Page 11 of Wild Ever After
“After the first time I had sex with Johnny, I couldn’t imagine having sex with anyone else.”
“He’s that good?”
Her face flushes. “So good. Life changingly good. He completes me in ways I didn’t think was possible.”
I twist the empty glass around in my hand before setting it on the bar. Sex with Sam is good, but I’ve never described it as life-changing. And I’ve absolutely never heard someone say the words “he completes me” and not wanted to gag. But there is something in the way that Dakota says it that is so sincere, I get another one of those twinges of sadness.
“I’m sorry. We’re coming up on our one-year anniversary and it has me all sappy.” She tips her glass. “Plus, too much alcohol always makes me want to get naked.”
“I could help with that.” The guy next to her leans in closer.
We both start to laugh, but then a deep voice interrupts, “Like hell you will.”
5
HIS AND HER STRIPPERS
DECLAN
I resta hand on Maverick’s shoulder to keep him from pummeling the guy hitting on Dakota at the bar.
“Johnny!” She screams when she swivels around to see her husband. “What are you doing here?”
“Hey, baby.”
Dakota launches herself at him and I move out of the way. Mav gives the guy behind her one last glare before kissing his wife. The two of them don’t look like they’re coming up for air anytime soon. I slide my gaze to Jade and lift a hand in a wave.
“Hi.” An amused smirk twists her lips. I thought maybe she’d be upset about us crashing, but she keeps on smiling as she scans the bar to see the rest of the guys heading to their women.
Jack takes a step from behind me. “Hey, Jade. Happy bachelorette party.”
“Thanks,” she says with a laugh. “Are you guys the entertainment?”
Jack nods. “If Maverick ever removes his lips from Dakota’s, I’d say there is a very good chance that he’ll strip. Dude will use any excuse to get naked.”
“I am out if that happens,” I say. I’ve already seen Maverick’s ass more times than I’d like.
Jack bellies up to the bar and orders a round of Jager Bombs. A few seconds later, everyone else has joined us. We throw back the shots and then the girls decide they’re ready to head to the next bar.
I find myself walking next to the bride-to-be. She’s in a sexy light-green dress that hugs her curves and stops miles above her knees. A white sash that says, ‘BRIDE,’ is draped over one shoulder and attached at the opposite hip, and she’s wearing a beaded necklace that has little penises dangling from it.
All remnants of the teary-eyed girl I saw two days ago are gone. I want to ask how she’s doing, but considering we’re at her bachelorette party—celebrating the fact she’s planning on walking down the aisle this weekend—it seems sort of tactless and unnecessary.
At the next bar, we grab two tables outside on a patio that overlooks the street traffic. We push them together to make room for everyone and more shots and drinks are downed.
The girls get up to dance in a small area in front of the DJ booth. They’re the only ones out there, but they don’t seem to care. And they’re quite the sight, all of them in their sashes and bead necklaces.
“Damn. This is almost enough to make me want to get married,” Ash says, smiling at the girls. Then he points from Tyler to Leo. “When are we having a couple of bachelor parties for you two? I could plan them. I know all the best places.”
“He means strip clubs,” Jack mutters under his breath.
“Scarlett wants to have a joint bachelor/bachelorette party at the beach somewhere,” Leo says. Then adds, “She hasn’t set a date yet.”
“His and her strippers. I dig,” Mav says.
Leo cuts him a look. “No strippers.”
“Boo.” Ash gives him a thumbs down.
