Page 80 of The Havenport Collection

Astrid

I couldn’t stop thinking about Declan. The way he felt on top of me, the deep sexy groans he made when he was inside me, the way his fingertips had left tiny bruises on my hips. I was getting all hot and bothered again.

To say it was the best sex of my life would be an understatement, because we shared so much more than just sex.

Declan was the best everything of my life to date.

The kissing, the foreplay, his incredible cock, the cuddling.

The way he made me scrambled eggs and toast at one a.m. while we watched Game of Thrones .

The entire experience was so above and beyond anything I had experienced before that to even refer to it as sex was unfair.

I couldn’t even think straight. I had more orgasms in the last twelve hours with Declan than I had in the entirety of some of my previous relationships. He explored my body eagerly, learning what I liked and making sure to give me everything I needed and everything I didn’t know I needed.

I could feel myself getting wet again just thinking about him.

I would have to break out my new friend again.

Nora wasn’t wrong. I can’t believe I lived this long without a vibrator.

Now that I’d experienced it, I wanted to start handing them out to women on the street so that no woman would have to go without.

Granted, it didn’t come close to the orgasms Declan delivered, but it would at least take the edge off until I could see him tonight.

Just as I was about to reach for it my phone buzzed.

Emily: Leaving now. I’ll pick you up in 10?

Oh shit. I’d forgotten about Monday breakfast. I promised everyone I would come.

Ten minutes? That was not enough time to shower and make myself presentable.

I looked in the mirror, and everything about my appearance screamed “just fucked.” My hair was a mess, I had makeup smeared all over my face, and there was beard burn on my neck.

I definitely had the post-orgasmic glow, and I couldn’t wipe the shit-eating grin off my face.

Oh well. If anyone wouldn’t care it was these ladies. I threw on some jeans and a hoodie and washed my face and brushed my teeth.

“I hereby call this meeting of the coven to order.”

“Nora, we are not a coven,” Cece said, while clearly texting Liam on her phone.

“I think we should be a squad. Like hashtag squadgoals.”

“No, Emily. We discussed this. Squads are very 2017, and our connection is much deeper than some shallow Taylor Swift shit. Only witchcraft can fully bind and express our bond.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. She was the odd one out in this group of friends. She seemed prim and proper and like she didn’t have time for this shit. I liked her a lot.

“And welcome, Astrid. Thank you for finally taking me up on my offer.”

Cece threw her arm around me. “We are so happy you’re here.”

“Thanks, guys,” I said bashfully. The warm welcome made me slightly uncomfortable.

“So. First order of business. Astrid, there are a few ground rules. One, the coven is sacred. Everything we discuss is confidential and shared with total trust and no judgment.”

I nodded.

“And second, sometimes during Monday breakfast we indulge in mimosas. If someone wants to make it Mimosa Monday there is no judgment here. And we never allow a coven member to drink alone.”

I nodded again. This entire experience was going to be intense.

Emily raised her hand. “I move for Mimosa Monday. Derek has been traveling, and my kids are driving me crazy. They are being such little shits. I need a break and I’m exhausted and I hate my husband right now because he gets to sleep soundly in a hotel room and eat meals without people throwing food in his hair. ”

Maggie patted Emily on the back. “I have been there. I’m so sorry.” Emily put her unwashed head on Maggie’s shoulder. It was sweet how close everyone was. Maggie discreetly picked a Cheerio out of Emily’s hair and patted her head.

“Ooh. I second the motion,” Cece said. “I worked all weekend and need to relax.”

I wasn’t in the habit of breakfast drinking, but I didn’t have to work. I didn’t have clients depending on me and deliverables to get out the door. I didn’t have to check the work of a bunch of junior associates who pulled an all-nighter finishing a memo. So I could indulge a little.

“Count me in,” I said.

“I’m out,” Maggie said with her face in her phone. “I’m on call today.”

“Sadly, me too,” Nora said. “I’m meeting some private equity suits this afternoon to talk about my business.”

“Nora, that is so exciting. What kind of investment are we talking?” Maggie asked.

“Do you need help?” I asked tentatively. This was my area of expertise.

Nora smiled at me. “I may need to pick your brain after the meeting. They came to me. And I am desperate for some capital to ramp up my online business, so I figured I’d take a meeting.”

I nodded. “If you have questions, go to the ladies’ room and text me. I’ll keep my phone on. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be the only woman in the room.”

She reached across the booth and squeezed my hand. “Thanks, hon.”

Jackie came over with coffee and took our drink order.

I was starting to love this place. Aside from the food, the atmosphere was so homey and nice.

Everyone waved to us when we came in, and several people came to the table to introduce themselves to me and say hello.

The decor was vintage, but everything looked shiny and new. And the food was incredible.

“Astrid, you are famous. The brilliant beauty who tamed the beast,” Cece gushed.

“I would hardly call Declan a beast,” I replied, feeling a bit defensive.

“You have no idea what he was like before you entered the picture. Seriously. He was such a grumpy asshole. He used to pick on Liam all the time. Good-natured brother stuff, but still. His bad moods were relentless.”

I knew she meant well, but I was a bit annoyed. Declan wasn’t a bad guy, he was just an introvert who had a lot on his plate. I didn’t want to be rude, but I wanted her to shut up already. I’m sure Liam wasn’t perfect either.

Nora seemed to read me. “Astrid, you look a bit…tired?”

I couldn’t hide the smile from my face. It felt unnatural.

I wasn’t a smiler. My resting bitch face was legendary.

But I couldn’t help it. Every single time I thought about Declan, which was approximately 47,000 times per minute, I smiled.

I still couldn’t believe I had jumped him.

I was not usually one for initiating sex.

But he did not seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to like my proactive approach.

Nora grabbed my mimosa. “I’m taking this away from you. You are sex drunk.”

“I’m not sex drunk,” I snapped, grabbing the glass and taking a big sip.

“It’s cute that you think you can hide this from us.” Emily patted my arm.

I took another swig of mimosa to keep from having to say anything.

“There is no judgment here,” Cece said kindly. “I used to show up sex drunk too.”

“She still does,” Maggie quipped, furiously typing on her phone.

I exhaled. “Fine. I’m sex drunk. Happy?”

“I knew it.”

Cece patted me on the shoulder. “Congrats. I am marrying a Quinn so I know what you’re dealing with.”

I laughed. I was smitten. I couldn’t hide it from my friends so there was no way I could hide it from myself.

Declan was awesome, and I had never experienced this type of connection in my life.

I missed him already and I wanted more of him.

I couldn’t lie to myself and pretend this was a fake relationship anymore.

My rules and plans and contractual provisions had gone out the window.

I should be freaking out right now, but I felt great. Must be all the orgasms.

“What about you, Nora? You are the single gal here. What’s happening in your love life?” Emily asked.

Nora sighed and dramatically sipped her coffee.

“Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I briefly dated a guy from Boston for a few weeks before the holidays. It was fun. Since then nothing.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Cece added.

“Believe it, ladies. I am single and loving it. Plus I’ve already hooked up with all the decent looking guys in this town, and the ones I haven’t are either married to or dating you gals.”

Maggie looked up from her phone. “Nora, there are a lot of guys out there. But I think you’re just conveniently single right now because of one Lucas Kim.”

Nora’s fork clattered to the floor.

Cece patted Maggie’s hand. “Don’t go there.”

Nora slowly looked up at Maggie, her face a mask of anger. “I despise Lucas Kim. And this is a place of trust, so I am not going to snap at you. But please, please do not imply that I have some kind of sexual attraction to that vile man.”

Maggie was not intimidated by Nora’s theatrics. “Nora, you don’t hate him. You hate the feelings he inspires in your panties,” she said drolly, taking a bite of omelette. Maggie was a stone-cold badass, and I prayed she would want to be my friend.

Emily and Cece exchanged looks.

Nora glared at Maggie, and I thought she would throw a punch.

A tense moment passed and then Nora’s face softened.

“Oh Mags, you know me, I tend to have too many feelings. But I truly don’t want to date anyone right now, and that includes Lucas Kim.

” I had no idea what had passed between them, but it was more complicated than I could comprehend.

Nora’s kindness toward Maggie was confusing, but then again I was new at female friendships.

Maggie smiled at Nora. “Hey, I get it. I don’t know what’s going to happen with Josh and me, but I promise you this.

I will never, ever date again. Men are terrible.

” I didn’t know Maggie well, but I could see that she was hurting.

I knew she had two kids and was a nurse practitioner in town.

I didn’t know what had happened with her husband, but I sensed she wasn’t the type to overshare.

“A-woman,” Nora replied, raising her coffee mug.