12. Brent

CHAPTER 12

brENT

"Fuck me. That really happened?"

John went wide-eyed and laughed. "I wouldn't make that up."

I sighed and ran a hand over my head. "I seriously thought I dreamed that. I woke up with a massive headache and you were gone, I honestly thought it had been a nightmare. Who gets married and leaves no clue behind when they split?"

"Oh, it wasn't a dream, and I didn't split. I got deployed."

Deployed? Holy fuck. "How did I miss that?"

"I don't know," he chuckled, leaning closer. "You were dead to the world after we fucked the last time. And I have to say I was thankful. I couldn't get it up after three times and the begging was unattractive."

I laughed and shoved his shoulder. "Fuck off. I didn't beg."

"You did. Multiple times. When we went back into the club, you kept going on and on about how it was the best sex of your life. And every time someone got close to us on the dance floor, you told them, and I quote, ‘that big dick is all mine.' You even covered my crotch with your hand and told one guy we were getting married. So I gave you what you wanted."

Holy hell. I rubbed at my temples because I remembered saying that. "I said it would be cool to have a permanent fuck buddy."

John continued to laugh at me. "Yes, you did."

Memories resurfaced as passengers continued to board. When the door was closed and we sat through the safety demonstration, I looked at him. "I think the bigger question here is why would you say yes? We all know I'm a dumbass, and it all sounds just like me. But not you."

"I like it when you beg," he teased. "Whether it's for my cock or my mouth."

I flipped him the bird, making him reach out for my hand. He laced our fingers together, and for some fucking reason, I didn't object. John tightened his hold as the plane thundered down the runway and lifted into the air. He must have been nervous during take-offs.

When we'd reached our cruising altitude, I looked down at where he was holding my hand. "What are we going to do about this?"

John looked at me. "I can let go if it bothers you."

I rolled my eyes. "Not about holding my hand. About this marriage thing. I still can't believe we did that."

He squeezed my hand. "What do you want to do?"

"I asked you first."

John smirked at me."Nothing. I don't want to do anything about it— at least not right now. We've already agreed to be exclusive fuck buddies, and we work and live together. Being with you is a hell of a lot of fun, so I want to see where this goes. Plus, there are tax advantages."

The thundering in my chest had returned. "Are you insane? Why would you want to stay married to me?"

Our eyes met and something passed between us. "If you can't tell, genius, I kinda like you." He held up his free hand and indicated an inch. "About this much."

I tried not to smile. "Don't make it weird."

"Okay. How about this? You love my dick, as proved by your begging, and I love your tight ass. How's that? Built-in any-time sex machine. What more could a man ask for?"

I had to think about that. Keeping it about sex could be okay. "Can I still date?"

"No, dumbass. You know the answer to that. All your dates belong to me. Along with all your sex toys and orgasms. All mine. Got it?"

"Geez," I said, smiling at him, "I was just asking."

"No," he replied, "you were just trying to push my buttons and be an asshole."

Your asshole, evidently.

The flight attendant approached with a smile on her face. "Ready for breakfast, gentlemen?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Me and the ball and chain are ready."

John groaned. "Why do I like you so much?"

"That's exactly what I've been wondering."

After breakfast, we settled into a discussion about what we were here to do. And tracking down Turner wasn't going to be difficult to do with Phantom's help. So when the plane landed, we picked up our rental car.

"GQ said you knew the guy we're looking for."

"You bet I do," I said, putting on my sunglasses. "Dare and I had the pleasure of escorting him off the premises of GRE when Greer personally cut him from the team."

"What happened? Isn't that the coach's job?"

I opened the door and slid onto the leather seat of the SUV. "I have no idea, but the coach was there. We just happened to be there too on another matter when we heard the yelling. We walked in on Patrick Griffin laying him out in the locker room. Evidently, the asshole had been causing problems for the defense, and it must have reached a boiling point for Patrick to wail on him. He probably ran his fucking mouth about Cole and Patrick's relationship."

John glanced over at me as I programmed the GPS with our first stop. "Who's Cole?"

It hadn't occurred to me that he didn't know the scoop on them, so I filled him in on that whole story and about Patrick's accident.

"So he's suing Greer for wrongful termination since Patrick threw the first punch and didn't get his contract terminated. Also claims no team will sign him. All we have to do is prove that's not true. Phantom located him down here, living very close to the practice facility for the Rush."

John frowned. "But the team has the right to cut any player. It doesn't sound like he has a leg to stand on in court."

I shrugged. "Maybe not. Personally, I think it's more about revenge and smearing Greer's reputation to the public. He's a good guy. Dare's known him for a long damn time from when they both lived in Chicago before he joined the Navy. GQ would do anything for him, and that's why we're here and not some local PI."

Shortly after we got on the road, my phone beeped with a group text from GQ. John's phone pinged as well, letting me know he'd been added.

"I've got it. It's a group text."

Opening my messages, I chuckled at the first message.

GQ: Morning assholes! It's official. I'm a genius!

Phantom: Debatable

Me: What about this time?

GQ: Dare went and married Greer!

Daredevil: Exactly how does that make YOU a genius? More like a meddler to me.

GQ: I knew you were supposed to be together, and I made you go. Therefore, I'm responsible. You should name your first kid after me.

Me: I don't think Asshole is a good name.

GQ: Fuck you, Dreamy

Phantom: @Daredevil – congrats man. I'm happy for you.

Daredevil: Thanks. I appreciate it.

Me: That's all that matters. You looked happy when you came home last night. When are we celebrating?

GQ: Were you asleep during the meeting, Dreamy? Bernardo's. Saturday night. 8 pm. Remember?

Daredevil: The Commander has worn him out. Literally.

Daredevil: Confirmed. We're in. Gotta go. Greer's waiting.

Me: Fuck you Dare! And bow chicka wow wow! Don't forget the lube!

Daredevil: You guys should ask Dreamy about being naked with the Commander last night. Both were oiled up and wrestling. With a unicorn dildo.

Phantom: Oh fuck. Sounds like something GQ would do.

GQ: Fuck you all.

GQ: And it would be fun. Get to work. All of you.

I burst out laughing at my stupid friends. Don't know what I'd do without them. They were my family.

John glanced at me as he drove. "What's so funny?"

"I wouldn't read that last text thread if I were you." I knew he would.

"Why? What's in it?"

I grinned. "Marcus has arranged dinner for everyone Saturday night for Dare and Greer. Bernardo's at eight p.m. And it's my duty as Dare's best friend to plan something special."

"Oh lord," he muttered, but I could see the smile on his face.

We rolled up to the practice facility for the California Rush after making a stop at a local grocery store. John parked on the street to give us a prime view of the parking lot.

Their summer season had already begun, making it very easy to stake out the practice facility. But four hours in, no one fitting Turner's description showed up or left. His trademark floppy black mohawk was a dead giveaway.

"Why didn't GQ just call the team office and ask if they'd signed him?"

I looked at him. "What makes you think he didn't?"

He laughed humorlessly. "The reason we're sitting here like two cops on a stakeout in a cheesy TV show. That's why."

I grinned. "You don't like my company, Commander?"

"That's commander husband to you. And I like your company fine. Just seems like there might be a better way to go about this than sitting for hours on end."

He was grumpy, but I had a whole arsenal of things we could do while sitting in the car.

"Wanna play cards?" I asked.

John slowly panned to me. "No."

"Twenty questions?"

"No."

"How about… Truth or Dare?"

When I saw his jaw tick along without a definitive no, I took that as a yes. So I leaned closer and rubbed my hand up and down his thigh. "Truth or Dare, John? All you have to do is dare me to blow you, and I'll take it all right here."

He clamped his hand down over mine. "No. As much as I enjoy your hands and mouth on me, you're going to get us arrested. Public sex isn't really my thing."

"Evidently it's kinda your thing. Didn't stop you in Vegas."

He snorted. "That was different. It was Vegas. Anything goes there."

I agreed and looked around at the nearly empty parking lot in front of us, and the tree-lined street we were parked on. No houses or buildings, only landscaping trees and a big concrete parking lot.

Leaning in closer to him, his breathing was a little more shallow, but he never took his eyes off me. "Didn't stop you from fucking me in the back of your truck, now did it?"

I was taunting him and I knew it. Never in my life had I ever had to work this hard to blow a guy. But John's reluctance made it that much more fun. Plus, making him a little uncomfortable gave me the upper hand momentarily.

"Truth or Dare, John?"

He sighed out an exasperated huff. "Truth."

Okay, I guess we're playing the game.

There was one big thing I wanted to know. "Why did you wait so long to tell me?"

John looked out the front window, then back at me. "I was in service. Kinda hard to tell Command I needed to duck out early to go find my hookup husband. I had no choice but to wait."

I nodded. "Okay. That works. How do I know you're telling me the truth?"

He laughed. "Do you seriously think I would just make that up?"

"Probably not. But where's the proof? Do we have pictures or a marriage license? I didn't wake up with a ring on my finger and I sure don't see one on yours."

"As far as the rings go, you wanted to get them tattooed on. But when you decided you wanted the tattoo on our penises, I drew the line."

He grabbed his cock and shuddered, causing me to burst out laughing. That sounded just like something I would say.

"I want to see the pictures. And the marriage license."

"After I get my question. Truth or dare sweetness?"

"Dare, of course."

He narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips. I saw the sparkle in his eye and dreaded his question immediately.

"Since you are so anti-relationship, I dare you to agree to a ninety-day trial marriage without bringing up divorce or a separation."

"What makes you think staying married to me would be a good thing? What could you possibly get out of this?"

He shifted in his seat to look at me. "It's purely selfish on my part. And I told you. I really like you and the sex is phenomenal. Not sure I've ever felt as alive as I do when we're together. I never know what to expect and your crazy ass makes me forget the horrors of war. You're fun to be with. And I like telling you what to do."

What he wanted went against everything I believed in. It wouldn't be difficult to have this sex on a stick man to myself for three months. It would be like having my own live porn channel starring me and him.

"What happens after the three months?"

He smiled and reached for my hand. "Let's just play it by ear."

What if I let myself fall for him and at the end of the three months, he doesn't want me anymore? How would we work together?

"Come on, Dreamboat. Take a chance with me. I dare you."

I leaned in a little closer to him, drawn to him like no one ever before. We were mere inches from each other, and I wasn't sure either of us noticed. Staying away wasn't an option, so I might as well get all the fat dick I wanted. It was only three months, and I couldn't fall in love with someone in that short time.

"What are the terms? I know you won't let me date. Anything else?"

He smiled. "Just one little thing."

I raised a brow. "What's that?"

"We sleep in the same bed, every night for ninety days."

I nodded. "Makes jumping on your dick more convenient. But you have to agree to my terms."

John looked amused. "And what's that, sweetheart?"

I growled, making him laugh. "You have to let me blow you right here, right now. You only live once, so live a little," I whispered, my breathing a little raspier from being so goddamn turned on. "Let me suck you off. I dare you."

John narrowed his eyes at me as he leaned back and flicked the button open to his jeans. "You're trouble."

I watched as he slowly lowered the zipper, then lifted his hips to pull down his jeans. He was going fucking commando, making me giggle.

Holy fuck, I was already ruined.

John looked me in the eye as he reached over and put his hand around my neck. "Here ya go, sweetheart. It's all yours," he said, as he pushed my head down for me to swallow him whole.