Merry Measure - Lily Morton Page 0,29
at him which he returns in full measure. I’m sure Jack misses this staredown. He’s intent on making introductions like we’re at a royal garden party. And also, because he’s well on the way to being fuck-faced.
“Yes, so, David,” Jack says. “Arlo and I are staying in the Jordaan neighbourhood.”
“In a room with a big bed,” I say in a sultry fashion.
Jack stutters for a second and then carries on. “Where are you staying, David? Have you seen the R-Rijksmuseum yet?”
I stifle a laugh. Jack is always adorably flustered when someone comes on to him, and he doesn’t return the interest. He doesn’t like being manhandled, so he gets stuck between wanting to tell the man to fuck off and trying not to be rude and hurt his feelings.
David directs another glare at me. “I’m staying near you,” he tells Jack in a throaty voice. “I’ve put my number in your pocket.”
“Where I will find it later when I remove his trousers and give him a blowjob that will spoil him for all men,” I say icily.
Jack inhales sharply, and the redhead huffs, finally getting the hint and gliding away.
“The cheek of him,” I say, staring after him. I look at Jack. “Were you getting panicky?”
He rolls his eyes. “I wasn’t panicky,” he says in a disgusted fashion. “I just hate to hurt people’s feelings. Don’t you?”
I think of the bloke who stuck his hand down my trousers on the dancefloor and how I’d told him to go fuck himself. “Oh, I detest it,” I say quickly. “It’s terrible to be rude to people.”
He narrows his eyes at me, and I note that, despite his basic clothes—black jeans, a rumpled white shirt, and white Adidas trainers—he looks so sexy. I don’t want anyone else touching Jack, and the strength of that possessive emotion stuns me. I’m usually a take it or leave it bloke. If a relationship doesn’t work, I move on. Of course, I’ve never had anyone that meant so much that I’d want to stay and fight for them. Until now. I groan. With my bloody brother’s best friend.
“We need another drink,” I declare.
I signal the barman with my card to place my order. Astonishingly, he starts making the drinks immediately. And don’t I feel incredibly suave? Usually, I’d have to spend an hour trying to get the barman’s attention, another twenty minutes shouting the order across, and I’d still end up with stuff I didn’t ask for.
Tonight, though, the barman whisks and mixes and finally takes my card and swans off to the till while Jack and I stare down at the long row of shots he’s placed in front of me. It’s a duplication of the group’s last order which seems to be what he thought I was asking for. So, not so much of the suave, then.
“You alright?” Jack says.
I stare straight ahead. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Erm, maybe because of your humungous bar order.”
“Well, maybe I’m thirsty,” I say, taking one and knocking it back. I can feel the burn in my nose immediately. He smiles at me, and I push a glass towards him. “You’re going to have to help me or my street cred will suffer.”
He grimaces but slams a shot, inhaling deeply when he’s finished.
We work our way down the shots, and by the time we’ve finished, we’re swaying like we’re standing in a high wind. Jack’s cheeks are flushed, and his long body exudes heat. I’m fucked, I think morosely.
“You alright?” he says, stepping close and cradling my face. He’s slurring badly now. I breathe in the scent of his cologne and the light tang of his sweat, and suddenly I want him with the force of a bomb going off.
“We need to go,” I say hoarsely.
His eyes darken, and he leans closer. “Yes?”
I nod, stepping back and loving the way he sways into me, as if his body is intent on following me even if his head and heart aren’t so sure.
“I want to go back to the room,” I say.
His fingers drift over my lips as if mapping the curve of my mouth. I lick his finger, and he inhales sharply.
“What about the others?” he mutters, but all his attention is on my mouth and his hand.
I bite gently into the plump flesh at the base of his thumb. He groans, and I smile slowly at him. “Fuck the others. Let’s go.”
It’s my turn to groan when he takes my face between his big hands and kisses me. His