Excerpt of Party of Three by Daire St. Denis

It was Halloween night and my roommate and best friend, Desi, and I were throwing a Halloween party. It was the best damn Halloween party of the century. "Great party, Tina." "Thanks." I glanced at Kenton and laughed. He was a big man, standing well over six feet, and looked completely ridiculous wrapped in cellophane with a clear inner tube around his knees. The inner tube had him hobbling around like a penguin and on his head, covering his thick blond hair, was an enormous clear, deflated balloon filled with milk. He was a condom. A used one. And he'd been following me around. "Stop following me." "You're Little Bo Peep. I have to follow you." "That makes no sense." "Sure it does." Kenton grinned as he wiped a trickle of milk from his brow before it dripped onto his cheek. "You're a sheepherder, and I'm a sheepskin." "You're sick." "And you love me." "I don't think so." "You want me."

"I'm an innocent sheepherder, sir. I have no idea what you're talking about." I feigned coyness as I fingered the lace on the scooped neck of my white bodice, enjoying the act of flirting for the first time in a long time.

"Show me your tuffet, and I'll change that for you right now." His voice was low. Dangerous. His eyes took on an unholy gleam as he rubbed his square jaw.

"I'm not Miss Muffet and a tuffet is a stool."

"If it's got a hole in it, we're in business." Kenton sidled up to face me and gently removed my hand from where it lingered on my exposed flesh. He replaced my hand with his and deftly outlined the tight bodice of my costume, exploring the curve of my breasts where they spilled over the lace.

Somehow he managed to slip a hand down the front of my bodice and grazed my hardened nipple. My flesh burned with his touch and I gasped in surprise. It had been too long.

"Kenton," I breathed. "Let's not."

"How about, ‘let's.'" He bent down to my level and brushed his lips against my chin and then tilted my head back so he could lick the length of my throat. It felt wonderful. His tongue lapping at me, nibbling, his hot breath in my ear, his hand in my bodice.

God. He was making me...wet.

"Hey. You're leaking all over me."

He stood and grinned as milk ran down his face. "Sorry about that." But his hand had slipped down to my wrist, and he held it tight, pulling me closer.

"Kenton!" Just then my roommate, Cleopatra, appeared. Her face was flushed, her eyes flashing. "Take your grimy hands off Tina."

"Hey, Desiree," Kenton said, taking his time removing his hand from my bodice. "Long time no see."

"Not long enough," Des said through gritted teeth. "Who invited you?"

"I did," I interjected, confused by the way Desi was acting. Everyone knew Kenton; he was the ultimate party host throwing huge bashes at least once a month. While I'd never attended one of his soirees, I knew Des had been to at least a few.

"I want you to leave," she said, her chin jutting out.

"Have I done something to offend you?" Kenton asked, his expression flipping from playful to serious.

Before Des could answer, a man dressed as Marc Antony appeared from the kitchen, carrying two plastic cups. He passed one to Des and slung his arm protectively around her shoulder. It was Josh, Desi's latest.

"What's going on?" Josh asked.

Des glanced up at Josh and then turned so that her back shut Kenton out of our little circle. "Nothing," she said. "I was just looking for Bo Peep here. I hadn't seen her all evening."

I raised my brows at this statement, but Josh and Des only had eyes for each other. When I looked over my shoulder, Kenton was gone. I had no idea what just happened, why Des was mad he was there or why she didn't confront Kenton in front of Josh.

Desi stood on tiptoe and whispered something in Josh's ear. One side of his mouth turned up in a grin and he bent to kiss her, nice and slowly. I was starting to detect a real attachment between these two. Josh had been around longer than any other guy she'd ever been with. I liked him. He was good for Des. Sweet with her. Strong. Wouldn't let her push him around. Good sense of humor. Josh was the full–meal deal, and I really hoped he was going to be the one to stick it out with her.

It didn't hurt that he was seriously hot too. Any man who could make a short, white pleated skirt look as manly as he looked in his Halloween costume was a keeper. His legs and chest were bare and I couldn't help admiring his toned body as the two of them kissed right in front me.

I didn't even realize how hungry my gaze was as it meandered slowly up his fine form until I caught Des watching me while Josh whispered something in her ear.

Ah shit. She'd caught me ogling her boyfriend. Not cool.