Page 39 of King of Jokers

“Oh, not a chance,” I huffed, yanking Win by the hand and heading for the other side of the ground. There was no way she would be up to meeting those four, but more so, I needed to be alone with her.

“I can’t run in these heels,” she stammered and I made a quick decision, throwing her over my shoulder and increasing my pace to the sideline as she squealed in shock.

The cheers of the boys grew louder and I smiled, the ache which had been heavy on my chest for the last two days, suddenly disappearing.

She was here and she was mine.

Jack

Epilogue

Andy

Arna said if you and Winter aren’t at Grey Petal within the hour she is coming to your place and hauling arse.

She has also threatened me with a month of no sex if I don’t convince you, so get your sorry fucking arses down here.

Jack

Ha. Blue balls never was your colour. Be there soon.

“We’ve been summoned,” I spoke into her hair as she gave herself another once over in the ensuite mirror.

“Are you sure I look okay?” We hadn’t left my place in a week and while I would be content tospend a year locked up with Win, my friends were relentless in their desperation to meet her.

“Win, you will be the most stunning woman in the entire city, let alone the bar. You are perfect.” I answered truthfully. Her uncertainty was baffling given how naturally beautiful she was and always had been. Tonight, she wore a black dress which hugged her in all the best places and was tight enough that she chose not to wear underwear. Meaning we would be at Seb’s new bar, but mentally, I would already be home with my face between her thighs.

“I love you,” She said, for probably the fiftieth time today.

“Thank fucking god,” I replied with a kiss on her nose, the same thing I said on the day she came to Sydney. “And I love you more.”

“Okay, let’s leave because that look you’re wearing,” she pointed her finger towards my face, “Is only leading to one place.”

Her giggle bounced around the house as we half-jogged, half-wiggled our way to the front door, my hands greedily doing their best to get underneath her dress while she slapped my wandering hands with startled laughter.

“It really is a magical place in the city at night.” She said as we walked the final block to Sebatian’s Jazz and Whiskey Bar.

“I usually take an Uber,” I answered honestly. It was only a ten minute walk from my apartment but I often jumped in a ride or one of the boys swung by on their way. “But I’m glad you like it here.”

We hadn’t discussed what things would look like after her leave ended in three weeks. We were taking things slowly and enjoying this new chapter, day by day. I headed back into the club from tomorrow so she would have time on her own to decide if this really was the place for her, even for the short term. Of course, I was doing everything humanly possible to make sure that happened – the thought of her back in Willow Bay without me too much to bear now we’d finally been honest with each other and ourselves.

“I am worried about my waistline though. The pizza place next to your building will be the death of me.” She said and I wrapped an arm around her shoulder, grinning as she laced her fingers through my own.

“See, you have no choice. How can you leave a pizza place and your morning eggs, à la Grant.”

The disgust on her face evoked a belly laugh from deep within and I held my stomach.

“You have a breeding kink, Jacksie. Fertilised is not how I want my eggs right now, thank you.” Her words only made me laugh harder.

“You are the best.” I answered honestly with a kiss to the top of her head.

“And you are a pest. But you’re my pest.” She quipped.

“Yes, I am. This is it.” I gestured to the door which led down a set of stairs. You might miss it if you weren’t actively looking or aware, and that was in line with Seb’s obfuscated character. A small square plaque sat at eye level with the wordsGrey Petalilluminated by the small lights above, the stairs margined with the same discrete lighting.

“This is really nice.” Win breathed, her voice immediately lowering as it did when we joined others. Never wanting to draw attention to herself, my girl was not one for social gatherings. “There aren’t many people here,” she observed.

“Nope. It’s a closed event.” I said. There were no secrets once Arna got wind of them and Andy had unknowingly opened a can of worms when he told her Winter hated crowds. It apparently resulted in a call to Marlee which ended with Sebastian closing his bar for the night so Winter wouldn’t feel anything but comfortable. A gesture which was both incredibly kind and an example of why I liked Arna and Marlee so much.

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