The Last Woman (All That Remains #1) (23 page)

“You’re lucky we happen to
have some frozen,” I reply. “Airen?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Plus, Airen’s birthday is
tomorrow,” Jayla volunteers.

He gives her an exasperated
glance. “Is it?” I demand.

“Maybe.”

“And just when were you going to
tell me?” I huff, crossing my arms.

“In a year or two,” he jokes.
“I don’t want to make a big deal of it.”

“Fine, but I’m making you a
cake.”

“Carrot?” he asks, smiling.

Damn, he has a beautiful smile.
“Sure.” I kiss his cheek, and he squeezes my behind.

“I know what I want to unwrap
on my birthday,” he murmurs in my ear, his gaze climbing my body. His eyes are
hooded as they capture mine in a scorching stare, leaving me flushed and
speechless.

It’s noon the next day when
Joseph gathers us together in the kitchen and announces he’s finished. “Are you
ready?” he asks.

“Yes!” the kids scream.

We’ve spent the last few
minutes unplugging any non-essential appliances. I flip the kitchen light
switch. “Three, two, one,” we all count down. Joseph throws the breaker and we’re
bathed in soft, white light. The electricity is back on after sixteen months of
darkness. We all cheer, and I grab Joseph and hug him hard.

“I don’t know what we’d do
without you. Thank you.”

His face glows pink, and he
nods at me, choked up. Jayla makes a beeline for the thermostat and turns on
the central air. “It works!” she squeals.

“Run and shut all of the
windows.” I giggle at her excitement.

“I’m happy for you.” Julie
hugs me. “I’ll be back in a few hours to celebrate with you.”

“You may want to hurry. It
looks like our resident lushes are starting without us.” I gesture towards
Joseph and Airen, amused. They’re pouring shots out of a new bottle of bourbon.

“What? It’s my birthday,
remember?” Airen smirks.

Oh, I know what I’m going to
give him too. He’s too hot for words, standing there with that cocky expression,
dressed in a pair of blue cotton shorts and little else. All the work he has
been doing has toned his body beyond belief, and I can’t take my eyes off of
him. The muscles in his hips are so defined, tapering down into a sexy V before
disappearing under his waistband. When did those show up? He’s sweaty. It’s
beading on his chest hair, and the hair above his ears is pasted against his
head. Fuck, he’s too sexy to be real.

“I think we lost her,” Joseph
scoffs. I roll my eyes as I walk away, embarrassed, closing the bedroom door
behind me, and blocking out their laughter.

A few hours later, we’re all
seated around the kitchen table, playing Bullshit. It’s been awhile since I’ve
played, but it’s a simple game. We announce our cards and lay them face down.
The other players try to tell if we’re lying, both by the cards in their hand
and the look on their opponent’s face. It’s a fun, easy game to play when
you’re drinking.

“Two aces,” I claim, smacking
two cards on the table.

“Bullshit,” Joseph calls.

“All yours, honey.” I laugh as
I slide them toward him. Airen has the best poker face. Those acting skills
must come in handy because I never know if he’s lying. He and Julie each take
their turn, and then it’s on Joseph.

“Two fours.” He glances around
the table, grinning.

“Liar,” I challenge.

“I don’t think that’s the name
of the game.”

“Bullshit, then.”

Groaning, he picks up the
stack of cards, shaking his head. “This game sucks.”

“Sorry, those little dimples
give you away every time.”

“They’re adorable, aren’t
they?” Airen teases.

“And that blush is just too
cute too,” I add.

Joseph is so easy to embarrass
sometimes. “You know, Julie, there’s this great movie called Dancers United
that…”

“Truce!” Airen yells,
interrupting. I can’t stop laughing as I gaze at the two of them. I could hang
out with these guys forever.

It’s late, and the kids are
asleep. Airen has switched to drinking ice water. He must be at his limit.
Always Mr. Responsible. I’m feeling pretty good myself. Julie and I are
drinking peach schnapps, and Joseph is still hanging on to his bottle of
whiskey.

“Let’s play I Never,” Joseph
suggests.

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh? Are you worried what we
might find out?” Joseph teases me, his cheeks red from the alcohol. He’s so cute
when he smiles like that.

I give him an exasperated
look. “Don’t double dare me, then I’ll really have to do it.”

“Hmm, what could Abby be
hiding? I’m intrigued.”

“You’re drunk.” I giggle and
give him a playful slap. “Fine, I’ll play.”

Julie begins. “I’ve never been
married.”

Since Joseph is the only one
of us who was previously wed, he drinks, and it’s my turn.

“I’ve never been arrested.”
Everyone drinks, and I stare at them in surprise. “Julie?”

She shakes her head and smiles.
“I was protesting an oil pipeline.”

Joseph grins sheepishly when I
regard him. “Public intox.”

Airen sighs, and before I can
ask he volunteers, “Assault.”

Damn. “Who did you hit?”

“A girlfriend who asked too
many questions.”

“Very funny.”

“A guy started shit with me at
a party, and I knocked him out. Can we move on?” Judging by the edge in his
voice, he’s not proud of his behavior.

“Okay, it’s your turn.”

“I’ve never ridden a roller
coaster,” he states, and everyone drinks.

It’s Joseph’s turn. “I’ve
never had a threesome.” We all look at each other expectantly, and Airen
finally takes a drink.

Joseph hoots. “Details, buddy!
I need details!” Airen glances at me before shaking his head at Joseph.

“I’ve never kissed someone of
the same sex,” Julie claims.

Oh shit. Joseph drinks, but will
Airen cop to it? He must know I won’t tell on him if he denies it. He drinks,
and Joseph gapes at him, stunned.

“It was in college,” he
explains, sounding defensive.

“On a dare or something?”
Joseph asks.

“No.” He gives him a stare that
clearly says, “Drop it.”

I clear my throat. “Moving
on.”

We play for a few more minutes
before Julie announces she’s tired, and Joseph leaves to walk her home. Airen
and I curl up together on the couch.

“You know I wouldn’t have told
them if you didn’t drink on that kissing question, don’t you?” He smiles and
pulls me into his lap. He smells so good, his citrus scented soap mixed with
the scent of him.

“Yes, but it seemed wrong to
lie about it, like I’m ashamed when I’m not,” he explains, kissing my ear
lightly.

“Mmm,” I hum, closing my eyes.

Hot breath wafts against my
ear as he whispers, “I can’t wait to get you naked tonight.”

I’m blasted by a scorching
stare that steals my breath and makes my muscles clench delightfully.

Joseph returns, and I go to get
some water. The drinking is catching up with me, and I suddenly feel
dehydrated. Joseph plops on the couch beside Airen, and they’re laughing when I
come back into the room. Hmm, I’ll bet they were discussing that threesome.

“There she is!” Joseph calls.

Yeah, he’s drunk. “I know you
guys missed me.” Airen grabs me and pulls me down between them on the love
seat. I’m sitting half on Airen’s lap and half on Joseph’s, and they’re
giggling like teenagers. “Let me up, you drunken morons.”

“Did you hear what she called
you?” Airen asks and tickles me under my ribs.

“Stop!” I squeal, trying to
escape his torturous hands.

Airen glances at Joseph and
grins wickedly. Joseph begins to tickle my ribs on the opposite side while
Airen holds me down. They’ve teamed up on me.

“I give up! Joseph! Please!” I
beg, laughing. Joseph stops and kisses my cheek as I catch my breath. Airen
imitates him and kisses my other cheek. They stare at each other, smile, and
attack again, laughing. Airen kisses my right cheek, temple, and forehead while
Joseph rains down quick pecks on my other cheek. I’m laughing until Airen’s
soft lips press against my neck. Oh, I’ve wanted him all day. Joseph stops
teasing me when he feels me relax. Whew, I have to get a grip. I jump up before
they can stop me. “Enough, you bastards,” I say between giggles. “I’m going to
take a shower.”

Airen smirks at Joseph. “I
should’ve known better than to kiss her neck. It’s her weak spot.”  My glare is
met with an evil little grin.

“Airen!” I throw a pillow at
him.

“Sorry, I didn’t know it was a
secret.”

“It’s not, just like the way
you moan when I touch your nipples isn’t a secret,” I fire back. Joseph is red-faced
from laughing so hard.

Airen regards me with a
mixture of embarrassment and amusement. “Weren’t you going to shower?”

“So…nipples, huh?” I hear
Joseph taunt as I’m leaving.

“Shut up, dimples.”

It feels good to rinse off the
sweat and alcohol. I throw on a pair of shorts and a camisole, and go to find
Airen. After that little display, he’d better not be too drunk. I have every
intention of dragging him to bed and laying into his sexy ass tonight. What I
see as I come around the corner nails my feet to the floor, and I freeze, not
making a sound.

They’re still sitting on the
love seat, and Airen’s feet are propped on the coffee table. Joseph leans over
and tentatively kisses Airen’s lips. They hesitate before bringing their lips
together again, softly, and Airen closes his eyes.

Joseph sits back and notices
me standing there in shock. He pales and whispers, “Oh God, Abby. I’m...I’m so
sorry...it wasn’t Airen...I kissed him...he didn’t,” he stumbles over his words,
panicked. “I’m sorry, Airen. I’m drunk, and I’m so sorry.” He retreats down the
hall to his room while Airen regards me anxiously, trying to gauge how hurt or
angry I am.

Am I angry? I try to decipher
my feelings through the astonishment. They were kissing! Joseph may have been
the one who initiated it, but Airen let him do it a second time. He responded
to it. So why am I not seething with jealousy, as I would have been if Airen
had kissed another woman? Is it because it’s Joseph, or because he’s a man?

I don’t know, but I’m not
angry, jealous, or even hurt. My initial reaction was it looked sweet, even
kind of hot. I have to say something. Airen looks terrified. I sit down beside
him.

“Abby,” he begins.

“It’s okay, Air, honestly. I’m
not mad.” He studies me warily. “Has he ever kissed you before?”

“No,” he whispers.

“How do you feel about it?”

His look is impassive, giving
nothing away. “Guilty. I didn’t stop him, Abby. You can’t just blame him.” His
eyes are trained on his lap. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“Look at me,” I order. His
eyes are two liquid black pools, glazed and shining. “I’m not upset. To be
honest, if a woman had kissed you, and you didn’t immediately shove her away,
I’d be heartbroken, but it’s Joseph, and I understand how it happened.”

“That makes one of us,” he
remarks, sullenly.

“You two spend so much time
together, and you’re both very attractive. I’m sure Joseph is lonely. Throw in
some alcohol, and it’s not difficult to understand why he kissed you.”

“But I...” he trails off.

“You kissed him back. It’s all
right.”

“No, it’s not!”

“Because he’s a man?”

“Because I’m in a
relationship, and I don’t cheat. Because I’m not gay!” he cries vehemently.

I put my hand on his leg and
look him in the eye. “Please, don’t feel like you cheated on me. I don’t see it
that way at all, and it’s not about being gay or straight. You got caught up in
a moment with someone you care about, who obviously adores you. Perhaps that’s
why it doesn’t bother me, because I love Joseph too, and we’re all so close.”

Airen wraps his arms around
me. “You’re too good to me.”

“I love you,” I say simply.
“Still, I have to ask, what if it had been the other way around, and I’d gotten
drunk and kissed Joseph? Would you have forgiven me? Or him?”

He ponders the question for a
moment or two before he smiles. “I’d probably laugh and never let either of you
live it down.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I
threaten, grinning at him.

He shakes his head. “Kiss
anyone else, though, and they’re dead meat.”

“Same goes for you. I have one
more question before I go talk to Joseph.”

“Shoot.”

“What was it like to kiss
him?”

“What? Abby!” He reddens and
buries his face in his hands.