“I’m sure it will be. Here, I’ll share my rice with you,” he said, pulling a small pouch from the pocket of his tux.
“Thanks.”
After tossing rice on the couple, Cobra and Desiree, along with the other wedding party and guests, watched as Colton and Kelly drove away from the wedding reception.
Once the car was no longer in sight, he turned to Desiree, wondering what to do. He knew what hewantedto do, but that was out of the question. Still, the wedding reception was over, and this was the time when they should part ways, but he wasn’t quite ready.
He would forever be grateful to Richard for his timely appearance. “I’ve ordered the car to be brought around, Allison. The jet is fueled and ready to go,” Richard said. Then he turned to Cobra, “You need a flight back to New York? If so, you can certainly join us.”
“Thanks, Richard, but I’m fine,” Cobra said, accepting that he had shared enough of Desiree’s company today.
Richard nodded. “Then I’ll see you Thursday for our chess game. Come early to dinner.”
“I’ll make sure that I do.”
Cobra turned to look at the woman whose arm he was still holding. It was time to release it. “Thanks for the dance, Desiree.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Cobra.”
He chuckled—she was just being nice in front of Richard. But that was okay. In five months, Cobra was going to prove to her that the pleasure had been all his. And if he had anything to say about it, there would be a lot more of it. At least that was something he could look forward to.
***
Cobra heard a knock on his hotel room door. After glancing through the peephole, he opened it, then stood aside to let Cortez enter. “What do you want, Tez?”
“I thought I’d come keep you company for a spell.”
Cobra rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the door. “I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Straw, Tomb, and Titus. I don’t want or need any company.”
“You even said that to Savannah’s mayor?” Cortez asked, grinning. “You must really have it bad.”
“Whatever,” Cobra said, leaving his place at the door to walk over to the love seat and sit down. “I know the only reason for your visit tonight is to see if you could catch a woman in my room.”
Cortez chuckled as he eased down in the chair. “You are known to engage in that sort of thing after a wedding.”
“That was before Bernice Whey. You made a trip here for nothing.”
“It’s never for nothing when I visit one of my brothers. Seriously, I just came to keep you company.”
“And as I said, I don’t want company.”
Cortez chuckled. “Being horny has made you—”
“Unpredictable,” Cobra interrupted. “At least that’s what you said earlier.”
“So, you admit to being horny?”
“No reason for me not to admit to it. I’ve never gone a month without getting laid, and going seven months is uncharted territory for me. But I’m managing.” Then, to change the subject, Cobra asked, “So… Why are you here, keeping me company, and not with your wife?”
Cortez leaned back in his chair. “You know what it’s like when the Bennett cousins get together. They’ll watch a movie and catch up on all the family gossip.”
Cobra nodded. Yes, he knew their routine. It always boggled his mind that three Masters men had married Bennett women. His cousin Quinn had married Alexia, his cousin Grey had married Brandy Bennett, and Cortez had married Victoria Bennett. Colton had come close. Although his wife, Kelly, was not a Bennett, she was a half-sister to Monica, who was a Bennett.
“So, who is the woman you were with earlier?” Cortez asked.
“Don’t you know?” Cobra quipped.
Cortez shook his head. “I couldn’t help but notice that you seemed to be holding on tight to her. And earlier, I saw the two of you dancing. So, to answer your smart-ass question, no, I don’t know who she is.”
