Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

I laugh. I appreciate the positive feedback, but I don't need another three guys looking at me like I'm their little brother.

"You want to hit the town, Ethan? I know Miles is gonna say some shit about how he has to catch up on his reading. And I know my brother's about to head to his bunk for some way too loud phone sex." Tom sticks his tongue out in disgust.

Pete chuckles. "Don't listen if you don't like it."

"Don't have a fucking choice in the matter. You're loud on purpose," Tom says.

"That's how Jess likes it. Not about to leave her high and dry because you can't bother to buy ear plugs." Pete feigns innocence.

Miles says, "At least he's creative. When you do it—"

"Like you're better." Tom folds his arms, indignant. He looks to me. "What do you say, Ethan? You a boring old man like the three of us or you want to have some fun?"

Miles laughs. He leans against the wall as he turns to me. "Didn't you see the hot redhead who was staring at his ass?"

Tom nods. "I have eyes. And I know Violet. They were unstoppable together. I was sure you were gonna put a ring on that."

"With a girl that fine—you gotta let her know you're committed," Miles says.

"Give him a break. He's just a kid," Tom says.

"How old are you, Ethan?" Miles asks.

"Twenty-four."

"You're only twenty-five." Miles shakes his head at Tom. "You think you're more mature than him 'cause you convinced a nice girl to marry you?"

"Yeah. Means I'm doing something right." Tom looks to me. "You gonna make that happen?"

Last thing I need is more people getting in my business. I shrug with as much nonchalance as I can muster.

"Nobody's buying that," Tom says. "Especially not me. You looked at that girl the way that pervert over there—" Tom nods to his brother, Pete "—looks at a bass guitar."

"Why don't you say he looks at her the way Pete looks at his wife?" Miles asks.

"Because the way he looks at his wife is grosser than the way Ethan looks at Violet. Ethan's not a disgusting pervert like you two," Tom says.

"Sounds like an insult to me. Don't take shit from Sticks," Pete says. "You can be as much of a pervert as you want to be."

Miles turns to me. "Don't let the hand cramps stop you, Ethan. That's why man invented the vibrator. It's a tool. Like an amp. Doesn't make you any less of a man."

"I think the guy knows about the vibrator," Tom says.

"You're the one saying he's not a pervert," Miles says.

"Okay, sorry. Ethan's a pervert! Are you happy?" Tom asks.

"Peachy." Miles blows Tom a kiss.

Pete chuckles. He tosses me a spare Sinful Serenade t-shirt. "You gonna listen to our bullshit, or you gonna go satisfy your girl?"

"She's not my girl," I say.

"Not with that attitude," Pete says.

The man has a point.

We have a few hours until we're due back on the bus. As much as I enjoy the company of the Sinful guys, I want to spend that time with Violet.