“There’s an Uber waiting,” I inform him as we descend the stairs.
“Oh, I was going to—”
“Enjoy yourself,” I finish for him.
“If you call watching every other guy in the room eye fuck you, then yeah, it should be a great night.” I smile to myself, glad he can’t see how happy his little jealous streak makes me.
“Fuck them, Spike. You’re the only one I’m going home with.”
“Damn fucking straight.”
We climb into the awaiting car and head off to meet the others.
Spike explains about the Pear Tree being their local, and I realise just how true that is when we walk in and the guy behind the bar greets him by name. Without looking, Spike directs me to a booth at the back of the huge bar.
Zach, Biff, Titch, Danni and D have already started without us, from the looks of the empty glasses littering the table. All of them look happy to see us—apart from Zach, who assesses both of us as we walk toward him.
“Here she is, our newest little Rebel,” Titch announces before getting up and walking to the bar to get the round of shots that Spike already warned me about.
“Why are you so late?” Zach barks.
“Don’t look at me,” Spike says with his hands up in surrender. “I wasn’t the one curling my hair.” He flicks me a look that makes me laugh as I slide into the booth beside my brother.
“Shots are up,” Titch says, returning with a tray full of neon green drinks for everyone. Well, everyone aside from Danni, it seems.
“Work night,” she says with a shrug, but while the guys ignore her comment, I don’t miss the look between her and Biff and the small smiles on their lips. It seems there’s much more to her work night excuse than she wants to let on.
Before they notice my attention, I turn back to the guys.
“So, you haven’t changed your mind yet, then?” D asks me.
“No way—as much as I’d love to leave him with a half-done tat on his arse.”
D’s eyes widen. “He let you ink him? That fucker’s never let me anywhere near his skin.”
“I guess I’m lucky then.”
“Show us,” Titch pipes up, much to Spike’s horror.
“I’m not showing you my arse in the middle of the bar,” Spike sulks.
“Fucking pussy, get that shot down your neck and show us. It won’t be the first time we’ve seen your naked arse, although usually it’s while you’re ploughing your cock into some randomer.”
“Carter,” Danni gasps, slapping his shoulder.
“What? It’s true,” he argues, while Spike pales.
I shake my head at him. His past is his past, just like mine is mine. There’s nothing we can do to change it, no matter how much we might not like it.
“Now, drop your pants, man. We want to see her handiwork.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Spike mutters, but he clearly decides against arguing because he stands and shows everyone at the table the top half of his arse.
“Oh damn, girl. That’s a hell of a lot better than the first one I did,” Titch says, making my chest swell with pride.
“Really?” I try to fight my smile, but I can’t stop it from forming.
“Hell, yeah.”
“What about your first, Biff? I assume Zach is sporting the evidence,” I say, turning the attention away from the two of us.
“Of course. You gonna show it off?” she asks, turning to Zach.
Shifting away from her side, he lifts his shirt, showing off the fresh ink on his ribs.
Everyone around the table bursts out laughing at the sight while Biff smiles.
“You inked a fucking pussy cat on him?” D asks, his eyes wide in shock.
“It’s part of a bigger design, but yeah, I put my stamp on him.” She winks.
“Fucking hell, you’re so fucking whipped,” D complains, looking at Zach before briefly flashing a glance to Spike.
The guys launch into stories about their first times and their tattoo horror stories from over the years. As if by magic, our drinks are continuously refilled, and by the time someone suggests moving on, my head is spinning nicely.
“The Avenue?” Titch asks, although from the way he says it, I already think the decision’s been made. We make our way outside before heading to the club.
“See, I told you it would be okay,” I say to Spike once we're outside the club, waiting in line.
“The night is still young, Tiny.”
I glance over at my brother where he has Biff backed up against the building. “I don’t think we’re his main focus right now.”
“Fucking hell,” Spike mutters, turning his back on the love birds.
“You’re just jealous,” I say with a smile.
He’s silent for a moment before he drops his lips to my ear. “I’ve been hard since I saw you in those shorts earlier. All I can think about is sliding deep inside you, feeling your pussy contract around me and teaching my little girl a lesson. So yeah, I’m fucking jealous that he gets to do that, and I can’t so much as touch you.”
I whimper, my need for what he just described sending my alcohol-fuelled brain right into the gutter.
“You’re already wet for me, aren’t you, Tiny?”
“Maybe you should find out,” I taunt, taking a step forward and toward the bouncer who, predictably, asks for my ID.
I hand it over, feeling like a child hanging out with all these adults, before he nods and allows me inside. I really didn’t need a reminder of the age difference between me and Spike, but as I walk inside beside him, I don’t think it’s been any more obvious to me.
“Going down?” Titch shouts over his shoulder, although he doesn’t wait for a response, he just heads for the stairs.
We find a patch of space at the opposite end of the bar and Titch sets about ordering us more drinks.
We all down two shots before Biff and Danni take my hands and drag me out to the dancefloor.
Thankfully, they don’t make any attempt to talk. Biff knows what’s been going
