Page 54 of Captivated

I mentally do the math. “So, about the time you got engaged?” I shove him playfully.

“Yeah, that’s kind of what we’re thinking,” he chuckles.

“I’m happy for you, man. This is great. And that means another baby for me to play with.”

“I figured you’d be happy about that.”

“Okay, okay. Let’s eat before the food gets cold,” Clara redirects everyone back to the table as Cooper pulls her into him and kisses her while she wipes tears from her eyes.

“Well, can Kane and I make an announcement now then too? Not to steal your thunder, Clara. I don’t want a Monica and Rachel situation here, okay?”

Clara laughs. “Don’t worry. I already slept with your brother, so nothing worse can happen.”

Piper starts laughing beside me uncontrollably.

“What’s so funny?”

“I’m just replaying that episode in my mind right now. God, I love that show!”

“Glad to know we have anotherFriendsfan in the group. She’s officially inducted,” Liv smirks and then faces Cooper and Clara again. “Kane and I set a date for the wedding,” she beams.

“Really?” Clara pipes up. “When?”

“New Year’s Eve. It’s gonna be at our house, just family and friends. We decided we didn’t want to spend another year not being husband and wife. So much has changed in the last twelve months, we want the next year to start off being married.” Kane leans over and wraps his arm around her as she speaks.

“You got plans for New Year’s Eve, Piper?” I turn to her.

“Not that I know of.”

“Good. ‘Cause I need a date for a wedding.”

We spend the next hour eating and talking, the other couples at the table making plans and nailing down details for a wedding and a new baby coming next May. And while I listen to their plans, I start making some of my own, all starring the woman sitting next to me.

Piper joins in on the conversation, adding her humor and advice where needed, and I can’t help but feel like for the first time in my life, I have someone besides Birdie that makes me appreciate the little things—like a dinner with friends and a beautiful woman to share parts of my life with I never knew could be so fulfilling. Piper came into my life going the wrong way down a one-way street, but has quickly shown me the path that I’ve been fighting all along.

Once we get back to her apartment, I pin her up against the door as soon as it closes. “Fuck, I’ve been looking forward to this for the past few hours,” I mumble against her neck, licking and kissing her delicate skin as she rakes her fingernails up and down my back.

“Tonight sure was full of surprises, the biggest of all, how comfortable I felt around your friends. Seriously, Cash,” she pushes me off of her so I can see her eyes. “I’ve never felt so welcomed by a group of people as I did with them. Thank you for taking me. I can’t remember the last time I felt like I belonged.”

There’s such a raw honesty in her words, it digs deep into my chest. “You did belong there, sweetheart, because you belong with me. My friends are good people and they loved you. Cooper told me he’s never seen me so at ease. He also gave me a bunch of shit for finally hopping on the relationship train, but I’d only take that shit talking for you.”

“Well, as much as I love when you’re at ease, I love when you’re fully at attention even more,” she says as her hand cups me through my pants.

“Are you commanding me to fuck you, Piper?”

“Yes, sir. Now get to work,” she demands before I crush my lips to hers.

We’re a fumbled mess of hands and limbs as we strip each other bare before I fetch a condom from my wallet and protect us from joining the parenting club with Kane, Liv, and now Clara and Cooper. I’m happy for all my friends and definitely want kids someday, but not anytime soon. Although the thought of Piper carrying my baby makes my stomach get all kinds of twisted up.

Let’s not get ahead of yourself, Cash.

“Put your hands against the door,” I command as she faces away from me, my palms settling on her ass cheeks as I rub them and then smack them playfully.

“Cash,” she mewls as I dip down to my knees and lick Piper’s pussy from front to back while her ass is pushed back high in the air.

“Talk to me, baby.”

“God, your mouth…” She rocks back and forth across my tongue as I feel her arousal increase, dripping with need for me each time I flick her clit. I pump two fingers inside of her and then press my thumb to her asshole, wondering if she’s ever played around with that entrance.

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