Ruined: Loving An Alpha Male: BWWM Romance (29 page)

Kat laughed and shook her head, putting her hands over her ears.

“I really don’t want to hear what you’re planning on giving Cory, okay? But can I just say this last thing, and then I’m done? Cory was in a situation similar to yours. The sun rose and set on Tiana’s ass, according to Cory. When she up and left, he was devastated. I don’t know if you have any feelings for my cousin or not, but he’s just as fragile as you are… And don’t give me any shit; I saw the way you looked at Mason a little bit ago. You can’t fool me. I just want you to be mindful about Cory and his delicate heart too, okay?”

I sighed. She was right. I don’t want to hurt Cory. I love him. I’m not sure if I can love him the way he wants, but I was willing to try. But Kat is right. I know he just got out of a relationship, and he gave himself completely to her. I don’t want to get his hopes up when nothing might happen between us.

“You’re right, of course. I’ve told him what my intentions are, which is why I haven’t slept with him. He says he’s always had feelings for me and wants to see if we can make it. I don’t want to hurt him, but what if we are what each other needs for right now? I wouldn’t want to miss out on just being with him, you know?”

“I hear you, and I just want you to be careful,” she told me.

I nodded, and we started walking back. She asked me about Mason and what he was like when I dated him. So I told her everything. I had told her a lot about us back when we were dating, but not everything. When I told her in depth what he was like, especially in the sack, she nearly fell on her face.

“I just can’t believe he’s like that.”

She shook her head, and her eyes got wide.

“Yup,” was all I said as my body reacted to just the memory of him.

“You’re thinking about it right now, aren’t you?” she asked me.

I looked over at her and tried to play it off, but I couldn’t. She knew me better than that, and I couldn’t hide anything from her.

“Oh. My. God. I can’t believe it. I mean you have goosebumps all along your arms and chest, and it’s blazing out here. You can’t stop smiling, and your face has freaking lit up like a Christmas tree.”

I pushed her, trying to get her from watching me. “Oh, cut it out. It’s not that obvious.”

“Oh no, not to just anyone. But I can see it because I know you. Oh my, you looked the same way before when we were sitting at the table, and Diane mentioned the night she had with Mason…you were thinking about him then, too.”

“Cut it out, Kat.”

I felt my face grow flush, and I turned away from her. She laughed and jumped on my back. We are about the same height and weight. And it’s crazy, but we have the same curves and everything. She is a little darker than me, but that’s about it.

“I can’t believe he has that much of an effect on you.”

“Get off of me, you heffa.”

She held on tight and wrapped her legs around me.

“Oh no, bitch. You aren’t getting away from this conversation. You still have feeling for Mason, don’t you?”

“Fuck no and fuck him.”

“Yeah okay, whatever. Carry me back to the hotel.”

“Oh, I’ll carry you alright.”

I gripped her legs tight and ran as fast as I could toward the water. She started to squeal and squirm in my grasp, but I neither stopped nor let go. I plunged both of us in the water, just in time for a huge wave to hit us.

“Oh my God, you bitch,” she exclaimed, laughing.

“Yeah, tell me I have feelings for someone…that’ll teach you.”

I pulled up and tried to wring the excess water from my hair, when she yanked my shirt off my body. I screamed and tried to cover myself.

Kat stopped waving my shirt and looked wide-eyed at me.

“What’s that on your side? …Holy shit! You have a tattoo?”

Damn it!

“Let me see?”

“No.” I wrapped my arms around my waist.

“Oh, come on, Monk. Can’t you please let me see?”

“Hell, no. Now give me my shirt back.”

I reached for my shirt, and she played a dirty trick on me. She pulled the string off my bikini, and my top dropped to reveal my breasts. My hands quickly went to my breasts, revealing my tattoo.

Her eyes went big, and I closed mine and didn’t move.

“Did that hurt?”

Without opening my eyes, I shook my head. I felt her come closer, and she touched my side.

“Not at the time, no.”

“What does it mean? I mean, I see some dog tags that are wrapped along an anchor, and the tags have the names ‘Reaper’ and ‘Alex’ on them. But what does the anchor represent?”

I struggled to put my bathing suit top back on, without revealing myself to beach goers.

“It represents the Navy. Mason and Alex were both Navy SEALs, remember?”

“Yes, I remember. So does the anchor going through a heart represent Mason?”

“Yes, in a way it does. One of the dog tags is wrapped around the anchor, and that represents Alex.”

“What does NFNF mean beneath his name?”

“Never forget, never forgive.”

She remained silent as she continued to study my tattoo.

“Okay, have you seen enough?”

“What does the other dog tag mean around the heart?”

I sighed.

“That’s for someone that I lost as well. He was wrapped around my heart, but he squeezed all the fucking life out of me. That’s why the dog tag says ‘The Reaper.’”

Kat looked at me skeptically but didn’t say a word. What I told her was partially true. Mason was wrapped around my heart completely. So at the time I got the tattoo, that’s what I wanted it to mean. Now it means exactly what I told her. She gave me my shirt back, and I held it in my hand.

“Come on, let’s go take a shower and go find a place around here to get shit faced. No men allowed.”

“Oorah to that,” I exclaimed.

Chapter 18

Mason

Have I said that fate hates me? Well, she really, really does hate me. I planned on coming back to the hotel to screw Diane’s brains out to try and get Maxine out of my mind. Just seeing her go up to Cory and wrap her arms around him has me fuming. Why does it bother me so much? She should be able to move on with her life. Why is it hard for me to accept that she should?

Because I want her for my fucking self, that’s why.
Shit
.

Playing golf allowed me to unleash some frustration. We didn’t talk about the women, which was even better. We talked business and sports, and that’s it. On the drive back, AB started up talking about how he wanted to get Tiffany alone, and Cory blanched.

“Sorry, dude, but you do know your cousin is hot?” AB laughed.

“Yes, I am aware. You have no idea how many fights I got into about her and Maxine.”

He shook his head.

“I can only imagine,” Marc chimed in.

But I didn’t say a word. I know when he looked at me, he was thinking about when I beat Trip’s ass senseless and almost took on three fat fucks for her.

Now seeing Cory’s arms around her, I want to fucking beat the shit out of him too. So instead of doing what I set out to do with Diane, I headed to the bar. I sat there stewing, until she came up to me.

“How was golf?” she asked.

“It was fine.”

“So do you want to go back to the room? I know all that energy you exuded wasn’t enough for you.”

Yeah, it really wasn’t. But being with her won’t satisfy this need I have, either. The one person that has ever satisfied me fully was the one woman that has her arms around another man.

Is this fate’s idea of teaching me a lesson? I mean, I know I fucked up, but does fate have to smash it in my face like this? I took my drink down and then looked over at her.

“I’m going to hit the weights. Then I’ll come and see you. Be fucking naked when I walk in the door.”

She looked at me stunned but didn’t reply. It’s been a while since I’ve lifted, but it’s all I can do to take care of my urges.

I walked by my brother and a fuming AB, and said, “I’m about to hit the weight room for a while. I’ll see you guys later.”

“Yeah, wait up. I think I’ll join you,” AB told me and trotted up next to me.

We worked out quietly for a while. We spotted each other as we bench pressed. I threw up more than I probably should, but I didn’t care. I needed to keep my mind off of Max.

After about two and a half hours, I made my way back to the room, and Diane was waiting for me as requested. I didn’t acknowledge her when I walked inside the room. I went straight in the shower to wash the sweat off my body.

It also put me in the right frame of mind. When I got out, I had my way with her. Then I fell out on the bed and let sleep consume me.

I don’t know what time it was, but I felt Diane shaking me awake.

“What?” I mumbled.

“Come on. Marc said we were meeting at some restaurant in town in about an hour. You need to get up and get dressed.”

I growled.

“Why don’t you go? I’m good.”

“No way. These are your friends, not mine. Its bad enough I have to be around your ex, and her flaunting the fact in my face all morning. I will not…”

I sat up and looked at her.

“What did you just say?”

“What? About these being your friends or about your ex?” she said smartly.

I sat up completely and looked at her. She had her hair up in a messy bun, and she was in the middle of applying her make up.

“If you don’t want to be around my friends, you can stay in this room. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. And as far as my ex is concerned, I know for a fact she isn’t flaunting anything in your face. She fucking hates me and couldn’t care less about me or my existence. So if this is your tired way of getting me to talk about her, you’re wasting your time.”

“Well, I guess she’s right then. She must have meant nothing to you if you won’t talk about her.”

“Is that what she said?” I was stunned.

“Pretty much, yes. And I guess I have to agree with her. If you’re going to take another shower, can you wait until I’m finished with my makeup?”

“No, you take entirely too long in the bathroom. I’ll be five minutes,” I told her, and then I walked naked into the shower.

I told you I was an asshole.

I threw on a pair of khaki tan pants and wore a loose-fitted, short-sleeved, pull-over white shirt. Diane wore a simple yellow dress that fell to her knees, and her hair was lying down her back with a few curls.

We all met in the lobby two hours later, without Maxine and Tiffany.

“Where are the wonder twins?” Marc asked.

“They’re already there,” Cory replied.

“Yeah, they’ve apparently been there for hours.”

AB rolled his eyes and headed out of the hotel. I looked over at Marc, and we both laughed. We could see the sexual frustration evident in his body language. I have definitely been there, and it’s not fun; funny, but not fun.

We took two cars and drove about ten minutes to a place called Pete’s bar and grill. It was loud, with a full band playing as we walked inside. I looked around and found Tiffany holding on to someone from behind that had a great body. The woman had long hair that was curled and hanging loosely underneath a brown cowboy hat. She wore a tank top that hugged her curves and short shorts that showed a great pair of… Holy shit, did my fucking dick come alive? I would know that pair of legs anywhere. That moment Tiffany happened to turn. When she saw us, she screamed. When Maxine turned too, I swear I almost bust a nut. Holy hell, she looked good as fuck. Since when did her hair grow?

“It took you guys long enough. Come on. We have tables waiting for you guys.”

Tiffany took AB by his hands and guided him to the table. She smiled at him, and when we got to the tables, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. I could see his resolve melting. It’s crazy how the women you really love can break through your defenses.

I looked over at Maxine and saw she was staring at me. She had that look in her eyes that used to make me putty in her hands. I broke the connection and pulled the seat out for Diane before I sat down. A waitress came by and took our orders, and Maxine came over next with another waitress.

“I have shots for everyone. Come on. Drink up, you party poopers. You have a lot of catching up to do.” Max laughed and handed each of us a shot.

I took it easily and watched as she grabbed Tiffany from AB and looked over at Marie.

“Come on girls. Let me introduce you to some hot band members.”

Max winked at Marc, and he laughed.

“Diane, are you coming?” Marie asked.

“Um…No…I’ll just sit here and watch you guys.”

Diane has never been one of those girls that liked to party. I don’t doubt she hasn’t done some partying in her lifetime. But around Marie and the others, she feels she has to put up a façade.

As the night went on, everyone started to loosen up…even Diane. We made our way on the dance floor, singing along with whatever the band was playing. You couldn’t help but join in with Kat and Monkey; aw shit, I can’t say that with a straight face—Tiffany and Maxine—as they danced around this bar, infecting everyone around them with joy and alcohol.

I found my way back to the table and was sitting with my brother and Cory. We were watching everyone on the dance floor singing and dancing with each other.

My brother leaned into us and asked, “Have they always been this way?”

Cory took that he was speaking to him and chuckled and nodded, “Oh yeah. Man they are like this sober, too. They just know how to have a good time with each other, and everyone around them seems to find themselves being drawn into them. Tiffany’s mom nicknamed them Kat and Monkey because of their personalities. Tiffany has always been quiet. But when she gets around Max, she comes out to play. And, hell, Max is off the chain all by herself. Well, she used to be. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her like this.

Man, I’ll tell you, when Max first came to live with me and Tiffany, after her grandfather passed, they were out of control. They were inseparable. Where one went, the other was right behind. They never grew tired of each other and rarely went anywhere without each other. And when they started singing…
Whew
.”

“Tiffany can sing?” I asked.

Cory nodded.

“Can she? Man, she can blow. They both can. But if you ever get a chance to hear them two sing together, it’s a beautiful thing to hear.”

“And Tiffany didn’t want to sing professionally?” I asked.

I knew how Max felt about it. But if Tiffany was as talented as Max, I could only imagine how good she sounds.

“Well, that’s the thing. Neither one of them wanted to pursue their talents. I would get them to sing in my band from time to time, but that would be it. Tiffany enjoys her job and apparently so does Max. Singing, I guess, is just something that they’re just good at.”

Marie came and grabbed my brother’s hand to lead him on the dance floor. Diane was dancing with Marie and my brother, thank God, so I was free.

I leaned over to Cory and asked, “So if they are so inseparable, why did Maxine move away?”

I know she said she went to school in Philly. But by what Cory explained so far, you would think either Maxine would have stayed in Dallas or Tiffany would have followed her to Philly.

Cory’s lighthearted demeanor changed. He sat back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked over at me.

“She didn’t tell you?”

By the look on his face, whatever she regrettably didn’t tell me I wasn’t going to like it. I shook my head, and he sighed.

“I don’t blame her. I mean it’s something that she never talks about. Hell, the only reason why me and Tiffany know is because we witnessed it.”

“Witnessed what?” I asked him, wanting him to get on with it.

He looked at me for a minute, as if battling with himself over whether he should tell me or not.

Finally, he nodded as if he had convinced himself it was okay, and said, “Did she tell you about her dad?”

“Yes,” I answered, sitting up straighter in my chair as if that will help me listen more closely.

I mean, there wasn’t anything or anyone that would distract me from what Cory was about to reveal.

“Well, her dad is into all sorts of shit. He thinks he’s fucking American Gangster or something. When Max first arrived in town, she reached out to him, and things were cool. I mean, it seemed he wanted to establish some type of relationship with her. But he was into some bad shit. So he so-called tried to keep her away from everything. I don’t know how, but one of his enemies found out she was his daughter, and they kidnapped her. We were coming out of a club downtown, and Max was walking ahead of us. She was half dressed and cold as hell, so she was running to the car. Well, some van pulled up next to her, and someone just jumped out and grabbed her. By the time I got to where I’d seen the van, it was gone. We called the police and gave them a description of the van and the license plate. The next day, Kat called Max’s dad, and he came to the apartment and asked us all about it. We told him what we knew and asked if he had any idea who took her. He said no, but he would do his best to get her back.”

At this point, I couldn’t breathe. I was staring at nothing in particular, trying to keep in check the anger that was threatening to explode. Most of all though, I was hurt…hurt that she didn’t tell me anything about getting kidnapped.
I heard myself ask, “How long was she held in captivity?”

“Ten long days.”

“Ten days” I blanched. “How the fuck did he let them have her for ten long days?”

Cory shrugged.

“I don’t know, man. I mean, it was crazy for us, too. One minute she was gone. The next minute, she called Tiff and told her she was okay and that she was in the hospital. What’s crazy though, is that—to this day—she won’t talk about it. We don’t know what happened to her or who took her.”

“Well, did you go to the hospital when she called?” I asked, frowning.

“Yes, of course, we did. But when we got there, she ordered the nurses to not let anyone in to see her. I mean, she wouldn’t even let her dad in. She was in the hospital for days, and we don’t know what all they did to her. To be honest, the only person that does know was my aunt. Tiff’s mom wasn’t accepting the ‘no visitors’ rule, and she made her way inside Max’s room. She was in there for a long time, and when she came out she wouldn’t say a thing. So, when we finally saw her, she was a mess. She had bruising on her face, and her jaw was wired shut. She had trouble breathing, so I think her ribs were either bruised or broken. I don’t know if they did more to her or not because she hasn’t talked about it.”

I asked Cory, “Do you know if her dad or the cops got who kidnapped her?”

Cory shrugged.

“I don’t know. The cops came to the hospital a few times, but I don’t know if they found the guys, or if her father did.”