Page 9 of Just a Little Prick

I returned to the table. Lora was deep in conversation with Ryker and Garrett. Ryker was definitely hitting on her. I could tell from the way he was sitting, legs spread to try and get her to take a peek. Benny chatted animatedly with Kenzie, Logan listening with his gaze rooted firmly on my sister. He knew he’d get his ass kicked if he touched her, so I let that one be for now. I sank into an empty chair close to Lora, keeping watch and working on another beer.

Lora looked my way, her face brightening. “Bradley,” she called. “Hey. This place got loud!”

I laughed and nodded. “Sure did. Happens on a Friday night. You good?”

“I’m great!”

I felt myself grinning. She was cute like this, relaxed and a little tipsy. I liked it. “So, where were we, anyway?”

“Where—oh. Oh!” She laughed and stood up from her chair. Bending toward me, she raised one finger and tapped the tip of my nose. “We’ll come back to that conversation. I’m gonna get another beer!”

As she rose, one of the college boys took note. He slapped his buddy on the chest and pointed to her.

Fuck.

“Lora.” I stood up. Three of the college guys broke away from the herd, coming toward her.

One of them wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Hey, baby,” he said, loud enough that I could hear him over the noise of the bar. “You wanna come hang out with us? What are you drinking?”

“Hey.” I spoke firmly, not yet ready to throw punches—although, if it came to it, I knew I could take these assholes. “She’s with us. Go on back to your moms, huh?”

“I think she can decide for herself.” The lead frat boy clearly thought he was impressive. He kept his arm around Lora.

She looked at me, eyes wide. “Um…I…I think I’m good with my friends.”

Good answer. The frat boy let her go, giving me a dirty look. He turned to go back to the pack, his lackeys following. Lora returned to her seat. I patted her shoulder and went to the bar, coming back with two beers. I pressed one into her hand; she nodded her thanks.

“Don’t worry about them,” I said. “Dickhead college boys like to come down here and act tough. If you’re with us, you’re good.”

“Okay.” She took a long sip from her beer, breathed deep, and turned to me. “So, back to where we were.”

She bounced back quick. I liked it. I leaned my elbow on the table, raising my eyebrows. “Yeah, how about that?”

“Well…” She smiled. “You mentioned you aim to impress. And I’m curious about where you think you’re most impressive.”

“Are you?” I grinned. “I’m afraid the answer to that isn’t for polite company.”

Lora blinked and lifted her head, looking around. “Huh, good thing I don’t see any polite company here.”

I laughed at that, nodding. “All right, all right. You wanna know the truth, then?”

She nodded. I leaned a little closer. She leaned in toward me, too, eyes wide.

“I’m amazing in bed.”

“Are you?”

“Fuck yeah, I am. You ever want to find out how amazing, let me know.”

She gasped softly, straightening in her chair. “Oh. Okay.”

I smiled at her and turned my head, taking a quick look around. Kenzie was looking at me, her mouth set in a tight line. I smiled and raised my beer to her. She turned away, shaking her head.

She’d forgive me. She always did.

Lora and I chatted as we continued to drink. She was funny, I realized—sarcastic and irreverent, and quick to tease. It was fun. A lot of girls seemed to think they had to turn the sexiness up when we talked—breathy voices, lots of touching—but Lora didn’t. She just talked, and laughed, and ignored the other guys when they tried to move in.

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