Chapter 24
Marcus
“Why did you ever leave this country?” Harris leans against the bar top while he surveys the mass of bodies moving around the busy bar.
Some are dancing, losing themselves to the rhythm of the live band, while others are laughing and enjoying their tapas.
This bar is renowned in the city for its food, but more importantly, for its salsa dancing.
It’s been a while since I’ve danced. Especially salsa.
It normally leads to a more horizontal type of dance, and I only want to do that with one woman.
And she wants you to fuck her brains out.
Jesus, the memory of what I overheard sends a message to my dick, and a hard on in public is not what I need right now.
I shrug, taking a pull on my beer as I answer Harris. “England has its merits.”
“Oh yeah? A certain redhead, one of them?”
“Give it a rest.”
“I will not.” He turns to give me his full attention. “You’ve looked a little flushed since we met up, and you were longer than thirty minutes.” His eyes widen in question.
That’s because I had to shake the thoughts that listening to Lily had put in my head.
Thrusting rabbit.
No, don’t go there again. We are in full control.
“It’s warm.” I take another pull on my beer.
“You’re literally from here and always moan about how cold England is. There is no way you’re hot from the weather, my friend.”
“Fine.” I pluck at the label on my bottle. “I may have overheard Lily speaking to her friend about me.” He rolls his fingers, signaling me to continue. “She said that I fucked her brains out and she wouldn’t mind it happening again.”
“I fucking knew it.” He shakes my shoulders. “But hang on.” His brows crease. “Why the fuck are you here with me and not showing the wonderful Miss Chambers the time of her life?”
“Because she doesn’t know I heard obviously, you dickhead. And she said she only wants casual.”
“But you only do casual, so what’s the problem?” he points out as I rest my elbows on the bar, rolling the base of my bottle over the top.
“I don’t think I can do casual with her.
I… fuck, that night felt different for me.
It felt like I was looking at what my life could be like, and I fucking liked it.
” I close my eyes briefly as visions of Lily flood my brain.
“Her in my bed every day. Her walking about my apartment in just my shirt, making herself a cup of tea, and curling up on the sofa watching sports together.” I return my gaze to Kai. “It has never felt so fucking perfect.”
“You took her to your apartment?” Shock is evident in his voice. I know he’s asking because I never take women back to my apartment. Literally never. It’s my safe space.
“I did.”
“Wow, okay, you like her then.”
“Did my previous statement not make that clear?”
“Well, yes, but your apartment? Man, you wouldn’t give me your address for like a year.” He huffs out a laugh.
“Still regretting that I ever gave it to you, if I’m honest.” I smirk as he pushes my shoulder.
“You’d be lost without me. Don’t deny it.”
Grinning, I know full well he’s right. He’s hard work, but I love this man like a brother. “So, what do I do?”
“I thought that was pretty obvious, man. You agree to her terms, and you get her to fall in love with you. Operation ‘Lily love’ is in full force.”
“I actually have no words for you sometimes.”
“I do have a habit of rendering people speechless. It’s a talent.” He beams across at me, puffing out his chest. “So we’re initiating operation ‘Lily love?’
“Dios.” I run my hand down my face. “Look, we may be on speaking terms and have ridiculously hot sex—”
“You need to fill me in on that.”
“Never going to happen.”
“But you tell me everything,” he whines.
“Not about her, I won’t.”
“Oh, my baby is all grown. Look at you caring for someone.” He holds his hands to his chest, and I swear he’s summoning a tear.
“Don’t be a dick.” I signal the bartender for another beer. “But she still hates me.”
“That woman doesn’t hate you. She mildly dislikes you at best, and I’ve seen the way she looks at you when you aren’t looking.
Trust me, there’s no hatred there.” He trails off as something grabs his attention over my shoulder.
“And I think you’re about to get your answer.
” He claps me on the shoulder, gently turning me to face the door.
Lily.
It’s as if my thoughts have manifested her into existence.
Joder, she’s beautiful.
She’s smiling with a petite brunette waitress, her hands waving animatedly as she talks.
Her gaze spins to the dancefloor, and I’m sucked in by the way her eyes are alight with wonder as she watches the dancers move effortlessly.
She shakes her head as the waitress tries to pull her to stand, and I’m moving before I know what I’m thinking.
“I’ll see you later then?” Kai sniggers behind me.
“Yeah, you do that.” I’m not listening to a word he is saying, one thing on my mind.
“You’re so gone, man.” He laughs. “Have fun.”
Lily catches me walking towards her, and the grin she gives me is full of promise. “Yeah, I will.” Slipping onto the bench next to her, I instantly heat from her proximity.
“Petardo, fancy seeing you here,” I shout over the beat of the music, which has ramped up, and the dancefloor is now overflowing.
“It got lonely at the hotel, and Rose told me about this place, so I decided to check it out. It’s amazing.” Her enthusiasm is palpable. The tip of her tongue peeks out, wetting her lips as she holds my gaze. She isn’t hiding tonight; need is written all over her face.
The waitress breaks our stare as she places Lily’s beer down between us. Before she has a chance to scurry away, I shout over the music, “Un botella de Orujo con dos bazos por favor.” A bottle of orujo and two glasses, please.
“Sí, senor.” The waitress nods and quickly disappears.
Lily has moved closer to me on the bench, our legs touching, and my eyes trail her fingers that play with the chain at her neck. “My eyes are up here, Diaz.” The coy smile playing on her lips has me reaching out to cup her cheek.
“I know exactly where your eyes are.” My heart thumps wildly in my chest as she leans further into my touch. I’m too lost in my haze that I don’t see the waitress return.
“Aquí tienes, Senor.” Here you go, sir. She places the bottle of Orujo and glasses down in front of us. As she straightens, I pass her some notes. “Por Ti.” For you.
Her eyes bug out because I have given her far more than I need to. “Gracias.” She shakes her head in disbelief as she backs away.
“You trying to get me drunk, Diaz?” Lily asks, eyebrow raised as she wraps her plump lips around her beer bottle.
“No. We’re going to play a game.” I pour us both a shot.
“A game?” She takes the glass from me.
“Yep, two truths and a lie.”
“Okay, I’m game.”
“Perfect.” I raise my glass to hers and we down our shots, loving the burn as the liquor trickles down my throat. Placing my glass back down, I chuckle at Lily who is wincing. “Not a fan?”
“I’ve had worse. I’ll go first.” She puts her glass down before giving me her full attention. “Okay, so, I love to paint, I hate cats. I had a weird childhood crush on Simba.
“Okay, that has to be the Simba thing. No one can be attracted to a cartoon character.”
“Take the shot, dingus.” She fills my glass, nudging it toward me.
“I’m sorry, before I drink that, you have to explain. Simba? Really?”
“What? I was ten and he had nice eyes,” she says unapologetically.
“But you found a cartoon attractive, Chambers. That shit’s weird.”
“Is it?” she challenges.
“Yes.”
“Two words.” She leans in, her breath tickling my cheek. My pulse spikes as her sultry voice drifts over my skin. “Jessica Rabbit.” She pulls away, a satisfied grin on her face.
Okay, she has me there.
“I have no comeback for that.”
“Thank you, now drink.” She motions to my glass, looking smug.
Downing the shot, I raise my eyebrow at her. “So come on, which was the lie?”
“I don’t hate cats. I know I’ll be that weird cat lady when I’m older.
I’d love a kitten. I’ve been talking with Beck, and I think when I get home, we’re going to go to the local shelter.
Anyway, less of that. You’re turn.” She squeezes my thigh gently, making it contract under her delicate touch.
She doesn’t remove her hand. In fact, she brushes her thumb in a rhythm over my taut muscles.
Swallowing, I answer her, trying to mask the lust building. “I hate pizza. I love geese, and I won a singing competition when I was fourteen.”
“What did you sing?” She removes her hand from my thigh and presses her palm to her chest. I immediately need her hands back on me.
“NSYNC, Bye Bye Bye.” I sigh.
“I really want that to be true, and then you need to show me.” She has tears in her eyes as she laughs uncontrollably. “Please, even if that isn’t true, I need to make that a reality.”
“Answer the question, Chambers.”
She fans her face as she composes herself as she answers. “The pizza, who hates pizza?”
“Nope.” I pour her a shot.
“You’re a monster. How can you hate pizza? It’s literally everyone’s comfort food.”
“Not a fan of melted cheese, too greasy. And I have to look after my figure.” I run my hands across my chest and then flex my biceps, loving the way she shamelessly follows every movement.
“Good to see you aren’t vain.” She rolls her eyes, but a coy smile tugs at her lips. “Come on then, stud, which is the lie?”
“I’m scared of geese,” I say quickly.
“So you actually sang NSYNC?”
“Yep.” I push the shot glass towards her, hoping to move on.
“Definitely need to hear that. I mean that’s cringy as hell.
” She’s giggling uncontrollably, looking so relaxed and utterly beautiful.
The low lighting of the bar bounces off her hair, making her glow, and with her head thrown back as she laughs at my expense, she looks free. It’s a good look on her.
“You quite finished?” I smirk.