He was watching me. He didn’t stop until I was out of sight.
The next few hours were a blur of arms, busy hands, and ear-splitting shouts. There was an entire team on foot, all dedicated to making the daughter of the Badd family into a star.
Two women coiled her hair, another worked on her toes. She had three makeup artists—even her little fluffy white Yorkie had someone working on him.
I’d planned to just put on a dress and shoes. Francesca would have none of it.
Forced into a chair, I was set up like a piece of meat for some hyenas. The women chattered and yanked at me, forcing my hair into such a tight twist that my eyes watered. I finally put my foot down when they tried to do my makeup like the bride’s.
There was no way I was letting them pancake it on.
My stomach rumbled as I sat there. I was grateful when I was offered a mimosa. Someone else handed me a tray of pastries, so I took a raspberry Danish—okay, two.
Eventually the room quieted down, the staff clearing out. Francesca stood by as the remaining assistant strapped her into the dress I’d created. I sat in front of the vanity, observing with genuine pride.
She really was beautiful.
“I have to show my dad.” She giggled. Swishing her veil, she beamed. “I’ll be right back! Get your shoes on!”
When she charged out the door, the last of the attendants went with her. Left alone in the fluffy white sitting room, I leaned down to straighten out the low-cut top of my dress. No matter how I pulled at the material, nothing could make it less . . . what was the word? Streetwalker?
It was a style I’d have never worn. The rose-cream color didn’t fit a wedding, if you asked me, though they’d clearly paid someone a lot of money for the outfit; I was positive that was real gold on the zipper.
At least they match the heels. They were meant for Francesca’s former friend, and she must have been a fan of height. Scowling, I wiggled my toes into the pink and glittery torture devices. I tested them, wobbling after a couple of steps. The door opened behind me. “Francesca, do you have any other heels besides these?”
Kain slid inside the room, and just as fast, he slid into my blood. I went hot all over, scanning the way his rich navy suit fit across his muscles. It brought out the flecks of silver in his eyes . . . eyes that were busy roaming my nearly naked chest.
“What the hell are you doing in here?” I hissed.
He came my way, not stopping. Kain walked his fingers up my ribs, brushing dangerously close to my breast. “I’m getting ready for the wedding.”
Glowing pink, I summoned enough strength to push him away. He smiled, leaning on the wall to watch me. “Get ready elsewhere, I have to practice walking in these heels.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll hold you up in case you trip when we’re walking together.”
Tiny hairs stood up on my arms. The confident slant to his stare had my blood pumping ever faster. “You’re not serious. You’re the best man? You?”
Plucking at his suit jacket, he looked down at his knuckles. “Am I not best man material?”
I was too stunned to banter. Slumping into a padded chair, I dug my nails into the back of it. When I’d agreed to help Francesca, I hadn’t considered that it would throw me closer to the one man I wanted to be miles away from.
“It’s actually perfect, when you think about it,” he said. “Now I get to dance with someone I actually like. It helps even more that I know how good you can move those hips of yours.”
The memory of grinding my pussy deliriously on his pelvis rocked my brain. Grabbing the mimosa, I used it to wash the dryness from my mouth. “I might have to walk down the aisle with you, Kain, but I don’t have to spend another moment with you before or after.”
“‘Walk down the aisle,’” he teased. “Like we’re husband and wife. I know I fucked you into a blackout last night, but I don’t know if I’m ready to marry you.”
“Marry you?!” Standing quickly, I threw my hands down. The glass was empty, or I would have gotten mimosa all over my dress. “I don’t want to be near you!”
Laughing, Kain pushed off of the wall. “Please. You really think you’re done with me?”
He was getting closer; I tightened my jaw and stood tall. I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me. I definitely wasn’t going to let him get under my skin . . . or on my skin . . . and fuck, now I was thinking about his naked body all over again.
Kain was on me, his breath caressing my cheek. “You’re all red,” he whispered. “That because of me?”
Pressure pounded in my ears. Every air particle was affected by him, the distance between us pointless. He wasn’t touching me yet, but my lower belly flipped and went wiggly like he was.
I ran my tongue over my lower lip—he followed it with his eyes. “Kain, what happened last night was a mistake.”
“This mistake made you scream so hard I think the whole house heard you.”
My eyes shot wide. “That—don’t act like you were that good!”
His arm passed my ear, his palm touching the vanity behind me, blocking me in. Every wave of heat that came off of his body sank into me. Were my knees shaking? “Listen to me, beautiful. I know I was good. And you know I was good. So stop playing, and if you ask nicely, maybe I’ll take you for another round. I’d love to eat that sweet pussy of yours, didn’t get to last night, ya know? I’d hate for you to think I wasn’t a gentleman.”
Words failed me. Even my muscles were failing me. Gripping the top of the chair, I sank back onto it. Kain didn’t let me go, he followed me down, his sharp nose brushing the tip of mine.
When he licked his teeth, my clit swelled, imagining his tongue on me.
Rubbing my legs together, I swallowed loudly. “You’re definitely not a gentleman.”
“Then what am I?”
A jerk, an asshole, a dickhead . . .
The best fuck I’ve ever had.
Francesca busted into the room. “Okay! Let’s finish up and—Kain!”
Her brother spun away from me, all evidence that he’d been soaking my panties vanishing. “Sis,” he said, grabbing her shoulders. “You look amazing.”
She blushed, doing a twirl for him. “Think Midas will run from the altar?”
“If he does, he’s a damn idiot.”
It occurred to me as they laughed together . . . just how similar they looked. She had the same angular jaw as her brother, and he had her thick lashes and sparkling eyes. They were comfortable together. It made me a little envious that I had no siblings.
Studying how Kain treated his sister, my mood shifted. He was protective, kind, even sweet. None of the sides he’d shown to me.
No. I saw something like that in his eyes . . . right before I passed out.
I had to forget that moment. Guys who were full of themselves just hurt the women who fell for them. I was not about to fall for Kain Badd. Not a fucking chance.