“We don’t need more business,” Gigi tells Lily, shaking her head. “We’re already booked three months out, for fuck’s sake.”
“You can never have too much business,” Mammoth tells Gigi, pointing his index finger at her while the rest of his fingers are wrapped around a beer bottle. “It’s better to have a wait list than no list at all.”
“We have a very, very, very long wait list.”
“Here we go,” Thirsty Corinne sings, placing the tray of shots on the table. She sets everyone’s down gingerly, Pike taking Gigi’s, until she gets to me, and then she slams the sucker down so hard, half of mine splashes out onto the table. “Enjoy.” And with that, she’s gone.
“Think she finally realized she isn’t getting any Nicky dick anytime soon?” Gigi teases, laughing hysterically.
“I fuckin’ hope so,” Nick mutters.
“You said Nicky dick,” Lily repeats, giggling. “That sounded so…”
“Childish?” Gigi asks, finishing the statement.
“I don’t know. It was quite original,” Pike tells her, earning him two middle fingers and a playful smile.
He reaches over, hauling her onto his lap. His arms tighten around her, and she wiggles against his legs, laughing. “Is that a promise, darlin’?” he asks quietly against her ear, but loud enough for everyone at the table to hear.
There are a few things I know in this moment.
One.
I really like these people. Everything about them is fun and easy. The love is evident. I instantly wish I had cousins to sit around with and laugh, teasing one another over stupid shit.
Two.
I’ve missed out on a lot in life. My parents are shit, and their families are even bigger shit. After my parents hit it big in Hollywood, they immediately distanced themselves from their families. They felt the move was justified, but I was the one who ultimately paid the price.
Three.
Nick may have talked in partial sentences and come off like a smug, arrogant asshole, but he is more. His family loves him, and he is funny, sexy, and can flirt without putting in much effort.
Four.
If I stick around too long, leaving will be impossible.
8
Nick
“Nicky,” she slurs, pawing at the buckle on my jeans as I set her on my bed. “Lemme shee it.”
I grab her hands, moving them away from my dick, hanging on by a thread here. “Someone had too much Jäger.”
“It was so good, though,” she laments, smiling so big, her eyes close.
“You won’t be saying that in the morning, babe.”
“You know…” She collapses backward, closing her eyes as her head hits the mattress. “I used to hate when you called me babe, but now…” She stops talking, and I think she’s passed out. I back away, but her leg comes out, hooking her heel around my calf like she has drunk superpowers. “Now, I like it.”
I bend over, grabbing her foot and prying it loose from my body. “That’s good, babe. Whatever makes you happy.”
“You want to make me happy? Show me your peen.” She instantly giggles, rolling to her side and trying to push herself up but failing.
I shake my head, staring down at her. “That’s a hard no.”
“Nicky,” she mumbles, doing everything she can to make her eyes open wider and looking absolutely ridiculous. “Don’t say hard when talking about your peen.”
“Don’t talk about my dick by calling it a peen.”
She giggles again, totally drunk and freaking adorable as fuck. “Fine. Show me your dick.”
“It’s still a no, babe.”
She moves like a ninja and has her hands at my belt buckle again. “Come on. A little peek.”
I grab her wrists, stopping her. “Tomorrow.”
She tips her head back, staring at me with eyes that aren’t focusing. “You promise?”
“I do,” I lie. “You can see it all you want tomorrow.”
Damn it.
There’s nothing in the world I’d love to do more than show her my cock, but not while she’s drunk. I don’t want to be anyone’s regret, and I sure as hell don’t bang chicks so fucked up, they won’t have any memories of the experience the next day.
She gives me a lopsided smile, no longer struggling to break her hands free of my hold. “As long as you promise.”
“I do.”
She leans back, trying to take me with her, but I let go, and she falls back. “Can I ask one more thing?” she asks, stretching against my mattress, looking perfect in my bed.
“Sure, babe. Anything.”
“Will you lie with me tonight? I’m lonely.”
I glance up, cursing the fucking universe for putting me in this situation, but I have no one to blame except myself. I was the rocket scientist who offered her a place to stay. I could’ve and probably should’ve sent her on her way after I picked up her suitcase at the hotel, but something about it didn’t feel right.
“Please,” she begs, running her hand along the mattress next to her. “I won’t try anything. I promise.”
I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face. She’s so drunk, she has no idea how much I want to crawl in the bed and fuck her for hours. It’s no hardship being around her. She’s beautiful, thoughtful, and although some parts of her life might be a mess, she’s not a complete disaster. I can’t say that about most of the chicks who end up under me.
I rub the back of my neck as she wiggles her fingers, still silently pleading with me to join her.
“Come on. I’ll behave,” she promises. “Hold me for one night, and I’ll never ask for anything again.”
“It’s not a good idea.”
“Jamison never held me,” she confesses. “No one has in years.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, toeing off my boots before yanking my T-shirt over my head.
She tips her head, staring at my body. “God, you’re so pretty.”
“No more talking,” I tell her as I slide into the bed next to her.
She curls into me instantly, resting her head on my shoulder. “No more talking,” she repeats.
I turn my head as I snake my arm around her back, finding a bare patch of skin to rest my hand on. “Night, babe.”
“Night, Nicky.”
“Sweet dreams,” I reply to her.
She nuzzles harder against my side, tilting her head to look at me. “I hope they’re dreams of you.”
My stomach twists and turns before knotting. “Eyes, babe.”
She blinks, batting her eyelashes, still not focusing on my face.
“Close ’em,” I tell her, holding her tighter.
Her eyes flutter closed, and she sighs, sounding content in my arms. She feels like she belongs there, which, to me, is more than troubling.
I bury my face in the pile of blond hair and inhale the scent of lavender, something I get a whiff of every time she comes near me.
She lifts her leg, throwing it over mine. “So warm,” she breathes.
“Sleep,” I repeat, and a few moments later, she’s out.