Indulge by Angela Graham

spent every weekend here,” the
guy beside Josh interjected with a chuckle.
    “What can I say? I needed more than a sweet girl looking
to settle me down.”
    “Can we stop talking about her already?” Mackenzie reappeared,
shoving the beer into Mark’s hand but not moving to sit back down.
    “Aw, you still jealous, Mackenzie? Don’t be. Unlike
Cassie, we all know you’re a good lay.”
    Cassie? The name didn’t suit her. I tilted my head to the
side enough to gauge the expression Mark was fighting to hide. Something told
me it wasn’t her who was bad in bed, but him who didn’t know how to please her.
It was a shame I’d missed my chance to show her what a real man could do with
her sweetness.
    “You should have brought her up here a few times back
then. I’m sure a few of the girls could have taught her some moves.” Josh looked
up at Mackenzie. “Right, baby?”
    Mackenzie scoffed, her hands planted on her hips as she
marched away, kicking the back of Josh’s chair when she passed him.
    “Cassie will never have any moves worth checking out, so
might as well leave her alone,” Mark said.
    “Come on, she couldn’t have been that bad. Tell the truth:
Cassie Clarke is a little hellion in bed. You just didn’t want to share.”
    Caleb looked up from his hand for the first time since
they’d started yapping about her.
    Mark shook his head, laughing. “I’ll say this: The girl
gives decent head, but—”
    Caleb’s fist slammed down on the table, startling
everyone except me. They all shut up, staring at him for an explanation.
    “We’re here to play cards, so shut. The. Hell. Up.” His
head moved slowly from Mark to Josh, pinning them in place. “Another fucking
word about Cassandra, and I’ll rip your God damn tongue out! Understand?”
    “Yeah…sorry,” Josh stuttered, visibly shaking. “I didn’t
mean any harm. She’s a good girl.”
    “Damn right she is, so not another word about her!”
    Caleb knew her—knew Cassandra. That was a name better fit
for the sweet blonde. I smiled down at my cards, enjoying the fact that maybe
our paths would cross again. And if they ever did, I’d be sure to take my time
showing her all the reasons she needed a man in her bed. After Mark,
she’d appreciate an all-nighter from me.
    After Caleb’s threats, the table remained relatively
quiet for a while. As the night wore on, I knew Caleb had a plan in motion — what it was, I wasn’t sure, but I knew it had
to do with Josh.
    The girl Josh had been exchanging glances with all night
walked past me to the kitchen area, and I watched his eyes follow her. He had a
thing for her, and I had my in. She was about his age, shorter, and blonde with
dark roots. No angel, by far. When she walked past again, I grabbed her hand
and pulled her into my lap.
    “I need a good-luck charm,” I murmured, nuzzling her
neck. “You look just the part.”
    The moment I twisted my arm around the girl’s waist, my
thumb caressing under her bra, Josh’s attention shifted from the game to her. I
caught the slight upturn of Caleb’s expression.
    “What’s your name?” the girl asked, situating herself
further on my lap, running one hand around my neck while a finger on the other
raked over my stomach.
    “Does it matter?” I asked. My eyes were on my cards. Another
shit hand.
    “I guess not.” She leaned back into my chest, and I
caught the hard stare Josh set on her. I had his attention.
    “Josh, let’s go,” Caleb complained. “You’re up.”
    Reluctantly, Josh pulled his gaze back to his cards. “Get
me a beer, Liv,” he ordered.
    Liv was apparently the girl’s name, because his words
caused her to stiffen for only the slightest second before she replied, “No. Get
your own damn beer.”
    The corner of my mouth turned up. Josh didn’t say another
word. Liv had some attitude. It was a turn-on.
    Mark stood the moment the hand ended.
    “I’m out,” he said, paying the pot. “See you around,
Caleb.” His