I had a sudden urge to kiss her again. I didn’t want her to leave this car without tasting those perfect lips again. So, that charm I’ve always worked so well, came into play. I smirked as I stared, I knew she wanted me to kiss her. Her tongue rolled over her lips to wet them, getting them ready for me. My thumb stroked her cheek gently and as my fingers threaded into her hair. I leaned forward and took her lips with mine. My lips were firm, but my tongue was soft though as it delved between the seam of her lips. She instantly parted them for me and I kissed her deeply, tugging her as close as I could over the central console that was stuck between us. She groaned softly,and I followed as my dick hardened. There was no way he was coming out to play, though. Not today anyway. Our tongues met and slid together as I pushed my other hand into her hair andheld her still. Her fingers gripped my T-shirt as she kissed me back, totally devouring each other and all consuming, then she reached her hand up. Her fingers teased my neck as they moved against my skin.
She gasped heavily as she dragged her lips from mine. All I wanted to do was take her upstairs, of course I knew I couldn’t. She wasn’t Nikki. I think that was why I liked her.
Karen wasn’t like anyone I’d ever met before. I knew I’d have to be careful. I was used to one-night stands or just sex. No commitment, no feelings.
“I better go.” She tidied up her hair after my fingers were in it and she licked her lips again. “I’ll see you soon,” she pushed open the door, “thanks again for today, Gav.”
“The pleasure was all mine.”
She smiled as she closed the door. I waited until she disappeared through the door and then I pulled away. As I drove home, my mind went to the casino again. It was weird how I hadn't thought about gambling while I’d been with Karen. Was that a good thing? Now I’m on my own again though, the thought crept into my head and chipped away at my brain. No. I couldn’t. Instead, I made sure to take the long way back to Roman’s. The long way took an extra fifteen minutes but if it meant I didn’t see the place, I couldn’t be tempted to stop.
Once I crept into Roman’s house for the last time, I quickly undressed and slid beneath the sheets. But all that was on my mind was that kiss, and how she made me smile. It’s been a long time since anyone, let alone a woman has had me smiling, without it being forced.
Nikki was hellbent on getting us all out for drinks after Karen had told her about her friend’s bar. Personally, I wasn’t up for it. I always felt like I was being constantly watched when we were out in a group. But here we are anyway.
The music played around us as we sat in a booth in Emerald, the Irish bar Karen brought me to the other day. I covered a yawn with my hand as I picked my beer up in the other. I was exhausted. Who knew when I’d turned into this old man that couldn’t do a bit of manual work and then go out on the lash. I was only twenty-seven, for fuck’s sake. I’d spent the last couple of days getting everything moved from Roman’s, and into my own place. I left the telly I had in my room at Roman’s and bought a bigger one. A seventy-inch 4K UHD. It sat beautifully across the brick chimney breast. Paisley and Nikki helped, too, although Paisley couldn’t do too much as she was getting bigger by the day. She was almost seven months pregnant, but recently she’d been getting more tired and had begun getting swelling in her ankles, but getting her to rest and put her feet up was hard work in itself. I just figured that’s what happened when you got to that stage. I had no fucking idea, but apparently not always.
So, I made her rest while Roman and I brought the big items in.
I hadn’t said a word to Roman about spending time with Karen. It felt like I was betraying her in a way. I hadn’t seen her since our day at the park, and it felt a lot longer than just two days. She hadn’t been to the house either.
My gaze kept getting drawn to her as I stood at the end of the booth. The girls sat down round the table and chatted between them.
“Come on then, guys.” Karen’s friend Holly shouted over the music. “You know you all want one. These are on the house.” Everyone grabbed a shot glass, other than Paisley, and lifted them in a toast, then knocked them back. That was the first of many. Except Roman wouldn’t let her keep giving away drinks, so he threw his debit card to her and told her to set up a tab.
As the place got livelier, the music changed to some noughties dance music. To look at this place from the outside, you wouldn’t think it’s much, but it seemed that on a weekend, the place was hopping. Karen had introduced everyone to her friend when we arrived. It wasn’t too busy then, unlike now; it was packed. There has been a few glances over at Roman, nudges and whispers at who it is. And although he’s not mega popular, he is getting known. Soon he won’t be able to go anywhere without a proper team of security.
I placed my bottle on the table, “Don’t let any fucker touch my beer.” I turned away and left the table to take a piss. I fought my way through the crowd and reached the bathroom. I could see a queue for the ladies, but that was normal wherever you went.
Once I was done, I washed my hands and quickly dried them on a paper towel. As I left, I hadn’t even got to the end of the corridor when I heard someone shout me. I knew it was Nikki before I’d even looked around me. I turned to face her and waited for her to catch up.
“Where have you been hiding?”
“Nowhere.” It sounded a little snarky, even to my own ears, but she didn’t have any place to question me either. “Well, I barely saw you in the week, and then you moved into your place. So, I was just wondering.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but most of the time you don’t fucking care whether I’m there or in a ditch.”
Her shoulder’s tensed, but she stood firm. “That is so not true.” I looked over her head and into the crowd. As I dropped my gaze back to her, I smirked, “What’s up Nik, you having second thoughts?”
“No, why would I?”
I tipped her chin up with my fingers, “Because all the attention isn’t on you.”
“Oh please.”
“You called this Nik, you wanted to stop it, so don’t chase me because you want to go back on your word.”
“And you don’t? Come on Gav, I know you. You can’t go longer than a week without sex.” Her hand grazed my stomach.
“Is this you offering it on a plate, Nik?”
“Maybe.” She grinned seductively, the grin that just a couple of weeks ago I would’ve jumped at. But what does that say about me? After she made it known that we were done, I stayed away from her. I did it for her own good. She was the one with the feelings, I just stopped her getting hurt.
“Nikki, I think you need to think about what you actually want, because I know for a fact it’s not me.” As I looked up again, I saw Karen standing a little away from us, but she could see us clearly.
Nik fisted my shirt in her fingers and propped herself onto her toes. “And I know you. By the end of the night, you'll be wanting to take me outside. Because you’ll need to get your dick wet. You’ll always be you, Gav.”
My gaze met Karen’s over Nikki’s head, and I could see something whirling around in her brain. Nikki turned around to see what had my attention, I’m sure she saw Karen, but suddenly a small awkward grin tugged at her lips, and she spunback around. Shit. It wasn’t like we were anything, but for some reason, I felt like shit.
