Excerpt from the chapter
“There’s a Paddle in my Trunk”
Lunch with Kieran had become a daily ritual over the last couple weeks he’d been in Midtown, and I was finding I rather enjoyed his company—minus the occasional snarky comment regarding my choice in extra-curricular activities. Liam had relaxed some, seeing that our interactions had turned quite platonic for the most part.
“Gino’s again?” I asked as we walked out to my car.
“Sounds good to me.”
I nodded and tossed him my keys. “You can drive Betty today. My wrists are killing me.”
A playful smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth and I rolled my eyes. “From tattooing, perv.”
He made himself the picture of innocence, drawing his lips into a pout and batting his long dark lashes.
“I didn’t say anything.”
I pulled the passenger door open and slid inside so he didn’t see my smile. “You didn’t have to.”
Kieran let out an indignant grunt, but mischief played behind those eyes of his and a grin spread across his lips. He pulled out of the alley and fifteen minutes later we were at Gino’s. We went inside and Kieran slid into the booth we’d sat at the first time we came here. I slid in across from him and sat down a little too hard. With a wince, I eased down against the seat. Kieran took notice, a wide toothy grin crossing his lips.
“Ya alright over there?”
“Yep, just fine.” I answered and flipped open one of the menus. I refused to give him anymore fuel.
The waitress came, placed our drinks in front of us, and took our orders. Calzones this time. Kieran gnawed at his bottom lip, gears turning behind his eyes. Here we go again. I shifted against the padded bench, winced, and his eyes lit up.
“Arse a little sore?”
“Maybe.” My eyes darted up to him. Two could play this game. Admittedly, I found his attempts to pry more than entertaining. He grinned at this little morsel and stabbed his straw in his drink, waggling an eyebrow at me. “Was somebody a naughty girl last night?”
I took a long sip from my soda, narrowing my eyes at him speculatively. The minute I answered him, he’d blush and change the subject, I just knew it. So I answered him. Honestly.
“Yeah, I was. Darren bent me over his kitchen table and spanked me with a wooden paddle.”
Kieran blinked and his eyes widened a little, but to my surprise he quickly returned to his former, teasing expression. “Ya really like getting spanked, don’t ya?”
A trickle of warmth moved through me and I sat up, amused and somewhat turned on by this bolder side of Kieran. I wondered just how far he would take it.
“Yeah, I do. I’ve got a paddle in my trunk if you want to go outside and give it a couple swings.”
Kieran’s eyes went round again and he sucked in a breath—and soda, which he promptly sputtered across the tabletop. Lucky for him, the waitress came back with our food, though she frowned at the spray of soda. She wiped down the table then placed our dishes in front of us and Kieran gave her an apologetic look. His cheeks flushed and I turned my attention to the hot calzone on my plate, giving him a chance to recuperate.
“So ya said ya had ta pick up a few things fer the shop?” He asked, finally looking up from his plate.
I smiled. Of course he changed the subject.
There is a ton of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s on here becuase for some reason they seemed to resonate a lot with both Shayne and Kieran in this story. This tends to happen a lot with my characters which is why sometimes have a lot of just one artist on the book soundtrack. Other songs just fit really well with what was going on in the story at that point. Like, Lips Of An Angel and Paint It Black are for points in the story that aren’t so happy. Hope you enjoy my playlist and Marks On My Skin
1- Mr. Brightside- The Killers (appropriate given the beginning of the story).
2- Lover I Don’t Have To Love- Bright Eyes
3- Hello Fascination- Breathe Carolina
4- Everybody Talks- Neon Trees
5- Animals -Neon Trees
6- You Wouldn’t Like Me- Tegan and Sara
7- Gold Lion- Yeah Yeah Yeahs (The song they first hook up to)
8- S&M- Rihanna (Yep…)
9- Glory Box - Portishead
10- Only You- Portishead
11-Sexodus- MIA
12- Goodbye, Goodbye- Tegan and Sara
13- Feel Good Inc- Gorillaz
14- Paint It Black- The Rolling Stones
15- Lips Of An Angel- Hinder
16- Warrior- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
17- Turn Into- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
18- Sweets- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
19- Ho Hey- The Lumineers
