my breath catches in my throat as he continues. “You could also say that I’m one lucky motherfucker. Not only do I get to look at you in this dress, but I’m the only one who will be taking it off you tonight so I can fuck you senseless.”
“Tide.” I grasp the lapels of his jacket, needing to hold myself up, and he leans into me, placing his lips against mine.
“No matter what happens at this party, Aria, I’m bending you over and fucking you in that dress and those shoes as soon as we get home.”
“Okay,” I agree immediately, and I catch his grin right before he covers my mouth with his and thrusts his tongue between my lips. The kiss is wet, long, and deep, and when he pulls his mouth away, I’m completely breathless. My lashes flutter open, and I find him watching me with a look in his eyes that makes my chest feel funny. Positive that now isn’t the time to talk about the fact that I’m in love with him, I lift my hand and rub my thumb against his bottom lip. “You got my lipstick all over you.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” he rumbles, and I smile as I force him to let me go so I can clean him up. As I lean over the sink to fix my lipstick, his arms wrap around my waist, his big body cocooning me, making me feel safe and small. “I’m gonna warn you now, Aria, that I will lose my shit if your ex or anyone else comes at you tonight.”
I meet his gaze in the mirror and nod once, because the look in his eyes doesn’t leave room for an argument or a conversation, and honestly, I won’t fight him on standing up for me if necessary. Not when my first instinct is to protect him the same way. I just hope it doesn’t come to that.
Chapter 16
Tide
I PULL UP in the long line of cars waiting to be parked in front of Aria’s childhood home and give her thigh a squeeze. Even if she hasn’t said it, I know she’s nervous about coming face-to-face with her ex and her parents in the same space tonight.
“This is where you grew up?” Gia asks from the backseat, and I glance at her in the rearview mirror and see her eyes wide with wonder as she looks out the window. I’m not even a little surprised by her reaction, the house that Aria grew up in looks like something out of a movie. Bright lights showcase the two-story plantation home, and white columns line the front porch, making the house feel even more intimidating. It doesn’t look like the place where people live. It looks like a museum, a place people pay to visit for the day.
“Unfortunately,” Aria says quietly, covering my hand with hers.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” she tells her as two of the guys who were hired to park cars tonight walk up to my truck, one coming around to the driver side, the other stopping next to Aria’s door.
“Wait for me to come around to you,” I order softly as the doors are opened, and her head turns my way. When I get her nod, I get out, jog around to her side, and take her hand to help her out, then tuck her hand under my arm and lead her to the stairs to the front porch where other couples are entering the house.
“As soon as we get inside this place, I need a fucking beer,” Colton grumbles behind us, and for the first time tonight, I hear Aria laugh, the sound making my gut tight. I love the sound of her happiness; I hate that her family makes it so fucking hard for her to be that way.
The house as we enter is just like you’d expect it to be. The foyer is wide with two curved staircases leading up to the second-floor landing, and there is a straight shot into the back garden where you can see hanging lights and people gathered. Some are holding drinks, others with plates of food, as they chat and smile with music playing softly in the background. “I got you, baby,” I say quietly when Aria stumbles.
“Thank you.” Her head turns my way, and I pull her close enough to touch my lips to her forehead, and only once I see that she’s okay do I continue walking us outside. When we