Page 82 of Full Out Fiend
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
I’m different. I’m different in a million ways, all of which are major improvements. I’ve never felt so content or this wonderfully alive.
“Do I have to go?” I whine, as if Daphne has any say in the matter, rolling to my back but dragging her right along with me. I position half her body over my bare chest, careful not to jostle her too much or put pressure on her midsection.
“I just want to stay here. Cuddle you. Make you come again,” I tease, licking up the side of her neck as she mewls in my arms.
Now that she’s into the third trimester and we’re sure her placenta isn’t covering her cervix, we’ve gotten the all-clear to resume normal activity. We’ve spent the vast majority of our time together in bed over the last few weeks making up for lost time.
I’m always sure she’ll be too tired after a long day on her feet, but the farther into the pregnancy she gets, the more insatiable my woman becomes.
She rolls her hips against my leg, but she’s just teasing me at this point. We’re both sated and slack in each other’s arms: wholly satisfied after an entire afternoon of fucking.
“You promised your friends you’d be there,” she reminds me, running her hands through my curls as we cuddle. “Plus, based on the little I know about said friends, I wouldn’t put it past them to make good on their threat and show up here if you don’t go to them.”
She’s not wrong.
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to come out with me?”
She sighs against my shoulder, then kisses my bicep before answering. “The Oak isn’t exactly my scene right now. I already picked up a stranger there and got knocked up with his child. I’ve officially peaked.”
I kiss the ticklish spot between her neck and shoulder until she’s writhing and begging me to stop.
“And I invited Serena over for a girls’ night, remember? Go out and have fun with your friends. I doubt you’ll get many more chances like tonight once Elowyn is here.”
Blowing out a long breath, I sit up. I need to shower. And eat something. I might as well get this over with so I can come home as soon as possible. “You’re right that I won’t have many more nights like this—but I can’t wait for Winnie to get here. Then I’ll have a legitimate excuse to blow off everyone else and stay home with my best two girls.”
I swivel on my bar stool, somehow both bored and overstimulated by all the chaos that is The Oak on a Saturday night. Jake’s behind the bar working his tail off since half the staff is sitting beside me, celebrating Anwar. I’m surrounded by friends: guys I’ve known for years, people I used to live with on a part-time basis, and yet I feel lonely and out of place.
It’s strange to experience a sense of detachment in this particular group. I honestly think I have my shit together more than every single one of my buddies—Dem excluded, of course—which is embarrassing for them, considering we’re all edging toward thirty. Speaking of my brother… I’m surprised he didn’t get wrangled into coming back to town for these shenanigans. I make a mental note to ask how the hell he got out of this when I talk to him next.
“All right, boys, let’s throw one back for the man of the hour,” Teddy declares, passing around shots like they’re candy.
Begrudgingly, I stare at the little tumbler and consider my options. I’ve been nursing the same beer all night. Knowing this group, throwing back this shot and accepting that I’m stuck at the bar for another hour or so will likely be easier than trying to get out of it. Worst-case scenario: I can call a Lyft to take me home if I want to leave sooner.
I run my finger along the rim of the precariously full shot glass, waiting on everyone else to get situated. Sliding my phone out of my pocket with my other hand, I do a double-take when I realize I have a text from Daphne. In all the chaos, I didn’t even feel it vibrate.
I dim the screen and open the Messages app to find a selfie of her and Serena, both with some freaky-looking face masks on their skin.
Yep. That. Right there on the screen. That’s exactly where I want to be right now. Sitting on the couch, relaxing with my woman. I’d even let her put a damn face mask on me if it would make her smile.
Accepting my fate, I stash my phone and look at Teddy, waiting for him to stop rambling so I can throw back the shot. I didn’t bother asking what it was, so the distinct singe of cinnamon in my nostrils is the only warning I get before Fireball slides down my throat.
I’m not even done grimacing from the burn of the whiskey when a meaty hand grips my shoulder, digging in hard enough to make me hiss.
I bat the hand away and spin around, wishing I had any shits left to give when I come face-to-face with Anthony Adley.
This fucker.
He’s smirking already, which immediately puts me on edge. A quick glance tells me he’s alone, which also doesn’t work in my favor. If his asshole brother was with him, I’d just call Jake over, and they’d both be gone.
Looks like I’m on my own.
“Can I help you?” I deadpan, staring at him with a blank expression.
His smirk deepens before he replies. “How’d I know I’d find you here?”
I roll my eyes, but I don’t bother arguing with him. This fool doesn’t know a damn thing about me. I had to force myself out tonight, away from the woman he treated like garbage. There’s only one place I really want to be right now. It sure as hell isn’t in this bar.