Chapter Five

Rayan

Bang. Bang. Bang.

"Augh. Tell whoever is making such a ruckus to chill out. Some of us are trying to sleep."

Vince's sleepy, gravelly voice woke me up. I opened my eyes and looked at his handsome face. About five seconds later, I jumped up off the pool table.

"Fuck." I nudged Vince's naked body, fighting the urge to ignore the knocking at the door and take that long, hard body for another ride. "Vince, we have to get up and get out of here." My friend may have owned the club, but that didn't mean he'd appreciate us staying here all night after closing.

"Huh." Vince lifted his head and grinned at me. Again, I fought the urge to climb back up and fuck the adorable man.

"Come on, sleepyhead." I pulled Vince's hand to get him to sit up. "We must have fallen asleep, and now the club is closing, and we have to say goodbye."

"I don't want to say goodbye." Vince frowned and stood up, pulling me into his arms. "Tell me this wasn't just a one-time thing. I don't know how long I am in town, but I would like more time with you."

I hesitated in answering. Part of me wanted to grab onto any offer of time he offered me. But another part of me feared getting involved with another alpha who would leave in a couple of days or weeks and leave me feeling broken. The tingle of energy I could feel between us gave me my answer. "Yes. We can meet up again."

"When." Vince put on his pants and shirt while I dressed myself. "Later today?"

"So anxious." I laughed, thrilled that he wanted to see me again even before we parted ways.

"I can't help it." Vince leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose. "I want to get to know you more. There is something about you."

Smiling up at him, I leaned in and kissed his lips. "Tomorrow at noon at the Pink Coffee Cafe at Beach Street and Main. We'll start there and see where the day takes us."

"Not today?" The pout on Vince's lips was adorable, but I wouldn't cave in easily.

"Nope. Tomorrow." I slapped his ass and winked. "Now, let's get out of here before my friend kicks my ass."

"I thought you said it was okay, so we used the room." Vince chuckled.

"I may have stretched the truth. It was okay to be in the room. But using the pool table as a bed probably won't get me a great birthday gift this year." I finished my sentence just as the door opened, and Avery's smirking face appeared.

"Rise and shine, you deviants. I have to clean up and head out. It's already 5 a.m., and I have a nice comfy bed whispering my name." Avery hustled past us and examined the pool table. "Well, at least you didn't leave proof of your romp here. Next time, let me know, and I'll let you use the extra apartment upstairs."

A glance at Vince verified that Avery was causing the alpha to blush. Too adorable.

"I'll head out." Vince took my phone and started punching in a number. "This is my number. If you have to change plans, please call me. And if you change your mind and want me over tonight, I'll be there in minutes."

"Okay." I put my phone in my back pocket. "Do you need me to show you the way out?"

"Actually." Avery approached us and looked at me with pinched brows. "If you show him out, can you head back in here? I need to discuss something with you."

"Sure." I nodded. "I'll be right back."

I led Vince out of the room and down the hallway to the central area of the club. "I will show you the side exit, closer to the parking lot. Were you with friends?"

"I came with my brother." Vince grasped my hand but continued to follow me. "I texted him last night when we were heading to the private rooms to head home without me. But knowing him, he is probably hanging out by the car waiting for me."

Opening the door to the parking lot, I saw only a few cars still waiting for their owners to claim them. There was only one I didn't readily recognize. I gestured toward the blue sedan. "Is that him?"

Vince let out a goodhearted chuff. "It is. Val would have worried I didn't know how to find his place."

"Well, I'll let you get to him." I turned to face Vince. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Or soon." Vince snatched a kiss and jogged off to his brother's car.

Shaking my head, I locked the side door and return to the private rooms. I needed to make this up to Avery. Entering the room, I offered my apologies for letting my horniness take over last night. "Dude, I'm sorry."

"Don't even sweat it." Avery waved off my words. "We've all been there. But I had to check on you after, since this isn't like you."

Shaking my head, I picked up some of the trash I noticed lying around the room. "I'm good. We just hit it off and hooked up."

"He gave you his number and said he'd see you tomorrow." Avery raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, we are meeting for coffee and seeing where the day takes us." I walked over to my friend and hugged him. "Thank you for worrying about me. But, seriously. I'm okay."

"But will you be okay when he leaves town again?" My noisy friend knew me too well.

"That's for future Rayan to worry about. This Rayan is going to enjoy the time he has with a gorgeous alpha who makes his heart race and his cock hard, okay?"

"Fine," Avery conceded. "But next time, wear a condom."

"What?" Shock rolled through me at the reminder that I forgot an essential rule in hooking up. Always wrap it up.

"I didn't see anything when I came in, and there aren't any in the trash." Avery held up a hand. "I didn't search or anything, but the cans are all empty, and I know you didn't take out the trash after fucking and then fall asleep on the pool table. I don't want you to end up with a surprise."

"I'll talk to him tomorrow and go get tested. I won't forget again," I reassured Avery.

"And the other test you can take in two weeks." Avery nodded, looking at my flat stomach.

"Nope." I shook my head. "Remember, merman only get impregnated by their fated mates."

"And what if that man is your fated mate?" Avery tilted his head. "You wouldn't know unless you were in your shifted form, right?"

"Yeah." I hated that about being a merman. "But I think I will know. He's not going to get me pregnant."

"We'll see." Avery patted me on the arm and led me toward the exit. "But, just in case, I think Godfather Avery has a nice ring."

"Shut up." I shoved Avery and exited the club. "I'll see you later."

"Be safe," Avery yelled as he locked up and headed to his car.

I shook my head. There was no way Vince was my fated mate. I would have known something, right? There was no way I'd get pregnant from one night of no condoms.

"Stupid Avery." I huffed into the silence of the street as I walked home. There's no way he's right.