Anguish

I gape, stutter, and then close my mouth.

Marcus laughs louder.

I turn, red faced, and carry Diesel from the room.

This should be interesting.

~*~*~*~

“Oh my God,” Ash breathes. “Who is that?”

I sip my wine and glance over at Marcus, who is talking to Maddox and Krypt.

“That’s Marcus, a friend of Mack’s.”

“Oh . . . holy mother. He’s so hot.”

“He’s also married,” I point out.

Ash grins. “No one said I can’t look.”

I giggle and Santana joins us. “Oh man, that dude is fine!”

“Can’t deny that,” I add, all of us staring at Marcus.

“What’s his deal?” Santana asks. “He looks bad ass!”

“I don’t know,” I say, my voice low. “But Mack said he’s a total player, yet he announced he’s married, and it totally sounded like a set-up or something. It wasn’t, ‘Hey, I got married, she’s amazing’ it was more like, ‘Hey, I got married, and it’s a long, business-type story’.”

Pippa joins us and her eyes turn to Marcus, too.

“Is he, like, a big businessman?” Ash asks.

“I think so,” I respond. “He looks really edgy, but totally in control.”

“What do you think he does?” Pippa whispers.

“Maybe he’s a hitman.” Santana giggles.

The men turn and see us all staring at Marcus. With flaming cheeks and soft laughs, we all turn away. Maddox breaks away and comes over, wrapping his arms around Santana’s middle and leaning in. We can all hear what he murmurs in her ear. “Those eyes are mine, baby. Get them off Marcus.”

She gives me a sly grin before responding with, “I was only looking. No one floats my boat like you, Maddox.”

He snorts, she laughs, and we all burst into a fit of giggles.

“Let’s start this game!” I announce.

“We’re goin’ to be in the basement,” Maddox says, kissing Santana’s neck, patting her belly, and then letting her go. “Call out if you need.”

The group of guys all go into the basement, and us girls sit around the table.

“Let’s do this!”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“We should play, like, truth-or-dare strip poker!” I squeal after five glasses of wine.

“Oh my God.” Santana giggles, sipping her orange juice. “That would be funny.”

“I . . . no way,” Pippa breathes.

Santana pats her hand, “You can watch. Supervise, if you will.”

Ash claps her hands. “Let’s do it.”

“Okay, here are the rules,” I say, my voice slightly slurred. “Truth or dare; if we can’t do it, we have to take off an item of clothing. If we can do it, we pick who has to take off some clothes.”

“So it’s like strip truth-or-dare.” Ash giggles.

“You got it, girlfriend.” I laugh. “Let’s go.”

“Just let me check on Diesel,” Santana says.

She rushes off, and we all begin writing down questions we want to ask. When she returns, we begin.

“Ash, you first,” I say.

“Hit me.”

“Truth or dare?”

“Dare!”

I grin. “I dare you to run downstairs, kiss all of those men on the cheeks, and then run back up.”

With a burst of uncontrollable giggles, she rushes towards the basement. We all follow. She skids down the stairs, lunging at Krypt whose eyes widen at the sudden intrusion. She kisses him smack on the lips and then leaps onto Maddox’s lap. His eyes widen, too and even more when her lips find his cheek. Then she leaps on Mack, who looks as if he’s about to toss her off, and does the same, then Tyke, then Marcus.

“What the fu—” Krypt grunts, but she’s already running back up the stairs, and we’re all giggling.

“Santana.” Ash laughs. “You have to take off clothes because I did it.”

Santana stands, letting her jacket fall to the ground.

“Who’s next?” she asks.

“You stripped, so it’s your turn,” I say. “So, truth or dare?”

“Truth,” Santana says.

I drum my fingers on my chin, but Ash beats me to it. “Have you ever had anal sex?”

We all burst out laughing, like teenage girls, and Santana’s face goes bright red.

“If you don’t answer, more clothes gotta go.” I grin.

“No.” She giggles. “But we’ve, ah, tried.”

Ash squeals loudly, and claps her hands. “Oh my God!”

Pippa’s face is red, but she’s laughing.

“You bad, bad girl.” I laugh.

“I nominate you to strip,” Santana says, poking her tongue out.

I’m wearing a dress, which means I’m going to end up in my bra and G-string. Sweet. I lift the dress and throw it onto the floor, and all the girls whistle.

“Damn, Jay, you fine.” Ash winks.

“I’m busty,” I point out, sipping my wine. “That ain’t fine.”

“Oh, lady.” Santana grins. “It’s fine. Shall we call the men up and ask . . .”

“No!” I cry, giving her an evil glare.

She just laughs.

“Your turn,” Pippa says.

“Okay, dare.”