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

chuckle, giving Sean a knowing

her!" Sean protested. "Besides, talk is cheap. You say you're all that, but who can back you up?" He looked at Noelle. "See, Noelle's

not, you'd get the picture pretty quick if I worked you over," Charles said 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

this? Hehe,

your moves, Sean. Haven't seen you in years-have you gotten any better?" Charles chimed in.

I'll do it right now!" Sean chugged the

a warrior making a tough sacrifice, and she could not help but swallow hard.

a seat and spun

pointing right at Sean. Noelle paused, a bit shocked, and, then the

she leaned in and whispered something to Charles, whose narrow eyes gleamed with a teasing light Sean's expression tightened he had a hunch that it would