“If you wanted a private show, old man, you should have just said.” She stares up into my eyes, her light blues holding me captive as my heart damn near beats out of my chest.
After long, excruciating seconds where I’m unable to find any words, she lifts the bottle once more. She swallows two huge mouthfuls without so much as a wince before slamming it down on the counter. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”
My lips part but no words pass as she closes the space between us. All I manage is a step back that has me bumping into the counter behind me.
“I would offer you mates’ rate, but seeing as I’ve got debts to pay, I’m going to have to ask for my full price. I hope you’re good for it.”
She shrugs off the ripped fabric that’s doing a shit job of covering her, and I watch as it flutters to the floor.
“If you ask really nicely, I might even do extras.”
“What! No,” I say in a panic as she rolls her hips against me and runs her palms up my chest.
“It’s okay, I won’t tell him if you don’t.” She bites down on her bottom lip as one of her hands descends down my stomach.
My reactions are too slow to catch her, and by the time my fingers wrap around her wrist, she’s already rubbing my cock through my jeans.
“Oh look, I’m right. I mean, it was kinda obvious. You know you’ve got a rep in Pulse, right?”
“Kas,” I growl, my fingers tightening to stop her rubbing at me.
“Hey, I may as well find out what all the fuss is about, now we’re alone.”
“No,” I bark, releasing her and slipping from my trap between her body and the counter.
Reaching behind me, I pull my shirt from my body and hold it out for her.
“Put this on, for fuck’s sake.”
Her eyes lock onto my abs, but I don’t hang around long enough to hear what she might have to say, because I turn my back on her and march toward the bathroom, flipping the lock the second I’m inside.
“Jesus, fuck,” I mutter to myself, standing with my hands on the basin and my head dropped between my shoulders.
Shame burns through me that I even allowed that to get so far. But fuck, her tits.
“Fuck,” I bellow, willing the image of her standing half-naked and offering herself up to me from out of my head.
Zach would cut off my bollocks just for looking, let alone anything else.
I brought her here to do the right thing. To protect her. To do what he would do himself. But that… that wasn’t meant to happen.
Deciding to make use of the bathroom, I toe off my shoes and drop my jeans before stepping into the shower. I turn it on and tense when the ice-cold water hits me. I fucking deserve it after what I just did, looking at her like that, letting her touch me.
I have a quick shower before wrapping a towel around my waist and pulling the door open.
The last thing I expect to find is Kas in the hallway, leaning back against the wall in only my shirt and the now half-empty bottle in her hand.
Her eyes lock onto mine for a beat before dropping down my practically naked body. Water droplets run down my chest and stomach before soaking into the towel, and fuck if she doesn’t follow them.
“What are you doing, Kas?”
“Enjoying the view,” she says, almost sounding bored. “Seems to be a little obscured, though.” She lifts a brow as she stares at the towel like its mere presence offends her.
“I’m going to get dressed,” I say, ignoring her burning stare and the need it creates within me. I can’t lie, I was hoping to end tonight with a girl in my bed, but never in a million years did I think it would be Zach’s little sister who ended up in my flat.
“Why? Things will probably be more fun if you don’t.” A smirk appears on her lips as she tilts her head to the side, looking me up and down and causing my temperature to increase.
“We’re not going there, Kas.”
“Why not?”
When I look over my shoulder, she’s pushed from the wall and has followed me to my room.
“I’ve had a shitty night. You ruined my night, so it only seems fair that you make it better.” She takes another drink, only she’s had so much now that when she tips it up, too much comes out and it sloshes over her face and drips from her chin, soaking my shirt. “Whoopsie.” She giggles, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
“I think you’ve had enough, don’t you?”
Walking over, I wrap my fingers around the almost-empty bottle.
“See, you just can’t stay away, old man.”
“You need to go to bed, Kas. Sleep it off.”
“I have every intention of making use of a bed, Spike. Yours, to be specific.” She glances around me. “Don’t you think those sheets need messing up?”
I pull the bottle, but she keeps her grip tight. “No, I don’t.”
“Jeez, I thought you were meant to be the fun one. The one who’s up for anything.”
“Not with you.”
“Oh, ouch.” Her lips turn down, doing her best impression of looking offended, but I know it’s all a drunken act. “And here I was thinking you thought I was hot.”
“You’re drunk.”
“I know.” She giggles again, the light sound doing things to my insides. “It’ll only make it more fun.”
“Come on, you’re going to bed.”
I finally manage to get the bottle from her hand and lead her to the spare bedroom.
When Titch moved out, he left all his furniture behind. It’s all ready for a new tenant when I find someone who can put up with me.
With my hands on her upper arms, I walk her into the room and to the side of the bed.
“Sleep it off, and tomorrow I’ll take you home.”
“Oh goodie,” she sasses.
Pulling the covers back, I gently push her so she has no choice but to fall into bed.
She drops onto her back and brings her knees up, forcing my shirt to slide up her thighs, exposing her curvaceous, inked legs.
“Go to sleep, Kas,” I warn, taking a step back. Only she’s quicker than I gave her credit for, because she reaches out and catches my fingers.
“I don’t want to be alone,” she whispers, her eyelids hooded as if she’s already half-asleep.
My heart aches for her. She’s clearly in some shit if the events of tonight are anything to go by, but that doesn’t mean that I’m about to crawl in beside her. Having her here and wearing my shirt is bad enough. Zach would kill me for looking at her, let alone getting into bed with her, even if absolutely nothing happened.
“You’re safe here, Kas. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“Please, Spike. I need… I need you.”
My teeth grind at the vulnerability in her voice, but I can’t break. For once in my life, I need to do the right thing where a woman’s concerned.
As I slip my fingers from hers, her arm falls to the bed. She’s already out of it.
I silently walk from the room and pull the door closed, heading to my room, discarding my towel and dragging on a clean pair of boxers.
I flop onto my bed and stare at the ceiling.
Well, tonight didn’t exactly go as I’d hoped.
I just wanted a normal night out with friends, a night like we used to have before women turned up and stole my best friends’ hearts.