Page 75 of His White Moonlight (Dominant CEO Shifter Romance #1)

Music thumped loudly in the bar, and I grinned at Sophia as she plopped down next to me, holding out a cocktail.

“Here’s to you,” she said. “For getting your degree in just three years. I really wish I’d gone to your school and had credits when I started college so I wouldn’t be looking at another year come this fall.”

I clinked glasses with her. “No, you don’t. We both would have been tortured.”

She leaned in and kissed my cheek. “For you, it would have been worth it.”

Winking at her, I took a sip of my drink.

The years I’d spent feeling abandoned and alone felt like a distant memory. Sophia was one of my closest friends. She knew all about my past and about who Bennett was to me.

It would have been hard to keep either of them from her.

We’d roomed together the first year in the dorms then moved into the place Bennett had renovated.

She’d witnessed the trauma my years of school had left me with and hadn’t turned away from it.

She’d accepted me, my screaming nightmares, and how easily I could startle under the right circumstances.

And she’d helped me heal with that acceptance.

Sophia had also been a great friend whenever I’d needed to talk about my fears of a future with Bennett, which hadn’t been very often because he’d been nearly perfect at adapting to what I needed, to get what he needed…

me. Although he’d shown up occasionally, he’d otherwise kept his word. He hadn’t moved with me.

He’d called nightly and messaged throughout the day. He was always present. Always there for me. But not in a caging way. In a supportive one. During the first two months of school, I’d gone home every weekend, leaving after my last class on Friday. After that, I’d started leaving Saturday morning.

He’d struggled with the separation a few times, but when he did, he’d reach out, asking for some in-person time. He never interfered with who I talked to. Never said anything about who he smelled on me. He would just hold me, tell me he missed me, and usually spend the night in my bed.

He’d learned to let go. And so had I. I’d gone to parties and other social events with Sophia and made more friends.

None as close as her, though. Or as close as Miranda, who’d messaged daily without fail.

Sometimes it was office gossip. Sometimes pack gossip.

Sometimes it was a random picture of whatever jewelry or bag she was lusting after.

“I’m surprised your furred wonder let you out for some fun on your first night home,” Sophia said, bringing me back to the present.

“He promised that he’d stay away until I texted him for a ride home, and I promised to be his for twenty-four hours in return.”

She paused mid-sip. “As in his-his? As in you’re finally saying yes?”

I just smiled and took another sip.

“Wow. So, like, is this your bachelorette party? Shit, I should have ordered some guys. Call Miranda and tell her to come out.”

She pressed her hands together, silently pleading with me. After meeting, the pair had hit it off, mostly because Sophia and Miranda both shared a love for fashion and enjoyed having fun. I was a little worried about the fun part, though.

“If I call her, do you promise not to order any male models?”

“I swear.”

I sent a text.

Me: Sophia and I are at a club downtown. Want to join us?

Miranda: Send me the address. I’ll be right there.

Sophia cheered and waved down a server to order a line of shots. She knew the only time I let loose was when I had a trusted designated sober person with us, whether we had a ride or not. And thanks to Miranda’s wolfy tolerance, getting drunk was nearly impossible for her.

The shots were lined up and waiting for us by the time Miranda walked into the busy club.

“Look at you getting ready to misbehave,” Miranda said when she saw what was waiting. “What’s the occasion?”

“Wrenly’s going to say yes tonight,” Sophia said. “Our sisterhood of singularity is about to be cut to two.”

Miranda’s gaze cut to mine. “Seriously? You’re accepting his mark?”

“Yes, unless you say or do something to freak me out.”

She quickly picked up a shot and handed it to me.

“Hell no. You’re going to make him the happiest mate ever tonight. Does he know? No. He can’t know, or you wouldn’t be sitting here drinking. Hurry up. Take the shot before he shows up.”

I laughed at her and downed the shot. It burned. “He’ll blame you if I get too drunk. Keep that in mind.”

“Oh, I will.” She focused on Sophia, eyeing her clothes. “I know you have better taste than that. Did you have some kind of home emergency that forced you to evacuate without packing and borrow from Wrenly’s closet?”

Sophia laughed and plucked at her T-shirt and jean shorts.

“These are now my standard clubbing clothes. Less attention in these.”

“And why do we want less attention?” Miranda asked.

“I’m not the till-death-do-us-part type, and we’ve hit the age where men start craving seeing us in a white dress.

Unless it’s a fuck-boy looking for a good time, I’m telling them all I’m currently gender transitioning and that I’ll call them after I’m healed from surgery.

No one’s left their number with me yet.”

Miranda nearly died laughing. While I knew Sophia wasn’t serious about transitioning, she was very serious about avoiding commitment because of how badly her dad had screwed over her mom in their messy divorce.

“Not all men are scumbags,” I said. “Look at Bennett. He’s waited fifteen years for me.”

“He’s a unicorn,” Sophia said.

“Something will be pointy on him tonight, but it won’t be on his forehead,” Miranda said.

I made an “ew” face. “How can you dress so nice and have no class?”

Miranda winked at me. Sophia laughed and handed us all the second round of shots. It didn’t burn as much this time, and when they dragged me out to the dance floor, I was ready for the packed, body-to-body bumping and grinding.

Sophia used me as her dance partner, getting dirty with her moves, which entertained me and more than a few guys watching us. I lost myself to the music until Sophia motioned she was thirsty. Apparently, grinding on me like a perv was dehydrating. That, or she was craving a better buzz.

We left the floor and ordered another round of drinks, not shots, and sat at our reserved table.

“So where are you staying now that you’re back?” Miranda asked as we sipped.

“Bennett has a downtown flat that’ll be near the welfare center,” I said. “We’re going back there tonight.”

“Smart since the rest of your family is back at the old house,” Sophia said. “I hear the mating sessions with a shifter can be pretty intense.”

Miranda shot her a warning look, and Sophia shrugged.

“Wrenly’s the one who told me.”

“He won’t be intense with you,” Miranda said. “He won’t do anything to scare you.”

A guy approached our table, looking at Sophia. “I saw your moves and would like to experience them firsthand. Interested?”

The guy was so blatant about what he was after, I thought for sure Sophia would agree.

“Give me five more days, and I’ll be cleared to use what the doctor reconstructed for me. I’ve heard that having a vagina is way better than having a dick and can’t wait to try it out.” She held out her phone. “Your number?”

He shook his head and walked away without saying anything else.

Miranda howled with laughter, and Sophia smacked her arm.

“You’re going to give away the lie if you’re obvious like that.”

“Oh, he knew you were lying. Trust me. Next time, ask if they’re bi and into trans. It’ll be more impactful and leave them in more doubt.”

Sophia looked suitably impressed and did a silent toast in thanks.

I was taking another sip when the second guy approached. He wasn’t looking at Sophia, though. He was looking at me.

“Would you like to dance? With me?”

He was so shy and so cute about it that I felt bad about having to turn him down.

“Yes,” Sophia said.

“She’d love to dance,” Miranda added, tugging me to my feet and pushing me toward the guy.

He caught me and immediately backed away, leaving a respectful amount of space.

“Would you?” he asked again, obviously aware that I’d been forced.

“Sure.”

Bennett had been great about all my interactions with the opposite sex, rarely showing any sign of jealousy.

However, that wasn’t why I was dancing with this guy.

This one looked like he’d put some effort into himself.

No name brands like half the people here, but still nice clothes, light on the cologne, and a trendy hair style that looked freshly cut.

And I had a feeling he’d go home and never try going to a bar again if he got turned down right now.

So I followed him out to the dance floor and had a good time for three dances before another girl joined us. Then another. I smiled at him and waved with a wink and a nod to my table before leaving him with his actual options.

“How did you do that?” Sophia asked.

“I didn’t do anything. He did it by not grinding on me like someone else I danced with today. Girls like guys who can be present and not have to dominate.”

“Wait. Say that again so I can send that to Bennett, too,” Miranda said.

When I looked at her, she was holding her phone up.

“Too? What did you do?” I asked.

She grinned and showed me her phone. She’d sent a recording of me dancing with the guy along with a message saying it was time to pick me up before someone else did.

“Why do you have to stir up trouble?” I asked.

“Trouble? Tipping him off will get me the bracelet I’ve been wanting.”

“The one you sent me last week?” Sophia asked. “Your willpower is commendable.”

I snorted at them and settled into my chair to wait for Bennett.

“As fun as this is, I think I’m going to bail before the green monster gets here. He’s frisky when he’s jealous, and I don’t want to witness the good times I’m trying to avoid, or I’ll wake up in a tiara and dressed in white.”