Zach and Biff sit opposite Danni and I with huge smiles on their faces, unable to take their hands off each other. As happy as I am for them, I’m equally jealous as fuck, because I’d give my right ball to be able to touch the woman sitting beside me right now, but any attempt I’ve made since she was crying in the chapel has been thwarted. I’m pretty sure she’s not doing it to drive me crazy with need, but that’s the effect she’s having right now. This ‘I can look but not touch’ rule she seems to have set is not something I agreed to.
I’m expecting to head to some fancy arse restaurant for a meal, so when burgers are mentioned for their wedding breakfast, my chin almost hits the floor of the car.
“You for real?” I ask the two of them.
“Sure, why not?” Biff says with a shrug, looking up at Zach like he just hung the fucking moon. I hope the motherfucker knows just how lucky he is to be able to officially call that woman his now.
“Burgers and beer, and then we’re hitting the strip. Good with you two?”
“Sounds perfect, man.”
“Whatever you two want,” Danni says, although with much less enthusiasm.
No one even bats an eyelid as we walk into the burger place. It’s easy for us to think that this is a little weird, but we seem to be forgetting that we’re in the home of crazy. Everyone here has seen everything at least once. Us turning up from a shotgun wedding is probably an everyday occurrence for these people.
“Congratulations,” the waitress sings as she comes over to hand us menus and to take our drink orders.
Zach and Biff beam at her while I take advantage of the table covering us from the waist down and place my hand on Danni’s bare thigh. She’s jumps a fucking mile, but thankfully both Biff and Zach are too distracted by the waitress to notice.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Danni spits, trying to push my hand away.
“Nothing,” I say, attempting to sound innocent. “If you didn’t want my attention then you should have worn a different dress. Or a hazmat suit,” I quickly add, because I’m not sure a bigger dress would have made all that much of a difference. I’d still desperately want her out of it.
“How many times, Carter? I’m not interested. Even less so with my brother only feet away.”
I lean forward so only she can hear my words. “He’s fine with it, doll. I got us the all clear.”
“You… you told him about…” She trails off, her voice rising an octave in shock.
“Yeah. I told him how I fucked up but explained that I’m intending on proving myself to you. He’s happy. I even came out of it without any bodily damage.”
“Don’t worry. I can still cause you some if you keep touching me.”
Moving so close that my lips brush her ear, I whisper, “Stop trying to deny what you want. I know you’re wet as fuck for me right now, and I have every intention of proving that too.” She gasps as I slide my palm higher.
“Carter,” she squeals, now earning us the attention of everyone within a ten-foot radius.
I allow her to push my hand away, for now, while she blushes bright red and everyone wonders what’s wrong with her.
“I’m sorry. Is there any chance I could get a dry white wine, please?”
The waitress startles a little at her sudden demand but quickly recovers and writes it down.
“Same for me,” Biff adds, “and beer for you guys?”
Zach and I agree before she leaves us to look at the menus.
The girls both pull theirs closer and look down at them, but Zach’s eyes remain on me.
“What?” I ask innocently, but his eyes narrow. He knows exactly what kind of game I’m playing.
“I might have let you off easy earlier, but things can change, Titch. Fast.”
“Loud and clear, boss. Loud and clear.” I lift my hands from my lap in surrender and to prove that I’m not currently knuckle-deep in his sister. Chance would be a fine thing.
“If the waitress comes back, please can you order me a bun-less chicken burger and a side salad. I’m just going to use the bathroom.”
“A bun-less burger. What the fuck is that?” Zach asks, looking like the idea of it totally offends him.
“I’m going to go and check she’s okay,” Biff says, pushing her seat back.
“No,” I bark, a little harsher than intended if Biff’s wide eyes are anything to go by. “You two don’t need to get in the middle of our drama. Just enjoy yourselves. I’ll make sure she’s okay.”
“Don’t do anything in the fucking toilets.”
“Z, man. I’m not a fucking animal.”
“I’ve seen evidence of the contrary in the past, my friend.”
“The past is the past. We’ve all seen things that don’t need talking about, eh boss?” He shifts uncomfortably in his seat before nodding and turns to smile at his bride.
“I don’t even want to know,” she says, leaning forward to kiss him.
Zach winks at me before accepting her kiss, and I walk away from the happy couple to give them some privacy.
12
Danni
Closing the door behind me, I fall back against it and tilt my face to the ceiling as I pray for the strength I need to get through the rest of tonight.
The heat of his palm is still burning into my thigh. I shouldn’t want him, yet after just one look he’s all I can think about. Add his touch to that, and he’s damn near consumed my entire body.
I suck in a deep breath before blowing it out through pursed lips. Biff’s words from earlier come back to me. I start wondering if we could pull off the quickest holiday fling ever. I can’t deny that what she said was right. What happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas.
My stomach clenches as the idea of this being possible starts to build. I’ve had many nights of meaningless sex with guys and never wanted more afterwards. Surely, I could spend this time getting what I need from him and then move on from it the second we step foot back on English soil. Right?
A little voice in my head reminds me that I wasn’t able to forget after the last time, but I push it down. It’s easier to ignore than it probably should be due to the amount of alcohol racing through my body and the emotions still raging within me after watching Biff and Zach tie the knot.
Telling myself that I can do this, that I can see what happens, enjoy myself and then move on to what I really want from life, I push from the door and step towards the single toilet in this small, slightly dark bathroom.
A click from behind me has my heart jumping into my throat. I locked it. Didn’t I?
I soon realise the answer because the light from the brighter corridor outside fills the room. As he shuts the door, I swear he takes all the air with it.
He’s a pretty big presence at the best of times, but right now, standing before me in this small bathroom, he practically takes up every available bit of space.
“Danni, I–” he starts, but I don’t allow him to say any more. My body takes over, and in seconds, I’ve closed the space between us, my fingers are in his hair, and my lips are reaching up for his. “Fuck,” he groans as I press my entire body against his.