Fuck.
Shaking away the memories, I tried to focus on what was coming next. Everyone was meeting in the lobby with the event coordinator to join in on today’s activities. I was determined to be on my best behavior today for Sofia and Ara. I couldn’t let Ellis get to me.
We made it to the lobby, but we appeared to be the first there.
“Should we check at the desk to see if the coordinator is here?” Ara asked.
“Sure,” I said with a shrug.
We asked the man at the desk for the coordinator, and he left to go find her. He’d just left when I heard voices coming from near the elevator. The giant plant at reception partially blocked us, but I knew that voice.
“I just don’t see it,” Ellis said.
“You seriously think they’re faking? You saw them at dinner last night, and you saw their photo this morning,” Sofia whispered in disbelief and annoyance. My gaze met Ara’s wide eyes. I felt his doubt had less to do with disbelief, and more to do with a refusalto accept thatIwas with Ara when he hadn’t been enough for her.
“That’s exactly what I think. It’s all fake. Flynn has convinced her to go along with this to piss me off, and for whatever reason, Chiara is doing it.”
Ara’s hand gripped my forearm as their voices grew closer, and I knew we had to do something.
“You’re wrong, Ellis. They’re real,” Sofia defended.
Ellis scoffed. “We’ll see.”
Their voices were louder now, and I glanced back at Ara and tugged her against me. “Don’t pull away.”
Then before she could protest, I did what I’d been dying to do again since we climbed out of bed this morning.
I kissed her.
I didn’tjustkiss her. No. The moment my lips touched hers, I was ravenous for more. I pulled her hard against me, one hand on her lower back, the other cupping her face, tilting her chin back ever so slightly to deepen the kiss. The sigh she released against my lips made me want to cheer, but not as much as the way she kissed me back. She pressed into me, hands sliding up my chest to clench my shirt in her fists, her body sinking against mine.
I knew I was done for when the world around us ceased to exist.
There was no hotel, no reception, there were no people or anything else but this woman and her lips. I gentled the kiss slightly, turning it into an exploration, memorizing the feel of her lips, the taste of her and the way her breath left in shaky little pants. Fuck, I’d wanted this for so long, I was desperate for more. I moved us carefully, slowly pushing her back against the counter to box her in. My hand on her face slid to the silky strands of her hair and I wrapped my fist around it, tugging gently.
The quiet moan that escaped her lips damn near sent me overthe edge. It wasn’t until someone politely cleared their throat that reality began to filter through once more, and I lifted my head from hers. Her eyes were glassy and lips swollen, and I found myself feeling rather smug that I’d put that look on her face.
“Your coordinator will be out in a moment.”
At the sound of the receptionist’s voice, I glanced up to find him fighting an awkward smile while looking at the two of us.
“Oh, right. Thank you,” I said, stepping back from Ara a little.
“Thank you,” Ara murmured, her gaze lowered and cheeks bright red with embarrassment. I chuckled under my breath but refused to give her any more space.
“Stop it,” she hissed with a laugh, slapping me in the chest. I tugged her against me again and grinned at her.
“I can’t help it. You’re adorable when you’re flustered.”
“Yeah, because being caught making out like a teenager is definitely not fluster-worthy,” she deadpanned.
“Can’t help but feel like a teenager when I’m with you. My woman makes every day feel new and exciting,” I said.
Her pupils expanded, and she took a shaky breath. Oh yeah, she liked it when I referred to her as my woman. I had to admit, I kinda did too. That knowledge should have been enough to push me away from her, but it wasn’t.
Someone shuffled to our side, and I looked up to see Uncle Trevor and Aunt Carol standing there, both with shit-eating grins on their faces. Yup, definitely felt like a teenager again.
“Oh, hi,” Ara greeted, her cheeks flaming.
