by Jamie Begley
Casey let it go for now. She would put a stop to it before Max actually tried to teach him.
They searched the beach for all the shells they could find, and even the other Predators joined in. She watched as the badass bikers took off their leather jackets and showed their finds to Cole, looking at his in return. Casey felt a lump in her throat from observing their gentleness with him.
Her dreams with Cole had been destroyed all those years ago. It was time for them to begin a new one… with Max.
Chapter 26
“Look at me, Casey!”
Nervously, she had to force herself to give a carefree wave as Max drove Cole around the parking lot. She could barely see him through the bikers riding their motorcycles. The bike rally had brought hundreds for the cause to raise funds for adults with special needs. It had been Max’s idea to start a job training program in Queen City like the one which had benefited Cole so much. The Predators were giving rides on their bikes to the ones brave enough to try.
“Don’t look so worried. He’s in good hands,” Vida teased.
“Yes, he is.”
Casey was unbelievably happy. The past two months had given Cole even more confidence, thanks to Max. They had found a place for Cole to interact with others, and he loved being with his new friends. Mrs. Wesson was a widow who devoted her life and home to helping and keeping adults with disabilities so their caretakers could hold down a job while their adult children were cared for in a safe learning environment. Casey often found herself volunteering when she wasn’t working part-time at a bank close to the center.
She was content with the changes in her life. She had been drawn into the circle of Vida, Sawyer, Penni, and Grace. The only thing marring her happiness was lack of physical intimacy. Max hadn’t had sex with her since her return.
She slept in one of the bedrooms upstairs, next to Cole’s. Max slept downstairs in the master bedroom, alone. During the weekends, the boys shared a bedroom with Cole, their laughter filling the upstairs. She had more than once had to threaten them to go to sleep, but they would ignore her even before she could close the bedroom door, the sound of their loud voices picking right back up again. Maxie and she each had their own room, though they often would lie on her bed and watch movies until they fell asleep.
When she had tried to broach their lack of intimacy, Max had changed the topic, invariably escaping to the garage to work on his furniture. Often, she would go inside and take her Kindle when Cole was in bed. She would read while Max worked. The soothing sound of him working so near gave her a sense of tranquility that she had searched her whole life for. After the years of stress living with Renee then the fear for Cole, it was everything she had wished for in her life.
“I have a donation from the bank. All the branches donated.” Gianna waved a check in the air. Casey reached for it, but she pulled it away.
“Uh-uh, I have a favor to ask first.”
Casey waited while the other women stared at them in amusement.
“What do you want?” Casey asked apprehensively.
“I want you to host my next lingerie party.” She rushed on, “You owe it to me since you missed my last one.”
Casey stared at her in dismay. “I’d be happy to attend one. I wouldn’t even mind having it at Max’s house, but I wouldn’t have very many women to invite. I don’t have many friends.”
“I’ll come.” Vida smiled. “I need to shake Colton up.”
“Me, too,” Sawyer chimed in.
“Partay! Partay!” Penni slammed her fist down on the collection table.
Casey raised her voice to be heard over her loud yells.
“Okay, okay. I could even ask the women from the clubhouse,” she said out loud, looking at Grace.
“I think they would love to come. I would, too.”
“I’m going to be rich,” Gianna crowed. “Next Friday?” she prodded.
Casey nodded. “I’ll buy some wine and make some snacks.”
“I’ll bring something, too.” Penni snatched the check out of Gianna’s hand, stuffing it into the collection box. “We’re going to have some fun!”
Casey stared at the women, seeing their excitement as each volunteered to bring something. The small party she had envisioned became larger by the moment. She didn’t think Max would mind having his home invaded by the women, though. After all, he would have a free night with the Predators.
He still went by every night after work yet would come home after an hour or two. During the lingerie party, he’ll probably get drunk and stay the night, Casey thought unhappily to herself, hoping all the women would come to her party. She didn’t want any left behind to entertain Max.
* * *
“No! Make it for another night.” Max’s refusal surprised Casey when she told him at dinner the next night.
“I can’t. It’s too late. It’s already organized.”
As Cole’s eyes went back and forth between them, Casey smoothed out her expression, seeing Cole’s wariness.
“I had something special planned for that night. I asked Mrs. Wesson to keep Cole for us, and I asked the kids’ mothers to switch nights.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I feel terrible.” Casey wanted to cry at missing out on some alone time with Max.
“Don’t. You didn’t know.” He pasted a smile on his face. “We’ll do it another night.”
Casey gave in. She had already ruined whatever plans Max had made.
“I’ll make it up to you,” she promised, cutting him a large slice of cake.
Max eyed the piece. “That doesn’t look like you’re sorry.”
Casey smiled, cutting him another piece. “I’m really sorry.”
Max took a bite, washing it down with a glass of cold milk. “I’m feeling your apology, but if you really want to make it up to me, you can make an extra pot of your meatballs for me and the brothers to snack on during your party.”
“I can do that.”
It hadn’t taken her living with him long for her to learn that Max had an addiction to food porn. He loved to be bribed with food, especially sweets. She would find recipes sitting around the house where he knew she would see them.
“I’ll stop at the bakery after work and buy some sub rolls, and I’ll get Jackal to buy an extra case of beer.”
“I’ll even make you an extra cake to take,” Casey offered.
“No, don’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to spoil the fuckers. They might start showing up for dinner and shit. I’m a generous man, but I’m not stupid.”
* * *
“I can’t wear those.” Casey began to think she was going to get whiplash as the lingerie was passed around the room.
“Of course you can. You’ve got the tits and ass for it.” Gianna tossed two bright red items onto her lap. “Go try it on.”
The women had made Max’s bedroom a changing room. If he’d known so many women would be in his room changing into the seductive clothes, she would have never gotten him out of the door with the Crockpot full of meatballs. The bed was covered in lingerie that had been tried on and discarded.
“Try it! Don’t forget you have to show us, though.” Penni was sprawled out on the couch with a glass of wine in one hand and a brownie in the other.
Casey made a face at her as she went into the bedroom. She changed into the slinky outfit, sliding on the silk hose and garters with red silk lines down the legs. Sliding on the robe, she tied it closed before going back into the living room.
The women all stared as she walked in front of the couch.
“Woo! I have to buy that one. Red is Kaden’s favorite color.” Sawyer reached forward, grasping the bottom of her robe, sliding the material through her fingers. “Order this one for me, Gianna.”
Her friend was sitting on a chair with her legs crossed, writing down the orders.
“I want this one.” Rave ran her hand down her curvy body with the black satin booty shorts and c
orset top. The only color was the thin red cord that tied the top closed.
“Give me that one.” Penni straightened, placing her brownie and wine glass on the coffee table. Taking a lavender nightie, she went into the bedroom.
Casey threw herself down onto the couch, exhausted. It had been a long day getting ready for the party, and she had already tried four items on. She was only going to treat herself to one, and the red was her favorite so far.
Leaning forward, she picked up a brownie from the dish. The women were all devouring them, so she wanted to make sure she tasted one before they all disappeared. It was delicious, but there was a slight taste that she didn’t recognize. She almost choked on the gooey chocolate when she recognized what she thought it might be.
“Penni brought us pot brownies!” Casey stared at the brownie in disbelief.
“No, she didn’t,” Vida said, nibbling on her third brownie.
“Yes, they are. She told us when she set them down on the table. You guys must have been in the bedroom changing when she told everyone,” Grace said, enjoying her second one.
Casey started to set the brownie down yet couldn’t resist taking another bite… or two.
“Max has been bragging to Ice about the chocolate cake you make him. He tells Ice it’s better than the one I made him for his birthday.” Grace said in mock offense. “We might need to have a bake off.”
“You buy yours at the bakery on Main Street?” Casey asked taking another bite of brownie.
“No I make mine.” Grace laughed.
“Then you win.”
Penni came out of the bedroom, strutting around the room in the pale lavender slip that had a plunging vee to her flat stomach, showing the diamond piercing in her navel. The slip grazed the top of her slim thighs.
Casey ate the last bit of the brownie, envious of her body.
“I’ll buy this one,” Penni said enthusiastically, retaking her seat then picking up her brownie and wine.
“How many of those have you had?” Casey asked, noticing the blonde’s pupils were dilated.
“A couple. Don’t worry, we won’t run out. I have another platter of them in the kitchen.”
“They’re really good,” Casey was forced to admit.
Penni emptied her wine glass. “It’s my own secret recipe. I bought the weed from the best weed growers in Kentucky, and I got a brownie recipe from a baker in Treepoint then added the pot, but the piece de resistance is my homemade canna oil I use. It makes them really moist.”
“Yes, it does,” Grace said appreciatively.
“There’s enough weed in this room to get us charged with a felony,” Vida said, taking another one.
“Ice’s lawyer will get us off.” Grace joked.
The whole room exploded with laughter.
Gianna hushed them with a wave of her hands. “All right, it’s time for a game. Everyone has on a piece of lingerie, so I want you all to line up.”
The women all stood, lining up against the wall.
“How do we play?” Rave asked above the loud chattering.
“Okay, so I take a picture of all of you from the neck down, and then I send it to you in a mass text. The fun part of the game comes when you send the picture to your boyfriends or husbands and see if they can pick you out of the group.”
“What do we win?” Penni questioned with a narrow-eyed stare at Gianna, who was busy organizing the women who were all high enough to go along with the game. Casey stood next to Penni, who had Rave on her other side.
“Penni, stand still,” Gianna said impatiently.
“Let someone shorter stand next to me. Rave’s boobs are staring me in the face.”
“Quit complaining,” Gianna said, ignoring Penni’s suggestion.
Penni raised her finger, flipping Gianna off.
“That’s it. I’m sending you a couple of pictures. Take your pick and send one to your other half. All we have to do is wait to see who wins.”
Some of the women began to get changed; others just sat around, giving their orders to Gianna. Casey decided to purchase the red one she was wearing.
“That’s a good choice.” Penni began refilling the wine glasses, complimenting all the women on their choices.
“You going to buy one?” Gianna asked Penni.
“I’ll take two. The lavender one and the red one like Casey is wearing. It makes her breasts look amazing, and she has small ones, too. No offense.” She lifted her wine glass in apology.
“None taken.” Casey smiled back at the woman.
No one could get angry at Penni. She had the gift of making you notice her when she came into a room, and if everything felt flat, she laughed. She reminded Casey of a bottle of bubbles that you would buy at the dollar store. When you blew the bubbles, they filled the air with their beauty, but if you actually tried to touch one, they flew away beyond reach or exploded. Penni was the kind of bubble that you never knew which it was going to do.
Grace sat down next to Casey after she came out of the bedroom.
“Don’t forget to send the picture,” Gianna reminded them.
“Crap, I forgot.” Casey took her phone out, sending the text with the picture.
“I was getting changed,” Grace said, sending the picture.
Vida wrote Gianna a check for what she had picked to buy then took her phone out of her purse, sending the picture.
Penni leaned forward, picking up the platter of brownies and offering them to the women after taking another for herself. “Now all we have to do is wait and see. You never did tell us what we would win.”
Gianna reached into a discreet pink bag, pulling out a pretty, long, gold evening purse. Opening it, she tilted the purse forward until all the women crowded around, seeing the large vibrator inside.
“I need that in my life,” Penni breathed.
The women all stared at each other then faced Gianna.
Casey spoke for the whole group. “She can have it.”
* * *
Max was eating his second meatball sub when he felt his phone vibrate. Checking his messages, he choked on the bite he had just taken.
“What the fuck?” He heard Ice’s exclamation next to him. Then Colton’s phone went off, and Max knew exactly what the men were staring down in wonder at on their cell phones.
“Give them to me,” Max snapped.
“I’m not giving you my fucking phone.” Ice reared back out of his reach.
“Give it to me!” Max held his hand out to Colton.
“Fuck no.”
Max stood up, his stool falling backward onto the floor.
“Give me the fucking phones!” Max bellowed jealously.
“I’m not buying any more furniture, and I’m not buying them new phones. Why in the fuck would they give you their phones, anyways?” Jackal asked, standing up from his stool at the bar.
Ice leaned sideways out of Max’s reach, showing Jackal the picture.
“Are you nuts? Don’t show him that!”
Jackal’s mouth dropped open, jerking the phone from Ice’s hand and stepping from his reach.
“They at your house?” Jackal asked Max.
“All fifteen of them,” Max said grouchily.
“Later.” Jackal left the clubroom with a glint in his eyes that made Max suspicious, but he relaxed when he saw the brother going down the hallway to the bedrooms.
“Damn, I hope Vida buys the one she’s wearing. Hell, I hope she buys the one Casey’s wearing, too,” Colton murmured appreciatively.
“I’m going to kick your ass!” Max took a step toward him then heard a bike start outside. “That son of a bitch took off!”
Max stormed to the door, seeing Jackal turn onto the road, heading in the direction of his house. “I’m going to kill that motherfucker.”
Max ran to his bike with Ice and Colton hot on his heels. All of them were shoving their phones into their pockets before taking off.
When he got home, he was going to throw everyone
out then fuck Casey. She was going to make up in one night for his not fucking her since he had brought her back to Queen City. He wouldn’t be taking her out for breakfast, either. She was going to be lucky if he let her out of bed before lunch.
Chapter 27
A loud bang on the door had Casey answering it, grabbing the robe around herself when she saw Jackal standing on the porch.
“Where’s Penni?” he demanded as if he was out of breath from running.
“She left five minutes ago. She went home with Sawyer when Kaden picked her up. She was too drunk or high to drive. I can’t remember which.” Casey leaned against the door.
“High or drunk?”
Casey giggled. “She made some pot brownies, and I bought the wine. We have some left if you want one,” she said, weaving from the door and going to the coffee table filled with wine glasses and an almost empty platter of brownies. Casey leaned over, picking one up, unaware the thin robe had fallen open, showing the curves of her breasts. She looked up when she heard a large bang from the doorway, seeing Max shaking his hand in front of the closed door.
“Where did Jackal go? I was going to give him a brownie.”
“He had to leave suddenly.” Max grimaced when another knock sounded on the door. Jerking it open, he snarled “What?” at Colton and Ice, who were staring back at him.
“We thought we would pick up Grace and Vida.”
“Hi, Ice and Colton.” Casey waved at them, her robe falling open from her movement. “Kaden drove them home. Would you like a…?” Max slammed the door in their faces.
“I was going to offer them a brownie,” Casey chided.
“Are you high?” Max’s eyes widened at her walking seductively across the floor.
“A little, I think. I can’t say for sure. I’ve never been high before.”
“You’re high,” Max said, slipping his hands around her waist.
“You’re right.” Casey stood on her tiptoes. Unable to reach his mouth, she kissed the tanned skin of his throat.
Max lifted her until she could reach his mouth.
“Are you going to sleep with me tonight?”
“No.” His face broke into a grin. “But I am going to fuck you.”
