Taming the Storm (The Storm #3)(51)
Author: Samantha Towle

Turning back, I look through the open doorway and see the Angry Birds T-shirt on the dresser by the bed. I feel a pang in my chest. I can’t believe he bought me such a sweet gift.

Not wanting to leave it behind, I tiptoe back into the bedroom and pick it up. Holding it to my chest, I inhale and smell Tom on it. I can smell him all over me.

It makes me want to stay, yet I want to run away all at the same time.

I stare down at Tom, confusion raging in my head and heart. The feelings in my heart are way too heavy and happening way too quickly.

I need distance. Maybe I’m confused because we slept together after sex. It’s not very fuck buddyish.

Yeah, it’s the sleeping together. That’s the reason. I’m sure of it.

I do feel like crap, leaving before he wakes, but this is Tom. It won’t matter to him whether I’m here or not when he wakes up. He’ll probably be relieved at not having the awkward morning-after moment with me.

Holding the T-shirt, I grab my purse from the coffee table where I left it last night, and I slip out the door quietly.

I make my way to the elevator and press the button. It quickly arrives. I step inside and press the button for my floor, watching as the doors close, ending the night I just had with Tom.

As I exit the elevator, I pray that no one is around. Doing the walk of shame is bad enough without people bearing witness to it. The worst would be if one of the guys caught me. There would be no explaining that away. It would be catastrophic.

I quickly walk to my door and manage to make it inside without seeing another soul. I fall onto my bed with a sigh of relief.

Freshly showered and dressed, I’m seated in the hotel restaurant, having breakfast. Bacon, eggs, pancakes, and toast—I’m having a fatty-food-and-carb fest. I need to bring my energy levels up after last night’s sex marathon.

Cale comes wandering in just as the waitress has finished refilling my coffee cup.

“Mornin’, gorgeous.” He leans over and kisses my forehead before taking the seat across from me.

“Mornin’.” I beam at him.

He gives me a curious look and signals for the waitress to come over.

“God, it was so good to sleep in a proper bed last night.”

I try to direct my thoughts away from beds and Tom.

“Yeah, it was. But I didn’t think you’d be getting much sleep last night.” I give him a sly grin.

Then, I’m hit with a memory of Tom thrusting inside me. My whole body shivers in remembrance.

“She didn’t stay over.” He smirks. “Stayed for a few hours. We did the good stuff, and then she went on her merry way, so I could get my beauty sleep. Anyway, you look overly happy this morning, not that I’m complaining. I’m just wondering what sparked the happiness.” He looks to the waitress to place his order. “I’ll have the same as my girl here. Thanks.”

She gives him the sex eye like most women do, but he turns back to me, not even giving her the time of day. She looks a little downcast as she wanders away. I want to tell her that blondes aren’t Cale’s thing, but obviously, that would seem a little weird if I did.

“So, is that smile because of Robbi Kraft?”

At the mention of Robbi’s name, my lips turn down. Cale notices, so I have to tell him what happened last night. I just leave out the whole sex-with-Tom part and the fact that he and I are now fuck buddies.

“That motherfucker,” Cale seethes. “I’m gonna kick his ass when I get my hands on him.”

“Whose ass are we kicking?” Sonny asks. He and Van have just rocked up.

“Robbi ‘Cuntface’ Kraft.” Cale then proceeds to fill them in.

By this time, I’m feeling pretty small.

“Guys, please, can we just leave it alone? I know you’re looking out for me, but to be honest, it’s just really embarrassing, and I want to forget it.”

Cale reaches over and squeezes my hand. “I just don’t like seeing you hurt. You hurt, I hurt. And it makes me want to hurt the motherfucker who did it.”

“I second that,” Van says.

“Third. You’re our girl, Ly,” Sonny adds. “Nobody messes with you. They mess with you, they mess with us all. We’re a team.”

My insides warm.

Then, my irrational guilt reminds me that my team is missing one member, and I remember why. Suddenly, I don’t feel so great anymore.

Swallowing past my conflicting emotions, I say, “Thanks, guys. But, honestly, Tom took care of it last night, and now, I just want to forget about it.”

“Forget about what?”

My eyes flick up to find Tom standing over our table.

Um…definitely not the hot sex you and I had or the multiple orgasms you gave me only hours ago.

“Robbi Kraft,” I cough out.

Tom’s face darkens at the mention of Robbi’s name. I grab my coffee and take a sip.

“Ly told us what he did,” Van says.

Tom takes the empty seat beside me.

“Yeah, thanks for looking out for Ly and taking care of Robbi ‘Cuntface’ Kraft,” Cale says to Tom.

“No problem.” He gives a one-shoulder shrug as he drapes his other arm over the back of my chair.

Why does he have his arm around my chair? He doesn’t do that normally. If he starts acting out of the ordinary, people might realize something is going on between us.

“And thanks for bringing her back here safely,” Cale adds.

My whole body tenses.

He did more than just that.

I can practically feel the smirk on Tom’s face from beside me.

A heat is burning up my neck, heading for my face.

“It was my pleasure,” Tom says, his voice smooth.

His fingertips touch the back of my arm. His callous fingers gently tickle my smooth skin.

And just like that, my body is immediately tuned to his.

I’m aware of him. Every movement he makes. The hitch in his breath as he draws a line down my arm with the tip of his finger.

A blazing trail is left in his wake.

God, I want him again.

How is that even possible? I would think my body had its fill last night.

Apparently not.

I’m getting horny and antsy at the feel of Tom’s touch, and I’m ready to bolt out of here.

He suddenly removes his hand from around my chair, leaving me feeling oddly bereft.

He waves the waitress over.

When she sees Tom, I see the way her eyes light up like the Fourth of July.

I find myself watching him closely for his reaction to her because she is exactly his type.