“The men I have at home are giving me a headache. I don’t need a new one.”
He laughed and leaned his elbows on the bar and his glossy red fingernails caught the light and twinkled. “Sorry to hear that. If you change your mind, I’ll be around. I’m Mabrey.” He flashed another sweet smile and went off to get a bloke a drink. It irritated me that I wasn’t interested because he had a perky arse, but I just wanted to be at home—or hell, even back at Sloan’s house with Aspen, as much as he’d been half the reason I left.
I hated this shite.
“Feck,” I snapped under my breath, and I downed the drink I’d been working on, then took the next one, which I assumed had been a freebie from wee Mabrey to butter me up. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I was surprised it was Rowen and not Aspen. I’d taken off without saying where I was going earlier, and Aspen hadn’t asked. It wasn’t like him to pry.
The incoming call was video, and with a shrug, I accepted.
Rowen’s smiling face had my heart warming because I even missed him, twat that he was. His reddish-blond hair was combed straight back, as if maybe he’d just showered. I drank in the sight of him because he reminded me of home. His happiness wilted into a scowl. “Where are ye?”
My heart sank. “Phryne’s Cabaret. What of it?”
“Where’s Aspen?” His lips pursed, and a familiar anger worked its way through me. He’d been able to infuriate me in seconds since we were children, and I was about ready to toss my phone on the floor and stomp on it.
“Did ye call to talk to me or him?”
“He isn’t there?” Rowen sighed and rubbed his temple with one finger—the middle one. “I’m glad I called alone. Vail and Fallon would be hurt if they knew ye were off fucking strangers after everything ye’ve said to them.”
“I’m not! And besides, what do ye know about what I have and haven’t promised them. I’m not ye. I don’t say a bunch of stupid shite after I’m done getting me cock serviced.” I slammed down my drink and real fury crackled through my veins and buzzed in my stomach.
Rowen shook his head, as if he didn’t believe me, and I wished he was here so I could strangle him. “We all tested together, yeeejit. Now we’re gonna have to wait again. Vail will be talking about going back on PrEP. They’re gonna be hurt, ye realize this?”
“Ye feckin’ wanker. I haven’t done anything wrong and I’m not intending to. I’m just out having a drink.”
He shook his head in a perfect imitation of my ma. Did he know he was doing it? Probably not. I would’ve laughed if I wasn’t so ready to punch him. “Ye could be out having a drink anywhere. Why there if ye’re not up to no good? And why isn’t Aspen with ye?”
“Maybe I needed a bloody minute to think without someone getting into my head,” I growled.
His expression mellowed a bit, but he still looked like he didn’t believe a word I’d said, and I was shocked as something unpleasant, a hurt, woke up in my chest, and I rubbed it.
“Ye don’t trust me. I’m just here to think.”
Rowen snorted. “Not surrounded by pussy and cute arses all alone I don’t. No, not one bit.”
“Feck ye,” I snapped.
“Wait, Cillian. I’m sorry, ye don’t—”
I hung up on him and slammed my phone down on the bar. “Feck ye, Rowen. And feck ye, Aspen, and feck everyone else, too,” I grumbled under my breath.
Truth be told, I was horny, but no one here would satisfy the itch under my skin. I didn’t want to bust my nuts in a random hole or I would’ve already done it. No, the problem I had was a more dangerous beast. My foul mood got worse and worse as I nursed the whiskey from Mabrey, and as the hour he’d mentioned grew later he slid across to stand in front of me again. He circled one of his red fingernails around his left nipple.
“What do you think? You’re still here.” The smile he gave me was gorgeous, that was for sure, and I sighed and eyed him up. He would be a sweet little thing to toss around in the bed, but I shook my head.
“Thanks, but I’m set.”
Strong arms slid around me, and Mabrey smirked. I didn’t have to look to know it was Aspen because I could tell from the way his body fit against mine and the bright cologne that drifted into my nose. The embrace hurt like hell because of my sunburn, but I leaned against him. I’d missed the prick.
“Oh. I wouldn’t mind if you both wanted to join me.” Mabrey’s eyes grew wider and he flashed a grin over my shoulder. “Two Daddies would be perfect.”
“No,” I snarled before Aspen could say a word.
“Oh, does he top you? I wouldn’t mind sharing with you, then.” His eyebrows shot up, and my entire body boiled with something close to shame, followed by a healthy heaping of irritation.
“Okay, I was being nice, but no more. Feck off. He’s mine.”
Rather than being offended, Mabrey merely grinned at both of us. “Have a good night, guys. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself with that sexy Irish accent and all those muscles. You’re lucky,” he said to Aspen, then wandered off toward another man at the far end of the bar, maybe his backup plan for the night.
