“Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell him or anyone else.”
“I know.” It was said with utter confidence and trust. “You know that Jared’s a little unhappy about how much we talk and stuff, don’t you?”
“My guess is he’s worried you’ll manage to get in my pants when he couldn’t. That would be a huge blow to his ego.”
Evan laughed. “Yeah, it certainly would.”
“But I’ve never once felt like you were coming onto me.”
“In my vision, I could feel that I was relieved you were okay. That I cared about you just like a sister, the sister I never had. And I do, already.”
“And I think of you as a brother.”
His expression was so cheery. I guessed that hearing me say I felt that way was making everything click into place for him, giving him even more optimism that this girl would soon be in his life.
“You didn’t say the brother you never had. So you had a brother? Any sisters?”
“Nope. My mum and dad were workaholics, totally obsessed with the business they ran that didn’t even make any money, and they barely had time for me, let alone any other kids. I was a big disappointment to them because I wasn’t driven to follow in their footsteps and join the crappy family business. I have to say though it seems like an appealing future now, but no sense in dwelling.”
“Hey, you’ve done okay for yourself in your new life. So far you’ve got the big job, the flashy apartment, the hefty salary. All that’s missing is the husband. Anyone wanting to be your husband would either have to be incredibly turned on by being challenged, or quite content to be submissive in every way.”
“The latter wouldn’t be interesting.”
“Well I know of one person who fits the first.”
“Say your brother’s name and I’ll whip you senseless.”
“I was going to say Max,” he giggled. “I’m not going to root for Jared when I know what he wants is for you to be a consort, you’re better than that.”
“That’s what I said.” I was nice to hear someone tell me that there had been reason and rhyme to my choice. After the way Jared had overreacted I had occasionally wondered if I was being fussy or stupid because whether I was his consort or just a casual shag, the result was still the same; sex and nothing else.
Of course Fletcher had supported my position but he also believed that I needed a good one-off shag to burn off all the aggression and horniness so he wasn’t all that bothered who that shag was, even if it was Jared. If Jared’s own brother thought he was being idiotic, then maybe I wasn’t being as harsh as Jared thought.
Chapter Nine
(Sam)
The hammering at my apartment door switched my posture to confrontational. I could only think of one person who would be so pissed off with me that he would knock like the rent man. But when I swung the door open, my face a mask of aggravation, I was met with a scene that I would never have guessed at.
“Coach!” crooned Denny.
“Hey,” greeted Stuart.
“I was kind of hoping we’d have got you at a bad time – like a naked time.” Typical Harvey. Max dug an elbow into Harvey’s ribs.
“What’re you all doing here?” I asked.
“Coming to get you,” said Max as if it was obvious. “All ten of us are going down to the Barcelona bar, and you’re coming with us.”
“Isn’t the Barcelona a men only bar?”
“Tonight was a big achievement for us, and we couldn’t have done it without all your training. We’re going out to celebrate, you’re our Coach, so you’re coming with us.” Max had said it like it was a mathematical equation.
“I’m not sure whether I should be offended that you see me as one of the boys...?”
“Don’t tell us you don’t want to get out of that apartment for one night,” said Denny.
“We could always carry you there...” Max let the idea taunt me.
“You wouldn’t dare,” I said.
Max arched a brow. “Wouldn’t I? I’ve told you before, you have your authority during training but when we’re on our time it means squat.” He made a move toward me.
“Okay, okay, I’ll go, I’ll go,” I said quickly.
Max gave me a curious look, as if he couldn’t understand why I had caved so easily. The answer? I was naked under my nightgown. Not that I thought Max would cart me all the way to the bar in just my nightgown, but he would certainly pick me up just to prove the point that he was willing to do that if push came to shove.
So I got dressed. I didn’t put much thought into it really. I just stepped into the black halter-neck dress and the matching shoes that Fletcher had picked, and then slipped on some fashion jewellery. With my hair left loose, I stepped out into the hallway. All of the squad were stood waiting. Each one stared and swallowed hard. Poor buggers didn’t have many female vampires around them on a regular basis.
I couldn’t really understand why they wanted to go to an all-male bar as I’d always thought that part of the fun for blokes was to get themselves a girl. Denny explained that the drinks were cheapest in that bar so they always went there first to get hammered and then they’d move on to the unisex bars.
I didn’t have any trouble getting in the bar; one look at my cle**age and the sound of the word ‘Coach’ and the fact that I was a female faded into nonexistence for the doormen. The inside was actually alright. It looked more like a club with its strobe lights, packed dance-floor and booming music. Despite it being chocker, it was easy enough to get a drink seen as the bar was eternally long.
Max stayed close, a hand always on my elbow or my back. Chico repeatedly rolled his eyes at the sight, as if Max was trying too hard and making himself look desperate. I didn’t see it that way. Max was trying hard, sure, but what he was trying hard at was to show me that there could be a completely different relationship between us outside of work hours and it wouldn’t make anything awkward. I wasn’t sure if the fact that I didn’t want anything more than casual sex would be a letdown for him or the biggest turn-on ever. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to find out.
I was overjoyed when I came across Fletcher and Norm. Again tonight they had been colourful in their choice of clothes.
Fletcher hugged me tightly, asking, “How the bleeding hell did you get in here, it’s men only? Me and Norm just about get in.”