Page 33 of Gin and Lava

“Yeah, but clearly I didn’t need to,” Desmond says, wrapping his arm around Esme again. “Mason got the job done.”

My face blushes. Yeah. He definitely did.

I could try and imagine the face of someone famous when I replay last night in my head. But in the end, the daydream will always go back to Mason and his incredible cock I’m imagining myself enjoying.

And truth be told, part of what made it so hot was the fact that I let myself be dirty and out of control. I asked for what I wanted. No, he demanded I tell him what I wanted, and damn, I’ve never had a guy so perfectly in tune with what I needed.

“Uh, yeah. Mason, obviously, did the job well,” Desmond compliments, nodding at me. “I may even have to compliment him when I see him.”

“You do that,” Esme warns, “and you’re feeding the Mason monster.”

“It was a one-time thing,” I say quickly, making sure both of them know this isn’t the kind of thing we’ll be broadcasting. “It’s not happening again. Okay? So, let’s drop it please. Tell me about life in Los Angeles, and what’s going on with the show.”

Desmond smiles at me and mimes that his lips are sealed. But there’s something in the glimmer of his eyes that saysyou’re full of shit.It’s like he knows that a girl can’t blush as much as I have without desperately needing another ride on Mason’s joy stick.

I stare him down, defying him and making sure he knows that his smirk is just another cocky grin from a Hollywood star who’s used to women lining up to bang him. And when it comes to Mason, Desmond has no clue.

Except, Desmond might know better. Because every time I close my eyes, I’m transported back to my truck, and to the feeling of Mason’s hands on my tits and the look in his eyes when I came on his cock.

It’s the kind of ride you definitely want to repeat. In fact, it’s the kind you get right back in line for after it’s done. I don’tneeda reprisal of last night’s events … but damn, do I want one.

“Are you going to Shauri’s wedding next month?” Esme asks, letting the conversation shift.

I drop my fork to my plate.

“Shit. I completely forgot about that,” I say.

Okay, technically that’s not entirely true. I mean, for like twenty-four hours, yes, I’d forgotten—you know, champagne, Mason, orgasms and all. But dreading Shauri’s wedding has been a ticking clock on my radar for months.

Yes, I did RSVP and say I was attending her wedding. She’s one of Esme and I’s oldest friends from when we went to massage school together. But when I said yes, that was back when Sam and I were still together. Of course, after the breakup, Shauri said it would be fine if we each came separately with our own plus ones, but that didn’t really mask the fact that Shauri’s totally been Team Sam after the breakup.

“Um,” I swallow hard. “Areyougoing?” I ask Esme.

“I’m planning on it, yeah.” Esme nods. “Des can’t come because of his shooting schedule. But I’ll be there. It sounds like Shauri’s got a whole week of festivities outlined before the event—parties, kayaking, snorkeling.”

“Yeah, I guess if you’re going to plan a destination wedding in Hawaii, you need to plan an entire group vacation with it.” I laugh. “Let’s hope Shauri brings a vat of sunblock with her from Washington, because I don’t think she sees sun for more than ten days out of the year. I’d hate for her to look like a lobster on her big day.”

“I’m still not sure I can come for all the pre-game festivities, but if I do, then you’d better be coming with me,” Esme says, rolling her eyes.

“Perfect! You can be my date to the wedding,” I say, clapping my hands mockingly, cause honestly, I’m not that excited to hang out with Sam and pretend I’m a happy little clam. “You can ensure I survive having to see Sam for a week.”

Esme frowns, and I can’t tell if that’s judgement. “Wait, Sam’s still coming to the wedding?” she asks. “What happened to chicks before dicks?”

“Woah,” Desmond jumps in. “You’re really going to pick your girl Naomi over me?” He puts his hand over his heart like he’s wounded.

“You’renot coming to the wedding,” Esme shoots at him. “And man-up, Pike. I get that the world fawns at your very existence, but this isn’t about you. Not to mention, the whole point of the phrasechicks before dicksmeans that if we broke up, Naomi would be onmy sideand not yours.”

“We’re never breaking up,” Desmond says hotly, looking at her like he might jump her right here in the restaurant.

“Put a ring on it, Romeo,” Esme tosses back, wagging her fingers at him, to which he starts nipping at her fingertips with his mouth, adorably. The two of them really are way too cute for their own good. “So let me get this straight,” Esme says, pulling her attention back to me. “You and Shauri are friends from school. Shauri invites you and your boyfriend to the wedding. You and your boyfriend break up, but somehow your ex still gets an invitation?”

“Yeah …” I shake my head, not wanting to get into the nuances of this. “I don’t know how, but Sam and Shauri are BFF’s now. She doesn’t even live in Hawaii and somehow she’s Team Sam, hardcore.”

Part of me thinks I shouldn’t go to the wedding at all. Clearly, Shauri’s decided whose side she’s on, and I’m the one who should politely bow out.

Esme squints at me. “How did I not know about this?”

“It’s stupid, and it’s complicated,” I say, trying to downplay it. “Plus, you live in California, and Shauri lives in Washington, and Sam and I are in Hawaii. It’s not like I see Shauri in person for it to be weird. Sometimes you just cut your losses and decide to go on with your life.”

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