Page 95 of Brutal Sin
“See?” he drawled. “She’s a hemorrhoid we’ll never get ridof.”
“I am not,” the bartender snapped. “You’re too secretive. Maybe if you shared every once in a while.”
Bryan shook his head, his nose brushing Pamela’s. “I don’t want to share.”
“You’re lucky you’re cute.” She nibbled his lower lip. “But it’s time to tell her. Don’t bemean.”
His chest rumbled, the predatory sound tickling her nipples as he slid his hands around her hips and cupped her ass. “We’re not dating, Shay,” he muttered between kisses. “We’re living together.”
Pamela smiled and sank into his affection while the bartender flung questions their way, over and over, one after another, until her voice approached a yell and Leo, T.J., and Cassie joined the inquisition. Not once did Bryan allow their kiss to break. He kept their bodies fused—lips and hips—while his tongue teased hers with gentle swirls.
She couldn’t get enough of him or his arrogant demands. Not now, and definitely not when he’d dragged her from their first date and announced they needed to skip the irritating formalities and move in together.
Bryan hadn’t functioned well under his preconceived notions of what a romantic relationship should be. He’d needed to create his own rules. And the unscheduled fast-forward into a cemented commitment had worked for themboth.
She loved the stability and devotion. He enjoyed keeping her on hertoes.
Not once had they lookedback.
He wasn’t anything like she’d anticipated. She’d already known they’d set sheets aflame in the bedroom. But away from the sex and the seduction, he was the most attentive and protective man she’d evermet.
Selfless, too.
Tonight, he surprised her all over again with his gentle devotion. In a sex club, for the first time as a couple, she’d thought he would’ve been in predator mode—all hands, teeth, and gyrating body parts.
This smooth tenderness was a million times better.
He inched back, those blue eyes slaying her with their passion. “Are you ready for the inquisition?”
She nodded, taking the seconds of their locked gaze to try to read him. When he swung toward his friends, she remained clueless.
T.J. and Cassie huddled beside them near the stools. Shay and Leo stood behind thebar.
Shay cocked a hip, a manicured brow rising. “You’ve got someex—”
Leo clapped a hand over his girlfriend’s mouth, softening the restriction with a kiss to her forehead.
“Are you happy?” Cassie asked over the growing enthusiasm in theroom.
“That’s your first question?” Bryan scoffed. “Great. This is going to take all night.”
“That’s our only question,” Leo clarified. “You don’t like to share, and we don’t need to pry. We just want to make sure you’re happy.” He dropped his hand from Shay’s face and poured himself a glass of bourbon. “Isn’t that right, Shay?”
She grunted. “Speak for yourself. I want all the gory details.”
“There are no gory details.” Bryan wrapped a hand around Pamela’s waist, squeezing tight. “Dating didn’t work, so we moved in together.”
“But you’re happy?” T.J. asked.
“Yes.” His response was simple. No inflection. No emotion. No bullshit. “Are we donenow?”
Pamela hid her disappointment. She didn’t want him to gush and brag about their relationship. She just wanted… Something. Anything to match the man he became in the privacy of his own home. Here in the bar, he’d regressed to being the closed off, tight-lipped guy she first met. Even his posture seemed stiff.
Leo inclined his head, raised his glass in salute, and then walked for the end of thebar.
Discussionover.
“Yep. That’s all.” Cassie beamed. “I’m so pleased for you both.” She clapped Bryan on the shoulder and strode away, dragging her husband along withher.
