“Yeah, but will you be in that robe with the feathers?”
I laugh. “Only if you want to be perfectly scandalous.”
“I use to think it was so ridiculous, you know. Those tiny pink feathers floating down the hallway. That scent of you lingering….” He looks away in thought. “You really don’t appreciate something until it’s gone.”
His gaze comes back to me, those eyes practically boring a hole through his glasses. “He was a damn fool.”
A small smile touches my face as I consider the difference between the two men in my life and their reactions to my absence.
“He was, wasn’t he?” I say with a tilt to my chin.
We both laugh.
It’s almost enough to relax me.
I got this.
* * *
The gala is being held at The Plaza Hotel, which makes this all the more amazing. I’ve been in the lobby of course. What little girl hasn’t read about Eloise’s adventure here? I had to see it for myself when I first came to the city.
The string of people we follow into the ballroom is a far more fascinating experience. Especially with this man on my arm.
I sense Jesse’s muscles go taut underneath my hand as soon as we enter.
The thought of “socializing” is probably akin to one of the nine gates of hell for him.
Fortunately, he has me by his side.
The man seriously needs to relax.
But first, I seriously need to use the ladies’ room.
“Why don’t you get us both a drink while I go freshen up?”
He nods, then offers me a grin. “Champagne, I suppose?”
I curl up against him with an endearing smile. “You know me too well. I’ll be back in two shakes.”
In the bathroom, I take a moment to stare at myself before heading back out to find Giuseppe.
The white does look good.
But pink would have been better. I should have paid heed to The Girls.
All the more reason to let the real Honey shine through.
The live band is playing an instrumental version of “Your Love is My Drug” by Ke$ha and I smile and dance a little as I make my way toward the bar.
“Did I just see you walk in with Giuseppe?”
A broad smile comes to my face and I turn around to greet the man attached to that question.
There are three of them, as it turns out, each around Giuseppe’s age but definitely with that eau-de-frat-boy scent to them.
“Or does he go by Jesse with you?” The one front and center with the lightest hair asks.
I tilt my head to assess him, already picking up on the douchebag vibe.
“It’s Giuseppe,” I say.
He utters a low chuckle. “I guess he just saves Jesse for the office.”
“But you’re obviously in the know,” I say with a smile and a wink.
There’s nothing that throws off someone intent on making trouble like a gracious manner. In my case, maybe a little fake flirting.
His smirk turns into a crooked smile filled with encouragement. His eyes scan me up and down and that mischievous look comes to his gaze.
“Who knew our boy Giuseppe had such…exotic tastes.”
“Exotic?” I repeat, innocently raising my brow in a questioning way
“Oh, I’m sorry, too non-PC for you?” He says with a fake wince.
The other two chuckle.
So that’s his game. No wonder Giuseppe feels he needs to put up a front if he works with jerks like this.
“No, I just don’t think it’s very apt. Unless of course the only flavor you’re used to is,” I allow my eyes to wander across the three of them with a politely sympathetic look. “Bland.”
None of them are happy about that slap back.
“I guess we’re supposed to be more ‘woke’ these days,” he retorts, complete with air quotes.
Okay, long-sleeved satin evening gloves are off now.
“But it seems like you already are,” I say, eyeing the one in the middle first before darting my gaze to his two minions. “I mean, yes, it is the twenty-first century and homosexuality is pretty well accepted these days. But polyamory? And to bring both of your partners to a work event? I for one am glad to see Giuseppe works for a firm that is so accepting of all lifestyles.”
The one with dark hair gets it almost immediately, shooting a cynical but resentful smirk my way. The other two take a bit longer to catch on, the last being the one standing in front of me.
“What the…?” He frowns in annoyance. “These two aren’t my—”
“She’s bullshitting you, Todd,” the one with dark hair says in a bored tone.
I place a hand on my chest in mock dismay. “Oh, my bad! Did I misinterpret this little trio of yours? Too ‘woke’ for you?”
“Listen, sweetheart—”
“Sweetheart?” I interrupt, ready to give him even more gloveless words.
“Sorry, is that one offensive too? You just seemed like the type who could handle it.”
I give him a cool smile.
Time for the total knockout.
“Well, that all depends on the mouth that’s saying it, and of course context. I’m a performer so I can definitely tell you the way in which something is said makes a difference.”
I pause as though considering it.
“For example, I’ll use a phrase that I’m sure each of you is familiar with,” I say, blessing each man in the small semi-circle around me with his own smile.
“Complete and total dick.”
I wait for their brows to furrow in consternation and resentment. But they hang on, waiting to see where I’m going with this.
I live for dramatic pauses.
“I could say it one way to give it a…particular meaning.”
I cast a quick look to his crotch before I focus on the one named Todd for my performance:
Eyelids lowered just so.
Bottom lip nibbled.
A deep inhale through my nose, causing my nostrils to flare slightly and my chest to expand in an enticing manner.
Eyes completely closed now as I inhale even more, absolutely simulating that point just on the cusp of an orgasm.
“Complete…and toootal” I practically moan this word “…dick.” I punctuate it with a heavy sigh and slowly reopen
