Of course, I planned on making sure she relented and begged me to take her. A plan that’s a little hard to execute with her not giving me the time of day.
Ted points his bottle at the two women, making quite a spectacle, and shakes his head. “Is it just me, or does Shelly have a girl crush?”
I laugh and scrub my hand over my jaw. “It does appear that way.”
Jace grins. “We should have gotten her a girl to play with ages ago.”
Ted opens his mouth then snaps it shut. Probably remembering at the last minute that he’s not supposed to be anything but Shelly’s friend.
Jace and I roll our eyes at each other.
Ted’s hand tightens on his beer. “Do you think they’re ever going to remember we’re here?”
“Doubtful.” Jace juts his chin in their direction. “Do you think they’re going to kiss?”
“Maybe if we’re lucky,” I say, not sure if I’m interested in seeing this or not. I mean, sure it would be plenty hot, but I want Ashley’s mouth to myself.
Ted drags a hand through his hair and I can tell he’s feeling as frustrated as I am. After hours of watching and not being able to touch Ashley, I’m on edge. Needing something to burn off all this pent-up energy.
“Aren’t you going to go out there and get her?” Ted asks, and I can hear the repressed aggression in his tone.
“I wasn’t planning on it.” I’d decided to leave Ashley to her own devices. Wanting to show her I respect her quest, but this was unanticipated.
“Why the hell not?” Ted’s voice is demanding. Impatient.
I shrug. “I have my reasons.” I’m not about to disclose what happened with Ashley. When I’d introduced her I’d said she was a friend of my brother and his fiancée.
Ted huffs and puts his beer on the table before saying, “I’ll be right back.”
Jace laughs and shakes his head. “Maybe you should take pity on him, he’s clearly suffering from a case of blue balls.”
I have no sympathy. Unlike myself, he’ll have an outlet. I scoff. “Which will be rectified as soon as he sneaks into her room tonight. He should be thanking me really.”
Ted is clearly worked up. I lived with the guy for a couple of years, I know how he operates. He’ll be taking all that frustration out on Shelly later and she’ll be lucky if she can walk tomorrow.
Jace narrows his gaze. “So what’s the deal with Ashley?”
In our small group, Jace and I are the closest. Just like Ted and X are the closest. Shelly belongs to us all. Well, if you don’t count the Ted situation. I shrug. “No deal. She’s just a friend.”
“Yeah right.”
“It’s true.” I catch sight of Ashley on the dance floor, some guy is spinning her and she’s laughing, her head thrown back, her white skirt flaring and flashing her spectacular legs. He lets her go and she slides back to Shelly. They start rubbing up against each other, and it makes me hard. This is worse than when a college girlfriend and I decided it would be fun to try Viagra.
“I like her.” Jace’s words break my concentration. “And Shelly likes her. Which is the ultimate seal of approval.”
“I like her too.” More than I know what to do with. I look back to the girls on the dance floor, where they are really starting to put on a show.
“Jesus Christ.” Ted’s back.
I grin at him. “What’s the big deal?”
Ted grits his teeth. “Nothing.”
I decide it’s time to take pity on him and break them up. Or at least I tell myself it’s about taking pity on him and not me. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you,” Ted says. He’s close to breaking.
I weave my way onto the dance floor where the two girls are swaying hip to hip. I tap Shelly on the shoulder. She glares back at me.
I smile. “Can I cut in?”
“No, go away.” Shelly turns her back on me.
Ashley gives me an endearing, goofy grin that makes me want to bite her.
I tap Shelly again. “You’ve had her for two hours. I’d like to dance with Ashley now.”
Shelly huffs and heaps a big sigh. “Fine. One dance.”
“Four,” I counter.
“One.”
Ashley giggles.
I raise a brow. “Three.”
“Two.” Shelly puts her hands on her hips. “And that’s my final offer.”
“Deal.”
Shelly turns her attention to Ashley. “What do you want to drink, baby doll?”
“Whatever you’re having is good with me.” Ashley waves, looking light and free and happy.
I would kiss Shelly in gratitude but I don’t think Ted can take it. Besides she’d probably punch me.
Shelly pokes me in the chest. “Be nice. I like her.”
I give her a salute and take Ashley into my arms. I smile down into her sweaty, flushed face. She looked exactly like this in my bed and it makes me crave another taste of her. A craving I’ll have to resist. “As you can see, Shelly is the boss of us.”
Ashley laughs, looping her arms around my neck. “Yes, I can see that.”
I run my hand up her back, loving how she shudders. “So a little bi-curious are we?”
She grins. “That was just for fun.”