Aubrey
The smell of the hot chocolate had me smiling, as I brought the mug to my lips, taking in a sip and marveling at the way it curled around my tongue.
Drexel watched me with uncertainty, bright green eyes searching my face like it would give him appropriate answers to the questions he had been brewing in his head.
"I'm still finding it difficult to understand why you keep pushing the buttons with this guy." He finally said. "When you came to Vino, I told you about the dark side, not so you could join in, Bree. I told you because I wanted you to stay the hell away from it."
I fought the urge to roll my eyes, as I settled in his soft couch. His apartment was where I found myself most times. It was cozy, homely and also welcoming. He had asked me to move in with him so we could split the rent and be in each other's company, but he had always done so much for me, and I didn't want to push it with him, even though I knew that was what he wanted.
"I'm just sleeping with him, not dating him." I told him.
"And committing crimes for him now."
This time, I actually rolled my eyes.
I was supposed to deliver the Parcel today, and I still couldn't believe that I agreed to doing it, I just didn't want to hurt Tyler by saying no; this was the first time he'd ask me to do something for him, asides from fucking him or cooking for him.
I couldn't help the warmth that came with the thought that Tyler trusted me enough to deliver his parcel, I knew how important that parcel was to him. I mean, that was the reason why he killed Simon, my Dad.
But he trusted me.
It was times like this that I thought Tyler saw me as more than just a fuck buddy. Sometimes he would blur the lines by something he said, or something he did, sometimes he would even make me feel better than all the other guys I'd dated. And I'd always talk myself from feeling more than I was supposed to feel with him.
Him calling me another woman's name was always a constant reminder.
"Tyler's a good guy." I said with a small shrug.
Drexel gave me a look that screamed, 'Really?'
I sighed. "Okay, maybe not really good, he's in between the two... and I like hanging out with him. We have pretty great conversations right after he's done fucking my brains out." I grinned.
Drexel shook his head. "At this point, I'm just gonna think this is a real relationship."
"It's not." I chuckled. "We just fuck and talk sometimes."
"And you cook for him."
"Because I like to cook for him. I like to cook generally. And have you seen his kitchen? Anyone would want to cook there."
With a sigh, he drank his hot chocolate. "I can't wait for whatever charm that guy placed on you, to ware off... I miss my best friend." Drexel said. "The one who thinks rationally."
"I still think rationally." I said, sipping the hot chocolate.
"You're barely even here half of the time."
"What does that mean? Tyler never calls or texts me randomly. He never even calls. And whenever he texts me, it's just to ask me to come over. I'm always here, Drex."
"Oh, no you're not... You've been checking your phone from time to time for any text from Tyler." He laughed.
I dropped the mug. "Well, that's because I'm supposed to help him with something."
"Right with criminal stuff." Drexel stated.
I chuckled. "How do you even know it's criminal?"
"Because when I asked you what you were going to help him with, you said in a guarded voice that, 'it's confidential.' What the hell am I supposed to think?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "You're so fucking dramatic, you know that?"
He sighed. "It's not about the drama, Bree. That guy will put you in trouble. You're not supposed to hang out with men like him. They kill people and dominate—I don't know—places?" Drexel paused and continued. "If your Mom finds out about this, you're dead... She'll take you to church and cast out the demon that's making you get involved with him."
That made me laugh. True enough, my mom would do just that.
"Just be careful, if that guy does something crazy to you... All hell's gonna break loose." Drexel warned.
"Yeah, yeah... Like you can go up against the Don of a mafioso family." I said.
"Oh I can, don't underestimate my lean muscles and kitchen knives," Drexel smirked. "In all, you know I got your back."
I smiled, about to respond when my phone started ringing.
I looked at the name flashing on my phone screen and my eyes widened.
"What is it?" Drexel asked.
I looked up at him. "It's Tyler." I said.
"So?"
"Tyler never calls." I simply said
Drexel brows shot up.
I picked it up and placed it against my ear cautiously.
"Uh... Hello?" I asked, unsure of what to say.
"Why didn't you pick up on the first ring?" His voice sounded even more beautiful on phone.
"Um... I don't know? Who picks up on the first ring?" I said.
"People I call." He stated.
Tyler never called. At least he's never called me.
This would be the first time... and it was weird how much it made me nervous.
"Ok-okay."
"Why do you sound like that? Everything good?" He asked.
I blinked. "Yeah? I... guess?"
I heard him give a sigh at the other end of the line. "Where are you?" He asked.
"At a friend's?"
There was a small pause, I thought he had hung up already until... "Male or Female?" He asked.
I looked up at Drexel. "Male?" I answered.
Why would he care about the gender of my friend?
Short pause.
I sighed. "Ty, are you there?" I asked
"Yeah, come over." He didn't ask.
After that, there was a click sound at the other end.
That was weird.
"Let me guess, you gotta go." Drexel said.
I gave him an apologetic sigh. "I'll be back soon," I stood up, grabbing my purse. "I promise." I gave him a small peck on his cheek and rushed out of his apartment.
***
I stopped by for a few minutes to chat with Cobra and Valerio, the only two conversational men in Tyler's compound. The rest of them always carried around a stony non-approachable face and form.
But Cobra and Valerio were easy to talk to, and sometimes whenever there was any left over food from whatever I prepared for Tyler, I'd head over to their quarters and give it to them.
Walking into Tyler's home, I began making my way to his bedroom, but paused when I heard sounds from the kitchen. My brows came down in a frown as I changed directions, going to the kitchen.
He was busy taking out ingredients and placing them on the counter when I tiptoed further into the kitchen, wondering how a man like him didn't notice me yet.
I placed both of my hand against his eyes. "Guess who?" I grinned.
"Gray."
I scrunched my brows. "Guess again."
"Gray." He repeated.
Seriously?
With an annoyed sigh, I took my palms off his face and he turned to meet my eyes.
"Why do you always have to spoil the fun in every fun thing?" I asked him.
He grabbed my waist so my body was pinned against his. "Because I'm not a fun person." He answered, his gaze shifting to my lips before he softly cupped the side of my face, bringing his lips down to mine.
My heart jumped at the tender gesture, and began thumping hardly against my chest.
The kiss was slow, soft and—meaningful.
We'd never kissed like this before. Our kisses were always meaningless, a way to further build up the sexual sensations. We never just stopped halfway to brush our lips together tenderly.
Softly, we break apart, and I caught my breath, unable to hide how affected I was by that kiss.
"You—called for the delivery?" I asked, still air-headed.
His thumb came to brush my bottom lip. "No, not really, that's till tomorrow. I'll have a car bring the parcel to your apartment. For now, you're going to teach me how to make spaghetti and meatballs." He said, brushing his nose against mine.
I couldn't help it, I leaned forward to join our lips once more.
I planned on just leaving a light kiss on his lips, but from the moment his arms tightened around me, I knew we were going to do more than just that.
My fingers found their way to his hair, Caressing his scalp as I pulled him closer.
With an appreciative groan, he lifted me up, strong arms pulling me above ground as he walked to the living room, and laid me on the couch, lips still in place, his hands slid underneath my shirt, unclasping my bra in a swift movement and then he grabbed one of my breast, as he massaged it in a soft caress that sent shivers down my spine.
I hummed in delight as his lips moved from my own, to my neck, trailing sweet kisses down to my collarbone.
The sensitive flesh between my legs, ached for him, and I wanted him to touch me there.
Almost as if he read my thoughts, his free hand travelled dangerously low to my belly, his fingers finding their way into my short skirt and under my panties.
"I really love how you're so responsive." He murmured, his finger moving to stroke my clit, and I could feel how wet and sensitive I was.
"Ty..."
"I love the way you feel against my fingers, Gray." He said, his voice laced with desire and something else I couldn't identify. "I can't get enough." He confessed, taking his time in driving me so fucking wild.
He called me Gray, but that didn't ruin anything for me. I was intoxicated by his ability to get me to the brink of a stomach twisting pleasure.
One of his finger entered me, and my hips rose giddily to meet with his finger.
"Ty..." I moaned his name.
"Fuck, you don't know how sexy you sound." Tyler said, his voice mirroring mine. "Your moans makes me so damn hard."
A second finger joined in as his thrusts became harder and faster.
"Oh, fuck." I voiced, when his thumb came to press against my clit, as he massaged gently.
I threw my head back in pleasure, the familiar intense tightness beginning to form as my moans started getting louder and louder.
All of a sudden, he stopped.
What the-
He brought his fingers to his lips and licked them, one by one. "You taste as sexy as you feel." He said, a sly smirk playing on his lips. "But you know what would taste less better?"
I gave him a questioning look.
"Spaghetti and meatballs." He answered.
What?
He stood upright. "Come on, you gotta teach me how to make it." He said.
I can't believe this is happening.
"Now?" I asked, sitting upright and adjusting my shirt, unsatisfied.
"Yeah, now." He simply said as he began making his way back to the kitchen.
I just gaped at him, why would he just leave me like this?
"Come on, Ty... We have all the time to do that. Why did you touch me, knowing you're not going to finish what you started!" I asked in a small yell, standing up and walking angrily after him.
He stopped sharply and turned to me and I almost bumped into him. He scrunched his brows. "Did you just yell at me?"
I crossed my arms over my chest.
I raised a brow at him, pinning him with a stance and look of challenge.
His lips tugged up a little, "You can be really cute if you put your mind to it."
I frowned. What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
Tyler placed his arm around my shoulders and pulled me lazily into the kitchen with him. "Come on, you horny woman, I'm hungry... We can have fun later." He pinched my cheeks like I was some kind of kid or something.
"I thought you weren't the fun type." I said, knowing pretty well what he meant.
He let go of me and said. "You're an exception."
Fighting a smile, I shook my head and got to work.
Shortly after, I felt Tyler's arms snake around my waist from behind, his steady breathing on my back made me so aware of our closeness.
His jaw was to my left shoulder as he watched from behind.
This simple act of his, made my stomach flip. His arms were wrapped tightly around me, like he was afraid to let go, and that made me smile.
"You confuse me sometimes, Ty."
"Meaning?" He asked softly, never letting go.
Sighing, I shook my head. "Never mind, just watch and learn."
He placed a kiss on my nape, before breathing out with his response. "I'm watching."