“Mmm.”
She took a long sip from the straw, very aware of Tommy watching her. Closing her eyes, she made a show of enjoying it with a long, satisfying, yummy sound, then licked her lips.
“You naughty girl,” he growled, slipping his hand between her legs and rubbing his knuckle against her.
She moaned. Arousal flooded her body, and her nipples tightened. Tommy might be away a lot, but he made sure to take her as often as possible when he was here. In the process, he’d conditioned her body to respond to him in an instant. “But we don’t have time for naughty today. I’m planning for sweet.”
She opened her eyes and lifted a brow. “I’m listening.”
“It’s a surprise. I’ve spent so much time at the gym this week, I just wanted to get home, and I didn’t shower. I’m going to take a quick one, and then we’ll leave.” He pointed at her as he backed out of the room. “Do not follow me. I said quick. And anything I do to you won’t be quick.”
She shivered.
After he went into the bathroom, she walked to her bedroom. Looking in the oval mirror above her dresser, she cringed at her reflection. Her hair was knotted on one side from her nap. Thanks to Tommy keeping her up late most nights, dark circles stained the skin beneath her eyes. Grabbing a brush, she worked the tangles out of her hair, dabbed a little concealer under her eyes, and added a bit of mascara to her eyelashes and eye shadow to her lids. There was no point bothering with lipstick; he’d have it off before they left the house anyway.
She glanced down at her yoga pants and T-shirt. Nope. If they were going out, she was dressing up.
Studying her closet, she pursed her lips. Casual? Sexy?
She went to the bathroom door, opened it, and smiled when he bellowed, “I told you not to follow me!”
“I just wanted to know if you have to go back to the gym today.”
“Yeah, practice from six until nine tonight.”
She closed the door. Better not wear anything too sexy, then. They wouldn’t have time to play. She finally settled on a pair of designer jeans that she knew looked amazing on her and a tight red sweater. After she pulled on her knee-high boots, she walked out into the living room and found Tommy already waiting for her.
Dressed in a pair of dark denim jeans that hugged his butt and a button-down flannel shirt that stretched across his muscular back, he looked rugged and completely edible. The fabric clung to him, teasing her with the body she yearned for.
His gaze raked over her and heated. “I’m one lucky fuck.”
He strode over and grabbed her by the waist, then kissed her hard. She leaned into him, opening her mouth without hesitation. God, she loved kissing him. Loved being in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Tommy released her and asked, “Ready to go?”
“Yeah.”
They went to the car, and soon they were driving down the road.
The mystery of their destination filled her with a buzz of excitement. Half an hour later he pulled into a parking lot and Julie gasped, knowing exactly where they were.
The Georgia Aquarium.
She clapped her hands. “Oh, Tommy, thank you! This is perfect.”
After he found a place to park, he opened her door and helped her out. “Do you remember trying to get me to come here with you last year?”
“I do.” She chuckled. “You came up with a lame excuse about needing to go through your closet.”
He took her head between his hands, running his thumbs over her cheeks. “I regret that now.”
“It’s not like I hadn’t made you come with me before. Besides, we were just friends. You didn’t have to go.”
“We’re not just friends anymore, right?”
She frowned. “I think it’s pretty obvious we’re not.”
“You and me. We’re together now. Nothing’s going to come between us.”
Now she was getting worried. “Tommy, is everything okay?”
There was a distress in his expression she hadn’t seen before. Tommy was always so damn confident, so it took her aback.
“I just need to know that my absence hasn’t messed anything up. That you and I are still good.”
She eased out a breath. “We’re more than good.”
He smiled, and the tension released from his shoulders as he threaded his fingers through hers and started walking toward the aquarium. “Okay.”
After he paid for their tickets, they walked inside.
“I’m yours to lead,” he said, and opened the door.
Smiling, she walked farther into the foyer, realizing this was actually the first time she was out in public with Tommy as his girlfriend. The thought was thrilling.
“Where do you want to go first?” he asked.
“The penguins,” she said without hesitation.
“How did I know you’d say that?”