Chapter Text
Kate exits the restroom and makes her through the crowded pub until she finds the booth Colin sits at alone, scrolling aimlessly on his phone. There’re a few half-drunken beers on the table.
“Where’d he go?” she asks, sliding into the booth next to him.
Colin points to the wall of windows, where Kate can clearly make out Anthony and his girlfriend, Siena—apparently engaging in yet another lover’s spat, if Siena’s wildly gesticulating hands are any indication.
“Christ, again? What’d he do this time?” Kate asks.
“Beats the hell out of me. One minute he was fine, next thing I know she shows up and suddenly they’re out there cosplaying Cat on the Hot Tin Roof for the whole pub to see.”
Kate laughs, taking a pull of her beer. Anthony and Siena have been on-again-off-again for as long as she’s known him—which is going on two years now. Kate met him through his younger brother Colin, who works at the same primary school as her.
Kate’s friendship with Anthony wasn’t always smooth sailing—in fact, the first night they met at a party at Colin’s flat, they were positively at each other’s throats within minutes of meeting. While the details of their initial argument got lost in a flurry of ‘he said she said’ over time, the nature of their relationship—which Colin affectionately coined as ‘amicably contentious’—was forever cemented that night.
Siena was a totally different story. Kate didn’t dislike the girl, per say, she honestly didn’t know her well enough to form a real opinion. She was incredibly possessive over Anthony and got wildly jealous whenever he socialized without her—yet she seemingly disliked Colin, Kate, and the rest of their friends so much that she hardly came around, even when she was invited.
While their current fight outside the pub seems intense enough to quite possibly be the fight to end all fights, Kate knew better than to get her hopes up. No matter how many times they’ve broken up before, they always, always get back together.
“Uh oh, she’s pointing at us now” Colin says.
Kate looks out the window. Sure enough, Siena is now gesticulating towards at Kate and Colin, while Anthony dramatically covers his face with his hands—as he often does when aggravated beyond belief.
“Shit, Colin. What did you do now?” Kate asks.
“Me? Maybe she’s pointing at you” Colin says.
“That’s doubtful. I’ve barely exchanged five sentences with that woman. Their relationship is so toxic, I’ll never understand why he keeps going back to her” Kate says.
“I mean, she’s pretty hot” Colin offers, “That doesn’t hurt.”
“There are plenty of hot people in the world who don’t regularly ruin our nights out. You know as well as I do that Anthony can have anyone he wants, if only he simply cuts her out for good.”
Colin’s eyes flash up to hers for a brief moment.
“What?” Kate asks, confused.
“I didn’t say anything” Colin says.
“I know that look. You want to say something” Kate says.
But before Colin can respond, Anthony re-enters with a scowl on his face…without Siena.
“Is your better half not joining us brother?” Colin asks sarcastically.
Anthony glares at him before taking a long swig of his own beer. Colin fakes a shiver.
“Ooh, I just felt a chill in the air. How strange” Colin remarks to Kate, who smiles.
She glances across the table at Anthony, finding him staring back at her.
“You alright, mate?” she asks.
“Fantastic” he bites out.
“Very convincing” Kate responds.
buzz buzz. Colin checks his cell.
“Bugger, I have to go” he says.
“Is something wrong?” Kate asks.
“It’s Penny. She found a mouse in her apartment and she’s freaking out” Colin says, putting his jacket on.
“Hmm, sounds like a booty-call if I ever heard one” Kate teases.
“We’re just friends, get your mind out of the gutter” Colin says.
“But it’s so much fun down here” Kate says, sparing another glance at Anthony. She’s relieved to see him smirking slightly at his brother’s expense.
Colin flips them both off affectionately as a parting gesture, before leaving the pub.
Kate turns her attention back to Anthony, who polishes off his drink.
“You bailing on me too, Bridgerton?” she asks.
“Think I’ll say for another. You in?” he asks.
“Depends, are you buying?”
X
A few minutes later, Anthony returns with the beers, handing one to Kate.
“So” she begins when he settles in across from her, “Do you want to talk about—”
“—Not really, no” Anthony interrupts.
“Suit yourself” she says, taking a pull of her beer.
Only a few moments go by before—
“She’s just…being dramatic” Anthony says, staring at the label on his bottle.
“About what?” Kate asks.
He glances up at her, and Kate has to remember to breathe. No matter how long she’s known Anthony for, no matter how many times she’s been transfixed with his intense gaze, the effect still takes her by surprise every so often. She knew it didn’t mean anything, not really. Anthony’s an intense guy. His expressive eyes just come with the territory.
“Some dumb fight we had. She can’t move past it and I’m tired of trying to get her to” Anthony says, “So, we’re done.”
Kate would cheer, but she’s heard this story one too many times before.
“Like ‘done done’ or done for the night, only to make up tomorrow in the harsh light of day?” she asks.
“We need to be ‘done done.’ She’s more invested in our relationship than I am. My heart’s not in it anymore. It hasn’t been for a while. That’s not fair to her” Anthony says.
“If your heart’s not in it, why do you keep going back to her?” Kate asks.
“Why else?” he says with a shrug, “The sex is great.”
Kate can’t help but roll her eyes dramatically. Anthony grins.
“Do you have something against great sex, Kathani?” he asks her.
“Of course not” Kate says.
She’s not a fan of the direction this conversation’s going in, but at least Anthony’s mood seems to have lightened up considerably—at the mention of sex, of course. Men are so predictable.
“Uh oh. Is Mr. Dorset not fulfilling his duties in the bedroom?” Anthony asks.
“You’re vile” she tells him, taking a swig of her beer.
“And you’re apparently having terrible sex with your boyfriend” he says.
“The sex I’m having is perfectly adequate” Kate replies, before wincing at the implication.
Anthony clutches his chest dramatically.
“Oh, Kate. Hearing you say that actually hurts my heart. Am I gonna have to pull Dorset aside? Draw him a map of where everything is?” he asks.
She takes a bigger pull of her beer.
“Definitely not. It’s not his fault, he knows what he’s doing. It’s me, I’m the problem.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Anthony asks.
“Is this conversation not uncomfortable for you?” Kate asks.
“Why would it be uncomfortable for me? You’re the one having terrible sex” he says.
“It’s not terrible! I enjoy being with him. I like making him feel good. But when it comes to me I just…oh my god, I cannot talk to you about this” Kate says, covering her face with his hands.
She really should have had dinner before going out that night. Drinking on an empty stomach never leads to anything good.
“Kate, tell me” Anthony says.
Ugh. It was hard to resist Anthony’s authoritative voice. She drops her hands.
“I can’t…” Kate starts, “…get there.”
She feels beyond silly using such vague language to talk about orgasms, but it’s nothing compared to the humiliation she feels at admitting she can’t come during sex—and to Anthony Bridgerton of all people.
“Ever?” Anthony asks, disbelief in his voice.
Kate closes her eyes, not wanting to see the pity on his face.
“Never” Kate says.
For a few moments, Anthony doesn’t say anything. Kate keeps her eyes closed, hoping Anthony will be the bigger person and change the topic of conversation immediately.
Instead he says: “That’s fucking terrible.”
Kate groans.
“I know! I don’t understand it. We make so much sense on paper, but it just…it doesn’t work” Kate says.
She opens her eyes, finally looking over at him. She can’t quite discern his facial expression. There’s definitely some pity in there, as she feared—though she supposed it was better than him finding amusement in her unfortunate predicament. But there’s something else there too, she just doesn’t know what it is.
“But can you…” Anthony waves his hand around vaguely in the air, “without him?”
God, were they seriously talking about Kate’s ability to orgasm right now?
“I can” Kate tells him, “With assistance. From various… devices.”
Anthony’s brain seems to short-circuit for a few moments, before he snaps out of it.
“Well, that’s a relief” he says, taking a swig of beer, “At least it’s not broken.”
Kate reaches across the table and smacks him.
“Of course I’m not broken, you absolute oaf” she says.
“I didn’t say you were broken” Anthony said.
“No, you merely implied my sex organs were. Much better indeed” Kate says.
Anthony laughs at the absurd turn their conversation has taken. Kate scowls, trying to keep a straight face, but it melts away almost immediately. It was hard to resist a genuine Anthony smile. They were few and far between.
“So” Anthony begins, “we just need to find you a man who can satisfy you. Should be easy enough.”
“Oh really, you have someone in mind?” Kate asks, humoring him.
“I mean, I’m up for the challenge” Anthony says.
Kate tips her head back and laughs. When she recovers, she notices Anthony looking at her intently, no humor in his eyes.
“You’re not funny” she tells him.
“Who’s joking?” he asks before taking another pull.
Kate’s absolutely speechless. Surely, he’s not actually…
“Anthony” she says, a bit of warning in her tone.
“Kate” he responds, his voice dropping ever so slightly.
She laughs awkwardly, looking around as if she’s trying to find a way out of this conversation. All she can come up with is—
“What about Siena?” Kate asks.
“We broke up” he says.
“Yeah, half an hour ago” Kate reminds him, “And you’ll probably be back together by noon tomorrow.”
“I told you it’s over. It doesn’t matter for how long, I’m single” Anthony says, “The real question, is what about Dorset?”
Kate presses her lips together in a thin line. She sighs.
“I ended things with Tom” she reveals.
Anthony’s eyes widen slightly.
“What? When?” he asks.
“Almost two weeks ago” Kate tells him.
“--You never said.”
His response is immediate. There’s a hint of accusation in his tone. It surprises Kate. Mostly because--
“I genuinely didn’t think you’d care” Kate says.
Anthony doesn’t respond to that. He simply observes Kate for a few loaded moments.
“So, we’re both single” he begins “At the same time.”
“I suppose we are” Kate says.
Anthony takes another pull of his drink, not taking his eyes off her.
Kate feels heat rising to her cheeks yet again. Those damn eyes.
“Stop looking at me like that” she tells him before she can stop herself.
“Like what?” he asks.
Kate leans across the table, lowering her voice: “Like you’re picturing what I look like naked.”
Anthony leans forward, matching her tone: “But I am picturing what you look like naked.”
Kate leans back, crossing her arms over her chest protectively.
“You’re such an ass. Don’t make fun of me” she says.
“I’m not” Anthony says, “I’m really picturing it.”
He smirks at her. It’s infuriating. She wants to make him feel as uncomfortable as she does.
“What would be in it for you, anyway? If we slept together?” she asks.
But it doesn’t work, because Anthony merely laughs.
“You do know how sex works, don’t you?” he asks.
“But are you even attracted to me? I mean, I’m hardly your type” Kate tells him.
Anthony furrows his brows at this.
“Since when are gorgeous women who drive me insane not my type?” he asks.
He called you gorgeous. He called you--
“So, you are, then” she says quietly.
“What? Attracted to you?” he asks.
Kate nods with a little shrug, completely embarrassed she needs the reassurance.
Anthony leans forward.
“Yes, Kathani. I’m very attracted to you” he says quietly.
In Kate’s experience, Anthony only ever used her real name in two instances. One was when he was teasing her. The other happened only in rare moments of vulnerability.
This definitely felt like the latter. And Kate found that information…intriguing, to say the least.
“Are you attracted to me?” he counters.
Kate’s used to Anthony’s arrogance, particularly when it comes to discussion of his appearance. It was bad enough he was gorgeous. His cockiness should have been an incredible turn off. And yet, it really, really wasn’t.
But she’d rather die than tell him that. Then again, he just admitted to being attracted to her, so it would be pretty shitty for her to lie to him now.
She glances up at him, surprised to see he’s not smirking, as she assumed he would be. He looks…almost as insecure as she did when she asked him the same question.
It was baffling, for one. But it was also incredibly hot.
Jesus, was there anything this man could say or do that wouldn’t send a wave of arousal straight down to her core?
It was humiliating.
She bites her lip and nods. It’s a cop out, for sure, but Anthony’s answering grin tells Kate he now knows everything he needs to know.
“So, it’s settled then” he says, looking quite pleased with himself.
“No, nothing’s settled” Kate tells him, “Anthony, we’re friends.”
“Are we?” he asks, the asshole that he is.
“I thought we were” Kate says, a bit angrily.
“Christ. Of course, we are. Have you always been this sensitive?” he asks.
“Excuse me for feeling a little vulnerable at the moment” Kate says, cupping her hands around her beer.
Anthony’s hand shoots out, his fingers grazing the back of her hand.
“Kate” he says quietly “Just, relax. I’m not proposing marriage.”
“What exactly are you proposing?” Kate asks.
Anthony pulls his hand back and looks away, like he’s considering his next words carefully. He turns back a moment later, his face resolved.
“Spend the night with me. One night, no strings. If it’s bad, we never speak of it again” he says, before smiling wickedly, “But it won’t be.”
“You’re that confident?” she asks, the words out of her mouth before she can stop them.
He merely quirks his eyebrows in response.
Kate lets out an exhale, embarrassed by how shaky it comes out. She needs a minute alone to think, and it’s not going to happen sitting in this booth, across from those eyes.
“I have to pee” Kate announces, shimmying out of the booth before he can respond.
She doesn’t bother to see Anthony’s reaction, she can only imagine. He’s probably regretting his proposal, or changing his mind altogether. Maybe he wasn’t even serious. Kate wouldn’t put it past him to mess with her just to have a laugh. It’s Anthony, after all.
She locks the door to the bathroom and approaches the sink, splashing cold water on her bare arms.
She wasn’t lying to Anthony about sex with Tom, but she was somewhat sugar-coating it. In truth, she had a miserable time trying to make their sex life work. It made her question if she actually was broken, as pathetic as that sounds. It was depressing, honestly. She was supposed to be in her sexual prime, not having to fight tooth and nail for a single, half-decent orgasm that wasn’t battery operated.
But was it worth risking their friendship over?
Kate glances at her reflection, noticing the flush that’s still on her cheeks. She exhales.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about what Anthony was like in bed before. Anyone with a pulse probably wondered was he was like. He was gorgeous and confident and so damn cocky…
Kate splashes some water on her face.
As she dries off, she takes in her current appearance. She’s wearing a simple black tank top and denim jeans. Her long, wavy hair is up in a no-fuss ponytail. She isn’t wearing any makeup. She kind of wished she was. And just as she tries to remember the last time she shaved her legs, it hits her:
Oh my god, she was going home with Anthony Bridgerton.
Deep down, she knew she was the second he proposed it. Of course she was. She was dying to go to bed with him and see if he could make good on his promise. He was offering himself up on a platter, offering to satisfy her. With no strings attached, at that. Who knew when a chance like that would come up again? She was single and so was Anthony…for the next few hours, at least.
After sparing one final glance in the mirror, Kate opens the bathroom door and freezes at what she sees: Anthony standing outside, waiting for her. The question clear on his face. His eyes as dark and intense as they always are.
Without thinking, Kate grabs him by his shirt and drags him into the bathroom with her. She shuts the door and pushes him up against it. She registers the shock on Anthony’s face, but he doesn’t move. He just watches her hungrily, waiting for her to make the first move.
Fuck, Kate thinks, why is even that so hot?
She steps forward and kisses him.
TBC...