Cocksure Ace

by Webster, K.

  Camilo grabs Damian’s arm and pulls him out of the bed. Damian squeals with laughter. “Sorry, Dame, but I only have eyes for one girl.”

  Damian sighs dreamily and winks at me. “Whatever. I can still enjoy the scenery.”

  “You’re beautiful first thing in the morning,” Camilo says, stepping to the edge of the bed. “I like you best when you’re messy and frazzled.”

  “Gee, thanks,” I grumble, sitting up and letting my legs dangle off the edge of the bed.

  “I also like it when you’re in boss babe mode and telling everyone what to do. When you wear your fancy as fuck clothes and wear your bitchy attitude like it’s a name brand that everyone who’s anyone should be wearing.”

  I flip him off. “Dive bombing, bird boy. Really fast.”

  He sinks to the floor, his hands on my knees. “See, abejita, that’s the thing. I thought I liked flying. I do. I really do. But I love crashing with you. Into you. Because of you.”

  “So romantic,” Estefania says, practically swooning.

  “We’re still mad at him,” Damian hisses. “Hold it together, woman.”

  Camilo grins. “You changed me is the point. For the better. It came on quick and out of nowhere, but it felt right. Too good to be true. I pushed you away once, but I’m never letting you go.”

  “You left last night,” I tell him with a frown.

  “Because I needed to get something. Eduardo had to take me all the way into town.”

  I glance over at Eduardo and he puffs out his chest. Pride ripples from him. I can’t help but smile knowing how much it meant for Camilo to include Eduardo on a task. He adores Camilo. I’ve learned a lot about Eduardo since coming to live here and he sees Rosita’s son as his own.

  “What did you get?”

  Rosita pulls out a camera, grinning. She looks just like Camilo when she lets her guard down. I’m transfixed by her smile when I realize she has a camera. Why does she have a camera?

  “Camilo,” I demand, turning to glower at him. “What’s going on?”

  He grabs my hand and draws it to his lips before kissing the top of it. “Little bee, I want to keep you. Both you and our little one. I want to make a life with you. For once, I want to coast rather than soar. I want to live in the moment with you and stop chasing stars I’ll never catch. What’s life without love? I don’t want to find out.”

  I gasp when he retrieves a small box from his pocket. He flips open the lid and a pretty engagement ring glistens inside.

  “I know you’re fancy, Sher, but that’s just one part of you. You’re funny and brave and tough and strong. So fucking strong. This ring called to me for you. It’s perfect just like you. Please let me put this ring on you and keep you.”

  A tear races down my cheek. “Is that question or a statement?”

  “Will you marry me, Sheridan Reid?”

  “Yes, Camilo, I will.”

  Everyone erupts in a chaotic mess of cheers, but I only have eyes for Camilo. He slides the ring on my finger and then he’s pouncing on me, kissing me in a pornographic way that might get him whipped by his mother. It’s when I come up for air that I realize they’ve left us to our privacy.

  “I love you,” Camilo murmurs against my lips. “I want to spend the rest of our lives showing you.”

  “That’s a long time,” I say with a smirk.

  “Time with you is never enough, abejita.” His smile grows wicked. “Now let’s get naked so we can celebrate with ten orgasms each.”

  “Ten orgasms! Are you insane?”

  “Strip, beautiful.”

  “Hell no. There’s no way you’re giving me ten orgasms.”

  “That sounds like a challenge.”

  “It’s an impossibility!”

  “Wanna bet?”

  “Go away,” I groan.

  “Never, Sher.”

  He kisses me deeply, making me forget my own name.

  But I don’t forget that he loves me.

  I certainly don’t forget he’s promised to make me his forever.

  Camilo

  One year later…

  The minister speaks of love and forgiveness and withstanding storms together. He reminds us to be faithful and kind. His words begin to blend together as my attention is brought elsewhere.

  To her.

  Always to her.

  Sheridan soon-to-be Zaragoza.

  Sher’s eyes are on our daughter. Our sweet baby girl named Lola. Lola suckles from her mother’s breast as though this is the most natural thing to do—feed during a wedding. It feels pretty fucking natural to me. In fact, what other guy can say his wife flashed him her tit in front of the minister while reciting vows?

  Lola is cute as hell in some frilly white dress Mamá had made for her. My mother was always great at being a mother, but she’s a spectacular abuela. Always on call for whenever Sher and I need a date night.

  “Camilo?”

  I tear my gaze away from my daughter to look at the minister in confusion. He chuckles and repeats his words. Once I confirm that I will love my wife until the day I die, he asks the same of Sher. We somehow make it through the ceremony, exchange rings, and then get to the best part.

  The kiss.

  I run a knuckle over my daughter’s black hair before dipping to kiss my wife. Feels pretty damn good to call her that now. She tastes like limes and forever. God, I’m a lucky man.

  We must be kissing too long because Damian whistles. I smile against Sher’s lips and pull away. Everyone cheers for us as we make our way back down the aisle, this time as a married couple.

  It’s strange to me how things turned out. A little over a year ago if someone told me I’d marry the feisty woman in the fancy clothes, I would’ve laughed. If they would have told me I’d also have the most beautiful little girl with her, I’d tell them kids were more Carter’s thing. But just like Hurricane Rodrigo, Sheridan blew into my life, shook things up, and left me forever changed.

  “Dame a mi princesa,” Mamá orders Sher. Give me my princess.

  Sher kisses Lola on her dark head and then passes her over to her grandparents. Eduardo is practically giddy as he gushes over Lola. I can’t help but think how lucky I am he’s in our lives. He’s been a good man to Mamá and has taken care of her. Eduardo is practically a saint because he put up with all my bullshit over the years and still loves me. My chest tightens at that thought. It makes me miss my dad, but it also makes me appreciative for the family I have.

  “Care to dance, abejita?”

  I tug my wife to me and settle my hands on her ass. She wraps her arms around my neck and toys with my hair. We stare at each other song after song, barely swaying to the music, lost in our own little world.

  “I love you, little bee,” I tell her with a grin.

  She smiles. “I love you too, bird boy.”

  I playfully dip her, kiss her pretty neck, and then pull her back to me. Randall, Mona, and David are sitting nearby shooting the shit with Dale and Doris. Estefania and Damian are arguing near the DJ. Kyle’s hiding at Carter’s table with Kendall and Brucey, no doubt hoping to not get pulled into more of Damian’s shenanigans. Marco, Araceli’s baby daddy, is chasing Rodrigo down. The kid can walk now and is a little hurricane like his namesake. Sometimes I think my cousin agreed to move in with Marco just so he’d be punished with forced babysitting. Marco’s a total loser, but he somehow loves my bitchy cousin and he’s trying to be a good dad to Rodrigo. Maybe one day he’ll grow up and put a ring on Araceli’s finger.

  “You look happy,” Sher says, drawing my attention back to her.

  “Of course I am. I have everything I ever wanted. Prettiest little girl. Hottest wife. Everyone I care about all in the same location. It’s pretty awesome.”

  “I’m trying to get Daddy and Mona to buy a house out here so they can visit more.”

  I snort. “As long as David doesn’t buy one too.”

  “Be nice,” she chides.

  “He still looks at you
like you’re the one who got away.”

  “You better stake your claim then, husband.”

  I laugh as I attack her mouth playfully, nipping at her lip and chin. We’re still kissing when I hear Damian’s voice on the speaker.

  “Mamis and papis,” he says, tapping the mic with his white fingernail. “Pay attention to moi.”

  “Oh, here we go.” I chuckle, shaking my head.

  “On this joyous occasion, I thought we’d celebrate with a song…” He flashes a wicked look my way.

  “Don’t do it,” I warn under my breath.

  “And what better way to celebrate than with a song dedicated to my dear little godchild, Lola. Fairy god-daddy loves you, sweetie pie!”

  “No…”

  “Lola” by The Kinks starts playing and I’m already backing away.

  Damian shakes a finger at me. “Don’t even think about it, mister! This is our song.”

  “If I’m going to make an ass out of myself in front of my wife,” I say, grabbing Carter’s arm and pulling him from his chair, “then you get to make one out of yourself in front of Kendall.”

  Damian squeals and prances our way, all decked out in a see-through-in-too-many-places pale pink suit. His platform shoes have rhinestones on them. Estefania has matching ones since they are the “besties of honor.” There’s no escaping Damian when he gets on a roll. You just give in and then get out.

  “It’s my ultimate gaydream! A hot pilot sandwich!” He starts shaking his ass at me as he hauls Carter to him. “If the wives ever allow you to have a hall pass, totes pick me. I’ll show you how fabulous a triple sword fight can be!”

  “I’m trying not to imagine it, but you’ve already planted the seed,” I groan. “Sounds complicated.”

  “Oh, sugar lips,” Damian purrs, “it’s really quite simple. One plus one plus one makes—”

  “Three?” Carter says at the same time I say, “Nope,” and Damian shrieks, “Magic!”

  Carter is cracking up, laughing so hard he can barely stand up right, as Damian does some scandalous moves in front of him. And if it weren’t for Sheridan’s adorable fucking giggles, I would’ve jumped ship and left Carter to deal with this monster princess alone. But, since my wife is wildly entertained, I take one for the team. Even if that means having a hot pilot sandwich dance.

  “Should I get a pilot uniform?” Damian asks, still gyrating in a way that’s making Randall blush furiously nearby. “We could play pilot dress up. Just the three of us. I’ll bring the tequila, boys.”

  “Shoo, Dame,” Sher grumbles playfully. “Time to go bother Mateo.”

  Mateo is already backing up, holding his hands in the air.

  “Oh, sexy Mexi Matexi,” Damian sings. “Time for our dance!”

  We all laugh as he prances off after my poor cousin. Kyle has pulled Estefania on the dance floor and is eye-fucking her hard enough I think I might get pregnant. It makes me wonder if that’s how it happened with those two because they don’t quite match up to me. That kid is like Clark Kent. A total nerd, but something about him has the singing princess of Costa Rica head over heels for him. So much so that she let him drag her off to Vegas months ago. Sheridan was too pregnant to be travelling, but my woman wasn’t about to let that stop her from seeing her best friend tie the knot.

  “We need to hook Damian up with someone,” Sher says. “Are you sure we can’t convince Mateo to swing that way?”

  Mateo is hiding with Doris now. Damian knows if he goes over there, Doris will go mama bear on him and he’ll be stuck talking about crochet patterns. He loves Doris like a mother, but the man was born to be the life of a party. Mateo is smart to figure that shit out quick.

  “Probably better luck with Nicolás,” I say, nodding over at my other cousin. “I’ve only ever seen him with chicks, but he’s never watched one like a hawk.”

  Sheridan gasps. “Oh my God. He’s totally watching him. We have to set them up on a date.”

  “Nope,” I tell her. “Not happening. Damian would corrupt him. We’ll stay out of it. If fate brings them together, then so be it. I won’t be responsible for Damian turning my cousin into a glitter penis loving sex addict.”

  She pouts. “But he secretly likes him. It’s so obvious now.”

  “Do you know how hard it is to get glitter out of sheets?

  “Oh, come on,” she grumbles. “Where’s your sense of adventure? Maybe Nicolás needs a little sparkle in his life.”

  Our eyes travel to Damian, who’s stolen Kyle away from Estefania and trying hard to dirty dance with his unwilling assistant. When we glance back at Nicolás, he’s staring at the ground frowning.

  “Look!” Sher hisses. “He needs a little push. Go push him. You’re family. It’s what you’re supposed to do.”

  “I’ll do it.” She squeals and I lift a brow. “First, we must negotiate.”

  “You’re supposed to do these things out of the goodness of your heart.”

  “What would be the fun in that?” I taunt. “Nah, I want something. What will my hot wife give me for my matchmaking skills?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Damian can die a lonely old man because I don’t negotiate with terrorists.”

  “Liar,” I tease, kissing her lips. “Dile a papi lo que quieres, abejita.” Tell Daddy what you want, little bee.

  “Don’t be gross.”

  I laugh. “Your learning Spanish is becoming a problem.”

  “Yeah, for my ears,” she groans. “Fine, I’ll bite. What do you want, my filthy husband?”

  I flash her a wicked grin. “You. In your wedding dress. Against the piano in Eduardo’s restaurant.”

  She eyes the crowd, all of which are partying outside under the bright sun. “Hmm. You’d have to be quick.”

  “I’ll be a one-pump chump.” Lies. It usually takes at least five.

  “And you better make magic happen with your cousin because my task is harder.”

  “Harder?” I challenge. “All you have to do is lift your dress, bend over, and play a little Elton John on the piano.”

  “God, you are such a freak, bird boy.”

  “Your freak.”

  “I’ll slip away first. You do the deed with Nicolás and then meet me in Eduardo’s in five.”

  I pull her to me for a quick kiss. “I love you, Sheridan Zaragoza.”

  “Love you too. Now make me proud or we’re getting a divorce.”

  She scampers off before I have a chance to smack her ass—which I learned she really, really enjoys. As soon as she disappears, I saunter over to Nicolás.

  “I could teach you to dance,” I offer.

  My broody cousin frowns harder. “I don’t want to dance.”

  “Because you suck. I could teach you how to not suck.”

  He grumbles and ignores me.

  “Where’s your date? Monica? Cynthia? Ramona?”

  “Busy.”

  “Man, you’re such a bad liar.” I look over to where Damian is now dancing with Eduardo. “Did you know he smells like cotton candy and tequila if you get really close?”

  Nicolás snaps his glare my way. “So?”

  “So, I bet you’re wondering if he tastes like it too.”

  His jaw clenches.

  I continue on, nudging him with my shoulder. “No one will fault you if you go find out. Damian happens to be a really cool fucking guy. A total diva and a bitch when he’s on his pretend period, but amazing nonetheless.”

  “I’m not…” he trails off, scowling.

  For someone “not,” he sure does stare at Damian’s ass a lot.

  “Well, cuz, if I were you, I’d figure your shit out before Damian manages to drag your brother back out of that chair. Mateo, with enough liquor in him, has always been the experimental type. I guess I’ll have to ask him if Damian tastes like cotton—”

  Nicolás is already storming away from me.

  Toward him.

  And the look on Damian’s face tells me he is in no way prepared f
or two hundred pounds of muscle and pure Mexican alpha male headed his way. His shocked gasp only confirms it.

  My work is done here.

  Time to play Rocket Man with the wife.

  The End

  Want to keep up with all of the new releases in Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Hero Club world? Make sure you sign up for the official Cocky Hero Club newsletter for all the latest on our upcoming books:

  www.subscribepage.com/CockyHeroClub

  Check out other books in the Cocky Hero Club series:

  www.cockyheroclub.com

  Listen on Spotify here

  “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John

  “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John

  “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles

  “Rocket Man” by Elton John

  “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears

  “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison

  “Maneater” by Daryl Hall & John Oates

  “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer

  “Feel Like Makin’ Love” by Bad Company

  “Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts

  “Oh Sherrie” by Steve Perry

  “Fly Like an Eagle” by Steve Miller Band

  “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” by The Police

  “Goodbye Stranger” by Supertramp

  “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

  “Hotel California” by Eagles

  “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

  “Who’ll Stop the Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

  “Lola” by The Kinks

  “White Room” by Cream

  “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin

  “Under Pressure” by Queen

  “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf

  “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” by The Beatles

  Psychological Romance Standalones:

  My Torin

  Whispers and the Roars