Page 30 of Pink Poison

A genuine laugh bubbles from my chest, lifting the weight that threatened to crush my shoulders. “What are we havin’, Del?”

“Whiskey, neat.” She pours the amber liquid in two short tumblers. Sliding one glass in front of me, she huffs a humorless laugh. “You need this more than I do.” I savor the smooth, bitter burn that only a top shelf whiskey can provide. Alcohol was never a vice for me, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t feel like the world’s best remedy for this hellish night. “Okay,” Del coughs, clearing her throat. “So you sat on your brother’s lap—no big deal.”

“Stepbrother,” I correct, “and it was a little more than just sitting, if you know what I mean.”

“Was it consensual?” she asks, the humor wiped completely off her face.

Her sudden seriousness sobers me. While it wasn’tmyidea, I still willingly did it. Maxwell Waters Jr. is many things—like an asshole—but he’s not a predator. “It’s not something I would have done without prompting,” I hedge. “But I didn’t hate it while it was happening.”

As comfortable as I’ve become with my sexual prowess, I’ll withhold how much I actually liked it from Del. She seems nice, but the only person I can trust with that level of confidence is Teegan.

“So you don’t want me to ban him from the bar or kick his ass?” She smirks as she swipes our empty glasses from the bar.

The buzz of liquor finally hits while I part ways with the cushy barstool. “Not this time, but I’ll keep you in the loop for any future problems.”

“I’m here to help.” Her eyes sharpen, pinning me where I stand. “With anything—and I mean,anything.”

“That sounds ominous,” I quip, adjusting my dress.

“I mean it, Stevie. If I can help, I will.”

Smiling, I pat my hand over the counter. “Thanks, Del.”

“You’re welcome.” She nods before turning away from the counter. “Do you need a ride out of here?”

I open my mouth to tell her I’ll get a cab, when the scent of leather and motor oil engulfs me, making my head spin. “I’ll get her home, badass Del,” the gravelly voice from earlier responds for me.

“Touch her wrong, and I’ll fuck you up right here, Kash,” Del warns while pointing her finger in his direction, despite having her back turned to us.

How does she do that?

“Del, I thought we were friends,” he pouts. “I’m not a deviant likethat.”

I stumble over my platforms, just barely catching myself onKash’sarm. I’m pretty sure this man is more of a deviant than everyone in this room.

“Bold of you to assume we’re friends.” Del laughs. “Get out of my bar, Butcher.”

Chapter ten

Kash

“Come on, blondie,” I huff a laugh at her buzzed state. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

Her delicate hand briefly grips my forearm before falling away. The hairs on my arms rise from the sudden rush of cool air that replaced her delicious heat.Fuck.One touch, one innocent touch already has me going. Granted, I was already wired hot when I saw Mack with her at the table, and again when I listened to Stone pound into her in the bathroom. That shit was without a doubt the hottest experiences of my life, and that’s saying something.

“I can’t le-leave withyou,” she hiccups, pointing to her sexy as sin dress and platformheels.

A groan of appreciation vibrates through my chest. If the seed of obsession wasn’t already planted, it sure as fuck would be now. Nothing is more attractive than a woman who knows what attire issafefor riding.

Swiping my hand over my mouth, I wipe away the goofy smirk that slipped through. “We’ll get a cab, sweetheart.”

“He’s cuteandsmart,” she snorts as she walks towards the exit. “A little bit of a creeper, but we can’t all be perfect.”

Creeper?What the hell happened to being a cutie?

“Butcher,” Del snaps.

With an irritated sigh, I flick my stare in her direction. “Yeah?”

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