Celebration by Ella Ardent Read Free Book Online Page A

said with her usual practicality. “Right boobs, wrong butt.”
    “You still haven’t told me your fantasy, not after all these years.”
    “Maybe I was living it already,” Amanda said, giving him a hot glance. “Maybe by hiring me for the Plume, you already made it come true.” She blinked quickly and he saw the tears she was trying to hide. Rex realized in that moment that he wasn’t the only one who’d lost his dream, and he knew that he had to find some way to fix this.
    For all the people who had trusted him.
    Sending a dozen of them to Athena’s party would only be the beginning.
    Rex pulled Amanda into a hug and kissed her temple, feeling a wave of affection for her. “Thanks, Amanda,” he said into her hair. “Thanks for taking care of our members. I know you let yourself get arrested, Julius told me. And he said you were the last released, because you made sure everyone else was out first. Thanks.”
    “You’re not the only one who feels responsible,” she said, her voice husky.
    “I should have been here.”
    “You should have been right where you were,” she said fiercely. “It made all the difference to us, knowing that you were safe from the cops until that bastard’s plan fell apart.” She looked up at him, not bothering to fight her tears any more. “They’re worried about you, Rex. They love you and they loved the Plume.” She took his hand in hers and gave his fingers a squeeze. “Come inside and see just how much.”
    That was an invitation Rex couldn’t refuse.
     
    * * *
     
    Joanna was exhausted by the time she arrived back at the apartment she shared with Louise. Not only had she taken the red-eye flight back from the coast the night before, but she’d been on the run with wedding arrangements all day long. It was almost eleven and she was dead on her feet.
    Joanna smiled as she shut the door behind herself. No matter how tired she was, she couldn’t regret the late flight.
    Those last couple of hours with Mike had been incredibly hot.
    Instead of sating her and making it easy to be chaste for the next two weeks, though, their interval left her ready for more. She couldn’t stop thinking about Mike and what they’d done together, and he hadn’t helped.
    Pinch a welt every time you think of me.
    His last whispered command echoed in her thoughts. Joanna obediently reached under her skirt and pinched a welt, hard. It sent a surge of pain and pleasure coursing through her body, one that weakened her knees and made her close her eyes for a moment. She leaned back against the door, remembering.
    She’d been pinching welts that all day long, even as she reviewed preparations with florists and caterers, even as her excited mom meddled with everything, even as her sister Amy complained that the red sheath dresses she’d chosen for the bridesmaids were too girly, even as she endured one last fitting of the wedding dress.
    Thank God she’d been able to put it on herself and no one had seen her ass. Joanna’s smile widened as she remembered the dressmaker’s assistant jiggling the lock on the change room. The threat of discovery had gotten Joanna all excited all over again.
    In just two weeks, she’d be married to Mike and they’d be together forever.
    “Ow, ow, ow!” Louise said, her voice rising with every syllable. She was in the bathroom, but the door was ajar. Joanna was surprised that her roommate was even home on a Saturday night.
    “Hello!” she called. “I’m home.”
    “Hi! Ouch!” Louise swore quietly.
    Joanna hung up her coat, then went to the bathroom door. “Is something wrong?”
    “Just that the bandage is stuck to my new tattoo. Look.” Louise turned around and Joanna winced. It looked as if the adhesive was stuck to the enflamed skin. This new tattoo was on the back of Louise’s left shoulder and Joanna wondered what it was.
    “I thought you got one last month.” The other tattoo was lower and hidden by Louise’s jeans.
    “I did.” Louise