The Cherished Wife

Noelle pulled a wry smile. "I'm not nervous, just feeling a tad awkward!"

"What's the burning question everyone's dying to know?" Steven chimed in. "Sean, you're up!"

"Okay, here goes!" Sean clapped his hands together, touched his nose, and beamed innocently. "Where was your first time with Charles, and how long did it last?"

Noelle gasped, her smile turning strained.

It was not just Noelle. Everyone else sucked in a breath too, giving Sean looks that were part admiration, part 'good luck with that.' With a mischievous grin, Sean prodded, "Come on, Noelle, spill the beans!" "Um... I'll take a drink!" Noelle reached for her glass, but Charles held it down. "As for duration, how about we see how long you can last if I start throwing punches?"

Sean was speechless.

soon filled the

a chuckle, giving

all that, but who can back you up?" He looked

as he stood, shrugged off his jacket, and handed it to Noelle, who took it without a fuss. He cracked his knuckles, his gaze fixed on Sean. "On

just playing a game, how did it escalate to this? Hehe, don't you

Sean. Haven't seen you in years-have you gotten any better?" Charles chimed in. "Yeah, I want to see

drink, I'll do it right now!" Sean chugged the drink in his hand.

like a warrior making a tough sacrifice, and

a seat

paused, a bit shocked, and, then the faughter around her broke out. Peter chuckled along.

Charles, whose narrow eyes gleamed with a teasing light Sean's expression tightened he had a hunch that it would