Chapter 27 #2
We were absolute knockouts, if I said so myself.
I wore a little black dress, and my hair was in an asymmetric braid.
I’d tried to let it loose, but I looked as if I’d electrocuted myself.
Val rocked a red strapless dress that showed off her legs, and Hailey wore denim shorts and a silk blouse that showed off one shoulder.
Tonight was ours.
We headed to an open-air bar in the Santa Monica area and congratulated ourselves for choosing a weeknight to go out because we easily found seats at a high, round, bar table right next to the waterfront.
LA was party central, especially once spring rolled in, but if you knew where to go, you could always find places that weren’t crowded.
Since I kept a close eye on venues of all kind, gems like this one didn’t escape my radar.
The air was salty, the breeze chilly, and I was out with both of my sisters.
After this, I was going home to a god of a man filling my bed. Life couldn’t get better than this.
“I’m buying the drinks tonight,” Hailey announced. “Are we starting with cocktails?”
We perused the menu and decided tonight would be screwdriver night.
While we waited for our order, we all put our phones on silent.
It was one of our oldest rules, both for girls’ nights and for Friday dinners: no phones.
Otherwise the temptation to check a new message or e-mail was still there.
It was hard to disconnect, especially since it seemed to be expected of us to be available almost twelve hours a day, despite working in different fields.
I discovered I had a text message from Graham.
Graham: Can’t wait to sink inside you later tonight. Want to know what else I’ll do to you?
There was a second message too, because he’d apparently interpreted my silence as Yes.
Graham: I’ll spread you wide and lick your clit until you come apart.
This man. Why was he sexting with me when I was out with my sisters? I typed back quickly.
Lori: Turning me on when I’m out in public is just mean. But I’ll get my revenge later tonight. I’m turning my phone on airplane mode now. It’s a girls’ night out rule.
I slipped the phone in my purse, or I wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation of sexting with him.
“We’re not allowed to think about meetings or to-do-lists or the million things we didn’t get to do today, okay?” Val asked.
Hailey and I nodded.
“To Hailey being back. We’ve missed you, girl,” Val said when we got our cocktails and held up her glass.
“I’ve missed you too.”
We barely clinked glasses when three guys approached us.
“What are you celebrating, ladies? Can we join in on the fun?” one of them asked.
Hailey answered right away. “Sorry, but this is a testosterone-free area. It’s girls’ night.”
The guy smirked. “We can buy your drinks.”
“We can buy our own drinks,” Val said smoothly. “It’s a closed party.”
The guys shrugged, and finally left. “That was quick,” I pointed out.
Hailey patted Val on the shoulder. “She had her scary face on.”
“What do you mean? I don’t have a scary face.”
I laughed. “Yeah, you do. It works miracles, so don’t overthink it.”
Two cocktail rounds later, the party was on.
“You have to tell us your secret,” Val insisted, referring to Hailey’s ability to walk in sky-high stilettos for hours at a time.
“No secret. Just gritting my teeth through the pain. Eventually you don’t feel it anymore.”
“Do you think that if we get her properly drunk, she’ll finally tell us the truth?” I asked Val.
“Nah, I think it’s time to accept she might have superhuman powers.”
We ordered another round, and I couldn’t help but notice that one of the guys who’d approached us at first was glancing at Hailey regularly.
“Hotshot there can’t take his eyes off you, Hailey,” I said.
“I know. But he won’t be doing more than looking. I dipped my toe in the LA dating pool last week and got burned on hot lava, so I’m just going to enjoy spending time with you girls tonight.”
Val pulled her in a half hug. “LA is a tough dating scene.”
Hailey scrunched up her nose. “I dated while I was on location with projects, and I can confidently say dating isn’t easy anywhere.”
“That’s very encouraging,” Val said seriously. Or as seriously as she could after a few screwdrivers.
Hailey held up a shaky finger. Or maybe her finger wasn’t shaking, but I was seeing double. No way to tell.
“Let’s make a pact. That we’ll move in together when we’re old and wrinkly if we’re still single. I can’t become an old cat lady. I don’t like cats.”
Val blinked. “You’re talking too fast. Did we have the same number of cocktails?”
“Yep. My tolerance is higher.”
“More proof that you’re not actually human.”
“About the pact?” Hailey urged.
“I’m in. I’ll massage your abused feet, you’ll make sure I don’t forget my teeth prosthesis around the house. I’m banking on your superhuman brain to be functioning better than mine.”
I chuckled, and they both turned to me.
“Don’t laugh at us poor souls just because you have a man who looks at you as if you walk on water, and he’s skilled in bed,” Val admonished.
My brain felt like mush, but… “I’m pretty sure I never talked to you about Graham’s skills in bed.” Then it dawned on me. I pounced on Hailey. “You tell Val what I tell you?”
“Someone has to.”
I pressed the heels of my palms against my eyes, laughing. Oh, why wasn’t I surprised?
One round of cocktails later, we’d officially reached our limit and were planning to head home.
“Should we call Will, just to troll him?” Hailey said with an eyebrow wiggle.
Val seemed to seriously consider it, but I still remembered what had happened last time we’d had that brilliant idea.
“Girls, should I remind you what happened last time we pulled this prank? We almost gave him white hair.”
Will had offered to drive us home, and since we were opportunistic brats, we took him up on it. When he’d arrived, some guys were getting too friendly. Will flexed some of those over-protective brotherly muscles.
“Oh, yeah, you’re right,” Hailey said, as if only now remembering. “How about Jace?”
Val shook her head. “Nah, this isn’t the place for him or he’ll get ambushed by people asking for his pic or autograph.”
We ended up parting ways in front of the bar, each hopping into an Uber.
I relaxed in the back as the car took me home to Graham and Milo.
I hadn’t felt happier in my entire life.
The house was quiet when I arrived, even though it was a little past midnight.
I checked on Milo, who was sound asleep, then went in my bedroom, dropping my clothes on the floor and slipping in bed next to Graham, who was also fast asleep.
Unfortunately for him, I was in no mood for sleeping.
Plus, I was hot and bothered, just from watching him all gorgeous and muscly in my bed.
I appreciated the view. It would be a pity not to show him how appreciative I was, right?
I didn’t think he’d mind, so I threw the covers to one side.
I worked on him with my mouth. I’d barely licked him twice before he woke up.
“Lori!” he groaned, rolling his hips in my direction. “You’re home.”
“Yep. And I’m up to no good.”
He looked straight at me while I took him in my mouth, bobbing my head up and down. Then he switched things up, pinning me against the mattress with his body.
He kissed my mouth, and I knew he could taste himself and the alcohol.
“You’ve had a few cocktails, haven’t you?”
“More than a few.”
“So I’d be taking advantage of you.”
“I’m begging you to.”
“Begging me?” He smiled against my lips, sliding his knee between my legs, parting my thighs. “In that case, how could I deny you?”