off my shoulder, I open the door and start to step outside.

“Maybe you two can work this out after he cools off,” she calls out.

“I don’t think that is possible now.”

Sitting in my living room, I stare out the window watching the morning sun begin to peak up across the skyline. I haven't moved from this spot all night. Lexi never showed after her dinner at her brother’s house. The text message I received from Gray telling me to stay the fuck away from his sister made it clear that he didn’t take the news of us being together too well.

All Grayson sees of me is my past. My days touring with the band were filled with alcohol, drugs, and women. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not proud of my past. I was a selfish punk kid who didn’t know any better. But after finding my younger brother lying in a pool of his own vomit, dead from a drug overdose, it changed me. After that, I left the band and got clean. I took over my father’s construction company and never looked back. The urge to perform with the band is still there, it never went away. To quench my thirst, I perform a couple times a month playing with my old band down at the Blue Whiskey, the club Brian, our lead guitarist opened after we parted ways.

I’m not that punk kid anymore, and I know if Grayson could just see how good I will take care of his sister he would be happy for us. Happy that we finally found true happiness like he did with Pippa.

It’s after seven when I arrive at my office. I wanted to race over to Lexi’s apartment and beg her to give us another shot, but she needs time to clear her head. But I won’t give her too much time, come tonight I’m going down to her restaurant, and I will do whatever it takes to get her back, even if it means throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her out like a fucking caveman.

I slump down in the seat at my desk, sucking back the last of my coffee. I toss the empty cup into the trash and look up to see my business partner and childhood best friend, Parker, walking through my door.

Parker and I grew up next door to each other in Dorchester. He became like a second brother to me and to my brother Gavin. We were the three amigos. After high school we drifted apart. He went on to play football at Texas Tech, while I went on to California with my band to see if we could make something of ourselves. After Gavin passed away, Parker was there for me and at that point, we hadn’t spoken to each other for five years. He helped me get clean and stay that way, and I returned the favor when he blew out his knee in a playoff game against the Cowboys. I made him my partner at Sanders Construction. He handles the business side while I handle the job sites. We’re a great team, and together, we have made this company one of the best in all of Boston.

“Where the hell were you yesterday? You missed the Sox making the Yankees their bitch.” He drops his clipboard down on my desk and takes a seat in the chair across from me. “I had to sit alone next to this cute little blonde piece.”

“Oh I’m sure that made you very sad,” I scoff.

“Don’t get me wrong, she was a pretty little thing, and I got her pussy so wet you could surf off it but it was like fucking a skeleton.”

“Jesus Christ,” I huff, shaking my head. “It is too damn early, and I am too fucking tired to deal with you this morning.”

Parker is a good guy deep down, but he has no fucking filter. After staying up all night I’m not in the mood to hear the dirty details about his latest conquest.

“Who pissed in your Cheerios this morning?” he asks.

“I didn’t sleep well last night,” I say brushing him off.

“You missed the Sox playing at home against the Yankees, so I’m guessing it has to be about a woman. I’m guessing that Lexi chick finally told you to go to hell.” He chuckles under his breath.

“No, quite the opposite, her brother did. Turns out Lexi is Grayson Bennett’s sister.”

This makes Parker burst out with a roar of laughter. “No fucking way. I’m sure he’s ready to beat your ass.” His laughter echoing through my office.

“I really care about this girl. She’s smart, funny, independent, and so fucking beautiful. She’s also a pain in the ass, but that's what I love most about her,” I confess.

“Love, huh?” He cocks a curious eyebrow up at me.

We’ve barely spent a full twenty-four hours together, but I know without hesitation that I love this woman.

“Yeah, this is love,” I say with confidence. Parker starts to open his mouth and I’m fully prepared for the wrath of shit he’s going to give me for falling for some chick I barely know.

“I envy you.”

My mouth drops open the moment the words leave his lips. “Am I having a stroke right now?”

“I know I’m an asshole but I want love too,” he admits.

I still can’t believe what I am hearing. Parker has always been a bit of a pussy hound, never spending longer than a few hours with any woman. So to hear him say he wants something long term is completely blowing my mind.

“I have all this money and a big house that is just sitting empty, I want someone I can share it with. I have women falling over themselves to get to me, but all they are after is my money and status. At first it was great but I’m getting tired of the empty meaningless sex. I want a beautiful, intelligent woman that has her own career and that sees me for more than just my NFL fame. It would also be nice if she had big tits, thick thighs, and an ass that could make a grown man weep,” he adds.

“Parker, I’m pretty sure the woman you just described would never give a pervert like you the time of day.”

“Fuck you. If an asshole like you can find a woman that can put up with your shit, then there is a woman out there for a pervert like me,” he counters.

Just then my phone goes off. I look at the screen thinking it might be Lexi, but my hopes are quickly dashed when I see that it’s a text from one of my crew at Gray’s house.

“Shit, I gotta go. A pipe burst over at Grayson’s house.” I get up from my chair and send a quick text back, letting him know I'm on my way then stuff my phone into my back pocket.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go?”

“No, I have to face Gray at some point, might as well be now.”

Once at Gray’s house, I survey the damage in the upstairs master suite. Thankfully my guys were here when the pipe burst and were able to shut off the water before it did too much damage. The water only made it out to the bedroom. The damage to the wood floors and the sheet rock will set us back a couple days, but it could have been worse.

I was slightly relived to find that Grayson and Pippa had left for the day before the pipe burst. But my lead contractor, Carl, left Gray a voicemail about the situation, so it was just a matter of time before Gray would come back. I know he’s pissed, but we need to talk. I need to tell him how much his sister means to me, that I’m going to take care of her.

I'm helping move the last of the furniture out of the bedroom when Gray pulls up. He walks inside the house and doesn't even look at me as he passes me on the stairs. Friends for two years and he doesn’t even have the decency to punch me in the face, or at least scream at me for fucking his sister. He just walks past me like I'm some stranger.

After I drop off the nightstand in the living room, I head outside to help unload the supply truck. Pulling out a handful of pipes, I hear footsteps behind me. I don’t even have to turn around to know its Gray.

“I want you to stay away from my sister.”

“That’s not going to happen,” I say, dropping the pipes back in the bed of the truck. “Besides, Lexi is a grown woman, she can make up her own mind.”

He grabs me by the shoulder and roughly spins me around. Grabbing me by the shirt, he pulls me just inches from his face. His eyes are like daggers as he stares me down.

“I’m not going to sit back and watch you destroy my sister’s life because you are looking for a piece of ass. She’s too good for a piece of trash like you,” he growls.

Grabbing his wrists, I pull him off me. It takes all that I have not to knock him on his ass.

“I get your pissed about Lexi and me...”

“Let’s get one thing straight, there is no Lexi and you,” he interjects.

“I’m not going anywhere, I love her.”

He stubbles back a few steps, almost falling over the curb, a look of disbelief washes over his face.

“Look, I know you are just trying to protect Lexi, but I love her and that is never going to change. I am going to take care of her, give her everything she wants. You just have to give me a chance to prove it to you,” I plead with him.

“You barely know her; how can you be in love already?” he asks.

“You barely know Pippa, but you are ready to marry her. When it’s right you just have to go for it. And I know, deep down in my bones, this is right.”

“Just knowing about your past, I don’t want Lexi getting hurt.”

“I promise you with every ounce of my being I will never hurt her,” I reassure him.

“I want to believe you when you say you won’t hurt Lexi. It’s just hard to let go of the reins. I’ve always been the one to take care of her.”

“I know and you’ve done a great job, she is a very strong, independent woman, who doesn't take shit from anyone, not even from me. It’s time for you to let someone else take care of her, someone who will continue to let her be who she is.” I watch as he paces back and forth. I know what he is going through, I was the same way with my brother. But the harder I pushed him to follow my rules the more he slipped away, until I lost him for good.

“I just need more time to process all of this.”

“Take all the time you need.”