Without meeting him. “Damn,” I whispered.
“Hey, it’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to it,” she assured me. “He’s sent me pictures, and Jay has sent pics to Milo,and his dad ishot, okay? We agreed that it would only be in name, and for the kids, but frankly, I’m looking forward to sharing a house with a guy who looks like a hockey player.”
My brows went up.
Kesha had skated growing up in upstate New York, and had always been disappointed Milo hadn’t been more interested in lessons. She was a big fan of the Orc Hockey League, and she was the one to introduce me to the deliciousness that was giant males slamming into one another behind glass.
Boy aquarium, is what they called it online, but the Teal Terrors—Kesha’s favorite team—were far fromboys.
I’d been a little obsessed with the thought of orcs—anightwith an orc—since then, and that’s what led me to set up a MonsterSmash profile.
Which is what led me to Brakkor.
Kesha was still talking, trying to convince me—or herself?—that this was a good idea, but suddenly, my brain had gone numb. This had become a frequent occurrence over the last few weeks, much to my chagrin. I’d been working, or cooking dinner, or doing something likelaundry, and all of a sudden, something would remind me of how Brakkor had made me feel, and my mind would absolutely blank as my pussy got all wet and…needy.
Damn, that male had broken me for all other males, hadn’t he?
It was a good thing I’d snuck out of the hotel room before he’d been awake. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have beenable to resist sticking around for another few hours. Or days. We agreed on one night, and that’s what we got.
Best. Night. Ever.
“Jocelyn?” Kesha’s worried prompt dragged me back to the dark laundromat and the pile of clothes waiting for me. “The wedding is on the beach in two weeks. A Friday evening. I was fine with just going to a Justice of the Peace, but Jay wants us to do the wholereal weddingthing, and his dad is paying for it, so…”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and squeezed my eyes shut. “You’re sure this is what you want? Not the beach wedding, thing,” I hurried to clarify, knowing she could be pedantic, “the marriage thing.”
I heard her take a deep breath, then hold it. “Yeah. Yeah it is. It’s best for our boys. For Milo.”
Well… “Okay, sounds like a plan then. Two weeks, huh? Am I invited?”
“Jocelyn, why in the world do you think I called you?” I grinned at her exasperation. “I’m not going to have anyone there but Milo, so I need you. Will you be my maid of honor?”
“I’d be honored.” Could I afford a beach vacation? No, not really. Would I move hell and high water to be there for my bestie? You bet your ass. I reached for my pile of warm clothing. “Now, tell me all the details.”
Anything to distract me from the aching emptiness between my thighs.
Chapter Five
Brakkor
I still couldn’t believemy brother was going through with it. I mean, it wasn’t like I’d tried to talk him out of it these last few weeks; it was his life. It seemed to me that he had pretty shit reasons for agreeing to tie himself to one female for the rest of his life.
In the world where we were born,marriagewasn’t even a thing. Here it was all about legal protections and crap, and I understood why Korrad would do that for this Kesha…I just didn’t understand why he’dwantto.
Still, I could admit he smelled pleased with himself, standing under this ridiculous flower archway with the rising moon at our backs.
With my hands clasped behind my back, I rolled my shoulders uncomfortably and admitted the truth tomyself: It wasn’t that I couldn’t believe Korrad was doing this…it was that I couldn’t believe I’d let him talk me into participating.
“Stop fidgeting,” he muttered. “You look fine.”
“I feel ridiculous,” I growled right back. “Everyone’s looking at me.”
Whereeveryonemeant all the males we’d come to Eastshore with: Dravik and Varron and Harkaan. Garrak, Sylvik, and our old boss Abydos had brought their Mates, and others had brought dates. Our younger brother Kardok hadn’t been able to fly out, since he was still in post-season. I also suspected he was wallowing in guilt or some shit about what happened in the playoffs.
But besides the guys from Colorado, there were other males I recognized but didn’t know well, like Abydos’s brothers and their families. And they were all relaxed and comfortable and staring at me.
I scowled right back at them, relieved my brother had vetoed Jay’s suggestion that we wear suits. It was a fuckingbeachwedding; I wasn’t even going to wearshoes. Hells, I was uncomfortable enough in this simple white shirt and loose trousers. I shouldn’t have rolled up the sleeves and put all my tats on display.
“They’re looking atme,” Korrad hissed in response to my claim. “I’m the one getting married. Now, relax, or Jay is going to think you don’t like his efforts.”
