Page 70 of Casper
The ladies were having a great time. Sipping their colorful cocktails and dancing. I could barely take my eyes off Luna. She wore a pale blue corset with a skirt that matched in color. A bright yellow flower had been clipped into her purple and pink hair. There was no missing my girl in a crowd.
She and the other girls stood in a group, laughing and talking. Planning for a wedding that Stray insisted wouldn’t be happening for a while yet. Us guys sat around the table engaged in our own conversation.
“I’m going to have to start hiring myself out as a hitman for hire,” Stray said with a chuckle. “It’s the only way I’ll pay for the wedding she wants.”
Rebel laughed. “Don’t forget about the honeymoon. If you want to go somewhere nice, it’s not going to be cheap.”
Stray groaned, rolling his eyes. “Fuck me. I forgot about the honeymoon.”
Even though Luna and I were in no rush, I knew this was in our future. I wanted it. She was already mine in every way, except on paper. That kind of thing had never mattered to me before. I’d never given it a passing thought. Funny how things changed.
We were finally getting back on track. I’d been able to let go of the worries that plagued me. No longer did the thought of fucking her until she screamed make me feel that I would send her spiraling into a bad place. Therapy had helped. As much as I still didn’t totally love it, I had to admit that speaking with someone had helped me cope.
My therapist had suggested a speech therapist to help me find a way to get my words out. I wasn’t sure I wanted that. I’d spent more of my life in silence, and it felt comfortable to me. Other than the few words I’d spoken to Luna, I preferred to speak with my hands and body language. She never pressured me to change that, and I knew she never would. She loved me for me, and it had nothing to do with my mutism.
Auryn and Dom exchanged a look. Rolling his eyes, Auryn said, “The way you’re all being picked off one by one is starting to concern me. This feels like a horror movie. I’m determined to be the survivor. The character who makes it to the end and avoids the killer.”
Since he was sitting next to me, I jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow. Once I had his attention, I signed, “Maybe you’re the killer in this scenario, buddy. Did you ever think about that? You’re always chasing everyone away with that shit attitude.”
“I’m not interested in being trapped for the rest of my life,” he scoffed. “I can’t imagine fucking only one pussy until I die. I’m a naturally born player, baby.”
Rebel leaned back in his chair, eyeing Auryn over the rim of his glass. “You have no idea what you’re missing. Eventually, you’ll get sick of random pussy and want something more. I can’t wait for that day so I can punch you in the face and tell you I told you so.”
“Maybe.” Auryn scratched his chin, his gaze drifting to where the girls stood. “But that day is not today. Do you think your ladies would be pissed if I fucked their blonde friend? Ripley, right? She’s pretty hot.”
“I think Codie would castrate you if you use her friend as nothing but a warm hole,” Stray said, kicking him under the table. “Find someone else to be your one and done.”
Auryn raised both hands in surrender. “All right, all right. Settle down. Looks like a bachelorette party on the other side of the room. I’ll wait until they have a few more drinks before I make my move.”
“Such a class act,” I signed.
My gaze wandered over to Luna. Her face was lit up with a brilliant smile as she nodded along to something Storm was saying. Feeling my watchful stare, she glanced over, meeting my eyes. Bringing a hand to her lips, she blew me a kiss. I could hardly wait to get her home and make her scream my name.
I’d been approved for the apartment. The move-in date was set for the end of the month. I believed it was the best move for me and for us as a couple. Starting a new chapter in a place of our own felt right. I could hardly wait to fall asleep with her every night and wake up with her every morning in a place that was ours.
The music changed to a popular song with a catchy beat. Athena loudly exclaimed that she absolutely had to dance to thissong. The girls left their drinks on the table before heading back to the dance floor. We’d joined them a few times already. Much to Stray’s chagrin.
“We’ll watch the drinks,” he said, trying to get out of another dance session. “Have fun.” He gave Codie a spank on her ass as she turned away.
Even though I wasn’t a dancer, I was happy to do it for Luna. I was also happy to sit back and watch her have fun with her friends. There was something about her being so carefree and lost in the moment that made her beyond beautiful. I wanted to soak it all in.
“Keep drinking, bro,” Dom said, nodding to the glass in Stray’s hand. “Get wasted enough and you won’t care who sees you dance like an idiot.”
“You’re only saying that because there’s nobody here to make you dance,” Stray volleyed back. “I wonder if Noah is the dancing type.”
Dom’s expression darkened. “Don’t make me kick your ass in front of your fiancée, dude.”
Stray ventured into dangerous territory here, and he knew it. Smirking like an asshole, he turned his attention to his drink, knowing better than to push Dom any further. We all knew Noah Cunningham was a sensitive subject for him. Whatever was going on between the two of them was their business.
I turned my attention to the dance floor, watching the ladies have a great time. They deserved it. Especially the three who’d signed on to be with our troublemaking asses. God knew they’d paid their dues. Each of them suffering some trial or tribulation in the name of love. If all it took to bring a smile to their faces was a night out on the dance floor, then who were we to complain?
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one watching them dance. A group of guys from another table got up, making their way tothe dance floor. They played it cool at first, gradually gravitating closer to the girls. When I saw one of them eye Luna up like she was a treat for the taking, I stiffened.
“Heads up, boys,” I signed. “Looks like we’ve got some vultures circling our girls.”
“Well, we can’t have that now, can we?” Finishing the rest of his drink, Rebel placed his glass on the table and stood up.
Rebel, Stray, and I left the table, moving in to make it clear that our girls were off-limits. Before we reached the dance floor, the guy closest to Luna angled in tight next to her, grinding against her ass. The monster inside me broke free. There was no holding back.
