Catherine
“Good morning, Buttercup.” The smell of fresh coffee filled my senses as I slowly opened my eyes.
“This couch is heaven,” I gushed, stretching my arms out and feeling the soft plush cushions beneath me. “Like sleeping on a cloud of amazing. Even better than my bed at home.”
“How you feeling?”
I squinted up at Marcus as he stood behind the couch, holding a cup of coffee tightly in his hands. “Good.” Once I was able to see him more clearly I noticed he was watching me with a curious look in his eyes, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “Why?”
“After last night I suspected you’d feel like shit.”
Nothing about that sounded good.
I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know what he was referring to. I remember dancing, sharing a few shots with Marcus and Morgan, dancing some more. I also remember Eli joining me on the dance floor and the way he—
“Oh shit, what happened?”
Marcus began laughing as he walked away toward the kitchen, shaking his head. I didn’t let him get too far before I was scrambling off the couch, tripping over the blanket that got wrapped around my feet in the process.
“Marcus?”
He took a long sip of his coffee. “Damn, that’s good.”
“Marcus, what the hell aren’t you telling me?”
“He’s not telling you how you and Red were practically dry humping each other on the dance floor.” I spun around to find Morgan entering the kitchen. She brushed past me and opened the refrigerator. “Or that had it not been for Red, you would have hiked up your skirt and rode his Prince right on the hood of his car.”
“What?”
I looked between Morgan and Marcus repeatedly, hoping, wishing that one of them would tell me this was a joke. Only they didn’t, and I was mortified.
“You said had it not been for him.” I leaned back against the countertop no longer feeling fully rested from a night of sleeping on a couch made in heaven. They both just watched me, smiling like it was the greatest thing in the world. “What was it exactly that he did?”
“I can tell by the expression on your face you’re thinking he somehow denied you, but let me just assure you, he copped a feel or ten before he slowed things down.” Morgan took a seat at the table and placed her cup down in front of her. “Let’s just say the guy has some major control. There you were, practically begging him to take you home with him. You were all over him, and at one point I think he had you outside, pinned to the side of the club. Then he convinced you to walk with him and I’ll admit, I was surprised when he led you to Marcus’ car and placed you securely in the passenger seat.”
“Oh my god.” I hung my head in shame.
“It was hilarious to watch him struggle as he shut the car door and walked away. I think he paused a good four times, turning back only to stop and spin back around again.” Morgan looked thrilled.
“You know he went home and took a long cold shower.” Leave it to Marcus to add that little extra push of humiliation.
“I’m never looking him in the eyes again.”
“Good luck with that.” Morgan tucked her legs beneath her. “That boy is already on his way over to get you.”
“What, what?” The doorbell rang and I spun around looking at the door. “How, when did…” Oh god damn my life.
Marcus hurried off before I could stop him and I suddenly realized those two were loving my uncomfortable stage. They were eating it up.
“Hey Buttercup, you’ve got company,” Marcus announced as he entered the kitchen, followed by Elijah. I looked down, avoiding eye contact as I tugged on the hem of the t-shirt I was wearing.
“Cat.” I felt my cheeks heat with the embarrassing memories from last night. “Blake?”
Hearing him say my first name gained my full attention and I looked up at him to find him smiling that sweet smile of his. “There’s my girl.”
His girl?
“How you feeling today?”
“Good, fine.” I was well aware I was stuttering nervously. “I’m great, thanks.”
His grin only grew wider making me aware that he sensed my embarrassment.
A phone rang, and I jumped in surprise. Marcus laughed just as Morgan answered her phone. “Oh my hell, tell him to stop yelling.” I turned around just enough to see Morgan hold the phone out from her ear. “What is wrong with him? He sounds like he’s mumbling.”
The sound of Elijah’s deep chuckle has me looking back toward him.
“What did you do?”
All I got in return is a shrug.
“Vaseline,” Morgan says while laughing, “in his toothbrush?”
I listened to her while staring at Eli. He chuckled but I could tell he was attempting to hold back his laughter.
“Videotape it,” Morgan said through her laughter. “Are his lips sticking to his gums?” There was a pause. “Oh my god, seriously, Xavier record that. You know if the tables were turned Clayton would be holding his phone out documenting every second of your discomfort.”
“Payback?” I asked Eli and he nodded, still smiling and obviously very pleased with himself.
“Ever tried brushing your teeth with Vaseline?”
“That is awful.” I could almost imagine what that would feel like. Or just how difficult it would be to get the Vaseline off your teeth.
“Awful, yes.” He finally moved toward me. “But funny as fuck.”
When he was only a few feet away I tilted my head and looked up at him. “I think I want to be on your team.”
“Oh yeah?”
“You’re definitely more conniving when it comes to this trickery thing. That should scare me, but somehow it only makes me feel safe and excited.”
“Good choice.” Reaching out, he tilted my face up and leaned in to press a soft kiss to my lips. “Now about last night.”
Suddenly I felt overheated, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the kiss he’d just given me. I hung my head, attempting to hide my humiliation.
“It’s a little hazy, but,” he slouched enough to force me to look at him, “there is nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“Dry humping your leg on the dance floor or begging you to do me on a hood shouldn’t embarrass me?”
God damn brain to mouth filter.
I close my eyes tight to avoid the humorous look that now covered his lips. “You weren’t the only one dry humping, sweetheart.” My shoulders sagged. I just wanted to disappear right then and there. “But as for the begging, I think it was more you finally sharing your wants. It seems my girl is loose lipped when she drinks.”
“I’m so embarrassed,” I mumbled.
“Don’t be.” I opened my eyes and looked at him, raising my brows. “Seriously, it was extremely sexy.”
“You’re only making my embarrassment worse.”
“Okay.” He cupped my cheeks in his hands. “It’s forgotten.” I gave him that whatever look; I knew this was so not forgotten. “Okay fine, not forgotten just something I won’t mention.”
He may not mention it, but I know those who witnessed it wouldn’t let me live it down.