by C. M. King
After quickly painting on the last few whiskers on my face, he left to get into his own costume. Despite several shameless attempts to squeeze the information out of him, I finally gave in. I would just have to wait for the big reveal when he made his entrance. I finished off the final touches before receiving the text from Joel asking about my whereabouts.
I’m in the spare bedroom x
I texted back and giggled waiting for his reaction. The door opened moments later and Joel’s eyes widened the moment he laid eyes on me
“Fuck, Iz . . .” was all he managed to squeeze out, his eyes alight, taking in every inch of me. I could see the hunger present inside them, when they finally returned to mine.
“Do you like?” I asked teasingly, spinning around to give him a better view from all angles.
He instantly grabbed my tail, pulling me nearer. “I more than like.” His breath tickled my face as he lips instantly covered mine. “Fuck baby, I don’t know how I’m going to keep my hands off you.” His lust filled eyes gazed deep into mine as his hands smoothed down the material, not stopping till they rested on my bottom. His fingers cupped my cheeks lifting me effortlessly off the floor walking me over to the wall.
I groaned when he slowly ground into me, giving me exactly what I wanted.
“Fuck, Iz, does this thing have a zip?”
My eyes instantly snapped open. “Joel, we can’t, not here There’s people barely metres away in the other room.”
“But I want you so bad,” he moaned, his fingers tightening as his mouth sought out mine.
God, I wanted him too.
I never stopped.
I craved him every minute of every day.
He carried on relentlessly, my moans becoming louder. Joel swallowed each one, until my eyes widened, and I came right there against the wall.
“I thought there was nothing more perfect than the sight of you coming, but shit you dressed as a cat, I think I might have a fetish.” He grinned before loosening his grip, slowing dropping me back down to the floor.
We headed to the bathroom to clean up. Joel’s eyes widened when he noticed the popper buttons, then they grew even wider when I showed him the bikini I had on underneath. “Easy access for later.” I winked and he groaned, flopping against the sink like I’d taken his legs from underneath him.
“God, Iz, are you trying to kill me?”
I grinned at his words. “What a sweet death it would be.” My hands smoothed down his shirt, feeling the hard muscle underneath, admiring him in a suit. He was dressed as one of the Blues Brothers, and he was jaw dropping. He finished off placing his hat and shades back on to complete his outfit.
“Promise me one thing,” I asked, my fingers playfully teasing the material of his tie.
“Anything, it’s yours.”
“That you’ll leave your hat on when we get home.”
His lips spread out into a wide grin. “Baby, I think it’s time to christen some of the walls.”
I gasped in delight. “Really?”
“Oh, I’m going to make you more than acquainted with each one.”
I smiled in delight at his words, I for one, couldn’t wait.
* * *
We rejoined the party and grabbed some drinks, trying to blend in the best we could. I could feel the blush rising, wondering if anyone had heard us. But Joel continually whispered constant reassurances in my ear that we were fine.
Elijah finally made his grand entrance as Edna Turnblad’s mother, we all roared with laughter at his performance. It was typical Elijah to be so extravagant, and we soaked up every minute of his over the top theatrics.
Working the room, we didn’t get much opportunity to spend with Elijah, until he finally made his way over, his eyes shining when they rested greedily on Joel. “Well hello, handsome, you definitely know how to work a suit.” His eyes worked the length of Joel’s body, and I felt his hands grip me tighter. I was practically moulded against him anyway, but it was like he was using me as a protective shield. Elijah always took great delight winding him up, enjoying watching Joel squirm, and I couldn’t help smile at his wicked ways. He could be pure twisted at times.
“Fancy a dance, Joel?” he shamelessly asked.
Joel pulled me in tighter against him. “Errr no, I don’t dance.”
“That’s a shame, I’d like to grind up against that hot body.” He gave Joel a cheeky wink before walking away.
And this was definitely one of them.
Joel spun me around, his eyes wide in complete horror that I couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s not funny, Iz. Fuck, he was minutes away from groping me.” He scowled like he was picturing the whole scenario in his head.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh relax, he’s winding you up, he gets off on seeing your reaction.” He had a sick sense of humour that was true. Joel gripped my tail tighter in frustration. I was pretty sure it would soon snap off.
“Don’t you dare leave me!” Joel warned. He’s going to pounce the moment you do.”
I snorted at his over the top reaction. “He does have a boyfriend, you know, he’s not in the habit of leaping on people.” But then I turned to see both Elijah and Sam eye-fucking my boyfriend.
Really?
They both wore twisted grins on their faces, right now Joel’s fears were almost warranted. I pulled his hands around me tighter, nibbling on his jaw, it always seemed to soothe him.
Several beers later Joel began to get more amorous, his wandering hands were the reason for my blushes. I could feel myself flushing as I constantly rebuffed his advances. The heat was definitely rising until my eye caught the attention of someone heading my way.
Oh god, here comes trouble.
Joel felt me stiffen, and he bent down to whisper in my ear. “Something wrong, Iz?”
“Ahh so you must be the Joel I keep hearing about, Elijah’s been filling me in. I thought it was best I come over before you do another of your disappearing acts again.”
I watched Elijah’s face frown in the distance, as mine fell, and he rushed over to try to intercept the conversation.
“B, behave,” he warned, his eyes flicked to mine, and I noted the look of concern they held. He always had trouble reining his cousin in. We didn’t have the best history, she seemed to have a major problem with me being best friends with Elijah.
“What?” she asked innocently, although she was far from it.
Elijah frowned at the smile creeping over her face. “You know what.”
“What does B stand for?” Joel asked quietly behind me.
“Bitch,” I said aloud, not caring if she could hear.
“Izzy . . .” Elijah warned, giving me a look, but I refused to acknowledge it.
“Now now, little kitty cat, put your claws back in and play nice,” she replied, narrowing her eyes in a silent warning.
“Why? You don’t,” I retorted.
“True, but I play the game so much better.” She licked her lips in delight at her words, her eyes still locked on mine.
If she wanted a showdown then I would give her one.
“B, come help me with the drinks.” Elijah grabbed her arm, trying to lead her away but she was having none of it, firmly standing her ground.
“Nah, I think I’m good here chatting to Joel. Why don’t you run along with Elijah, Izzy, you and him are practically attached at the hip?”
I snorted at her bitchy remark. “Jealous much.”
“No, sloppy seconds isn’t my type.”
“B, I’m warning you . . .” Elijah’s hand locked around her wrist, ready to pull her away.
“So Joel, how about you maybe get to know a real girl?” She shot him a wink and every part of me stiffened, his arms locked around me tighter, his hand squeezing mine.
“No thanks, I think you maybe need to take the hint and leave,” he replied icily. I could only imagine the look he was giving her as he pressed his chest into my back.
She rolled her eyes at his remark. “Izzy got yo
u brainwashed too? It’s no wonder you disappeared, I’d have done the same, she has that affect on everyone,” she added bitterly, her eyes burning into mine.
Bitch.
“Right, that’s it, B.” Elijah dragged her off as she continued to rant, leaving us both standing there looking stunned.
“Well, she’s . . .”
I spun around to face Joel. “A bitch.”
He smiled at my reply. “You’re not wrong there.”
“She’s Elijah’s cousin, she doesn’t like me much. Can you tell?”
He pulled me in closer, frowning at my face. “I kind of got that impression, but if it helps I’ll love you a little harder, just to make up for it.”
A smile touched my lips. “Really? You know you can be too sweet at times.”
Joel’s lips nuzzled my ear. “Yep, you’re one lucky girl.”
I pushed back from him. “Err, I think you got that the wrong way around.”
“Well, I know how lucky I am. I count my blessings everyday waking up to this beautiful face.” His fingers stroked against my cheek, and I smiled until I remembered exactly how I looked first thing.
“Beautiful? Yeah, right.” He really needed to get his eyes checked.
“You always take my breath away.”
“Yeah, by looking like a complete gremlin.” I could only imagine my sleep face, I cringed just thinking about it.
“I often watch you in your sleep, you look more like an angel.”
Now he was completely lying.
“Wow, that’s a little weird,” I remarked, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious.
Oh god.
What if he caught me drooling?
He frowned at my response. “Not when I spent all those nights apart from you, closing my eyes I could almost believe you were there.”
My lips pressed up against his, as he closed his eyes, the pain still lingered on his face. “I can’t believe she brought up you leaving, what a complete bitch.” I could have slapped her for that remark, bringing up the past. I was having words with Elijah after this, to find out the extent of what he’d told her about our relationship. He was always far too open at times.
“Hey, I’m fine, we’re fine,” he soothed, sensing my distress. I really wasn’t doing a good job of hiding it.
“Are we though?” I whispered.
Did her words just reopen old wounds?
He moved me in tighter so my nose nuzzled deep into his chest. “Yes, trust me, baby, we’re more than fine.” He brushed his lips over my hair, and I sighed becoming overwhelmed by his touch.
“Good,” I breathed, feeling lighter by his words of reassurance.
“You okay?” he asked, leaning back to look at me, tilting my face so my eyes locked with his.
“I will be when you kiss me.” I smiled when he quirked his eyebrow, shooting me a cheeky grin.
“Now that I can do.”
“Will you two please pack it in, you’re practically eating each other alive?”
I moved back slightly from Joel to glare at Elijah. “Hardly, we’re just kissing, well we were until you rudely interrupted. Is there anything else before we get back to it?”
Joel chuckled, I felt his hands on my hips, ready to guide me back into another toe curling kiss.
“Iz, I just wanted to apologise for B, you know what she’s like. She’s been drinking, and well, I can’t control her,” Elijah explained.
“Nice to know you’ve filled her in on everything, did you give her the whole roundup of our relationship?”
Elijah’s eyes widened, looking alarmed by my words. “What—no. I said you were going through a tough time and that’s why I needed to spend a lot of time with you. She got all drunk one night and called me crying, saying I was never there for her. Anything you tell me is private. I don’t gossip behind your back, it hurts me that you think that.”
“I’m sorry. She was just so nasty, using it like a weapon against me. Why does she hate me so much?”
His face fell at my words. “She doesn’t, she’s just jealous. I will speak to her. I want you to be close to her too.”
I let out a snort. “Yeah, that isn’t happening soon.”
“I hope one day you will, you’re my two favourite girls.” He winked and gave me a hug, and I relaxed into him. His plan was not going to be easy, but I’d back down and be the bigger person for his sake.
“Fine, maybe one day,” I murmured, not quite convincing myself.
“I’ll fix something up between us, I promise we’ll all soon be great friends.” He gave me one more squeeze before walking off. That’s what I loved about Elijah, that he was ever the optimist. Though this time I was certain he really had outdone himself, thinking I would be friends with B. There was more chance of spotting a flying pig.
* * *
I finished off the last of my drink and leaned back into Joel. The party had been going on for several hours, and I was slightly tipsy and tired. I was contemplating dragging Joel home when a voice called out from behind me. I turned to see Ryan dressed as The Cowardly Lion, beaming from ear to ear, admiring every inch of my costume.
“Hey, Ryan.” I beamed, happy to see his face. I hadn’t seen him in a while and was beginning to miss our Netflix marathons together.
He pulled me into an awkward hug while Joel’s hands continued to cling onto me. “You look amazing, you make one sexy cat.”
Joel grunted as Ryan’s eyes danced with humour. “Oh hey Joel, didn’t notice you were there. I can’t take my eyes off Izzy here, you need to wear this more often.”
Oh boy.
I felt Joel stiffen behind me and not in a good way.
“We sure do make a right pair,” Ryan said, acknowledging our costumes. “Both from the same family, you know what they say great minds . . .” He winked, and my heart dropped, feeling Joel grab me tighter. I knew his jealousy would be off the Richter scale. I didn’t need to turn around to know his eyes would be practically bulging with rage.
“I haven’t seen you around lately, I miss our Netflix dates.” Ryan pouted.
Oh god.
“That’s because she’s been spending all her time with me,” Joel spat out, leaning over my shoulder to kiss me.
No to claim me.
Ryan blew out an air of frustration. “Well, don’t be greedy, Joel, it’s rude to not share.”
Joel’s head snapped up. Ryan was goading him, and Joel took the bait. “What the fuck do you mean by that?”
“Ryan, I think you’d better . . .” I motioned with my eyes for him to drop the smug look he was wearing. He needed to walk away while his head still remained on his shoulders, but the steely look inside his eyes told me he thought differently.
“We all need some Izzy time too, after all some of us were there to pick up the pieces.”
Oh shit, here we go.
“What the fuck? You have no clue how hard it was to walk away,” Joel bit out, the iciness in his voice sent shivers through me, taking me back to that period of darkness in my life.
“All I know is I couldn’t,” Ryan taunted.
Fuck.
Joel’s hands dropped from my body in response to Ryan’s cruel words. Ryan had clearly touched a nerve, a raw nerve, and I was scared of just what that would do to Joel.
“Outside now.”
“Joel,” I gasped, turning to face him, to hold his chest back with my hands as he moved to leave.
“Izzy, this is between me and Ryan.” The fire that blazed there in his eyes was enough to scare me. He was going to kill him.
“Whatever, Joel, you want to sort this out? Then it’s fine by me.”
I spun around to face Ryan. “Ryan, you need to leave.”
But Ryan’s eyes never left Joel’s. “No, I think I want to see what this guy has to say.”
His defiant words sent a wave of panic through me.
“Are you okay, Iz?” I almost cried hearing Elijah’s voice. He quickly marched over, his eyes fla
shing between Joel and Ryan before resting on mine.
“Elijah, get Ryan out of here before Joel tears him limb from limb.”
Ryan snorted. “Yeah, I’d like to see him try.” He banged down his bottle onto the ledge like he was clearly gearing up for a fight.
Joel lunged forward, knocking me out of the way. I staggered a few steps, quickly regaining my balance. “Don’t fucking push me, mate,” Joel snarled.
I grabbed Joel’s arm, but he pushed me out of the way, squaring up to him, both staring each other down.
His shove was enough to make me lose balance, and I fell back awkwardly landing on my leg. I let out a scream. The leg was already fragile from the accident.
Joel’s eyes instantly shot to me. “Fuck, Iz, are you okay?”
Elijah quickly ran over to help me stand back up as I attempted to straighten out my leg. I winced in agony when I tried to move it. “Sweetie, come to my room, I need to look at it.
“I’ll come to,” Joel insisted, attempting to put his arm around me. To claim me again, but I’d had more than enough of his possessive behaviour tonight.
“Don’t bother,” I snapped. Joel’s eyes flashed with a look of hurt, but I was too angry to care.
“Iz, please . . .” he pleaded.
“No, you carry on with your little brawl, that’s far more important.”
Ryan attempted a half smile but the look of disgust I shot him soon turned into a frown.
“And you, grow the fuck up. You know nothing about us so don’t pretend like you do. There’s never been anything between us, so stop acting like there is.”
“Izzy, just listen . . .” Ryan pleaded.
“No, I’ve had enough of the pair of you, just leave me alone, both of you.”
“Izzy, please,” Joel shouted as Elijah guided me out of the room while everyone looked on in amusement.
Just great!
Pain shot through my leg and I grunted, walking the last few steps before dropping down onto the bed.
Elijah pulled out a T-shirt and I slipped it on, peeling off the costume, to cover my modesty. His hands nimbly worked my leg. He’d helped with my physio exercises after the accident, so he knew the various ones I had to do. After a few minutes the pain eased, and I let out a sigh.