Her eyes flared at the idea that there might be something wrong with her makeup, and then she was off.
“Rico, you said you’d only last a few minutes but you’ve been going for…hours,” Jason said in a tiny girlish voice.
We all laughed, even Amber.
“That’s not what she said, man.” Rico laughed self-consciously. “But she wouldn’t be wrong, and she wouldn’t complain.”
Carter put his arm around Rico, affecting a concerned stance. “Dude, I think it’s about time you found someone a little more mature, you know?”
Rico’s eyes gleamed. “You mean like Amber? Hey babe.” He grinned at her. “How’s this ogre treating you?”
She laughed nervously and gave Carter a glance before shrugging in Rico’s direction. “Okay.”
“You get tired of working for him, come to the club and I’ll find you a more interesting job.”
“In the club, or as a replace
ment for Silver, Star, Esmeralda, and all the others in your constant retinue of models?” Carter sounded testy.
“Excuse me?” Amber shot him a deadly look.
“Come on,” Rico said. “I would never suggest that. Amber is so efficient she could probably run the club on her own after a few weeks…and I like my constant retinue of models. They’re my type.”
“Yeah. You’re right,” Carter said. “Sorry, Amber. I’m just going to go get myself a drink.”
We went to our shared table for eight where we were joined by another one of Jason’s friends, Viv, who was heavily pregnant and was there with her attentive husband. When it came to the teasing, she was as brutal as the guys, and she ribbed them mercilessly until I was almost in tears from laughing so hard.
Rico left soon after the meal was served, which made sense as Silver didn’t eat a bite. Then there were speeches and presentations, and finally, we were all hugging goodbye while we waited for our rides.
“I like your friends,” I told Jason when we were in the car.
“They like you,” he replied with a shrug. “Not that it would matter if they didn’t.”
I chuckled. “You always know the right thing to say.”
“It’s the truth,” he insisted. “And I’m trying to get laid tonight, not win friend of the year.”
I giggled. “You’re awful.”
“But you love me.”
“I do,” I whispered. With my whole soul.
“Come here.” He drew me into his arms and lowered his head to take my lips. He kissed me like he had been longing to do so all night, deep and hard, then soft and languid, savoring, tasting, then taking and giving.
“I’m going to tear this dress off you,” he promised.
“And then?”
“Then I’m going to fuck you until you beg me to stop.”
“I won’t.”
He laughed. “I know. You’re as insatiable as I am, aren’t you?”
“It’s not my fault you’re so sexy.” I sighed. “Sometimes it’s hard not to get caught up in how perfect you are.”
He snorted derisively, dismissing his looks with an offhandedness that was endearing. “I guess I can’t help the face I was born with.”