Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 139147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Cap and I had taken our second selfie in front of the backdrop (and that one was totally going in a frame since we were kissing in it, though, the first one from the Botanical Gardens was too). Then he took a picture of me and Luna, I took a picture of him and Luna. After that, he took a picture of Luna, Jessie, Harlow and me.
There was music, laughter and loud conversation, and Cap was demonstrating his skill with small talk wasn’t a one off at the Oasis shindig.
Now he was on the balcony talking with Jacob, which meant Alexis was with us, hanging by Jessie, who always manned the bar at Luna’s parties, not only as her way to give back, but also because mixology was not her vocation, it was her calling.
And that was when it happened.
Harlow saw them first, and therefore, her voice was breathy and wondrous when she asked, “What…is…happening?”
We all looked the direction she was looking, and we all froze.
Update: I’d asked and Luna had lifted the ban on newbies at her party.
In other words, she’d said Cap could invite his buds.
I knew Liam, and honestly, his tall, perfect skin, fabulous body, sweet smile, and gorgeous chocolate-eyed good looks were enough.
But with him was a man who was maybe two inches shorter than him. His close-cropped hair and neatly trimmed beard were black as soot but the hair had a healthy, midnight gleam. His eyes were a dreamy blue. His body was made up of bulky muscle. And his sex appeal was near on menacing. I was scared of him, and if I didn’t have Cap, I knew I would have wanted to jump him, and these sensations hit me both at the same time.
If this wasn’t enough, with him was a dude that had to be taller than Cap by two inches, and he was built. His dark-brown hair was cut close at the sides, but styled to messily flip back at the top (though, the top was still short, just short-ish). He had dark scruff, deep-set, hooded eyes, the color of which I couldn’t decipher from my distance, but they looked hazel. There was a subtle cleft in his chin, and he had the most perfect jawline and nose I’d ever witnessed in my life.
This meant one of these guys was Knox, but I had no clue who the other one was.
Liam spied me, tagged the other two and headed our direction.
“Oh my God, they’re coming over here,” Harlow whispered, grabbing hold of my arm in a way I nearly spilled some of my cocktail.
Liam smiled at me.
When he did, one of my crew made a noise like she’d been socked in the stomach. Another one whimpered. A third one (Harlow) let out a nervous giggle.
The last one, Luna, whispered, “I’m actually having an orgasm right now.”
“Hey, Raye,” Liam said when he made it to us.
“Hey, Liam,” I replied, and I didn’t know him all that well, but I still went in to touch my cheek to his.
He put his hand on my waist lightly when I did it, which told me I did the right thing.
I moved back, and he looked to Luna.
“Hey, Luna. Happy birthday,” he said, then offered her the bottle of Dom he was carrying.
“Class,” Jessie mumbled.
Totes!
“Thanks, Liam,” she said, taking it.
Harlow had let me go, but now she was tapping me incessantly on my arm.
She wanted an introduction.
I took in the other two guys and stated, “I know one of you is Knox, but the other…”
I let that trail.
The dark-haired guy—and yes, his eyes were hazel—jerked up his chin. “I’m guilty of being Knox.”
“Hey,” I said.
His lips spread in a smile so white against his dark scruff and tanned skin, I blinked and fought reaching out to grab hold of something, not only because I’d lose my cocktail, but also because I’d look like a dork.
“This is Gabe,” Liam introduced the other guy.
He was looking at Luna. “I crashed the party, babe. Hope that’s cool.”
“Yeah, uh…yeah, well, sure…of course…plenty of food…and booze, you know, the more the merrier…”
I turned to stare at her while she babbled because that was so not Luna.
She kept doing it.
“My door is always open. I mean, it isn’t always open…I just said that because this is a party. Normally, I’m very safe. You can’t be too careful. It’s just that—”
“You can stop talking now,” I said under my breath.
She lifted her cocktail and said over-loudly, “Right! What I mean is, welcome. You boys want one of Jessie’s cocktails or some of Raye’s sangria?”
I waded back in. “And this is the rest of my posse, Harlow, Alexis and Jessie.” I indicated each with their name.
Before they could say anything, we heard, “Hey.”
I turned my head and Cap was there.
He slid an arm around me.