Tainted Forever (Tainted Knights 5)
“I would have told you.”
“Before or after you two went out?”
“Before, because I would have invited you to join us,” she snapped.
Appeased by that answer, I stopped for a red light and leaned over to kiss her. It was a quick, hard kiss, but she tried to make me linger. Grinning, I rubbed my thumb over her full bottom lip. “Let’s meet him now, then.”
“I’m not in the mood,” she grumbled.
“If he’s being insistent, then maybe he wants to discuss something important. Get it over with.”
“Fine. Let me text him, and we’ll meet at First Bass.”
When the light turned green, I changed lanes and turned us toward the club. As usual, there was a pack of paps outside the club, but Kin and I ignored them as I turned my car over to the valet attendant and we went inside.
Tiny greeted us with a nod, letting us pass up the stairs to the VIP floor without comment. I kept my hand on Kin’s hip as we walked over to the bar.
“You want a beer or something else?” I asked as we waited for Nate to come over to take our orders.
“Just ginger ale,” she told me, glancing around distractedly. “My stomach is bothering me.”
“You barely ate earlier,” I commented, worried about her. She’d been skipping meals all week and didn’t finish anything when she did finally eat.
“I’m just nervous about the tour,” she dismissed. “I’ll be fine.”
I cupped her face, making her focus her attention on me. “You’re going to do amazing,” I told her when she lifted her gaze to meet mine. “You’re the most talented person I’ve ever met. And no, I’m not saying that just because I love you. It’s true. Stop stressing over your stage fright, baby.”
She sighed but nodded. “Easier said than done, but I’m trying.”
I brushed a kiss over her lips, felt some of her tension leaving her, and hugged her against me. “I’ll be right there beside you the whole time,” I vowed. “Just keep your eyes on me.”
“What can I get you two?” Nate asked as he leaned on the bar top, his eyes shifting from Kin to me and back again. “You two sorted out now?”
I tightened my fingers on Kin’s waist. “Yeah. Sorry again about your ribs.”
He lifted his shoulders in a careless shrug. “Don’t sweat it, man. We’re cool. You want a beer?”
“And a ginger ale for Kin,” I told him, tossing a few bills on the bar.
He handed both over, and Kin sipped thirstily at her drink, going back to watching everyone around us.
“You nervous about seeing this guy?” I asked, studying her closer.
“No, why would I be?”
“You look nervous.” I leaned back against the bar, cradling her between my legs.
She blew out a sigh. “I haven’t told Derrick we’re back together yet.”
“So? It isn’t his business if we’re together or not. You don’t answer to him.” I didn’t know why her answer was pissing me off, but it was. “Does it matter what he thinks?”
“Why are you getting mad?” She set her glass down on the bar top before rubbing both hands over my chest.
“Why aren’t you answering my question?” I countered, locking my hands around her wrists to stop her from caressing me. It was distracting as hell.
“Because it’s a stupid question,” she snapped. “It doesn’t matter to me what he thinks about us being together, but he is my friend, and he is important to me.”
“Why?” I gritted out.