I rub the knot forming in my chest with my free hand. “I have some indigestion going on.”
“Kit.”
I want to look away, but I can’t…
Because he sees right through me.
However, I’m so not ready to talk—or analyze—these teeny butterflies and what they might mean.
So, I give him another truth.
“I want you to go to the party.”
I know he’ll refuse, but I also know how much it would mean to Asher if he did. Plus, who’s to say he won’t eventually repair his relationship with his brother and look back one day and regret not being there for one of the most important nights of Asher’s life?
I’ll be damned. Preston looks like he’s actually considering it.
“What are you willing to offer?”
Say what now?
“Offer?”
He takes a step closer, and then another, caging me in with his body until my spine meets the wall behind me.
“For my attendance.” He braces his hands on the wall on either side of my head. “What do I get out of it?”
My heart sinks because it seems I’ve created a monster.
“You’re unbelievable.” I jab a finger in his chest. “Not everything has to be a wager.”
His lips quirk up at the corners, like my annoyance amuses him. “But I like making bets with you.” Inclining his head, he skims his nose along my jawline. “Christ. You smell good.”
Ignoring that comment, I square my shoulders. “You don’t get anything.”
I just want him to be there.
I’m about to wiggle away, but he cups my cheek.
“Okay,” he drawls after a minute. “I’ll go.”
I’m so stunned my jaw drops. “Really?”
He nods but a muscle in his chiseled jaw bunches, as if he’s aggravated with himself for caving in.
I look at him dubiously. “And you’re not expecting anything in exchange?”
He shakes his head, but then stops abruptly. “On second thought, there is one thing.”
It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes, because I should have known there’d be a catch.
“What—”
His mouth crashes against mine and I swear I feel the floor crack and shatter underneath me, but there’s no way that’s possible because he’s still kissing me.
And I’m kissing him back.
On a moan, I sag against the wall. All my defenses weaken with every hungry stroke of his tongue.
Preston doesn’t just kiss…he consumes.
Like I’m the air he can’t seem to get enough of. The secret he’s determined to uncover.
The craving he’ll stop at nothing to satisfy.
And knowing how much he wants me only makes me burn hotter until I go up in flames.
I open my mouth wider, willing him to take whatever he desires as I satisfy my own exploration, gunning for those dark, gruff sounds he makes.
I hear them when my teeth graze his bottom lip before sucking it. However, I’m not prepared for the way my skin jolts when his knuckles drift to the underside of my breast…testing. Teasing.
He lingers there for a few seconds, like he’s giving me time to redirect him…but I don’t.
My head spins and my breath comes out choppy as I fight for control. Control I don’t have because he’s seized every last bit of it.
Which is why I don’t stop him when those big, rough hands squeeze my tits.
His low, gruff voice cuts through the room as my nipples turn to glass. “Is this okay?”
When I don’t answer, he goes still, his hands still firmly cupping me as we exchange the same erratic air.
Preston’s never struck me as the type to ask permission for anything, and I’m not dumb enough to believe he’s decided to be a gentleman right now.
He’s asking because he wants to hear me admit that I like his touch.
I open my mouth, but the words feel like they’re jammed in my throat.
And conceding will wipe away all the parts of me I love.
The parts that make me me.
Fortunately, I don’t have to acknowledge defeat because the doorbell rings at the same time I hear Juan shout, “Kit. People are here!”
“I have to go.”
Giving my boobs one last grope, he kisses a path up my neck, stopping when he reaches my ear. “Who’s the coward now?”
His words are the equivalent of ice water, but I’d rather jam a knife in my jugular than let him know there’s any truth to them.
Wrapping my hand around the back of his neck, I bring him in for another kiss. However, the moment his lips part and his tongue touches mine, I pull back and whisper, “Eat my shorts, Holden.”
His gaze travels down to my chest, lingering there long enough I feel his stare between my thighs before slowly trailing back up to my face.
“I’d much rather eat your pussy, Bishop.”
There’s no way to hide the flush that creeps up my cheeks as I leave the room.
Or the stupid butterflies that come back with a vengeance.
Juan fans himself with a napkin. “Hot butter on a biscuit. I’ve never seen so much eye candy in one place before.”
I can’t help but laugh as he shamelessly ogles Asher’s teammates.
There’s so much freaking testosterone in the room I wish I could open a window and air it all out.
“It’s better than Christmas morning,” he continues, plucking an hors d’oeuvre off a tray a nearby waiter is holding.
I open my mouth to warn Juan that most of them have wives or girlfriends, but Landon approaches, looking like he’s about to puke.
Can’t say I blame him given he’ll be popping the big question soon.
Along with his boyfriend.
“There’s a lot of people here,” he notes. “A lot of people.”
He’s not wrong. Between the never-ending list of people Asher wanted me to invite, plus Landon’s list…there are over four hundred in attendance.
It makes me even more grateful that my bestie is an introvert and can’t stand most humans.
A quality she shares with my husband.
I take a sip of my champagne. “Yeah, but you know how Asher is...the bigger the spotlight, the better.”
He smiles in that way that only someone who’s truly in love can. “True.” His brow crinkles. “But Breslin keeps wondering why you threw such a big party for Picasso.”
Yep. I figured that might happen.
Given I needed a good excuse to host this shindig, and Picasso’s birthday just so happens to be tomorrow, I told her I was throwing a birthday bash for her pooch.
“Don’t worry,” I assure him. “She knows how much I love my nephew.” I give him a wink. “Plus, she’ll figure out it was all a ruse soon enough.”
“Yeah.” He jams his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Think she’ll say yes?”
“If she doesn’t, I will,” Juan cuts in, eyeing him like he’s a decadent dessert.
I nudge him in the ribs. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”
Breslin might be reserved, but not when it comes to her feelings for Landon and Asher.
Landon opens his mouth to say something, but a guy claps him on the back.