Get Off on the Pain (21 page)

I waited outside for a couple of hours, just as a precaution, but I knew with them being inside so long, that I’d eventually have to go inside and check on her before he could drink enough to get to that point. I had to push my pride aside to look out for her safety, even though I knew she wouldn’t want to see me after what I had put her through. Who would? I’m a fucking asshole and even I know it.

I didn’t even get to make it inside. She was smart as I expected and figured it out for herself. When I saw her rush outside with Trevor at her heels, I knew there was going to be trouble. I stood back and listened for as long as I could before the anger exploded and I lost it. I could’ve choked that motherfucker out for handling her that way. I almost did too, had it not been for that small part inside holding me back; the part that reminded me of what happened last time I came to someone’s rescue . . . Alex.

I lost it that night, and have been trying since to keep the demons hidden away safely so that I won’t let myself lose control again. The truth is, when it comes to family and the ones I love, nothing can stop me from protecting them.

Protecting them is exactly what I’ll be doing in less than twenty-four hours, when I step into that warehouse. I’ve thought long and hard, trying to figure out the best way to get us both out of this mess, but so far I have come up with nothing. I’ll do what I have to do for now and hope that I can keep my hands clean.

I maneuver my way out of bed, trying my best not to wake her, and walk over to my workout area to release some stress. Gripping the ropes hanging from the ceiling, I pull myself up repeatedly, trying my best to tire myself out.

Visions of what happened six years ago with my father and Alex flash through my mind, instigating my anger and fueling me to push myself, feeding the demon for release.

Alex was a fun loving kid. All he ever did was have fun and make others laugh. There wasn’t a bad bone in him, at least not until my father put his hands on him for the first time, and then continued to hurt him over and over. Each time that he drank it got worse. It started with me, but after I started fighting he backed off and pushed me out of his way, moving me to the guesthouse. He didn’t think I would stick around and keep my eyes on Alex and our mother, but I did.

I drive myself harder. The sweat is pouring down my back and my muscles are beginning to burn now. The pain gives me a rush and only makes me work harder, faster.

I close my eyes again and growl out as I envision Alex through the garage window. He’s on the ground, shielding himself from our father’s blows, but he just keeps pounding into him relentlessly, not even aware that he’s barely breathing. Alex isn’t even attempting to fight back.

I rush over to the door and kick it in before coming at my father, plowing him into the workbench. I start pounding my fist into his face repeatedly until I see blood. There’s blood everywhere, but my anger keeps me going . . .

“Memphis! Can you hear me?”

I shake my head, snapping out of my little trance, before releasing the ropes and falling to my knees on the ground.

I feel Lyric’s hands on my face, arms, and hands as she touches me all over, but my head is spinning and I can’t seem to focus.

“Your hands are all torn up, Memphis. They’re bleeding.”

Leaning my head back, I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on catching my breath. I may be bleeding, but the pain isn’t fazing me one bit. All I see is Alex on the ground, my father not breathing, and my sickly mother standing outside the garage door screaming and crying. She’s so frail that I feel sick.

“Memphis! Dammit!”

I feel a hard slap across my face, causing me to open my eyes and suck in a deep breath, breaking the hypnosis I’m under. My chest suddenly hurts as if I’d been holding my breath the whole time.

Focusing on Lyric’s deep green eyes, I take slow, deep breaths, and grab onto the back of her neck, pulling her closer so that our foreheads are touching.

Having her close to me is like a fucking drug; easing my pain slowly, and bringing me back to the present. All I want is to keep her near and . . . to live. She makes me want hope; something I haven’t wanted or felt in a while, a long while.

Looking into her eyes I brush my lips against hers, gently, feeling the softness of them against mine. “Thank you,” I whisper. She nods her head and lets her soft breath fan my mouth, causing me to run my tongue across her lips for a taste.

Her breath comes out ragged as her body trembles in my arms, showing me that she wants me. Before I can think about what I’m doing, my lips crush against hers and I am on my feet, picking her up with me. Fuck it! I can’t fight this right now and I really don’t want to.

I keep my hands in her hair, tangling them even tighter as I carry her through the bathroom door. I reach out with one hand to turn the water on. Our lips never separate, because I love the feel of her lightly sucking my bottom lip into her mouth as I pull us both into the warm water and just stand here, feeling her in my arms.

I can see the red from my hands and her hair drip into the tub, staining the water as she just stands here, holding my face.

“It’s okay, Memphis. I can handle it.”

I swallow hard, trying to stay in control. Whenever I’m with her I just want to let her feel my pain. I want to let it all loose, but I’m afraid of hurting her like I do everyone else. She’s one person I don’t want to disappoint.

Slamming her against the shower wall, I pin her arms above her head and thrust my hips forward, pressing my hard cock against her body. She moans out as her eyes find mine. She wants more. She always does.

Releasing her hands, I find her panties, tugging on them before ripping them down her legs, waiting as she steps out and kicks them aside. Her hands find my wet hair and tug as I work on removing my boxer briefs.

I slide one hand down her thigh and grip it as I lift up and slide into her. We both moan out as I fill her, stretching her as I push in as deep as I can. She’s so fucking tight that I can’t help but to throb inside her, wanting to release myself.

I hold her hands above her head again as I pound into her repeatedly, lifting her body up with my thrust each time.

The faster I take her, the louder she screams my name, only giving me the fuel to take her longer and deeper.

As soon as my hands release hers, she finds my back and digs her nails in as hard as she can, running them down my back and down to grip my ass. “I love having you inside me, Memphis. Take it out on me. I want to
feel
you.”

I pause for a second from her words, before I thrust in deep and hard, but then stop. “I want you to fucking
feel
me, to trust me . . . and to never forget.”

Reaching out, I grip onto her hair and pull it to the side before thrusting again, harder this time, and over and over again until I feel her clenching around my dick, causing me to pull out, allowing my cum to wash down the drain.

We both stand here silently, breathing heavily before I turn the water off and grab for a towel, wrapping it around her. She needs sleep. We both do, even though I know I won’t be sleeping for shit. Especially now.

“Let’s get some sleep.”

I kiss her while walking her backwards until she’s back in my bed and I’m holding her again. Tomorrow night . . . none of this may even matter. Not to her at least.

I WAKE UP TO THE sweet smell of pancakes, instantly making my stomach growl. Taking a slow, deep breath, I inhale and sit up, yawning before opening my eyes to see Alex sitting in the chair next to the bed with a grin.

I quickly look down in a panic to make sure that I’m covered up, but am relieved to find that I’m now dressed in Memphis’ black button down shirt that he looked so sexy in the other day; that slick, talented son of a bitch. I love his soft side.

I clear my throat. “Morning,” I whisper. “What is it with you Carter boys and not letting me sleep? Haven’t you ever heard women need
beauty
rest?”

“Morning sleepy head . . . oh, and you’re welcome.” Alex holds up his plate of pancakes as he shoves a forkful into his mouth. He moans and points down to his plate. “These are fanfuckingtastic. You better make a plate before I eat them all.” He stands up and nods his head for me to follow. “I bet Memphis forgot to mention that he’s a great cook and that he used to cook dinner for us every night after mom got sick. The big guy’s softer than he looks.”

I maneuver my way out of bed and walk up beside Alex while shaking my head back and forth. I don’t understand why he tries to hide so much of himself. “Of course he left that detail out. He doesn’t tell me shit, Alex. Has he always been this way?”

He wraps his free arm around my shoulder as we walk up the steps, side by side. “Nah, not always, only when he had no other choice. Let’s go. He’s going to kill me once he finds out I came down here.”

Once we get upstairs, Alex quickly lets go of my shoulder and dodges inside his bedroom door right as Memphis steps into the hallway.

Memphis gives me a questioning look, but I just shrug my shoulders, playing it off. “Morning,” I say softly.

“Morning,” he whispers with a small smile. Raising an eyebrow, he smirks as Alex steps back out into the hallway, pretending that he didn’t just throw himself into his room a second ago.

“Oh hey, big bro. What’s up?” He points at his almost empty plate, talking with a mouthful. “Fucking bomb ass pancakes these are.”

“Nothing much, little bro.” He waves him over with a teasing smile. “You like those pancakes, huh? Come here for a minute.”

Alex gives me a pleading look and whispers, “Stay close by.” He then walks over to Memphis, treading lightly. “What’s up?”

Memphis wraps his arm around Alex’s neck and squeezes. “What did I tell you about going in my room, jerk?”

I can’t help but to laugh as Memphis starts rubbing his knuckles on the top of Alex’s hair, causing him to complain as remnants of his pancakes start sliding off his plate.

“Ah, dude. My fucking pancakes. I’m sorry, man. Come on. I was just waking Lyric up. Personally, I was shocked she could sleep through the smell.”

Letting go, Memphis laughs and points down at the ground. “Now clean up your mess, dickhead. You’re going to have everything sticky.”

Alex shakes his head and bends down to pick up his pancake. “See what you’re in for, Lyric?” He stands back up and holds both his arms out. “You could be having all this instead.”

I smile at Alex and laugh as he playfully winks and bites his bottom lip. He’s so damn cute. These boys . . .

Memphis walks over to me and hooks his arm around my waist, pulling me in for a kiss, roughly sucking my lip into his mouth before releasing it. I can’t help but to smile as he raises a brow at me and grabs my face. “I don’t think you want to give that up.”

I tangle my fingers into the back of his hair and pull him in for another kiss, sucking his tongue into my mouth before pulling away and biting his bottom lip. He lets out a little growl as I run the tip of my tongue up his lips and grab his hard dick through his sweats. I pat him on the chest and smile, proud of the way his body is reacting to me. “I don’t think
you
want to give that up.” I grin. “Now, where are these damn pancakes? I’m starving.”

I hear Alex saying
damn, she showed you
as I walk into the kitchen, leaving the boys alone to wrestle or whatever it is that they do.

I almost finish a whole plate of pancakes before the boys appear in the kitchen. Both of them seem a little tenser than they just were a few minutes ago.

“Is everything okay?” I question between bites, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Memphis leans against the counter and grips it, his muscles tightening. “Yeah. We were just discussing something.” He nods at my plate. “You should finish eating before you leave for work.”

I look to Alex and he just nods his head in agreement. I don’t like this whole mood change. I have a feeling that something is wrong, but neither one of them is going to be willing to tell me, so I just eat my breakfast in silence.

Alex comes over and gives me a kiss on the head before setting his plate in the sink. “I’m out of here, guys. I need to go visit a friend of mine. It’s been way too long and she’s got to be missing the shit out of me by now.”