Chapter 18 - Wayne
I throw another party. Different this time.
No wild drinking contests. No brawls in the courtyard. Just food, cool music, and enough warmth that Charlize might actually enjoy herself without needing to recover from it after. I planned this one carefully. That’s new for me too.
“You’ve outdone yourself,” Sinth says, looking around the hall.
Lanterns strung low. Long tables instead of scattered chaos. A quieter band than usual, something meant for talking over instead of shouting through and dancing recklessly.
“I have layers, brother,” I tell him. “Deep, unexpected layers.”
We’re standing at a corner with wine goblets in our hands.
“Sure you do,” he replies, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Chris arrives late. He’s never on time for things like this. If it’s not a serious event, don’t expect him to come earlier.
He scans the hall like he’s expecting trouble. There isn’t any. Just his own pack members mingling easily with mine, laughter carrying instead of tension.
I catch the exact moment he relaxes—shoulders dropping half an inch, jaw unclenching. Small changes. I notice them anyway.
“Look who finally decided to show up,” I tease, approaching him with my usual unbothered expression. “You know, for a moment there, I actually thought you weren’t coming.”
“I almost didn’t.” His intense gaze sweeps over the hall, and I know exactly who he’s looking for.
A particular plus-sized redhead that has us all morphing into something we never thought was possible.
“Don’t worry, she’s here.” I sip from my goblet. “Somewhere.”
“I didn’t say I was searching for her.”
“Drop the act, tough guy.” I roll my eyes, tired of his pretense. “We’ll always look for her in crowded places like this. It’s not something to be ashamed of.”
He sighs softly. “Are you down with a fever?”
“Huh?” I push my head back, taken aback by the random question he asked me.
“Did I stutter? I asked if you’re down with a fever.”
I raise my eyebrows, arms apart. “Do I look like someone who’s down with a fever?”
“No, you don’t,” he says, a small knowing smirk pulling at one side of his mouth. “But this party doesn’t look like something you organized.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I fake a frown.
“You’re never organized, Wayne,” he presses on. “You’re always so loud and reckless.” His eyes scan the hall again. “So it’s either you’re down with a fever to have pulled this off, or it wasn’t your idea.”
“Haha, very funny!” I let out a dry, sarcastic laugh.
He chuckles quietly. “It was supposed to be a compliment, you idiot.”
“Well, you suck at giving compliments, you fuckin’ bastard.”
His lips curve into a genuine grin. Faint. But genuine.
My relationship with Chris is gradually becoming more friendly. We still fight and argue, but this time, it’s more comical than serious.
I haven’t told him this, but he and Charlize are very much alike when it comes to bickering with me.
“Drink,” I say, pushing a goblet into his hand. “Actually enjoy yourself tonight. I promise nothing catastrophic will happen.”
“Your promises have a spotty record.”
“This one’s solid.” I grin. “Well… mostly.”
He drinks anyway. That’s progress.
“You two lovebirds aren’t planning a coup, are you?” Sinth’s gentle voice drifts through the air as he approaches us.
“Seriously, why are you two trying to be funny tonight? I’m the one in charge of making the jokes—me. I’m the comic relief here, okay? You two stick to your boring personalities and stop trying to steal mine.”
They laugh. Not loudly. Quietly.
Charlize finds her way to a cluster of women near the far end of the hall, her movement poised and gracious.
“Look at her,” I say to them, unable to take my eyes off our mate. “Isn’t she just lovely?”
She’s wearing a white dress that hugs her in all the right places, the fabric highlighting her curves. Her red hair spills over her shoulders in effortless waves, her smile radiating warmth and elegance.
She’s hesitant at first. Careful, the way she always is around strangers. But the women pull her in anyway, teasing her about something I can’t hear from this distance. And slowly her shoulders loosen. She laughs at something. Real laughter, the kind that reaches her eyes.
“She’s beautiful,” Chris’s voice cuts through my thoughts, low and even, dripping with sheer admiration.
“Breathtaking.” This is Sinth.
“Gorgeous in every way,” I add, eyes still fixed on her.
She taps her feet to the rhythm of the music while she converses with the other women. She sips from the chalice in her hand, grinning as her cheeks flush a shade of pink.
Heat curls low in my stomach, watching her.
I glance sideways. Sinth is watching too, jaw tight, something dark behind his usually calm eyes. And Chris—Chris hasn’t looked away from her once, his knuckles white around his goblet, breathing gone shallow.
All three of us. Undone by the same sight.
That’s when something bold hit me, causing my mouth to twist into a mischievous smirk.
“I have an idea.”
They turn to me.
“Okay…?” Sinth drawls lazily.
“I want her,” I blurt out. “I want her so badly, and I’m sure you two do as well.”
They exchange glances.
“Don’t try to hide it; I can see it in your eyes. Both of you. You’re just as turned on by the sight of her as I am.”
A pause.
“What do you propose?” Chris asks.
“You two leave now,” I begin. “Go to the resthouse at the dead-end of my territory. I’ll meet you there, and I won’t be coming alone.”
“I don’t know…” Sinth rubs the back of his neck. “I’m not sure about this.”
“You’re not sure about making love to your mate?” I glare at him.
He hesitates. “Well, now that you put it like that…”
“Are you in or not?”
“I’m in.”
Chris doesn’t say another word. But the look in his eyes tells me he’s on board.
“Fantastic.” I take off immediately. “I’ll meet you there.”
We part ways there and then. The two head out while I stroll over to the women’s corner.
I clear my throat to draw their attention. It works. They all turn to me.
“Ladies…” I say, wearing my usual charm. “Looking good tonight.”
They all blush at my remark—all of them.
“You’re not so bad yourself, my lord,” says one, the blonde girl with a lean frame.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to borrow her for the rest of the evening, if you know what I mean.” I wink.
“Oooooh.” The sound is collective as all eyes shift toward our girl.
Charlize’s cheeks flush and she tucks her hair to the back of her ear.
“By all means, my lord. She’s all yours.”
“Thank you.” I sketch a bow, then stretch out my arm, my eyes fixed on Charlize. “Shall we?”
She takes my hand, and I lead her away from the women.
“That was smooth,” she says, glancing up at me. “What you did back there.”
I shrug my shoulders.
“Where are you going?” she asks after we step out of the hall.
“Someplace private,” I say. “Quieter with fewer people.”
“Hmm.” She holds my gaze for a long moment, suspicion flickering in her eyes.
“Trust me, cutie. You’re gonna have a good time.”
I mount my horse and help her up, then under the night sky, we ride away from the party.
The resthouse sits at the dead end of my territory, perched on a cliff overlooking the whole island.
I pull back the reins and the horse neighs to a halt outside the wooden cabin surrounded by towering trees. I get down first, then reach up and help her unmount the horse.
“Where are we?”
I take her hand, leading her toward the front door. “It’s my little…resthouse.”
Charlize goes quiet the moment we step inside. And even I am shocked too. The room has been redecorated with lit candles and freshly cut flowers.
The air carries a sweet floral scent, and the floor is littered with rose petals. The four-poster bed at the center of the room has transparent white linens draping from the canopy.
Chris and Sinth had taken this seduction a step further than I thought. I’m impressed.
Her heels click against the floor as she strolls inside, eyes wide with wonder. “Wow…this is beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you are,” Sinth says, stepping out of an inner room.
Chris is with him, and neither of them has his shirt on. They close the distance with a few strides, their eyes latched onto her.
“Whoa…okay.” She chuckles, looking at our faces. “What’s…what’s going on here?”
“Well, you’ve been starving us for weeks.” I take off my robe, revealing my bare chest as I join them. “So, we decided to try our luck—perhaps you’ll feel generous enough to let us fill your holes.”
Chris and Sinth are already flanking her on both sides, their masculine hands roaming the curve of her body.
I wrap my arms around her waist from the back, my erection brushing against her soft ass.
She breathes heavily, tipping back her head as if basking in the feeling of our hands on her.
“We’ve wanted you so badly since the carriage,” Sinth says, pressing his lips on her neck.
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” She moans when my hands squeeze her breasts over the fabric of her dress.
“We didn’t know how,” Chris says, his hand sliding under the hem of her garment.
Her breath hitches, chest heaving with anticipation. “Did you forget? I’m yours. You can always take me at will.”
I pinch her twin peaks.
She lets out a quiet moan. “Take me. Take me, my lords. Fill my holes.”
That’s all any of us needed to hear.