It explained the quiet sense of kinship I felt the instant I met Jenna, as if she could read my inner thoughts and relate to me somehow. Of course, no one knew the full extent of my story—not Arizona, and especially not Jaxon—and I hoped to keep it that way. I just prayed my past wouldn’t come back to haunt me the way Jenna’s had. Because of her past, Cameron never took any chances with his wife’s safety.
Even without any current active threats, they always traveled with a security detail, and tonight was no different. Hence, the man outside the suite, Declan, who looked like he could pass for Jason Statham’s twin with his buzz cut, stubbled, sharp jawline, and fitted black on black suit that gave even James Bond a run for his money.
“To friendships, old and new, to life’s blessings, and making every moment count.”
We clinked our glasses and took a sip, but Lakelyn stopped mid-drink and turned bright red.
“You good, girl?” Arizona asked with concern.
“Yeah—ahhh,” Lakelyn cried out, grabbing my arm for support.
Jenna quickly grabbed her champagne glass before it dropped onto the tiled floor.
“I don’t know if I want to kill Boden or find him and make him finish what he started,” she said, her breathing coming in heavy bursts as she spoke.
“What are you talking about? What is happening right now?” Jenna asked.
Lakelyn’s face turned even redder, and she tilted her head back, lips parting in a silent gasp.
“Oh, my God, Boden gave you a remote-controlled vibrator to wear tonight, didn’t he?” Arizona blurted.
Lakelyn bit her lip, and her answer was obvious.
“I have to say I’m impressed, nothing like a good edging. It will make your orgasm later even more explosive.”
“Speaking from experience?” I asked, raising a curious eyebrow at my bestie.
“Yes. There isn’t anything Jameson isn’t game for. The man lives to get me off,” she said, pouring herself another glass of non-alcoholic champagne.
“Oh, thank God.” Lakelyn sighed. “He turned it off.” She straightened herself and ran her palms down her dress. “Forget the champagne, I need a shot after that. Or maybe ten.”
“What’s your poison?” Jenna asked, grinning. “Vodka, tequila, whiskey, Jägermeister, sambuca, peppermint schnapps, Fireball, oh, there’s even Goldschlager.”
“Fireball,” Lakelyn replied without hesitation.
“Good choice,” Jenna said, grabbing the bottle and three shot glasses from the tray sitting on the bar.
“To good friends and partying like we’re single,” Lakelyn toasted, then quickly added, “But just for tonight.”
We clinked our glasses and threw back our shots.
“Holy heck, that burns.” I pursed my lips in response to theliquid-flavored cinnamon candy burning its way down my throat and warming my chest.
“Another for the road, please.” Lakelyn held out her empty glass.
Jenna didn’t waste any time refilling our shot glasses. “Let the games begin, ladies, because apparently the bad decisions have already started.”
“Hundred bucks says our bodyguards will be lurking close by, if not stuck to us like Velcro,” Arizona quipped with a telling smirk.
“Sounds like we’re arriving just in time?”
The deep timbre of Jameson’s voice cut through the air behind me, making me jump. I turned to see the four guys entering the suite; no, correction,struttingin like they owned the place, because Oh. My. God. They were all impeccably dressed, like they’d stepped straight out of aGQspread with just the right touch of sin.
But my eyes? They didn’t scan the foursome, no; they homed in on the only one that made my heart race against my ribs uncontrollably, like it was trying to break free from the vault that only he had the code for.
Jaxon wasn’t just effortlessly handsome on a bad day, with his dark hair perfectly tousled in a way that saidI woke up like this.But this version of Jaxon, the one striding toward me dressed in black dress pants, dress shoes, and a black button-down dress shirt, with the sleeves folded up his tanned forearms and the trail of lilies tattooed across his chest peeking out between the top buttons of his shirt that were undone, was arresting.
I bit my bottom lip as my desire for him heated my cheeks. Both of us had been insatiable for each other since the night atthe lake house, and if judging by the tic in his jaw, his restraint, much like my own, was fraying.