Joshua

We’re not going to find him.” I do my best not to crash into Molly, to hold steady in the swaying mass of men dressed only in masks and Mardi-Gras-colored speedos.

Neon lights flash through the smoke filling the air around us. Every few minutes the hiss of the machine blasts through the driving house music, and I can barely hear a word over the noise of the 808.

From Lara’s I ordered an Uber, and we retraced our steps right back to where we almost started tonight before my girl got cold feet. Now we’re in Oz at the bar. I’ve got a Guinness, and Molly’s doing shots. Layers of beads are around our necks, and we haven’t even seen a parade.

“They’re not allowed to call it a hand grenade,” she says, wrinkling her cute little nose after tossing back her second neon-green concoction. “Only Tropical Isle has those.”

She tries to catch the bartender’s eye, and I’m rammed by another wave of men dancing. “I think you’ve had enough.” I brace my hands on either side of her.

“I think you’re overdressed.” Her eyes narrow with her smile, and she circles a finger around the button on my shirt. “Everyone else is in speedos.”

Smiling down at her, I catch that finger and bring it to my lips. “Everyone else is gay.”

Supposedly we came here to find Dean, but I haven’t seen her look around the room once. She’s buzzing, and I’m curious.

Since we arrived in the city, Molly’s been on edge. Our moment in front of the old theater gave me hope she might open up at last, but whatever Mark said in the kitchen drove her out of Lara’s house and right back in her shell…

Or it did until her second faux hand-grenade shot.

“Let’s call it.” I catch her waist, drawing her closer before shot number three can be ordered.

I hope if we get back to the room, she might start talking again. I want her to tell me what’s going on behind those blue eyes.

“Patience, grasshopper.” She places her palm on my chest. “Men come and go all night here. He’s probably in the back making friends.”

“If that’s the case, he’s even less interested in seeing us.”

“Who’s less interested?” The loud male voice causes Molly to stiffen in my arms. “Too late short stack. I’ve already seen you’re drunk.”

“I am not drunk.” Molly’s control snaps in place as she frowns at the man joining us at the bar. “Why are you here? I thought you wouldn’t be caught dead in the Quarter tonight.”

He signals the bartender, and they exchange a brief chat. The big guy pours Roland a vodka on the rocks. Another hiss of the machine, another layer of smoke falls around us, and the neon lights along with the patrons go wild at the start of an Abba song.

“Maybe I’m horny,” he quips, taking a sip of the clear liquor.

“You’re spying on me.” Molly challenges him.

He leans back and exhales impatiently. “Lara’s worried about you. She’s afraid you’ve fallen back into… old habits.”

“Of course, this is about Lara. You don’t give a shit about me.”

I’m waiting for him to argue with her, but he doesn’t. He only lifts the glass and takes another sip of vodka.

“Whatever.” Molly pushes her hands against the bar. “You’re ready to go?”

She looks up at me, and I know that look. She’s pretending not to care, but this guy just shoved his thumb in an old wound. I don’t know what it’s about or why, but it hasn’t created any warm feelings in me toward him.

I’m about to jump to my girl’s defense when a voice I know well chimes in happily. “Well, look what the cat dragged in!” Dean dances up in nothing but a purple, green, and gold speedo, and I explode with a laugh.

Shit, I needed that.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” I hold back his sweaty torso as he tries to loop an arm around my neck. “Get off me.”

“It’s like the Mardi Gras Zissou society! Some guy in the back is handing them out.”

Molly sees him, and she actually laughs, too. I’m relieved. I don’t know why the fuck I worry about her. She’s tough as nails.

I guess I’m in love with her.

“You look amazing!” She grabs her empty shot glass and holds it in the air as a salute. “To Mardi Gras!”

Roland turns to see what the commotion is all about, and Dean steps back as if electrocuted. “Hell-ooo! Who do we have here?”

“Roland Desjardin.” Molly’s nemesis holds out a polished hand toward my dazzled cousin. “You must be the person we’re looking for.”

“God, I hope so!” Dean pushes through us, putting himself directly in front of Roland. “Dean Andrews. How do I know you?”

“I’m not sure you do. At least not as well as you’re going to.”

I’ve got to hand it to him. Roland’s smooth.

Molly steps to me, holding the front of my jacket. “That’s something I’ve never seen before. Let’s get out of here. Leave them to it.”

It’s what I’ve wanted her to say all night. I tap Roland on the arm. “Go easy on my cousin.”

“Never,” Roland says at the same time Dean cries, “Don’t you dare!”

I shake my head, leading her out as Molly calls over my shoulder to them, “No glove, no love!”

My hands are on her waist, and I grin as speedo-clad men around us shout the same motto back at her. She’s high-fiving a million gay angels on the way out the door, and I shake my head.

Outside, the rain has stopped. Two blocks walking away from the party, and it’s still a roar behind us. Our hotel in sight, but I’m not quite ready to go up to our room. Instead I stop, turning her back to the wall and covering her body with mine. Our heat is undeniable. Whatever happens, we never stop wanting each other.

“What is it?” She blinks up at me, and I put my thumb along her hairline, smoothing a silver lock behind her ear.

“I like you this way. You’re more playful than I’ve ever seen you.”

Her lips tighten, but she doesn’t smile. “Am I? I think you’re more serious now. I think it’s because of me.”

“It’s because I need to be.” Dipping my chin, I catch her eye. “I want to kiss you.”

She catches my cheeks fast and rises on her tiptoes, meeting my mouth with hers. It’s urgent and needy and not what I expected, but shit, I’m there.

Our lips part, and her tongue finds mine. She exhales a little moan, and I lean closer, pulling her to me, curling my tongue against hers, inhaling her scent of peonies and fresh rain.

“Oh,” she sighs, pulling back.

Her eyes are heated, and we’re both breathing fast.

I’m still holding her close to me, horny, but a little confused. “What’s going on here?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean what’s going on with you? Are you okay? We don’t have to stay here if you’d rather go back to Seattle.”

“No, we can stay… We should stay.” Her gaze goes over my shoulder, and her irritation returns. “These people drive me crazy is all.”

“Hey…” I catch her face, bringing her back to me. I don’t want her mad. I want her as turned on as I am. “Kiss me again.”

Her expression changes. “Okay.”

I lean down, nudging her lips apart with mine. She leans into me, following the movements of my mouth, pulling the front of my shirt. Her breath comes faster, and her lips nip mine, tongues tasting.

It’s citrus and too-sweet alcohol, and her breasts rise and fall against my chest. Her body sways, and I can’t fight biology. Leaning closer, I know she feels the hardness in my jeans, because her fingers drop to my waist, then lower.

“Fuck,” I groan as she strokes me through my pants.

Her mouth moves lower, kissing my neck, dropping to the center of my chest. I realize a second after I hear the clink of metal she’s unfastening my belt, lowering to her knees. My arm is against the brick wall where she was standing, and I rest my forehead against it.

Shit, I want her to suck my cock.

I remember how good it feels.

The first time Molly blew me, my knees gave out. It took me a solid minute to come back from that orgasm.

The second time… Well, it was about the same.

By the third time, I realized something else was going on besides her blowing my mind. She was using it to keep me out, to satisfy me so I’d let her retreat behind her walls.

So I stopped it.

Fuck, it’d be so easy to give in to what’s about to happen right now. My stomach is tight, and with a groan, I catch her under the arms before she has my fly down.

“What?” Her eyes are round with surprise.

“Come here.” My voice is thick as I lift her, kissing her again briefly. “I want you here with me.”

“I am here with you.” She smiles, but I’m not buying it.

“Don’t run away.”

Her eyes close and she steps forward, wrapping her body in my arms. “Will you hold me?”

“I’ll hold you forever.” She’s so close, and my erection aches to be inside her. Damn whoever hurt my little bird. “Let me in, Molly.”

Stepping out of my arms, she takes my hand. “Let’s go to the room.”