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“You okay?” Frankie hissed into my ear, anger lacing his tone.
I turned to glance at him, my face heated with embarrassment. He was glaring at Bones, clearly noticing I had been staring at him.
“Oh… yeah fine,” I stammered like an idiot. “I’m just going to… get another round for everyone.”
I raced to the bar, not wanting to face Frankie’s wrath about what he saw in the way I looked at Bones. As I waited to be served in a massive crowd fighting for a chance to order a drink, my gaze snuck back to Bones. He was mingling with the other fighters, talking and laughing in a way that he hadn’t been able to do up until now.
Distance. Distance. Distance, I silently chanted to myself.
But the devil on my shoulder asked why.
Was I being unfair to us by forcing myself to keep my distance? I had already crossed the line with Lotto. And Lotto himself said they were a package deal.
But Frankie hated him.
Then again, Frankie hated everyone.
And there was definitely something there. Something between us. All of us. A sizzling, intense chemistry, and a connection I couldn’t quite explain. Was I really wishing to push someone aside who could be the perfect man for me? Or men for me? Multiple men? Could I? Was this even a thing?
I didn’t cower to anyone before. Why was I so willing to cower to the fear of the unknown, and give a fuck what the others thought? I didn’t care what normal society believed? So why did I all of a sudden play the sweet school-girl act?
I had so much to consider when it came to Bones, Lotto, and Frankie. I didn’t want to have to make such potentially life-changing decisions at a bar. What I really wanted to do was just fuck Bones and call it a good night, but I guess that wasn’t very ladylike in thinking. Frankie would die if he knew the thoughts that went through my head as I fascinated over Bones sweating in the cage tonight during the fight.
Sweat on a body… his body. My weakness.
Every day that passed since the kiss added to a hunger I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to feed.
As I grabbed the tray of drinks, balancing it tentatively in my arms, I slowly made my way back to the rest of the group. Frankie had pulled Bones to one side. Unable to resist, I stepped a little closer, trying to listen in on their conversation. What I heard made my heart stop dead in my chest.
“…I’ve seen the way you look at her, dude. And I have to say that you can’t go there. She’s off limits. Ari is not to be fucked. I would much rather your head be in the fight, than inside of her. Do you know what I’m saying? Hands off.”
“Why? Because she’s yours?”
“No. Ari isn’t anyone’s, and I plan to keep it that way.”
“Don’t you think that’s up to Ari? If she isn’t your girl, then?—”
“She’s off limits. I mean it. If you fuck her, I’m going to make you pay.”
Hearing Frankie make this decision for me, caused my blood to boil. How fucking dare he warn Bones off me. My father had been just as bad, but it still infuriated me. This was far beyond protectiveness, or just looking out for me. It was fucked. And then to make it seem as if he and I were just casual fuck buddies infuriated me even more. We were more than that, regardless of what Frankie wanted to tell people. If he had at least said I belonged to him, I wouldn’t be so mean. It was so classic Frankie, and I was over it.
Temper rushed into my ears. My mind swirled, and I was trembling. Was I going to just stand there and let Frankie control my life like that? Or was I going to stand up for myself for the first time ever when it came to him?
“Hey, guys,” I said, trying to keep the shakiness from my voice. “I’ve got some drinks here.” I forced them both to take a beer from the tray, and stood there for a few seconds, not allowing them to continue their conversation.
If Bones didn’t promise to keep away from me, then I won. We wouldn’t be doing anything wrong when we inevitably hooked up… which because of this, I was now more determined to do than ever. Why the hell should I hold back? Especially when Frankie was out there pulling the puppet strings on my life?
Fortunately, almost right away, just as I suspected they would, the other men raced over to us, taking beers from me, and breaking up the conversation completely. I didn’t let on to either Frankie or Bones that I’d overheard the conversation, but from the odd look in Bones’ eye, I gained the impression he’d guessed regardless.
