Page 118 of From Air

He pauses his coffee mug at his lips and inspects me like he’s still thinking about what happened in the shed. “Correct.”

“That’s not okay, Fitz.”

He grins. “Do you have a costume?”

“Absolutely. Wicked Kitty.”

“Come again?” He scrutinizes me.

“Black leather teddy. Black thigh-high boots. Ears. Mask. Whip.”

“That sounds hot,” Maren says.

Fitz shoots her a look, but I don’t think it’s a kind one.

“I was thinking you could dress up as a smoke jumper.” He gives me a tight grin.

My forearms rest on the counter, so we’re face to face. “I’ll go as a smoke jumper if you go as the wicked kitty. Someone’s wearing the wicked-kitty costume.”

“I’ll pay you a hundred dollars if you go as the wicked kitty,” Will offers.

“I’ll add an extra hundred,” Maren chimes in with a laugh.

“Want me to call Gary and Evette to see if they want in on this?” I ask. “You could make some good money tonight.”

“Do you think the leather teddy would fit me?” Fitz scratches his chin.

“No.” I mirror his chin scratching. “Perhaps I should be the one to wear it.”

“And I’ll go as a smoke jumper.”

“Come on.” I grab his arm. “Let’s scrounge you a costume at the eleventh hour.”

“This is a terrible idea,” he grumbles while I pull him toward the door.

“Grab your keys,” I say. “We’ll be back.”

Maren and Will laugh. “Good luck.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

CALVIN

“Don’t give me that look,” Jamie says.

I’m not sure what look she’s referencing. Is it the there’s-no-fucking-way-I’m-letting-you-wear-that-leather-teddy-out-in-public look? Or is it the I-can’t-believe-I-let-you-talk-me-into-this-mouse-costume look? The same look works for both. Either way, I’m rethinking this party idea.

I don’t know if my long tail, pink nose, and whiskers do it for her, but I’ve never wanted to fuck a pussy so bad in my life. This woman looks more like a dominatrix than a cat.

“If you would have planned ahead of time, there would have been a bigger selection of costumes.” She practices whipping my pillow while I sulk in front of the mirror on my wall.

Her leather teddy barely covers her boobs. And the bottom of it doesn’t fully cover her ass.

“But let’s be honest, had there been a bigger selection, I still would have bought you the mouse costume. You have a few wrongs to right in the mouse community. Think of this as community service or a form of rehabilitation.” Again, she whips my pillow.

I adjust my erection so I don’t look like a mouse with a tumor. And yes, she bought the costume because I refused.

“Let’s go so we can hurry and leave the party.” I head toward the stairs just as Will opens his bedroom door dressed in his Jack Skellington costume.

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