“It’s about time!” Abby clapped.
“What’s about time?” Bishop asked, walking around the corner.
“Arabella and Hunter locking lips,” Greer said with a wink in Bella’s direction.
Candace let out a laugh. “Not just locking lips—for a moment there I thought we were about to see some R-rated action.”
I put my arm around Bella and drew her closer to me. “Sorry, guys.”
“Dude, you don’t need to apologize for kissing the woman you love,” Hudson said as he gave me a slap on the back and made his way toward Greer. “You look beautiful, Greer.”
She blushed and reached up to give him a quick kiss. “Kyle’s coming, right?” Greer asked me.
I nodded. “Yeah, he’s going to meet us there.”
With a clap of her hands, Brighton made her way toward the front door. “Come on, Candace, let’s head on out.”
Candace followed Brighton. “You do remember I’m meeting my boyfriend there, right?”
Brighton glanced over her shoulder and frowned. “Wait. Am I the only single person in the group now?”
“Kyle,” everybody responded at the same time.
“You two should totally hook up,” Candace stated, waggling her brows.
Brighton gagged, then covered her mouth. “Not even if he were the last man on Earth.”
Greer folded her arms over her chest. “And what’s wrong with my brother?”
Brighton shrugged. “Nothing. He’s fine as hell, has a hot body, and is definitely not the type of guy for me.”
Candace laughed and made her way to the front door. “Lord only knows the type of man needed to keep up with you, Brighton.”
A wicked smile played over Brighton’s face as she followed. “Well, for one thing, he needs to have a huge—”
“Oooookaaay,” Abby quickly cut Brighton off as she took Bishop’s hand, and they followed her out of Greer and Hudson’s house.
I glanced down and saw Bella smiling and slowly shaking her head. I was glad she wasn’t uncomfortable around Brighton, especially when she started talking about sex.
“You ready to go?” I asked.
She nodded and looked behind me. “Let me grab my bag. I set it by the door.”
“I’ll get it,” I said and walked over to the built-in bench in the foyer. I took the bag and put it over my shoulder while Bella picked up a small purse.
As we headed out to the truck, I wondered how this night might turn out. Just seeing Bella in that outfit—the black leggings, the white button-down shirt that barely covered her ass, and those damn black high-heeled boots—had my dick throbbing in my pants. She’d always had a great body, but her curves were now more defined and womanly, and they made my damn mouth water.
It was going to be hard to not touch her later, but I would do it. Hell, even if I had to have her cuff my hands to the bed, I wouldn’t touch her. Bella would have complete control over everything tonight.
Arabella
The way Hunter looked at me when he saw my outfit had my entire body tingling. The air in his truck was thick with the desire we both clearly felt.
“Are you excited?” Hunter asked with a smile.
Nodding, I replied, “I am! I haven’t been out in so long, I almost forgot what dressing up was like.”
“You look…stunningly beautiful, Bella. That outfit is…”
I raised a brow. “Is what?”
“Well, if I’m being honest, it made me want to bring you back to my house and skip the bar.”
I felt my cheeks heat. “Who would have thought a plain old white button-down could be sexy?”
Hunter laughed. “On you it is.”
“If you want to drink, I’ll drive us home.”
Turning to glance at me quickly, Hunter shook his head. “I’m not drinking. I want to have my wits about me tonight.”
“I don’t plan on drinking either. This is my first night back out, and I want to remember every single moment of it with you.”
Hunter groaned, though I was positive he didn’t even realize it. I twisted my hands in my lap, fighting the urge to reach over and touch him.
“Tell me what you’re thinking about, Bella.”
Tired of not expressing my feelings, I decided then that I would always tell Hunter what I was thinking. Besides, it wasn’t wrong that I wanted to touch him. Or experience pleasure from him. And I wanted both desperately. “That I want to touch you.”
He jerked his head quickly to the side to look at me. “Christ, are you trying to kill me?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “No, I just want to be honest with you.”
He gripped the steering wheel tightly before loosening his hold.
“What are you thinking?” I asked.
“That you’re going to have to cuff me to the bed to keep me from touching you later.”
This time, I giggled as I shook my head. Before I knew it, we were pulling into the parking lot of Brew’s Place. The heat between us grew thicker by the second, and I was not going to ignore my desire for Hunter any longer.
Hunter parked and turned off his truck, drawing in a deep breath before he let it out. “Bella?”
“Yes?”
He turned to face me. “I’ll never let anything happen to you again. I swear to God, I’ll protect you even if it means I have to give my last breath to do so.”
My heart did a big ol’ somersault in my chest, and I reached for his hand and squeezed it. “That’s a promise I don’t think you can make, Hunter.”
With a quick shake of his head, he said, “I mean it. If it’s in my power, you’ll always be safe. And if at any time my touch makes you—”
I pressed my finger to his lips. “Stop. I know in the past I’ve flinched away from you. I’ve drifted off to a dark place, but it was never because of your touch, Hunter. I simply needed to remember that your touch is magical to me and always will be. Every time I’m close to you, you…you make me so weak with desire, Hunter. I miss feeling you, all of you.”
“Bella.” His voice sounded strained. “You’re making me want to blow off Brew’s.”
I raised a brow. “But then we wouldn’t be able to dance, and I so miss dancing.”
Hunter leaned over and placed his hand on the side of my face before he moved it to the back of my neck and drew our mouths closer. The moment his lips touched mine, I melted into the kiss.
Before we could deepen it, someone knocked on the window, and Hunter and I both jumped. I looked past him and laughed. “It’s Kyle, and he has a goofy smile on his face.”
Hunter looked back and shot Kyle the finger.
“Come on, lovebirds, let’s get our party on!” Kyle shouted through the glass.
Turning back to me, Hunter asked, “You ready?”
I nodded.
“Bella, don’t be surprised if guys look at you. You’re beautiful. I just don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
“If I’m with you, I won’t feel anything but blissfully happy.”
Even in the dark cab of his truck, I could see his eyes light up. “Come on, let’s go in fast; you don’t have a coat with you.” Hunter got out of his truck and jogged over to the passenger side.