“Don’t you think it might help? After all, she did say she wasn’t keen on possessive arseholes—which you are,” I point out for no good reason other than to push my message home.
Brecken gifts me his undivided attention. It sucks that he can look so intimidating. “She’ll work it out.”
Let’s hope he’s right.
The beer goes down a treat, my best friends surrounding me. My brothers. We all have other friends, friends from school days or college days, but we’re as tight as they come. There’s no way we could live the way we do without having each other’s backs. Hence Brecken’s caution.
He’s never resisted a girl this long. The fact that he has is impressive, but I bet those blue balls of his are hurting.
“Maybe,” Brecken begins, “you might want to take a look at yourself. You’re no better than a house cat, and we don’t want Winter getting pissed like Lina.”
“Who?” I ask, struggling to remember the girls we’ve been with. They were all pretty enough, sexy enough, but none of them made us obsessive in our own ways. Except Winter. “I can’t help that I like to play a little.”
“Torment,” he corrects.
“Same thing.” The comparison to a cat doesn’t bother me; it’s just the way I like sex sometimes. And I’ve found it makes most women extra needy, and I love a desperate woman, mindless with lust who wants to take it out on my body.
I glance at Balzer who’s just letting me and Brecken gripe at each other. He’s pretty easygoing. Sex for him is a necessary release, preferably one that suits his day planner. And generally speaking, girls don’t want a quick shag to then be forgotten about until next time; they want more, and Luca can’t commit to a romance. That’s not to say he can’t be romantic or fall in love. He just doesn’t appear to have the time for it.
Luca’s attention flashes to the front room, a smile hitching as Winter comes into view. Neither of us have seen her for forty-eight hours, Winter burying herself in her new job. And fuck me, but she’s a sight for sore eyes. Wearing a floor-length, sea foam-colored dress that glitters from every angle, she looks spectacular.
Knowing she’ll be on my arm tonight my chest swells with pride.
Eyes bright and alluring, she gushes, “Oh my god. Look at how handsome you all are in your tuxedos.”
“Oh wow,” Balzer compliments. “You look beautiful.”
More like stunning.
We knew it the moment we saw her staff photo. Right then and there we wanted her as our VIP Manager, and if she checked out as good in the flesh, our girlfriend too.
Thank fuck it worked out.
Now, we just need to keep her. We’ve all vowed to do whatever is necessary, making adjustments. She’s at the centre of everything for us.
“Need help with that?” she asks, eyeing the dangling tie at my throat.
“Please.”
She places her clutch on the breakfast bar, her nimble fingers twisting and manipulating the black silk. Her golden-red hair is up in a classy chignon. Her lashes are black and long, her eyes smoky and looking extra green thanks to her dress. Silver earrings with a knot design compliment the snowflake necklace we gave her for Christmas, the diamonds sparkling as they rest against her breastbone.
And fuck me—red lipstick, a personal favorite. I want it smeared over my cock.
“You look stunning,” I tell her, a familiar, mischievous smile appearing on her face at my compliment.
“Thanks, Roo. There. How’s that?” she asks.
I don’t bother finding a mirror. “Perfect, thanks.”
“Want a drink?” Luca asks.
“I’ll wait,” she answers, consulting a slim watch on her wrist.
Brecken drains his bottle, his eyes never leaving Winter’s ass. “Dad said he bumped into you the other night, after you left.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” Worry, maybe some unease flashes across her features.
Luca buttons his tux jacket. “Don’t worry about him; he’s fascinated with you.”