Page 32 of For Pucking Keeps

TOR

Ihaven’t seen Brea in months, her music is everywhere though. Smooth honey-brown skin, with dark brown eyes gaze out at the crowd as she takes a seat on one of Lia’s kitchen bar stools. Long black locs fall down her back, so long they almost touch the floor of the platform she’s on. Silver rings adorn every finger, long chains swing loosely around her neck, creating a rock star/alternative soul vibe. She wears an oversized black dress that hides her body, cinched at the waist by a brown braided belt, a pair of brown cowboy boots finish off the look. It’s eccentric, stylish, and only Brea can pull off this ensemble, worthy of a Rolling Stone cover. She’s beautiful, striking, alluring, and Ridley is absolutely in love with her. Looking at her up there, owning who she is, a confident musician, successful in her own right, I wonder if she still feels the same about him.

“I can’t believe she is here. Tor, it feels surreal. I’m going to fangirl hard. Don’t let me embarrass myself. I keep forgetting you are all friends,” she squeals quietly beside me, and I can’t help but love my Supernova more. Jaz doesn’t consider herself well-known or a celebrity, despite the uptake in book sales and her growing readership. She doesn’t think twice about the positive or negative press she receives. I guess she leaves the blow ups to me and my agent, Parker. No, she ignores it all and considers herself just a normal person who writes books. I think it’s comical, but I love how real she is at the same time.

Jaz clearly has an obsession though. Brea is her go to music inside her earbuds as she writes. She mentioned weeks ago that she went to several live shows when she first moved to Seattle. My girl fell in love with Brea’s music, and I can’t blame her, Ridley’s ex is brilliant.

Brea leans into the mic, adjusting it slightly as she rests her guitar on her knee. “A lot of you I already know in this room,” she smiles as Devan whoops in excitement, along with a few other teammates. “For those of you who are new to me, I’m Brea Brookes.” She inclines her head as the room erupts in applause. Jaz does a little happy clapping dance and my eyes immediately land on the bounce and swell of her breasts through the fabric of her dress. “I’m here for the birthday girl.” Brea shields her eyes against the lamp lights around her and spots Lia in the crowd. “There she is. Lia, I wouldn’t miss your twenty-fifth birthday for the world. Tonight is your night. This song is for you.”

My eyes scan the room. I don’t initially see Rid. I almost excuse myself to check the other sitting room until I spot him leaning against the back wall. The curved archway next to him leads into Lia’s kitchen, our teammates walk in and out, beers and other drinks in hand. Everyone’s attempting to squeeze into the one sitting room to watch the mini concert. Some of them stop to talk to him, possibly checking in considering the circumstances. But Ridley is barely giving them his attention. No, his eyes are on one person in this room, his position against the wall is strategic.You’re not fooling me, Ridley Masters.My lip quirks up in a smirk. He is directly in Brea’s line of sight.

I’m watching the scene play out in front of me like a movie as Brea looks up briefly and locks eyes with Ridley and pauses. Her fingers mid-strum, she takes him in, giving him a quick once over before she bows her head. A soft melody strikes up from the guitar and Jaz squeals again.

“It’sGive in to Me!My favorite song,” she whispers excitedly. I shake my head in amusement because I already know this is indeed her favorite song. Jaz backs into my chest and my arms find the smooth curves of her hips. I squeeze her flesh between my palms, and she melts into my embrace. My fingers itch to wander further, but if I start, I won’t stop, and I don’t care if we are in a room full of people.

Brea’s sultry, deep alto fills the room, captivating the entire house, no one moves as they stare transfixed. Her voice gives me chills, silky smooth with a hint of raspy vulnerability as she sings about confessing love, giving into bottled up feelings, to building a foundation of trust, of giving in and starting anew. The lyrics hit harder as I hold Jaz in my arms, her resistance to give in to me, to give me her heart completely, to say she loves me. She’s given me everything else. . . What’s holding her back?

Jaz rests her head on my chest, her curly hair braided into some intricate updo giving me access to her long neck. I lean in, letting my nose skim her ear. Sensing my destination, she tilts her head up, and my breath catches at the sight of the sparking galaxies that make up her irises. The swirling pools of colors move hypnotically, enthralling me, like the haunting melody of the intro to Brea’s next song. She offers me her lips, and I would be a fool to resist. I kiss her, swiping my tongue against her bottom lip, she parts them, a welcomed invitation, and dive into her mouth. I kissher until I know she is wet and ready for me. The lust in her waiting gaze, her hooded eyes and blown pupils are all the clues I need. But I do love to make her squirm, delayed gratification is the best kind of foreplay.

“You’re so mean,” she whispers against me, taking one last nip at my bottom lip.

“No, I consider myself considerate, Supernova. You don’t want me to have you screaming and calling out my name surrounded by my teammates, now, do you?” I cock a brow and she shifts her hips, swaying them to the music, and grinding into my very hard length. If she keeps doing that, she’s going to get fucked. Hard.

“No.” She squirms against me as Brea continues to sing her heart out the room. No one is paying us any attention, all eyes are on Brea, it would be too easy to see just how excited my girl really is. I’m this close to calling her out and pulling up the back of her dress and dip my fingers into her pussy and finding out the truth. She is thrilled by the idea of a little public exhibitionism. Oh, Alexis, I learn something new every day.

“Liar,” I lean in a whisper into her ear, she shudders, her entire body trembles, and I have all the answers I need. “But you’re going to be a good girl and enjoy Lia’s birthday, aren’t you?” I use my fingers to trace circles along her lower back and she whimpers. “Because you love it when I make you wait to cum, don’t you, baby.”

“Yes. Yes,” she replies, her voice low and breathless.

Jaz looks up at me again, her eyes pleading but I give her a slow shake of my head. I mouth, “Wait.” She has the nerve to pout her kiss swollen lips at me. We can experiment with her newfound exhibitionist kink later. Tonight she will cum for me and only me. I will have to blind my teammates if they ever witness her in that state, and they need their eyes to play hockey. I tease her ruthlessly as Brea plays on, the occasional kiss here, my touches become more exploratory, but never enough to appease her growing need for me.

I glance Ridley’s way, ignoring Jaz’s protest as I pull my hand away from her again and I freeze. His body is ramrod straight, his jaw tight, even from this far away I can tell he’s clenching his teeth. If he holds his beer bottle any tighter. . . Yeah, I know exactly where this is going. He pushes off the wall and takes a step forward, then stops. My boy is about ready to snatch Brea off the platform, his control is slipping and slipping fast.

Brea’s high note crescendos, then cuts out as she ends her song with a beautiful guitar solo.

Brea looks up and smiles. “Happy Birthday, Lia. Thank you for having me.” She stands and bows her head,and the room goes crazy. Lia and Jaz screaming the loudest of all. I blow out a breath, because now that she’s finished, maybe Ridley will back off and not make a spectacle of himself. I check his location once more and he’s gone. Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe he went to get another beer. Either way, I make a mental note to check in with him later.

“I think this is the best I’ve ever seen her. What a birthday gift. I’m just glad I was here to witness it.” Jaz beams up at me and then steps away as the crowd begins to mingle again. Lia’s party playlist starts up and the party goes back to normal. All my seductive touches are forgotten as Jaz embraces Lia. They both jump up and down excitedly, Lia, still a bit tipsy, but more sober now than she was earlier, begins talking a mile a minute. They exchange words I can’t hear as Devan turns his attention to me. Leaving Lia and Jaz in the middle of the room, he comes to stand beside me.

“He didn’t know she was coming.” He leans in to keep from raising his voice over the music. I don’t have to guess who ‘he’ is; I know he’s talking about Ridley. Of course, he didn’t know. Lia probably thought it was best for her to just show up and let him be surprised like everyone else. “I thought we were going to have to drag him out of here, but he kept his shit together.”

I look around again out of habit in search of my best friend. “He left as soon as she finished. I doubt he’s gone, probably went somewhere to calm himself. The last thing he will want to do is cause a scene tonight. Lia will be furious if he does.”

Devan shakes his head then gestures toward Brea. I glance up to see a tall, slender guy beside her as she packs up her guitar. He leans over her in a way that appears too familiar. I lock eyes with Devan. “Is that the supposed boyfriend?”

“Yes. You would think she would have left him at home tonight. Why would she parade him around when she knew Rid would be here. Does she want to get the dude killed? I mean shit, Tor. Look, we need to keep an eye?—”

I hold my hands up in surrender. “Nope. That’s my cue. I’m going to get my girl, carry her next door and spend the rest of the night. . .” I let my words trail off as Devan groans in frustration.

“Look, I’m already on Lia duty tonight,” he huffs, like he’s actually put out by what he considers looking after her.

“Oh please, Devan. Who are you kidding?” I purse my lips. “I see you and I see her, you two aren’t fooling anyone but yourselves.”

Devan scoffs and rolls his eyes. “I need better friends,” he throws his arms up in defeat. “Oh wait, I don’t have time for that shit. Wait,” he looks around the room. “Where’s Gossman, or the newbie Maxwell. I’m retiring both you and Masters. I’m not supposed to be the responsible one here, Captain.”

I tip my head back and laugh. I know I am being an asshole for leaving him to deal with the possible fall out. But I’m going to be selfish. I step away, patting Devan’s shoulder. “You got this. Call me if and only if, Ridley does something he can’t come back from.”

“Oh, it’s like that, Tor,” Devan says incredulously. “You’re really leaving!” He sighs as I walk away. “Fine!” he shouts behind me.

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