Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
The music is loud, but not so loud that we can’t hear each other speak. After I got the call from Mr Walters, I’d called the girls and asked them if they wanted to come out and celebrate.
I’d also tried calling Griff to give him the news too. But his phone went straight to voicemail. I’d told him I’d applied for a new job when I was at the studio the other day and promised that I would let him know if I got it. Assuming he was busy with club business I didn’t bother leaving him a message.
I was relieved that I hadn’t left him an excited message when the girls told me the guys had been called into church and when they had come out, they all seemed subdued and down.
Steph appears at the table. Her short brown curls hang loosely at the sides of her face. Tight black jeans, ankle boots and a fitted vest that she’s tied at the front. Her massive boobs practically spilling over the top.
“Ladies, Tequila,” she hollas as the others cheer.
I wince knowing tequila isn’t really my drink and already regretting letting her go to the bar alone.
“Err, babe, any chance you have a wine or whiskey, or even a beer there for me?” I try my luck knowing there’s no chance. She places the tray down on to the table and grabs my face, placing a kiss on my forehead she laughs.
“Don’t be soft woman. You just landed your dream job. Tonight, we’re celebrating. So, drink up.” She grins as she hands me the glass of tequila.
I smile and hold up my glass. “To new starts.” The girls raise their glasses, each of us knocking them together and mirror my toast. “To new starts.”
I spend the next hour with the girls catching up. They stay on the tequila, but after my last hangover, I take it slow and move to Bacardi and Coke, swapping out every other drink for water.
I’m at the bar, head nodding to the sound of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac when I feel someone slide up beside me. I can feel the heat of their arm they are so close; I consider telling whoever it is to move, but then I smell it. His scent a little sweet mixed with the scent of leather. I’m pretty sure it’s his aftershave and not his kutte given how smooth the smell is.
The barman approaches, and I lean forward to order another drink but his eyes flick beside me as Wrath leans over me, his front pressing on my side and his face dangerously close to my cheek.
“I’ll take a beer and she’ll have a coke. Put them on our tab.”
The barman gives him a small nod and then moves off to get our drinks.
I turn my head to look at him, ready to give him a mouthful for deciding on my drink but I’m thrown when I see his brown eyes full of fire as he looks over every inch of my face, like he’s committing every mark and every freckle to memory.
He reaches his hand up tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear, and then curls his fingers around the back of my neck holding me in place.
His thumb gently resting in the dip behind the lobe of my ear.
My entire body begins to prickle with heat, and my breath catches in my throat. My stomach flips like I have a hundred butterflies flying about in there as my pussy throbs. I squeeze my thighs together a little tighter trying to dull the ache.
He’s too close.
I can’t think straight. I want him, I need him.
Fuck if he asked me right now, I think I’d let him take me up against this bar.
The thought alone scares me.
That’s not who I am. I’m not a virgin by any means, I like sex just as much as the next person, but I prefer my encounters to be in private. And I don’t sleep with guys I’ve only just met.
But there’s something about Wrath, the way he looks at me, his smell of soft leather, the small one-sided smile that pulls at his lips when it appears like he’s thinking about something. The way he plays off as calm and causal but has an air about him that could explode if pushed a little too much.
With every breath I take, I inhale his scent and it’s making me dizzy.
I place my hand on his chest giving him a gentle shove to try and put even a small bit of distance between us. I see the side of his mouth quirk up in a little half-smile at my attempt to move him.
“Wrath—”
He shakes his head, stopping me from finishing my sentence. He leans forward, his mouth millimetres from my ear. “Whatever you’re about to say, don’t. And don’t drink any more alcohol tonight. I have plans for us later.” His statement sends shivers through my body.
I close my eyes and swallow, trying to regain my composure.
“And what if I’m not interested in your plans?”
He gives a low chuckle and gives my neck a gentle squeeze.
“You and I both know that you’re interested. But I guess we’ll really find out by your choice of drinks for the rest of the night.” He places a gentle kiss on my cheek and then grabs his bottle before walking away.
I watch as he makes his way over to his brother's sat in the far corner. I didn’t even see them come in, but they must have been here a while, their table is littered with both full and empty bottles.
I blow out a breath and grab my glass of coke before turning and making my way back over to the girls.
“Woah girl… what the fuck is going on with you and the hottie from Manchester?” Steph yells as I approach the table, the others have gone silent watching me waiting for my response. I roll my eyes and give my head a shake before letting out a little laugh.
“Nothing is going on with him. He bought me a drink that’s all.”
The table erupts into laughter, the girls shaking their heads at me. I'm conscious of how loud they are being and glance around the room. I notice the guys in the corner looking at us.
Wrath leans back in the booth, one arm resting on the back of it, the other stretched out in front of him holding his bottle. I quickly turn back to the girls, I can feel the blush creep up my cheeks as Steph looks over to the guys and then back to me. I take a seat and drop my head.
She elbows me and then leans in. “I’m not sure he’s on the same page as you babe. That boy is watching you like he’s ready to eat you up.”
“Stop it,” I whisper at her. Not wanting to draw too much attention to the conversation.
“Oh, you like him,” she yells out, gaining the attention of the others. I shake my head trying to deny it. I don’t like this kind of attention on me.
“Maybe a little.”
The girls scream with excitement. I grab my glass and down half of my drink trying to quench my dry mouth.
“Will you lot shut up.” I laugh. “He’s hot, ok. You can’t deny that, but there is nothing going on. Not yet anyway.” I smile and bite my lip.
I can’t believe I just told the entire group that I like him. Given that most of them are a part of the club one of them is sure to let it slip.
The girls don’t push me any further and just as quickly as it started the subject changes. We spend the next couple of hours chatting and catching up.
I do as he requested and stick to soft drinks or water for the rest of the night. I have no idea if I’m going to follow his plans, but I want to at least have a clear head to decide.