ChapterOne
Jackson
“I need to get laid,”I say with a groan as I slump onto one of the sofas my friends are currently occupying at some trendy bar in Chelsea that I’ve completely forgotten the name of.
“Why do you always make that sound like it’s some kind of chore?” Deacon asks with a chuckle.
Umm…because it is? Unlike my best friend, Skyler, whose libido doesn’t seem to have an off-switch, I really don’t get all horny like this that often. Which is probably why I’m not any good at all the flirting and flattering crap. Why bother developing a game if you’re never going to play it, right?
“No,” Drew says with an eye roll, “why do you always have to announce it?”
“Hey, leave him alone,” Skyler demands, jumping to my defense like usual. “Jackson hardly ever hooks up. Not like the two of you, rolling around with your billionaire boyfriends every second of the day.”
That might be aslightexaggeration of the facts, but it wouldn’t be wrong to say we’ve seen a fair bit less of both Deacon and Drew since they each settled down with their respective guys at the end of last year. I still see Drew at work every day, of course—we co-own a luxury auto-repairs business—and Deacon still puts in an effort on the weekends, but apparently weeknight drinking ends when you get into a relationship.
Deacon’s brows shoot up at Skyler’s comment and he shares a look with Drew. “Did we just get slut-shamed bySkyler?Mr. Hit-It-and-Quit-It?”
“That’s what it sounded like,” Drew says with a smirk. “Is that hypocrisy or irony? I totally sucked at the SAT verbal.”
“Definitely hypocrisy,” Deacon says with a nod.
Skyler lets out a dramatic huff. “I can’t help it if guys just happen to trip and fall butt-first onto my cock the second they catch sight of this beautiful face.”
“Yeah, that sounds like an accurate interpretation of events,” Deacon says dryly.
Skyler shrugs. “True story. This face, and this body…they’re like moths to a flame.”
“Moths catch fire when they fly into flames,” Drew points out.
A suggestive smile spreads over Skyler’s face. “Yeah they do.”
Drew exchanges a curious glance with Deacon. “What’s supposed to be sexy about insects burning to death?”
“I just heard “catch fire” and assumed you were talking about the epic experience of having sex with me. The Kings of Leon wrote a song about it, you know.”
You’d think listening to Skyler brag about all the sex he has with men would be enough to kill my buzz, but I’m so used to his antics after more than twenty years of friendship that I’ve become completely desensitized to this kind of thing.
And I know from experience that nothing’s going to get rid of this itch except actually getting laid. I don’t care who it is—I’ve never been all that fussy when it comes to women—all that matters is that she’s over twenty-one, she has decent hygiene standards, and she’s cool with a quick fuck in the bathroom. Just call me Prince fucking Charming.
I consider leaving the group and making my rounds through the crowded bar, but it’s so packed in here...and dark…and loud. Shockingly, not all that many women like it when a guy who looks like he just stepped off the set ofSons of Anarchyrubs up against them in the dark and yells an invitation to screw in their ear. It’s easier in the low-key places we usually hang out at, because I can generally count on a woman to approach me, rather than the other way around.
“What are you doing?” Skyler asks curiously from over my shoulder as I scroll through my phone.
“Looking for a hook-up.”
I open one of the rarely used apps on my phone, set the radius to five hundred feet and start swiping.
“If you want help finding a hook-up, I can come with you to talk to girls,” he offers, making my lips curve up. I appreciate the offer, but Skyler would be my wing man for about two minutes before spotting some hot guy in the crowd and disappearing for the rest of the night.
“I’m good,” I assure him.
It only takes a few minutes for me to set something up with a match—definitely better than trying to find someone in the crowd.
Getting to my feet, I slip my phone back in my pocket. “Alright, I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Do you need me to come with you?” Skyler asks.
“You know, you don’t have to doeverythingtogether,” Deacon says wryly. “Pretty sure Jax knows where he’s supposed to put it.”
