Page 33 of Tripp

She nodded.

“No, I need you to tell me you get it. That you hear what I’m telling you,” I pressed.

“Yes, I understand. Sorry.”

“Okay. If I come here again and find out you didn’t set it, I’ll be forced to spank you.” I meant to lighten the mood with a joke, but as soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I shouldn’t have said them. That was until I saw her skin turn pink, the blush rising from her neck up to her cheeks. Her teeth captured her bottom lip and she briefly closed her eyes before looking at me again.

Because of her reaction, I never apologized, instead letting my sexual threat linger in that beautiful head of hers. Her eyes widened when I stepped closer, her breath hitching when I reached toward her to snatch her mug for a refill. A rush of air left her lungs when I turned around, and I couldn’t help but adjust myself. I was so fuckin’ hard that if she made a move on me I’d carry her back upstairs and fuck her so many times she wouldn’t walk right for a week.

Needing another topic of conversation to focus on, even one I didn’t particularly care for, I chose work. Reece now stood in front of the sink, washing out her cup and rinsing off her plate. My eyes were glued to her backside the entire time, until she turned around and caught me leering at her like some kind of creep. Or horny man. Yeah, I was goin’ with sexually frustrated, horny man.

“Listen,” I said, clearing my throat, trying like hell to get back on track and force all of the sordid images from my brain, “I have to head to the clubhouse to take care of some business, but I’ll be back to pick you up at five for work.”

“Why?”

“Why am I gonna pick you up?”

“Yeah. I can find my own way there. I don’t want to put you out. You’ve done enough for me already.” She shuffled her feet in nervousness.

“I don’t mind,” I insisted, my body language giving everything away, I was sure. My go-to intimidating stance was crossing my arms over my chest and spreading my feet, and while the last thing I wanted to do was bully her, I played on the only tool I had right then. I needed her to give in and do as I demanded; otherwise, I feared I’d go out of my mind with worry. And if I was constantly focused on Reece’s safety, I’d be hampered from doing whatever I needed to for the Knights. Then I’d have bigger issues.

“I really don’t—”

I cut her off, my aggravation increasing by the second.

“This conversation is over, Reece. I’ll pick you up at five. Be ready to go.” I gave her a fleeting smile before walking out of the house, a preemptive strike to any argument she may have come up with.

Reece

My first time behind the bar didn’t go exactly as I’d hoped, but with each passing hour I’d mastered some of the skills needed not to break every damn bottle stacked on the shelves.

Tripp stayed true to his word and picked me up at five on the dot, hanging out at the club until Carla insisted his presence was only adding to my nervousness. He left reluctantly, but only after telling me what he thought of the outfit I’d chosen to wear—a short black skirt paired with a low-cut Indulge tank top. Carla had passed out the shirts to every woman who worked there, telling us to wear them to promote the club. Good for business and all that. They were designed to leave little to the imagination, but that was the point, to draw in men who would spend their hard-earned money on the girls.

“I hate the thought of all these men leering at you,” he’d whispered in my ear while I poured one of the customers a beer.

“At least I have clothes on,” was the only thing I could think of to say. He left soon afterward, peering around the club one last time before he disappeared outside. I had no doubt he’d have eyes on me in his absence, and I was proved right when his brother strolled through the front door not an hour later.

“I’m gonna change real quick. I spilled beer all down the front of me,” I yelled over the music. Carla smiled and nodded, tending to the multiple men waiting to be served.

“There should be extra shirts in the back. If you can’t find any, check my locker. It should be open.” She turned back toward one of the customers who wasn’t taking waiting too well. Luckily, Carla knew exactly how to handle those types of guys. Besides, new security had been hired on to assist, just in case.

Once I’d reached the back room, I spotted a pile of the club’s tank tops neatly stacked on top of one of the dressing tables. My bra had been soaked as well but there wasn’t anything I could do about that, so I tossed my beer-soaked shirt on the floor and quickly pulled a fresh one over my head. I’d been too distracted with trying to hurry that I never heard her come into the room.

“Well, who do we have here?” Arianna sneered, the disgust she held for me certainly not hidden. I kept my back to her and didn’t respond, engaging with her the last thing I wanted to do. My plan was to ignore her and head back out to the bar, but that never happened.

As I moved toward the door, Arianna stepped in front to block me.

“I thought they fired you,” she cackled. Yes,cackled. It was the only word to properly describe the sound she made, the noise like nails on a chalkboard.

“Just from taking my clothes off. Apparently Tripp doesn’t want any other man to look at or touch what’s his.” The words left my lips before my brain could filter them. I hadn’t meant to goad her, but I had to admit that it certainly felt good. Really good. Arianna was nothing if not a bully, and if what I said was enough to leave her speechless, if only for a brief moment, then I considered that a success. No matter how short-lived.

When the shock finally wore off, she attacked. “You’re lying. There’s no way Tripp would ever hook up with the likes of you. You’re . . . beneath me.” She blew a strand of her over-processed hair out of her face. “He’d never bother with you after he had a taste of me.”

The image of Tripp and Arianna together bothered me, although it shouldn’t have. I had no claim on the man. I barely knew him. And even though it was apparent we were attracted to each other, that’s all it was. But I didn’t need to let this bitch know that.

As I was about to say something else to rile her up, my cell rang. And as luck would have it, Tripp’s name flashed across the screen. What were the odds?

Turning my phone toward her so she could see who was calling, I smiled big and said, “Well, would ya look at that. Right on time.” Arianna gave me the nastiest look as I swiped to answer the call. “Hi, sweetheart,” I cooed enthusiastically, probably a little overboard but I couldn’t help myself.

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