I smirked and sat back in my chair, taking another swig of beer to finish off my second bottle. I held it out at my side, where some girl was there instantly to replace it with another.

Caleb made a show of scanning the room, his gaze landing on the girl wearing the flannel shirt and no pants. She was the only one half dressed. When he crooked his finger at her, she walked over with an extra bounce in her step. “Let’s deal, already,” Caleb said, kissing her ear.

The game continued as more people filtered in and out of the building. There were a few new faces, including one girl in particular I caught Josh exchanging glances with as the night progressed.

“Baby, can you go grab me a beer?” Mark asked Mackenzie, squeezing her knee. She’d been sitting on his lap since she’d left Caleb’s, Mark unaware of the fact that her bare toes had been working their way up and down my outer thigh. With him in the chair beside me and her sitting facing me, I’d also noticed quite a few suggestive glances she’d thrown my way.

Taking his girl outside and fucking her until she was on her knees, unable to walk back to him, was looking more and more like a great plan.

“Sure,” she said, looking to me before standing. I shot her a wink and watched her sway her hips as she crossed the room. I was about to follow her when Josh’s loud cackle broke out.

“Shit, I almost forgot, Mark. Guess who we saw today, looking fine as always?”

“Who?” Mark looked bored as he threw his cards down, folding first.

“Your old ball and chain.”

Mark rolled his eyes, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table. “What was she up to?”

“Didn’t talk, just admired.”

“She was always good for that.” Mark snickered.

I threw down my cards to fold, irritation heavy in my veins.

“I’m sure it was more than that pretty face of hers that kept you entertained.”

“Obviously not, since he spent every weekend here,” the guy beside Josh interjected with a chuckle.

“What can I say? I needed more than a sweet girl looking to settle me down.”

“Can we stop talking about her already?” Mackenzie reappeared, shoving the beer into Mark’s hand but not moving to sit back down.

“Aw, you still jealous, Mackenzie? Don’t be. Unlike Cassie, we all know you’re a good lay.”

Cassie? The name didn’t suit her. I tilted my head to the side enough to gauge the expression Mark was fighting to hide. Something told me it wasn’t her who was bad in bed, but him who didn’t know how to please her. It was a shame I’d missed my chance to show her what a real man could do with her sweetness.

“You should have brought her up here a few times back then. I’m sure a few of the girls could have taught her some moves.” Josh looked up at Mackenzie. “Right, baby?”

Mackenzie scoffed, her hands planted on her hips as she marched away, kicking the back of Josh’s chair when she passed him.

“Cassie will never have any moves worth checking out, so might as well leave her alone,” Mark said.

“Come on, she couldn’t have been that bad. Tell the truth: Cassie Clarke is a little hellion in bed. You just didn’t want to share.”

Caleb looked up from his hand for the first time since they’d started yapping about her.

Mark shook his head, laughing. “I’ll say this: The girl gives decent head, but—”

Caleb’s fist slammed down on the table, startling everyone except me. They all shut up, staring at him for an explanation.

“We’re here to play cards, so shut. The. Hell. Up.” His head moved slowly from Mark to Josh, pinning them in place. “Another fucking word about Cassandra, and I’ll rip your God damn tongue out! Understand?”

“Yeah…sorry,” Josh stuttered, visibly shaking. “I didn’t mean any harm. She’s a good girl.”

“Damn right she is, so not another word about her!”

Caleb knew her—knew Cassandra. That was a name better fit for the sweet blonde. I smiled down at my cards, enjoying the fact that maybe our paths would cross again. And if they ever did, I’d be sure to take my time showing her all the reasons she needed a man in her bed. After Mark, she’d appreciate an all-nighter from me.

After Caleb’s threats, the table remained relatively quiet for a while. As the night wore on, I knew Caleb had a plan in motion—what it was, I wasn’t sure, but I knew it had to do with Josh.

The girl Josh had been exchanging glances with all night walked past me to the kitchen area, and I watched his eyes follow her. He had a thing for her, and I had my in. She was about his age, shorter, and blonde with dark roots. No angel, by far. When she walked past again, I grabbed her hand and pulled her into my lap.

“I need a good-luck charm,” I murmured, nuzzling her neck. “You look just the part.”

The moment I twisted my arm around the girl’s waist, my thumb caressing under her bra, Josh’s attention shifted from the game to her. I caught the slight upturn of Caleb’s expression.

“What’s your name?” the girl asked, situating herself further on my lap, running one hand around my neck while a finger on the other raked over my stomach.

“Does it matter?” I asked. My eyes were on my cards. Another shit hand.

“I guess not.” She leaned back into my chest, and I caught the hard stare Josh set on her. I had his attention.

“Josh, let’s go,” Caleb complained. “You’re up.”

Reluctantly, Josh pulled his gaze back to his cards. “Get me a beer, Liv,” he ordered.

Liv was apparently the girl’s name, because his words caused her to stiffen for only the slightest second before she replied, “No. Get your own damn beer.”

The corner of my mouth turned up. Josh didn’t say another word. Liv had some attitude. It was a turn-on.

Mark stood the moment the hand ended.

“I’m out,” he said, paying the pot. “See you around, Caleb.” His words were rich with sarcasm as he walked to the couch where Mackenzie sat moping. He took her hand to help her up, and she wrapped herself around him.

Once they were out the front door, Caleb looked to Josh. “Since when did he become such an annoying ass?” he asked.

Josh was too focused on Liv to answer. Her hands worked under my black T-shirt, her legs positioned over my lap to hide the fact that she was stroking my dick through the thickness of my jeans. I pressed my lips to her shoulder, my eyes moving to Josh’s.

“Another hand, Josh?” Caleb asked, still unable to pull Josh’s angry gaze away from Liv.

His jaw worked under his skin as he watched us. I held a straight face and took Liv’s head in my hands, dipped her back, and slowly placed my mouth on hers. Her lips parted and her tongue sneaked out to meet mine.

She tasted like beer and honey. I wasn’t one to waste time kissing—it was too intimate for my usual purposes—but the show it presented was worth it. She wasn’t bad. I slid my finger through her hair, deepening the kiss until she pulled back, her lips bright red and swollen.

She squirmed in my lap, which told me she wanted to take things to a more private setting. I kissed her hand and smirked when she stood up, adjusting her short flower-print dress.