Page 16 of Reflex

A bemused grin spread across Ash’s face.“I’ve no idea about you, big guy, but I’ve a sleepover booked with a gorgeous and mysterious lady on that yacht, right there—” He jabbed a finger against the glass.“TheAndiamo, she’s called.”

Xane clapped him on the back.“Sounds fun, but I’m pretty sure you mean a shag-athon with your fiancée.”

“Watch it, Xane.Are you suggesting I’m not gorgeous or mysterious?”Ginny jabbed him in the stomach.She barely reached his nipples even in her heels.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Ash’s lips quirked, but his expression seemed more wistful than amused.“I can’t deny that was what I had in mind when I booked it.After tonight, I reckon I’m good with snuggles and some decent shut-eye in a bed that isn’t a box.I’m all toured out.”

Ginny looked less than pleased with that announcement.

“Hey,” he pulled her back into an embrace.“I’m just saying maybe we’ll save the shagging for tomorrow and have a nice long lazy lie in bed.”

“Babe,” she replied.“I’ve new fishnet stockings you haven’t seen, but sure, we can put that off until tomorrow.”

That got a laugh all round, even Spook felt his lips tug upwards at the corners.Truth was they were all so easily manipulated, slaves to their desires.Except him.He couldn’t let himself slide down that slippery slope, no matter how hard Alle tugged on the rope she had wound around his neck.

“Have you a new pair for him to admire for every day of our rest break?”Rock Giant enquired.

Ginny tapped the side of her nose.“Wouldn’t you just like to know?”

“What are you planning on doing, Spook?”Liam asked.He’d acquired another cocktail, actually two of them.One of which he rather expectantly handed over.It looked like a muddy puddle, and tasted of rum and orange.

“Shagging the red-haired temptress that wants into his pants if he’s any sense.”Rock Giant patted him on the back.“Reckon you’ll get a sympathy fuck off her no problem at the minute.Chicks get soppy over injuries.”

“I can punch you if you want to test that out,” Spook suggested.Paul wasn’t to know he had no space for her in his head at the moment.On the other hand, there was an ache in his bones that punching something might fix.The snakes were back again too, slithering over his skin in a way that made him want to tear off his flesh.

Paul squinted at him, while the rest of them laughed.All of them bar Xane, whose gaze slid over him in his typically perceptive way.

“Do you wanna—” his friend began.

“I want another one of these,” Spook announced, holding up his empty glass.He split off from the huddle in the direction of the bar.No, he did not what toeffingtalk.Not about what had happened at the arena, and especially not about Allegra.Förbaskat!He’d told Xane that already.There was no need for him to repeat himself.Twenty… forty minutes, whatever it was, hadn’t changed his mind on that point, nor would another forty or a hundred and forty.Not a thousand million and forty.

Jaw clenched, he motored on to the bar.

Xane caught up with him as he neared the highly polished counter.“Spook.”He swept a hand back through his black waist-length hair.

“What?”

The retort earned him a slow blink, and an even slower shake of the head.“Nothing.Get your drink.”