Page 62 of Rock Giant

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I can read your thoughts on the matter just by looking at you looking at my boyfriend and girlfriend making out.Here’s the thing.The green-eyed monster doesn’t visit when I see them like this.I’m just pleased they’re happy.You on the other hand, are contemplating ways in which to part Nash’s head from his shoulders.”

“He’s not good for her.”

“That’s not for you to decide.”

Paul grouched.He was perfectly fucking aware of that.Otherwise, he’d be out there welcoming her with a full-body snog, not in here watching Xane turn Dani into a blancmange.

Spook clapped him on his other shoulder.“We’re on your side, despite what you might think.”

“That right.How are you?”

“Got an icebreaker lined up for tonight to get us all working as a big happy family.”

“’cause that’s not at all disturbing.”He still hadn’t got used to this new, more talkative, more proactive version of Spook.The guy still had plenty of moody-git days, but there were phases of gregariousness between them that he found disorientating.Also, Spook was a sadist, any activities he proposed required in-depth scrutiny before agreeing to participate in.His idea of helping them all get along likely involved roping them all together for the next forty-eight hours.Or worse, team sports.“Think I’ll pass, mate.”

“Even if it gets you full body contact time with the lovely Jodi?”

“What?”

“Please don’t encourage him, Spook,” Xane muttered in between kisses.

“I thought we agreed a forty-eight-hour ban on mentioning her,” Ash said.

Spook shot him a grin.“Technically, only Paul’s banned from mentioning her.I can say Jodi as many times as I like.Jodi.Jodi.Oh, Jodi.”

“Stop it,” Xane said, smirking.

“Okay, let’s hear it,” Paul could feel his blood pressure spiking every time Spook said her name.Genuine time with her would make the inevitable bruises sustained in playing one of Spook’s games worth it.

“It involves socks,” Spook said cryptically.Then pushed ahead of them and disappeared into the bathroom before they could grill him further.

“Did he just propose a wanking game?”Paul asked.

Xane finally put Dani back on her feet and reinstated his shades.“Seems as likely as unlikely.I’m not sure how that involves you getting quality time with your missus mind—”

Xane was still talking about potential hurdles and difficulties, but Paul had stopped hearing him after the honorific—missus.He slapped their frontman on the back.“You can be all right, sometimes.Even likeable.”

“Oh-kay.I’m still gonna offer to hold you still while Nash pisses down your throat if you don’t stay away from her.”

He reckoned he’d missed the first part of the threat when his hearing stalled over missus.Still, he got a kick out of repeating the word that made his cock excitable.

“You know threating him is totally the wrong approach,” Dani said, from where she was now tucked beneath Xane’s arm.“It makes him sixty per cent more likely to do the opposite of what you want.”

More like a hundred and sixty, although, in this case, he was planning to show some restraint, but only because Jodi had requested it.Xane could swivel, even if he was all right sometimes.

As to Spook’s sock game, he guessed they’d find out post-gig.

CHAPTER 21

Paul “Rock Giant” Reed

“How much longer till we can get out of here?”Ash asked.

A show had been played.Fans rocked.Showers taken.The two bands were now making a go of harmonising by way of some social drinking in a hotel suite booked for an after party.So far, despite the alcohol, and a medley of extras there for the prestige, it was all very stiff, with everyone divided into us and them camps.The only good thing about it was the free booze, which they were all knocking back to deaden the pure discomfort of being made to interact.Honestly, no amount of corporate nurturing would forge friendships out of thin air or dowse the tension that defined every interaction.Plus, Paul still hadn’t had a chance to say hello to Jodi.She was nestled between the Ghost Boys, two of them on either side of her, like she was a mafia queen, and they were her muscle.Somewhat weedy muscle, but the analogy stood.He was sorely tempted to just walk over there and start things rolling by sayin, “Hey babe, wanna go somewhere I can worship your pussy”, but Xane and Ash had already shoved him back into his seat twice, and Ronnie was currently sprawled across his, Alle, and Spook’s laps doing… Actually, he didn’t know what the hell he was doing.He gave him a push, which sent him rolling under the table.

Also, he wouldn’t actually say that to Jodi.Too crude, and he was not a crude man.He did totally want to lick her out though.