Heat washes down through me, pooling between my legs. I love his filthy words, but… “You’re giving me mixed messages, Trace.”
“Fuck. I know.” He leans his forehead against mine briefly. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to resist but…”
“I know.”
I do know. I want him so much. He keeps pushing me away, and I understand why, but on the other hand… he’s pretty damn irresistible. Maybe he feels the same? That itself is a huge turn-on.
The song ends, and it looks like Joe and Cassie are leaving. We return to the table to say good night. I’m buzzing with arousal, certain my cheeks are flushed and… Shit, is everyone seeing my horny eyes? I hope not!
I try to ignore Trace as I hug Joe and Cassie, then Chuck and Stella who are also leaving, but I’m aware of him in my peripheral vision. Fuckable. Oh God. I squeeze my thighs together.
The crowd is much smaller now with mainly friends of Dean and Wendell’s remaining. I get into an animated conversation with Magan and her—I mean our—cousin Natalie, who’s the same age as me and also works in IT. We have a lot in common and agree to meet for lunch one day.
“Jeff and I have a suite here in the hotel,” she says. “We’re having a party when things wind up here. You’re invited.”
Yikes. This family likes to party.
“Did you come with Trace?” she asks. “Tell him about it.”
“Okay. I’ll see what he says.”
I’m alone at the table, everyone else dancing, when Trace sits next to me. Now his tie is loosened and he lounges back in his chair, looking a little rumpled and a lot sexy. “Let me know when you want to leave,” he says.
“Apparently Natalie and Jeff are having a party up in their suite.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Of course they are.”
I laugh. “She’s fun.”
“Do you want to go?”
I shrug and peek at him through my lashes. I’d rather go home with him. But not if he’s doing to drop me off and disappear. I meet his eyes, searching his, trying to figure out if he meant what he said. His gaze hooks on mine, his eyes hot. “I’m ready to go home.”
His eyes darken and his head moves in a tiny nod. “Okay.” He pulls out his phone to call for a car.
Nerves flutter inside me, along with hope and heat.
We locate Wendell and Dean to say good night and to wish them happiness, and I let Felise and Magan know we’re leaving. They’re about to head home also.
I carefully descend the carpeted stairs in my heels. We cross the lobby, and a doorman holds the door for us. “Do you need a taxi?” he asks.
“We have an Uber coming,” Trace replies.
We step outside onto the sidewalk. The air out here is only a few degrees cooler than inside, a soft breeze rustling the palms in the big pots in front of the hotel. I pull a strand of hair off my face. Our car arrives, and Trace checks it out, then opens the door for me. I slide into the back seat.
The first thing I do is toe off my shoes and wiggle my toes.
“Sore feet?”
“Oh my god, yes. I don’t wear heels very often.”
“They look amazing on you.”
My heart bumps. “Thank you.”
Soon we’re on Lake Shore speeding north. The car is dark and quiet, and my skin tingles with the awareness of Trace near me. I’m aching for him to touch me. “Did you mean what you said earlier, or are you going to cock block me again and tell me we can’t be together?”
After a surprised beat, he chuckles and leans his forehead against mine. “Jesus, Romy.”
I’m quivering with anticipation. Is he going to reject me again?
“I’m not going to cock block you. Or myself.” He lets out a resigned sigh. “I’m coming into your place…” His voice lowers and roughens into a sexy growl. “And I intend to make your ‘home’ very happy.”
A tiny laugh bubbles up as my belly flip-flops. I can’t breathe. Heat spreads over my skin. “Don’t tease me unless you’re going to please me.”
He laughs again, tucking his fingers beneath my chin and lifting it. I look into his eyes in the darkness just as his thick eyelashes lower over them. My lips part and my eyes drift closed too, and then he’s kissing me. My body dissolves as I slide into a haze of sweet desire.
His fingertips coast over my throat and my shoulder. A shiver works down my spine as his fingers curl around my upper arm, his mouth moving on mine, his tongue licking over my bottom lip and then inside. It’s a kiss… but it’s more. It’s honesty. It’s surrender. It’s unity.
We walk into my condo without a word. My bedroom is dark, but the curtains are open, and through the window, the moon hangs in the sky, full, a perfect orb of glowing silver and blue. I pause, pulling in a breath. I feel like everything is more intense and emotional when the moon is full, but I also feel I can trust my instincts.
I drop my purse and my sweater onto the chair and turn to face Trace. “We agreed not to do this.”
He’s right there, and his hands come up to clasp my upper arms. He studies my face. “I know. But I can’t resist you, Romy.”
“You want to resist me. You were trying.”
“Yes.” His mouth tightens. “I told you why.”
“I know.”
“I feel like I should be stronger. But when it comes to you… I’m defenseless.”
I curve my hands over his shoulders, right at the base of his neck where I can rub my thumbs over his collarbones. “Are you blaming me?”
“Christ, no!” His eyes widen.
“I’ve been trying to resist too. I respect your loyalty to the Candlers. I don’t want to be a problem for you and them.”
“Oh, Romy.” He leans his forehead against mine. “It’s not your fault that I can’t stop thinking about you. Can’t keep my hands off you. That I want you every goddamn minute of every day.”
My heart flutters. “I feel the same. So… it’s not my fault. But it’s not your fault either. Maybe we just need to… accept it.”
He draws back, his face serious, his eyes deep and shadowy.
16
Trace
Accept it.
I’m making a mess of this. Telling her we can’t, then flirting with her. I just can’t do it anymore. I can’t resist. I can’t push her away. Call me weak. Call me obsessed. I don’t give a shit. I just want her.
She feels the same. She wants this too.
Whatever this is.
I’m terrified to go there, so I kiss her. Urgently. Hungrily. Giving in and going for it.
I fucking love the taste of her mouth, sweet and warm, the feel of her tongue against mine, velvety and playful. I love how smooth her skin is under my rough hands as I push the tiny straps off her shoulders. I’m consumed with a huge and limitless need, so powerful it swells inside me and takes over. All I can focus on is… Romy.
I reach around her for the zipper of her dress. She steps back with a small smile and helpfully turns her back on me. Oh yeah. It is on.
I lower the zipper and push the dress down. She’s not wearing a bra, but she is wearing panties, lace the color of flames that matches her dress. “Nice.” I drag my fingertips over the lace, then tug them down her legs.