10. Knox

CHAPTER TEN

Knox

I barrel my way through the crowd at XO, cursing Cassius’s shitty taste in music. I need a fucking drink after the night I just had.

Dinner went on for far longer than I had hoped it would. After dinner was served, my mother insisted on a port digestif, and made it very clear that I was expected to join. Again, I feel like such a damn idiot for continuing to go to those stupid dinners. What’s the point? I always end up getting left out, or worse, picked on the entire time. I’m just so fucking pathetic.

“I want Blue Nipples!”

One of the temp bartenders in front of me blinks repeatedly, opening and closing her mouth in confusion. “Good for you?”

“Fuck you,” I spit, reaching in my back pocket for my wallet so I can toss a couple of bills onto the bartop. “Where’s Skylar?”

Narrowing her eyes, she tosses her long hair over her shoulder. “He’s watching the DJ’s set, but you can’t talk to me like that?—”

“Is he giving you any trouble?”

I can’t catch a break tonight.

I shut my eyes at Rhys’s voice and only open them reluctantly when I realize I look like a psycho. Rhys doesn’t seem at all pleased that I’m here. He has his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes in dangerous slits as he practically growls at me.

I laugh, tossing my head back as I throw a few bills his way. “Vodka. Now.”

“What the fuck makes you think you can talk to us like that?” he snaps. “I’m about to have Butch throw your ass out.”

In absolutely no mood for this, I wink at him, knowing it’s only making him even more pissed. Good . Let him throw the first punch and get his ass handed to him by Davis. “ Our boss probably wouldn’t like that. But please, by all means.” I point at my eye and press myself against the bar. “Go ahead. It’s not like you haven’t punched me before.”

“What’s going on?” Everest asks as he appears next to us, all beautifully flushed and out of breath from dancing. “Knox? What are you doing here? I thought Sundays were?—”

“They are,” I say quickly, not wanting the entire club to know my business. I soften my voice when he looks at me with confusion. “Sorry, babe. I just need a drink, but your boyfriend ”—I throw Rhys a smirk—“is making it difficult.”

Rhys’s eyes widen in protest. “Me? You’re the one who’s?—”

“Can I get anyone a drink or not?” what’s-her-face asks, throwing her hands up in the air. “You know what. Fuck this. I quit.”

“Wait, Tracy!” When she walks off, Rhys glares at me. “Thanks, asshole. She was the third temp we’ve had this week. Between Skylar running them off and your attitude, I’ll be manning the bar alone tonight.”

Everest perks up. “I can help.”

“That’s really sweet, baby, but it’s a little bit more complicated than you think,” Rhys says so lovingly it makes me want to barf. “Can you just go get Skylar for me, please?”

“Sure thing. I’ll get him and then head home.” Everest turns to me, placing a warm hand on my elbow. “Do you want to come home with me and talk?”

While there’s nothing more I’d love than to spend time with Everest, I need to get drunk as fuck tonight, and I’m not too sure I’d be able to hold back from confessing my undying love for him. Not just that, but going back to the home he now shares with Rhys makes my stomach sour. Still, just to fuck with Rhys, I wrap my hand around his hip and drag him against me, pecking his cheek. “Not tonight, babe, but text me tomorrow?”

Everest up-nods me as he steps back. “Sounds like a plan, man. See you later.”

Disappearing into the crowd to retrieve Skylar, he leaves me with Rhys, who’s so angry there’s actually smoke coming out of his ears. “You need to cut that shit out.”

“What shit?”

“Your crush on my boyfriend is getting a bit pathetic, isn’t it?” He scoffs, shaking his head. “But you are pathetic, so what am I even saying?”

My blood boils at his words. “Watch your mouth or?—”

“Or what? You’ll tattle on me to Everest? Did you ever consider that if you weren’t such a dick, you’d actually have someone to spend the night with?”

“I…” My face burns as I try to come up with a retort, but I’m not quick enough for Rhys.

He snaps his fingers, as if faking a realization. “Wait, no, that’s right. You just want something you can’t have like a fucking child. Jesus, Knox, no wonder nobody likes you.”

On any other night, his words would fall right off my shoulders, but tonight, they sting. I nearly leap over the bar to throttle him, but somehow hold myself back. Despite what he thinks, I’m not an idiot, and Davis would definitely fire us both if we got into a fight. Instead, I dig my nails into my palms until they draw blood and grit my teeth. “Vodka.”

He smiles victoriously, nodding as he pulls a bottle from the shelf behind him and deposits it in front of me. “Enjoy your night alone, Knoxy. I’ll keep the change.”

Taking all the bills I threw onto the bar, he moves onto the next customer. I grab the bottle and hold it to my chest like a baby, unscrewing the top and downing far too much in one go. I wince at the taste and the burn, reminding myself there’s a reason that vodka is usually taken in shots and not straight from the bottle.

I’m not drunk, but I’m certainly not sober as I stagger to the dance floor. Out of the corner of my eye, I see that Everest has found Skylar, and the tiny bartender doesn’t look happy at being interrupted while watching his best friend. Everest screams something in his ear, and Skylar pouts, stomping his foot and practically forcing Everest to drag him away from the stage. When he sees me, his glittery cheeks burn red, and he marches his way over.

“Are you happy, troll?” Skylar barks like a little chihuahua. “Cass really wanted me to watch his show because this is a brand-new set, but now I have to help Rhys because you’ve managed to use that dazzling personality to drive Tracy away!”

There’s so much I wish I could make myself say.

I’ve just had a really bad night.

I didn’t mean to.

I’m really sorry.

But that’s not what comes out of my mouth.

“I think your best friend has had a lifetime of disappointment from you, don’t you think? What’s one more?” I snicker, taking another swig of vodka. “Tell me, how’s that piece of shit boyfriend of yours?”

“ Knox !” Everest snaps, eyes wide as he shakes his head.

Skylar wrinkles his nose in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“You mean you don’t know Cassius is?—”

Everest’s hand slaps over my mouth before I can finish my sentence. He narrows his eyes at me, never breaking contact as he speaks to Skylar. “Rhys really needs your help, Sky.”

“Okay…” Skylar mumbles hesitantly, eyeing me carefully, and I hear what he says as he walks away. “God, who can put up with that guy?”

“What’s gotten into you tonight?” Everest asks as he uncovers my mouth. “I swear, you’re worse than usual.”

I rear my head back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re usually not the…” His anxiety makes him hesitate, and he chooses his words carefully. “Well, sometimes you rub people the wrong way.”

“Fuck them,” I snort, wrapping an arm around his waist and pulling him toward me. “Let’s dance.”

Wriggling out of my hold, he pushes against my chest. “You know Rhys doesn’t like it.”

I snap. Rhys this, Rhys that. “It’s all about fucking Rhys now, isn’t it? What? Did your caveman beat his chest and declare you can’t have any fun without him anymore?”

“He’s my boyfriend, Knox!” he shouts back, growing uncharacteristically angry. “You know he’s sensitive about us!”

“Oh, because we used to fuck?”

This is where I should stop talking. I’m pissed, hurt, fucking borderline drunk, and having a miserable fucking night. The right thing to do would be to apologize, walk away, and get my ass home to just forget this night ever happened.

But life, mine in particular, doesn’t work that way.

“Do you miss me, babe?” I whisper sloppily in his ear, nipping at his neck, my hand migrating down to squeeze his ass. “We could have some more fun again.”

“What the actual fuck!” I’m pushed away quickly and aggressively, so hard that I bump into the person behind me, and drop the bottle, causing it to crash on the ground. Everest doesn’t seem to care as he literally wipes the ghost of my touch off his neck. “What the hell is wrong with you tonight?”

I open my mouth, wanting to finally apologize, but still, the wrong thing comes out. “You’re the one who’s being a fucking prude!”

He looks at me in disbelief. “Because I won’t cheat on the love of my life with you?”

I should be the love of your life!

I want to shout it, but I don’t. It’d just make everything so, so much worse. I approach him tentatively, my breath catching in shame when he takes a step away before I can get any closer. “Hey, Everest, I didn’t mean?—”

“Go home, Knox,” he spits, raising his hands in the air like he’s surrendering. “I’m done trying to help you tonight. Sleep it the fuck off.”

“Everest! Wait!” But he’s already walking away and disappearing into the crowd. “Fuck!”

Pacing around the shattered vodka bottle, I dig my hands into my hair and pull at the roots. The last thing I want is to be fighting with the one person I consider a friend. My only friend, as it’s been so helpfully pointed out tonight. Everyone else hates me and if Everest joins the club…

Fuck, I don’t even want to be around myself right now.

“Hey, man. You good?”

I unlatch my hands from my hair and look up to see Elton staring at me with concern. Even though Davis doesn’t have a dress code for us, this guy is dead set on being as professional as possible, showing up to work in a full business suit every day. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? You don’t look it. Also, is this glass yours?” Brow furrowed, he points to the floor. “I’m not a law student, but I feel like this is a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

“Where the fuck did you even come from?” I growl, for a brief moment wondering if he saw that disastrous interaction with his brother.

Blinking at me in confusion, he shrugs. “Um, upstairs from one of the offices? Are you sure you’re okay?”

I go to tell him to fuck right off and leave me alone, but then it hits me. This was the whole point of a fuck buddy, right? I was supposed to find someone I could bury all this…emotional shit under. Or, hopefully, on top of.

Without knowing what I’m doing, I grab Elton by the elbow and drag him to the staircase.

“Hey!” he protests, not fighting me, but far too concerned with the glass we’re leaving behind. “Should we pick that up?”

I ignore whatever useless shit he’s babbling about as I haul him up the stairs and into one of the empty offices Davis keeps as spares in case one of us wants to use them. I slam the door closed and lock it behind me. “Take off your pants.”

He gasps, choking on what I guess is spit as he shakes his head. “What? Here ? We’re at work, bro.”

“Yes, here,” I grit out, kicking off my boots as I fish a packet of lube out of my wallet and toss it on the leather couch by the door. “Take off your pants, sit down, and put that on.”

He raises an eyebrow at the lube. “Is this… Is this normal hookup behavior?”

While someone else might find his complete obliviousness to hookup culture adorable, it’s just getting on my nerves. He doesn’t move fast enough, and I’m already falling on my knees in front of him and working to unbuckle his belt.

He slaps my hands away once I manage to get his fly down. “Seriously, are you alright?”

“Look, Elton. I need you to shut up tonight.” I stand and shove him onto the couch. Pushing my pants down with hasty hands, I step out of them and kick them away. As I take the packet of lube and tear it open to pour a generous amount onto my fingers, I straddle his lap. “Tell me no now and I’ll go find some other fat dick tonight, but if you stay, you’re going to let me fuck myself until I come all over your fancy suit.”

He gasps. “This is Armani!”

“Yes, and it’s going to look so hot covered in my cum,” I retort, wincing when I slide a finger in. “Oh, fuck. Make your decision because someone’s going to fuck me, and if it’s not you, it’ll be somebody else.”

There’s indecision warring in his features. He bites his bottom lip, green eyes darting to the door, and then back at me. Those same eyes widen when he looks down at my cock. “Oh, damn. I forgot all about your piercing.”

“I take that as a yes?” I mutter, fucking myself easily now with two fingers. “Put the fucking condom on, Elton.”

He nods like an eager puppy. I swear, golden retriever energy to the max. Despite my less than charming start to this hookup, he’s fully hard by the time he rolls the condom on, eyes transfixed on the piercing at my base. “You can touch it, you know.”

He licks his lips, one thick finger coming up slowly to drag against the barbell. “Did it hurt?”

“Well, it’s a piercing on my dick so it sure as hell didn’t tickle,” I say honestly. Feeling sufficiently stretched, I slip my fingers out and rub the rest of the lube down his shaft. “Now, remember what I said. Shut the fuck up and let me have my fun.”

He appears a bit offended, but nods, reaching for my hips before I slap his hands away. “I can’t touch you?”

“Hands to yourself,” I bite out as I lift myself up and position his cock at my entrance. “You get to be the pillow princess tonight. Enjoy the free ride.”

Because I need him to be quiet. I need him motionless. I just need him to be a random cock so when I close my eyes…

“Oh, Knox…”

As I fully seat him inside me, I picture Everest’s beautiful face, not coated in anger or malice, still so happy to be my friend. I keep my eyes closed as I rest my hands on the back of the couch and start to swivel my hips, taking Everest’s cock deep inside me. So deep that?—

“Fuck, man! You’re so tight!”

My eyes snap open and I grit my teeth with irritation. “I said to shut up.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.” He mimes zipping his lips and throwing away the key. “Don’t mind me. Just experiencing fucking a guy for the first time over here but, you know, no big deal.”

I clench my jaw. “Exactly. Now, hush.”

Closing my eyes again, I transport myself to the past.

“You feel so good. I love being inside you. So hot and so tight and so…”

“So fucking soft inside.”

“Elton!” I bark, opening my eyes yet again. “What did we just talk about?”

Elton’s face is flushed red, sweat beading his hairline, his grip tight on the leather couch beneath us. “I don’t want to ruin whatever it is you’re doing, man, but your ass is like the best thing I’ve ever felt. Jesus, Knox. Wanna fuck you so bad. Don’t make me just sit here. Please.”

I think on it for a moment and decide to do whatever it’ll take to shut him up. With a dramatic sigh, I slide off his lap and crawl on all fours to the edge of the couch. “Fine.”

“Thank God,” he gasps. I feel his presence behind me, but he hesitates. “Um, can I touch?—”

“For fuck’s sake, yes!” I practically scream. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“How romantic,” he snorts.

It was supposed to be. The way Everest and I used to make love replays in my mind. It was so beautiful, so tender, but Elton won’t let me catch a break, because he won’t fucking stop talking!

“Oh, wow,” he moans, sliding deep inside me, holding on to my hips with an iron grip as he bottoms out. “This angle is even better. You have a nice ass, Knox.”

“Thanks,” I say, impatient as ever to get what I want. When he stays still, I start pushing back onto his cock, breathing through the pleasurable stretch, making the sluttiest noises come out of Elton’s mouth. “There, just like that, babe. You can fuck me now.”

It takes Elton a moment to find his rhythm—hesitant little thrusts and tamed grinds of his hips—but when the feeling of me wrapped around him becomes too much, he finally lets loose.

“Yes, fuck, yes!” he shouts. Pounding into me, his hands curl around my T-shirt, using the fabric as reins to work me back on his length. “I want to live in this ass, Knox. Let me take a dip in here twenty-four-seven. I’m so fucking bi.”

“Happy for you,” I groan. I will admit, he has a nice big dick, and the feel of it splitting me in half has me reaching to grab my own cock. “Now, if you don’t mind?—”

“Oh, no way, dude.” He slaps my hand away, replacing mine with his as he starts to jack me. “Our orgasm count is three to zero. I owe you this one. Let me make you come, please?”

Well, when he asks like that, who am I to say no? “Fine.”

He obviously doesn’t sense my tone, or just doesn’t care, because he restarts his steady thrusts while stroking me in time with each one.

I will admit he’s… He’s not bad. He’s actually pretty good. His cock is nice and thick, the flex of his hips reaching every spot inside me that makes me light up. His hand around my cock is rough with the right pressure, just like I like it. His other hand is confident as it plays with my ass, pulling apart my cheek so he can get a nice long look at what he’s doing. His grunting and groaning, which I originally found annoying, is also pretty hot now that I think about it.

Okay, he’s not a terrible fuck.

I’m moaning now, squirming as he does this weird little swivel thing that makes him tag my prostate. “Fuck! There!”

“Here?” he questions, doing it again, which causes my cock to jerk in his grip. “Oh, you like that. What if I…”

And then he mercilessly attacks that spot with everything he has. He hits it again and again and again until I’m crying out underneath him and spraying all over the couch. I’m about to tell him to finish up quickly and roll off me, but he surprises me by wrapping a thick arm around my middle and hauling my back to meet his chest.

He sits us back on his haunches, almost seating me on his lap, and starts thrusting up into me. “You really do feel incredible, Knox. I’ve never felt anything like this before. Thank you, fuck, thank you!”

Okay, that’s weird, but I don’t comment as I feel him thicken and release inside me. We each have our own things that get us there and Elton’s is… Well, fuck if I know.

He collapses and smothers me against the couch, his heavy weight making my breath leave me in a rush. Then he?—

Oh, fuck no.

“Get off,” I grumble the second I feel him start to… cuddle . When he doesn’t listen, I tense up, not liking the way my stomach flutters as he nuzzles his nose against the back of my neck. “Elton, get the fuck off me.”

“Oh, shit, sorry,” he says quickly, sitting up and allowing me to escape. He sits on the couch with a dopey cum-drunk smile. “So, was I good?”

Rolling my eyes, I wince as I take a step to grab my pants. “Yeah, you were great.”

He frowns. “Can you say that like you mean it?”

“Why?”

“Because we just fucked, and it’s a nice thing to say?”

Snorting, I shimmy up my pants and throw him a look. “When are you going to give that up?” I whip off my shirt and toss it at him. “Use this to clean that up.”

“You’re just going to leave?” he asks, blinking at me repeatedly. “Again?”

I raise my pierced eyebrow. “Just text me.” And as I walk to the door, ready to leave him behind, something makes me stop. Releasing a heavy sigh, I turn on my heels and stomp toward him. I take his flustered face in my hand and smack a kiss on his lips, making sure to linger for a second too long. “You were awesome, babe. I mean it. Text me and we’ll do it again.”

My heart should not stutter at the smile this guy gives me but, holy shit, it does. I walk away without letting him say anything else, leaving this fucking horrible night behind.

Well, not all horrible.