Breaking Down Read online

“Nah, I’m right where I am,” he says. He leans forward and presses a kiss between my breasts. The dress I’m wearing tonight is low-cut, and with our height difference, they’re in the perfect position for him.

  He leans back to say something, and I lift my leg and knee him in the balls. Hard. I stomp my way back to Jax.

  “No luck at the bar?” he asks.

  “What?” I ask. “Oh, no, I had to pee first.”

  “Okay?”

  “And coming out I had a run-in with Bishop.”

  “You what?”

  “I was coming out of the bathroom and Bishop grabbed me and pulled me to him—”

  “He what?” Jax says, getting up.

  “He grabbed me, then he....” I trail off, realising while I probably should tell Jax what happened, I also probably shouldn’t.

  “What else did he do, Bentley?” Jax asks with a deadly calmness.

  “He kissed me between my boobs.”

  “That motherfucker!” Jax yells. “Where is he?” he asks, before wading through the crowd.

  Eventually he locates him on the opposite side of the club.

  “Jax! Bro!” Bishop says when he sees him.

  “You twunt,” Jax says, sending a right hook into Bishop’s jaw.

  “What the fuck?” Bishop asks.

  “You think you can touch my girlfriend?” Jax spits.

  “Hey, man, she bumped into me.”

  “And that gave you the right to touch what’s mine? To put your hands and… other body parts on my girlfriend?” While I’m appreciative of Jax taking up my cause, I’m getting increasingly uncomfortable with his repeated claims of ownership of me. “As if it wasn’t bad enough that you had to come in and shit all over my team,” Jax continues.

  Bishop holds up his hands. “I can’t help it if both Dean and your girl want me.”

  “You cocksucker.” Jax lunges for Bishop again, but I manage to hold him back. It wouldn’t do Jax’s reputation any good if he got caught brawling, especially with a teammate. And personally, I really don’t want any more attention brought to the incident. Bishop just laughs. “I’m warning you, Royal,” Jax sneers, “if you come near something of mine again, you’ll never ride again.” He roughly grabs my hand and all but drags me out of the club.

  “Want to tell me what that was all about?” I ask as Jax and I ride the lift back to our room.

  “What was what? I was protecting you, avenging your honour.”

  “Oh, is that what it was?”

  “What else did you think it was?”

  “It felt a whole lot like you pissing all over me and exerting your ownership.”

  “He put his hands and… other body parts on you, Bentley.” He shudders and I know he’s thinking about the position I was in with Bishop, what could’ve happened. I also know he’s trying to rein in his anger.

  “I know, and when he did, I handled it myself.”

  “It’s my job to do that,” he says.

  “Says who?” I ask. Just then the lift dings and opens on our floor. Quickly we get out and walk to our room.

  “Says every boyfriend manual ever,” Jax says once we’re inside.

  “Boyfriend manual? What the hell, Jax?”

  He shrugs. “It’s what you do to protect what’s yours.”

  “Yours? I’m your girlfriend, not cattle.”

  “I never said you were.”

  “You certainly were treating me and acting like I am.”

  “Hang on a sec,” he says, “Bishop motherfucking twuntface Royal comes crashing on in here, taking over my team and inappropriately touching my girl… friend,” he adds when I glare at him, “and I’m the one having my arse chewed out? I was defending you and this is the thanks I get?”

  “Tell me, Jax, what are you most upset over, the fact Bishop touched me or the fact he’s here in the first place?”

  “What the fuck kind of question is that?” he asks.

  “One I want the answer to,” I reply.

  “You, Bentley. You’re always my first priority.”

  “You sure about that?” I ask as I walk past him and into the bathroom, a feeling of unease growing in my stomach.

  Chapter 26

  Jax

  If I thought life when I was travelling was good, the two months I’ve been home since Vegas have been fucking fantastic. Dean, as much as I hate to admit, has been true to his word. Well, at least keeping his promise to make me a star. Or at the very least, a B-list celebrity. He even got me an appearance on Neighbours. It was for all of a minute and I only had one line: “Nice moves, dude,” but still. That might not be my only TV appearance. Dean is working on getting me my own reality TV show. He’s pitching it to MTV. If that doesn’t come off though, I’ve got a spot on one of those celebrity game shows where people compete in things for a charity. On top of all that, my clothing line is coming along nicely, and will be in stores soon.

  There is one thing that’s not going so swimmingly, and that’s my relationship with Bentley. And my brothers, for that matter, but I only have time for one breakdown at a time. Ever since that night at the club in Vegas, she’s been distant. Even when we’re having sex, I can tell she’s not into it like she normally is. I don’t know what she wants from me. I defended her honour like a good boyfriend should, and she bit my head off! But what really hurts is her questioning what I was most pissed about. Of course it was Bishop’s hands on her. Doesn’t she know what she means to me? She and this team are all I have right now, or rather, all I feel like I can count on right now. It’s a shitty situation, for both of us, but it’s all I’ve got. And Dean was really understanding when I told him I couldn’t work with Bishop. Ever since Vegas he’s scheduled us for different promos, so I haven’t seen the arsewipe since then. I hate the distance between Bentley and me, but I can’t worry about that right at the minute. Dean’s called me into his office to discuss another exciting deal he has for me.

  When I get there, he’s sitting behind his massive desk, with an equally as impressive leather chair. I think it’s meant to intimidate, but the effect is thrown off, given the way he’s currently stabbing the screen of his massive smartphone.

  “Ugh,” he says, throwing it down in disgust. “I don’t know why they call them smartphones when they’re not very smart at all.”

  I shrug. “Maybe because you need to be a genius to use them?”

  “Probably,” he says. “So how have you been? The Neighbours thing went well.”

  I nod. “Yeah, it was cool.”

  “Good, good,” he says. “And the clothing line is coming along nicely as well, they tell me.”

  “Yep, it should be in stores soon.”

  “Good, that’s all good,” he says.

  “So what’s up?” I ask.

  “How do you feel about games?” he asks.

  “Games?”

  “Gaming apps, to be specific.”

  “Like Candy Crush?” I ask.

  “Whatever you can play on your phone.”

  “They’re okay, I guess.”

  “Good,” he says. “I’ve had an app developer approach me, they’re wanting to make an app so people can move while they play, like that stupid Hokey Pokey craze.”

  “Hokey Pokey?” I ask.

  “You know, that one where they were out catching monsters and getting hit by cars?”

  “Oh, you mean Pokemon Go?” I ask.

  “Whatever it is. I don’t stay up to date with all the crazy things you kids get up to.”

  “So the app would be like a BMX version of Pokemon Go?” I ask.

  “Mhmm,” Dean says. “It would be called Jax Tracks.”

  I take a moment to consider. “Jax Tracks, huh?” I ask. “I like it.”

  Dean claps his hands. “Fantastic. With you and Bishop on board, it’s going to be great.”

  “Wait, Bishop’s getting a game as well?” Of course he is, how stupid of me not to realise. Really, I should have learned my lesson by now, and k
now that nothing is ever as good as it seems for me. But hey, I have had four concussions. Still, I’m pissed.

  “It’s going to be called Bishop’s Bumps,” he says, not picking up on my obvious displeasure.

  “I thought I was your number-one rider,” I say.

  “You are, Jax, you are,” he says. The jackass isn’t even looking at me.

  “So why is he getting everything I am?”

  That gets him to pay attention to me. “Let’s be real for a minute here, shall we?” he asks. I shrug. “I’m a businessman, Jax, and business is sometimes a risky game. In order to cut down that risk, businesspeople like myself sometimes hedge their bets.”

  “And that’s what you’re doing with Bishop and me,” I say.

  “Exactly.”

  “Why?”

  He sighs. “Freestyle BMX is a dangerous sport, as you were recently reminded.” He leans back in his ridiculous chair. “You’re a great rider, Jax, some might even call you a pioneer, but with that title comes great risks. I can’t afford to have my number-one rider laid out with an injury for six months.”

  “So where do your loyalties lie?” I ask. “With him, or with me?”

  “With both of you,” he says, giving me some bullshit placating smile.

  “And if there comes a time when you’re forced to choose?”

  “I’d go with the rider who makes the best sense for my business.”

  I feel like I’ve fallen from the top of the Big Air ramp.

  “Look, Jax,” Dean says, “I know this way of operating is probably new to you, but it’s not personal, it’s business, that’s all. Do I think you’re a better rider than Bishop? Yeah, I do. You’re a better person too, but I can’t deny there is a risk associated with you that doesn’t come with him.”

  “Because he’s an unoriginal mimic,” I spit.

  Dean shrugs. “I’m sure that’s a large part of it. But look, we’re getting off track here. All of this, it’s hypotheticals. You keep doing what you’re doing, the way you’re doing it, and there won’t be a problem, okay?”

  I shrug as he gets up to escort me out of his office. “Thatta boy, and hey, the developers are going to throw a fancy party once the game’s done. It’ll be the social event of the year.”

  “Whatever,” I mumble as I’m herded towards the door.

  “Oh, don’t be like that. Go get that hot piece of arse you call your woman some sexy lingerie and a scrap of material for a dress, and flaunt the shit out of her. Every guy will want to be you, and every girl will want to be her.”

  “You think so?” I ask.

  “I know so. Nothing is better for spicing up things in the bedroom than knowing everyone wants what you have.”

  I consider his words and can see how it would work. “All right.”

  He smacks me on the back. “That’s my boy. I’ll call you if anything else comes up,” he says as he pushes me out the door and shuts it in my face.

  On the way home I decide to take Dean’s advice and stop at a shopping centre to pick up something special for Bentley. A few scraps of material and more than a few hundred dollars later, I’m on my way home.

  I waltz in the front door and kick off my shoes. “Darlin’, I’m home,” I call. When I don’t get a reply, I go looking for her. I find her in her office, the latest post-hardcore band from Nowhere, USA, blaring through her speakers. Slowly, so I don’t get her attention, I sneak up behind her and attack her neck, kissing and sucking, her sweet strawberry scent invading my senses. What I don’t take into account, however, is her mean left jab, which gets me right in the side of my head.

  “Jesus, fuck!” I cry, clutching my head.

  “Jax!” she yells, once she sees who I am.

  “What the fuck was that for?” I ask.

  “You scared the shit out of me, what else was I supposed to do?”

  “Look first, then punch. Jesus woman, that hurt,” I say, and rub my throbbing head. Unfortunately it’s the one that’s supposed to do the majority of my thinking. Lucky for me, the one that actually does that job is safe in my pants.

  “Well, that will teach you not to sneak up on me then.”

  “Yeah, I got that. Don’t surprise the love of my life, done.” She melts a bit when I say that.

  “What have you got there?” she asks, pointing to the bags in my hand.

  “Part of my surprise,” I say, handing them over to her.

  “What did I do to deserve this?” she says as she dives into the bags excitedly.

  “Just wanted to show my girl how much I love her,” I tell her.

  She looks up from the bags and kisses me. “And I love you.”

  “Good,” I say, “’Cause I want you to wear those for me.”

  She examines the black lace lingerie set. “I don’t see that being a problem.” She dives into the other bag and pulls out a black Band-Aid, no bandage dress. “Wow,” she says.

  “Yeah. Dean’s hooked up with some app developers and they want to make a game based on me. He said they’re planning this massive party, so I thought you could wear that and make everyone insanely jealous.”

  “So was all of this,” she waves her hand over the clothes, “your idea or his?”

  “Er, his,” I say, scratching the back of my neck. “But I bought them,” I add quickly.

  “Right,” she says, putting everything back in their bags. “Well you and Dean can decide between the two of you who’s going to wear this, because it sure as hell isn’t going to be me.”

  “I thought you’d like it,” I say.

  “And I would, if it were coming from you, but it’s not, it’s coming from Dean. And when have you ever seen me wear something like this?” she says, pulling the dress out of the bag again.

  I look at what she’s wearing, an old pair of trackies and one of my Ryan Racing shirts. “Okay, so I suck at shopping for women, alert the tabloids,” I say.

  “It’s not just that, Jax. It’s the fact that since you signed with Dean, you’ve slowly started turning into him.”

  I’m so shocked I actually take a step back. “What?” I ask.

  “You have,” she says. “Your whole attitude’s changed. You’re no longer the happy-go-lucky guy you were when we first met. Your priorities have shifted so much I don’t even know who you are anymore. Where’s the guy who wanted me by his side and treated me as his equal? Now you’re buying me expensive dresses so I can look good hanging off your arm? This isn’t you, Jax.”

  “Don’t be like that,” I say.

  “How else am I supposed to be?”

  “Supportive,” I say. “Besides, you were the one who went to Dean in the first place.”

  “I thought I was helping you,” she says. “If I’d known I’d only be breaking down the person you are even further, I wouldn’t have.”

  “I’m not breaking down,” I tell her. “With Dean’s help, I’m building into something great.”

  “Yeah, something,” she says, “but not someone.” With that, she walks out.

  Chapter 27

  Bentley

  I hate fighting with Jax, not that we do it often, but I know this has been building since Vegas. At first it was little things that bugged me, and I was able to brush them off as no more than an amplification of Jax being Jax. But after the whole thing with Bishop, I wondered if they weren’t a sign of a bigger attitude change. I’m lying on the bed, going through everything in my head, when he comes in. He slips in behind me and holds me tight to him.

  “I’m sorry, darlin’,” he says, his chin resting on my shoulder.

  “You know,” I say, “when we were in Booker, I told Reed I’d never ask you to be anything you’re not. That’s why I went to Dean. You’re a freestyle BMX rider, and if you couldn’t do that with Ryan Racing, then I wanted to help you find someone you could do it with. I just didn’t think you’d ever tip the scales in this direction.”

  He sighs. “I never thought I’d be doing this without my family. Rea
lising I’d have to if I wanted to keep riding, hurt. A lot. Everything with Dean is so different. He goes about things in a way that is completely new to me.”

  “Probably because he doesn’t have a soul,” I say.

  Jax chuckles behind me. “Probably.”

  I take a deep breath. “I know your pop’s refusal to let you ride hurt you, but just because you’re riding for Dean now doesn’t mean you have to turn into him.”

  “I guess I just got carried away,” he says. “I’m sorry, darlin’.”

  I grip the arm he has around me. “I know you are.”

  “I can’t do this without you. And I do want you with me, even if I went about showing it the wrong way. I’m sorry. I’m a guy, we stuff up sometimes, me more than others. I promise I’ll return the dress and never buy you anything like that ever again.” I chuckle and he takes a breath. “You still love me?” he asks.

  I roll my eyes. “Yes, Jax, I still love you, although God knows why.”

  “Because I’m Jax Ryan. BMX god—”

  “Extraordinaire,” I finish for him. “I know.”

  He brushes my hair away from my neck and begins to nuzzle it. “Quit acting like you don’t like my cocky self.”

  I reach around and rub his rapidly hardening dick. “Yeah? You going to show me just how cocky you can be?” I ask.

  “Fuck yeah,” he says, palming my breasts before sliding a hand into my trackies and under my panties. “Looks like someone’s ready for me,” he says as he slides a finger into me.

  “Jax,” I moan, grinding back on him.

  “Yeah, darlin’?”

  “More,” I whine.

  “What’s that? You want more?”

  “You are such a tease,” I huff, frustrated. Trust me to fall in love with a guy who drives me crazy, both in and out of the bedroom.

  He laughs and withdraws his hand. I whine, but seconds later he’s pulling off my bottoms, and hooking my leg over his so he can slide into me. We both moan when he does.

  We’re just getting started when Buttons jumps on the bed. “Mraow,” she says as she sits, an expectant look on her face.

  “Buttons, baby girl,” Jax pants, “Mummy and Daddy are having special cuddles right now, can you come back later?”