Falling for the Groomsman (Wedding Dare #1)(14)
Author: Diane Alberts

Dull and boring.

“I think I’ll just crash. I have a headache.” It wasn’t a lie. She had a headache, and its name was Tyler. She forced a smile to lighten her rejection, pressing her fingers against her temple. “Good night.”

“Oh. Yeah, sure.” He dug in his pocket for his room key, and held open the door. Once she passed through, he gave her an awkward hug. Yep. Nothing. All those muscles pressed against her did less to stir her emotions than a cocky smirk from Tyler did. “Catch you later, Christine.”

“Thanks again for walking me back.”

“Anytime,” he vowed, his eyes trying to catch hers.

Christine smiled, even though it felt fake, and wrapped her arms around herself. The dude gave up on flirting with her and left. She sighed and looked over her shoulder, not sure what to do with herself now that her plan to get it on was ruined. Broken. That’s what she was. Or maybe not. Maybe her problem was Tyler and the way he made her feel. He made her feel like he was the one.

He wasn’t. He never had been.

So why couldn’t she get him out of her head?

She headed toward the elevator door. A footstep squeaking on the floor was her warning she wasn’t alone anymore. She turned around, eyes wide when she saw who stood there. “What are you doing here?”

“You told me to come find you. I did.” Tyler’s face seemed deceptively calm. But she could see the irritation bubbling beneath the smooth surface. He was angry. Or was he…jealous? No. Not possible. “According to you, that means you’re mine now.”

She shook her head. She hadn’t been planning on him actually finding her. He was supposed to be at the dinner party, damn it. “Excuse me? I don’t remember—”

“‘You want me? Come find me, Doc,’” he said, his voice low and dangerous-sounding. “Well, I found you. Now I’m prepared to collect.”

She backed off a step, her heart racing way too fast. Sure. Now she got turned on. Son of a mother’s hairy knee. “That’s not quite what I meant.”

“Where were you?” he asked, crossing the foyer. “And who the hell was he?”

“None of your business.”

He stopped in front of her, his gaze dark. “Who was that man?”

“None of your business,” she repeated, heading for the elevators one backward step at a time. He sounded jealous. God, that was so freaking hot. “Good night, Tyler.”

Tyler growled and caught her elbow. “Not so fast. Tell me who that was and what you were doing. Did you kiss him? Did you let him touch you?”

“He just walked me back.” She watched him through her lashes, inspiration striking. “Or maybe he was my lover, and we stole away for a few minutes of privacy. Which do you think it was?”

His eyes darkened. “I think if it were me you left with instead of him, I would’ve buried my c**k inside of you until you were too tired to stand, let alone leave with another man again.”

Oh my God. Her knees weakened, and her stomach twisted with desire. He said the boldest things to her. Dirty things. Was he like this with everyone? “How come everyone says you’re so sweet and kind and quiet, but with me you’re so bossy and…and…dirty?”

“I have no idea. I don’t act like this around other women,” he said, his voice agitated. He headed toward the elevator, towing her alongside him. “Maybe you bring out the worst in me. Shit if I know.”

Worst…or best? “Gee, thanks.” She tried to pull free by wiggling her arm, but he didn’t budge. “What are you doing?”

“I’m taking you upstairs.” He watched her with a raised brow when she did a spin thing, trying to pull free. “Are you going to stop dancing in circles around me?”

“Are you going to stop holding me captive?”

He let go of her. “All you had to do was ask, Sherlock.”

“Oh. Silly me,” she drawled. “I should have thought of that.”

The elevator doors opened, and he motioned her in front of him. She debated closing the doors on him, but refrained from doing so. She wouldn’t stoop to such juvenile tactics, because then he’d know how much he affected her. He hit the button for the third floor and settled into the corner. “Come with me to my room.”

God help her, she wanted to. She wanted to stop working on her stupid sex list and start doing the things she’d written down. Apparently if she wanted to actually have fun, it would have to be with Tyler. But could she? How could she hold her head up high if she…?

Wait a second. A plan started to form, and she ignored the warning bells going off in her head. She knew how to have some fun, and cross an item or two off her list. Get payback on Tyler and Make out in an elevator. Two birds with one stone. The plot had a tinge of revenge to it, but that only made it all the more naughty. How…empowering that would feel. To leave him wanting as he’d once done to her. She turned her head to the side, her heart speeding up. “Why would I want to do that?”

“I think you know why.” He crossed his arms, his jaw ticking. “You’re playing a game with me. How about if we stop playing, and start having some real fun?”

She flopped her head back on the wall, her hands splayed on either side of her hips against the cool metal. “But why would I want to have some real fun with you?”

He cursed under his breath and crossed the elevator, backing her even further against the wall. “Red, you think you know me, but I’ve learned a few tricks in the past eight years. I’ll bet my ass that we both have.”

Make out in an elevator. Oh God, here we go.

“What a fine ass it is, too.” She braced her hands against his chest right over his heart, lifting her head in challenge. Hers sped up from his simple touch. “I’m gonna need to see one of those new tricks, because I’m sorry to say, your old ones weren’t too memorable. Impress me.”

He gripped her chin, latching gazes with her. “Done.”

He melded his mouth to hers without a second’s hesitation. As his tongue slipped inside her mouth, his leg slid between hers. When he pressed his knee against her aching core, she moaned into his mouth. God, why did he have to be the one who brought her body to life in ways no one else ever could?

It wasn’t fair.

The elevator door opened, and he broke off the kiss. He caught her hand before heading out the doors and led her down the hallway, their steps hurried yet somehow in tune with each other. They reached his door within seconds, and he swiped his card key.