Page 77 of Their Property
Kyrie propped her elbows on the bar and drove her fingers through her hair. “I wonder why he didn’t say anything sooner. I had no idea he had a son before tonight.”
I clicked my pen a few times while I thought of the right words.I think he’s embarrassed,I wrote.Not of his son, but the situation. He doesn’t want you to think of him as a bad or absent father.
“I would never!” Kyrie exclaimed. “Not if he just explained it to me like you two did.”
T-Bone leaned into her, his hand sliding along the back of her barstool until his thumb brushed her arm. “Dyno’s not easily shaken by a lot of things. He’s good at keeping it together, but the one thing that threatens to unravel him is worrying about his son.” T-Bone leaned away, still smirking at her. “And you, come to think of it.”
“Me?” Kyrie brought a hand to her chest. “Why me?”
I huffed out a breath in disbelief. She really didn’t know?
“Isn’t it obvious? We’re all crazy about you, little lady.”
The room temperature heated by a few noticeable degrees. Over the course of our conversation, T-Bone and I seemed to have gradually moved in closer to Kyrie. Only now I realized how close. She couldn’t turn in her chair without brushing up against either of us. And she didn’t seem to mind.
T had been touching her face, her legs, and back—whatever barrier between them was now broken. Kyrie had hugged me, had always been friendly and affectionate, but so far, not likethat.Whenever the guys and I played with others, I was never anyone’s first choice. I was too quiet. Too weird, as I’d overheard Lacey say once. I was just the opportunity cost for a chance at T-Bone and Dyno.
Kyrie’s eyes were full of T-Bone now, the two of them lost in their own little world. The guys never made me feel excluded, but it was always a delicate balance when we brought others in. All these years later, I still wasn’t sure what those two saw in me. We’d had enough casual partners for me to see a pattern.
I wasn’t anyone’s preference, and that usually didn’t bother me. But when Kyrie and T-Bone shared a kiss and smiled over some whispered words, it was impossible to ignore the stab of jealousy. She was the only woman that I wished would seeme.
“What should we do until Dyno gets back?” Kyrie turned in her seat to flash me a warm smile, and I forced my mouth to make one back at her.
“I can think of a few things.” T-Bone swept the hair off her shoulder, fingers digging in to massage her nape.
I held back a snort. Always a horndog, that one.
“While he’s gone?” Kyrie tried to give him a skeptical look, but her face was too blissed out from the neck massage. “Isn’t that breaking your rules?”
“Like I told you upstairs, we can just keep exploring.” His other hand went to her leg, repeating the massage just above her knee. “You can watch me and Grudge, if you’d like.” He looked up at me, eyes already dark with all the fantasies playing out in his head. “You good with that, man?”
I stroked my beard, watching Kyrie’s face before I answered. Her pupils were almost as blown out as T-Bone’s, her slight body melting into the barstool as he rubbed into her muscles. She looked so at ease, open and inviting, like she would try anything we suggested. Her legs had even spread open, maybe subconsciously, so that her other knee rested against my leg.
And she was looking at me. Both of them were, expressions openly lustful and waiting for my response. I could almost fool myself into thinking she did want me, that she would look at me like that even if T-Bone wasn’t there.
I waved my hand in a noncommittal gesture. Whatever happened, I would be fine. I’d be satisfied and enjoy it. I just shouldn’t let myself think too much.
“He’s leaving it up to you, little lady.” T-Bone nuzzled the side of her face. “I have plenty of suggestions, but you’re an equal player here. If there’s something you’d like to try, let us know.”
Kyrie slid further down in her seat, blushing darker, and biting her lips to hide a smile. When it didn’t work, she covered her face. Fuck me, it was cute.
“You going shy on us?” T-Bone chuckled and pinched her waist. “Need some whiskey to loosen up, Miss Ambassador?”
“Don’t call me that!” Kyrie shrieked with laughter and leaned away from him, which brought her closer to me. I wasn’t sure if she lost balance or if maybe it was the beer she already drank, but she rested the full weight of her head and upper back against my chest. “Hi, Grudge.” She tilted her face up at me, smiling broadly. “You’re comfy.”
“He is. He’s the best pillow.” T-Bone didn’t seem at all bothered to have lost her attention, but he never was the jealous type. He only looked amused as he helped himself to another glass of whiskey. “She’s halfway off that chair, man. She’ll be on the floor soon if you don’t do something.”
I glared at him over Kyrie’s head, knowing exactly what he was trying to make me do. Trying my best to ignore my thundering pulse, I braced my arms along Kyrie’s sides, hands resting just past her hips so she wouldn’t fall.
I’d never held anyone this small before. She felt nice in my arms.
One of Kyrie’s hands drifted up like she was going to touch my face. She paused at the edge of my beard, fingertips lightly stroking the coarse hair.
“Can I ask you something, Grudge?”
“Mm-hm.” I might have sounded calm but I was dreading having to answer. Not because of anything she might ask me. I just didn’t want to stop holding her to write something down.
“How did you get your road name?” She angled her head to look up at me. “And what’s your given name? If you don’t mind me asking.”
