Page 12 of Thunder

“Remind me again why they call you Trip?” Thunder choked on his shot at Lexi’s ballsiness.

“Because, my dick is so massive, I’m Tripping over it all the damn time. It’s a nuisance, really.”

“Ehhh, wrong answer,” Lexi mocked.

“I could show you if you don’t believe me.” Trip turned up the charm and Thunder almost gagged on it. He was dragging his knuckles softly up and down her arm and giving her bedroom eyes. Lexi, however, wasn’t falling for it.

“I’ve never questioned the validity of your measurements. All.” She emphasized the word. “The girls from here to Reno confirm as much. What I’m questioning is the origin. Remember, you’re not the only Phantom to visit us and imbibe a bit too much occasionally. So, wanna try again?”

Trip sighed. “I don’t know what to say, I’m always tripping on my big fucking dick—”

“And falling into pussy he has no business being in,” Blast finished for him. All attention turned his way when he approached.

“Well, that’s my cue,” Sully spoke as he stood. “Get with me in the morning, Thunder.” He nodded in agreement as Sully made his way to the guest wing.

Lexi looked around. “Where’s Andy?”

“She went to the bathroom.” His brother dropped his eyes to his boots.

“Not going as planned?” Lexi’s voice held sympathy.

“Nope. She’s not interested. I’m still having a great time, so no worries.”

Thunder was aware of Lexi answering but he would’ve been hard-pressed to tell anyone what the rest of their conversation entailed.

Thunder needed to head to his room because he’d had a bit too much to drink. Normally, he would’ve chatted one of the girls up by now, but he was too preoccupied with Flash to worry about getting his dick sucked. Now, the possibility of sleeping alone taunted him. Ever since he’d taken his first life for the military, nighttime was hell.

Darkness was when shitty memories, ghosts of the past, and personal demons came out to play. Thunder understood Flash’s need to self-medicate more than most. Hell, he’d been there himself, rode that ride, got the t-shirt, wouldn’t recommend it.

Back in his military days, it’d been simple. He was in a long-term relationship. When that ended… badly, he found himself making less than stellar choices.

Now, Thunder didn’t drink himself into oblivion and wake up with a questionable stranger whose name he didn’t even know. He had rules about who slept over.

One: Never at his house, that was his sanctuary.

Two: Never sex and sleepover. They were two completely different things. Sex was the scratching of an itch, a line he didn’t want to blur. He knew if he let a sexual partner sleep over, she’d start getting ideas in her head.

Sex had nothing to do with company.

Company was even a bit of an overstatement because they didn’t talk. Hell, they barely interacted at all, he just needed to have a living, breathing body in his bed. It calmed him.

After Thunder finished his shot and beer, he stood on less than steady legs. He rarely drank that much anymore, but Flash resurfacing in his life brought with it some memories he wasn’t ready to deal with.

“I’m gonna hit the head and then grab the nearest warm body and call it a night.” Drunk or not, he could see Lexi roll her eyes. She didn’t know he’d never had sex with them. Hell, no one knew. Both the club girls and the strippers knew some things were not to be discussed. They may compare notes on dick size and stamina when what they had to say was flattering, but they wouldn’t speak out of turn. If they did, they’d be gone.

Thunder headed toward the bathroom. Pissing wouldn’t wait until he was in his room. He passed Bullseye and Billie on the way. Thunder walked behind Billie and lifted her in the air in a bear hug. “Unhand my woman before I do it for you, brother.” Bullseye was only half-joking. Billie was giggling, and that is when Bullseye tipped from half-joking to about one quarter.

“You better release me, or Brooks will swing. From the looks of you tonight, I’d say he’d stand a chance to win.” She was right. There was no way Thunder could take a punch.

He released the woman he’d grown fond of—in a sisterly way—over the last few months and lifted his hands in submission. “Your woman has been unhanded. I’m headed to bed.” He clapped forearms with Bullseye and said goodnight, before twisting back to Billie. “Happy Birthday, beautiful.” He dropped a kiss on her cheek, pulled back, winked, then turned on his heel before Bullseye made good on his threat.

6

ANDREA

Andy was having a decent time, but it was about time to call it a night. For some reason, she was on edge. She had a nagging feeling she couldn’t put her finger on.

Blast was growing on her but there was zero spark. He was a really great guy, the kind she could see herself hanging out with. He’d be perfect to watch a game with, while chugging beer and eating pizza. As a friend, nothing else.

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