Page 9 of You Are Cordially Invited

The resulting bite mark on my arse might take some time to fade, but the roar of appreciation from the crowd would stay in my brain forever.

Next, my neon-orange top hit the floor, leaving me in just the skinny jeans and the sexy-as-shit silver choker.

A choker which had seen more action in our bedroom onReubenthan it ever had on me, a fact most in that room wouldn’t credit, and which was the very reason I’d worn it.

Reuben blushed every damn time he saw it.

Which left all four of us non-professionals in little more than skin and a whisper of fabric as the song drew to a climax and the room filled with enough steam and sexual tension to power the Auckland grid for a month.

With a few bars to go, Mark caught all of our attention with a hand signal, and the finale was on. We straddled our men face to face, circled our hips, and at the final note, we sat.

The lights went out and the room fell deathly quiet for all of two seconds before the room erupted and the walls shook with applause and howls and shouts for more.

I dropped my lips to Reuben’s ear. “I love you, baby.”

The lights came up and his hands clamped around my arse. “I love you too. And I can’t wait to marry you.”

He took my mouth in a fierce kiss. “I’m the luckiest fucking guy on the planet. Now get those damn clothes back on.”

Chapter Two

Reuben

Cam’s armflailed in the air and landed on my chest as he groaned his way over onto his back. “God in heaven, would someone pleeeease remove my brain from my skull.” An eyelid peeled open, then slammed shut again. “Who turned the fucking sun on?”

“Good morning, sweetheart.” I leaned over and kissed his brow, mourning the loss of the spectacular view I’d had just seconds before of the traditional tattoo on his arse—all swirling lines and pert muscle.

“Oh my god, I’ve died and gone to hell.” He shoved me away. “Look at you all bright-eyed and smelling like a damn daisy. This has to be against the Geneva Convention as cruel and unusual punishment. I blameyoufor letting me drink so much. Oh my god, my head.”

I laughed and brushed a lock of hair from the broad eyeliner smudge on his cheek. Yeah, my baby had seen better days. It didn’t stop my heart from landing in my throat like it did every time I woke to find him pressed up against me. How had I gotten so lucky? I didn’t deserve him, but I’d keep doing my damnedest to try.

“Pretty sure I had zero chance of stopping a single one of those drinks,” I told him.

He pried an eye open with two fingers and stared at me. “A likely story. Your arse is mine tonight.” He tried to lift his head, groaned, and fell back on the pillow. “Or maybe tomorrow.”

I snorted and patted his hip. “Yeah, good luck with that. I’m feeling my chances to top improving by the second. And to be honest, I think it was the shot relay Mark challenged you and Josh with at the end that nailed your coffin shut.”

His eyes widened. “That fucker. I’m gonna—ow, ow, ow, goddammit!” He rolled to face me and curled up like a hedgehog. I patted his prickly back. “How many knives have I got sticking out of my head, and who the hell threw them?”

“Aw baby, come here.” I wriggled his knees down and pulled him into my arms. “Let me kiss it better.” I peppered his cheeks and nose with kisses. “If it makes you feel any better, I think Mark will be hurting worse than you. And seeing as how he’s currently comatose on our lounge room floor, you’ll get your chance to enact revenge, if you’re quick.”

“What the hell is he doing in our lounge?” Cam muttered, his face pressed into my armpit.

“You may well ask. We shared an Uber back, and when I turned around after we’d been dropped off, Mark and Ed were standing in our driveway thinking the party was still on. I soon put them right, but it seemed easierandsafer to keep them both here for the night.” I kept kissing. “So don’t go in the spare room naked, looking for clean laundry.”

“Noted. Mmm. You missed a spot.” Cam touched his lips. “Although, fair warning, I suspect I’ll taste like the dancefloor of Downtown G after a pride party. I think my pores have shut up shop cos even they can’t stand to smell me.”

I chuckled. “Maybe so, but you’ll always taste sweet to me.” I covered his mouth and went in for a quick taste before wrinkling my nose. “Yeah, nah. I definitely underestimated that. Toothpaste is absolutely called for.”

A pillow landed on my face and I threw it aside.

He rolled on top of me and smooshed my cheeks together, his face inches from mine, his breath... yeah, about that.Whoa.

“For better or worse, remember?” He stared down at me with those huge, tawny, panda-ringed eyes. “It’s not too late to run. When I’m old and falling apart and carrying round my catheter bag, I’ll smell a whole lot worse.”

I snorted. “Thanks for the imagery. And yes, for better or worse. Don’t forget I’ll be right there with you. I doubt Cory will want to visit either of us, but we can hold hands in the nursing home and scandalise the other residents when I cage you against the wall with my walking frame and have my slow but wicked way with you.”

The corners of his mouth turned up and he waggled his brows. “Oooh, kinky. I like it. Do they make adult diapers in lace—”

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