Page 49 of My Ex-Best Men (Ex Marks the Spot #4)

***Claire***

A nthony was going to kill Will. I was a horrible person, though, because something about the wild rage in Anthony’s face turned me on and made me weak in the knees. He looked even larger than normal as he leapt onto the stage and growled. “Get the fuck off of her.”

Zane was there a second later, looking every bit the rockstar accused of trashing hotel rooms a decade earlier. He had a dangerous look in his eyes as he came at Will.

I swore and dropped to my knees so I could try to stop the men I loved from killing the other man I loved.

I didn’t even have time for that thought to solidify because Anthony was there, wrapping his arm around my waist and yanking me up from the ground.

I gasped as he held me like a kid, twisting me away from Will.

“Oh, you motherfucker.” Zane let out a bark of laughter suddenly and Anthony’s body relaxed around me. “You’re lucky you flipped that thing up when you did, asshole.”

Will’s laughter rang out. “I wish I had a picture of your faces.”

Anthony’s chest still rose and fell faster than normal as he held me close. He brushed his mouth over the side of my head and groaned. “I think someone deserves a spanking for that.”

I twisted around so I could look at him over my shoulder. “Will?”

He gave me a dark smile and shook his head. “Oh, no. It’s your sweet little ass that’s going to be warmed soon. You were enjoying that. You like the idea of your men turning into animals over you, don’t you?”

I huffed at him, a sound that wasn’t as effective as it might’ve been since he was still holding me like I was a child. “I don’t see how I’m the one in trouble here.”

Zane plucked me from his arms and put me on my feet. “You’re objecting a lot for a woman who gets soaked when her ass is spanked.”

Sophia’s loud shriek from directly behind us was the only sign that she’d approached. “Oh, my god! You’re wild, Claire! Also, Jake, come here and take some dirty talking notes from Zane. Wow.”

I was horrified but when I looked back at the rest of the room and saw Jake dancing between two half naked strippers, I couldn’t hold onto that emotion.

My laugh was so surprising that I choked on it and ended up with tears leaking down my cheeks as Zane patted my back.

I pointed at Jake as my only explanation.

“Well, I was going to take some time to rip my brother a new one for crashing my bachelorette party in the most traumatizing way imaginable but I think I have to go steal my almost husband back from those strippers.” Sophia gave me a finger gun as she backed away. “Spanking, huh? You skank.”

Will pulled his helmet off and the sight of his sweaty hair sent me right back into a heightened state of arousal. He caught my expression and gave me a teasing grin. “See something you like?”

“I can’t believe you snuck away from the bar to do this. How the fuck did you even know about it? Unless…” Zane’s eyes widened. “Is this your second gig?”

I put my hands on my hips and narrowed my gaze. “He’s too good at it.”

Will grabbed my hips and pulled me close.

“You’re the only person I’ve ever danced for or ever will dance for.

A few guys from the station do moonlight as dancers and they thought it was hilarious that they were going to be dancing at my sister’s party.

One thing led to another and suddenly I was watching clips from Magic Mike before coming in here. ”

“I think I’m going to require a dance once a week.” I considered him. “Actually…. More. And you can teach Zane and Anthony some moves, too, and then the three of you can dance for me. Anthony could be a cop. And Zane… Zane, you’d be a construction worker. Yeah, I like that.”

“Why the hell can’t I be the cop?” Zane slipped into place behind me and nuzzled my neck. “I’d love to handcuff you and lock you up for being a bad girl.”

I shivered and was seconds from dragging the three of them away to have my way with them when one of the other dancers joined us.

“Will, man, you’re a natural. You sure you don’t want to join us?”

I slipped out from between my guys, still a little too shy to be so blatant about our relationship.

I looked at the guy and saw that he was in just his tiny underwear.

Blushing and looking away, I giggled again.

I couldn’t help it. There was just something about the strippers that had brought out an almost immature side of me.

I felt like covering my eyes and only sneaking a peek or two from between my fingers.

“Well, isn’t that just the cutest sound ever. Is that sweet little Claire, all grown up?” The guy put his hands on his hips and flexed. “Remember me?”

Will growled, proving he could be just as jealous as Anthony and Zane. “Put your clothes back on, Randy.”

I looked back at the man, shock making me forget his near naked state. “Randy? Randy Faulkner?”

I knew something about Randy that I was willing to bet Will didn’t if he was acting threatened by the other man. Randy was as gay as the day was long. He wasn’t the scrawny guy he’d been in high school, though. That much was for sure.

“The one and only.” He flexed again and then laughed when I rushed over to hug him. “Damn, sweetheart, you are still just as sweet as ever, aren’t you?”

I was aware of the three bulldogs behind me growling but I waved them off. “You look so different! I didn’t recognize you. Of course, I’ve never seen you this close to naked before. Nice.”

He grinned, flashing twin dimples. “Those three men behind you are all thinking about ripping my head off, honey. Should we tell them I’m not a threat?

I’m not in the closet anymore, thank god.

I still haven’t announced it at the fire station, though.

But if it’ll save me from having Will swing those big muscles at me in a mean way, I’ll let the gay cat out of the bag. ”

Will, of course, having heard every word, stilled. “Huh. Good for you.”

Anthony grumbled. “I guess you can keep your arms.”

“You’re a very, very lucky girl, Claire. Let’s get drinks sometime soon. I’ll tell you all about my tryst with your Uncle Sal.” He laughed at my horrified expression and hip bumped me before strolling away.

Zane’s laughter had me spinning around to glare at him. I crossed my arms. “It’s not funny! I’m starting to wonder if there’s a gay man in the state that Uncle Sal hasn’t been with.”

Will moved closer to me again and started dancing to the music. “Cheer up, baby. How about another dance before we get out of here? Anthony and Zane could watch…”

That triggered my body and mind to forget everything else around us. I swallowed and pressed my hips back against Will. “Maybe we-”

“Will!” Madeline was breathless as she stumbled up the stairs and joined us on the stage. She bumped into Zane and then grabbed Will’s arm. She hadn’t been drunk when she was claiming I couldn’t control myself just a few minutes earlier. “The girls all want a dance! I’m first, of course!”

My own jealousy trigger stomped on, I gently pushed her arm off of Will and shook my head. “No. He only dances for me.”

Madeline’s mask slipped for just a beat, then she was back to playing drunk. She batted my hand away and slid closer to Will, pressing her chest together like some sort of tit offering. “That’s silly. He’s my best friend. He can dance for me.”

I looked up at Will, watching to see how he’d handle her. I trusted him completely and fell even more in love with him when he pulled me closer and turned so I was between the two of them.

“Nope. Like Claire said, I only dance for her.” He nodded to the rest of the room. “Plenty of available men out there waiting for a chance to dance with someone other than Jake.”

Anthony grunted. “Good luck with that. We’re leaving. Our woman was promised a private dance and she’s going to get it now.”

Zane stepped around Madeline but didn’t give her a single look. “Did you eat enough, baby? You’re going to need your energy.”

Feeling seen and chosen more than I ever had in my life, I bit my lip and turned in Will’s arms. All I had to do was wrap my arms around his neck and he picked me up to carry me away. I was so in love with the three of them. Madly in love. “I wouldn’t say no to eating cake off of someone’s chest.”