Page 99 of The Killer Card

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“We would like to thank everyone for being here tonight,” I say. “I promise I’ll have a much better speech tomorrow. Someone,” I glare sideways at Rowan. “Forgot to mention that I had to say some profound shit tonight too.”

A few guests laugh at my misery. And it truly has been misery. We rehearsed walking down that aisle no less than thirteen times. Five of which we didn’t even complete because someone was walking too slow or the flower girl was thirsty or the music didn’t work.

It’s a miracle I made it through without putting a bullet in my head. On our last pass up the aisle I muttered into Naomi’s ear, “Rowan and Clara did it right, eloping in Vegas. Let’s follow their example.”

She’s been exceptionally quiet ever since.

It doesn’t exactly help that Poppy has been throwing her glares all through the rehearsal and now dinner. I can practically see the questions boiling inside her brain beneath her raven hair. If she wasn’t on such a tight schedule I have no doubt we would have both been cornered and questioned by now- Naomi far more violently than me. She’s been avoiding the bride all day rather strategically. But every time Poppy does manage to get close enough the questions make Naomi tense all over.

“When did this start? Before or after Elias and I separated?”

“Did Clara seriously catch you two fucking right after my proposal?”

“Did you meet at that club before or after we met them at El Rincón?”

“Did you know who he was when we went out for my birthday?!”

“How could you not tell us you frequented your brother’s club? Especially knowing Clara worked there?”

That one I know hit a little harder than the others. Everyone learned who the owner of The Pink Flamingo was following Clara’s assault. He had to make a statement and apologized profusely to both Clara and her mother, assuring her he was going to work on tightening security measures. It was not common knowledge, however, that Naomi attended the club herself, saw his books and therefore was aware of Clara’s employment from the day she was hired.

But I couldn’t exactly lie to the man who bailed me out of jail that night. When he asked if I’d ever taken Naomi there, yes, had been the honest answer. And sometimes we just met up there, was the more elaborate one I maybe should have kept to myself.

Because Elias tells Poppy everything apparently, including that her best friend is a member of her older brother’s sex club.

Every time she’s made her way over with another question I’ve wanted to defend Naomi, tell Poppy to back the fuck off and get my girl some reprieve. Except if I even attempted to do that I would have at least two black eyes- one from Elias and another from Cristian. Maybe one from Rowan too on Clara’s behalf. Naomi would also probably slap me for speaking that way to her friend the night before her wedding, but holy fuck can’t she let anything go?

Even now, as I try to give some bullshit emotional speech to the bridal party at this quaint little dinner she arranged, the bride is glaring daggers at the side of my head.

“Thank you to everyone who drove all the way out to the sticks just to rehearse walking,” I say, earning a few snorts from everyone except Elias and Poppy. “And I’m going to sit back down now before the bride lights me on fire.”

I raise my glass in toast. “To Penelope and Elias! All jokes aside,” I look down at my best friend and the woman who loves him for everything he is, giving them both a gentle smile. “I know I speak for all of us when I say- what the fuck took you so long?”

There are several cheers to that and even Elias chuckles, taking Poppy’s hand and kissing her fingers. “He makes a good point,” he says to her over the cheers.

I settle back into my seat next to Naomi as the groom leans in to kiss his bride for the thousandth time this evening.

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“Oh god!” Naomi cries in my ear. “Right there! Yes! I’m gonna come- Fuck, Graham—”

“That’s it,” I groan, seconds away from falling over the edge myself, marveling at my ability to hold it back for this long. “Give it to me, mi reina. Fucking come for me mi corazón—”

“YES!” She throws her head back on a scream as I feel her walls tighten around my cock. “Fuck, yes! Graham!”

My own orgasm rips through me with a shout as I spill deep inside her, pressing a hand to the wall to keep myself standing while she clings to my neck and shoulders, riding out both our pleasure until I see stars—

“Yeah I’ll grab another bottle,” Cristian’s voice calls from the other side of the liquor closet door just seconds before it opens and we both raise a hand to block our eyes from the sudden light.

"Shit. Fuck. Dammit!” Cristian covers his eyes, turning away toward the hall, slamming the door closed. From the other side he shouts, “What the fuck is wrong with you two!? God! This a goddamn rehearsal dinner you sick fucks!”

“Crissy?” Elias calls. “You got those bottles, mijo?”

“Sí, Papa!”

“Need any help—”