Chapter Nineteen
Lucy
I’m late, I’m late, that’s what the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland used to say, right? That is what I am saying through gritted teeth, driving through rush hour traffic in downtown Seattle. It’s Hunter’s big night, the gallery is done and beautiful and ready for the world to see and I am missing it. “Come on you freaking morons, move,” I shout. You’d think the hot mess train wreck would have slowed down now that Hunter is on board, that is wishful thinking. In the three days since we started this thing, the train is still full speed ahead. Hunter, for some damn reason, finds it adorable. Just goes to show you he is certifiably insane.
I was, for the first time in my life, running ahead of schedule when I dropped Bailey off with my parent’s house on Bainbridge Island. But I am just not that lucky. Everything started to unravel when I missed the ferry back to the city, which made me late for my hair appointment, and I had to wait an hour for my stylist to free up. I had Lucky bring me my dress at the salon. Hunter, being the sweet man that he is, sent along street tacos and a margarita to help relax me. It’s his big night, I’m the one who should be helping to calm his nerves, not the other way around.
The brakes squeal to a halt in front of the Gallery. I toss my keys to the valet, at least I hope it was the valet, otherwise some random dude just inherited my old beat-up Subaru and a hundred half-empty water bottles. I pause just outside the door and gaze up at the sign, Aryn Gallery is spelled out in large metal lettering. Hunter wanted to honor his mom by naming the gallery after her. She was the one who encouraged him to follow his dreams. I know she is smiling down on her son tonight.
Inside the party is in full swing. The champagne is flowing, and the air is a buzz with chatter. I slide off my coat and hand it to the coat check girl. She hands me my number and says she loves my dress. Oh, my dress. Lucky kept me in the dark about this dress, and it’s a good thing she did, otherwise I would have run out and bought a new one the moment I saw it. But she was smart and held off until the day of the opening. It’s not something I would have ever picked out on my own, but after seeing it on, with my hair and makeup done, I’m kind of liking it. It’s silver with a deep slit up my right leg, open back, and a classy amount of cleavage showing. Not what I was expecting Lucky to pick out, I was thinking it would be slutty with an extra side of slutty, she actually did good.
I snatch a glass of champagne from one of the passing trays and wander through the crowd looking for a familiar face. A few of the artists that I have featured in my shop stop me and thank me for helping them get their work in Hunter’s gallery. All I did was show Hunter their work and it was their talent that got them here. But I do kinda feel like a proud momma seeing her little ducklings succeed.
Brooke’s glowing face is the first one I see of my friends. Her bump is on full display in a curve hugging navy blue dress. I commend her for showing off her pregnant body and not trying to hide it. She is so proud to be caring Brian’s baby and she wants the world to know it, too. Brian is definitely not shy about how much he loves her body. His hands are usually on her bump or her ass. They are crazy about each other, and after everything the two of them went through to get to where they are now, they deserve all the happiness in the world.
Brooke spots me and waves me over. I wiggle between the sea of bodies and join her in Lucky’s section of the gallery. Brian sneaks up behind her and hands her a glass of water then his arms find their home around her bump. They both look me up and down. “Damn Luc, you look gorgeous,” Brian says, followed by a whistle.
“I second that. My brother is not going to be able to keep his hands off of you,” Brooke teases. It’s going to take me awhile to get used to the fact that I am dating Brooke’s brother. I’ve gone for so long thinking she disapproved of the idea, it still really hasn’t sunken in yet.
“You can thank Lucky for picking it out for me.” I take a sip of my champagne. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a few heads turning my way. Strange eyes drinking me in. This is not something I’m used to. I was never the type that strived to get that kind of attention from men. I’m the girl that prefers tennis shoes over heels. The only eyes I want on me are Hunter’s.
“I’m impressed Lucky managed to keep her restraint, unlike the dress she chose to wear.” Brooke points just behind me. I turn to see Lucky in a floor length gold sparkly form fitting dress with a dangerously low-cut front. All I can see are tits. How the hell is that thing keeping her girls in? Hello boobs. Now that is the dress I expected her to pick out for me.
Lucky waves at us excitedly at us and mouths “I just sold a painting.” And I’m pretty sure the guy buying it was sold by that dress. Distracted by boobs. She’ll sell a million paintings if she dresses like that. The boobs and Lucky dance their way over to us. It’s almost hypnotic watching those perky things sway. Again, how the hell is she not spilling out of that thing?
“Holy shit Bishop, you look smoking hot.” Lucky fans herself. “Damn, do I know how to pick a dress or what?” She admires her handy work, looking me up and down. Up and down.
“I’m just glad you didn’t pick that dress for me.” I grab Brooke’s napkin and dangle it in front of Lucky’s booming chest. Brian and Brooke snicker. Ryder comes striding up next to Lucky and yanks the napkin out of my hand.
“Don’t cover up the best part of this dress, Lucy.” He stuffs the napkin in his pocket, keeping his eyes locked on his woman’s rack and licks his lips. I have a feeling by the end of the night those two will be fucking in the bathroom.
Lucky fills us in on her first sale of the night. My eyes scan the crowd for Hunter, but the man of the hour is nowhere to be found. I expected not to get him to myself tonight. He needs to network and get his name known around the art world here in Seattle. After this party is over, Hunter is all mine.
One of the waiters brings a tray of appetizers by our group. As I go to reach for one, the little hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and heat begins to rise through my body. There is only one person that has this effect on me, Hunter. My head turns to the right just as the crowd parts, like the sea revealing the best treasure on earth, Hunter. Oh, dear lawd, he looks mouthwatering in his black suit, crisp white shirt, and matching black tie. His trimmed beard and sexy smile have me drooling all over the place. I still can’t believe that man is mine.
He takes his time walking over to me. The anticipation of having his arms around me, and his lips on mine, is killing me. His soft smile turns more devious with every step, like he’s planning out every dirty thing he wants to do to me. He stops in front of me, his heat radiates through me, and his scent washes over me. I am high on Hunter.
“Lucy, I’m speechless.” Lust coats every word, making my silk thong grow wet. One of his arms slinks around my waist and my body shudders when his hand touches my bare back. Before he can get another word out, my lips are on his, taking what I’ve been craving all day. My tongue licks the seam of his lips, they part and I devour his mouth. He meets my kiss with equal vigor, sucking on my tongue, nipping on my lips.
When we come up for air, we are met with applause and whistles from friends and family. My cheeks burn bright with embarrassment, and I hide my face in Hunter’s chest. Hunter envelops me in the safety of his arms.
“Why don’t you kiss me like that anymore?” Lucky asks Ryder.
“Because the lips up here,” he points to her mouth, “aren’t the ones you are offering up when I get home.”
“Oh yeah. I like those kisses better.” She smiles proudly.
“If you all don’t mind, I’d like to steal my girlfriend for a bit.” I smile against Hunter’s chest at his words.
“You two have fun.” Brooke gives her blessing.
Lucky is too distracted with slapping Ryder’s hands away from her boobs to care. Hunter sweeps me away from the insanity.
“You look beautiful, Lucy.” He leans in close to my ear to whisper the next part of his sentence. “I can’t wait to see this dress on my bedroom floor later.” He nips at me ear, sending a tingle down my spine.
I wrap Hunter’s tie around my hand. “This tie is going to look good wrapped around my wrists later,” I reply, feeling a surge of confidence. Must be the dress.
“Would it be rude if I kicked everyone out now, so I can fuck you?” He growls the last part.
“Maybe just a little, but this is your big night and you need to mingle. We will have the rest of the night to celebrate on our own, then you can do all the dirty things you want to me.” I lean into his ear and whisper, “And I want it very dirty.” I smooth his tie back down his chest.
“Lucy, you’re killing me.”
****
Hunter keeps me close to his side all night. Watching Hunter in his element, charming art dealers and potential buyers, is awe inspiring. He’s flashing that you know you want it smile, just reeling them in, and before they know it, they are handing him check after check. I could watch him like this all day. Maybe I should have him come down to the shop and see if he can sell more books for me.
We’ve made our final rounds, the artists are counting their money, the rest of the crowd is drinking to fill the void left in their wallets. Hunter takes the opportunity to get me alone. He guides us away from the party to the storage room. “Hunter, what are we doing back here?” I ask.
“I want to show you something.” He leads me to the back of the room where there is a table with a bunch of large black frames laid out. We come to a stop in front of the table, and my heart leaps in my throat when I see the pictures in the frames are of me from the night I let Hunter take photos of me.
There are the ones of me out on his balcony and the ones I took of us in his bed. To my shock, the photographs look amazing. I look relaxed and happy in all of these photos. “Hunter, I don’t even know what to say. These are, wow.” I am at a loss for words.
“See, I told I could get a good picture of you.” I don’t have to see him to know he has an “I told you so” look on his face. “You haven’t seen the best ones yet.” He moves around the table to where there is a large sheet covering something underneath it. He slowly pulls the covering away, revealing black and white canvas photos of me naked in Hunter’s bed. Hunter picks them up and sets them on the table in front of me. I thought I was dreaming when these happened, but it was very real and I’m staring at the evidence.
Hunter comes back around the table and joins me by my side. “These are my favorite ones. You look so sexy and beautiful.”
“I never thought I could look like this,” I admit.
“This is all you, Lucy. Every single one of these photos is how I see you. Goofy, silly, beautiful, and sexy all rolled into one perfect package.” He turns me, so we are face to face, cups my cheek in his hand, and I push further into his touch. “So perfect.”
“You make me feel like all of those things.” I look into his soft blue eyes. It’s been so long since anyone has made me feel sexy and beautiful. Hunter leans in and gently kisses me. His other hand slips inside the slit of my dress. The pads of his fingers gently circling the bare skin of my ass.
Time freezes, the noises from the party seem to fade away as we kiss. Soon, the gentle, sweet kisses turn more urgent and feverish. Hunter pushes his tongue into my mouth, taking what is his. His hand kneads my ass. My hands slip under his arms, pulling the full weight of him to me. My hips rock against the hard ridge growing beneath his slacks.
Our hungered moans fill the air. The sound of my zipper being slid down pulls me back to reality. “Hunter, we can’t. What if someone comes back here?” My words fall on deaf ears. Hunter ignores my question and continues his mission to rid me of my dress. The silver fabric falls around my ankles, leaving me in just my black thong and heels. “Hunter,” I moan as he lavishes my nipples with his hot mouth.
“No one is coming back here. I need a taste before we go back.” His growls vibrate against my skin. He licks between my breasts then places a kiss under each breast before moving down my body. His tongue dips into my belly button. Lips moving down where I want them the most. My hands brace the edge of the table. Hunter holds me in his gaze. The blue in his eyes darkens as he slides the silk thong down my legs.
Hunter blows a cool stream of air over my heated mound. The tip of his tongue dances along my wet pussy lips, tasting me. His growls of pleasure vibrate to my core. My head drops back, eyes fall closed, as he sucks my clit into his hot mouth. He devours me like a starved man. One of my hands moves to his thick black hair, keeping him where I want him. My hips roll against his face in rhythm with his tongue. In and out his tongue slides, licking my center, and teasing my sweet spot.
His strong hands squeeze my ass, holding me still while his head shakes back and forth. His beard scratches along my thighs, nose bumping my clit. It’s more than I can take, and I can’t hold back any longer. One last suck of my clit and Hunter has me coming hard all over his mouth. He keeps eating me as the waves of my orgasm wash over me. Licking, sucking, taking every last drop I have to offer.
When I’m finally sated, Hunter licks me clean then slides my thong back into place and helps me back into my dress. He zips up the zipper then places a soft kiss between my shoulders.
“Let’s go make a final appearance then get you in my bed and under me.” He trails his tongue up my neck.
“Forget that, take me to your bed now.”