FORTY-THREE
ROXIE DEFINITELY FELL into the category of “friend.” That definition was nowhere near enough. She’d been nervous showing up to these fifty people Roxie referenced. As soon as she walked in, she was hit by the noise of people, music, and the scents of food and liquor.
This wasn’t fifty people. It was way, way more than fifty people. Just as she was about to spin on her heels and leave, Ballard appeared from nowhere to take her arm and lead her to Roxie.
Yep, Roxie had given him special instructions to single her out. Not only did her friend welcome her like a long-lost sister, but she kept her close all night. Not just checking in every once in a while, Roxie was glued to her side. She spent more time with her than the woman did with her fiancé.
Her deliciously delectable fiancé who bled charisma over every person in a ten-foot radius. She’d been seated with Roxie and her friends, yep, they had their own table. Zairn wasn’t at that table, no, the affianced sat separately. In fairness, with the number of people there, there were a bunch of tables. Seating her friends at one was a saving grace because Roxie spent a lot of the evening flitting from one table to another, while Zairn sat at the head of his table admiring her from afar. Honestly, every time she looked his way, he was transfixed by the woman wearing his ring.
The meal itself was over, but no one was in any hurry to depart. They seemed to have the entire floor for festivities. One corner had been used for dinner. While plenty of people still sat at their tables having wine and scotch refilled, others filtered through to the bar area.
“We have to get changed,” Freya said from behind her. “Are you ready, Savanna?”
Twisting in the chair, she found Freya wasn’t the only one waiting for her response. “Change into what? I don’t have anything to—”
“We have Roxie’s closet,” Toria, another of Roxie’s friends, said and grabbed her arm to pull her up.
“Where’s your grandfather?” she asked Freya. “Won’t he miss you?”
“Oh, Truman has a million friends through there. He knows I’m safe at Crimson. You’ve seen how he dotes on Roxie. He’s probably already disinherited me in favor of her.”
On a wave of women, she was carried to the elevator and up to a penthouse. Huge. Gorgeous. Full of light, from outside, from within, even the floor sparkled like it was diamond encrusted.
“Wow,” she exhaled, awed by the view of the city spread out beneath them.
“Yeah,” Toria said, snagging her arm. “Wait ‘til you see the rest of it.”
Their troupe rushed down a corridor and into a bedroom. Oh, hubba, the man in the center of the space fastening his watch under his open shirt was a better view than any stupid city. Hair damp, Zairn crooked a brow at Toria.
“What?” the woman asked on an innocent shrug. “I knew you were done.”
“I’d apologize, Casanova, but give the woman a break.” Whirling toward the voice, Roxie sat up slowly in a huge bed, clutching the sheet to her chest. Didn’t take a genius to figure out what they’d interrupted. “Toria’s been desperate to catch you in bed since before I even knew you existed.”
Expecting they’d excuse themselves, she edged backwards. Toria caught her arm to hold her in place.
“Behave yourselves,” Zairn said, going to his fiancée in, what had to be, their bed. Planting a fist on the mattress, he loomed over Roxie who draped one arm around his neck. “No shenanigans tonight, Empress.”
“Reminding me of my responsibility to our brand? You know I’d never make that promise. I will do whatever the night calls for, in this, our beautiful home.” Her smile brightened. “All part of the adventure of loving me, Scroogey.”
“And this is the woman I chose to bear my children,” he muttered, seemingly more to himself than anyone else.
“And I suck your cock. You always forget that one.”
“Mm hmm.”
He leaned in closer to kiss her and retreated, only to go back in for another kiss.
“Maybe we should just…” Freya caught her and Toria’s hands to lead them at her flanks into the closet. “Oh, Roxanna.”
Excitement got the better of Toria. “Time to suit up!”
“Why are we in here?” she asked. “Why are we changing clothes?”
“All part of the process,” Toria said, pulling various dress bags from the end of the closet to hang them on a rail facing them. “Roxie’s idea.”
“What’s Roxie’s idea?” When Toria produced a bag with her name on, she was startled. “Why is there one for me?”
“Because you’re Roxie’s girl,” Freya said, putting an arm around her to give her a hug. “She adopts us.”
“One by one, we’re doomed.”
Toria unzipped each of the bags one at a time, inside each contained the same dress, short, beaded Bardot neckline. Gorgeous. And, yes, of course, every one was red, rather, crimson.
“Astrid, Merci, Rainie,” Toria said, handing out dresses to the women.
“Oh my God,” the younger one whispered.
Yep, her sentiment too.
“Everyone happy?” Roxie came in behind them, wearing an unbuttoned man’s shirt that she held closed. “We have strapless bras, tit tape, chicken fillets, anything anyone needs. Panties are optional, wear them or don’t, but it’s at your own risk. Management takes no responsibility for damages, accidents, losses, or thefts of pussies or their contents.”
“How does someone steal a pussy?” Astrid asked.
“I’ll explain later, honey,” Roxie said, winking at her friend. “Any questions? No. Good. Hair and makeup are setting up in the salon. Touch-ups or cleansing only, each one of you is beautiful, and extremely fuckable, in your own right. Anyone says otherwise, bring them to me.”
As the others got into it, she backed up to Roxie. “I don’t know if I should—”
“Of course you should,” Roxie said, stroking her arm. “It’s for charity. I’ve heard you can’t say no to charity.”
“Charity? How is it—”
“The car wash is tomorrow, honey. We’ll be chatting it up all night with the big dogs hoarding bundles of cash, and many, many cars. Imagine how much we’ll raise and all it takes is a little cleavage!”
“But I can’t be on the—I’m not on the Breckenridge team, I quit and—”
“No, you’re on the Crimson team,” Roxie said, reaching past her for the dress Toria presented. “You’re one of us, beautiful.” Roxie kissed her cheek. “Let’s get changed.”