by KaLyn Cooper
“No, sir, I can’t come into the office right now.” She plastered on an irritated look. “I’m at my friend’s wedding reception. It will have to wait until tomorrow morning.”
Mr. and Mrs. Carlucci stared at her. She mouthed my boss, then pointed to the phone.
“I hope you don’t mind that she used the landline, but the office was open.” At Marcus’s explanation, both Carluccis jerked as though seeing him for the first time.
Mrs. Carlucci laid her hand over her heart. “You about scared the life out of me, young man. I was so surprised to see her sitting at the desk I didn’t even bother to turn around and see if she was alone.”
“There, there, Edna, it looks as though the young lady has enough problems with her boss.” Mr. Carlucci put his arm around his wife.
“Poor dear.” Mrs. Carlucci’s attention went back to Marcus. “Is she going to be okay?”
“I’m sure everything will be fine.” His words were reassuring even to her. “I’ll take care of her.”
Tori decided to wrap up her fake conversation. “Yes, sir. I’ll be in first thing in the morning.” She hung up the phone and snarled at it. When she stood she looked directly at Mr. and Mrs. Carlucci. “This was the only landline I could find, and the office was unlocked. It was a local call.”
Mrs. Carlucci took her hand. “He doesn’t sound like a very nice man. How dare he expect you to leave the party and go in to work at this hour of the night?”
“My boss calls on me day and night. The government doesn’t stop for anyone, even this magnificent wedding reception.” She squeezed Mrs. Carlucci’s hand then released it. “This truly is a beautiful party. Thank you so much for coming to Harper and Rafe’s rescue.”
“Oh, sweetie, it’s our pleasure to help such a happy young couple get off to a good start.” At Mrs. Carlucci’s words, Tori felt a pang of remorse for lying to such a goodhearted woman. She would never regret what she and Marcus had done in the darkness of that office. The sex had been too damn good.
Tori moved toward Marcus who now stood in the door. “Thank you again for the use of the telephone. We’ll just get out of your way now.”
“It’s almost time to cut the cake and my Edna makes the best Italian wedding cake in a hundred miles,” Mr. Carlucci bragged. “Wait till you taste it.”
“I could go for cake,” Marcus interjected and took her hand, stepping into the hall.
As soon as the door closed behind them, she wanted to giggle like a teenager. “Can I have my underwear back now, please?” She pointed to the ladies’ room door.
“No.” He led her past both restrooms. “I haven’t decided whether I’m going to give them back to you or keep them as a souvenir from one of the best nights of my life.”
Tori had to admit that the night had been a pretty damn good, and as far she was concerned it wasn’t over.
Before they turned the corner into the large ballroom, Tori stopped and faced Marcus. She didn’t bother checking to see if anyone was watching. She didn’t care. “Were going to eat the most delicious Italian wedding cake ever made—if Mr. Carlucci is to be believed and I learned years ago never argue with old Italian men—then we’re going to dance. We’re going to drink. We’re going to celebrate the marriage of Harper and Rafe until they leave.” She took his face in both her hands. She wanted to be sure he understood her intentions. “Then we’re going to my condo where I intend to repay you for the wonderful orgasms that you just gave me. I am definitely not a one-sided lover. You, Marcus Hernandez, and I are not done.” She leaned in and kissed him, tasting herself on his tongue. She shuddered at the thought of him licking and sucking her to orgasm number three…and couldn’t wait.
As they approached the table, so did Lei Lu carrying a huge tray of multicolored shot glasses and beers. Tori’d been right in warning Marcus about the drinking. Since joining the Ladies of Black Swan, Lei Lu had been determined to make up for her Mormon childhood.
Holding a shot glass aloft, Lei Lu announced, “To the sister of my heart, may your love run as pure as this vodka. Cheers.”
“Cheers,” everyone at the table repeated. All the men sipped their beer and the women downed their shots, slamming the upside down glass on the table.
“Whew.” Nita winced. “And may your love run as hot as this vodka.” She glanced up at Lei Lu. “Good choice.”
The corners of Grace’s lips turned down. “I’m so sorry, Harper, that you can’t have the good stuff but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the virgin version.”
Harper smiled and laid her hand on her flat belly. “I’m thinking of this as unfermented wine. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt our little girl.”
“Or boy,” Rafe interjected. He looked at his new wife then laid his big hand atop hers. “I don’t care what it is. I’m just happy with finally having a family.” He leaned in and kissed her as though no one else was sitting at the table.
Lei Lu gave them a minute before she interrupted. “Okay, you two, that’s enough.” She pointed at the next row of shots. All the teammates picked up the small jigger of red and orange alcohol. “Here’s to sex on the beach. We’re drinking ours here, but may you have plenty of it starting tomorrow. We all truly hope you enjoy the Callahan compound.”
“Agreed.” “Here, here.” The chorus of voices approved as everyone at the table drank. Tori downed the sweet shot version of the Sex on the Beach drink. It took the sting out of the first straight vodka shot.
Rafe and Harper were honeymooning at the oceanside getaway owned by Katlin and Daniel in Costa Rica. Between missions, the Ladies of Black Swan often stayed at the ten-bedroom house, originally built as a small hotel on the Caribbean Sea. A few years ago, Daniel and their Uncle Tom had constructed a large resort down the beach, but the brother and sister had agreed the more intimate setting was more appropriate for their friends’ honeymoon and gifted them a week in luxury.
Lei Lu pointed to the next row of ten red, bubbling shot glasses then moved her fingers toward Nita and Daniel. “Since we had children at your wedding, we couldn’t do shots. Given Daniel’s age, and that we all need a boost to keep going for the next hour or more, everyone grab a Liquid Viagra.
“I can guarantee you Daniel does not need Viagra.” Nita picked up the scarlet concoction.
Daniel leaned over and gave Nita a quick kiss. “Thank you, sweetheart, for defending my manhood. The fact that I’m the oldest man at this table just means I have the most experience.”
“Lalalala,” Katlin sang with her fingers poked in her ears. “I don’t need to hear anything about your sex life, brother.” She picked up the small glass in front of her. “Although I’m not a fan of Jägermeister, I could use the Red Bull right about now.”
So could Tori so she didn’t hesitate to throw the drink down her throat, flip over the empty glass and place it beside to the other two.
“Next up, is the Redheaded Slut,” Lei Lu announced. There were only five glasses in the next circle so each woman picked up one. “We all know that Grace is far from a slut, but it was the only drink that seemed appropriate to celebrate your engagement.” She raised the glass into the air. “All of us are thrilled that finally after years, you two quit dancing around each other and that Griffin made an honest woman out of you. To Griffin and Grace.”
With words of congratulations, all ten friends drank again.
Tori was beginning to feel the rush of alcohol but there were still three more drinks on the tray for each of them. She didn’t want to get too drunk to enjoy her time with Marcus.
“Up next, we have a Tight Snatch in honor of Katlin who went celibate for years before she found her way back to Alex, but I’m quite sure they’ve been working very hard to catch up.” Lei Lu picked up the pink potion.
“I’m not sure if I’m proud of my sister for her celibacy, or proud of my future brother-in-law for making her come to her senses?” Daniel smiled across the table and raised his bottle of beer. “Alex, Katlin, I’m gonna welcome this weddin
g.”
Almost everyone at the table knew what went unsaid. Daniel had not liked Katlin’s cheating first husband who had been killed in action several years before.
Lei Lu smiled and looked each man in the face. “Gentlemen, the next two drinks are dedicated to you.” She lifted the cherry off the top of the shot glass and offered it to Zane. With an appreciative smile, he opened his mouth and she popped it inside before grinning drunkenly. “We all know there are no cherries to be popped at this table so that’s the closest thing you’re going to get to one tonight. We all know that experience has greater rewards.” She bent over and gave a small kiss to Zane. Picking up the lemonade-colored drink, she barely contained her giggles. “This is called Leg Spreader.” She giggled again before she settled down and finished her shot in one gulp.
Tori recognized the last drink on the tray. The dark brown Kahlúa sat on the bottom with Bailey’s Irish Cream next, topped off by whipped cream. It was often the last shot the women took when celebrating because it was so sweet. Tori reached for her shot.
“We’re going to top off the night with a Blow Job.” Lei Lu placed her hands behind her back and bent over the table. Her eyes never left Zane’s as she licked off the whipped cream. Nita, Grace, and Katlin did the same, holding the gaze of their significant other.
Tori wanted Marcus in her bed. Had they not been interrupted in the office, he would most likely have been inside of her already that night. She wasn’t sure if they were ready to appear publicly as more than just good friends, though. So instead of watching his reaction, she smiled at him before concentrating on the whipped cream. As though on cue, all the women wrapped their lips around the glass and stood up, throwing their heads back.
The creamy Bailey’s slid over her tongue and down her throat chased by the Kahlúa. She ran her tongue around the inside of the glass before she released her hands. With a loud pop, she removed the glass from her mouth and slammed it upside down next to the others.
Thank God she was finished with that. Even though most of the drinks had been made with vodka, there were still several other liquors sloshing in her stomach as she sat down. She glanced around the table to find all her friends kissing. She looked over at Marcus who just shook his head. She wanted to taste his lips, feel his hands on her.
Fuck it. If anyone gave her a hard time she’d blame it on the shots.
Tori reached out and took his face in both hands. She gently laid her lips on his. What started out as sweet and tender, soon became needy and wanton.
Marcus backed off. “We’ll have time for that later.”
She looked around the table where they were getting side glances from almost everyone. “I feel like dancing.” What she really wanted was Marcus next to her, chest to chest, hips to hip, thighs to thigh, his arms holding her tight against him.
Besides, maybe dancing would help push the alcohol through her system more quickly. With that thought, she emptied her water glass and hoped someone would be around soon to refill it before they returned. If all else failed, she hoped Nita had her magical anti-hangover pills with her, because sure as shit, she was going to have one whopper of a headache.
The night passed in a blur. Tori didn’t remember the cutting of the cake, or the garter toss. She had vague memories of towering over several screaming women as Harper tossed her bouquet. Lei Lu, who stood directly in front of her, caught the beautiful flowers and couldn’t stop giggling. Tori was relatively sure she and Marcus danced several times.
“Our bride and groom will be making their final rounds, saying goodbye to family and friends.” The words seemed overly loud to Tori as she sat down at the table and drank another glass of water.
“Mr. Carlucci had a really good voice. He makes a great MC, don’t you think?” Lei Lu seemed to have difficulty pronouncing the words. She was drunk.
Tori had to admit that she was too. She was suddenly very concerned about her friend. They had just met Zane for the first time, and even though he seemed like a good guy, women had to be careful.
She laid her hand on Marcus’s thigh then gave it a little squeeze. Leaning toward him she tried to whisper, but was pretty sure she wasn’t successful. “I think we need to take Lei Lu home and put her to bed at Katlin’s condo. I don’t think it’s a good idea to let Zane take her to her place in Crystal City.” It seemed to take far too many seconds to turn her bobbing head to watch her friend act overly friendly with her date.
“I think that’s a really good idea,” Marcus agreed. “Lei Lu, we’re getting ready to go soon. Can we take you to Katlin’s place to crash?”
Zane looked offended. “I’m taking her home.” He tried to soften his words with a small smile. “She’ll have one hell of a hangover in the morning.”
“No. I. Won’t,” Lei Lu said like a petulant child. “Nita.” She called out in a loud voice. “Where’s Nita? I need to find her and get her magic hangover pills.”
Zane and Marcus exchanged confused looks.
Marcus shrugged. “I’ve seen these women put away more alcohol than a platoon of Marines and get up and jog five miles the next morning. I have no fucking idea how they do it.”
Nita walked over just then with Daniel at her side. Also, obviously drunk, she pawed through a gigantic purse. With exaggerated movements she pulled out two packets of pills and slapped one in each woman’s hand. “Here you go,” she said as she swayed into Daniel. “There’s more in my bathroom cabinet.”
Daniel shook his head. “They’re not going to do these women any good back in Virginia.”
She giggled then looked up at her new husband. “Not my bathroom at home, my old home. In the condo.”
“Okay, I’ll get more there.” Lei Lu practically tripped into Nita’s arms before the two women hugged. “I think I’m going to need it tonight.”
Tori was thankful that she had overheard the conversation and knew where she could get more of the miracle drugs. “You’re coming home with Marcus and me, right?”
Lei Lu swung around, her arms loosely flying through the air. “Marcus, you are the most wonderful man. Would you take me to my room?”
Zane caught her and pulled her in to his side. “That’s my job, tonight. I’ll get you home safe and sound.”
Lei Lu threw her arms around Zane. “You’ll do that for me? Thank you.” The last two words were exaggerated.
“Zane. Do you know where she’s talking about?” Thank goodness Marcus had this under control because Tori’s brain was still back on where to find the anti-hangover medicine in case she needed a second dose.
“No, not really.” Zane looked at the woman practically asleep in his arms. “I was hoping she’d at least give me an address so I can put it in my GPS.”
“Were going to the same place. Why don’t you just follow us?” Marcus then added, “It’s only a few blocks away, just off DuPont circle.”
Zane looked relieved. “That’s pretty close.”
“How much have you had to drink?” Marcus sounded almost like an interrogator.
“I hate leaving her alone in this condition.” Zane kissed the top of Lei Lu’s head. “I had planned on sacking out on her couch.”
Tori liked that idea. Maybe Zane was one of the good guys after all. She let out a heavy sigh of relief and laid her head on Marcus’s his chest. Maybe she’d just take a little nap.
“I need your key to the elevator, sweetheart.” Marcus was holding her in the lobby of the building.
She dug in her clutch and handed him the key. With eyes barely open, she caught a glimpse of Zane carrying Lei Lu, bride style. Yeah, maybe he was one of the good ones.
Marcus rubbed her back. “Sweetheart, can you help Lei Lu get ready for bed? I’m going to go get both of you another dose of Nita’s magic meds.”
Tori took a deep breath and forced her eyes open. A second breath helped clear her head. “Sure.” Zane stood next to her, Lei Lu still in his arms. “Her bedroom is down here.” By the fifth breath, Tori felt like she
was doing pretty well.
Zane took one step into the room and stopped. Questions filled his eyes.
“Just put her on the bed. I’ll strip her out of her clothes. She sleeps naked most of the time anyway.” Tori couldn’t miss the heat that flashed through the man’s dark eyes. Once he placed her on the bed he glanced her way as though asking for his next order. “Why don’t you grab a set of sheets from the hall closet. Pillows are on the top shelf. Nita’s bedroom is next door, but she never uses it anymore.”
“Do you all have bedrooms here?” Zane asked on the way to the door.
“Yep. Mine is the last one down the hall, but I live next door.” She burst out giggling at how ludicrous it was for her to have a bedroom in Katlin’s condo and own a three-bedroom condo on the same floor. “We all went through training together and got reassigned to the D.C. area. Katlin bought this condo and we all lived here together for the first several years. When the unit down the hall came up for sale, I bought it. Harper bought the one in the middle. We own this floor.” With everyone getting married, would Katlin sell her condo? Since Harper was pregnant, would she and Rafe want to buy a house?
All those thoughts were too big for Tori to think about right then. She stripped Lei Lu out of her clothes, forced her to sit up and take another round of magic pills, then tucked her in. Turning off the lights she left the room, propping the door open.
Zane and Marcus had already made the king-sized bed in the room next to Lei Lu’s.
“Looks like you’re pretty well set here.” Tori noticed the duffel bag on the floor.
“I keep a go bag in my truck,” he said by way of explanation. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. Although I like Lei Lu a lot, I wasn’t expecting to spend the night with her.”
Marcus laughed. “Least of all like this.” He held out his hand. “Thanks, man. Partying with these women can sometimes be tough. Thanks for keeping an eye out for our friend.” He then threw his arm around Tori. “Let’s get you home and into bed.”
