Five Weeks (Seven Series #3)(98)

He walked inside naked and pulled on a pair of jeans, listening to Denver make a few wisecracks in a cartoonish voice about him hunting rabbits. The mood among the pack was somber, and he found out later that Austin had sent Wheeler to search for the drugs with Isabelle. He hoped going back to the house wasn’t too traumatic, but maybe it would help her put those demons to bed.
Jericho’s band had made plans weeks ago to write up some new music, and Austin didn’t look thrilled when they swung by and trickled upstairs to the game room. It usually went on all night while they sat around, drank beer, scribbled down lyrics, and tested out new sounds. As a collaborative effort, it was important each member participated. This was Trevor’s first session, and he was nervous the boys wouldn’t like his style of music and ideas. But fresh blood always gave them a new vibe.
Jericho was waiting in the game room when they walked in, and Joker and Ren showed up with a few female companions. Jericho wasn’t cool with the distraction, but he didn’t want to be rude and throw them out. Joker had his drumsticks tucked in his back pocket, and Ren’s guitar was slung over his arm in a case.
“They wanted to tag along and be our muses,” Joker said nonchalantly, strutting in the door.
Three girls followed behind, eyes wide as they nibbled on their lips.
Humans.
Joker preferred humans for the obvious reason that he was one. Shifter women always had their sights on Jericho, leaving the rest of the guys in the dust. Human women didn’t really care who they hooked up with, so Joker always had a fair shot. Ren was young, but the kid had game.
“What’s wrong, man?” Jericho asked when Trevor eased up beside him, his hands in his pockets.
“You know,” he whispered.
Trevor wasn’t shy by any means, but he didn’t like intimate situations where he might end up having to explain he was gay.
“Just show ’em how cool you are,” Jericho said. “Make them wish they could hook up with you. That drives ’em wild. Do you think I used to hook up with every single hottie who rubbed up against me? They want you even more when you’re aloof. Be aloof.”
“Aloof,” Trevor repeated as a mantra.
Jericho plucked a cigarette from a pack on the bar and tucked it behind his ear. “Where did Reno and April head off to?”
Trevor laughed quietly and shook a few strands of hair out of his eyes. “They had some elaborate date planned. He took her to a concert, and afterward they’re staying at the Four Seasons and getting their nasty on. She packed lube; I’m kind of freaked out.”
“More than I needed to know,” Jericho said as they swaggered across the game room.
“Gina, Tina, and shit… what’s your name?” Joker asked as he stumbled through introductions.
The blonde leaned over the pool table, and it made Jericho’s body go stiff. He turned his eyes away and headed to the bar to light up his smoke.
“It’s Ebony,” she said, her tone snippy.
A girl with a low-cut top and a silver pendant tucked between her breasts took a seat beside Jericho. “So you’re the famous Jericho. I’ve seen you play—you’re hot onstage.”
He lit up his smoke and took a deep drag, deciding he had a fifty-fifty shot at getting her name right. “It’s just a job, Tina.”
“Gina.”
“Right.”
Her left hand abruptly squeezed his thigh. “I think you’re really sexy.” Then she slid off the stool and intruded in his space, inching her hand even higher as her voice became sweet like honey. “If you want to know how sexy, show me your room. If you’re not up for sex, I’ll just give you head.”
How juvenile was this conversation? he thought. Not a seductress by any means. And yet Isabelle could make him rock hard from a single glance with her mesmerizing green eyes. They both shared the same eye color, but hers were so vibrant and full of shine whereas his were dull and often compared to a dark jade. Isabelle had always been the better version of him.
“I’m not on the menu tonight, honey. But if you sit back in your seat and have a drink, I can hook you up with Ren. None of you has a shot at Trevor; he’s a virgin and saving himself.”
Trevor was either going to kill him or thank him for that later.
Gina glared at her friends and then evaluated Joker. She slyly hopped off her stool and poured herself a glass of brandy from the bottle sitting on the bar. Her eyes remained watchful of Jericho, and it made him uncomfortable enough to polish off his drink. While she refilled his glass, he went to help Trevor adjust the level on the amplifier to a volume that wouldn’t piss off Austin.