CHAPTER 17

ajay

"Kira?" I said, shocked and not exactly pleased at her sudden, unwelcome appearance on the back deck. I cocked my leg up on the sun lounge to try and hide how very, very turned on I still was by what I had just been doing with Nick.

Nick, who was casually sipping on his glass of iced tea, burning daggers at the girl on the deck.

Kira looked contrite, or at least, that was the look she was going for as she glanced down her lashes at me, worrying a lock of blonde hair in her fingers. I'd seen the contrite act numerous times before. To say I was not in the mood for her games right now was the understatement of the year.

"Ajay," she replied in that low, sultry voice I was long since immune to.

"What are you doing here, Kira?"

"I came to see you," she replied. She bit into her bottom lip and I almost heard the eye roll from Nick beside me. She was in those teeny tiny denim shorts, the ones that barely covered her ass while her boobs overflowed from a tight pink top that showed off her stomach. All very attractive.

Not a single spark of reaction from me.

I wondered if this was what Rob had felt when Nick had been dared to kiss him. Actually, no, scratch that thought because now I was thinking about kissing Nick again and that was not helping my current predicament one bit as I shifted on my seat.

I took a sip of my iced tea, intent on making this scene as awkward as possible. I could see Dee and Dane hovering just inside the living room but I couldn't even spare Dee a wave just now. I was pissed at the both of them for forcing this situation on me.

"Can we talk?" Kira asked, taking a tentative step towards me which I knew was another act. She didn't have a contrite bone in her body.

"Go ahead," I gestured with a wave.

"Alone," she harumphed, eyes flicking disdainfully at Nick.

"Well, it's Nick's house so that's not my call to make. He can stay if he wants."

"You know what?" Nick said, shooting me a little grin I assumed was meant to be supportive. "I think I'd rather go eat sandpaper than sit here and listen to this bullshit." I sent him a pleading look which he responded to with a wink, laughing softly to himself as he stepped off the deck and down to the boat shed.

"He's so rude," Kira huffed.

"Well, only when he's confronted in his own home by people he doesn't want to see," I answered lightly.

Kira left my little comment alone as she stepped carefully into my space, dropping to sit at the edge of my sun lounge. My erection had died a sudden death but I shifted my legs away, not wanting any parts of our bodies to touch.

"I've thought a lot about what happened the other day and I think we both have some apologies to make. I'll go first," Kira said, sucking in a dramatic breath as her fingers toyed with the frayed hem of her shorts. "I'm sorry how I reacted. I know I should have just listened to you instead of getting upset. But I just didn't know what else to say to make you believe me. I kind of lost it a bit."

"So we're still running with the story that you didn't hit on Nick?" I stated, keeping my tone neutral.

"That's right," Kira nodded.

"Hmm," I mulled. "It's just, I'm finding it a little hard to swallow that story. You know, since Nick is gay. I'm failing to see why he would make a pass at you."

Kira blinked once, the only sign that I had caught her out in her lie. The one we both knew she was lying about.

"It hardly matters anyway," she dismissed with a hair toss. "You know I don't want Nick. I've only ever wanted you, Ajay."

"It matters to me, Kira," I told her. "But either way, it's pretty clear that our relationship has run its course. We're both really different people now, going different directions. I think it's just convenience that's kept it going this long."

"You don't mean that," Kira huffed. "You and I love each other. We're meant to be together."

"No, Kira. We're really done this time. I wasn't playing games with you the other day. You didn't need to drive all this way down to see me."

"But we've broken up loads of times in the past. We've always gotten back together," Kira replied, her voice turning whiny.

"Except every single other one of those breakups was instigated by you," I pointed out. "This time it was my decision. And I promise you, I do not play games."

"But Ajay," Kira whined, her voice grating in my ear like a worm. "You love me."

"Answer me this," I said, knowing I was not going to get rid of her as easily as I wanted. "Those other times we broke up, did you ever get with any other guys?"

Kira's mouth dropped open before she shook her head vigorously. "No, Ajay. Of course not."

"Really? I just want us to be truthful with each other," I said, trying to coax her into telling me what I suspected to be true.

"I mean," Kira said, biting into her lower lip again as she looked away from me. "There might have been a couple of times but I swear it only happened when we were broken up. I promise I never cheated on you when we were together, Ajay."

"When you say a couple of times, how many are we talking?"

"Like, maybe four times. Max six."

"Right. See, that's why I know this relationship is not worth pursuing," I reasoned. "You obviously can't be faithful to me and I really don't think either of us can truthfully say we've ever been in love. There's nothing left to salvage here. Please can you listen to me when I say we're over?"

"No," Kira returned petulantly. "I don't agree. Relationships require consent from both people. And I don't consent to this."

"It doesn't work that way," I pointed out.

"It does. I don't consent to breaking up with you, Ajay," Kira reiterated. "So there."

"I feel like this is going to become a circular argument. I mean what I say. We are done. Over. Please can you just leave me alone, Kira?" I sighed.

"Fine," she huffed. "I'll give you some space. But just know that I'm here to get you back. And I won't be leaving until I get Exactly. What. I. Want." She ran a long nailed finger down my chest, my insides shuddering at her touch before she stood and sauntered back inside.

I took a long sip of my drink, at a bit of a loss about what to do. I wanted to follow Nick into the boat shed but I also kind of wanted to see what Dee and Dane had to say for themselves too.

I regretted that impulse when I stepped inside to find the three of them huddled together in the kitchen for a little team chat, Kira looking mighty pleased with herself as Dee gave her an encouraging squeeze.

The level of delusion in this household was at an all-time high.

"Ajay," Dee smiled up at me. "Good to see you."

"You too, Dee, although I admit it's a little bit of a surprise to see you all here," I replied pointedly.

"Well, we thought Kira deserved a chance to have herself heard," Dane cut in and my eyes slid his way, wondering at what point he had decided to hang our friendship out to dry.

"Ajay, help me with my suitcase upstairs," Kira said with that sweet smile, the one I knew she spent hours perfecting in the mirror. I glanced across the room to see the oversized suitcase waiting at the foot of the stairs before glancing back at Dane.

"Why? Where are you staying?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"With you, silly," she laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"Um, no," I returned, eyes bouncing between the three co-conspirators. "We're not staying together, Kira."

"Course we are," she laughed. "Where else would I stay? There are no other rooms."

"No. That is not how break ups work," I returned, sending a pleading eye to Dane.

"Seriously, Ajay," he sighed. "It's not a big deal. Just take the suitcase upstairs."

I looked between the three of them as they watched me closely, all of them in on this little act and me all alone and clearly outnumbered.

"Am I being gaslit right now?" I asked. "You all seriously think this is okay?"

"Ajay," Dane sighed again, disappointment in his eyes like I was being a misbehaving child.

I exhaled a breath, now at a total loss. "Fine," I said. "Kira can have my room. But I'm staying on the sofa downstairs. And you can take your suitcase up yourself."

I didn't wait to hear their reactions, didn't really want to wait for the pile-on from the people I thought were meant to be my friends. I turned and made my way outside, closing the door firmly and stepping down to the lawn where I took a moment to compose myself.

Nick was lying back on his bench press when I stepped inside the boat shed, closing the door behind me and flicking the lock. My eyes were instantly captive, watching how his biceps bulged under the strain of the weights, making my mouth dry out. Nick took one look at my face before he returned the weights to the bar and sat up, eyes on me.

"You okay?" he asked.

"No."

"Come ‘ere," Nick offered, patting the bench seat in front of him. I hesitated all of two seconds before crossing the floor and straddling the bench. Nick inched closer until our knees were touching and then pulled me into a hug, his strong arms a warm comfort I wasn't expecting. I leaned my head on his shoulder, not quite realising how much I needed this until now.

"It's like I'm speaking a foreign language when I talk to those three," I murmured, words muffled by his chest. "They won't listen to a single word I say. I tell Kira we're over and she just tells me we're not. And Dane expects me to just share my room with her like nothing's happened. Am I going insane, Nick?"

"What? You're not sharing your room with her," Nick returned, his arms tightening around me. I liked the possessive tilt I heard in his voice. Really liked it in fact.

"Those three think I'm being completely unreasonable."

"You're not bloody sleeping in the same bed with her," Nick grumbled and I smiled into his chest.

"I told them I'd sleep on the couch."

"You shouldn't have to," Nick stated. "She's the one who just lobbed up on our doorstep. Uninvited."

I just sighed again, glad that I at least had Nick on my side. He ran a soothing hand down my back and I trembled at his touch. He held me a moment longer until the hand soothing my back started to perk me up, reminding me of what we had been doing before we were interrupted not long ago.

I lifted my head, pleased to find the answering heat in Nick's eyes as he looked back at me with those sparkling blues.

"Your brother ever come in here?" I asked, head cocked to the side.

"Literally never," Nick replied, a little hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Good." I wanted to lick that smile right off his face. I wanted to show him how happy and relieved I was that he had my back, just like he'd promised he would all along. I don't know why I trusted Nick so deeply, so quickly. But I did. I trusted him with everything which was why I had no hesitation in leaning forward and swallowing that smile right off his face.

His hands gripped me tighter as Nick kissed me back, that little hint of possessiveness he had shown earlier back in full force as his tongue swept into my mouth. One hand moved into my hair, his fingers gripping my curls tight, while the other moved to my hips, shifting me forward until our bodies were pressed up to each other.

I couldn't get enough of him. Could not have anywhere near enough of this man who had called out to me when I didn't know I even wanted what he was offering. But I'd answered and he'd unlocked some hidden beast inside of me and now, well, now I wanted it all.

I broke the kiss, peppering soft kisses down his jaw, to his neck, pushing a little and revelling when he fell back onto his elbows. I used the improved angle to rain kisses down his naked chest, his hand still tangling in my curls, cursing when I licked the ridges of his abs, salty with his sweat. I'd wanted to do this last night in his bed, touch and taste him everywhere, but I hadn't been brave enough, just letting my fingers do the talking. But now my mouth wanted in on the action and it wasn't done yet.

I moved lower, kissing right down his treasure trail to the waistband of his board shorts. Nick's breathless pants kept me going, locking eyes with him before I ripped at the strings of his shorts, dragging them down his body until that mouthwatering cock sprang free.

Nick had been right about one thing. I wasn't as innocent as I looked. Once I made my mind up about something it was firmly set. And right now, I wanted Nick, and I wanted to taste his cock.

I gripped him at the root as I leant down and licked him from base to top, smiling when Nick cursed like a pirate when I reached the head.

"Any last tips?" I asked, grinning as I tongued his slit like an ice cream cone.

"Just watch the teeth," he panted. The blue in his eyes was almost completely blown as he lay back against the bench seat, abs contracting in that showstopper chest of his as he watched me swallow him down whole.

"Holy fuck, Ajay," he gritted out, that strong hand back in my curls as he gripped on tight, helping me set the pace. I appreciated the guiding hand whilst also acknowledging the power in that move, one I added to that new and surprising list of things I didn't know about myself. The list of things I apparently loved because even though Nick had taken some of the control back, I knew that I held even more of it as I committed to learning exactly what he liked whilst discovering how much I liked this too.

"Suck me harder," Nick panted and I grinned as I did what he asked, almost losing my mind with lust when he swore again.

"I'm not going to last, Ajay," Nick rasped, loosening his grip on my curls. "If you don't want to swallow, pull off now."

I answered him by sucking even harder, moving down as far as I could without choking as his hips thrust up into my throat. It was really something watching this gorgeous, sexy man lose control in this way, his head knocked back as his hips thrust into my mouth, his grip on my hair now painful before he cursed again and released into my mouth.

I hadn't expected it to be quite so forceful, or so messy as I tried to swallow him down but lost half the battle. When I finally pulled off it was to see Nick looking so thoroughly wrecked as he leaned back against the bench press, a sheen of sweat on his chest as he sucked in lungsful of air. I grinned triumphantly at him while wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Where the hell did you come from?" Nick murmured, eyes still blown and a little wild.

"Tasmania," I returned innocently, waiting a beat until Nick burst into laughter, sitting up a little higher to bring me down onto him. He held my face reverently, hand smoothing a loose curl from my face before he pulled me down and kissed me.

"You're fucking perfect," he said between kisses.

We kissed a little longer, this time not overly heated but just for the sake of it as I lay pressed up against him with his shorts still down his thighs. It felt incredibly indecent.

The sound of Nick's phone ringing was the only thing that might have stopped us as he let out a deep breath and let me go. He let the phone ring out once and only shifted out from underneath me with a dramatic sigh when it rang again.

"This better be good, Rob," he said, eyes still fixed on my body as he pulled his shorts back up. He watched me while Rob spoke to him, eyes assessing before he replied.

"Sounds good. I'll meet you at Paddy's in thirty," he said. "Oh, and Ajay's coming with me." Nick hung up the phone and looked at me, that predatory glint I was learning to like a whole lot in his eye.

"Oh, so you think you can just holler and I'll come running, huh?" I said, trying to put a bit of sass behind my words but likely failing.

"Yeah, Ajay. I do think that," Nick purred, stalking towards me like a panther. "Go ahead. Prove me wrong."

I debated it for all of two seconds. But the truth was, there was no way known I would be letting him leave me here to face the pack of team-Kira sycophants alone. The other truth, and the more important one at that, was that I wanted to go with him. I wanted to spend time with Nick. Wanted his attention on me, his thoughts and energy focused my way. His sunshiny confidence and his company and general off the charts amazingness. I wanted to be with him all the time and not just for the recently discovered fun times.

I just tipped my head back and sighed dramatically. "Fine then. You got me."

Nick smirked at me, the sight a little unsettling as he leaned down to press a soft kiss on my lips. "I know I do. You're mine now, Ajay. Don't you go forgetting it either."

I could only try to hide my smile, not able to deny the truth in those words either as he hauled me to stand and I followed him out to the garage.

"Wait here," he instructed before rushing off into the house. He returned a minute later with both our t-shirts and my black Vans. I pulled on my clothes and shoes before tugging on the leather riding jacket Nick held out for me. He insisted on putting my helmet on for me again, just like last time and I exhaled a put-upon sigh while secretly liking the way he took care of me as he tucked a few loose curls under the rim.

I was also aware I didn't seem to have any residual issues climbing onto the back of Nick's bike with him. Truthfully, I hadn't really minded the first time either but I knew I'd been nervous about being in such close proximity with him, pressed up against him with nowhere to hide. I just hadn't let my head work out why that was both thrilling and frightening at the same time.

It was still thrilling and frightening, this, being with Nick. Everything was just fun and exciting and new with him, like he was showing me this entirely different way to live. He was so refreshing, like a glass of cool spring water on a hot day, everything about him just about life and living it to its fullest.

I was so here for it.

Nick rode us the long way to town, taking the scenic route along the coastline and then up into the leafy hinterland that circled the town. I held on tight to him, loving the feeling of being wrapped up with him like this on the back of his motorbike. It gave me a chance to calm my overexcited body a little too which was a good thing because both Mateo and Rob were already waiting for us by the time we made it to Paddy's.

Nick insisted on removing my helmet and then took his sweet time straightening out my curls for me just like he'd done the last time. I felt the same stirring low in my stomach but at least now I knew what it meant.

I followed Nick to the counter and ordered the beer on tap. I'd liked it the last time we'd been here and, more importantly, the drinks were safely in my affordability range. Of course, Nick immediately assumed he was going to pay but he'd bought me more than enough drinks in the past two weeks already.

"It's my turn," I said, whipping out my phone.

"Put that thing away," Nick replied while the bartender watched us with amusement on his face.

"Nick, let me pay. Please?" I returned, holding his eye to make sure he could see how much I meant it. Nick studied me, his head cocked to the side.

"Okay," he finally relented and I smiled.

The bartender rolled his eyes at us but I could see the smile on his face as he held out the machine to me.

"Enjoy, boys," he said, winking at Nick. Nick grabbed me by the elbow and we made our way back towards the sofa where we had sat last time. Nick, of course, stopped to exchange greetings with half the pub and I was holding back a smile by the time we made it to the sofa where Rob and Mateo were waiting.

"Tassie," Rob greeted, holding his fist out to me.

"Hey," I replied generally, not sure how I was supposed to greet Mateo when he was eyeing me the way he currently was. I may have been completely blind to the way I had been feeling towards Nick but I recognised hostility when it was directed my way. I also knew I wasn't going to touch that particular issue with a ten foot pole.

The four of us ended up playing pool on the table nearby. I was put in a team with Rob who was apparently quite the pool shark, the other three probably assuming I didn't know how to play. That wasn't entirely true.

"You played eight-ball before?" Rob asked, chalking up his pool cue.

"We had a pool table at the boarding house where I used to live last year. I'm not great but I can play okay," I told him.

"Good. You gotta watch these two though," he said, head knocked towards where Nick and Mateo talked strategy on the other side of the table. "They can be sneaky."

My eyes followed Rob's to where Nick and Mateo were engaged in a close discussion on strategy, golden heads bent together and looking like the most heartbreakingly gorgeous pair of guys I'd ever seen. My heart hurt a little at the sight. Nick looked up at me then, holding my eye as he sent me one of his grins.

"You're going down," he joked, clearly unaware where my thoughts had just gone. I could only laugh, the sound a little half-hearted to my ears.

Nick broke and the balls scattered across the table, a couple falling into the pockets.

"Stripes," Nick called. Mateo took the next shot, easily pocketing two more balls with the one shot. Nick cheered when they both dropped in but Mateo barely batted an eyelid.

Rob turned out to be the shark the others had claimed him to be but I at least didn't embarrass myself entirely, managing to pocket a few balls of my own. The game progressed and I found myself having fun although my glass seemed to magically refill itself each time I sat back down on the sofa for a break. My eyes lifted to Nick who smiled back at me innocently and I wondered how he had managed to stealthily move back and forth to the bar without me noticing.

We shared pizzas from the woodfire which were surprisingly good for a place called Paddy's and played more pool, the afternoon melding into the evening.

I hadn't realised how seriously these three took their competitiveness until I was right in the mix of it. The pool games were tied at four apiece when it all came down to the eight ball on the last game. Unfortunately, I was up next. If it had been Rob's turn we would have had this championship in the bag and I nervously chalked up my cue as Rob whispered in my ear, giving me some tips. If I missed, Nick would have a clear shot on the eight ball so I knew I had to sink it.

I stepped up to the table, Rob still at my side as we looked for the best angle. Nick took it upon himself to try to distract me and I realised what Rob had meant about their sneaky tactics. Mateo was right beside him, a little handsy for my liking as they talked their own team tactics and I tried to ignore the way Mateo's hand looked on Nick's shoulder.

This next shot I took was for pride. And maybe just a little to reclaim the rights to touch Nick's shoulder. I blocked the others out of my mind, ignoring Nick as he leaned both his elbows on the table, right in my line of sight, Mateo's hand still resting where it shouldn't be.

"You got this," Rob urged in my ear.

My eyes locked with Nick's and I nearly faltered as he sucked on his lower lip in the most blatant attempt at seduction I'd ever seen. I blocked that image out of my head, leaned down onto the table and knocked that eight ball straight into the pocket, right in front of Nick's gorgeous face.

"Yes, Tassie!" Rob yelped, pulling me into a full body hug as he fist pumped the air. I couldn't hide the grin from my face as I looked up at Nick only to find him looking back at me with a hint of pride in his eyes. He took the loss like someone of his good nature would, laughing it off and shaking both our hands. Mateo, well, I had no idea how he took the loss because he didn't react at all, just like the way he had played the entire game. I didn't get a handshake from him either, though that was probably for the best.

Rob and Mateo headed home afterwards and Nick and I walked outside the pub, hovering on the pavement. I wasn't in any hurry to return home to where Kira awaited me. I wasn't in any hurry for this day with Nick to end either.

"Feel like an ice cream?" Nick asked.

"Sure. Winner pays?" I returned, nudging him with my shoulder.

"Nah, loser definitely pays," he grinned back at me. "There's got to be some reward for that amazing last shot."

"How many drinks did you just buy me back at the pub?" I asked, turning to face him with my serious eyes. "Be honest."

"I like buying you things," he returned, just as honest. "Besides, it's easier for me, you know. You live in the most expensive city in the country on just a part-time job. I live at home with my folks who buy me cars and won't let me pay for a single thing. And you're not earning anything at the moment."

"And you are?" I asked, a little annoyed at his perfectly valid logic.

"I get holiday pay," he assured me. "Please let me buy you an ice cream. I really want to." He pouted at me and I had to bite on my cheeks to stop myself from smiling at him.

"Fine," I relented, awarded by one of his famous smiles.

"Thank you," he said, brushing his hand across the back of mine. It was the most we had touched in public all day and I felt a shiver cross my spine at the small contact. I liked it a lot.

"I'm pretty sure that's meant to be my line."

"You can thank me in other creative ways later on," he said, pumping his eyebrows suggestively.

"Are you suggesting I pay for the ice cream with sexual favours?" I returned, pretending outrage.

"Yep," he returned, right in my ear.

"I don't know whether I should be offended or turned on," I muttered.

"Definitely the second one," Nick grinned. He reached down to thread his fingers through mine, squeezing my hand for half a second before he dropped contact and led the way down the high street.

The ice cream shop had a queue down the street and I sighed as I went to move to the end.

"Where do you think you're going?" Nick asked, gripping my elbow and steering me to a window out the side of the colourful little ice cream parlour.

"Nick," I heard someone squeal from behind the counter. Of course Nick knew all the staff. He and the girl in the ice cream shop talked for a brief moment about the crazy holiday period and then she offered to get us ice creams. Nick ordered a biscoff and Nutella cone and a peanut butter and brownie concoction that sounded amazing. She was quick to return with the two cones.

"Is this the locals only window?" I asked Nick, eyebrows raised.

"Sure, let's call it that," he grinned back at me. Nick paid for the cones and then we turned and walked down the street, the night still warm after the hot day. I felt his eyes on me as I licked the cone, wondering if his thoughts had just gone to the same place as mine. I looked up at him, his gaze darkening and we both laughed.

We exchanged ice creams half way through as Nick showed me a little of the town including the surf shop he had worked at through high school. We ended up on the jetty jutting out to sea as we finished our ice creams and stood against the railing, arms touching.

"I really love it out here," I said, feeling the sea breeze in my hair.

"You look good here too," he returned. "Like you fit."

"Yeah. I feel like I fit too," I agreed because it was true. I did feel like I fit in around here, far more so than I ever had in Sydney. It might have been due to the slower pace and the clean country air which was more like what I was used to growing up.

But as I looked across at Nick, long locks flowing in the warm night breeze, his carefree and easy-going demeanour centring me, I was left to wonder if that was the only reason.