It’s happening right before my eyes. His confidence, that playful puppy energy that became mine to love, the endless puns, even the spark in his eyes; it’s all disappeared.
My Tom isn’t standing there anymore. Jay has erased him.
Fuck.
“Jay!” I shout his name louder than I intended, but I have his attention. Oh boy, do I have his attention now.
My heart pounds. I force myself to stay upright.Don’t bend. Hold your ground.
“Here,” I say calmly, handing him the bottle of whiskey. “For your hospitality.”
I keep my gaze fixed on him, determined not to look away.
Jay takes the bottle while staring back at me. His lashes lower to the present in his hands. The corner of his mouth curls upward as he rolls the bottle between his palms.
“Bourbon,” he says with a nod, “… from Kentucky.” Eli huffs a laugh, others start laughing too.
Only when I see Tom beside me, looking like he wants to dig a hole and disappear, do I realize I’d fucked up big time.
Tom had still been in an antique shop when I walked into the liquor store. The owner had praised this bottle as the best whiskey to impress someone, and I—stupid, stupid, stupid—just took it without even paying attention to what I was actually buying.
Jay sets the bottle on the side table; now he’s totally done with me.
Mary comes over, taking the bottle from the side table in one quick sweep. Without a word, she carries it to what I assume is the kitchen. Probably to get it out of Jay’s sight, pouring it straight down the drain.
Oh fuck. It’s worse than that. I hear an outside door open. Glass clinking as the bottle is thrown far, far away. Meanwhile I try my best to suppress a nervous laugh.
Did I just curse their house?
Jay clears his throat. “The two of you, in my office.”
Everyone stays quiet. They’re allowing Jay’s terror to happen. All of them.
This is challenging on so many levels. I feel a darkness that I’ve carefully suppressed for years bubbling up from the depths of my mind, ready to take me over.
Not now. Please, adrenaline, do your damn job.
And then, someone does stand up.
“Dad, please. Don’t do this.”
It’s Effy.
“Princess, let me discuss this with Tom and the outsider.”
I scoff at those words; it’s immediately noticed by everyone. My umpteenth mistake in this short time.
“Go ahead, Tom knows the way. I need to disinfect my hands.”
Tom’s lips are on me before I even manage to close the door. Greedy hands clutch my waist, sliding down to grab my ass and slam me against his thickening cock.
“The fuck, Yosh? I can’t believe you—” He cradles my face, kissing me hard. “Fuck, love… I get so hard when you go rogue.That fucking creek water, in this house.” His tongue is in my mouth, wet and sloppy, groaning between nips at my lips.
“Jay…” Another sharp nip, “…He’s so fucking offended. You’re driving me crazy, the way you stood there. You—”
He devours me, and I kiss him back just as wild and greedy. But then I hear a sound and push him away.
“Love, please…” he begs, fumbling with his belt.
