She blinks back at me a few times. “Yeah,” she huffs. “Guess I was as sheltered as you all said.”
She really was, and look what she became because of me. She now walks around with a massive chip on her shoulder and hate in her heart, her innocence stolen. No wonder she hates me.
“Why do you have a photo of me in your bedside table?” she asks.
I tilt my head. That’s where my blade went, little sneak. “Anyone ever told you it’s rude to snoop through others’ belongings?”
She raises a bitchy brow. “Didn’t stop you from going through my apartment and stealing whatever you felt like. Did it?”
“Not the same thing,” I mutter, taking her elbow as we walk through the car park to my car, on edge as soon as we are in public. This guy who’s after her could be anyone, watching the two of us now for all I know. I don’t relax until she’s in the passenger side and I havestarted the engine. I can feel her eyes burning into me as I drive through town. “What is it, birdie?”
“Did you get off watching them?” she asks, her tone bitchy as all hell.
I flick my gaze from the road to her, not sure what she is on about. “Elaborate.”
Her lips purse. “The videos on my second phone. I know you watched them, you all did, like fucking creepers.”
I can’t stop thinking about them, watching them every chance I get, beating off to the sight of her like that. Her fucking phone is in my pocket right now. It’s my filthy new obsession, and she’s right, it’s creepy as fuck, but I’m not telling her that. “Saw what I needed to, that was it.”
“Bullshit, Kasen, you’ve got a pretty sizable tent in your pants right now. Just thinking about them has you ready to blow.”
Shit, that dirty mouth is going to get her in trouble. “Why are you looking at my dick, birdie?” I ask suggestively. If she wants to go down this road, I’m more than happy to oblige.
“Because unlike you, it doesn’t lie to me.” She huffs then crosses her arms over her chest and turns to look out the side window. Bodhi is right, she’s a brat, getting me all worked up like that just to prove a fucking point.
We drive in silence for the next ten minutes, the tension thick but not uncomfortable. I don’t care if she’s fighting with me as long as I’m close to her. I can make it work for me, and she will see it too. The more time we spend together, she will turn back into the lovesick girl I know she was for me.
I pull into the car park of River’s Beach Bar and park in one of the reserved spots near the door. I turn toward her before we get out of the car. I need her to know what I expect. She has this smug-as-shitlook on her face that tells me she’s up to no good. “If you’re angling for another fight, it’s not going to happen. You wanted to come down here, so here we are. Don’t mess it up for yourself.”
Her face scrunches up. “Always with the threats,” she mutters under her breath with a roll of her eyes.
I take her chin in my fingers, forcing her to look directly at me. She’s not scared of me like everyone else is. She doesn’t even bother dropping the ice-queen act to look surprised. “Why do you have to make everything so difficult?”
She huffs out a laugh. “I could ask you the same question.”
I drop her chin, a fresh wave of irritation bubbling just below the surface. She’s infuriating. I hop out of the car and go around to let her out, taking her wrist as she tries to slip past me. “You’re not to leave my side all night. Understand?”
She pulls her wrist free with a determined scowl. “Understood, King Kasen.” Her lashes flutter as she tilts her head defiantly.
I should take her home. She’s going to be the death of me, I’m sure of it. Instead, I hold her hand and drag her to the front door with me. She might not want to, but she’s going to play the part of my girl tonight. “Don’t make me regret this,” I mutter under my breath.
When we get inside, Bodhi and his band are setting up on the stage, and River is behind the bar chatting to a couple of surfers still in their wet shorts. I move through the crowd with her pinned close to my side and head straight for him. She likes him, maybe he can snap her out of this mood.
River’s face lights up when he spots us—correction, Dove. The kid is infatuated with her; I haven’t seen him this happy in the longest time. “What can I get you guys?” he asks with a playful grin.
“Something strong.” She half smiles back at him, a hint of shyness where it wasn’t before. Last night changed something between them.I watched every second of it on my surveillance. The connection they share is fire. I didn’t think my little birdie would have it in her to take two cocks and Bodhi’s punishment, but the naughty little thing begged for it, and I’m not surprised she’s now trying not to look at River for too long.
“Black Tide Lager. You got time to join us?” I demand, not sure if it’s a mistake or not.
“Always got time for you two.” He goes about fixing our drinks, sliding them over the bar then motions for us to follow him toward a table in the back that is a little quieter but has the perfect view of the stage.
Dove looks slightly confused as she assesses the stage set-up. “Didn’t know Slater still played in a band.”
River laughs. “Drums normally, but the lead singer just called in sick. Looks like we’re all in for a treat tonight with our boy on lead.”
“He can sing?” She laughs, sliding into the booth. “Kinda can’t wait to see it.”
I block her in, taking the seat beside her, much to her clear disappointment, and River takes the opposite side. “He sure can. Wait till you see the crowd he pulls.”
