Page 54 of Eternally Yours
“What the hell are you wearing!?”
“I’m a Greek God,” I tell him, puffing my chest.
“No. What you are, is an idiot.” He shakes his head with a chuckle and walks past me to the elevator as I grab my keys and follow behind him.
Thirty minutes later, we pull up to the Burkley estate. The place looks wicked with all the decorations we put up a few weeks ago, now all animated and spooky looking. The smoke machines are turned on, covering the ground with fog. Music is playing from inside, loud enough to hear the faint rhythm but not to the point of irritating neighbors.
I park as closely as I can to the door, but with all the cars in the driveway, it’s not as close as I’d like. We jump out of my truck and run inside, trying to avoid spending a second longer in the cold.
Once through the threshold, Greyson escapes quickly, stating he’s going to grab a beer, while I take a moment to shake off the bone-aching chill that crept in from the few seconds outside.
Clay is the first to spot me, coming to take me into a man hug, slapping my back. “You fuckers finally made it! Where’s Ford?” He looks around me, searching for our friend. I look at Clay’s costume, not making much sense of what he’s supposed to be. He just looks like a nerd with glasses on a hunt for something.
“He went to grab a beer. Have you noticed he’s been off lately?”
“Yeah, something’s up with him, but he won’t talk about it. So, I’m just letting him deal with it until he’s ready to talk. Anyway, where’s C?”
I hate that nickname.Clay couldn’t just call her Cece like everyone else. No, he had to make his own, like they have a special bond. Which in this short month, I’ve come to realize, may be the case.
I don’t entirely enjoy seeing them all friendly with each other, but I’m also happy for their connection. Clay isn’t one to accept new people easily, but he took on Cecilia in a heartbeat, and it means the world to me.
“She texted while I was driving saying they were leaving soon, so it shouldn’t be too long before they get here.”
“OH MY GOD! Silas! Cece is going to lose it.” Morgan pops out of nowhere, laughing loudly as she walks around me, looking me up and down. “Wooh! I might need to fan myself with such a specimen in my home.” She puts the back of her hand to her forehead and fans herself with the other, leaning back into her husband, who doesn’t seem very pleased with her comment.
“Seriously, babe?” He looks down at her, eyes narrowed.
“What? It’s true! Look at him, even you can admit he looks good.” Her hand comes out, pointing in my direction. But her focus stays on Clay as she smiles lovingly up at him, batting her eyelashes.
I know what she’s doing, she uses that same expression on me when she wants me to agree with her.Works every time.Now that I’m studying them, his costume finally becomes clear. It’s a couple costume, Morgan is dressed as Princess Kida and Clay is Milo from the Disney movieAtlantis.
“Great costumes too, guys. Morgan, you look amazing. Clay, you look like a nerd.” I take Morgan into a hug, kissing the side of her head. “Now can we get away from the entrance? I’m freezing and in need of something to drink before my girl arrives.”
We head to the kitchen and grab us each something to drink. There’s practically every choice of alcohol laid out, but I’m sticking to beer, and a max of two since I already had one at home and I plan on driving back with my girl.
Half an hour later, Clay and I are in deep conversation with our goalie, Gabriel Ellis, and defenseman, Noah Adler, who are both dressed as football players.Not very creative.Suddenly, Gabe looks over my shoulder and whistles.
“Damn, I’m not usually attracted to cartoons, but I think I just unlocked a new fantasy including a pretty little mouse,” he says, scratching at his jaw.
Clay peers behind us before I even begin to comprehend what Gabe just said. Clay snickers. “If I were you, I’d stick with the plant. That mouse has already been caught.” Then Clay taps me on the arm. “Your lady has arrived.”
I turn briskly, ready to look around for her. But there was no need to search, she’s all I can see, even with several feet separating us.She’s breathtaking.A smile spreads from ear to ear at her outfit.I can’t believe I didn’t figure it out.
She’s wearing a red high-waisted puffy skirt with white polka dots and a black corset with a white trim at the top, amplifying her already generous cleavage. Red puff sleeves with white dots are over her shoulders, white thigh-high stockings with a red bow in the front of each on her thighs, and black pumps.
Her hair is straightened to perfection, and she has vibrant red lipstick on. Above her head are two big, black round ears, and a huge bow with the same pattern as her clothing, red with white polka dots.
My Minnie Mouse.
I look around and notice a few eyes already on her, some moving in. I clench my fists at my sides, maintaining control, but needing to lay claim.
I turn fast to Gabe, shoving my finger against his chest. “Don’t even think about it.” And just as quickly, I move in the direction of my woman.
The minute she’s in reach, I grab her by the waist and take her mouth in mine, not giving her time to grasp what’s happening. She’s stiff at first, surprised by the action since she hadn’t seen me coming. But soon, her body registers mine, and all her tension fades away as she melts into my arms.
“Minnie,” I sigh against her lips, “are you trying to kill me?”
She pulls her head back and giggles, then brings her thumb to my lips and swipes off remnants of her lipstick. “I thought gods were immortal?” she says with a sassy smirk.
