Crossfire: Double Cross Series

By P. Sawyer

**Previousy published under the pen name Paige Matthews. New cover, New name, same story**

Reese

I've known him half my life and I've spent half my life fighting my feelings for him. Our relationship isn't typical nor is it normal; it's just us. He knows every crevice of me; my likes, my hates, my needs, my quirks. I don't know what changed but nothing is the same as it was. The closer I fly towards the fire, the more I fear I'll get burned.

Jax

I took her virginity and we've been inseparable since. Best friends for over seventeen years, she's seen me at my best, at my worst and everywhere in between. The primal need that fills me deep inside to protect her, to claim her is getting more and more difficult to ignore. When did friendship morph into something more? Or were the lines always this blurred?

When our pasts finally collide with the present, how do we survive the crossfire?

• Language: English
• Publisher: P. Sawyer
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201828431

Book preview

Chapter One

That was fucking awesome! Gabe high-fived me as we left the stage, having just finished the first gig of the new tour. We had started in Raleigh, as we did for every tour. It was something that Caleb had wanted us to do when we hit it big.

Hey, you ready to see what's in the after party for us? I asked, smiling as Reese walked by. She shook her head in disgust. Fuck, she must be mad at me again. I wasn’t quiet sure why. She had her asshole of a boyfriend. I needed a piece of ass here and there.

Fuck yeah! See anybody earlier that might be, you know, worth a little?

Not really, although there was a hot little blonde - wonder if she stayed around. I shrugged my shoulders as we entered our dressing room to shower.

Maybe we'll get lucky at this thing Kat put together, I offered again. Caleb had gone along with the new marketing ideas that Kat had come up with since taking over as his leading lady and our marketing specialist. The record label provided a marketing department, but Caleb had insisted on Kat’s company as part of the signing deal. I didn’t care either way. I wanted to make music and live my life.

Gabe laughed. Probably a bunch of screaming teenagers, he said, going into the shower.

Probably, I mumbled as I headed for my clothes. I flipped through my phone as I waited for him to return. There were a few texts from some of the regulars I hung out with, an email from another, and finally a text from Reese.

Reese: You’re an asshole.

Me: Is this a new observation?

Reese: No. I just needed to tell you again.

Me: Why do you care where my dick goes? You have what’s his name.

Reese: Adam, and go to hell.

Me: You won’t be saying that the next time he puts you into tears.

Reese: Fuck off.

I shook my head as I cleared out the messages. There was no point engaging with her at this moment. She was as hot and cold as the seasons. When Adam was an asshole, I was there to wash away her pain. When he was fine, I was an asshole because I wanted to get laid - whatever. Half the time we spent arguing, the other half – who knew? 

Gabe returned from the shower and I nodded in his direction. I grabbed my clothes and headed to the shower at the back of our room. I quickly discarded my sweaty stage clothes and jumped into the hot stream of water. I didn’t take long, I knew we were due in the meet-and-greet in. like. ten minutes.

I dressed in a clean pair of jeans, a cut-off tee shirt, and spiked my hair up. I looked at myself. The plugs were in my ears, the septum piercing I had changed out the other day to a blue color. My arms were covered in sleeves, and I looked damn good. I heard one of the security team yelling at Gabe, so I ended my vanity session and headed out.

We walked into the other green room and I immediately saw Reese sitting at the end of the tables with Caleb next to her. Kat was in the corner of the room typing away on her phone. I didn’t see Michael, their young son, which meant he was in another room sleeping under the watchful eyes of one of our security team. Kat didn’t leave him otherwise. Gabe sat down next to Caleb, and I took the last seat in line.

Okay guys. I thought this meet-and-greet would be a great idea to prove to the media you aren’t all assholes. So let’s keep on your best behavior, Kat said, eyeing Gabe and me.

We’re not five, Kat. We can behave, Gabe quipped back.

Your reputation doesn't say that. Please try and refrain from picking up your next piece of ass until this is done. She cocked her head at us, and I shook mine.

Cameron opened the doors and, one by one, fans flowed into the room, stopping for autographs and pictures; tits hanging out, leaving nothing to the imagination. After about an hour of plastering on the smiles, I slapped Gabe on the back. Ready to head out? Find a few pieces of ass?

Of course. I need a drink and some fun, he replied, and turned to Caleb, slapping hands. Have fun dude. See you tomorrow.

I always have fun, he said as he slapped Kat’s ass.

Let’s go, Gabe said as we walked out of the room toward the back door, and the Tahoe that was waiting. He mumbled the name of the club to the driver, and we were off.

~~~

We arrived at Deceit and were ushered to the VIP lounge upstairs. Guarded by two bouncers that easily stood over six-foot-five and three hundred pounds, we were awarded an amount of privacy. The lounge held a few plush couches, upholstered chairs, tables, and a bar towards the back left. Bathrooms were behind the couches to the right of the space.

Gabe and I sat on the red couch that overlooked the dance floor, as Cindy walked up. What will it be, boys? she asked.

Grab me a Guinness and three shots of Patron Anejo, Gabe said. Cindy turned to me.

I’ll take a Jack and coke, and three shots of Patron as well.

Sure thing, darlings, she said as she turned and headed toward the bar. She returned quickly with our order, and the bouncers let a few girls up. Three immediately sat around Gabe, one on the floor between his legs. A fourth girl slid in next to me as I took in her outfit: knee high strappy sandal heeled things, a black mini skirt that barely covered her pussy, and a mid-drift tank top that dipped low in the front, exposing the push-up lace bra she had on underneath.

What’s your name? I asked, taking one of the shots.

Candy.

Figures.

Well, Candy, do you like to fuck rock stars? I asked, running my hand up the length of her thigh.

She nodded her head as a sly smile graced her lips.

Well, then, you are in luck! I positioned her on my lap, her tits perfectly level with my mouth. I grazed over her cleavage with my lips, tasting the sweat that covered her skin. It was a tad hot in the club, the music was blaring, the dance floor crowded.

Candy wrapped her arm around my neck and pressed her tits closer to me. Her hands ran over my chest and up to my neck before retreating back to where they’d started. I looked over at Gabe, who was getting worked on pretty good by the trio, although I could tell the third one on her knees wasn’t doing it for him. I turned my attention back to Candy and her lips on my neck. My phone suddenly lit up, and I picked it up.

Reese: You fucking anyone yet?

Me: None of your business now, is it?

Reese: Always my business.

Me: It’s never your business who I fuck. Now run along to Adam.

Reese: Asshole.

Me: Don’t you know it.

Reese: Fuck you.

Me: Not tonight, sweetheart.

I knew taunting her wouldn’t get her to tell me why I was on the God-damn shit list, but at this moment I didn’t really give a crap. Candy had moved herself, and was now straddling me. Her skirt hiked up a little more, exposing the light pink of her pussy. No panties. Nice! My dick stirred as I ran my hands up her thighs. Stopping short of her pussy; I could feel the heat coming from her core, and I knew that if I slid my finger up any further, I’d be greeted with wetness.

I pushed back a little from her and stared into her eyes. I bet if I slid my fingers higher, I’d find your pussy wet and wanting.

She breathed in deeply, and I could sense the lust in her eyes. A motion to my left caught my attention, and I watched as Gabe nodded toward me as he led two of the three women down the stairs.

I turned back to Candy. Let’s get out of here. I lifted her from my lap and placed a quick call to Cameron to get me another driver. I pulled out some cash and handed it to Cindy, who was picking up the money Gabe had thrown on the table. A text came through, and I led Candy down the stairs and towards the back entrance.

A black Tahoe pulled up and I ushered her quickly into the SUV. I nodded at Luke, one of the security team members, and he pulled out into traffic. We headed back to the apartment that I shared with Reese, hoping that she wasn’t there. I knew I should have taken this chick back to a hotel or something, but part of me wanted to rub shit into Reese’s face. Why? Who the fuck knows? She needed to get her fucking head straight and stop putting herself into my sex life. Fuck, I just wish things were able to go back to the way they always had been.

Candy’s hand rubbing on my dick brought me back to the present. I turned and placed her on my lap, straddling me again.

Luke, change of plans. Hilton, please, I said, turning my attention back to the brunette now rubbing herself over the growing bulge in my pants. Her lips were moving up and down my neck as I ran my hand over her abdomen.

Baby, you keep doing that and we won’t make it to the hotel.

I thought we were going to your place.

Change of plans. If you don’t like it, I’ll drop you off, I said, stopping all my activities on her.

No, anywhere you say, she responded, and I nodded as we arrived at the hotel. I thanked Luke and helped Candy out of the SUV. This night would be something to remember - for her, maybe. For me – they all blend together after awhile.

Chapter Two

That man was infuriating. I paced back and forth in the living room of the condo we shared. A stupid move we made years ago, when Caleb and Gabe had bought their condo on the other side of the city. For the most, it was fine. We’d always been close, best of friends, but lately it seemed as if we fought more than we hung-out. I had texted him earlier when I realized he was going out with Gabe to get laid.

I don’t know why it pissed me off, but it did. I was being a bitch to him. I knew that. Why? That I didn’t know! I continued to pace back and forth, waiting to see if he was going to show up here with the catch of the night. He’d brought one home last week, and I’d spent the night listening to her scream his name. It disgusted me. All I could think about was how he was rubbing his fingers over her crotch, the way she laid on her back and spread her legs for him, just to say that she’d slept with Jaxson, the lead guitarist for Double Cross. Fucking slut.!

My phone buzzed.

Kat: You ok?

Me: Peachy.

Kat: Don’t lie to me. I could see how tense you were tonight.

Me: Lot on my mind. I’m fine.

Kat: I’ll send Caleb over if you don’t fess up.

Me: Please don’t. I’m fine. I promise.

Kat: Okay, well, you know we can talk if you need to.

Me: I’m fine. Promise.

Kat: Okay.

Was I fine? No, not really. Adam and I had called it quits last week, although I hadn’t told anyone. He just wasn’t giving me what I needed, what I wanted. But, fuck, I didn’t even know what I wanted. Adam was nice enough. He knew the lifestyle we lived, the constant going. But something lacked, even if we had been together, on and off, for over a year.

My mind drifted back to Jax. I looked at the clock and it was half past one in the morning. I should have gone to bed, but I just wondered where the hell he was, what slut he was doing tonight.

My phone buzzed again.

Caleb: You okay, baby girl?

Me: What is it with you and your wife? I’m fine.

Caleb: Soon to be wife, if she’d ever pick a date.

Me: Either way, don’t you have better things to do then worry about me?

Caleb: Never. You’re family, baby girl. I worry. You know that.

Me: I’ll be fine, Caleb. Pinky swear.

Caleb: Okay, see you tomorrow.

Me: Night.

Instead of heading to bed, I undressed and jumped into a quick shower, trying to sooth away the frustration coursing through my veins. Jax and I had always clicked. Hell, the man had taken my virginity at seventeen! Most people would have thought that was a lie, but it wasn’t. We’d never told anyone, although I think Caleb and Gabe have an idea.

I sat wrapped in a towel on the couch in the spare room. I had my guitar in my lap, aimlessly strumming the strings as I drifted off into my mind again. I needed to figure out why the fuck I was being so bitchy.

~~~

Reese, wake up. I heard his voice and lifted my eyelids the slightest.

What the? I asked, sitting up, the towel falling as I did. I grabbed at it quickly as I reacquainted myself to where I was; the spare room. I must have drifted off to sleep here last night.

Not like I haven’t seen them before, he said as he stood up and moved to sit next to me.

I glared at him. Don’t be an asshole every minute of your life.

Jax laughed. Well, it was apparent I was one last night. He waved his phone in front of me.

I’m not in the mood to discuss this right now, I said, standing up. Suddenly I felt his hand grab my wrist. Jax gently pulled me back down to the couch and placed his hand on my face, turning it to look at him.

We’re talking about it right now, Reese, he said, releasing my face.

Jaxson, I’m not in the mood. I…I…

You what? he asked, shifting in his seat. You’ve been a bitch for the last three weeks. What the fuck is up with you? Seriously? I can’t handle the fucking texts. He paused and I look down at my lap. I really didn’t want to have this conversation in a towel.

Reese, fucking answer me, he demanded. I lifted my eyes back up to his.

You don’t smell like any whores, what happened? Couldn’t perform? I blurt out, cringing at my own words.

Fucking typical of you to bring the conversation back to an issue that doesn’t concern you.

It would have if you’d brought another one back here like last week! I knew I shouldn’t have mentioned it, but fuck him. I’d said I didn’t want to talk about it. Why was he pushing me?

I didn’t know you were home, he offered as a half-hearted excuse.

You shouldn’t be so fucking stupid as to bring them home, Jaxson. Fuck. I live here too, asshole. I don’t want any of your crazy ass one night stands stalking around here, I bit back.

Jaxson backed me into the corner of the couch and straddled my legs. He grabbed my arms and pinned my arms to my sides. "You jealous again, Reese? Adam boy