Page 17 of Seduction in Spades

“That’s one way of putting it.”

“Well, damn. Do tell. Who’s the pussy?”

“Don’t know.”

“You’re telling me you look like this after a rough night with your fist?”

Drake walks in and shoves Ryder’s feet off the table. “Dude. We don’t need to hear about your jacking off stories. Too many porn fist pumps are going to make you go blind.”

“With that ugly mug, his fist is the only way he’s going to dump his load.” Trey takes a chocolate cruller from the box of donuts and settles into his seat.

“Jesus. Is it national pick on Nolan day?”

“Somebody’s got his panties in a twist.” Ryder snorts.

“I’ve never known you to have women problems.” Drake takes a seat at the head of the table and opens his laptop.

“I don’t havewomenproblems.” Hell. I would have told the guys about my mystery woman and the explosive sex if they hadn’t been such jackasses. Now I’m content to keep my sex life to myself, not something the four of us do.

Ryder is too open about his casual hookups. He’s a playboy at heart, and all the women he’s with are one hundred percent aware. He’s never had the desire to be in a relationship or to settle down. I’d bet my share of Four Aces that there isn’t a woman out there who can settle him.

Trey is more likely to find a wife first, and that’s a long shot. Ryder, Drake, and I are the closest people in his life and there’s a shit ton about him we don’t even know. It was only recently we learned he has an older sister. His parents are locked up in some prison down south for selling hard drugs, and big sis raised him. End of what we know about our fourth business partner.

But we trust him like we trust no other. He’s loyal as a golden retriever and has a bite as fierce as a pit bull. No offense to the friendly pit bulls out there.

It isn’t surprising Drake was the first to fall head over heels in love with a woman. Nora’s awesome and perfect for him. We’re all genuinely happy for them, even if their ridiculous amounts of PDA and cuteness can get a bit sickening.

Me, however, I’m somewhere in between. I’m no playboy like Ryder, but I’m not a closed-off prick like Trey. I guess my style is classic old-school dating with a side of booty calls. No one regular, but I have some women I keep in touch with. When the urge hits, I call one, we go on a few dates, and end up in bed. It’s nice, neat, and tidy.

Although, my night with my mystery woman was nowhere near nice, neat, or tidy.

“Oh shit.” Ryder leans forward on his elbows. “I recognize that look. You found a golden pussy.”

“I what? Fuck off, man. And how the hell would you recognize a golden pussy? You rarely fuck the same woman twice.”

Ryder thumbs over at Drake. “Doctor here was singing like Heidi in the Alps when he met Nora.”

“Don’t you fucking dare talk about my fiancée’s—”

Ryder snickers. “He can’t even talk dirty anymore now that he’s got the old ball and chain.”

“I’m the only one allowed to talk dirty about Nora, and I’m sure the fuck not doing it in front of you dumbasses.”

God, I love my best friends and business partners. I came in here with my nuts twisted in confusion and the guys instantly took my attention off my mystery woman. I’ll find her. I’m a former Navy SEAL who oversaw some heavy security shit, and I run a state-of-the-art security system at the casino. It won’t be very hard to find one woman in Boston.

I sent her a text a few days ago. She had to have known it was from me. I saved my name as Man of Steel. I struggled for days on what to send to her without coming off as needy or as a perv begging for more sex.

I went for light and flirty, putting the ball in her court.

Me:I’ve been craving tequila and chocolate. Think I might get some around seven tomorrow night.

She never responded. Never acknowledged receiving the text or even asked who it was from if she wasn’t sure. She was. She knew. And she still ghosted me. I’m one more cold shower closer to caving and using my tech skills to track her down. I can make it look like an accident bumping into her outside her work or her apartment. Maybe the grocery store where she shops or the coffee shop she visits.

I’ve never used my skills to stalk a woman, but I’m not a fan of building calluses on my hands from my dick.

“Can we get this meeting going? I’m meeting Avery for lunch in an hour.” Trey reaches for a second donut.

“Afraid your big sister won’t let you eat anything other than salad?” I snicker at him and take a toasted coconut donut.

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