Page 11

PIERRE

“ H ey, how are you going?” Collette asks.

“I’m okay. Still haven’t heard anything from Bill’s lawyer.

Marcus is on his way home from Italy. I told him there would be a big bonus for him to make up for cutting his Italian holiday short.

I know his wife has been looking forward to it, but she understands why.

” I owe my agent big time. “Hope you guys are having fun though?”

“Don’t worry about us, we are having a great time. We’re worried about you.”

“Had a panic attack today in front of Issy, so that was great,” I confess.

“Oh no. Are you okay? And why was it in front of Issy?” she questions.

“That’s where I’m staying, with Issy.”

Collette squeals. “You’re staying with Issy. How? When? I don’t understand. There’s no way Issy would let you stay with her.”

“Harper convinced her. She isn’t very happy about it, but I promised her it’s only for this week. I’m going to head back home to grab Frankston tomorrow.”

“Oh, poor Frankston, he’s going to have no idea what’s happening,” Collette states.

“Once I’ve gotten him back, I think everything is going to feel better.”

“And then what’s your plan?”

“I’ve asked Marcus if he could find out if The Mavericks would be interested in me.”

Collette gasps. “The team Felix is signed with?”

I don’t like my sister’s tone. Why is everyone freaking out? Am I that bad? Does Felix not want us to play together? “Thought it might be a great way to end my career playing with my brother.”

“That’s sweet. Don’t you think you will kill each other? Don’t they already have a captain? Are you okay not leading a team? Is Felix okay about this?” she peppers me with questions.

“Felix seems fine about it, but the way everyone is carrying on I’m not so sure,” I say.

“You guys are brothers, you’re going to bring to the team some family stuff, so people are just wanting to make sure it’s the right stuff,” Collette explains.

“Am I that bad?”

“No, it’s not that. But you’re the big brother, and sometimes you can be bossy.”

“I like things a certain way.”

“Exactly.” She laughs. I frown. “But I do think it would be kind of cool if you two played together, and you’re not that old.”

“I’m fucking old for a player, thirty-five. I’m in the older bracket of the league but I’m not ready to hang up my skates just yet, unless I get injured and then fuck who knows, that’s my biggest fear.”

“You are at the top of your game. You’re running circles around those younger guys. Don’t count yourself out yet,” she reassures me.

“What happens if Bill doesn’t let me go?” I ask her, voicing my ultimate fear.

“I don’t know. There’s no way in hell you would be happy sitting on the sidelines doing nothing for your team.”

The petty in me would, but the hockey player in me couldn’t. “He doesn’t deserve the cup.”

“I know, but your teammates do,” Collette reminds me. “But I’m putting out positive vibes that Bill would rather protect his billions than have you on the team.”

“Me too,” I say in agreement. “What about you? This affects your job, too.”

“I’m not worrying about that. I don’t have a contract like you do with the team. I can resign whenever I want.”

“Are you going to stay?” I ask.

“I don’t think so.”

“What about all your friends? It would be hard to leave them.”

“It will be, but you’re my brother. You mean more to me than the job.”

I love her loyalty. “And if I go to New York, you’d come?” I would miss having her with me. Collette and I have gotten tight since she started working at the Devils. It would be great if she, me, and Felix were able to work together.

“The three of us together, not sure if New York is ready for that.”

“That’s true. Look don’t make any decisions regarding your career just yet, not until I know where I’m going.”

“I’ll worry about it later because I’m in Italy,” she says happily.

This makes me smile. “Glad you guys are having fun.”

“We are. I’d better go, we are off to dinner,” she says.

“Isn’t it late there?”

“Yes, but we are living our dolce vita life now. Plus, no one eats here until late evening anyway,” she explains.

“Have fun, love you all. Bye,” I say, hanging up before collapsing on the bed, the day finally catching up to me.

“Pierre … Pierre,” I hear Issy’s voice beside my ear.

“Hhhhm, I wonder what it would be like to taste your lips again,” I say, reaching out to Issy as I thread my fingers through her hair.

“Pierre,” she shrieks, pushing me away.

Huh.

I sit up, shake my head, and rub my eyes from the dream I’d been having. The darkness of an unfamiliar room slowly comes into focus, and the sounds of sirens echo across the walls as reality returns and I look at a pissed off Issy.

“You’re in my room again.” My eyes narrow on her.

Issy rolls her eyes at me. “I’d been knocking for the past ten minutes and heard nothing, so ventured in, and next thing I know you’re accosting me.”

“That’s what you get for coming into my bedroom in the middle of the night.”

Issy glares at me. “It’s eight o’clock at night.

I was trying to tell you dinner was ready, but maybe I should have just left you to sleep and starve,” she says, folding her arms across her chest. She’s gotten changed and is dressed in a white tee that molds to her curves and exposes her taunt nipples through the fabric.

Maybe she’s not as unaffected by me as I think.

She’s also got on a pair of gray sweats and no shoes.

Her dark, straight hair is shoulder-length and loose, probably why I was able to run my fingers through it.

She has no makeup on, that’s when I notice the freckles she still has on her nose, the ones I used to count when we were in bed together.

She hated them, but I loved them, so I’m glad she never got rid of them and only hides them with makeup.

“Thanks, I could do with a feed,” I say, rubbing my taut stomach.

“Good, it’s in the kitchen,” she says, then turns and disappears out of the bedroom. Her scent fills my room, she smells like dessert with her berrylicious scent.

A couple of moments later, I’m walking out of my room and head to the kitchen, when I enter, she is pulling my plate out of the food warmer box she has and places it on the kitchen counter. When she looks up, those dark eyes widen as she skims my body.

“Why are you naked?”

I run my hand down my abs. “I’m not naked.”

“You don’t have a shirt on.”

“You said to make myself at home.”

Her dark eyes narrow. “Manners would dictate wearing a shirt when coming for dinner at someone else’s home.”

I smirk at her, loving the way her cheeks heat as she argues with me. “You’re worried you won’t be able to resist all this,” I say, running my hand over my body, teasing her. “Your eyes don’t lie, princess.”

“Your ego knows no bounds, does it?” She huffs as she grabs cutlery from the drawer.

“And you’re only lying to yourself.”

Issy ignores me. “I ordered a steak and some steamed vegetables, I hope that’s okay. I didn’t know if you still ate like this during the off-season.”

“Thanks,” I say as she shoves the plate toward me.

“Are you not eating?” I ask, noticing there’s only a plate for one.

“I’m heading out.”

“Out?” I question her.

“Yeah, out.”

“With whom?”

“None of your business,” she snaps.

“You’ve got a date?” I ask.

“Again, none of your business,” she says, and the tips of her ears are bright red.

“Oh, did it work you up earlier, seeing me naked, that you have to go to your little sex club and rub one out?” Issy gasps and her face turns a bright shade of pink as her mouth falls open.

“Felix told me. You sent him to a sex resort to sort himself out after Cynthia. He said you like to go to the city clubs.”

She glares at me, slack-jawed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lies. She busies herself with cleaning up the spotless kitchen.

“What happens in the club stays in the club type thing, isn’t it?

” I push, loving the way I’m making her uncomfortable.

She ignores me. “What kind of things happen there? Do you like being tied up and spanked? Are ball gags involved? Does everyone walk around naked?” I continue to tease.

Issy’s eyes flash with annoyance and anger at my questions.

“You probably get off seeing a man on his knees. I know I used to love getting on my knees for you.”

“Stop it,” she shrieks. “What I do outside or even inside this house is none of your business. Don’t think because I’m doing you a favor that you and I are friends, we’re not. I’m doing this for a client, nothing more. Keep out of my way when we are at home, do you hear me?” she says angrily.

Guess I pushed her too far. “Loud and clear.” I shouldn’t be surprised by her anger.

Issy still hates me. I was trying to lighten an awkward mood, but I guess I’m making things worse.

She nods and storms out of the kitchen. I feel bad because I can see it on her face, me being here is hurting her.

She’s doing you a solid, you should respect her boundaries.

This is true, but … being around her again is confusing.

I feel like no time has passed between us, yet I can feel the chasm that is there.

You should be worrying about your future, not whether Issy likes you.

That feels like it’s out of my hands. I have no control over my future right now, it’s in Bill Reeves’ grimy hands, but the Issy situation, that I do have control over, and I’m determined to win her back as friends.

We are going to have to learn to be around each other, especially with the way Felix and Harper seem to be traveling. My brother has it bad.

I’ve finished my meal which was delicious and am tidying up in the kitchen when Issy comes in dressed like sin. Oh hell no. She’s not going out looking like that. She has a tiny black mini dress on with a slit up the side, sky high heels, and her hair pulled up in a ponytail.

“Oh, sorry didn’t realize you were in here,” she says before walking over to the drinks fridge and pulling out a bottle of water.

“You’re seriously going out dressed like that?” I ask her.

“You have a problem with what I’m wearing?” she asks, looking down at herself.

“Damn right I do.”

“Too bad,” she grins, turning on her heel, “don’t wait up,” she calls out.

Don’t wait up. What the hell? I rush after her. “What the hell does that mean?” I call out. She ignores me. “Issy.” She grabs her coat and puts it on in the foyer, continuing to ignore my questions. “Are you seriously leaving to go fuck some guy?”

Issy whirls around. “Oh, I’m not fucking just one guy, I’ll be fucking many.” And with that image in my head, she slams the front door in my face.

I couldn’t sleep all night. Images of Issy and what she is doing with faceless men at some sex club are keeping me up, along with a bad case of jet lag and everything else going on in my life.

When I hear the front door open and the click clack of Issy’s heels, I’m up and out of bed and rushing out the door.

“Shit.” Issy gasps as I surprise her in the kitchen. “What the hell are you doing up at this time?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” I answer as my eyes roam all over her. I can’t tell if she’s been fucked within an inch of her life or not and it’s annoying the hell out of me. She shrugs, opens the fridge, and pulls out a bottle of water.

“I’m going to bed, I’m exhausted.”

“Bet you are.” The snide comment falls from my lips.

“Are you shaming me for having fun?” She whirls around, giving me a dirty look.

I fold my arms over my naked chest and send a dirty look right back at her. “I’m not shaming you. Just didn’t expect this new version of you. You were always shy about sex,” I tell her.

Those dark eyes flare with anger. “I grew up.”

“Obviously,” I say, looking her up and down.

“I’m not the na?ve girl I once was. You don’t impress me anymore,” she says, waving her hand in front of her.

“Are you saying my dick doesn’t impress you? Could have fooled me when you caught a glimpse earlier.” I raise a brow at her.

“Do you want to know what impressed me tonight?” She smirks as she takes a sip of her water.

I’ll bite. Nodding, I implore her to continue.

“Not one dick but two.” My jaw clamps shut as I grind my molars.

“You want me to tell you how much I loved being fucked from behind while I choked on the other man’s dick? ”

Shit.

“Or how I fucked them in front of a room full of people? Hearing the audience moan and groan while I got spit roasted by two men.”

“Enough,” I growl, my dick standing to attention in my sleep shorts, I subtly try to rearrange it so it’s not a fucking tent as I slide the waist band over the tip.

Which doesn’t work because it pops out of the top of my shorts.

Obviously, I’m not as subtle as I hoped and Issy’s eyes follow my movement, they widen as she sees the tip of my dick pointing out of my shorts.

“Does hearing about how other men satisfy me turn you on?” Issy smirks, raising a brow at me. “Would it kill you knowing how wet they got me. How I gushed around their dicks as they made me come so many times I couldn’t move.”

“I don’t believe you. You look the same as you did when you left, not a hair out of place. You hardly look thoroughly fucked. And I should know because I’ve seen it. Done it to you, even.”

“You know nothing about me anymore. Fuck you.” She sneers.

“Anytime, princess, say the word and I’ll fuck you, thoroughly. Seems like you might need it after that colorful story.”

Those dark eyes blink at me a couple of times. “I would rather fuck glass than touch you ever again.” And with that, she turns on her heel and stomps up to the second level where her bedroom is located.

Screw her. Now I’m going to have to do something about this in my pants. Who knew Issy had such a filthy mouth on her? I loved her imagery. Did that really happen to her, or did it happen to someone else? And if so, did she watch? Did it turn her on watching them?

Fuck, now my balls ache.