Chapter 2 #3
“Hey, douchebag, I don’t remember you being any better little more than a year ago. Just because you’re moving to the dark side doesn’t mean you need to dim my lights.”
“I’m just saying, you attract more bees with honey.”
“That’d be great advice if I were looking to get stung.”
“Touché,” Jackson says with a sip of his drink.
“So I take it Red didn’t give you her number?” Eli asks.
Eli and I became closer last year while Jackson was off searching for his bride.
I saw Eli’s relationship with Cici develop firsthand.
May have even given them a nudge or two in the right direction.
They’d been dancing around each other forever, so when they finally sealed the deal after nearly three years, we were all relieved.
However, I’m not excited to be the only single one in our circle.
At least I’ve still got Warren, who’s embracing his bachelorhood with me.
He’s a little gentler than I am when it comes to smooth-talking and…
other things, but that’s why we’re a good team.
Nothing like a little sweet and salty to make it just right for the ladies.
“She wouldn’t even give me her name,” I answer, earning jeers from the group.
“Dude, you bombed hard. No wonder you’re such a downer. She must have done a number on you if you’re not taking any women up on their offers so far. You could’ve had at least five already,” Jackson says.
“Nah. Tonight’s about you. Besides, I’m wiped, and since we’re all headed to the hotel after this, it doesn’t make sense to find a hookup. Your women better have some hot friends, though. Who’s the chick I’m walking with? Is she available?”
Eli answers, “We paired you with Cici’s friend Poppy, since you two are the only singles in the wedding party—other than Walker, who’s giving Mia away. But speaking of redheads, Poppy happens to be one, but she’s feisty. I’m not sure she’s your type.”
“What does that mean?” I ask suspiciously.
“Just means I don’t think she’d fall for your shit.” Eli chuckles, then adds, “Seems a little more conservative than you’re into anyway.”
“Fuck, as long as she’s not as mousy as the gal today, I can handle her.”
“Cici’ll kill you if you screw around with her friend,” Eli warns.
“You sure about that? Need I remind you she was into me before you?” I smirk as the rest of the guys shake their heads, having heard this story plenty of times.
“No, asshole, you don’t, since you like to throw it in my face as much as possible.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure bro code says what Cici doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” I look around the table, seeking the others’ agreement.
“Husband code says to fuck off,” Eli quips in return.
Sebastian releases a cough that sounds like bullshit, grabbing Eli’s attention.
“That was dire circumstances, and you know it,” Eli tells Sebastian. “Plus, it ended fine. You can’t keep holding that against me.”
The rest of the table is clueless at this point, but that tends to happen with those two. Twins, business partners, neighbors, and now a pair of long-time best friends for wives. It doesn’t get much cozier.
Sebastian ignores him, passing me advice instead. “I say go for it if she’s hot. Banging a bridesmaid should be on everyone’s bachelor list.”
“Fuck, yeah.” I give him knuckles. “I knew I liked you for a reason.” Of all of us, Sebastian is usually the most reserved. Normally broody and quiet, he’s slowly come out of his shell since he married Lily. It’s been fascinating to witness the change.
Eli shakes his head, glaring at Sebastian, ready to go off, but Jackson pipes in first. “Cici wouldn’t have paired them up if she were worried about her friend.
She knows Braden as well as the rest of us.
I’m sure this Poppy gal can hold her own, or not, if that’s what she wants.
” Then he looks pointedly at me. “Just don’t piss my sister off at her own wedding. ”
My hands go up in defense. “Listen, it’s Justin’s fault. I may have let my fascination go if he hadn’t told me about the carpet.”
“Don’t make me your excuse to bang her tomorrow. If anything, it’s Sebastian’s fault,” Justin accuses while cocking his thumb in Sebastian’s direction.
“All I’m hearing is that you’re a bunch of pussies,” Sebastian says deadpan, causing us to crack up.
A couple of hours later, we load into the limo that will take us to the hotel, and I’m drunker than a skunk.
Hell, we all are. Along the way, Justin tells us how he started dating Lucy the second time around, and it’s some good shit.
Didn’t know the guy had a funny bone in his body, but man, can he tell a story.
I haven’t laughed that much in a while. What a great fucking night, with no fucking involved—go figure.
But I’m ready to fall over from exhaustion as we walk into the hotel.
We’re handed our keys on arrival, and thankfully, the bags have been brought to the rooms because I’m not sure I can handle myself, let alone a bag.
We’re staying at the Hotel del Coronado, a mere twenty minutes from downtown.
The rehearsal dinner is scheduled for tomorrow night, with the wedding taking place the following day, on Saturday.
The bridal party will be here the whole weekend, along with Jackson and Cici’s parents and Mia’s mom.
I’ve met everyone except for this Poppy chick, and unfortunately, it’ll have to wait until the rehearsal since I’m running into work tomorrow.
Since the hotel grounds are vast, we’re escorted in golf carts to our rooms. As I zombie-walk from the cart to the building, something catches my eye for a blink before it’s gone.
I swear I just saw a beautiful redhead walking from the hot tub between the buildings.
The weird part is that it looked a lot like the girl from the plane.
When I turn to investigate, she’s gone as quickly as she appeared. I shake my head and scold myself, needing to purge this girl from my mind. Damn. It was more than likely Cici’s friend Poppy, not my sexy librarian, especially since she’s staying here as well.
Ready to put this day behind me, I continue to my room and fall straight into bed, releasing a massive sigh when my head hits the pillow. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I immediately think of her, wondering what she’s up to or if she might be reading another romance.
Suddenly, it hits me—she put the name of the book in my phone and might have given me her number. I eagerly open my notes app to look, only to be quickly disappointed, but laugh out loud, nonetheless.
Book Title: Last King Standing
Sequel: Dropping soon — like your jaw as you realize I didn’t leave my number.
Cliffhangers are rough. So is emotional depth — you should try it sometime.
P.S. No name, no number — some characters are better left to the imagination.
Well fuck. That’s the end of that. It doesn’t mean I can’t have one last fantasy, though.
Plugging my phone in next to the bed, I lie back, unbuckle my pants, and slip them off. My hand reaches down, grabbing my swollen cock that seemed to be semi-hard throughout the day because of my mousy librarian.
Right now, it’s rock-hard, full, and dying to feel those plump, luscious lips wrapped around it.
The thought of unpinning her hair and grabbing it with my fist while I lead her to my cock is almost enough to make me blow, but it’s too soon, and I want more time with my illusion since it’s all I’ve got.
She sticks her tongue out and licks the bead of pre-cum from my tip.
The moan she releases is pure heaven. “That’s it, Mouse, let me hear you do that around my cock.
” Her mouth opens wide while I feed it to her, lips pressing down my length.
“Fuck, so good.” I hold her firm as I work her, relishing the feel of her tongue lapping me while I thrust. Three more pumps and I’m releasing down her throat, making her gag as she swallows.
My mousy librarian takes it so well. “That’s it, baby. Yes. UH, FUCK. YES.”
When I open my eyes back to reality after that mind-blowing orgasm, my stomach is covered in cum. Too exhausted to do anything more, I remove my shirt and wipe it away before rolling over and passing the fuck out.