Defying Fate (17 page)

Hot damn, his swagger alone demands your undivided attention. His eyes scan the bar looking around, and eventually they find what they are looking for as he spots us. The instant our eyes connect my world is once again flipped upside down as I want to devour every inch of him. Eyeing the both of us, he smiles and dips his chin at me. I bump Kara on the shoulder to let her know Braxton is here. Kara only knows Braxton from what I have told her, but seeing him in person is a whole other experience. Swear to God, that man takes my breath away as my nerves take notice, and my heart rate speeds up. Even better, is the fact hot Liam walks in behind Braxton. The slight huff of breath that escapes my friend lets me know she sees them as well. I don’t even need to look at her face to know her mouth is most likely hanging open ogling at the hotness walking our way.

Her hand grabs my shoulder. “Holy Shit, did we just hit the lottery of hot men or what? Which one is Braxton, I sure don’t want to hit on him in front of you.” Never turning her attention toward me; nice.

Reaching our table Braxton kisses me on the cheek pulling me into a big embrace. The minute his tender lips graze my cheek, I am hit with his cologne. Not knowing what kind he wears, but if he ever changes it, I might have to shoot him.

Liam strolls over by Kara and winks with his killer smile. Wrapped in Braxton’s big arms, I can see Kara turn red as she leans her body into Liam. Yeah, she likes him. I can imagine she is mentally stripping his clothes off. Not the first guy she was doing that to tonight.

Braxton sits next to me and pulls me toward his lap all the while rubbing my arms. “Hey baby, how are you girls?” He looks at our half empty glasses.

I’m momentarily lost in my own thoughts. Keep rubbing me like this Braxton and my slight ache down below might need your attention as well. I can’t help it, every time I’m around him my libido revs to life. I’ll keep my naughty thoughts to myself for now.

“Great, better now that you're here,” I say, looking over my shoulder to gaze into his playful eyes.

His darting glance is laced with mischief. “Is that right?” He says with his arm around my shoulder.

I’m not only weak in the knees, his mere presence has my pulse racing.

Clearing her throat Kara is throwing daggers at me, I realize I have yet to introduce everyone properly. With a roll of my own eyes, I mentally tell her to ‘keep your damn clothes on’. Goodness, impatient much?

“Liam, Braxton, this is my best friend, Kara. Kara this is, my, Braxton.” I’m lost in his big brown eyes yet again. Clearing my throat, I look over at Kara saying, “The hot one next to you is Liam.” I can’t help but laugh.

“Cute Izzy.” Braxton grips me a little tighter, as his jealous side emerges.

“Sweet Jesus,” A flush creeps across her cheeks. “First of all, Braxton, you are every bit as hot as my friend, has told me. I see why she can’t think straight around you; my God you are mighty fine.”

Her ears are now bright red; the poor thing is squirming in her seat. I love every minute of it.

She whistles, rather loudly looking at Liam. “You’re just all of that and more. I’m damn speechless, and that never happens to me, just ask Izzy?” Fidgeting with her hair, she looks down at the table. “Did she tell you I wanted to meet you?”

”She might have forgotten to mention it to me, but Brax did say she had a friend who was coming into town.” Liam’s eyes were trained on Kara as she could not hide how attracted she was to him.

She turns her head, so her hair flares out, which is her way of flirting. “I’m new to town and looking for a good time while I’m here. Are you up for a good time Liam?”

Liam is the one now whistling loudly. “I like a girl who wants to have fun; I have been known to be an excellent host.” He eyes her body, saying, “I think you and I could have a lot of fun.”

Pounding my hand on the table, I’m laughing so hard I might fall off my stool. “Good Lord, you two are like two horn dogs waiting to hump the other’s leg.”

Kara immediately responds. “Now Izzy, girl you know it won’t be a leg I’m humping.”

Liam is smiling like the cat that ate the canary. Giving Braxton a slight nod, he says, “Damn, liking this woman already. Izzy girl, so glad you introduced us. I might have to kiss your cheek just to thank you.”

“Lips on your girl leave mine alone.” Braxton offers up his witty comment.

Sam brings us a round of beers and the way Liam and Kara are into each other; we might need to leave sooner rather than later as their light-hearted teasing is heating up the room.

Interrupting the stare down between her and Liam, Kara holds up her finger taking a drink. “Are you guys coming over to Izzy’s tomorrow night for dinner and the game?”

“What game, and if it includes eating count us in,” Braxton says in an easygoing manner.

Kara’s look is perplexed. “Um, well. Has Izzy not told you all about our obsessions with the Blackhawks? Damn, my girl makes us the same pre-game spread; I’m shocked she has not shared it with you.” Knowing the answer is no, she shakes her head with a disgusted look on her face. “Christ my girl moves out here and forgets all about the Hawks.” Directing her evil glare at me, she says, “Kaner would be ashamed.”

Braxton hears a guy’s name and looks irritated. Jeez, jealous much!

Wrinkling his nose, Braxton asks, “Who the hell is Kaner?”

Oh, just shoot me now. “Ugh, she is talking about my favorite hockey player. Patrick Kane, number 88. Yeah, I’m sort of obsessed with him.” What can I say, watching him on the ice is so damn hot.

“Obsessed is putting it mildly; the girl has his jerseys, shirts, socks, hats, and let's not forget my favorite… Panties.” She says with a wicked eyebrow rise.

“Panties?” Braxton pulls his body in, then slowly releases a deep breath.

“Gotta’ like panties.” Liam chuckles, before finishing off his beer and slamming it on the table.

“Izzy,” Braxton whispers in my ear almost laughing. “Tell me about your Kane panties?”

I blush bright red, I know because my ears feel like they are on fire. “Oh, Good Lord, I have a few pairs and on game day, well, you know. I do my part so they can win.” Taking a gigantic sip of my beer does nothing to hide my embarrassment as all sets of eyes are on me.

Kara pounds her fist on the table. “Oh Shit, tell him what you told the guy at the store that one time. No. Better yet let me.” She doesn’t take a breath as she can’t wait to share this story.

“So we are shopping at this store that sells all sorts of Blackhawks merchandise. Sweet Izzy here goes up to the sales clerk all smiles and the innocent looking, asks him if he has any Kane panties. He chokes and is turning all sorts of red because he is super young. She then, just to play with him, she tells him that she wants him to cane her ass. I know she means she wants Kane on the ass of her panties, but by the look on his face he took it like it’s some ‘BDSM’ thing. Totally priceless wish I took a picture of his face.” Kara is laughing so hard she has to hang on to Liam’s shoulder for support.

Shrugging my shoulder, I reply, “What can I say; I wanted his name printed on my ass.”

Braxton just snickers under his breath. “You are shameless, how about I cane your ass instead?”

”Well now, that just won’t do since your last name is not Kane, and your first name is not Patrick. But I might consider it if you can handle the puck like he does?” I am feeling my buzz from my many beers, of course, daring anything sexual with Braxton is like playing with fire, only problem is? I would love any form of fire coming from him.

His throaty growl gives way to his slow smile. ”Oh sweetheart, I am going out to buy you some panties that say ‘Property of Brax’. How does that sound?” He then bites my earlobe, hard!

Feeling his teeth clamp down on my soft ear, I don’t yell out because it hurt. No, instead I let out a moan, like it felt so damn good I am dying for more.

“That might be okay, but on game day? Kane will be on my ass; it's tradition. Can’t change it because that would be bad luck.”

Liam has Kara in a sideways hug laughing as if this is the funniest thing he has ever heard.

I’m going to have to wipe that shit-eating grin off of his face. “Hey, I wouldn’t laugh too hard. Kara has “Crawford” on her ass on game days.”

Liam holds back his laugh eyeing me as he knocks Braxton on his shoulder with his fist. “We have our hands full with these two, you realize this, right?”

“No Shit.” Braxton huffs.

With his hands clenching briefly, then releasing, Braxton asks, “Hey Izzy, what kind of snacks are we having for the big game?”

Smiling, a playful grin, I say, “BBQ ribs, coleslaw, baked potatoes, relish tray, nacho’s and of course beer. Lot and lots of beer.” Braxton has me in his lap.

With a nod of his head, Liam seems excited. “Hell to the yes, count me in. Girl you had me with beer and the panties, but ribs added to the mix? Hell sounds like Heaven to me. Might even cheer for your Blackhawks, but I am a Kings fan. Maybe if you modeled those panties I could change that.” His eyes squint with the challenge.

Braxton gives a soft head shake. “Easy there buddy. Kara can show her panties all she wants, Izzy’s ass is for my viewing pleasure only.”

I mutter out a ‘hum’ noise. “No way-honey, its tradition. We get down to our panties by the end of the third if they are winning. Just the way it goes down with us.”

“Say what? So you both get down to your panties and strut around. Just the two of you, is there something you want to tell me about you two? Just how close are you?” Looking at Kara and then back at me puzzled.

We both laugh; Kara, and I are fun and crazy. That being said, we are not into women.

“Don’t want to ruin your wild dreams honey. We party hard, but we like dicks, not vaginas. Sorry.” I kiss his lips quickly as I hold his head in my hands trying not to laugh.

“Shit, just when I thought I might get a show with my ribs tomorrow night. Well, I like vaginas, so we are all good. Dick’s don’t do much for me.” Liam says with giddiness.

“I got a vagina!” Oh my, my girl is drunk and horny. Liam is in for a wild night with this hard to control woman.

“Kara’s vagina is up for your viewing pleasure.” I can’t believe I just said that, but it just came out. All this talk of vagina’s and dicks. Lord help me.

“Yes it is; Liam just lets me know. My Crawford panties can say Liam instead.” Kara just throws this out there like they have known each other forever, instead of five minutes. Shit is funny though.

“Damn straight,” Liam says shaking his head emphatically. He mouths ‘like her’ over her shoulder with a broad grin.

Braxton's head is moving like he is watching a Ping-Pong match. Between my one-liners, Kara lines, and now Liam’s one-liners, he is lost somewhere in between.

“Okay, you bunch are shit crazy. You all can keep your dick and vagina’s to yourselves. Izzy’s vagina is the only one I am interested in,” his wide-eyed look has us all spontaneously laughing.

With a playful tone, Braxton exchanges looks with Liam and Kara. “You two go crazy, didn’t realize how fucking perfect you two were going to be for each other. God I need a drink; a strong drink.” Braxton nods over at Sam to bring us another round of beers.

I kiss his cheek and slide closer to him.

“You a good cook, sweetheart?” Braxton whispers in my ear.

“Not too bad, I like my ribs. Cook those suckers all day in beer. Ribs melt right off the bone and melt in your mouth. Beer, hockey, and ribs; damn good time.”

“I know something else that could melt in your mouth.” He then licks my ear.

I give a satisfied cat like stretch as shivers lace my spine.

“Izzy, you seriously cook your ribs in beer girl?” Liam asks me letting me know where his mind is at.

“Sure do.”

“Damn girl, you sold me. What time should I be there?”

“Oh, six I think. I have tomorrow off so anytime you want. Kara is staying with me and by the looks of you two; you might be spending the night at my house. So you might already be there.” I wink at him and then cheer my beer towards my friend who is dazzled with Liam.

Not to be left out, Braxton whispers, “Can I have a sleepover as well?”

“Why Braxton Ryles do you want to sleep over in me, I mean with me?” No one misses my little slip up.

“Yeah, babe I sure do. Unfortunately, I got to get home to Eve. Tiffany is bugging me about seeing her tomorrow, so I got to get home. My mother is with her now. But I will be taking you and tucking you in first.” Looking at his face, his eyes dance with mischief and the panty melting smile he is giving me has me dripping wet. Geez I can’t keep my panties dry when he is around.

I pout-out my lips. ”Better make it good, so I can dream about it all night long, without you.”

“You know it.” Those strong, demanding lips of his are begging me to take them and who the hell am I to displease. In a proactive move, I seize his lips begging for more. To my pleasure, he growls into my mouth as he grinds with his growing erection.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here? Looks like Brax has his whore back.” The voice is screeching and plain old bitchy. Should have known with Braxton here with me, she would not be far behind.

I can feel his body tense on hearing her voice. He pulls back whipping his head in her direction. “What the fuck are you doing here?” His voice is not welcoming at all. Note to self; do not interrupt him when he is devouring my mouth. Check!

“Oh please, it’s a free world Brax. Followed your ass, I knew you were lying to me about seeing this worthless bitch.”

Wow, she is such a nasty witch. I find it uncomfortable to swallow and have a compulsion to flee right about now.

It’s Kara who has her hands up, backing away with a shudder. “Who the fuck are you bitch, wait, hold on, you must be the witch who is making my best friend miserable.” Not staying still, Kara is over to the blonde bitch faster than lightening.

“Oh Shit,” Liam says as he wasn’t fast enough to grab Kara’s arm.

“Fuck.” Braxton huffs out.

Dry washing my hands, I simply say, “Jesus, there goes my sleepover dreams.”

It’s Tiffany’s daunting scowl at Kara that holds everyone’s attention. “Oh, how sweet, are you here to fight her battles? You don’t scare me.”