Play Fair (The Devil's Share Book 3) (15 page)

He brought his finger under my chin, guiding me toward him. His lips touched mine, just once, but so sweetly I melted into him. “Because we’re best friends.”

I kept my eyes closed when I answered him. “I think that’s what scares me the most.”

Luke walked in and sat down in the recliner. “What are you two lovebirds up to?”

Jacks kept his eyes locked on mine when he answered, “I’m trying to convince B here that she is it for me.”

“Well, actions speak louder than words, my friend.” Luke flipped on the TV and leaned back in his chair. “And if you two are going to keep staring into each other’s eyes, take it upstairs. I’m in no mood to watch another set of people make out right now.”

Jacks chuckled, finally releasing my gaze. “You walk in on Smith and Dylan again?”

Luke shook his head but didn’t answer. Which I assumed meant that he’d walked in on Lexi and Dash. What the hell was the deal with him and Lexi anyway? Sometimes you could cut the tension between them with a knife but then other times it was like they were inseparable. “Any signs of you-know-who while you guys were at the beach?”

Jacks stiffened at Luke’s words, glancing at the stairs to make sure Landry wasn’t within earshot. “No. I took her down to the private beach club over by Water Sound. They weren’t huge fans of Dagger being there, but they got over it. There is no way her mom could get inside that place, security is tight.”

He nodded. “So anytime she wants to go, that’s where we take her?”

“For sure.”

Landry came bouncing down the stairs and into the living room. Jacks patted the couch next to him. “I was thinking after I shower all the sand out of my hair maybe we could grab one of my guitars and I can give you a little lesson?”

Landry bit her lip and looked down to the ground. “Sure.”

It was obvious she wasn’t pumped about the idea. I leaned forward, putting a hand on her knee. “Landry? Do you want to learn to play the guitar?”

“Um…”

It was like she was scared to turn Jacks down or tell him she didn’t want to play. Was she scared of hurting his feelings? Scared of getting in trouble? Jacks tapped the end of her nose. “Buttercup, if you don’t want to play, you don’t have to.”

Landry looked from us to Luke and then back to Jacks. “Do you think you could maybe teach me to play the drums instead?”

“Of course I can! I’m not as good as Luke is, but I can teach you the basics, I think.”

Landry’s little face lit up. So she was a drummer who loved giant pit bulls and the beach. She was also gorgeous… Jacks was going to have his hands full in about five years.

“I could work with her. I used to give drum lessons to help make ends meet.” Luke looked over at Jacks, a small smile on his face.

“Yeah?” Jacks turned back to Landry. “Would that be okay? Uncle Luke is the best drummer there is.”

She nodded shyly.

This would probably be good for both Landry and Luke. Playing an instrument was good for a kid. And I saw the way Luke smiled when Jacks called him her uncle.

***

I read Landry a few chapters in our book, and then she was asleep as soon as the lights went off. Playing at the beach and then spending a couple of hours on the drums had worn her out. That kid was a great sleeper even without the exhaustion. I headed across the hall expecting to find Jacks on his bed with a controller in his hand. But the only thing I found was a note.

On the patio. Bring fresh beer. Come alone.

I went downstairs, grabbed two beers, and then slipped out the back door before one of the other five adults who lived here could spot me. Jacks had two chairs pulled out into the shadowy part of the patio with Dagger lying at his feet. “She asleep?”

I nodded, handing him a beer and reaching down to give the snoring dog a pat on the head. “You guys wore her out today.” I sat down and propped my feet up on his lap. “She talked about Uncle Luke and his drums for a good ten minutes before I could actually get her into the bed.”

Jacks placed his bottle on the arm of his chair and started rubbing my calf. “It’ll be a good distraction for Luke. He’s been a mess lately.”

“He’s been staying out all night partying, so basically he’s been doing what you all used to do. Why does that make him a mess?”

Jacks shook his head. “Luke isn’t like us, or at least he didn’t used to be. He doesn’t like groupies; he was never really into drugs. What he’s doing? He isn’t doing it for fun.”

I took my leg out of his hands and then put my other one in its place. “What’s he running from?”

“Lexi.”

I took a sip of my beer. “What’s their deal?”

“I don’t know. Jealousy maybe? Luke and Lex have been friends for a long time; they share a past. But I don’t think Lexi ever felt anything but friendship toward him.” Jacks shook his head. “I can tell you one thing though, having her on this last tour? Was not good for him. He needs to snap out of his funk.” Jacks dropped my leg and leaned back in his chair, patting his leg.

I looked back toward the house. Would Dylan see me? Should I care? I got up and climbed into Jacks’s lap, laying my head on his chest. “Landry needs counseling.”

His whole body went rigid at my words. “Why? What happened? Did she tell you something about her mom? Does she know she was here?”

I sat up, putting my hand on his pounding heart. “No. No, nothing like that. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just, I mean she was abandoned. She needs to work through all that stuff, you know? Not to mention the court hearings she’ll have to go to if you have to fight for her…”

He nodded. “Okay, yeah. We can find someone for her to talk to. Maybe your sister knows someone.”

It didn’t slip past me that he didn’t mention the hearings. Landry’s hard times weren’t quite over yet, and I knew that broke his heart. “We need to figure out where she’s at in school too. It’s obvious that Landry is brilliant, but I think it would be worth it to have her meet with a tutor a couple times a week as well. Make sure she is all caught up before school starts.” I leaned my head back, looking at the stars. “We need to have all this in place, we need to make sure the social workers and the courts see how good being here is for her. We can’t have them doubt you, even for a second.”

Jacks put his hand on my cheek. “Have I told you lately how amazing I think you are? How much I appreciate everything you are doing here for Landry?”

I smiled. “You have, but I would always be up for hearing it again. And can you add how hard I make you as well?”

He grabbed my hand and placed it on top of his rigid cock. “It’s difficult to walk since you’ve been in town.”

I giggled. “Well, you know, tonight is our second date.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Second base?”

I stood and headed toward the house, “Come on. One round of zombie killing: I win and you have to give me a massage.”

“And if I win?”

“I’ll be naked while you do it.”

He trailed after me. “I’m serious, I think you’re my soul mate.”

Chapter Nineteen

Jacks

We were taking things slow. I needed to keep reminding myself that as I watched Bryan take off her clothes. She lost the game we just played. Which meant she got a massage and I got to see her naked. My dick was hard as a rock, but that was nothing new. Bryan unclasped her bra and then placed her hands over her breasts, covering them as she lay down on my bed. She was also still wearing her incredibly sexy white lace panties. I didn’t really think that was fair, but since this was only our second “date,” I decided to keep my mouth shut. I’d meant what I said earlier today: Bryan was it for me. I’d have plenty of time over the next fifty years to lick her nipples.

She looked over her shoulder. “Get to rubbing, love.”

I took and let out a deep breath. This was going to take willpower and self-control, two things an indulgent rock star didn’t have in spades. I reached over and dimmed the lamp on my bedside table, and then climbed on the bed. I trailed one finger down her spine, causing goose bumps to break out on her skin. I smiled to myself, loving the effect I had on her. “Are you sure you don’t want a full frontal massage? I hear those are the best kind.”

Her laughter was muffled by the bedspread. “Let’s just start with the back and see how you do.”

Well, that wasn’t a no…I’d take it. I warmed my hands up by rubbing them together quickly before placing them on her shoulders. I started kneading her muscles, and she let out a little moan. My dick twitched in my pants. Oh man. He was going to be angry if he didn’t get to play with someone other than me soon. I worked my way down her back, paying special attention to her hips. Her skin was smooth and soft, flawless. She was muscular from all those years on the volleyball court. I let my hands roam and caress every inch I could touch. When she was thoroughly relaxed, I dipped down and placed kisses from her neck to the top of her ass. “You taste so damn good, baby doll.” She let out another moan, and my hormones went into hyper drive. I grabbed her pelvis, flipped her on her back, and covered her body with mine. I took one nipple in my mouth and one between my thumb and finger. Her breasts were impeccable, high and tight. Her skin tasted like sugar.

She fisted her hands in my hair and hiked her legs up higher on my hips, rubbing herself against my hard-on. “Oh wow, that feels…so…good.”

I grinned against her skin. “You ain’t felt nothing yet, doll.” I pulled her panties down her perfectly tanned legs. I put my finger against her mouth. “Open.”

She did what I asked and then swirled her tongue around my finger. I was wound so tight I felt like I could get off just watching her do that. I moved down her naked body, working her clit. Everything about her was a fantasy come to life. The sounds she made, the way she smelled, the way she tasted. I couldn’t believe she agreed to be mine. I slid my finger inside her tight pussy, involuntarily thrusting my hips in unison. I couldn’t help it, I wanted inside her so damn bad. I waited until she was panting and moving her hips, seeking release before I added another finger. She was so fucking snug. She was right to be scared. I was afraid I would split her in half. “Let me taste you?” I felt the need to ask, because technically that was going beyond second base.

“God yes.” She arched her back off the bed, grabbing my head and moving me toward her pussy.

I used my mouth, my lips, my tongue. I worked and played until she was dripping wet. Then I added a third finger. Her body tightened at the invasion. I held my hand still, waiting for her body to relax. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to hurt you; it’s just…”

“No, it’s okay. I’m okay.” Her words came out breathy and soft.

When her hips started to move, I began again, slowly. Holy hell, I couldn’t ever remember being this turned on before. Every time my dick accidentally rubbed against the fabric of my jeans, I almost shot my load. I used my free hand to grab hers, placing it against the giant bulge in my pants.

She chuckled. “You need a little help, love?” All our words were whispered, all our whimpers were soft. We were both aware that we were far from alone in this house.

“I need a big help.” I winked and then lowered my mouth back to her swollen clit. She unbuttoned my pants and wrapped her hand around me. My hips started thrusting into her hand, pretty much without my permission. Within minutes we were a tangle of chaos. Our hands working each other toward a release, our breathing heavy, our bodies taking over control.

“Oh fuck. Don’t. Fucking. Stop.” Bryan arched her hips into my hand and tightened her fingers simultaneously on my head and around my dick. “Oh god.” She flew over the edge, and the quiet moan she made had me following right behind her.

***

I fell asleep with Bryan nestled against my side, and that’s how I woke up. And that’s how I wanted to wake up every morning for the next fifty years. Last night had been hot as hell, and all I’d gotten was a hand job. But the way I wanted her, the way my body ached for her? Sex was bound to be nirvana. I looked out into the hall and saw that Landry’s bed was empty. Before we’d gone to sleep last night we’d gotten dressed and opened the door back up, just in case Landry woke in the middle of the night and needed something. Being with Bryan had made everything else fade away; all my fears about losing Landry were momentarily put on the back burner. But now, in the light of day, I was starting to freak out all over again. I climbed out of bed, the movement waking Bryan. “Sorry, doll. Go back to sleep, I’m just going to go check and see where Landry is.”

She sat up and stretched her arms over her head. “She got up with Luke a little while ago.”

“Really? Luke stayed at home last night?”

Bryan wrinkled her nose. “Nope. I heard him come up the stairs and I guess Landry did too. When he saw that she was awake he asked if she was hungry… Should I have gone with them downstairs?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m just surprised Luke offered to make her breakfast. I’m sure he’s hung over as fuck.” I leaned down and kissed her mouth, rubbing my hand on the strip of bare skin on her stomach. She moaned and wiggled underneath me. “Something wrong, doll?” I loved that she was just as worked up as I was. Last night was fucking phenomenal, but I wanted more. And obviously she did too.

She narrowed her eyes at me, smiling. “I’m fine.”

I let my chuckle follow her into the bathroom.

We both got ready for the day with only a few hands-in-the-hair, up-against-the-wall make-out sessions slowing us down, and then headed to check on Landry. She was sitting on the couch, a book in her hands and an empty bowl of cereal in front of her. Luke was passed out on the long part of the sectional, a pillow over his face. “Uncle Luke get you some breakfast?”

“Yes. But then he said he didn’t feel good and he needed to take a little nap. Is he sick?”

Bryan and I both said yes at the same time. I wasn’t thrilled that Landry had to see Luke hung over like that. But on the flip side, he’d made an effort for her. He made her breakfast; he didn’t leave her alone down here…I couldn’t be that mad at him. I kissed the top of my kid’s head and then went to make some coffee. I couldn’t keep my eyes off Bryan while she made herself some tea. Every move she made was sexy. I kept getting flashbacks of last night, the way her skin looked in the low light, the way her body felt under my hands. “Hey, tonight is date number three, right?”