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“Wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Shell mumbled as she buried her face in her wine glass.
“What was that?” Izzy asked.
Chloe blinked, volleying her head between the players as she tried to keep up with the byplay. Despite her sky-high stress level, they’d managed to wring a smile from her with their banter.
“I believe she was saying something to the effect of not being deterred by the threat of Copper’s hand on her ass,” Steph broke in.
Mamma V dropped a giant bowl of tortilla chips and a smaller one filled with salsa on the table. “Best I could do, ladies. Looks like I’m going grocery shopping tomorrow. Dammed if one of these fool men would do it themselves.”
Chloe opened her mouth to thank the surprisingly maternal older woman just as Izzy said, “Shit, Shell, I had no idea.” Her lips curled in a snarky grin. “Bet you’re gonna dangle this over his head to get a spanking on purpose, aren’t you?”
Shell turned cherry red.
“I would,” Steph said without looking up from her position of refilling her glass. When she’d finished giving herself a generous portion, she held it out to Chloe who shook her head no. Logan was leaving tomorrow for a mission she knew nothing about. A mission that could be dangerous to both his physical and mental health. They had the night to spend with each other. There were a few things she wanted to say to him and needed a clear head to do so.
“I’m good, thanks,” she said, unable to keep the strain out of her voice.
Steph squeezed her hand.
“Guys,” Toni said, snatching up the wine bottle. “They already know Chloe’s gonna tell us everything.” She shrugged, watching the red liquid fill her glass. “We’re sisters. It’s what we do.”
“Here, here,” Steph said, raising her glass. The rest of the women did the same. “You too Clo,” she said, gesturing to Chloe’s empty glass resting on the table. “You’re one of us, babe. And we’re gonna get you through this shit.”
The moment Logan agreed to Esposito’s terms, Chloe’s stomach had twisted into a hot ball of tension. She felt it still, burning its way through the lining of her gut. Her entire body vibrated like a pressure cooker, rattling around as the force of the steam grew to threatening levels. If someone didn’t open the valve soon, the seal was going to burst, only instead of boiling steam and water spewing every which way, it’d be a messy explosion of her emotions.
“Thanks, you guys,” she said, not even trying to hide the choked quality of her voice. The women clinked their glasses together just as the door to the kitchen opened and the men invaded their female bonding.
“Guess it’s too much to hope you ladies don’t already know exactly what’s going on,” Zach said as he moved directly toward Toni.
“See,” she said, tipping her head back to accept a kiss most would have found too hot for mixed company. Not this group.
“You know,” Maverick started as he literally lifted Steph straight out of her seat. He plopped his own ass down in it then drew his woman onto his lap. “Every time—”
With a roll of her eyes, Steph said, “We do know, Mav. Every time you walk in a room where we are, you get a little flare of hope that we’ll all be naked and rolling around on the table, moaning, and getting each other off. Then you have to face the crushing sting of disappointment when time after time it doesn’t happen.”
Chloe’s eyes widened just as the warmth of Logan’s hands landed on her shoulders. She blinked. Not a single person in the room seemed stunned by Steph’s outburst.
“Well…” Mav said before nipping at her jaw. His hands freely roamed over her, not even pretending to avoid her breasts.
Steph shuddered, her eyes darkening as she glanced back at him.
“Well, what?” Izzy asked. Jig sidled up behind her, in much the same position as Logan was with Chloe. Copper just crooked a finger at Shell who rose and went to him immediately. He lifted her to the counter where she rested her head on his large deltoid.
“Well if you ladies all know what I want, why the hell won’t you give it to me?” Mav whined. “You’re supposed to support my dreams, Steph.” He mock growled and she giggled.
The room erupted in laughter and a few raunchy yet encouraging comments from the men.
Above her, Logan remained silent much as she did. Maverick’s in-your-face sexuality and humor were a little out of her realm of experience. As time went on, she’d probably find him as hilarious as the others, but for now, most of what came out of his mouth stunned her to silence.
Logan’s thumbs stroked along her collar bones. The gentle touch soothed her in a way nothing else could have. It also drove up her need to be alone with him. She zoned out a little, the hypnotic repetition of him stroking her skin lulling her. Next thing she knew, warm breath was tickling her ear. “Let’s roll. I need time with you before I gotta leave.”
