“Casey, I’m serious.”
I rolled the condom down quickly and looked up, my eyes dazed with lust. “What?”
“We need to talk.”
“Later.”
Grace shifted upwards and I took advantage, my cock sliding home. Her head fell back as I drew back and rammed upwards. She moaned, squeezing me. “It’s important,” she managed to get out.
The worry in her voice snagged my attention, but my brain struggled to reengage. “Whatever’s going on in that pretty head of yours, as long as we have each other, it’ll work out, okay?”
We were late.
I walked into the party of over a hundred people holding Grace’s hand. Surrounding chatter died off and those closest to us blinked and stared. I couldn’t blame them. Before we left, Grace pinned her hair at the nape of her neck in a messy knot, put something on her skin that made it shimmer under the lights, and slid into a short, gold dress with thin straps. It was covered in gems that reflected the light and came down in a V on her chest. My hand literally shook when I’d slid the back zipper closed, my fingers deliberately brushing the bare skin of her back.
I glanced at Grace, my eyes crinkling in a grin. “I’m so sexy in this tux everyone can’t take their eyes off me. Hope that doesn’t bother you.”
Her glossy, pink lips curved in an answering grin. “As long as it doesn’t bother you they’re only staring because your cock is still hanging out of your pants.”
“What the …” I glanced down.
Grace threw back her head, her laugh loud and throaty. Squeezing her hand, I tugged her towards the bar. “Come on, chuckles. Let’s get you a glass of champagne before you do some damage with those terrible jokes of yours.”
Turning to face the crowd after placing an order for champagne and whiskey with the bartender, Vince, I caught Mac heading our way. The red strapless number that clung to her body was no doubt giving her brothers a collective heart attack. As far as they were concerned Mac was still a virgin. A quick scan of the room showed two pairs of eyes tracking her. One set belonged to her eldest brother, Mitch, and they were busy telling the room to back the fuck off. The other belonged to Jake, and what his were busy saying had me chuckling.
I grinned at Mac when she reached us.
She paused to stare.
My brow furrowed. “You okay?”
She cleared her throat. “Fine.”
Jake’s gaze shifted from Mac to me and he scowled. I leaned into Mac’s side experimentally, keeping watch on him from the corner of my eye. Placing a hand on the small of her back, I asked her if she needed a drink. His hands fisted and he started our way.
“Thanks, Casey,” Mac replied.
Laughing silently, I removed my hand and asked Vince for another champagne.
“Casey,” Jake muttered as I handed Grace and Mac their drinks.
“Jake,” I replied with a nod and picked up my whiskey, taking a sip while the girls talked.
“First Evie, then Grace, and now Mac. You working your way through all the women one by one?”
His reference to Evie happened to be a kiss that was a long time ago. It was a weak moment at a time when we both needed it, but I knew it wasn’t Evie or Grace he was caring about right now. “You mean all the women,” I asked and arched a brow, “or just Mac?”
“I mean just Mac,” he snapped.
“Mate.” I slapped him on the back, shaking my head in sympathy. “Mitch, Travis, Jared, and Steve? A guy would need balls bigger than Mount Everest to take those four on. I wouldn’t want to be you for all the tea in China. Good luck,” I added and tossed back the contents of my whiskey.
On that note, I left my glass on the bar and guided Grace towards the centre of the room where Steve and Jenna held court. After offering our congratulations, I got caught chatting with Steve about China’s brute coerciveness in disputing Asian waters and the potential risk of war with Vietnam.
He frowned at me, rubbing his jaw as he immersed himself in the subject. “The question is, how far is China willing to go?”
“They’ll go as far as they can before the U.S. intervenes,” I answered. “And the U.S. won’t do anything until Obama identifies there’s a national risk.”
“Jesus, Dad.” Travis shoved another whiskey in my hand as he joined our circle. “Relax. It’s a party.”
Steve ignored Travis and focused on Grace. “What do you think, Grace?”
“What do I think?” She puffed out her cheeks. “I think you need another drink.” He laughed, and then paused when she added, “I also think China’s assertiveness is driving U.S. allies, including Australia, closer together and now is the time to hedge our position. We need to work for the best outcome and prepare for the worst. It’s a jungle out there. Sir,” she added.