Page 76 of Unbind

It reminds me that Adam has never drunk in front of me. I know he drinks—he has a well-stocked, glass-fronted wine alcove-thingy in the kitchen, and he’s tasted of whisky or wine a couple of times when he’s gone out for work dinners before picking me up from Alchemy, but he’s never so much as cracked open a beer in my presence.

He must refrain because he knows I steer clear of alcohol.

The thought of it is a rush of warmth to my heart, and it emboldens me. New York isn’t important. It’s the countless small but thoughtful gestures that he makes every single day that are important.

‘Actually, I have some news,’ I confess once our pizzas have been served. Myquattro formaggiis steaming in front of me, and I can’t resist picking up a slice and taking the most enormous bite before I resume. Jesus Christ, that mouthful of carbs and cheese isthebest taste in the world. Maybe I should just pump myself full of insulin and subsist on pizza all day, every day. Adam can shove his black beans up his arse.

The others exchange a look that’s knowing and not a little smug.

‘What?’ I demand.

‘If you’re planning on coming clean about Adam Wright,it’s not exactly news,’ Maddy says. ‘Just saying. Fuck, this baby is a whore for simple carbs.’ With that, she shovels a good half of her slice of pizza into her mouth and groans theatrically.

I can relate, and I’m not even eating for two.

‘Really?’ I ask now, my gaze darting between them. ‘How come?’

‘You’ve been terribly quiet on the whole front since you last updated me,’ Gen says gently, ‘and given how vocal you are about him when you dislike him, I wondered if the quietness spoke volumes. Besides, Ben came clean to me a couple of weeks ago that Adam asked him for a private room for the two of you.’

I gasp. ‘Oh my God, that’s so mortifying.’

‘What?!’ Maddy squeals. ‘I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!’

She aims that at Gen, who fixes her with the iciest of glares. ‘It’s called client discretion. Nat and Adam are entitled to their privacy at Alchemy just as much as anyone else.’ She turns back to me. ‘I would have checked in with you, but you’ve seemed very happy this past couple of weeks, so I let it slide.’

I shut my eyes in mortification, but they fly open when Darcy hits me on the arm.

‘Oh my God. Did you haveallthe hate sex? We told you you should, didn’t we?’

I groan and screw up my face. ‘Um… kind of?’

Maddy pushes her enormous pizza plate away so she can put her elbows on the table and glare at me.

‘Spill it, Bennett. All of it.Now.’

46

NATALIE

Igroan. Where to start?

‘Just so we’re clear,’ Darcy says, shaking her gorgeous auburn hair off her face. ‘You hate him, but you’re fucking. Right?’ She’s definitely overdressed for a pizzeria in a low-cut black dress that has her amazing boobs on display, but who cares?

‘Not really,’ I say.

‘Ugh! Enough vagueness!’ Maddy shouts. ‘I’m a horny pregnant person! I need all the salacious details!’

‘Keep your voice down,’ I grit out as Gen rolls her eyes at Maddy. ‘Okay, fine. Obviously I had my weird little sleepover at his place where he actually looked after me amazingly and I was an ungrateful bitch.’

‘And he got a boner in your bed,’ Darcy reminds me helpfully.

‘And he got a boner in my bed. Um—that night that Ben mentioned, Adam had asked me if I ever came through to the club. I said no, remember? I saw you guys that evening. But I couldn’t resist going in for a little peek after my shift.’

Maddy squeals and clenches her fists, and I glare at her.

‘Sorry,’ she says, looking chastised. ‘Please proceed with your delicious tale.’

‘Well, I went through to The Playroom, and there he was, spanking one of the hosts on the Banquette while someone else went down on her.’

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