Page 52 of Tease
Untying the thin halter that holds the dress up, I slide the top half down, letting it rest underneath my breasts. I grab the nipple covers from Brittney’s hand and place each one on, flattening them down smoothly. “Since it’s a fancy restaurant, I probably should cover these beauties.” Turning to head out of my bedroom, my stare lingers over my best friend while I retie my dress.
She’s wearing a shimmery, strapless navy blue dress, with a side slit going up each of her thighs. She paired it with black heels. New diamond earrings are on her ears; they must be another gift from Skyler. Her blonde hair is straightened and resting right above her shoulders. Walking up next to Britt, I reach out and hug her from behind. We both look at each other in my stand up mirror. “I love you,” I whisper against her bare shoulder.
Smiling at me, she squeezes my arms. “Don’t get all mushy on me, Kailey; the night’s just beginning.” She turns around inside my arms to face me and kisses my cheek. “I love you too.” Her phone pings loudly on the side table, ruining our moment. “That must be our men. Let’s stop their hearts and have them begging for it by the end of the night.” We each grab our cell phones, sliding them into our petite purses. “Shall we?” She offers me her elbow, and I link mine inside hers as we walk out of our apartment, locking the door behind us. The worst part about our home is the three flights of stairs we have to take to get in and out, since the building was built without an elevator. At this point, we’re pros in heels, and our calves look phenomenal.
CHAPTER 40
Jared
Beau and I are currently sitting at the bar of a high-end restaurant that just opened tonight,DeLuca’s. I may not have told my new friend about my true intentions for us coming here tonight. He only knew that I needed him as a wingman. Being the good guy that he is, Beau immediately agreed, even dressing up for the occasion. I’m wearing a solid black tailored suit. Even the watch on my left wrist is black. Beau’s look is a little bit more laid back: black slacks, and a white button-up with small designs throughout. The designs kind of look like kiss lips. When I tried to joke and give him shit about his shirt, he shut me up by telling me it’d been a gift from Ajani. I didn’t want to jump intothatpuddle just yet, so I didn’t say anything more about it.
“This place looks amazing. I didn’t even know it was opening up tonight.” Beau’s gaze continues to look past me. “Uhm… How exactly did you find out about this place, Jared?” From his tone, his eyes must have just now landed on my Greek goddess.
Downing the rest of my whiskey in one gulp, I answer, “A friend told me about it. Said if I wanted to meet a lady, this would be the night to come do it.” Waving down the bartender, I point to our drinks to let him know we need another round.Shaking my empty glass in Beau’s face, I tease, “Drink up, sweet cheeks. You’re already behind.”
He grins behind his glass and then chugs the contents down. “You didnot,” Beau sucks his tongue against his front teeth, “have us come here to stalk KC…”
I chance a glance in her direction. Fuck, she is so damn beautiful. Kailey hasn’t noticed us yet. Staring back at Beau, my next words come out like silk. “Stalk? That’s a strong accusation there.”
He raises his now full glass, points at me, and demands, “Don’t lie. I hate that fucking shit. Be a man and tell me why the fuck we’re really here. No more games.”
Well shit, I do like his attitude and bluntness, even though most people might not. “Alright.” Tracing my middle finger around the rim of my freshly filled glass, I fess up. “We have history.”
“What? You have a history withwho?” His shocked eyes bounce from me to where Kailey is laughing at a table on the other side of the restaurant. His tone becomes more hushed, and he leans in toward me. “Youand KC?!”
At the sound of her giggle, my eyes close and my fist clenches. This liquor is supposed to be helping with the anger that’s bubbling out of control underneath my skin, knowing she’s sitting over there laughing, and another man’s hand is resting on her thigh.
Opening my eyes, I look over at their table, and she appears…happy. What the fuck am I doing? The chatter around me silences as images of Kailey and I, together, consume me. Pondering over my thoughts, I forgot that Beau had asked me a question. He snaps his fingers in front of my face. “Hello?”
Blinking multiple times, I shake my head, attempting to get Kailey out of my mind. It’s never an easy task. After downingmy second drink and ordering my third, I look at Beau’s sincere face, and I decide to tell himeverything.
When I’m finished, I attempt to hide that my eyes have glossed over with unshed tears by shuffling in my seat and wiping a hand down my face. Clearing my throat, I wait for his response.
“Wow.” Beau leans back in his seat, letting out a breath he’d been holding during story time. “It makes so much sense. I mean, you not listening to my warning.”
“When I realized she was here, I knew I had to be here too.”
Sitting up straighter, my tone turns serious. “I need her to know it’s always been her, Beau. My heart and soul never moved on from five years ago. I haven’t even had contact with Joey since that night everything turned to shit.” Biting my bottom lip, images of her being spanked by me, choking on my dick, flash through my mind. “I mean, I plan to make her pay in the best ways possible for breaking my heart.” A wolfish grin takes over my face.Has she thought about us over the years?
Beau whispers sadly, “I don’t know if you’ll get the answers you’re wanting. I wasn’t kidding when I told you she’s Mathew King’s woman.”
Looking over at said guy, his arm is wrapped around the back of Kailey’s chair as he touches her bare shoulder. “That was before I got here. I’m not scared of some competition, but it’ll be just that. After what I’ve just told you, do you really believe I’d just give up?”
Beau’s spine stiffens when he looks from Mathew to me. “I’ve got your back, bro, but you need to play this smart. Should I talk to her for you? So we can, oh, I don’t know… avoid all the chaos and mayhem?”
The timing couldn’t be more perfect, as I see Skyler giving me the sign. I lean into Beau’s ear and whisper, “Nah, I’ve already got a plan. Trust me.” My words end just as we hear Skylerhooting and hollering across the restaurant, not a care in the world who hears him, trying to get our attention. This man’s arrogance will be my blessing tonight…
“Jared! Beau! Over here!”
CHAPTER 41
KC
DeLuca’sis absolutely stunning inside. Once the double doors are opened, you notice the space is lit up with bright lights and white walls, except the back wall, where the bar is stationed. It has a darker theme: dimmed lighting, with neon lights that surround the outline of the bartop. Each table has a centerpiece of different flower heads that appear frozen inside glass blocks.
The appetizers have tasted amazing, along with the wine that my handsome date has chosen for the table. This double date is going better than I expected. Mattie and Skyler are getting along. They each waited outside our building next to their cars, doors already opened for us. Mattie showed up with a driver, while Skyler and Brittney followed behind us. I assumed Mattie must have picked the restaurant, since our vehicle led the way. Brittney’s foot taps mine underneath the table and we both giggle at each other. Small talk around the table has gone smoothly—typical dinner date topics.
“So, what is it exactly that you do, Mathew?” Skyler asks while leaning back into his chair, clearly sizing him up.
