Page 70 of Filthy and the Beast

“What?”

“He lives in your house, and you have sex basically every night, but you haven’t let him into your bedroom?”

Literally every night.

“It doesn’t have to be weird.” I bristle. “We respect each other’s boundaries.”

Nat shrugs. “Okay. Maybe you like it with these boundaries up. It sounds like he enjoys his private life, too. In that case, you can leave things like they are. There’s nothing wrong with your current arrangement.” She kicks her other leg out, shifting her stretch. “But it’s not like you have a lot of love interests. If you think there’s something more there, you should talk to him.”

I grunt. She acts like it’s so easy. Like I should just know how, when he’s a fucking ball of happiness and I’m me.

Damn it. Everything hurts. I want him so bad. Even when he’s in my arms, it doesn’t slake my thirst.

Exhaustion settles in. Can’t solve this problem by thinking about it. Just need to get back in shape, fix my own life. Prove I’m good enough for him.

I’ll visit the lake later. Get a little peace of mind there. At least the birds won’t make me talk about my emotions.

“Burpees,” I grunt.

Nat gives me a sympathetic smile. “Sure. Let’s do some burpees.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

DAMIAN

“You seethat triad at the end of the bar?” Ares asks. “Three women, one in a dress?”

I see them, all with their arms around each other. It’s Friday night, and the club is getting busy, so I have to lean in and raise my voice to be heard over the thudding electronic music. “Shaved head, face piercings, and pretty pink dress?”

“Rolling Rock for Sinead O’Connor. Metal face gets a soda with lime. And a Cosmo for Anastasia in the designer wear.”

I nod. “Got it.”

I turn my attention to the drinks, staying focused because the lines are not letting up. Though it’s only my second week, I’m finding the flow, so Ares, impressed, graduated me to weekend shifts early.

I’m excited. I love the club. But I hadn’t quite understood how stressful tending bar would be, especially when everyone is either too horny or too orgasmed to think straight.

It’s so busy tonight I haven’t even shared my latest dog video with the regulars.

I deliver the drinks to the triad. “Love the chains.” I gesture to my own face to show the woman in the middle what I mean.

She smiles widely, the studs at her dimples rising. “Thanks!”

“Damian, hi!”

I take a card from the customer as I turn. Ellie, a newcomer I met the other night, gives me an eager wave.

“Hey! You came back.”

She nods eagerly. “And I took your suggestion. I tried coconut oil for lube, and it was amazing!” She was complaining about her skin sensitivities and different lube brands. I’m geeked I had the right answer for her.

“Cool!” I smile sincerely. “Just remember, never with a latex condom! It will break the condom down.”

Before I can say more, Ares walks behind me. “Glasses piling up. The twink at the end of the bar is an ass, and heads up, he won’t tip. But you’ll save yourself a headache if you don’t sass him.”

“Got it.” Simultaneously, Ellie gives me her drink order.

I hurry to the other end of the bar, glad I wore sneakers. My hands flying, I pour a drink for Ellie and one for the angry twink. The dirty glasses make their way to the sink as I explain the private room policy to an eager couple. By the time I rejoin Ares in the middle of the bar a couple minutes later, I’ve closed a card out and served a line of singles.

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