My eyes snap shut as pain and desire battle for dominance, and I pull in a shaky breath. He runs a hand over my back, allowing me a moment to adjust to his size while he moves the hand from my waist down to where we’re joined, applying pressure to my clit. The sensation pushes me over the edge, a moan escaping through my parted lips.
“I’m okay,” I tell him.
His hand at my waist flexes as he moves his other hand back along my clit, making me forget the pain as desire burns stronger. He moves slowly, carefully, his gaze tracking each of my breaths and every flicker of pain.
“I want you, Tyler,” I remind him.
My declaration must provide him with the assurance he needs because I feel him swell even more as he slides into me entirely, planting both hands firmly on my hips.
Completely bottomed out, Tyler stills again. The fullness I feel reaches all the way to my soul, and I tremble at the rightness of the moment.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I nod, clinging to the rail and soaking up the coolness of the metal to distract me from the sting of pain as I slowly acclimate to his size. He runs his hand over my back, kissing my shoulder as I pull in a deep breath through my nose, his intoxicating scent overwhelming my senses. Opening my eyes, I see the crowd dancing below, their bodies moving in time with the music, the beats of which accompany the melody of Tyler’s labored breathing behind me. Knowing someone could look up and see us at any moment only amplifies the thrill, dialing everything up to an eleven.
He finally starts to move as I squirm below him, slowly at first, allowing our bodies time to fall in sync with his gentle tempo. When I start meeting him thrust for thrust, his pace quickens, and his hands grip me tighter, digging into my flesh. My hold on the railing tightens, soaking the coolness of the metal into my overheated skin.
And as he hits that particularly delicious spot, I peer at him from over my shoulder and smile.
“You were made for me,” he rasps out, his movements increasing as his hand dips back between my legs, and we come apart together.
18
Tyler
I’ve never felt so exhausted and so empowered as I do at this moment. I kiss Chloe’s spine through her dress, running my hand down her back as I slowly pull out of her.
She straightens, tugging her dress down, and my gratification and blissful satisfaction take a back seat as I wait for her to face me, horrified I’ll find regret or anger in her green eyes. But as she turns, her smile is shy and sweet and so fucking beautiful that relief floods me as I reach for her, pulling her against me. “Are you okay?”
She nods. “Pretty sure I’m way better than you in this scenario.” Her smile widens, making me laugh.
“Do you want anything to drink?” I ask.
She nods.
I kiss her hairline, breathing her in again. “There’s a bathroom in here,” I tell her, pointing at the door. I keep my arm around her waist as I walk her to the restroom. It’s small, and the lights are cheap and too bright, buzzing when I flip them on. Chloe blinks rapidly, her makeup slightly smudged. It’s fucking gorgeous. I did that. I kiss her full lips again and then make quick work of ridding the condom and washing my hands, my gaze continuing to stray to her. “I’m serious,” I tell her. “This changes everything. I won’t keep pushing you away, and I won’t let you continue avoiding me.”
Her green eyes are lined with doubt—reminding me she genuinely believed I didn’t like her all this time. I grip her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “I’ll work for this. I’ll prove to you I am the bloke you want—the man you deserve.”
Her eyes grow soft, and her shoulders slowly roll forward as I kiss her again before moving to the door.
“You have my underwear,” she says.
I open the door, taking a final look at her. “I know. Don’t expect to get them back.”
Her cheeks heat with a blush as she stares at me, dumbfounded. I grin, closing the door behind me.
I call down to order two Long Islands and give the bouncer the green light to allow people to come back up. I hang up, slip my shirt back on, and lean back in the plush white seat, staring out toward the rail where Chloe had stood and given herself to me.
The bitterness of regret skates into my thoughts as I fear having gone too far, too fast, but then she steps out of the bathroom, her makeup once again flawless. She walks toward me with a shy smile, absent of anger or remorse. I’m flooded with relief and the realization of how long I’ve wanted her.
I tag her waist when she gets close enough, pulling her down on my lap. I breathe her in, smelling me on her skin. She giggles with surprise, drawing at my playful side that has my fingers scavenging for every ticklish spot on her sides.
“Tyler,” she says between peals of laughter. And when I don’t stop, she grabs my face and kisses me. She slides her lips over mine, deepening the kiss instantly as she licks the length of my tongue, successfully distracting me from every thought except how much I want to feel her again.
“I win.”
The announcement has Chloe pulling away, her cheeks turning crimson as Cooper and Vanessa step into the suite. She starts to wriggle free, but my grip at her waist tightens, securing her to my lap.
Cooper looks from her to me, his gaze a contradiction of Vanessa’s, who beams. “I told Coop you guys would get together before California. I have to admit I was getting a little worried.” She holds up two fingers with a hairsbreadth between them.
“What?” Chloe asks.
Vanessa nods, turning to look at Cooper for verification. “You guys have had chemistry forever. I knew this trip would make you guys either face it or kill each other.”
“You didn’t say anything to me.”
Vanessa shakes her head. “I knew if I did, you’d just fight it harder, and I had twenty bucks on the line.” She smiles. “We came up to find you guys because there’s a guy down there who was on one of those dancing shows. He’s so good.”
My hold on Chloe slips free. “You should check it out,” I tell her, taking another look at the apprehension on Cooper’s face.
She stands, making her way over to Vanessa and Coop, where she pauses and holds his forearm as she leans into his side and kisses his cheek. I can’t tell if it’s an apology or a request to be kind. Either way, it’s clear she also senses his unease. She looks back at me, a gentle smile that pleads with me and has my patience expanding.
I nod once, watching her and Vanessa disappear back down to the dance floor.
When I return my gaze, Coop’s looking at me, his forehead creased. “You know she’s my best friend, right? I mean, I’m in no position to tell you who to like, but Chloe’s not just some girl—she’s important to me. She’s…” His voice waivers before he clears his throat. “She’s family, and you’re like my brother, so I just need to be clear that if you’re interested, you’re serious because you can’t hurt her without hurting me.”
I blow out a deep breath, knowing this is exactly what has kept me away from Chloe Robinson for the past two years. I assumed after New Orleans she would tell Coop what a bastard I was, and he’d confront me, and I’d send them to Washington on a plane and finish this trip solo—wanted to because I needed her to avoid me because I wouldn’t be strong enough to avoid her. “I know,” I tell him.