Play Hard (The Devil's Share Book 5) (18 page)

“The sun isn’t even out yet.” We were lying in bed, naked.

“I know, Pix. But we’ve got to get dressed and packed, the van leaves for the airport in forty-five minutes.” His voice was muffled because his head was in between my cleavage. “Get a move on.”

Ugh. The airport. “I can’t get up until you do, kid.”

He climbed off me and helped me out of our warm fluffy bed. I pouted as we headed into the bathroom side by side and got ready for the day.

There was the short flight to NYC and then it was right to work for the guys. No rest for the weary. I grabbed a comfy pair of yoga pants and an off-the-shoulder tank to put on. “You can’t wear that to the animal shelter, Pix. You need jeans.”

I whirled around to face him. “Huh?”

“When we land, we’re going straight to our first stop. It’s some pit bull rescue place, big ranch outside Newark.” Luke took the pants from my hand and tossed them down onto his bag. His bag, not mine. Call me lame (you should call me lame) but I liked that it didn’t matter whose bag things went in because we were going to the same place. I’d known sex would only make my feelings stronger for him, and it was already evident this morning.

“A pit bull rescue center is on your promo tour stop?” I pulled out a pair of faded boot-cut jeans.

“It’s not really part of the tour. I’m sure they’ll want it all over social media, but this one is just something Lexi and Smith wanted to do. Dagger, Lexi’s giant badass pit mix saved her and Smith’s lives last year.”

“When Jared attacked them?”

“How’d you know about Jared?” Luke leaned against the bathroom counter, his arms crossed, looking sexy as hell in distressed blue jeans and a plain white tee.

“B.” I went to put my shirt on, only to have it taken off me seconds later.

He tossed that one toward his bag as well. “You can’t wear that either. It falls off your shoulders.”

I scowled. “Will my shoulders offend the dogs? Are they religious pit bulls?”

Luke reached for my hand and guided me toward him, spinning me to face the bathroom mirror. “No. But I’m sure these bite marks would raise a few eyebrows.”

Gently, I touched the red marks on my chest and shoulders. “I forgot about those.” I caught his reflection in the glass; his eyes were hooded. “They don’t hurt like I thought they would.”

“Mine do.” He pulled his shirt up and my eyes went wide. How had I missed those this morning? Oh right, it was still fucking dark outside. Luke looked like he’d been in a chick fight.

I ran my fingers over the bruises and the scratch marks. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize how—”

He cut off my words with a rough, punishing kiss to my lips. His hands trailed down my back and his palms gripped my ass cheeks. He easily lifted me and sat me on the counter. “Don’t ever apologize for that, for these marks. I fucking want them. They make me… God, I can’t put into words what it does to me, seeing my skin like this. Knowing you did that. I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t mean to do those so high up that people could see them.” He smirked. “I got a little carried away last night.”

I placed a quick kiss on his chest then hopped down, “Well, considering we had sex without protection, I’d say we both got a little carried away.” I got another shirt from my bag, this one a long-sleeve Henley. I held my arms out. “All covered up?”

He nodded. “Perfect.” He held my gaze. “I’m clean, by the way. I had a test done before I left Costa Rica.”

I layered some long and short necklaces to spice up my plain cream-colored shirt and pulled some brown boots on my feet. “I’m good too, it’s just—”

“No birth control.” Luke loaded up both our bathroom bags into his suitcase and zipped it up.

I wrinkled my nose. “How good are your reflexes again?”

He smiled. “Top-notch, I assure you.” He took my face in his hands. “Trust me?”

I’d just met him four days ago. He’d tried to hire me to be his fake girlfriend so that he could fool his best friends. And up until sixteen hours ago he had me at arm’s length because he was still messed up about falling for Lexi. “Strangely enough, I do.”

“Good.” He kissed my lips softly and then winked, picking up both bags from the marble tiled floor. “Plus, we both have plenty of money and are great with babies. We’ll be fine either way.”

Chapter Twenty-nine

Luke

Last night with Harlow had been nothing short of spectacular. That girl was worth her weight in gold. She was sexy and adventurous and so much fun in and out of the sack. I don’t think I’d ever had more fun with another chick in my life. That being said, I was afraid to leave our hotel room this morning. I was afraid to leave the safety of a space where only Lo and I existed. Part of me was terrified that I’d see Lexi and I’d feel sad. Or I’d feel longing. But when Harlow and I got off that elevator hand in hand, I felt…right. There was no punch to the gut when I saw Lexi sitting on Dash’s lap. And that was fucking progress.

We were in all loaded into the van on the way to the private airstrip right next to the Nashville airport. We rarely flew as a band, but when we did, we went first class all the way. Harlow and I were in the front row of the van, and the closer we got to our destination, the more distraught she became. There wasn’t much I could do by way of her favorite distraction right now, either; there were children present.

I put my lips next to her ear, speaking so only she could hear. “If we were alone right now, I’d have you laid out on that very back seat. I’d bury my face in between those gorgeous legs of yours and make all your fears disappear.”

I smirked when she visibly shivered and clamped her nails into my upper thigh. I turned around slightly, getting Smith’s attention. He put his arms on the back of our seat. “What’s up, man?”

“Which plane are we taking? The one with the bedroom or the other one?” I’d been on two of the label’s jets. One had a huge bedroom at the back with a full-size bed and the other just extra seating.

“Probably the one without the bed. I don’t think there would be enough seat belts otherwise. Why?”

I shook my head. “No reason.” Well, there went that plan.

Ten minutes later and we were there. Lo was a shade paler exiting the van than she was when we’d gotten in. I took her hand in mine. “You want some coffee?”

She nodded. “Yes please, that would be amazing.” I headed in the direction of the tiny coffee shop attached to the main hangar, leaving her with Bryan and Landry.

“Lukey, wait up.” Lexi fell into step beside me. “Dash wants some too.”

I held the door open for her to enter. “Ladies first.”

“Always the gentleman.” We ordered then moved to side to wait for our drinks. “Hey, thanks again for watching Halen yesterday.”

I grinned at the mention of her. “Yeah, of course. Any time, we love having her.”
We.
I just said we, and I did it in front of Lexi.

“I love you, Luke.”

It took me a minute to process Lexi’s words. I was still hung up on the fact that I’d called Lo and I “we.” I nodded, ruffling her hair. “I love you too, Lex.” I did. I loved her and I always would. And I was starting to think that was more than okay. “I’m sorry that I was gone so long, that I didn’t call.”

“No, you don’t need to apologize for that. Ever. I know why you left. I know it was because of me and Dash.” She looked down at her feet, shook her head and then looked back up at me. “I know you thought that I was the one for you—”

“Hey, did you order me anything?” Jacks came in with Harlow next to him. An airport coffee shop probably wasn’t the best place to have that heart-to-heart anyway.

Lexi looked confused. “Did you ask me to?”

“No, but I thought it really hard.” He stepped up to the counter. “I guess you aren’t telepathic after all.”

“Who said I was telepathic?” He didn’t answer her and she rolled her eyes and walked out after the barista passed out our orders.

I handed Lo her latte. “Thanks, kid.” When the door shut and Lex was gone, she asked, “Everything okay?”

I wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her against me. “Yep.” I kissed her lips, grinding against her ever so slightly. “Well, except for the fact that we won’t be alone again until tonight.”

Her eyes held mischief. “I’m sure we can find a well-populated hallway or a crowded elevator…”

“So that
is
what you’re into?” Jacks looked between the two of us, clearly eavesdropping.

When I shook my head he kicked the wall.

***

We were all loaded into the jet. Lo was sitting next to me fidgeting away. Lexi and Dash were sitting across from us, with Halen in her car seat between them. Bryan and Jacks were poring over some kind of paperwork at a built-in desk while Landry played on her iPad. Dylan and Smith were drinking champagne for breakfast. I reached out and kicked at Lexi, getting her attention. When she looked up, I motioned my head toward Smith and Dylan. Lexi glanced over and smiled, then mouthed
later
. I nodded.

“Did they just have a conversation without words?” Lo was speaking across the aisle to Dash.

“You’ll get used to it.” He shot me a look. “You’d think life would be easier when they weren’t getting along, but it’s really not. Trust me.”

When the engines turned over, Harlow closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the seat, her hands wringing in her lap. I kissed her temple. “Everything is going to be fine, Pix. I promise. I am right here with you.”

She nodded but kept her eyes closed tight so she missed it when Dylan walked over to us and dumped a baggie of white powder into her coffee. My eyes went wide and my mouth dropped open. I went to grab her cup but Dylan flicked my knuckles. She gave me her death glare, shaking her head at me. Before I could figure out my next move Lo picked up her cup and drank the last few gulps. She made a face at the taste and then closed her eyes again. Across the aisle Dash and Lexi wore shocked expressions. “Dash, man, can you come sit with Lo for a sec?”

He quickly got up and took my place as I grabbed Dylan by the arm and moved us out of earshot. “What the actual fuck, Dill?”

Smith stood up. “Why are you cussing and manhandling my girl?”

“Because she just fucking dosed mine.”

Smith turned to Dylan, a somewhat scared look on his face. “Did you?”

She let out an irritated sigh. “Of course I didn’t dose her.”

“You poured half of a dime bag into her coffee. What the hell would you call it?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I am a medical professional. I call it treating a patient.”

“Lo isn’t your patient.” I was whisper shouting at this point. “What did you even give her? She said anxiety meds make her loopy. I’ve seen her ‘sane.’ Loopy is going to be a side show.”

“That was rude.” Bryan stared me down, putting her two cents in. “I like her crazy. She can come sit by me.”

Dylan put her hand on my arm, attempting to calm me. “I gave her a very light, very predictable sedative. It has a very short half-life and she’ll be fine by the time we land.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny white pill. “If she’s still groggy, she can take this.”

Smith raised his hand. “I’m not a mental professional, but as a past avid drug user I feel like mixing uppers and downers is never a good idea.”

Dylan went back to her seat, obviously done arguing with us. “Look, I know what I’m doing, she’s going to be just fine. She’ll wake up when we get there thinking she just had the best nap of her life.” She pointed across the cabin. “See? She’s already asleep. No more nerves, no more fidgeting, no more increased heart rate or blood pressure.”

The plane was starting to taxi down the runway so I shot Dylan one more pissed-off glare then headed back to my seat.

I threw my hands in the air. “Really?” Lo was curled up in Dash’s lap and he was playing with her hair.

He looked up, a shit-eating grin on his face. “How does it feel, fucker?”

Chapter Thirty

Harlow

I sat up, yawning and stretching my arms over my head. Damn, I felt like I just slept for a good twelve hours. I slept so good it took me a few seconds to remember where I was… On a plane. My eyes flew open and I looked around. I was sitting next to Dash and Luke was across from me, glaring at him. “How did you get over there? Have we taken off yet?”

Luke seemed reluctant to drag his death stare off Dash to answer me. “We are almost there, we’re about to land.”

My body instantly tightened. It was a miracle I’d slept through takeoff and most of the flight. I’d never done that before; I must have been exhausted from last night. I needed to let Luke have his way with me the night before all our flights.

I felt the plane drop lower in the sky and my stomach dropped right along with it. Dash put his hand on my back. “Are you okay? Do you want to lie back down?”

Lexi giggled and Luke shot to his feet. “Asshole.” He undid my belt and then pulled me into his lap. “We’re almost done, Pix.” He smiled at me, the cocky smirking one. “You want a little distraction to get you through the takedown?” When I nodded, he checked behind him—I assume making sure Landry was still asleep, because the kiss he gave me was not anywhere near G-rated.

***

We’d been picked up from the tarmac in another large van, and all our luggage was sent separately to our next hotel. We pulled through the iron and stone gates of the rescue center and the vehicle wound down a long gravel driveway, coming to a stop outside a large metal building. Lexi got Halen out of her seat then put her in that t-shirt sling on Dash’s chest. Landry was staring out the window, her nose pressed to the glass. “Can we please get another puppy?”

“No, Buttercup. You have a puppy and he is a handful and a half.” Jacks tapped her nose when she turned back around in her seat. “Maybe when he’s older.”

“Much, much older,” Bryan added, backing up Jacks.

We piled out one by one, Landry still not giving up. “But Uncle Smith and Aunt Dilly don’t have a dog yet, maybe they can get one?” She turned to Smith; the look on his face made it clear he was about to cave. Dylan put her hand over his mouth. When neither of them gave her the immediate answer she was looking for, she turned to Luke and me. “Uncle Luke, Aunt Lo?”