She lifted the roses to her nose, hiding the wide smile she was sporting. “You didn’t tell me I needed to dress up. You just said dress warm.”
“Douchebag Boatshoes got a dress,” I stated simply.
“Douchebag Boatshoes didn’t tell me to dress warm.” She twisted away from me, her ass swaying seductively as she made her way to the kitchen.
Maybe those jeans hadn’t been a bad choice after all.
“I’m in a suit,” I announced as if she hadn’t noticed.
“Congratulations!” she shouted over the running water as she filled a vase.
I scratched the back of my head. “I’m not sure they’ll let you in the restaurant in jeans. I guess I could always call to check.”
Her eyes perked. “Really?”
“Yeah, really. I’m worth millions, Liv. You think I’m taking you to a drive-thru?”
“Ah,” she replied in understanding. “My best friend once told me about douchebags like you. I’m not particularly interested in money. I siphon enough off my boss to keep me set for years.”
“Your boss should fire you. But your best friend sounds brilliant.”
“Meh. He’s okay,” she teased. “So, where are we going?”
With a proud smirk, I joined her in the kitchen.
She stared up at me nervously as I wrapped my arms around her waist and tugged her against me. Her breathing sped when I nuzzled my cheek against hers. Switching to the other side, I nipped playfully at her neck. A breathy moan encouraged me further, so I raked my teeth against her flesh before pulling away.
“It’s a surprise,” I whispered.
Gripping her hips, I lifted her to sit on the counter.
Her fingers went to the top button of my shirt. It wasn’t a nervous gesture. It was heated and sexy as fuck.
“Is this the suit from the Gala?” she asked before licking her lips.
“Mmm,” I mumbled while staring at her mouth. “It’s my most successful outfit from the Liv James collection.”
“Technically, that would be your boxing trunks, but this is a close second.” She smiled. Then it disappeared, taking the woman I so desperately wanted with it. Her pink cheeks paled, and her hands fell away. “Give me a minute and I’ll change into a dress.”
Lifting her legs around my waist, I inched closer, not stopping until her denim met my zipper. “What just went through your mind? You were flirting and then you shut down.”
“Nothing,” she moaned, shifting away, but I refused her the space.
I cupped the back of her neck and forced her eyes to mine. “What. Happened?”
She tried to shimmy off the counter, but I blocked her.
“Can we just go?” she huffed.
I sighed and closed my eyes, pleading for patience. None was found.
“Are you going to spend the entire night trying to put distance between us?”
Her head snapped back, and attitude filled her masked eyes. “Maybe.”
“It doesn’t matter what I do, does it? You’re going to shut me down, aren’t you?”
She disconnected her legs and leaned away. “I am if you don’t stop acting like a dick.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I shrugged. “Nothing to lose. Fuck it,” I mumbled.
“What’s that supposed to—”
I crushed my mouth over hers. Swallowing her surprised cry, I went to work coaxing her tongue into a rhythm. It only took seconds for my Liv to reappear.
Folding her arms around my neck, she used it as leverage to take the kiss even deeper. Slowly, her hand slid down my chest and into my jacket before gliding around to my back.
She tugged the back of my shirt up until it untucked.
I chuckled as she slid her hands into my pants. Then I groaned as her nails bit into my ass. Cursing into her mouth, I ground my hard cock between her legs.
She gasped then circled her hips for more.
“This is exactly why you should have worn a dress,” I said, finding the seam of her jeans and tracing it up and down.
She threw her head back, and her long, brown hair teased my hand at the small of her back.
“Give me this woman tonight.” My fingers continued to play as I spoke against her lips. “We’ll talk. Figure this shit out. But don’t go into this closed off from me. Give me a chance.” I wrapped the length of her hair around my fist and tugged her head back to catch my gaze. I dragged my tongue over her parted lips then finished. “Give us a chance.”
“Okay,” she panted.
I smiled triumphantly before abruptly stepping out of her reach. “Go put on a dress.”
She blinked at me through sex-fogged eyes. It took everything I had in me not to rip her jeans and fuck her right there on the kitchen counter.
But, as hard as it was for me to remember, I needed to get her on the same page more than I needed to be balls-deep inside her.
Fucking her then would have only been a short-term answer.
Fucking her for the rest of my life was the long-term goal.
“That was mean,” she whined, jumping off the counter and starting out of the room.
I caught her around the waist and pulled her against my chest. “No. Mean would be if I didn’t have plans to make you come on my mouth when we get home.” I kissed her chastely and gave her ass a squeeze. “Go get dressed. We’re gonna be late.”