Page 88 of Forbid It

He smirks as he crowds me against the counter. He’s still fully dressed, barely a hair out of place after thoroughly debauching me in all my finery.

“I want you to keep these on all night. Soaked and ready for me.” He presses a kiss to my lips. “For later.”

I moan against his mouth as I kiss him again, tasting myself on his tongue.

Robbie helps me jump down from the counter, my dress falling back to my ankles. I’m briefly unsteady on my heels, but his strong arms keep me upright.

“I need to say goodbye to people before going to Pip’s,” I say, twining my arms around his neck. “Shall I meet you there?”

He nods. “I can’t believe I’m letting you take me to a party.”

I trail my hand down his waist until I can gently tug at his waistband. “You won’t regret it.”

He chuckles as he presses a kiss to my lips. “I better go see if my ride is still out there.”

By the time I pull up outside La Boheme, a small crowd of paparazzi are waiting outside. I rejected the second dress and my underwear is still damp, but at least my lipstick has been reapplied and my hair carefully fixed.

I keep my head down as my bodyguard escorts me to the door, and I barely have a second to get my bearings before Pip is in my eye-line.

“Hello, hello.”

“Great party, honey,” I tell her as I press a kiss to her cheek. La Boheme is normally a nightclub but it feels like I’ve stepped into a Parisian cocktail bar, complete with a live jazz band and waiters clad in tuxedos. The high ceilings are covered with plush red drapery and foliage climbs every wall. The lights are muted and dim, so I can’t see Robbie in the crowd, but a light from the door opening behind me changes at just that second and I’m finally able to take in my best friend. Her hair is perfectly styled, and her dress is immaculate as always, but there’s something in her smile that immediately feels wrong.

“Are you okay?” I ask her, clasping her wrists and pulling her closer. “I haven’t heard from you in weeks. What’s going on?”

She glances over her shoulder, nervously ducking her head before she turns back to me. Her chin wobbles, and I link our hands together firmly.

“Let’s go get some air, yeah?” I tell her.

She nods silently as I tug her behind me as we weave through the crowd. I spot Danny and Jackson near the booths lining the back so know my other friends are here too but we don’t stop and I don’t let go of her hand.

We’re barely through the side door that leads outside before Pip pulls away from me, leaning against the wall and taking a deep breath. The last few months of secretive phone calls, strange looks and furtive excuses run through my head.

“What’s going on?” I lean my shoulder against the wall, sheltering her in case anyone decides to follow us out here.

Pip takes a steadying breath. “It’s Callum.”

I groan. “McBride? Pip, you haven’t.”

She nods miserably. “I know. I’m such an idiot.” That chin wobbles again, and any frustration fades into concern.

“You’re not an idiot.” I sigh, brushing the hair that’s fallen in front of her face back behind her shoulder. “What did he do?”

She bites her lip. “We bumped into each other a few months ago, and after everything that happened with my dad, I just wanted well…” She glances away guiltily.

I grimace. “How big is his dick for it to be that good?”

“Cass.” Pip chokes on a laugh.

“What? I don’t get it! He’s so… eugh.” I shrug, unable to describe the level of sleaze that emanates from that man whenever I have the unfortunate displeasure of coming across him. “He literally punched your brother. And destroyed my glass table. It was imported from Italy.”

“I know but⁠—”

“Not to mention what he put you through,” I insist. It’s so hard to watch someone you love make terrible choices and not be able to do anything to stop it. “Pip, he’s not a good man. And you’re way too good for him.”

“I know,” she moans, catching a tear as it escapes with her finger. “He was going on about taking our—whatever we were doing—public and I woke up a bit, I guess. I tried to break it off, but he got so angry.”

“Did he hurt you?” I try to keep my voice even, but my heart thuds in my ears.