The Scars of Us (4 page)

Thinking about Nori reminded me that it had been a few days since we’d last spoken. Given the events of the day, I decided to text her to fill her in:

Me: Bad day today

Nori insisted that I let her know when I had rough days, being the mother hen that she was. She had been that way since we’d become friends in middle school, and I loved her for it, even if it was annoying at times.

My phone chimed with Nori’s response:

Nori: I’m sorry :( want to talk about it

Me: Not ready yet

Nori: Tomorrow night? Girls night?

Me: Maybe

Nori: :)

Even though my reply was noncommittal, we both knew I’d be at her house tomorrow night, ready for a night of dinner and dancing. Dancing was another thing that helped clear my mind. The sound of the music and movement of my body allowed me to drown out everything else as I became one with the beat.

I headed down the hallway to my office to finish some of the spreadsheets I was working on before ordering take-out for Kamden and myself.

When we finished eating, I informed him of my plans. “I’m meeting Bryce at the bar.”

I received his typical disapproving look as he responded in a parental tone, “Be careful.”

Giving what I hoped was a reassuring smile, I said, “Always.”

I’d never explained the details of the arrangement Bryce and I had, but Kamden knew; big brothers always knew stuff like that, no matter how old you were.

When I arrived at the bar Bryce and I typically met up at, I was surprised that he wasn’t there yet. He was normally early.

I took a seat at the bar as the bartender walked over to me. “Hey, Ky. The usual?”

“Please.” I looked around nervously before directing my attention to my phone, checking if Bryce had sent a message that he was running late, but there was none.
I wonder where he is.

“And for you?” the bartender asked, peering around me at another customer.

“Jack and Coke,” a deep, luscious voice said from behind me.

I stiffened before turning around and coming face to face with Ryker. He unabashedly appraised me, causing heat to simultaneously flood my cheeks and the juncture of my thighs. “Uh, hi,” I squeaked nervously.
Fuck, just kill me now.

Ryker chuckled, obviously amused by my awkwardness. As he laughed, I caught a glimpse of something gleaming in his mouth.

Is that a tongue ring? Oh, God, it is. So fucking hot.

“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked as he moved closer to me, almost pressing his firm body against mine. His arms caged me between him and the bar, causing me to inhale deeply from the sudden proximity. His scent was amazing, a combination of man and clean. I had to stop myself from begging him to touch me.

“Actually, I, um, I’m meeting someone here,” I stammered.

His eyes imperceptibly narrowed; I wouldn’t have even noticed if I hadn’t been so fixated on his face.

Is he jealous? No way.

“Everything okay, Ky?” the familiar sound of Bryce’s voice interrupted.

Ryker’s eyes stayed locked on mine, even though my “date” had obviously arrived. His arms remained in place, even when I broke eye contact to look at Bryce.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Ryker’s a trainer at the new gym I’m working out at now.” I replied, attempting to keep my voice steady, even though Ryker’s closeness unnerved me.

Bryce stepped towards to us, keeping his gaze on Ryker as he approached. He warily stuck his hand out in greeting, “Bryce. I’m Kaiya’s boyfriend.”

What?

“No, you’re not!” I impulsively defended.
Shit.
I wanted to slap my hand over my mouth because of my outburst.

Ryker’s eyes met mine again as his lips curved up in a sexy smirk. Pulling his arms away, he moved back, taking most of his delicious scent with him. Some of it lingered for a few seconds before fading away I almost audibly sighed from the loss, but stopped before I made a bigger fool of myself.

Get a hold of yourself, Kaiya!

“Maybe I’ll catch you at the gym,” Ryker said coolly as he grabbed his drink off the bar. Looking at the bartender, he continued, “Put her drink on my tab.”

Then, he walked away.
What just happened?
I turned around, not wanting to be caught ogling his retreating form. Grabbing my Cranberry Vodka, I quickly downed it as Bryce stared at me.

“What?” I asked defensively.

“Nothing,” he replied with a knowing smile. He turned toward the bartender, leaning on the bar as he ordered another drink for me and a beer for himself.

Rolling my eyes at him, I headed for a booth near the bar while Bryce waited for our drinks. A few minutes later, he slid into the seat next to me and handed me my drink.

“How’ve you been?” he asked.

“Pretty good,” I replied distantly. That was always my answer, and Bryce knew not to pry. “How about you?”

“I’ve been swamped at work, but the money’s good.” Bryce was an investment banker, and earned an envious salary, but he was always stressed out. That stress translated surprisingly well in the bedroom, making our sex intensely passionate as he took his aggression out on me.

After several more rounds of drinks, I was more than ready to head back to Bryce’s apartment. I had been torturing myself as I watched Ryker flirt with various women around the bar as they draped themselves all over him. He caught my gaze more than once, giving me his seductive grin every time and causing my stomach to tighten.

“You ready to go, baby?” Bryce whispered in my ear as he trailed his fingers over my thigh. We both had a nice buzz going, making us overly touchy and affectionate. His mouth trailed down the side of my neck, pressing kisses as his hands began to roam over my body.

“Yes,” I nearly moaned as I tilted my head to give his lips better access to the sensitive skin of my neck.

Bryce disentangled himself from me before helping me out of the booth. As he led me to the exit, my eyes locked with Ryker’s once again. His deep eyes were hardened, his smirk absent from his beautiful lips as he took me in. He paid no attention to the slutty blonde draping herself all over him as he watched me walk away. I couldn’t fight the guilt and disappointment creeping into my stomach as we left.

I followed Bryce back to his condo. As soon as the front door shut, I was on him instantly. I tugged at his clothes, needing them off so I could feel his skin against mine. I needed to feel something other than the emotions plaguing me constantly, needed his touch to drown out everything else.

Pushing him down the familiar hallway to his bedroom, I freed his body from his shirt. Even his toned form had nothing on Ryker, whose immaculately chiseled muscles bordered on perfection.

Stop thinking about him!

As we burst through the bedroom door, I fumbled with the belt on his jeans before unbuttoning them as Bryce’s lips claimed mine. Our hands urgently worked together to take the rest of each other’s clothes off as we fell onto his bed.

Bryce rifled through his bedside nightstand until he pulled out a condom. He eagerly ripped open the wrapper before sheathing his hard length, pressing it against my entrance within seconds.

Ryker’s face came into my mind when my eyes fluttered shut as Bryce slowly pushed inside me, groaning as he filled me.

God, I wish it were him inside me right now.

Thrusting at an almost perfect pace, Bryce knew exactly how to please me, knew exactly what I wanted. My eyes closed in pleasure as Bryce’s hands threaded in my hair and tugged lightly, pulling my head back to expose my throat.

My lids snapped open as I roughly remarked, “Bryce.”

Apologizing, he immediately let go, “Sorry, Ky. I forgot.”

Not responding, I tried to focus on the sensations of Bryce stroking inside me. Increasing his pace, he continued to plunge in and out of my slick, hot sex. I could feel my climax approaching as his large cock pounded against my walls.
Almost there.

I pushed against Bryce, notifying him that it was my turn to take over. I always controlled when I came, needed to have that power over my body.
No one will ever take that power from me again.

Bryce rolled us until he was on his back and I was mounted on top of him. Beginning to rock against him, I closed my eyes as I pictured Ryker. A moan escaped me as I thought of his luscious mouth, visualizing his tongue ring tracing over every intimate area of my body.

I imagined his rough, tattooed hands caressing my skin as his cock filled me, thrusting inside me over and over, our bodies intimately tangled in hot, sweaty ecstasy.

It didn’t take long for me to find release. Normally, it took a while for me to relax and let go of everything, but thinking about Ryker filled me with hot desire. My body trembled as Bryce gripped my hips and thrust upwards, groaning out seconds later as he came.

Once we caught our breath, I lifted myself off Bryce and began to gather my clothes.

Bryce watched me from the bed as he questioned, “Why don’t you stay the night?”

I almost ignored the ridiculous question—he knew my rules. Then, I remembered we both had a lot to drink, and it might have slipped his mind.

“You know I can’t.”

“No, you just won’t,” he sighed angrily.

This time, I did ignore him. I didn’t want to fight with him. What we had was the closest thing that I had to intimacy; I didn’t want to ruin that. I cared for Bryce, even if I didn’t know how to show it.

Once I finished getting dressed, I said, “I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” he replied sadly as he rose off the bed. Throwing on a pair of gym shorts, he led me to the front door before walking me outside to my car.

“Thank you for a great night.” I politely remarked as I pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“No problem. Anything for you, Ky.” His eyes were sad as they looked into mine, but he still gave me a smile.

Bryce shut the door for me after I got in my car, then headed inside his condo. As I drove home, thoughts of Ryker still dominated my mind, confusing the hell out of me.

Sitting on the edge of the latest conquest’s bed, I ran my hand through my hair. I blew out a breath of frustration as I tried to rid my thoughts of Kaiya
.
I’d been picturing her while fucking the blonde bimbo that lay next to me.

Why can’t I get her out of my head?

Remembering the confusing jealously I felt when I saw that prick with his lips on her neck and his hands all over her body, I angrily stood. I got dressed and quickly left the apartment, not caring if I woke up the girl in the process. I just wanted the night to end already.

Clenching the steering wheel as I drove home, I was still tense, unsatisfied even though I had come while fucking the blonde. I basically had just gone through the motions, too preoccupied to enjoy the other woman. My mind was wired with thoughts of Kaiya, wondering if she was fucking the guy that she left with.
Why do I care?

Once I got home, I showered, needing to relax. I still didn’t understand why she affected me the way she did—she was nothing special.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that.

As the water rained down on me, I thought of her full tits, curvy hips, and long legs.
Fuck, I want to be in between them so bad, filling her with my cock and making her cry out my name.

Even after the shower, I still couldn’t get her off my mind. I kept picturing my hands tangled in her long, brown hair while my mouth tasted those full lips.
Maybe I just need to fuck her so I can get her out of my thoughts.

Falling into bed, I tossed and turned restlessly, unable to fall asleep. The covers tangled around me as I moved back and forth, constricting my body uncomfortably. Kicking them off, I finally settled and stared at the ceiling. It took what seemed like hours before I finally drifted off, and Kaiya still hadn’t left my mind.