The Man I Want to Be (Under Covers)(14)

"We're going to play a game!" Sam said as they approached.

Kenna knew it wasn't a question or a request. Everyone was going to play. Whether they wanted to or not.

Following Cass and Sam to the corner of the bar, the rest of the  bachelorette party crowded around a circular table, each taking a seat.  Tall glasses with pink liquid were set in front of each chair.

"What are we going to play?" Megan, one of Cassandra's cute, blond sorority sisters, said from across the table.

Sam's eyes met Kenna's, and she grinned. "Never Have I Ever."

That was the moment Kenna's stomach rolled. "I-uh, we-I don't think  that's the best choice. There have to be other games that are much more  fun."

"No," Tiffany, Cass's other sorority sister, said. "It'll be fun!"

"Yeah, I love this game!" Tracy said all excitement and smiles. She was one of Sam's friends. Blond and bubbly, just like Sam.

"One of my favorites," Estelle said from the corner of her mouth.

Once upon a time, it had been Kenna's favorite game, too. But not  anymore. Not when she would have to relive all of her experiences so  openly with the other women. Bear had been her first, her last, and her  only. And now, knowing Sam and the questions that would be asked, she'd  have to recall every little detail of her time with him. She wasn't  prepared to open that door. She wouldn't ever be ready to open it.

"How do you play?" Celia asked, picking up her glass and examining the contents as if it were some sort of toxic waste.

Sam sat up eagerly in her seat. "Cass and I, as the brides to be, are  going to make statements that start with ‘Never have I ever' and if you  have done whatever we say, then you take a drink."

"I don't understand." Celia placed her cup onto the table, then  straightened the collar of her white cotton button-up shirt. "Why would I  drink if I've done something you said?"

Tracy pulled out a chair next to Celia and sat down. "Because it's a fun way to learn which of us has been the naughtiest."

"You've been with one man your whole life, Celia," Estelle said. "You're  not gonna have to drink, so don't sweat it. Just pick up your glass and  sip while us big girls play."         

     



 

Celia's usually innocent expression hardened as she pulled out her own  chair. "I want to play." The older woman dropped hard into her seat and  turned to Sam. "Ask me a question."

Sam blinked and looked between Estelle and Celia. Aunt Estelle shrugged and gestured for Sam to proceed.

"All right then." Sam sat and dragged her drink from across the table  toward her. "How about, never have I ever lied about my age."

"I have! I have!" Celia said, nearly leaping out of her seat. "I've been  told I can pass for sixty-five! I get to drink!" She ripped the glass  from the table and held it into the air like it was the Stanley Cup.

Aunt Estelle snorted a laugh. "Yeah, yeah. That was a warm-up. Buckle up, Girl Scout. The statements get a lot dirtier."

Celia sniffed and turned back to Sam with eyes hard and focused.

Just about everyone around the table lifted their glasses, toasting one another, and took a big sip of pink liquid.

A mouthful of the liquor traveled down Kenna's throat effortlessly,  tasting like berries, vodka, and exhilaration. You know what? This was  Sam's weekend, and Kenna was surrounded by amazing people whom she loved  to the ends of the Earth. She needed to get out of her funk and start  enjoying herself. This should be a fun night with a group of women  celebrating one another's happiness, not a pity session over what she'd  lost.

"My turn." Cassandra glanced around the table, her green eyes sparkling  wickedly at the other women. "Never have I ever skinny-dipped."

Estelle passed a you steppin' up? look to Celia.

Celia tilted her head, her perfect gray chignon resting delicately  against her neck, and smirked. She reached for her glass and took  another drink.

Approval crossed Aunt Estelle's face. "You're makin' me proud, Cee."

The rest of the women at the table lifted their glasses and drank.

"Never have I ever seen a male stripper," Sam offered.

"Easy," Estelle scoffed, and lifted her glass. Before she placed it to  her mouth, she elbowed Celia's side. When the other woman looked at  Estelle, she said, "Last month. Remember? We went to that male review  down on Broadway?"

It took a second, but then recognition dawned on Celia's face and she excitedly lifted her glass.

"Come on," Becca, one of Sam's high school friends, said. She flipped a  section of silky brown over her shoulder. "These are too easy. We've all  done that. Give us something juicy."

The other ladies nodded and mumbled in agreement.

"All right, all right," Cassandra said. She looked up to the ceiling for  a moment in thought, then, "How about, never have I ever worn a skirt  without underwear."

Celia's eyes expanded, and her mouth dropped open. A look of bewilderment crossed her wrinkled features. "Without a girdle?"

Aunt Estelle leaned closer to the woman but didn't lower her voice.  "It's good to let your girl breathe every now and then. I'm doin' it  right now. Feels pretty damn freeing."

Celia's lips warped, and she turned a slight shade of green.

Kenna noticed two women at the table, who were guests at the wedding,  though she couldn't recall their names, looking sidelong at the others  and didn't drink.

The questions continued to build, each one growing more risqué. Kenna  drank on every single one, earning her glances of curiosity and approval  from the others. Alas, there wasn't much she hadn't done. She and Bear  had quite the history together.

"Never have I ever had sex in a car." Sam's blue eyes illuminated, watching and waiting for the women to lift their glasses.

"Hannah!" Cassandra squealed, looking at her college roommate. "With who?"

The cute, energetic brunette with a bob giggled with drink in hand. "John."

Cassandra's jaw fell open. "Your husband, John?"

At Hannah's nod, Cassandra chuckled. "You little minx."

Kenna casually kept her focus forward, brought her drink to her mouth,  sipped, and placed it back down. Yep, she and Bear had done that, too.  Actually, it had been on his daddy's John Deere. But the same principal  applied.

Estelle tipped her head back and finished the rest of her glass, then  slammed it on the table. "Another round!" she called out. When no one  came running with a tray of refills, Estelle grunted and excused herself  to lumber toward the bar.

"What's next? What's next?" Tracy asked, practically bouncing in her seat.

Cassandra threw a look at Estelle, who was still waiting for service at  the bar. "How about … never have I ever masturbated in front of someone  else."         

     



 

Sam's lips curled, and one eyebrow quirked in challenge. "Who's gonna own up to it, ladies?"

Nervous eyes glanced around at one another, waiting to see who would respond.

Kenna wasn't going to be the only one, so she sat and waited, too.

"You sure as hell better drink on that one," a low, deep voice whispered into her ear.

Bryan.

Something hot and unexpected hit Kenna. Her insides tightened, and her  eyes drifted closed. That gravelly voice. That warm breath across her  skin. The man it belonged to.

She'd masturbated in front of him. More than once. She'd gotten massive  satisfaction seeing his reaction as she did it. But she wasn't going to  think about it. Not his predatory stare as he'd watched her. Not the way  he'd barely restrained himself, wanting to stop her so he could finish  her off. Nope. She wasn't even thinking about it right now. Not at all.

Kenna squeezed her legs together and spun on the chair to meet hooded  blue eyes. His expression told her he was reliving that particular  memory right now, too. "Go ahead," he said. "Drink."

"Ash!" Sam got to her feet and nearly catapulted over the table to get  to her fiancé, which thankfully pulled Kenna out of whatever trance Bear  put her in.

She shook herself and came back to the present.

Bryan didn't take his eyes off her. "Still waiting."

She jutted her chin out. "The game's finished."

He leaned over her, his masculine, woodsy scent hitting her nostrils the  second he moved, and reached for her glass. Sliding it in front of her,  he commanded in a steely voice, "I said drink."

A nervous thrill washed over her. He was commanding her like he used to  do. And on instinct, she wanted to obey. God, did she want to obey.

She gave herself a few extra seconds to recover. Instead of responding  to what he said, she changed the topic. "What are you guys doing here?"

His expression suggested he knew what she was doing, but he played  along. "Guess Sam and Cass couldn't be away from Ash and Luke for more  than five minutes. They called and made us join your party."

The women at their table had scattered over the last few minutes, so  Bryan took it upon himself to lower into the seat next to hers. One arm  draped over the back of his chair, and the other rested on the table in  front of them. He angled his body to face her, taking up most of her  personal space with his big body. It felt natural. Normal. Being this  close. It was disconcerting how easily she forgot about his betrayal. Or  maybe she didn't forget as much as her body just disregarded it because  she wanted him so badly.