Page 102 of Flirting with Trouble

“Dude, you had me going,” Grant says.

“Good. You deserve it.”

As the guys give me a hard time, Flynn quietly checks in with Victory. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but she’s nodding and smiling, and when he ducks his head closer, she says something that makes him chuckle.

When the commotion calms, I say, “Since you guys were so generous with us, we thought we’d share the wealth.”

Victory walks over to Archer and says, “A dick for a dick,” and hands him a strap-on, which makes everyone burst into hysterics.

She turns to Grant. “Since we expected that Jules might be upset with you, we’re gifting you the magic vagina.” She hands him the rubber vagina, earning more laughter. “Brant, Wells was pretty sure you were just along for the ride, but I understand you’re a pretty chatty guy, so hopefully this ball gag will make sex with you a little more enjoyable for Cait.”

More laughter rings out.

Victory faces Fitz, giving him a once-over, before saying, “You seem like the kind of guy who’ll get down on his hands and knees for a woman to remain the golden boy. That’s why we’re giving you the leather collar and leash.”

Laughter and jokes ensue, and in the midst of the commotion, Victory announces, “Ladies, the rest are for you!” and sets the box down on the ground.

“Dibs on a Rabbit or a Rose!” Bellamy says as she runs over. “Those babies are expensive!”

“I can’t unhear that,” Grant complains.

As the girls dig through the box, gabbing and laughing, picking out shit I don’t want to know about, I pull Victory into my arms. “How’d I do?”

“You were amazing. Maybe I should get you some acting gigs.”

“Baby, you’re the only gig I want to do.” As I lower my lips to hers, Fitz hollers my name. “Can’t a guy kiss his girl in peace?”

Fitz smirks. “We noticed a few things missing from this box.”

Victory and I share a laugh, and then, finally, we share a kiss, and the heckling begins anew.

Hours pass with a mix of fun banter and deep conversations, the soft sounds of the ocean and the crackling fire filling the gaps. Victory loves up Scrappy, monopolizing him until the girls coax her into playing the guitar. Jules sings the wrong lyrics, and we all join in. It’s a perfect night, but what I love most is that Victory’s not holding back with me. I worried she might be a little uncomfortable showing affection in front of everyone, especially her brother, but she’s her warm, wonderful self, and being the greedy bastard I am for her, I fucking love it.

Leni invites Victory to join the Bra Brigade tomorrow afternoon, and as I knew Victory would, she jumps at the chance. Then she turns to me and says, “Unless you have plans for us?”

“My plans didn’t involve leaving the bedroom.”

“Dude, I do not need to know that,” Flynn says.

“Me, either,” Keira chimes in.

“Then don’t listen,” Victory says, earning chuckles from the others and a kiss from me.

She and the girls make plans for tomorrow, and as the night rolls on, there’s more laughter, stolen kisses, and hushed conversations. While the girls roast marshmallows and talk about the wedding, the guys and I walk over to the edge of the dune, looking out at the water.

Feeling nostalgic, I say, “How many bonfires have we been to over the years when our mothers gathered in one place and our fathers in another?”

“It’s funny how times change,” Grant says.

“Yeah. It’s hard to believe Jock and Levi are home playing daddy.” Archer takes a drink of his beer. “It’s weird.”

“Nah, man. It’s good,” I say. “They’re with their families, and it’s not like they never come out anymore.”

“That’ll be us one day,” Brant says.

I hope so.

“It feels pretty awesome to be part of the Silver Island brotherhood,” Raz says.