Defy You: A Brother's Best Friend/Age Gap Romance (Rebel Ink Book 3)

by Tracy Lorraine

  After thanking him for once again bailing her out of his fucking disaster, I hang up and crawl into bed beside her.

  Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her warm back against my front and breathe in her sweet scent.

  “I love you, Tiny.”

  “I love you too. Thank you for saving me.”

  31

  Kas

  “Morning, Tiny.” I blink a couple of times to get my eyes to focus.

  “What are you doing?” He looks down at the small bag he’s currently packing before looking back up at me.

  “Uh… packing.”

  “Going somewhere nice?”

  “We sure are.”

  “We?”

  “We, Tiny.” He winks. “And if you want to find out where we’re going, then I suggest you get your cute arse out of bed.”

  “What do I need?” I ask, excitement starting to bloom in my belly.

  “Normal stuff.”

  I raise a brow. “You’re talking to a girl here.”

  He chuckles. “Just normal stuff. Clothes, underwear, you know.”

  “For how long?”

  “A few days.”

  “Wow, you’re full of details.”

  “That might be because it’s a surprise.”

  “Would now be a good time to tell you that I don’t have a passport?”

  “We’re not leaving the country, don’t worry.”

  “So, we’re not going on the run because I killed a guy. Good to know.” His movement stops at my words and his eyes find mine.

  “Kas, I—” The seriousness in his tone has me cutting him off. I really don’t want to do serious right now, especially if he’s planned something for us.

  “It’s okay. It was a joke. I’m not sure anyone will miss that scumbag, just like his friends.”

  “I know, and I agree. I was just going to say that you didn’t actually kill him. When D and Cruz got there, he was still alive.”

  “Shit, that must have hurt then.”

  He shrugs. “He was Jet’s brother.”

  I nod, acknowledging that would be why I recognised something about him.

  “They sorted it?” I ask, wanting to confirm what I already know.

  “Yeah. And…” Spike hesitates, making dread start to push away my earlier excitement. “D gave me a number for a shrink friend, should you want it.”

  I smile at him. “I appreciate that, but I’m good.”

  He flashes me a knowing smile. “As I thought. I’ll forward it to you anyway, just in case.”

  I want to argue, but I don’t have it in me. All he’s trying to do is look after me, and I appreciate it more than he could possibly know.

  “So where are we going?” I ask, changing the subject back to something a little lighter.

  “Not telling you. But the sooner you get up and pack, the faster you can find out.”

  Scrambling from the bed, I falter when my head starts to ache and my muscles pull, reminding me of what happened last night. Pushing it from my mind before Spike notices something is wrong, I head to my room.

  In the middle of my bed is a brand new suitcase with a couple of bags already inside.

  “What’s all this?” I shout but startle when his hands slip around my waist and pull me back into his body.

  “Presents.”

  “Why?”

  “Why not?”

  I bite onto my bottom lip. I don’t need to tell him that people don’t just buy me presents because they feel like it. He already knows, and presumably it’s why he’s done it.

  “Pack what you need, and don’t look inside the bags. You’ve got fifteen minutes.”

  He leaves me to it, and after running my fingers over the bags that are practically calling to me, I rip my hand away and do as I’m told.

  Spike isn’t anything like the people of my past. There are only nice things, thoughtful things inside those bags.

  Ten minutes later, I pull the wheelie case down the hallway toward where he’s waiting for me in the living room.

  “All set?” he asks, looking up from his phone.

  “I think so, although I have no idea if I’ve got everything I need.”

  “You have,” he says confidently, making my brows draw together.

  “What are you planning?”

  Pushing from the sofa, he walks over and holds out his hand. “Pass me that. I’ll carry them downstairs.”

  I nod and follow him out, watching as he locks up the flat and then trails behind me as we make our way down the stairs.

  As we hit the ground floor, a door opens. Louisa steps out, her eyes flying to both of us. If she didn’t look so shocked to see us, I’d think she was waiting. “Jesus, are you two okay?”

  It’s not until I see the horror in her eyes that I really remember just how we look.

  “Yeah, we’re good,” Spike says, as I say, “You should see our opponents.”

  The reality of my words hits me hard. The guy who did this to me is gone. It may not have been me who dealt his final blow, but I’ve no doubt he’d have bled out in that alleyway if D and Cruz hadn’t got there so fast.

  “O-okay,” she says, her eyes flitting between the two of us, looking totally unconvinced by our words.

  “We’re heading out of town for a few days. We’ll be back at the weekend,” Spike tells her, but I look up at him, soaking up any clue he might give as to where we’re going.

  “Okay, well… have fun.”

  “Oh, we will,” Spike says, picking up both cases in one hand and pressing his other to the small of my back. Tingles race across my skin at his suggestive tone, and heat blooms in my lower stomach.

  “I can’t believe you just said that,” I chastise him as the main door closes behind us.

  “Why not?”

  “She wants you. It’s just mean, flaunting what she can’t have.”

  “That’s very thoughtful of you. You’ll be suggesting sharing next.”

  My teeth grind. “Um… I think not.”

  Dropping the cases, he grips the nape of my neck and pulls me against his body.

  “Jealousy looks good on you, Tiny.”

  “I’m not—”

  “Don’t bother trying to argue. I like it,” he says, brushing his lips against mine and giving me the sweetest kiss that only makes the ache between my legs worse.

  “All in good time, Tiny.”

  He pulls away from me all too soon, before stepping toward a car I recognise.

  “Is that Zach’s?”

  “Sure is. He owes me a favour or two after rearranging my face.”

  I stand awkwardly on the pavement as he places our cases in the boot and holds open the passenger door for me.

  “Come on then.”

  I hop inside, and in only a few seconds he joins me.

  “You said we’re going out of town. Are we leaving London?”

  “Yeah, is that okay?”

  “Yes,” I answer eagerly. “I’ve never left the city.”

  “You serious?”

  I nod sadly, not really wanting to admit just how sheltered I am when it comes to travelling.

  “Well, sit back and enjoy a little of the country, then.”

  I do as he suggests and get comfortable as he changes the radio station and pulls out of the space on the side of the road.

  With the windows down and the music blasting, I suck in deep breaths of fresh air as we make our way out of the city.

  “How far away is it?” I ask after a long stretch of silence.

  “About an hour and a half.”

  I nod, turning my head to look at him. He’s got one hand on the wheel, his fingers tightly wrapped around it, his strong forearm flexing, making his ink ripple as he keeps control of the car.

  “See something you like?” he asks cheekily.

  “Hell yeah. You look hot behind the wheel.”

  “Yeah?” He flashes me that heart-stopping smile of his, and I squirm in my seat. “Don’t do t
hat,” he warns.

  “Do what?” I ask innocently.

  “Make me fuck you in the back of your brother’s car. That won’t help,” he chuckles.

  “He must be somewhat okay with this, or he wouldn’t have loaned it to you.”

  “I think he had a bit of a reality check.”

  “What? When I almost died?”

  He swallows like hearing the words causes him physical pain. “Yeah, something like that.”

  Turning away from him, needing to end the conversation I stupidly started, I look back out to the greenery surrounding us.

  “It’s really beautiful out here.”

  “It is.”

  “Do you always want to live in London?”

  “I… um…” He hesitates, making me look back to him. “The plan was always to move out before starting a family.”

  “With her?” I can’t help the bitter tone that fills my voice. A huge part of me is grateful that she left him, because I’ve got him now. But equally I hate her for hurting him something fierce. I really hope I never meet her.

  “Yeah. After that…” He shrugs. “I’ve never really thought about the future too much. I’d been living day to day until…”

  “Until?” I ask when he trails off.

  “Until you.”

  “And now what?”

  “I still have no idea, but I’m up for thinking about it again.”

  A smile curls at my lips. “You want to plan our future?”

  “Yeah, if you want to?”

  I nod, the thought of tomorrow not scaring me as much as it once did. “Yeah, I think that would be good.”

  “So, what do you want, Kas? Have you always seen your future in London, or did you want to head off elsewhere?”

  “Well I always dreamed of a sunset somewhere, but mostly, I was just happy to wake up the next day.”

  “Kas.”

  “Don’t give me the sad voice. It’s over.”

  He nods.

  “And now… I want a career, I want to actually be good at something and make myself a life. I want a home, a place where I feel safe and want to return to. I want to not look over my shoulder every five seconds to see if anyone is trailing me. I want to look forward and not wonder if I’ll even have a future to worry about.”

  “And me?” The vulnerability in his tone makes my heart ache.

  “You? I want you right by my side.” Wide smiles spread across both of our faces as he reaches over and laces his fingers with mine.

  “I like the sound of that.”

  One of my favourite songs starts playing on the radio. Resting my head back, I belt out the lyrics like I have no cares in the world as the warm air whips past my face.

  “I like you like this,” Spike says once I’ve finished my terrible rendition.

  “Like what, making you go deaf?” I ask with a laugh.

  “Relaxed. Happy.”

  “It’s nice to have forgotten most of my worries, I must admit.”

  “Well, let go of the rest. You’ve got nothing to worry about for five whole days.”

  “Five days?” He nods. “Are you going to tell me where yet?”

  He tilts his chin to point out of the windscreen, and I turn to look.

  “Holy shit. Don’t joke,” I say with amusement when the rolling hills before us drop away to reveal the most stunning manor house in the distance.

  “I’m not joking.”

  “Spike,” I squeal. “I can’t go in there. They’ll think I’m one of the cleaners.”

  “Only you’re not. You’re a guest with everything the place has to offer at your feet.”

  The car draws closer, past all the perfectly tended lawns and bright blooming flowers.

  Spike brings Zach’s car to a stop beside the others that would look more at home in a fancy showroom, and I stare up at the impressive building.

  “I thought places like this only existed on the TV,” I mutter, not entirely sure how I feel about walking inside as a guest. “Why here?”

  “I have it on good authority that this place is one of the best.”

  “Who from?” I ask, my brows drawing together as I try to think who he might know who has the money to stay here.

  “Biff. I called in a favour,” he admits with a shrug.

  “I don’t want their charity, Spike.”

  “It’s not. She just got me a good rate. The rest is all me. I want to spoil you, let you have a few days out and… thank you.”

  “Thank me. What for?”

  He turns to me, his eyes softening as they bounce between mine. “For showing me that just because I’ve been burned, I don’t need to hide. For bringing meaning back into my life. For giving me a chance.”

  “Spike,” I whisper, leaning into his touch when he lifts his hand to my cheek. “I should be the one thanking you. You’ve saved me over and over in only a few days.”

  “I guess that makes us even then,” he says with a smile.

  “I guess so.”

  “So, do you fancy it? Or I can drive us back to the city.”

  I think of the delights that might be hiding for us inside that building. I imagine us both in fluffy robes, having a couple's massage, drinking champagne for breakfast, and late nights watching the sun go down over the countryside beyond.

  “Oh, I fancy it.”

  “Good. Let’s go.” He kills the engine and shoulders the door before jogging around the bonnet and opening mine for me.

  He helps me down before getting our cases from the boot, and with his arm around my shoulder, we walk toward the entrance.

  The inside is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. My eyes flick around, not knowing where to look first.

  I expected the member of staff who greeted us to look us up and down and turn her nose up like we didn’t belong, but from the second she looked up from her desk, she was nothing but welcoming.

  “Would you like some help with your bags?” she asks softly after handing over our key and giving us all the instructions we might need.

  “No, we’re good.”

  “Okay, the lift is just over there. You’re on the fourth floor, room 402. If you need anything at all, just call down.”

  “Thank you,” we say simultaneously before turning the way she pointed.

  “This is insane,” I whisper, looking around at the most luxurious lift I’ve ever stepped foot in.

  “It looks good on you, though.”

  “You think?” I ask as he stalks toward me.

  “I do.”

  The lift dings before he manages to back me up against the wall, and although I’m disappointed not to have his hands and lips on me, I don’t want to get caught before we’ve even stepped inside our room.

  “This way,” he announces, taking off down the hallway with our bags.

  “Whoa… this isn’t just a room, it’s a…”

  “Suite. I know.” He turns on me, a shit-eating grin on his face.

  “Spike,” I breathe. “This is all too much.”

  The plush carpet, the rich ruby red walls, the huge sofas and the open fire. I don’t know where to look first.

  “It’s nowhere near enough, Kas. I don’t have much. This isn’t normal life for me either, but it’s time for a fresh start, for both of us.”

  I smile up at him, my heart thundering in my chest in a way it never has before. The fear I’ve been all too used to is gone, replaced by just how strongly I feel for this incredible man who’s looking down at me like I’m the only woman in the world.

  “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too, Tiny. Now…” he says, reaching down to take my hand, “fancy checking out the bedroom?”

  I giggle like a schoolgirl when he winks and drags me in the direction of a door, a naughty glint in his eye that I know I’m never going to tire of.

  Epilogue

  Kas

  One month later…

  The buzzing that fills my ears now feels as familiar as my own heartbe
at. My eyes stare at Spike’s hand as he adds the finishing touch to my new tattoo that covers one of the many scars of my past.

  My chest heaves as he works on my hip, so close to where I’m desperate for him.

  After we spent an incredibly relaxing five days at that fancy hotel, we returned back to his flat and set about moving me into his room. For someone who was adamant that he didn’t want a woman or even consider a future, he was very keen to start our new life together.

  We’d not spoken about anything to do with the future aside from that brief conversation we had in Zach’s car, but I know he’s thinking about it. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at me. And I can’t deny that the idea of him asking the question I know is eating at him, even this early into our relationship, doesn’t fill me with excitement.

  I might not have all that much experience with love and all the things that come with a serious relationship, but I know what I want, and I’ve never really been one to back down from a challenge.

  I know I’m young and have all the time in the world to think about settling down, but I know Spike still thinks about our age difference, and although it doesn’t bother him, I don’t think he really wants a girlfriend. He wants more, he wants what Zach and Titch have, and I can’t help but feel the same when I see them together.

  I lose myself in thoughts of my future as he works, his fingers flexing, the ink on his hand and forearm pulling as he moves and making me even hotter for him.

  “Okay, I’m done,” he announces, sitting back and looking proud of himself.

  “Yeah?”

  I push myself from the chair so I can see and stare down at his artwork. He’s done an incredible version of my own design, but I can clearly see the little additions and tweaks he’s made.

  “What’s this?” I ask, pointing out the pocket watch he’s added into my design. It’s the exact same as the one that adorns his side.

  “Something sentimental.”

  “Why, what’s it…?” I stare down at it, looking at the time he’s put on it. “Is that the time you pulled me off the stage?”