“Ha-ha. Real funny. What about when you got caught drinking at school?” he says, looking at Cillian.
“Okay, first of all, I wasn’t drinking. I took one sip.”
“Right.”
“Royce stole mom and dad’s car and drove to a town three hours away. That’s way worse.”
“Hey! At least I wasn’t always getting caught smoking weed.”
“But you were still smoking it,” Cill counters.
Elijah sits back and laughs. “Royce thought Mom and Dad didn’t know about his porn magazines, but Mom found them while she was cleaning up his room and went and told Dad he needed to have a talk with him.”
“What? I didn’t know this. What did she say?”
“She said Dad needed to talk to you about masturbation, because she didn’t want to pick up any socks in your room anymore.”
Merrick almost falls out of his chair, and Cillian spits some of his drink out on the table.
“I wasn’t jacking off into socks!”
“She thought you were.”
“Oh my God.”
“What about your stories?” Merrick asks Elijah. “I don’t know many stories about you getting in trouble.”
“You were just too young. Elijah got into his fair share of trouble. I remember Dad waking me up at like two in the morning asking where he was, but I didn’t know. He stayed up until four-thirty, sitting on the stairs, waiting for Elijah to walk through the door. I remember getting up to go to the bathroom and seeing him wrapped in his robe and holding a cup of coffee,” I say.
“Oh yeah. He grounded me for a month.”
“Elijah also got into a fight with Cillian, and Mom came home and didn’t know what to do. She called Dad at work, and he came home with his face beet red, and said he was going to have to move out if he didn’t get his shit together.”
“Wow,” Merrick says, leaning back. “I don’t remember any of this.”
“Oh, Cill. Remember when you threw a heavy, bronze statue at Elijah’s head while he was making a sandwich?”
Cill chuckles. “Yeah, but I missed. Elijah spun around with a mustard covered butter knife and threatened me with it,” he says with a laugh. “Dad got into his ass about that, too.”
Elijah shakes his head. “There was too much testosterone in the house. Me and Dad were at odds for a long time. I was just rebellious as fuck. I wanted to break all the rules and fight against authority at every turn, but man, I miss having him around now.”
“I wish I remembered more about them,” Merrick confesses.
The sadness and silence falls over us for a couple minutes before we’re saved, literally, by the bell. When the doorbell rings, Elijah gets up to answer it, and the rest of us begin clearing off the table.
When we emerge from the kitchen, we’re greeted by the boisterous voices of Sky, Carlos, and Jay.
“Hey, guys. We got some people coming in,” Sky says, looking back through the door.
A few seconds later, four people come in—two girls and two guys, none of which I know. Jay introduces them, but I don’t really pay attention, because Midge saunters up the steps. What the hell?
She spots me and ducks her head, looking a little embarrassed.
“There she is,” Sky says, smiling at Midge. Oh lord.
And out of the darkness, London emerges, bringing with her the light she always radiates. She looks nervous and uncomfortable, but I smile at her as she steps over the threshold of my childhood home. This night just got a little more interesting.
I knew I’d regret coming here, but Midge all but forced me to tag along with her. He probably won’t be there she said. Pft. Now, here I am, walking into the home he grew up in and he’s here, observing me like I’m some sort of prey. Not that I wouldn’t mind being attacked by him right now, in a very aggressive and sexual way, but you see, that’s the problem.
Of course he’d be here, and deep down, I knew that. This is his brother’s last day in town for who knows how long, and naturally all of them are here together.
Apparently, after I left the bar last night, Midge ended up talking to Sky. They went to school together, but didn’t really hang out in the same crowd, but he remembered her, and they ended up chatting and she gave him her number. And that’s why we’re here now.
“Guess you’re okay with potentially breaking up the band, huh?” I tell her quietly.
She gazes over her shoulder and smirks. “I may never be able to sleep with a rock star again. I gotta take my chances while I have them. Life experiences and all.”
“Right.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t leave you alone.”
I take a breath and follow the crowd to what Elijah refers to as the den. It’s basically a living room without a TV. There’s mahogany bookshelves across one wall, and a couple of dark brown couches, a coffee table, and a single wingback chair. The floors are a dark hardwood color with a deep burgundy and gold rug spread out across the middle. Elijah dims the bright lights down to a warm glow and walks over to small drink cart where he has a few bottles of liquor.
“If you guys want beer, it’s in the fridge in the kitchen. I also have other liquor in the living room. Get what you want.”
I spot a particular bottle on his drink cart and walk over. “Hey, Elijah. Is that a Blue Label?”
He smiles at me. “It is. You interested?”
I grin back. “If you don’t mind. I know they’re pricey. I usually drink Black Label at the bar, but a while back I scored the blue at a store in Cleveland, and I keep it hidden away in my cabinet at home.”
“I don’t mind.” He removes the lid from the chrome ice bucket and drops a few cubes into my glass before pouring the amber liquid.
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to babysit this one.”
He laughs. “Don’t worry about it.”
I turn around, bringing the glass to my lips as I survey the room. Midge is sitting on the arm of the wingback chair, flirting with Sky who resides in the seat. Merrick is talking to the foursome that came in with us, and Cillian and Royce are talking to the other band members.
Facing back toward the wall, I spot a few pictures, so I look them over, not knowing what else to do. Midge said she wouldn’t leave me alone, but I’m not about to go force myself between her and Sky.
“That one’s Royce,” Elijah says, moving next to me and pointing at a small child with a colorfully striped shirt on and cheesing into the camera. Behind him is a woman who was clearly in the middle of laughing when the picture was taken. She’s strikingly beautiful with blondish-brown hair framing her heart-shaped face.
“He looks happy.”
“He’s always been a pretty happy person.”
“Is that your mom?” I question.
“Yeah.”
“She’s beautiful.”
“Yes, she was,” he answers solemnly.
I know their parents died, but I don’t know the story behind it, and it doesn’t seem like something you should ask about, so I keep my lips pressed together and move onto the next picture.
“Oh my gosh,” I say with a laugh, pointing at the photo of two of the brothers together in the bath.
“Ah, yeah. That would be Cillian and Royce. Luckily, I was always too old to have to bathe with them, and Merrick came later, so he was never subjected to communal baths either. Cillian and Royce basically shared everything. Baths, beds, clothes, you name it.”
“They’re so cute.”
Elijah clears his throat. “So, you and my brother.”
I cringe. I wasn’t sure if his brothers knew what happened between us or not.
I peer up at him. “Yeah, well, things are complicated now.”
He nods, glances over to Royce who happens to be watching us. When he notices us looking at him, he turns back to his conversation. “Well, things can be complicated sometimes.”
“Yeah.”
“He really likes you, though, London. I’m aware my brother has a reputation, but the
re’s a reason why he’s not a relationship kind of guy. He’s always been afraid of getting too close to someone, you know?” He gives me a pointed look like he’s trying to communicate something to me without saying it. “Anyway, I just want you to know he thinks the world of you. Truly.”
I give him a tight smile while a crack forms in my heart. “Thank you. I think he’s great.”
“All right, what are you two talking about over here?” Royce says, strolling in our direction.
“I was just showing London your baby pictures.”
Royce groans.
“I especially like the bubble bath one,” I tell him.
Elijah excuses himself and leaves me and Royce alone. “Would you like an updated picture of me in the bath?”
“I don’t know. Will you be with Cillian again?”
Royce makes a face. “All right, you ruined where I was trying to go with this.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Sorry.”
“Anyway,” he says on a breath. “I guess Midge decided to make her move, huh?”
We both look over in her direction when her squeal erupts in the otherwise quiet room. Sky has scooped her onto his lap.
“Yeah. She said something about life experiences or something.”
Royce laughs. “I guess so.”
The doorbell rings and Elijah goes to let in a few more guests. I don’t know them, but apparently, they’re more childhood friends of Merrick’s. Within an hour, the den has become a night club with music playing, drinks flowing, and people dancing.
When I finish my drink, Royce refills it with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“Are you trying to get my drunk?” I ask, aware that my tone is treading on flirtatious.
“Who? Me?” He winks and passes my glass to me. Our fingers graze briefly, but it only takes that split-second touch to send heat through my veins, warming up every inch of my body.
Midge pops up, wrapping each of her arms around me and Royce. “I love you guysssss.”
She’s drunk. “I love you, too. You good?” I ask.
“Oh, I’m more than good. I am great! Want some shots? Shots!” she yells, getting everybody’s attention.
“Fuck yeah!” someone yells. Maybe it’s two people.
“Guess I’ll be pouring shots,” Royce says. “I’ll be back.”
“Are you guys, you know…” Midge trails off, wiggling her brows dramatically.
“No. We’re just talking. I’m with Hunter, remember?”
“Right. How could I forget?”
I shake my head and Royce comes back with several shot glasses. “I don’t think we have enough for everybody, so…”
“That’s okay, just pour mine directly in my mouth,” Midge says.
“No offense, bro, but please don’t put anything directly in my mouth,” Jay says with a laugh. “I’ll take a glass.”
Royce shakes his head. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
He goes about pouring the alcohol and passes them out. Looks like the men made sure to grab a shot glass for themselves, except Elijah who has opted out of shot taking. Me, Midge, and the other two girls who are here are all left without a shot glass. How nice.
“Come on, ladies. Royce will pour our shots into our mouths. Right, Royce?” Midge asks.
He shrugs. “I do this regularly.”
As the men take their shots, Royce starts pouring the clear liquid into Midge’s open mouth. Once she’s done, the other two girls are ready and waiting. Everyone goes back to dancing and laughing, and Royce comes to a stop in front of me.
“What about you? You want me to put something directly into your mouth?”
His eyes flicker to my lips before traveling up to my eyes again. I get a tingling sensation in my core as I watch him devour me with his eyes.
“I can just use one of the shot glasses now.”
“You don’t want to share shot glasses with these people. Who knows where their mouths have been.”
“You didn’t take a shot,” I counter, trying to shift the focus.
“Do you want to pour it into my mouth? Probably won’t be as good as that sweet pussy of yours.” He licks his lips. “Mm. Now that was good.”
My stomach tightens and I clench my thighs together. “I do you and you do me?”
He smirks. “That sounds like fun.”
I try to make my expression a stern one, but I’m afraid I can only pull off the wanton whore look right now. “You know what I mean.”
“Okay.” He hands me the bottle.
I have to stretch my arm up fairly high in order to pour it into his mouth. I don’t pour a whole lot, but he swallows it down with ease before taking the bottle in his hand with a smile on his face.
“Your turn.”
I part my lips, and don’t miss the flash of desire in his eyes as he watches me. He raises the bottle and pours the liquid into my mouth, then I press my lips together and drink it down. Royce watches me with lust-filled eyes and brings his thumb to wipe some of the drink from my chin.
“I’ve never been more jealous of alcohol.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, my voice soft.
“To be in your warm mouth is all I can think about.”
I look up at him with hooded eyes. His presence and words mixed with the liquor have filled me with warmth and pleasure. “Oh.”
“Mm,” he murmurs.
He walks away, once again leaving me hot and bothered. I really need to get out of here.
By eleven-thirty, Elijah excuses himself upstairs since he has to work tomorrow morning, and Midge has already stated she’ll be calling in to work. London’s been looking at the time for the last half hour, so I’m sure she’s getting ready to leave soon, and I’m grateful I don’t have to be in to work until the late afternoon.
Being in close proximity to London without being able to touch or kiss her, or take her in my arms and throw her in my bed is already difficult. All I can use are my words, so I’m going to use them any chance I get.
Midge is making out with Sky in the corner of the room while Merrick talks to Alejandro and some chick named Lexie. Jay and Carlos are flirting with two of the other girls that showed up tonight, and London is leaning against the wall across from me, trying her hardest not to appear bored.
“Hey, Sunshine. You ready to go?” She gives me a weird look. “I’m not talking about taking you with me. Though, I wouldn’t complain if that’s what you want to do.”
She tilts her head and twists her mouth. “I’m sure you wouldn’t.”
“No need to lie. I’ve been wanting you in my bed since you left it. But I mean, do you want me to take you home? Midge is clearly going to be busy for a while, and I think everybody else here is pretty drunk.”
“You haven’t been drinking?”
“I had one drink several hours ago and that bit of vodka you poured into my mouth a while back. That’s it.”
She takes a peek at her phone again, checking the time. “Yeah, I really need to get back since I have to work.”
“All right. Well, I’ll get my keys and tell my brothers, and you can try to pry Midge and Sky apart to let her know. I’ll meet you at the front door.”
She nods and walks toward her friend while I go to Merrick.
“Hey, man. I’m gonna take London home.”
“Okay, cool.”
“I’ll be back. Let Cill know if you see him. He seems to have disappeared.”
“He might’ve went and passed out in his old room,” Merrick says with a laugh.
I shake my head. “All right. See ya later.”
With my phone and keys in hand, I walk to the front door and wait for London. She’s a few seconds behind me.
“Oh, who’s this?” she asks, kneeling down near Sugarfoot.
“That’s Sugarfoot.”
“Sugarfoot? Oh my God, he’s so cute.” Her voice has switched to a baby voice as she cradles Sugarfoot’s big head in her hands and plays with his ears. “Oh,�
�� she says with clarity, holding his white paw. “Sugarfoot.”
I nod with a grin. “That was Elijah’s ex’s dog, but she left him behind.”
“Why would she do that?”
I shrug. “Don’t know. Elijah doesn’t seem to mind, though.”
“All right. Bye, buddy,” she says, petting his head as she stands up. “I wish I could have a dog. My apartment only allows cats.”
“I’d rather have a fish than a cat.”
“Hey!” she says with a laugh as we walk to my car. “Cats aren’t that bad.”
“Okay.”
“They’re not.”
“Sure.”
“Okay, so clearly you’re not a cat person.”
“Definitely not.”
“Well, then I guess it wouldn’t have worked between us anyway.” Her eyes expand as she looks over at me, and she presses her lips together in a line. “I mean, that’s not. I don’t know. Bad joke.” She puts her hands on her cheeks like she’s trying to cover the blush.
“London, for you, I’d have seven cats.”
She kind of smirks. “Seven? Not eight?”
“Eight’s way too many.”
Her laugh, my favorite sound in the world, makes its way into my heart again. “Noted.”
I open the passenger door for her and she looks at me with raised brows. “Don’t be surprised. I’m a gentleman.”
She smiles and climbs in. Once she’s settled, I close the door and walk around to the driver’s side.
Inside, I turn the music down and let my eyes rake over her. Her blond hair is swept over her right shoulder, and she’s crossed her legs at the ankle, angling them toward the center console. Before the interior light goes out, I take a second to remember what it felt like to have those long, toned legs wrapped around me. The shorts she has on are driving me crazy.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, as I let out a breath and put the car in reverse.
“Nothing. Just thinking. Remembering.” I glance at her face and see the moment it clicks.
“Oh.”
“Mmhmm.”
We’re quiet for a while as I drive down the darkened street. All I want to do is pull the car over and yank her into my lap. I want to pull those little shorts off, slide her panties to the side, and thrust into her warmth. I won’t. But I can still think about it.
On the Rocks (Kingston Brothers Book 1) Page 16
