by Susan Stoker
“Oh no!” Jess said leaning forward and dislodging Benny’s hand from her back. She spoke quickly, trying to head off a confrontation. “It’s fine. Seriously, I’d tell you if he did something, but he hasn’t. He’s stayed away from me. Promise!”
Jess met each one of the men’s eyes around the table. She could tell none of them were happy.
“If he says one word to you, Jess, we’re going to have another ‘talk’ with him. We expect you to tell Benny if he does anything.”
“I will, I swear.” Jess looked over to Kason. His teeth were clenched and a muscle in his jaw was ticking. She turned to him and put her hand on his cheek. “I swear, Kason. He hasn’t really even looked at me since that one time I already told you about.”
Benny took her hand off his cheek and kissed the palm before putting it on his thigh and holding it there. He brought his other hand up to the side of her neck and brought her in for a long, slow, and extremely inappropriate for being in public, kiss. When he leaned back, his thumb rubbed against her cheek. “If he so much as fucking looks cross-eyed at you, I want to know.”
He watched as Jess nodded at him. “I will.”
Benny looked over at the table where Brian was sitting, and caught his eyes briefly, glaring at him, before Brian turned away back to his friends.
Talk around the table was a bit stilted after Brian arrived. Jess sighed. “This sucks. I’m sorry guys.”
“Not your fault, Jess,” Dude answered before anyone else could.
“I still feel bad. “Maybe I should just go, then you guys can . . .”
“Shut it, Jess,” Abe said. “You will not take this on yourself and we are not leaving.”
“But . . .”
“No.”
Abe’s voice was hard and Jess knew she should shut up.
Caroline broke the uneasy silence of the group. “So, Jess, did Tex call you after our sleepover?”
Jess smiled at her friend, grateful for the change of topic. “Yeah, he called and yelled at me when I recited the number he thought was wrong back to him. When he figured out I’d just repeated it backwards to him, he was speechless.”
“Tex was speechless? I don’t believe it!” Alabama said in amusement.
“Yeah, he then lectured me for ten minutes straight on why I should be taking everything more seriously. It wasn’t until I apologized for the twentieth time that he finally let me off the hook.”
The girls all laughed.
Deciding to bring up the topic of the tracers before any of the other women could, and before they could embarrass her about what she’d said at their get-together, Jess commented, “Oh and Kason talked to Tex and he sent the tracers.”
“About time, Benny,” Dude told him in a low voice.
“Yeah, well, between finding the right time to inform Jess she belonged in my bed and the mission, I didn’t have the time.” The guys all laughed at Benny as Jess blushed scarlet.
“It’s good you got on that. Jess, what’re you wearing tonight?” Dude asked, wondering what tracking devices she had on.
Jessyka couldn’t believe they were actually talking about this as if it wasn’t a big deal. She decided to go with it since she’d brought it up in the first place. She fingered the small gold stud in her left ear. “Well, this is one of them. I’ve also got one in my purse and Kason drilled a damn hole in my shoe last night and put one there too.”
“Don’t feel bad, Jess,” Cheyenne told her. “Faulkner put one in my bra!”
They all laughed.
“Good idea, Dude!” Mozart exclaimed, then looking at Summer said, “I’ll get with Tex in the morning for a new shipment.”
“Yeah, me too. Great idea,” Benny enthused.
“You guys are all crazy,” Jess said without thinking.
“Crazy about our women,” Wolf told her seriously. Then putting both elbows on the table he leaned in and Jess couldn’t look away from his piercing gaze. She felt Kason’s hand on the back of her neck, holding her affectionately, but her attention was all on the man across from her.
“I’m sure you’ve had a conversation with the ladies and with Benny about this, but let me reiterate something. We don’t take this lightly,” He gestured around the table to the other men. “There’s a lot of evil in the world and we’ll do whatever it takes to try to keep it from touching all of you. But if it does, those unassuming little devices will give us a leg up in finding you and keeping that evil from affecting you. Got it?”
“I got it, Wolf,” Jess whispered and nodded at him. She’d found it was easier for her to call the guys by their nicknames, except for Kason of course, because that was how Kason talked about his friends and how she’d learned their names.
She continued in a low voice, so no one else in the bar would hear what they were talking about. Jess knew no one else would understand. “And for the record, I’m all for it. I wouldn’t have agreed to it if I wasn’t. And if I’m ever in a situation where evil comes for me, I’ll feel comforted knowing you guys are on your way to get to me.”
“Damn straight,” Cookie said with feeling, pulling Fiona into his side and kissing the top of her head.
“Whew, okay, enough of the serious talk,” Summer said with a smile. “When are we all getting together again to go shopping?”
“You and your shopping!” Caroline laughed.
The rest of the night was spent laughing and joking. The only awkward moment was when Brian and his friends got up to leave. But he didn’t once look at their table or act like he knew they were even there.
Jess sighed in relief, glad to have gotten through another encounter with her ex with no drama. She’d had enough drama to last her a lifetime.
Finally Wolf stood up and pulled Caroline with him. “Well, guys, Ice and I are calling it a night. We have the morning off from PT, so I’ll see you all in the office.”
“When we are having our next ladies’ night?” Alabama asked before Caroline was dragged away. Everyone at the table knew why the couple was leaving already, and they all knew they’d all be following suit not too much later.
“How about this coming weekend?” Jess threw out, knowing she had the weekend off.
“Sounds good. See you all here around eight?” Fiona asked.
Eight was a bit early for a night of drinking fun, but they all wanted to be sure to get home at a reasonable hour, because their men liked to keep them up much later, enjoying the effects the girls’ night out had on them.
“Perfect! Whose night is it to watch us?” Cheyenne wanted to know.
The guys had decided after Cheyenne, Summer, and Alabama had gotten snatched right under their noses while enjoying a girls’ night out, that anytime the women went out, one of them would be there to watch over them and make sure they were safe.
“We’ll have to figure it out, but there will be at least two of us here,” Cookie said resolutely.
“Okie dokie!” Caroline chirped easily. “See you this weekend!”
After Caroline and Wolf left, the other couples quickly followed suit. They finished up their drinks and the guys paid the tabs.
Jess walked out, held securely against Benny’s side. She looked up at him. “I still don’t know why they call you Benny.”
“And you never will if I have any say about it,” Benny said, kissing the top of Jess’s head as they walked toward his car.
“Do you want me to call you Chef, or Stud, or Turtle?” Jessyka knew she was pushing Kason’s buttons, but it was so fun.
“Not if you know what’s good for you,” Kason growled at her.
Jess laughed.
On the way home, Jess asked Kason a question that had been nagging at her for a while, ever since she’d found out about the tracking devices. “Does it bother you that Tex knows where we are at all times and you guys don’t?”
“No.” Kason’s voice was resolute.
“Why not?”
Kason looked over at Jess as they stopped at a red light. “It do
esn’t bother me in the least because I know he has your best interests at heart. I don’t give a fuck if he knows you’re in the bathroom, at work, at Caroline’s, or shopping at the mall. The peace of mind it gives me, gives all the guys, to know if somehow the worst happens and you disappear, we can find you by making a quick phone call to Tex. That’s worth him knowing your whereabouts 24/7. There’s no one we trust more with your lives than Tex.”
“Okay.”
“Any other questions, gorgeous?”
“No.”
“Good. Because in about ten minutes, if I play my cards right, you won’t be able to remember your own name, nonetheless anything about any damn tracking device.”
Jess smiled at Kason and ran her hand up her chest until she got to the top button of her shirt. She played with it, swirling her finger around it. Seeing Kason’s eyes locked to her finger she playfully said, “Light’s green, Chef.”
Kason put his eyes back on the road and put his foot on the gas. “Nine minutes, gorgeous.”
Jess smiled again and said, “Can’t wait.”
Chapter Thirteen
Benny leaned over and kissed Jessyka as if it was the last time he’d ever see her. He pulled back, not letting go, and laughed at the dreamy look on her face.
“You gonna get out or sit here all night?”
Jess opened her eyes and looked at Kason. God, she loved it when he kissed her as if he couldn’t get enough of her. “Maybe I’ll stay here and you can kiss me again.”
Benny smiled at her. “As tempting as that is, you need to get in there and chat it up with your girls. I can’t wait to get you home tonight and show you what Dude loaned me.”
Knowing how Dude was, because Cheyenne couldn’t keep her mouth shut about how well her man gave it to her and how dominating he was sexually, Jess could feel herself grow wet. “Are you freaking kidding me? Kason, that’s just mean.”
Benny pulled Jess to him again, but this time put his mouth at her ear. “I know you’ve been talking to Cheyenne so you have an idea of what I mean. I’ve got a pair of restraints attached to the headboard that have your name all over them. I can’t wait to get you home, strap you down, and drive you crazy over and over again until you’re begging me to fill you up.”
Jessyka shivered in Kason’s hold. “Jesus, Kason,” she breathed, “Are you trying to kill me?”
“No, Jess, I’m trying to make sure you don’t forget about me while you’re getting crazy with your girls. I’m trying to drive you as crazy as you make me.”
“I could never forget you and I think you’ve succeeded in driving me crazy!”
“Did I tell you tonight how beautiful you look?”
Jess only nodded. Yeah, he’d shown her as well. He’d taken one look at her in her tight jeans and spaghetti strap top and he’d declared they were going to be late. He’d pushed her into their room and proceeded to show her exactly how nice he thought she looked. She was now twenty minutes late and found herself wanting to go right back to the apartment and test out the restraints Kason had borrowed from Dude.
“Well, you are. Every time I think I’ve seen you at your best, you go and prove me wrong.” Benny kissed her one more time, quick and hard, then set her back into her seat. “Go on, gorgeous. Call me when you’re ready for me to come and get you. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay.” Jess got out of the car and turned back at the last minute. She watched as Kason rolled down the window.
“Everything okay?” Kason asked.
Jess nodded and took a deep breath. She’d been holding back for too long. If he wanted to get her hot and bothered and leave her hanging, she’d drop a bomb on him too. “I just wanted to let you know that I love you, Kason Sawyer. I can’t ever forget you. I think about you every minute of every day and thank God you came to check on me that day in the bar. You’re more than just my friend. You’re my everything. I’ll see you tonight.”
Jess backed away from the car, watching as Kason’s jaw got tight and he curled his fingers around the steering wheel.
“You’ll pay for that tonight,” he taunted with a grin as he watched Jess head to the front door of the bar.
“I’m counting on it, Chef!” Jess called back, smiling at him. She felt great. She’d finally told Kason what was in her heart and he hadn’t thrown it back at her.
She heard his car leave the parking lot as she opened the door to Aces. Jess took a quick look around and sighed in relief at not seeing Brian. He’d been coming to the bar more and more, and it was completely unnerving her.
He hadn’t ever said anything to her, but she knew he was up to no good. The SEALs were right to be unhappy that he was hanging around, but she hadn’t wanted to rock the boat by having them do something else to Brian. Jess was very thankful to see both Cookie and Dude at the bar. They’d obviously been the ones to draw the lucky straws. Jess felt safer with them there.
Caroline and the others had let Jess in on a secret. The guys grumbled about who would be the ones to watch over them when they went out, but Caroline knew they each coveted the spot. Earlier Caroline had called her laughing because Kason was upset he hadn’t won the right tonight and he’d even tried to bride Cookie and Dude into switching with him and letting him be at the bar tonight.
Caroline had overheard Kason saying that since it was the first girl’s night out since Jess and him were together and that he should get one of the babysitting spots. The other guys had just laughed at him.
Jess made her way over to the other girls at the round table in the corner. It was the same table they always sat at when they went out.
“Hey guys!”
“Look who finally decided to join us!” Summer laughed as she hugged Jess.
“Yeah well . . . you know how it goes . . .”
Everyone laughed, because they did know.
The night was filled with a lot of laughter. Summer and Alabama agreed not to challenge each other to any weird shot competitions, as the last time they did, three of them ended up being kidnapped from the bar.
For the most part, the women didn’t overindulge. Maybe they were getting old, but they’d all agreed it was nice to just have a drink or two and girl talk, instead of getting completely hammered.
At one point in the night, talk turned to babies.
“Last week I realized I’d missed my period. I hadn’t noticed at the time, but when I did, I was freaking out. I refused to take a pregnancy test until Matthew finally forced me to,” Caroline told them ripping up a napkin sitting on the table.
“Are you telling us you’re pregnant?” Fiona gasped.
“No. Jesus, no. I wouldn’t be here drinking if I was!” Caroline told them. “But it scared the hell out of me. Matthew was the calm one.”
“How did he react to you not being pregnant?” Summer asked.
“He was fine, perfect actually. He told me that he wanted whatever I wanted.”
“Do you want kids?” Alabama asked.
“I don’t know. And that makes me feel horrible,” Caroline admitted in a low voice. “I mean, in all the romance books I’ve read and in most television shows, when a couple falls in love, the culmination of that love is always a baby. It’s like their love isn’t validated until she gets pregnant. Then they live happily ever after. But I’m enjoying my time with Matthew. My parents were older when they had me, and I’m just not convinced it’s what I want.” She paused a moment, then looked up at her friends. “Does that make me a horrible person? I feel so selfish.”
Summer got up and walked around the table until she was standing next to Caroline’s stool. “No, you aren’t a horrible person. And you know what, who cares if it’s selfish? I mean seriously, who says women have to have kids when they get married? Where is it written that a couple’s love isn’t ‘solid’ unless they have a rug-rat or two running around? You guys need to do what feels right to the both of you.”
Caroline leaned her head against Summer’s shoulder. “Thanks, Summer, yo
u always make me feel better. What about you guys?”
No one said anything for a moment. Then Cheyenne shared her thoughts. “I know I’m relatively new to your group, but I agree with you Caroline. I love Faulkner so much. I want him all to myself. All the time. I can’t imagine having to give up one second of my time with him right now. I love how we are together and I can’t imagine giving that up. But, I think I do want kids—someday. I know how protective and loving he is with me, and I’d love to see him with his child.”
“I agree, the press and social media today make it seem like we are complete selfish bitches and not a normal member of society if we don’t want kids. What right does anyone have to tell us that we should be popping out babies as soon as we get with a guy? Aren’t there enough unwanted kids out in the world already? I should know, I was one of them.” Alabama finished huffily.
“To no kids!” Fiona raised her glass. “At least until we’re ready, and not when everyone else says we should be ready!”
“To no kids!” Everyone shouted and took a big swallow of their drinks. Summer walked back around to her seat at the table.
“Hey, who wants to try an experiment?” Jess asked everyone after a moment.
“Hell yeah, what kind of experiment?” Cheyenne asked eagerly.
“Everyone has their phones right?” When everyone nodded, Jess continued. “Let’s send a text to our guys and see how long it takes them to get back to us. Whoever’s guy is the last to respond has to buy the next round.”
Everyone laughed. “Perfect!” Caroline exclaimed. “But we all have to say the same thing, otherwise it wouldn’t be fair.”
“Good idea, let’s see . . . how about something short and sweet . . . and we can’t ask a question so they have to respond,” Jessyka declared.
“How about something like, ‘It’s so hot in here, I just took my panties off?’”
Everyone erupted into laughter. “Oh my God! That’s perfect, Cheyenne. I’m not even going to ask how you thought of that one!” Summer exclaimed. “And we have to show each other what our guys say in response too!”