gazed around at my brothers. “And just so you blokes know, this girl here”—I pointed at Remi—“is mine. I love her, so chill with the flirty comments.” I leaned down to her, my arms on either side of her chair, tipped her chin up, and kissed her. Nothing crazy, but my lips and tongue telling her she was going to pay for showing up in that dress.
I sat back down and made a show of it, stretching out my arms over my head, cracking my neck, and getting loose. Fuck. I felt incredible.
Her eyes glittered as she took in every movement, her top teeth digging into her bottom lip.
A few minutes went by and the game continued. My body was amped, ready to snap at the slightest thing. Waiting for what trouble came next. It came.
“I’m headed to the keg for another beer. You want one?” she asked Lulu.
“Nope,” Lulu answered. “Watching you and Dax is enough of a buzz for me.”
Remi shrugged and took off into the darkness for the keg area.
Go after her!
I let her get about fifty feet before I jerked up, blood pumping.
I jogged, and she must have heard my footfalls because she kicked off her heels and dashed for the tree line.
Like a streak of lightning, she dodged the parked cars, weaving in and out as she headed for the weeping willow trees. Jumping a tiny stream, she landed with a little grunt, her legs disappearing under the draped foliage.
At this rate, she’d kill herself before I reached her.
The light from the bonfire and lanterns didn’t quite go this far, so by the time I pushed aside the grass-length branches and got inside, I was greeted with darkness. The only thing visible was a faint outline of her as she pressed herself against the trunk. The sounds of laughter and music from the party drifted inside the tree’s sanctuary, but the only sound I homed in on was her breathing.
I stalked toward the trunk.
She whimpered when I put my hands on her collarbone and stroked down to her wrist, fingering her bracelet.
“I see you,” I said. My hands picked hers up and pinned them above her head against the tree, careful to not hurt her.
“You caught me,” she whispered and arched toward me.
“Mmmm.” Inhaling, I ran my nose up her throat to her ear and whispered, “Whether I can see you or not, I always smell you. Every time I walk in a bakery shop and get a whiff of sugar—on a donut or a damn cookie—I get hard.”
“Is that why you bring me breakfast—”
I kissed her. The best kiss I’d ever had. Soft and languorous, my lips played with hers, giving her tiny kisses and then longer ones.
My kisses went down her neck to her collarbone and to her chest. My tongue outlined her tattoo, tracing the lines of my name as she squirmed, trying half-heartedly to get loose from being pinned. Using my teeth, I nibbled on the front of her dress, aiming for her nipples, my mouth soaking her dress until I could see rosy tips through the dress.
“Dax.” She rotated against me. “Let me touch you,” she moaned, her voice thick with heat.
“No.” I wanted to punish her until she begged me to let her do what she wanted.
Using one hand to secure her wrists, my other one reached behind her back, grabbed the zipper, and yanked it down. Her dress fell to the ground, leaving her nude, and I latched onto her breasts, my tongue, teeth, and lips devouring her.
“I’m burning that damn dress,” I said into her neck. I bit her shoulder.
She cried out in pleasure, and I went back to her mouth. Kissed her. “Do you want everyone to hear us?” I asked between kisses.
“I don’t care,” she said and sucked on my bottom lip, her teeth tugging, making me ache. I groaned, liking the way she knew me. I wanted her to do that to me for the rest of my life.
I licked her throat. “I’m going to let you go, and you’re going to stand there and not move.”
“Yes.”
With care, I let her hands rest, and she collapsed against the tree, arms dangling at her sides. Taking my sweet time, I kissed down each arm individually, to her elbows, to the palms of her hands. I went to my knees. Kissed her stomach. Sucked on her hipbone.
Emotion tore at me. Regret. Lust. Love. Real love.
“I’m so damn sorry,” I said against her skin. “I’m sorry I