“Sorry!” Kite shouted from the back. The music faded to a reasonable level. “I was trying to liven it up in here!”
Detaching from Marina, I briefly clutched her chin. “It's fine!” I called back, grinning down at her devilishly. My thumb pushed onto her lips, touched her bottom teeth... and then I stepped away. Her fury was tangible. “Good call on the music,” I said, glancing at Kite as he appeared.
He nodded, stretching with a yawn. “It'll help, I was getting sleepy going over all that paperwork.” His attention moved, finding Marina the way each of us always did. Her presence was hard to ignore. “What happened to you two?”
Shaking off her daze, she wiped at her wet shirt. “Nothing,” she said, grabbing a towel. “Just dropped a glass in the sink.”
Folding his arms behind his head, Kite lifted an eyebrow. “Huh. Alright.” If he had any doubt, he didn't show it. His grin bloomed wide. “Ever think about helping us boost sales by hosting a wet T-shirt contest?”
In a blur, she chucked the towel at him. Kite ducked away, laughing. “Very funny,” she said, eyes sparkling. She glanced at me, then turned away.
Our moment was over with.
By the afternoon, we'd gotten the place sparkling. The shipment of new beer kegs arrived, and Kite and I rolled them into the basement to arrange along the walls. Marina helped, too, even though we didn't need it.
Leaning on the barrels, I pulled out my phone and checked for calls.
“Anything?” Marina asked, knowing I hadn't had a single ring all day.
Shaking my head, I tucked the device in my pocket. “No. I'm guessing it'll be up to us to bartend for the evening.”
Defeat pulled her features low. I knew what she was thinking, and it made my heart swell.
Marina wanted me to fulfill my promise, for us to take her aside and shower her with the attention I'd stolen from her this morning.
The waiting had made her passion boil. I was sure by now she was frustrated, almost angry. A powder keg ready to burst.
Kite cracked his back. “I can do it. Or we can take turns.”
“That'll have to do,” I said, cocking my head at Marina. “It'll fly by fast. Don't worry.”
She shrugged as casually as she could. “I'm not worried. I could use a drink, and having you guys serve me will be a blast.”
Her lies were so very transparent.
“Besides,” she went on, swaying towards the stairs. Her walk drew me towards the exciting curve of her perfect ass. “It's not as if I had a better idea on how to spend my time today. Right?”
“No,” I agreed, covertly adjusting my growing hard-on. “I'm sure none of us did.”
With the knowing glance she cast my way...
I wondered how convincing my act was anymore.
- Chapter 29 -
Marina
––––––––
I was burning up inside. It didn't matter how much whiskey I drank, or how I tried to bury my presence in the thumping music of the evening. No matter what I did to distract myself, my unsatisfied desires were pricking me like needles.
Fucking Jacob, how could he work me up like that?
Sighing, I sipped more of my drink and spun on the stool. The bar was packed, and both Kite and Jacob had ended up serving customers. Together, they dipped and darted and moved like dancers with bottles in their hands.
It was actually fun to watch, kind of sexy. Jacob looked handsome and refined in his usual attire, and Kite had that roguish thing going on, hair intentionally messy.
They were living temptation.
I really hated it.
What I hated more was how many girls were thrusting themselves at Kite.
I'd never spent much time at their bar. There was no reason to. But now, sitting there as a woman giggled and tried to give Kite a deep view down her cleavage, I scowled.
I was pulled from my muddled thoughts by a new presence. “Hey there,” the pale, too-blonde man said. He was perched beside me, all teeth and sly eyes. One look said he was trolling for an easy lay.
Giving him a tight smile, I crossed my legs. His gaze shot there, not even subtle.
“No thanks,” I said.
“Sorry?”
“No thanks,” I repeated, arching my brows. “I'm not interested.”
His face twisted, the false politeness melting away. “Fuck you, who said I was interested?” His tone was getting louder, fists balling by his sides.
If I didn't know better, this man was about to hit me.
“Get out of here,” I said firmly. “I'm not on the market.” In my hand, I weighed my whiskey glass. If I had to defend myself from a crazy drunkard, I was going to be ready.
He started to lean my way, eyes wild, lips pulling back over his gums.
Reaching over the bar, Kite shoved himself between me and the man. “Hey!” he said loudly, pulling the attention of every nearby customer. “There a problem here?”
My pursuer looked sufficiently shocked. Eyeing Kite, then me, he grimaced. “No problem, man. Just telling this bitch I'm not into her.”