Page 20 of Owned
“I must be having a stress nightmare.” Halting, he turns toward me. “And what costume will you be filling out?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Nothing is obvious with you at this point.”
“Well, I’m the one with the biggest hammer, so I’m Thor, of course.” I lift my chin, grinning proudly.
“Of course.” Hunter rolls his eyes as the group groans behind me.
“Hey, fancy challenging me, boys?” I throw over my shoulder, and not one of them says a thing. “Didn’t think so.”
“Mate, these costumes are tight in areas I’m fucking going to need in the future,” Beck shouts as he repositions himself for the hundredth time. We’re standing around the edge of the dance floor of the club which is dedicated to what has to be the best era for music, the ’00s.
“Your jewels will be fine.” I swig my beer, but I have to admit things are a little snug and I’ll be relieved when I can put my suit back on.
“They better be because fuck, this thing is tight.”
“Mine’s quite roomy,” Kai shouts over the loud beat as he lunges next to us.
“At least we’ve worked out who is the smallest of us.” Beck gives him a smug smile as he leans his elbows against the railing, watching the bodies move around the floor.
“What did you say?” Kai frowns.
“I said, did you see that woman by the glitterball?” he shouts, deflecting, and I laugh into my beer.
“I thought so.” Kai turns his nose up as he follows Beck’s eyeline toward the glitterball in the center of the dance floor.
“Is she dressed as a crayon?” I ask just as six more women dressed in various different colors join her.
“Well, that’s a choice,” Beck says.
“Can we really talk?” Noah slides in behind us.
“I guess...” Beck trails off as something seems to draw his attention, and it doesn’t take long for me to see exactly what has him pausing. Trixie is turning heads in her Wonder Woman outfit, her model-long legs perfectly showcased as the tiny skirt sits mid-thigh, and the bodysuit hugs her tiny waist. But it’s the woman to her right that has me swallowing my tongue and sweat dripping down my back.
The crowd seems to part, revealing Ria. A figure-hugging black catsuit is wrapped around her curves, nipping in all the right places, giving her the perfect hourglass shape. Her hair is secured up high in a sleek straight ponytail, allowing me, even from this distance, to see her sharp defined cheekbones.
“Well, the girls showed up.” Kai grins as he hugs my shoulders. “They definitely understood the assignment. Marcus, Lily looks good as Black Widow,” he shouts over the loud beat.
“You best not be eyeing up my woman, Harris.”
“You know I think she’s hot; can’t blame a guy for looking.” He whistles. “You definitely are one lucky man.” He pushes his luck with Marcus who just shakes his head before returning his lovestruck gaze to his girl. “Well, well, I think it’s Henry and Thomas who need to keep an eye on their women.”
“What?” both men say in unison as they rush from their spot behind us to lean over the railing. And I see the moment their eyes see their better halves. Their jaws hang slack, and their eyeswiden so big I think they might literally fall out of their heads. Olivia looks sensational as Superwoman, and Ada is turning heads as Batwoman. “Excuse me.” Henry slips away, not taking his eyes off Olivia, and Thomas doesn’t even speak; he just turns on his heel and moves through the crowd to find Ada.
“Do you think you’ll ever be lucky enough to have that?” Kai asks as he watches both men scoop up their ladies and press passionate kisses to their lips, making every woman swoon.
“I don’t think anyone would put up with me for long.” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them, and I instantly regret it as Kai moves in closer.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” I grin at him but he can tell it’s fake.
“Don’t kid a kidder.”
“Look, you know me. I can’t sit still; I’m always bouncing from one thing to another. No one would want that. Girls like stability and I can’t give them that. I’m too manic. And I’m okay with that.” I take a swig of my beer, my gaze focused on Ria as she dances effortlessly with Grace.
“You keep spinning that tale. You’re more stable than you realize.”
