As his gaze licks over me from my hair that I decided to wear half down, to the nude heels on my feet, I take him in, feeling lightheaded. I thought he was beautiful before, but seeing him with his hair tied back in a tight man-bun away from his handsome face, his jaw more angular without the scruff normally covering it, and his muscular body incased in a black tux that looks like it was made for him, I know I was wrong. He’s not beautiful. He’s… he’s…. I have no word to describe what he is. I just know that it’s everything.
“I thought.” His hand rubs down his mouth as he steps toward me. “I thought I knew you’d look beautiful tonight. I obviously had no fucking idea. Jesus, Aria, what the fuck?”
“You like my dress?” I ask stupidly, and his hand curves around my hip so that he can bring our bodies together.
“You could say that.” His eyes lock on mine, and 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 get into the backyard, I do a quick scan, noticing her mom standing with a man who seems to be hanging on her every word and her father is standing with a group of men on the opposite side of the yard.
“I say we all get drinks,” Aria suggests, so I let her lead the way to the bar that is placed in the middle of the yard under an arch of lights. The girls both order vodka soda’s while Colton and I order beers, which the bartender has to run inside to get, because it’s not something they have stocked. Once we have our drinks, we make our way to one of the many standing tables that are placed around the yard, and I can tell by the fake smile Aria is wearing that she’s uncomfortable and more than a little nervous being here.
“Is it just me or are people looking at us?” Gia asks quietly, and I wrap my arm around Aria’s back and pull her into my side.
“It’s not just you,” Aria says, her body against mine getting tight, and I look up, finding her mom and the man she was with when we came outside coming our way.
“Aria, you made it,” her mom greets as her eyes scan our table. “And you’ve brought your friends.”
“Mom,” Aria returns, sounding cold, and I give her hip a squeeze. “I’d like you to meet Gia, Colton, and my boyfriend Tide.”
“Are you going to greet Josh?” her mom asks, ignoring the introduction while wrapping her arm around Josh’s bicep. My jaw clenches as I realize the man at her side is Aria’s ex-husband, the man who wasn’t man enough to keep her, the man she is still to this day giving money to, because instead of getting a job, he’s feeding off my woman. Sizing him up I can see why Aria got with him, he’s an attractive man even if he does look like a slime ball.
“Josh,” Aria clips, and I watch a look in his eyes turn calculated before he quickly replaces the look with a charming smile.
“You look fantastic, Aria.” His eyes wander over her face and cleavage, and my hands ball into fists. “And it’s nice to meet some of Aria’s friends.”
“So nice,” her mother agrees, then her nose scrunches, and I know why a second later.
“Honey.” Aria’s dad, who’s obviously been drinking, moves around the table so he can give Aria a kiss on her cheek and me a hard pat on my back. “I’m so glad you two could make it.” He focuses on Aria. “You look beautiful tonight, honey.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Aria says quietly before she motions to Colton and Gia. “You remember my friends, don’t you?”