Page 42 of Petals of Blue, Part One (Wilted Duet #1)

Thirty-Seven

BLUE

“You deserve everything you want, Ma. If that's them, then that's okay because it won't be like the first time. Sure, you’re older and learned hard life lessons, but you are different.

Plus, you've built a kick ass friend group who will always be looking out for you should you need to hide a body, or bodies. "

Violet's words this morning have sparked many ideas and possible paths. I feel like it's up to me how my relationships with the guys progress, even as they force their way into every facet of my life.

It's tradition for me and Violet to go out for breakfast on our birthdays, and this year was no different except our topics of conversation. Normally I give boy advice and offer encouraging words, but the tables turned.

V watched me with a knowing expression while I stared at my hash browns for probably far too long. I just haven't been able to get them out of my head. The guys, not the hash browns.

Once again, after our emotions came to a head in a heated argument between me and Felix, they've only gotten closer to me. It's so hard not to think of myself as weak for allowing them in. Beating myself up about it doesn't help anything, though. They haven't allowed me space to pull away.

I tried the night Felix proclaimed their intentions to Jared's parents. It didn't do anything except bolster their resolve. And dampened my panties when Felix demanded respect.

Sometimes I lose myself in my feelings. I'm emotionally competent enough to know that I spent so long trying to tamp them down and focus on Violet that I caused a problem.

Avoiding my feelings just shoves them into a corner until they explode. And Felix handled me perfectly. He could have called me a bitch or told me I was being childish, or whatever, but he calmly told me he was out of patience and needed me to back off or leave.

What was shocking in its own right was that I didn’t leave. It didn't even cross my mind, and that was just another sign that I might be losing the fight to keep my boundaries in place.

I kind of want to blame my friends for not bullying me into staying bitter and mean. Like right now, on my birthday of all days, they're doing the same thing as Violet.

Fucking supporting me.

I wholeheartedly believe I need a kick in the ass to pull up my angry bitch panties so I can kick those fuckers to the curb. Yet here I am sipping a vodka seven with a lime while even Janine gives me the green light to follow my heart.

At least she seems to be choking on her words a little.

I need another drink, and music loud enough I can't hear the sappy shit my friends have to say.

The music's thumping, the shots are pouring, and I'm finally feeling free of everything. Maybe it's the alcohol or it could be the conversations I was forced to have before coming to Serpent's Kiss, but I'm feeling lighter than ever before.

Maybe it’s knowing that no matter what choices I make, even possibly the wrong ones, my friends will still be there for me. It's strange to confide in others and care what they think, but I've had a few years to get used to it, I suppose.

Sweat begins to bead beneath my tiny blue dress as I grind to the beat of the music with my girls. Nothing will ever compare to this feeling.

A hand snakes around my chest from behind and draws me back into a large chest. I stiffen slightly, attempting to assess the situation when a rough voice shouts near my ear, but not close enough to feel intimate or sexy.

"Hey...boss."

I gasp, my heart flying to my throat as my hands reach for Kevin's forearm. No way! Bending back and to the side, I beam up at my friend and widen my eyes in question.

"You fucking did it, Blue!" he confirms, looking so damn proud my heart swells like a million fucking sizes. "Work out the logistics with Felix, then you’ll get your own office!"

"You'll be taking orders from me by the end of the month!" I screech, jumping before flinging myself into one of his bear hugs.

I passed the security test, fitness test, and crazy ass interview our owner required to see how I would run things. It's crossed my mind that the owner demanded more from me because I'm a woman with no prior experience. It's fine, though, because it helped build my confidence for the position.

I couldn't have done it without Kevin's guidance on the important things in our building, nor could I have learned the required self-defense moves without Levi. My girl friends supported me from the beginning when I told them I wanted to manage our security team.

"I did it!"

Suddenly, Kevin is shoved away from me and replaced with an angry Jared. I'm too stunned to stop Jared from acting like an ass. "Get your fucking hands off my woman!"

Caveman much?

"Jared!" I grab his forearm and tug him toward me. "Stop."

The strobe lights flashing over his dark complexion mesmerize me as his brown eyes drag down to me. "He was holding you," Jared accuses with a slight snarl in his throat.

Maybe I should be annoyed with his behavior, but all I see is a kind of possessiveness I've been craving for a long ass time. Am I crazy?

Dragging him down to me by his neck so I can speak in his ear, I shiver when his slight stubble scratches my cheek. "That's Kevin," I say. "Levi's husband."

Jared pulls back a little to study my face, and I let him see the truth in my eyes. I haven't fucked around with any man since they came back into my life and frazzled all my nerve endings. His gaze softens with curiosity and adoration?

Unable to hold the good news in any longer, I clutch his neck harder and yell out my victory. "I got the job! I'm going to be the security manager!"

Excitement widens his gaze, and his hands grip my hips in a tight hold. "I'm so fucking proud of you!"

Where my heart swelled with Kevin's praise, my soul ignites with Jared's. Before I can thank him or melt into a puddle of tears, he yanks me into his solid body and presses his lips to mine.

I gasp, opening up to allow him entry. Music and booze freed me before; now it's just Jared. He unshackles me with every squeeze of his fingers, every nip of his teeth, and tease of his tongue.

Music doesn't exist here.

The other bodies writhing on the dance floor disappear.

Just me and Jared. The boy who hurt me, now the man who ignites me.

Until it isn't just us. Heat scorches my back and new hands wrap themselves beneath my hip bones. "My turn," Roman rumbles in my ear, soaking my pussy.

Rome tugs me away from Jared, breaking the kiss and starting a new fire in me as he trails his own path of nips and licks up the side of my neck.

Holy shit...