Led upstairs to a private room, we were seated on plush sofas. A myriad of lights glowed from the mirrored ceilings and glass-paned walls, giving us an unobstructed view of the writhing dance floor below.
Sebastian was quick to pull me down beside him, and I curled into his side as he fastened an arm around my shoulders.
More of Sebastian’s friends piled in, some who I’d met at the show, others completely unfamiliar, arms draped around girls wearing next to nothing as they filtered in to wish Sebastian Happy Birthday.
But none were as eager to get the party started as Ash.
He ordered a round of shots for everyone, and the two cocktail waitresses assigned to our party delivered them a couple minutes later.
Ash stood and lifted his glass. “I do believe it’s time for a toast.”
Sebastian muttered, “Uh, oh.”
A round of hoots went up, and everyone lifted their tiny glasses of tequila rimmed in salt and garnished with wedges of lime.
I followed suit, smiling up at Sebastian.
Playful eyes glinted down at me.
“We all know I’ve been putting up with your sorry ass for a long time now…” Ash began his toast in a tone that sounded regretful, but by the smirk showing up on every line on his face, everyone knew it was anything but. “Years just keep flyin’ by and you keep getting’ older and uglier while I somehow manage to maintain all my boyish good looks. No surprise there, right?” he offered while he raised his arms out to the sides in that cocky way, nodding his head around the room as he tried to get everyone to agree with him.
Laughter rolled.
Sebastian just chuckled quietly and rubbed his palm over his mouth, amusement clear as he let his friend razz him the way he always did.
No harm given.
None taken.
While he continued to gloat, something genuine edged the creases at the corners of Ash’s eyes. “We’ve been through some really horrific times, man…some really fuckin’ good ones, too. And my hope is those good ones just keep coming and coming, because I don’t know of anyone in this world who deserves them more than you. Happy Birthday, Baz.”
They shared a silent moment before Ash raised his glass higher and toward Sebastian.
“To Sebastian.” A racket of voices lifted. “Happy Birthday.”
Shots were downed.
All except for Sebastian’s and mine. Because he turned the intensity of those eyes to my face, passing the moment Ash and he had shared on to me. I felt drawn, and I shifted in the same second Sebastian was turning me, urging me forward.
I straddled his lap.
I didn’t care there were a bunch of people here I didn’t know, who didn’t know me. Didn’t care about the women who were probably thirsting for my man, thinking I was just another passing craze, a fling or a fuck or whatever they wanted to believe me to be.
When the truth was, I was his.
Sebastian glanced his thumb over my bottom lip, eyes trailing the action, before he took a wedge of lime and ran it over the same spot.
I could feel the blood rush to plump my lip.
He then ran it over the top, the sensitive skin tingling with the touch, wet by the trickle of juice.
The scent of citrus filled my nostrils.
I sucked in a shaky breath, and he lifted the shot glass to my mouth, the taste of salt hitting my tongue right before the tequila followed it.
Sebastian leaned forward to gather his own taste. His tongue was soft as it rimmed my lips, before it softly slipped inside.
Savoring.
Tempting.
Teasing.
A promise of what was to come.
I wrapped my arms around his head while he kissed me and I whispered, “Happy Birthday.”
“Best birthday ever,” he whispered back.
The atmosphere was easy, carefree, and Sebastian refused to let me off his lap as he talked with those who’d come to help him celebrate.
The mood became elevated as more drinks were tossed back. Ash and Lyrik let go, the way they so often did at Charlie’s, joking around, living their lives on their terms.