Chapter 12: : Chapter 12

beside me.

“’Sup.” I cut him a quick glance, looking back to the girls.

They’ve just finished their appetizers and are now killing time before the meals are here by taking pictures at the end of the pier.

Krista flings her hands all around, and the large group of girls break away, leaving her and her core group standing there. They huddle up for some shots of the four of them.

They take their time, going from big smiles to goofy ass faces and even unflattering poses. That’s what I like about their little crew. They don’t feel the need to be picture perfect or shoot for sexy all the time, they have a good ass time the way they want to.

Krista whips around right then, shouting across the pier. “Come on, baby,” she calls for Trent. “Nic, you too!”

Trent gets up with a grin, downing whatever he was drinking and makes his way to her, but I stay planted in my seat.

Trent growls, lifting Krista off the ground and spinning her around before pausing so the girls can take their picture.

Seconds later, Alex walks by me with our boy Thompson, another player on the team, both headed in their direction.

Krista spots them coming, and smiles. “Yes! Boys come over here, get in on this!”

My eyes fly to Demi, who of fucking course has hers on Alex, but the same second I think it, they shift.

She stares at me with indecision, as if there’s something at the tip of her tongue or the edge of her thought.

What to do, Little D?

Alex tries to squeeze beside Demi but Carley shoves him over with a frown, looking this way.

Knew I liked that girl.

“Nico Sykes.” She pops a hip out. “Get your never smiling ass over here and take a picture.”

I move my gaze back to Demi and she frowns slightly.

Come on, girl, you know what to do. All in, remember?

With a playful roll of those green eyes, meant to hide her nerves, I’m sure, she calls me. “Come on, Nico, don’t keep me waiting!”

And there it is, her accepting.

I push to my feet, eyes focused on her as I make my way over. I know the others are watching, not everyone was able to confirm the rumor throughout the day. I’m known to hook up, but I’ve never attached myself to anyone outside of Josie, so people want to witness us together for themselves, and more than simply disappearing behind a closed door.

They will.

Instead of stepping beside Demi and into the space left open for me, I slip behind her, loosely folding my arms around her shoulders.

Her hands automatically come up to grip my forearms, so I tip my chin a little to whisper, “Now you get it.”

She shakes her head, but I’d bet money she’s fighting a smile.

Krista snags someone, starts explaining how she wants the picture to be taken, so Demi capitalizes on the free second by tilting her head sideways, peeking at me.

She whispers, “There will be more people around tonight, and everyone here has already been staring.”

“And?”

“Last chance to back out.” Her eyes narrow, challenging me as if she’s assuming I might want to do just that.

Wrong, Pixie.

“There is no ‘backing out’, Demi. It’s done.”

Her grip tightens with her stare.

“I told you.” I lower my head the slightest bit, so she has to tip hers back even more. “You’re mine now.”

With a small pinch to her forehead, her tongue comes out to play with her lips and my eyes are forced to follow.

“For now,” she gives a sassy whisper.

My smirk is slow, and I look up.

When I do, I find Krista has the camera pointed right at us.

She gives a small wink, then passes it off to one of the security guards.

“All right, everyone, eyes forward!” She jumps in Trent’s arms, the guy counts to three and the picture is done.

“The food is coming out now, Ms. Krista!” the staff member shouts from the tables.

“Thank you, Mary! We’re coming!” Krista calls back and all the groups make their way over, but I hold Demi back by her waist.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

“Waiting.”

She shifts, so I loosen my grip, and she spins in my arms to face me. She surveys me a moment before a small laugh leaves her. “Waiting so you can stand here and stare at me?”

“No. Waiting so everyone sits and notices it’s just us left standing.”

“Why?”

“Why you ask so many questions?”

Her little nose scrunches. “Don’t be a dick.”

“Don’t ask things you already know the answer to.” I shrug. “Why would couples stand off to the side or walk away from groups and shit like that?”

She purses her lips, giving a sassy, “Privacy.”

“Exactly.” I shift her more, so they can’t see my face. “Right now, at least half of them are staring right at us, each one thinking something along the lines of how bad you must need me, or how hard I must be for you, if we have to take a few extra minutes to ourselves before we can even consider sitting through a dinner with the rest of them.”

She attempts to glance over her shoulder, so I shoot my hand up, catching her chin before she can, my fingers spreading along her jaw and neck in the same move.

Damn, she doesn’t even flinch.

I continue. “The girls are wondering what filthy things I’m promising to do to you later when you come to my room, you are coming to my room by the way.” Her eyes narrow, but it’s playful as hell. “The guys are wondering if you’re biting into your bottom lip, if your eyes are growing darker, and wishing they knew what that looked like, knowing they’ll never get the chance now that you’re mine.”

“Wow,” she teases, purposefully breathy. “You really think you’ve got this whole prepped and ready thing down.”

A laugh escapes me before I can squash it, and I tug her a little closer.

She stares a long moment. “So, I’m challenged with convincing everyone your mood swings turn me on?”

“And I get to be the possessive boyfriend who doesn’t want you outta arm’s reach.”

“Get to?” She smashes her lips to the side, tryin’ real hard not to let her grin slip.

“Get. To. D.”

“What makes you think possessive is what I’d like?”

A light chuckle leaves me, and I lick my lips, leaning into her as I slowly slide my arms down. When she doesn’t budge, my palms slip a little lower, now resting just below her waist, my pinkies propped on her ass cheeks.

She inhales, waiting.

“Demi,” I whisper. “I’ll tell you right now, the last thing you want is a pussy ass dude who won’t push you. You’re too smart, too independent for a doormat of a guy, and too strong to ever be one yourself. You’ll take charge… but you’ll like it more when I do.”

Her ass tightens against my hand and instantly my brows snap together.

Hold on…

I skim my hand across her waist, gripping her hips and squeezing until she lets out a small yelp. She falls against me, and my mouth plants right at her ear.

“Rule number one, Little D.” Her breath fans across my chest. “Don’t ever go panty-less again… unless there’s a real good reason for it.” I pull back, locking my eyes to hers. “A reason that includes me.”

She studies me a minute before her head tips down and a light laugh leaves her. “This is going to be interesting, isn’t it?” She looks up again, humor written across her face – hidden heat behind her eyes.

“Fun.” I shrug. Letting my arms fall. “It’ll be fun.”

“Will you always be so… extra?”

“Yes. And you’ll still want more.”

“Uh-huh.” She laughs. “We’ll see, now let’s go eat before it gets cold.” She gets a few feet away, and then adds in a mischievous undertone, “And before the wind starts. Wouldn’t want my boyfriend to get mad when it gives away my lack of underwear.”

I dart for her, but she evades, smiling wider.

She skips back to the table, proud of her little teasing, and drops in the middle of Carley and Macy.

I take my seat at the end by Trent, lifting my chin when she looks my way.

She brings her straw to her lips, grinning like a brat.

With a shake of my head, I reach for a fresh beer bottle from the iced beer tub in the center of the table and pop one open.

“Damn, Nic,” Trent says under his breath.

I glance his way, my eyes narrowing when he cuts a quick glance toward the girls, only to bring them right back.

“What?”

A scoffing laugh escapes from him and he shakes his head. “Nothing, man.”

I drop my arms from the table so my plate can be lowered in front of me, thanking the server as she moves along.

I get it, he’s unsure about what I’m doing, but so the fuck am I.

Still doing it.

I grip his shoulder, giving him a little shake. “Let me worry about what needs worrying, Trent.”

He lifts his hands as if to say do your thing.

I plan to.