“I need to ask you something, tell you something. Fuck.” Jay scrubs his hands down his face.
Poor fucker looks terrified, and I decide to go easy on him. “If this is about Ash, just spit it out, mate.”
Shock splays across his face. “You know?”
“I’ve suspected.”
His shoulders visibly relax, and he finds his balls, straightening up and projecting confidence. “I love her, Dillon.”
I stop packing my clothes. “For real?” I scrutinize his face, inspecting his reaction.
“Yes. I really fucking love her. To be honest, I always have. I just never thought I’d have a chance. Cill got there first, and after that all turned to shite, you warned me off.”
A sigh cleaves from my lips. I flop down on the bed. “I shouldn’t have interfered though I’m not sorry I did. Ash wasn’t in a good place after everything with Cillian.” I snarl his name. I still can’t think of that prick without feeling murderous rage. I’ve seen him a couple times in Kilcoole, and he’s attempted to speak to me, but I always give him the cold shoulder. Hell will freeze over before I ever talk to that asshole again.
Jay sits down beside me. “I know, and I never would’ve tried anything.” He eyeballs me. “You must think I’m a total prick if you think I’d make a play for her when she was clearly heartbroken.”
“I think you were a horny prick who thought you could help.”
He glares at me. “I still wouldn’t have taken advantage of her!”
“I know you wouldn’t.” I clamp a hand on his shoulder. “I shouldn’t have cock-blocked you, but I was just trying to protect her. It wasn’t really about you.”
“Fuck off, Dil.” His aggrieved expression pins me in place. “It was totally about me, and I get it. I’ve fucked around with lots of girls, and you want someone decent for Ash, but I swear to you, Dillon, no one will love her as much as I do because I really, really fucking love her.” He thumps a clenched fist over his heart. “I’m done with other girls. Ash is all I want, and she seems to want me too, and I’m not fucking it up this time.”
That confirms something definitely happened with them last summer. “What are you asking?”
“I want your permission to go out with her. Officially. I want to make her mine.”
“I’m not the one you should be asking. You don’t need my permission. You’re both adults.”
“You’re a real fucking prick at times, Dil.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” I claw a hand through my hair. “I shouldn’t have gotten in your way, and I won’t stand in your way now. If you are who Ash wants, I won’t interfere.”
“Thank fuck.” His face explodes with happiness, and I feel like a right cunt for denying him something he’s clearly wanted for a long time. But I don’t regret it. I don’t think the timing was right for them before. I’m hoping it is now. Seeing my best mate and my sister happy together would be the icing on the cake.
“I’m happy for you, Jay.” I squeeze his shoulder more firmly. “But you better treat her right. One false move, one fucking tear, and I’ll lay into you worse than I ever laid into that prick Doyle.”
“You don’t need to worry. I’m gonna treat her like a queen.”
“See that you do, mate.” I stand, and he jumps up, grabbing me into a hug. “You’re already family, Jay. Nothing would make me happier than if that ever became official.”
“Oh my god, Dillon, stop!” Viv hisses, latching on to my wrist under the table and stalling my upward trajectory.
“I can’t help it,” I whisper in her ear, brushing the tips of my fingers against her bare thigh. “I need my hands on you like I need air to breathe.”
Her features soften, and her guard lowers, and I don’t hesitate to take advantage, pulling out of her grip and dropping my hand to her pussy. I manage to push her knickers aside and run one finger between her slit before she yanks my hand away.
“Fucking stop, Dil,” she snaps, pressing her mouth to my ear. “You are not fingering me at your mother’s dinner table. Stop this now, or no sex for a month.”
I narrow my eyes as she digs her nails into my hand. “You wouldn’t dare.” Not when we only have ten weeks left before she’s due to go home. Vivien loves sex as much as I do. She’d never last a whole month without it. Wrenching my hand from her grip again, I lower it to her thigh, keeping it stationary as we battle this out.
“Try me. I dare you.” Her face carries considerable warning.
“Earth to lover boy,” Shane barks, nudging me from the other side. “Get your paws off your woman, and pass your brother the spuds.”
Vivien’s blush is instant, and I should probably feel bad about it, but I don’t. I will never apologize for being horny for my woman.
