Shortly after midnight,I’m cleaning up the bar as I still mull over what Howie said. The evening was slow for a Friday, and Cindy and Donny have already left.
Lennard puts his head through the door to the kitchen. “Carolina, we’re leaving. You good?”
“Sure. Night,” I answer, having already closed up the front.
I just need to finish the cleanup real quick, and then I am out of here too.
Fucking finally, I need a shower.
A few minutes later, I pull on my jacket and backpack and head out the back door, turning to lock it up.
“You didn’t even look around,” Clay accuses from behind me, his voice stern, and I nearly jump out of my skin at his sudden appearance.
“What the hell, Clay?” I turn and scowl at him, my heart still pounding from the surprise.
“No, what the hell, kitten? I could have been a fucking serial killer, and you didn’t even check the dark alleyway before you stepped out and turned your back to the threat,” he practically yells, his concern evident.
“Easy, love,” I hear Xander’s soft voice from my right, and now I have to give Clay some credit because I hadn’t seen him there either.
“Okay, fine. I will check from now on,” I concede, understanding that he might have a point.
“Yes, you will, but we will get you from now on every fucking night. The thought of you closing that godforsaken bar alone doesn’t sit well with me,” Clay declares firmly.
“I’ve done it for years,” I huff out, putting the key back into my backpack and starting to walk.
Xander and Clay fall into step with me, and Xander puts an arm around me, pulling me close to him and making my heart flutter.
“I don’t give a fuck. Now you have us, and you don’t do that shit anymore. A resting bitch face is not a means of defense. Maybe I should get you a gun,” he grumbles.
“Fuck you, Clay. I don’t want a gun, and I was fine before you came along,” I argue, my independence flaring up in response to his protectiveness.
But Xander halts me in my tracks, his grip on my chin firm yet gentle.
“Someone is threatening you. And we still don’t know if they are empty threats. You’re not going to argue with us on this. You can be independent as fuck again when this shit is over, but right now, you’re going to do what you’re told for once,” he says, eyes fixed on mine. I cross my arms over my chest, biting my lip. His thumb wanders up to my bottom lip, pulling it out from between my teeth. “Say it.”
“Fucking fine,” I mumble, and he leans down to kiss me hard.
I grip his jacket with both hands, pulling myself up to him, but suddenly, he eases the kiss down to a soft caress before he pulls away from me.
I see his breath fog in the cold when he praises, “That’s my girl.”
My pussy throbs in response. The power this man has over my body with just his words is not healthy.
Clay comes over and steals me out of Xander’s grasp, putting an arm around me. “I told Joshua we wanted to have you to ourselves for tonight, so you’re going to sleep in our bed.”
“And he is okay with that?” I ask, feeling my stomach turn.
“Oh, he is. He needed some more sleep for once anyway,” Clay assures me, but I just nod, unconvinced. “And before you fall off the cliff of conclusions, I think he even texted you that it’s fine.”
I pull my phone out of my backpack, and a text from Joshua is waiting for me.
Joshua
Enjoy your night, my Carolina. I love you–Always.
“Okay,” I concede on an exhale. “I would love to sleep in your room tonight.”
Finally, Clay’s grumpy face transforms into a big smile. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
