Under an Endless Moon: Chapter 54

“Someone looks like he’s having a good time,” Charleigh said where me and my friends were gathered around one of the high-top tables.

Otto and the rest of the guys were in a huddle across the roped-off area, laughing and joking and giving each other shit as they told stories of the old days.

I loved it for him. Loved that he was surrounded and supported. I wished he knew how far that support extended. I wished he could see through the fog of his tragedies to recognize that every single one of those guys would get it—would see him—would accept him fully if he’d just open up about it.

No question, it’d taken a whole lot for him to do it with me this morning. The man leaving himself flayed open wide, his afflictions on full display, even though I could feel that he was keeping some piece of it secreted.

Unable to fully state what had been going on in his mind.

“Looks like it,” I said as casually as I could, like it really didn’t affect me all that much.

“Looks like it? Are you over there acting like you haven’t been staring at that delicious man like you want to eat him for dessert the entire night?” Tessa never was one for subtlety.

Salem choked on her margarita, laughing as she pulled the salt-rimmed glass away. “Way to just go for the jugular, Tessa.”

“I am not one to beat around the bush. I mean, it’s not like every single one of us isn’t thinking it. Am I right?” Tessa looked around at the rest.

A titter of agreement went up around Charleigh, Eden, Aster, and Sienna.

Charleigh and Sienna shared a secret glance that I was pretty sure the rest of them caught.

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” I took a guilty slurp of my chocolate martini.

“Oh, come on, Raven. You think all of us couldn’t feel what was coming off you two when you came strolling in acting like you hadn’t just been rolling around naked with that bad boy?” Salem lifted a perfectly arched brow.

I cringed as worry slithered through me. “Is it that obvious?”

Cracking up, Tessa reached out to steady herself on Aster’s shoulder. “Is it that obvious? That man is written all over you.” She waved a hand over me like she was offering proof. “You might as well tattoo big handprints all over that body because he has clearly claimed you.”

My attention traveled back to Otto who was laughing at something my brother said.

Crap.

“I take it River doesn’t know?” Eden asked, her voice cautious.

“Nope.”

“Well, don’t worry. Those brutes are all completely oblivious,” Salem said. “It’s the rest of us who are in tune.”

She sent me a sly smile.

I’d never in a million years thought I’d have friends like this. Never thought I’d be surrounded by those who cared about me. I’d never thought I’d have it again after I’d lost Haddie.

No, she could never be replaced, but I could feel some of those fractured pieces inside me beginning to heal.

“I actually had thought they were together this whole time, and I just found out it was a secret yesterday.” Sienna cocked her head.

“We’re just…keeping it on the down low until Otto can find the right time to tell River,” I explained.

“I have faith that River will accept it,” Charleigh promised. “He just worries about you. Especially right now with everything that’s going on.”

Concern rippled over the group, everyone going quiet as they carefully watched me, unsure of what to say or how to handle it.

“How are you feeling?” Sienna asked. She let her gaze drift to the two tiny stitches at my hairline that I’d almost forgotten were there.

“Fine. It was just a small cut. Not a big deal.”

“Well, it freaked me out when I heard the commotion out there,” Sienna said, the words laden with questions.

A frown carved Aster’s expression. “I heard what happened.”

Uncertainty and frustration shook my head. “Yeah, some jerk came from out of nowhere and assaulted me.”

“And you have no idea who it was?” Salem asked.

“No.” I rocked back on my heels. “Some sicko is after me for no reason. But they’ll find him.”

I lifted my chin as I shifted my attention back to the guys, my belief distinct.

Only Otto was already looking at me.

Energy crackled across the space that separated us.

An intensity so hot that I shifted on my feet, my throat growing thick and my stomach roiling with need.

“Oh no, not obvious at all,” Salem mumbled into her margarita.

“Shut it,” I told her.

She giggled, then she softened when she fully looked at me. “I think it’s wonderful, Raven. I saw what was in your eyes the first time I met you both, and I’m really glad the two of you have clearly made your way to each other.”

She let the innuendo wind into the last.

Everyone laughed.

“All of you, shut it.” I pointed around the group as a feeling of lightness swept through me.

So good.

So right.

And that only amplified tenfold when the DJ switched the song. The band had long since finished playing, and now the dark beat filled the murky club.

Charleigh knew it was my favorite, and she grabbed my hand. “All right, everyone on the dance floor. Time to shake all those hot booties.”

Sending her a big grin, I touched my chest. “I really am rubbing off on you.”

She winked, and all of us wound onto the dance floor. It took all of five seconds to completely let go.

Each of us getting swept up in the hypnotic beat. To the energy that curled and twisted through the throbbing crowd.

We were all laughing and having the best time together for a few songs before, one by one, the guys joined their partners.

I didn’t want to keep dancing right next to them by myself like some kind of weirdo when they were all caught up in each other, so I edged away from them, dipping into the fray, and I let my eyes drop closed as my hips moved in time with the beat.

Lights strobed and darkness reigned.

Then a tidal wave of energy crashed against me.

Something so fierce that it nearly brought me to my knees.

My eyes flashed open to find Otto weaving through the crowd with a bottle of whiskey dangling from his fingers.

One destination in mind.

So ferociously gorgeous the ground trembled beneath my feet. All power and stealth and cocky arrogance. So sexy my entire body tremored as he approached, shivers raking across my flesh.

I tried to play off my reaction and threw my arms in the air the way I always would have done, voice shouting over the deafening decibel of the music. “You want to dance with me, Burly Bear?”

His aura swamped me as he slowly angled around me, demeanor predatory, feral as he edged up to my back.

Heat seared through me when his arm wrapped around my front and he hauled me against his hard, rigid frame. His words were gluttonous as he leaned in and murmured in my ear, “I can’t fuckin’ stay away.”