chest, and I grab hold of her hips. “You like me for me.”
“Baby.” The word sounds gruff over the tightness in my throat, and I lift my hand to cup her jaw. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“I know you believe that.” She leans up on her tiptoes so she can place her lips against mine, and I pull back just out of reach and lock my eyes on hers.
“It’s true, Aria.” I slide my fingers through her hair and palm the back of her head. “You’re everything, baby, and I swear to God that one day you’ll see what everyone else does and realize the only thing I want from you is you.”
“Tide.” Her eyes get wet, and I tip my head to the side so I can kiss her like she should be kissed. When I pull away, her fingers are grasping the front of my tux, my arms are around her, and we’re both panting. Shaking her head, she slides her hands up my chest, then wraps her arms around the back of my neck and drops her forehead to my chin. “I love you.”
Hearing those words from her, my arms get tight and my chest gets warm. Fuck… I never expected her, never dreamed I could be this happy. Then again, everything good in my life has come when I’ve least expected it. “I love you too, baby.”
“You love me?” she whispers, looking surprised, and I grin.
“Baby, I said it to you first. You just weren’t paying attention.” I move my hand up her back to slide it through her hair.
“I thought that was sex talk,” she says quietly, and I toss my head back and laugh. “It’s not funny.” She smacks my shoulder, and I shake my head and dip it to look at her, still chuckling.
“Baby, men say a lot of shit when they are in bed with a beautiful woman, but I don’t know any who say I love you unless they mean that shit.”
“How was I to know you were being serious?”
“You should have known, because I show you every fucking day exactly what you mean to me,” I say, and her expression softens.
“You’re right,” she agrees, and I spin her around and start walking her backward, moving my hands to her hips.
“What are you doing?” she asks, and I glance around her bedroom.
“You said you don’t have a lot of good memories here, but I figure it’s not too late to make some good ones, starting with making out with you on your bed,” I reply, and she smiles a smile that lights me up from the inside, then she giggles as I push her back onto her bed, coming down on top of her, the two of us bouncing. As I settle with my leg between hers, I cup her breast over her dress and listen to her whimper as I cover her mouth with mine. Then I make out with my woman on her childhood bed, with her parents and her ex downstairs.
“We were looking for the two of you,” Colton says when he pulls his mouth off Gia’s, and his eyes meet mine over the top of her head that he’s tucked against his chest.
“I can see you were really worried,” I say, and Aria giggles, pressing into my side.
“I didn’t say we looked hard,” he mutters, and I take a seat on the lounger opposite him and Gia. I pull Aria down to sit on my lap, and her arm wraps around my shoulders.
“Aria wanted to show me something upstairs.”
“I bet she did.” Gia grins at Aria, and both girls start to laugh.
“I think it’s time we get these two home,” I insert, and Colton flips his wrist to check the time, then gives Gia a squeeze.
“If we go now, baby, we got another hour and a half before Mom’s supposed to drop off Gino.” He looks at Aria. “You cool with us leaving now?”
“I’m ready to go if you guys are,” Aria answers quietly. “Thank you, guys, for coming with me tonight. It’s actually been fun.”
“It has been so much fun,” Gia agrees, smiling.
I stand, taking Aria with me, and Colton drags Gia up with him. As we head through the party that has thinned out and walk back through the house, I hold Aria a little closer to my side. Like Gia said, tonight has been good, fun even, with the four of us hanging out mostly away from the party, not leaving much