Page 37 of Shockproof

“You know when it comes to mammals shit is a lot harder for me.”

“Aren’t there more species of bees than mammals?” Arley’s eyebrows pinch together in confusion. “Wait. Aren’t there more species of bees than mammalsand birdsput together?”

“You’re such a good listener!” Aviva sweetly praises the woman to my left while I craftily pocket the tool for an emergency combat situation. “I just love that about you.”

“I love that about you too,” I firmly state, yanking her attention back to me. “And I also love when I don’t have to hold your hair back ‘cause you forget it’s one tequila, two tequila, six tequila,floor.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah.”

“Halloween.”

Her nose scrunches in objection causing her bright, round orange frames to bounce. “That was aholiday.”

“When the Dragons lost their tenth game last season.”

“I was inmourning!”

“When Blu and I got back from Monaco in March.”

“We were celebrating!”

A pointed look is all she’s offered.

“I’ll have you know,” her hand falls defiantly to her hip, “I can hold my tequila, thank you very much.”

“Doesn’t sound like it,” Lila indifferently rebuts prior to taking her drink. “Put ‘em all on my tab, Hunt.”

He slides another of the same drink onto the bar. “You got it, Lila.”

Suddenly, the music shifts tempos from some classic Dolly to an older Carrie Underwood song that excites the woman I am secretly praying disappears into the arms of any man in the room willing to have her. Bonus points if he happens to be far, far,farthe fuck away from here. “Oh! I love this song!”

“And I wouldlovethat tequila,” my better half states to the man handing Blu his beer. “Or the bottle. Can I have the whole bottle? Save on the dishes?”

“You-”

“Do. Not.” The tone I take is even firmer than the pointed finger he’s shot. “Serve.Her. The. Whole. Bottle.”

“Come on, Vi Vi,” Lila gently tugs her friend behind her, “let’s see if we can get a fun line dance going with just the ladies in the room.”

Hunt places an empty glass in front of Arley and cocks a smirk. “Man, do I love to watch that woman move.”

“Could youpour?” She taps the top of it. “Please.”

“Angel Cake-”

“Faster.”

He nods, pops the bottle of Torrez, and begins to fill the glass. Once it hits what would be about two shots worth, he garnishes it with lime. Unfortunately, before he has the chance to ask if we need anything else, Arley guzzles down the contents and mercilessly sucks all the juice possible out of the wedge.

Not wincing at the sight of her teeth sinking aggressively into the fruit is difficult.

Fuck, that’s an image that’s gonna be hard to shake the next time she’s on her knees for me.

Assuming she will be, and that this accidental fuckery hasn’t completely somehow managed to set us back into the cold showers and hand job zone.

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