Page 120 of Into The Light
"Hold on." I set my margarita down and grab the lingerie from the floor of my—our—room, where it still lay after Bear ripped it off and threw it aside.
I toss it on the table as if dropping a mic and take my seat, letting the shredded garment say all that needs to be said. Just for good measure, I pull my leggings down and proudly show them the fingerprint bruises dotting my bottom.
Ashlynn holds up the pieces, and her jaw slowly drops open. "Shut…thefuck…up.”
I blush furiously, giggling into my glass, unable to meet their shocked eyes. “Veryvigorously," I answer. "At least, the first time. The second and third times were…." I sigh dreamily. "Slow and sweet."
“I’ve never had ass bruises,” Ashlynn grumps, tossing the remains of the lingerie back onto the coffee table.
"You never answered my question," Kyle says. "Please don't kill my dreams. Please, please tell me he's packing a whole-ass side of beef down there."
I splutter. "Kyle. Good grief, woman. Have some respect." I sip. Keep them in suspense a bit longer as I decide what to say. "Let's just say…I'll be walking funny for a while."
Raina cackles. "Youdidhobble to that bedroom, girl."
I sigh, laughing. "He does not disappoint, and we'll leave it at that. I'm a happy, happy woman. A very sore, very happy woman."
Kyle gazes at me softly. “You love him?"
I know my eyes blaze with my answer. "So fucking much. If you can love someone too much, that's where I’m at. I'm delirious."
"Because you got dicked down," Ashlynn says. "Finally."
"I'll never not hate that phrase, Ash," I mutter. "But yes."
Raina takes my hand. "I'm happy for you. You deserve this."
Kyle and Ashlynn squeeze in and surround me in a group hug.
"You said fuck," Kyle says. "That's how I know you got it good, girlfriend. He fucked the good girl right out of you."
I snicker. "Yes, yes he did."
"Does he have any brothers?" Raina asks. "Asking for a friend."
"Nope."
"Cousins? Anything?"
I laugh. “Nope. He's one of a kind, and he's all mine, ladies. You'll have to get your own."
Nineteen
BEAR
Felix and Riley arrive together in Felix's truck right as I'm walking up to Callahan's Pub, a traditional Irish pub at the corner of Brookline and Main Street.
They both pile out at the same time, bickering as only brothers can about some sports fact or another. They both stop at once when they see me, staring with identical confusion.
I frown. "What? I got something on my face?"
“Yeah," Riley says, "A grin. It’s weird. Stop."
"Ah, fuck off," I say. "Can't a man be happy?"
Felix whacks me on the back. "Sure you can, bud. And we’re happy for you—right, Rye?"
Riley slings an arm over my shoulder. "Well sure, it's just weird. I've never seen you so much as crack a smile since we met three and a half years ago. Now you're grinnin' like a fool. What gives, man?"
