Page 40 of Something So Strong

It’s not the classiest mode of transport, but it’s free.

“Was nothing else available?” Romeo dryly taunts as Kai winds down the window.

“No need to worry. I’m much gentler the second time around.”

Romeo groans, and Saxon slaps him in the chest. “It was funny. Get in the fucking van.”

Biting my tongue, I flee the immediate vicinity to the passenger side.

With a loud scrape, Saxon slides the door open and climbs in. “Good evening, you sexy thing,” he projects towards Kai, and I roll my eyes because my best friend is an egotistical mother fucker who is perpetually starved for attention no matter how overloaded with it he may actually be.

Swiveling, Kai looks straight at Saxon. “And it’s all the better now I’ve seen your handsome face.”

Falling back into his chair, Saxon claps his hands over his heart. “You know just what to say to get me all hot and bothered.”

“This ain’t the time for a circle jerk. There’s a bottle of whiskey with my name on it and I’d like it down my throat sooner rather than later.”

Mine and Saxon’s eyes widen as we smirk at each other, and then both look expectantly at Kai, but he shakes his head. “I’m gonna let that one go.”

“The fuck?” Saxon pushes on the back of his chair. “He left himself wide open. Now it’s too late for me to say something.”

“The night is still young.” Kai puts the van into drive. “Plenty more hours for Romeo’s brooding to fester.”

I’m uncertain if the drive was quicker tonight with Kai speeding along the mountain road, or if time has lost all relevance to me. Because, even with no streetlights and a waning moon, I spent the entire journey focused on Kai’s right hand. Resting on his thigh, sometimes he taps his fingers or runs his nails along the fabric of his trousers like he knows I’m watching. And that thought alone makes my left hand hypersensitive and drawn to his like a magnet. I want to know what it feels like to place it on his and intertwine our fingers. A hand as big as mine. Strong, and dry like all mens are.

The Pride of Donegal is the last building on the high street, so Kai pulls into the empty gravel lot beside it. Saxon and Romeo are out of the van in seconds, and I wait, hoping for some kind of small interaction while we’re alone, but Kai pulls the keys from the ignition and climbs down from his seat without so much as a look in my direction.

Blinking several times, I shake my head and exit, too.

Kai is waiting for me at the door and pulls it open when he sees me round the side of the building. His eyes rake down my body as I move towards the entrance, and the momentary insecurity I’d felt evaporates away as his hand presses against my lower back.

“You look fucking hot tonight,” he breathes in my ear before letting the door swing closed behind us.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I fight against my instinct to melt into him as we head towards the same table Romeo and I had occupied last night.

Romeo and Saxon are already sitting, and before I have a chance to take a seat, Kai offers to buy the first round of drinks. His etiquette is on point, and my brothers look impressed. But then he goes ahead and pulls the rug out from beneath me by tugging on my elbow and saying, “C’mon Jean. You’re coming with me.”

My eyes narrow, my jaw goes slack, and I’m being pulled towards the bar, leaving Romeo and Saxon at the table in hysterics.

“You’re a prick,” I mutter, leaning my elbows on the bar and staring at the side of Kai’s nonchalant face.

His shrug is even more apathetic than his expression. “I love the look on your face when I call you that.”

Recalling my place and the confidence I’m meant to be exuding, I roll my shoulders and look over the beer taps. “And I love that you think you can resist me.”

“Maybe I can, maybe I can’t. Only time will tell. But I’m having a lot of fun in the meantime.”

Yeah. Me too.

But there’s no way in hell I’ll admit it to him. Besides, the longer our flirtations carry on, the longer it will be before I have to physically face the wants of my body. Yes, the anticipation is agonizing, but having a guy’s dick against your thigh is a world away from actually kissing them. And, the reality is, if we can’t actually kiss each other, then all this is nothing more than a curious infatuation that I’m not ready to end.

“Cheers.” Romeo nods at Kai when I place his double whiskey in front of him, then he waits for us to sit before wrapping his fingers around the glass.

Smugly, Kai lifts his Coke. “To… Unexplained feelings,” he says before Romeo’s lips can hit his glass.

Romeo’s top lip curls. “You’re a fucking weirdo.” But he clinks his glass anyway and downs its amber liquid in one go. Screwing up his face, he breathes in sharply through his teeth and slaps his palms flat on the wooden tabletop. “I’m gonna get myself another one now, but I’ll get the next round as well.”

Saxon shakes his head and makes a point of looking around the bar instead of acknowledging him, because this scenario isn’t new to us.

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