Page 59 of Now and Forever

“Yes and no,” I said just as Blair emerged out of the crowd and immediately joined our conversation, dressed as the stuck-up Vivian from Legally Blonde. She sure had the perfect condescending manner to go with it.

“Party’s great and all, but weeding the not so brilliant people out has been an epic fail.” She let out an exasperated sigh, disappointed with her party organizational skills. Her clever dark eyes landed on me peculiarly. “Is my brother harassing you? If he is, I’m the person to assist in filing a restraining order on him. He’s such an insufferable turd.”

Blair was discernibly tipsy.

“No, he’s been great. There’s no need for any of that.” I threw Vivienne a pleading look, but the woman kept cackling, so I was left on my own to figure this out. “Actually, I meant to tell you that we’ve been hanging out a great deal.”

She arched one perfectly shaped dark brow, pensive. “Go on…”

Anxious, I squashed my fretful mind and concentrated on what to say next—Wyatt and the budding pseudo-friendship-with-some-benefits. “You see, your brother and I—well, we’ve been…um…messing around a little…” I finished saying with a contorted look on my face.

“Ew, you had sex with him?” Blair grimaced before she made a gagging noise, appalled at the thought of her brother doing the dirty with me.

“Oh, shit, fuck,” Vivienne blurted out. The cackling had now spiraled to laughing hysterics.

“No! Not that!” I glared at both of them, irked at their immature retorts. “We’ve done more than kissing; that’s all. I don’t plan on having sex with him.” That ship had sailed, most especially after promising Jared tonight.

Right on cue, as if she read my mind, Blair’s attentiveness in my chaotic life piqued. “What happened to Jared?”

They’d been updated on Jared, so they knew he had moved out a month ago. So far, the man hadn’t stated when he’d come home again. “He came tonight, actually.”

“And?” they both shrilled in unison, highly impatient.

“We had sex…”

“Dressed as Lexi? Oh, fuck. That’s so hot!” Vivienne was beside herself, green eyes dancing with enthusiasm.

Hot? An angered Jared flashed before me. Then the look he gave me before he murmured, “Happy birthday, kitten.” My heart thudded against my chest, feeling quite heady all over again. “Yes…I’ve never seen him so pissed off.”

“But you guys had sex, anyway, right?” Vivienne wiggled her brows as she fantasized about Jared and I copulating. “Angry sex is the best.”

It fucking was. God, how that body took me to new mind-numbing pinnacles of pleasure. The high my body floated on was not going to be dispelled anytime soon.

Blair sighed, seeming quite ecstatic for me. “You guys consummated the marriage. You’re really married to him now. Be careful, babe. That’s all I’m saying.”

Warning heeded. But was it truly necessary to sound so doom and gloom?

“It’s just sex. It’s not a big deal.” Great, mind-blowing sex and then some. I sighed again, wistful at the memory of him taking liberties with my body. Though sore, I craved him again. When would this end? He was a drug I couldn’t get enough of. It seemed the more I had of him, the more the addiction worsened.

Blair wasn’t convinced, calling my bluff. “Who are you trying to kid, babe? It’s a great deal to you. As for Jared, that fucker really has to get it together, or we’ll kidnap you two and stick you both in a room until you guys figure it all out.”

I snickered, amused at the idea. “Yeah, he’ll go bonkers if he’s away from the company for too long.”

Blair’s dark impish eyes sparkled. “Sounds like a fun idea.” She was wicked through and through. God help the man who dared to tame her. My best friend was not one to give up without a fight. She’d go down, guns blazing and all.

Vivienne toyed with her wine glass, throwing us stares as though we’d lost our senses. “Sounds fun until Jared calls the NSA on your crazy ass and then what? I don’t think being Gisele’s friend would get you off the hook.”

“Nah,” Blair rebutted. “Jared and I are great friends. That man knows I’m the person to call when he needs someone on his team in regards with Gi.”

They had definitely gotten on with Jared at my father’s funeral. That had its benefits as well as disadvantages. Hopefully, there wouldn’t come a time when they’d gang up on me. It surely would irritate me to no end.

“I fairly believe you’re pretty chill with him due to the fact that he might introduce you to hunky eligible bachelors. With his kind of influence and power, I’m sure his roster is quite full.”

She rolled her eyes, exasperated. “It’s called networking, genius. You should try it some time.”

Blair’s condescending tone didn’t go unnoticed. Vivienne wasn’t having it. “Must you always be so bitchy?” she derisively addressed the unapologetic brunette. “You finished your period last week, so there’s no excuse for this meanness. After Joao, you’ve been on everyone’s last nerve. Go get laid before you fucking explode from all that pent-up rage.”

Out of the three of us, Vivienne was the most sensitive one, and yet Blair thrilled at provoking our friend at the most inopportune time. But Vivienne sure knew how to put Blair in her place.

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