Page 76 of Darkness of Mine

“He hugged you.”

I gape at him. “Seriously? It’s Josh, River. Him and Luke are practically already married, not to mention he’s one hundred percent gay.”

“He still touched you. I’m tempted to make it another rule that only we’re allowed to do that.”

I roll my eyes only to jolt as the buzzing at my core comes back full force.

“Attitude, Freya.”

The vibrations lower and I glower at him as I catch my breath. “You’re being ridiculous.”

River lifts a shoulder. “Maybe. But tonight, there’s not much you can do about it.” Then to prove his point he increases the vibrations higher than the five he used in the bathroom.

The toy hits dual spots, the sensations gripping my core and sending shudders through my body. I grab Eli and Oz’s thighs and grit my teeth, torn between wanting the vibrations to stop because we’re in the middle of a freaking bar and needing them to continue, to let me find the climax River’s taunting me with.

The toy stops.

My panties are soaked and it’s not till the young man’s voice hits my ears that I realize the waiter is here.

“Are you okay, miss?” Matty asks. He’s skinny as a twig with acne dotting his face and he can’t be more than eighteen.

I go to assure him I’m fine when the vibrations start again. Not as high this time, just a low-level hum which ripples through me.

“Miss?”

River looks at me. “She’s just feeling a little flustered. Tell the man what you want to eat, Freya.”

He’s enjoying this too much.

I turn to Matty. “I’ll take a burger and fries. And a caramel—” My voice hitches as the toy increases speed. I grit my teeth. “A caramel milkshake.”

Matty eyes me, his cheeks a bright red. He must have already taken the others’ orders because he hurries off.

“You know you’ve probably traumatized the poor kid,” I tell River.

Eli covers his laugh with a curled fist. “Either that or he’s going to jack off in the bathroom.”

I whack his arm with the back of my hand and turn to River. “Can I at least eat my meal in peace?Sir.”

River’s lips twitch at the scorn in my tone. “We’ll see.”

The vibrations drop back to the lowest level, and I settle into the booth somehow simultaneously pissed at River and grateful for the reprieve.

Across from me, Jude fiddles with the napkin holder, tilting it on one corner and spinning it around. “You know,” he says. “This is our first official date night, all of us together.”

I give him a half-smile, one eyebrow raised. “Date night. Is that what this is?”

He puts the napkin holder down, his fingers still spider-ed on top of it as his eyes lock on mine. “Yeah, it is.”

I press my smile between my lips. “In which case, we should do them more often.”

Jude nods, his own smile hiding behind his eyes, and flowers unfurl in my chest. Since our talk in the hospital, when I told him I loved him, it feels like I’ve gotmyJude back and relief warms my heart.

Matty comes back with our drinks, studiously avoiding me as he places them on the table. I blush and glare at River again.

Eli snickers. He takes a sip of his beer. “So, what’s the play here?” he asks once Matty’s left.

River puts his phone on the table, the screen lit up with the app controlling my personalized torture device—because it’s fast becoming clear that’s exactly what the toy is. He traces his finger over the screen, taunting me with his control. “Well, Freya here, seems to be having trouble using her words.”