Page 182 of Something So Strong

“No, tanks.” June twists the stem of her wine glass between her fingers. “I’ll probably nurse dis one fer a while.”

“Suit yourself,” is Kai’s response with an indifference that’s unique to only him. And with a final knowing look to me, he slinks off to the bar.

“Fuck, dat were hot.” June fans herself and squirms in her seat, no doubt rubbing her thighs together. But the notion does nothing for me. My dick only hums for one person, and that person is a six-foot-two man covered in tattoos with my name on his leg.

I open my mouth but close it instantly because the deliverance of rejection is not one of my skills. Saxon had always been there to do it for me, and right now he’s in Hackney, probably balls deep in his Little Andy.

Elbows back on the table, I tuck hair that’s still in place behind my ears. My hands meet at the back of my neck and my fingers intertwine as I roll my neck before I drag them down my face.

“Is everythin’ okay?” June’s voice is teetering on the precipice of being confident and insecure.

“I–”

Suddenly, there’s a body back beside me. Chair filled, Kai has returned with no drinks, and as June notices the same, her hands fall into her lap and her back straightens like a schoolgirl taking a lecture from their principal.

“Look, June,” Kai starts, his grip back on my knee, his other hand flat on the table in the direction of our guest. “Please understand that we respect the fuck out of you for coming here tonight. You’re a bona fide fox. But…” He exhales through his nose and reaches for my hand. “I can’t. I just… can’t. I don’t need anyone but Jess.”

June nods without saying a word like she feared it coming.

“Please look at me,” I urge, but only her eyes move. “I’m sorry—” My mouth hangs open with all the things I’ve been thinking caught in my throat because they’re not for her. She doesn’t need to know about the drinking, the stupidity, and the lack of actual communication we had regarding the whole reason we’re here.

“It’s fine.” Her fingers curl over the edge of the table. “Truthfully, I ‘ave a lot of respect fer ye. Most guys would ‘ave fucked me just cause I’m ‘ere. N I’d ‘ave liked it but still known it weren’t right. Dis is something I’ve always been curious about. N when it does happen for me, I want it te be with people who’re into it as much as I am.”

Her response seems genuine, but if I’m to be completely honest, they got a little fuzzy towards the end when Kai’s fingers started crawling up the inside of my thigh.

I try to force out a sincere smile, only to squeeze Kai’s hand and whimper when he scratches up my fly. And that’s when he slaps his hand back on the table.

“Rude is usually something I don’t mind being, but right now, it’s not my intention. But fuck! I need to get Jess home before I start doing shit that will get me arrested.”

I bite the inside of my mouth and swallow thickly. “Would you like us to walk you to the station or call you an Uber?”

June screws up her nose and looks around the pub with a contemplative gaze. “No tanks. I might end up havin’ another drink after all… Dis place’s real nice. N, truth be told…” Pausing, she brings her hand to the side of her mouth like how kids tell secrets. “I just live on de other side of Primrose Hill, but I couldn’t tell ye dat until I knew if ye just wanted te kill me.”

“You naughty little thing,” Kai growls with a slow shake of his head. “I thought you were a good girl.”

Even though nothing will ever happen, seeing Kai flirt with her and knowing I’m the only one who’ll ever get to touch him is doing unexplained things to me.

“Can we get your number?” I blurt out, done with that stupid app.

Kai unlocks his phone and tosses it onto the table in front of her.

Picking it up with a giggle, she starts clicking away. “I tink ye two may ‘ave just become my new favorite people.” Her own phone lights up from the text she sends herself. “Sext me anytime ye like. Pictures. Videos. I’m still dyin’ te see ya’s gaggin’ on each other’s cocks.”

The ease with which the filth rolled out of her reminds me way too much of Cleo.

“Get the fucking coats,” Kai growls, snatching back his phone as he tugs me toward the door.

Trying to remain at least slightly cordial even though my dick is draining all the blood from my brain, I offer June a hasty goodbye.

“Coats!”

Fuck, my boyfriend is hot when he gets all horny and demanding.

At the door, he snatches his jacket. And after it’s on, he stops to look at the shit-eating grin plastered on my face.

“What?” he asks, annoyed at the extra ten seconds it’s now gonna take before we’re back home.

“You’re acting a lot like Romeo right now,” I gloat, turning because he’s holding my coat open for me.

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