Perfectly Toxic (The Sterling Shore Series Book 9) (21 page)

The sounds of a wild kitten running around behind us barely even register when he kicks the door shut, still holding me as his lips consume me. With a slow, methodical grace, he lowers me to the bed, coming down with me as he continues to kiss away every thought I’ve ever had.

By the time he breaks his lips away from mine, I’m a panting mess beneath him, completely turning to mindless mush just from a kiss. He leans up, raking his eyes over me in scandalous appraisal, and my entire body heats. When his lips come back down, they connect with the sensitive skin on my neck, and he slowly works his way down, kissing me almost reverently, as though he’s tasting every bit of flesh as he slides down my body with an agonizingly slow pace.

Considering the rough, urgent sex we’ve been having, this pace is almost killing me, because he’s taking his time, kissing my skin as though he’s planning to make this last all night.

By the time he makes it down to my lower body, I’m squirming in need, almost desperate to take over and end the suspense, but he holds me down like he can hear my inner thoughts. His lips fasten onto my clit with zero warning, and surprise melds with pleasure like a shot of heat through my body.

Some unintelligible noise passes my lips, and I buck against him as praise comes out of my lips in the form of nonsensical gibberish. He growls, and the vibrations only add to the intensity as he devours me, holding me down and forcing me to take all of his sensual assault without mercy.

It’s too real, too powerful, and too mind-blowing to form words when the pressure builds in my core and crackles across me with explosive power. I try to arch, but he continues holding me, forcing me to experience every ounce of pleasure at its most intense peak.

Stars detonate behind my eyelids, and I must blackout for a second, because when my eyes lazily open again, Ethan is slowly working his way back up my body, kissing the overly sensitized skin on my body and eliciting a small shudder from me.

When his lips seal over mine, I moan into his mouth. I’m not sure when he got rid of his jeans, but he’s bare between my legs when he thrusts in deep, taking me slowly, sinking in as far as he can.

I’m a little addicted to Ethan Noles even more now than I was before.

Chapter 41

ETHAN

“So you’re a nurse?” my father asks as Bella shifts awkwardly in her seat.

He’s been silently studying her since he joined us ten minutes ago—late. Considering Bella knows about the fact he has a bad heart and can’t run a company anymore, I think she was expecting a meek old man. Instead, my father is just as tall and broad-shouldered as I am, though he’s lost most of his muscle due to the fact his exercise options are a little more limited than they used to be.

He chooses not to get out as much, since everyone always insists on asking how he is.

“Yes,” Bella says, swallowing around a mouthful.

Mom beams at her, and considering she hugged her for five straight minutes when we arrived, I’m fairly positive she’s already getting measurements for her wedding dress. Fucking eh.

Dad coolly assesses Bella for a few more minutes that seem to make Bella uncomfortable. Casually, I stretch my arm over the back of her chair and give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Dad’s just observant. If he didn’t like her, he’d have already said as much, because he’s as blunt as I am.

“So where are the others?” Bella asks when the silence stretches on.

“I told them not to come,” Mom boasts, as though it’s a great thing.

My lips twitch when Bella noticeably grimaces, realizing the full weight of everyone’s attention will continue to stay on her. She shoves another forkful of fish into her mouth before giving me a sidelong glance of annoyance for not warning her.

We’re almost finished eating, and she’s just now gathered the courage to even ask why no one else is here.

I just grin like the asshole I am, knowing there will be hell to pay for this later. Angry sex with Bella… Yeah, it’ll be worth it.

“I really wanted to spend the evening getting to know you a little better,” Mom goes on, still beaming with bright eyes.

My father shakes his head, but his lips twitch knowingly. Poor Bella.

“How many kids do you want?” my mother asks Bella, who chokes on her fish.

This time, my father turns his head so that no one sees him containing his laughter.

Usually, Mom’s interrogation tactics really grate on my nerves, especially since there’s no way in fucking hell I’m ready to get married and do the kids thing anytime soon.

But I love watching Bella blush furiously while trying to think of anything to say.

“Four,” she answers seriously, and this time I’m the one to choke and jerk my arm back from around her.

Mom looks like she’s died and gone to Christmas heaven as her eyes widen, and a huge smile breaks across her face.

“Four,” Mom repeats, and I glare at Bella who smirks without looking at me. “Four is perfect!” Mom giggles like a little girl, and Bella sits back smugly.

Damn her. This was supposed to be my fun, not hers.

“Arlene, dear, how about we move this along. I have a few friends coming over for drinks after dinner.”

“You can’t drink,” Mom immediately says, to which Dad smiles over at her.

“I’m aware. I didn’t say I was drinking, dear.”

Bella watches them with rapt attention, as Dad reaches over and thumbs my mother’s cheek before kissing it. Me? I hate it when they do this, because who enjoys seeing their parents flirt.

Mom blushes when Dad goes so far as to whisper something in her ear, and I stand up, putting my napkin on the table.

“On that note, we should get going,” I tell my mother.

She snaps her head toward us, and her eyes sadden. “But you haven’t even had dessert.”

“We’ll take a raincheck,” I say as Bella stands.

“I’ll take dessert, dear,” Dad drawls, causing me to gag when my mother giggles again.

Dad winks at me, like he’s actually mocking me for having a zero-tolerance policy for their intimate shit.

I just threw up in my mouth.

Bella stays quiet, silently observing them as my dad continues to whisper shit into my mother’s ear. She’s almost reluctant to walk away when I start tugging at her hand.

“Oh!” Bella finally says, turning to walk away from me. “I almost forgot about my present.”

“Present?” Mom chirps, standing as well.

My father shoots me a questioning look, but I shrug in response. Bella walks outside and returns with the bag she had when I picked her up. Weirdly, I never even bothered to question what it was.

“This is for me?” Mom asks with surprise as Bella hands it to her.

“It’s nothing much, but I noticed all the quilts in the pictures you had in that album of Ethan growing up the other day. My grandmother always loved quilting and sort of passed it on to me. I borrowed these from that album so that I could make the gift,” Bella goes on, handing her back pictures she apparently swiped from that motherfucking wedding album.

Mom’s eyes glisten as she pulls out the quilt—Bella quilts?—and looks it over. “This is beautiful. Why haven’t I ever thought to do this?”

As she holds it up and lets it drop, I see there are fabric squares with my pictures all over the quilt. Ah hell. Now my mother really will be planning a damn wedding.

“Thank you,” Mom says in awe, and Bella shrugs while flushing, as though she didn’t expect any praise.

In a whirlwind of motion, my mother is suddenly clutching Bella to her, and my father is left holding the quilt. He gives me a smirk, as if to say,
“You’re fucked.”

Mom is wiping her eyes when she backs away from Bella, and Bella is smiling like she’s proud of her gift.

By the time we make it outside, I’m pouncing. “You quilt?”

“Don’t make fun,” she says as though she was waiting on it. “There’s a reason I told you I was cleaning last night. I barely got that thing finished in time.”

“Sucking up to my mother?” I drawl, still grinning as she blushes more.

“Fuck off,” she finally huffs, getting in my car as I laugh.

When I get inside the car, Bella is eyeing me in warning as I snicker. She crosses her arms over her chest, ignoring me as I continue to laugh and mock her. But my laughter and mockery cut off when we’re halfway to my house, because Bella is hovering over my lap and unzipping my jeans.

“What are you doing?” I ask, even though my voice hitches.

“Shutting you up,” she says a second before her hand is on my cock and pulling it out.

Before I can protest, her mouth closes around the tip for the first time, and I swerve, barely stopping myself from running my car into a mailbox.

“Eyes on the road, and drive slow,” she coaches, grinning before she suddenly takes me into her mouth fully this time, almost sucking me down to the base.

My foot comes off the gas completely as my heart hammers against my chest. The piercings don’t seem to be giving her any trouble as she works her mouth up and down, taking me in and driving me fucking crazy.

When she starts humming low in her throat, the vibrations nearly cause me to come in her mouth right then. I fight off the urge just to keep from embarrassing myself.

I tug at her hair, keeping one hand on the wheel. “Bella, I’m going to fucking wreck,” I tell her, trying and failing not to sound like I’m out of breath.

Her mouth pops off my cock, but she keeps a hand on it, holding it just inches from her lips.

“Shut up and drive,” she says before ducking down and starting all over.

She’s really fucking bossy when she sucks dick.

My hips move of their own accord, but Bella works her hand and mouth in unison with my small thrusts. It’s an embarrassing few seconds later when my balls tighten and I explode into her mouth without warning.

She doesn’t jerk away. Instead, she continues to blow my mind by drinking every bit of it down, swallowing with ease.

She’s smirking when she raises up and looks around at where I’ve pulled over onto the shoulder.

Like I could really drive like that.

I’m a boneless pile of uselessness, leaning back in my seat while panting like a damn dog. Grinning, she reaches over and pats my cheek.

“I’ll drive,” she says while getting out of the car.

Sometimes I think she’s too good to be true.

Chapter 42

ETHAN

My phone chimes with a new email, and I tilt my head when I see it’s from some dating website. “MILFS ONLY” is the name of the damn thing. What the ever-fucking-hell? That’s the fourth ping I’ve gotten today.

“Did one of you fuckers sign me up for a dating website?” I ask the assholes.

They all stare at me blankly, but Maverick snatches away my phone before I can stop him. Prick.

“Milfs?” He scrolls the page, checking it out. “Why do all these hot women have to have kids?” he groans.

“Seriously, this shit isn’t funny. Which one of you assholes registered me, and how do I make it stop?” I demand.

They ignore me as they all look at my phone with Maverick, everyone curious about what has him
oohing
and
ahhing
.

Then… Maverick turns as white as a sheet before he thrusts the phone at Kode. Kode bursts out laughing, and I cock my head to the right.

“What the fuck?!” Maverick roars.

Dane immediately looks on, and he loses it, laughing so hard he can’t speak.

“Is that your mother?” Rye asks, a slow grin spreading over his lips.

“The hell!?” Maverick snaps, half panicking. “Why the fucking hell is she on there?”

“Because she’s a hot milf,” Rye supplies, unaffected by the glower Maverick shoots his way.

“No. No. No. She’s not supposed to be dating anyone.”

“That’s a little bit of a double standard, don’t you think?” Dale drawls, goading Maverick. “I mean, after all, you think it’s fine for your dad to ‘bag and tag’ any girl he wants to.”

“But he’s my
dad
,” Maverick defends, as though that changes everything. “She’s my
mom!”

“Hence the double standard comment,” Dale says, clapping Maverick on the back.

“Are we going to play cards or talk about Maverick’s milf of a mom?” I ask.

Maverick points a finger at me. “Get her the fuck off that thing, and never call her a milf again.”

“I can’t even get
me
off it.”

“Can we not talk about getting Ethan and your mom off at the same time?” Kode asks. “I’d rather not get sick.”

Maverick’s eyes glare daggers at Kode, who winks and flips him off before taking a sip of beer.

Grabbing my phone, I text Bella, while Maverick continues going off on everyone for not believing his mother shouldn’t be dating, unlike his father who has been dating for many years.

ME: Did you fucking sign me up for a MILF dating website?

BELLA: Maybe…

Oh, I’m going to fucking kill her.

ME: WTF?

BELLA: Your mom wants grandbabies. This would just shorten the process…

ME: You realize I’m pissed for real.

BELLA: You realize that doesn’t scare me…

ME: You realize it should, right?

BELLA: ...

Damn her and her
dot dot dot
shit. She shouldn’t fuck with me, because she’s
soooo
damn easy to embarrass. Guess it’s time I remind her of that.

“Someone change the subject!” Maverick barks, apparently fed up with everyone giving him hell about the amount of interest his mother’s profile has. “Anything. Anything at all. Just talk about something else, or I’m leaving.”

“Fine, fine,” Dane says, laughing as he shakes his head.

“The girls are going to some bar Leo’s boyfriend opened up,” Wren says, supplying the subject change Maverick has demanded.

Wren rakes his chips in as we toss down the final cards. I swear, somehow Wren has gotten luckier, because I’m giving him more and more money each damn game.

“Wait,” Maverick says, holding his hand up. “You mean there’s going to be a new bar in a different town where chicks won’t know who I am, and no one has told me about this?” he asks in disappointment. “Fuck that. We’re crashing girls’ night.”

“I’m good with that,” Dane says with a smirk.

I ignore the spurt of excitement that announcement gives me, because I refuse to believe it’s because I can’t wait to see Bella. Maybe it’s because I want to throttle her for the MILF thing.

The guys make a plan to crash girls’ night, and I decide to play it cool and warn Bella. That way she doesn’t think I’m chasing her around like a pussy-whipped bitch.

ME: We’re crashing girls’ night. Maverick’s panties are in a wad that he wasn’t invited.

BELLA: Didn’t realize he’d grown a vagina.

I snort back a laugh to keep from drawing attention to myself.

ME: I think it’s pussy envy.

BELLA: I’ll give him his pussy back if that’s the case. The hairless wonder is tasting me all the time.

ME: Really? What’s she tasting?

BELLA: OMG…. No. Gross. You sicko. I meant TASTING!

ME: That’s different?

BELLA: Duck!! No! I mean TESTING! E not A

BELLA: Fuck not duck.

ME: Well, fuck a duck. ;)

BELLA: ..l..

ME: The hell is that?

BELLA: Me flipping you off.

ME: Send me something dirty.

BELLA: After you’ve been an ass? And now you’re crashing girls’ night? AND you threatened me earlier… Totally don’t deserve a dirty pic.

ME: I’m not crashing. I’m just following the crashers.

BELLA: Sure you are… (Heavy sarcasm there.) It was the road-head, wasn’t it? Stalker.

This time, my laughter catches me off guard, but I clear my throat while shaking my head, resuming the conversation at hand, though it’s veered off course now.

ETHAN: Busted. Anyway, send me the damn dirty pic.

BELLA: Blowjobs are powerful. I tried not to work that mojo on you too soon. I knew you’d be a goner if I did. *Sigh* A dirty pic would just tip you over the edge, and I can’t have you TOO obsessed with me, now can I?

Rolling my eyes, I put my phone down, just in time to see everyone in the room is watching me with undisguised amusement. Motherfucker…

“You always grin at your phone like a little girl?” Maverick drawls, while Wren turns his head away to hide his silent laughter.

Fuckers.

“Bella must have some damn good shit if you’re cheesing like a bitch on poker night,” Maverick goes on, making a sound and gesture like he’s cracking a whip.

I flip him off. “You’re the one who wants to crash girls’ night. Not me.”

“We all notice how you didn’t object, which you normally would,” Wren points out, smirking at me.

“And you’d be making fun of us for chasing our girls too,” Rye adds, which earns him a glare from me.

Dale says nothing, but he walks away as his shoulders shake with silent laughter.

Dane stretches back, and he quirks an eyebrow at me. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen,” he says.

“And they don’t get back up. Just a warning,” Kade Colton chimes in.

“Welcome to hell,” Kode Sterling states with twitching lips.

One by one, they all take their turns. Tag is the only one not here not to get a jab in, since he’s dealing with his new baby and can’t be pried away right now.

“Are you assholes finished yet?” I ask while they’re all laughing too hard to catch a breath, enjoying the hell out of this.

“For now,” Wren says, still laughing as he shakes his head.

My phone vibrates in my hand, and I start to not check it. However, the temptation is too great, so I discreetly glance at my lap to see Bella has sent another message.

BELLA: I’ve decided to risk the possible obsession you’ll suffer. I’ll send you a real dirty pic. Just make sure no one sees it. I mean it. For YOUR eyes only.

ME: Like I want anyone else seeing? Send it. Now.

The guys are too busy laughing to notice I’ve once again been texting. On poker night. After giving them hell for being glued to their phones so many times before.

Damn her.

I wait.

And wait.

And wait.

Finally, a phone buzzes, and I look down… But it’s not mine.

Internally groaning—because I hate suspense, and Bella may very well just be fucking with me—I look up at Wren, who is checking his phone.

His eyes widen, and his laughter ceases. He drops his phone like it’s on fire, and Maverick has it snatched up before anyone else can see it.

“Holy fucking shit. No wonder you’re a grinning bastard,” Maverick says as Wren scrambles to get the phone back.

“Which one of you assholes did that?” Wren growls, and Maverick points to Dale, who points to Dane, who points to Kode… Ah fuck. Everyone is pointing at each other, and I have no idea why.

“What the hell?” I ask as Dale grabs Wren’s phone. His eyes widen, and then he bursts out laughing.

“Whoever did it has impeccable timing,” Dale says, wiping his eyes as he laughs so hard it brings tears.

Wren grabs his phone back, apparently trying to text someone, typing furiously like he can’t hurry fast enough.

“What the hell?” I snap, grabbing his phone away before he can finish his typing marathon.

Maverick leans over my shoulder, clicks on a text box from Bella, and before I know it, I’m ready to kill everyone who saw this picture.

It’s Bella… lying on her back… and she’s wearing the tiny little lace nightie I bought her a while back. The dresser mirror she used allowed her to get her entire, tanned, fucking incredibly sexy body in the pic.

Wren jerks the phone out of my hand before I crush it, and he curses while trying to text again.

“I have to tell Allie that Bella’s pic came to me.”

“Why the hell would you do that?” I bark, trying to grab his phone again. “Obviously she didn’t send it to you on purpose, and Allie will be pissed at Bella for no damn reason.”

He dodges me, and I stand up, ready to give chase if he tries to dodge me again.

He manages to sidestep me just in time, and I tackle him to the floor. “I fucking have to, or it’ll look like I was keeping something from her.”

We wrestle around, and fight over his phone like it’s a gun in an action film, both of us missing it by fingertips and pulling the other back before they can reach it first.

Just as I grab it, he snatches it away and presses send, delivering the message to Allie. The guys are still dying with unleashed laughter while looking on, and I’m cursing while grabbing his phone back and deleting the picture. Fucking hell. Now Allie is going to be pissed at Bella, because no way do girls listen to reason when it comes to shit like this.

“Who has impeccable timing?” I snap, just realizing I never understood any of that.

Maverick doubles over and drops to his knees as he bursts out laughing, and Dale struggles to regain composure.

“These assholes put an app on Bella’s phone that causes her messages to sometimes go to… someone else in her contacts,” Kode explains with a shrug.

“They love fucking with Bella,” Corbin says, walking back in to see everyone has turned into nothing but howls of laughter since he went outside with Jax Marshall to start grilling the burgers we
were
going to have.

He arches an eyebrow. “What’d I miss?”

“We’re crashing girls’ night, Ethan is wrapped around Bella’s asshole-poking finger, and Allie is going to be pissed because Bella sent Wren a naughty picture,” Maverick supplies. “Obviously someone played with that app again.”

“What fucking app?” I demand.

“This one,” Corbin says, laughing as he thrusts his phone in front of me.

Undercover Friend
is the app name, and I’m confused.

“It’s not like we can decide who the messages go to. It picks a name at random, based on who she’s texted most recently,” Corbin goes on.

Jax Marshall walks in with a plate of burgers, and he pauses as he takes in the scene. Everyone is already laughing again by this point.

“What’d I miss?” Jax asks.