His words would echo in my head for weeks. “We all need someone, Aiyanna. Even you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Derek
Alex had been a good lay.She wasn’t selfish in bed and she loved to give and give some more. I couldn’t complain but I also couldn’t celebrate. I didn’t care for her as a person. Which didn’t really matter. I wasn’t the get married and settle down kind of man.
Alex sat up from my bed and wrapped the sheets around her naked body. She also never stopped wanting me. I didn’t mind, what man would?
“What’s up with the tattoos? I’ve been meaning to ask but then you distract me.” She smirked.
I deflected. “Are you sure you want to come tonight? I don’t know if any of the other girls are going.”
She pouted. She loved to pout. That was the one thing that I hated. She looked like a duck. She let the sheet drop to the floor and pulled her tight pink mini dress over her head. She ran her fingers through her hair and she was ready to go. She was really low-maintenance, which was a plus. If I was going to stay with anyone for long, it would be with someone like her. “Don’t you want to show me off?”
I grunted. I hated it when she fished for compliments or something. I didn’t care if she came or not. All I knew was that I was over how clingy she had gotten in two weeks, even if she was good in bed. I felt bad for the thought of using her, but I had zero doubts that she was using me too.
“I’m not scared of you big bad SEALs.”
I tried to not roll my eyes. Of course she wasn’t. She loved to point that out any chance she got.
I zipped my jeans and grabbed my helmet. “Let’s go then.”
She stopped short. “Aren’t we going to take my car?”
I laughed. “I wouldn’t be caught dead in your Bug.”
Alex poutedagain. “She’s cute.”
“You ride on the bike or you don’t come.” I shrugged my shoulders. I opened the door to my apartment and held my helmet out to her. She walked past me without looking back.
See ya.
When I got on my bike she rolled her window down. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The only response she got was the sound of my motorcycle revving up. I didn’t care if I saw her again. She was more trouble than she was worth.
I blasted down the highway at breakneck speed. There was nothing that made me feel alive more than my bike. I knew I hugged death’s door on it too. It helped add to the rest of the danger that constantly surrounded me. Ian’s bike wasn’t with the rest of ours and I wondered if he was going to be late. It wasn’t often that we got to go downtown especially because Eric’s wife was going to explode with twins any day now and Jace’s kid was still attached to the boob. But Jace’s bike was here and Eric’s truck was across the lot. The music vibrated the ground as I made my way into the first bar.
Darren smacked my shoulder and Eric grinned. “Where’s your new girlfriend?”
I grunted and sat down beside Jace at the end of the bar. “It’s not like that.”
“She thinks so.” Elise popped her head up on the other side of Jace’s hulking body. She held her phone out to me and I peered down at the bright screen.
ALEX FINNEGAN in relationship with DEREK MULE. I frowned. Since when did I have a social media account? Since when had I accepted that relationship update. The update had been made five minutes ago. My eyebrows pulled together as I looked at the little southern belle. Her face turned pink and she made a quick grab of her fruity drink. Her eyes searched the room as she chugged her alcohol to avoid the conversation. Jace was leaning back in his seat laughing. Darren and Eric looked like they were ready to burst. I scowled. The laughter died down as Ian walked in. He smiled as he led a leggy brunette down to our table. It wasn’t until she looked up at all of us that my heart stopped. Ian’s hand snaked out and wrapped around her waist. She frowned and leaned into him. Her mouth moved quickly as she whispered angrily at him. I couldn’t hear anything she was saying over the music but I could tell she was pissed. When her eyes met mine, they were full of fire.
I cracked my knuckles as Ian ordered them drinks. I couldn’t hear that either. I scooted closer to Ian and when he turned around, we were face to face. The color drained from his cheeks.
I tried to keep my voice as low and menacing as possible. “Did you set up my social media account?”
His eyes looked for help from the men behind me, but I knew they weren’t going to come to his rescue. They probably had no idea that it wasn’t me. Jace on the other hand, he definitely knew. I would never have a candid picture of myself swimming at our base with my shirt off, tats on display. Ian must have taken the picture while I wasn’t paying attention. It was such an Ian thing to do.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ian chuckled and then chugged his beer. Aiyanna sipped on her drink and watched the interaction with a closed-off expression. There was no telling what she was thinking.
“I want it taken down,” I growled.
Ian held up his beer between us. “Peace offering?” I pushed the bottle away from me. “Things seem to be getting pretty serious between you and Alex.” He leaned into Aiyanna again and I thought for sure she was going to dump her drink over his head.
