Page 55 of Moonlight & Matrimony
“I’m good.”
I plaster on a fake smile, willing my racing heart to calm, but Luca’s pinky curls around mine, unraveling me with just that simple touch.
“Ok, I think it’s time for a round,” Paige says, cutting through the quiet. It’s a Wednesday evening at the Ridge, so the place is quiet, except for our usual crew and Archie, who’s nursing a beer at the far end of the bar. He smiles at me, lifting his hand in a wave.
Cade flags Liam down and the guys order their beers, the girls opt for some fruity cocktails, and Miles insists on a round of celebratory tequila shots that I know I’ll regret in the morning.
By the second round of drinks, we’re already feeling pretty good, having taken up residence at our usual tables. Dean and Cara, and Paige and Cade are canoodling, and the slightest twinge of jealousy floods my senses. But it’s quickly washed away as Luca reaches under my seat, pulling my chair closer to his as the sound of metal scraping across the concrete floor reverberates through the empty bar. His thigh bumps mine under the table, and my hand instinctively finds a home on his lap, causing a deep rumble in his chest. When he places an arm around my shoulders, I relax into his hold, allowing the feel of his steady pulse to soothe my racing heart.
“Careful, Trouble.” His breath fans over my ear as he leans in, placing a featherlight kiss behind it. Heat floods straight to my core, an ache settling between my thighs. I glide my hand a little higher as our heartbeats speed up and synchronize. Turning my head, I lock eyes with Luca, biting my bottom lip before sliding my hand higher, feeling his rigid length beneath my palm. He sucks in a sharp breath, and I wonder if he’s thinking about that night in the kitchen, too.
“Jesus fuck,” Miles groans. We jolt apart, realizing we’re still in public. “I need some new friends. Horny bastards.”
“You’re just mad that you’re the only single guy here,” Cade teases. “When’s the last time you got laid?” The sudden scowl on Miles’ face catches all of us off guard.
“Whatever, dude.”
Cade holds his hands up in surrender, guilt flickering across his features. “Woah, I’m just kidding, brother.”
“Yeah. Sure,” Miles says. “I’m going to grab another beer. Anyone need anything?”
“We’re good, man.” Dean responds, and Miles swiftly rises from his stool, making a quick escape.
“We should be more careful not to exclude him,” Cara says. “I feel terrible.”
“And you,” Paige jabs a finger into her husband’s chest, “that was a dick move.”
“Maybe, but he’s not usually that sensitive.”
“Regardless,” Paige adds, “you need to apologize.”
“Yeah, I know,” he concedes., shoulder slumped.
Miles returns to the table, his usual wide grin back in place as he sets a huge tray of colorful shots in the center of the table. I eye him carefully, wondering if the mask he wears could be hiding something more damaged beneath the surface. If anyone can understand the need to bury your demons beneath a false exterior, it’s me. Understanding passes between us as his mouth tips at one corner.
Without preamble, Miles starts a round of never have I ever, if a little vindictively. “Never have I ever fucked in the office of this bar.” The table goes silent, our eyes trailing over the group. “Drink,” he says, raising an eyebrow at Cade and Paige.
“How the fuck do you know about that?” she asks, glaring at her husband.
“Intuition,Sunshine,” Miles responds with a gleam of mischief as he emphasizes her nickname. “Are you gonna tell me you didn’t christen this place the moment Cade signed his name on the dotted line?”
With a dramatic sigh and an eye roll, Paige and Cade take the shots like champs and the next round falls to me. I pause, considering the options that will cause the most impact to thelargest number of people. “Never have I ever had a one-night stand.”
Everyone around the table drinks except for me. When Paige notices, her face falls and her mouth hangs open. “Never?!”
“Nope. Fucked around a bit, but never a one-night stand. Then I got married and had a kid. Not a lot of time for one-night stands after that.”
Luca quirks a brow in my direction, and it’s then that I wonder if our encounter could technically be considered a one-night stand, but I don’t have a chance to think it through because he cuts me off.
“Never have I ever packed a bunch of sex toys in an unmarked box, and left them out for my husband to find,” he says with a smirk.
My cheeks flame and all attention lands on me. Instead of letting embarrassment sink in, I throw back my shot, shrugging in response to their questioning stares.
“Yeah, I'm not touching that one,” Paige says. “That’s clearly between you and my brother, and I’m uncomfortable unpacking all of that.” She gestures between me and Luca with both hands.
“I betLucahad a really good time unpacking it, though,” Miles teases.
A whoosh of air tousles my hair and I notice Miles has reached his hand over my head to high five my traitorous husband. “I always knew she’d be a freak.”
