Perfectly Toxic (The Sterling Shore Series Book 9) (12 page)

“I might use one of the others then,” she says with a shrug. “But all my hair stuff is at home.”

I kiss her shoulder then climb out of the bed in just my boxers. When I turn around her eyes are on me, and I smirk before ducking into the bathroom, wondering what the hell I’m doing.

A girlfriend was never on the agenda, and I’m pretty sure that’s what Bella just became, even though she’s trying to say we’re just dating. Just dating involves dating, and it also involves dating other people. Then again, she told me from the beginning she was a relationship girl, so it’s not like I feel duped.

Plus, I might beat a guy with his own arms if he laid a hand on her, so I’m definitely onboard with the not dating anyone else rule.

Shaking out of my thoughts, I turn the water on and toss my boxers off. Maybe it’s good no one else finds out just yet. After all the hell I’ve given the guys for being pussy whipped, there’s no telling what hell I’d catch in return for being back a few weeks and suddenly in a damn relationship.

Just as I step under the spray, the door to the shower opens, and every thought in my head turns to dust. Bella steps in, fully naked, and she’s wearing that sexy little grin on her face.

My eyes slide down her body, taking in the sight as she steps closer and slides her hand up my chest. I felt the sheets beneath me all night. I felt the air trickling across us. I felt the pillow against my cheek. I felt her against me all night.

The feeling seems to come and go, but Bella’s touch is fucking perfect every time. And I feel it every time too.

Which is what made me call the sex epic. I’ve always felt sex, but never to that extreme. I had no idea it was numbed. Or maybe it wasn’t. Hell I don’t really know anything.

“I changed my mind about the shower,” she says as she leans over and flicks her tongue over my nipple ring.

On second thought, having a girlfriend seems like a damn good idea.

Chapter 23

BELLA

My wall hates Ethan Noles, because he loves fucking me against it.

My fingers dig into his shoulders, clutching him as he makes use of my poor wall once again, kissing his way up my neck as he drives in and out of me with careless abandon.

He knows how to use his body, and we’re like two teenagers who can’t get enough of each other.

I try to kiss him, but his movements are so rough that I’m worried about bashing our mouths together. That’s one thing I can’t get enough of—how out of control he gets when he goes several hours without seeing me.

He doesn’t stop until I’m crying out his name, and his body stills against mine as he bites down on my neck to muffle any sound he might make.

His fingers are digging into my ass so hard that there are probably going to be fingerprint bruises, but I don’t care.

“Hi,” I say to him, giggling when he laughs against my neck.

He barely came inside before he was tearing my pants off and throwing me against the wall.

“At least round one is out of the way,” he says against my neck, the vibrations of his deep voice eliciting a shudder from me.

“How romantic,” I deadpan, but then I smile as he slowly lowers me back to the floor, pulling out of me at the same time.

He slaps my ass as I head into my room to use my bathroom, and I flip him off without turning around. Ethan Noles is genuinely not romantic, and I’m unsurprisingly happy about that.

I’ve always liked them rough around the edges, but I’ve never been overly fond of the aftermath when things blow up in my face.

After I clean up and put on a pair of comfortable shorts, I find Ethan lounging on my sofa, lazily watching some sports channel.

“Not in my house,” I tell him before swiping the remote.

He doesn’t argue, until I turn on my favorite show, which happens to be a little too feminine. Ethan hates for things to be too feminine.

“Be glad I like your pussy, or I’d be an ass right now and take that remote back.”

“Be still my beating heart. With crass poetry like that, you’re going to ruin me.”

He laughs lightly while sliding in behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist as he kisses his way down my neck.

“You’ve yet to allow me to wow you with my skills. You’re too busy ripping my clothes off like a barbarian and taking over,” I tell him, trying to ignore how good his lips feel.

He grins as he continues to kiss down my neck, and I arch against him when he finds a particular spot behind my ear that hits all the right nerves.

“I’ll let you ‘wow’ me later. It’s not my fault you work all the damn time, and I’m forced to wait.”

“Girl’s gotta earn a living,” I say absently, glancing at the clock that shows I have to be up in less than seven hours to start the day all over again.

I have to get more sleep than I’ve been getting the rest of this week. Otherwise, I won’t be worth a damn at work, and that’s not a good thing.

His big hand is spread over my stomach, holding me in place like I’m about to try and get away.

When his phone rings, he ignores it, just like he usually does when he’s with me. If it’s on him, he’ll check it, but if it’s sitting somewhere that will force him to get up, he doesn’t bother. It’s one thing I really enjoy about him, since most of the guys I’ve been seeing lately are more interested in who has ‘liked’ the latest picture of them on whatever social media platform they’re obsessed with.

Ethan doesn’t even have social media. I know, because I tried to cyber stalk him. I’m a creeper like that.

“So you and Rye are tight?” I ask, making conversation so that this feels less like a hook-up and more like something that could develop into a real relationship.

“Yeah. He lived with me for a while when we were teenagers. I wouldn’t say we’re as tight as you and Allie though.”

“Hmm. I didn’t know that. Why’d he live with you?”

“He was going through some stuff, and my parents suggested he move in with us.”

His lips rake over my shoulder, even though it seems to be less seductive and more… sweet? Ethan Noles doesn’t do
sweet
, so I have to be wrong.

“Before I forget, my mother is having some big dinner thing in a couple of weeks to welcome me back home.”

“But you’ve been home for a while now.”

“I know, but she doesn’t really care. It’s her way of getting me over there.”

“You don’t want to go over there?”

“I don’t mind it, but hanging out with my parents hasn’t been high on the agenda. I’ve been playing the good son for the past decade.”

I only wish I could ‘hang’ with my parents. Hell, if they ever apologized for being hypocritical assholes, I’d happily do it. But I don’t foresee that ever happening.

“So you good with that?”

“Good with what?” I ask, distracted.

“Good with going to my Mom’s. It’d mean us coming out.”

My body tenses against his, but I’m battling a grin. “Are you seriously asking me to meet the parents right now?”

He shifts uncomfortably behind me. “Never mind. Didn’t realize that was a big deal.”

I roll over in his arms so that I can face him, but he’s refusing to look at me, feigning interest in the girly show he doesn’t approve of.

“I want to go, but only if this thing between us is heading in a solid direction.”

He shrugs, now acting indifferent. I feel like an ass for teasing him now.

When my lips start toying with his neck, he loses his forced interest in the show, moving his body until I’m on top of him. The more I kiss his neck, the more his hands roam freely on my body.

He’s just in his boxers, and I’m wearing some slinky pajamas. It’s become our normal routine during the past week.

When his hand slips inside the leg of my shorts, his breath hitches. His fingers slide against my flesh, taking note that I bypassed underwear, and he grips me tighter before pulling his finger away. I swear, my body makes things too easy for him, because he doesn’t have to do any work to get me ready.

I feel gipped.

My thoughts of feeling gipped turn to mush as he pushes the leg of my shorts open and slides me down on top of him, impaling me on his hard—

“Show me those skills, banana girl,” he says in a strained tone before thrusting up suddenly, pushing us as close as possible.

A soft moan escapes me as I clutch his shoulders for leverage and move against him.

“Banana girl? You can’t learn those skills until we quit skipping foreplay,” I point out, feeling his grip tighten on my hips.

I don’t give him time to respond, because I’m too busy trying to blow his mind. And judging by the look on his face and the fierce grip he has on me, I’m succeeding.

Chapter 24

BELLA

“I need you to cover the rest of Jaden’s shift,” Berta tells me on her way by.

“But that’s another four hours,” I groan.

“I know. I’ve been here for sixteen hours already, and Jaden just went home with that virus that’s going around.”

Damn it.

“Fine. I’ll stay, but I’m not happy about it.”

She grins, and I flip her off. “Tell me one person who is happy right now,” she chuckles before leaving.

Pulling out my phone, I decide to text Ethan, considering he was supposed to pick me up after work. I paid for breakfast this morning, but then found a random twenty in my purse, which lets me know he only let me think I paid until I got here. He’s trying to burn my rules to the ground.

I text him, letting him know tonight won’t work, and he fires a text back immediately.

ETHAN: That makes no sense. Read your message.

I groan while scanning for my text, then curse when I read it.

ME: Tonight wanton twerk because I twerking late.

I resend the correct message.

ME: Tonight won’t work because I have to work late.

It takes a few seconds before he messages back.

ETHAN: I take it back. I prefer the original message full of gibberish, because this one sucks.

I smile like an idiot for no apparent reason, and send him back a kissing emoji before putting my phone back in my locker.

By the time my additional four hours are over, I almost want to cry for joy. My feet are killing me, and so is my head. Overworked is not a good way to feel. I’m fairly positive there is gum in my hair, and I don’t even want to try and figure out what the brown stuff on my shoes is.

I text Ethan, letting him know I’m off, but he doesn’t respond.

Frowning, I head toward my car, checking my phone again and again like an idiot.

It’s possible he’s already asleep. But it’s only eight at night, so that’s doubtful. Deciding not to swing by his house, I drive toward my home. Until I get a text.

ALLIE: Everyone is at Maverick’s house. Can you come hang?

Excitement and nervousness collide. I’m about to have to see Ethan in person around all of our friends, and we have to play it cool.

I rush home, shower, and battle with the gum in my hair, making myself presentable. It’s after nine when I finally get to Maverick’s, and my stomach flips when I see Ethan’s car parked beside Wren’s.

I’m curious why he never sent a text back. What if he doesn’t want me here?

No, fuck that. Who cares if he wants me here? I’m here to see my friends. I’m not here for him.

Shrugging off my nerves, I walk inside, and find myself stumbling to a halt when I see a lot of really gorgeous women whose names I don’t know. Dale is lost in conversation with one of them. So is Maverick.

Rain is passed out on the couch, her head in Dane’s lap as he talks to Kode. Tria is motioning me over, but I suddenly don’t like being here. I look like death with a little makeup, and all these girls look like they just left the runway.

What’s going on?

“Hey,” I say, discreetly scanning the living room, but not seeing Ethan or Allie. “What kind of party did I stumble into?” I ask her.

“This is Maverick inviting the models over from Pretty Posh,” Tria explains, laughing under her breath. “Kode’s fault. Bora gave us a tour of the new line, and they did a runway test for the couture stuff. This is what happens when you take Maverick around a bunch of models.”

So they really are runway models.

She offers me a glass of wine, but I grab the vodka instead. Maverick lives too far away for me to walk home at night, but I can always crash on his couch or take a cab back.

“Where’s Allie?” I ask her as I pour a little orange juice in with my vodka and toss in a few ice cubes.

“Out back. Wait until you see Corbin.”

My eyebrows go up, and she starts laughing while shaking her head. Curious, I head outside, and Corbin Freaking Sterling is the first thing I see.

I burst out laughing before my mind can even really process what I’m seeing, to be honest. Is that an elephant trunk sticking out of his man thong? Why is he wearing a man thong?

“Not one fucking word,” he tells me, pointing at me like it’s a warning.

I’m too busy laughing to form words, so it’s a useless threat. Ruby wipes tears out of her eyes as her body shakes with silent laughter. He mutters a few curses before glaring over at her.

“Can we go now? You said the last person who had to see is Bella, and she’s finally fucking seen me,” he growls.

“Yes, Tarzan. We go now. Good boy,” Ruby says in a mock, deep voice, then breaks out into a second round of hysterics.

“Just wait. Paybacks are hell,” he tells her as they walk by me. She slaps his bare ass, and he flips her off without turning around.

“Thanks for coming,” she tells me, still wiping away her tears in between bouts of laughter.

Sometimes I wonder if I have to be certifiably insane to be in a healthy relationship.

My laughter dies in my throat when my eyes collide with a pair of dark ones. Ethan is watching me from the patio table where he’s sitting next to Wren, and his hands are steepled under his chin.

He smirks at me, then returns his attention to Wren as he tells him whatever he’s telling him. Allie waves me over, and I go to sit down at the table with them. I’m on one end, and Ethan’s on the other, which on the rectangular table, puts him a safe distance away from me.

It’s the first time we’ve seen each other without tearing off our clothes.

“Work is rough, I assume,” Allie says, sipping a bottle of water.

“Yeah. Lots of people leaving or calling in because of a virus. Where’s my girl?”

Allie grins. “With Wren’s mom. She loves having a grandmother these days. And I’m happy for her.”

One of the models walks by us, wearing a dress that I want to steal and curl up with at night. But my ass would never fit in that.

Sighing, I stare after her wistfully, until I suddenly tense because she’s running her finger along Ethan’s shoulder.

His expression is blank as he talks to Wren, but I can’t hear the words. All I can hear is the muffled rumble of his deep voice.

My fists clench when she leans over to say something in his ear. He stops talking to Wren, and he turns to face the girl as she leans back. She’s giving him a grin like I give him right before he takes me, and it’s making me want to vomit.

It’s a little too soon to be a jealous crazy girl, so I keep my mouth shut and stare very obviously. Not that he notices.

“Is that so?” he asks loud enough for me to hear, cocking his head to the side.

“Yeah. You in?” she asks, biting down on her bottom lip suggestively.

He lets his eyes roam over her body, and I fight back the urge to throw my glass at his head.

“Nah. I’ll pass. Not my type,” he tells her coldly with a shrug, then turns his attention back to Wren.

She mutters, “Asshole,” before walking away, and Allie touches my arm, drawing my attention.

“You okay?” Allie asks as I unclench my fists.

“Just fine.”

She nods toward an empty table, and I stand and follow her over there.

“I feel like we haven’t talked in forever.”

“I’ve been crazy busy at work,” I explain, leaving out the part about Ethan.

I definitely plan to tell her, just not here and in front of everyone.

“What’s new with you? When am I getting to walk down the aisle and stand beside you?”

Her face splits into a wide grin. “We haven’t set a date yet, but I know we’re going to keep it small. Just you guys and Wren’s family. His last wedding was a big spectacle, and neither of us really like all that attention. I want something intimate, and he told me he’d give me any wedding I wanted.”

I mock a dreamy sigh and bat my lashes, and she laughs while rolling her eyes. Happy is a good look on her.

I glance back over at Ethan, noting that he’s staring at me again. I also notice that Rye is sitting beside Wren now, talking to him. Ethan’s lips twitch, and I stifle some weird grin that tries to surface in response.

“Is he being an ass to you?” Allie asks me, reminding me I shouldn’t be staring if I want to be discreet. “I mean, you never really explained that scene you made at the charity ball, not that I was there to see it, but Tria brought it up that day. With all the baby stuff happening, I never got to talk to you about it. Wren said he’s not exactly an easy guy to get to know, and he doesn’t even really acknowledge me or the other girls.”

Yet he stalks me and drives me insane in so many ways… It’s seriously screwed up that I’m restraining a smile for that thought.

“I can handle my own, Allie,” I remind her, shrugging.

She blows out a breath. “I’ll take that as a yes. I’m not sure what his issue is, but he’s been an ass all night to these models. He told one he’d chase her if he wanted her when she tried to talk to him, so not to bother wasting any more of her breath. Then he told another to walk away before she looked desperate, because he wasn’t interested. The poor girl was fighting tears when she left.”

My eyes flick back over to him like a bad habit, and he’s smirking at me this time. Rye and Wren are so absorbed in conversation that they don’t seem to notice.

“He’s an unapologetic jerk,” I tell Allie, returning my attention to her and shrugging.

Which is weirdly one thing I really appreciate. He’s been an ass to me too, but it’s his unique way of going after me. He’s a different kind of ass. Like the idiot I am, I feel special. Which is dangerous territory. Every time I feel special, my heart gets stomped on once I’m brought back into reality that I’m no different from anyone else.

And… now it sounds like I’m some whiny brat with self-esteem issues.

“At least he’s real,” I go on, feeling just a tiny bit defensive.

“Wren’s real too, but he’s not… Never mind. He’s the same guy who gave me a fake last name the first night we were together.” She laughs humorlessly while shaking her head. “I guess I can’t judge Ethan if I’ve wiped the slate clean with Wren. But… Wren grew up. I think Ethan is still living in the past—a high school bully kind of past. I can have Wren talk to him if he’s causing you problems.”

My grin spreads, and she arches an eyebrow at me in question. “Allie, when have you ever known me to get some guy to handle my problems?”

“So you admit he’s a problem,” she says seriously, her brow furrowed with concern.

I really love her for genuinely worrying about me. It reminds me why I miss the hell out of her.

“No. It’s under control,” I say, feeling a little guilty for not just spilling it all.

My eyes rake over the backyard, taking in the numerous friendly faces we’ve gotten close to in a very short amount of time. Telling Allie that I’m sleeping with Ethan… That’s a whole can of complications.

Allie is engaged to Wren. It’s only natural that she’d tell him. And then Wren would obviously tell Rye. Rye would tell Brin. Brin would tell Tria or Ruby. Tria would tell Kode. Kode wouldn’t give a damn. Ruby would tell Corbin. Corbin would tell Maverick. And Maverick would tell anyone who would listen.

I’m not ready for the world to know, and I’m not ready to be labeled the group slut, considering I’ve already slept with Tag once upon a lifetime ago.

There’s a very
strong
possibility this is temporary. I’m going into this with my eyes open. Dating Ethan—if that’s what you can call it—is likely to blow up in my face. I’d rather the entire group not bear witness to the fallout.

My phone buzzes in my hand, cutting through my thick thoughts, and I glance down to see Ethan has sent a message.

ASSHOLE: Just saw you sent a text. I would have met you if I’d seen your message earlier. Wish I fucking had. I’m reminding myself I can’t touch you in public.

A slow grin crawls across my face, and I glance back just as Ethan winks at me and looks back down at his phone while taking a sip of his drink.

My eyes move back to my phone, and I ignore Allie’s eyes on me as I message him back.

ME: We could always subtly sneak out. I have an early day tomorrow…

“Did you hear Star Morgan is back?” Maverick asks.

I turn in time to see him sitting down with Ethan, Rye, and Wren.

Ethan chokes on his drink, and my back stiffens.

“I had that same reaction,” Maverick tells him, lifting his glass as though he’s toasting the strangling Ethan, who is still struggling to recover.

The pretty runway girls in the house seem to be forgotten as all the attention hangs on one girl who isn’t even here. Is that petty jealousy creeping up on me? Yes, yes it is. And I’m not proud of it.