Watch Me (Phoenix 1)

“I suspect it’s a PG-rated one,” Zoey replied.

“Still fun,” Hazel said. “I bet it’s all fancy and stuff.”

“Yeah, yeah, good stuff.” Elise waved Zoey on then shoved more popcorn into her mouth. “Okay, now can we see what he bought you?”

Zoey set both bags down on the coffee table, plus her wineglass, then reached into the smaller one. Her fingers touched delicate lace before she pulled out a stunning black-lace bra. The type of that cost money. Expensive lace that had never touched her body before. “Holy, wow,” was all she managed to get out before she caught more lace in the bag. She lifted out the matching panties, noticing the heaviness of them. “What…the…” She touched the front, feeling more to the material. “There’s something in them.”

Hazel took the panties, studied them, and a second later, her cheeks burned bright. “They’re, you know, vibrating ones.”

“What?” Zoey asked with a laugh.

Elise snatched them next, examining them this way and that. “I bought similar ones for fun once. I mean, not nice like this, and I suspect mine probably don’t work as good, but they’re vibrating panties that come with a remote control.”

Hazel leaned forward, peeking inside the bag. “Is the remote in the bag?”

Zoey shifted through the paper. “No.” She turned around, hoping she didn’t lose anything. “I didn’t see a remote. Did it fall out?”

“Yeah, into Rhys’ hand.” Zoey turned back to catch Elise’s shit-eating grin, as her friend added, “And here you thought this party was going to be PG-rated.”

* * *

The Harrington lake house had been in Rhys’ family for three generations, sitting on Long Island’s North Shore. The five-bedroom stone colonial house stood slightly atop a hill, which faced out to the water. Behind the house were manicured gardens designed to impress at parties. Three smaller cottages were spread out on the three plus acres of forested land. The property had been bought and used for business, though Rhys had many parties and spent a lot of time at the lake house during his teenage years. Now he held quarterly parties there to schmooze the right people, to keep his business connections tight, but he also invited Phoenix members to the party. Tonight, they were all in attendance, enjoying cocktails and live music beneath the canopy of stars and twinkling string lights. However, Rhys’ focus had stayed with Zoey since she arrived. From the other side of the bar, Rhys couldn’t fight his smile. He had yet to talk with her, but for the last twenty minutes, he’d been tormenting her with the vibrating panties through the remote control in his pocket, something she’d hid well from her friends. He couldn’t take his eyes off every little wiggle of her hips, every moment she froze under the force of the pleasure, and the way her gaze searched him out.

When she turned again, looking for him, he decided to end both of their suffering. He turned off the vibrator that had been set to the lowest speed, and approached from behind her. “Ladies,” he called. Zoey turned first, her friends’ gazes following. He took Zoey in, every spectacular inch of her in the fitted white sundress. He wondered if this was what she’d purchased earlier today. He liked this look on her. A little innocent, definitely not overdone, and yet, she stood out as the most beautiful woman here tonight. She didn’t have diamonds on her neck or wrist; she didn’t need them. She sparkled without anything added. “Are you enjoying yourselves?” he asked them.

Zoey gave him a lopsided grin. “How couldn’t we?”

Now closer to her, he caught the heat in her eyes, the pretty color in her cheeks. He laughed easily, something he didn’t do often enough. She was in his arms a moment later, and he pressed a soft kiss to her lips, not particularly caring what kind of statement that made to anyone watching. “I’m glad tonight is hitting you in all the right places.”

She laughed with him, but as he released her, a hand presented itself in front of him.

“Hi. Since we didn’t get formal introductions at the house, I’m Elise.”

He shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Elise.” All three women were beautiful in their own way. Each unique and different than the women Rhys knew. No fake nails or fake eyelashes. Their dresses weren’t designer, their hair not smoothed to perfection. He liked that about them. “I hope you’re enjoying the party.”

“It’s incredible,” Hazel answered with twinkling eyes. “I have never seen anything so beautiful as this—oh, look, champagne. I’ll grab us some.” She beelined for the waiter striding away from her with the tray holding the champagne flutes.

Zoey gave a soft laugh and an easy shrug. “Hazel gets easily distracted, sorry about that.”

“Nothing to be sorry for,” he said, honestly. He found all of them refreshing, but most of all Zoey, the woman making him break all his rules. “These parties can be a bit distracting. They’re always showy.” He turned to Elise and smiled. “I’ll introduce you around later. This party is full of lawyers and politicians who always need a good private investigator in their pocket.”

“I’d appreciate that. Thanks,” Elise replied with sincere gratitude.

Just then, off Zoey’s shoulder, Rhys caught Archer approaching, and he chuckled. He’d seen his friend pissed before, but nothing quite like this. Archer’s gaze was fixed on the woman they were well acquainted with now, but he grabbed two champagne flutes as he walked by.

Elise was saying something to Zoey that Rhys couldn’t catch, but she went dead silent as Archer closed in. Her gaze scanned him from head to toe before her chin lifted and shoulders squared. Ah, so she knew exactly who Archer was, and by the slight curve of his mouth, Archer knew this too.

Eyes locked on her, Archer offered her the champagne glass. “Hello, Elise.”

She gave a polite smile. “Hello, Archer. Thanks, but I don’t take drinks from strangers.”

Archer gave that smile back. “Let’s not play games, shall we? We both know we’re not strangers. You probably know more about me than I know about myself.”

Her smile now showed teeth. “I could say the same to you.”

Archer winked. “You probably could.”

Zoey looked between her friend and Archer and gave a tight laugh, taking the champagne glass from Archer. “Thanks. I’d love a drink. This champagne looks yummy.” She set it down on the table next to her.