Chapter 34
Gray
Ash looks incredible in his crisp black tux as we enter the ballroom for the fundraiser gala on Saturday night. The tux is tailored perfectly so it accommodates his broad shoulders while also showing off his trim waist, and I’m already having impure thoughts about him.
I’m wearing a strapless black gown with Swarovski crystal accents that Ash insisted on buying me for the occasion. I doubt I’ll ever have another place to wear it, so it seems like a waste of money, but I have to admit I feel red carpet-worthy in it.
The gown is accented with some faux diamond costume jewelry. I refused to let Ash buy me a real diamond necklace, although I have a feeling I’ll lose that argument eventually if whatever this is between us continues.
Celena isn’t here yet, but she texted to say she was only a few minutes away. The one-shoulder red and gold gown she found isn’t nearly as pricey as the gown Ash bought for me, but she looks stunning in it, and only the biggest fashion snob would be able to tell the difference.
I scan the room and see several of the players mingling with the guests.
Some look more comfortable in their penguin suits than others.
Mack and Fig, for example, look like they’d pay any amount of money to take theirs off, while Kingston looks surprisingly at-ease in his.
Who knew a man who wears a mask half the day could wear a tux that well?
I continue scanning the room but do a double-take when I see…actual penguins. Some of the aquarium staff are here with two penguins, and there’s a small crowd gathered around them.
I can’t help the squeal of delight that jumps out of me at the sight of the birds, and Ash looks at me in alarm.
“Penguins!” I say, pointing.
His face eases, and he smiles. “I suppose you want to go see them?”
“Let’s put it this way,” I say. “You can either lead me over there in a very calm and dignified manner, or I can leave you here and run across the room in heels squealing like a three-year-old.”
Ash contemplates this. “I’d like to see you run in heels.”
I give him a look that says, ‘Try again.’
He chuckles and holds his arm out for me. When we get over to the penguins, we learn that, for a fee, you can get your picture taken with them. I only half-heartedly protest as Ash whips out his credit card to pay the fee, and we get a picture of ourselves with the penguins.
I see Celena enter the ballroom just as we’re finishing up, so Ash and I head over to her. I let go of Ash as we approach, and Celena and I throw ourselves into a hug.
“I’m so glad you could come,” I tell her as we part. Then I turn to Ash, who’s standing behind me. “Celena Bernacki, this is Ash Gunnarsson. Ash, this is my best friend Celena.”
Celena steps forward and shakes Ash’s hand. “It’s great to finally meet you,” she says. “Thank you for the invite and for covering my ticket.”
“No problem. You’re welcome,” Ash says. “I just figured it was long overdue to meet my girlfriend’s best friend.”
Ash stops short and looks at me questioningly. I give him a small nod to indicate Celena knows we’re actually dating. He nods back as he slips an arm around my waist.
Celena gives Ash a too-wide smile. “And what better place to meet for the first time than a very public, very lavish gala where I can’t threaten you with bodily harm if you do anything to hurt my girl.”
He chuckles. “From what Gray has told me about you, I didn’t really expect that to stop you from threatening to cut off my balls if I do anything to hurt her.” He winks at Celena.
She smiles back genuinely and looks at me. “I like him.” Then she gives Ash a wicked grin. “But make no mistake, you make Gray cry and forget your balls. They’ll never find your body.”
Ash nods. “Duly noted. Rest assured, making her cry is not on my ‘to do’ list.”
“Alright,” I interrupt, putting a hand on his chest. “Now that you’re both done posturing for each other, can we get a drink and some food?”
“Sounds great,” Celena says as we all grab glasses of champagne off a passing tray. “What’s this a fundraiser for again?”
“The aquarium,” Ash says, pointing to the penguins. “I think they need to upgrade the beluga whale tank, and they want to put on a new addition to the main building.”
“New addition for what?” she asks.
Ash shrugs. “I don’t know. I just show up for these things when Cedric tells me to.” He turns to me and puts a hand on my bare shoulder. “Do you want something else to drink?”
“Sauvignon Blanc if they have it,” I say.
He nods and looks at Celena in question.
“I’m good with champagne. Thanks,” she says.
Ash kisses my temple, then brushes my arm as he heads off.
“Does he ever stop touching you?” Celena asks with a smile.
I smile back. “Not if he can help it.”
She shakes her head. “God damn, woman. You have got to be the luckiest bitch on the planet. I’m happy for you, but God damn.”
“There’s plenty of other single players here tonight,” I say. “I can introduce you.”
And Celena can probably have any one of them she wants.
She’s petite with beautiful auburn hair, full lips, and deep brown eyes.
She’s also wearing the hell out of that gown.
Her hair is down tonight, unlike the French twist at the back of my head, and at least a few of the guys have already noticed her and are casting appreciative glances this way.
“Are you alright?” Celena asks me. “You keep shifting like you’re uncomfortable or something.”
I blush, not realizing my fidgeting was so noticeable.
I sigh. “Do not react to what I tell you.”
She frowns. “React to what?”
I lean closer to her. “I have a butt plug in.”
Her eyes widen. “What!” she almost shouts.
I shush her quickly. “Way to not react.”
“I’m sorry, but you can’t just casually drop that you have a plug up your ass and expect me to play it cool,” she whispers back. “Why the hell are you here with a butt plug in?”
“Ash put it in before we left,” I say. “He wants to start preparing me for anal sex.”
I flush even hotter as I remember him making me kneel on my bed on all fours before we came so he could ease the plug into me. He told me we’d need to keep increasing the size of it until I’m stretched enough to take him. This one is small, but I’m well aware it’s there.
Celena opens her mouth to speak when we suddenly experience an eclipse. Or what feels like one.
I turn to find Kingston standing behind me. His huge body blocks out some of the light from the ballroom, casting me and Celena in shadow. He’s eyeing Celena like she’s a medium rare steak.
“Good evening, Professor Mackey,” he says, not looking at me. He’s the only player who doesn’t call me either Gray, doc, or teach.
“It looks like you brought me a little present,” he continues. “How thoughtful of you.” He boldly looks Celena over. “I like her.”
Both me and Celena’s mouths drop open at the comment. I know Kingston is an ass from the brief encounters I’ve had with him, but his boldness surprises even me.
Kingston reaches into his pocket, pulls something out, and hands it to Celena. She looks down at the small white plastic card in her hand before her head snaps back up.
“This better not be what I fucking think it is,” she says.
Kingston’s expression doesn’t waiver from its cool cockiness. “And what do you think it is?”
Celena holds the card up between her pointer and middle fingers. “A hotel room key?” she guesses.
Kingston smiles at her. “Room 532. I’ll see you there later,” he says before he turns and strides away.
Celena and I are both standing in stunned silence when Ash returns with Kelsier in tow.
“What the hell did Kingston want?” Ash asks as he hands me my wine, and I discard the champagne on a table.
“Celena,” I answer. “He had the audacity to give her his hotel key.”
“Well shit,” Kelsier says. “So much for that idea.”
I frown. “What idea?”
“I figured I’d introduce Celena to Kelsier,” Ash says. “I thought they might hit it off, but if Kingston has already staked a claim-”
“Staked a claim?” Celena cuts in indignantly. “Don’t I get a say? I’m not a plot of land. He can’t just stick a flag up my ass and say, ‘Mine!’”
Ash and Kelsier exchange a look that says that’s exactly what they believe Kingston just did, and they intend to honor that flag.
“I mean, in principle, no,” Kelsier says. “But if the guys on the team think he wants you, they’ll all steer clear.”
“Including you?” I ask him incredulously.
“Especially me,” Kelsier says. “I pissed Kingston off once last year, and he talked the coach into benching me a game.”
“Seriously?” Ash asks him, and Kelsier nods.
“Holy shit,” Ash says before he turns back to Celena. “Well, not that it matters anymore, but this is my best friend, Zane Kelsier. You can call him Kels. Kels, this is Gray’s best friend Celena.”
Celena shakes Kelsier’s hand, then steps closer to him and puts her hand on his chest as she leans in.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kels,” she says in a sultry purr as she runs her hand up his chest. “And it still does matter, because I’m not spoken for.”
Celena glances to the side, and we all follow her gaze to see Kingston glaring daggers from where he stands near the bar.
Kelsier throws up his hands and steps away from Celena like he’s been zapped by a heart defibrillator. “Whoa! Are you trying to get me benched for a week?” he asks Celena.
She rolls her eyes. “Really? This guy can’t actually have that much power over the coaches.”
“I don’t know for sure if he does,” Kelsier says, “but just in case, I can’t be anything more than friends until you two get this figured out.”
Celena’s brows shoot up. “Get what figured out? I think I made my feelings about his bullshit claim pretty clear.”
“Sorry, Kels,” Ash tells him. “It should have been obvious as soon as I saw her that Kingston would be interested.”
Kelsier nods. “Yup. Should’ve seen that coming.”
“Should have seen what coming?” I ask.