Page 43 of The Final Beat

“Knock knock.”

I turned my head to see Laura poking hers around the door. She was grinning and wiggling her eyebrows.

“What?” I asked, pushing myself up to a sitting position.

“Dreaming about a certain drummer boy, were we?”

“No,” I lied. “Why would I?”

She scoffed. “Well, because you fancy the arse off him. Why turn up here otherwise?”

“Because he had the rest of the band at his place. I didn’t need to be there. Or want to be,” I added quickly.

Laura sniffed in the air. “Christ, can you smell that bullshit?”

I narrowed my eyes on her. “You’re not funny. Not one little bit.”

Pushing the door open, she strolled into the room, still wearing her pyjamas and a stupid grin. She plonked herself down on the edge of the bed and patted my thigh over the top of the duvet.

“You need to stop clinging to this idea that you don’t want him, boss.”

“I don’t.” Avoiding her gaze, I reached behind me and pulled the pillows up to rest against them. “It’s just sex.”

“Good sex.”

There was no point in denying it. “Yes, good sex.” I shrugged, not sure what else she wanted me to say.

“You do know that good sex often comes with feelings.” Laura cleared her throat and smoothed down the red and white striped fabric of her pyjama trousers. “You can admit it, you know.”

“Admit what?” I cried. “There’s nothing to admit.”

She gave me a withering look and even I had to admit it was boring, lying all the time. I just couldn’t be honest, though, because saying the words to Laura made them real. The walls I’d built around my feelings, my emotions, and my heart were there for a reason. To protect me. Not just physically but mentally, because I wasn’t sure I could survive another dark and disturbed relationship. I gave off the vibe of a potty-mouthed bitch, but truthfully they were just bricks in those walls I’d erected.

“Destiny,” Laura said with an exasperated sigh. “If you don’t want to be honest with me, fine, but be honest with yourself at least.” She thinned her lips and watched me carefully. “It’s written all over your face whenever I mention him.”

“You bloody lying bitch. It is not.”

She nodded slowly. “And when you’re in the same room as him, the chemistry is off the charts.” She laughed loud, and dirty. “I can practically smell your desire for him.”

I groaned, curling my lip. “Do you have to be so disgusting?”

“It’s true, though.”

It may well have been because I only had to look at Joey and wanted to rip his clothes off. Yeah, that had been a new thing over the last couple of weeks. I’d always thought him sexy, but recently, with the emotions and feelings had come an overbearing fucking need for him. Why else had I allowed myself to be bullied into moving into his house for a few days?

“You ever breathe a word of this conversation to anyone, and I’ll sack you.”

She tilted her head to one side and grinned. “So, is that an acknowledgement that I’m right?”

Wincing I muttered, “Fuck’s sake.” I lifted my knees and dropped my forehead to them. “I don’t want this, Laura.”

I felt her hand on the top of my head but could feel her body shaking.

“What are you laughing at?” I asked, not looking up.

“You.” She patted me and sighed. “Big, hard, Destiny Cooper is actually scared of something.”

“Not something. Someone.” I sneaked a peek at her and saw a soft, supportive smile. “He fucking petrifies me, Laura.”

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