Page 67 of Dirty Martini
He chuckles and rubs his thumb against my cheek. “Will knowing make you happy?”
“Yes.”
“Boyfriends,” he whispers, testing the word on his tongue. “Does that sound good?”
I said he takes up all the space and now I’m overflowing with him. Every memory I have of Rhys merges and collides until the mosaic clears and all I see is who he is now.
Mine.
“Yes.” I’m smiling so widely, I feel it splitting my space. “That’s… Yes.”
“Good,” he says, looking so…happy as he pecks my cheek and ruffles my hair fondly. “Told you I always win.”
I roll my eyes and give him a playful shove. “Oh, fuck you.”
“Maybe later?”
That leaves my mouth hanging wide open. He doesn’t mean…
“Let me get you a drink.” He smirks like he knows what I’m thinking, but this evil fucker just winks at me.
“We’re not done talking about this,” I say, pouting as he takes my hand and pulls me away from the wall.
“Sure.” He snorts, throwing a sultry look over his shoulder that doesn’t help the hard-on I’m sporting. Bringing our interlocked hands up to his lips, he kisses the tips of my fingers. “Come on.”
And he doesn’t let go the entire night.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Rhys
Never in a millionyears would I have thought that Everest and I would be here.
Boyfriends.
It should scare me. I’ve never been in a committed relationship before—never trusted it—and to finally be in one with a man, no less, should terrify me. But as I sit on the couch watching a bunch of drunk idiots party on, myboyfriendnursing a rum and Coke on my lap, I don’t feel any fear. Instead, I feel relief.
I hadn’t wanted to put a label on it, but the fear of the unknown is now nothing but a distant memory, because Everest ismine. All the feelings I had for him now make sense. The intense need to be by his side, the scorching want to be the reason he smiles, the overwhelming urge to protect and care for him, it’s all led me here.
I’m not one who usually acts before they think. I’m not saying it was a trigger decision to make Everest officially mine, but I know there’s more that needs to be discussed. I don’t let my mind wander there tonight, though. No, tonight is going to be for enjoying my time with myboyfriendand hopefully having some hot now-we’re-boyfriends sex when we get home. We’ve beenhere for over an hour, so I’m just about to suggest leaving, when the door swings open and the entire XO crew waltzes through the door.
“The party’s here!”
Britt’s taking the lead, holding a large bottle of vodka while her other arm is hooked around a reluctant-looking Butch. Skylar and Cassius aren’t far behind, with the petite purple-haired man mounted on his best friend’s back. They spot us immediately and start heading our way.
“My babies!” Skylar shouts, sliding off Cassius’s back as he throws himself at us. “Thank you for the invite! Ricky is so excited to come out tonight!”
At the mention of Skylar’s asshole boyfriend, both Britt and I roll our eyes, Cassius flinches, and Butch groans, but like always, Skylar is oblivious to all our feelings toward Ricky the Dicky.
“Hey,” Everest says, nudging my shoulder lightly, a tipsy smile on his face. “I finally see Knox. Let’s go say hi.”
I narrow my eyes at the sight of Knox Sanders over by the entrance of the kitchen. So fucking pompous and arrogant. I know that if I keep bitching about him, it’s only going to annoy Everest, but I don’t like the guy. His personality aside, he’s fucked my boyfriend, and I’m not thrilled to be anywhere near him. But I do as Everest says, helping him slip off my lap as I turn to the crew. “We’ll be right back.”
“Babe!” Knox shouts as soon as he sees Everest, already three sheets to the wind. “You made it.”
“Yeah, wouldn’t miss it—Humph!” Everest groans as Knox throws himself at him, wrapping his annoying self all overmyboyfriend.
He has approximately two seconds to let Everest go before I go apeshit.
