Falling for the Groomsman (Wedding Dare #1)(8)
Author: Diane Alberts

“I’m not asking you for anything,” she breathed, her eyes flashing a challenge at him. “So don’t hold your breath.”

He pressed closer, rolling against her core. “I noticed you haven’t asked me to let go of you yet, either.” He lowered his face to hers. “You want me to kiss you. Touch you. Fuck you. Admit it.”

Another small moan escaped her, and there was no denying the desire in her eyes. “Just do it already, damn it.”

Satisfaction, hard and deep, rushed through him like a storm. He slanted his lips down on hers, catching her moan with his mouth. The second their lips fused…all hell broke loose. Her nails dug into his shoulders, but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out if she was pushing him away or pulling him closer. But he knew for damned sure that she kissed him back. Her lips parted, and the sound she made was for him.

He took advantage of the opportunity and slipped his tongue inside, seeking hers. When she curled hers around his, sucking gently, he groaned deep in his throat. He’d forgotten how amazing she tasted. It all came rushing back to him now.

Not just her taste, but the way she squirmed when he went down on her, offering tiny little pleas the whole time until she came…

This time, he wouldn’t forget a single detail.

Her nails dug deeper into his shoulders, and she slid them behind his neck and yanked him closer, deepening the kiss. Her teeth dug into his lip, but he pushed even more, needing all of her. He trailed his hands down her sides, his thumb brushing the curve of her breast, as he hauled her up against the wall.

She caught on quickly enough, wrapping her legs around his waist so tightly he’d swear he’d died and gone to f**king heaven. He rubbed his straining c**k against her warmth, reveling in the broken moan that escaped her, and thrust against her. When she broke the kiss and tilted her head back against the wall, he bit down on her shoulder and slid his hand under her dress, palming her ass through the satin underwear she wore.

When his fingers brushed her inner thigh, he hesitated. She wasn’t a virgin anymore, but he needed to make sure she knew exactly what she was getting from him—hot sex. Nothing more, nothing less. And it wouldn’t be in the f**king foyer, either. It would be in a bed this time. “Do you want me to stop, Red?”

“No,” she moaned, her voice soft and breathy, and moved against him. “God, no.”

“Fucking A,” he growled.

He moved to slip his fingers inside her panties, eager to feel her wetness against him before he led them both upstairs to his room. But just as he was about to touch heaven…she stiffened in his arms. A door opened and a voice echoed in the empty hallway.

She smacked his arm. “Put me down. Your mom’s coming.”

Nothing like the mention of his mother to sour the mood. He pulled back and lowered her to her feet, helping her smooth the skirt over her thighs. Once she stood on her own, he dropped his hands to his side and stepped back. He couldn’t stop staring. She was f**king perfect, with her flushed cheeks and swollen lips and messed-up hair. “This isn’t over.”

She pressed her fingers against her lips and looked at him with wide eyes. “Yeah, it is. This wasn’t on my list.”

“Your list? What list?” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Christine, I—”

“Tyler? Is that you?” his mom called out, her voice creeping closer.

Cursing inwardly, he turned and greeted the interruption with a false smile. “Yeah, Mom. Over here.”

He looked over his shoulder at Christine as he walked away. She stood there watching him, still looking as kissable as she had before he’d touched her. The whole time he chatted with his mom, he could think of nothing more than ending the conversation so he could finish what he’d started with Christine. The second she headed back inside the bar—with his assurances he would soon follow—he turned back to Christine. “Okay. What list were you—?”

She was gone.

Not again. Why were they always running from each other? His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out. It was from a number he didn’t recognize. He swiped his finger across the screen and scanned it.

That was a mistake and won’t be happening again. I suggest we keep our distance from each other from now on. All my love…to your parents. —Christine

His fingers tightened on his phone. How did you get this number?

I’m a journalist. I can get anything, anywhere. But I’m going to bed. I find myself suddenly exhausted. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. It was…kind of fun, I guess.

He rolled his eyes. Bullshit. Pure and complete bullshit. Three more seconds and you would have been screaming my name while you came, and you know it.

No. I don’t.

She was in denial if she thought she could convince him he hadn’t turned her on just now. He knew the signs of arousal when he saw them. Flared pupils. Soaring pulse. Short breaths. They’d all been there.

She was playing hard to get, plain and simple. She had a plan. Probably that list she’d mentioned. Knowing her, she’d laid out every step of her seduction plan, or something else she’d investigated perfectly before he arrived.

Question was, did she really want to get caught?

He slid his phone back into his pocket without replying to her last text, adjusted his pants—which were now way too tight—and headed back into the lounge. He’d played a few games of seduction a time or two himself, and now?

He had a plan of his own.

Chapter Five

The next afternoon, Christine slammed the flowers that Julie had assigned to her into the vase on the table, muttering under her breath. She was in Spago helping Julie get ready for the event tonight, and her mood was sour. After her kiss-and-run play she’d pulled on Tyler last night, he should have come pounding on her door. Or he should have at least replied to her teasing text, for the love of God. Begged for her to come back down with him so they could talk. Something. Anything. But instead she’d gotten radio silence.

So much for her Get payback on Tyler plan.

What he had done to her in Mexico shouldn’t matter after all these years…but it did. Seeing him again had brought new life to all those angry feelings she’d had for him. Was it so horrible that she wanted to show him how desirable she was now? Then when she hooked him…she’d stop and walk away.

Just like he’d done to her.

Of course, she hadn’t been planning on actually kissing him, but at least she’d gotten to cross an item off her list: kiss a stranger in public. Sure, he wasn’t technically a stranger, but this Tyler was dominant and brooding. He wasn’t the Tyler she’d known in Mexico.