Page 52 of Something Borrowed

He winks. “Prostate massage. Did you miss that bit?”

I grin and gesture to keep the change. I fight my way back to Stan and hesitate when I see a man talking with him, standing close.

My stomach clenches with immediate and ridiculous jealousy, and I can’t believe this has happened to me. Me, who made a virtue out of casualness.

There’s fuck all I can do about my feelings for Stan, and I obviously need to find new methods for coping.

I straighten my shoulders and walk forward. “Alright?” I say, nudging his hand and giving him his drink.

“Rafferty,” he breathes.

I blink at his enthusiasm. “That’s me,” I say cautiously.

“I was just telling Pete that we were here together.”

How is it that Stan can remember everyone’s name, and I can’t remember the name of someone I’ve actually shagged? The world is a strange place.

My eyes widen as Stan leans in to kiss my cheek. “Oh,” I say. “Oh.” I smile broadly at Pete. “Yeah, we’re here together.”

The man studies us. He’s tall with dark hair and very blue eyes. “You’re hot together. Fancy a third?”

“I haven’t even met you yet, mate.”

“Do we need an introduction to shag?” he asks.

“Probably not,” I say in a spirit of honesty. “But Stan does.”

Stan grimaces. “What are you on about? I couldtotallyshag a stranger.”

“I know,” I say, placating him. “But you do prefer a relationship. Remember Ivan?”

“Youalwaysbring him up.”

“Babe, you brought him home for a one-night stand, and last week you were the best man at his wedding.”

“I can’t help making friends. And I’ve had many threesomes, thank you very much.”

I take a drink of my beer. “Do you want one with your new friend Pete?”

He pauses. “No,” he says.

Pete huffs. “I could have died of boredom waiting for you two to make your minds up.”

“So, you decided to leave charm by the side of the road and go with aggression?” I ask mildly. I tsk. “Manners maketh man, you know.”

Stan leans back against the wall, his mouth twitching with amusement. Then he grimaces and hands me his drink. “Hold this.” He retrieves his stick from its holster. “It was digging in my bum,” he offers in a cheeky voice that makes me want to laugh.

“Something I shall be doing when I get you home,” I say in a lordly impression of Bennett when he’s in one of his moods. “You need a good spanking, young man.”

Pete blanches as he stares at Stan. “You’re blind,” he exclaims.

“No, I just have a very long stick,” Stan says.

“Bragging again, you little minx,” I compliment.

“You don’t look blind,” Pete snaps.

Stan’s mouth thins, and immediate temper sparks in his face. “You don’t seem like an arsehole, but such is life.”

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