He holds me closer, and we fall into a comfortable pattern, not moving too far from the spot we started in.
It gives me a moment to relax. And to let my mind catch up. It’s far behind again, wondering what happened to the whole keep your guard up, you’re going home alone thing. Because right now, I’d let any of these three men take me home in a heartbeat.
Even Rhett. I’m beginning to think his standoffish-ness is simply due to nervousness and social anxiety.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” I say, looking up at him. His jaw is still too tight, his shoulders a bit too high.
“I—social things—larger events—I’m not a big crowd type of person.” He pulls me flat against him as Ava spins by with her partner, too drunk to care that they almost hit us.
My skin tingles at every point of contact with Rhett. Never mind that there are multiple pieces of clothing between us. My body has a strange reaction whenever one of these men touches me. I may not understand it, but I can’t change it, and I’m not saying I don’t like it.
It’s definitely a new experience, though.
Rhett grunts when he looks down at me, finding my face mere inches from his own. His lips part, and I’m sure he’s going to lean down and close the space between us, but then he straightens.
My face falls, and I have to look away. My whole body feels deflated, which is a surprise—I wasn’t expecting this level of emotions for a man I’ve only ever chatted with.
When the song ends, Rhett’s hands fall from my sides. But then he works his jaw, and his hand slides into mine. As other couples filter off the floor, we follow suit, heading back to Oliver and Elliot.
Almost instantly, Rhett drops my hand, taking his spot leaning against the wall. I let myself step closer to Elliot, and when my arm brushes his, he wraps it around my waist.
“Come with me for a moment,” he murmurs into my ear.
He takes me out of the ballroom and into a quiet hallway. After a few steps, he backs me against the wall, placing both of his hands beside my shoulders. “I’m going to ask you a question, and I need you to answer honestly. Don’t consider my reaction at all. Understood?”
With wide eyes and a smile I can’t wipe off my face, I nod. This is it. This is it. He’s finally going to kiss me.
His lips brush against the spot where my neck meets my jawbone. “I’d like to take you home tonight, Wren. Would you like that?”
“Yes,” I whisper as my stomach does backflips. “But Elliot.”
“Hmm?” He presses his face into my neck, inhaling. The action causes a shiver to shoot up my spine.
“I need you to kiss me first.”
With a low chuckle, he pulls away to look me in the eye. One of his hands cups my cheek, and I lean into it with a smile.
“Preferably right now.”
“Whatever you want,” he says, leaning closer.
When his lips meet mine, I moan. He smiles against my mouth, pressing his body into mine. And when he finally, really kisses me, fireworks go off in my stomach. It’s not until he pulls away and I find myself gasping for air that I realize I’ve grabbed onto his arms, pulling him toward me and not letting go.
“Would you like to leave now?” he says, his body still pinning me to the wall.
I groan. “Yes.” I can feel how hard he is against me, and it’s taking all my willpower not to grind against him in the middle of this hallway.
A slow smile crosses his face, and he kisses me again. “Go get your coat. I’ll tell the others we’re leaving.”
With a nod that’s probably too enthusiastic and a tad desperate, I head to the coatroom. There, I text Ava, letting her know that I’m heading out. She sends me three eggplant emojis back, and I roll my eyes.
“Ready?” Elliot comes to stand beside me, reaching out and buttoning up my coat. Rhett and Oliver stand behind him, each shrugging on their own coats.
I nod, glancing at the other two. Are they coming with us? I suppose it makes sense that they all rode together. Before I can ask, Elliot’s hand has returned to my back, and we head outside.
The cold air bites at my skin, and I shiver. But we’re not even on the sidewalk for ten seconds before Elliot is opening the door to a dark limo and helping me inside.
Geez. This is fancy.
All three men pile in. Elliot settles in next to me, and Rhett and Oliver sit facing us. And that’s when the awkward feeling hits.
The one that sits in the air, reminding me that I’ve flirted with all three of these men tonight, but I’m only going home with one of them.
Redness creeps over my cheeks, and a heavy feeling settles in my stomach.
They spent their night with me, and now they’re leaving early because Elliot is. Am I the reason they’re going home alone tonight?
God, I hope not.
CHAPTER THREE
WREN
IF RHETT and Oliver are feeling the same awkwardness I am, they don’t show it. Instead, they’re both scrolling on their phones, completely lost to the world.
“Wren.” Elliot’s voice is quiet and deep in my ear, his breath warm against the skin on my neck. I shudder when he runs a single finger up my jawbone.
He tugs at the ribbon holding my mask in place, letting it fall onto my lap. Then his hand cradles my head as he peppers my face and neck with soft, worshipful kisses. Each one sends a shot of electricity across my skin. They leave me feeling tingly and warm, ready for more.
Then, without a moment’s hesitation, Elliot kisses me. It starts out gentle, with his tongue running across my lips, prodding them open. When I give in, he slides his tongue inside and then back out, slowly fucking my mouth. His hand on the back of my head curls around my hair, his grip tightening.
I struggle to keep my moans to a minimum. Elliot just feels so good. But I’m hoping that maybe, maybe Rhett and Oliver are too absorbed by their phones to notice us kissing.
But when Elliot finally pulls away, releasing his hold on my hair, I find them both watching us.
None of the men have taken off their masks, but I can still see the heat in their eyes. That part doesn’t surprise me. What does, though, is the lack of embarrassment that I thought I’d be feeling by now. Instead, the only thing coursing through my veins is want.
Sure, maybe it’s a little odd that Rhett and Oliver are watching. It’s not something I’ve ever done before. But I can’t say I’m against the idea.
Before I can think about it more, Elliot’s lips are on my neck. He kisses his way down to my collarbones, groaning against my skin. When he sucks some of the sensitive flesh into his mouth, I gasp.
His fingers fumble with the buttons of my coat until he’s able to push it off of me. As if he can barely restrain himself, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
“Is this okay, Wren?” he asks, his voice coated in lust. “If you’re uncomfortable, even the slightest bit, I need you to tell me to stop.”